Behold II
While we've yet to meet an Android phone we adore, or even really liked for that matter, a potential contender for our unwholesome affections finally exists. Note the touchscreen mobile handset's lavish 3.2-inch AMOLED (read: super crisp and bright) display, 3G high-speed connectivity and customizable, widget-powered user interface. It packs simple menu navigation and options to drag and drop favorite functions and apps around as desired, a high-quality 5mp camera, Exchange e-mail support, and MP3 music playing capability.
www.samsung.com / $TBD
Vaioxseries
Apparently, Sony likes its laptops like we like our gangster rappers: Small, dark and (go figure) dripping with gold. Case in point: Yon ultra-lightweight notebook PC, which measures an anorexic half-inch thin and weighs only 1.6 pounds, yet comes in two luxurious colors, packs a slick LED backlit screen and even boasts a comfy keyboard. While display size (11.1 inches) won't wow, extras such as 802.11n WiFi, 3G connectivity, GPS navigation, and up to 14 hours of battery life should.
www.sonystyle.com / $1300 and up
PICSIO GC-FM1
It's hard enough filming the next Citizen Kane without a budget, let alone your tendency to shake like a hyper-caffeinated teen every time a tight shot's called for. ("OK, now slowly pan over the nipple ring . . . ") Mercifully, integrated image stabilization and 4X zoom options help save the day here, with said value-priced camcorder suitable for filming in most everyday situations. Offering 1080p high-definition recording, expandable SD memory and 8 mp still photos, it's a blessing in disguise for the hand-eye coordination-deprived.
www.jvc.com / $199.95
Flip Mino HD (2G)
Never mind the iPod Nano: Although considerably more expensive and a single-function device, Flip's newest edition of the popular pocket video camera far outshines its most prominent rival in terms of actual hands-on cinematic performance. Also welcome are new additions over past models, including a larger monitor that works as well in direct sunlight as indoors, expanded storage (8 gb total now) and HDMI output for connecting to an HDTV. Hooray for technological progress: women's locker room, here we come.
www.theflip.com / $229.99
WiFi Body Scale
Psst, hey you there . . . yeah, you, Tons-of-Fun. Listen up, because it's time to trim those love handles the 21st century way. Capable of recording your weight, body mass and other unflattering attributes, then uploading this sensitive info to your iPhone or the Web for easy progress tracking, this wireless network-ready scale's an overeater's worst enemy. While pretty pricey for something that's essentially just a glorified flab monitor, it's sure to do wonders in terms of shaming a man back into shape, post-haste.
www.withings.com / $159.00
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Call it a recurring nightmare. It's back to the friendly world of twisted imagery and walking sides of beef you go, in a remake of the original psychological thriller that left audiences shivering with delight. Exploring the story from a fresh angle, what the title lacks in graphical fidelity and pacing it more than makes up for in sheer atmosphere and pant-soiling potential. Hot tip: Play in a darkened room if you appreciate the finer points of shrieking like a frightened schoolgirl.
www.konami.com / PS2, PSP, Wii
NBA 2K10
Hoop, here it is: a big baller that truly earns the name courtesy of slick upgrades including ongoing roster/stat updates and the ability to take custom athletes to the top of the virtual league. Awesome extras further include fully integrated online multiplayer options, making it easy to post it up against smack-talking buddies, and a comprehensive franchise mode for closet megalomaniacs. While updates are significant, we're still waiting for a sweeping gameplay revolution from the series that remains the reigning hardwood champ.
www.2ksports.com / PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
EA Sports Active: More Workouts
Fess up. We know the most exercise that you typically get is doing reps as you repeatedly bring fork to mouth. Thankfully, said computerized personal trainer-powered by physical interaction with a goofy resistance band peripheral-lets you burn calories without having to step away from your beloved TV. A standalone expansion pack with 35-plus additional exercises and an emphasis on abdominal toning, it's as much pesky personal commitment as lightweight diversion.
www.ea.com / Wii
LEGO Indiana Jones 2:
The Adventure Continues
Hate snakes? Us too, which is why we're still smarting from Indy's last outing, The Staff of Kings, which might as well have included a free turd in every box. Happily for fans of the original tomb raider, however, this action-intensive adventure, while distinctly juvenile, delivers a compelling button-mashing experience nonetheless. Introducing an all-new level-building option and scenarios culled from both the original trilogy and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, it's worth playing to revisit with a high-res, block-headed spin on Short Round alone.
www.lucasarts.com / DS, PC, PS3, PSP,
Wii, Xbox 360
James cameron's
AVATAR:THEGAME
Hallelujah! On the scale of licensed movie tie-ins, the latest film to game conversion is more Chronicles of Riddick, and less E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Thank a gorgeous and gripping sci-fi world that expands on the actual film, pitting giant blue humanoids against an evil corporation. (Yeah, yeah, we know . . . thankfully the actual script's slightly more nuanced.) All you really need to know: Featured shootouts rock and things blow up insanely pretty-like, especially in honest-to-goodness 3D, a perception-twisting bonus offered to those with compatible HDTVs.
www.ubisoft.com / DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360