Droid2 ■■■■◧
One of the best all-purpose smartphones not made by Apple returns, upping the ante with a decent, if not groundbreaking, revamp. New additions include a brawnier 1GHz processor, more internal memory (8 GB, with microSD expansion also possible) and a better physical keyboard with raised keys. But what really stands out is the phone's compatibility with Adobe Flash websites for richer, more multimedia-enabled Web surfing, and the handset's ability to serve as a mobile WiFi hotspot for up to five devices.
Motorola / $199.99 / www.motorola.com
YouRockGuitar ■■■□□
Lack the hand-eye coordination to play a real instrument? Try a digital axe that lets you leverage preset electronic sounds to fulfill your rock star fantasies. Compatible with games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band through optional cartridge add-ons, you can even connect it to your iPod or an actual amp to crank out the tunes. Over 24 included tracks help teach the basics of real-life shredding, though an ear for music and actual songwriting chops sadly don't come with purchase.
Inspired Instruments / $199.99 / www.yourockguitar.com
ThinkSound ts02+mic ■■■■□
There are a whole lotta headphones out there promising a lot but delivering very little. They might look great, but sound like . . . well, you know. Or vice-versa. But not ThinkSound. Their new ts02 headphones are the business. With a wooden housing for warm, organic sound reproduction, and a black/chocolate or silver/cherry finish for looks, the ts02s deliver where it counts. Your music will have a warm, clear resonance like you've never experienced, and the integrated mic (compatible with iPhone, Blackberry, iPad, etc) will keep you connected at all times.
ThinkSound / $100 / www.thinksound.com
Haber "Nice" Sunglasses ■■■■□
Sunglasses aren't something we usually think about in terms of performance. But if you're really serious about driving-on the track, the street, wherever-they're really something you should have. Habers, especially. Haber's Corelex polarized ground and polished glass lenses are "available in light adjusting, photo-chromatic versions, which are designed to match color density to the prevailing light conditions." Whatever. They help you see better, and look good doing it. Go get some.
Haber / $175.00 / www.habervision.com
Stylus Tough-8000 ■■■■□
Regardless of whether you're scuba diving or hiking the Arctic wastes on vacation, it pays to pack a digital camera capable of coming along for the ride. Built like a tank, this ultra-rugged model-waterproof to 33 feet, capable of handling six-foot drops, impervious to subzero temperatures, and ready to resist 200 pounds of crushing pressure-makes a solid traveling companion. Whether beaten, hurled, or dunked, it keeps coming back, and even offers image stabilization to ward off quivering hands.
Olympus / $379.99 / www.olympusamerica.com