My Book World Edition II
Now that disk space goes for a song, it's easy to find plenty of room for your collection of adorable kitten photos or Norwegian slasher films. Backing these precious memories up, though-that's a little more difficult. Enter an external hard drive that kills both birds with one stone, providing continuous and mirrored digital archival, readily safeguarding against data corruption and serving as a warehouse for treasured files. Even cooler, content can also be accessed online, ensuring you'll never have to leave precious info behind.
www.wdc.com / $399.99 (2TB); $699.99 (4TB)

Gurkha
No New Year's celebration would be complete without the proper stogie, bottle of bubbly, and midnight Frenchie-lip action. While you can't buy the latter (for a decent price, anyway), you can get it on with an Archive cigar from Gurkha for less than the price of four gallons of premium. Smooth, tasty and in commemoration of Gurkha's 20th anniversary, lighting this bad boy up might be the most action you'll see all NYE.
www.gurkhacigars.com / $10.00inline_mediumwraptextright25837718/reviews/games/impp_1001_halo_3_odstimpp_1001_01_o+halo_3_odst+gurkha_front_view.jpgTrue

My Touch 3G
First came the G1. Now we get the next smartphone to utilize Google's open-source Android platform. Beyond hundreds of downloadable apps, adding a range of functionality from social networking to restaurant recommendations, bonuses include a sharp 3.2-inch touchscreen display and 3.2mp camera. Speedy Internet surfing is also a given, as is WiFi capability and video playback/recording, with support for enjoying music and photos integrated, too. Slightly above-average feature readout aside, extensive third-party support really makes it worth keeping on speed dial.
www.t-mobile.com / $199.99

Prime
True-Bluetooth headsets are a dime a dozen. But how many come in eye-popping colors like lime, scarlet, yellow and purple? Although we still wouldn't wear one everywhere like those yuppie douches you see jabbering away at Starbucks, behold a fashionable alternative to the usual clunky ear wart. The accessory's beauty isn't just skin deep either-it boasts excellent noise reduction and wind cancellation features, as well. Just promise us you'll take it off while using public bathrooms, K?
us.jawbone.com / $129.99

Eurolight
There isn't much choice when it comes to headlight color. You have your standard clear and its darkened alternative, smoked. Boh-ring. For those looking for more flavor, Tourenn offers their Eurolight dye kit giving you the option of customizing your headlights six different shades: Ice Blue (pictured), violet, dark blue, Lux Green, dark green, and good ol' black. If you want to change or revert back to stock status, the kit comes with removal liquid, giving you the option of going back from black . . . or any other color for that matter.
www.myeurolight.com / $59.99

The Sims 3
Call the game home to little computer people, artificial intelligence (AI) constructs or the only friends you've got--however you choose to classify the world's most intricate simulation of everyday life itself, let's be honest: It's basically the modern-day equivalent of futzing around with a dollhouse. Only now, you can leave your mark on entire neighborhoods populated by dozens of complex individuals, each of whom benefits from snazzy 3D visual upgrades and additional emotional qualities. Virtual adoration, here we come!
www.ea.com / PC

Eat Lead:The Return Of Matt Hazard
Joke's on you: although bursting with ironic self-awareness, this half-baked send-up of software industry clichs won't leave anyone laughing but its creators' accountants. More running gag than game, the hackneyed 3D shooter--whose ultra-formulaic and -repetitive gunplay pits a faux old-school video game star against zombies, Russians and sci-fi troopers--proves a weak knee-slapper at best. Genuinely goofy shticks (e.g. an effeminate, huge, sword-waving warrior that only speaks in text bubbles) notwithstanding, asking $50 for the title is its funniest blooper yet.
www.d3publisher.us / PS3, Xbox 360

Slotradio
Most buy tunes the smart way in 2009--via services like eMusic, iTunes and Amazon MP3, which offer individual songs at steep discounts. But technophobes have another idiot-proof option with this current contender: a beginner-friendly music player with a 1.5-inch OLED screen and FM tuner that runs microSD cards preloaded with 1,000 tracks, representing multiple genres. Just pop the joints in (one comes prepackaged, with extras running $39.99/card) and you're ready to rock and roll... even if fixed, pre-selected soundtracks prove a sour note.
www.slotradio.org / $99.99

Buttkicker Kit
Sweet, just what we needed: A DIY toolkit that lets you turn your easy chair or couch into a thrill ride that vibrates with every thump and explosion echoing from your TV. Dubious as the idea of exposing one's precious cheeks to the coarse rumblings of a wireless subwoofer sounds, hey... It's the perfect gift to help take Left 4 Dead standoffs to the next level. (Or convince relatives you've gone stark raving bonkers, but who are we to judge?)
www.thebuttkicker.com / $299.99

Slotmusic Player
Don't own an iPod, Zune or one of countless clones? Welcome to 2008, grandpa! Happily, for around the cost of a single CD, you can still enjoy digital music. This budget-priced MP3 player, powered by AAA batteries, allows neophytes to cop microSD cards packed with songs by Katy Perry, T-Pain and Jimmy Buffet (now there's a guaranteed sell-out festival lineup) for just $14.99. While the selection's tight, and an entry-level feature set is only moderately appealing, it's still a sound fit for closet technophobes.
www.sansa.com / $19.99

Freeagent Extreme
Courtesy of YouTube, Metacafe and those Girls Gone Wild DVDs you can't resist downloading off BitTorrent, the video revolution has finally arrived. Prepare yourself by copping this gargantuan 1.5TB external hard drive - 1TB ($259.99) model also available - whose speedy transfers are optimized for storing and retrieving digital footage. Thankfully for your wallet, those looking to share short clips of Jackass-style stunts with friends on the other coast can cop the travel-friendly Go (starting at $119.99 for 250GB) as an alternative.
www.seagate.com / $299.99

XR20Beat Production Station
Dream of becoming a house music or hip-hop mogul? Us neither, but it's sure swell to pretend, courtesy of this portable wizard, which lets you produce tracks on-the-go using over 700 instrument, drum and sound samples, with a microphone input further available for dropping science. A backlit LCD and pads only enhance the portable system's rock star image, helping put even us tone deaf types in the right mindset to throw down anytime. Oakenfold, your days are numbered...
www.akaipro.com / $499

Between traffic, potholes, and pedestrians, it's murder out there on the streets, making it imperative you keep distractions-e.g. remembering where to turn, accidentally steamrolling the errant toddler while ordering lunch-to a minimum. Albeit a pricey solution, Navigon's luxury GPS can help, with its stunning 3D view-sporting touch-screen, voice-powered commands, hands-free Bluetooth calling, and free real-time traffic updates for avoiding sudden pile-ups. Better still, streamlined command input and route calculation only further minimize opportunities for turning cyclists into speed bumps.
www.navigon.com / $499

Iphone 3G
Drastically cutting the price on its lust-inducing Smartphone, introducing speed-doubling wireless 3G technology and tacking on GPS mapping support, Apple's latest touch screen-rocking beauty's bound to give iCult members instant euphoria. Part iPod, part cellular handset, packing a gorgeous display and the newfound ability to browse and download applications from games to educational programs, it's one sick study in modern-day industrial engineering. Upgrade from a 8GB to 16GB ($299) model, and your ears and eyes-if not wallet-will thank you.
www.apple.com / $199.99

Game Title Battlefield: Bad Company
Category First-person shooter
Console PS3, Xbox 360
Publisher Ea / www.ea.com

Game Title Burnout Paradise
Category Arcade Racing
Console PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PS2, PSP
Publisher EA
Hot New wide open environment, smashing opponents
Not Getting taken out right near the finish line

Game Title condemned 2: Bloodshot
Category Action / Horror
Console PS3, Xbox 360
Publisher Sega / www.sega.com

Game Title NFL Tour
Category Sports
Console PS3, Xbox 360
Publisher EA / www.ea.com

Game Title Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Category Fighting
Console Wii
Publisher Nintendo / www.nintendo.com

To get racing fans ready for Gran Turismo 5's release later this year, Polyphony Digital gives gamers a taste of what's in store with Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. This "sample" is a robust package of cars, tracks and new features guaranteed to make the wait for Gran Turismo 5 just that much more difficult. The Prologue is available both on disk and as a download from the PlayStation network; making it easier than ever to get that racing fix without even having to leave the house.

Game Title FlatOut Ultimate Carnage
Category Racing
Console PS3, Xbox 360
Publisher Warner Brothers
Hot Great tracks, lots of destructablesNot Cars still feel a little floaty on the road

To get racing fans ready for Gran Turismo 5's release later this year, Polyphony Digital gives gamers a taste of what's in store with Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. This "sample" is a robust package of cars, tracks and new features guaranteed to make the wait for Gran Turismo 5 just that much more difficult. The Prologue is available both on disk and as a download from the PlayStation network; making it easier than ever to get that racing fix without even having to leave the house.

First-person shooters can all seem the same after awhile, so it's great when a game comes along that changes it up a bit, giving gamers a new experience. Ubisoft is one of the leading producers of first-person shooter games and takes it up a notch with their exclusive PS3 title Haze. In this futuristic game, it's 2048 and world governments have put their military operations into the hands of private military corporations or PMCs. Gamers play as Shane Carpenter, a new recruit for Mantel Global Industries; he is a trooper fighting the good fight. Or is it? Shane is sent into a war-torn country to battle a rebel faction known as the Promise Hand; from the beginning his assignments are action packed.

THQ's hot off-road racing series returns with MX vs. ATV Untamed, proving that it can still keep the racing action fresh and exciting. New game modes, huge outdoor environments and great online racing are just a few of the tasty racing treats offered. It's always appreciated when developers work hard to find new ways to challenge racing fans without resorting to gimmicky options. The new X-Cross Tournament is a stylish combination of eight different types of racing series, such as SuperMoto, Opencross and Endurocross, to create a racecourse that is both wild and challenging. Gamers need to use all their racing skills as the track changes throughout and can go from ripping through dirt tracks to dangerous trails, to making it past water pits and logs.

It's no secret that the Guitar Hero franchise is genius. It has turned millions of music fans from all corners of the world into guitar gods. But now, it's time to go from god to legend, in Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock. The game features a huge new song list that covers 40 years of rock music across the gamut-from old school rock to punk, to heavy metal, grunge and more. Guitar Hero 3 offers more than just a new song list; developers amped up the competition with new game modes, expanded online options, overhauled graphics and included new wireless guitar controllers.