In the midst of today’s gadget-opia, you’d think it would be easy to pick out CE gifts for the holiday season. But the NPD Group suggests that consumers will be shunning electronics this year in favor of more �traditional� gifts like clothing and toys. And I’m not surprised.

While there are plenty of new and fabulous geek gifts available, there are also plenty of reasons they’re not making it on to holiday shopping lists.

• The Best Gifts You Can�t Put Your Hands On� Literally
  The CE category isn’t just about gadgets anymore, but the stuff you can access on those gadgets. And how do you buy someone a subscription service for the holidays? If you buy someone three months free, it’s like giving a kid a piece of candy and then snatching it back half-chewed. Plus you can’t un-wrap a service. Think satellite radio, audible.com, VOD — these are the gifts that keep on taking…

• Even the Gadgets Come with a Service (Fee) Attached
  It was a big year for mobile devices. Too bad those shiny toys usually come with a multi-year commitment. Tasty Chocolate phone, smooth Blackberry Pearl, Bond-inspired Motorola Q. All delectable, but not on my shopping list.

• $$$$$
  It’s nothing new that gadgets often cost a lot of money. But seriously, $800 for a TiVo? [Insert latest rant on TiVo pricing here] $500 or $600 for a PS3? I love my brother, but I also love the idea of putting my kid through college some day.

• Geeks Don’t Like Surprises
  If you’re buying for a geek, you have to know exactly what that geek wants. In fact, you’d be well-advised to review technical specifications with said geek before hauling out the credit card. Gee, what fun. Nothing like seeing that look of surprise when the ribbon and wrap come off the box.

I’ve come up with a few solutions, for geeks and non-geeks alike. Digital photo frames will probably hit their stride in the 2006 holiday season. (I’d love to review a few for a round-up piece.) We may also have hit the right time for gadgets that convert old media to new formats � records to digital music files, VHS tapes to DVD, etc.

And then there are the hidden gems. I’ve found one, the Squeezebox. It wirelessly streams your own music collection and lets you access Internet radio for free without a PC. (Review coming shortly!) Others are surely out there. The question is, will we uncover them in time? Or will we be buying silk ties for dad again this year?

Notice how indie and mass commercial distribution networks are merging? Well here’s one more example: Reuters and The Wall Street Journal report that YouTube (apparently we still call it that if even after Google’s buyout) and Verizon are in talks to distribute YouTube videos over cell phones and the FiOS TV network.

I’m very curious to see how this works. What videos will YouTube make available? What kind of interface will it use? Will YouTube users expect compensation when their videos start showing up on TV? We’re just beginning to figure out ad models for blogs and vlogs. What’s the ad system for user-generated TV?

Meanwhile, Google’s YouTube continues to insist that advertisers won’t be allowed to mess up the YouTube experience. But now that YouTube’s in business with heavyweights Google and Verizon, how can it stave off the pressure to make gobs and gobs of money?

Money issues aside, it’s fascinating to watch the further blurring of the lines between professional and amateur content. If you’ve got something good in the new meritocracy of Internet distribution, you too can be popular in living rooms around the world. Like Verizon says, “It’s the network.”

I’m not the only one who’s noticed how nice it is to have a DVR during election season. Pennsylvania and neighboring New Jersey are battleground states for several Congressional seats, and I’ve never been happier to be able to skip through a series of ad campaigns. Personally, I know where my votes are going, and no amount of TV advertising is going to change my mind.

This isn’t my first November with a DVR, but it is for a lot of people. And while I know analysts aren’t predicting it yet, I believe DVR penetration will start to have an effect on the way politicians spend their ad dollars in the coming years. Despite the general bemoaning of political ads, they have historically been very effective. Intellectually I’ve known this, but it was disheartening to hear from a certain professor recently just how much his students credit ads for their education on specific political races.

Now that DVRs are impacting TV watching patterns, political groups are going to have to diversify their ad techniques just like any commercial enterprise. It would be nice to believe that, with a lack of commercials, voters might actually start to research and read about candidates. However, most people don’t have the time and/or inclination to become politically well informed. With the declining influence of television ads, no doubt something equally hideous will start to take over. Mobile push polls? More PR-sponsored YouTube videos? I guess I’ll enjoy this year’s ad-less November while I can.

So what’s a retired naturalist with plenty of disposable income to do? Have a custom cave theater built in her cellar, of course! Just don’t stand up too quickly.

(photo by Jack Bingham, via CEPro)

What’s a bored, snowed-in geek to do on a Sunday AM? Troll the FCC website for new products, of course!

Sony’s got a home wireless AV transmission system (HWS-AV10) in the works. It uses the 2.4 GHz frequency to relay audio, video, and IR remote signals from a component in one room to a TV in another… while likely interfering with your cordless phones and WiFi. The base station includes an IR blaster allowing you to change channels or choose TiVo recordings at a distance. The receiver smartly bundles an external antenna to fine-tune reception.

In the past, I’ve used a few variations of this device with mediocre results. I’ve had better luck using media extenders/servers over WiFi… though they require a larger investment of both time and money. If cash is no object, go whole-hog with Sony’s LocationFree TV and take your screen with you around the house. For basic video, I’d advise just fishing the coax.

Sorry, HD Beat… this puppy’s standard def only.

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Normally I mock all new i- and e- named products… However, I’m willing to make an exception for Anthro’s clever eNook. It looks to be a handy wall accessory for charging and storing all manner of gadgets - and let me tell you, I have more than my fair share. My only experience with Anthro has been positive — from purchase to shipping to typing up this blog entry on a 5 year old indestructible and still pristine computer cart. The eNook’s not cheap at $399, but given the solid construction and durability of my cart it’s probably a safe investment.

Anthro says: It charges, it stores and it fits where you don’t have a lot of room. eNook has channels for you to plug in and charge all of your electronic gadgetry, like your laptop, cell phones, PDAs and digital cameras. Flip it up to store your laptop and lock it out of sight. Or flip it down and you have a handy desk. eNook’s fabric covered back panel even serves as a bulletin board. Choose from different color and fabric combinations to match any decor.

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Being city-based apartment dwellers, we don’t have the space for a dedicated home theater. Therefore, projector/DVD combo units are appealing as a way to host an occasional big screen experience. Robert Heron reviewed three contenders in the 10/18/05 issue of PC Magazine. Optoma’s MoveTime DV10 was his Editors’ Choice due to accurate colors, native 16:9 resolution, and a quiet fan. HP’s ep9010 was a close second, and while it had great sound from the built-in 20 watt subwoofer the unit’s excessive weight and noisy fan kept it out of the winner’s circle.
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