Christmas loot

Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house all the gadgets were blinking along with a new wireless mouse…

I love all the new loot on Christmas. I know it’s about the giving and I did my fair share of that too but I am allowed to be excited about the new toys I got also. It used to be the new firetruck or a video game but as I got older my tastes changed and the toys got more expensive. Like most of you, there was probably one gift that stood out from all the others as your favorite gift of 2007. What was it?

This year among the sweaters and the socks and the chocolate orange I got a couple of the best presents ever. (besides my iPhone)

TomTom One is a new portable GPS navigation unit launched for the North American market, that fits in your shirt pocket, making it easily transportable from car-to-car and to take on business and vacation trips.

TomTom One with a cellphone and keys to demonstrate scale

The new TomTom ONE provides is essentially an entry-level option to TomTom’s comprehensive product offering, which now includes:

The ONE is similar to the TomTom GO product, but differs in a few ways. First, the TomTom ONE uses the newer SiRFStarIII GPS chipset which is more sensitive than the earlier chipset used in the TomTom GO. Second, the ONE is much thinner and less bulky than the TomTom GO. The TomTom ONE has a smaller internal battery than the GO, thus the GO units offer about 5 hrs of battery life vs. 2 hrs on the TomTom ONE. For me, that’s not a big deal, since in most cases the TomTom ONE will be connected to the car’s accessory power outlet. Similar to the TomTom GO, the TomTom ONE has full support for .ov2 format POI’s (points of interest) including safety cameras, speed traps, etc.

The bottom of the ONE features all the connectivity and memory options, including an SD card slot, Mini-USB, reset button, and the power connection. Interestingly enough there is a headphone port. I suppose that might be useful if you are blasting music and want to be sure to hear the navigation instructions. Though I know of no one that drives with headphones on. Actually you could connect the headphone jack to some car stereos and have the navigation instructions piped into your car speakers.

Specs:
Processor: 380MHz ARM920T
Screen: 3.5″ 320×240 colour TFT LCD
Memory: 32mb RAM
Battery: Internal Li-Ion
Memory Card: SD including software and maps
GPS Receiver: Built-In SiRFStarIII
Sound: Internal loud speaker
Power Supply : Cigarette lighter socket (included) or Universal Mains Adapter (optional accessory)
PC Connection: Via mini-USB cable **Specs by TMC

The next best gift was my Nintendo Wii.

Product summary by CNET

The good: Revolutionary controller design offers unique motion-sensitive gameplay options; built-in Wi-Fi delivers free online services and gameplay; Virtual Console has major nostalgia appeal; compatible with all GameCube games and controllers; built-in SD slot for storage and photo viewing; includes Wii Sports game; most affordable home game console.

The bad: Controller eats batteries and takes some time to get used to; online gaming and community features hobbled by horrible “friends code” system; nunchuk controller sold separately; lacks the advanced HD graphics and surround sound found on the Xbox 360 and the PS3; requires a wired receiver unit placed near the TV to interface with wireless controllers; can’t play CDs or DVDs.

The bottom line: It lacks the graphical prowess and rich media features of the Xbox 360 and the PS3, but the Nintendo Wii’s combination of unique motion-sensitive controllers and emphasis on fun gameplay make the ultra-affordable console hard to resist.

Specs: Product Description: Nintendo Wii - Game console; Media Type: Nintendo Wii disc,; Nintendo GAMECUBE disc; Processor: IBM PowerPC

Here is a funny Nintendo Wii video from YouTube.

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