As if there aren’t enough gadgets cropping up to get excited about. Now Microsoft is entering the game with its own mobile phone creations in the hopes of getting a piece of the pie being dominated by the iPhones and Blackberrys of the world.

Called the Kin 1 and the Kin 2, these Microsoft powered devices are reportedly to be made by Sharp, who also made the popular Sidekick series.

Though both phones are boxy affairs, the curved corners look sleek enough to be considered eye candy. Both the shorter, square shaped Kin 1 and the longer, rectangular Kin 2 also sport a touch screen that should appeal to the technologically savvy young crowd that Microsoft hopes to win over. In fact, Microsoft had this market in mind and made the Kin series to be handy devices for the social networking generation.

This could be a big leap for Microsoft who has so far never ventured into creating its own mobile phone. In the past, the company has put itself in the software corner of mobile technology and has made good money on vending its Windows Phone 7 software to other mobile phone manufacturers.

No announcements have been made so far on its pricing scheme, but Microsoft has high hopes that the Kin will help it get ahead of the top two mobile phone makers Apple and Blackberry. Here’s hoping the Kin lives up to expectations!

Never has there been an electronic device’s arrival more anticipated than that of the iPad, and yet, Kiwis who cannot wait to get their hands on this nifty little tablet will probably have to wait much longer than their US counterparts, who have been promised an April release date – a little over 2 months since its launch.

Apple distributor Renaissance Corporation, which has been bringing Apple products to Kiwi homes and businesses for over 20 years recently said that Apple has yet to provide New Zealand with a release date for the iPad.

Yes, patience will have to be a virtue – whether we like it or not. Short of flying to the U.S. and lining up outside your friendly neighborhood Apple store, New Zealand residents will have to wait it out indefinitely before they can call themselves proud owners of the iPad.

This is due mostly to the unanticipated demand for the iPad. It’s huge presale interest has driven back even the US release date by a few days. In many cases, the demand has simply outstripped the supply, which just means more waiting for markets outside the US.

Other markets like Japan, Australia and Canada expect to have their iPads in by the end of April. Kiwis, however, will just have to wait and see.

The new DSi XL doubles as an e-book reader. Compared to the original DS, shown in white, the DSi XL shown here in pink is definitely bigger than its predecessor.

Gamer? Check.
Avid reader? Check.
Gadget enthusiast? Check.

If you’re all three, like me, you’re gonna love what NZ is welcoming to its shores this April. Nintendo is releasing the latest gadget off its production line – the Nintendo DSi XL.

Just like its incredibly popular older brother, the DS, this baby is made precisely for gamers who also want more out of their portable gadget. And with the growing popularity of e-books through Amazon’s Kindle, Nintendo has come up with the perfect marriage between games and books.

Now, it could be argued that there are plenty of other devices already in the market that can offer exactly what the DSi XL is offering only recently. Fact though, is that it has already offered it before in previous versions of the DSi and the DS, but here’s why we like the latest addition to the DS line over its competitors as well as its predecessors.

First, the DSi XL has been upgraded with a bigger 4.2-inch screen than the previous versions, which were at 3 and 3.25 inches respectively. That’s even bigger than the iPhone’s 3.5-inch diagonal display. Great news for those who have been struggling to read off of the smaller screens currently available.

Second, and here’s the kicker, I love that the DS’s two-screen format is the only gadget around that comes closest to the way we traditionally read books – unfolded down the middle (just like the DS), with two pages in view simultaneously.

This means that the DS can actually let you read an e-book by holding it up the way you would hold a normal book. Cool, isn’t it?
Can’t wait to get my hands on it when it hits New Zealand stores this April

A Netbook Like No Other: Apple Launches the iPad

“Our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price.”  Or at least, that’s what the boys over at Apple claim their new product is, and for all the anticipation and excitement and mystery that has surrounded the development of the iPad leading up to it’s January 27 launch in San Francisco, I’ve got to say, this new device seems to be living up to most of users expectations.

I’ve been listening to tech gurus all over the world predicting the future of technology and intuitively visualizing a trend that sees the perfect merger of smart phone and laptop technologies somewhere down the line. For most people, this combination embodies itself in the netbook, a sized-down laptop with most of the capabilities of a smartphone – e-mails, mobile web browsing, and most can even make phone calls out of their netbooks.

Ideally, this seems to be the perfect technology – a light, carry-anywhere device that let’s you do plenty of things even while you are mobile. There’s a catch though. Netbooks simply aren’t better at the things that smartphones and laptops can do individually. They’re slow, clunky pieces of equipment that I would personally hurl into the air in frustration – and believe me, I’ve come quite close to doing that.

But just when I thought I’d be doomed to eternal frustration with the slew of netbooks out in the market today, here comes Apple with its revolutionary new device – the iPad.For a device that’s supposed to fall under the netbook category, it sure looks nothing like one. Picture an oversized 9.75-inch iPhone or iPod Touch and you’ve got a perfect idea of what an iPad looks like. It has a slim, half-an inch thick body, an aluminum and glass enclosure, which Apple claims is environment friendly, and a gorgeous TFT display.

Need we talk about the power that Apple puts behind all its products? With stunning display, a new custom-built A4 chip, an awesome accelerometer and ultra-responsive multi-touch screen, the iPad is built to have techies like me drooling like a Pavlovian dog at mere sight. How’s that for visually stimulating?

For me, it’s tablet, touch screen format is a draw. There’s nothing like holding such a powerful tool right in your hands, and its touch screen feature makes me feel like I am truly in control of the device – a very interactive feeling. And at a starting price of low starting price for the 16GB Wi-Fi model, the iPad will definitely be an instant bestseller.

Many critics will probably dismiss the iPad as a bigger version of the iPhone, but I beg to disagree. Once those critics have got one on their hands, I bet they’ll all be turning tail and wagging in the opposite direction. Steve Jobs and the boys over at Apple have once again done something truly revolutionary, and I must say that this Apple fan will definitely be adding a new member to her Apple family.

So Christmas has been and gone… it’s back to work and a chance to show off what tech gadgets you got at Christmas. There has been some cool stuff out and about and the January sales have been excellent.

If you missed out, our advice is…. lie.

Tell your work colleages you got something from our “techy-top five cool xmas gadget list”   (sheesh I can hardly even type that let alone say it)

Number 5 Nintendo DSI
A cool present indeed. But was it bought for you or do you have to share it?  They also come in pink

Number 4 The Vodafone MiFi
A cool present indeed, for around $499 you and four buddies can share a mobile internet connection… it’s like you have you own personal WiFi.  imagine how popular you’re going to be!

Number 3 Sony Ericsson U1i Satio
Sony are bringing out their new  Android phone in a few months  but some people just can’t wait….enter the “Satio”. Powered by their Symbian S60T operating system we think it’s quite an awesome cool phone. The Satio features a 3.5″ full touch Screen, 3G HSUPA, WIFI & GPS and is powered by the Symbian S60 T operating system.

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Number 2        The “ALT of CTRL”  T-shirt
Becuase we know some one that got one in the office and it really is true that they are out of control.They proudly wore it today and told me it was very reasonably priced.

The Number 1 Top Tech gadget for Christmas 2009 has been… The  Apple iPhone 3GS   32G Black ….faster, sleeker, better battery, it’s a cool upgrade from your old model and has been the model of choice.