Hot Technologies: Top Technology Gadgets of 2008 (Page 2 of 2)

The popularity of the Apple iPod Classic and Nano can overshadow many of the MP3 players which enter the market. And now with the integration of media services and telecommunications in the form of the Apple iPhone, the market has again been squeezed. However, one such MP3 player that made a solid impression on me in 2008 was the Archos 605 Wifi.

Archos have been making portable music devices for a considerable time, and in the 605 they have designed a video and audio unit that incorporates swish aesthetics with a super slim-line casing. It has a wonderful array of features. Playback is immaculate, and 30 GB of storage is capacious. It has a stunning 4.3in screen, control buttons are a breeze to operate, and the handy integrated kick stand enhances viewing pleasure. It is a superb little media player, resilient and delivering wonderful playback clarity - one which I would highly recommend.

The Blackberry Curve 8310 and 8320 are the newest smartphones in the Blackberry portfolio. Both offer dynamic satellite navigation and impressive mobile multimedia communications. With email, Internet, GPS and a 3 megapixel camera, the Curve is a device that will impress both the business savvy and general consumer. Its feature rich applications, email communications and 3G Internet capabilities are flawless, and the GPS connectivity is hugely impressive, offering precise location pickup, signal strength, and satellite navigation.

The Curve 8310 also delivers an exceptional interface which makes this an impressive device for the road warrior, those who use the underground / subway, or frequently visit back waters. Menu navigation is slick, the full QWERTY keyboard is easy to operate, and applications launch with neat precision. The Blackberry Curve also looks and feels the part, housing an impressive screen that projects brilliant imagery both inside and outdoors.

As a top end specification in the navigation device market, and being the flagship unit in the TomTom portfolio, the Go 720 comes equipped with a wealth of advanced navigational functions and features. The device truly does offer everything you could wish for from a top of the range navigational aid, plus the Go 720 also comes with a built in MP3 player and Bluetooth.

As aesthetically pleasing as any TomTom model, with great design lines and durability, the Go 720 handles well. The GUI and menu system have had minor touch-ups from the legacy model, combining well with the screen resolution to deliver easy user interaction and navigation, especially when using ‘locate’ or ‘direct’ tasks. Map updates are delivered without fuss or connectivity issues and while they are not ‘Live’, they are relatively up-to-date.

Map projection is of the highest quality, and the visual and audio output delivered by the unit are second to none. It could however come with more battery longevity and as with all TomTom devices, (certainly at the top end of the price bracket) it would be good to see the addition of text-to-speech functionality and ‘Go Live’ mapping updates. These features truly would make this an impressive, all in one navigation and audio entertainment device.