2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Hot Tech Toys

The Sonos Play:5 Wireless HiFi Player is a wireless music system can be controlled via Android, iPhone, or iPad with a free Sonos Controller app. It’s Mac and PC compatible and comes with free Internet radio stations. The device can be paired with other Play:5s to create stereo sound throughout your home. Available in black or white. Cost: $399

The most recent iPhone on the market, this device runs iOS 5 and has Siri, an electronic personal assistant who understands commands and questions, whether you ask to send a message or for an update on the weather forecast. You can shoot and edit photos and 1080p HD videos with the 8-megapixel camera. Utilize AirPrint to wirelessly print over Wi-Fi and FaceTime to video chat. Cost: Starting at $199

Making breakthroughs in portable entertainment, the Nintendo 3DS gives the game world a sense of space and depth and allows you to adjust the intensity of this 3D feature. A built-in motion sensor and gyro sensor reacts to your movements to control the side-to-side or up and down movement of objects on the screen instantly. Two screens enhance the user experience, as well as the ability to take 3D photos, and an adjustable stylus. Connect with friends using the StreetPass feature and be your own mobile hotspot with SpotPass. Cost: $169.99

This 12.1 megapixel camera has a 12x optical zoom and a 3.2-inch touchscreen. It’s available in red, black, and silver and has the ability to shoot 1080p full HD videos. The PowerShot ELPH 510 HS weighs little more than seven ounces and is only .86 inches thick. The Movie Digest feature will allow you to create a video of your day’s photographs by recording brief clips before every picture taken. Cost: $349.99

If you’re a fan of simplicity, then you’ll like this basic but extremely helpful iPad Connection Kit. The two-piece device makes it easy to transfer photos and videos via memory card or USB interface, by sliding a SD card into the SD Card Reader or using the Camera Connector and a USB cable (not included) to transfer files from a camera or iPhone. Cost: $29

The Galaxy Nexus is a 8.84mm-thick 4G phone that runs on Google’s 4.0 Android operating system and has a 4.65-inch HD display. Voice typing allows for easy sending of e-mails and text messages, while the Face Unlock feature increases security. The 5-megapixel camera can take panoramic pictures and 1080p videos, which can be edited on the device before sharing. The 1.2 GHZ dual core processor allows for switching between multiple apps quickly and enjoying HD gaming and lightning fast web browsing. Cost: Unavailable/TBA

Apple TV is a small device that ensures that there’s always something on. The ability to control Apple TV with an iPad, iPod touch, or iPhone promises that you’ll be a lot less likely to lose the remote in the couch cushions. But the sleek Apple TV, which weighs less than a pound and is only 0.9 of an inch in width, does come with a simple remote. You can stream movies or TV shows wirelessly from iTunes or Netflix, as well as from your Mac or PC. Cost: $99

This add-on for the Xbox 360 uses a sensor to track multiple points on your body, turning you into the gaming controller. With Kinect games you can dance, play sports, and even participate in racing games, all sans an actual controller. And when utilized with Xbox Live the device allows you to control your show-watching experience by playing, pausing, and rewinding via verbal command. Cost: $149.99

This new HP TopShot LaserJet Pro M275 printer really sets the bar high for all-in-one printers. With this device you can print, scan, and copy documents, as well as utilize the innovative document-scanning arm to capture 3D images of items. Cutting out the middleman even further, an app can be used to place these scans directly to the Web or an auction website. It even allows for wireless printing with HP ePrint. Cost: $399.99

The new and improved iPad 2 runs on an iOS 5 operating system with a battery that lasts 10 hours. Through it you can utilize the iCloud to store content and easily access it wirelessly from other devices. There are two cameras in the tablet, which weighs 1.33 pounds and is a sleek device measuring 0.34 of an inch. Cost: Starting at $499

— Caitlin Berens