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Asking a technology reporter to put together a holiday gift guide is a bit like asking a movie critic to pick their Top 10 best films of the year. It's an inexact science, and one that will no doubt elicit debate and disagreement.

The holidays are a wonderful time for tech gadget buffs. Every consumer electronics company has the holidays circled on their calendar, it's when they shoot to have their best devices on store shelves and users reap the rewards.

Even though the global financial situation may be taking a bit of the shine off festive moods this year, there are lots gadgets available in every price range to ensure everyone has a happy digital holiday.

ALURATEK INTERNET JUKEBOX

$39

There are literally thousands of eclectic and hard to find Internet radio stations around the world that we've never heard before, many of which are spinning some great tunes. Aluratek's USB Internet JukeBox helps its users discover and listen to more than 13,000 Web radio stations from 150 countries. In addition to locating various stations, it also weeds out the lower bandwidth ones to ensure better quality audio.

LOGITCH ILLUMINATED

KEYBOARD

$90

For someone who enjoys writing stories and playing video games in the dark hours of the night when normal folks are sleeping, the notion of a keyboard that lights up is particularly appealing.

CANON A1000 IS

DIGITAL CAMERA

$229

For every university student whose Saturday morning ritual consists of uploading last night's pictures to Facebook, Canon has developed the A1000. Its 10-megapixel resoltution means photos will blow up nicely to computer desktop size, the slim design ensures it fits inside a purse or clutch and its optical image stabilizer and 4x optical zoom ensures that those bar photos are in focus even when you're not.

MICROSOFT ZUNE

$99

The Microsoft Zune is the Rodney Dangerfield of MP3 players: it can't get no respect. Although the iPod remains the king of the music player kingdom, Microsoft's little-device-that-could can boast a handful of advantages over its Apple counterpart that make up for its slightly boxy appearance. The Zune includes an FM radio tuner, can be reloaded over a wireless Internet network without connecting it to a computer and a 4-gigabyte model costs about $30 less than the comparable iPod.

BLACKBERRY STORM

AVAILABLE FROM BELL AND

Telus this fall, no pricing details (shown left)

The Storm is the first touch screen BlackBerry from Waterloo's Research In Motion. Its clickable touch screen makes typing on it easier than its flashy competitors. It's the first legitimate iPhone killer, and it's built by a Canadian company. What more could you ask for?

GRIFFIN EVOLVE

$350 (shown above)

Not all iPod docks are created equal. The Evolve from Griffin features a shapely recharger dock with a pair of wireless cube speakers that offer exceptional sound quality and enough range to put it pretty much anywhere in the house. Ideal for the condo crowd or a home office.

XMP3 FROM XM CANADA

SATELLITE RADIO

$279

Just as video killed the radio star, the iPod has inflicted similar damage to the satellite radio. But with the XMp3, XM Canada may attract some new converts to the world of satellite radio. It can access all 130 XM Canada channels, but also allows the user to record up to five channels simultaneously, with the ability to store up to 75 hours of live satellite radio programming. It also features two gigabytes of on board memory and a microSD card slot so that users can store their own mp3s.

BEATS BY DR. DRE STUDIO HEADPHONES BY

MONSTER CABLE

$399

Designed by legendary rap icon Dr. Dre, these studio-quality headphones feature incredible sound quality and noise reduction. In fact, they drown out so much ambient noise, they would be perfect for noisy offices or business travellers who are looking to drown out the din or an airport, even when the music is off. Dre's Chronic album never sounded so good.

NINTENDO WII WITH WII FIT GAME

$280 for system,

$100 for game

For the past two holiday seasons, Nintendo's revolutionary video game console has been the most sought after and hardest to find gift. With its motion-sensing controllers and innovative gameplay, the Wii is the one console on the market that makes gaming fun for people other than traditional gamers. Wii Fit will be one of the hottest titles this year, especially among women. It includes yoga and stretching games to help improve balance, stability and overall fitness.

FREESTYLE AUDIO SOUNDWAVE UNDERWATER MP3 PLAYER

$99 (shown above)

While I enjoy swimming, I can't stand working out without music buzzing in my ears. Thankfully, Freestyle's Soundwave waterproof MP3 player can hold up to two-gigabytes of music and can be used to listen to Oasis or Kanye West while swimming laps in the YMCA pool, while taking a relaxing bath or if you're out canoeing and kayaking in weather you wouldn't deem safe for your phone or iPod.

Digital cameras are getting cheaper even as they incorporate better technology. Say goodbye to red-eye, as Grant Buckler zooms in on the best in the small, the waterproof and the must-have for the serious photographer

PANASONIC DMC-G1

$800

If you know a photographer ready to graduate from point-and-shoot to SLR, this bridge model might fit the bill. It has 12.1-MP resolution, and has 10 scene modes accessible on the same control dial as the classic automatic, A and P modes that any SLR provides. Unlike most digital SLRs it automatically operates in live view mode so photographers can frame their shots using the three-inch display screen. It's also quite small and light. Like many digital SLRs it concentrates on being a still camera and doesn't offer video capability.

PANASONIC DMC-FS3

$180

Looking for a basic budget-priced model but want to spend a little more than a hundred and get more extras? Look at Panasonic's DMC-FS3, a solid and easy-to-use pocket-sized camera. Its 8.1-MP sensor and 3x optical zoom roughly match the Kodak Easy Share C813, but it has a few more scene modes from which to choose, and the display is a bit larger at 2.5 inches compared with the Kodak's 2.4. The DMC-FS3 is slim enough to fit comfortably in a shirt pocket and, for the style-conscious, it's available in black, silver, blue or pink.

CANON SX110 IS

$300

In the middle of the point-and-shoot price range, but set apart from the crowd thanks to its larger display and better-than-average optical zoom capability. Resolution is nine megapixels, optical zoom is 10x and digital zoom is 4x (but only the digital zoom works in video mode). The three-inch display provides a clear view of what you're shooting, whether still picture or video, and the camera is quite responsive and easy to use.

KODAK EASYSHARE C813

$100

This is a fairly basic camera, with 8.2-megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom, but you'll have to go a long way to beat the price. It includes digital image stabilization to help avoid blurry pictures, and comes with Kodak's EasyShare software - press a button on the camera itself and your image is tagged to be e-mailed or printed later. The 2.4-inch display screen is a little smaller than average, but that's part of what makes the C813 compact. It's a good, modest-priced choice for the casual photographer or first-time digital camera owner.

NIKON COOLPIX P6000

$500

Two things make this compact unit stand out. The first is its 13.5-MP resolution, which would be quite respectable in a pricier digital SLR. The second is the geo-tagging feature. The camera has a built-in Global Positioning System receiver so it can obtain its latitude and longitude from orbiting satellites and attach that information to each picture it takes. Not everyone will care, but world travellers or wilderness explorers might be intrigued. Optical zoom is 4x, supplemented by another 4x of digital zoom.

SONY CYBERSHOT DSC-T500

$430

Here's a compact digital with a couple of differences. The Cybershot DSC-T500 uses a touch screen, so you can change some settings with your finger on its three-inch display. This feature might appeal to those on your gift list who like the cool factor. Common functions - such as taking a picture - still rely on familiar buttons. This camera, which has a 10.1-MP resolution and 5x optical zoom, also shoots high-definition video.

NIKON D90

$1,500

The D90 is a digital SLR with a 12.3-MP sensor and a three-inch screen on the back with a second, smaller top-mounted display. It's a big camera, but it has everything, including both a built-in flash and a hot shoe for accessories, and the ability - common in compact digitals but less so in SLRs - to shoot video.

PENTAX OPTIO W60

$300

This camera is waterproof to four metres and designed to operate in temperatures as low as -10 C. Apart from its ruggedness it's a fairly ordinary camera, with a 10-MP sensor, 5x optical zoom, 2.5-inch display screen, face detection and image stabilization. It shoots video, too, and you can crop and resize photos right on the camera.

OLYMPUS SP565UZ

$450

If you know a wildlife photographer or would-be paparazzo, consider one of the growing number of cameras with unusually powerful zoom capabilities. Olympus says its SP565UZ is the ultimate in this the zoom category, with 10x optical zoom backed by 20x digital zoom, though pushing the zoom to its limit does lead to a bit of distortion. This is a 10-MP camera with a 2.5-inch display and an impressive 33 predefined scene modes. The face-detection feature is said to track up to 16 faces.

SONY DSLR-A350K

$850

Here's a capable digital SLR at a fairly modest price. The A350K SLR delivers an impressive 14.2-MP resolution but keeps things simple with well-placed controls and seven commonly used scene modes readily accessible from a dial on the top of the camera. There's no video capability, but it has an unusual feature in its Teleconverter button — essentially a digital zoom. Pressing the button once digitally zooms the image 1.4 times, a second press increases it to 2.0, on top of whatever optical zoom the lens delivers (with SLRs, the optical zoom is a function of the lens you attach, and digital zoom is rarely provided).

Cables are so yesterday, and driving with a cellphone in your hand is becoming a no-no. In other words, there has never been a better holiday season to go wireless. Ian Harvey picks the must-haves this season

LOGITECH CLEARCHAT PC WIRELESS HEADSET

$120

This wireless headset links to your computer via USB and allows calls using such VoIP applications as Skype. With a range of up to 10 metres, you can wander around the office, hotel room or even airport departure lounge, as long as you have Internet access on your laptop.

SONY MDR-NC5000D HEADPHONES

$449

Not only do they sound great, these headphones also offset the ambient sounds around you with noise-cancelling technology. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts 16 hours, more than enough for the GO train run from Burlington to Toronto.

NOKIA BH-503 BLUETOOTH HEADSET

$149.95

Works with a phone and/or music player without the hassle of wires. It links easily to a Bluetooth-enabled phone, muting the music for incoming and outgoing calls. This unit will be helpful in those areas that have outlawed use of a mobile device while driving.

HP PHOTOSMART C6380 PRINTER

$199

WiFi printers are great - they reduce cable clutter and are easy to share among household users, and some digital cameras now print directly without having to go through a personal computer. The five ink cartridges in this unit are reasonably priced when it comes to replacement. Printed photos are lab-quality, and simple text printing is clear and crisp.

LINKSYS WRT610N WIRELESS ROUTER

$185

You would normally hide a WiFi router, since their aesthetics aren't much to rave about. This little marvel, however, looks as good as it works with dual radio bands, effectively doubling transfers. Use one band for lag-free gaming and high-definition video, and the other to check e-mail and surf the Web.

WILIFE LUKWERKS HOME SECURITY CAMERA STARTER KIT

$365

Ever wonder what's going on at home while you're away? Set up the remote camera and link to your computer via this unit's Ethernet-over-power-line kit (included). Then install the console on your work computer or smart phone. Any motion triggers an alert to your e-mail, so you can log on and see what's up.

POLAROID POGO PRINTER

$150

Print on the go - PoGo, get it? Print pictures from your cellphone or wireless-enabled camera with this pocket-sized printer. It links via Bluetooth and spits out colour photographs using a process called ZINK, for zero-ink. No computer, no cables required, but it does have a cable option for non-WiFi cameras.

SONY ERICSSON HCB-108 HANDS-FREE SPEAKER PHONE

$199

This sleek item attaches to your automobile's visor for hands-free conversation. It offers 25 hours of talk time between charges, and noise-cancellation technology and digital signal processing make reception clear.

SONY S-AIRPLAY AIR-SA20PK IPOD DOCK

$400.

It's a multi-room audio system: Simply connect your iPhone, Touch, Nano, Mini or Classic and the system streams audio wirelessly up to 50 metres164 feet to speakers connected via standard wall outlets. For an additional $130 a pair, you can add up to 10 more speakers for places such as the kitchen, deck, garden, office or bathroom.

Sony's technology won the DVD wars, making your buying decision simpler

SONY BDP-S350 BLU-RAY

DISC PLAYER

$299

This Blu-ray disc (BD) player gives you all the features you'll need, such as Bonus View picture-in-picture display, an Ethernet jack for BD-Live, which allows you to download related content from the Internet, and 1080p pictures with 5.1 channel surround sound.

LG BH200 SUPER-BLU PLAYER

$649

Has all the standard Blu-ray features plus 7.1 surround sound (which adds a second pair of middle speakers to the usual front, centre, back and woofer setup) and a fairly decent 1080p "upscaling" for standard DVDs so that they appear to have higher quality.

SAMSUNG BD-P1500

$189

An entry-level Blu-ray player that will work nicely with your entry-level 1080p flat-screen TV. Has an Ethernet connection for future upgrades and access to related movie content. If you already have Samsung equipment, it will all work with the same remote control - a bonus in itself.

PIONEER ELITE BDP-51FD

$599

A higher-end BD player that has all features plus the 7.1 analogue sound. This is the model for those who are fastidious about their home theatre, and will do justice to higher-end flat screens.

SONY PLAYSTATION 3 (80 GB)

$399

This may seem an incongruous choice as a DVD player but the Playstation is a two-for-one deal. In addition to the ground-breaking game console, you get a high-end Blu-ray player giving access to all the features and the same 7.1 audio found in the Sony BDP-S550, which sells for the same price.

PANASONIC DMP-BD55

$450

Panasonic says this model works better with its Viera HD screens than anything else. The unit also features unique colour-analyzing technology with 7.1 surround sound, and it's super-slim at 49 millimetres.

DENON DVD-3800 BDCI

$2,199

It's hard to compare entry-level DVD players because they offer much the same experience. But at this price level, things take on a professional feel. What do you get? More of just about everything, including deeper colours and top-of-the-line sound, which is what you should expect for a price tag this size.

SHARP BD-HP21U

$289

Sharp managed to get this player into the market in time for the holiday season, and not a moment too soon given that it addresses issues with its previous Blu-ray models. This unit supports BD-ROM profile 1.1, giving access to extra content and HDMI 1.3 for great video and sound connectivity to your high-definition flat screen.

SONY DVP-NS708H

UPSCALING DVD PLAYER

$109

If you don't have a full 1080p screen or don't want to splurge on a Blu-ray, upscaling DVD players provide a bridge to better picture quality. They play standard-definition DVDs but enhance the image digitally to add detail up to 1080p.

From pocket cameras for the YouTube generation to high-def devices for mom and dad, here's how to satisfy your inner director, Grant Buckler writes

PURE DIGITAL FLIP ULTRA (SHOWN ABOVE)$160

This is a cool gadget for the YouTube crowd. Barely larger than a pack of cards, it has only five controls. You just turn it on, press the red button on the back and it starts shooting video, which is stored in two gigabytes of built-in flash memory - enough for 60 minutes at the Flip Ultra's 640-by-480 resolution.

The Ultra has 2x digital zoom, and a built-in 1.5-inch display, plus a flip-out Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector to hook up to a computer, and a video cable for connecting to a TV. It's offered with a choice of black, orange, pink or green accents or in an all-white body, and comes with a carrying pouch.

SAMSUNG SC-MX20L

$300

The SC-MX20L is a more traditionally designed camcorder, smaller and lighter than some other models we've seen, with a flip-out, pivoting display screen and an adjustable strap to help you hold the camera with one hand. It's not an HD camcorder - resolution is 640-by-480 - but it's sold as YouTube-friendly, with a USB cable and software to help with uploading videos. Its zoom capability, rated at 34x, considerably outdoes the pocket models, and it records video to an SD card.

SONY HANDYCAM HDR-TG1

$900

A direct competitor to the Vixia HF100 is Sony's Handycam HDR-TG1, also delivering full HD or 1920-by-1080 resolution, but in a small pocket-sized configuration with a 2.7-inch flip-out-and-pivot display. Zoom is controlled by a wheel that surrounds the start-stop button on the back, a design that seems to work well. This model has 10x optical zoom. As is typical of Sony products, it uses the company's Memory Stick memory cards instead of the SD cards favoured by many manufacturers. This camcorder was recognized in the Consumer Electronics Show's 2009 Innovations Design and Engineering Awards.

CANON VIXIA HF100

$900

The HF100 is an HD camcorder, capable of full 1920-by-1080 resolution. It's a standard handheld camcorder design with hand strap and fold-out, pivoting 2.7-inch display. Optical zoom is 12x - a bit better than average for HD camcorders in its price range - and the HF100 accepts SD and SD-High Capacity memory cards. It's a compact and solid silver-grey unit with comfortable controls.

KODAK ZI6

$180

Another possible choice for the YouTube enthusiast on your list is Kodak's Zi6. Its basic configuration is similar to the Flip Ultra's. The biggest difference is that the Zi6 shoots high-definition video. Probably because of the storage requirements this entails, the Zi6 relies less on internal memory - there is some but not enough for even one lengthy video. Instead it accepts SD (secure digital) cards, the most common removable storage format for digital cameras and camcorders. And the Kodak's 2.5-inch display screen is bigger than the Flip Ultra's.

Whether it's Frosty the Snowman in the bedroom or the world hockey juniors in the basement, one of these will suit your needs, Ian Harvey writes

PANASONIC 42" 1080P

FLAT-PANEL PLASMA HDTV (TH42PZ80)

$1,299

At around the mid-40-inch size, we're getting into home theatre mode, in which the focus of the room is on the screen. Ideally, it should be a room with controlled light (blinds or curtains or even a basement setup) because this is where plasma technology really shines over LCD (liquid crystal display).

With full 1080p resolution, and three inputs for HDMI (high definition multimedia interface), the only feature this flat screen lacks is picture-in-

picture display, but the price brings real value with strong brand quality.

PIONEER 1080P 50" PLASMA HDTV (PDP-5020FD)

$3,500

When it comes to top-of-the-line, dedicated home theatre, this is where the rubber meets the road. The Pioneer high-definition TV series has superlative colour, incredible contrast and response, picture-in-picture display, and automatic ambient-light

adjustment. This is a flat screen you can comfortably build an entire system around and is getting into the "prosumer" level of quality.

SAMSUNG 32" FLAT-PANEL LCD HDTV (LN32A450)

$599

It wasn't so long ago that a 32-inch TV was the biggest screen in the house. And while this 720p LCD flat panel isn't the biggest or even sharpest screen around, it is a good option as a bedroom television or secondary screen for the office or kitchen even if you don't feed it with a full 1080p signal.

It's perfect for casual viewing while you're doing other things; it doesn't dominate the room but does offer the best picture your digital cable or satellite can deliver.