2) Asus Transformer Prime: Asus' Transformer Prime has some of the same features of the Galaxy Tab (such as the 10.1" screen and the 1GB of memory) with some additional nice features. The rear camera is 8MP, which is pretty much the best on the market, beating even the new iPad. It runs on Android's Ice Cream Sandwich, which is the latest and greatest version of Android. It's also over a millimeter thinner and almost 100 grams lighter than the iPad. The coolest feature, though, is the USB keyboard docking attachment (purchased separately) which effectively turns the tablet into a netbook and boosts battery life. The Transformer Prime costs between $500 and $700, again depending on which hard drive you get. The keyboard costs another $150, but gives you functionality that isn't found with other tablets.

3) Amazon Kindle Fire: Amazon's tablet doesn't have the same high-power specs that the previous two tablets had, but it's great for more casual users who are not as concerned with intense gaming or watching high definition movies. It has a 7" display and only 8GB of hard drive space, but it offers free cloud storage for everything that you purchase on the Amazon store. The most impressive selling point is its $200 price tag, which is really nice for those who are just starting to explore the tablet market and aren't ready for a really big purchase yet.

4) Samsung Galaxy Note: The Galaxy Note is kind of a different animal -- it's something between a phone and a tablet (what some are calling a "phablet"). It has a 5.3" display, which is smaller than most tablets, but it gives you more screen-space than competing phones. The Note also has an HD Super AMOLED screen, rivaling the new iPad's crystal clear, colorful display. It runs on WiFi, 3G, and 4G networks also, and has enough memory and storage space to keep it running fast. Like the Asus Transformer Prime, it also has an 8MP camera, which will give you great quality photos, especially considering that it's coming from a phone. The feature that sets it apart from the rest (other than its size) is its use of the stylus for taking notes or making more precise annotations. It will be interesting to see if this catches on with other devices. The Note costs a steep $650, or $300 with a two-year contract through AT&T.

5) Apple iPad 2: It seems strange to buy the old version as the new version is coming out, but really, there's nothing wrong with the iPad 2. Although the new iPad is faster, you really can't call the previous version slow. It also still has the great display and the same intuitive interface that everyone knows and loves. When the new iPad came out, Apple dropped the price of the iPad 2, so you can now get the WiFi version for $400 and the 3G one for $530, which are both reasonable prices for such a great device. If you can stand not always having the newest version, the iPad 2 is still a great tablet and will definitely get the job done without feeling obsolete. 

If you really want the new iPad, by all means, go for it. It's a great tablet and will probably make you very happy. Most people don't even think about other tablets, though, so it's smart shopping to at least take a look at the competitors. If, after considering the options, nothing else meets your need, I hope you enjoy your new iPad!

1) BrailleTouch: In the last few weeks this app has really started to take the internet and news sites by storm. CNN and several other news outlets and tech sites have all reported on it. The idea is that blind or visually impaired users would be able to type in Braille on their phone without having to buy an extremely costly external device like they need to now. Sighted users could also use this to type without looking at the screen if they were willing to learn Braille. Early research indicates users proficient in Braille can type at around 32 words per minute with 92% accuracy, making this a very viable option for text input. When the research is done and the app is ready, it will be available for free on the iPhone and Android.

2) Argon: Argon is an augmented reality web browser, but what does that mean? Augmented reality is when sound, images, or other computer generated data is integrated into a live view of your real world. With Argon, anyone with the programming skills to make a website can develop their own Argon-enabled site to be used by everyone with this browser rather than having to spend countless hours learning about augmented reality from the ground up. In the video, Dr. MacIntyre gives the example of a grocery store being able to indicate what specials are going on so that the shopper can just hold up their phone and see exactly where the deals are around the store. I saw another example where a virtual character leads you on a historical tour of a cemetery through your mobile phone, and another that showed the architect's design of a finished building in place of a construction site that was in front of you in the real world. This all seems very sci-fi and futuristic, but Argon is actually available for iPhone and iPad now (although it's probably more effective to use it in the Atlanta area). All that's left is for people to develop for it.

3) PR2 Robot: Willow Garage's PR2 robot is currently being studied in Georgia Tech's Aware Home (an actual house on campus fitted with all kinds of gadgets and sensors used for research). The current area being focused on is how to let older-adults live full and independent lives at home for as long as possible. The PR2 can navigate the house without running into walls or objects in its path, perform simple tasks like turning lights on and off, retrieve objects like the remote, and deliver medicine to the right user at the right time, wherever they are. As time advances, the robot will be able to learn more tasks to help the person living in the home, like cooking and cleaning. I think I've heard that the same model robot at another institution has been able to shave someone's face, but I'm not sure that I'd like to be the first one to try that.

4) Mobile Music Touch: This device is a wireless glove with vibrating motors in each finger that can be connected with an mp3 player or phone to "teach" users how to play music on the piano. Each finger that is used to play each note vibrates in order, so that after about thirty minutes of wearing the glove while performing other tasks, the vibrations are turned into muscle memory. This seems great for short pieces like the first fifteen notes of "Ode to Joy," but the REALLY interesting part is that they have begun doing research about how this benefits people who have lost most use of their hands due to spinal cord injuries. It is very possible that this glove, originally intended for passively teaching music, will turn into a viable rehabilitation device.

5) Hydrosense: Technically this project was originally designed by researchers at the University of Washington (one of whom is a Georgia Tech graduate), but it is important to researchers here as well. The basic idea of Hydrosense is that a single pressure sensor can be placed on the water-line coming into the house to monitor water use and even determine which water source is being used, such as the dishwasher, the upstairs toilet, or the kitchen sink, based on its unique fingerprint. This could help people learn where they're wasting water, but it could also be used to detect when something is wrong. For instance, if someone seems to be using the bathroom a lot more often than usual or at different times (such as in the middle of the night) it might be an indication of a urinary tract infection or some similar ailment. This unobtrusive sensor has serious medical, economical, and environmental implications that are definitely worth exploring.

As I said earlier, none of these are quite ready for widespread use, but they all suggest some technology that could be found in or around the home in the next ten years or so. I'm very excited to be here around all of this interesting research, and I hope some others find these projects as cool as I do.

Nokia Lumia 900
1) Nokia Lumia 900: This Windows Phone from Nokia could be the example to which all other Windows Phones aspire to be. The hardware contains a fairly fast 1.4 GHz processor, a bright, crisp, 4.3-inch AMOLED display, a 1 megapixel front camera for video calls, and an 8MP rear camera for great photos. The Lumia 900 will be exclusive to AT&T on its new 4G LTE network, which is said to be quite fast. Pricing and a release date are unknown but people are speculating that it will come out in March, probably around the $200 price range.


Asus Memo 370T

 2) Asus Memo 370T: The Asus Memo 370T made quite a splash this year as the affordable tablet, similar to the Kindle Fire last year. Just because this device is great for folks on a budget doesn't mean that it isn't powerful, though. The memo sports Nvidia's quad-core Tegra 3 processor (translation: it's fast), runs on Ice Cream Sandwich (not the dessert, but the latest and greatest version of Android), and has 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. This won't be the most powerful tablet on the market, but for an affordable 7 inch tablet you aren't making much of a sacrifice for its low price.


Samsung Galaxy Note
3) Samsung Galaxy Note: Is it a phone or is it a tablet? Samsung says it's a mix of the two, with the features of a phone but a 5.3 inch screen encroaching on tablet territory. A version of this phone has been out for a few months in Europe and Asia, but it has yet to be released in America. It will come with a fast 1.5GHz processor, a beautiful HD Super AMOLED screen, and will operate on AT&T's 4G LTE network, but the most interesting part of this phone/tablet is its use of a stylus. The stylus, while initially intended to be used in note-taking (hence the name) and annotations, could be used by more apps in the future. It'll be interesting to see if the stylus will catch on (again) or if the Note's in-between size will make it too awkward for most consumers.

LG's 55-inch OLED TV

4) LG's 55-inch OLED TV: While OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology has been used in phones and tablets in the past, we still haven't seen an OLED TV in the US yet. LG's OLED TV is brighter and more energy efficient than other TVs, is super-thin, and will come with a bunch of added features, like streaming media, social media, a Magic Motion remote (think Wii remote), and passive 3D capabilities. The price has not been announced yet, but it's expected to be pretty high. The important thing is, though, that this is becoming a viable technology that will start to make its way into the living room in the next few years.

HP Envy 14 Spectre

5) HP Envy 14 Spectre: With all of the talk about smartphones and tablets it's important to remember that "regular" computers aren't dead. HP's latest offering into the ultrabook market is a great reminder. The Spectre is not the thinnest ultrabook on the market and it's not quite as powerful as many higher-end laptops, but it still supports an Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB of RAM. Its aesthetics are one of its big selling points, as its lid and palm rests are all covered with Gorilla Glass, the scratch resistant surface found on many touchscreen devices. With a $1,400 price tag, we'll have to wait and see if the style is worth the extra cost.


This is just the tip of the iceberg for what we will see this year in the tech world. Leave us a comment if there was anything from CES 2012 that you're really excited about this year!

5) Xbox Kinect: After the Nintendo Wii popularized the use of motion in video games, Microsoft responded with the Kinect. By using a camera that is set up near your TV, the games are able to take your movement as the input, causing you to actually get off the couch and move around (a scary prospect for some). A few years ago, the technology inside the Kinect would have cost thousands of dollars (really) but now it goes for as little as $100. Programmers are even using the Kinect for many other interesting purposes, so it's not too farfetched to say that you might even use it outside of gaming before too long. For casual and hardcore gamers alike, the Kinect is a must have for anyone with an Xbox 360.


There are plenty of great electronics on the market these days -- I didn't even mention other tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab or other Android phones. Am I missing anything else important, or have you come up with a great gift that you would like to share? Leave us a comment and tell us about it!

For more information about what exactly is on sale, check Amazon every day this week!

2) Kayak.com: Finding an affordable flight online can be quite stressful, especially during a time when lots of others are also flying. There are dozens of websites that claim to get you the cheapest flights, but which one is really the best? With Kayak, it doesn't matter. Kayak compares all of the popular sites to book flights (Orbitz, Priceline, Hotwire, etc.) as well as the airlines themselves so that you can get the best deal without looking at ten different sites. When I travel, Kayak is my go-to site for flights, hotels, and whatever else I might need.

3) Skype: If it isn't possible to get everyone together for the holidays, it's not the end of the world. Now that Skype has become so popular, it's incredibly easy to have a face to face conversation with people on the other side of the world. I realize that Skype isn't exactly a secret (especially to people who are reading a tech blog), but the point of bringing it up in this list is to remind people to set up their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and whoever else doesn't have it yet. I recently had the opportunity to watch a focus group with older adults (all over the age of 65) talking about technology and the web, and all six participants had used and LOVED Skype. Simple things like eating Sunday breakfast with Grandma over Skype can really mean the world to them. When you can, try to set up your whole family to be able to video chat online!

4) Sale Aggregators: There are quite a few sites out there that give you information about sales from multiple stores, but there are two that stand out to me. Both of these sites are active year-round, but they really come in handy during the holidays.

SaleLocator is both a website and an iPhone/Android app that uses your zip code to look for deals closest to you. If you plan on leaving the house to do your holiday shopping, just search for the item you plan on buying and it will tell you if there are any deals in stores nearby, saving you from driving all over town or checking the website of every store in town that might sell that TV. It also helps you compare prices if you find an item in a store but want to check to make sure the WalMart down the street doesn't have a better deal. I find that this works really well in some areas but not so well in others, so check to see if people are reporting sales in your part of town.

If you like to do your shopping from the comfort of your computer chair, don't buy anything without checking RetailMeNot first. This site has coupon codes for thousands of websites, often providing deals like free shipping or a percentage off of an entire purchase. Just use the codes they provide at checkout on whatever site you're using and enjoy the savings!

5) NORAD Santa: The North American Aerospace Defense Command likes to have fun during the Christmas season by using high-tech means to track Santa's progress with Google Earth and video updates about his progress. Before Christmas, though, there's a countdown until Santa's flight and plenty of games for kids. Maybe this isn't the most useful tip on the list, but what's wrong with a little fun for the holidays?


There's still a few weeks left until the holiday season is in full swing, which is more than enough time to get your planning and shopping done before the last minute. If you are one to put things off until the last minute, I hope these tips can at least save you a bit of time, money, and stress. Anybody else have websites or apps that they like to use during this time of year? Leave us a comment!

(Note: This all refers to PCs, not Macs, as there are likely to be many more deals on PCs this week.)


1) CPU: The Central Processing Unit (often just called "the processor") is basically the brain of your computer. It's what's making it run and what's carrying out the millions of complicated instructions and calculations so that you can check your Facebook or open a new Word document. There are all kinds of CPUs on the market today, but the basic rule of thumb right now is to stick with the Intel Core i series. In this series you have three options: i3, i5, and i7. i3 processors are the cheapest, and are great for casual users who surf the web, check email, and make Word documents. i5 is a step up, with boosted speed for running photo or video editing software or other programs that might be more demanding. i7 is the fastest of the bunch, and is great for running games, heavy video editing, and 3D rendering. This is the most advanced option, and if you don't know whether or not you need it, you probably don't. I would recommend the i3 for most users as it is by no means slow and is typically the cheapest option. However, if you see a good deal on an i5 (or even i7), it won't hurt to have that extra speed if you think you might need it someday. Just keep in mind that you won't see a difference in checking emails or opening Microsoft Word with a faster processor -- it really only makes a difference in more advanced programs.

2) RAM: Random Access Memory (usually referred to as just "memory") is the temporary storage used by your computer when it is powered on. Your operating system and applications will store data in memory that it might need to retrieve again soon. As you might imagine, the more memory you have, the more your computer can handle at one time. When doing your shopping you might see computers that range from 2GB - 8GB of RAM. I would recommend at least 4GB for the casual users who mainly just surf the web or create documents -- anything less will limit the capabilities of your machine and is becoming obsolete. Again, you can go with more than 4GB if you plan on gaming or using more intensive software, but you won't see a difference in speed for your basic tasks.

3) Hard Drive: This one is a bit more basic: the more space your hard drive has, the more data you can store on it. For users who don't store much on their computers besides documents, a 320GB hard drive is more than enough. For people with a lot of photos, music, games, or large programs, you might be more interested in a 500GB or 750GB hard drive. Don't forget: you can always get an external hard drive to store files on if you want to leave space on your computer.

4) Operating system: As I said before, if you are reading this I assume you are interested in buying a PC. There are still a few PCs that come with Windows XP installed, and I would highly recommend you avoid them. XP was great, but it's now over ten years old, and is not even supported by Microsoft anymore. As for Vista, well...we don't talk about that anymore. Now you should be shopping for a computer with Windows 7. There are two versions of Windows 7: 32 bit and 64 bit. A 32 bit operating system is ok for basic use, but it can only utilize up to 4GB of RAM and might not support more advanced software. I would recommend looking for a computer with a 64 bit OS because it will run faster and is less likely to become obsolete in the near future. The only downside with a 64 bit OS is that it could have trouble running old programs and hardware, but this is becoming less of an issue as new software and hardware has come out to support newer systems.

5) Screen size: When it comes to the size of your display, bigger isn't necessarily better. The common sizes for regular laptops (not including netbooks) is between 13.3-17.3 inches diagonally. 13.3-15.6" is good for most users and is still very portable. 17.3" displays are very nice if your laptop is likely to live at your desk, but if you plan on carrying it around very often it is pretty bulky and heavy. Again, think about how you plan on using your laptop: if you are carrying it back and forth to the office you might want a smaller one. If you plan on watching lots of movies and playing games, a larger screen might be better.


Of course there are other issues to consider when buying a new computer. You might want a laptop with increased battery life if you plan on being on-the-go for most of the day, or you might want a higher-end graphics card (although this is mainly for gaming, and isn't very important for most users). Some computers even come equipped with a Blu-Ray player now. In the end, it all depends on how you plan on using your laptop. It won't hurt to have a top-of-the-line computer if you aren't planning on doing anything too advanced, but why pay all that extra money? Hopefully after reading these five points the computer-buying process is a little less mysterious and you'll be able to buy a new laptop with confidence this Black Friday. Good luck, and happy (bargain) hunting!

1) Quotes: This one is probably the most commonly used. If you want to find results that match your search terms exactly, simply place the words in quotation marks so that the entire phrase is treated as one search term, not a bunch of individual words. This is particularly useful when trying to find things like the name of the song based on a line or two of the lyrics or the author of a certain quote.

2) Minus: Sometimes you want to exclude a word from your search because the results are all off-topic. By placing a minus sign before the word or words you wish to exclude you are removing all pages that had those words from your results. For example, if you were interested in finding out more about the squirrels that live in Richmond, your first instinct might be to search [Richmond squirrels]. Pretty quickly you realize that all of the results are about the minor league baseball team. By searching [Richmond squirrels -flying -baseball], most of the results are actually about the pesky animals that live in your yard.

3) Asterisk: The wildcard operator is used by typing an asterisk in the place of a word that you either can't remember or are trying to find. Using this trick is basically like having Google fill in the blank for you. You might use this if you quickly want to find what some people's favorite movies are, as [* is my favorite movie] is much more to the point that [is my favorite movie]. You could also use the wildcard if you are trying to remember a word from a quote or a part of the title of a book.

4) Define: It isn't terribly difficult to use a dictionary online, but you could save yourself some time with this tip. Just type "define:" before the troublesome word and the first result that Google brings will be a definition, part of speech, and pronunciation with links to several dictionaries for more information.

5) Site: Sometimes you might read an article on a website and have trouble finding it later, or you just might want to see what a particular site had to say about some subject. Exploring the site to find it might take a long time, and searching the website's name along with the subject still might not give you what you're looking for. For instance, if you wanted to find what we've had to say about Google in the past you could search [google 127tech.com] which gives you a few results from this site, but most of the results are irrelevant, showing all instances where the words "Google" and "127TECH" appeared on the same page. Searching [google site:127tech.com] shows only results from this site, making it much easier to find what you were looking for.


Now that you know a few more search tips you can save time by not having to go through pages and pages of search results to find what you were looking for. Taking advantage of these built-in search operators can make you a master-Googler so that you can now impress your friends and family with how quickly you are able to come up with information from the web.