alaTest Trends: October 2011
With the holidays just around the corner, it’s always helpful to know what goodies people are most interested in, and what better way to find out than a new rendition of alaTest Trends? Here are some of last month’s most popular items, sure to be hot topics this holiday season.
Panasonic TXP GT30 Series HDTVs
As one of our top rated HDTVs, it comes as no surprise that the TXP GT30 is also one of our top viewed products. Optimized for 3D playback, this plasma TV features a 600Hz refresh rate. This extremely high refresh rate also lends itself well to watching high action sports and console gaming. Its deep blacks and high color accuracy also make it an excellent choice for 2D Blu-Ray as well.
Another HDTV (you can see what might be a popular gift category this year), the EX720 offers a wide array of features. As expected with Sony TVs, the EX720’s image processing capabilities are unmatched, creating a brilliant viewing experience right out of the box. You can also enjoy its integrated internet apps, such as Netflix and Pandora. It even includes on-the-fly 2D to 3D conversion, so you can watch anything in 3D. On top of it all, the screen is nearly razor thin, and thanks to its LED design, is extremely power efficient.
Among our top 10 most viewed products, there were 4 digital cameras. The most viewed was the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX9V, which is really one of the best compact cameras on the market, though less seasoned photographers may prefer the WX10. Canon’s EOS Rebel T3i also made the list, followed by Nikon’s D3100, both of which are excellent entry-level digital SLRs. Following those, was the Nikon D7000, a digital SLR suitable for professional work; however, if a DSLR is on your shopping list, you may want to hold off for Sony’s upcoming NEX and α-series cameras, as they will be extremely competitive this year.
Smartphones made up nearly a third of our top 10 list, and they are sure to be a popular item this holiday season. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Active pulled in the most views, and while it’s not the most amazing phone on the market, it does have the rare combination of being both rugged and powerful (great for a reckless teenager). Just behind the Active was the Xperia Arc, a sleek and capable smartphone hailed for its surprising photo quality. Following that was the Samsung Galaxy S, the popular predecessor to our currently top-ranked phone, the Galaxy S II.
Of course it’s still a bit early to be doing your holiday shopping, but hopefully we’ve given you some great gift ideas (either for yourself or for friends and family). With Black Friday fast approaching, it’s not surprising to be seeing these larger (pricier) items on the most watched list. Many of these products, while still praise worthy, are soon to be replaced by next year’s updated versions, meaning massive price reductions as the holidays near.
Be sure to keep an eye on our blog. Through the whole month of November, we’ll be naming hot new products, posting buyer’s guides, and helping you prepare for the holiday shopping season. Let us know in the comments if you have any requests.
