Digital Cameras

With trips for spring break and summer just around the corner, it’s not surprising that digital cameras are on the top of the list. These are the three that made the cut.

Canon EOS Rebel T3i – Canon’s Rebel series has always managed to hold onto the top spots in our SLR ranks. The T3i is an excellent entry-level Digital SLR with great manual and automatic features, large 18MP CMOS image sensor, and 1080p video capability. Its burst shooting modes are bit slower than the high-end cameras, and the automatic focus lacks a few feautes; however, its price makes it an excellent value for the budding photographer.

Sony DSC-HX9V – The HX9V isn’t the newest compact digital camera on the market, but it’s still a solid 16MP shooter with a TON of features. If you’re looking for an affordable camera that has a setting for just about any lighting situation you might come across, the HX9V is for you.

Nikon CoolPix P300 – The CoolPix P300 is very similar to the HX9V, featuring many different shooting mode presets. It does cut back a bit on the feature list compared to the HX9V, which makes it a bit easier to use, but you also pay a bit of a premium for the Nikon name.

HDTVs

There is a lot of new HDTV technology coming out this year, but the models topping out list aren’t the latest, most advanced. Instead, they’re excellent sets whose prices have recently fallen.

Samsung UE/UN D5000 Series – Samsung’s D5000 series has a very attractive price tag for the features and image quality that it offers. As far as LED TVs are concerned, it’s one of the best values on the market right now.

Philips PFL7606K Series – The PFL7606K is another affordably priced HDTV. Its key feature is 3D capabilities. As far as 3D features go, the PFL7606K does an excellent job. 2D image quality takes a small hit, but is still quite good for a set of this caliber.

Panasonic TXP GT30 Series – For anyone in the market for a large, affordable plasma screen TV, the TXP GT30 is certainly one of the top choices. Its 3D features won’t wow you, but its 2D picture quality is everything you’d expect from a top-notch plasma display.

Sony KDL-EX720 Series – The KDL-EX720 is the least expensive 3D TV Sony has to offer. For an LED TV, its picture quality is only about average, but it has a long list of useful features such as a matte screen, excellent internet services, and energy saving utilities.

Android Phones

Android devices are extremely abundant and range from budget friendly to unique and high-end. Both ends of the spectrum are popular amongst consumers

Samsung Galaxy Note – The Galaxy Note is currently the highest ranked Android phone on alaTest (coming in just behind the iPhone 4S). Its very large screen and powerful processor make it a popular choice for those looking for a more tablet-like experience.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray – Going in the other direction, the Xperia Ray has a smaller, 3.3-inch display for a more pocket-friendly experience. It still features a quality screen and capable processor, making it a great choice for an entry-level device.

Samsung Galaxy GIO – Though it’s an older device, the Galaxy GIO makes a solid choice for those looking to get the most out of their money. It cuts a few corners, such as featuring a QVGA display, 3MP camera, and 800MHz processor, but is still a good value.

CD boom boxes and stereo systems belong to the past now. In an age where everyone is using an iPod to listen to music, a dock speaker is on its way to becoming a must-have. It has its share of advantages- it simultaneously charges your iPod while playing music from it, it is light, affordable and has great audio quality. On top of everything, the design is just as modern and minimalistic as is an iPod’s.

Here is a list of the criteria we followed while trying to choose the best out of the many iPod dock speakers available in the market:

1. Audio quality- It goes without saying that this would be our topmost criterion. While an iPod dock might not have the fanciest features, it does promise top-notch audio quality and that’s exactly what we are looking for.

2. Looks and Design: Under normal circumstances, this would be the last on our list of criterion but iPod dock speakers have been branded with looks as their USP. One look at some of the dock speakers in our list will tell you exactly what we are speaking out.

3. Convenience: Let’s get this straight- an iPod dock speaker was designed on the principle of minimalism in design and efficiency in performance, quite like an iPod itself. ‘Let’s keep things simple’ could be the motto of any iPod dock speaker. We are looking for ease of use and performance at the same time.

Now, let’s get down to our list.

1. Bose Sound Dock 10 Digital Music System

When it comes to the sheer pleasure of listening to music played on a high quality audio device, nothing can compare to a Bose product. The company has delivered yet again with its dock speaker. It is not exactly lightweight or portable but it makes up for everything by the impeccable quality of audio. The only downside, its high price.

2. Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin AirPlay Speaker Dock

Supposedly, Bowers & Wilkins worked in close collaboration with Apple during the production stages of this product and the result is quite evident. This iPod dock speaker is just as elegant and sleek as the iPod itself. The sound is powerful and crystal clear and a lot of detailing must have gone into the acoustic properties. The downside again is the price though.

3. Altec Lansing inMotion MIX iMT800 Portable Digital Boom Box

Looking for something more affordable? The Altec Lansing could solve that problem. It looks quite like a boom box, comes with several features and delivers on the audio part- the surround sound is great and so is the audio quality. Thanks to its light weight, it is portable and has two auxiliary inputs for convenience. All in all, an excellent dock speaker to invest in.

4. Harman Kardon Go+Play iPod Speaker Dock

The design of the Harman Kardon Go+Play iPod Speaker Dock is also inspired from the boom box and might take some getting used to. But once you have gotten past that, the sound is detailed and deep. It comes with a USB and auxiliary input, is easy to use and portable. The flipside- it has some compatibility problems with a few iPod models.

5.  Philips Fidelio DS3000

The Philips Fidelio DS3000 made the cut only because of the sheer value for money it offers. It is a perfect dock speaker for anyone who is looking for something which is extremely affordable but also delivers on the quality front. It is surprisingly lightweight, it has a very modern, simplistic and sleek design and the sound quality is decently good. It is the price that is its USP.