Tech Buyer's Guide 2009From the new BlackBerry Bold 9700 to monitor-friendly optical lenses, here are 20 new techie gadgets not to be missed
Nerf N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS-35
Forty years ago, Nerf introduced the "world's first official indoor ball." The company's come a long way since then. Its latest toy is the N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS-35, a pump-action automatic dart gun that packs a 35-dart rotating-drum magazine and two firing modes: automatic slam fire for multishots and the single-shot slide mode. Either way, neither human nor pet will be safe from the foam-dart-wielding menace. Price: $30
Darth Vader Robotic Arm
Next to a life-size Stormtrooper replica or an authentic lightsaber, the Darth Vader robotic arm from Uncle Milton is quite possibly the coolest Star Wars–related toy we've seen this year. Vader's arm, which comprises 45 pieces (you build it yourself), is fully controllable, but it's not powerful enough to force-choke your enemies — not unless your midi-chlorian count is as high as Anakin Skywalker's. Price: $30
PlayStation3
We're not pledging allegiance to any one gaming camp, but it's hard not to love the updated PS3. It's still one of the best Blu-ray players available, and it now also streams Netflix movies and TV shows, just like that other guy. It even comes with built-in wi-fi, so you can browse the Web out of the box. Game-wise, it has a number of exclusive titles, like Uncharted 2, Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time and Katamari Forever. The new PS3 console has shed a few pounds and, more irresistibly, slashed its price. Price: $300 (120 GB) to $350 (250 GB)
Chrome Soyuz bag
Unlike other laptop bags, Chrome's Soyuz doesn't sacrifice any technical or functional characteristics just because you can slide your laptop into it. The dual compartment rolltop backpack features a fully waterproof main chamber, weatherproof urethane coated (nice to the touch) YKK zippers, industrial metal cam lock buckles and four weatherproof external pockets to store your gear. Also, contents in the main compartment won't ever seep into the laptop compartment, so don't worry about transporting your bottle of green tea along with your tech gear. Price: $180
Nook
Out with the old and in with the new. Barnes and Noble's nook is quickly supplanting Amazon's Kindle as the must-have e-reader. Not only is it the first e-book device that's 3G and wi-fi enabled, but it also features a digital-lending capability, allowing you to share e-books with your friends for up to 14 days. Better still, that feature is not limited to other nook owners. You can share e-books with any device that has the Barnes & Noble eReader app, which includes PCs, Macs, BlackBerrys and iPhones. Also, the 3.5-in. color touchscreen LCD at the nook's bottom is a snap to navigate. Price: $259 Quiksilver Cypher PS+ Heat Vest System
The bitter cold of winter is slowly creeping up, and no matter how many layers we pile on, the chill seems to cut right through. Made for surfers, Quiksilver's Cypher PS+ heat-vest system uses far-infrared fibers, which throw your body's heat right back at it, to keep your core warm. The flexible heating pads placed over your kidneys are helped by a rechargeable battery. So you don't paddle through the frigid waters off Patagonia? The Cypher PS+ is also perfect for early-morning jogs or games at Lambeau Field.Etre Gloves
The problem with using touchscreen devices during winter is that tedious task of sliding gloves on and off just to answer the phone or check e-mails. Etre's Touchy gloves are without thumb and index fingertips, giving those coveted phalanges the necessary freedom to operate all manner of devices. They're fashionable too. Price: $33.29
Sometimes you just want to listen to music without all the fuss of tapping tiny volume and selection buttons. Apple's iPod Shuffle, with simple controls right on the earphone cord, allows you to do just that. The 4-GB stainless-steel Shuffle is not just the world's smallest music player, but it also runs with the big boys, holding up to 1,000 songs. We'd call that a triumph of design. Price: $99
Spawn HD-720
Think of the Spawn HD-720 as the gaming equivalent of a Slingbox. So when all the TVs in your house are occupied, Spawn HD-720 still lets you play a video game by connecting to your game console (Xbox 360 or PS3) remotely through your laptop. Install the Spawn Player application to your computer, and it works from the next room or from thousands of miles away — as long as you have an Internet connection. Unlike the Slingbox, the Spawn HD-720 doesn't take over your home TV from afar, just the game console. You can even remotely participate in multiplayer matches. Price: $200
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source: Time.com