Yahoo! Canada Tech

Marc's Picks

Sounding off

As a reviewer of gadgets and games (ahem, no violins please) it can be tough to pick ones favourite tech toys. That said, there are a handful of cool products I’m quite partial to these days. First up is the new Apple iPod Shuffle ($99; apple.ca) – not only is it about 50 percent smaller than its predecessor (now about the size of an AA battery) but it’s the first MP3 player that can talk to you. Because there’s no screen for you to read the song, artist, podcast and playlist names, a friendly voice (in 14 languages) can tell you what you’re about to hear. This third-generation iPod Shuffle can store about 1,000 songs. Learn more about MP3 players.

Power to go

Traveling with wall chargers for all your electronics – such as a digital camera, MP3 player and cell phone -- can be a real drag. Alternatively, the Powerstick ($69; powerstick.com) is a teeny 40g stick (resembling a pack of gum) that charges up via a computer's USB port and includes nine small adaptors to transfer the power to devices when you need it. For more on gadgets, click here.

HDTV companion

If you're in the market for a new PC, check out Dell's teeny Studio Hybrid (from $549; dell.ca/hybrid), a desktop computer that's about 80 percent smaller than a typical tower and roughly 70 percent more energy efficient. Available in seven colours, these stylish computers offer an HDMI output option so you can connect it to your big-screen TV. Read up on computer accessories here.

Game on!

Fans of "survival horror" games won’t be disappointed with Capcom's creepy Resident Evil 5 ($59; capcom.com), which drops the player in a zombie-filled African nation. The “Mature”-rated Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 thriller also includes new multiplayer modes including a co-op option to play the entire campaign with another gamer over the Net. Get more gaming news here.

iPhone's best-kept secret

By far my favourite free application for the iPhone is SnapTell (snaptell.com), which lets you take a photo of a product while at a store – such as a video game, DVD movie, book or music CD – and by comparing the item against an online database, will immediately tell you how much cheaper it is at another store, be it on the web or down the street (using GPS). Learn more about the wonders of smart phones.

Don't lose your memory

Backing up your important files can be tough for non-techy computer users, plus you don’t want your backed-up documents and photos to fall into the wrong hands, if lost. Simply plug the SanDisk Ultra Back-Up into an available USB port on your PC and press the Backup button to start the process. Your password-protected files are also secured by the same encryption technology used by government agencies. For the latest on computers, click here.

No green thumb?

While not available in Canada just yet, those without green thumbs can soon pick up the EasyBloom Plant Sensor ($39; easybloom.com), a new gardening device capable of recommending which plants will thrive in your soil or can diagnose ailing plants. Simply plant the sensor into the soil of a potted plant or garden, then within 24 hours plug the USB connector into your computer and you’ll read advice related to sunlight exposure, soil moisture, temperature, humidity and more. Read up on more great gadgets.

Hands-free heaven

While it’s very pricey for what it is, IMS’ iLane ($599 + $7.95/month; ilane.com) is an impressive tool for those who spend a lot of time commuting to and from work in a car. When synchronized with your BlackBerry and Bluetooth headset (included), this small device reads your emails, text messages and calendar entries to you. Use your voice to navigate through it all, and even reply to emails, which send as a MP3 files. Get the latest on cool new gadgets.

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