What was the Best New Gadget in 2006?

[Kris Kumar]

<img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-jan2007-bestof2007.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> HD-DVD, Blu-ray, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, video iPod, Zune, Pearl, BlackJack, Canon EOS 400D, Nikon D80, toaster that plays MP3; okay I made the last one up but the list can go on. 2006 offered plenty of gadgets with powerful specs, awesome functionality, attractive looks and some of them even came with affordable price tags. :) 2006 was the year of tough choices. Now we are asking our readers to make the toughest choice, to select the best gadget of 2006. So what was the best new gadget in 2006?

[dandiep]

It has to be the Wii. Its fun, its social, and it gets you off your arse

[Macguy59]

It has to be the Wii. Its fun, its social, and it gets you off your arse

Not a bad choice. RAZR thin Smartphones ala the Q, Blackjack, etc would be right up there with me. Also the new entry level (and lower cost) Digital SLR's.

[Rocco Augusto]

I would have to go with the Wii as well, its the most fun console I have ever own and gets me doing something active for at least an hour a day. Also, The new Legend of Zelda for the Wii was honestly the highlight of my year, it was the best Zelda game I have ever played besides "A Link To The Past" for the Super Nintendo.

Second best, even though it really isn't a "gadget", would have to be Microsoft's RC2 of Vista but most importantly, Vista Media Center. As a huge HTPC fan, it was a breath of fresh air... especially after the horrific butchering that Yahoo! performed on Meedio to make their new Yahoo! Go For TV (http://go.yahoo.com/tv) :evil:

[Pete Paxton]

Wii
Dash

[Mike Temporale]

This is a tough one - I got my Slingboxes in '06, but really they were released in '05. So, I think I would have to go along with the Wii. As everyone has already said, it's a great difference in gaming. I wish I had one.

Has there been anything else so ground breaking released in '06?

[Kris Kumar]

Has there been anything else so ground breaking released in '06?

Yes, my favourite gadget for '06 is Lego NXT. (http://mindstorms.lego.com/eng/default.aspx) It is definitely ground-breaking. Some might argue that it is not a gadget, but I think it is a gadget that can make other gadgets. ;-) Fun for hours, no way you can get bored with it. Kinda like the Wii. Which is my second choice.

[Jerry Raia]

Don't make me choose! :lol:

[Kris Kumar]

Don't make me choose! :lol:

Let us guess, except for the toaster with MP3 player you have tried or own everything else. :lol: :wink:

[Jerry Raia]

Maybe I have, what about it? :lol:

[bystander]

Was there a device that could be attached to a standard digital set top which would broadcast a TV signal to another location on a local network in the home to be received by a second device connected to a TV in which the signal could be displayed?

Not exactly place shifting as with slingbox but still helpful with digital cable channels on converters...

[Kris Kumar]

X10 has products to transmit TV signals inside a house.