Wireless Wish List for 2008

It seems like every time you turn around there’s a new wireless device making its way into our everyday lives. Modern society has achieved complete freedom from wired electronic devices, so much so that it is now possible to live and work from almost anywhere on the planet.

With Christmas right around the corner and 2008 fast approaching, we thought it would be fun to put together a short list of some great wireless devices you might find on your wireless “wish list.”

Our top five wireless wish list choices for the new year are:

#1 – Cordless VoIP Skype Phone

1984 witnessed the breakdown of the ATT monopoly and the cost of a phone call has been falling ever since. Little did we know that the Internet would provide the most cost-effective means of making a call. At the forefront of free and cheap long distance calls is Skype.

Skype is the Internet application that has enabled millions of people around the world to call each other directly from their desktop PC. Now you can make free or very cheap calls using Skype using just a wireless Wi-Fi connection. In fact, Skype has gone mobile. The Netgear SPH-200D cordless phone with Skype takes all the hassle out of making a Skype call. No need to install any software or even turn on your PC.

Simply connect the wireless base station to your Internet router and start talking to friends, family, and business associates over the Internet from anywhere. The SPH-200D can even replace your landline phone. Simply plug the base station into any active phone jack and it becomes a traditional cordless phone too.

#2 – Kindle Wireless Book Reader

For the busy traveler who hates carrying books on business trips: Amazon’s new wireless Kindle Book Reader. Kindle has given new meaning to the term “wireless book.”

The Kindle is like no other e-reader on the market. It is designed to be read comfortably at any angle for long periods of time, without the eye strain that often results from staring at a computer screen. This device is completely mobile and is very simple to use. No PC sync needed.

The Kindle uses the same 3G network as advanced cell phones, delivering full book content wirelessly through Amazon’s own network: Amazon Whispernet. (In other words, you’ll never need to locate a Wi-Fi hotspot.)

With Kindle, all you need to do is think of a book, magazine, or newspaper you’d like to read, and Kindle will do the rest. Within seconds, Kindle will wirelessly download and display all of the content of your selection on its paperback-sized screen. Kindle allows users to download and read the beginning of books for free. All newspaper subscriptions start with a risk-free two-week trial.

Will the Kindle ever replace the tried and true paperback? Maybe not. But with the ability to have 200 books stored at any one time, it’s sure to save space on a long business trip.

#3 – Wireless Internet Radio

For those who love their radio but can’t seem to find a decent local station: Wi-Fi Internet Radio.

The Tangent Quattro internet radio integrates WiFi radio with a distinctive Danish style. Housed within an MDF cabinet with real walnut veneer, the Quattro has the highest audio quality among WiFi radios.

This handy little radio lets you search for over 5,000 Internet radio stations, by location AND genre. Listen to anything from Jazz in Taiwan to news from Germany. You can also use Quattro to wirelessly stream music and audio from your computer (PC and Mac), or connect your MP3 player to the audio input and use the radio as a standalone speaker.

Unlike satellite radio, there are NO monthly subscription fees. You don’t even have to turn on your computer to use it. Connect wirelessly to any wireless broadband (WiFi) network and listen to your heart’s content.

#4 – Wireless GPS Navigator

If you’ve ever been completely lost with no gas station in sight, it might be time to pick up a wireless GPS navigation device.

Today’s GPS devices will not only help you navigate anywhere in the US and Canada, but also provide travel tips and even store your favorite MP3 files and photos. Our pick in this category is the Garmin nüvi 350.

The Garmin nüvi 350 revolutionizes what you would expect from a GPS navigation device – or any device for that matter!

The Garmin 350 is one of the most popular, portable, and reliable GPS devices out there. Wherever you go, in your car or on foot, this wireless marvel delivers extremely accurate position data, thanks to an integrated high-sensitivity GPS receiver by SiRF and WAAS-enabled reception from 12 satellites.

It comes equipped with detailed maps of the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The device is controlled via a touch screen and comes with a unique “text to speech” feature that indicates turns by street name. It is also compatible with Garmin’s GTM 10 FM TMC traffic receiver, allowing users to avoid traffic jams by simply pressing a button that will instantly calculate a new route.

We predict that these types of wireless devices will be everywhere in a few years. Then we will wonder how we managed without them.

#5 – Indoor Wireless Remote Control Outlet

Finally, for the “lazy” in all of us: the

SVAT WRC100 Electrical socket with wireless remote control for interiors.

This technologically advanced wireless electronic remote switch can control virtually everything in your home with the push of a button. Control lamps, radios or other electrical devices from up to 100 feet away, even through walls and floors, with this wireless RF remote.

The receiver plugs directly into any 3-prong outlet and provides a 3-prong outlet with remote switch to allow RF on/off control for a wide variety of electrical devices. The control unit, with key fob, is small enough to fit in your pocket, yet your signal will work up to 100 feet from the receiver, even from inside your car.

Ideal for those hard-to-reach accessories like Christmas lights and computer plugs. The kids left the TV on and you don’t feel like getting up from a comfortable chair to turn it off? Just one convenient button and you’re in charge.

Easy Plug & Play installation: plug the receiver into the wall outlet. Plug the device to be controlled into the receiver. That’s all you’ve done! No wiring necessary! There you have it, our top picks for your wireless wish list this holiday season and for 2008. Be sure to get at least one wireless device on your list this year!