Merry Christmas from GadgetFanatic!

Merry Christmas to you! Hope Santa was as sweet to you as this strawberry pancake!

Let's see what 2008 brings in terms of cool gadgets.

Final 25 hours of shopping for Christmas

Don't fret! Last minute ideas to be posted here for your use. Please add your own ideas in the comments. Additional postings as ideas pop up.

1. Go to Safeway
Yes, the supermarket Safeway, for those of us in North America. They offer gift cards for many retailers right at the checkout stand.

2. Get a magazine subscription

Buy the current issue of any magazine and give that as the gift. Important point is to purchase a gift subscription and include that within the magazine.

GadgetFanatic's Christmas Shopping 2007

Don't forget that all recommended items are always available at the GadgetFanatic's Christmas Shopping Site.

Just a few more days to go!

Warning - please avoid purchasing this

Please do not purchase something like this. When there are options such as the venerable iPod or something like this player that also functions as a portable DVR!! Archos 605 Wi-Fi Portable Media Player (160 GB)

Last Minute Christmas Gifts - Part 3: For the Couch Potato and Video Lover

2. Give a gift subscription to Netflix
Don't forget the giants of video online - netflix.com Netflix has the option that allows you to view streaming videos online. Gift subscriptions can be purchased online, and sent via email. How easy it that??

3. HiDef recording via Tivo
TiVo HD Digital Video Recorder(DVR) is a great option for the gift receiver who doesn't have a Tivo just yet. With this high definition-capable Tivo, your friend will be able to record the return of American Gladiators or the new season of The Apprentice.

Last Minute Christmas Gifts - Part 2: For the Driver

Still fretting on what to buy as a gift? If you're gift receiver is a car driver, here are a few ideas...

1. AAA membership - who hasn't been locked out of their car? or, less frequently, run out of gas? A AAA membership goes a long way. And did you know that you don't have to be the driver to use the benefits? Just a passenger in the car.

2. Avoid arguments with a portable GPS device!Yes, let's not stop and ask for directions. Just listen to the GPS device tell where to go.

If your friend has a Tilt smartphone the other option is to buy a software GPS solution such as from TomTom

3. What about an old school security device - The "Original" Red Club

Good luck!

Last Minute Christmas Gifts - Part 1: For the Photographer

Does your friend, lover, or spouse spew words such as Canon EOS 40D

or Nikon D40? Then, here are some suggestions of some great last minute gifts.

1. The book cover you see is Rick Smolan's latest coffee table book titled Blue Planet Run It's a great new book with photos from around the world looking at the "crisis" around the loss of drinkable water.

2. What about helping your friend or mate to take better photos? If you are in the U.S., there is a great series of photo training called "Digital Photo Academy" With beginner to advanced courses, you're sure to find something that fits.

3. For some creative fun, there is the Original Lensbaby and a nice book such as The A-Z of Creative Photography and The Creative Digital Darkroom

4. Do you ever get tired of watching your loved one stop during a vacation trip to sit down and switch camera lenses? The small digicams of today have great flexibility and lots of zoom, but digital SLRs require different lenses. Sigma has come out with Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 lens which has a lot of flexibility, and should help your loved one and you enjoy a non-stop visit to Paris or Tokyo.

Enjoy!

iPond, speakers for your iPod -or- will fish dance the Macarena?

Engadget has the scoop on a new speaker called the iPond. It houses a fish within itself, basically a mini-aquarium.

I wonder if the fish will dance to the Macarena?

Junk Food Lust - Zesty Taco Doritos

I haven't had the pleasure to try these "taco flavored" Doritos, but suffice it to say, I'd like to. There's an online petition to save these Doritos.

If you've tried em and like em, I say sign the petition! Why not?

Let's hear it for G4 TV!

Have you seen the latest G4 TV commercials? Love em, especially them giving props to those of us with extreme gadget lust.

Gotta make some time to start watching some more G4 TV! :)

Condo bling in New York

Well, not really bling, but pure luxury. A New York "ultimate home in the sky" sitting right next to Central Park.

With prices starting at $6.9 million USD, these residences are sure to go...soon?

Check em out here: http://www.onemadisonpark.com/

WOW, a laptop! or World of Warcraft laptop revealed by Dell

Can't get your WOW fix while on that business trip? Get your company to purchase this laptop from Dell. With SLI graphics technology and 17" HD screen, you can't go wrong!!

Just make sure you close your mouth as you play WOW during those meetings.