Whenever I have purchased a wallet I’ve found myself always going for a plain black one, as it spends most of its time hidden away. However, there are those who feel as though they need something a little less boring, and this range of wallets for men might just be what you are looking for.

There are 8 Sonic Wallets for men to choose from, all of which make a sound every time you open one, you know much like those novelty cards you can get. The maker of these wallets says that these are the first of their kind, as they not only look amazing, but they also play a distinctive tune as well each time you go to get money or a credit card out, as well as lighting up.

It’s like it is a joyous occasion each time you go to spend some money, but when you consider just how much things have gone it, it’s not that fun anymore. Don’t think for one moment that these wallets are made from a cheap material, as they are tough and durable, which is just what you need when you consider how many times you have to get your wallet out.

All 8 different types of Sonic Wallets for men can be found on Gadgets Gear, where you can also purchase them for $19.95. It’s tough to know which one I would choose, but I would have to say the American Flag, as the others are not really to my taste. Which of the eight would you choose?

Many consumers toss out the product registration card right along with the wrapper the product came in. People think the only reason companies want you to register electronics is for marketing purposes. While it’s a fact companies do use this information in their marketing, there are five legitimate reasons to register these products online or by mail as soon as you get home with it.

Image via Flickr by Shannon Abigail Simbulan.

If you don’t register your electronics upon purchase, the only way you can prove when you bought the item is if you have your receipt. Receipts easily get lost or damaged. By registering the product with the manufacturer, there’s no doubt about when you bought it. You’re then covered if the item fails or has problems within the stated warranty period. One year warranties are common for electronics, but this varies according to the item.

Image via Flickr by MOUSE Squad of California.

There are lots of things more fun than having to take down a 60-inch flat screen TV to find the model and serial number to call tech support. On calculators, watches or something you carry around with you like multimedia Android tablets, this information might rub off or be too small to see. When you register your product at the time of purchase, the company already has all this information in their system. It’s a breeze to get technical support, because they’re sure of the exact model you’ve got.

Image via Flickr by Orange County Archives.

Sometimes companies make a product that experiences wide scale problems, doesn’t perform as advertised or is actually dangerous to use. Electronic items may have power cord issues, programming problems or any number of other things consumers don’t feel is fair. If you’ve registered your product, you’re assured of being notified of any lawsuits regarding your product, and you could end up with part of the settlement, which might be a nice check or new replacement product.

Image via Flickr by The Measure of Mike.

As with class action lawsuits, sometimes manufacturers have to recall a product that’s seriously defective or dangerous. Some recalls are voluntary by the company and others are required by the federal government. Either way, if your electronics are recalled, you’ll be informed of the problem and the solution. It may be repaired by the manufacturer or replaced with a new, improved product. Either way, you don’t want to miss out on those.

Image via Flickr by DVIDSHUB.

Consumers sometimes make the mistake of thinking everything in their homes is covered in case of fire, tornado damage, theft or other mishap. Unfortunately, homeowners have to prove what they owned and what was lost in order to be compensated on an insurance claim. If the item is something you carry in your car, you’ll need proof of ownership to make an auto insurance claim. Damage or loss caused by fires and tornadoes usually destroy receipts, as well, so the product registration is the only way you have to prove you owned the item and get compensation for it.

References: 1 | 2

Article thanks to Shaun Chatman.

Our guide is broken down into the most popular topics for gifts; these include gaming, tablets, toys, phones and televisions. We’ll feature a couple of ideas for each section, and offer gift ideas for those on a budget and for those that really want to splash out this Christmas with a premium gift.

All the products we recommend are on the market, and while there are some cool devices on the way like the PS Vita, we will only feature gifts that should be available in most countries, although those of you that get money for Christmas should consider some technology and products releasing early next year.

Phones

Budget: Whenever we think of phones how come we always go straight to the high-end smartphone, because there is a much larger market for those on a smaller budget? These cheaper phones in 2011 are more advanced than they ever used to be, and here are two phones we believe to be the best for those on a smaller budget?

The first handset is the Atrix 2, this is already on the market, and looking at the specs you will be forgiven for thinking that it will come with a high price tag. We have embedded a video for you above, which will talk about the specs and these include a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, Gingerbread 2.3, 4.3-inch screen and an 8-megapixel camera. The second handset is the 8GB iPhone 3GS, even though this handset is now over two years old, it can still hold its own against even some of the newer phones coming to market. Okay, the hardware might be getting on a bit now, but iOS 5 certainly helps to make it more relevant. This phone is now available free for the first time on contract, and should bring Apple to the very lucrative budget market. While we know there are a huge amount of budget phones on the market, these are just two of what we believe to be the best.

Premium: The first high-end smartphone that should be on your Christmas gift list is the iPhone 4S. Okay, so we know that this is a bit predictable, but this is now the fastest selling handset ever. Again, Apple has not given us the most advanced hardware, but how they manage to integrate their processor, RAM and other such hardware with iOS 5 is truly amazing. There have been one or two teething issues, but you should not let that put you off. Just remember by the time the holiday season gets here there should be an update to iOS 5.

The second Premium handset that we think is worth a mention is the Samsung Galaxy S II. We know that Sammy would have released their Galaxy Nexus by the time Christmas comes, but the S2 is already a proven handset, and there are not that many spec differences between that and the Nexus. You still have a 1.2 GHz processor, 1GB of RAM and that large 4.3-inch screen, but it will not have Ice Cream Sandwich right away – maybe that’s a good thing? There are so many other phones that need a mention, so we hope you like our choice?

Phone Cases
Those of you looking for an iPhone 4S case as a gift this Christmas should check out a few ideas here.
Want to get into that Christmas spirit, here are a few ideas for that perfect iPhone 4S case with a seasonal theme.
If you are a fan of NHL, then you will want to see our choice of the best NHL iPhone 4S cases with your favorite team on them.

Gaming

Gaming hardware on a budget: We got two recommendations for gaming on the go, although there are a lot more products on the market, these options will keep adults and children entertained like no other.

Nintendo 3DS: you’ll either love or hate 3D gaming and movies, and those that love it will want to go 3D on the move with the Nintendo 3DS. This year has been more about 3D than any other, and the 3DS makes a perfect gift for those that want something different when it comes to portable gaming, with incredible 3D graphics, video, and a lot of built in entertainment from the moment you open the box. You can see the official virtual tour in the video above, and buy direct by going to the Nintendo website for your country, which includes USA, Canada, UK and many more found at nintendo.com/countryselector.

Apple iPod touch: while the iPod touch costs a bit more than the 3DS, we had to include this device in our budget range thanks to the amount of money saved in the short and long term. You can easily pay $30 or more for games on the 3DS, while you’ll find thousands for free on the iPod touch and many more for just a few dollars, and the graphics are extremely good for such a small device with developers pushing the bounders further everyday. Add to this the new iOS 5 software, and you got a device that offers gaming on the cheap and a lot more thanks to apps for almost anything, this is innovation hard to find on a normal portable gaming device. Just visit your local Apple Store or the online store for the latest prices.

Premium gaming hardware: The most obvious here will be the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and while the prices are a lot cheaper in 2011, when you buy a few games or go for a bundle, the price will move up fast. The only problem with buying one of these systems for Christmas 2011 is the shelf life, both consoles are getting old now and it has been confirmed that the Xbox 720 (as it’s known) and PS4 are both being worked on, so with a release within 2 years, are you happy replacing one of these games systems within that time?

The best games for Christmas 2011: With a choice more than any year before, and November including some of the biggest game releases than we’ve ever seen before, the games to buy someone will depend on each gamer, although we can point to a few of the most popular new releases for this season.

These include massive FPS games like Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3, and the PS3 exclusive Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. Another game that has some die-hard fans really excited is The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which is sure to consume gamers for months. Other popular titles include Batman: Arkham City, Forza Motorsport 4 and Gears of War 3.

Games by Genre
if you are looking to buy an RPG (Role Playing Game) as a Christmas gift, then check out three popular choices here.

Tablets

Budget: When thinking about a budget tablet we could go stupid and mention those that will cost less than $150, but let’s face it, they’re not going to be that good. So let’s look at a couple that will cost less than $350, as you know they will be able to do more than just browse the Internet. The ViewSonic ViewPad 7 might be a few months old and it might not be perfect, but let’s remember its price shall we? The tablet comes with a 7-inch display – too small for some – 600MHz processor, 512MB and a microSD Card slot. Next up we have the Kindle Fire from Amazon, which will be released on November 15, 2011. This again is a 7-inch tablet, and although it will not have the kind of hardware as the iPad 2 or the Galaxy Tab, it’s worth remembering that the device will cost just $199. Where this tablet will succeed where other budget ones have not is the whole experience that you get with Amazon.

Premium: Now we get to the high-end tablets, and the first up has to be the Galaxy Tab. Now we know that we could have gone for the Motorola Xoom or even the PlayBook, but Samsung has certainly come up with a very competitive tablet. Okay, we know that there have been a few issues with Apple over this, but it’s still a great device. So what makes the Tab 10.1 tick, well first we have a 1GHz Tegra 2 processor, 1GB of RAM, and let’s hope that Ice Cream Sandwich will not be far behind?

The other tablet has to be the iPad 2; again the hardware that Apple has is not the fastest, but that doesn’t stop theses devices selling by the bucket load. We know that you will be paying a premium when compared to some other tablets on the market, but you pay for what you get right? Now you can argue that Android has much more to offer in growth, but for now Apple gives all those with the iPad 2 the best tablet experience overall – unless you want to view Flash that is.

Televisions

When it comes to televisions you can really spend big, and this is a product not many people will get as a gift for Christmas, although that being said, you can get some good deals online and in local superstores, especially considering the speed new models are released and old ones are replaced. We’ve also seen some crazy TV deals during Black Friday.

You’re likely to have a favorite brand of TV, although if Samsung is not that brand we tempt you to at least consider their new range, which includes the extras found in a Samsung Smart TV.

Budget Television: Samsung offer TV’s from as little as $299.99, and while these smaller TV’s do not feature the latest Smart TV technology, you’ll find their specs and features miles better than anything seen a few years ago, or even last year.

The new 22-inch LED 5010 Series TV offers an extremely thin design, ability to connect devices to the USB port, Anytime+, Clear Motion Rate 120, 1920×1080 native resolution, full 1080P, and 2 HDMI inputs all for under $300. You can find this model and bigger screens for good prices on samsung.com.

Premium Television: When you’re treating a partner or you feel like this Christmas is going to be one of the most generous, then a premium high-end TV will make the perfect gift.

One model we love is the Samsung 55-inch LED 8000 Series Smart TV, which lets you watch 2D and 3D television, has an ultra-slim bezel design, and includes new features like “Micro Dimming Plus” and “Clear Motion Rate 960”, 4 HDMI’s for better connectivity and some of the best apps possible on TVs. You can see the full specs of this model on Samsung’s official website, or take a look at the massive range of apps on the Samsung App Store found at samsung.com/apps, which includes applications like Skype, NHL gamecenter, MTV music, and a big range of games played right from your TV.

You can see Samsung’s official app video below, which gives you an overview of Smart TV apps.

Cameras

Budget: Trying to choose the best digital camera on a budget is not as easy as you might think, this is because of the huge choice on offer, and how similar they all are when it comes to their specs. However, where they do differ is their price, you know that you will pay more for a Canon than you would an Olympus. First up we have the Canon PowerShot A1200 IS, and although it is near the high-end bracket of budget cameras, we just had to add it to the list. You will be surprised by how many features this camera comes with considering the price, and the photo and video quality is right up there with more expensive compacts. The only downside is the slow shooting performance. You cannot talk about a budget camera without mentioning the Fujifilm FinePix JZ300. You will not only be impressed with the wide-angle 10x zoom lens but also the huge choice of shooting modes. The only downside is with the overall quality of the images, as well as the case design.

Premium: Now we know that people can spend a huge amount of money on a professional camera, but for the most part they are worth every cent. One such camera is the Pentax Q camera, which uses a mirrorless system like some of Sony’s range. What this camera has going for is its powerful features and a compact body. However, how this differs is that it’s the world’s smallest compact system camera, which you can see for yourself in the video review above.

We cannot talk about the best high-end camera without mentioning the Sony Alpha A77. This camera comes with a large price tag, but you are getting a lot of hardware for your money. You will love the 24.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, interchangeable lenses and the manual control scheme. However, what might put you off is the fact that it’s not a Nikon or Canon – but don’t let that deter you from buying this camera, as it will reward you with beautiful photos.

Computing

Thinking of buying an ultraportable Windows laptop as a gift this Christmas, then here are four choices for you to consider.
Looking to buy a printer for someone this Christmas, then here are some of the best up for offer this holiday season.

Toys

One of the biggest categories for gifts at Christmas is toys, and this is an area that will cover a massive section for all different age groups. What we wanted to do is feature just a few of the hottest toys for Christmas 2011.

While we all worry about the prices of gifts and our budget at Christmas, especially with the economy being the way it is right now, but it seems every year most of us always splash out more than we should, and this is normally to make someone happy and in most cases that will be children.

The adverts on TV do not help matters, with all the hottest toys being pushed to our children before and after their favorite television programs. The video above shows Dream Toys 2011, an event that sees all the toy retailers get together and try and predict what the biggest hits will be this year.

It’s very likely that one of the toys in the above video will be the most popular toy this holiday season, and they include the Doggie Doo game, Lego as always, Elmo from Sesame Street, a Fireman Sam “Pontypandy” rescue set, Fijit Friends, and a lot more. Below is a recent video from the 2011 New York Toy Fair.

Other

Here we have listed four in-ear headphones for all budgets, hope you like them?

We also think that it’s worth pointing out that Black Friday 2011 will be the best time to find a deal, and you’ll be lucky to find prices as low, especially the doorbuster deals that are extremely limited. If you can wait to the end of November for Black Friday or Cyber Monday, you could grab a real bargain.

The first on our list has to be the Sony Walkman cassette player, as this revolutionized how we listed to music, as this could now be done while on the go. The device was first introduced back in 1979, but it was not until the 80s that the device really took off. Over the years there have been many contenders, but the Walkman was still king.

If you are looking for a Sony Walkman equivalent from today, then that would have to be the Apple iPod. OK, so we know that there were other MP3 players already on the market, but Apple did what they did best, and take something and make it even better. They seem to have an habit of doing this, as there were already smartphones on the market, but the iPhone showed to us what a phone should really be like. The iPod and iPhone is to us the best tech of the decade, and we cannot see them being topped anytime soon.

Today we have the Sony PS3 and the Xbox 360 and although they offer unrivaled graphics, they owe their existence to the Atari 2600, which was first introduced 1977. It is one of the first consoles that made full use of a microprocessor, which meant that it did not have to rely on built-in games, instead switching to a cartridge format instead. This was not the first console to use this format, but it was the first to make it more popular.

The IBM 5100 was a PC from 1975 and was an evolution of the Special Computer APL Machine Portable. While looking at your personal computers today you will have to give thanks for the device that started them all. There are a number of home computers on the market today, but none of them can be considered a game-changer like the IMB 5100. However, the iMac comes very close. Most Windows PCs look very much the same and do not seem to evolve, only in hardware; the iMac on the other hand keeps changing, with the latest model being the best yet.

These are what we believe to be some of the best tech from then and now, but there are so many more devices that need a mention, such as the Dyson vacuum cleaner, CD-ROM Encyclopedia, Internet, search engines to name but a few.

What has been the best technology over the past few decades?

We are glad that we have been sent a new World Without Bottles Jet SodaStream, as we can now give it a hands-on review just to see how much it has improved over the years. The first thing that we need to point out is how the technology has not changed over the years. However, do not think that the company has just re-released the product in the hope at generating sales – consumers are too savvy for that.

The model that we have is one of the most basic models – yes that’s right there are now several models available. This is the first clever piece of marketing, as we all know how consumers love choice. And that choice just keeps coming, as there are also more than 30 different flavours to choose from; we were lucky enough to be sent 6 of them.

Trying to make the SodaStream as popular as it once was is a tough sell, but trying to push its green credentials is a major plus. Now we know that there is no replacing Coca-Cola, Pepsi etc, but there are some truly amazing flavours available, and the best part is that you have less waste. What we mean by this is that you will no longer be throwing away plastic bottles as often.

Millions of plastic bottles are thrown away each year, and SodaStream feel that this will be a unique selling point for their drinks machine. Well, we say drinks machine, there are 7 different types: World Without Bottles, Stream, Genesis, Pure, Fizz, Crystal and Penguin. OK, so back to the review in hand, what we love about the one that we have been sent is that it is a limited edition. For each one sold SodaStream will donate $1 to the One to One project, this makes me feel a little guilty about having one sent to us – just hope they still donated a $1 on our behalf. Having said that, by writing this we hope to spread the word just a little further.

OK, so back to the review in hand, what we love about the one that we have been sent is that it is a limited edition. For each one sold SodaStream will donate $1 to the One to One project, this makes me feel a little guilty about having one sent to us – just hope they still donated a $1 on our behalf. Having said that, by writing this we hope to spread the word just a little further. So as we said above, the technology involved has not changed at all, so was very easy when remembering how to use the gadget. Before we even removed the product from its box we noticed that it was already spreading its environmental message, due to it being made from recycled material.

Getting the SodaStream ready took less than a minute, just take the safety cap of the gas cylinder and then screw it into the back of the machine. Remember not to over tighten, and do not use any tools to do so. We made certain that we used chilled water, as this will make the drink taste much better, and also insures a better fizz. The next step was easy, as all you had to do is screw your provided bottle of chilled water into the front of the machine and then press the fizz button until you hear a buzz. We repeated this process three times to get an average fizz, but you can do more or less – depending on how you like your soft drinks.

After that process is done you then have to add your flavor, we decided to go with Pineapple and Grapefruit, remembering to poor it slowly and at an angle, to reduce the chances of your drink over fizzing. The moment that I tasted the drink I was shocked at how similar it was to Lilt. We then repeated the process with a few other flavours, and again we were impressed. OK, so we know that the cola is no substitute for the real thing, but it is nowhere near as bad as some of those store brands.

The system is not perfect, as it feels a little plastically, but we have to remember that this is one of the cheaper models. Some of the others are much better in their design, and will feel right at home in a modern kitchen. Now, I cannot say how often I would use such a device, as we all know how bored adults get with something. However, for those with children, then we have to say that this is perfect, and the choice of those 30 flavors will mean that they are not likely to get bored anytime soon.

The price of the World Without Bottles Jet SodaStream is just £59.99, and comes with one bottle and a gas cartridge. For more information visit SodaStream UK. We just hope that the big stores get behind the new campaign, and try to reduce the amount of wasted plastic bottles, as we have done with plastic bags.

There are those inventors who seem to climb inside their minds and loose realty with the real world. This often becomes evident with their strange creations, so we thought we would track down a few of what we believe to be the worst ones. We came across a website called InfoNIAC, and we think we have found some strange inventions of all time.

The first is an invention called “Why Knot” and is designed to do up a tie for you. There are two problems here, the size of the machine, and how slow it is. Oh and one more thing, what was Seth Goldstein thinking?

Next up we have Alpha Omega Galaxy Freefall Generator, the inventor said that the machine actually created more free powered than it took to power it. If it was that good then where is it now?

The final one that we believe to be strange is the Bowlingual, which is a dog translator – no it is not a Google April Fools. The company made one back in 2002, but there is said to be a newer version. We just have one question – why?

These are just three of the strangest inventions of all time; do you have any others to add to the list?

Jai from walyou.com has compiled a list of numerous gadgets which you can use to prank your friends on April Fools’ Day. If one of your friends is scared of spiders a really cool Remote control Black Widow will have them jumping out of their skins.

Hide it behind the sofa or other piece of furniture, and as they walk past make run out in front of them.

Another cool trick is the scratch stickers which you can put on someone’s car, and they will think it has been damaged by another vehicle. These also work good on cycles and motorcycles, and will not damage the paintwork.

If you are having any guests over to your house the Puzzle Toilet Paper will have them tearing their hair out as they try and figure it out. If they are successful they can access the toilet paper. Use the link to see other clever gadgets to get you laughing on April Fools’ Day.

Are you planning anything for April Fools Day?

Picking some of the best X-Ray inspired gadgets was going to be tough but we think we have found some that you might remember. The first was back in 2008 and will be remembered by those of you in the UK, it was the ‘X-Ray Multiroom Box and Remote’. The device was brought out in celebration of MTV’s spring schedule; more details at Tech Digest.

For those of you who would like to see what is hiding behind your kitchen cupboard doors, then you will love X-Ray Kitchen. We do not have a price for you on this, but we can be sure that it will not come cheap; more details.

The final gadget we have for you is the X-Ray Light. There are a series of designs that you can choose from, as long as you have a spare $229.00. Do you have any gadgets in the home inspired by the X-Ray design?

While bed bugs have shared our beds for centuries, these pests are now continuing to flourish in both less developed countries and some parts of the western world. One report today looks at a bed bugs problem in NYC stores, which is certainly not a less developed area.

According to somasgranny.com, professionals are testing different merchandise to monitor these pests. It seems these monitors are helping professionals win the mattress bug battle.

Some of the products include; NightWatch by BioSensory that attracts bugs with carbon dioxide, BB Alert Active from MIDMOS will encourage bugs into a glue trap, and Bug Dome also includes a glue trap within a warm wall plug. Lastly CDC 3000 by Cimex Science, which is portable, discrete, and will trap and provide electrical monitoring of the bugs.

Have you been affected by bed bugs? What products have you used to fight your battle?

Rob Lovitt – MSNBC Travel Writer – has put together 10 accessories, which can keep you on track and your summer trip rolling ahead. These gadgets will make it easier for many types of people, including those that need incoming texts while busy on the road.

The article, which can be seen here, points out some smart gadgets. These include using text-to-speech technology in the H17txt with Motospeak, universal cell phone boosters for better signal, and those sci-fi fans may want to update their TomTom GPS with a new Darth Vader voice.

Your 2010 road trip can be the most fun ever, and also the most organized with the latest tech and gadgets. Money no object? Then MSNBC recommend some cool upgrades to your road trip vehicle as well, new camper full of gadgets anyone?

Read the full post, and let us know what planning tips you have for road trips, and what gadgets you love to take.