GADGETS GIRLS CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT
Whether you’re shopping for your girlfriend, sister, or best friend, we’ve found the year’s hottest gifts to please every gal on your list. From a super-slick smartphone to pretty pocket-size wireless speakers, we reveal the nine hottest gadgets she’ll love this holiday.
When it comes to smartphones, the GALAXY Note is quite possibly the best out there. Not only does it have the world’s first 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED screen, which provides an incomparable high-resolution viewing experience, it also comes with an 8-megapixel camera complete with photo and video editing, and the advanced S Pen to personalize everything you do. If you really want to wow her this holiday, grab one of these.
Built with the same material as an advanced aircraft, this Samsung notebook is twice as strong as aluminium yet weighs less than three pounds. Plus, it features a backlit keyboard, brilliant LCD display screen, and a large multitouch clickpad. All in all, a pretty sharp package she’ll love.
Girls are gamers too—and the Nintendo 3DS is something at the top of any gamers’ list this holiday. The 3-D screen is best in class and doesn’t require 3-D glasses—a real breakthrough in portable entertainment. If she likes gaming, she’ll love this.
This funky retro handset is ideal for anyone who loves all things vintage. Featuring a classic look with a contemporary edge, the handset plugs directly into a mobile phone, computer, or tablet for an old-school chatting experience.
Polaroid Instant Digital Camera
Recapture the magic of instant photography with this new Polaroid camera. Using the latest inkless printing technology, you can instantly transform digital photos into fun 3-by-4-inch photos that can be shared spontaneously. And inkless printing means no messy ink cartridges to worry about!
Juicy Couture Faux-Fur Earmuff Headphones
There’s no better gift for a stylish, tech-savvy woman than these super-cute faux-fur headphones. Not only will she be impressed that you’re familiar with fashion label Juicy Couture, she’ll love that she can rock out to her MP3 player in high style.
Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch
If she’s always reading a new novel or browsing her favorite weekly mag, we bet she’ll adore Barnes and Noble’s second-generation Nook. This upgraded e-reader is faster, lighter, and thinner than its predecessor—and boasts a two-month battery life (that’s an entire month more than the Kindle!). And with its library of more than 2.5 million books, she’ll never run out of titles to download.
No more cords or docking systems: The chic-but-powerful Jambox speaker is wireless, small enough to fit in your hand, and mighty enough to fill even the largest room. And with 10 hours of battery life, it won’t die as the party peaks.
This sleek handheld camera shoots in astonishing 3-D HD sure to impress any recipient on your gift list this year. Bonus: The LCD screen features 3-D playback—no special glasses needed!
Check out our Techie Holiday Gift Guide for Him here.
A VERY TECHIE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
You can’t avoid it any longer—it’s time to start thinking about holiday shopping. But this year, skip the traditional go-to gifts of sweaters and boxers, and instead impress your family and friends with cutting-edge gadgets and gear. From the latest and greatest smartphone to the best handheld gaming system, we reveal the hottest gifts of 2011.
Samsung has taken the smartphone to a whole new level with the GALAXY Note. Featuring a large and immersive screen, best-in-class mobile input ‘with a touchscreen and the advanced S Pen, a full suite of features including built in photo and video editing capabilities, this is must-have for your most discerning gift recipients.
This incredible television is something everyone should experience: From its visually stunning LED HD picture to its Smart TV capabilities with a solid collection of apps including Facebook and Skype, it’s a must-have for anyone who’s a gadget lover.
Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch
The latest generation of the Barnes and Noble e-reader is faster, lighter, and thinner than its predecessor. And we haven’t even gotten to the best part: The new Nook has a two-month battery life (that’s an entire month more than the Kindle!). With its library of more than 2.5 million books, this is a dream come true for any book lover.
This incredible television is something everyone should experience: From its visually stunning LED HD picture to its Smart TV capabilities with a solid collection of apps including Facebook and Skype, it’s a must-have for anyone who’s a gadget lover.
There always seems to be a snazzy new handheld camera hitting the market—but this one rises way above the rest. The insanely flexible 12-megapixel Tryx can turn, twist, hang, and stand unassisted to get shots you never thought possible.
Sony’s new camcorder isn’t the first to tout two lenses—but it is the first to have two imaging sensors and two processors. What does that mean? Unbelievably clear playback and the ability to seamlessly go from 3-D to 2-D HD and back.
Want to really impress him? This is the only headset on the market equipped with military-grade noise-cancelling technology to ensure the least amount of background noise possible during important phone calls. The design is really cool too.
This lighter-size tracker combines a Web-based tracking service with GPS technology so you can keep an eye on children, pets, or personal property. View the location of your tracker from your computer or, if you prefer, your mobile device. Perfect for the person who can’t get enough James Bond.
Livescribe Echo Smartpen (2GB)
Not only does this pen create digital backups of handwritten notes (when used with special paper), it also can record up to 400 hours of audio. Did we mention it has a camera too?
In the landscape of handheld gaming devices, the 3DS might not have the deepest selection of game titles. But what it lacks in selection it more than makes up for in its incredible, all encompassing 3-D experience (minus the glasses!). Once you play it, you’ll never put it down.
Nike Plus Sportswatch GPS (Powered by TomTom)
When Nike partnered with GPS powerhouse TomTom to create the Sportswatch GPS, we knew greatness would happen—and we weren’t disappointed. The watch tracks your time, distance, pace, and calories burned and seamlessly connects all this info with the NikePlus website to help you manage your running. Pretty slick.
ARWEY NOTEBOOKS
DESPITE BEING TECHNO ADDICTS WHO DEPEND ON OUR IPHONES TO KEEP EVERY MINUTE OF OUR DAY IN CHECK, WE STILL SEEM TO FIND SOMETHING QUITE ROMANTIC AND NOSTALGIC ABOUT A HANDWRITTEN NOTE REMINDING US OF AN IMPORTANT DATE OR LISTING THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO OR GET.
It’s not often that we find something so stylish that we could consider giving up our reliance on our smart phones, for a little while anyway.
Arwey’s beautiful notebook collection combines function with style. Each notebook includes interior pockets for documents and notes, perforated pages to make them easy to tear out and flexible spines which allows you to fold the pages all the way back and completely flat. Exterior is made from different materials, either fabric or leather. All notebooks are available for purchase individually or as a set.
EASTPAK X KRIS VAN ASSCHE
FOLLOWING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE LIKES OF RAF SIMONS, RICK OWENS, CHRISTOPHER SHANNON AND GASPARD YURKIEVICH, BAGMAKERS EASTPAK CONTINUE THEIR HIGH END COLLABORATIONS WITH THEIR LATEST COLLECTION BY KRIS VAN ASSCHE. THE COLLECTION IS A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL BLEND OF VAN ASSCHE’S UNIQUE BRAND OF SOPHISTICATION AND THE UNCONVENTIONAL SIMPLICITY OF EASTPAK’S OWN PHILOSOPHY AND WAS LAUNCHED DURING VAN ASSCHE’S FW11 SHOW IN PARIS IN JANUARY 2011.
The Belgian fashion designer brings his expertise in the field with a line of bags featuring backpacks and oversized shoulder bags in three combinations of materials and colours echoing the black/grey/natural colour pallet of Van Assche’s own FW11/12 collection. Indeed, the bags also reflect certain other recurring themes in the fashion designer’s own work such as suppleness and sobriety, internal structure and pure lines.
The EASTPAK KRISVANASSCHE collection will available in selected stores from July 2011. Each creation bears a metallic seal engraved with the two collaborating brand names.
Check out Eastpak’s recent collaboration with AGENT2 favourite, Rick Owens here and their Quinze and Milan sofa project here.
NASOMATTO PERFUME/COLOGNE
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD X LEE
Few things are more British than fashion’s Grande Dame Vivienne Westwood and few things are more American than Lee Jeans. What do you get when these two flag bearers of national style team up? A new fantastic collection of jeans with traditional Lee construction and the usual Westwood style and eccentricity.
The 9-piece capsule collection for men and women features everything from tiny shorts and ultra-skinny jeans to roomy boyfriend styles.
AGENT2 has ours already and we are guarunteed to make heads turn at the rodeo the next time we step out in these.
QUINZE & MILAN VS EASTPAK
THEY’VE CEMENTED THEIR HIGH-FASHION CREDENTIALS WITH COLLABORATIONS WITH SOME OF THE TODAY’S EDGIEST FASHION DESIGNERS INCLUDING AGENT2 FAVORITES: RICK OWENS, RAF SIMONS, CHRISTOPHER SHANNON AND GASPARD YURKIEVICH AND NOW EASTPAK HAVE CROSSED INTO THE WORLD OF FURNITURE WITH ITS LATEST PROJECT. THEY’VE JOINED FORCES WITH EDGY BELGIAN DESIGN COMPANY QUINZE & MILAN TO CREATE A RANGE OF SOFAS INSPIRED BY THE UTILITARIAN QUALITIES OF EASTPAK’S OWN COLLECTIONS.
This is a collaboration like it should be done: take the best of both sides and combine. They’ve taken two classic designs by Quinze & Milan (the Club Sofa 01 and Primary Pouf 02) and added the typical EASTPAK element to it. Lots of little zipped pockets have been added to the seats and provide storage for your knik-knaks such as remote controls, laptops and your latest copy of AGENT2 Magazine.
The project is called BUILT TO RESI(S)T and it certainly lives up to its name giving design and functionality in equal measures.
Both pieces are produced in exclusively numbered limited series, and prices will start at £1941 and are available from www.madeindesign.co.uk
Words Graham Gartside-Bernier
ADIDAS X JEREMY SCOTT
AGENT2 loved the first version and now we are trading them in for the latest Leather Wings 2.0. The new sneaker from the adidas Originals by Originals Jeremy Scott Autumn/Winter 2010 Collection comes in a new marble version. The mid top trainer comes with a white and grey marble pattern all over the upper.
VISIONAIRE 58: TRIBUTE TO LEE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
TO COMMEMORATE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN’S LIFE AND BRILLIANCE, VISIONAIRE 58 SPIRIT: A TRIBUTE TO LEE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN FEATURES MCQUEEN’S GROUNDBREAKING WORKS ALONGSIDE CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS LIKE NICK KNIGHT, STEVEN KLEIN, MARIO SORRENTI, STEVEN MEISEL, AND MANY OTHERS.
There are only 1500 copies being printed and each cover is wrapped in gold brocade reminiscent of McQueen’s S/S 10 collection. But wait, there is an extra little surprise. The pages are made from seeded paper, which will sprout wildflowers once planted signifying the ongoing legacy of McQueen.
H & M LAUNCHES NEW HOMEWARE COLLECTION
Fashion and design junkies no longer need to feel bad as they face their constant dilemma of what to buy; “clothes or something for the home, clothes or something for the home”. High street giant H&M has taken the plunge into homeware with a range that launches this Autumn meaning you dedicated fashionistas can step out with style and now, stay in with style.
The affordable range, which is aimed at students, renters and fashionistas, includes cushions, bedding and towels that incorporate key trends such as pastels and florals, from as little as £2.99-£59.99.
And if that wasn’t enough, according to Retail Week, customers will shop the homeware range using a unique magnet system, adding magnets to a board to represent products. Boards are then taken to the till and products chosen paid for and collected.
The range, which was launched successfully in Europe last year, is expected to eventually be rolled out to all H&M Stores across the country.
The collection will be available in the Oxford Street flagship store and online.
Words Graham Gartside-Bernier
