Discover the latest, greatest Wi-Fi gadgets

By Lisa Phifer

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Nowadays, Wi-Fi is appearing in a multitude of consumer electronics, from cameras to automobiles...and more!  You probably already use Wi-Fi for convenient wireless Internet access at home and at work, but you might be surprised by other new gadgets that take advantage of Wi-Fi.  Let's take a peek at some of the Wi-Fi- enabled goodies that you might want to add to your holiday wish list.

Eye-Fi Explore

Photography enthusiasts will love the Eye-Fi Explore ($129), an unusually versatile SD card that slips into your digital camera.  Like any other SD card, the Eye-Fi stores photos -- but it also tags every shot with the geographic location (GPS coordinates) of where it was snapped.  When you're ready to upload, the Eye-Fi taps Wi-Fi to send photos right to your computer or to an on-line webshare site, accessed from just about anywhere using the included Wi-Fi hotspot account.  No need to pack upload cables or extra memory cards on your next vacation!

AutoNet Mobile

Have your kids been pining for Internet access from the backseat?  Check out AutoNet Mobile ($399), a Wi-Fi router designed for installation in any passenger car, letting all occupants share wireless 3G broadband Internet access.  The $29 per month service fee buys 1GB of data, sent and received by every passenger in your vehicle as you drive through any EV-DO or 1xRTT coverage area throughout the U.S.  While you shouldn't expect to stream high-quality videos, AutoNet can give your entire family on-the-road access to email, game sites, music downloads, and more.

Sony PSP-3000

Game enthusiasts who enjoy playing the latest and greatest should check out the newest Sony PSP-3000 ($199).  This popular mobile handheld gaming system can interface with any Internet-connected Wi-Fi access point to support a multitude of on-line activities, from web surfing and Skype calls to downloading games, movies, TV shows, trailers, and wallpaper from the Sony PlayStation Store.  For example, use your PSP at an airport Wi-Fi hotspot to rent a movie and watch it on the plane!

NextBase PhotoM@il

If the holidays have you thinking more about hearth and home, how about a Wi-Fi capable digital photo frame for your mantle?  The NextBase PhotoM@il ($239) is an 8" picture frame that displays your choice of digital photos at 800 x 600 TFT high resolution.  Photos can be uploaded the old-fashioned way by inserting an SD or MMC card into the frame.  But now you can also use Wi-Fi to email photos directly to (and from!) the frame.

ClarionMIND Mobile Internet Navigation Device

If you're in the market for a portable GPS unit that does more than supply turn-by-turn directions and road maps, consider the ClarionMIND Mobile Internet Navigation Device ($649).  This 6.7" x 3.78" x 1.05" device combines GPS navigation with an LCD touchscreen, 800 MHz Intel Atom processor, and integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless interfaces.  Use the MIND to browse the web, check weather or traffic reports, watch YouTube videos, check email, or get directions – all through a paperback-sized device designed to move along with you from car to office to home.

Linksys DMA2200 Media Center Extender with DVD

Wishing you could tap the power of digital entertainment without trying to cable together your DVR, DVD player, laptop, HDTV, and home theater?  You might want to look into a Wi-Fi enabled home entertainment server like the Linksys DMA2200 Media Center Extender with DVD ($129).  The idea is to create a central device that can play all of your DVDs, music, photos, and HDTV programs, using the latest in high-throughput Wi-Fi technology to stream that content to receivers located throughout your home.  To create a complete system, interface this center with your Windows Vista Media Center PC and your Wi-Fi enabled home theater system.

HP Photosmart C6830

To add that same wireless convenience to your home office, make your next printer a Wi-Fi enabled print server.  For example, the HP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One Printer, Scanner, and Copier ($199) doesn't need to be tethered to any computer in your household.  Instead, let everyone with a Wi-Fi enabled desktop or laptop communicate directly with the C6380 to print documents or send faxes.  You can even print photos directly from memory cards after previewing them on the attached LCD display.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ50S

For added convenience, pair your wireless printer with a Wi-Fi enabled digital camera like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ50S ($449).  This 9.1 megapixel digital camera with 10x optical zoom has a surprise inside – built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, including 12 months of free Internet access at a T-Mobile Hotspot.  Once connected to the Internet, you can even use Google's Picasa Web Album to upload and edit your photos, even email them to your friends -- all right from your camera.

Nabaztag

Looking for something a bit fluffy and frivolous that uses Wi-Fi?  Take a look at the Nabaztag ($119), a wireless rabbit -- yes, rabbit -- that can tell you the news, the weather report, read text aloud to you from any blog post or website, announce the arrival of new email on your home-networked computer, and generally keep you amused and informed.

The possibilities for using Wi-Fi are virtually endless, limited only by imagination.  These are just a handful of recent additions to the diverse family of products that speak Wi-Fi to nearby wireless devices.  To find even more holiday gift ideas for Wi-Fi fans, browse the Wi-Fi Alliance certified products list at www.wi-fialliance.org.