My title made me chuckle, as I pictured the mug shots of 10 gadgets hanging in the Post Office below a “Most Wanted” sign. While gadgets may not be criminals, we all know that the hot items each holiday season are hunted with a level of intensity that not even the FBI can match when in pursuit of bad guys. Remember the Furby frenzy back in 1998? Game Boy mania in ‘91?
If you’re Santa to a gadget person, you may want to pick up one of these hot most wanted gadgets early–and online–because ‘tis the season for those otherwise mild-mannered, mainly suburban men and women to be on the crazed hunt. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Here are the top 10 most wanted electronic gadgets this holiday, plus some stock market/financial stats on the companies behind them.
Top 10 Gadgets
1. iPad 2
The iPad 2, released in March 2011, is the second-generation of Apple’s tablet computer. The screen is slimmer and lighter, yet stronger, than the original iPad’s. The iPad 2 is also more powerful, has more user features and iCloud access.
Price: Starting at $499
Apple, Inc. (AAPL)
Apple (#1, 4 and 9) makes three of the top 10 most wanted gadgets.
The stock returned 25.3% over the past 1-year period. Operating and profit margins are 31% and 24%, respectively. Last quarter’s revenue growth was 39%, while earnings grew 54%. P/E (trailing) is 13.9. Apple has no debt, a fat 42% return-on-equity and $26 billion in cash.
Stock Price: $384.62
2. Kindle Fire
The Kindle Fire is Amazon’s entrée into the tablet market. It was released in the U.S. on November 15. It’s received positive reviews and is more affordable than an iPad. The Fire has a full-color, seven-inch, multi-touch screen (vs. the iPad’s 10-inch screen), and runs on a customized Google Android operating system.
Price: $199
Amazon (AMZN)
The stock returned 36.8% over the past 1-year period. Operating and profit margins are 2.5% and 2%, respectively. Last quarter’s revenue growth was 44%, while earnings decreased 73%. P/E is 115.
Stock Price: $217.38
3. Nook Touch Reader
The Nook Touch is Barnes & Noble’s second-generation e-reader. The Nook was first introduced during the holiday season of 2009. It was a huge success, despite being released two years after Amazon’s Kindle. It gets top expert reviews and features a compact design with a high-resolution seven-inch touch screen.
Price: $250
Barnes & Noble (BKS)
The stock gained 6% over the past 1-year period. Operating and profit margins are -1% and -.8 %, respectively. Last quarter’s revenue growth was 1.6%; earnings were slightly negative. Insider-ownership is a huge 46%, and 36% of shares are sold short (short sellers make money when a stock price goes down).
Stock Price: $15.77
4. iPhone 4S
The iPhone 4S is Apple’s most recently released iPhone, an update to the iPhone 4. It was Apple’s most successful phone launch to date.
Price: $200-$400
5. Samsung Galaxy Nexus
This will be the first Android (4.0) smartphone to run on Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. Verizon will be the exclusive carrier.
Reportedly, there will be “an entirely new look and feel to the phone,” with a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED (active-matrix organic-light-emitting diode) display and a redesigned user-interface. Launch dates have been kept hush; the European launch was leaked as November 17, and it’s speculated the U.S. launch will immediately follow.
Price: U.S. price not yet disclosed
Samsung is not listed on a U.S. stock exchange. Google (GOOG) and Verizon (VZ) are public companies and their financials can be viewed on any major financial site.
6. Roku 2 XS
The Roku 2 SX is billed as, “A simple, easy, and inexpensive Internet TV alternative.” All you need is a high-speed internet connection and a TV, and this small box media center will stream content from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and other online media libraries to your TV. You’ll also be able to play games, and the remote doubles as a motion controller.
Price: $100 (other Roku models start at $60)
Roku, based in Saratoga, CA, is privately-held.
7. Kodak Playsport
The Playsport is Kodak’s attempt to fill the market void created by the retirement of the Flip* Video camera. It’s a pocket-sized digital camcorder that records 1080p HD video–and, amazingly for $150, it’s waterproof.
The Flip, introduced in 2006, was created by Pure Digital Tech. It was retired in 2011 because Cisco Systems bought Pure Digital, and then decided the Flip didn’t fit into its core businesses.
Price: $150-ish
Eastman Kodak Co. (EK)
Eastman Kodak’s financials are far from a Kodak Moment. The once-mighty company, late to the digital camera revolution, has been selling off assets to stay afloat.
The stock lost 76% over the past 1-year period. Operating and profit margins are -9% and -20%, respectively. Last quarter’s revenues dropped 17%; earnings were negative. 32% of shares are sold short.
Stock Price: $1.12
8. Klipsch Image S4 Headphones
Indianapolis-based Klipsch makes these headphones, one of the highest-rated on the market. They have superior sound performance, noise-isolation, bass response and comfortable ear tips.
These sound (pun not intended) like a perfect gift idea for the music connoisseur.
Price: $80
Klipsch was acquired by Audiovox (VOXX) in March 2011. VOXX’s financials can be viewed on any major financial site.
9. iPod Touch
Apple’s iPod Touch is thriving as most mp3 players and video game consoles are being phased out. Why? Because the game-playing capabilities make this a portable video game player in a sea of stationary ones. Game apps can be purchased for less than a buck vs. $40+ for games for consoles.
Price: $150-200.
10. Microsoft’s Kinect for Xbox 360
The Kinect burst onto the gaming scene in late 2010 and broke sales launch records not just within its category, but for all electronic gadgets, including the iPad and iPhone. The Kinect has no remotes or controllers. Video games are played using your body as the controller (like Wii) and the music, TV and movies features are voice-activated.
Any gamer on your list would likely love this thing. And, if you’re a non-gamer living with said gamer, there are always those Klipsch’s (#8) for you!
Price: Starting at $300.
Microsoft (MSFT)
The stock is up 2.7% over the past 1-year period. Operating and profit margins are 39% and 33%, respectively. Last quarter’s revenue growth was 7%, while earnings grew 6%. MSFT has a $56 billion cash hoard.
Stock Price: $26.85
The top 10 gadgets would make great gifts for some people. However, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to give gifts that make the recipients squeal with delight. Stay tuned for 7 great holiday gifts for under $25.
RE: #5 (Samsung Galaxy Nexus)
EUROPE:
The European launch WAS Nov. 17, as speculated.
CANADA:
It was announced yesterday that the Canadian launch will be Dec. 8, with Bell and Virgin Mobile Canada taking pre-orders. Price: $160.
U.S.:
It’s speculated that the U.S. launch will also be Dec. 8.
Jonathan,
This article is about *individual* products, not operating systems. I imagine you’re referring to cell/mobile phones, not tablets (as Apple’s iPad has a roughly 2/3rds share of the tablet market). Granted, Google’s Android operating system has the largest share of the global cell/mobile phone market. However, numerous phones (Motorola DROID, a couple Samsung Galaxy models, a few HTC models such as EVO and Rezound, to name a few of the most popular) run on Android, while there is only one phone (the iPhone) running on Apple’s iOS. Thus, the Android share is diluted among many individual models.
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