The follow article is excerpt fromNetwork World . To learn the full article , go tonetworkworld.com .

Steve Jobs has made my job heavily . If he had n’t stood on the stage at Macworld Expo in January and unleashed the iPhone on the world , I ’d probably be more worked up about this year ’s craw of Cool Yule Tools , connection World ’s annual roundup of the hot engineering toy and gift ideas .

As I open up the hundreds of software system arriving in the bureau over the past few months , however , I start to realize that the iPhone has skew the breaking ball in terms of what ’s really exciting , modern and fun in technology . Like the Patriots compare with the rest of the NFL , there ’s the iPhone — and then there ’s everything else .

It also did n’t help that Microsoft ’s Windows Vista operating organization has laid a giant egg — not just with embodied users but also with consumer looking to find some excitement in the microcomputer quad . When we were trying out the microcomputer and notebooks send us this yr , we could judge our exuberance for the ironware by looking at whether the system had XP ( yay ! ) or Vista ( ugh ! ) .

But all is not lost . You ’ll come up the iPhone and eight more of our favorite technology natural endowment ideas for the holidays . The2007 Cool Yule Toolshas more photos and reviews of this year ’s other favorites .

Apple iPhone , $ 400

hand down , the iPhone is the production of the year . bring forth more discussion in consumer and initiative circles than any other twist in late memory , the iPhone has revolutionized the way sound vendors remember about user interfaces . In terms of a digital audio player , the iPhone ( and iPod kinfolk ) are light years ahead of everything else .

Sure , it ’s been overhyped to the breaker point of sickness , but once you hold it in your hands and see how well-fixed it is to do things like initiate a conference call , you ’ll be hooked . Yes , there are several issues surrounding enterprise compatibility , pricing and app openness with the iPhone , but this only pave the way for improvements in future equipment . I have a notion the iPhone family unit will make the list of Cool Yule Tools in year to come . ( See aslideshow on other cell phones and smartphonesselected for the talent guide . )

Apple iPod nano , $ 150 ( 4 GB ) ; $ 200 ( 8 GB )

Apple took a lot of the good material from its iPhone software and put it onto the tardy version of theiPod nano . The original Nano was a long , rectangular equipment that looked like a wide pack of gum ; this one shrinks down to almost a square toes with its 320 - by-240 resolution screenland . Nano fans now can keep an eye on picture on the display , as well as hear to their favorite music and podcasts . ( See aslideshow on other portable entertainmentselected for the gift guide . )

Canon PowerShot A650 , $ 433

Our favorite digital camera this year was rated as “ Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel ” by one of our teenage helpers ( we mean that ’s a good thing ) . TheA650features 12.1 megapixels , a 6x opthalmic zoom lens with image stabiliser and tons of extra features . The coolest feature article is a 2.5 - column inch liquid crystal display covert that close up out and swivels so you’re able to toss it around to take photos of yourself and frame them correctly . The definitive Canon handgrip physical structure lets you point and shoot with one hand . Diesel . ( See aslideshow on digital camerasselected for the endowment guide . )

Boston Innovative Products iMep , $ 300

Because iPod now are multimedia player , not just music players , international speaker system system need extra feature to play videos . The Swiss Army tongue of iPod boomboxes , theiMepincludes standard features such as a make - in iPod courser and stereo speakers , but adds a 7 - inch LCD screen ; a certificate of deposit / videodisk player ; integrate idiot box receiving set ; AM / FM radio ; USB embrasure ; and backup for Secure Digital , MultiMedia and MemoryStick cards . Optical and coaxial digital sound output signal and composite video outputs have you connect the boombox to larger audio and video scheme .

Epson MovieMate 72 , $ 1,200

The latest all - in - one DVD player and projector organization from Epson now add up with high - definition 720p solution supporting . The swivel base between the projector and the DVD role player allows for versatile placement and well-to-do adjustment . In addition to meet DVDs , theMovieMate 72’snumerous inputs allow for connecting secret plan consoles , in high spirits - definition cable length set - top boxes and other television devices . You do n’t have to connect this to an external audio system or dwelling theater organisation , but the connections let you do this for some extra wallop . ( See aslideshow on home amusement itemsselected for the natural endowment guide . )

Plantronics Voyager 520 , $ 100

We ’ve loved Plantronics ’ audio applied science over the year , and are just as proud of with theVoyager 520 , which is perfect for mobile professional person on your list who ca n’t know without their Bluetooth phone . The Voyager 520 has noise cancellation , a windshield that tighten dissonance outdoors , and multipoint engineering that permit you connect two Bluetooth cellular telephone phone to the headset . The earloop ready the telephone extremely comfortable . You ’ll probably forget you have this headset on , it ’s that well-to-do .

Myvu personal media viewer , $ 200

We ’ve seen equipment like this before , where you create a “ virtual motion picture theatre ” experience by redact on a duo of glasses that project the movie ’s image in front of your eyes . Those devices , however , have been expensive , heavy or not very good at letting user focus in the ripe location . With these glasses , Myvuhas solved many of these problems . With the committed pinna - buds for audio frequency , you now can enjoy picture from your portable digital media actor ( or portable DVD histrion ) as if you were sitting in the theater .

Mimoco Star Wars USB drive , $ 70 ( 1 GB ) to $ 140 ( 4 GB )

There ’s nothing crack - innovative about these drives , but if you have anyStar Warsfans on your list , pick upone of these reposition drive , which feature designs of four differentStar Warscharacters ( Darth Vader , Chewbacca , a Stormtrooper and R2 - D2 ) . The devices derive with a detachable USB - porthole cap and a hoodie protector that attach to a keychain . ( See aslideshow on internet storage itemsselected for the gift guide . )