Nikon’s new J1 camera combines the interchangeable lenses of a pro-style DSLR with the compact size and ease of use of a point-and-shoot.  The J1 features integrated auto-focus that’s amazingly fast and one-touch full HD video recording – you can even take pictures while recording video.  Fast moving action is captured with perfect clarity thanks to the J1’s 73 point AF array.  There’s also a Motion Snapshot feature that taking a quick series of pictures with a single click.

A variety of NIKKOR lenses are designed for fast and easy swapping.  Find out more about the Nikon J1 and NIKKOR lenses on the official Nikon website.

Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins has earned a reputation for separating myth and religion from scientific facts in a series of books like The Greatest Show on Earth.  His latest work, The Magic of Reality: How We Know What’s Really True is written for children and is available on the Apple iPad for less than the cost of the hardcover book.  The iPad e-book app uses text and illustrations by world-renowned artist Dave McKean graphics to illustrate the scientific explanations for the origin of the planet.  The enhanced digital version of the book also includes games, interactive graphics and videos.

You can find out more about The Magic of Reality on the official app website and view a demo in this YouTube video.

Bose has just released the SoundLink wireless mobile speaker. Priced at about $300 and weighing in at 3 lbs, this A2DP Bluetooth speaker carries a bit more heft than similar audio products. The SoundLink is compatible with iPhone, Android, Blackberry, tablets, laptops and other mobile music devices. A reported 30-ft wireless range provides plenty of flexibility when positioning the speaker in relation to the audio source.

The Soundlink features Bose’s famous sleek high-end design style and includes a magnetic cover that protects its grill during transport. The cover acts as a stand when the speaker is in use. The base model is sold with a gray cover, with colored covers available for an additional $30 to $50.

Find out more about the SoundLink on the official Bose website.

If you’re bored with the typical iPhone cases, why not try a steampunk design? Steampunk design reflects a genre that combines science fiction and fantasy, reflecting the steam-powered industrial design of Victorian-era Britain and France. Think H.G. Wells and Jules Vernes.

This unique iPhone 4 shell created by Colin Thompson is available at Gelaskins for $15. You can find additional steampunk shells on Zazzle.

If you’d like to add a touch of distinction to your office, check out the Black & Decker iShred Vertical Shredder. This conical-shapped shredder not only features a sleek design, but its shape is also functional since it allows you to discard shredded paper pieces without the messy overflow that often occurs with cylindrical shredders. The iShed has a six-sheet capacity and promises to cut down on paper jams. It’s fully enclosed shredder head is also safer than conventional shredders.

The iShed is advertised as being able to shred staples and credit cards. It retails for less than $100. Find out more about the Black & Decker iShred Vertical Shredder on the Walmart website.

The AppSpeed Monster Truck is a new breed of RC vehicle – it’s controlled by an iPhone running the free AppSpeed app.  Just plug the RF dongle into the dock connector and then control the speed and steer this toy truck using any iOS Apple device with the app installed.  You can also tilt your device forwards, backwards, left or right to control the truck in gravity sensor mode. 

Three presets allow you to ZigZag, Dance or Spin your truck in time to music.  You can also use the multiplayer mode that lets you race your little truck with your friends.  Find out more about this app-controlled RC truck on the Dexim website.

School will soon be in session and college students will be looking for a laptop that can easily travel between home and school.  Many students are opting for a netbook as a low-cost alternative to a more expensive laptop.  If you really just need a basic computer for note-taking, writing essays and using the Internet, check out the ASUS Eee PC 1015PEM netbook.  This 10-inch ASUS netbook features an Intel Atom N550 dual-core processor for multitasking and LED-backlit technology supports brighter visuals.  The ASUS Eee PC 1015PEM netbook provides up to 13 hours of battery life (double the life of other netbooks). 

Find out more about this ASUS netbook on Amazon.com.

Most of us have dropped a smartphone and held our breath as it hit the floor. Apparently Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos decided to do something about the sinking feeling you get when your smartphone drops. It was recently revealed that Bezos has filed a patent application for a smartphone system that would use the phone’s camera and gyroscope to detect motion and the proximity of other objects. If the phone decides that it’s falling, protective measures will spring into action. Possible ideas for the phone protection include a mini airbag or deployable springs.

Read more about Bezo’s patent on the Popular Science website.

Just a few short years ago, despite having 10 million users, the Internet was thought by many to be some kind of passing fad. In 1995, MTV News devoted a quick 4-minute segment to the World Wide Web, comparing it to the CB radio craze of the 1970s. The segment includes commentary from Sandra Bullock (who starred in a movie called The Net), Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews and Moby. You can take a walk down memory lane by checking out the vintage video on YouTube.

In 2011, the market for computer tablets is expected to see a 255% growth, with almost 60 million units making their way into the hands of consumers. By 2015, tablet sales are expected to grow by 750% compared to projected growth in laptop sales of about 80%. According to technology industry analyst Ben Bajarin, this phenomenal growth indicates that tablets represent the future of computing because they are based on “touch technology” and a more natural user interface than the keyboard and mouse.

Read Bajarin’s complete analysis on the Time Magazine website.