Top Technology Picks For The Holiday Season

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - Smartwatches--the sophisticated, portable mini-computers that track fitness metrics and synchronize with cell phones--are taking wrists by storm this holiday season.

Other popular high-tech devices include tiny video cameras, twisty laptops and a tablet computer with a built-in video projector.

The Pioneer Press's consumer technology writer Julio Ojeda-Zapata was in the WCCO-TV studio Sunday morning to talk with Esme Murphy.

Watch the full interview above, or read about Ojeda-Zapata's technology picks for the holiday season below:

Smartwatches

Microsoft Band, ($200), the new, advanced wrist gadget that is part fitness band, part smartwatch.

Motorola Moto 360 ($300), the best smartwatch out there but it pairs up only with Android phones.

Pebble ($99), a simple, cheap smartwatch that will pair up with iPhones and Android phones alike.

Video cameras

Polaroid Cube ($100), a tiny, easy-to-use videocam that you can mount and use almost anywhere.

HTC Re ($200) a tiny videocam that is waterproof, easy to use, and streams video to your phone.

Phones

Motorola Moto X (free with contract), an Android phone that can be customized with wood, leather.

Motorola Droid Turbo, ($100 with contract) the cousin to the Moto X but with extended battery life.

HTC Desire Eye ($150) otherwise known as "the selfie phone" due to its great front-facing camera.

Tablets

Apple iPad Air 2 ($499) and Belkin Qode Ultimate Pro Keyboard ($150) for a fab productivity setup.

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro ($470), a jumbo Android tablet that – bonus! – builds in a video projector.

Computers

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro ($1,300), a laptop that is very twisty and can be converted into a stand or tablet.

Apple iMac with Retina 5K display ($2,499), a desktop computer with the highest-resolution display.

Tech columnist Julio Ojeda-Zapata

Tech reporting: twincities.technology

Tech blog: yourtechweblog.com

Personal site: ojezap.com