Must-have gadgets for 2012

Here are some of the top consumer gadgets that have been creating a lot of buzz.

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The iPad

Apple's new iPad, unveiled March 7, has a sharper screen than the previous iPads. To date, the iPad has reigned at the top of the tablet market, with 15.43 million sold in its last quarter, an increase of 111 percent over the previous year.

Paul Sakuma / AP

Nikon D800 camera

A model displays the much-anticipated Nikon D800 digital single lens reflex camera, which the company announced on Feb. 9, 2012. The $3,000 camera features a 36.3-megapixel sensor and was made with the videographer in mind. The camera will be available in March.

Kiyoshi Ota / Bloomberg

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF700T tablet

Asus unveiled the TF700T, a new variant of its Eee Pad Transformer Prime tablet (pictured), at CES in January.

David Paul Morris / Bloomberg

iPhone 4s

Fehmeeda Bakhshi from Reading, England, holds up her purchase of two iPhone 4s outside an Apple store. Apple's latest iPhone went on sale in stores across the globe in October, prompting thousands to line up around city blocks to snap up the final gadget unveiled during Steve Jobs's life.

Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF700T tablet

The major upgrade is a move to a 1920 x 1200 resolution, according to The Verge. It runs Android's Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.

/ Asus

iPhone 4s

Apple announced on Oct. 17 that three days after the phone's launch, 4 million of the devices were sold.

Oli Scarff / GETTY IMAGES

HP Envy 14 Spectre

The Gorilla Glass-covered ultrabook is HP’s first ultrabook for non-business consumers. It weighs in at just 3.9 pounds and measures just under 0.8 inches thick. With a good display and Beats-brand speakers, the ultrabook is sure to be popular with the fashion-forward -- just watch out for fingerprints.

/ Hewlett-Packard

Droid RAZR Maxx

Motorola's Droid RAZR Maxx was just announced at CES in January. While the newest version of the popular RAZR is thicker than its predecessor, it has a longer battery life.

David Becker / Getty Images

Pentouch TV

Women demonstrate the use of a TV with Pentouch technology at the LG Electronics pavilion during press day at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin on Sept. 1, 2011. The plasma TV comes with a Touch Pen that lets you draw on the screen and organize and browse through photos and videos. The TV also allows you to surf the Web.

Thomas Peter / Reuters

Samsung Galaxy Tab

A man walks past a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 displayed at a local shop in South Korea on Feb. 3, 2012.

Lee Jin-man / AP

Droid 4

Motorola's Droid 4, shown here at CES 2012, has an 8 megapixel camera and a 1.2GHz dual-core processor.

David Becker / Getty Images

PlayStation Vita

A CES 2012 attendee tests the PlayStation Vita, Sony's next-generation handheld gaming device. The much-anticipated gadget will arrive in the United States this year.

Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg

PlayStation Vita

A video screen shows off the PlayStation Vita, as it displays a game called "ModNation Racers," during a news conference in June 2011. AT&T announced in January that the 3G-enabled model of the devices will have month-to-month plans that do not require a long-term contract. The 250 MB plan will be $14.99 per month; the 2GB will be $25 per month. Vita owners will also be able to use AT&T WiFi hotspots for free.

Chris Pizzello / AP

Kindle Fire

This file photo shows the latest Amazon Kindle products, from left to right, Kindle Touch, Kindle Fire tablet and the new Kindle.

Emmanuel Dunand / AFP/Getty Images

Kindle Fire

The Fire, which retails for $199, is an expanded version of the company’s Kindle e-reader that has 8GB of storage and WiFi. The Fire gives users access to streaming video, as well as e-books, apps and music, and has a Web browser.

EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Asus Zenbook

The super-thin Asus Zenbook computer sits on display during a news conference in October 2011. Zenbooks come in 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch display models.

Chris Tzou / Bloomberg

Nokia Lumia 710

A visitor looks at a new Nokia Lumia 710 smartphone during the Nokia event. The Lumia 710 also runs Mango and has a 3.7-inch display, has a 5-megapixel camera and shoots video.

Sang Tan / AP

Lytro light field camera

Lytro's light field technology camera was one of the 2011’s most-anticipated technology gadgets. The camera takes "living pictures,” or pictures that allow you to dynamically change the field of focus in a photograph.

Lytro

Galaxy Note

A man paints a picture on Samsung's Galaxy Note at the Mobile World Congress Feb. 27. The Note is a smartphone/tablet hybrid device with a 5.3-inch screen. It will be available around mid-February and will cost $299.99 with a two-year contract with AT&T.

MANU FERNANDEZ / AP

Kinect for Xbox 360

Jesse Grant plays a 3D "Star Wars" game on the Kinect for Xbox 360 gaming console during the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Kinect allows users to interact with the XBox gaming console without using a controller.

Steve Marcus / Reuters

Wii U

Nintendo's next video game console, the Wii U, is used at the 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo. The console will hit shelves in 2012.

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

Featured Photo Galleries

Homeowner David Firth tries to beat back a brush fire heading towards his home at Bettas Road and Low Drive as wildfire burns Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012 in Cle Elum, Wash. The fire jumped the line they were trying to make but still stands after being sprayed with water trucks and further efforts to beat it back with the help of several neighbors volunteering. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Bettina Hansen) SEATTLE OUT, USA TODAY OUT, MAGAZINES OUT, TELEVISION OUT, NO SALES . MANDATORY CREDIT TO: BETTINA HANSEN/THE SEATTLE TIMES.

Residents evacuate as wildfires rage through the West

This year’s wildfires are more numerous and have gotten bigger than last year’s, an official says.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Protesters gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks is staying on August 16, 2012 in London, England. Mr Assange has been living inside Ecuador's London embassy since June 19, 2012 after requesting political asylum whilst facing extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Julian Assange granted political asylum by Ecuador

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was granted asylum on Thursday by Ecuador, raising the possibility of a diplomatic showdown between British...

Chase Culp of Houston checks his clown makeup before the performance of Circus Smirkus on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 in Montpelier, Vt. Circus Smirkus, based in Greensboro, Vt., is an award-winning international youth circus founded to promote the skills, culture and traditions of the traveling circus.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

India Independence Day, Syrian air strikes, Western wildfires, plastination and more in the day in photos

News and feature images from around the world.

Cast member Charisma Carpenter poses at the premiere of 'The Expendables 2' at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California August 15, 2012. The movie opens in the U.S. on August 17. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

Eye on entertainment

Charisma Carpenter, Chuck Norris, Lionel Richie, Joe Jonas, Nelly, Alice Cooper and other celebrities.

US President Barack Obama drinks a Guinness beer at The Dubliner pub on March 17, 2012 in Washington. Obama went to the bar to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Hoppy days are here again

President Obama is making clear his love for beer on the campaign trail as he attempts to ferment a coalition of the swilling.

Scanned from Post archive. Washington Senators baseball players Goose Goslin, Manush, Kukel. 9/21/1933. No other info. TWP Photo.

The last time Washington was this good . . .

The Nationals have had the best record in baseball in August, starting to erase memories hardened by decades of mediocrity. Here are clues to...

Montreal Washington, of Kansas City, pets the dog she adopted, Friday, Aug. 10, during 'Tackle Pet Homelessness' at the Kansas City animal shelter in Kansas City, Mo.. Washington plans on naming the pit bull, Alexandra. The shelter is at capacity and is offering a $25 adoption special for all dogs 25 pounds or more. For the month of August, all cats are 'name your own price' and kitten adoptions are $50. (AP Photo/The Kansas City Star, Allison Long)

Homeless and adopted dogs, sand kittens, snow leopards and more in animal views.

Amazing creatures from around the world.

LEWISBURG, WV - AUGUST 11: ( EDITORS NOTE: Image was created using the iPhone 4s with Snapseed's vintage filter) Two young boys sip a drink at the West Virginia State fair on August 11, 2012 in Lewisburg, West Virginia. People from across the region travel to the fair, which is celebrating its 88th year, and hosts various events including equestrian and livestock demonstrations along with a full compliment of carnival rides. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

iPhone snapshots at the West Virginia State Fair

An iPhone captures the fun at the West Virginia State Fair, in its 88th year. All images were created using the Snapseed photo-editing app&rsquo...

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