User Rating:
Good: The Brookstone HDMI Pocket Projector is very compact, produces a decent picture, and is simple to set up and use. Its built-in rechargeable battery delivers 2 hours of projection time and can also charge portable devices via the integrated USB port. The product also ships with two HDMI adapters (for smartphones and tablets) and a short HDMI cable.
Bad: It's somewhat pricey at $300; it doesn't work out of the box with Apple iOS devices, meaning an adapter is required; it doesn't have a memory card or USB slot for playing digital files without an external device; and the built-in speakers are tinny-sounding.
Bottom Line: While it has a few small shortcomings and is somewhat pricey at $300, the sleekly designed Brookstone HDMI Pocket Projector is one of the better 2012 pico projectors. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: A fine shooting design, great photo and good video quality, and excellent performance number among the Sony Alpha NEX-6's strengths.
Bad: The camera lacks the option to save groups of custom settings, a real irritation, and we wish it had a neutral color preset. Plus Sony's wireless implementation is awkward, and the app system is annoying.
Bottom Line: The Sony Alpha NEX-6 delivers an as-yet-unbeatable package of image quality, performance, and design, even for its rather high price. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: A fine shooting design, great photo and good video quality, and excellent performance number among the Sony Alpha NEX-6's strengths.
Bad: The camera lacks the option to save groups of custom settings, a real irritation, and we wish it had a neutral color preset. Plus Sony's wireless implementation is awkward, and the app system is annoying.
Bottom Line: The Sony Alpha NEX-6 delivers an as-yet-unbeatable package of image quality, performance, and design, even for its rather high price. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Zvox Z-Base 420 costs significantly less than competing pedestal sound bars. Its sound is rich and powerful for the price, and a huge step up from the built-in speakers on a TV. The Dialogue Emphasis mode is a great option for boosting speech over background noise. There's also a built-in front-panel display, cleverly hidden behind the speaker grilles, which many competitors lack.
Bad: The cabinet of the Z-Base 420 can sometimes vibrate enough to make certain TVs buzz. And at higher volumes, it occasionally distorts. The included remote also has a cheap feel and mediocre button layout.
Bottom Line: The Zvox Z-Base 420 offers an uncluttered look and solid sound at a budget price, but its quirks might give some buyers pause. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Roku Streaming Stick offers to streamline your smart TV setup by eliminating power cords and the need for a separate remote. The experience is akin to that of other Roku boxes and is one of the best streaming setups available. The device offers a motion remote and dual-band 802.11n networking.
Bad: The Roku Streaming Stick is completely functional with only two displays at present, and one of these (a 3M projector) already includes the Stick. For the same $99, the fully featured Apple TV is a better way to go if you're part of that ecosystem. While some TVs do have MHL, it still has a narrow appeal as the other Roku boxes offer better compatibility.
Bottom Line: While the number of devices that support it will probably grow, the Roku Streaming Stick is still a niche item when compared with every other Roku device. [Read more]