U2

For those die hard U2 fans on your list there are a couple new releases by this timeless group. The first is a book entitled U2 by U2. This hardback book tells the story of the group from their very early days to the present. The book uses stories related by the members of U2 and pictures to tell the story. A great gift for serious U2 fans who love learning more about the band.

The second new release is a CD/DVD combo called U2 18. It is a compilation of some of U2's greatest hits. It contains one CD and one DVD with different songs on each. This collection has received mixed reviews from U2 fans because of the songs that they have decided to include and disclude. Check it out for yourself and compare pricing on www.thriftdog.com.

Christmas Movies

'Tis the season to watch all holiday movies. Everyone has their own traditions. Some prefer the old classics in black and white, while others love the newer more humorous side of the holidays. Personally, I enjoy them all and love watching them to help get me in the spirit of Christmas. Here are some links to some popular Christmas movies to bring home to share this holiday season. Enjoy.

Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Miracle on 34th Street (1947), (2000)
White Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
A Christmas Story
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and others
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Holiday Inn
The Santa Clause, The Santa Clause 2
Christmas in Connecticut
A Christmas Carol (George C. Scott), (Patrick Stewart Edition)
The Bishop's Wife
Scrooge
Home Alone
Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol
The Grinch (Jim Carrey)
The Polar Express
Elf
It's a Wonderful Life
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas
Christmas With the Kranks
Prancer
Ernest Saves Christmas

As you can see, the list goes on and on. If you don't see your favorite movie listed here, search for it on www.thriftdog.com. Happy holidays to all!

Apple Ipod's

Among MP3 players, the Ipod by Apple continues to be a top seller. The Ipod now comes in so many different varieties that it is hard to keep up. From the Ipod Nano to the new video Ipods, they have become extremely popular with the young and old alike. They are now coming with increasingly larger hard drives for even more storage space. Ipods have the ability to store and display all different types of media now (songs, podcasts, video, games, and more...). A great idea for anyone on your list. Check out all the different types of Ipods and compare prices here.

Competitors to the Ipod include:
Microsoft Zune
Sandisk Sansa e250, e280, e260, e270,
Creative Zen
Toshiba Gigabeat
iRiver Clix, h10
Pioneer Inno

Digital Picture Frames

One of the latest and greatest developments in digital photography is the digital picture frame. You store a series of your favorite digital photos in the memory in the frame. The frame then cycles through your pictures and displays them in the frame. An excellent idea, if you ask me, and a great idea for Christmas for that hard to buy for person on your list. There are many frames out there and prices range from about $70-$200 or more. Check out different brands and compare prices here.

Cranium Hullabaloo

Winner of the 2003 and 2006 Toy of the Year Award, Cranium's Hullabaloo would make a wonderful gift for the little ones on your list. Besides being fun, it is also educational. Although, it is recommended for ages 4 and up, it can still be fun for younger kids to play along. They may not be able to participate fully, but will enjoy taking part in the fun. Hullabaloo is a cross between many different games; Twister, Hopscotch, Simon Says, and Musical Chairs. The game comes with16 different colored pads with pictures and words on them. Once the pads are laid out on the floor, you are ready to turn on the game and begin. The game gives instructions to the players such as "slide over to a red shape" or "jump on a shape that has an animal on it." It might give you instructions such as put one body part on this square and another body part on another square. At the end of the round it will tell you that if you are on a particular pad, you win. The difficulty of the game increases the longer you play. The reviews on this game are excellent and I would highly recommend it. As always, don't forget the batteries (3 AA's). They are not included.

Shop and compare prices here.

Josh Groban

Are you a hopeless romantic? Although I would not consider it in the pop genre, the music of Josh Groban has become quite popular among all ages over the last few years. His new CD "Awake," which was released on Nov. 7, seems to be no exception. The 13 tracks on this CD follow in the style of his earlier music and is a delight to listen to. If you like Josh Groban, you should definitely check this one out. A few of the tracks on this album break away a little from his older style, as Josh Groban strives to expand a little bit. Overall, a hit.

Shop and compare prices on this new CD here. There is also a special edition of this collection, which includes a DVD. Check that one out here.

Need a new movie to watch?

Fall seems to be the time of year for all of the new releases. This past week is no exception. There is something out there for just about anyone. Here is a list of a few of the hottest new DVD's released this week.

King Kong (3 Disc Deluxe Edition)
The DaVinci Code
The Golden Girls Sixth Season
NCIS Second Season
Northern Exposure Fifth Season
CSI Sixth Season
Looney Tunes Volume 4

Check out customer reviews and compare prices on www.thriftdog.com.

T.J. Bearytales

Remember the Christmas that you just had to have Teddy Ruxpin? T.J. Bearytales is the next generation of this talking, storytelling bear. His mouth, nose, eyes, ears and arms move as he tells a story. He does more than just tell a story, though. He asks questions about the story and incorporates songs and activities into each tale. He teaches letters, numbers, and social skills that prepare young children for school.

T. J. Bearytales comes with one pre-programmed story and an attached backpack that can hold up to 4 story cartridges. The cartridges and 4 D batteries are sold separately, though. Each cartridge has an accompanying storybook for your child to follow along in as T. J. tells the story. This toy is recommended for children ages 2-6 years old and costs $35-$50. Shop and compare prices here.

Nintendo Wii

Nintendo's new gaming system pronounced "we" comes out November 19th. Just in time for the holidays. Like many of the other gaming systems out right now, the Wii allows players to play games together regardless of location. A couple of the innovative features of this system are the built-in Wi-Fi access and the wireless controller that is motion-sensitive. The controller is shaped like a television remote and is easily used by players of any age and ability. Through the use of bluetooth technology, the system senses the location of the controller in 3D space as you move it. Thus, games are played with full arm and hand motion instead of just pushing buttons with your thumbs. The controller also features sensory feedback in the form of sound and "rumble" motion. Up to four controlllers may be used at the same time.

Specs of the system include:
512 MB internal flash memory
2 USB 2.0 ports
a slot for SD memory expansion
"Broadway" processing chip from IBM
"Hollywood" graphics chipset from ATI
single self-loading media bay
compatible with Nintendo GameCube discs (older NES games will be available for download for $5-$10 each)

Each new system will come with a set of games called "Wii Sports." Nintendo plans to have 30 games released by the end of the year. The games set to be out by launch include:

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Excite Truck
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
Madden NFL 07
Need for Speed: Carbon
Elebits
Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz
Metal Slug Anthology
Rayman: Raving Rabids
Red Steel

Each games costs around $50 and the system costs around $325. Read more reviews and compare pricing here.

Microsoft Zune Media Player

The newest digital media device is here from Microsoft. This 30GB player allows you to wirelessly transfer music or other entertainment files onto your Zune player. You may then watch or listen to each file 3 times in three days free of charge. After the third time, you have the option to purchase the file the next time you link up. Zune comes in white, black, and brown. The large color screen alows you to watch slide shows while you listen to your favorite music. It also comes with an FM tuner for easy listening to your favorite radio stations. To download your favorite music just visit the Zune Marketplace similar to iTunes for iPods. Or, you can load your favorite music and playlists from iTunes or Windows Media Player. There are also a plethora of accessories available for the Zune Media Player to adapt it for use in your car or house.

The Zune Media Player ranges in price from $250-$300. Shop and compare prices here.

Kid Tough FP3 Player

The only MP3 player made just for kids. What won't they think of next? Made for ages 3 and up, this media player holds over 30 minutes of music and story content on its 128MB hard drive. It also has an SD drive for added storage capacity. It has a 1 inch LCD display screen on the back and requires 2AA batteries (not included). It does come with software and a USB cable to us in downloading music and updating the player. This player has been made to be highly durable and has been drop tested. It has simple controls and comes with child-size headphones. The FP3 Player comes in girls and boys varieties. Prices range from $55-$60. Reviews of this product have been favorable, although some people complain that downloading music and stories onto the player can be a pain. Check out more reviews and pricing here and here.

Bounce and Spin Zebra

Here is a new spin on traditional walker and exersaucers made just for toddlers. Fisher Price's new Bounce & Spin Zebra lights up and plays music while your child bounces and spins. It plays five different songs and has finger toys for added entertainment. This toy is recommended for children age 12-36 months. Thus far the toy has received good reviews. Some younger children may have a difficult time getting on and off the toy by themselves. Smaller children may also be unable to reach the floor while sitting on the zebra. Find out more about this toy or shop and compare prices here.

Roboreptile

From the makers of the Robosapien and the Roboraptor comes the new Roboreptile. When you first turn on your roboreptile, a pre-programmed animation runs. His movements and sounds are impressive. It moves like a dinosaur out of the past. Roboreptile comes with motion and sound sensors. The difficulty with this toy comes in learning to control it. A remote control sends signals to the roboreptile. The signal receiver is in the robots head and can sometimes be difficult to hit from all angles. Another point which may be confusing is the dual function of each button on the remote. Once a signal is received, the robot carries out that command until it is given a different command. The robot can move around in three modes: direct control, free roam, and program.

Despite the control difficulties that Roboreptile presents, it can be entertaining. Roboreptile ranges in price from $80-$100. Shop and compare prices here.

ESPN Fast Action Football

If there is a football fanatic on your list this year, you should check out this interactive game table. It combines electronics with the physical game of football. The playing field on the table has multi colored lights that display the action. The controls consist of a footpad and joystick, allowing your child full body involvement in the game. There are three levels of play(Training Camp, Rookie, and Pro) for any ability level. The game experience is enhanced through the rich sound, game commentary, and electronic scoring. The ESPN game table is recommended for children ages 6 to 15 years old. Prices for this gift range from $170-$229. To read more reviews and compare prices from your favorite retailers click here.

Ever wanted your own pony?

This pony isn't much cheaper than the real thing, but it is a lot less messy. Butterscotch is as life-like as they come without the stable fees and bills for food. At 39 inches high, this pony is big enough for a small child to sit on. Butterscotch moves her head when you touch her or talk to her. She also can blink her eyes, swish her tail, wiggle her ears, "eat" her carrot, and make pony sounds that are realistic. She comes with a carrot, a brush, and an adoption certificate. Butterscotch is recommended for ages 4 and up. Prices range from $270-$300. Don't forget to pick up six D batteries to power this new friend. Shop and compare prices here.

Digi-Makeover

Well, here's the solution from Radica Games. The new Digi-Makeover Interactive Make-up kit let's you digitally give yourself or a friend a makeover. Plug it directly into your television and let the fun begin. Digi-Makeover has cool effects for changing hair styles, make-up, accessories, and even clothes. Just use the interactive touch pad. The best part is the digital camera, which allows you to use your own face for the makeover. The perfect gift for the tween girls in your family.

Digi-Makeover Interactive Make-up kit can be bought for $50-$60. Shop and compare prices with thriftdog.com by clicking here.

Lego Mindstorms NXT

Lego has truly outdone themselves this time. Mindstorms NXT comes with everything you need to build and program your own robots. It combines the fun of building with Legos with the ability to make your creations come to life using robotics. No need to be a genius. This set comes with illustrated instructions that lead you through the steps of building and programming your robot. Then, let your imagination take flight. Mindstorms NXT robots have sensors for detecting touch, light and color, sound, distance, and movement. These sensors allow them to be programmed to react to each of these different forms of sensory input. You don't even have to learn a programming language to program your robot. Mindstorms NXT can be programmed in a much more simple drag and drop technique using pre-programmed functions. If you want to get deeper into the programming, however, you can do so using the Mindstorms software. NXT is also bluetooth enabled. This function allows your to control your robot using other bluetooth devices or even create a network of up to three Mindstorms NXT robots.

Mindstorms NXT is recommended for ages 10 and up. To read more and compare prices click here.

Amazing Allysen

The sequel to Amazing Amanda is now here. Made by the same company, Amazing Allysen has many of the same capabilities as last year's Amanda. It seems Allysen may be aimed at a slightly more mature audience, however. Allysen's has a great command of language. She can listen and speak. Kids can chat with her, as well as sharing ring tones and secrets. She also recognizes and interacts with her magazine, hair brush, cell phone, and smoothie. Allysen shows emotions and is fun to dress up. She is available with caucasian and ethnic skin and hair tones. Dance, cheerleading, and slumber party packs for more fun with Allysen are sold separately.

Amazing Allysen has received good reviews from consumers and can even be found for less money than her amazing counterpart last year. Find yours for $69-$99 with thriftdog.com. Click here.

Cars movie

The best children's movie of the year is now out on DVD. Disney and Pixar have always been a winning team, and this movie is no exception. It is full of humor that kids and adults alike will enjoy. Every kid will enjoy watching the rookie racecar Lightning McQueen as he strives to win the Piston Cup. While the movie is about a racecar, most of the movie is not about racing. Instead, it follows Lightning in his adventures off the racetrack where he learns some important lessons. Featuring artists such as Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, and Rascal Flats, the soundtrack to this movie is even great. Don't miss out on this new hit. Shop and compare prices here.

Baby Alive Interactive Doll

Baby Alive is the latest and greates interactive doll from Hasbro. This doll does just about everything a doll can do. She talks, sleeps, and eats. She even 'poops' her diaper and tells you when she does. She comes with a dress, 2 diapers, a bottle, a bowl, a spoon, 4 packets of doll food, and a bib. Everything your little one needs to care for her new treasure. You might want to have extra diapers on hand, though. This doll is recommended for ages 3-6.

Baby Alive usually costs between $40-$60. To shop for the Baby Alive Doll and accessories click here.

Kid Tough Digital Cameras

The Kid Tough Digital Camera by Fisher Price is a sturdy camera made just for kids. Recommended for kids ages 3 and up, this camera takes real digital pictures. The camera comes in blue and pink. It comes with 8 MB of built in memory and has a slot for an SD memory card(sold separately). One kid-friendly feature of this camera is the 2-eye view finder, making the camera easy to use even for young children. It also boasts a 1.3' color LCD screen for quick easy viewing of pictures taken. The added CD of camera software that comes with this camera makes it a great package deal for any little amateur photographer. There have been some complaints about the quality of the pictures that these cameras produce. However, most people agree that the pictures are high enough quality for kids to enjoy exploring their photography skills.

Kid Tough Cameras can be found for $55-$80. Read more reviews, check prices, and check availability here.

What is all the hype about?

A furry little red guy that laughs alot. T.M.X. Elmo, the tenth anniversary edition of a popular toy, became a top-seller as soon as it hit the shelves. It has not remained in stock anywhere for more than a couple of days at a time. Currently, the only place it can be found is on auction sites such as Ebay or Overstock Auctions. You will pay much more than retail value buying from these sites, however. Like previous Tickle-Me-Elmo dolls, he laughs when you tickle him in one of his ticklish spots. The more you tickle him, the more he laughs, making him hilarious to watch as he laughs and rolls on the floor. his laughter is contagious to toddlers and adults alike. So far, customers seem to like this furry friend, with a few exceptions as always.

At most stores, T.M.X. Elmo can be bought for around $40, if you can find it in stock. In other online auctions and websites, Elmo sells for double that or more. Happy hunting.

To read more reviews on Elmo or to check stock at your favorite stores go here.

So, what are the top toys this holiday season? Here is a small collection of the top-selling toys.

1. T.M.X. Elmo by Fisher Price
2. Kid Tough Digital Camera by Fisher Price
3. Bratz Forever Diamondz Babyz
4. Lego Mindstorms NXT
5. Nintendo Wii
6. Baby Alive Doll by Hasbro
7. Butterscotch Fur Real Friends Pony by Hasbro
8. Air Hogs RC Storm Launcher by SpinMaster
9. ESPN Fast Action Football by Fisher Price
10. Amazing Allysen Interactive Doll
11. Digi-Makeover Interactive Make-up kit by Radica Games
12. Fly Wheels XPV (Xtreme Performance R/C Vehicle)
13. Kid Tough FP3 Song and Story Player by Fisher Price (girls version here)
14. Roboreptile Robot by WowWee
15. Bounce and Spin Zebra by Fisher Price

Holiday Season

Thriftdog.com is working hard preparing for the holiday shopping season. We have all the hottest gifts for 2006, including toys, DVD's, electronics, games, and more. Through Thriftdog.com you can compare prices from your favorite retailers and purchase your gifts at a great price from a company that you trust.

Check us out at www.thriftdog.com