سلام زبان

Photo: AP

Apple iPads are a hot item this Christmas

This is the VOA Special English Technology Report.

A report by the Consumer Electronics Association says electronics are among the most popular gifts being bought this holiday season. It also predicts that spending on these devices will set new records.

The CEA says consumers will spend an average of about two hundred thirty dollars on electronics. This is five percent more than last year and the highest level since the organization began keeping records of holiday spending.

Jim Barry is a spokesman for the Consumer Electronics Association. He says the CEA study found that electronics represent three of the top five things on its "holiday gift wish list" this year.

JIM BARRY: "Notebook computers are at the top, followed by iPads and then e-readers. IPad is a touch-screen tablet computer and that's really the big player in that category."

The computer company Apple began selling its small, touch-screen computers in April. The company reported that it had sold more than three million iPads by the end of July. Its latest earnings report shows sales of more than four million iPads during the last three months of this year.

People use the touch-screen computers to surf the Web, write e-mails, watch movies and read books.  Since the iPad's release earlier this year, several other companies have come out with their own tablet computers just in time for Christmas.

A report from the e-Marketer research group predicts that worldwide, tablet sales will reach more than eighty-one million in two thousand twelve. Still, Jim Barry says these devices are facing tough competition this year from another Christmas favorite.

JIM BARRY: "Another hot category right behind that are the e-readers. So you can read on an iPad or a touch-screen tablet, but the e-book readers are less expensive. The Kindle is the market leader there, from Amazon.  But you also have the Nook from Barnes and Noble and the e-reader from Sony. And you have more and more of those e-readers coming into the market as well."

Jim Barry says modern technology is changing the way people relate and increasing their expectations for their electronic devices.

JIM BARRY: "The buzz phrase in the industry is 'content anywhere.' And it's really the ability to take your information and entertainment with you just about anywhere to stay connected to your work and your family. And that's what all of these devices do."

The Consumer Electronics Association report found that iPod music players are also in high demand this holiday season. So are video game systems and digital cameras.

But not all of the things on the holiday gift wish list involved electronics. Clothes, cars and motorcycles also made the list. So did family togetherness and good health. And the one thing that people wanted most?

JIM BARRY: "At the top of the list was peace and happiness."

That is also our wish for you this holiday season. And that's the VOA Special English Technology Report, written by June Simms. I'm Steve Ember.

At the top of the list is peace and happiness.

At the top of the list was peace and happiness :) Merry Christmas ^^

I wish I will have an iPad in next year. It's so interesting and useful.

It is surprising that expensive electronic devices are on the top of the list. I think the reason is that iPads, e-readers and notebook computers are becoming toys for children to play.

Ipad is a so wonderful device and I think it may be the fittest gift for this holiday season.

The happiest thing during holiday is family togetherness and good health.

Apple stocks will be high more than now Because of them (-.-) haha

that is definitely hundred procent correct that people put the Health on the top of the wish list. Health und family happyness doubtless occupy the first place on my list.

Wish you health and happiness as well.

thanks, with you all health,peace and hapniess

One week ago I bought a iPad. I can see web pages, read many books, listen musics and write twiiter, face by it. I am now held captive by iPad. Another e-book readers are also very intgeresting to me. I am now enjoying new e-books age.

So do I.

I want a iPad

All I want for this X-mas season is also happiness.

wish you happy

the fist computer that i played was SHARP PC-1500 made by Japan. i wrote some simple game programs with BASIC on it. It brought me some happy times. today,for teenagers, small touch-screen computer as Apple iPads is very good holiday gift. i wish that some big software companies can design easy programming language for teenagers, with which teenagers themselves can write varied interesting computer programs for their own small touch-screen computer as before to have happy time.

I thinks that modern technology is changing the way people relate, but they should understand about human core value, if thought they use moder technology for scandals.

yeah I agree with you, though I like new technology and electronic devices ( with all the bells and whistles) but still (at the top of the list is peace and happiness and of course a good health)

The Christmas also very popular in Taiwan More and more college students celebrate it

thank you for informative knowledge. ipad is useful device. if i get a popular electric device on christmas, this day will happiest in my life.kkk I will anticipate useful information.

I Like All Electronics > So did your families togetherness and good health> and Merry Christmas

this is a wonderful tecnology cause people can carry their library and can gain information easier.world is changing,all things are changing tecnology,climate,people..but everbody need happiness and peace.merry christmas.

marry Christmas for every body, i would like an ipad 2 but an ipod would be enough dont forget me santa plz,,,,lol and i hope Santa do not forget the hungry poor people around the world. i wonder if every person in this world shared only 10 % of what he/she has got wouldn't it be a nicer place to live for every body.

Give me one!

All I want fot holiday season is peace and being calm.

At the top of the list is peace and happiness.

somewhere i have heard a program 'detoxify technology'. day by day, the number of people who dependence on technology increasingly. they couldn't stop surfing webs, checking mail, joining facebook and they haven't got any time to meet friend to talk face by face. so, as walawalaenglish said " the happiest thing during holiday is family togetherness and good health"

Merry Christimas!

Peace is the most precious present to the whole world.

i think if there were 365 christmas days in a year we would get one every day

My BF buy ipad for me. quite expensive

wishes all of you happy and peace

thnx for your supporting, to learning english Happy Day for all

Ipad is really useful. It's convenient for office and entertainment. I think Ipad wil replace laptop in the new furture. And I wish Ipad would be becoming cheaper and cheaper to reach all the world.

Christmas present for kids are very expensive now. I don't think it is good.

thnx for your supporting, to learning english Happy Day for all