Canon T2i DSLR: It changed the way I do things. I always thought that the great point and shoots were good enough, but they really weren’t. The photography with this camera is solid and the video is sharp. This Canon opened a lot of doors and that’s what you hope technology will do for you. The lens is a Tamron 2.8 17-50. I used to think a lens like this would suck, but no, it’s solid and great. I used to worry about it’s non compactness, but you get used to it and it’s no big deal to have a camera on you these days. You never know when the alien ship will land and having a camera might be a good idea.

Apple MacBook: I need a new one badly. This might be from 2006 and it’s running slower by the day. It’s a black MacBook that’s maxed out in ram with hard drive space constantly being eaten away. The internal fan sounds like tiny people are inside working away at breaking this machine down with mini chainsaws. There was a time when I’d get a new computer every year. It’s been a while now and maybe it’s time.

Apple iMac: The ultimate brain. It has multiple hard drives connected to it and it’s all networked. It can run Final Cut and is the fastest computer I have. It’s no longer new, but it’s decent enough and gets much less usage than the MacBook. I don’t have a personal affinity towards it like I do other pieces of technology, but it’s reliable and there for the using.

Apple iPhone 3GS: After dropping my iPhone 4 outside of Giant Robot after having it for only two weeks, I found out that the non subsidized price is about $600. After pleading my case with the staff at an Apple Store, they let me exchange a broken iPhone 3GS for a refurbished one for $79. That’s what I use today. It still works but the nice photos everyone else can take with their 4S make me jealous. Instagram still works and that’s always fun. I’m user: giantrobot.

Epson 4800 Printer: The large printer is fun to use. It’s 17 inches wide and it prints clean. Of course you always want bigger. Epson makes a printer that goes 44 inches wide but printing wall papers will have to wait. The 8 colors of inks get pricey so it’s not a toy.

Hario Coffee Grinder: The payment for good coffee is the road to get there. Luckily I don’t have to pick beans or roast them, but grinding them for the pour over is a ritual nearly twice a day. The pour over funnel isn’t really tech as is the kettle, measuring cup or coffee filter, but they count too. Having even grinds is a great way to start the day.

XBox 360: Yes, Modern Warfare 3 isn’t part of a work day, although sometimes, one ten minute game of mass destruction and annihilation can help clear my mind. I don’t like guns but for some reason, I like this game. Thinking about it more, it’s the teamwork of the clan that is most enjoyable. Without that, I wouldn’t bother. Yes, I’m pretty good. I use the ACR with grenade launcher and ACOG scope and MP9 with a red dot. You can’t escape this tandem.

LA Eyeworks Eyeglasses: I’m not blind and people say there’s very little prescription in them, but when they’re off, things are blurry. I’ve had nice compliments on them. There’s people who threaten to steal these frames from me, but it’s not going to happen.

Magic Bullet: When I want something sweet, I try not to eat candy. Instead I blend an array of fruit. No dairy gets in. It’s just fruit and ice. I used to think this was a piece of junk and it sat for ages. I have no idea why. Then one day after using it, it’s been important. I’ve even blended maguro to make spicy tuna in it.

O’Keefe and Merrit Stove: It’s close to where I sit and it’s a pleasure to use this daily. Who needs something brand new when this piece of machinery can do the job just as well? Stoves get old, but fires are the same.

By Gregory Han. Photo by Mathieu Young.

Modern minimalistic would be a good way of describing my tech style; and I would pay a premium for a device that is well designed, wireless and made of hi quality materials. Sometimes, I find myself hacking existing technology and/or designs, in order to make them serve me better. I would love to start seeing more gadgets made of carbon fiber, ceramic and other composite materials. Here are 10 gadgets that make me happy when everything else fails (or for more details, please visit your nearest Apple store!).

Apple iMac 27″ i7: What can I say about my main home computer… That is 10 times faster than the quad core Mac Pro I have at work? The answer is yes. All my daily duties are done speedier than ever and with all that real estate for extra windows and palettes. You really don’t need anything else. Mine is maxed out with 12Gb of ram and it shows!

Apple iPad WiFi: I was there, the day of launch kind of hesitant to see what would I do with it. Almost a year later and I can put it down one second. My wife has her sight on it since she gave me the MacBook Air but I have bigger plans for the trusted iPad. Magazine reading, game playing, internet browsing device and also as a client’s presentation tool.

Apple iPhone 4: Every year is the same story. Wake up super early and make the line. The old ones get sold out pretty quick on the bay to Russian’s buyers for more that what I paid for them, so the early upgrade fee is less painful. A mini computer for the pocket. Browsing, twitting, facebooking, texting and playing. When was the last time you received a phone call?

Mechanical Watches: The very first portable gadget invented. I can stare hours to the tiny movement oscillating and the little gears moving at a perfect pace. I know a Casio may be a more precise choice but the charm of a watch that you have to manually wind every two days (or in the case of the IWC, 7 days), make you take two steps back and appreciate life more. It’s all the little things that matters.

DIY Wireless Speaker: Created this out of a necessity with prioritizing looks above performance. It ended sounding pretty good with a set of dolby 3.1, off the shelf components

Nintendo DS: Or should I call it the “baby’s pacifier”? This was Isabella’s first toy. A blessing at restaurants when she was fuzzy. Now she asks for mommy’s iPhone. (she understands that daddy’s toys are not for play unless under heavy supervision)

Apple MacBook Air: The “bestest” gadget is always the “latest” one! Literally got this tiny laptop one week prior to this article. Still on my honeymoon phase but I’m loyal as a penguin. (I should’ve used Linux then!) I call this “The Guillotine”. So thin and light… it’s ridiculous.

Apple TV: This particular AppleTV has a lot of meaning to me, as I was awarded 2nd place on the Unplggd Small Cool Tech contest a couple of years ago. It changed the way I watch movies today. I’m able to stream my whole video collection from the iMac to my TV and I can also watch previews of new movies using Apple’s portal. The $99 version of the new Apple TV will be sitting on my shelf soon and Isabella will have 80Gb of pure Disney movies with this awesome “hand-me-down”

iPod Nano: I bought this iPod exclusively to use it as a in-car-entertaintment. it holds all my music, easy interface and sounds great thru a direct connection between my car audio and the 30 pin cable. CD changer who?

Leica D-Lux 4: If you want quality pictures in low light and you are tired of the cheap, plasticky feel of other cameras, this is the best you can get for the price. Right now, I have an itch for a Leica X1. 2011 looks promising.

Technology/device I’m most looking forward to in 2011: There are two devices that I’m really hoping to get early 2011. One being the iPad 2 with the 2 cameras, so I can hand down my current iPad to my daughter Isabella; The other device that I’m excited to get, is the new MacBook Air (which I got as a surprise from my wife few days ago!). Being able to install CS5 in a package that is hardly any bigger than my current iPad is very convenient, not to mention that I can transfer files back and forward more easily between work, home and Macbook Air. Using the iMac in Display mode for the Air, is another big benefit. I guess the Leica X1 can take that spot on the queue now.

Tech or tech organizational tip: The 2 best tips that I can give are: Backup your data often and go as wireless as you can. Not only thru WiFi but also bluetooth. Keyboards, mouse, trackpad, speakers, printers… They are available right now and you should take advantage of that. Your desk will thank you later.

I never leave home without: Wristwatch, iPhone and iPad. I know The iPhone and iPad sounds redundant but they are two totally different devices that I use in very different ways: the iPad being more of a work/game related device (once you play your favorite game on an iPad, you will never want to play it on your iPhone!) and the iPhone is to keep me connected thru email, text and phone calls. The watch is just one piece of mechanical wonder

Nikon D700
I’ve been taking photographs with Nikon cameras since I was 8 years old and went digital pretty early on. The full-frame sensor on the D700 blew my mind when I first started using it and it continues to make me incredibly happy as I take pictures with it ever day.

Gary Fong Flash Diffuser
The collapsible Gary Fong flash diffuser might look like a Rubbermaid left-overs container but it softens the strobe so well, who cares?

BlueLounge Cable Clips
I’m a bit anal about keeping things in my bag tidy and organized and use these cable clips on just about everything.

iLuv multi-USB Plug
With so many USB-powered devices that I use on the road having one plug with three outlets helps keep the number of accessories somewhat tamed.

Mophie back-up battery
A back-up battery that fits the universal Apple mobile device plug, this thing comes in handier for the iPhone than the iPad but is useful for either.

Vicky Pollard Mimobot USB storage
I loved Little Britain (the BBC version) so when HBO and Mimobot joined forces to make USB storage devices to launch the US version, I was stoked to get a Vicky Pollard of my very own.

Apple Magic Trackpad
As much of an Apple fanboy as I am, I was skeptical about this one. I fell in love with it right away because it was the most natural transition from my laptop trackpad, even inheriting all of my multi-touch settings.

Freehands Cool Hunting Editions Cashmere Gloves
I started Freehands with my father, Stanley, a few years back to solve the iPhone-in-the-winter conundrum. This year we made a Cool Hunting Edition of the cashmere gloves with gray-on-gray stripes.

Etymotics Custom Molded Earphones
The custom molded tips on these earphones make them fit perfectly and block out all exterior noise which helps the impeccable sound quality of the E4Ps really perform.

Livescribe Echo Pen
My note-taking has become revolutionized by this pen which simultaneously records writing movement and sound and can be played back by tapping anywhere on the page so you hear what was recorded when that note was being written.

In addition to editing Cool Hunting, Josh consults for select clients on strategy, content and design for digital products, services and publications. His clients have included Apple, Adobe, Vodafone, Nike, Google and MTV among many others. Josh helped to found the digital consultancy Bond Art + Science, was a Lead User Interface Designer at Motorola, a Design Director at Razorfish, in charge of product development at Upoc Networks and an intern at IDEO. He has a BA in Communications and Cognitive Science from Hampshire College and a Master’s in Interactive Telecommunications from NYU.

Josh gets excited about obsessive compulsive art, elegant uses of technology, creative design executions, delicious local food and general paradoxes. He lives in New York City with his husband and business partner, Evan Orensten, and their two Sealyham Terriers Otis and Logan.

Thanks, Josh!

By Gregory Han