Butterfly Photo Coupons

It's tax time, and that can only mean one thing: a big, fat refund check. (Well, okay, it might mean a big, fat payment check, in which case this is probably not the post for you.)

Sure, you could put that extra cash in the bank. Or use it to pay bills or buy food. BO-RING! Wouldn't you rather treat yourself to a new gadget -- especially if it's one that can save you money, improve your health, or encourage you to read more?

I've rounded up five way-cool gadgets that are perfect for tax-refund splurging.

A month ago, if you'd asked me what I thought of 3D HDTVs, I'd have called them a fad, a gimmick, and a waste of money.

Then I bought one.

See, my three-year-old Toshiba flat panel had died a sudden and unexpected death. It would have cost more to repair it than to replace it, so I opted for the latter.

Needless to say, I was done with Toshiba. I wanted a TV of roughly the same size (okay, maybe a little bigger -- prices have come down quite a bit, after all), but when I started shopping, I had zero intention of choosing a 3D model.

That's because although I had enjoyed "Avatar" in the movie theater as much as the next fan, I didn't see much need for 3D at home.

What's more, I'd recently reviewed a 3D-capable home projector, and although it was kind of cool, the battery-powered "active" glasses that went with it were a hassle to keep charged -- and ridiculously overpriced at $100 per pair.

Time to bid goodbye to 2011, as exciting a year in technology as any I can remember. Last week I told you about my favorite products of the year; now let's talk about the technology trends that helped make it so memorable.