(ARA) Pack away the tired ties, stop the hunt for the perfect money holder and put the golf shirt back on the shelf — it’s time to break the common gift giving cycle. Instead of giving your loved ones what they expect, surprise them with the latest technology.

Philips Consumer Electronics offers a full range of products, from universal remote controls to MP3-CD players.

Mark Buss, the company’s chief North American marketing office commented, “Trading in the usual gifts for the hottest technologies in consumer electronics will make any family member happy.”

Gift For the Man of the House — Definitely Not a Tie

Pronto Neo: Affordable Control

The Pronto Neo TSU500 offers a more affordable option for men who want the benefit of a universal remote control that is customizable and easy-to-use. It features a backlit touch-screen LCD display so he can select his favorite NFL game simply by touching the screen. The unit incorporates 15 hard buttons for basic functions and utilizes cursor control for easier navigation through satellite or cable-box graphic interfaces. With the on-board universal database and included Pronto Neo Edit software, he can customize his touch screen by simply connecting or synching-up the remote to any PC. Unlimited macro-command capability is available as well. The Pronto Neo offers an intuitive graphical user interface and holds 1MB of flash memory. It has a suggested retail price of $249.99.

DVD Recorder: Preserve Memories for Years to Come

The Philips DVDR985 provides outstanding picture quality and allows consumers to archive family vacations, holidays and celebrations from the past and future. Anyone can quickly and easily transfer life’s special moments from a camcorder to the DVD Recorder, and record then on a DVD+R or DVD+RW disc, depending on their need. A digital i.Link data transfer connection (IEEE1394) easily transfers camcorder video to DVD, preserving the footage in high-quality digital picture and sound. It also includes a component video input, which offers a high quality analog connection to turn collections of VHS tapes into higher quality digital recordings. The suggested retail price is $999.99.

LCD TV: A Flat Experience

Philips’ LCD TVs offers consumers a whole new experience in television viewing. The new sets offer fresh FlatTV options and combine the latest advancements in technology with a stylish design. Available in 15-inch (15PF9925) and 20-inch (20PF9925) models, the LCDs display a sharp and crisp image, featuring high contrast (400:1 for 20” and 300:1 for 15”) and high brightness (400-450 cd/m2). The 15-inch LCD also features a PC-in port, providing seamless connectivity to a PC, so the TV can also serve as a computer monitor. The 15PF9925 and 20PF9925 have a suggested retail price of $1,299.99 and $1,999.99, respectively.

Streamium MC-i200 Internet Audio Micro System: Bringing Global Music Local

The Streamium MC-i200 Internet Audio Micro System with its high-tech metal finish keeps you in tune with the latest music from across the globe. The MC-i200 can access multiple online audio stations via a broadband Internet connection at the touch of a button while integrating MP3-CD functionality and Philips’ patented wOOx powered speaker set-up. On-line and digital music services provide easy selection of music and the simple creation of personal play lists stored in a secure “online jukebox” that is streamed to the listener’s system for playback and enjoyment.

Using the large, easy-to-read LCD, you can listen to sports, music or news from around the world by simply choosing one of three radio categories — Genre, Language or Region.

The Streamium MC-i200 also is the first Philips micro system to feature MP3PRO playback. Compressed MP3PRO files take up less space than MP3 files and, as an enhanced format, provide better sound quality. In addition, the MC-i200 features a built-in bedroom clock and wake-up alarm with sleep timer and offers firmware upgrades. The MC-i200 has a suggested retail price of $399.

Real Flat TV: The Way to Score an “A-plus” Picture

Philips’ Real Flat TV sets deliver images more accurately than curved screens that can distort the shape of circles, squares and straight lines. This technology minimizes glare to prevent a washed-out picture resulting in a maximized picture contrast for deeper, richer and more life-like pictures. The Real Flat TV provides a distortion-free picture from virtually any angle.With a complete line of Real Flat TV sizes ranging from 14- to 32-inches, you can put them in any location. The suggested retail price for the Real Flat TV line is from $279.99 to $1,299.99.

(Editor’s Note: Courtesy of ARA Content.).