HTC is working on solutions to provide high quality audio on their latest tech gadget offerings, and the company is betting $300 million in R&D that this feature is important to consumers. The Taiwanese smartphone maker is making a big push into better audio with its acquisition of Beats Electronics, which is a well known designer of audio equipment that has garnered celebrity endorsements.

The company was founded by Dr. Dre and producer Jimmy Iovine. HTC is looking to integrate Beats' technology into their devices to offer improved audio fidelity. They are targeting the huge market for mobile music downloads, and investors seem to be applauding the decision sending HTC stock higher in spite of a weak Taiwan Stock Exchange tape. HTC has taken market share in recent years with their high end smartphones, but the company recognizes the need for continued innovation in this fast changing industry. .

A great travel gadget can ease the pain of long flights or stalled traffic. One of the best is a good pair of earphones, which will give you the gift of peace no matter how crowded and noisy your flight. Ultimate Ears 700 from Logitech are a recommended choice, as these high fidelity ear phones can play digital music with crisp sound.

These earphones produce tight bass sounds and warm midrange harmonies, which is to be expected from $150 earbuds. Global phones are another great travel gadget, especially for those who want to work while on the road. International roaming charges are so high that travelers can rack up huge bills in weeks. A global phone is a better option because they operate on global plans designed for frequent travelers.

The Salad Chef is a new gadget that is designed to make fresh salads faster and easier then ever. The all-in-one chopper and storage container claims to allow users to make multilayer salads in minutes. The gadget features a full-size clear salad bowl with a press-down chopper that clips onto the top with two different sized grates for big or small chunks.

A lid is also included for easy storage. During some tests of the Salad Chef, it chopped lettuce, tomatoes and eggs impressively, as well as radishes and mushrooms. Chopping celery and onions required applying a bit more pressure, and it was even able to chop a chicken breast easily, although in uneven chunks. It also worked great on all kinds of fruits. Clean up is easy since the Salad Chef has a button that pushes through the cracks, allowing you to easily rinse off the food remnants.