Consumer Reports lab-tests all kinds of printers, including all-in-ones, with scanning, copying, and sometimes fax capability in addition to printing. We assess print quality and speed, and we also check how long ink cartridges last: Some printers use them up much faster than others.

Update (12/12/2011): We reran the tests for Energizer's two lithium AA batteries in our Ratings and obtained a higher number of shots for the Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA battery. As a result, the Rating for the Energizer Ultimate has been changed from Very Good to Excellent.

The new Amazon Kindle, available in two versions, offers solid performance at a low price. Both are CR Best Buys in our updated Ratings of e-book readers, now available to subscribers.

Consumer Reports tests thousands of products every year—and quite a lot of those are electronics products. In our brand-new November issue, just in time for the start of holiday shopping, we tell you which products did the best in our Ratings (available to subscribers) in 2011.

Phones running the Android operating system dominate our newest cell-phone Ratings, thanks to incredibly sharp displays that often measure 4 inches or more and exclusive access to 4G networks, now available on all four major carriers. 4G enables users to stream content noticeably faster, improves Web browsing, and enables video chats via another new feature becoming standard: the front-facing camera.

For the first time, Nikon has unveiled a Coolpix subcompact camera that is waterproof and rugged, joining a number of other camera makers who have offered similar models. The 16-megapixel Coolpix AW100, $380, is waterproof (to a depth of 33 feet) and shockproof (it can withstand a 5-foot fall). It also includes a 5x non-telescoping zoom lens and a 3-inch LCD, it can shoot 1080p HD-resolution video, and it has GPS and a built-in electronic compass.

Tablets are getting more diverse, with several adding new features we hadn't seen in earlier models. The question is, are those features worth thinking about, or do the "traditional" models (OK, it's a little too soon to call any tablet traditional) such as the Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab remain your best choices?

The Apple iPad was introduced last year, but 2011 is the year of the tablet: That statement was repeated often at last January's Consumer Electronics Show, as company after company announced that it would be shipping iPad competitors this year.