A handy holiday gift guide
Chances are, someone you’re shopping for has some kind of gadget on their wish list. If you’re not sure where to get started, this gift guide will help you find just the right thing for that special someone.
Urban Dwellers
Those living in small apartments or the big city could use some gadget-friendly help as they go about their day.
_ Smarter Sound: Have a quieter commute or just tune out the neighbors with Phiaton Noise Cancelling Earphones PS 20 NC. The in-ear headset has noise blocking technology that maximizes the quality of music from their MP3 players while minimizing outside interference. The lightweight earphones use one AAA battery and come with inline volume control and a choice of silicone earbuds. (www.phiaton.com)
_ Stay Connected: A recent National Health Interview Survey showed that nearly two-thirds of adults who shared an apartment or house with unrelated roommates reported having only mobile phones, making that group the most likely to be completely wireless and struggling with dropped or missed calls. To help with cell phone signal issues, the roommate friendly zBoost-METRO Cell Phone Signal Booster, from Wi-Ex, works with multiple users and multiple carriers simultaneously. Its antenna mounts to a window and comes with everything they need to cover 1,500 square feet. (www.wi-ex.com)
Gadget Grands
Keep the grandparents up to speed with easy-to-use technology that keeps them connected to the family.
_ Picture This: Upgrade their family photo collection with a Bluetooth Enabled Digital Picture Frame from Portable USA. It has a 10.4-inch LCD display with 640 x 480 resolution. You can upload new pictures from your phone. In addition to showing pictures, it will play videos, music and text. It has a USB connector and 2 memory card slots in addition to 256MB of internal memory, and comes with two wood frames. (www.amazon.com)
_ Get Face Time: If their computer doesn’t have a built-in video camera, the compact Microsoft LifeCam VX-500 is ideal. It has a 1.3 megapixel sensor that shoots VGA video and captures twice as much light as other devices, for a much clearer picture. It has a flexible base that lets them adjust the angle, and a builtin mic. It’s optimized for Windows Live Messenger, but also works with Skype, AIM and Yahoo Messenger. It comes in three fun colors. (www.store.microsoft.com)
On-the-Go Joes
Travel junkies and vacationing families need gadgets that will stand up to the rigors of being on the road.
_ Extreme Video: Whether it’s on a bicycle’s handlebars or strapped to a surfboard, the ATC9K All-Terrain Video Camera from Oregon Scientific can take a hit. It’s a durable, shockresistant unit that captures 5-megapixel stills as well as 1080p HD video. It also has a G-Sensor that tracks measurements for speed, hang time, angle of movement and other motion stats, and a laser pointer that lets them line the camera up with whatever they want to shoot. (www2.oregonscientific.com)
_ Waterproof Reading: Keep their Kindle dry with the M-Edge Guardian Waterproof Case. It will float on the water’s surface for hands-free reading. Its custom-molded interior and mounting pads give cushioned support, and it also has flexible sealed cutouts so they can access the controls. As an extra security measure, there’s a ring at the bottom of the case so it can be strapped to a lanyard or belt. (www.medgestore.com)
iWorkers
The number of people working from their homes seems to grow every day. Get your iWorker set up right with these gadgets.
_ Consistent Coverage: Cell phones are essential communication tools for teleworkers, and when they don’t get signal, it makes work even more work. The zBoost-SOHO Dual Band Cell Phone Signal Booster supports multiple phones simultaneously and gives them the coverage they need to work through the whole house (up to 3,500 sq ft; including aircards, EDGE and 3G Technology). (www.wi-ex.com)
_ Charge It: Keep all the essential office gadgets charged up with Energizer’s Inductive Charging Station. With two large inductive charging zones that don’t require locking the device into a particular position, your iWorker can just set their phone (and two other devices) down and it will get charged up. It has a USB port to allow users to charge additional devices such as cameras or GPS units. (www.target.com)
_ Custom Caffeine: No office would be complete without a coffeemaker. The AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker from Aerobie lets anyone brew American style or Espresso style coffees for use in lattes or cappuccinos. It has a total-immersion system that mixes water and grounds at a moderate temper ature, then gentle air pressure pushes the mix into a micro-filter, resulting in a smooth, rich brew in just 30 seconds. Visit www.aerobie.com to find a retailer near you.
More Moms than ever are wielding smart phones and use them as a necessity in their busy lives. According to a survey by Nielsen, 14 percent of Moms with cell phones own a smart phone and they are finding them so useful that Mom’s represent the fastest growing market for smart phones. Nearly half of mothers say that technology has helped strengthen their families. These CEO’s of their families depend on their smart phone to stay organized and to keep in contact with all family members.
