One of the things about giving tech gifts is that they are always evolving. Even if your friend got the latest and greatest last year, it’s likely that this year’s version is upgraded and appreciably different.
Another significant advantage is there is some kind of tech gift that is cool or useful for every single person on your shopping list i.e. colleague, customer, friend, relative, kids – and in every single price range, as well.
Gifts for All
The Apple iPad Air is on everybody’s wish list this year, with increased processing speed and a longer-lasting battery. The large and sharp retina display is easy to read and easy on the eyes. With nearly half of a million apps available, you will be hard-pressed to find something the iPad Air doesn’t do!
The Pebble Smartwatch is the first one worth buying and works with either Android or iOS phones. Glance at your wrist and see who is calling, or where you were supposed to be for that appointment you just missed. It works as a remote control if you’re using your phone as a music device, and has interchangeable faces and apps for many other features.
The Bose Soundlink Mini cranks out your music as you’ve never heard from a Bluetooth speaker. It weighs less than two pounds, lasts about seven hours on a charge and multiple skins are available.
The Fitbit Force is the wrist device for those wanting to monitor their fitness efforts, whether it’s steps/strides taken, to measuring the quality of sleep at night. A host of other applications make this the ideal companion for working out, jogging, or any exercise or sport.
When thinking of the latest technological devices as holiday gifts, do not forget the accessories that are paired with them, such as HP toner for your HP Printer. There will be that task or project that requires some sort of printing to go along with your devices.
Tech Gifts for Women
For the woman on the go, the updated Kindle Fire HD might be the ideal gift. Available in two different screen sizes, the Kindle Fire allows you to access tens of thousands of book titles and movies. The new “Mayday” instant access help feature is a life-saver for the tech neophyte. It’s the fastest and lightest Kindle ever.
The sexiest Android of the year, the HTC One has a sleek aluminum case, nearly a five-inch display, and enhanced speakers for cranking out the tunes. A great camera adds to this dynamic package.
For the home, Honeywell’s Voice-Controlled Thermostat makes adjusting the temperature and controlling settings as simple as saying “Hello, thermostat, make it two degrees warmer!” Honeywell will be adding more voice commands in the future, and they are all stored in the cloud. A thermostat like this is not only easy to use but by controlling settings for when you are at home or away, you’ll save on your energy bills.
The Jackery Mini is a power storage device, about the size of a lipstick tube that can add up to fifty hours of charge to her personal device. She can charge it up, drop it in her purse, and the Jackery Mini will hold the charge for up to six months.
Gifts Under $100
If you have many tech lovers on your list, you’ll appreciate the number of lower-priced gifts available. The Chromecast device provides a short cut to having smart TV. This smart stick will let you stream any content from any open Chrome browser, including YouTube, Pandora, Hula, or any premium services you subscribe to. $35, pick it up online or in big box electronic stores.
The bare-bones Kindle is great for reading downloaded eBooks and ‘zines, and that’s what it is built for. Less than $70 if you opt to get the unit that serves up an occasional ad while you have it fired up.
For $10 and up, Sugru “Hacking Putty” is a great little tool technophile should have in their tool kit or desk. The clay-like substance is actually a self-setting rubber, which allows you to encase the end of cables to keep them from fraying or make minor repairs on cables and power cords. It is a great stocking-stuffer for the do-it-yourself person out there.
For him, for her, for the kids, there’s a tech gift that’s perfect for everyone. Consider browsing Ink Technologies for more gift ideas.