The Perfect Presents for Friends (and Foes)
Well, the holiday season is here, and
unless you're one of those irritatingly proactive holiday shoppers, you've
probably got a little gift-getting to do. If that's the case, you're in luck —
I've got you covered with this list of gotta-get-'em gadgets for the most
important people in your life (and even the less important ones). And, hey, if
you want to stick a few items under the tree (or by the menorah) for yourself,
you have my permission. Consider that my gift to you.
For the relative you're contemplating unfollowing on
instagram
Is it your 18-year-old cousin who still
finds mirror shots charming, your pregnant sister who can't stop documenting
her baby bump, or your bored uncle who has developed an annoying affinity for
photographing his wife's flower garden? Whoever it is, you are sick of their
Instagram nonsense — but, at the very least, you could make sure their pictures are high
quality.
The
iPhone Lens Dial
First, this is just plain neat, even for
non-photo nerds. This quirky lens dial is by Photojojo, the online king of
fascinating photography gadgets, and it features three optical-quality coated
glass lenses. Each of the lenses — Wide Angle (for sweeping
landscapes), Fisheye (for Instagram-y warping), and Telephoto (for zooming) —
rotates around the camera lens of your phone, allowing you to transform the look
and feel of your photos. The dial is affixed to an aluminum case, which doesn't
look like anything too special until you realize it includes two tripod
mounts. Clearly, this is not a strictly amateur gizmo, and it's pretty impressive
for a pocket-sized device.
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Details
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Price:
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$249
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Website:
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www.photojojo.com/store
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The
Phocus for iPhone 4 and 4S (2 Lens Bundle)
This case, complete with both lens and
tripod mounts, is the stuff hipster dreams are made of. It comes with two
lenses, one for wide-angle shots and one for macro. Even more impressively,
the case also supports lenses manufactured by Nikon and Canon, so photographers
can swap in and out even more massive and high-quality lenses. This case might
not slide sleekly into a pocket like the iPhone Lens Dial, but if you compare
it to some of the bulkier DSLR models, it's still pretty darn sleek.
Gismon
iCA iPhone System
Your Instagram-obsessed relative is already
giving their photos a vintage feel, so why not take it to the next level and
retro-fy their iPhone? This durable polycarbonate case comes with a detachable
tripod mount and two mock lenses that attach to the front. The best part,
though, is the shutter button on top — it actually works. So much fun,
right? You can also purchase different (real) lenses from the same company and
snap them into place over the iPhone's camera lens. Admit it: your inner
hipster is a little bit tempted right now.
For your man-child college buddy who just wants to
chill, bro
Graduation day has come and gone, but it
seems your former frat brother is still a tad bit immature. You don't have to
indulge his affinity for the keg stand this holiday season (there is a time and
a place, and dude, it is over), but you could cater to some of his other
kid-at-heart likes.
Phillips
SB7200 Series ShoqBox Wireless Portable Speaker
There's a lot to love about this fancy
speaker. The design is futuristic and cool (it seems to channel Spider- Man a
little, no?), and the speaker is sturdy enough to withstand a little wear and
tear. It's splash- and drop-proof, meaning it's built to withstand spontaneous
hiking trips, beer pong games gone horribly wrong, and everything in between.
The speaker syncs with iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches, and you can unite two
speakers for double the noise. The most fun part about this, though, is that
you skip songs by swiping your hand above a censor — not on or
across, but above, like a wizard. Magical!
Sanwa
iPhone 3D
YouTube
Viewer
You'll have to toil through a Japanese
website to get your hands on this cool piece of technology, but it's so much
fun that it just might be worth it. Just tune in to a YouTube video, plop your
phone into the slot on this goofy-looking set of goggles, and enjoy as the
screen comes to 3D life. Sure, it's not the most practical purchase in the
world, but as far as novelty gifts go, this is far better than a whoopee
cushion.
Joystick
for iPad
Pardon the bad pun, but he'll jump for joy
for this one. This thumb-stick-style joystick attaches easily to your iPad with
suction cups that actually stay put. It's not too bulky, and it's super-sensitive
to the touch (which takes some getting used to, but once you're used to it,
man, will you love the responsiveness). The joystick is mostly see-through,
which keeps it from overwhelming the look of your device. There's a reason
we're not using old-school Ataris anymore, you know?
