MULTIMEDIA

Holiday Gift Guide (Part 1)

11/21/2012 9:16:27 AM

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

Description: Description: Description: 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.

Details

Price:

$249

Website:

www.photojojo.com/store

The Phocus for iPhone 4 and 4S (2 Lens Bundle)

Description: Description: Description: 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.

Details

Price:

$99.95

Website:

www.smartphocus.com/store

Gismon iCA iPhone System

Description: Description: Description: 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.

Details

Price:

 $25

Website:

www.fourcornerstore.com

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

 

Description: Description: Description: Phillips SB7200 Se¬ries ShoqBox Wire¬less 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!

Details

Price:

$179.99

Website:

www.store.apple.com

Sanwa iPhone 3D YouTube            Viewer

Description: Description: Description: 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.

Details

Price:

25

Website:

www.bit.ly/MBsOEc

Joystick for iPad

Description: Description: Description: 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?

Details

Price:

$19.99

Website:

www.logitech.com

 

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