Scroogey souls forget the true
meaning of Chrimbo: gadgets. Giving gadgets and getting gadgets. But what to
give and what to get? This handy flow chart will help.
So they can't stay
in the same time zone for longer than a week at a time? Must be confusing. Gift
them some globe friendly tech and maybe they'll send you a postcard
Asus Transformer Pad
300
Price: $600
Website: www.asus.com
The Transformer Pad rocks a 10.1in screen
and the latest quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, but it’s attachable keyboard
is the real star. It gives the Transformer Pad an extra eight hours of battery
life, along with microSD, microHDMI and USB ports, too. Ideal if you want to
get things done on the go.
Pure One Flow
Price: $175
Website: www.pure.com
Going on tour? Then you'll need a travel
speaker that doesn't break the bank or your back. The One Flow is Pure's
dinkiest music system yet, giving you radio, DAB and music streaming (via Pure
Music subscription).
Herb Lester's American Vacation
Price: $25
Website: www.herblester.com
Kerouac-esque travel maps that uncover the
places you won't find on Yelp. A five-book collection covers locals-only spots
in New York, Chicago and Austin.
Sennheiser MM 450-X
Price: $460
Website: www.senheiser.com
A light, foldable pair of Bluetooth cans is
just what's needed on a busy flight, and if they pack noise- cancelling tech
like these MM 450-Xs from Sennheiser, all the better.
Hobbyist
Some people like to think outside the
box. So you can't just give them a cardboard box containing a black box. No -
they need a box containing the bits to build another box
Roland iModela
Price: $900
Website: www.rolanddga.com
The iModela is basically a small,
consumer-friendly milling machine for making 2D or 3D CNC models. It works with
materials including foam, wax, balsa wood and plastic, arrives fully assembled
and comes with all of the software you need to design your models. Alternatively,
have you considered making cheese jewellery? Please do.
Litiholo Hologram Kit
Price: $105
Website: www.litiholo.com
Holograms. You're so over them. But do you
know how they're made? And did you know that you could make them? You can! And
so can your lucky friend, with this cunningly titled hologram kit.
Tech Will Save Us DIY Speakers
Price: $60
Website: www.technologywillsaveus.org
There are myriad speakers in the world,
costing anything from US$10 to US$10,000. But you don't want them. You want to
design your own and now that power is yours.
Toshiba U840W
Price: $1,175
Website: www.toshiba.com
Let's face it. You can hardly put together
some Lego without referring to a CAD file these days. Research your tech
hobbies with the Tosh's latest U840, with a proper elongated 21:9 widescreen
display.
The Listener
For them, their whole life is one
music video, soundtracked at all times, in all climes, hardwired to headphones
unless in the proximity of speakers...
Pure Sensia 200D Connect
Price: $490
Website: www.pure.com
Take charge of the airways with Pure’s
Sensia 200D Connect an internet, digital and FM radio with a 5.7in touchscreen.
The 2200D features timed or one touch recording straight to any USB stick, as
well as the option to stream your own music library from your PC when you’re
bored of DJ ramblings.
Monster Inspiration
Price: $380
Website: www.monstercable.com
They're big, Balsy And built to withstand
even the most frenzied head banging, Monster's new Inspiration head cans offer
impressive sound with good detail and punchy bass.
Apple
iPod Touch
Price: $300
Website: www.apple.com/ae
Now in its 5th generation, Apple's
multimedia machine is edging even closer to its Retina Display toting iPhone 5
sibling, while still managing to carve out its own multimedia niche. We dig the
new colours, too.
Jabra Solemate
Price: $200
Website: www.jabra.com
No one wants a pair of kicks for Christmas,
but a shoe-inspired speaker? That's different. Jabra's Solemate rocks a built
in sub, dual tweeters and a 3.5mm audio cable designed to look like laces.
They’re getting an Apple iPad Mini
So they're getting a teeny tablet in
their stocking? Apple's own Lightning-to-30-pin Adapter (US$30) might come in
handy, but it's hardly full of Chrimbo cheer. Check out these short slate super
accessories...
HighPad mini: iSuper Helicopter
Price: $75
Website: www.expansys.com
Download the free iSuper Heli App to your
iPad and you’ve all the control you need to make this little heli do its thing.
Range is about 60ft, and Record and Play functions allow you to set up
pre-selected flying patterns in-app.
Apple Wedge: BlueLounge Nest
Price: $22
Website: www.bluelounge.com
Sometimes simple is best. This basic
plastic wedge has rubber lining cushions which will gently support your iPad
Mini, while a little pull-out tray hooks on to your slate for when you’re
vertically inclined. It’ll also hold your foreign coins.
Mini mic: iRig MIC Cast
Price: $40
Website: www.ikmultimedia.com
This plug-in microphone suits most any
recording need, from interviews and podcasts to lectures, music performances,
or celebrities’ voicemails. A unidirectional pickup pattern helps to cut down
on background noise, too.
Speaker's Corners: Braven 625s
Price: $240
Website: www.braven.eu
With a shock and water-resistant rubber
casing and built-in LED flashlight for that reassuringly doughty feel, this
compact speaker is an outdoor-oriented device. A rechargeable battery offers 16
hours of Bluetooth-connected tunes.
Sit and Swivel: Speck iGuy case
Price: $30
Website: www.speckproducts.com
If you have little’ uns scampering about
the Christmas Tree, it won’t be long before they want a go on your still
pristine iPad Mini. Stick it in this childsafe iGuy case and its cushy foam will protect your iTablet from harm.
