Last minute shoppers want to wow your techie friends? Here are 14 Tech Gift Ideas from the Techno Granny. She does not have time to do your shopping for you, but she has done your research and from Wacky to Wonderful she has found 14 Tech Gift Ideas for the techies in your life. Also some hints for what to buy the TechnoGranny.
Fitbit Force Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband
Fitbit's new Force tracker is one of the best fitness gadgets we've seen and sure to make a great stocking-stuffer for you or someone you care about.
Tracks steps, distance, calories burned, stairs climbed, and active minutes
Monitor how long and how well you sleep
Wake up with a silent, vibrating alarm (that won't disturb your partner)
Get instant access to your stats with a real-time digital OLED display
Sync stats automatically to your computer and leading smartphones
4.0 stars
CNET Editors' Rating
Average User Review 4 stars out of 4 user reviews
Starting at: $129.95 thru $176.00 so do comparison shopping
The good: The Fitbit Force makes it easy to track steps, sleep, and calories. Its wrist strap design is lightweight, comfortable to wear, and also functions as a watch.The Force syncs wirelessly over Bluetooth, and Fitbit’s solution provides plenty of ways to sift through fitness data.
The bad: Closing the Fitbit Force’s strap shut is a challenge. Direct syncing is only available with newer iPhones, the Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, and Note 2 handsets.
The bottom line: The Fitbit Force leaps to the top of the fitness tracker heap, with a bright screen, comfortable fit, and a bevy of slick features.
Tocky Runaway Alarm Clock with MP3 - Kiwi
The $69 Tocky by Nanda Home will never let you sleep through a meeting again. This alarm clock not only wakes you on time, but it also rolls off the bedside table and across the floor so you can't hit the snooze button. The device also lets you record custom sounds or upload MP3s.
USB Heating Gloves
It can get cold in offices on those windswept winter days. Keep the special someone on your list warm at all times with these toasty USB-powered heated mittens. ($25, Perpetualkid.com)
Violight Cell Phone Sanitizer
Cell phones can collect more bacteria than a toilet seat, studies show. An ultraviolet sanitizing dock will zap those germs into the ether and preserve your health through the holiday season. Available from Brookstone for $49.95. [via AOL]
LP-2020A+ Lepai Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply by Lepai
Who said a stereo amplifier had to be expensive? If you want a "cheap but good" stereo for the a bedroom or den, just add a pair of speakers to this little digital amp -- which costs less than $25. Given the bargain-basement price, it actually sounds pretty good, too.
3.5 stars
CNET Editors' Rating
4.0 stars
Average User Review out of 17 user reviews
Starting at: $14.55
The good: The Lepai LP-2020A+ is an ultracheap mini amplifier that offers 20 watts per channel, two inputs, and bass and treble controls.
The bad: There's no remote control, and the blue illuminated ring surrounding the volume control is glaringly bright in a dark room. The amp is so light (if not fastened down) that it slides around when the controls are used.
The bottom line: As long as you're realistic about the capabilities and limited features set of the Lepai LP-2020A+, you can't go wrong with this little $25
Lepai Tripath-based mini audio amplifier is ideal for both home and car audio applications.
The TA2020 is a 20W/ch continuous average two-channel Class-T Digital Audio Power Amplifier IC using Tripath's proprietary technology.
The TA2020 is a 20W/ch continuous average two-channel Class-T Digital Audio Power Amplifier IC using Tripath's proprietary technology.
Freehands Gloves
Keep your hands toasty while you text with Freehands gloves for men and women. From $16
Panasonic RP-HTX7-W1 Stereo Headphones
For whatever reason, Panasonic seems to have become the go-to choice for cheap-but-good headphones. The full-size but lightweight RP-HTX7s do a good job of blocking out external sounds, and they sound great for the price. They're available in at least three colors (black, white, and green) for as little as $25.00 Shop around a bit
Headphones
4.0 stars
Average User Review out of 1 user reviews
Starting at: $34.68
The good: The Panasonic RP-HTX7s are affordable entry-level over-the ear headphones that fit comfortably, are relatively lightweight, and sound very good for the money. They also don't leak sound, and their retro styling is more hit than miss.
The bad: They're slightly brash; there's no integrated microphone for making cell phone calls.
The bottom line: While their sound and design may not appeal to everyone, the Panasonic RP-HTX7s are excellent entry-level over-the-ear headphones that are a good bargain.
The lightweight Pivothead Durango eyewear puts a video camera in between your eyes
Pivothead 1080 HD 8MP Video Recording Camera Polarized Hand-Free Sunglasses, Durango Chameleon
$349.00 $299.00
Google Glass may still be $1,500, but if you're just looking for sunglasses that have a discreet embedded video camera, the $299 Pivothead Durango is arguably a better alternative.
3.5 stars
CNET Editors' Rating
5.0 stars
Average User Review out of 1 user reviews
Starting at: $299.00
The good: The lightweight Pivothead Durango eyewear puts a video camera right between your eyes for easy and reasonably discreet hands-free capture of full HD video.
The bad: The Durango design isn't for everyone and while the video quality is very good for this type of device, it might not be good enough for some considering its $350 price.
The bottom line: Pivothead's pricey Durango video-recording eyewear is a fast, easy way to shoot Web-friendly POV movies.
Kingston DataTraveler SE9
Everyone can use a spare USB flash drive, and the Kingston DataTraveler SE9 is rugged enough to live on your keychain while storing a whopping 16GB of data (almost two DVDs' worth). The 16GB model costs only about $11, the 32GB around $21. Starting at: $10.98
Lacie Petite Key USB drive
You'll pay a bit extra for the Lacie Petite Key compared to other USB drives, but it's worth it for the metal design, which is said to be waterproof to 100 meters. The 16GB model will run you about $20, the 32GB about $10 more.
You'll pay a bit extra for the Lacie Petite Key compared to other USB drives, but it's worth it for the metal design, which is said to be waterproof to 100 meters. The 16GB model will run you about $20, the 32GB about $10 more.
AmazonBasics HDMI cable
Whether you're unwrapping a new game console, Blu-ray player, Apple TV, Roku, or pretty much any other home video gift, you'll need one of these to connect it to your TV. Rather than pay $50 or more at your local Best Buy for a so-called "premium" cable, get the AmazonBasics two-pack for just $9 -- they'll work just as well, and you'll have a spare, too.
Anker USB Car Charger
Chances are that you'll need to charge more than one gadget in your car -- and the Anker USB Charger can handle two at once, including a tablet. Not bad for under $12.
4.5 stars
CNET Editors' Rating
The good: The unobtrusive Anker USB 24W / 2.4A + 2.4A (4.8A max) Car Charger packs two high-speed USB charging ports into a device the size of a standard single-port charger. Dedicated Android and Apple charging ports ensure maximum charging speed for tablets and large smartphones and can be used simultaneously.
The bad: Users who want to, for example, charge two iPhones will be stuck trickle-charging one of them. The white color scheme stands out in most cars' interiors.
The bottom line: If you find it at a discount, the Anker 24W USB charger is an excellent option for powering multiple smartphones or tablets while on the road.
Whether you're unwrapping a new game console, Blu-ray player, Apple TV, Roku, or pretty much any other home video gift, you'll need one of these to connect it to your TV. Rather than pay $50 or more at your local Best Buy for a so-called "premium" cable, get the AmazonBasics two-pack for just $9 -- they'll work just as well, and you'll have a spare, too.
Anker USB Car Charger
Chances are that you'll need to charge more than one gadget in your car -- and the Anker USB Charger can handle two at once, including a tablet. Not bad for under $12.
4.5 stars
CNET Editors' Rating
The good: The unobtrusive Anker USB 24W / 2.4A + 2.4A (4.8A max) Car Charger packs two high-speed USB charging ports into a device the size of a standard single-port charger. Dedicated Android and Apple charging ports ensure maximum charging speed for tablets and large smartphones and can be used simultaneously.
The bad: Users who want to, for example, charge two iPhones will be stuck trickle-charging one of them. The white color scheme stands out in most cars' interiors.
The bottom line: If you find it at a discount, the Anker 24W USB charger is an excellent option for powering multiple smartphones or tablets while on the road.
Gboard, The Gmail Keypad
Your life could be so much easier if you were to master Gmail's time saving shortcuts. Luckily, ThinkGeek is offering a $19.99 USB keypad designed to execute 19 of Gmail's common shortcut functions at the press of a single button. [via Switched]
'Cooking For Geeks'
With O'Reilly Media's Cooking for Geeks recipe book, aspiring chefs and scientists alike can learn how to create great-tasting dishes while exploring the chemical changes that food undergoes in the process. From $27.99.
'Flirtexting: How To Text Your Way To His Heart'
Flirtexting, the woman's guide to sending flirty text messages, is available at Amazon from $7.50 (new and used).
© Joanne Quinn-Smith, Techno Granny Show™ 2013,
Dreamweaver Marketing Associates, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15230, 412-444-5197
Listen at: http://tinyurl.com/TechnoGrannyShow
Additional blog posts at: http://technogrannyshow.com
Joanne Quinn-Smith is the Creative Energy Officer of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and an expert on Web 2.0 Branding.2009 National SBA Small Business Journalist of the Year, Author "Folly of Marketing Plan in Your Head, 101 Compelling Reasons to Write One." Available at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DHKVJOG
Additional blog posts at: http://technogrannyshow.com
Joanne Quinn-Smith is the Creative Energy Officer of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and an expert on Web 2.0 Branding.2009 National SBA Small Business Journalist of the Year, Author "Folly of Marketing Plan in Your Head, 101 Compelling Reasons to Write One." Available at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DHKVJOG
