Tech gifts: Adventures, sound and more
— -- It's no easy task to prepare for the holidays: Decorations? Check. Family feast? Check. Gifts? I guess it's time to go shopping.
While it seems like the big brands began their Christmas marketing efforts back in the summer, some of us dawdle over holiday shopping lists. Here are five fun tech gifts to show the people in your life you care.
JAMBOX
At first glance, Jawbone's JAMBOX looks like a cute little speaker for your portable music player. Correction: It is so much more.
With a mic, powerful speakers and seamless Bluetooth integration, the JAMBOX is a great hands-free speakerphone that happens to play music very, very well.
Weighing in at 12 ounces, the JAMBOX is a portable unit, but you'll be surprised by what this small package can deliver. With an output capacity of 85 decibels, it can certainly fill a room with sound. And the device transitions into phone mode when you receive or make calls — automatically, intuitively and without fuss. When you hang up, the music resumes.
Sync the device with LiveAudio, an optional app from Jawbone that "enhances acoustic details" (in the company's words), and it sound like you're in the recording studio — the sound is that crisp. But the add-on is far from perfect: With the LiveAudio feature turned on, the maximum volume output suddenly becomes very soft. So, you're faced with a dilemma: dynamic music or loud music — your choice. Nonetheless, the combination of design, features and portability make this a great gift for the on-the-go music lover. Available for $199.
PLAYFULL
Whether it's a football game or birthday party, you can bet someone somewhere is taking videos that will eventually make their way to Facebook. But there are times when you'd rather leave the camera at home, mostly to save the device from an early death, for example, when you're out snorkeling, kayaking or snowboarding.
Kodak's solution? The PLAYFULL waterproof video camera, which shoots 720p hi-def video. It's waterproof up to 10 feet and drop-proof up to five feet, which means yes, you can go about your adventures worry-free. Plus, at roughly the size of a credit card, there's no fear of bulking up your cruise-, ski lodge- or pool-lounging activities.
Like many camera makers, Kodak is eyeing the social sphere. A prominently labeled Share button on the camera enables easy uploads to Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Available for $99.95.
ZOZI
Sure, you can't go wrong with gifting an iPad, but that's so unoriginal, safe and… might I say… cliché.
For something a bit more daring, consider perusing zozi's catalog of adventures. A San Francisco-based startup, zozi is a deals site and recent partner of Google Offers. But it's not in the business of restaurant vouchers; it's interested in selling experiences. While gadgets are fun to play with, people are only interested until the next shiny thing comes along. Experiences, on the other hand, give you stories to tell for the rest of your life ("Did I ever tell you about that time I fought in a tomato war?").
So, give the gift of ski lessons in Vancouver, crab fishing in San Francisco and shark diving in Mexico. And to make things even better, the gifts are frequently on sale.
SINCERELY INK
Sincerely Ink is modernizing the holiday card for 2011.
Forget the days of posing in ridiculous get-ups, ordering custom cards and licking envelopes and stamps. You can still wear the costume if you'd like, but Sincerely Ink, made by the same folks who brought you Postagram, simplifies the process with its iOS and Android apps. Simply pick a photo in your mobile device, apply one of Sincerely's pre-loaded designs, type in a message, choose recipients and Sincerely takes care of the rest, printing and sending off your custom, hi-res 5-by-7-inch holiday cards. An address importer means you can send cards to everyone on your list in mere minutes. Sincerely also guarantees peace of mind: If any of your cards get lost or damaged, it will issue a refund or send a free replacement.
These holiday cards are a personal touch, showing friends and family you're thinking of them. And at $1.69 apiece, they won't break the bank either.
DIY WITH A 3D PRINTER
Remember the days when you'd glue some macaroni on Popsicle sticks, dump a bunch of glitter on top and Mom told you it was the best gift ever?
She wasn't lying, you know. There's something touching about individually made, handcrafted gifts. In the tech world, arts and crafts comes in the form of 3D printing, a manufacturing technology that has enabled people to "print" clothing, jewelry, home decorations and even a jet engine prototype.
While these machines can cost tens of thousands of dollars, getting your hands on some 3D printers is easier than you think. Places such as TechShop, based in the San Francisco area, will let you use its facilities, for a price. It works like a gym membership: pay a monthly fee, get access to the facilities — but instead of treadmills, you have printers and software. TechShop even offers classes to show newbies the ropes.
Whether it's a toy car model or a homemade vase filled with flowers, friends and family will definitely be impressed at how handy you are. TechShop's memberships begin at $99 a month.