Gadgets, Gizmos & Gifts Galore
The holidays are here and whether you have a large clan with little ones running amok around the house or your shopping list is just a few adults, there are always those people for whom it is difficult to shop.
Clearly Superior Protection
Whether you have one mobile gadget or four, keeping the screens on these $100
to $500+ tech items from getting scratched is a challenge. You toss them on
the desk and on your nightstand, then cram them in your purse or pocket. But
there is hope: the invisibleSHIELD. Made from a clear, high-strength material,
the wrap product offers screen protection for more than 1,000 different gadgets
on the market and was the first to develop versions for the iPhone and the latest
generation of iPods. So protect your valuable MP3 players, phones and other
devices with invisibleSHIELD. (www.shieldzone.com)
Expand Your Reach
Laptop users rejoice! Now you can expand your wireless reception up to 1,000
feet using the Wi-Fire integrated adapter, which connects with a simple USB
plug. So if you’re too far from an access point or you’re just not
getting the speed you want, the Wi-Fire amplifies it and improves speed, and
shows you when you’ve reached maximum signal strength. (www.hfield.com)
Get it Back, Jack
You just realized that your laptop is missing. Perhaps it was in your car or
you briefly left it at your lunch table, but it’s gone and excuses won’t
bring it back. Or the data on it. Or appease your boss. But with LoJack for
Laptops, you can get it back. The system periodically reports its geographic
location, helping the user and support specialists quickly recover it. (www.lojackforlaptops.com)
PERSONAL TECH GIFTS
Winter Weather Blues?
Feel the need to check the weather? The Bushnell ONIX 400 with XM weather technology
is a handheld GPS device with a built-in weather tracker. Using the same XM
weather technology used by airplane pilots and Indy 500 drivers, the ONIX 400
provides advanced information on current and upcoming weather conditions. (www.bushnell.com)
Cool Under Pressure
Replacing a set of tires can be costly, especially on big SUVs and high-performance
sports cars. But that’s only one reason to make sure they are inflated
properly: Tire pressure is also important to your safety. Enter the Accutire
Digital Set Point air gauge, a tire gauge for the 21st Century. With programmable
features for recording factory recommended pressure, an LED flashlight and an
LCD display, the Accutire will help keep you safely on the road. (www.tirerack.com)
Satellite Sound
So you’ve got XM Satellite Radio in your car, but you still listen to
an antenna-based analog system in your home and office? How 1980s of you! You
could take high-quality reception and premier programming everywhere with the
XpressRC, the first Plug & Play satellite radio with 60-minute pause and
replay, and large full-color split-screen display … and the ability to
save 10 favorite songs to listen to later. (www.xmradio.com)
Candy for Your Ears
Just as television stations have been ramping up their high-def programming,
radio stations have been doing the same. And just as you need an HDTV to get
the HD signal, you need an HD radio to get the vastly improved radio program,
which also provides digital music information, alerts, sports scores and weather.
Unlike the TV version, there are no subscription fees — just the one-time
cost of purchasing a radio. At less than $100, the Radiosophy HD100 is the most
affordable HD radio on the market. (www.radiosophy.com)
Shhhh!
As earphones have evolved into tiny little buds, the noise of our busy world
increasingly seeps in, which makes the earphone wearer turn up the volume more,
even to dangerous levels. But noise-cancelling headphones like Sharper Image’s
“quiet place” Noise-Cancellation Headphones let you turn off the
noisy world with the push of a button and either escape to a quiet place or
listen to music. With ambient noise practically removed from the mix of music,
you’re treated to excellent audio fidelity at much safer volume levels.
The system features both “active” noise cancellation and “passive”
noise reduction. (www.sharperimage.com)
DEFINITELY “UNIQUE”
Kookie, Lend Me Your (Laser) Comb
If your hairline has been depreciating a little too fast over the years, here’s
something that will let you throw away the snake oil and miracle creams. The
Hairmax Lasercomb miniaturizes the technology of laser hair care. It has FDA
approval for the regrowth of hair in men with male pattern baldness. “Baby,
you’re the ginchiest.” (www.lasercomb.com)
