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Make your gifts jolly with nifty gadgets that are good values
By Omar L. Gallaga
Cox News Service
Published on Friday, Nov 28, 2008
Santa Claus laid off 10 percent of his Elfin staff this month. The jingle bell industry is seeking a government bailout. Fannie Mae can only afford to buy a pack of tube socks for Freddie Mac this year.
If the economic downturn has put a damper on holiday enthusiasm for '08, think what this shopping season will be like for electronics retailers. Circuit City recently declared bankruptcy, and things aren't looking much better for other sellers of gadgets and flat-screens as customers keep their belts tightened. Consumer Reports found in a recent survey that 76 percent of Americans plan to cut back on holiday spending this year.
But that doesn't mean there aren't good deals to be found this year on tech gifts. We combed through the list of offerings this year with an eye toward saving: nothing costs more than $300. Nothing too extravagant. All are good values for these tight times.
$50 AND LESS
Heard of Neopets? Don't worry. Your kids have. The toys, which tie into a vibrant virtual world, are kid-safe and very popular. The Neopets Faerieland Playset includes Neopet and Petpet figures as well as accessories, a virtual prize code and the playset itself, representing part of the online world of Neopia. $20, shop.nickjr.com.
Confession: Some of us parents have become addicted to a certain animated show featuring an operetta-singing trio of animal rescuers. It's
called Wonder Pets, and let's just say it burrows into your brain until there's room for little else. One of the characters, a spirited duckling, is represented in a talking Ming-Ming plush doll that speaks, sings and dances. As Ming-Ming would say, ''This is sewious!''
• $35, fisher-price.com.
For those who switch computers a lot and don't want to deal with multiple music libraries, Aluratek's Internet Radio Jukebox is a simple way to get access to a lot of music on the go. It plugs into a Windows PC's USB port and offers access to more than 13,000 radio stations in more than 30 countries with no monthly fee. No hassle, just lots of broadcasts.
• $39, aluratek.com.
3M's Mobile Privacy Film is a simple but clever idea: Stick it on your BlackBerry screen and anyone sitting next to you won't be able to see what's on your screen. The film also reduces glare and protects the screen. It's available in one size that can be cut to fit nearly any cell phone or hand-held device. It's great for frequent travelers who don't like wandering eyes spying their private data.
• $10, 3M.com.
Audio-Technica of Stow has made an effort this year to introduce electronics designed for women. Among them are the ATH-CK1W In-Ear Headphones. The stylish earbuds that are a step up from the cheapy sets that come with iPods and are available in alluring colors. They can be stored in the cute carrying case included with the headphones.
• $50, http://www.audio-technica.com.
For those who are over the frequent stops at the post office the holidays sometimes bring, PictureItPostage will save a few trips. Upload a photo, logo or illustration, order the amount of postage you need and receive custom-made postage labels. Prices start at $19, including the postage price and shipping of the labels. Turnaround takes about 10 days.
• $19 and up, http://www.pictureitpostage.com.>
There's nothing sexy about surge protectors, but they're a practical gift for anyone's who's made a significant investment in a home theater setup that could be endangered by a bad lightning storm. Ultralink's UltraPower PS-103 is modestly priced and small enough to stash behind a wall-mounted flat-screen TV.
• $50, http://www.ultralinkcables.com.>
BodyGuardz Skins have one simple goal: to protect your iPhone (or other portable device) from scratches without all the bulk that some of those silly silicone cases add. They're available for laptops, digital cameras, cell phones and music players at a variety of prices. Stick them on and rest easy.
• $25 for two iPhone BodyGuardz, front and back. http://www.bodyguardz.com.
Hunting for a wall outlet to charge a dying phone or music player is no fun (especially if you're out camping). The Medis 24/7 Power Pack is a disposable fuel cell that can provide emergency power for a variety of electronics. The Starter Kit includes a fuel cell, charging cable and several tips that allow it to connect to different devices.
• $34, http://www.savenna.com.>
Kids can take family digital photos with them wherever they go with Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go! Digital Photo Viewers. The small toys each carry up to 100 photos and display them on a 1.1-inch color screen. The screen swings into a protective carrying case and can clip on to a backpack.
• $20, http://www.shop. nickjr.com.
Wanna cut the phone company cord? The magicJack is a tiny accessory that plugs into your PC or Mac's USB port and provides unlimited long-distance calling for $20 a year. Sound too good to be true? The device doesn't work on calls to foreign countries other than Canada and requires your computer to be turned on to receive calls. But it's still cheap and easy to set up.
• $40 for the device and first year of service, http://www.magicjack.com.
There are devices that combine a VCR with an interface to connect to a computer for backing up old tapes to new digital formats, but a much cheaper way to do the same thing is Pinnacle's Dazzle DVD Recorder. The hardware can accept audio and video connections from a variety of camcorders and VCRs and can convert those old memories to DVDs or files you can watch on your computer, your iPod or on practically any other screen.
• $50, http://www.pinnaclesys.com.
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$60 TO $120
Make the seemingly endless trip through airport security lines go faster with the Targus Zip-Thru Air Traveler case.
• $80, http://www.targus.com.
PC cables ain't pretty, especially when they're strewn around a desk connecting USB docks, iPod cradles and other peripherals. You can eliminate some of the clutter with Griffin's Simplifi, which combines a iPod/iPhone dock, a two-port USB hub and a memory card reader.
• $79, http://www.griffintechnology.com.>
Aerielle's i2i Stream eliminates speaker cables by allowing you to wirelessly stream music from any audio source to another part of the domicile (within 30 feet) without any loss of audio quality. It plays nicely with MP3 players, computer audio or home entertainment systems.
• $120, http://www.i2igear.com.
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$130 AND UP
Canon's PowerShot A1000 IS continues the company's streak of powerful point-and-shoot digital cameras that also shoot surprisingly good video, perfect for YouTube-ing.
• $200, http://www.usa.canon.com.>
Santa Claus laid off 10 percent of his Elfin staff this month. The jingle bell industry is seeking a government bailout. Fannie Mae can only afford to buy a pack of tube socks for Freddie Mac this year.
Get the full article here.
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