Atlanta-based tech writer, Rick Limpert, shares some of his top gadget and tech gift picks for the holiday shopping season. Check out Rick’s daily updates covering the hot gadgets and tech on his website, WirelessWednesday.
The holiday season is here and the countdown is on when it comes to picking out that perfect gift. In fact, according to the National Retail Federation, consumers will spend $655.8 billion this holiday, an increase of 3.6 percent over last year. So forget walking those miles of aisles at that indoor or outdoor mall by doing your research and planning ahead of time. Most retailers now post their Black Friday ads online early so you can browse door-busters from the comfort of home, but what to buy for the “hard to buy for person” on your list. Technology in the form of gadgets and accessories will once again be hot and Atlanta-based tech writer has some suggestions.
1. VocoPro Rock-On Roller Karaoke Machine
Whether you are a fan of the hits of the 70s and 80s or maybe those timeless holiday tunes, VocoPro’s new Karaoke Rock-On Roller is an all-in-one karaoke system packed full of features singers want including a rotating 10 inch LCD screen and a multi-format disc player for CD+G and DVD playback. The Rock-On Roller is also Bluetooth-enabled to stream karaoke tracks straight from the Internet with either a tablet or smartphone, as well as a FM tuner to perform the latest radio hits. Karaoke night will never be the same with the product’s dancing LEDs on its huge 10” woofer kicking out 120W (Max) of power. The combo of great sound, multi-format capabilities and the bright LED lights make this the best home karaoke system available. You can purchase here from Amazon.com.
2. Lomo Instant Wide Camera
Since 1992, Lomography has grown to be an internationally recognized organization dedicated to bringing fun and alternative approaches to photography and provide a passionate platform for sharing the love for experimental and creative photography all over the world. Here is your chance to join the movement. The Lomo Instant Wide is twice as wide and double the fun, you can fit even more Christmas magic into your shot with this wide-format instant camera. You can choose to use mobile settings, but there is also a Fully Programmatic Shutter that lets you lean back and enjoy the ease of the instant. The “Central Park” package includes extra lenses and filters all to be used Fuji Instax Wide Film. You can purchase here from Amazon.com.
3. BiGR Audio Headphones and WristBoom
BiGR Audio’s mission is to produce headphones that are sustainable, so they are environmentally friendly. The materials used include bamboo, which is a sustainable resource, recycled aluminum, and hardwood, which are durable, yet can be recycled.
BiGR Audio headphones have become a popular gift item. Many people purchase the MLB, college sports, or eco-friendly headphones to give away as gifts for holidays and birthdays. While people may not have thought about giving headphones as a gift before, they can now opt for ones that feature the person’s favorite baseball or sports team and make it meaningful and useful gift. Purchase here from Amazon.com.
BiGR’s innovative WristBOOM is a wireless Bluetooth speaker right on your wrist. Rich, high quality sounds in a very small speaker… it’s kind of hard to believe, but a pleasure to wear and convenient to experience all your favorite music as you run, bike or hike. They come in many colors and be purchased here from Amazon.com
4. Yeti
Yeti products are all the rage and Yeti is offering coolers, tumblers and ice buckets for the holiday season. A Yeti tumbler makes the perfect holiday gift and at a price point of under $40 it should fit your budget. It is made of 18/8 kitchen-grade stainless steel, has double-wall vacuum insulation, and No Sweat™ Design. Which means that you’ve got one heavy-duty, over-engineered stainless steel tumbler on your hands with the Rambler. It’s dishwasher safe, BPA-free, and ready for just about anything. It will keep your drink cold all day long and into the night. Santa could use one of these on his long Christmas Eve journey. Purchase here from Amazon.com.
5. Epson Expression ET-3600 EcoTank Printer
A printer for the holidays from Epson. The Expression ET-3600 EcoTank All-in-One Supertank Printer provides an unparalleled printing experience for your entire family or office environment. Designed for the small office/home office market, this printer offers an in-box ink yield of up to 11,000 black and 8,500 color pages, which translates to two or more years without having to buy or change an ink tank. This all equals fast print speeds of up to 13.7 ISO ppm (black) and 7.3 ISO ppm (color). The ET-3600 is expertly designed with an unbeatable combination of convenience and value, boasting auto 2-sided printing, a 150-sheet paper capacity and worry-free wireless printing from tablets and smartphones. This printer can even print your holiday wrapping paper. Purchase here from Amazon.com.
6. Kensington Accessories
Kensington makes dozens of affordable accessories and gadgets that not only help improve productivity, but are also easy on the body. Kensington trackballs are easier on your hands and wrist than a mouse. The trackball can be connected either through Bluetooth or through a USB receiver. With Kensington’s free TrackballWorks software, users can customize the trackball to suit their personal needs for greater productivity. DiamondEye Optical tracking offers smooth, precise cursor control while the award-winning Scroll Ring allows for quick scanning up and down pages. Purchase here from Amazon.com
Kensington’s SmartFit® Conform™ Back Rest is a $59.99 back support system that works in nearly any type of chair. The SmartFit System allows users to customize the height of the back rest to their personal comfort color for maximum support for the spine and lumbar. Ventilated back panels conform to the body through four independent springs that articulate when the user shifts posture. And since the panels are ventilated, it dissipates heat to keep the back cool and dry throughout the workday. Purchase now from Amazon.com
7. Sydney Paige Backpacks and Children’s Books
Buy a gift and help a student by shopping on the Sydney Paige website. For every Sydney Paige product sold, another is donated to a student in need, right here in the U.S. Quality backpacks and other gear give confidence while their children’s books bring age-appropriate reading into the home. The backpacks and laptop rucksacks are made of 210D polyester, canvas and leather are come in styles to fit the needs and wants of pre-schoolers to adults.
8. DISH Hopper GO
If you are among the millions and millions of DISH customers you need to consider the DISH HopperGO. The DISH HopperGO is a pocket-sized device that allows users to transfer TV shows and movies from their Hopper DVR for on-the-go offline viewing. It supports up to five mobile devices displaying different programs simultaneously, so the whole family can stay entertained while traveling during the holiday season and the rest of the year. The HopperGO stores up to 100 hours of recorded content and can stream up to four hours on a single charge.
While HopperGO usually costs $99, new customers can receive a free HopperGO when they sign up for DISH between Nov. 21 and Dec. 11. (Offer requires a Hopper 2 or Hopper 3 DVR.)
9. Benihana “Be the Chef” Experience
If you’ve ever been amazed by the show and enjoyed the delicious food at Benihana, you or a loved one can don the famous Benihana chef jacket and “Be the Chef.” Go through “Be the Chef” training, learn the art of teppanyaki from a master chef, perfect Benihana’s world famous tricks while having all of Benihana’s resources and technology at your disposal, and then impress your family and friends as you cook for them. You will learn how to make Benihana’s signature fried rice, all while you and your party indulge on soup, Benihana salad, shrimp appetizer, hibachi vegetables and entrees along with homemade dipping sauces and hot greeen tea. Packages start at $200 for a group of four. There are a ton of “experiences” offered as holiday gifts, but this may be the most delicious.
You may also enjoy our extensive holiday gift guide from local retailers and restaurants all OTP.
ScoopOTP contributor, Rick Limpert is an Atlanta-based writer that covers the intersection of sports and technology. You can follow him on Twitter at @RickRoswell, hear him on Radio 105.7 with Sully and check out his new gadget and tech website at WirelessWednesday.live.
Search
Latest Posts
