The Tech Geek Gift Guide 2012
Give the electronics lover and gadget guru on your holiday gift list a plug-and-play present that will keep them turned on all season and into the New Year.
Hi-Fi Wi-Fi at its Finest
For audiophiles, Sonos is the ultimate gift of music. The Sonos wireless music system allows you to stream music from your iTunes library, Pandora , SiriusXM talk or whatever is your listening pleasure on an expandable receiver speaker system that you can place in your home, office, or anywhere there is a an electrical outlet. You control what you stream from your computer, iPhone, iPad, or Android device. The Sonos PLAY3 ($299) is a great starter kit, which includes a compact player that can operate alone, or pair it with an optional Sonos Bridge ($49) to boost your wireless signal to reach faraway places in your home, office, or wherever you like to listen. For a limited time, PLAY3 and Bridge are packaged together for the price of $299. Available at Target, Best Buy, Amazon and Sonos.com.
Game On … the Wall
Gamers will love the portable Optoma GT750E ($799) projector, compact enough to carry in in its own backpack yet packing a big picture that can turn any video game into a full-emersion experience. Even just five feet away from a wall or screen, the short-throw projector creates a huge 99’ diagonal image, and as the projector moves farther the image grows bigger. Perfect for gamers who to be close up to the image without blocking a projector, and with Optoma’s 3D RF glasses ($99) gamers will truly feel like they are in the middle of the action. The GT750E boasts a native widescreen display and bright 3000 ANSI lumens picture, DPL Link 120Hz#D-capable display technology options and 1080p signal inputs. Find dealers at OptomaUSA.com.
A Century of Memories
You can’t guarantee any gift will last forever, but 100 years isn’t bad. That’s how long you can preserve priceless photos on the SanDisk Memory Vault which can safely store data for at least a century. The cell-phone sized vault uses Chronolock technology that protects against degradation, and its durable hard-shell design is built to endure. The vault comes with a USB 2.0 transfer cable, writable labels and a storage pouch. 16GB, $89.99. Available at SanDisk.com.
Square Plug in a Round Strip
So many electronics, so little space on power strips. The cleverly designed Pivot Power flexible power strip bends to accommodate any plug, and it can wrap around furniture legs or form a right angle for a corner. Available in black, white and green. ($29.99) at quircky.com.
Hark, Can You Hear Me Now?
Give a boost to the phonephile on your list with the Wilson Electronics’ Sleek all-in-one cell phone signal booster. The magnetic antenna mounts on a car roof, and the handset cradle mounts inside the car and plugs into a car cigarette lighter for handsfree use with a headset or Bluetooth connection. The booster amplifies weak signals for fewer disconnects, dropped calls and faster data transfer rates on 3G networks $129.99 Available at WilsonElectronics.com.