Cyber Monday wasn’t too exciting? We hear you. The deals were not particularly astounding this year. If you want to get a tech gift, but have no idea where to start, we have you covered. (Also, all but one of the links below are to Amazon Smile, so as long as you’ve picked a charity, a small percentage of your total will go to a cause of your choice.)
Livescribe 3 Smartpen
We pull out this pen at meetings and clients are always astounded. When you write, the Livescribe 3 Smartpen captures all your notes via an infrared camera on the pen. Pair it with your Android or iOS device, and your notes will immediately appear in the Livescribe mobile app. You can use these notes to create contacts, appointments, or reminders, or you can record and play back audio that’s synced to your handwriting. The pen is beautifully made too, with an integrated stylus cap and a Swiss-made tungsten-carbide ink cartridge. Currently $129.99 on Amazon.
Buy the Livescribe 3 Smartpen here.
View-Master Virtual Reality Starter Pack
The View-Master will always hold a place in our hearts, but the 2016 iteration of this device takes the cake. Using an Android or iOS smartphone with the free Google Cardboard app downloaded to it, you can see 360-degree views of rainforests, other countries, and even outer space. The image in front of you stretches around you, above you, and behind you as if you were really there. Clicking the lever allows you to interact with the image and explore the virtual world around you. From $36.99 on Amazon.
Buy the View-Master Virtual Reality Starter Pack here.
Polaroid ZIP Mobile Printer
This tiny printer measures only 4.7″ at its widest and connects directly to your mobile phone or tablet via Bluetooth (or NFC, but Bluetooth is probably the easiest). But what’s really crazy about this printer is that it doesn’t use ink. It prints out 2″ x 3″ photos that are vibrantly colored and smudge-proof, with a peel-back sticky side on the back if you need it. When the printer heats the special ZINK paper, color-forming molecules embedded in the paper’s layers are activated to produce an image. The printer comes with 10 sheets of ZINK paper, and if you get it for your mom…. now you can buy her refills for Mother’s Day and her birthday. Win-win. Currently $129.99 on Amazon.
Buy the Polaroid ZIP Mobile Printer here.
Amazon Echo
We’ve talked about the Echo on this site quite a bit. We love it. It’s a Bluetooth speaker that responds to voice commands, but that doesn’t even come close to describing the possible ways it can be used. You can ask it questions like you would Siri or Cortana, but imagine doing so without having to grab your smartphone. You can use it to control your home automation, and so much more. It’s even one of Oprah’s favorite things this year. Currently $179.99 at Amazon.
iRobot Roomba 880 Vacuum Cleaning Robot for Pets and Allergies
Ouch, this one’s a bit pricey at almost $600. But have you seen the reviews on this robot? People LOVE it. It works on all surfaces, and uses a three-stage cleaning system of agitation, brushing, and suction to do a better job than previous Roomba versions. We like that it has a HEPA filter for people with allergies (or really—anyone), and that it has tangle-free extractors help prevent hair and debris clogs. Currently $594.99 on Amazon.
Buy the iRobot Roomba 880 Vacuum Cleaning Robot for Pets and Allergies here.
Canon SELPHY CP910 Compact Photo Color Printer
This wireless printer measures only 5 x 4 x 2.4 inches and is only 1.8 pounds. One of the best things about it, though, is that it has something called “Access Point Mode,” which allows you to directly connect your wireless camera or smart device to the printer without the need of a network. It allows you to print borderless 4″ x 6″ prints… and it’s only $84.99.
Buy the Canon SELPHY CP910 Compact Photo Color Printer here.
3D Printing Pen
This is possibly the most unique tech gift we’ve seen this season. It extrudes warm thermoplastic that hardens within seconds, allowing you to create three-dimensional freehand drawings. You can download bluepritns of famous buildings or household objects, trace the designs, and mend them together with the 3D pen to create a 3D object. Or of course you can use your imagination to make whatever you like. $99.95 at Hammacher Schlemmer.
Have a question about technology you are thinking of purchasing? Or need help with a device you already own? Contact us, or leave us a question in the comments.
