Are you struggling to find a gift for the gadget fiend on your Christmas list? Don’t be fooled, it can be somewhat daunting. I mean, there are a ton of cool electronic devices out there, but how are you supposed to choose the perfect one? And I’ll bet your friend doesn’t make things any easier because if they’re anything like my buddy, they have every possible gadget out there. So now you’ve really got to be on the ball and scoop up the latest and greatest before your friend even realizes it’s on the market. And I bet you thought this would be the easy gift!
I’m gonna go ahead and say it: even if you could care less about technology, there is no way that you’re not completely in love with the Cinemin Swivel Multimedia Pico Projector (Amazon, $299.95). Now, I’m not the kind of guy who professes his love on a first date (I’m looking at you, Ted Mosby), but I would totally marry this little pocket projector. Oh yeah, it’s serious. This little baby is awesome! Pocket-sized, you can carry it around everywhere and be ready to watch movies, slideshows, or whatever else you’ve got. It hooks up to your iPod, iPhone, portable DVD player, digital camera, PSP, and pretty much any other electronic device and projects it onto the surface of your choice. Of course, as with all projectors big or small, the ideal setting requires an area with little to no light and a large white surface to capture a perfect picture. Don’t have any white walls in your place? Not a problem because this projector has an adjustable 90 degree hinge, making it great for ceiling projection. It has over two hours of battery life, but also comes with an AC/DC power adapter so your viewing won’t be interrupted.
Ok, so the price tag has a bit of a bite, but you have to take into account the freaking badassness of this projector. Imagine you’re telling a group of friends a story about this video you saw online – you can show all eight of them the video without everyone having to crowd around your tiny iPhone screen. You can take it on vacation, film your travels, and then use this projector to watch it on the hotel room’s wall. Tell me that’s not awesome and I will call you a liar, liar, pants on fire!
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 5″ x 3″ x 8.5″
-Weight: 6.4 oz
-Display resolution maximum: 480 x 320
-Includes projector, AC/DC power adapter, battery, padded case, and quick start guide
-Ultra portable
-Over 2 hours battery life
-Adjustable 90 degree hinge for ceiling projection
-Full volume control
Turkey day is coming up – are you ready for all that massive food consumption? Sure, you can prepare your body for the onslaught of sugar and carbs it’s about to intake, but are you ready to face the toughest challenge of all? That’s right, hanging out with the fam. Before you start thinking that you’ve got this meal covered, let me remind you of what you’re in for. This is the time where your family grills you about your love life (“When are you going to get married?”), your job (“What do you want to do with your life?”), and other general critiques about your lifestyle (“Are you sure you want to eat that second helping of mashed potatoes?”). If only there was a way to take the focus off you, for once!
Thankfully (yes, I went there), if you show up with the Thanksgiving Hoedown Musical Turkey Doll (Amazon, $34.99), there’s a 99.9% chance that no one will bother you for the rest of the day. All you have to do is whip out this stuffed turkey, and you’re in business. Well, ok, maybe that’s not all you have to do. You should probably press the on/off switch, located on the turkey’s foot, or it’ll just be you holding a stuffed turkey (and not the kind you eat). Once you press the magical button, this turkey will move his head and mouth as he “sings” a “Hoedown Thanksgiving.” I mean, come on what could be better than that? Let me rephrase: what could be better than that at taking the attention off you? Absolutely nothing.
Who needs to bring a significant other to dinner when you could bring a singing turkey? Clearly an attention-grabber, your turkey will be the talk of the dinner table! Although, you might want to wait until dessert to bust him out – you wouldn’t want him to see his brother as the main course, now would you?
5 out of 5 embarrassed turkey stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 8″ x 8″ x 11″
-Weight: 1.3lbs
-Wingspread crafted in calico and corduroy
-Press his foot to make his head and mouth move as he sings “Hoedown Thanksgiving”
-Uses 3 AAA batteries (included)
Space always seems to be an issue when it comes to making a coveted purchase. I mean, it would be totally boss to get that leather sectional for the living room, except for the fact that you can barely fit one small couch in there let alone a two piece wraparound. It’s that way with kitchen gadgets too; you have to figure out which ones are going to be your favorites because there’s just not enough space on the counter for all of them. And don’t even get me started on areas like bedrooms, bathrooms, and especially closets! Ok, so maybe a lot of these space issues I speak of have to do with the fact that most of us live in tiny apartments/condos where free space is a prized possession worth more than your collection of autographed Beatles records. But even if you’re not sleeping on one of those beds that folds out of the wall, your pack-rat ways have probably drastically diminished the amount of available space in your living quarters.
Luckily, the Air Hover Hockey Game (Things You Never Knew Existed, $11.98) is sympathetic to your lack of space. See, you don’t have to live an air hockey-free existence any longer! As long as you have a table (any flat surface, actually), you’re pretty much set. The ultimate in party gaming, this set comes with a puck, two felt bottomed plastic strikers, and two goals. Don’t you remember how much fun you used to have in the arcade at the air hockey table? Remember how you vowed throughout your teen angst-ridden years that you would have an air hockey table when you were grown up? And then what happened? You moved into an overpriced, yet tiny apartment that you could barely fit a twin sized bed inside. Well, now your dream can finally come true – table by day, air hockey by night!
In case you’re wondering how you get that whole air hockey experience without the bulky table, I’ll let you in on a little secret: it’s the puck. Yup, this little puck runs off a couple of AAA batteries to create its own cushion of air, allowing for hours of air hockey enjoyment. Ah, to enjoy the finer things in life!
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 3.5″ diameter (puck)
-Includes puck with foam bumper, felt bottom plastic strikers, and two goals
-Fan powered puck turns any smooth surface into air hockey table
-Uses 4 AAA batteries (not included)
A lot of people I know are way too attached to their animals. And by a lot of people, I of course mean myself. Now, I’m not that crazy pet owner who dresses up their animals for each holiday, but that doesn’t mean I don’t get them birthday or Christmas presents. That’s just good manners. My version of “too attached” is getting my pets something I think they’ll really enjoy. A castle for my goldfish, squeaky squirrel for my dog, and collapsible tunnel for my cat – surely these things are not considered excessive or strange? Occasionally though, I do have a moment of weakness and I purchase an item not for my pet’s enjoyment, but rather for my own.
In case you were having trouble picturing a toy more akin to my amusement than that of my trusty four legged companion, the Humunga Stache (Firebox UK, £9.95) will clear up any confusion. If ever there was a toy made more for the pet owner than the pet itself, this was it. In essence, it’s a fairly harmless dog toy: a rubber ball. There’s nothing simpler, yet more gratifying to a dog than a rubber ball. Granted, when you attach a giant mustache to one side of said ball, you change the playing field a bit. Maybe the ball doesn’t bounce as much as it used to, but it’s still a chewable, slobberable, lovable rubber ball. It just happens to look freaking hilarious when your dog has it in his mouth. Don’t think of it as a dressing up your dog, just picture your dog one step closer to that handlebar mustache he’s always wanted.
Nothing says class like a quality ’stache.
5 out of 5 barking stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 16.5cm x 9cm x 6.5cm
-Rubber ball with ’stache section molded onto it
-Fetch toy only; supervised play strongly advised
-Made from non toxic rubber
I know it’s not even Halloween yet, and there are a bunch of you out there who really don’t want to hear what I’m about to say, but the subject needs to be broached. Christmas is just around the corner. I know, I know, October is only half over and I’m already harping on about Christmas, but it’s true. This is the time of year when it’s not even Halloween yet, but tomorrow it’ll be Christmas eve. Time seems to magically evaporate during the holiday season, which is why you see that mad rush of people at the mall frantically trying to buy anything and everything at the last minute. Now, I’m not a huge fan of Christmas (Halloween is my holiday of choice), but I do try to put some thought into the gifts I choose for my family and friends. There are just some people though, if there’s a gift out there that’s perfect for them, I’d never know it. So you leave those people til last on your shopping list, but before you know it (as I may have mentioned), it’s Christmas eve and you’ve got nada for your cousin. What inevitably follows is the popular gift card purchase, which feels like a cop out.
If you’re looking for the perfect way to jazz up your practical (albeit a touch boring) gift, the Gift Card Puzzle Vault (Think Geek, $4.99) can work wonders. It’s really like an additional gift, if you think about it, because it provides amusement/frustration time after time. All you have to do is put any standard sized gift card inside, and your gift has just reached platinum status. See, in order to get the gift card out, the recipient has to solve the puzzle. It’s pretty simple actually, all you have to do is navigate the metal ball through the plastic maze and the interior chamber will be opened, releasing the gift card from captivity. Best of all, it can be resealed so the giftee turn gifter, and watch as their prey struggles to free the gift card.
I personally like getting gift cards because then I don’t have to worry about saying I like a gift when I really don’t. People usually don’t want to buy gift cards though, probably because it seems like they didn’t give much thought as to what to get the recipient. Also, you can’t really be cheap if the person’s gift is going to say exactly how much you spent. I mean, it’s not like anyone’s going out bragging about the great deal they got at the gift card sale.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 10.5cm x 8cm x 1.5cm
-Put gift card in clear maze and watch loved ones struggle to open it
-Fits standard sized gift cards
-Resealable for additional puzzle solving
