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The best cameras to give as gifts
Talented creators with an eye for photos can't live by smartphones alone. If you have a special someone who wants to take portraits and action shots or make short 4K films, no gift will be more appreciated than a decent camera. We know these things are expensive, though, so we made a list of six models, including DSLRs, mirrorless cameras and compacts, that you might actually be able to afford.
12 gifts for the gaming geek in your life
Whether they've got a fully tricked out PC gaming rig or just looking to get a little retro button mashing done on their new 4K TV, we've got the gift for the gamer in your life. Obviously, with some new consoles on the scene, there's an obvious upgrade out there for the hardcore in the PS4 Pro and Xbox One S. But you don't need to drop $300 - $400 to upgrade your favorite geek's gaming experience. A high-end mouse, top notch controller or a new headset can make a world of difference for those glued to online battles. And, for those in your life that prefer their gaming be a little more... let's say physical, you can't go wrong with a board game like Mechs vs. Minions or King of Tokyo. For our full list of recommendations in all categories, don't forget to stop by our main Holiday Gift Guide hub.
What to get when you want high-tech grooming
It's that time of year again! You know, the one when you have to hand over your hard-earned cash or dole out the credit card digits to get the loved ones in your life a little something celebratory. Lucky you, we've got a slew of great recommendations in our easy-on-the-eyes Holiday Gift Guide. Need something for that hygiene freak in the fam? Then consider this: Philips' Sonicare AirFloss gets the gunk out from between your teeth using a combo of air blasts and water drops. And it's wireless, so you can clean that grill whenever and wherever you like. And that's just a taste of what our gift guide has to offer. Dive in here for the full monty!
What to get when you want a smarter kitchen
It's that time of year again! You know, the one when you have to hand over your hard-earned cash or dole out the credit card digits to get the loved ones in your life a little something celebratory. Lucky you, we've got a slew of great recommendations in our easy-on-the-eyes Holiday Gift Guide. Need something for that tech savvy homemaker in the fam? Then consider this: Drop's Bluetooth-connected Scale links up with a smartphone or tablet so you can precisely measure out ingredients to make the perfect meal. It also comes with a companion app packed with recipes and a conversion tool so you can adjust those measurements on the fly. And that's just a taste of what our gift guide has to offer. Dive in here for the full monty!
Reminder: Help us build a gadget room for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital!
#enGIVEget means you give and they get -- "they" being the brave and wonderful kids going through life-saving treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. And knowing you're busy with the holidays, let us take a moment to remind you about our sweepstakes ending this Friday, December 19th.
What to get when you've got little kids in your life
It's that time of year again! You know, the one when you have to hand over your hard-earned cash or dole out the credit card digits to get the loved ones in your life a little something celebratory. Lucky you, we've got a slew of great recommendations in our easy-on-the-eyes Holiday Gift Guide. Need something for that little kid in the fam? Then consider this: Activision's latest Skylanders Trap Team line lets kids bridge playtime between the real and virtual worlds. Each figurine comes embedded with an NFC chip, so you can control them as playable characters in-game (console sold separately). Or, you know, you could always just line 'em up and admire them on a shelf. And that's just a taste of what our gift guide has to offer. Dive in here for the full monty!
Maps 3D PRO is a best in class GPS/Nav app for outdoor enthusiasts
There are so many navigation apps available now that one can wish for a navigation app just to find one in the app store. Most are variations on a theme; get from point A to point B efficiently, with information about stops along the way. Maps 3D PRO (U$4.99) is a entirely different animal. Designed for hikers, cyclists, skiers and outdoor activities, the app provides 2D and 3D map views that show details of terrain and altitude. The app can give a generic and not-too-detailed view of anywhere in the world, but the real power comes when you select an area and download any of 11 types of maps for that area. That means you can use the app with no data service, so it's perfect for those out of the way places. Of course GPS works anywhere, so your position will be right on the detailed map. Maps include detailed NASA satellite views, 3D topographic maps, Open Street Maps for city navigation, USGS maps and more. It's a really strong selection. Once you have your maps installed, you can add up to 20 waypoints and Maps 3D PRO helps you follow a trail, road, or any route you select. You can find locations by searching, and view the terrain in 2D or 3D. The 3D is beautifully rendered, and you can zoom and rotate. When you are on your way, the app displays distance travelled and current and average speeds. A logger function records your position and altitude. Your tracks can be shared via email, Facebook and Twitter, and you can load routes via iTunes, EveryTrail, email or Dropbox. It's a great app for geocachers, horseback riders, cross country skiers, and anyone else who loves being outdoors. I've noted some good photo-spots, and the app gives me an excellent view of the surrounding terrain. I haven't seen a better app for outdoor hiking or activities. It's well thought out, and easy to use in the field without a bunch of confusing options or menus, yet it is powerful. For a person wanting to get beyond street maps and get off-road, this is a perfect app, yet it has excellent city details as well. The only thing I would change is where the search function sits -- it's one menu below the main screen, and I'd love for it to be located on the main screen. Maps 3D PRO would be a great gift for the outdoor-type person in your life, or a great gift for yourself. Over the holidays you may indulge in skiing, cycling or hiking, and this is a terrific app for those activities. Maps 3D PRO is a 22MB download, but data requirements grow as you download those detailed maps. The app requires iOS 7 or later, and it is optimized for the iPhone 5. Highly and enthusiastically recommended!
Vessyl connected cup tracks hydration and more; also makes a great gift
Those of us who are watching our waistlines often pay detailed attention to what we see on our plates, but not to what we drink. Hydration (or lack thereof) is also a key part of staying healthy, but iPhone apps to date have usually focused on how many glasses of water you think you've consumed during a day. Vessyl (pre-order, US$99) is an amazing piece of technology that has will not only tell you exactly how much you're drinking, but can detect what you're guzzling and calculate caloric input from that information and display it in an iOS app. Vessyl is the brainchild of Mark One, a startup that hopes to create other products to "inspire you to make healthier choices in real time." Vessyl was designed by frog alumni and founder of Fuseproject Yves Béhar, who is also the chief creative officer of Jawbone. Vessyl looks like a standard 13 ounce tumbler. The exterior body of Vessyl comes in three colors, with a choice of eight colors for the spill-proof lid. There's a subtle display on the outside of the glass that tells you what's inside. Built into the inside of Vessyl are sophisticated sensors that communicate data to the iOS app on your iPhone. Launch the app, and you can see how your liquid consumption during the day has progressed. Not only do you see what quantity you've consumed, but what you've been drinking by type of beverage and brand. The built-in sensors "analyze the content at the molecular level", so it knows whether you've poured a New Belgium Fat Tire Ale or a Starbucks Mocha Frappucino into the container. If the beverage has caffeine, sugar, or caloric value, it can tell you exactly how much of each item you have ingested. Let's say that caffeine is important to you - you need some to keep you awake in the morning, but you don't want jitters later in the day or sleeplessness at night. You can view a "lens" or focused app display that can tell you exactly how many milligrams of caffeine have passed your lips. Tracking calories? You'll find out just how many calories are in that nutritious smoothie you're gulping. Need to watch your sugar intake? Vessyl lets you know if you're getting a little too much sweetness for your own good. All the tracking is done automatically. Vessyl runs for about 5 - 7 days on a single charge, and charging is done through a wire-free charger in about an hour. 2015 promises to be the year that the wearables market gets rocked with the introduction of the Apple Watch, which will - among other things - track activity. Vessyl adds more pieces of critical data to the connected self. At this point, you can pre-order a Vessyl for $99; while you won't have a connected cup under the Christmas tree, it's still a great gift idea.
What to get when you've got a fitness fanatic in your life
It's that time of year again! You know, the one when you have to hand over your hard-earned cash or dole out the credit card digits to get the loved ones in your life a little something celebratory. Lucky you, we've got a slew of great recommendations in our easy-on-the-eyes Holiday Gift Guide. Need something for that fitness fanatic in the fam? Then consider this: Motorola's Moto 360 does double duty as a sleek Android Wear smartwatch and a fitness tracker, so you can keep tabs on your heart rate, steps and overall activity. And that's just a taste of what our gift guide has to offer. Dive in here for the full monty!
Steve's 2014 holiday gift ideas
It's that time of year when even the most imaginative of us come up short with ideas for gifts to buy our family and friends. So the TUAW team is going to be providing you with some of our personal favorite gift ideas. Now, just because I've listed it here doesn't necessarily mean that I actually own an item or have even tried it out; in some cases, these are gifts that are on my personal wish list. Here we go! Cambridge Audio Bluetone 100 My favorite Bluetooth audio system of the year was the Cambridge Audio Bluetone 100 (US$299.99), a system with 100 watts of room-filling sonic power that sounds and looks great. During my review earlier this year, I found the Bluetone 100 to have the best Bluetooth connectivity of any speaker I've tested. With its two patented Balanced Mode Radiator speaker drivers, Class D amp, and built-in digital sound processing, the sound quality is incredible. It's not cheap, but the Bluetone 100 would be well worth the money. Fit Brains Trainer The next item on my list is an app from Rosetta Stone Canada. Just about everyone knows how important it is to keep their body in shape, but what about your brain? Fit Brains Trainer is a free app, but requires an in-app purchase for continued use. The app runs you through a set of fun and challenging games designed to improve memory, processing speed, concentration, problem solving, and visual-spatial skills. Play it once a day, and who knows? You may find that your brain is working a bit more clearly. goTenna This thing isn't even shipping yet, but it's already on my wish list. goTenna is a Bluetooth-equipped "stick" that fits into a bag or hangs from a backpack. If you're in a location with no cell phone service, it allows you to talk and text your friends by creating a point-to-point network between goTennas. What's it good for? Well, think of being able to communicate with others when you're in a foreign country out in the middle of nowhere, or talking to loved ones during an extended power outage when cell phone towers go down. Range varies, but can go from a half mile in cities or up to 6 miles on water. You can pre-order a pair of goTennas for $150 (half-price) right now. Logitech Keys-To-Go Keyboard If you start using an iPad to do work of any sort, you're going to want to use a keyboard. There's a problem with that, of course - just when you find an iPad keyboard that works perfectly for you, Apple changes the size of the iPad and you have to buy a new one. Well, maybe just using an external Bluetooth keyboard that works with any device is a better idea. That's where the Logitech Keys-To-Go Keyboard ($69.99) comes in handy - it works with iPad, iPhone, Mac, and just about anything else that has Bluetooth and can use a keyboard. It's big enough to comfortably type on, yet tiny enough to slide into a bag with your tablet or computer. Check out my review of it here. Nest Dropcam Pro This wouldn't be a list from me if it didn't have an "internet of things" tie-in. My winner is the Nest Dropcam Pro ($199.99), which is hands-down the best web/security cam out there. It takes no time at all to set up, has an amazing wide angle lens, and features a zoom mode that gives you the details when you need 'em. It's the best way to see what's going on at your home or office when you're not around. Those are my picks for some fun and useful Christmas presents. My colleagues will be putting in their choices here soon; keep an eye open for what they pass along for some great gift ideas.
Klipsch Reference R6i headphones: A sound stocking stuffer
Your holiday gift-giving might include an iPhone or iPod touch for your favorite person, but do you really want them to listen to music through the standard Apple earbuds? Klipsch has been making speakers since 1946 - when I was in college back in the 1970s, it was a sign of pride to have a pair of Klipschorn speakers in your apartment or dorm room. The company is still making a range of speakers and headphones, and today we're taking a look at the US$99.99 Klipsch Reference R6i in-ear headphones. Specifications Weight: 15.2 grams Input connections: 3.5mm (1/8") Driver Diameter: 6.5mm Frequency response: 10 Hz - 19kHz Sensitivity: 110dB Impedence: 18 Ohms Colors available: Black, white Design There's not much you can say about the design of in-ear headphones - they pretty much all look the same. Earbuds - check. Cables - check. Button with mic for phone use - check. Well, Klipsch did things a little bit differently with the R6i 'phones. The cables are flat, which does a surprisingly good job of keeping them from tangling. The button and mic are pretty typical: they're made of shiny white plastic (black in the black model) with a silver tone button (gold on the black model). That button is used to play, pause, fast forward, or rewind music. There are also buttons in the top and bottom of the unit for volume control. I'm not sure I'm a real fan of the design here, since the white plastic (on the white model) that's used for the earbud casing and button/mic is brighter than the covering on the cables - in other words, it's two different shades of white. Steve Jobs would not approve... Like many headphones in this price range, the R6i headphones come with four different sizes of earbuds. The idea is that you try the default buds, then switch to a smaller bud if it's too tight or a larger bud if it's falling out of your ear. A small zippered carry pouch is included with the headphones. Functionality For me, functionality of headphones boils down to a few key points: comfort, usability, and sound quality. I found the in-ear earbuds to be amazingly comfortable, surprising because I'm not a big fan of in-ear headphones. How comfortable? I'm usually yanking in-ear headphones off after ten minutes; I kept these on for hours. Likewise, I like the flat cables. Not once during my testing did I have a problem with the R6i cables getting tangled. The mic/button is located in the same awkward position that it is on the Apple earbuds - roughly in line with your chin. That location is decided by the need to have the microphone near the mouth of the wearer, but I still think it would be a much better idea to have a separate bump for the mic and then have the controls further down on the cabling. The controls on the button worked well and it was easy to find them by feel. So, how about the sound quality? When testing headphones or speakers, I always play a set of tunes that cover a number of genres so that I can get an idea of the response to music that has different acoustic elements. The R6i's did a great job on midrange sounds, with very clear, sweet tones. The bass end is also surprisingly good; in fact, I'd say that the low-end response is almost some of the best I've ever heard. You'd think that would mean that Klipsch ignored the high frequencies... but you'd be wrong. Once again, the R6i does a wonderful job of reproducing the high end, with well-balanced and nuanced tones. Conclusion OK, so I didn't like the slightly different colors on the cords and the plastic elements, but the sound quality from the Klipsch R6i headphones more than made up for that design faux pas. Make someone happy this holiday season and buy them a pair of these headphones - they'll be a sterling stocking stuffer that will be appreciated for years to come. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible
What to get when you want a smarter home
It's that time of year again! You know, the one when you have to hand over your hard-earned cash or dole out the credit card digits to get the loved ones in your life a little something celebratory. Lucky you, we've got a slew of great recommendations in our easy-on-the-eyes Holiday Gift Guide. Need something for that smart home enthusiast in the fam? Then consider this: Nest's Learning Thermostat not only keeps tabs on your home habits, its tracking tech saves you money on that monthly heating and cooling bill. And that's just a taste of what our gift guide has to offer. Dive in here for the full monty!
Engadget presents #enGIVEget: benefiting St. Jude!
Now that our readers (and most Engadget editors) have stuffed their pie holes full of food and done some serious damage with their credit cards over the biggest shopping weekend of the year, it's time we gave a little bit, too. Here's where our #enGIVEget sweepstakes, benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® comes in.
What to get when you've got a gamer in your life
It's that time of year again! You know, the one when you have to hand over your hard-earned cash or dole out the credit card digits to get the loved ones in your life a little something celebratory. Lucky you, we've got a slew of great recommendations in our easy-on-the-eyes Holiday Gift Guide. Need something for that video gaming fanatic in the fam? Then consider this: Sony's PlayStation 4 has plenty of next-gen horsepower under the hood and all of the streaming apps you'll ever need. It also doesn't hurt that it's home to some of the best exclusive first-party and indie titles out there. And that's just a taste of what our gift guide has to offer. Dive in here for the full monty!
What to get when you've got a budding hipster in your life
It's that time of year again! You know, the one when you have to hand over your hard-earned cash or dole out the credit card digits to get the loved ones in your life a little something celebratory. Lucky you, we've got a slew of great recommendations in our easy-on-the-eyes Holiday Gift Guide. Need something for that all-too-hip member of the fam? Then consider this: Lomography's Diana Deluxe Kit brings back the kitsch of the light leak prone plastic camera to deliver photos with Instagram filter-like results. And it comes with a slew of lenses and viewfinders so you can always capture that magic shot. And that's just a taste of what our gift guide has to offer. Dive in here for the full monty!
Black Friday 2014 Ads App is an all-in-one app for the worst shopping day of the year
No matter your stance on Black Friday, be you fan or foe, we can all agree that it's sort of a nightmare. Any "holiday" that inspires the creation of bodycount websites probably has some issues, but if you're going to brave the mall this Friday you should at least go armed. Figuratively; this holiday is dangerous enough. The Black Friday 2014 Ad app puts all the information you'll need right on your iPhone with searchable deal lists by store and category, information on limited door buster deals, and the ability to create your own shopping list. Here's a list of its complete features: - Get breaking news and leaked Black Friday ads in real time - Check out store advertisements ad circulars - Search for deals by store or category - View discounted products and prices, plus limited-quantity doorbusters - Get notifications on the latest news and sale events - Create and share your very own shopping list - Access to the best Black Friday coupons - Compare ads and prices while shopping in-store Black Friday is difficult enough already: at least show up prepared, ready, and with a game plan. Also bring some cookies or orange slices for the people working, dang it! You can download the Black Friday 2014 app in the app store right now.
Susan Kare selling replicas of the Mac team's "pirate flag"
If the interior components of the original Macintosh were the heart of the device, then many of the graphic elements designed by Susan Kare were its soul. Kare designed fonts for the Mac, created many of the icons that graced the Mac for many years, and is even responsible for the Command Key symbol that's still on Apple keyboards. She also painted a skull and crossbones on a black "pirate flag" that flew over the Mac team's original office that embodied a Steve Jobs slogan -- "It's better to be a pirate than join the navy." Kare is now selling custom replicas of the pirate flag, perfect for that someone special on your holiday shopping list. The original flag is part of the Macintosh legend. The team moved into its own office building on the Cupertino campus, and programmer Steve Capps sewed together a black flag, asking Kare to paint a skull and crossbones on it. The left eye of the skull? The rainbow Apple logo of the time, of course. The replica flags won't be cheap: Kare's asking US$1,900 for one that is 3 feet by 5 feet in size, or $2,500 for a 4 by 6 foot version. But they're bona fide custom artworks, each hand painted and signed by Kare. Oh, and by the way... if you happen to feel like buying your favorite TUAW blogger this flag for Christmas, I sure wouldn't turn it down.
What to get when you've got a drone enthusiast in your life
It's that time of year again! You know, the one when you have to hand over your hard-earned cash or dole out the credit card digits to get the loved ones in your life a little something celebratory. Lucky you, we've got a slew of great recommendations in our easy-on-the-eyes Holiday Gift Guide. Need something for that special someone who just really, really wants to fly a drone? Then consider this: DJI's Phantom 2 Vision+ quite literally puts the power of an unmanned aerial vehicle in your hobbyist hands -- you can set waypoints with a smartphone or tablet. Best of all, there's no assembly required and you can even capture HD video memories from up above with that onboard camera. And that's just a taste of what our gift guide has to offer. Dive in here for the full monty!
Motrr Galileo robotic mount goes GoPro, uses iPhone app for control
We've written about the Motrr Galileo robotic mount before -- it was first a Kickstarter project that received tons of funding, and came to market as a robotic iPhone mount. It shipped a bit late - the Kickstarter campaign ran in early 2012, backers didn't get their devices until late 2013, and the TUAW review actually ran in December of 2013. Since then, the Motrr Galileo mount has found a niche for those who want to take precisely controlled spherical photos and can even work with apps like FaceSnap to have the mount search until a face is in a frame before shooting photos. Now there's a new version of the mount available for owners of the GoPro Hero3, Hero3+ and Hero4 HD action cameras. Set up is quite easy: What does this have to do with Apple or iOS devices? Well, the mount can be remotely controlled from your iPhone by the free Motrr app, and there are some amazing things you can do with the combo of GoPro and Motrr Galileo: Already own a Galileo? The adapter to turn the Bluetooth mount into your GoPro's best friend is just $29.95. If you don't own Motrr's little robot, it's available for $149.95 - but you can get 20 percent off the price of anything in the Galileo store through the end of 2014 by using the code GiftaGalileo.
Win an Ollie, Sphero 2.0 or Darkside Ollie from TUAW and Orbotix
Sphero and Ollie from Orbotix have been TUAW favorites for quite a while -- I mean, how can you not love fun and educational robots that are controlled and programmed from your favorite iOS device? Well, the good folks at Orbotix are making it easy for three lucky readers to pick up one of their products through a giveaway that will be running through 11 PM MST (10 PM PST) on November 30, 2014. How do you enter? Just click here, read the terms and conditions of the giveaway, fill out the simple form and click or tap that Submit button. One winner is going to get a Sphero 2.0 (above), the latest iteration of the app-controlled ball that does it all! Valued at US$149.99, Sphero zips around at up to 4.5 mph, glows in a rainbow of colors, can be controlled via a huge and growing variety of apps, and even programmed through SPRK. Want something with a bit more speed? One winner is going to get an Ollie (above) valued at $119.99. Ollie is the app-controlled robot driven by adrenaline and can speed around at up to 14 miles per hour! Built-in LEDs let you drive at night, and the Ollie app can give you the power to do insane tricks. The last prize is a Darkside Ollie (that's it in the photo above) valued at $149.99. Using Bluetooth LE for control up to 100 feet away, Darkside Ollie not only looks really cool, but comes with 2 nubby tires, 2 turbo tires, 2 prime hubs and 2 flux hubs. Like its sibling Ollie, Darkside Ollie can drive for over an hour on a full charge and can be programmed with MacroLab or OrbBasic on either your iPhone or iPad. Do we have you excited yet? Here's the link to the giveaway page again. Go and enter, and in the meantime, enjoy a few videos.
