In the past, we used to separate out categories for cell phones, tablets and computers. In theory, we still could create separate guides just for those products - there are so many options to choose from and not a week goes by where another phone, tablet or computer hits the market.
Like many categories that we've chosen for this year's holiday gift guide, the lines are blurred. Several devices within the "home" category could fall into the "Audio Gear", "Video gear" or "Work/Office Gear" categories, considering how much work we do at home, or how much home technology we bring to work.
While many of these gift ideas would make for a better fit in our summer gadget gift guide, these outdoor gadgets could still be used in parts of the country (or world) where the chilling cold of winter hasn't struck yet. In addition, cases and things that protect your devices never go out of style, whether indoors or outdoors. Here are our favorite devices that sort of fit this category of outdoor gear or on-the-road gadgets:
There's no time like the present to start thinking about ways to make you feel better or get healthier. The gadgets and gift ideas presented here focus on exercise-related gadgets and two ways on getting a better night's sleep, which has been shown as one of the best ways to get healthier. Use these in-between your long bouts of videogame playing or video watching on the couch!
Like the world of smartphones and tablets, where there are so many choices and options that trying to highlight them all is an experiment in confusion, the world of digital cameras and video cameras presents a multitude of devices. For this wrapup, then, we're presenting a bunch of materials that the photographer and/or videographer would like to include in their arsenals, with a focus on things that let people watch videos or produce photos easier.
The merging world of personal technology and workplace technology is always a fascinating scene to observe, so a lot of devices here can be utilized at home, and vice versa (see our Digital Life article for home-related tech gift ideas). But for the most part, we're confident that your work life will improve with these gadgets - peruse the writeups for gift ideas for your favorite colleague!
Let's face it - this holiday season is going to be really good for the video gamer on your holiday list. Not only are there two new gaming consoles coming out (the Xbox One and Sony Playstation 4), but there are a bunch of games that will keep you entertained for months on end. Plus the accessories to enhance those games and experiences continue to be top-notch.
In my role as multimedia content editor for IDG Enterprise, I find myself with lots of video footage, which takes up a ton of storage capacity. Backing up that footage to external storage drives can take a long time, especially if you're using older transfer technologies, such as USB 2.0. Fortunately, there are some faster devices and transfer connections now available, here are two recent drives (and a docking station) that can help speed up your personal file storage transfer dilemmas:
This IP-based network camera provides homeowners with a convenient way to monitor remote surroundings from within the home or across the Internet.
The scoop: DriveStation DDR (HD-GDU3), by Buffalo Americas, about $160 (2TB version) or $200 (3TB version).
The scoop: SanDisk Connect Wireless Flash Drive (16GB, $50; 32GB, $60) and Wireless Media Drive (32GB, $80; 64GB, $100)
The gadget-industrial-complex keeps churning out more and more cool tools to try. What to do? Roundup time!
I'm a big fan of the Olloclip 3-in-one Photo Lens package (about $70), which gives iPhone users three different lenses (fisheye, macro and wide angle) for taking additional styles of photos. The system is very easy to use - the lenses snap onto the outside of your phone's regular camera lens very quickly.
The chances are pretty good that you have a wireless home network, or you've been asked by friends, family or co-workers to help install one in their home.
Shaw reviews Das Keyboard's latest high-performance mechanical keyboard and AccessoryPower.com's GOgroove BlueSYNC SRC Portable Bluetooth Speaker and Receiver.