It has been a stressful year for many. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a grip on most aspects of life and has affected almost everyone negatively, so it may seem trite to produce a holiday gift guide. Still, we all find comfort in traditions and something we can look for normalcy in the end. Many will celebrate the holiday season differently from the past, with virtual zoom gift openings, so perhaps the only thing normal is the actual gifts we exchange. And like any other year, buying gifts for people who love tech can be a challenge for those who do not make themselves aware of each’s latest gadgets and nuances. So, for those struggling to find an item that would bring a smile to the techie recipient, I offer these items that may be of interest.
I have most of these items or some variation of each. And full disclosure, some of the links are to an affiliate account at Amazon, where a small % of the purchase comes back to me. It is helpful if you use them, but if something is of interest to you, purchase it where and how it makes sense.
Here are ten items that may be just the ticket for this holiday season. All prices are as of the the date of this post.
Apple HomePod Mini – ($99) The original HomePod has been out for about two years and has been a mostly misunderstood product. While it is a smart speaker, Siri is not as useful as Google and Alexa in answering basic questions and carrying out tasks, primarily because Apple does not take as much data, which may be considered private as these competing platforms. While the “smart” part is less effective, the speaker is fantastic – with a rich, full sound that computationally adjusts with the room and music. The price of the original HomePod is higher than the competition, but Apple has now released the HomePod Mini – and at $99, it has most of the capability of the larger HomePod at a very reasonable price. The smart capabilities have gotten better (but still not as effective as the others), and at this price, if you are in the Apple ecosystem, you can place these all over the house or office for sufficient coverage. We purchased a few so we could have an intercom system. I can recommend these as useful, quality smart speakers!
TCL 43″ TV – ($299) I purchased the 43″, series 5 as a monitor in my home office and was impressed with the quality of the build, the built-in software, and mostly the actual image and sound quality. I replaced a 32″ HP 4K monitor that was twice as expensive, and for the most part, have not seen any difference. This 4K is a solid performer and can be purchased with a sound bar if desired (which I did)!
Apple TV Remote Mount – ($11) I have a mostly hate relationship with the Apple TV remote. Apple TV is OK, sometimes outstanding! But the remote is terrible, requiring swipes that often do not work, hard to remember gestures, and just so small. The last part is where this little device comes in – it provides storage for your Apple TV remote, so you know where it is. Like most people, we have many remotes in a basket or whatever my wife is using now. The Apple remote gets lost among them, so that this little device can alleviate that.
Tile Pro – ($56 for 2) I first bought tiles when they were a Kickstarter product a few years ago – they pretty much created the smart tag device; this is the latest version. It is a small fob device that works with Bluetooth and your phone to locate it, and whatever it is with physically. So if it is in your laptop bag, you can find the bag or track it where it moved, or place it on your key ring, etc. It is not a cellular connection; instead, it relies on crowdsourcing, where anybody with the tile app can “find” your fob and will tell you where it is (without them ever knowing they are doing that for you – privacy!). These are cheaper than getting new car keys, so consider them a premium, low cost, potentially high-value gift this holiday season! Note this is a two pack!
Nespresso Vertuo – ($158) Not so much a tech gift, but a great one for a techie that loves good coffee. This appliance is well built and very easy to use. I like espresso-style coffee but would never have the full barista equipment with many dials, buttons, wands, etc. This little kit makes an espresso cup of various sizes as easy as a Kuerig – drop the small pod in, lock it closed, and push a button. This model also includes a milk frother than heats and froths milk for a delicious cappuccino or latte. If I can do it, you and yours can!
LinkSys Velop Mesh WiFi AC6600 – ($278) This is the WiFi version 5 model; WiFi 6 is a new standard, but I did not see a need for my home. This kit is a three-node mesh kit; traditionally, home WiFi was a single device that covered what it could – these work together to blanket the home with a fast and robust signal. I have plenty of devices on the network, usually over forty, and it works great. It was pretty easy to set up. When I did have an issue, a call to their tech support resolved it quickly and pleasantly (thanks to the young lady in the Philippines working at her home who helped me!). It is also Apple HomeKit compatible to make things like Philips Hue lights more secure, but it has not worked for me so far.
WeMo Smart Plugs – ($18) These little devices are low cost and work very well. They are smart plugs – you plug them into an electrical wall outlet, and use an app to configure them and add them to your smart home system (like Apple HomeKit, Alexa, or Google). Then you can control whatever you plug into them from an app or your voice with a smart speaker. We use them for lights, to turn them on at dusk and then off at dawn, and also for a space heater to warm a room when needed. I can even control the devices when away for better security or savings.
CanaKit Raspberry Pi Starter Set – ($110) The Raspberry Pi would be of interest to the techie who likes to build things; it is a small single-board computer that can be used as a PC, but the real fun is connecting it to sensors (e.g., a temperature probe), and writing software that automates or alerts based on inputs. An example is a weather monitoring station that alerts you when the temperature drops to freezing. The possibilities are almost endless. There are a few versions of the actual computer module; this is the latest (version 4). There are many variations of the kit that includes other necessary accessories; this kit includes a fan, which for this version of the CPU chip I found helpful to run it at full speed.
Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard – ($65) True confession: I cannot touch type. I never learned how, and when I try, it feels slower than when I hunt and peck. Despite that, I found this Microsoft ergonomic keyboard to be quite good, with a comfortable angle for the wrists, excellent travel, and overall great! If you can type, I suspect you will love this!
DJI MavicMini 2 Drone – ($599) I have the 2019 Mavic Mini, which has been updated and sells as the Mavic Mini 2. You can still buy the original for $50 less, and either one is good, but the extra $50 for the Mini 2 is well spent. They have upgraded the camera, improved the distance you can communicate from 4km to 10km, and improved wind resistance. I found with the Mini that it is so light it struggles in the wind, and while the improvement is not huge, it should help. I recommend the Fly More kit, as it adds extra batteries. With a maximum flying time of about 30 minutes per battery, the extra ones make it a lot more useful.
I think you will find something on here that will bring a smile to the person you want to acknowledge in a gift they would love. I wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!