2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Gadgets

Adults like toys too, so if you’re on the lookout for a memorable gift for your spouse or just treating yourself to an early Christmas present, a cool gadget is always a great option. Of course, prices run the gamut in this arena, so you’ll need to be careful, but whether you’re shopping for the latest and greatest tablet or something to please that audiophile in your life, you can find something that fits almost any budget.

Click the links to purchase each product online, and for more gift ideas, check out the other categories in our Holiday Gift Guide.

Apple iPhone 6

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Just when everyone was starting to question Apple, the company comes out with the bigger iPhone 6 and massive iPhone 6 Plus. Sales have exploded and competitors that relied on having bigger screens to differentiate their phones suddenly saw their sales decline. The new iPhones are a huge hit, and an Apple box is becoming almost as desirable as the iconic blue box from Tiffany. The bottom line is that you can never go wrong with an Apple gift. We prefer the iPhone 6 and only recommend the 6 Plus for someone who has made it clear they want a huge phone. We were happy with the size of the older iPhones, but that changed quickly after using the new 6 for a couple of days. It’s thinner, so it seems like the perfect size now after you add a case. We also found it to be much faster and the charge lasts long as well. The phones are expensive, so in order to get a deal, you’ll need to have information about the applicable carrier and phone plan, but the work will be worth it.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S

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If there’s one tablet that has what it takes to compete with the Apple iPad mini, it’s the Samsung Galaxy Tab S, although your decision will ultimately depend on which operating system (iOS or Android) you prefer. Those that fall into the latter camp will absolutely love what Samsung’s newest tablet has to offer, including a Super AMOLED display (available in either an 8.4-inch or 10.5-inch screen), a 1.9GHz Quad-Core processor, a built-in 8-megapixel rear camera and 2.1-megapixel front camera for photos and video chat, 16 GB of onboard memory, and a microSD card slot that allows for an additional 128 GB of memory… all packaged in a super sleek design that measures just over a 1/4-inch thin and weighs less than a pound. This thing is about as mobile as they come, and it boasts some great features as well, like the ability to use two apps side-by-side (for instance, you can watch a YouTube video while typing an email), a Kids Mode to limit what child users can access, and a fingerprint scanner that captures and stores multiple fingerprints for added security. Though we’ve had some bad experiences with Android tablets in the past, there’s a good reason why Samsung has become the go-to device for Android users, and the Galaxy Tab S is their best one yet.

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Phiaton Wireless Earphones

Phiaton wireless

Headphones and earphones keep improving with advances in technology, and the new wireless earphones from Phiaton offer some great features and sound quality. The BT 220 NC is a versatile headphone option that features Bluetooth 4.0 and active noise-cancellation. They also feature NFC Technology that enables users to simply tap their phone to the BT 220 NC dongle to connect. We were also impressed with the sound quality, battery life and range as well. The Phiaton BT 220 NC makes it easy and convenient to enjoy your music, and with the holidays approaching can offer a great gift option as well. Check out the video below and get more information here.

  

808 HEX TL Wireless Speaker

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There are plenty of impressive portable speakers out there if you’re looking to enjoy your music beyond your headphones. But if you’re looking for bigger sound and a thumping base it helps to go with something a little bigger.

The 808 HEX TL offers a great option as it’s a little bigger than many of the portables out there but is still manageable in size. More importantly, the sound is impressive and can power a small party or gathering. It’s also extremely flexible as it has Bluetooth capability and provides two power options with an AC power adapter or batteries for up to 12 hours of portable listening.

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Product Review: Barrington Single Watch Winder

The Black Barrington Watch Winder Was As Smooth As It Is Functional

When you’re young, you want a great timepiece. But what you don’t realize is that in having a great watch, you also have to invest time maintaining it. Though they are never referenced in rap videos or on red carpets, a quality watch winder is key to extending the life of your watch and ensuring optimum performance.

Adult sensibilities aren’t sexy, but damn it, they win out if you’re doing it right. Once you drop some coin on a watch, keeping it wound is essential. A watch winder is used to keep automatic or self-winding watches running when not worn.

So, how does a watch winder from Barrington work?

Automatic watches operate by winding themselves using a moving weight inside the watch. The weight moves around while the watch is worn and turns the winding mechanism inside the watch.

The winder from Barrington operates on a basis of gentle rotation to wind watches.

Older generation watch winders were programmed to be always on (i.e. rotating without a pause) in an effort to wind the watch as quickly as possible. This can lead to over-winding of a watch and potential damage to the main spring. Gentle rotation ensures a consistent movement over a longer period of time that won’t over-wind your watch.

When initially turned on, the Barrington rotor turns for 1 minute before pausing. The length of the pause is determined by the Turns Per Day setting (a lower TPD setting will mean a longer pause and vice versa) and once it is completed the rotor turns again for just one minute. This cycle continues silently for 12 hours, then rests for 12 hours, before beginning again and so on until the winder is turned off.

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Take better selfies with the HISY remote shutter for your iPhone

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Here’s a great new gadget from HISY that you’ll love using. It’s a tiny button-sized device that acts as a remote shutter for your iPhone. You can place your iPhone anywhere and then capture photos and videos without holding it by using this small device.

You don’t need an app to install it as it works effortlessly with your iPhone’s Bluetooth capability. Just pair the device and you’re ready to start taking photos.

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