13 Tech Gift Ideas for the Holidays from Our Team

It's that time of year again and if you're anything like me, you panic about your gift-giving abilities - you don't just get your loved ones something standard or "artsty" and excuse yourself since "it's the thought that counts."

Since I have access to many tech whizzes at my fingertips, I called on the ArcStonians for recommendations of the best tech gift ideas this year. Below are some favorites, along with the uses of the gadget, and the unavoidable cost of each. You should be able to uncover at least one tech gift idea for your special someones. 

Smaller Gift = about $10 - $50, for a friend or coworker

• Amploids - The Portable Amps
  • Features: A portable amp that looks like an Altoids case, They have a "clear and loud" MP3 amp, a patch cable, ON/OFF toggle, and sound great with the android, galaxy, iPad, iPod, iPhone, etc.
  • Price: $30
  • Notes: Order by Dec. 21st and your order can be shipped by Christmas. As Office Manager & Marketing Assistant, Youa, describes these, they make an "ideal gift for the guitarist friend you know, as they can use it on the go when they need to practice and don't have the access to a full-size amp." 

• Modern Portable Bluetooth Headphones
  • Features: Optimal for hands-free phone calls and easy-listening with most any device. Includes Bluetooth 4.1 technology, a high-quality microphone, a battery life of 4-6 hours and a "comfortable ergonomic fit." They emphasize that the headphones are durable - water and sweat resistent. 
  • Price: $24.99

• Nano Quadcopter
  
  • Features: Great for a development, teaching or experimenting platform and also just a lot of fun to fly around. It fits in the palm of your hand, flies up to 7 minutes, includes "build-systems, compilers, EDA software, firmware libraries and debugging tools." Still want to know more? Read a full description here: Crazyfile Nano Quadcopter.
  • Price: $32, on sale for $15

• USB Handwarmers
  • Features: Perfect if you work in a cold office and struggle to work with your cold hands. They don't constrict your hands as much as a glove would. You simply plug them in to your USB port and they warm up - at a low or high heat. With adjustable straps, they can fit almost anyone. 
  • Price: $34.99 - $65.00

• Water Bottle Humidifier 
  • Features: Plugs in next to your desk to keep the air from getting too dry. 
  • Price: $5 - $15 
  • Notes: "The Midwest is known for its dry winters so instead of dealing with cumbersome and large humidifiers, this one is perfect for a cubicle to keep you hydrated during the dark, winter months." - Youa

• Sticky Notes for iPhones
  • Features: Make sticky notes right on the back of your iPhone - no more messing with apps within your phone or losing your post-it notes.
  • Price: A pad of 80 adhesive paper sheets costs $7.95.

Mid-Size Gift = about $50 - $150, for a favorite friend or family member

• Pebble Smartwatch: 
  • Features: Comes in 3 styles, water-resistent, notifies you on basically anything you specify, and is compatible with Androids and iPhones. Includes a 7-day battery life.
  • Price: Starting at $150
  • Notes: As stated by our head of IT, Alicia, this is a "simplified smart watch with AMAZING battery life. Excels at displaying notifications and sending quick responses. I own one and love it."

• Fuji Instax Camera
  • Features: Instantly provides you with photos, includes a simple brightness modification dial and high-key mode, and automatic lighting adjustments. 
  • Price = average $70
• SodaStream Fountain Jet
  
  • Features: Helps people get their daily H20 intake - it can make sparkling water from wherever you are. As Web Developer, Patrick, stated excitedly, "you can carbonate water any time of the day!"
  • Price: $80

• The Keyboard Waffle Iron
  • Features: If you're craving some excitement in your breakfast, you might actually need this! It even includes a digital recipe book so you'll never run out of creativity. 
  • Price: $85

• MV88 iOS Digital Stereo Microphone
  • Features: Works especially well for live performance, interviews, audio for video, and vocal and instrument recording. For a full list of intergrations, check out the site.
  • Price: $149
  • Notes: Lisa, our VP of marketing and vocalist in a band, says it's, "perfect for the musician in your family ... We have one and were pleasantly surprised at the quality and ease."

Big-time Gift = about $150 and over, for that realllly special person or maybe just a gift to yourself

• Amazon Echo
  • Features: Answers questions, controlled by just your voice, compatible with many other devices and applications. 
  • Price: $179
  • Notes: Alicia describes it as this: "like Siri, but for the entire room. Creepily always listening, it's the closest thing I've seen to the computer in Star Trek. Ask it to set a timer or alarm, play music (specify your choice, or let it play something it thinks you'll like), read you the news, order something from Amazon, tell you about your calendar, and more. More features coming soon, plus there's an SDK available for developers. Kind of gimmicky, but I love mine."
• Bose Wireless Speaker
  • Features: Wireless connection to many devices, 14 hours battery life.
  • Price: range from $120 - $250+
  • Notes: Our team asserts it has a "seriously amazing sound."

• SkyBell WiFi Doorbell
  • Features: You can see and talk to whoever's at your door through your phone and get alerted if there's someone at the door who is not ringing the bell. 
  • Price: $199