XmasTech: 9 great tech gifts for your geek

Posted Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9:41 pm by Jason Cartwright

Radio controlled shark [link]
We’ve probably all used RC cars at some stage during out life, but one of the hottest toys right now is the helium filled RC Shark. Controlled by an infra-red remote, the shark swims through the air with a realistic swimming motion. There’s also a Clownfish version if you don’t want to scare the kiddies. For just US$29.99 it’s good value for money and would make a great gift this Christmas.

iCADE – iPad Arcade Cabinet [link]
If you have an iPad and are tired of your kids enjoying those fancy Xbox graphics, take them back in time and let the enjoy the classics. The iCADE arcade dock/stand for the iPad, paired with games like Atari Greatest Hits, this will deliver a mini version of your arcade memories. At US$89.99 it ain’t cheap, but on the upside, there’s no slot to steal your quarters.

Equalizer T-shirt [link]
Be the life of the party with this shirt that has a real-life equalizer built-in. It responds to the noise around, making it great for parties or concerts. It takes 4 AAA batteries and has a removable battery pack to be washed. Currently available for US$29.99.

Fitbit [link]
Too many of us spend too long at the desk and don’t prioritise exercise, often sleeping patterns are also sporadic. The Fitbit helps solve both of these issues. A small clip that attaches to your pants pocket, it constantly tracks the number of steps, stairs climbed, calories burnt, hours slept in a day and wirelessly uploads that data to compare online. While big in the US, it’s only a matter of time before this technology makes its way to Australia. Your geek could be an early adopter for US$99.95.

Anything gaming
It’s hard to go wrong if you’re loved ones are into gaming of any kind. If they don’t have a console, then get one, if they like handheld, then get one. If they already have a console or handheld, then look into games and accessories for it. Gaming provides many hours of entertainment so you don’t have to be concerned if your present will get used, it will. Just keep an eye out of cues on what genre of games they want, driving, strategy, musical, turn-by-turn etc.

Eye-Fi Wireless SD Card [link]
This is no standard SD card for your camera, the Eye-Fi card adds Wi-Fi to your camera. It’s frankly amazing they can fit the storage and Wi-Fi chip in a package that small, but they can. This works by uploading your picks to a specified online service the instant a Wi-Fi connection can be found. For those wanting to share instantly, there’s no faster way of getting your content online, for those wanting an instant-backup, it’s also a great solution. Sure they cost more and aren’t available in larger sizes, but its a great solution to the problem until camera manufacturers build it in.

QR Code Christmas Cards [link]
Those funky images spreading throughout the web, magazines and outdoor signage is now invading Christmas cards. It’s actually a really smart idea, particularly for business Christmas cards. The recipient will scan the QR code with their phone and be taken to a website or contact card of your choice. While that’s cool, a card alone is never a present, so best to stick a gift voucher inside.

Anything 3D Printed [link]
Most households still only have a lame ink-eating 2D printer, but online services now custom items to be printed in 3D. Prices and materials vary, but your creativity is pretty much your only limitation. These things are so rare and so unique (mostly once offs), that there’ll be massive Xmas point coming your way if your loved one unwraps one of these.

Parrot AR.Drone [link]
This Wi-Fi enabled quad-copter called the AR.Drone is controlled either indoors or outdoors using an Android or iOS mobile devices. This gadget actually packs loads of technology like stabilisation sensors and front and downward facing cameras. If you know someone else with an AR.Drone you can actually battle using augmented reality, virtually firing rockets and machine guns to earn points again your opponent.

The great thing about these drones is that they’ll hover by themselves and even correct if you push them. You can setup automated flying programs and impress your friends at the touch of a button. Alternatively you can fly manual, using the gyroscope tilt sensor in your mobile device to change direction and acceleration. Better still is that there software is open for developers to create interesting applications like Kinect integration.

As with anything technology-related, look around for the best deal, recently EB Games sold out of these in minutes after offering them for just $150. Just make sure you pick up an extra batteries, those 4 spinning blades are hungry suckers.