In the age of "Buy It Now" and "Fast Two-Day Shipping" it's easy for anyone with a penchant for tech to amass just about everything they want nearly on demand. The flip side now is gift giving for the holidays can be a tougher task than ever. So what do you get the guy or girl who has everything?
Cocoon Grid-It:
Get people organized with this clever grid of elastic bands. No matter how much gear you have you'll be able to strap it down securely for taking on-the-go in your purse or messenger bag. Cocoon sells a wide array of options from $14.99 - $49.99
Eye-Fi SD Card:
Wow your favorite shutterbug with an SD card that'll stream their pictures wirelessly from their camera to their smartphone or tablet. I personally use this in my DSLR for every tour shoot for immediate feedback on image quality and for easy sharing to the twitter-verse after (see more details on use and setup in my How-To). Eye-fi sells a wide range of cards for every budget. $39.99 - $99.99
Parafernalia Pens:
Everyone appreciates good Italian design and Parafernalia makes some of the most technical and advanced writing instruments I've seen. Give your tech lover a perfect way to distinguish themselves from the crowd. Order quick for holiday delivery as these will ship from the UK. From $39.
Sugru:
I posted about this wonder material here. As a moldable clay that dries to a rigid form, It's a DIY'ers dream. The has-it-all gadget guy (or gal) will be able to use Sugru on a variety of applications — from patching kitten-gnawed Apple cables to creating custom grips for gear like their DSLR or smartphone. If that special someone hasn't heard of this yet - you've just taught them a new trick. And if they have the stuff already, well, one could always use some more. Makes a great stocking stuffer at $10 - $18 for various size packs.
Agloves:
Your favorite gear-head may have all the gadgets but do they have touch-sensitive gloves to use them in the cold? These special designed gloves are lined with silver throughout the whole glove to give 10-finger usability during those blistery winter days. Agloves consistently get top nods for touch precision and accuracy. There are several models ranging from $19.99 to $34.99 with free shipping. I won't tell if you put an extra pair in your cart for yourself.
Baggu:
I mentioned these bags in my latest online store roundup, and they really do make great and practical stocking stuffers. Get a few in shades of your friends' favorite color and they'll use them for years to come. You really can't have enough of these smart foldable bags. Score a 3-pack for $24.
Lark:
Living with a significant other who is on a completely different sleep schedule? Give them the gift of a silent alarm clock (and yourself the gift of undisturbed sleep). The Lark system is my top choice for sleep wellness devices (check my review here). Lark features a great user-friendly app that determines your sleep type and tracks statistics like how fast you fell asleep, and gives a sleep quality rating based on actigraphy sensors embedded on the wearable Bluetooth strap. There's also a comprehensive online sleep coach that'll interpret the results and give you suggestions on how to improve your snooze. A great gift at $99 for the base model, and $159 for the Lark Pro that includes the Personal Sleep Coach service. Oh, they already have a Lark you say? Get them another year with a sleep coach for $60.
Maverick Wireless Thermometer Set:
As one of my essential tools for a new homeowner, a digital temperature probe pays dividends you can appreciate — better cooked meals year round. My wife actually got me one of these as a gift last year and I've use it every time I put a steak on the grill or roast a chicken in the oven. Get a model that has a receiver and you can set an audible alarm when the meat is cooked to your exact specifications and internal temperature. Go for the smoker model with two probes and keep more accurate tabs on the temperature of your oven, grill, or smoker while you're at it. $59.99
DODOcase Gift Certificate:
I'm not usually one to go the gift certificate route. But, I'll admit even I wouldn't mind a credit I could use towards building my very own custom DODOcase for iPad. The DODOcase is durable and built with sustainable materials — such as its bamboo core. This case will give your iPad the look of a scholarly Moleskine for the dignified tech gift recipient. $69.95 gift certificate offerings available.
Bose Soundlink:
Music lovers will rejoice at a generous gift that provides pure listening freedom. The Bose Soundlink uses Bluetooth technology to stream tunes wirelessly from your smartphone or tablet no matter whether you're on Team Apple or Team Android. The build quality is unsurpassed for a mobile speaker at this price-point and the sound is sure to impress just about everyone — as I stated in my in-depth review. $299.99
Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay A9:
And what if money/price isn't a limitation for your gift giving whims? How about this unique merging of home audio with home furniture, the tripod-legged Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay A9, a DLNA and AirPlay compatible speaker whose jaw-dropping design is only matched by its equally mandible loosening price tag, $2699.00.
(Images: 1,9,11. Chris Perez 10. Gregory Han others: as linked)
Dec 12, 2012
What Do You Get the Tech Lover Who Already Has Everything ?
Ariel Winter: Puppy Love
Posted in Ariel Winter: Puppy Love
Ariel Winter cuddles with a puppy while out at the Moorpark Adoption Event on Sunday afternoon () in Studio City, Calif. The 14-year-old actress stopped by the… Read More Here
Posted to Ariel Winter
via justjaredjr.com
Rihanna and Chris Brown: Fighting Over Karrueche Tran!
Rihanna and Chris Brown are reportedly at odds again, and Karrueche Tran is to blame.
The Human Pantsless Instagram Photo Factory is angry with her man after he partied with his model ex after his Paris gig on Friday night, The Sun (UK) reports.
“She can’t get it into her head that Chris will never change," a source told the tabloid.
“She’s given him so many chances since he beat her up and he still keeps hurting her. Letting Karrueche meet him is yet another blow for Rihanna that will further disgust her fans."
"They are already raging that she is back with him.”
Karrueche Tran jetted off to Paris with her brand-partner stylist for The Kill, Ugo Mozie, on Friday. Mozie also styles Chris Brown, who dated Tran for over a year.
Tran reportedly plans to then follow the "Don't Wake Me Up" singer to the Dubai leg of his "Carpe Diem" tour, The Sun reports, and Rihanna is fed up.
She was going to stay with Chris in Paris, but reportedly headed straight to Manchester (UK) to perform on the X Factor final’s results show, the source added.
Rihanna allegedly sent out a series of angry tweets:
These tweets appear to have been deleted, however, and all may have been forgiven, as Rihanna later tweeted about missing her man. So ... that's that?
- "Examine what you tolerate."
- "Goodbye muthaf**ker."
- "You give, you get, then you give it the f**k back."
Reports of Rihanna-Chris discord come after she got a Breezy tattoo in his honor, and after posing photos of him in bed, and embracing her, and so on.
"She got it to symbolize her commitment to him. Now the whole world knows they’re back together, they’re determined to make it work," a source said.
Until he feels like nailing his ex, apparently.
The real question: Who'd you rather ...
And the Winner is?Karrueche Tran or Rihanna: Who'd you rather ... date? Vote in this poll to decide which Chris Brown squeeze is the hotter ticket! View Poll »
Merry & Bright: Holiday LED Lights
Energy efficient and bright LEDs are popping up at more and more retailers in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors (even warm white). Below are some of our current favorites, and if you are planning to upgrade to LEDs, you can find information on how to recycle your old lights here.
TOP ROW
1. Starry String LIghts 10 ft, $25 from Restoration Hardware
2. Snowflake Strala Light Chain, $20 from IKEA
3. Twinkling LIghts on White Wire, $23 from Christmas Light Source
4. Multi String Light Set, $19 from Party Lights
5. Cordless Holiday LED Light String, $15 from BrookstoneBOTTOM ROW
6. Solar LED Light String, $40 from Solar Illuminations
7. Color Changing Lights, $25 from LED Wholesalers
8. Warm White Lights, $13 from 1000 Bulbs
9. Warm White Twinkle Lights, $30 from Holiday LEDs
10. Snowball Strala Light Chain, $20 from IKEAMORE STRING LIGHTS ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• The Do's & Don'ts of Holiday Lights
• Upgrading to LEDs? How to Recycle Your Old Lights
• Best Outdoor String Lights 2011
• String Lights In The Bedroom(Images: as credited above.)
Buying full '12 Days of Christmas' gift list would cost $107,000 this year
PITTSBURGH -- Add seven swans, six geese and five golden rings to the list of Christmas gifts that cost more than they did a year ago.
And if you get all 364 items repeated throughout "The Twelve Days of Christmas" carol, you'll pay 6.1 percent more this year, according to the so-called Christmas Price Index that PNC Wealth Management updates annually.
That comes to $107,300.
"The rise is larger than expected considering the modest economic growth we've had," said Jim Dunigan, managing executive of investments for PNC. He noted the government's Consumer Price Index has risen just 2 percent in the 12 months before September.
Thrifty shoppers may find some reasons for cheer. Six items mentioned in the song haven't gone up in price: maids-a-milking, ladies dancing, lords-a-leaping, calling birds, turtle doves and the partridge. The eight maids-a-milking still cost just $58 because the minimum wage hasn't risen.
Twelve drummers drumming ($2,775.50) and eleven pipers piping ($2,562) might also be considered relative bargains compared to seven swans, which will set you back $7,000. Nine ladies dancing will cost you $6,294.03.
Dunigan said the 2011 drought caused the prices of some birds to soar, partly because of corn and other feed costs.
"The geese were up 29.6 percent, and swans were up 11 percent," Dunigan said, adding that none of the gifts in the song went down in price this year.
The price of a pear tree is $189.99, an 11.8 percent jump from last year's $169.99. Five gold rings jumped 16.3 percent this year, to $750, and three French hens are now $165, instead of $150.
The $15 partridge is the cheapest item, and swans the most expensive, at $1,000 each.
Last-minute shoppers who turn to the Internet will pay a bit more for the gifts. Buying one set of the core items in each verse costs $24,431 in traditional stores this year, but $40,440 online. Part of that difference is the extra expense of shipping live birds, Dunigan said, adding that Internet costs rose 1.5 percent compared to last year.
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. checks jewelry stores, dance companies, pet stores and other sources to compile the list. Some of its sources this year include the National Aviary in Pittsburgh and the Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Ballet Company.
via dallasnews.com
Christmas Is Canceled in Rhode Island (Well, Not Really, But Sort Of)
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere except Rhode Island, apparently, where Governor Lincoln Chafee has zapped an annual celebration of that pesky “C” word. If you, like an evident number of residents in the Ocean State, tire of all the repeated mentioning of and hoopla about the birth of this Christ guy ‘round this time of year, head on over to their upcoming celebration, where onlookers will light a “holiday tree.”
That, in case you’re unsure, is like a Christmas tree 4.0: all the glitz, all the decorations, none of that overt, in-your-face Christianity. Phew. Sweet relief. Finally a place to celebrate Christmas without the cumbersome mentioning of Jesus.
Wait. Whaaaaat?
Indeed, a spokeswoman announced on Tuesday that "the governor has stated his position very clearly: He believes 'holiday' is more inclusive,” adding that the event will take place “in a building paid for by all Rhode Islanders.” Too bad, so sad for you self-absorbed Christians who just want to gather round and sing off-tune renditions of “O Holy Night” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Not at the official holiday ceremony in Rhode Island you won’t. Not on the dear gov’ner’s watch.
Last year, he attracted similar criticism from conservatives and Christians in the state not surprisingly disgruntled by the trend to take the Christ out of Christmas and the Christmas out of parties, cookies, and tree lightings in an effort to make the holiday more secular and less sacred. Govs insists using “holiday” in the festivities is consistent with the state’s history of religious tolerance.
Le sigh. Political over-correctness rears its ugly head again. If we start watering down traditions based on inclusion, we're not really staying true to diversity at all. (Even though the tree isn't really part of the original birth-of-the-Lord-and-Savior program, but still...) It would be impossible to understand the intrinsic value of Diwali or Hanukkah or Easter or Eid al-Adha, for example, if its celebrants were forced to compromise the authenticity of their observations in order to accommodate folks from outside the culture or religion. That’s not doing anybody any favors.
Anyway, I invite everyone from Rhode Island to the lighting ceremony here in lovely Washington, D.C. on December 4, where Christmas trees are still Christmas trees and the streets will be filled with endeared and sentimental onlookers. You may have to gird your loins for the Metro ride back to your hotel room and cut an old lady off for a parking space, but it’s a small price to pay in the name of Jesus.
Do you agree with the Governor Chafee’s decision to obliterate the mentioning of Christmas?
Image via janineomg/Flickr
Science Reveals Simple Way You’ll Miss Best Holiday Deals
via mashable.com
Want to find a better holiday deal this season? Look left…or even right, for that matter. Just don’t look straight ahead.
New research finds that shoppers most often choose items at the center of store displays regardless of whether it’s the best product or price. What’s even more surprising is that we don’t even know we’re doing it.
It turns out that the shopper’s eye has a very central focus.
“Consumers are more likely to purchase products placed in the middle of a display — without even being aware of it,” said Onur Bodur, associate professor from Concordia’s John Molson School of Business in Montreal, who has studied the phenomenon.
Using eye-tracking devices, Bodur and his colleagues investigated how location influences choices for a variety of products, including cosmetics and food items.
They found that consumers would increase their visual focus on the central option in a product display area in the final five seconds of the decision-making process— and that was the point at which they determined which option to choose.
It turns out that the process is a subconscious one. When asked how they had come to choose which product to buy, consumers did not accurately recall their reasons for their decision. What’s more, they were not aware of any conscious visual focus on one area of the display over another.
What does uncovering these unconscious habits mean for the average shopper? Greater awareness of buying behaviors should lead to more informed choices. Says Bodur, “By using this newfound knowledge that visual attention is naturally drawn to the center of a display, consumers can consciously train themselves to make a more thorough visual scan of what’s on offer.”
When it comes to holiday shopping, the visual equivalent to thinking outside of the box just might lead to savvier selections.
Gifting | One-Stop Online Shops
There’s nothing quite like walking into a shop with your holiday gift list and finding something for everyone (or at least several of the giftees on your list) in that one place. That is, if it’s not one of those stores going out of its way to make your buying experience as irritating as possible. This year, try browsing online boutiques that offer one-stop gratification, whether you want to cross each recipient off in a single visit or cover perhaps at least all the tweens or pet-lovers in your life in a few clicks. Here are some of T’s favorites, from the gift-centric to green-thumbed and more.
Wantful.com
Perfect for the undecided giver, Wantful lets you choose 12 items all in the same price range from its curated selection of thousands of presents (including charitable donations), then prints your picks in a stylish booklet and sends it to your giftee, who gets to choose his or her favorite. Think of it like a personalized gift certificate. Those in a time crunch can have a list of their dozen options sent by e-mail or Facebook. T’s picks: Bernard Maisner hand-painted note cards, $119; Grand Trunk portable double hammock, $84.TheSill.com
Hostess or host, white elephant, secret Santa … there aren’t many gift scenarios in which a trio of succulents from this site wouldn’t fit the bill (not to mention make a cheery holiday table centerpiece). They’re “adorable and bite-sized,” says the proprietor Eliza Blank, and, she points out, are suitable for a male or female recipient. Free delivery in Manhattan and Brooklyn. T’s pick: the Blue Collection, $48.Oeufnyc.com
The children’s sustainable furniture design firm also sells a number of “goodies” on its Web site, like knit baby alpaca playthings (made by women’s collectives in Bolivia). New to the offering this season are New York-themed stuffed toys in the shape of a yellow taxi, black limo, Brooklyn brownstone ($81) and the Empire State Building ($68). T’s pick: made-in-Limoges porcelain brooches ($22 to $26) with funny sayings like “I’ve been good all year.”FrankandLu.com
For bigger kids, the new clothing company Frank and Lu makes looks that are “sophisticated enough without being too mini-me,” says the owner and designer, Michael Jarvela. Moms have been squeezing into the unisex washed leather moto jacket ($279). Maybe get one for her, too? Another T pick: ribbed leggings, $49.4and20KitchenAntiques.com
Started by a former museum curator as a way to sell some of her large collection of antique copper cookware, Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds Kitchen Antiques is a must-browse for the cook on any list. Each polished piece, be it a 19th-century French savarin mold or British chocolate-pouring pot, would be the pride of any kitchen. Charming and informative descriptions of every item are included. T’s pick: Swedish teakettles, from $198.BklynDryGoods.com
Heritage brands are Brooklyn Dry Goods’ specialty. Look for a tightly edited selection of vintage sweaters from the likes of Brooks Brothers and Polo Ralph Lauren, as well as Woolrich plaid and Filson olicloth. The company also collaborates with other labels on new items. Shop at its pop-up on West 14th street in Manhattan through Dec. 23. T’s picks: a leather snap wallet ($125; made with Kika NY); and Spent Musket Oil, a men’s fragrance produced by D.S. and Durga with notes of bay rum and campfires ($150).MungoandMaud.com
Mungo and Maud is a London minichain of pet accessory stores carrying beds, blankets, leashes, bowls and more — along with a few things for the humans who care for them (a utility-chic puffer vest perfect for long walks with your best friend, $294; an ingenious pouch that holds those little plastic bags, $76). T’s favorite for the furry ones: a cable cashmere dog pullover ($217 to $227) and a cat basket ($123).
Intel's Penwell mobile processor given a close inspection, stuffs a lot into a little space
If you're one of those who took the leap into a first wave of Intel-based smartphones like the RAZR i, you're likely the sort to wonder exactly what makes them tick. SemiAccurate certainly does: it just posted some previously inaccessible diagrams that help reveal how Medfield's system-on-a-chip heart, Penwell, is mapped out. As a die shot shows, the Atom core is seemingly the least important part of the design -- the PowerVR SGX 540 graphics, camera processing and input-output interfaces dominate the crowded silicon. Between this dense, all-in-one design and stacking up to 2GB of RAM directly on top, Penwell occupies about 17 percent less space than its Moorestown ancestor and helps explain why we're looking at Atom-powered phones instead of another round of MIDs. We wouldn't get too comfortable with the current generation, though, as Intel is gradually warming up 22-nanometer chips that could make Penwell seem old hat.
via engadget.com
IBM: Nanophotonics Will Smash Data Center Bottlenecks
via readwrite.com
Not surprisingly, IBM execs believe they will soon be selling servers and supercomputers that process data much faster than today's technology allows. But they’re talking about much, much faster.
Rather than use electricity to move data between processors, IBM is preparing to use light, giving high-end customers enough power to keep pace with the growing information flowing through data centers.
IBM's Tiny Milestone
After more than a decade of research, IBM scientists have put nanophotonics technology onto 90 nanometers of silicon and integrate it with ordinary microprocessors.
That last part is critical. If IBM can integrate the new optical technology with ordinary processors, it avoids a layer of manufacturing expense and complexity, and it can make the new systems in conventional factories.
IBM is attacking a bottleneck in data centers and supercomputers. Moving data as electrical impulses - even over the comparatively small distances between chips - chokes off performance.
Solving the problem now means adding more processors, which raises costs.
Practical Nanophotonics
A proof-of-concept just two years ago, IBM’s nanophotonics system is a transceiver that receives electrical impulses from one chip, converts them to staccato light signals, and transmits those to another transceiver sitting alongside another processor. The receiving transceiver reverses the process.
Even with the conversions, the process creates a much higher chip-to-chip data flow - 25 gigabits per second per channel -and can also be used for chip-to-memory communications, another common bottleneck.
Just as with the far bigger fiber-optic systems used for global telecommunications, each beam of light can carry multiple data streams, each on a different wavelength of light. While not a feature on the current proposal, this would make it possible to send terabytes around otherwise conventional electronics with almost literally blinding speed.
"The technology is very universal, very flexible and versatile," Solomon Assefa, a nanophotonics scientist for IBM Research, said.
Short, Sharp Signals In Data Centers
IBM is preparing to put nanophotonics in servers, data centers and supercomputers, Assefa said. The technology is also expected to play an important role in exa-scale computing, a benchmark expected to be reached before the end of the decade. Today's supercomputers are measured in petaflops, equal to 1 quadrillion calculations per second. An exaflop is 1,000 times faster.
There will be millions of transceivers needed for an exa-scale system, he said.
Martin Reynolds, an analyst for Gartner, said IBM's technology appeared flexible, but noted that it's destined to remain in high-end systems for a while.
"The device has to have optical power [i.e. light] fed to it, as there is currently no practical way to generate light on the silicon," Reynolds said. "This demand requires sophisticated and expensive packaging techniques that, for now, constrain these devices to high-end systems."
So it will be some time before nanophotonics make its way into laptops or tablets. In the meantime, IBM hopes to beat competitors by getting it into data centers and supercomputers first.
Donna Summer leads 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees
Pop diva Donna Summer performs during the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo in this December 11, 2009 file photo.
Credit: Reuters/Chris Helgren/Files
(Reuters) - Late disco queen Donna Summer and hip hop pioneers Public Enemy headed a list of eight new inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation said on Tuesday.LOS ANGELES | Tue Dec 11, 2012 4:55pm EST
Singer-songwriter Randy Newman, Canadian progressive rockers Rush, rock band Heart and the late blues guitarist Albert King are also being inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame, which pays homage to people who have influenced the music industry.
"We are thrilled to announce this year's class of inductees, which again represents the broad, compelling and significant definition of rock and roll," Joel Peresman, president and chief executive of the organization, said in a statement.
Non-performers Lou Adler, executive producer of the 1975 rock-musical cult hit "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," and pop arranger, composer and producer Quincy Jones are also named to the Hall of Fame.
They will be officially inducted at a ceremony in April in Los Angeles.
'Queen of Disco' Summer, who died in May at the age of 63, rose to fame in 1976 with the disco hit "Love to Love You Baby." She had three number one hits in 1979 with "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls" and "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)," a duet with Barbara Streisand.
Although Public Enemy, formed by artists Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff and DJ Lord, never topped the charts during their three-decade career, the group is known for giving hip hop a political and social conscience in the 1980s and early 1990s. They explored American race relations with songs such as "Fight the Power" and "911 Is a Joke."
Randy Newman, known for his sharp, ironic pop songs, has won two Oscar awards for songs he penned for "Monsters, Inc." and "Toy Story 3," and six Grammys for his film work.
Heart scored hits with "Magic Man" in 1976, "These Dreams" in 1986 and "Alone" in 1987, while Rush is recognized for complex rock songs that draw on blues.
King, who died in 1992 at age 69, was a towering figure in American blues guitar, with hits such as "Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong" in 1961 and "Born Under a Bad Sign" in 1967.
The eight inductees were chosen from a shortlist of 15 nominees. Those missing the cut include German electronic music ground-breakers Kraftwerk, rock group Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, rappers N.W.A. and rock band Deep Purple.
The inductees were chosen by some 500 voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, which includes past inductees, and for the first time this year fans were also allowed to vote.
Candidates for the Cleveland-based Hall of Fame must have released their debut album or single at least 25 years before 2012 to be eligible.
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Editing by Piya Sinha-Roy)
via reuters.com
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