Looking for some gadgets to give as gifts this year?
Steve Greenberg, author of Gadget Nation, has ideas for loved ones of all ages. Below are descriptions of the items he chose - and why he chose them.
Steve’s Ugly Holiday Sweater T-Shirt from Faux Real Brand – It is the perfect combination of quirky, funny, and scandalous apparel for consumers who want to stand out from the everyday fashion crowd. The crazy designs and photorealistic images will make you look twice. Faux Real photorealistic apparel is a novelty line that is sold to gift shops, boutiques and department stores around the world. Faux Real’s fun selection of Ugly Holiday Sweater T-shirts are so much cozier than those scratchy old sweaters and will give you the edge you need to win first place at your next Holiday Party. Check it out at www.fauxrealshirt.com. Also, for an additional 20 percent discount code use the discount code UGLY20 at checkout on their website.
KODAK MINI SHOT - The KODAK MINI SHOT Instant Print Camera is the must-have accessory for anyone looking to make memories that will last, whether it's by sharing printed photos immediately or posting them to an Instagram feed. It instantly prints out photos and allows for creative digital editing through the KODAK Mini Shot App. Users of all ages will love transferring their photos from any smart device to experiment with fun filters, stickers, and templates! The Mini Shot operates on 4Pass printing technology for high-resolution photos that print directly from the side of the device. At $119.99, this unique camera serves to enhance both photo-taking and editing experiences for everyone! To learn more, visit KODAK and Amazon.
2K Carnival Games - Bring the party back for the entire family – now for the first time on Nintendo Switch! With both fan-favorite and brand-new mini-games all in one package, Carnival Games offers fun for everyone and can be played alone or with up to three others. Hit home runs, pile the highest stack of cakes, and take your horse to the finish line. 20 total mini-games will have you and your friends stepping right up to win again and again! And with Nintendo Switch, the Carnival Games experience can be enjoyed wherever, whenever! Like a real-life county fair, Carnival Games bursts with exciting mini-games that you can play over and over. Classic mini-games such as shooting basketballs (“Swish”) and taking down unfriendly clowns (“Clowning Around”) are joined by brand new attractions like flying drone racing (“Light Speed”) and cosmic bowling (“Cosmic Strike”). With 20 total games Carnival Games is a fantastic time for all. Whether on the big screen or small screen, Carnival Games can be enjoyed wherever you want to play. Bring your family and friends in on the fun for a true Carnival Games party. Up to four players can participate simultaneously, bumping up the level of excitement and competition in all 20-carnival mini-games. Play games, win tickets, and trade them in for new outfits for your carnival guest characters. Dress them up to match your style or be as wild as you can with wacky headgear, shirts and bottoms. Created for ages 10+ and available at $39.99, Carnival Games is available at GameStop, Target, Amazon and 2K.com.
JBL Link Series Speakers - The first Bluetooth-enabled speakers to merge JBL’s Signature Sound with the Google Assistant, JBL LINK Series gives users rich, full-range sound and instant access to their favorite music with the control of their voice. The LINK 10, 20, 300 and 500 speakers can be enjoyed individually or linked together to create an unforgettable multi-room sound performance. With built-in Chromecast and WiFi enabled, the JBL LINK series features crystal-clear, high-definition music streaming, elevating the overall listening experience. The newest addition to the LINK family, the JBL LINK VIEW offers an HD display and two side speakers. It delivers a combination of the Google Assistant, JBL Audio horsepower and a magnificent visual display, making it a must-have for all binge-watching audiophiles or the perfect kitchen gadget for those who love new recipes. The speaker series starts at $149. The JBL Link View is $249.95 at www.jbl.com.
Lockly Secure - Is revolutionizing the way individuals secure their homes, offices, and personal items with the launch of their new line of smart locks. Lockly is equipped with an advanced 3D Fingerprint sensor, as well as the only smart lock that is utilizing the PIN Genie™ Technology, making the Lockly Secure Plus virtually impenetrable. Built for today’s on the go lifestyle and perfect for businesses like Airbnb©, with the use of one’s smartphone, you can control and monitor the access to your door from anywhere in the world, securely controlling who comes and goes. Thanks to Lockly’s mobile app, one can easily create access codes for family, friends and rental property tenants to quickly lock and unlock the door, making the need for spare keys obsolete. Exclusive to the entire Lockly Secure line, the company's “Offline Access” provides an additional level of security with its ability for the home owner to generate multiple access codes without electricity or an internet connection. Lockly Secure is $249.99 and is available on Amazon and Lockly.com.
ZVOX VoiceBuds High-Performance Hearing Amplifiers – If you have trouble understanding voices in restaurants or crowded rooms, now there is a high-tech solution at an affordable price. ZVOX VoiceBuds are FDA Registered hearing devices and use American-made electronic components. They employ state-of-the-art hearing technology including their dual-microphone NoiseBlocker feature that is designed to reduce the volume of sounds coming from in back of you, while making voices in front of you more clear - ideal for noisy restaurants. Smartphone wireless app control lets you choose between four listening modes, change volume, bass or treble, and check battery status. A 10-layer noise reduction system reduces the sound of air conditioners and car engines. Traditional hearing aids that include all these features typically sell for $600 each or more. But VoiceBuds are $299.99 each and backed by a 60-day home trial. Nearly invisible when worn, VoiceBuds come in three colors and include 12 ear domes so you can match your ears perfectly.
Adero Intelligent Organization System - Say hello to Adero, the first intelligent organization system that turns any bag into a smart bag. Forget about forgetting - Adero organizes your essentials so they are always there, where and when you need them. Adero is calming the chaos of daily life - be it your commute to work, getting the kids out the door, or traveling for meetings - through enabling a series of Smart Tags and Taglets on your bags and essentials, to communicate with each other. Setting up Adero is simple. First, download the Adero mobile app. Then, just place a Smart Tag on any bag, and stick Taglets on the things you never want to leave behind, such as the baby wipes case, your passport, headphones or your laptop. Now your essentials are in constant communication with your smart bag, letting it know if they are all together. The Adero Starter Kit (3 Smart Tags, 3 Taglets, 1 Smart Tag Charger and loads of accessories like adhesive cases, keyrings and lanyards) will be available on 12/3 on Adero.com or Amazon.com and will cost $119.99. Additional packs of Smart Tags and Taglets are also available for purchase. For more information, visit: www.Adero.com.