EDGE Holiday Gift Guide :: Dads
iMusic anywhere!
One of our favorites in the gadgets category this year are the Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Speakers, which allow you to listen to music in every room of your home, from basement to attic, even the deck or backyard. We tried them out with an iPod and standard home theatre system and were impressed with the sound from both. Of course they’re not going to replace the high-end speakers in your living room, but they’re perfect for those times when dad’s working in the basement or garage, or decides to light-up the grill on the back deck and wants to bring the music with him.
The base transmitter is powerful enough to send music through walls and floors, to the dual splash-resistant speakers up to 150-feet away. Simply plug the base into your iPod, MP3 player, computer, cell phone, boom box, or stereo system and you’re good to go!
About $100 at Kohl’s and JCPenney, and at Amazon.com![""]("http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=quelquechosec-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001KVMLPK")
TV on your computer
Now that most people have replaced their home phones with cell phones, it’s time to move on to the next digital replacement- small TVs. Of course we’re not advocating for anyone to get rid of your main TV- hopefully a flat screen LCD or plasma- but having a TV in your office, kitchen, or bedroom is so last year. Instead, get dad an Encore USB TV Tuner Pro so he can watch his favorite shows right on his computer.
The Encore Pro turns any computer (with a high-speed connection) into a digital television, allowing you to watch digital programming on-screen. You can then use your computer like TiVo, to record and pause your favorite shows, skip commercials, and watch in slow-mo. You can even pre-schedule recording of your favorite shows. Encore supports most standard inputs, including cable, DVD players (both PAL and NTSC), and camcorders, and then save captured video in most common formats to watch later. As an added bonus supports Netmeeting, so dad can use it for video conferring and chatting with the kids and grandkids as well.
If dad likes to be on the computer now, just wait until he can be emailing and writing reports while watching his favorite show at the same time. Available at Amazon.com![""]("http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=quelquechosec-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000Q5WFG6")
Bluetooth on steroids
If you dad works from home, has a large office, or likes to wander around the yard, house, or wherever while talking on the phone, the Dragon V2 from Callpod might be right up his alley. With a much better range than normal Bluetooth earpieces, dad will be able to walk away from his desk- even walk around the house- and still stay connected to his calls.
Thanks to serious Bluetooth strength, the Dragon allows you to go 10-times further from your phone, computer, or other Bluetooth-enabled communications device- up to 100 meters or more! It also features Dual-Mic Noise Suppression Technology, which cuts down on background noise and ensures your calls are crystal clear. The Dragon V2 also has one other unique feature: put two of them together and you can use them for 2-way radio communications! (If dad’s into spy movies, this might put him over the edge.)
We loved the ability to take phone calls from anywhere in the office and around the house while leaving our phone in one place- something impossible with any other Bluetooth earpiece we’ve tested. It’s easy to transfer between calls- even between your cell phone and Skype- and the earpiece is both comfortable and good looking. Basically an all-around winner!
Available for about $100 at electronics stores and online at www.Callpod.com and Amazon.com![""]("https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=quelquechosec-20&l=ur2&o=1")
And if dad’s DVD player’s still flashing "12:00"...
If your dad’s a bit tech challenged and can’t figure out how to set the time on his DVD player- let alone setup Skype or download photos from his phone- consider getting him the gift of 24/7 support. PlumChoice provides safe, reliable support for MP3 players, digital cameras, iPods, PCs, and more, right over the internet. Virtual operators can help set up dad’s new electronics, teach him how to view, save, and print pictures, or walk him through standard email. Their technicians are available 24 hours a day for training and technical support- which means no more 7am phone calls to you asking how to download a new Sudoku puzzle.
Single services start at $30 (Photo Basics), monthly plans start at $25. For more info, go to www.PlumChoice.com
Suspense
If your dad’s a "murder mystery" kind of guy, nothing can beat Hitchcock. Luckily for you, when it comes to picking Hitchcock, this year the choice is easy: The Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection.
Packed with eight master works from the father of suspense, this new collection features some of the director’s best- but not necessarily best known- films, including Sabotage, Rebecca, The Paradine Case, and five more. The set also includes tons of featurettes, radio plays, galleries, trailers, and commentary tracks that will keep dad busy- and happy- for weeks.
Available wherever DVDs are sold and at Amazon.com![""]("http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=quelquechosec-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001D8W7EA")
