Sometimes, Christmas gifts can be a little predictable, and for the technophile, boring as well. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. There’s a whole world of amazing technology out there just waiting to be discovered, and besides, there’s always your birthday.
USB Heating Gloves, $22: If you work outside, you know how important gloves are during Ohio’s unpredictable winters. If you have to use your fingers, though, you know how much of a pain gloves turn out to be. Not with USB powered heating gloves. These gloves contain a two level heating control and can be powered right from the USB port of a laptop or by a USB power device. The mitten style glove folds back to leave your fingers free for those dexterity intensive tasks. http://www.usbgeek.com/prod_detail.php?prod_id=0356
USB Powered Mug, $19.99: Speaking of USB and heat, keep your drink as warm as your hands with this USB powered, heated travel mug. The mug can plug in to a standard 12 volt car accessory outlet or a USB port and can warm its contents in 20 minutes via USB. http://www.smarthome.com/91309/12-Volt-USB-Heated-Travel-Mug-Red/p.aspx
Solio Magnesium Solar Charger, $170: Don’t want to carry your laptop around to power all your new USB goodness? Try the Solio Magnesium Solar Charger instead. The Magnesium boasts an 1800 milli-amp hour lithium ion battery that can be charged from a wall outlet, by USB or by using its built in solar panels. It will hold a charge for a year and can charge any device requiring 4 to 12 volts and up to 1.5 amps of power. http://www.solio.com/charger/solio-charger-magnesium.html
Eee PC T91, $500: Of course, no techno-road warrior is complete without a computer, but who wants to carry around a bulky, heavy laptop? Your problem is solved with the Eee PC T91 from Asus. This netbook is also a tablet PC and weighs in at a measly 2.2 pounds with a five hour battery life. http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=qdwslBLhhfuw43HS
Tooks Hats, various prices: If you’re going to be doing all of that work, you should listen to some tunes while you’re at it, right? Tooks offers a variety of hats with headphones built in. http://www.tookshats.com/product_page.htm
Voltaic Converter Solar Backpack, $199: Carry all your new gear in style and charge it at the same time with the Voltaic Converter Solar Backpack. This backpack can carry up to a 17 inch laptop while also charging devices like mp3 players and cell phones. http://www.voltaicsystems.com/bag_converter.shtml
Livescribe Pulse Smartpen, $150-$250: January means back to school, and that means it’s time to take notes. You could pull out the same old pen and paper, or you could pull out the Livescribe Pulse Smartpen. The Pulse records all of your writing as well as recording an audio file whenever you use it, meaning that you can have a written copy of your notes as well as an audio copy of your lecture. http://www.livescribe.com/smartpen/index.html
ScotteVest, various prices: Now that you have all of this stuff, where are you going to put it? You could cram it into a bag or backpack, or you could carry it in style in ScotteVest pocket clothing. ScotteVest offers travel clothing with up to 52 pockets, making the bag and backpack obsolete. http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/subindex-viewall.shtml
Vibram FiveFingers MOC, $110: You wear gloves on your hands, right? So why not your feet? Vibram offers an entire line of innovative foot glove footwear designed to make you feel like you’re barefoot while still having the protection of something covering your feet. http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_moc_m.cfm
Motorola H9 Bluetooth Headset, $150: Whether you want to play 007 or just avoid the look most Bluetooth headsets inevitably give, the Motorola H9 in-the-ear headset is the answer for you. This device functions like a normal headset, except that it fits comfortably in the ear and picks up your voice from your ear canal. http://direct.motorola.com/hellomoto/us/H9/
ExOfficio Travel Clothing, various prices: As a busy college student, you just might not have time to do proper laundry. That’s where travel clothing from ExOfficio comes in. Designed for worldwide adventure, this clothing is designed to be especially rugged and easily washed. Many items can be washed in a sink and air-dried. http://www.exofficio.com/default.aspx
Lumus Video Eye Ware, coming soon: Finally, who wants to mess with their smartphone as they walk or drive? What if you could see your screen through a cool pair of glasses? That’s where Lumus’s Video Eye Ware comes in. This system allows images from external sources to be projected into your field of view without compromising your ability to see. You can use blinks and eye movements to navigate the screen and even to dial numbers or navigate maps. http://www.lumus-optical.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9&Itemid=15