Gadgets - Gizmodo Gifts

Exchange Special: Garmin Nuvi 660

One of the most under appreciated gifts is the GPS system. Paper maps are great, but nothing tops a little digital screen telling you where to go and how to get there. Not get one over the holidays? No worries. Take back all of the sweaters and and clothing for one of these, the Garmin Nuvi 660. more »

4:08 PM ON THU DEC 27 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
4,500 views, 16 comments

Flying Robot Revolution: WowWee FlyTech Dragonfly

In the same category of the enormously popular toy R/C helicopters is WowWee's FlyTech Dragonfly. Rather than a propeller, this guy flaps his wings furiously to fly around. It has a remote and can be controlled in two different modes — beginner and expert. Beginner is a good way to get a hang of flying the guy and expert allows for a wide variety of tricks and maneuvers to be performed. Be careful, though. This is liable to be one of those toys broken easily, especially with those darned rowdy kids. $42. [Best Buy]

12:50 PM ON MON DEC 17 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
1,891 views, 1 comment

Latest by strider_mt2k: I've flown these and they are pretty cool. They are unlike helicopters or fixed wing craft, and also need to be experienced. more »

Gifts for the Zany: LED Skin Therapy Brush

You know those crazy people who constantly call into psychics and believe in odd herbal and other farfetched remedies? Yeah, this is great for him or her. It is a LED light therapy wand for the skin. Supposedly you allow the LED light to emit onto your skin for 15 minutes per day to help acne, aging or hyperpigmentation. It supposedly works with frequencies that increases tissue grown and other nonsense. They will love it, you will enjoy many many laughs. It is kind of like a gag gift, but not. $225. [Product Page]

12:28 PM ON WED DEC 12 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
373 views, 1 comment

Latest by n/a: well, actually...I don't know about the aging, or hyperpigmentation, but acne has a bacterial component to it + ultraviolet light kills bacteria (by destroying it's DNA...same reason you get skin cancer ;)) so if some of those are ultraviolet LEDs... ... more »

Nerf Sniper Rifle Proves Nerf Will Never Die

In an age where toy guns are getting banned left and right because of security and other concerns, Nerf is still going strong. Its latest addition is the CS-6 N-Strike Longshot, or a Nerf sniper rifle. It is available for $30. Man, Nerf toys have just gotten cooler and cooler over the years — it's a damn shame I had to grow up and no longer be eligible for Nerf toys during the holidays. [Product Page]

10:10 AM ON MON DEC 10 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
5,488 views, 7 comments

TomTom ONE XL Will Get You To Grandmas in a Timely Manner this Year

In case you don't remember where your family lives this holiday season, you could ask for a TomTom ONE XL. This device has a gigantic 4.3-inch LCD screen. It also obviously includes TomTom's mapping software, that is a personal favorite of mine. Slap one of these on your windshield and you will be one heck of a hip and trendy driver and be able to find your way around, easily. It is available for $250. [Product Page]

4:15 PM ON SAT DEC 8 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
3,240 views, 10 comments

Latest by NotMe: My TomTom One XL had instances where satellite strength dropped to zero suddenly in wide open spaces with no obstructions. This happened about four or five times, and took up to an hour to acquire satellites again. Last time it happened, more »

For the Chef With Everything: Temperature Detecting LED Faucet

Chef or cook in your life have everything in the kitchen? Probably not this. This dishwasher adapter can detect the temperature of the water — 89 degrees or more will provide a red LED, less than that provides blue. There isn't a lot of practicality with a device like this, but it sure will make that kitchen pop a little more and at $20, you can't go wrong. Check out our review here. [Product Page]

4:25 PM ON THU DEC 6 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
5,543 views, 16 comments

Pocket R/C Helicopters is the Toy to have for All Ages

Asking for R/C cars and other vehicles is no longer limited to children. The latest trend this year in remote control toys are the miniature helicopters. These tiny copters can fly around anywhere easily tormenting people and pets. A variety of companies make these type of helicopters, but they are all fundamentally the same and usually sell in the $20 to $30 range. [Product Page]

1:45 PM ON THU DEC 6 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
7,270 views, 27 comments

Gifts for Secret Santa: Boba Fett Bobblehead

So you drew the IT guy in your office's secret santa? It's not as hard of a task as you would imagine. Nothing was better for the bobblehead business than when Dwight Schrute took the bobblehead out of its natural automobile environment and into the office environment. This Bounty Hunter Bobbler would be loved by any Star Wars fan, especially given the unique and distinct Boba Fett head, which is enlarged, bobbly. This bobbler is available from ThinkGeek for $12.99 — plenty below the $20 secret santa price limit. [ Product Page]

12:05 PM ON MON DEC 3 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
1,665 views, 4 comments

Latest by tcolberg: Agh. I love the stuff at ThinkGeek, but their shipping rates are killer. more »

Not Just for Kids: Lego Mindstorms NXT Robot Kit

We're no stranger to Lego Mindstorms NXT around these parts, and it should be included in every gift guide for the next decade (unless of course a next generation Mindstorms Nanobot set comes out). Mindstorms NXT takes traditional Legos and brings it to life with the NXT, a Bluetooth- compatible, computer-controlled and programmable brain. You can build completely customized robots and devices capable of accomplishing tasks and doing other things automatically. The NXT can link up with touch, sound, light and ultrasonic sensors as well as servo motors. If you're still confused about the NXT, check out all of our past coverage of Mindstorms NXT projects here and here. more »

4:28 PM ON SAT DEC 1 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
6,092 views, 10 comments

Latest by war6763: The motors are also larger because they're not your average DC motor, they're stepper motors that can actually count steps and sense it's exact degree while spinning!! The cables are much easier to replace, make and are a lot tougher!! more »

Dremel Duo Li-Ion Duo is a Necessity for Any DIY'er

Dremel's latest duo of tools is the perfect companion for that aspiring or veteran DIY'er always looking at the next project to be done. The first is a 7.2V driver. Nothing too special, just a small, powerful driver. It's companion is Dremel's world-reknown stylus tool. The Dremel Stylus is all about precision, control and power. This multitool can do it all. It can do so much I'm without a proper way to name the action it performs. Maybe like a combination of a dentist drill and a sander (thanks Chazz)? The combo has a nice charging and accessory cradle and goes for $100. [Product Page]

1:50 PM ON THU NOV 29 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
365 views, Comment

Next Generation Multitools: Leatherman Skeletool

Leatherman has been at it for years making knives, multitools and other accessories, but its latest creation, the Skeletool, blows all of the previous out of the water. This diddy includes needle nose pliers, regular pliers, wire cutters, serrated blade, bottle opener, carabiner and a universal drill bit. All of the holes throughout the Skeletool were made to lighten the device, in addition to increasing the sexiness. $80. [Product Page]

3:05 PM ON WED NOV 28 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
685 views, 1 comment

Wine Thermometer Corkscrew Ensures Booze Perfection

Any bum can drill a screw into a cork and use a pair of pliers to pull out said cork when a corkscrew is nowhere to be found — that won't make you a wine expert or connoisseur of the red or white. With a gadget like this, that so-called wine expert will finally get a little assistance in winery. This device uses infrared to calculate the temperature of the wine for a perfectly served glass. It also include a corkscrew, bottle opener and other goods. $100. [Product Page]

5:20 PM ON TUE NOV 27 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
73 views, Comment

Gifts for the Traveler: Burton Sleeper Hoodie

Burton's Sleeper Hoodie includes enough hidden accessories to make any traveler glee with joy. This may look like a hoodie on the outside, but inside there is umpteen number of pockets for MP3 players, passports, tickets and more. The actual hood includes earplugs, a blow up neck pillow and a sleeping mask. The sleeves also have thumbholes in the cuffs for hand warmth. Seriously, there aren't many more hoodies that look as convenient or comfortable. It is available for $100. [Burton Sleeper Hoodie]

12:30 PM ON TUE NOV 27 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
1,526 views, Comment

gadgets

Tokyoflash Kyokusen is the Best Lookings, Most Confusing Watch

Tokyoflash is easily the most unique and confusing watch manufacturer out there, which makes its watches the perfect candidate for one heck of a gift. The Kyokusen is one of the latest models available from Tokyoflash and my design eye would also suggest that it is the most beautiful. Of course it has a complex way of reading time, in traditional Tokyoflash fashion, but that's alright, learning curves only make you stronger. This watch is in a variety of colors and available for $120. [Product Page]

2:00 PM ON WED NOV 21 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
422 views, Comment

gadgets

The Gift that Keeps Giving: USB Humping Dog

We hold this gadget near and dear to our hearts and it would be the perfect stocking stuffer for that bestiality fiend in your life. The dog has no real purpose — no flash memory, no other goods — it just humps the heck out of anything that it is plugged into. Let the hilarity ensue! It is available for $10 at Thinkgeek. [Product Page]

4:45 PM ON MON NOV 19 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
533 views, Comment

gadgets

Clique Hue Funky HD Webcams

What happened to the day when a webcam was a little spherical device that sat on a triangular base? It was simple and efficient. Now there are webcams like the Clique Hue HD webcam that are not only fun and colorful, but also very functional with HD-level resolutions. The bendable neck could be pretty useful for those hard to capture places and the colors are great for matching any wallpaper (real, not digital). The Clique Hue HD webcam is available for $80. [Product Page]

2:30 PM ON FRI NOV 16 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
97 views, Comment

gadgets

iRobot 500 Series Roomba is the Smartest (and first) Vacuuming Robot Ever

The Roomba series of vacuuming robots have been making friends for years and the latest update to the series revolutionizes robot vacuums worldwide. The 500 series is the first line of Roombas to include a vacuum, rather than just a spinning sweeper. The 500 series is outfitted with a more advanced sensor system for detecting dirt and will probably ensure that you will never have to push around a vacuum again, as well as giving your pet cat an enemy for life. There are three different models available — the 510, 530 and 560 — and prices begin at $250. For more information check out our very extensive guide and review here. [Product Page]

10:30 AM ON FRI NOV 16 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
119 views, Comment

gadgets

Chess Teacher Helps Kids Learn the Game, So They Can Forget it Later

The Chess Teacher is a chess set that will teach kids (and adults) the game. Ideally with the goal of increasing brain power and giving yourself a new chess buddy to repeatedly beat into an oblivion. Each chess piece is marked with the name of the piece, the number of squares it can travel and the directions it can travel. That's really the basics of chess — you can't easily teach strategy, so this is a good start. The set is available for $18. [Product Page]

1:45 PM ON THU NOV 15 2007
BY TRAVIS HUDSON
108 views, 1 comment

Latest by mferrari: this isn't new i got one of these when I was five & used it less than twice. more »