Gizmodo Gifts: Gadgets

Exchange Special: Garmin Nuvi 660

Travis Hudson — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:08:00 EST

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.

The Nuvi 660 has an extremely accurate GPS receiver, text-to-speech and will even keep an eye on the traffic. Bluetooth and a robust software suite are the cherries on top of this GPS sundae. The Nuvi 660 is available for $700. [Best Buy]

Flying Robot Revolution: WowWee FlyTech Dragonfly

Travis Hudson — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:50:14 EST

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]

Gifts for the Zany: LED Skin Therapy Brush

Travis Hudson — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:28:08 EST

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]

Nerf Sniper Rifle Proves Nerf Will Never Die

Travis Hudson — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:10:19 EST

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]

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

Travis Hudson — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 16:15:13 EST

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]

For the Chef With Everything: Temperature Detecting LED Faucet

Travis Hudson — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:25:23 EST

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]

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

Travis Hudson — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:45:19 EST

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]

Gifts for Secret Santa: Boba Fett Bobblehead

Travis Hudson — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:05:43 EST

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]

Not Just for Kids: Lego Mindstorms NXT Robot Kit

Travis Hudson — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 16:28:07 EST

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.

The starter kit includes the NXT processor, 4 servo motors, 577 Lego Technic blocks for creation and the NXT's computer software. The kit currently sells for $250 and is great for kids and adults. It can teach the kids about robotics and creativity, and it can just be a fun project for adults. [Buy][Product Page]

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

Travis Hudson — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:50:02 EST

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]

Next Generation Multitools: Leatherman Skeletool

Travis Hudson — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:05:29 EST

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]

Wine Thermometer Corkscrew Ensures Booze Perfection

Travis Hudson — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:20:48 EST

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]

Gifts for the Traveler: Burton Sleeper Hoodie

Travis Hudson — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:30:00 EST

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]

Tokyoflash Kyokusen is the Best Lookings, Most Confusing Watch

Travis Hudson — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:00:53 EST

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]

The Gift that Keeps Giving: USB Humping Dog

Travis Hudson — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:45:10 EST

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]

Clique Hue Funky HD Webcams

Travis Hudson — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:30:25 EST

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]

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

Travis Hudson — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 10:30:45 EST

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]

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

Travis Hudson — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:45:32 EST

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]

Brando USB Blender Alarm Clock isn't as Painful as it Seems

Travis Hudson — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:30:00 EST

Brando, the kings of all things quirky, has added this USB Blender Alarm Clock to its repertoire of unique gifts and gadgets. This small blender is full of balls that spin and rotate at the designated time. It also plays a fun and whimsical song to delightfully awaken the deepest slumberer. It can be powered by batteries or a USB port. Also, don't forget to abide by the recommended suggestion Do not open cover. Do not eat the ball. The alarm clock is available for $25. [Product page]

Krups TT6190 is the Poorly Named King of the Toasters

Travis Hudson — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST

Seriously, TT6190? Why not just call this the King Toaster because it is. This toaster from Krubs comes with a handy LCD display that shows cooking level and time remaining. This big, beautiful stainless steel toaster includes eight different toasting options including radical defrosting and more. It's only a shame that the only thing I will be toasting is my off-brand Pop-Tarts. It's available for $60. [Amazon]

Gigantic Swiss Army Knife may Fit in a Stocking

Travis Hudson — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:46:41 EST

The Leatherman-obsessed person will likely shat themselves upon gazing upon this ginormous Wenger Swiss Army Knife. This knife has 85 different features and is a bit more of a novelty than an actual hardware tool that could be easily whipped out of the pocket for when you spontaneously need a fish hook disgorger. What isn't very novelty is the $1,000 price tag. Oh well, that smirk on their face when they learn of their new golf shoe spike wrench and 84 other tools will make it all worth it.

Giant Swiss Army Knife [Thinkgeek]