10 Best Affordable Tech Gift Ideas
Christmas is coming up quick. You may still have some last minute gifts to get for your “hard to buy for” friends and family. Here are ten of the best tech gifts of 2019 that are affordable and might make them happy.
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Cable Straps
These are super helpful at keeping cords from getting tangled. These would be perfect for anyone who is always carrying around headphones (and always taking 3 minutes to untangle them after having them in their pocket), or anyone who carries around a phone or laptop charger everywhere they go.
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Wireless Headphones
Rather than keeping wires untangled, why not just get rid of them? Wireless headphones are increasing in popularity due to Apple removing the headphone jack from its iPhone. If you don’t want to spend $160 for Apple’s Airpods, you could get your loved one these headphones for just $30! These would also be perfect for any gym-junkie or runners you may know.
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Lens Kit
Expand the capabilities of almost any smartphone camera with these clip-on lenses. This is perfect for the person who dedicates 90% of their
phone storage to pictures. They can spice up their social media and take professional-looking pictures without needing a big camera. -
Portable Charger
Good for heavy users, this portable power bank claims to be able to hold 3 and a half times the charge of an iPhone 8. This is a good backup plan to keep your phone charged in the case of a power outage or anything like that. Anyone who travels a lot may find good uses for this as well.
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Virtual Reality Headset
Turn almost any phone into an immersive virtual world experience with this headset. Compatible with smartphones ranging in size from 4.0 to 6.3 inches, this is a good gift for mobile gamers. A remote control is also included to enhance the gaming or video viewing experience.
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Fire HD 8 Tablet
This tablet is good for anyone in search of casual browsing and/or reading, and even some light mobile gaming. It’s also only $50 right now. With this device, you can efficiently do all the essentials for a fraction of the price of other tablets. If you have a kid and you’re looking to invest in an electronic device to keep them occupied, Amazon’s Fire 7 Kids Edition is a fantastic option.
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Bluetooth Tracker
Do you know somebody who is always losing their keys or phone? Or someone who is paranoid of forgetting their purse somewhere? Firstly, This tracker connects to your phone via Bluetooth. Through the app, you can locate the tracker on a map, and if it disconnects from your phone, you will be alerted. Secondly, you can use the tracker itself to locate a misplaced phone and make it ring.
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Amazon Echo Dot
Right now, you can snag the 2nd generation Echo Dot for $20. Amazon describes the Dot as “a voice-controlled speaker that uses Alexa to play music, control smart home devices, make calls, answer questions, set timers and alarms, and more.” These things are nice when you’re cleaning the house or having a get together, or when you just don’t feel like moving from the couch.
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SN30 Gamepad
Bust out the nostalgia cannon with this one. This controller mimics that of the SNES and adds analog sticks and rear buttons. It is completely compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, Steam, and even the Nintendo Switch. Make any classic gamer’s Christmas with this gift.
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Dash Cam
Having a dash cam can seriously save you in tough situations. If an accident happens that isn’t your fault, this thing will have your back. On top of that, it can also monitor your car when it is parked and off. It will sense motion and begin recording if anyone or anything moves within view of the 170° camera lens.
Technology for Christmas
‘Tis the Season to be Jolly and show how festive technology can be. Technology certainly does not ignore the fact that billions of people are celebrating the Holidays. Christmas cheer is being spread within mobile apps, Websites, and Blogs. Even Christmas decorations are redesigned using technology. Also, Google has done a lot to show their holiday cheer this year. Check out some of the ways you can enjoy all this festive technology for Christmas.
Mobile Applications
Did you know that Christmas is also the unofficial Developers App Day?
According to Flurry, 328 million apps were downloaded on Christmas Day last year in the United States. This is not too surprising though. With mobile devices being one of the most popular gifts to give during the holiday season, it is only natural that people will be downloading apps, often sharing them with friends and family.
App developers work tirelessly leading up to the holiday season. This past September, developers were already hard at work polishing their apps for the Christmas rush. Some developers have even added exclusive seasonal content.
App Icon Festive Dress up
I’m sure you have noticed your mobile apps updating their icons to something festive for the Holidays. This is one way app developers celebrate the season.
Here are some popular apps showing off their holiday spirit with a festive new icon:
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Photos from: itunes.apple.com/ and play.google.com/
Top Christmas Apps this Season
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Interactive storybook narrated by Peter Robbins (the original Charlie Brown voice).
NORAD Tracks Santa
Apple and Android Free
Track Santa throughout the world and see what he is doing and how you can help him.
Christmas Story Books
Apple and Android Free
Collections of Christmas stories such as “A Christmas Carol” and “Twas the Night Before Christmas”.
ElfYourself
Android Free with extras to buy
Turn your friends and family into elves and make them dance to a Christmas song.
Talking Santa
Apple and Android Free
Talk to an animated Santa. Tap the screen to make him respond in various ways.
Christmas Radio
Apple Free
Choose from 50 unique Christmas-themed Internet radio stations.
Websites and Blogs
Make your Website Festive
Use WordPress Plugins – Add things easily to your WordPress Site such as Advent Calendars, Countdowns, Holiday Popup Messages, and Christmas animated images to spruce up your website for the holidays.
Don’t have WordPress? Use these ideas to add extra flair to your site with some simple code.
Creating a Landing Page – Create a temporary landing page for your site as just a way to wish happy holidays or to highlight a promotion on your site. Make it easy to to dismiss so your visitors don’t get frustrated trying to bypass it.
Make a Festive Logo – Take your signature Logo and dress it up to make it festive. Use Photoshop, Gimp, or just hand it off to your graphic designer. It does not need to be a big change, just some extra flair your customers will notice.
Don’t Forget Your Social Media – Take all of what you have done and incorporate it into your social media. Change your profile picture to your the festive logo. Change your cover photo to a matching image. Then send out a post telling your followers to check out the changes you made to get more attention and clicks to your website.
Christmas Lighting
Technology Controls Christmas Lights
The new thing is to make a light show on your house with your Christmas Lights. Control when the lights turn on and off and even coordinate it with music. You can do this using computer software or even a smartphone app.
LumenPlay
For the Advanced create a light show using Raspberry Pi
Check out the DIY instructions
How Google Celebrates the Holidays
This year Google has been showing off their holiday spirit with Christmas logos, a Santa Tracker app, and more.
- This holiday season, Google is celebrating with new, festive logos:
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 Winter Solstice December 22 |
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- Google is also famous for hiding Easter eggs depending on what you search. To celebrate the holidays they created Easter eggs if you type “Christmas“, “Kwanzaa“, and “Hanukkah“
- Santa Tracker – You can play on your phone or on your desktop. Play Christmas related Games and Learn about Christmas too.
- Google Spotlight Stories Presents: Special Delivery
- A company named Boston Dynamics, with Google X, used their tech skills to create robotic reindeer to pull a sleigh.
