Archive for Gadget Gift Ideas

From A Remote Control To A Magic Wand

Kymera Magic Wand Remote Control

Kymera Magic Wand Remote Control


When I think of a magic wand I think of wizards, witches, fairies and magicians and casting magic spells. Just think what fun it would be to own a working wand and magic away life’s problems. Even better if you could make everything around you happy and turn anyone into a toad that tries to spoil things!

Unfortunately we don’t all get what we want in life, but with the way technology is progressing you never know. I can remember the days before microwaves and computers were invented, now I’m lost without a microwave and computers have become so important in my life that I need to own  a laptop as well as a desktop and now I’m thinking of a smaller netbook for travel.

I can remember when a 2 television household was something to brag about but owning 2 computers is quite normal in this day and age. Amazing when just 50 years ago most households didn’t even have a television and when they did it was black and white.

After the spread of televisions into most households and more channels came remote control
. They became popular because people were too lazy to get up and turn the television on, off or switch channels, though they advanced quickly from the original TV remote invented in 1952 which was called ‘Lazy Bones’.  That early remote was attached to the TV set with a long cable and a motor turned the tuner.

Then the Flash-o-matic was invented in 1955. It worked by aiming a flashlight at the 4 corners of your TV, each of which had a light sensitive cell and a different function. You could turn on, off, change channel and turn the sound up and down, but so could sunlight so that idea was scrapped.

In 1957 – and this was before Starwars – the Zenith ‘Space Command’ was invented. This was a wireless remote control that used ultrasonic waves to function. Trouble with that idea was that metal could also sometimes affect televisions. I honestly thought I had a ghost in my house at one point because my TV set kept switching itself on and off, and then I realised that it was my dog and the metal bits in her collar moving in front of the TV. Apparantly the high frequencies made dogs bark too but mine barked a lot anyway.

Another 20 years went by before the infrared remote control was invented and that was something else. A button for every function, in fact so many buttons that it can be quite a learning curve. Great, but somewhere along the way video recorders were invented and we lazy people needed a remote for that. Then digital boxes and video game consoles that you can use with your TV, then music centres with remotes.

WRC10209 Magic Wand / Universal Remote Control

WRC10209 Magic Wand / Universal Remote Control


That’s when it got really confusing. You enter any normal household and find several different remote controls waiting there to baffle you. I babysit my grandkids and when they ask me to turn the TV on or their games console I go blank. Which one is it I wonder as I peer at them all. Fortunately the 5 year old has a better idea than me.

Now I see they’ve invented magic wand remote controls. Swish them, tap them whatever and you can control anything that has a remote. So far they only have enough functions to control 2 devices but for me that’s enough!

With it being hard to find just right gifts for men I’m pretty sure that these magic wand remotes will be winners. Men love to control the television, enter any household and you usually see the remotes close to where the man of the house is sitting, that’s if they are not hidden so that nobody else can switch programmes. I’m going to get one for my son in law for next Christmas, can’t wait to see my grandkids faces when their dad performs some magic. Might even get one for myself, I love gadgets!

Get your own magic wand remote control at WRC10209 Magic Wand / Universal Remote Control

The Most Popular Digital Gadgets As Gifts

Digital Picture Frame

Motion Digital Picture Frame


Wherever you go, wherever you look, you probably will see a product of technology. Whether it is a local coffee shop with free Wi-Fi or the Best Buy with a kiosk to help customers browse through products and read product reviews, it seems that technology and all of its by-products are all around us. So it is no wonder that electronics and digital gadgets are in hot demand and are one of the most sought-after items when there are special occasions. Got a wedding or a birthday coming up? An electronic or digital gadget is sure to make the quest for the perfect gift easier! Read more

Gadgets For Men: Air Swimmers Are A Fun Gift Idea

If you are wondering about what gadget to get for a man’s gift in the run up to Christmas this year I thoroughly recommend the ‘Air Swimmer’. Mainly for men but kids love it too.

At first glance an Air Swimmer is a little bit surreal. Essentially you see a giant fish swimming in the air. Then you have the remote and you can control where it goes, or should I say, where it air swims next. This gadget or toy is bound to cause a reaction wherever it is used and your imagination starts flying too when you think of all the fun you can have with it.

It was recently shown on the Jonathan Ross Show where Wossy was weally enthusiastic about it as he braved the studio air conditioners making it swim around. I seem to remember something like the shark in a Doctor Who episode last year, but I suppose they are more fun than daleks.

Just to help along here are a few suggestions or ideas to spark off your own for where this can be used…

The air swimmer currently comes in two types, either as a clownfish or as a shark. I have a little girl who loves ‘Nemo’ and went immediately for the clownfish character and my son, who loves mischief as all young boys do, loves the shark. They really adore these toys and make them chase each other around the house. I think when the clownfish becomes Marlin, that’s Nemo’s dad, when he chases the shark and when it is the other way around Nemo is racing away from the Shark with the soundtrack of ‘Jaws’ being sung.

We could have waited for Christmas, a birthday party or some other occasion but these presents got opened early as we parents couldn’t wait to try them out. They have been set off in subways, on trains, at parties, at work and in the shopping centre and all look like they were great fun. How about being woken up in the morning by one of these floating above your bed?

Right now for the down sides, there are always down sides aren’t there? They need helium to float in the air, best to get a can or bottle of helium because they are quite large, not easily transportable if you are carrying it inflated from the Party shop. They should last at least a week fully inflated with helium. Also they really cannot be used outside, so please do not leave the door open. If one escapes on a windy day you have a few minutes of remote control contact before it gets whisked away by a gale, only to land much later in some confused owners garden patch miles away.

Other than that these toys, or gadgets are really great fun and are certainly one of the most surreal I have found.

Air Swimmer Clown Fish

Air Swimmer Shark

Buy An Ebook Reader A Great Gift Idea For Who?

Kindle
Every year it seems to get more difficult looking for great gift ideas for the family. You would think that with the advent of the Internet Christmas shopping would get easier now that you can sit in the comfort of your home, escaping wind rain and snow, the crowds, queues and persuasive sales people. Sit back in the warmth and browse the biggest store of all – the Internet.

Apart from those obvious pros you can also learn from real customer feedback on sites like Amazon whether or not the products are of decent quality and worth the money. Those customer reviews can help you to decide what the best buys are even if you decide to brave the elements and go out shopping once you decide what you are buying.

I was checking out gift ideas when I saw the Amazon Kindle and decided that it was the perfect gift for me this year – well if I can’t treat myself at Christmas when can I? There are lots of models of electronic book readers about now and their functionality is growing. It’s a perfect gift idea for me because I’ve been an avid reader for most of my life. Never a day goes by without me reading several chapters of the current thriller or adventure story.

Well that’s except for today. I finished my current novel this morning and didn’t have time to go into the town to change my library books or buy something to read. I thought that I had another unread book but I was wrong and now I’m getting would you believe it – withdrawel symptoms!

Seriously, I’m so lost without a book to read it’s like when I stopped smoking. Couldn’t relax, concentrate on anything and needed something to do with my hands. If I owned an ebook reader I could download something new to read whenever I wanted, or revisit some of my old favourites.

It’s a practical gift idea for myself really. I tend to read my book whenever I’m traveling by train, aeroplane, or longer bus journeys. I take a book to work to read on my lunch hour. If I don’t have anything to read I get bored for something to do and start back at work early and I really don’t like to do that.

When it’s sunny I like to sit in the park and read, or in my garden, or on the beach or round the pool when I’m holidaying abroad. Did you know that you can get anti glare screens so that you can read easily in the sunshine or bright lights? I read in the bath too but I’d best skip that unless I can get a waterproof cover for my electronic reader.

Going back to travelling, I’ve been known to weigh my luggage down by taking several books on a 2 week holiday. I took 6 into hospital with me when I was having an operation and expected to be in there a week. With this wonderful lightweight invention I can take thousands of books along with me on some models.

I didn’t know this but some models allow you to play audio books, play games, Tweet, download and listen to music and podcasts. The wonders of technology – I wonder what e-readers will be able to do in the future?

I think that I’m well and truly convinced that treating my self to an ebook reader for Christmas (or my birthday it’s sooner) is one of those great gift ideas.

P.S. I forgot to mention the green aspect – no carbon footprint!