It ’s that time of year again ! With the holidays just around the corner , now ’s a corking time to starting suppose ofgift ideasfor the dad , swain , hubby , son or other male person in your life . And there ’s no unspoiled way to a man ’s heart than through applied science .
luckily , there ’s never been a better time to be a gadget guy . From smartphones to video game bundles to 3 - D TVs , there ’s something on this listing that should suit everyone . Take a spirit and see our weft of the 10 best convenience giving ideas for hands in 2011 .
10: iPhone 4S
It ’s not hyperbole to say that the latestiPhoneis the best smartphone currently on the market . The latest model build on the strengths of previous iPhones and add several newfangled , exciting feature to Apple ’s Io .
First , there ’s the much - talked about ( and talked - to ) Siri , an app that performs Web searches , write text substance , creates calendar point and can execute many other tasks through voice control . Siri has been praised in tech blogs and publications for its ( her ? ) simplicity of use and understanding of human speech ; it works advantageously when you talk to it in using normal , colloquial countersign .
The 4S also packs what is arguably the unspoilt headphone camera on the market , one that puts point - and - inject and handheld video cameras to ignominy . It shoots 1080p , 30 - frame - per - endorsement HD video and incredibly high - quality still photos . The camera procedure can now be access from the whorl screen so it ’s easy than ever to use [ generator : Gizmodo ] .
What else ? Well , there’siCloud , which syncs your phone ’s music and app purchases with other computer wirelessly , piss hooking the iPhone up to your Mac or PC a thing of the past . No technical school - savvy guy can go wrong with the iPhone 4S as a natural endowment .
Next up , we ’ll take a look at a corking gift for the gamer .
9: PS3 Bundle
When someone sees the burnished , blackPlayStation 3 in your bread and butter room , they might ask , " What does it do ? " A good question might be , " What does n’t it do ? "
The current PS3 does n’t just play video game . It playsBlu - Rayand DVD films , has establish - in WiFi , include a powerful hard driving , stream picture show from Netflix in HD , has its own Web web browser , and include the online gaming service called the PlayStation connection [ source : CNET ] .
Right in time for the holidays , there are a variety of new bundles available that box the PS3 with several games or accessories . The PlayStation Move Bundle includes a particular controller and camera that tracks your movement in 3 - D outer space and have you use your torso to become part of the biz .
Plus , it ’s great clock time to induct in a PS3 console with several hot new games that get in fourth dimension for the holiday time of year , like Call of Duty : Modern Warfare 3 and Arkham City .
Next up : If you ’re more into reading and watching movies on the go than gaming , check out the hottest new tablet from Amazon .
8: Amazon Kindle Fire
The of late free Kindle Fire does have books – as well as movie , TV shows , music , games , apps and magazines . If you’re able to get on Amazon.com , you’re able to put it on this tab . It has a dual - core central processor with either 512 MB or 1 GB of space , and while that ’s not as plentiful as some other pad , the Fire has free memory access to Amazon ’s massive cloud for all your store pauperization .
The Android - based pad of paper also packs an acclaimed " Silk " WWW web browser app which practice the Amazon cloud to make web pages load very quickly [ root : Amazon ] .
The best part ? It ’s only $ 199 , making it $ 50 less than the Barnes and Noble Nook Color and more than one-half as expensive as the Apple iPad 2 .
Next up , let ’s look at an innovative way to play games on the iPad .
7: iCade Arcade Cabinet
Maybe the guy in your life is n’t a huge fan of modernvideo game . Here ’s a great way for the retro gamer to get their filling of Graeco-Roman colonnade games on their iPad .
The iCade depend like an colonnade cabinet from the 1970s or ' 80s , complete with ajoystickand an array of buttons . rather of a screen , however , it has a slot where you insert the iPad . Once you download the Atari ’s Greatest Hits app , you’re able to utilize it to play over 100 classic games like Asteroids , Missile Command and Centipede – they way they were meant to be played .
In addition , many iOS biz developers are create new games with support for the iCade , so there ’s much to more to toy than just Atari plot . The iCade takes iPad play to a whole new grade [ source : ThinkGeek ] .
Next up – you ’ve probably see a lot of 3 - 500 movies lately . Why not put a 3 - D TV in your living room ?
6: 3-D TV
Many of us were ball up away by the 3 - D optic effect of " Avatar " when we saw it in theaters . Now , that same experience is headed to yourhome theater . Three - D is believe by many to be the " next bounteous affair " in visual entertainment , so a 3 - D - capable television is a great gift idea this season .
Three - D TVscan derive with either special methamphetamine like you get in the theatre , known as " passive 3 - D , " or they can include battery - powered liquid watch crystal shutters that generate the 3 - D effect – this is call " active 3 - D. " combat-ready 3 - cholecalciferol was the most common eccentric when these TVs launched last year , but latterly inactive 3 - five hundred TVs are more rough-cut . Passive methamphetamine are less expensive as well , but the quality is n’t quite as a good [ source : CNET ] .
It ’s important to note that 3 - D has n’t become mainstream quite yet . Three - D Blu - Ray DVDs are rare and 3 - D goggle box channels are even rarer . However , 3 - D video game are catching on promptly , so a idiot box that can handle those effects might be great for gamers . Right now , it ’s estimable to suppose of 3 - 500 as just one of the many feature of speech offered on a modernistic television receiver , not as the principal reason to buy a new set . Still , take in a 3 - D idiot box think of you ’ll be ready for the exciting raw features that might be usable in the nigh future .
Next up , we ’ll look at one of the most revolutionary camera ever uprise .
5: Lytro Light-field Camera
The tiny Lytro tv camera may not look like much , but some people say it ’s a picture taking gyration . The small , orthogonal twist is adigital camerathat photographs the entire line of business of light around an physical object .
This think of two thing : First , the Lytro does n’t involve to focus before it occupy a picture . Second , the figure of speech can be edited and focused and refocus over and over again using particular software package . Almost every pixel of the image is in focus , so the user can take what part they want to highlight [ reservoir : PC Mag ] .
The Lytro was just late announced , and it wo n’t be deliver until early 2012 . But it ’s a great idea for the husband , daddy , brother or beau who ’s also a shutterbug . The Lytro ’s ability to take " living pictures " represents an amazing footprint forward in the field ofphotography .
Next : While you may not be able to buy a fresh cable car for your favourite fella , you’re able to aid him make his car faster .
4: Engine Reflash
In the old days of automobiles , bring more horsepower to a car stand for hours or even mean solar day of study under the hood , carefully put in new parts and produce sure everything form right . Not anymore ! Now , more office and torque can be contribute to just about any engine by modifying the engine computer , or ECU , in some way .
Electronic locomotive engine tuning often involve adjusting factors like the aviation / fuel ratio , throttle response , RPM redlines , budge points on automatic transmissions and even advance pressure from turbochargers .
One of the most pop engine tuning companies is APR , which specializes in Volkswagen and Audi vehicle , peculiarly unity with turbocharged engine . For example , APR says one of their reflashes can add about 20 horsepower and 50 pound - feet of torsion to an Audi A4 sedan with the 2.0 - liter engine . A few hundred dollars spent on electronic tuning can give the same power that 1000 of dollars in locomotive parts might buy [ source : APR ] .
Many companies offer electronic tunes for different vehicles , so shop around to see what ’s offered for your guy rope ’s drive . Some of them are done at a dealer , while others work through a machine that punch into the engine immediately .
In the next section , we ’ll bet at a great and cheap fashion to add together streaming video to your TV .
3: Roku
These days , it seems like theInternethas almost made traditional line television obsolete . There are so many nifty cyclosis show on sites like Hulu andNetflixthat not having cable is n’t a great deal any longer as long as you have a solid Internet connexion . The Roku presents a great room to bridge the world of TV and Internet .
The Roku is a little , box - like gadget that fits in the thenar of your hand . It plugs into your tv set through an HDMI cable and has memory access to WiFi Internet . From there , you make a Roku account , and then you’re able to access over 200 streaming channel , admit HBO , Amazon Instant and Pandora . Some premium duct like HBO and devote - per - view command use of a credit scorecard . The box also does news program and mutation on demand , and include the hit mobile biz Angry Birds [ source : CNET ] .
The Roku is one of the best digital medium receivers available , and it ’s half as expensive and has more features than Apple TV . This may be the time to come of television .
Next up , we ’ll look at a great gadget for the beer lover .
2: Krups and Heineken BeerTender
Who does n’t love beer ? Here ’s a expectant gadget gift estimation for the man who really , really lovesbeer .
The BeerTender from Krups is a storage unit and icebox for beer with a hydrant that makes sure the beer tastes the way it is mean to taste . Designed to work with beers that use the Heineken DraughtKeg , the BeerTender go on the beer at an optimum 37.4 degrees F ( 3 degrees C ) so that it tastes snappy and has just the right amount of head .
But wait , there ’s more ! The BeerTender release CO2 every time the tap is used to ensure novelty for up to 30 days . It also has anLCDdisplay that keeps track of current beer bulk and has three temperature context [ reservoir : Kegerators ] .
If you ’re a lover of the Heineken mini - kegs , which also offer Newcastle Brown Ale , then the BeerTender is a must - have item for your house bar .
Next up , we have what may just be the ultimate remote control .
1: Logitech Harmony 650 Remote Control
What do you get when you have aDVDplayer , a BluRay player , a house dramaturgy system , a cable or DVR box , and a flat - screen TV ? Besides a big viewing experience , you get a whole lot of remote control , that ’s what .
Logitech ’s Harmony 650universal remote controlseeks to work out that job . Rather than give scores of different outback controls lying around , a individual Logitech remote can operate up to five devices . That ’s more than enough for most kinsfolk .
The remote control support more than 5,000 brands of appliances and can be go down up using your computer through a USB cable . It even has its own LCD screenland to exhibit all useable control . The Logitech has been praise as one of most light - to - utilize world-wide remote on the market , and comes at a decent price as well [ source : Best Buy ] .
Next fourth dimension you and dad watch a pic , this will make things much simpler .
