Apple TV, GoPro, JBL Pulse, Amazon Kindle, Sphero, Jaybird headphones and other gadget gifts
You don’t need to be a geek to love some of this life-enhancing technology. There’s a Christmas gift here for everyone.
You don’t need to be a geek to love some of this life-enhancing technology. There’s a Christmas gift here for everyone.
Apple TV Set-Top Box. Steve Jobs once called the TV a “hobby,” but this year’s long-awaited refresh of Apple’s streaming device finally takes the future of TV seriously. A powerful new app store — including streaming video, games and other interactive programs — lays a foundation that might someday fully replace a cable TV subscription. The new remote control employs voice commands and a touchpad to provide the most natural smart-TV interaction you can find. From $269 at Apple.
Sonos Play: 5 Wireless Speaker. Sonos speakers replace wires with Wi-Fi and a hi-fi’s knobs with an app that plays songs throughout the house from streaming services or your MP3 collection. In our sonic showdown of 13 different competing wireless speaker systems, Sonos came out on top thanks to crisp audio, a powerful, intuitive app and support for the most music services (which, we’re told, will include Apple Music by the end of the year). Sonos just revamped its largest speaker, the Play: 5, stepping up audio quality even further. $749 from JB HiFi.
GoPro Hero4 Session Camera. GoPro’s newest is so small and easy to use, it’s the best way to capture whatever adventures life brings your way. Take more risks than you would with a smartphone or serious camera — wear it while skiing, hand it to a toddler or bring it to a pool party. The size of an ice cube, it’s waterproof without any extra casing. A fisheye lens won’t let you miss any action, and you start or stop recording with one button. Even better, the Session is now $100 less expensive than when it debuted. $448 from Harvey Norman.
Ring Connected Doorbell Camera. There are lots of internet-connected security cameras out there, but we love the Ring because it puts a camera where you could really use one: right inside your doorbell. Press the button, and Ring alerts an app on your phone with a live video feed of whoever is at your door, and lets you have an audio conversation with them. Ring can also record or alert you when there’s activity at your door even when nobody pressed the button. Ours actually caught someone trying to steal a package. $US200, ring.com (delivers to Australia).
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite. For the bookworm in your life, look no further than the Kindle Paperwhite. The benefits of digital and print reading combine in one ideal device: a high-resolution screen that’s readable indoors and out, a new easy-on-the-eyes font, eight weeks of battery life and the ability to store thousands of books. Considering a tablet instead? Just prepare to battle the terrible glare when you read in the sun, and all those pesky email and social media notifications that will disrupt your reading enjoyment. $189 from Dick Smith.
JBL Pulse 2 Light-Up Bluetooth Speaker. The JBL Pulse 2 adds pizzazz to the everyday portable Bluetooth speaker: an LED light show that moves to your music in styles ranging from lava lamp to fireflies. Not just a dorm-room attraction, it can also match its lights to colours in your home, thanks to a built-in sensor. Even better, the Pulse 2 is splash-proof, has 10 hours of battery life, and sounds as good as Bluetooth speakers that cost much more. $320 from Ehifi.
Epson ET-2550 EcoTank Printer. Really? A printer? You going to suggest a spare tire next? Seriously, the Epson ET-2550 is the printer every family should have. Unlike the hunk of plastic you currently own, which runs out of overpriced ink every time you need it most, EcoTank printers hold up to two years of the stuff. When you do run out, you refill it with more affordable ink. The catch? It’s pricier than other printers, but that’s because you don’t pay it off over time in ink refills. $499 from Epson.
Apple Watch Sport. Of all the smartwatches and activity trackers we tried this year, only the Apple Watch stuck to our wrists. It still isn’t for everyone, but for those interested in getting quick-glance smartphone notifications and tracking workouts and everyday activity, the Apple Watch Sport is the best smartwatch you can buy. Apple just sweetened the deal with a new rose gold Sport option (shown here) and a new selection of bands. Just remember: You’ll need an iPhone for it to work. From $499, apple.com.au.
Sphero BB-8 Star Wars Droid. BB-8, the rotund rolling sidekick in the upcoming Star Wars film, is a real-life droid you can take home. Made by robot-toy start-up Sphero, BB-8 takes commands via smartphone. You can also just yell things like “It’s a trap!” then watch him race away. The baseball-size BB-8 uses gyroscopes and motors to propel himself in all directions at up to 5 miles per hour, weaving and bobbing as his adorable head stays upright. It’s guaranteed to impress children of all ages.
Sphero, $249 from JB HiFi.
Parrot Bebop 2 Drone. Drones take jaw-dropping aerial photos and video, but these “flying lawnmowers” can be more than a little intimidating for newcomers. Parrot’s newest quadcopter, the Bebop 2, hits a sweet spot. It’s relatively safe and easy enough to control with only an app, and can stream drone’s-eye 1080p video to a phone or tablet. And this latest update tackles an age-old drone problem, doubling the flight time to a respectable 25 minutes with a bigger battery and more efficient motors. $799 from Parrot store.
Jaybird X2 Wireless Headphones. The days of looking like a marionette puppet while you run with wired earbuds are over. Jaybird’s sweat-proof X2 Bluetooth earbuds pair with your phone, then fit comfortably inside your ear, held snugly by a soft rubber brace. You can get eight hours of music playback before you have to recharge. Yes, that means you can listen to Adele’s new album eight times in a row. And you will, won’t you?
Jaybird X2 Wireless Headphones $229 from FitShop.
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