Best Graduation Gifts for Gadget Lovers

Okay, the kid finally made it through school. Graduating high school is a wonderful accomplishment. Praise your kid by giving gifts that he’ll cherish forever. It took a lot of effort, not to mention money, to get him or her through the ordeal. Unfortunately it may have taken more money than you planned and now there isn’t much left for a gift. Here are some recommendations for today's generation of gadget savvy grads that will save you enough money to pay for the gas to get to the ceremony.

Earbuds for MP3 Players
Skullcandy earbuds have a high cool factor and only cost around $25. Earpollution D33 Earbuds are also cool, they come in colors and are even cheaper at $19.95. Sennheiser CX300-B earbuds get good marks for audio quality and cost just under $50.

USB Flash Drives
USB Flash drives can come in handy for the high school grad going off to college or a college grad heading into the real world. They can be used for backing up documents or transporting files to and from the library. You can get an 8 GB drive like the Kingston DT1000/8GB for around $30 or the SanDisk 8 GB Cruzer for just under $50. Many 4 GB drives go for even less at around $20.

Bluetooth Headsets
A Bluetooth headset is not only a practical and economical gift, it could just keep someone from getting a ticket. Many states now have laws that make it illegal to talk on a phone while driving without using a hands-free device like a Bluetooth headset. You can even go a step further and get a stereo Bluetooth headset that makes it possible to listen to music in stereo on your phone or MP3 player. The Plantronics Voyager 510 is a popular Bluetooth headset that gets high marks from users. It costs around just under $50. The Motorola HT820 is a stereo headset that costs around $40.

Keychain Photo Frames
Load up a keychain photo frame with pictures of the family and you'll have a nice personalized gift for around $29.

Gift Cards for Gadgets
For more flexibility, consider a $50 gift card from someplace like Amazon or BestBuy.

7 Ways To Avoid Getting Pulled Over While Driving

Just like they say don’t mix drinking and driving, now it’s about the cell phone. No wonder, it isn’t safe to be answering calls or texting a message while driving, but with a handsfree, you can however be on the safer side.

On July 1st, 2008, California will join many other states that restrict cell phone use while driving. California's new law says that if you’re over 18, you can only talk and drive "handsfree." If you’re under 18, you can’t talk on a cell phone at all while driving. If you’re caught, the first offense will cost you $20 but won't add points to your license. The law is intended to save lives and make the roads safer however, you have to wonder how many additional accidents will result from adults and teenagers resorting to texting since texting is still legal while driving.

Here are some recommendations for going handsfree in your car:

1. Buy a Car With a Bluetooth Connection.
Many cars both foreign and domestic offer Bluetooth connectivity. Usually the sound comes through the car speakers (interrupting the stereo when a call takes place) while microphones placed in the headliner or dashboard pick up your voice. Currently over 30 brands of cars offer Bluetooth including Toyota, Lexus, Audi, Dodge and Land Rover. Many manufacturers make Bluetooth available as an option like Chrysler's UConnect or Audi's HandsFreeLink.

A lot of systems allow you to download your contact list and then use voice commands to dial the number by saying a name. Many high end models like those from Lexus, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Jaguar incorporate Bluetooth into their navigation systems that also work with voice commands. Microsoft SYNC available in many American made cars like Ford and Buick uses text to speech technology to read text messages to you and voice recognition that allows you to make calls and control your music players.

2.Buy a Bluetooth Car Kit
If you're not in the market for a new car and are happy with your non-Bluetooth enabled car then maybe you should consider an aftermarket car kit. Some require professional installation, while others you can install yourself with a plug that goes to your cigarette lighter. You can get a basic Bluetooth car kit like the Motorola B 89170N T305 hands-free speaker phone for around $50. A more advanced one like the Nokia CK-7W Advanced Car Kit comes with a small remote that you can Velcro someplace close to the steering wheel. It sells for around $125. The Motorola HF850 Deluxe Bluetooth Car Kit costs a little over $200 and gets high marks for sound quality, ease of use and design.

3. Buy a New Car Stereo with Bluetooth
After market car stereo manufacturers are starting to offer Bluetooth capabilities. Pioneer has several stereos that feature Bluetooth. At the top end Pioneer is about to ship three Bluetooth compatible models in their AVIC line; The AVIC-F700BT, AVIC-900BT, and the AVIC-F90BT with an MSRP of $850, $1,100, and $1,200 respectively. All three offer a big 5.8 inch touchscreen along with voice recognition that can even control a connected iPod. If you can't afford to spend that much money, Pioneer offers the FH-P8000BT, FH-800BT, and DEH-P7000BT, all in the $300 range. They include hands-free calling along with HD radio and iPod capability.

4. Buy a Bluetooth enabled GPS
Bluetooth is becoming more common in GPS devices or, should we say, Personal Navigation Devices. Using a GPS with your Bluetooth phone uses the GPS device's built in microphone and speaker for hands-free calling. You can also use it to call one of the Points of Interest (POI) like a restaurant or hotel. The popular nuvi 360 has Bluetooth as well as the newer nuvi 760 and nuvi 880. For a complete list of Garmin Bluetooth GPS check out the section on Garmin's web site covering their devices and Bluetooth. The popular TomTom Go 920 and TomTom Go 930 both have Bluetooth capabilities as well as the Magellan Maestro 4040.

5. Buy a Bluetooth Headset
Bluetooth headsets are everywhere these days. They're cheap and easy to use however they can often be uncomfortable to wear for long periods and audio performance can vary widely. One of the most highly rated headsets comes from Aliph who produces the Jawbone and uses military grade noise canceling technology to produce very good quality calls. Aliph has a new version of the Jawbone called appropriately “The New Jawbone,” which is available now for about $130. Plantronics has been in the telephone headset business for a long time and produces some very highly rated Bluetooth headsets like the stylish Discovery 925. Stereo capability came to Bluetooth via the A2DP Standard so you can now use stereo Bluetooth headsets with stereo Bluetooth enabled media players. Plantronics has a new stereo headset called Voyager 855 which is getting good reviews and costs around $150.

6. Buy a Wired Headset
For about ten bucks you can walk out of any Radio Shack with a wired headset that includes an earpiece and a microphone. For a few dollars more you'll get a volume and mute switch on the cord, and for a few dollars more than that you can get a headset with a head band and a boom mic.

7. Listen to the Radio and Don't Answer the Phone
This could turn out to be the best bet for your physical safety as well as your mental well being. Ask youself, "is this call really that important?" If the answer is "maybe not," then why not turn on and tune in, the radio, that is.

Last Minute Father’s Day Gadget Gift Ideas

Okay, so what else is new, you’ve waited until the last minute and are starting to feel guilt pangs for not getting the old man anything for Father’s Day. Not to worry, because there's still time to get a great gift. Here are some recommendations for gadget gifts that will make any Dad happy.

Digital Photo Frames
Digital picture frames make great gifts. They’re not all that expensive and go great on a desk at the office or the hotel night table. You can buy an 8 inch frame or even a smaller one to take on the road for under $200. The Pandigital DPF802 is an 8 inch 800 x 600 photo frame that gets good ratings and sells for around $150. The Kodak SV811 is a similar frame that sells for a little over $100. The Westinghouse DPF 0561 is a smaller 5.6 inch photo frame that can be purchased for around $80. For the ultimate in portability load up a keychain photo frame with some pictures of the family and gift it to Dad. The Tao 1.4 inch Digital Picture Keychain holds 56 photos and costs $29. It has a rechargeable battery.

Noise Canceling Headphones
For the frequent flier Dad, a noise canceling headphone is always an appreciated gift. Put one of these headphones on and the roar of the jet engines vanishes, replaced by the soothing music from your MP3 player. The Bose QuietComfort 3 headphones get good ratings from users and experts. These Bose headphones are light and small but aren’t cheap at around $350. Sony's MDR-NC500D are even more expensive at around $400. Sennheiser makes the popular Sennheiser PXC-300 which sells for around $200.

Slingbox for Sports Fans
If your father is a huge sports fan and doesn't already have a Slingbox then maybe you should consider getting him one of these devices that will let him watch whatever is on the TV at home on his computer at work or wherever he is. You can get a Slingbox AV for around $100 or move up to the Slingbox Pro version which supports HD for under $200.

GPS for Joggers
The Garmin Forerunner 205 is a GPS device that you wear like a wristwatch. It tells you how far you ran and how long it took. Serious runners rave about this GPS device. You can buy the Garmin Forerunner 205 for around $180. Amazon is taking pre-orders for the Garmin Forerunner 405 which is supposed to ship any day and sell for around $300. It looks more like a real watch and has a touch screen bezel which makes it easier for runners to control.

Watt’s What
Last but not least, here’s a gift for the technically savvy Dad that could help save the environment too. You plug anything into this wattmeter and you can tell how much power it’s using. It’s especially interesting to see how much power some products use even after they are turned off.

Gifts for Your Father, the Nerd

Is your father a nerd? We know you love him but do you sometimes get a chuckle out of him for being so geeky? Does he program everything in sight, from the remote control to his computer? Is he the in-house tech support and network administrator? If “yes,” your father just might be a nerd and here are a few compatible gifts for him.

Power meter
Here’s a gift for the technically savvy Dad that could help save the environment too.

Eee PC from Asus
This mini-PC makes a great carry along computer. It has a 7 inch display, weighs just less than 2 lb. and comes in colors. You can get a Windows version or Linux version for around $300

Nerd tie
If your Dad has a sense of humor and you want to get him the traditional father’s day tie, here’s a good suggestion.

Hand powered radio
What techie Dad wouldn’t appreciate a good multi-band radio that you power with batteries or hand powered magneto? A device like this could make a good addition to your disaster preparedness kit. The Solar Hand-Crank radio costs about $25 and includes a flashlight. The Eton FR400 costs about $60 and includes an analog TV audio tuner that unfortunately will be useless after February 2009 but then any self-respecting techie would have known that.

Bluetooth Phone Home
Plantronics Calisto is a Bluetooth based cordless phone. Your Dad can wear the Bluetooth headset around the house and as long as he's in range talk on the phone and keep his hands free to tinker with whatever needs tinkering with. It costs around $250 but you also get a Bluetooth headset you can use with your mobile phone.

Best Father's Day Gifts for Professional Dads

Dads love gadget gifts too; and especially more if it’s multi-functional camera, GPS, cool phone or electronic books. Your Dad might already have a good collection of gadgets but there’s always room for more cool gear that will enhance your Dad’s digital lifestyle. Here are some ideas of gadget gifts to give that new or expecting dad in your life.

Ultimate Father's Day Gift
Here's a wild suggestion; buy your father a new Apple Macbook Air. This super svelte laptop is so thin it fits inside a manila envelope yet it still boasts a full size keyboard and 13.3 inch LED backlight display.

Digital Photo Frames
In the briefcase, on the bureau, or on the desk at the office, digital picture frames are starting to replace the old wood and glass picture frames. You can buy an 8 inch frame or even a smaller one to take on the road for under $200. The Pandigital DPF802 is an 8 inch 800 x 600 photo frame that gets good ratings and sells for around $150. The Westinghouse DPF 0561 is a smaller 5.6 inch photo frame that can be purchased for around $80. The Kodak SV811 is a similar frame that sells for a little over $100 but gets some mixed reviews. For the ultimate in portability load up a keychain photo frame with some pictures of the family and gift it to Dad.

Headphones
For the frequent flier Dad, a noise canceling headphone is always an appreciated gift. Put one of these headphones on and the roar of the jet engines vanishes, replaced by the soothing music from your MP3 player. Sony's MDR-NC500D are even more expensive at around $400. The Bose QuietComfort 3 headphones get good ratings from users and experts. They're light and small and aren’t cheap at around $350.

Electronic Books
If your Dad likes to read books, newspapers, magazines, or online articles one of the latest electronic books might make a great gift. Two popular readers using electronic paper are Amazon’s Kindle and the Sony Reader. The Sony Reader PRS 505 can be purchased for around $300. The Kindle which includes high speed 3G internet access for downloading books and browsing the web sells for $399. The Kindle has received mixed reviews due to some ergonomic issues but gets many rave reviews as a groundbreaking product. Books cost more to purchase on the Sony reader and you have to go through a computer connected to the internet to download them but the Sony gets good marks for style and usability.

Gadget Gift Ideas for Indoor Dads

Father's Day is coming up soon. The best time to tell him how much you love him. Each year, it's a hard time choosing unique gifts for your dad. For the sports fan, TV-watching dad here’s some TV and sports related gadget recommendations.

Universal Remote Control
If your household is like most multimedia-enabled homes you probably have a basket-full of remote controls. This year you can make everyone's life simpler and give your Dad a cool present at the same time with a universal remote that can consolidate all or most of your remotes. The Logitech Harmony 880 will set you back about $200. It has a color LCD screen and gets good ratings from users who say it can control all their devices. The Logitech Harmony 1000 is a bit pricey at $400 but it’s like having a small computer with large color touch screen in your hand. Users say it’s easy to program and fun to use.

HDTV Sets
Okay, before you say, "I can't afford to buy my father an HDTV set," maybe you can be creative and get the family to pool some money and buy a reasonably priced HDTV set. For example, the Vizio VU42LF is a 42 inch LCD TV that supports 1080P and can be purchased for under $800. The Toshiba 42LX196 is another 42 inch, 1080P LCD TV that costs a little over $1000. The Olevia 242T doesn't do 1080P but only costs a little over $700. For a little under $500 you can get a 23 inch Samsung LN-T2342H that does 720P.

Blu-ray DVD Player
It might still be a little too soon to buy a Blu-ray DVD player. While we wait for Profile 2.0 to appear in stand-alone players you could easily rationalize getting Dad a PlayStation 3 that already includes a Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player and is a pretty good deal at around $300. Just think of the cool simulation and sports games many of which support 1080P high definition resolutions. NBA 2K8 gets high marks for realistic graphics as does MLB 08 and Madden NFL 08.

Following the Games Away From Home
If your father is a huge sports fan and doesn't already have a Slingbox then maybe you should consider getting him one of these devices that will let him watch whatever is on the TV at home on his computer at work or wherever he is. You can get a Slingbox AV for around $100 or move up to the Slingbox Pro version which supports HD for under $200. For a more portable gadget that gets Dad instant sports scores away from home, check out the Wireless Sportscast that pulls in sports scores to a handheld device.

Some Exciting Gadgets Gifts for Outdoor Dad

Father’s Day is a wonderful time to honor men and to buy for them. Father's Day offers us the perfect opportunity to appreciate all that he has done for us and tell dad how much we love him. Thoughtful gifts have always been appreciated. If your dad loves camping, get him some cool hunting or camping tools. Get some exciting outdoor gadgets for your dad. To help your Dad find his way, get more out of his exercise regime or just have more fun, one gift you should consider is a GPS.

Wearable GPS
The Garmin Forerunner 205 is a GPS device that you wear like a wristwatch. It tells you how far you ran and how long it took. Serious runners rave about this GPS device. Amazon is taking pre-orders for the Garmin Forerunner 405 which is supposed to ship any day and sell for around $300. It looks more like a real watch and has a touch screen bezel which makes it easier for runners to control.

Handheld GPS
The Mio DigiWalker H610 Handheld also includes an MP3 player and at $150 is much cheaper than the usually over-priced Garmin GPS devices however, many reviewers feel Garmin’s quality is worth paying extra for. For the outdoor father we also recommend the $300 Garmin GPSMAP 60Csx. It's a waterproof handheld GPS with a big 2.6 inch color display. Garmin has a new line of handhelds that includes the Garmin Colorado 300 which has an even larger 3 inch display and sells for under $400.

For Serious Golfers Only
The Garmin GolfLogix GPS sells for just under $300 and can be a fun companion on the golf course. It automatically recognizes the golf course, tells you how far it is to the green, and gets high marks from users. How about a laser rangefinder for the golf course? The Bushnell Yardage Pro Golf Pinseeker 1500 is not cheap at $400 but determines distances down to a yard.

Digital Cameras
For the outdoor father Retrevo recommends either a reasonably price SLR like the $450 Canon EOS Rebel XT, a great camera for serious amateur photographers. For a rugged point and shoot camera that slips in a backpack and captures memories from Dad's latest adventure, try the $150, 8 MP, Canon Powershot A580. Another good choice is an ultrazoom camera like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, a $285, 8.1 MP camera with an 18X optical zoom.

Solar Chargers
You wouldn't want Dad to run out of juice on one of his outdoor excursions so how about a nice "green" solar charger. We like the Solio hybrid solar chargers that have a built-in storage cell that can be recharged from the wall or the sun and then makes that power available to many different devices. The Solio Portable Hybrid Solar Charger and the new Solio Hybrid 1000 can both be purchased for under $100.

Gadget Apparel
No outdoor gadget lover would be complete without a piece of gadget-friendly apparel. For a great gift check out an SeV jacket. It costs $120 but has 19 pockets and compartments for stowing all your gear. Many iPod users rave about these jackets.