Top Tech Gifts For 2012

It’s that time of year again! Make your list, check it twice, and dive into these cutting-edge gifts for the nice techies in your life. The naughty ones should expect a stack of blank CDs (the Internet generation’s version of coal in the stocking). Of course if you find yourself with some extra holiday cash or gift cards, who’s to say that these aren’t awesome gifts to give yourself? We want them all. Below we countdown the top 10 tech gifts that made our list: <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/vvvH9Lk-fiA8ryHwc_rxxrEGEMuJ53uSJ2tjSE6w3owd5D3eQ1B3V5uURuwyTqpXaR_F_EBZKJMGF9Vf6_2ATZYBzKjsFPdOD80mwDkT9zKkFaecLGbM" alt="" width="525px;" height="400px;" /> <a href="http://bergcloud.com/littleprinter/">Berg Little Printer</a> This cute ‘lil printer takes your favorite news sources, social feeds, to-do lists, factoids and more, and prints them out as a receipt-sized mini newspaper. If you’re tired of looking at screens all day and want some off-line info in a fun format, check out the Little Printer. <img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/9KGTCJmEVylKNZZKDgyMu5DPc_GqWJ_G495wLBi3fZrWF1c1-lK2xydCkwIVCtFD3MuKI02jZanbPoqWrJ1ewHpKzKLqiC2pV3tHGzaNY29KqtBSCnls" alt="" width="525px;" height="329px;" /> <a href="http://ardrone2.parrot.com/i-want-it/">Parrot AR.Drone 2.0</a> OK, this one is really cool. This flying drone is controlled by tilting an iOS or Android device, which also receives and records HD video streaming from a camera on the drone. Suitable for both outdoor and indoor flying, the drone can also do flips, and has an autopilot that stabilizes it in winds up to 15 mph. <img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/dZu1uIj8FiK_CO0RaSgwTGQdmSuMwBgda2TQNay-h40wLAthY7wpV7oU0f_AItNLs8l8irABiV2qqy-LoVyyArO4wHqoygx2EYQbrkJ-jRgJTpepkvDs" alt="" width="525px;" height="317px;" /> <a href="http://www.roku.com/">Roku</a> This media streaming device brings the best of the internet to your TV. Simply connect via WiFi or ethernet cable, hook it up to your TV and you’re ready to access its massive content library that includes Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, HBO Go, Pandora, rdio and more. It’s inexpensive and really easy to use, making it the perfect gift for cable cutters who also happen to be TV lovers! <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/OAGTC3mps3mincF--S67mYb8vgSPyrlYnZCplj8x8JFCjDBj6fezyonCIr4-n7gS_cQ7huF1YDQ98WhEioQ9VW0BFLvjw4YKjjTY5ZAL0HmRFL3gh9qF" alt="" width="525px;" height="300px;" /> <a href="http://www.nest.com/">Nest Thermostat</a> This remarkable device has continued to wow us even a year after its release. Nest is a thermostat for the modern age that optimizes energy usage (heat and electricity) by monitoring motion, moisture and ambient light as well as recording when you tend to leave and arrive at your home. It is incredibly easy to use with its accompanying apps, and can save an average of 20% on home energy costs. Talk about a cool way to be eco-friendly! <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/veEMOWkpnZRA3l2Svdn0lASeeNEA8fPGHtITvWf2PbwDpE9-_1BYnaO0voE5DKJvc_f9be5ZpzwrUQNqGM0v_kegd8BGWUSftsXcoL9o7d7sudUfuwvq" alt="" width="525px;" height="260px;" /> <a href="http://jawbone.com/speakers/jambox/remix/cRLaAT2RnoA#white_blue_wave">JAMBOX with custom colors</a> Make a statement with one of the highest quality Bluetooth mobile speaker systems out there. Then make it yours with a variety of interchangeable colors. Set it up and as long as you are within range, control and change the tunes right from your phone! This is pretty handy for ‘crowdsourcing’ the music at parties or when you need to quickly switch from a festive vibe to something more fit for digestion, following a prodigious holiday feast. <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/J1w_iFoC9Lekod2vPFIMx8VFP606-jleFw7TqlbAjVJksTEXmbQyrAodQqVanwUpIMzSep-ZylAP4bSMSX_W5ko05bUSAkBJuINn-gX6OjdBvTzvO2Wm" alt="" width="525px;" height="325px;" /> <a href="http://www.gosphero.com/">Sphero</a> At first glance Sphero looks like a simple glowing ball controlled by mobile device...but nay, it is so much more. The genius of this ‘toy’ is its versatility. A complex robot is housed in that strong, waterproof shell, one complex enough to play augmented reality and multiplayer games, change into thousands of colors, and is even hackable enough for developers to modify as they want. Check out a video of Sphero in action <a href="https://vimeo.com/51106808">here</a>. <img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/wtWUexdsEq9EyAEFsq6JJT-6QD7dqsGMEsxXiK4eydwRowIAlJImrXwDpHVqjoJwZtQLp4Bv9Qy75uymFyXuFU_heP2REs1ER3n5sM4WYJgpuuf2JA8A" alt="" width="525px;" height="350px;" /> <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US">Windows 8 Surface Tablet</a> Powered by Intel’s Core i5 Processor, this 10.6 inch tablet has a beautiful HD display, tons of memory and a snap-on keyboard. While the Windows 8 version of Surface isn’t available right away, its smaller Windows RT cousin places all the power of Microsoft’s productivity software side-by-side with the fun and entertainment of Xbox in a highly mobile package. <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KbY-4V_wrnMlISg2kfXlxk4sQV-2N3sVK1fosjyCPdmhcakG0JYvv8EUNEvRnulQHnnCLQF_j4cTc37SCQdipOH4zSpPSO4q1-qfSPnXTGhXcPrfWxOd" alt="" width="525px;" height="300px;" /> <a href="http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu/buynow/">Wii U</a> The first console from the venerated gamer in 6 years, the Wii U from Nintendo features a touch screen right in the middle of the controller. Embracing second-screen behavior so boldly is an innovative step for an aging company, but one that opens up brand new dimensions of gameplay. For example, in multiplayer games, players will have their own screen to play and plan on as well as the TV everyone can see. They’ve been selling like hotcakes, so grab yours while they’re still stocked! <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jO_cMmn9uaw4O2QGd-9iYN0yzjHFcpvTomCSE_d29hF5HnkvMtyFBQBCnqwaL5JKHMqE-FVuoepOyr3JikhgHVJzsdHJr0lQsqV2ZikommyrU74aXe8D" alt="" width="525px;" height="350px;" /> <a href="http://www.misfitwearables.com/">Misfit Shine</a> This sleek, tiny wearable sensor tracks your sports activity, and not just your steps. Cycling and swimming data can also be captured, and it syncs to your smartphone just by laying it on the screen! Set goals, see how active you are and be techy-stylish all at the same time ...perfect for the health geek or the perennial resolution maker on your list. <img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/79os0R8Jp2B1N-vDnrdAInXcrp7og6umPZLNJ1N_r_ic7BPHUpSPwcQYHeiGK9BGhxJMdevH4RGPLDSAI5w8S9M93E0Pc8avBhmCFJtiL0izXP3qc9aR" alt="" width="524px;" height="300px;" /> <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/440858363/the-bright-eyes-kit-diy-led-glasses-to-inspire-pro">Bright Eyes Kit</a> The ultimate in DIY programmable fashion – never knew there was such a thing, did you? This kit will teach you how to build and program light-up glasses that respond to tweets and sounds, or run pre-programmed animations. Powered by open-source code and Arduino compatible, you can’t beat this for the techno-geeky-DIY-hipster set. While we love all of these ideas, can you guess which one is tops on our list? We’ll give you a hint, it starts with heli and ends with copter. Just think of the birds-eye-view you could get from your neighborhood? Now you know ours, what’s on the top of your holiday shopping list?

Top Tech Gifts For 2012

PSFK