TECH IT OUT

Nothing says “happy holidays” to the gadget lover like a new tech toy. And contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to break the bank to pick up one of these gifts for a loved one — or for yourself. Here’s a look at some of the top tech toys of the year

Ideal for the chilly winter months, the affordable Slide ‘Em gloves ($24.95) let smartphone and tablet users access their favourite touch screen devices without needing to take the gloves off. Whether it’s for work or play, these lined winter gloves — with silver-plated material in all 10 fingertips — are available in kids and adult sizes, have two-way stretch microfleece for added flexibility and padding for extra warmth.

For trendy, premium over-the-ear headphones, look to Monster Inspiration ($249.99). This attractive and comfortable pair deliver powerful and well-balanced sound from your music and movies — including deep bass and clear highs — and are customizable with interchangeable bands (sold separately). For Android fans, Google’s Nexus 7 (from

$239) is a smaller and more affordable tablet. The seven-inch device includes access to many Google services, plus — along with preloaded music, a movie and an e-book — you get a $25 credit for goodies at the Google Play store.

E-book readers such as the Kobo products range in price from $79.99 (for the five-inch Kobo Mini) to $199.99 (for the Kobo Arc, a seven-inch colour HD tablet). These lightweight readers are ideal for bookworms: they hold more than a 1,000 titles on a device thinner than most magazines. Integrated Wi-Fi lets you download e-books, magazines and newspapers in seconds.

Despite its tiny size (2.8 x 2.8 x 2.5-inches), HMDX’s Jam Wireless Portable Speaker

($39.99) delivers impressively loud and clear audio when wirelessly paired with a nearby smartphone or tablet. Available in multiple colours, this small speaker works up to 30 feet away from the Bluetoothenabled source.