Last-minute pressies for any techies
Stuck for gift ideas for your resident techie? Panic no more – here are some quick and easy ideas, writes David Court.
If you’re not keeping up with technology news and product releases on a weekly basis, then knowing what to get someone for Christmas can be tricky.
Fortunately, understanding new products is my job.
So, for those of you looking for some last-minute inspiration, here are five products that have impressed me this year. And, more importantly, will make excellent presents for your technology-loving friends and family this Christmas.
Amazon Echo (3rd Gen) Smart Speaker, $159.99
This is probably the hardestworking piece of technology in my house. It lives in my kitchen and whether I’m cooking, cleaning, working, entertaining or relaxing, the Echo is earning its keep.
Oddly, it’s not the voice assistant functionality that makes this Echo so good, that’s just part of it. The sound quality is what I like about this smart speaker.
Whether I’m listening to music, a podcast, an audiobook or the latest news bulletin, I’m always impressed with the device’s richness and warmth of sound. Not having to get out my phone and connect via Bluetooth or an Aux cable is also convenient.
Tip: Spend an extra $100 on this rather than the cheaper Echo Dot, I promise you won’t regret it.
Google Chromecast Ultra, $88
This is a solid, and affordable, present that’s perfect for any TV addict. The technology in the Chromecast Ultra isn’t anything new, it does what Chromecast has always done – allow you to cast Netflix, YouTube, Spark Sport, et al from your mobile device to your TV. But now it lets you do it with 4K Ultra HD and HDR picture quality.
Need another reason to buy the Chromecast Ultra? Sky has just allowed casting from its Sky Go app. This means you can take portable Chromecast Ultra with you and cast Sky to a big screen wherever you go. Hotel room, bach, friend’s house? All you need is an HDMI port.
Apple AirPods Pro, $449
I think the AirPods Pro are the best in-ear Bluetooth headphones you can buy. That’s how highly I rate this product. What makes the AirPods Pro so special? Three things.
First, the sound quality is excellent, far superior to anything Apple has produced in an earphone before.
Second, the active noise cancelling in these pods is incredible. Each pod has a microphone on the outside and on the inside, allowing the earphones to actively monitor internal and external sound levels, to balance audio output and noise cancelling with greater accuracy.
Thirdly, the adjustable silicone tips mean that Apple’s AirPods now fit snuggly in your ear. This was a big flaw the previous two generations suffered.
Apple MacBook 13-inch (2018 model), $1949
Admittedly, this won’t be within everyone’s budget. But if you have a child who’s heading off to university in the New Year, or just know someone special who needs a new laptop, I feel duty bound to tell you how much I love my MacBook Air.
This is the Apple laptop that’s been designed for the average user. As you’d expect, the size and weight of the ‘‘Air’’ make it portable. But that’s the simple bit.
The real selling point is the laptop’s 13-inch True Tone Retina display with 1.6GHz dual-core eighth-generation Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB RAM. This, combined with the latest macOS, keeps the MacBook Air a very recommendable product a full year after it was first released.
Ultimate Ears Boom 3, $169.99
The portability of UE Booms has been a major factor of their success since the original Boom launched way back in 2013.
Fast-forward six-and-a-half years and there have been some important upgrades. The Boom 3 now sounds incredible, and its 15-hour battery life is more than long enough to power the backing track to your summer barbecue or a day at the beach.
This speaker also boasts a rating of IP67. Which is a complicated way of saying it’s dustproof and waterproof (it can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes).