We are living in a technological environment, and our presents belong to that environment... So for $50 or less these are real presents, which will be appreciated...
Your boring old HDTV can be upgraded into a Web-enabled smart TV for just $35. The latest version of Google Chromecast$35.00 at TigerDirect.com is a tiny, minimalist dongle that connects to your set via HDMI and allows you to stream an ever-expanding variety of Web content over your Wi-Fi network. You can use your phone, tablet, or PC to "cast" content from YouTube, HBO, Hulu, Spotify, Netflix, and many more platforms directly to your formerly dumb set.
This 32GB JumpDrive M10 Secure from Lexar sets itself apart from the many, many other thumb drives out there by securely locking data inside a password-protected vault using 256-bit AES encryption (that's not robust enough to keep the NSA out, but it's enough to keep most non-state sponsored hackers out of your stuff). In addition to simple encryption capabilities, the M10 Secure also comes with beefed-up deletion protection, so a deleted file can't be found through file-recovery attacks. The drive also comes fitted with an external e-ink display that serves as a thermometer-like storage meter.
Perhaps, it's not the sexiest of gifts, but it may very well be one of the most useful. The 32GB JumpDrive can be found for around $35, but is also available in 16GB, 64GB$51.22 at Pricefalls.com, and 128GB capacities with corresponding price tags.
Tile
"Siri, where are my keys?" Don't ask her, she doesn't know JACK about where your keys are. BUT if you were to adhere a tiny, Bluetooth-enabled Tile dongle$25.00 at Amazon to your keys (or any oft-misplaced item of your choosing), your phone could help you locate it in no time.
By accessing the connected Tile app, you can find your lost items by 1) remotely prompting the dongle to emit an audible beacon or 2) using sensors to visually let you locate the dongle. (You can even access your Tile on a desktop computer or on somebody else's mobile device.) Conversely, if you are in possession of the dongle, but are missing your phone, you can prompt your phone to beep by double pressing the dongle.
If you want a stylish and capable activity tracker, the minimalist $20 Flash Link from Misfit$19.99 at Dell will help you keep on top of your exercise routine via a small clip-on device. But don't let its diminutive size fool you, the Flash Link is far more than a mere step counter. It quantifies your movements, calories burned, and distance traveled, and even comes with settings for specific sports and activities (the waterproof design even lets you swim with it).
For the aspiring connected grill master in your life, the $40 iGrill Mini$34.10 at Amazon will help transport their meat into the Matrix. The iGrill Mini connects to a heat-resistant probe which you stick inside your cooking protein. It beams a steady stream of data via Bluetooth to a connected iOS or Android mobile app, which has a variety of presets that will help you cook the perfect dish with settings for proteins (beef, turkey, fish); preparedness (rare, well done); and cooking medium (barbecue, cooker, oven).
Jony Ive's opinion notwithstanding, your smartphone's external design is your device's least important attribute. You invest quite a bit of money in your device, so you should be sure to protect it from the many bumps, drops, and squashes that will almost certainly befall it.
There are a variety of "rugged" phone cases out there, but one of the most respected names in the protection game is Otterbox$99.95 at OtterBox, which offers a bevy of quality buffers for all manner of makes and mobile models (most hovering around the $50 mark).
Die, cable providers, DIE! Nobody likes you! Fortunately, it's easier than ever to have a robust entertainment life without being tied down to a cable provider. One of the best ways to get your TV fix is with a Hulu subscription. If you have friends who aren't sure if they want to commit to $8 (ad-supported) or $12 per month (ad-free), you can give them a trial gift card for anywhere from $15 to $100.
Next year is set to be the year of virtual reality with the launch of a number of high-profile VR sets—Oculus Rift being the most prominent. But if you want to stick your face in the Internet, there's no need to fork over several hundred for the privilege when Google has a capable and very affordable option in the form of Google Cardboard. And it's available right now.
Cardboard isn't a product as much as it's a platform that can be accessed through just about any smartphone (Android or Apple) via third-party headsets that begin at $10 (with higher-priced, not paper-based products also available). The best part is that there's already a bunch of VR content designed for Cardboard out there including an ever-expanding collection of "360 videos" on YouTube.
Light your house like it's 2015! Connected LED bulbs are not only guaranteed to last decades, but you can control them from anywhere via your Wi-Fi network. With WeMo Connected bulbs, you have the ability to turn lights on or off via an app on your mobile device, set them on a regular schedule, or control them when you're away from home.
Would you be prepared if the lights went out? One gadget that might help you or a loved one is a water-powered (yes, water-powered) flashlight. The H20 Blackout Buddy$15.38 at Amazon can provide up to 72 continuous hours of light with a simple dosage of water. It might not be the gift you want, but it's probably the gift you need.
The new 7-inch Amazon Fire tablet$49.99 at Amazon is far from the best tablet in the world, but it is almost certainly the best $50 tablet in the world. You wouldn't want to do any serious photo or video editing; save that for the super-sized iPad Pro. But if you just want to stream YouTube clips, read books, and play games, then this is the slate for you.
What role does your smartphone serve that is more vital than sharing your selfies with the world? And don't offend your social circle by always delivering the same shot prominently featuring your forearm leading up to your phone. Start taking your selfies seriously with a proper selfie stick$29.99 at Amazon. This is your digital reputation we're talking about here.
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