Feature

Looking for a fun tech gift for a child on your list? There are a ton of really cool kid-friendly tablets, plus affordable entry-level models, that are great for kids from aged 3 up to tween and teenage. Check out some of our favourites.

I’ve posted a number of articles about tablets in recent weeks. There’s a reason for that: tablets are one of the most popular and sought-after gifts. I have the opportunity for hands-on time with many of these devices throughout the year and if If I can help someone to make an informed choice between the dozens (of not hundreds) of tablets currently available, I’m happy to do so. I’ve already touched on topics like the best tablet for a specific task or top choices within a price range. This time around, it’s my picks for the best tablets of 2014.

I have to start off confessing the first thing I tested on the Jawbone UP Move was the sleep feature. Was my midday nap really that long? It felt like only half an hour. I did quickly progress to using the Jawbone UP Move to track my daily activities and it did motivate me to get off the couch.

The musical instrument selection at Best Buy has grown yet again and this time, it’s expanded into the band instrument realm. A selection of entry-level brass and woodwind instruments have arrived for the budding musician in you or your family.    

Fitness trackers are a great tool for anyone interested in getting the most out of their workout or just adopting some healthy new habits. I’ve tested out a lot of wearable technology and used quite a few different fitness trackers, and although they all have different features that will appeal to a different type of user, the common thread I found with all of them is how incredibly motivating they are. Fitness trackers make great gifts for the holidays too, so if you’d like to choose one for yourself or pick one up to put under the tree this year, here’s a few types you can choose from.  

As the go-to person in my large Irish family, I’ve helped young and old pick the technology that works for them. It’s a question of figuring out their likes and dislikes to fine tune what they actually need rather than what they think they want. This approach seems to work as we’ve ended up with a wide range of products that has made everyone happy. Is there a product here that suits your family?    

    Security systems have come a long ways over the last few years, and DLink has really improved their solution with the DLink Video Recorder (DNR-202L). It no longer requires a PC to operate and it eliminates the need for cloud-based storage solutions for their cloud-based cameras. You can customize your surveillance security system more economically and manage and view it from anywhere in the world.

Is your home gadget fan an easy person to shop for, or a difficult one?  Do they like every catchy gadget out there like I do, or  are they selective?  Well, whatever they happen to be, here are some suggestions for them, from some new Home Automation options, to a new TV if you’re thinking on that level.

Instead of pouring over a toy catalog like we used to before the Holidays, we cuddle up on the couch with our kids and scroll through pages of the latest toys on our tablet. But no matter how we check out the top toys of the season, I still get that cozy holiday feeling that comes from sitting down with the kids and dreaming about what Santa will bring them. Check out the top toys of 2014 right now, and do a little Christmas dreaming yourself.

Walk into any convenience, grocery, or drug store and you’ll find no shortage of magazines whose covers feature scantily clad models and celebrities showcasing their rock-hard, oiled up abs alongside a headline that reads something like: “To get this body, all I did was drink more water and cut out sugar!” Well I’m calling on that. Being fit takes work. Hard work. And it’s not necessarily all about obtaining those elusive abs. It’s about being healthy. And that’s why, to me, there is a wide range of “fitness enthusiasts” out there. So, at the risk of offending the people in my life, I’ve created a list of “fitness enthusiast types” and what gift might be a hit for them under the Christmas tree this year.