Tired of giving dad the same old boring tie or dress shirt for Father’s Day? You’ve only got 2 weeks before Father’s Day so why don’t you take a look at the 10 really cool gadgets I’ve listed below to help you find the right gift for dad this year, not to say he doesn’t enjoy the ties or shirts, but gadgets tend to be a little more useful and exciting.
If you’re a gadget loving dad yourself, then make sure to forward this list to those gift bearing loved ones and hopefully they’ll get the hint. As a first time dad and technology aficionado, I really hope my wife is looking at these gift ideas.
1. Apple iPad
If dad’s been talking about the Apple’s latest gadget and hasn’t picked one up yet, he was probably waiting for Christmas or someone to give it to him for father’s day, hint, hint. The latest revolutionary product out of Cupertino will allow your dad to read the Wall Street Journal, watch his favorite YouTube videos, check his email, surf the web, listen to music, and much more in this nicely packaged 10 hour life multimedia device.
The base model with 16GB of memory and Wi-Fi connectivity runs for $499 and can be purchased at your local Best Buy, Apple Store, or online.
2. Nintendo Wii Console
Dad likes to play golf, but the nearest course would make it a weekend trip. Why not let him practice his swing with Wii Sports. Better yet if dad likes to fish he can use Bass Pro Shops Bass fishing game to practice his casting skills. The best thing about the Wii is that the entire family can play together in teams or against each other. If your family likes karaoke or you have wannabe rock stars in the family you might want to look into Rock Band or Guitar Hero.
The Wii console with one controller and Wii Sports can be purchased for $199 . The Bass Pro Shops: The Strike game can be purchased for $50. To find other games and accessories for the Wii, visit the official Nintendo website.
3. ScoreCast | Baseball Desktop Scoreboard
Does your dad work in a place where he can’t access information about baseball games as they occur? Don’t worry, we have a solution for him. The ScoreCast device provides automatic baseball updates in a handheld device that requires no PC or Internet connection. The device receives updates from the free Ambient InfoCast network and runs on 4 AA batteries that should last the entire season.
You can purchase the ScoreCast device directly from Ambient for $129 or save more than 50% if you buy it from Amazon for $49.99.
4. MimoBot Designer USB Flash Drives
If dad is a Star Wars fan or likes Hello Kitty, whatever his preference is, you are likely to find a MimoBot designer USB flash drive to match his tastes. On MimoBot’s site you will find community designed, Hello Kitty, Star Wars, Halo, and other themed USB flash drives that make for a real unique and cool father’s day gift.
Prices range from $20 for 2GB to $89.95 for 16GB of storage capacity. MimoBot USB flash drives can be purchased directly from MimoBot.
5. Bose QuiteComfort 15 Noise Cancelling Headphones
If dad travels often or doesn’t have a place at home where he can sit down and tune out, then you might want to consider getting him a pair of Bose QuiteComfort headphones. I personally own a pair of these and must say that they are truly magnificent. They use a single AAA battery for noise cancelling and can also be used on phones (with adapter), multimedia devices, computers, and standalone. The headphones are foldable and come with a really nice carrying case.
The headphones can be purchased from Bose Authorized dealers for a suggested retail price of $299.
6. Powermat Home & Office Charging Mat
Mom, I’m sure you are tired of all of the charging cords and adapters cluttering your living spaces. How about using one power cord to power them all? The Powermat charging mat uses magnetic induction to power up and charge devices placed on the mat. In other words you don’t need a cord to plug in and charge a device, it’s all done wirelessly. With a power mat for three devices you go from three power cords to one.
The Powermat for three devices will cost you $99 and each receiver (required for each device you want to wirelessly charge) will cost between $30 to $40 depending on the device. Powermats and receivers can be purchased from Powermat’s website.
7. Nvidia 3D Vision Kit
Looking to get dad the latest in video technology? With the success of Avatar in 3D the number of TV sets to have 3D capabilities is set to explode this year. If you’re looking to save thousands of dollars by not purchasing one of the new TV sets, you can get dad warmed up to the 3D technology by getting him a pair of 3D Vision glasses from Nvidia. The Nvidia 3D glasses enable a user to experience 3D games, pictures, and movies on their computers. All you need is a 3D compatible monitor.
The 3D vision kit from Nvidia which includes a 22 inch 3D compatible monitor will cost $598 direct from Nvidia.
8. Dyson DC31 Vacuum
Simplify dad’s car washing chores with a Dyson DC31 portable vacuum cleaner. The handheld vacuum cleaner is ideal for spot cleaning and quick pick-ups. It is powered by a Dyson digital motor and has two power modes giving you control over battery consumption and suction power.
The Dyson DC31 can be purchase online for $219.
9. Microsoft Zune HD
Is dad a big Microsoft fan that will never set his eyes on an Apple product? There’s a gadget for every taste. The Zune HD is an iPod Touch on steroids, but at a lower price. The 64GB model costs $5.45/GB compared to the iPod Touch’s $6.23/GB. The Zune HD also offers features not found on the iPod Touch:
- Built-in HD Radio
- Built-in FM Radio
- HD Compatible Videos (720p)
- Plays MPEG-4, Windows Media Video (WMV), and H.264 video.
- Plays Windows Media Audio (WMA), AAC, and MP3 audio.
- Gorgeous OLED display
The Zune HD runs for $219/16GB, $289/32GB, and $349/64GB models. The Zune HD can be purchased at pretty much any electronics retailer online or at a brick and mortar store.
10. Grill Right Wireless Talking BBQ / Oven Thermometer
With the Grill Right Wireless Talking BBQ Thermometer dad can spend more time drinking his beer and enjoying his family instead of babysitting the grill. The thermometer ships with a wireless probe that allows you to keep tabs on the meat’s “doneness” to make sure it’s cooked right where you want it.
The small and wireless talking wonder can be purchased direct from Oregon Scientific or at other online retailers for about $40.
