Technology Gift Guide 2016

Here are some of the latest advances in technology products to enhance the lives of you and your loved ones. (Note: check for release dates, which are always subject to change, as well as different versions, options, etc.)

Double-thick Elite Team Blankets (60”x 72”) are a quality, 100% American-made way to stay warm and proudly display your favorite collegiate and NFL team logos. The Microplush® Super-soft fabric provides maximum comfort as the innovative fiber technology regulates temperature and keeps you comfortable in any temperature and in any season (warm in the winter and cool in the summer). Note: Follow Elite Team washing recommendations for optimal results.

The comfortable Kidz Gear headphones and Wired Headphones and Boom Headphones at www.GearForKidz.com are durable and affordable. The lightweight Kidz Gear deluxe stereo headset headphones feature a unique boom microphone. Kidz Gear also offers a Gear Up For Education! discount available for schools and libraries.

Avoid artistic messes and have all the creative fun with the Magic Sketch art tablet for kids, which has a flexible LCD screen that is transparent so kids can trace using stencils or their own images. This durable tablet also includes a protector guard, one roller, three stamps, 20 learning stencils, 20 game stencils and 20 art stencils plus a free accompanying app.

The Nesta headphones from House of Marley are a sight to behold and a well-crafted HoM product. Made with zirconia ceramic earbud casings, they have a unique geometric, jewel-like design, no-tangle cords and comfortable oval ports.

Everyone loves getting stuff in the mail and the Loot Crate (www.lootcrate.com) monthly subscription service has you covered. The thought, effort, execution and results are truly impressive and should satisfy any media fan while keeping up with current trends and media releases. Check out past crates at .

Loot Crate also offers Loot Anime, Loot Pets, and Level Up monthly subscription services, and introduced the new Loot Gaming subscription service earlier this year that features figurines, collectibles, apparel, digital items, in-game DLC, downloadable games, and more from video game brands.

For about $25 a month, Loot Crates provide a curated selection of items from the best brands, including indies, AAA, retro, and new releases. Each crate will feature four to six items, most exclusively manufactured for Loot Crate, plus a guide to the items and a collector’s pin for a total retail value of more than $60.

Stance keeps smartphones steady with a durable, compact tripod that still allows the phone to tilt and rotate freely. The Stance tripod works well for hands-free communication for video calls and streaming apps like Periscope and Facebook Live. Kenu’s Stance tripod is available for iPhone and USB-C Android and Windows smartphones. Made with premium zinc alloy, it weighs a little over one ounce, and includes a key ring and built-in bottle opener.

The SensoGlove series lets you improve your golf game by monitoring and correcting your grip. Sensors provide visual statistics and audio feedback. The SensoGlove displays your grip pressure for every finger using a sensor that transfers through the high-quality leather gloves.

Handliberation.com features impressive phone covers and accessories, including the Hand & Phone Harmony hand/phone interface case and stand, which converts to a hands-free portrait or landscape stand. The HandL smartphone case lets you hold the phone with just two fingers, relaxes your hand, and reduces grip strain. It’s available in black, white, and brown leather for the iPhone 6 & 6 Plus.

The NewerTech NuGuard KX case for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus combines a hard protective shell with a soft interior core for military-grade protection and style that won’t weigh you down. The textured design is available in black, midnight, and crimson and it’s still easy to remove from pockets.

Sling TV is now carrying Sling Kids, an on-demand channel with over 200 titles, as well as the NHL Network with over 75 live professional hockey games, plus special on-site coverage, interviews, highlights, expert analysis and more. The NHL Network is now available in the “Sports Extra” add-on pack for $5 per month with a base Sling subscription.

Sling TV also add various Hallmark services this holiday season with Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. The newly added AXS TV feature premiere events including MMA fights, concerts, “The X Factor UK,” comedy performances and more. Visit www.sling.com/programming for more information about Sling TV’s channels.

The service lets you pause live TV or watch something that aired up to 72 hours ago.

Sling TV can be viewed on Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast (Google), Fire TV Stick, Xbox One, Fire tablets, Android TV platforms including Google’s Nexus Player, current-generation Roku players and Roku TV models, Xbox One, Android and iOS devices, Macs, and PCs.

On the move? Cardiff Skates lets you skate comfortably in your own shoes (check out http://www.cardiffskate.com/pages/how-it-works). Thanks to patented wheel configuration and Automatic Size Adjustment™ technology, Cardiff Skates expand in size so you won’t have to buy a new pair of skates every time you outgrow your shoes.

The flexible Teflon Life Link USB charge cable is the world’s thinnest so it can store in a wallet or a keyholder. It’s only seven inches long when extended and about two credit cards thick.

Toast covers are a stylish addition to game consoles with an impressive wood finish design that is easy to apply. Just peel and stick using a strong long-lasting adhesive that also protects your console. They’re made with pride in Oregon, and the company donates some of its profits to tree replenishment.

The TUDIA Klip cable protector for iPhone and iPad is a two-piece clip made of silicone and polycarbonate that snaps onto any original Apple Lightning and 30-pin charging cable. They reduce strain on your Apple charging cable by 80% to protect it from fraying and breaking, which otherwise typically happens after just six months of use.

The ATOMs garage door opener connects via the SkylinkNet Internet Hub to the Amazon Echo, WeMo, Nest Cam, Phillips Hue and other connected devices.

The Graze snack company (www.graze.com) offers more than 200 high-quality snack combinations through subscription boxes right to your door with tasty products made from smaller, family based suppliers.

The Comixology Unlimited subscription service offers thousands of digital comics for $5.99 a month. Comics are viewed via the web or Comixology’s mobile apps for the Amazon Fire Table, Android and iOS. This service works like an online library, as users do not permanently own the comics, but Comixology also offers a large library of digital comics for purchase.

Since Amazon now owns Comixology, new users must first merge their Comixology and Amazon accounts before signing up for the current offers of a 30-day free trial on a desktop computer using www.comixology.com or a seven-day free trial on a tablet.

KidStuff coupon books have 26 editions in 12 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Texas. Check the KidStuff website to see which counties have editions available. They’re sold exclusively through schools as a fundraiser. To organize a KidStuff fundraiser for your school, call toll free 1-888-404-5437 (KIDS) or email.

The Eton FRX3 portable radio is powered through a solar panel, built-in rechargeable battery (use the mini USB cable), traditional AAA batteries, or a hand turbine power generator. Besides the Red Cross emergency ready options, users can charge their smartphone and play music using the auxiliary input. The glow-in-the-dark locator also makes the FRX3 easy to find.

The TUDIA Cous Wireless Remote Control electrical outlet provides household control by wirelessly communicating with outlet plugs as far as 100 feet away. This helpful hub includes five outlet plugs and two remotes (additional outlet plugs and remotes are available).

The Starry Station touchscreen router makes wi-fi management fun, practical and colorful with ScreenTime parental controls to block and filter content. Use the accompanying app to help take the guesswork out of your wi-fi health for each device.

The new, lightweight Apple Watch Nike+ features built-in GPS for tracking locations and a comfortable band. It also pairs with Nike’s various fitness apps.

The SentrySafe 1200 Privacy Lock Chest secures vital items for up to half an hour at temperatures up to 1550°F and is ideal for digital media protection. It’s the perfect size (at 6.1 inches high x 14.3 inches wide x 11.2 inches deep) to grab and go in case of fire or emergency.

The MelodySusie Pro48W Nail Dryer with Gel Nail Polish brings the nail salon home with professional finishing capabilities for both UV and LED nail polish. It comes complete with an automatic sensor and three preset time controls (15s, 30s and 60s) to avoid overheating.

On the road a lot and want to help others? The Roadie Inc. on-the-way item delivery network app is available for download in the App Store, Google Play store, or at www.roadie.com. Users simply set up a gig, select a driver, and get their items on the road. Shipments can be tracked in real time on any device.

Happy Holidays!