Smart Home Lifestyle

June 10, 2006

Hi-Tech Gift Ideas for Dad

Forget the tools and the ties this Father’s Day, go for the tech. Whether your dad’s a boater, golfer or movie lover, here are some gadgets to simplify his life and keep him entertained all summer long.

Straight shot

Getting from point A to point B has never been more fun thanks to TomTom’s line of GPS units. And it’s not just about mapping or restaurant listings anymore- TomTom’s extended services make traveling problem-free and far more efficient.

“TomTom PLUS content & services have been enormously popular with consumers,” said Harold Goddijn, TomTom’s chief executive officer. “By introducing new services, such as Audiobooks and Buddies, as well as updating our current services including TomTom Traffic, TomTom Safety Cameras and TomTom Weather, we are able to ensure that personal navigation continues to be stress free, personal, fun and most of all safe for consumers to use.”

TomTom offers a variety of extras on their new TomTomGo 510 and 910 GPS units. TomTom Audiobooks gives access to over 23,000 book titles plus audio versions of newspapers, events, language courses and travel information. And TomTom Buddies allows drivers to invite other TomTom users to become a travel “buddy,” locating friends’ and family’s locations on the road.

TomTom Weather provides up to the hour weather information and warnings, and TomTom Safety Cameras give customers traveling in Europe access to the database of European safety camera sites. TomTom even offers a built in MP3 digital music player with a 20 GB hard drive. TomTom GO 510 and 910 GPS units range from around $700 to $900.

Hole in one

Ever heard of a GPS on the Golf Course? For a sure shot, or at least a more informed shot, check out SkyGolf’s SkyCaddie GPS system. SkyCaddie measures not only the distance of your shots and helps avoid hidden trouble like hills and trees, but it also can be used at thousands of golf courses national and international.

A SkyPlayer membership, available for purchase on the SkyGolf website, lets you download all the necessary course targets and measurements on your chosen course. SkyGolf weighs 4.8 ounces and costs just under $350, not including the SkyPlayer membership. SkyCaddie let’s you store information for up to 100 courses and it conforms with current USGA/R&A ruling. Don’t see your course listed? SkyGolf lets you record the front, center and back of each green on the courses you play using the built-in SkyCourse Setup module.

No more sheep

Headphones may be the insomniac’s best friend, but it’s their quality that’s often painfully awakening. JVC solves the two-channel sound dilemma with a new Dolby surround sound adaptor, providing 5.1-channel surround sound through any two-channel headphones. This wallet-sized adaptor weighs in at just 3.5 ounces and easily connects to your home theater system, laptop computer, portable DVD player or handheld video game system. It can even be used during in-flight movies.

The surround sound adaptor costs $130 and runs on two AA batteries for about 10 hours use. Just remember you’ll need a digital connection between your DVD player and the adaptor to utilize its Dolby Digital and DTS modes for surround sound.

Playful protector

For a gadget that’s high on fun and even higher on function, check out Flexity’s PowerSquid Surge Protector. The PowerSquid’s cephalopod design incorporates six flexible arms for outlets, providing easier plugging and unplugging than with standard power strips. Plus, two of the six arms feature blue-neon light, which makes it really easy to find, especially behind an armoire or a large rear projection TV.

PowerSquid’s white Calamari model runs $80 and offers an audible alarm and a 360 degree flat-profile male plug in addition to the six female plugs.

Memory minder

For the budget-minded that still wants oohs and aahs from dad, wrap up Red Envelope’s (www.redenvelope.com) cell phone backup drive. Costing only $40, this backup drive works with Motorola, LG and Samsung phones, and transfers and saves your cell phone’s phone book data directly onto your computer through a USB port.

Author: Diana Kostigen, Marketing/Public Relations Director, Comtec