Smart Home Lifestyle

May 12, 2007

Don't let preconceived notions stand in the way of buying gadgets for mom

To Mom: From your daughter.  “M” is for the many things you taught me- that pot roast is the way to a man’s heart, the bigger the purse, the thinner you look, and that red lipstick looks good on everyone- in the right shade.  “O” is for our over-the-top adventures- catch you in Paris next week.  And “M” is for that multitude of $50 Talbots gift certificate I’ve given over the years.  Sad? Yes. Typical?  Definitely.

Face it, if you like me, “traditional” is bordering on “tired” this year, so why not give the gift of tech.  Here are some last minute gadget ideas to help get you going.

Show off

Nothing says “proud mamma” like photos of kids, grandkids, dogs.  But lots of loved ones means lots of frames- and a cluttered workspace.  CEIVA’s digital photo frame gives an all-in-one solution, plus the capability to share photos with friends and family.

 “As photo capture increases exponentially, consumers are looking for new methods for viewing and sharing images with ease-of-use functionality,” said Dean Schiller, CEO of CEIVA Logic.  “We strive to stay ahead of the evolving personal photo experience by developing a digital photo frame that provides users with a simple way to display a constant stream of their personal images, while also staying connected with family and friends around the world.”

So what if your mom is a little technologically behind the times?  No problem, with CEIVA there’s no computer or cell phone required.  All she need is a phone line or broadband, and CEIVA automatically updates the frame with new photos.  She can even use her wireless network. 

CEIVA Digital Photo Frames with PicturePlans start at around $180 and can be found locally at Best Buy.

Want to get Mom something more portable, and a bit lest costly?  Check out Brookstone’s (www.brookstone.com) digital photo keychain.  This mini photo album, costing just $50 offers a 1.4” screen and 8MB of memory to store up to 56 color photos.  Simply drag-and-drop photos from your PC or MAC by USB and the unit resizes the photos to fit.

Just remember that the rechargeable battery only provides 2.5 hours of viewing time.

I see you

When words just aren’t enough, how about the gift of vision?  Rocketfish’s notebook web camera let’s her see every expression while she’s chatting, all for less than $50 at Best Buy. 

Rocketfish lets her make video calls in VGA resolution. It even has a “smart face” feature that keeps her centered in the frame.  Rocketfish has a built in microphone for videoconferencing and recording, and a photo snapshot button, giving a digital camera type option.  Plus Rocketfish offers a pan and tilt function, and is easily clipped onto a notebook or LCD monitor.

Is lighting an issue?  Rocketfish is set up so it can still function in dimly lit rooms. 

What about other laptop accessories for mom?  Brookstone’s Laptop Essentials kit keeps all her computing accessories at hand.  The kit, which costs $50 includes six laptop tools including a USB numeric keypad Retractable, optical mouse, gooseneck USB light, 4-port USB hub, 3.5” retractable high-speed Internet cable and earbuds with an integrated microphone.

The included four-port USB hub makes it easy to plug in other peripherals. And the integrated earbuds with microphone lets her listen to music and movies on the road, in the plane, or at the hotel.  Accessories come in a zippered travel case.

Still a little out of your price range?  How about Brookstone’s? Wi-Fi Finder.  This mini keychain let’s you located a Wi-Fi signal without having to power up your laptop.  Simply point and press the button to view the Wi-Fi signal.  Four green LEDs illuminate depending on strength, just like on your laptop.  And a red LED means there’s no signal.

And that’s not all.  Wi-Fi Finder filters out other 2.4GHz RF signals, such as Bluetooth, cordless phones, A/V sender and microwave ovens for a more accurate reading.  Wi-Fi Finder detects signals up to 500 feet away and includes two button cell batteries.

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