Photo credit: RocketTheme
Christmas is just round the corner, and if you are still fretting over the right tech gift to get for yourself and your loved ones, we’re here to help! So, here’s a list of gifts mooted by us:
Samsung Galaxy Note II LTE, S$998 without contract
If there’s a phone that surely is on the wishlists of gadget fans everywhere, it’d be this large-screen wonder from Samsung. Sporting one of the brightest and sharpest and surely the biggest display on a phone now, the Note II LTE comes with all the bells and whistles thrown in.
Besides the 5.5-inch screen, there’s a quad-core chip providing a smooth interface with the latest Android Jellybean operating system. Then there’s support for LTE (Long Term Evolution) or 4G. Finally, you can also draw on the screen with the provided S-Pen. Everything in a nice, glossy package, that’s what this phone offers in a Christmas gift. – Alfred Siew
Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard, S$99
There are mobile keyboards and there are mobile keyboards. Microsoft’s Wedge Mobile is the Bentley of the range you see in stores these days.
It wins with its comfortably large keys, which provide a surprisingly tactile feel despite being so portable. Unlike on other keyboards for tablets, this means no more banging your fingers on metal as you fire away e-mails and reports on your Bluetooth-connected Windows, Android or iOS tablet.
The design is top-notch too. Simply snap on the rubber-like cover and the keyboard turns off. The cover can also be folded to become a stand for your tablet. Great gift for folks who already have a tablet. – Alfred Siew
Sony RX100, S$999
The RX100 is Sony’s latest entry into the advanced compact camera category, but with less intimidating looks compared to the likes of Nikon’s P7700.
The camera has a large one-inch image sensor that shoots photos at 20.2-megapixels with a bright and fast f/1.8 Carl Zeiss lens at its widest. It has a versatile zoom range of 28mm to 100mm, and snappy autofocus to lock on to subjects fast.
Its large sensor lets shutterbugs produce unbelievable bokeh out of a compact camera. In addition to features such as 10fps continuous shooting, in-camera filters, full HD video shooting, and a host of settings for the advanced user, the RX100 is set to become a classic in its category.
For photographers who want a great camera that still fits into a (moderately large) jeans pocket, the RX100 is no doubt the best choice – Raymond Lau
Lensbaby, from S$155
Tired of plain ol’ (and expensive!) lenses that take normal photos just like everybody else’s?
You’ll definitely want to take a look at Lensbaby’s line of lenses, which supercharges your photos with special effects. Just take a look at this group on Flickr – your imagination’s the limit!
Gear junkies will have a field day here, as there is a whole range of accessories for purchase, from the creative aperture kit to the different bodies of the lenses themselves.
Cathay Photo stocks a great variety of Lensbabies, though I’m sure you can find them at other camera equipment shops as well. – Raymond Lau
Flickr Pro account, from US$24.95 for a year
Yes, this is probably the most last-minute of all last-minute gifts, but it’s one that will still be appreciated by serious shutterbugs.
Flickr is probably the largest photography community online, but the free account comes with some off-putting restrictions for photo uploads. A Pro account provides users with a much more pleasant experience on the site.
Flickr even has a page dedicated to gifting Pro accounts so you can quickly set one up right before your Christmas party! – Raymond Lau
Apple iPad Mini, from S$449
Tech pundits may scoff at the iPad Mini’s display, but Apple’s latest tablet is the sharpest looking gizmo you can buy now. Sure, the Mini is not the fastest of the lot, and its lacklustre pixel density will disappoint folks used to a higher-resolution screen. That said, its sleek and lightweight design makes it highly addictive for browsing the web, catching up on news and playing games wherever you are. Available in both Wi-Fi and LTE versions. – Aaron Tan
HP Envy X2, S$1,199
Love it or hate it, Windows 8 is going to ship with every new PC you buy. If you’re eyeing a new laptop this holiday season, consider HP’s Envy X2, an ultraportable hybrid laptop with a detachable 11.6-inch screen that doubles as a Windows 8 tablet. Its Intel Atom Z2760 1.8GHz processor is not made for heavy-duty workloads, but it’s still good enough for basic office productivity and web browsing. Order the envy X2 from HP’s website and get a free copy of Norton Internet Security (worth S$49), HP Sleeve (worth S$49) and Premium SmartCare Service Plan (worth S$299). – Aaron Tan
Kindle Paperwhite, from $258
Who needs bulky, paperback books now that e-readers are all the rage? Amazon’s latest e-reader would be the perfect gift for a loved one who enjoys reading. Physical books would be made redundant, seeing as the Paperwhite can store about 1,000 e-books with 2GB of storage.
The Kindle Paperwhite also has an excellent touch screen for an e-ink e-reader and the built-in light is perfect for reading at night without being too glaring on the eyes. With a 1024×768-pixel resolution, the Paperwhite also delivers crisper images and sharper text than its predecessor, the Kindle touch. Amazon also claims its battery life lasts up to 8 weeks on a single charge!
Ordering the Kindle Paperwhite directly from Amazon in the U.S. would require several workarounds, but you can skip the fuss by purchasing it directly from Beekshop at Funan DigitaLife Mall. – Zen Soo
Klipsch Image A5i Sport, $229
Klipsch’s latest offering, a moisture-resistant, in-ear sport earphone will appeal to the fitness-cum-audiophile junkie. Kevlar-armoured cables ensure these earphones will withstand harsh conditions with less chances of breaking. The A5i Sport also provides top-notch audio, and comes with a comfortable flex-wire design that fits snugly around your ears and allows you to adjust the ear buds for maximum comfort. – Zen Soo
Well its been almost a year since my son misadvisedly paid S$280 in cash, got a flimsy receipt for a Kindle he never received in Nov of 2012 from Beekshop in Funan. He wanted to give me it for Christmas. After not receiving any response to phone calls, he went to the shop to discover it was shut down permanently. When called and texted, finally someone said they were having issues with suppliers but would definitely get back to us one way or other. Almost a year on and nothing has happened. We understand Beekshop was not how the company was registered. Two directors living happy we presume and secure in their Duchess Avenue residences. Not even a courtesy call or response. Expensive lesson to learn.
Beekshop was run by a person called Joseph Shaw. Donna Tang believe is to be involved but only to be the face of it most likely manipulated and convinced to partner up with Joe. He has done numerous “cons” in the past. He is convincingly deceiving, befriends people and screws them over for money. If you need to speak to him, Joseph Shaw is at Royal Room/Fenix every Friday. At Royal Room, he always stands by the bar (towards the middle), with his bar tender, Vincent serving him drinks. Hope this helps.
P.S. Joseph Shaw is only an alias.
Er how do you know this?
Cause i was a victim of one of his cons.
follow https://twitter.com/tammyb3ll to see what he looks like.
Sorry to hear that. Well short of going down to the bar to bash him up which im not going to do as that would mean stooping to his level,,,i have to believe in karma…what goes around comes around. He’ll get his and in spades. Lesson learned.
I have no plans on trying to get him back. What I want to do is expose him.