5 tech gifts to brighten up their holidays

Well, it’s that time of year again. Like you, I’m working through the gift-giving part of the holidays. I used to send Amazon gift cards until one was stolen. I didn’t get sympathy or a refund from Amazon, so I decided to purge the store gift cards entirely. So, I’m back to sending people things I think they might want, and this week, I’ll be sharing my list of tech gadgets that make great gifts.

I’ll wrap up my final product of the week for 2024, a new off-road electric motorcycle from Dust Moto next year that is being built in my backyard.

Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

Do you have a special lady in your life? Wife, sister, mother, daughter or girlfriend? Well, the best, but far from cheap, I found is the hair dryer Dyson Supersonic. It usually costs around $430, but I found it on sale for $329. I got one for my wife, and she loved it, so I got one for my sister this year, but don’t tell her!

This hair dryer is relatively small, which makes it easy to pack. It comes in fast and holds up well. We haven’t had any problems so far.

The Supersonic uses Dyson’s unique design, which draws air from below the handle, so it doesn’t suck your hair, and has adjustments for every hair type, making it extremely flexible. It comes with a host of attachments, as is typical for anything made by Dyson. Don’t ask me to explain all the features because I don’t use them myself.

This is my gift idea for someone you care about because it is well made and affordable. It’s unlikely they’ll buy it for themselves, and they’ll probably think about you when they blow dry their hair.

Nixplay Digital Touchscreen Picture Frame

For the older people in your life — parents, grandparents, uncles or aunts — who may not be great with technology but who love family photos, consider a digital picture frame that you can preload with family photos. When connected to the web, like Nixplay Digital Touchscreen Photo FrameOnce the device is set up you can update the photo playlist from the comfort of your couch.

Yes, you need to make sure the recipient’s Wi-Fi is working, which is a good reason to look at the thing instead of just sending it. At 10.1 inches and about $140 (the 15-inch is on sale right now for $244), it won’t be too big for a bedside table, and it works with both iOS and Android phones.

Although they say that a grandma can upload pictures to the frame, it’s better if you handle it yourself. Updating photos regularly turns the frame into a moving surprise and a thoughtful reminder that you’re thinking of them. Parents often struggle to feel connected after their children move out, especially when those children have families of their own. This gift can help bridge that gap, serving as a simple yet meaningful way to show you care.

70mai dash cam omni

I was in a terrible car accident last year where an airbag tripped me and broke my back. Because I was hit so hard, I have little memory of the accident, but mine 70mai dash cam omni Caught the whole incident, so I could go back and learn from it.

What makes this dash cam stand out is that it has an R2D2-like head that rotates, so you don’t have to have a rear-view camera. It will follow the action as it moves from side to side, capturing the entire event. It will also record people who mess with your car while it is parked. While it’s not as good as what Tesla usually ships with, it’s a great way to record your drives for those of us who don’t drive Teslas.

Image credit: 70mai

It can also get you out of fake tickets. I had one of those years ago where the officer said I was doing 90 on an open road. I wasn’t, and I was in heavy traffic. It was my words against his and he won. If I had the camera back, it would have paid for itself with that one ticket.

This dash cam can reinforce the need to drive more safely, the record you are making can be used against you. If you have kids who borrow your car, you might want to consider this to prevent them from doing something stupid. At $200, it’s one of the more reasonable dash cams out there.

Oh, and there are plenty of insurance scammers who will come back to your car and yell that you rear-ended them or throw yourself in front of your car, claiming you didn’t yield. This camera can also help you out of that situation.

VolteX heated scarf

Living in Bend, Oregon, where winters can be harsh, I’ve come to appreciate heated gear. D VolteX heated scarf One of the easiest self-heating items on the market.

At under $17, this is an easy gift for a budget. You have to charge it, but it heats up once it’s on and has three heat settings (just like my heated car seats).

The scarf is fluffy, so it feels really good on your neck. I bought one for my wife this year because she hates the cold. He can leave it in the car plugged into the car’s electrical system, so it’s always ready for the cold while a little instant warmth is appreciated.

It is very portable, so you can travel with it, although it has a battery, so you have to carry it on the ship and not leave it in your luggage. It comes in brown, black, gray or white. I intend to wear one at the same time since I got two in different colors.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses

Things are getting a little crazy given all the political tension in the air. I’ve been in several situations where I wanted to record what was happening without feeling the anger that usually comes when you use your smartphone to catch someone breaking the law or behaving badly. Additionally, using an action camera to record video often doesn’t give you the same view because the camera is positioned somewhere other than your face.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses They have a great camera. They can replace your earbuds if you want to walk and listen to music or audiobooks, or have your messages read to you while you’re doing something else like running. Glasses come in a variety of styles and will accept prescription lenses.

Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses (Video Credit: Meta)

The camera is well hidden, so you don’t have to worry about the old Google Glass headset. While base prices currently range from $299 to $379, these glasses may be what you need to capture that fleeting moment your loved one has when something really good or horribly bad happens and you want to create a lasting record.

wrap up

I hope this list helps you with your holiday shopping choices. Putting it together helped me make something of my own this year. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Hightail All-Electric Dirt Bike by Dust Moto

Hightail All-Electric Dirt Bike (Image credit: Dust Moto)

Although I don’t ride much anymore, I had a Suzuki 125 and a Yamaha 175. 125 was my school motorcycle, and 175 was offroad. The problem with gas bikes when you’re riding in the desert is that they make a lot of noise and need RPM for torque. This means you miss out on a lot of natural noise and when you run into trouble, like on a steep hill, you can spin your wheels trying to generate enough torque to climb it.

With an estimated price of $10,950 and a late 2025 release date, Dust Motor Hightail All-Electric Dirt Bike Simply awesome. While not street legal, at least not yet, it’s a monster of an option when it comes to off-road driving. It has a very clean design and is built by guys who enjoy riding outdoors — we have a lot of that here in Oregon. Their experience can be seen in the design and execution of this bike.

With 42 HP and 660 Nm of torque, it will run for up to two hours on a charge. Plus, it has a replaceable battery, so you can carry extras. It’s built with the help of Bloom, a company that specializes in electric motorcycles, so even though it’s Dust Moto’s first bike, it’s not Bloom’s first, so you can be sure that this bike will do what it demands and more.

Designed to be within walking distance of me, it’ll be on my Christmas 2025 shortlist if I’m still riding. As a result, Dust Moto’s hightail all-electric dirt bike is my last product of the week for 2024, although it won’t be on my Christmas list until 2025, when this bike becomes available.