Durban - Christmas is here and you’re stuck for a gift for the geek guy or gal in your life. If that sounds like you, never fear. Here are some suggestions to suit almost any budget.
Star Wars BB-8 Droid
With Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens having opened in the past week, this realistic replica of the cute rolling bot from the movie is guaranteed to be a hit for fans of the franchise, whatever their age.
You interact with the BB-8 using an iPhone or Android app. It comes with a few pre-programmed “missions”, with a lot more on the way now that the movie is here.
This is the droid you’re looking for. Find it at iStores, The Gadget Shop, Musica, Toyzone, BT Games and other retailers.
The damage? A not so cute R2 800.
Google Chromecast
Can’t afford a smart TV? Join the club. Happily, this clever gizmo gives you plenty of smart features at a fraction of the price. Plug it into the HDMI port on your TV, set it up with a simple mobile app over your home Wi-Fi network and in no time you’ll be beaming your favourite online shows, movies and music to your TV using your smartphone, tablet or laptop.
When you buy, make sure you’re getting the new second generation version that looks like a hockey puck, not the old thumb drive. It’s available from Takealot.com for R799.
Self-balancing scooter
If it’s got wheels, it isn’t a real hoverboard. But that hasn’t stopped electric self-balancing scooters from becoming a craze among teens this year – appropriate given that 2015 is the 30th anniversary of Back to the Future.
There is a bewildering array of them on offer locally, all made by companies you’ve probably never heard of.
Expect to pay a minimum of R6 500 for anything decent.
Try to buy from a retailer with a track record of honouring warranties and be sure to ask whether the rechargeable battery is made by a reputable company like Samsung or LG.
Several explosions and fires in the US and UK have been blamed on sub-par “no name brand” batteries.
World Panel SunStream
I’ve tested various portable solar chargers over the years and this is the first that has impressed me.
It is housed in a rugged plastic shell and is waterproof as well as drop and heat resistant – you’d be surprised at how many solar chargers wilt under the harsh African sun.
Unlike any previous solar chargers this size I have tried, the SunStream juiced up my big-screened smartphone as quickly as a battery powerbank and almost as fast as a mains-powered charger.
Coupled with the optional PowerStream battery pack and flashlight combo, it’s now my essential travel companion. At R200 from selected Vodacom stores, I’d consider it a bargain at twice the price.
Cardboard VR headset
Virtual reality, or VR for short, is quickly making the transition from buzzword to actual product, thanks in large part to tech giant Google releasing a low budget VR headset housed in that most low-tech of materials – cardboard.
Combine it with an Android or Apple smartphone and you get results almost as immersive as from stand-alone headsets costing R6 000 and more.
Unfortunately, what counts as “low budget” in the US can still set you back plenty in battered rand, so expect to cough up anything from R300 for the original Google version. That’s why I was thrilled to stumble upon Africard, a locally-based start-up that offers VR headsets from just R100. Get it from Africard.tv
Google Play and iTunes gift cards
Still stumped for ideas? If the geek you’re buying for has an Apple or Android phone or tablet, a gift card from the appropriate app store will go down a treat as they’ll be able to choose from literally millions of apps, games, ebooks and more.
And with the Google Play Music now available in South Africa, they’ll also be able to use their card to buy their favourite tunes. Cards start at R150 and are available from Pick n Pay, Checkers, CNA and other stores.
l Follow Alan Cooper on Twitter @alanqcooper.
Alan Cooper, Sunday Tribune
