By Gregg Ellman
Tribune News Service
What do you want for Christmas? What should we get your mother? Will they like this or that? Did we get your dad anything yet?
Whatever your question is this holiday season, I have the answers here.
Darth Vader is unlikely to show up at your house to cook a steak but the next best thing can be the Star Wars Darth Vader Lightsaber BBQ fork.
It was created by ThinkGeek with a handle that looks like Vader’s lightsaber hilt. A hanging ring is built into the handle for storing the stainless steel fork.
It’s is big enough to pick up any piece of meat, measuring 20-inches long with over a 3-inch tines.
Details: www.ThinkGeek.com, $9.99
V-Moda XS headphones
I’ve always thought of the V-Moda XS headphones as one of the clearest examples of “big things come in small packages.”
To get the small package, the headphones are made with a CliqFold hinge connecting the padded ear cups, which allows them to fold up and store in the included hard case.
V-Moda designed and tested them to withstand up to 60 drops on concrete and the steelflex headband is virtually indestructible.
The big and powerful sound comes from 40mm dual-diaphragm drivers in each ear.
Other features include a 45-degree plug and tangle-free cords, which include a microphone that can be used with Apple iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows hand-held devices.
Details: v-moda.com/XS special pricing of $189 for the rest of the year, available in matte black metal or white silver
WhiteWall photo print
How about taking a priceless family digital image and turning it into a work of art?
WhiteWall online photo lab, which likes to call itself an online Art Market, can take your image and make an amazing print on acrylic, aluminum, canvas or just a standard paper print.
In a user-friend website, upload an image and design what you want using what seems like an endless amount of choices.
I recently tested the site with ease and chose to print on acrylic. Let’s just say I was amazed with the finished product.
Anything you choose will be handled with care and great customer service and guaranteed competitive pricing.
Prices vary depending on service; you’ll get the price at the start of the process when you choose your printing or framing option.
Details: us.whitewall.com
PressReader app
The PressReader app gives you a choice of more than 2,800 newspapers and magazines from 100-plus countries delivered to your house daily without getting out of bed to open the front door.
Subscriptions for the publications you order on the app can be read on most smartphones, tablets, eReader and laptops (iOS, Android, Windows 8 or BlackBerry 10 operating systems).
You can personalize your experience within the apps’ publications by special interests, publication type, language or country.
I personally love the bookmark feature to automatically sync articles across my devices (iPad, iPhone, MacBook Pro) for later reading.
Details: www.pressreader.com prices start at $.99 per issue up to $29.95 per month to unlimited access
NeGreen LED desk lamp
Did you ever think you’d say “COOL!” at the sight of a desk lamp? The NewerTech NuGreen LED desk lamp might make you do just that.
It’s designed with a modern aluminum style and features a flexible neck for easy positioning. One end has a weighted base to keep it in place and the other has the light with 50 LED’s for up to 45,000 hours of use (over 5 and a half years).
The bright white light is similar to natural daylight, which is easier on your eyes and only uses an electric-bill friendly 3.6 watts of power.
Details: eshop.macsales.com, $49.99
Monster portable wireless speaker
The Monster SuperStar portable wireless speaker is promoted as “size does matter,’ and after hearing it you’ll see how the statement is somewhat backward.
Considering its size of 5 by 2.55 by 0.86-inches (0.5-lb) it’s smaller then many smartphones and you’ll be as amazed as I was when you hear the powerful sound from the pocket-sized speaker.
The Pure Monster Sound and advanced apt-X digital processing produces the crystal clean wireless stereo sound.
It also works as a handsfree speaker phone with a built-in mic on a desktop or a dashboard.
Details: www.MonsterProducts.com, $99.95, available in neon blue, gray, neon green and neon pink
iPhone cases
Evutec Corporation’s new Karbon S and SI Kevlar cases for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are among the thinnest and strongest cases you’ll see, along with an eye catching design.
The Kevlar material does not contain any metal properties and will not effect cellular, GPS or Wi-Fi in the handsets. Structurally it’s made with a shock absorbing inner layer, fused with a Kevlar outer shell.
As for the thickness, when you combine the new iPhone 6 with a 0.7mm thin Karbon S case it equals the thickness of an iPhone 5 device without a case.
Plus they also look great!
Details: www.evutec.com prices start at $39.99 and are also available for select Samsung and iPads
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