Technobuddy: Gift ideas for lost elves

One note: If you're a lucky gift-giver who's been listening as your favorite techie rather conspicuously waxes rhapsodic over the virtues of some must-have gizmo, throwing in the exact model and specs just to make sure you know, stop reading here. As long as the price range fits, go out and buy it and consider your mission accomplished. Likewise, the bolder among you will simply ask the recipient what they want, then buy it and deliver it with a pretty bow. Hey, it works in my house.

This column is really for the unlucky who don't fit into those groups. You know your techie wants something, well, techie. But beyond that you feel like an elf who has lost his way in a snowstorm. I'm here to help. We'll talk about a few high tech gifts that combine so much usefulness and fun that even a snooty techie is unlikely to sneer.

Watchdog for your phone

This first item is on my own gift list. It's perfect for those -- like my wife -- who tend to leave their cell phone on restaurant tables, in cabs and on the desk at work. At best that means a trip to pick it up. At worst, there's the uncomfortable worry that someone is now using your phone to make a 2 hour call to Casablanca.

The Cell Phone Watchdog, $79.95, comes from Hammacher Schlemmer. If you move more than 30 feet from your cell phone, it does everything but shake you by the shoulders. An alarm sounds, a light blinks and there's a distinct vibration that tells you to go back and pocket the thing.

The alarm itself is a poker chip-sized fob that fits on a keychain. The device also can become a speakerphone and an emergency autodialer, but that's just gravy. The real benefit here is keeping you and your cell phone as a couple. You'll find it at http://tinyurl.com/2c95b9l .

It works great, unless you also leave your key chain behind.

Just their type

Some people can type happily on their iPhones using their thumbs. Then there are the rest of us. Our text messages and e-mails have so many typos that reading them becomes a guessing game.

An add-on keyboard is just the thing for those who prefer to use all their fingers. You can pick up the Matias Wireless Folding Keyboard for the iPhone or iPad. It is $99.95 from the Apple store here: http://tinyurl.com/2ewh5al . It folds in half and then unfolds to become a full-sized laptop keyboard.

That fills the bill for those who don't mind the fact that the folded keyboard is still bulky and weighs nearly a pound.

If you don't mind leaving a card under the tree saying "your gift is coming" there's another choice. I may wait until early next year for the Jorno Bluetooth Keyboard. The company is taking pre-orders for later delivery now. The keyboard costs $99 and folds to the size of a deck of cards. And it'll work with an iPhone, iPad or Adroid device. If size is important, and you think your techie can wait, you can pre-order it here: www.jornostore.com.

No static at all

Most of us are comfortable finding Web radio stations these days using our computers. The static-free reception and high quality sound is great. I use Web radio to listen to football games I can't find on local stations. And my wife loves Pandora, the free Web streaming music service. It customizes the music you get to fit your taste.

You can get all that without turning on your computer with a standalone Internet radio. The Innovator Wireless Radio & Media Streamer (Model No. GDI-IR1000) connects wirelessly to your home network and delivers the free Pandora service and countless other free Internet radio stations. Or, add $2.99 a month and also get service from Sirius. The radio connects to the popular satellite service using the Internet, not a satellite antenna. The radio can be seen here -- http://tinyurl.com/yycgcjz -- and sells for $129.99.

I hope one of the gifts on my list catches your eye. And if nothing I suggest seems right, wool socks really are comfy.