We've all got that person on our list -- the one who's impossible to buy for. They've got everything they need and most of the stuff they want, which makes them a challenge for any gift giver. You could go the gift card route, but it's much more fun to get creative. We dug up 10 of the more unusual gifts around this year for people in all price ranges.
Decoy Gift Boxes (Four for $23) -- Need to throw an expert gift guesser a curveball? These boxes, for
real-looking fake items like a USB-powered toaster, look like something from the SkyMall catalog. They're actually from satire-king The Onion. And they're a great way to temporarily throw someone off the scent of the real gift.
Tangent Quattro WiFi Alarm Radio ($200) -- Know someone who can't stand the morning "zoo crew" on their local radio station? This
Internet radio gives them 6,000 stations from which to choose -- originating from all across the U.S. -- and the world. No matter how picky they are, they're bound to find something they like.
Temperature Controlled LED Faucet Light ($20) -- The faucet is such a boring appliance. Why not spice it up a little?
This add-on brings colors to running water -- changing as the temperature does. Cold water runs blue, but once it tops 89 degrees, the light turns red.
Shift and Ctrl Key Lights ($20 each) -- Need some mood lighting for your favorite uber-geek? These oversized keys light up in yellow or white via an energy-saving LED bulb. They're cheap and unique -- and give off a nice ambient light -- but probably don't do much to impress the opposite sex.
Kymera Magic Wand (roughly $83) -- Got a Harry Potter fanatic on your list? (We mean a REAL fanatic.)
This magic wand is actually a remote control for the TV and DVD player. A flick up or down changes the channel -- and rotating the wrist adjusts the volume. All totaled, there are 13 programmable gestures. We're guessing none can salvage users' self-respect, though.
Yoostar ($170) -- Everyone has repeated lines from their favorite films -- now they can star in the scene.
Yoostar lets people digitally (and seamlessly) insert themselves into famous film and television moments using an included green screen and camera, and then post their Hollywood close-up on a public site for all to see. Think 'Guitar Hero' for the film buff.
Grassy Lawn Charging Station ($25) -- The tech world is not a pretty one. Cables strewn about to recharge gadgets make for some ugly countertops. Now your gadget-hound friend or family member can hide the mess and still get the juice with this 11"x7" box that puts the cables under a field of fake (
but realistic looking) grass.
Freehands Texting Gloves ($18-$70) -- Fight frostbite and have the flexibility to fire off texts to friends with this specialty winter wear. Unlike traditional gloves, which made hitting keys on a phone keypad or BlackBerry impossible, the fingertips on these flip back, letting tweens and crackberry addicts send dispatches while staying cozy.
Joby Gorillamobile for iPhone ($40) -- Funny looking, but durable, these mini tripods make the iPhone 3G or 3GS a lot more portable. It's great for people with an active lifestyle or those who live in their car, but it's even better for travelers who watch a lot of movies on planes. It also comes with an adapter for traditional cameras.
G-Robots G-Dog ($950) -- Dogs are great, but they're messy, chew up shoes, and don't even get us started on allergies. G-Dog has solved those problems with this robot pup, which can be trained to do up to 17 actions. Don't expect Frisbee catching to be one of them, though.
Airboard Personal Hovercraft ($14,000) -- We were all supposed to have flying cars by now. We don't -- but we do have hovercrafts. This gas-powered device floats 8 inches above the ground and moves at up to 15 mph. Drivers navigate by shifting their weight. It's admittedly tough to bring much home from the store -- but heads will surely turn when this pulls into the parking lot.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
markntravis said 3:55PM on 11-28-2009
I will take one of each.
Thanks.
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MzKarin said 9:22AM on 11-28-2009
I agree...dont have to wrap em, just hand em over and Thank You!
TATRODDER said 7:12AM on 11-28-2009
COOL!!
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Mike said 8:29AM on 11-28-2009
Thanks for ruining the joke. I bought the gag gift boxes for someone who reads AOL news avidly. I bought the USB Toaster one, actually. Again, thanks for ruining Christmas.
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slowburn65 said 9:26AM on 11-28-2009
Mike, if Christmas, to you, is all about a friggin' box, you need help.
linda said 2:57PM on 11-28-2009
i will gladly accept all the gifts above especially the hovercraft.
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wayloncd77 said 9:53AM on 11-28-2009
Funny thing about those Freehand Texting Gloves. I have had a pair of gloves like these, where the tips of the gloves can come off, for over 15 years. They are hunting gloves, where you can take those tips off, so that you can have more sensitivity to put the right amount of pressure on the trigger of the rifle, without the material of the glove getting in the way. Bought them and a local sporting goods store for only $10. But I guess that they can be use for other things, but the idea has been around for awhile. I have also a pair of gloves where all the tips of the fingers are exposed, but a flip off mitten covers them otherwise.
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Carol Stout said 3:36PM on 11-28-2009
I'm not really a hunting fan but the hunting gloves that you mentioned are the first thing that I thought of to and they can often be found on sale. Lots of Sporting Goods places carry these all the time. They would do the job just as well for cheaper.
Marshy said 9:50AM on 11-28-2009
I totally saw those fake boxes on The Onion website. XD That hovercraft is awesome. Too expensive, though. Someday... XD
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rosewolf4me said 10:31AM on 11-28-2009
I literally have to put whatever I give to my Son in a decoy box. I put a brick in there too. I have used bells, rocks, empty can with rocks, so when he shakes it he cannot guess what it is. Somehow he still gets one now and then. Why do you guys have to ruin the surprise hahaha
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TED said 10:41AM on 11-28-2009
Why doesn't AOL keep these idiots off these comment trying to sell their items of sh**. They are scams. I hope at least 99 % of you out there are smart enough to see this. Are there really millioniare out there that wants to date poor people or someone one really trying ti sell Nike items real cheap? I don't think so. I think it it is a scam to steal your ID. They get your name your address and maybe your your phone number and maybe your SS number. So please don't go to these sites. and please let AOL to stop these people to stop because I truly beleive it is a scam unless they have some major proof they are real then AOL must STOP them.
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Carol Stout said 3:27PM on 11-28-2009
I solved this problem for myself. I click the button to report them every time that I see them. Then I go on from there and just read the comments that I want to read.
Cody said 10:45AM on 11-28-2009
the hovercraft looks sweettttt!!!!!!!!!
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izonme25 said 1:07PM on 11-28-2009
some great ideas that are relistic also.
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Nicole said 11:01AM on 11-28-2009
Why can't these sites figure out how to keep spammers and scammers off the comment boards? Geesh, it can't be that hard...
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Julia said 11:07AM on 11-28-2009
I would take everything, but can I get at least the hovercraft for free?
(Or......maybe everything for free?)
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larry kakaska said 11:27AM on 11-28-2009
I am a NORMAL MAN seeking relief from all this spam crap!!! I have counted over a dozen different' quote' AIR farce soldier, wanna be, whatever names for the same 555 name. I guess they don't know who ,what they are. Get a FRIGGIN life.
By the way, i,m a worn out old normal man looking for a new body; HELP!!!
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Lois said 12:20PM on 11-28-2009
Santa - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give me an Airboard Personal Hovercraft - I've been good!!!!
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Laughing Lady said 12:24PM on 11-28-2009
Put a seat in the hover-thing-ma-bob and I'll take it.
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Kyle said 12:30PM on 11-28-2009
I'll take the hoverboard pl0x
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