Category: Holiday Gift Guide 2008

Wowwee Cinemin Swivel Pico Projector (Gadget Head, Under $500) Despite being a strong candidate for worst product name hall of fame, Wowwee (also a candidate for worst company name) did a swell job with the Cinemin Swivel ($300), a mini video projector that lets you plug in a video source -- iPod, iPhone, PSP, Flip Video, digital camera, netbook, whatever -- and then throw it up on a wall at ...

'Baraka' The gist: Originally released in 1992 as a sort of latter-day 'Koyaanisqatsi,'Baraka' is a feast for the eyes and mind. Shot in glorious 70mm, the film takes the viewer through a journey around the globe (24 countries in total) by featuring breathtakingly detailed and gorgeous shots of waterfalls, tribal dances, bustling cities, burning oil fields, and assembly lines of little baby ...

Ever wondered if that 93 octane you're paying two arms and a leg for is really 93 octane? Pondered the legitimacy of that "homogenized and pasteurized" claim on your most recent milk purchase? If so, congratulations. You're the target market for the D+caf caffeine test strip. Reportedly, these strips keep the paranoid abreast of the truth whenever they venture out for a decaf drink; java sippers ...

John Lennon may have departed this planet 28 years ago, but that's not to say he can't still have an impact. With the assistance of technology and the consent of Yoko Ono, the heralded Beatle has returned in a new OLPC spot. In the ad, the late musician proclaims: "Imagine every child no matter where in the world they were could access a universe of knowledge. They would have a chance to learn, ...

50 kids happy to get a Nintendo Wii for Christmas - watch more gamer videos As far as we can tell, YouTube, and its various user-generated video spawn, were invented to embarrass children. Well, that and to share renditions of the 'Super Mario Brothers' theme. Need proof? Just check out these videos we've found in just the last few days. Remember the kid who was really excited to get an N64? ...

Tech confections are nothing new: we've seen laptops, Kindles... heck, Martha Stewart even got in on the geek-baking action once upon a time. So maybe we shouldn't be impressed with this edible Mac, but the truth is, we love to eat, and the phrase "chocolate icons" really hooked us. So then... custard-filled pico projector in 2009? Yes. Hit the read link to check out more photos of this ...

So you're either giving, or you're about to receive, an HDTV and want something to keep the whole family busy this holiday? Well, you're in luck (sort of), since HD versions of some holiday classics have started to make their way onto Blu-ray discs. Surprisingly, there isn't much in the way of TV classics like 'Rudolf, the Red Nose Reindeer' or 'A Charlie Brown Christmas,' but here are five ...

Do you need a last minute gift? End of the year office hassles, final exams, NFL playoffs, 'Fallout 3'... excuses abound, but fortunately so do last minute gift options. Here's a quick roundup of 15 late Hail Mary gifts. To make our list, each gift has to be available on December 25, so you ultimate procrastinators out there can hurriedly hobble together something before the turkey hits the ...

João Sabino a Portuguese designer has finally found a use for all those computer keyboards that land in the trash. He has repurposed 393 discarded keys to cover interesting-looking, though impractical, handbags. The tote style bags are described as fashionable, though we can't really imagine anyone carrying one of these around. That doesn't mean we can't sit back and admire the geeky ...

Apparently this year, the e-card business, those obnoxious animated things sent by distant family members and formerly tech-savvy friends who stopped learning about new technology in 1997, is taking a massive financial beating. Apparently no one is sending them (someone should tell our inbox, we're still getting quite a few), no one is reading them (guilty as charged), and no one is willing to ...

Name a Star Got a nephew who's spent the holidays lobbing M80s into snow drifts and whose New Years fireworks stash rivals the arsenal of some small countries? Perk up the puny pyro's Christmas with a superheated ball of nuclear fusion several hundred thousands of miles across, named in his honor. The "Custom Star Kit" ($54, starregistry.com) from the International Star Registry includes a ...

Yes, it's actually available as a gift -- pay someone's utility bill Looking to help someone ease the brunt of tough financial times this holiday? Consider offering to pay their utility bill for the month of January. Many power companies offer online gift cards and vouchers and with expenses blooming for most families this time of year, this sincere and seldom-thought-of gesture could really go ...

For the jet-setter, a gift card for air travel Got a jet-setter in the family? American Airlines offers virtual gift cards in any amount between $15 and $1500. The next time your travelers sit down at an Internet café, they'll find an e-mail notification about the gift so they can finally come home from that "summer" finding themselves in Eastern Europe. The site also lets you buy, gift, ...

iTunes Gift Cards The iTunes giftcard may be as ubiquitous as it gets, but for last minute shoppers, it can be a lifesaver. You can find these at thousands of locations from gas stations to pharmacies everywhere, even on Christmas Day, but you can opt for the e-mail gift certificates available online if you're an extreme procrastinator. If you do happen to have a minute, you could discover ...

For massive multiplayers, WoW Gold Online: What is your brother doing in his room with the door closed all day? He's farming gold in order to one-day rule Azeroth, the kingdom of 'World of Warcraft.' Spare him the carpal-tunnel syndrome and visit mygamesale.com. There you can buy the poor night-elf-in-training some much needed digital cash using your, ahem, real money. Or you can forgo the ...