7 great gadget gifts under S$500
It’s that time of the year again, when we over-saturate ourselves with Christmas music in shopping malls in an attempt to find that perfect gift for that special someone. And what makes for better gifts that the latest tech toys and gadgets?
Fortunately, you don’t have to break your bank to get a shiny new gizmo. We’ve gathered 7 of the most desirable gadgets under S$500, and from portable media players to tablets to cameras, there’s bound to be something for everyone!
Apple iPod nano (from S$180)
Apple’s iPod nano went through a complete re-design last year, and was re-introduced this year with a few extra features, including 16 new clock face designs which further enhance the nano’s appeal as a fancy high-tech watch.
Also included is built-in support for fitness software Nike+ with advanced walking and running programmes. After completing a work out, you can sync your fitness data up with the Nike+ website by simply connecting your iPod nano to your computer.
It’s worth mentioning that these new features are mostly software-based, and can be obtained for last year’s model through a software update, so you can spend even less if you take the time to hunt for a second-hand model.
Apple iPod touch (from S$288)
The iPod touch needs no introduction; it’s an excellent multimedia device which plugs you into Apple’s iOS world, complete with its wide selection of apps ranging from office productivity to games.
The latest iOS 5 brings a horde of new features to bump up its desirability, including Instant Messaging service iMessage – compatible with all modern iOS devices – and HD video recording.
The iPod touch is also integrated with iCloud, which automatically backs up your camera snapshots, documents, mail and more to the cloud automatically. It even keeps them in sync across your various Apple devices so there’s no need to scramble for that troublesome cable that often.
Acer Iconia Tab A100 (S$449)
Looking for a full Android Honeycomb experience but scorn at the choices above 9-inches? Then you’ll want to check out the Acer Iconia Tab A100. The 7-inch tablet packs in a dual-core Tegra 2 processor, micro-USB and micro-HDMI ports, cameras on the back and front, and feels sufficiently ergonomic.
Thankfully, the A100 has micro-SD card support, which means there’ll be plenty of space for your content. The tablet’s audio is surprisingly decent, too, though it’s not going to make any audiophile drool.
Sure, the A100’s plasticky back might feel a bit cheap, and it’s not the sexiest tablet on the block, but you can’t argue with the price!
Amazon Kindle (from US$79, about S$101)
It might be a pain to buy the Kindle and its e-books here in Singapore, but Amazon’s newest e-reader is worth the trouble. For a ridiculously low price, you’ll get an excellent e-reader with an advanced e-ink display which reads like real paper.
Dish out a bit more cash and your Kindle will come with a touch screen, great for typing notes and searching up definitions in the inbuilt dictionary. Plus, there are millions of free, out-of-copyright, e-books out there which you can load up on your Kindle without having to go through Amazon.
If you ever wanted to carry thousands of books on you at a weight of less than 170g, the Kindle is a definite good buy.
Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse (S$89)
We’ve talked about this award-winning mouse previously, so we’ll keep it short. The Arc Touch is a travel-friendly mouse which can be flattened for easy storage. To turn it on, simply snap the body and break it into an elegant arc. The touch strip down the middle has great haptic feedback while scrolling, and comes with three tap zones. A great gift for travel-heavy business executives or students alike.
Canon IXUS 230 HS (S$399)
The IXUS 230 HS is a stylish-looking camera that packs in a wide-angle 28mm, 8x optical zoom. This combination of wide field of view and zoom ratio makes it a versatile point-and-shoot for all occasions, from landscape scenery during your holidays to a birthday party over at your friend’s small apartment.
In line with the trend of taking pictures which look like they came straight out of the 1980s, Canon has also built in 8 special effects, so you can apply them right away after taking your photos. Our favourite effects are Toy Camera, Miniature, and Fish-eye.
This 12.1-megapixel shooter also does full HD (1080p) video with stereo sound, and performs like a champ at macro shots.
Nintendo 3DS (S$249)
Nintendo’s latest handheld gaming console saw a lukewarm reception at launch, which prompted the company to quickly slash its price to a much more reasonable level. With the PlayStation Vita still nowhere in sight, this is the handheld to get this holiday.
It’s not that different from existing DS machines, but the 3DS, like its name suggests, takes and display 3D content. That’s more a gimmick than actually useful, but it’s certainly cool to show off to your friends.
There’s also a higher-resolution screen, better graphics, and of course, all new games for you to dip your toes into, including innovative augmented reality games. That said, battery life is sorely disappointing, and the 3DS can only hold up for less than 5 hours of gameplay.