How do you do it, Busy Mom?
June 18, 2013 – 6:07 am | 5 Comments

I feel like I’m struggling with balance lately. I devote my time and energy to so many different roles, some being more focused on than others.
At times it feels like there is a part of …

Read the full story »
Activities

Check out Denver’s guide to activities, craft ideas, Steve Spangler Science experiments and so much more!

Events

Stay in the know of family-friendly Colorado events with our weekly event round-up. Published every Wednesday.

Family Travel

Check-out oodles of adventures in Denver including where to find the best getaways this summer.

Mama Drama

Need advice on how to handle parenting challenges? Don’t we all! This column tackles YOUR behavioral and medical questions. Also find tips on healthy living.

Mama’s Product Picks

We receive hundreds of press releases every month. Find out what products made the cut and are mama- recommended.

Home » Mama Tech Talk, Mama's Product Picks

Best Gifts of 2011 for the Techie in Your Life!

Submitted by on December 17, 2011 – 1:00 am7 Comments
Best Gifts of 2011 for the Techie in Your Life!

In just a few short days Christmas Day will be here. If you’re like me, you often procrastinate when it comes to finishing gift shopping (I still has quite a few to get). Buying late doesn’t mean you have to skimp on generosity! If you’re looking for a killer gift for a loved one, we’ve got ideas for you!

The folks Retrevo recently shared their “top tech picks of the year.” I carefully studied the list and have to say that I wholeheartedly agree with their selections. Let’s take a peak at some really amazing last-minute gift options.

While I’m partial to the iPhone, I will admit there are some very decent Android phones on the market. Whether you are finally taking the plunge and getting a smartphone for yourself, or if you are purchasing one for grandpa, these four should be your first considerations. Not only does each offer a good camera, but network speed, functionality, battery life and display are also top-of-the-line.
Apple iPhone
4S
Samsung
Infuse
Samsung
Galaxy S II
HTC Evo
3D 4G

 If you’re not feeling ambitious enough to get into DSLR photography but you still want to achieve great photos to capture your kids milestones, teach of these cameras delivers incredible performance. Don’t worry about thinking too much – the camera basically does it all for you. Consider these first – if you choose to shop outside this list I highly recommend you stay within these brands (Lumix, Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm).
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-FZ47k
Canon PowerShot
ELPH 310
Nikon Coolpix
S8200
Sony Cyber-shot
DSC-HX100V
Fujifilm FinePix
F600EXR

“It’s clear that Blu-ray is replacing DVD and while regular DVD players are still available there is little reason to go this route since it would only be an investment in technology that is on its way out. Many of the new Blu-ray players are 3D capable, as well as including built-in Wi-Fi for a network connection. To take full advantage of the internet connection most models will include streaming audio and video such as Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, etc.”
Sony BDP-S780 Samsung BD-D6700 Panasonic DMP-BDT100

So, you may ask, what is a DSLR? DSLRs are the highest end cameras. They provide a multitude of sensors, and an almost endless supply of options and customization. They are heavy (you won’t want to carry these in your purse) and their price point isn’t cheap. I personally own a Canon T1i and am in love with it. Lenses are also costly, but if you are gung-ho about getting great pictures, these are THE DSLRs you should consider. With 12-18MP these three cameras are easy to use and come with an assortment of features for editing photos. Most of these also come with the ability to record HD video.
Nikon D5100 Canon EOS Rebel T3 Pentax K-r

Sony and Panasonic are the kings of home theater sound. Unless someone in your household prefers to assemble a home theater system from scratch, these are the best options on the market for the rest of us normal people. If you literally want some awesome “bang” for your buck, these are the systems to consider. Watching movies was never more awe inspiring (even Dora the Explorer will sound great).
Sony BDV-E780W Sony DAV-DZ170 Panasonic SC-XH150

Who doesn’t have an HDTV these days? Well, maybe you don’t yet. One thing’s for sure – the numbers can be a bit confusing. 1080p or 720p? I highly recommend 1080p – basically it means the resolution is much better. Also, getting a tv with an HDMI port is also important as this allows for the maximum quality presentation possible on the set. Many of the premier HDTV brands have the native ability to join your home network (a nice plus when wanting to view content from your computer on the big screen). Also, though 3D tvs haven’t taken off quite yet (mostly due to the price point and the specialized glasses required) it’s worth at least thinking about getting one that is 3D capable.
LCD TVs
Samsung
UN55D6000
Vizio
E472VL
Sharp LC
52LE830U
Sony Bravia
KDL60EX720

Plasma TVs
LG
60PZ550
Panasonic Viera
TC-P55ST30
Samsung
PN64D550
LG Infinia
60PZ9500

I’d like to say a special thanks to Retrevo for sharing this stellar list with us and for allowing us to share it with you (complete with our own commentary).

 

Hannah Camacho is an educator, mom to three wonderful children ages 3 and younger and proud wife of an Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran. She is the founder of MyAppinions.com and TheAppNanny.com.

Print Friendly

7 Comments »

Leave a comment!

Add your comment below, or trackback from your own site. You can also subscribe to these comments via RSS.

Be nice. Keep it clean. Stay on topic. No spam.

You can use these tags:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

This is a Gravatar-enabled weblog. To get your own globally-recognized-avatar, please register at Gravatar.