Since Christmas is just around the corner, it's that time of the
year to go shopping for your loved ones! We know it's a challenge to find that
perfect gift for those special tech geeks in your family. What's worse, these
popular gadgets are usually ridiculously expensive. So to help you out, here is
our modest compilation of some of the coolest yet affordable techie gift ideas,
which you can use as your reference guide. Surely, this will guarantee you
won't go over your Christmas budget for all those tech-savvy friends and
family.
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GoPro Hero+
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GoPro offers the best value for an action
camera with built-in Wi-Fi that shoots at 60 frames per second. Adrenaline
junkies can shoot HD video and 8-megapixel stills, controlling the shots via
the GoPro smartphone app for Android and iOS. The GoPro Hero+ is also
waterproof straight out of the box, so you can turn it on and instantly dive
right in.
Price: $199.99 at Amazon
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Polaroid Zip
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The Zip is a super-simple photo printer.
Turn it on, connect it to your iPhone or Android via Bluetooth, and hit the
print button on a free app. What you'll get -- 2x3-inch instant prints. You
don't have to worry about costly ink cartridges, either. The Zip uses special
photo paper (a 30-pack costs $14.99) that's ink-free and comes out
dry-to-touch. You don't even need to shake them.
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Google Chromecast
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Wireless streaming sticks don't get any
cheaper or easier to use than the Google Chromecast. This little HDMI dongle
attaches to a TV, and using it is pretty simple. Simply open a supported app
such as Netflix or Pandora on your laptop, tablet or smartphone, and hit the
Cast button. Your content will show up instantly on your TV in full 1080p
resolution, without any lag. You can even broadcast from a Google Chrome
browser.
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Amazon Fire TV
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You can't talk about media players and
streaming devices without mentioning the Amazon Fire TV. It's the perfect
balance between value and performance. The Amazon Fire TV can handle all your
media needs, taking advantage of Amazon's ample content library. To make the
deal even more enticing, this little set-top box can even handle some gaming!
Just keep in mind these games will be mobile titles. Regardless, it's a fun
little gadget any person looking for a smart TV set-top box will love.
Price: $99.99 at Amazon
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Amazon Echo
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The Amazon Echo is so much more than a
Bluetooth speaker -- the Echo can access Wi-Fi, buy products through Amazon
and get traffic and weather reports. The Echo relies on Alexa, your own
virtual assistant. With voice-recognition tech, Alexa hears and understands
your voice commands, even when you're 15 feet away from the speaker. You can
ask to check your calendar, add to-do lists, set alarms, check the news, play
audio books or music, and more. Amazon also programmed Echo to connect to
other smart-home devices such so you can turn on a light with your voice.
Price: $179.99 at Amazon
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Fuji Instax Mini 70
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The retro Fujifilm's Instax Mini 70 was
designed with modern selfies in mind. The instant camera features a small
mirror next to its lens, a timer, an automatic exposure control and a Selfie
Smart mode, which automatically adjusts settings for optimal shots.
Price: $124.50 at Amazon
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