With summer almost here, it’s graduation season. And if you’re looking for a perfect gift for that iOS device-toting graduate in your life, we’re highlighting six great ideas. Also make sure to come back next week when we’ll be offering some great choices for dad in a special Father’s Day edition.
Custom-Tuned Perfection
Finding that perfect pair of headphones is never easy as buyers usually have two choices – an expensive pair that may not live up to its promise or an inexpensive set that is often flimsy and uncomfortable. But the Logitech UE 6000 Over-Ear Headphones are about as close to perfection as I’ve found. Along with active noise canceling technology, the over-the-ear design does a nice job of immersing listeners in their music or other audio. The earphones are made from soft, cushioned memory foam and a padded, adjustable headband helps make the set enormously comfortable to wear for long periods of time, like on a plane flight or car ride. An in-line microphone also allows you to take calls and adjust the volume.
The headphones are available from
Apple’s online store and numerous other retailers for $199.95.
The Best of Both Worlds
The Booqpad mini combines an iPad mini case and a physical notepad along with a place to store a pen, business cards, and credit cards. Made with a symmetrical design for either right- or left-handed users, the case ships with a 50-page notepad composed of at least 30 percent post-consumer materials and printed with soy ink.
The Booqpad mini, available in black or in a gray natural fiber, is $39.99 and can be purchased
on booq’s site. Refills for the notepad are sold in three packs from booq as well.
You Light Up My Life
Originally launched as a Kickstarter project, the Halo Zero Messenger Bag is now available directly through Rickshaw Bagworks. The standout feature of the bag is a removable, glowing LED strip that keeps you visible while biking, or just even taking a stroll, at night. The strip can be set to one of three illumination modes – strobe, flash, and solid – and can last for up to 75 hours on a single set of standard CR2025 batteries.
As for the bag, it features a large main compartment and two front pockets. It can also hold up to a 13-inch laptop with an optional Velcro sleeve.
Available with four different colors of strobe lights – yellow, red, blue, and green –
the bag can be purchased from Rickshaw for $129. Since the bag is made to order, you’ll need some patience as it ships 10-12 days after being ordered.
While You’re Waiting for the iWatch
Even though the rumored
iWatch from Apple may or
may not be released this year, wearable technology has begun to take off. One of the standouts in the category is the Nike+ FuelBand. Working in concert with the
free iPhone app, the band is designed to track your all-day physical activity, including each step taken and the number of calories burned. Along with being able to see progress toward a goal directly on the band, it can be synced with an iPhone via Bluetooth technology. Activity and achievements can also be shared through social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Path.
Retailing for $149.95, the band comes in black or a clear white. It can be purchased from Apple’s site or a number of other retailers.
It’s Hip To Keep Track of Your Stuff
Using low-energy Bluetooth 4.0 technology, the hipKey can help you keep track of pretty much any valuable item – including an iPhone. After downloading the
free, companion app, hipKey users can select a number of handy modes to use. Along with alarm mode that warns if you forget your iOS device or if someone attempts to steal it, child mode lets you know when someone has wandered too far away. With a maximum range of 164 feet, the battery lasts anywhere from two to four weeks between recharges. A key hanger is also included with the device.
The hipKey can be purchased through Apple’s site or at your local Apple store
for $89.95. It is compatible with the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, and the third-generation iPad and later.
Charge Pretty Much Anything
While there are more than a few battery cases specifically designed for the iPhone 5, sometimes you need to charge more than one device. And The Hub 6000 from MyCharge is a great option that can provide power for up to three devices. Featuring a built-in Lightning and micro-USB cable, the battery pack also has an integrated USB port. The 6,000 mAH cell can provide up to 27 additional hours of talk time for an iPhone. The cell can be charged with either the built-in wall prongs or with the included micro-USB cable.
The Hub 6000 retails for $99.99 and can be purchased
from BestBuy.com now.
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