This Week In Accessories: 8 Perfect Gift Ideas For Dad On Father’s Day
by Brent Dirks
June 6, 2014
While we celebrated our mothers last month, it is now dad’s turn. As you probably know, Father’s Day is in a little more than a week, on Sunday, June 15, so here are eight great accessory gift ideas for dear old dad.
A fun and unique protection option for the iPhone 5s/5, the Lunatic Seismik Suspension Frame Case is highlighted by the truss system around the handset. Made with shock-absorbing TPU material and a durable hardshell protective back panel, the case is designed to easily snap on and off.
Available in five different color choices, the case retails for $34.95 and can be purchased at your local Apple Store or Apple’s online site now.
Home automation doesn’t have to be expensive and difficult to learn. With SmartThings, you can manage a house in ways never imagined. After connecting a hub to your router, it’s time to install the different components of the system like a motion sensor, movement sensor, or smart power outlet. However you set up your home, it can be easily controlled through the smart and intuitive iOS app.
Take a look at all the options on the SmartThings site now. Starter kits begin at $199 and range all the way up to $399. You can also purchase a number of single components for a system as well.
No need to purchase a new car to have your own connected vehicle. The Automatic Link hardware dongle plugs into a car’s on-board ODB-II port and is designed to give users a large amount of data about their driving habits. Connecting to an iPhone and a companion app via Bluetooth 4.0, drivers can see each trip they’ve taken and their gas mileage. It also offers subtle audio cues to help inform drivers when they partake in gas wasting behavior like rough braking or rapid acceleration.
The beta Crash Alert functionality can detect an accident and automatically report to local authorities and your loved ones.
The Automatic is $99.99 and can be purchased directly from company’s site now. You’ll need an iPhone 4s or later with iOS 7 installed. It can be used on most gasoline cars sold in the United States since 1996.
No need to hire an expensive coach to help improve your golf game. The Zepp Golf training system consists of a motion sensor and glove mount. With the free companion app, golfers can receive instant and quick feedback and see their swing in 3-D from any angle. It can also track club head speed, swing plane, hand path, tempo, backswing position, and more. Golfers can also set goals and track improvement along with receiving personalized coaching tips.
The sensor is $149.95 and can be purchased from Apple’s site or a local Apple Store.
Along with listening to music from your iPhone or iPad without wires, the BlueAnt PumpHD headphones are completely waterproof thanks to a Teflon coating and Kevlar shielding. For that perfect fit, BlueAnt includes ear stabilizers and three different sizes of comfort tips.
Available in blue or green, the headphones can be purchased now on Apple’s online store for $129.95.
The Speck DuraFolio Case for the iPad Air offers the best of both worlds – a light and slim case that also offers a nice amount of impact and drop protection. Adding just 0.3 inches of bulk to the already slim tablet, the folio-style case is highlighted by a multi-angle stand perfect for media viewing or even typing. Integrated magnets in the case activate the automatic on and off function of the tablet.
Buyers can select from one of five different colors of the DuraFolio. It retails for $69.99.
If you can’t wait for the long-rumored "iWatch" to finally appear sometime this fall, the best smart watch currently on the market is easily the Pebble Steel. Building on the original Pebble, the Steel offers a Gorilla Glass lens with oleophobic coating and an RGB light to indicate the charging status. The Steel features the same e-paper display and waterproof design of the original.
And with version 2.0 of the companion app, users can now access Pebble’s own app store and more than 1,000 different apps and watch faces.
Available in a brushed stainless steel or black matte finish, the Steel is $249 and can be ordered from Pebble’s site now. Pebble also includes a leather watch band with both models.
An interesting and multi-purpose Bluetooth speaker, Braven’s new Mira is water-resistant and offers an integrated kickstand that also does double duty as a hook. The built-in battery offers up to 10 hours of music before needing to be recharged. Users can also take hands-free calls thanks to the speaker’s microphone.
The speaker retails for $99.99 and can be purchased now from Braven’s site. It’s currently available in black and silver. Other color options will be available soon.
Don’t Go Crazy Trying To Protect an iPhone
Lunatic Seismik Suspension Frame Case for the iPhone 5s/5, $34.95
A fun and unique protection option for the iPhone 5s/5, the Lunatic Seismik Suspension Frame Case is highlighted by the truss system around the handset. Made with shock-absorbing TPU material and a durable hardshell protective back panel, the case is designed to easily snap on and off.
Available in five different color choices, the case retails for $34.95 and can be purchased at your local Apple Store or Apple’s online site now.
Get Smart
SmartThings, $199 and up
Home automation doesn’t have to be expensive and difficult to learn. With SmartThings, you can manage a house in ways never imagined. After connecting a hub to your router, it’s time to install the different components of the system like a motion sensor, movement sensor, or smart power outlet. However you set up your home, it can be easily controlled through the smart and intuitive iOS app.
Take a look at all the options on the SmartThings site now. Starter kits begin at $199 and range all the way up to $399. You can also purchase a number of single components for a system as well.
Turn Any Vehicle Into a Smart Car
Automatic Smart Driving Assistant, $99.99
No need to purchase a new car to have your own connected vehicle. The Automatic Link hardware dongle plugs into a car’s on-board ODB-II port and is designed to give users a large amount of data about their driving habits. Connecting to an iPhone and a companion app via Bluetooth 4.0, drivers can see each trip they’ve taken and their gas mileage. It also offers subtle audio cues to help inform drivers when they partake in gas wasting behavior like rough braking or rapid acceleration.
The beta Crash Alert functionality can detect an accident and automatically report to local authorities and your loved ones.
The Automatic is $99.99 and can be purchased directly from company’s site now. You’ll need an iPhone 4s or later with iOS 7 installed. It can be used on most gasoline cars sold in the United States since 1996.
Actually Get Better at Golf
Zepp Golf Sensor, $149.95
No need to hire an expensive coach to help improve your golf game. The Zepp Golf training system consists of a motion sensor and glove mount. With the free companion app, golfers can receive instant and quick feedback and see their swing in 3-D from any angle. It can also track club head speed, swing plane, hand path, tempo, backswing position, and more. Golfers can also set goals and track improvement along with receiving personalized coaching tips.
The sensor is $149.95 and can be purchased from Apple’s site or a local Apple Store.
Take Your Headphones Anywhere
BlueAnt PumpHD Waterproof Bluetooth Headphones, $129.95
Along with listening to music from your iPhone or iPad without wires, the BlueAnt PumpHD headphones are completely waterproof thanks to a Teflon coating and Kevlar shielding. For that perfect fit, BlueAnt includes ear stabilizers and three different sizes of comfort tips.
Available in blue or green, the headphones can be purchased now on Apple’s online store for $129.95.
Military Grade Protection
Speck DuraFolio Case for the iPad Air, $69.99
The Speck DuraFolio Case for the iPad Air offers the best of both worlds – a light and slim case that also offers a nice amount of impact and drop protection. Adding just 0.3 inches of bulk to the already slim tablet, the folio-style case is highlighted by a multi-angle stand perfect for media viewing or even typing. Integrated magnets in the case activate the automatic on and off function of the tablet.
Buyers can select from one of five different colors of the DuraFolio. It retails for $69.99.
Man of Steel
Pebble Steel Smart Watch, $249
If you can’t wait for the long-rumored "iWatch" to finally appear sometime this fall, the best smart watch currently on the market is easily the Pebble Steel. Building on the original Pebble, the Steel offers a Gorilla Glass lens with oleophobic coating and an RGB light to indicate the charging status. The Steel features the same e-paper display and waterproof design of the original.
And with version 2.0 of the companion app, users can now access Pebble’s own app store and more than 1,000 different apps and watch faces.
Available in a brushed stainless steel or black matte finish, the Steel is $249 and can be ordered from Pebble’s site now. Pebble also includes a leather watch band with both models.
A Versatile Hook
Braven Mira Wireless Speaker, $99.99
An interesting and multi-purpose Bluetooth speaker, Braven’s new Mira is water-resistant and offers an integrated kickstand that also does double duty as a hook. The built-in battery offers up to 10 hours of music before needing to be recharged. Users can also take hands-free calls thanks to the speaker’s microphone.
The speaker retails for $99.99 and can be purchased now from Braven’s site. It’s currently available in black and silver. Other color options will be available soon.
