10 Great Tech Gifts For Grads
The class of 2016 is moving on to higher education or into the working world. Which new gadgets do they want or need for the big transition? Here are some gift ideas for the new grad in your life.
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The days are getting longer, weather is getting warmer, and summer is nearly here. Many of us are organizing travel plans and compiling reading lists for sun-drenched afternoons on the beach.
However, for many, this time of year doesn't mean a break from work, but the start of it. The class of 2016 is getting ready to leave the halls of high school and higher education. Many will go on to college, some will go on to earn advanced degrees, and many will take their skills into the workforce.
Whether you're celebrating the graduation of a son, daughter, niece, nephew, grandchild, or close friend, you'll likely want to give them something they'll appreciate and use as they make the transition from high school to college, or from the classroom to the corporate world.
[Could these detachable tablets replace your PC?]
The question is, what to buy? Would the new graduate you know prefer a laptop for mobile work, one of the latest smartphones or smartwatches, a tablet to bring to class, or high-end headphones for the commute to their new job?
It can be tough to pick the perfect gift, especially for someone in a generation well known for being more connected and tech-savvy than any other. To give you a helping hand, we put together a list of gadgets you could buy for the new grad in your life.
Which of these do you think would make the best tech gift for a new graduate? Do you have any suggestions we didn't put on this list? We'd like to hear your ideas.
The Kangaroo mobile PC from Infocus was created to shrink a Windows 10 desktop to fit in your pocket. It's a handy tool for people who need to have their files with them throughout the day, but may not want a bulky laptop.
Users can connect the Kangaroo to a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse to set up the PC. This gives them access to all of their Windows files and programs including Microsoft Office, whether they connect Kangaroo to a big-screen television or a desktop PC monitor. Kangaroo is powered by an Intel Cherry Trail Atom x5-Z8500 processor. It comes with 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, and a fingerprint reader for Windows Hello support.
The aluminum device has a footprint of about 2" by 3", measures a half-inch thick, and weighs about 8 ounces. Its footprint is smaller than most of the larger smartphones currently on the market.
Kangaroo retails for $99.
The graduates of 2016, like many in the younger generations, own multiple electronic devices. Upon graduation, many will already have at least one laptop and a smartphone. Several may also have a smartwatch, tablet, or other mobile or wearable gadget.
As members of the most digitally connected class yet, new grads are constantly using one device or another. The Ventev desktop charging hub is a practical gift for any new grad with a sizeable electronics collection. After all, what's a new employee to do when his or her collection of digital tools runs out of power in the middle of a workday?
The charging hub powers multiple devices at once via three USB outputs, with one dedicated rapid charge USB port at 2.4A. It also has 2 surge-protected outlets, grounded LED lights, and 2 device stands that the company promises are compatible with most device cases. New grads can use it at home, in class, or in the office.
The Ventev desktop hub costs $60.
The Bose QuietComfort 25 headphones are a practical gift for the tech-savvy music lover. These noise-reducing headphones are designed to provide deep sound for travel, work, or anywhere outside sound might interfere.
Bose has two models of the QuietComfort 25 -- one for Apple products and another for Samsung/Android devices. An in-line microphone and remote can be used for music and phone calls on Apple devices. If the AAA battery runs out, you can still listen to music without the noise reducing feature.
In a fun twist, the headphones are customizable, so you can choose your grad's favorite color or pay tribute to their alma mater or favorite sports team.
The QuietComfort 25 headphones sell for $300.
Whether they need to head to work or class, new grads will have to wake up early. That's where the iHome iBT29 could come in handy.
The Bluetooth enabled alarm clock and speaker streams digital audio wirelessly from an iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone, Windows Phone, or another Bluetooth-compatible device. Users can wake up or fall asleep to Bluetooth audio, FM radio, or a built-in sound. There's also an option to set two separate alarms if people want to wake up to radio or Bluetooth audio at different times.
Other features include a USB port for charging devices and a built-in speakerphone with a microphone, controls for answering or ending a call, and digital voice echo cancellation. The device also changes colors with the press of a button and gives the option to set certain color modes for a wake-up call.
The iHome iBT29 retails for $60.
The Chromecast can be used to carry audio and entertainment in your pocket. This streaming media device plugs into a TV's HDMI port so users can cast movies, music, TV shows, and sports games easily. The smartphone or laptop is used as a remote.
It's not difficult to see why the concept of using the phone as a remote would appeal to a mobile audience. Chromecast lets you navigate the same familiar smartphone interface, browse thousands of songs, shows and movies, and tap the Cast button when you're ready to view content on the big screen. The device is compatible with iPhone, iPad, Android smartphones and tablets, Mac and Windows laptops, and Chromebooks.
Chromecast retails for $35.
The Misfit Shine 2 is a sleek and stylish gift for the active grad. It tracks activity and sleep, and has 12 LED lights to tell time, display progress, and show notifications. A vibration alarm reminds you to get up and move.
The Shine 2 has a capacitive touch sensor and built-in intelligence to try and help you sleep better and improve overall health. It connects with Misfit Link so you can also play music, take photos, and interact with smart devices. It can also be used to receive text and call notifications.
The fitness tracker is built to withstand extreme environments, with a body made of aircraft-grade aluminum and glass-reinforced polycarbonate that's water resistant up to 50 meters.
The Misfit Shine 2 retails for $100.
If your new grad is looking for something with more functionality than a fitness tracker and hasn't yet owned a smartwatch, take a look at the Pebble Time. It's a capable wearable without the price tag of high-end products like Apple Watch.
The Time displays a timeline interface with notifications, calendar events, missed calls, sports scores, weather, breaking news, and other information displayed as pins so you can see what's already happened or what's coming up.
Pebble Time works with both iPhone and Android smartphones. It's water resistant for up to 30 meters and promises 7 days of battery life.
Prices for the Pebble Time start at $150.
Amazon Tap is a portable Bluetooth speaker enabled by Alexa, Amazon's personal digital assistant. Alexa is available when connected via WiFi or mobile hotspot to play music, provide weather reports, read the news, or order food.
Users tap the device's microphone button to request tunes from services including Spotify, iHeartRadio, Prime Music, Pandora, and TuneIn. Amazon Tap also streams music from a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. Amazon promises nine hours of playback, and claims the device will continue to get smarter with the addition of new features and skills over time.
Amazon Tap retails for $130.
While many readers still prefer old-fashioned paperbacks, the Kindle Paperwhite is a practical gift for avid readers who breeze through books on their daily commutes, frequent trips, or relaxed evenings after work.
The Paperwhite has twice the pixel count of the previous Kindle for easy reading, with no glare in bright sunlight. It is lighter than a paperback, for easy transport and one-handed use. A built-in front light and adjustable brightness let you read without eye strain.
Amazon promises that the Paperwhite will last up to six weeks on a single charge, although it's worth noting this number is based on 30 minutes of reading per day with wireless disabled and the light setting set to 10.
The Kindle Paperwhite retails for $120.
No matter how much your new grad loves their tablet, once in a while they'll either want or need to use a keyboard. The Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810 could be a great surprise.
The Logitech keyboard has backlit keys for typing in low light. Its illumination adjusts according to the surrounding light conditions. If the auto brightness is too much or too little, it can be manually adjusted using the F5 and F6 keys. The keyboard also has a motion sensor and automatically turns the backlight on or off if you're not typing.
It works for iOS, Android, and Bluetooth devices. A feature called Easy-Switch lets typists toggle between devices with the press of a button.
The Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard retails for $100.
No matter how much your new grad loves their tablet, once in a while they'll either want or need to use a keyboard. The Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810 could be a great surprise.
The Logitech keyboard has backlit keys for typing in low light. Its illumination adjusts according to the surrounding light conditions. If the auto brightness is too much or too little, it can be manually adjusted using the F5 and F6 keys. The keyboard also has a motion sensor and automatically turns the backlight on or off if you're not typing.
It works for iOS, Android, and Bluetooth devices. A feature called Easy-Switch lets typists toggle between devices with the press of a button.
The Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard retails for $100.
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