What to Get that Techie in Your Life

We all know someone that has to have the latest and greatest technology. They have all of the gaming platforms, they have to get the newest smartphones every year, and they are the only person you know that owns multiple smartwatches. Clearly, some gizmo or gadget would make a great gift, but there’s still the age-old concern: what do you get for someone who seems to have everything?

Below, we’ve put together a list of suggested gifts for the person on your list that lives and breathes technology.

Tile Mate
Having so many gadgets can bring about a few potential issues, one of which being how easy it is to misplace them. If you know someone with a tendency to forget where they put things, the Tile Mate might be just the thing to get them. The Tile Mate is a small dongle that attaches to your keys or other objects, and can be signaled to ring via a linked smartphone application. Likewise, if you’re having difficulty finding your phone, the Tile Mate can be used to ring it - even if the device is silenced. This handy dongle can be purchased for $25 each, or in a four-pack for around $70.

Amazon Echo Spot Smart Hub
In this addition to Amazon’s Echo line, the helpful personal assistant Alexa is paired with an alarm clock to help prepare the user for their day. With a display in addition to its speakers, the Echo Spot displays the current time and weather by default. Since it offers much of what the Echo Show does, it can be seen as a more affordable alternative to the larger device. Other features that the Echo Spot offers in addition to Alexa include:

• Customizable clock face options
• Amazon Prime streaming
• Video chat capabilities between other Echo Spots and Echo Shows

The Amazon Echo Spot can be purchased anywhere that sells major electronics for about $129.99.

TP-Link Wi-Fi Range Extender
Anyone who loves technology nowadays has felt the inconvenience of a shoddy wireless signal, so a Wi-Fi range extender makes a great gift for the person whose living space seems to have trouble with Wi-Fi. By plugging this device into a wall outlet, a user can increase the range of their existing Wi-Fi signal and hopefully eliminate the dead spots that give them trouble. TP-Link’s AC1750 model costs about $90, with other options also available for less cost.

Roku Premiere
Cord-cutters and binge-watchers love the Roku devices, as they allow them to stream video content to their televisions. The Roku Premiere allows 4K video streaming, much like the Amazon Fire Stick 4K or the Apple TV 4K do. However, the Roku Premiere is relatively much more affordable at around $39.99 and makes the perfect gift for someone who wants to take control of their entertainment experience.

iRobot Roomba 690
While few people enjoy vacuuming, it’s just one of those things that has to be done. This is why the Roomba has been as popular as it is. While iRobot produces a variety of Roomba devices, the 690 is a good, middle-of-the-road option for someone who just wants a clean house but doesn’t need all of the bells and whistles. Leveraging technology that iRobot has coined “Dirt Detect,” the Roomba 690 will sense the areas on a floor most in need of attention and center in on them, ensuring that everything gets clean. Available for about $374.99, the Roomba 690 is considerably pricier than other items on this list but will certainly be happily accepted by the person who would otherwise be in charge of vacuuming.

There are many more devices and doodads that are great gift options for the holiday season. What others have you given away, and what do you hope to receive? Let us know in the comments!