Friday Gift Ideas: Volume 1
Since today is Black Friday and I live near a major commercial center in Northern California, I thought it’d be interesting to list a few of what I consider the best gifts to give this holiday season. Please note that these are just my suggestions and that I haven’t been paid by any company to list them, nor have I been asked by my pseudo-employer CBS Radio to endorse these products. With that said…here’s a few things you may want to grab for that special someone who is hard to shop for (we all have someone like that in our life!).
XM Satellite Radio
Description: With over 150 channels to choose from, including every genre of music imagineable, great talk and comedy, and news and sports from the major sources, XM Satellite Radio has something for everyone. Everyone from Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Oprah Winfrey, Snoop Dawg, Bob Dylan, Casey Kasem and John Mayer are hopping on the XM Radio bandwagon. There’s nearly 70 channels of commercial-free music, uncensored talk radio, comedy and news programs. Technology has made receivers dirt cheap (some of them can even play audiobooks and MP3s).
Great For: Anyone who has to drive to your house for Christmas dinner and wants some entertainment on the drive back—you can be sure they’ll be thinking of you the whole ride home! Kids will love the Disney Channel, teens will get a kick out of the hot pop networks, adults will love the hot talk and comedy and sophisticated individuals will get a buzz from the public radio and news streams. Women will love Take Five and men will dig ESPN. Kids can be sheltered from the uncensored language with content blocking, available on all receivers.
Cost: Budget receivers start at around $30, with high-end receivers costing around $160. Receivers can be used in the home or car with appropriate kits (most come with car kits). You’ll also need to subscribe to the XM radio service, which costs $12.95 per month or cheaper if you pay annually (prepaid cards are also available).
Available At: Amazon.com and major retailers like Wal-Mart and Best Buy, or purchase online direct from XM’s website.
The Simpsons Movie
Description: This summer’s hottest movie is bound to be this holiday season’s best-selling home video. The Simpsons Movie is coming to DVD and Blu-Ray packed with features that will excite and thrill any Simpsons fan. Included in the home video release are six deleted scenes, two commentaries, and theatrical trailers. Watch how Homer Simpson and “Spiderpig” save the town of Springfield from certain doom at the hands of the government. The Simpsons Movie makes for a great stocking stuffer for teens and adults alike (note that the movie is rated PG-13 in the United States and PG in Britain).
Great For: Anyone who is a Simpsons fanatic or gets a kick out of the show. Perfect for teens and young adults; maybe not so fitting for kids under 10 (language and brief nudity) and adults over 60 (plot and situations).
Cost: About the same of a regular DVD and Blu-Ray, depending on where you purchase your videos.
Available: The movie will be released worldwide on December 3rd, except in the United States when it’s scheduled for release on December 18th. The video will be available as both a DVD and on Blu-Ray and will likely be available at your favorite video retailer and commerce sites like Amazon.com and eBay—if buying online, be sure to get expedited shipping to make sure it’s delivered in time for Christmas!
Kodak Digital Photo Frame
Description: Your fridges, bookshelves, office desk, keychains, and living room walls all have photographs of your kids, your pets, and your parents. Ever wish there was a device you could display on your bookshelf that could consolidate all those photos into one display? The Kodak EasyShare Digital Photo Frame sports an impressive 7-inch digital display for all your digital photos—simply plug in any supported memory card and your photos come to life in vibrant, rich color. If your memory stick has home movies from your digicam or MP3 music files, the EasyShare Digital Photo Frame can play those too! Program the frame to turn on when you walk into your office and turn off when you leave with a programmable internal timer. Switch between photos or give a presentation to family members or co-workers with the included remote control. A great project for people with scanners to digitize, then share, their 35mm photos.
Great For: Anyone with an office, desk or cubicle whose space is more than half-occupied with cherished photos. Also great for college students whose parents miss them on a day-to-day basis.
Cost: $100 for the 7-inch frame, increasing in price for larger frame sizes or additional features. You will also need an external media card of any size (the bigger the size, the more photos, videos or MP3s can be displayed or streamed). Frame faceplates are also available for alternative decor settings, sold separately.
Available At: Best Buy, Target, Amazon.com and Overstocked.com.
Got an idea for a holiday gift idea that I didn’t cover? Shoot me an e-mail and let me know what it is!
In my past life, I was a tree or something. If not a tree, something that grew old and didn't move very much. I'm pretty convinced of this.