Gift guide for techies on your list

Move over, pumpkin spice! It’s time for peppermint mocha, gingerbread and eggnog, and that means it’s time to start shopping for the holidays! With new technology coming out more frequently than ever, it’s hard to know what to look for when shopping for friends and family (and yourself, of course!) for the holidays.

With this guide, I aim to help you figure out where to throw your dollars this holiday season. I have compiled a list of 10 of the most popular pieces of tech for 2016. They are listed in no particular order.

Apple iPhone 7/7 Plus

Apple enthusiasts will certainly have the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus on their wishlists this year. Although not as drastically different as many had hoped, both the 7 and 7 Plus are huge upgrades over their predecessors, the 6s and 6s Plus. The newest iPhones are water resistant, have improved cameras, better batteries, stereo speakers, and much more. The 7 Plus features an additional rear telephoto lens, which will be a very attractive feature for photography enthusiasts.

For more on the new iPhone models, visit www.apple.com/iphone/compare.

Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge

When it comes to Android phones, there are a lot of options for the consumer, and it can be a little hard to decide which phone will get you the most bang for your buck. Samsung’s Galaxy S7/S7 Edge phones are some of the hottest smartphones on the market right now, and both are a great choice for anyone in the market for a new Android phone. The main difference between the S7 and the S7 Edge is the Edge’s curvy sides, which serve as a place to display favorite contacts, frequently used apps, sports scores, and more. Mostly, though, they just make the S7 Edge look like a really stylish and unique phone. The cameras on both phones are identical, so if you do decide to get the smaller of the two models, you won’t be compromising on photo quality.

For more information about the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, visit www.samsung.com/us/explore/galaxy-s7-features-and-specs.

Fitbit Charge 2

Those who are interested in monitoring their physical activity will certainly be asking for a Fitbit Charge 2 this holiday season. There are many different Fitbit models, but the Charge 2, released just a few short months ago, is, overall, the best Fitbit device you can get for the money. The Charge 2 will help the millions of people who will inevitably make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, or to simply move more. The Fitbit tracks your activity, steps, distance, heart rate, sleep, calories burned, and more.

For more on the Fitbit Charge 2, visit www.fitbit.com/charge2.

Apple Watch Series 2

The Apple Watch Series 2 is the successor to the most successful smartwatch in history. This is another device that is perfect for the health-conscious person on your shopping list; the new and improved Apple Watch has a built-in GPS, allowing fitness fanatics to track their runs, walks, and/or biking sessions without having to bring their iPhone along. For those who aren’t interested in fitness tracking, the Series 2 still has a lot to offer: aside from being, well, a watch, the Apple Watch Series 2 lets you access your favorite apps from the main watch screen, check your notifications, and even respond to text messages, all without touching your iPhone. Not everyone is sold on the idea of a smartwatch yet, but Apple is making the sell a lot easier with all these improvements.

For more on the Apple Watch Series 2, visit www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-2.

Sony PlayStation 4 - Slim/Pro

Sony’s latest home console, the PlayStation 4, has been on the market for a couple of years now, and Sony has just recently released two updated versions of the console - the PS4 Slim and the PS4 Pro. The PS4 Slim is basically a PS4 in a smaller case, and it will replace the original “fat” model first released in 2013. The PS4 Pro is Sony’s future-proof PS4, and will be the choice for those who already own a 4K HDTV. Even if 4K isn’t on your radar yet, all games will run in 1080p resolution on PS4 Pro, and some of them will run in a more stable framerate. If graphics are really important for the console gamer you’re shopping for, the PS4 Pro is probably the better choice.

For more information about the PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro, visit www.playstation.com/en-us/explore/ps4.

Sony PlayStation VR

PlayStation VR is for PlayStation gamers who are looking for something new and revolutionary when it comes to the way people play games. VR (virtual reality) is going to be a huge part of the future of video games, and Sony wants everyone to know that it’s not a gimmick. The PlayStation VR is still very new, and it’s certainly going to be a hot item for the most hardcore of gamers this holiday season.

For more on PlayStation VR, visit www.playstation.com/en-us/explore/playstation-vr.

Oculus Rift

The Oculus Rift is a VR headset that has been around since March of this year. It is one of the most popular virtual reality headsets for PC gamers, and it’s the device that got everyone excited for VR in 2016. There are all sorts of great games, like Dead and Buried, Ripcoil, VR Sports Challenge, and many more. There is also a Minecraft Windows 10 Edition beta that runs on Oculus Rift, allowing Minecraft fans to experience the game they know and love in a brand new way. The Rift is for PC gamers who are looking for a thrilling, lifelike experience. Rift takes PC gaming to a whole new level.

For more about the Oculus Rift, visit www.oculus.com/en-us/rift.

Microsoft Xbox One S

The Xbox One S is the all-new, redesigned Xbox One. It’s 40 percent smaller than the original model, and the power supply is now internal. The One S supports 4K Blu-ray and video streaming, as well as High Dynamic Range (HDR) for videos and games. For those who don’t already own an Xbox One, the One S is a great option. This will certainly make someone very happy this holiday season!

For more information about the Xbox One S, visit www.theverge.com/2016/8/2/12348212/microsoft-xbox-one-s-review.

GoPro HERO5 Black 4K Action Camera

GoPro has revolutionized the action camera industry, and the new HERO5 Black is the latest and greatest GoPro has to offer. Using voice commands, such as “GoPro take a photo,” you won’t even need to touch your GoPro to capture precious moments. The HERO5 is waterproof up to 33 feet -  just imagine all the cool surfing footage and shots you could capture during the spring and summer! Even though GoPro is known for sports, it is also being used by families who wish to capture that precious “home movie” footage in a new way. I recently saw a video where someone mounted a GoPro on their bouquet of flowers at their wedding, so viewers could see the bouquet as it flew into the air. Video and photo enthusiasts will find plenty of ways to get creative with the GoPro HERO5 Black, and it makes a great gift for the holidays.

For more about the GoPro HERO5 Black, visit shop.gopro.com/cameras/hero5-black/CHDHX-501-master.html.

Google Home

Google Home is a voice-activated speaker that sits anywhere in your home, ready to answer your questions and do things for you. Having a Google Home on your table will make your house feel a lot “smarter.” While walking around or sitting in your home, you can command Home to play music, answer math questions, turn up the volume on the TV, and much, much more. If you have the proper setup, it can even control the thermostat in your home! This device is very futuristic, and is certainly a gift that will excite anyone who identifies as a “techie.”

For more on Google Home, visit www.madeby.google.com/home.

I hope this guide will give you some direction when it comes to purchasing tech items this holiday season. New technology is always exciting, and I can’t wait to see what kind of cool gadgets will be available next year!

Have a Tech-y Holiday!