Tech Gifts for the Holidays #VZWBuzz

Tech Gifts for the Holidays #VZWBuzz

As a member of the #VzwBuzz influencer team, I receive devices with line of service from Verizon. All opinions remain my own.

The holidays are literally right around the corner. If you are like me, you still have a few people on your shopping list to buy for.

The problem often times is… what do I buy them?

The Verizon Wireless store is a great place to shop for gifts, even for the hard to buy for!

Yep, you heard me right. They have so much more than just cell phones!

Here are a few of my favorite tech items… all of which can be purchased at Verizon.

Photography

• GoPro Hero 4: Capture your world in an all-new way with HERO4 Silver, the first-ever GoPro to feature a built-in touch display. This model brings more convenience than ever to your shoots. All you have to do is view, tap and swipe the screen when you want to control the camera, frame shots and play back content.The HERO4 Silver captures 1080p60 and 720p120 video with lifelike clarity, along with 12MP photos at a staggering 30 frames per second. Combining new experience-enhancing features in addition to everything you know and love about previous models – like waterproof housing up to 131 feet (40m) -the HERO4 Silver is versatile and powerful. Enjoy pro-quality capture with the convenience of a touch display. Please note: Coming Soon for iOS 8.

Purchased one of these for my husband about a month ago and he is having the time of his life capturing video he otherwise wouldn’t have the capability to do so. The images are stunning and I cannot wait to capture our next family vacation… wet or dry!

Audio

• Logitech EU Boom Wireless Speaker:The Ultimate Ears Boom is a 360° Bluetooth® speaker that delivers exceptional audio clarity in a room, at a party, or anywhere music lovers go. The versatile shape provides sound in every direction and allows for easy portability. It also comes equipped with an acoustic skin that’s water and stain resistant. Equipped with a 15-hour rechargeable battery, it also functions as a speakerphone for making and receiving handsfree calls.

This compact speaker (with a cool look) has surprising sound quality even at high volumes. I connect via bluetooth to my phone while streaming to share my tunes with the whole house.

• Tracks Air Wireless Headphones by SOL REPUBLIC: Tracks AIR Wireless Headphones by SOL REPUBLIC x Motorola combine stellar sound, unmatched 150-foot wireless range, dual-device connectivity and an unbelievable 15-hour battery life, providing on-the-go convenience that active music lovers will celebrate.

I love these headphones so much I got a pair for both of my older children. I have been contemplating a pair for myself if Santa doesn’t deliver. If you are purchasing for a fashionista… you can purchase different headbands to easily change the look to match their outfit or their mood for the day.

Sports & Fitness

• Fitbit Wireless Activity Tracker:  Whether you choose the zip (waistband clip), Flex (watch style) or Charge (watch style with display), easily track your steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, stairs climbed and active minutes. When you day is done you can track your sleep. All versions will wirelessly synch data to your smartphone and/or computer. So no matter where you are, you can stay motivated to step up your fitness and beat your own personal goals.

My family has owned just about every version of Fitbit. We all prefer a digital readout while a few of us prefer the watch style and others the clip. Whatever version you purchase, you will be able to easily monitor your activity level and up your game if you find you are falling below your goals.

Wearable Tech

• Moto 360 Smart Watch: From its round stainless steel case to the leather band and single side button, Moto 360 has the look of a luxury timepiece. When its touch screen comes alive with an alert, you realize this smart watch is as helpful as it is brilliant.Built for all-day use, Moto 360 has ample battery life, wireless charging and a water-resistant design. It’s versatile, too, operating on Android Wear and compatible with smartphones that use Android 4.3 or higher. It even responds to your voice and doubles as an activity tracker.

I do not own this (yet), but I have had the opportunity to hear from a Motorola rep all the fabulous things this watch can do. Although it is a Motorola product, with the right configuration it can be used with most smart phones. If you are in the market for yourself, or looking at it for a gift, the Moto 360 is a stylish but yet powerful addition to anyone’s “smart” lifestyle.

Smart Home

• Nest Home Thermostat: Get help conserving energy and reducing your energy bill with the Nest Learning Thermostat. This thermostat learns your schedule and programs itself to adjust temperatures when you’re not home.You can control the Nest thermostat while away from home using your compatible mobile device. To stay on top of energy usage, you’ll receive a monthly energy report via email. Setup is simple, and Nest works with many heating and cooling systems.

  Nest creates a personalized schedule based on the temperature changes you typically make and continually adapts to changes. It will program itself in about a week. The Nest Learning Thermostat senses when your home is empty and adjusts the temperature to avoid unnecessary heating or cooling.

Although I do not own a Nest (yet), I know several people that do and everyone has fabulous things to say about it. My husband and I try to stay on top of our energy usage to keep our bills down. Having the Nest to program itself would be one less thing to worry about.

Gaming & Toys

• Turtle Beach Gaming Headphones: If you are looking for premium audio peripherals for video game consoles, personal computers and mobile devices, then you need Turtle Beach headphones. Turtle Beach boast high fidelity audio with sound that feels real.

My son begged for Turtle Beach headphones for months before I caved and purchased a pair for him. I give him credit for knowing quality. When wearing them I could tell where the sound was coming from… so I knew the location  someone was approaching me from. I could understand that chat conversations better and the overall feel of the game was more real.

Smart Phones

• Motorola Droid Turbo: Rise to the moment with Droid Turbo by Motorola. Get a turbo processor with 2.7 GHz speed. Keep going all day and night with Turbo charging† and up to 48-hour battery life*. See every detail with the 5.2-inch Quad HD display and 21-megapixel camera. With Ballistic Nylon, it’s as strong as it is quick.

If you are looking for an overall fabulous phone, the Droid Turbo boasts a 2.7 GHz Quad Core Processor, a long life battery (up to 48 hours), a 21 megapixel front facing camera (with fabulous low light capabilities I might add), with a chemically strengthened screen (if it’s damaged in the 1st two years, they will replace it once for free).

I’ve written a couple of posts about this amazing phone. Check them out!

• Samsung Galaxy Note 4:Big. Bold. Brilliantly distinctive. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 offers features to improve how you live, work and play. Dive into the dynamic Quad HD Super AMOLED® display. Do more with Samsung’s most precise and useful S Pen™. Take impressive selfies with the wide-angle 3.7-megapixel front camera.

If size matters, if you love the versatility of “pen to paper”, if you need to multi-task on your phone (dual view), and you need a phone that can quick charge (up to 50% in 30 minutes)… the Note 4 might be for you.

I have not personally used a Note 4, but have been a happy Note 3 user for over a year now. I dream about the Note 4 because I do love a good sized phablet, enjoy having the pen capabilities and I have enjoyed the quality photos I’ve captured with my Note 3. It can only get better, right?

Tablets

• Sony Xperia Z2:  Slim. Light. Waterproof. Exclusive to Verizon. The Sony Xperia® Z2 Tablet combines an easy-to-use design with a 10.1-inch Full HD display that brings media to life. The two surround-sound speakers offer clear and booming sound. It also comes with access to six pre-selected feature movies.

I do not own this particular tablet, but have seen many videos taken with it by friends. It amazes me that you can fully submerge this tablet without damaging it. So, if you are buying a tablet for someone that likes to read while taking a bubble bath or if they have a precocious child that likes to dunk things in the toilet this tablet is for them!

• Samsung Galaxy Note Pro:  Meet the innovative and immersive Samsung Galaxy Note® Pro. It has the utility and elegance you’d expect from a tablet, plus a dazzling 12.2-inch Full HD display and business essentials—all in a lightweight design. With this combination of size, power and portability, it’s a new tablet experience.

I know there are so many Samsung tablets, it’s hard to keep them straight. I personally like the Note version because I am a multi-tasker and use it for business reasons. If you aren’t sure which one would suit your needs, check out this post for an explanation.

 

Do you have any plans to gift tech this holiday season? Tell me about it in the comments below!