20 awesome gadgets and gift ideas for techies!

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Touchfire Screen-Top iPad Keyboard
For iPad users who hate trying to type on the software-based keyboard, the Touchfire provides a quick tactile feel to give you some semblance of having a keyboard beneath your fingers. Plus, it's ultra-thin and it even works with smart covers, so it's not a component you have to carry around separately. Pretty neat-o, if I do say so, myself! Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
TP-LINK Wireless N Nano Router
For the traveling techie, this nano router acts as a quick WiFi access point anywhere there's an Ethernet cable with a life Internet connection coursing through it. Gone are the days of carting around a 20 ft. Ethernet cable to compensate for shoddy hotel WiFi! Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
Brookstone's 1080p HDMI Pocket Projector
Brookstone's 1080p HDMI projector allows you to project whatever is on your phone out into the world for many more to see. Its compactness makes it the perfect companion for those who frequently have presentations to give! Of course, it would also be great for movies, too, so there's always that. Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
MMT Monitor2Go
This is one of the coolest devices I've seen in a long time. It can either be a second monitor for a laptop, a larger screen for a phone, or a larger screen for a tablet -- which you can actually slide into the base. And for as functional as this monitor is, it costs nowhere what you might think it would! Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
Keyboard Coasters
Coasters that have keyboard designs on them. Simple, right? Maybe so, but they might just make for a great stocking-stuffer to get things started on Christmas day! Source: Click here

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Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
Remee Lucid Dreaming Mask
What would you do if you could control your dreams? Known as "lucid dreaming," the Remee mask knows when you're dreaming and seeks to let you know so via flashing red lights not bright enough to wake you up, but bright enough to create visual anomalies somewhere in your dreams! Masks like this used to be ridiculously expensive, but not anymore. Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
INADAYS InaTrap Electronic Insect Killer and Night Light
If the techie you know is a techie like me, then they absolutely despise the presence of fruit flies, mosquitoes, and any other winged pests. As such, the InaTrap Insect Killer may be just the device they've been searching for -- especially if, unlike me, they're a desk-full-of-empty-soda-cans-and-fast-food-bags kind of techie. Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
Tetris Stackable LED Desk Lamp
This is a lamp that's made of movable Tetris pieces that all illuminate when they touch one another. How awesome is that!? Quite frankly, I think this could be the most exciting item on this list. For me, at least. Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
Fitbit One
This wondrous little device tells you all kinds of things about your daily routine, such as how many steps you've taken in a day, how many calories you've burned, how many times you wake up during a night's sleep, and far more. That data is all synced and formulated into graphs for you to take and use to enhance your health. Pretty neat, huh? Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
Anker Astro3 10000mAh External Battery
For on-the-go techies who have tons of gadgets and doohickeys, battery life can sometimes bring the party to a halt. As such, an external battery charger may be just the thing that certain techie in your life needs to keep their gadget party going! And for the price, you really can't beat it. Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
Nest Learning Thermostat
How would you like to have a thermostat that learns what temperature you like it to be when you sit down to read ZDNet every morning? Perhaps you like to read ZDNet with it being 1-degree cooler on Thursdays than you keep it on Mondays. Whatever the case may be, the Nest learning thermostat is there to learn your temperature habits and make it such that, in theory, you never have to adjust the thermostat ever again. Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Quadricopter
Up, up, and awaaaaaay! Once reserved for military operations, the quadricopter has hit the scene hard as a really fun toy for grown-ups. And with the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0, you can control this particular quadricopter via WiFi with your smartphone. Just be careful not to send it too high up into the air, or you might never see it again (like what happened to this guy)! Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
Escort SmartRadar
This radar detection system ties into a techie's smartphone, so they can not only be notified when a radar band is detected, but they can also be notified of known hot spots where cops like to chillax, eat donuts, and catch speeders -- as well as traffic hang-ups and much more. CNET's Antuan Goodwin (credit to him for the image above) wrote up an in-depth review based on hands-on experience, so be sure to check it out if you're interested in this radar system! Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
Viper SmartStart Security with Remote Start System
For the renaissance techie that also enjoys their ride, the Viper SmartStart system does just about everything imaginable -- be it starting the car, locking/unlocking the doors, and MUCH more -- all from one's smartphone. Give them the best of both worlds: smartphone and automotive geekery, at its finest! Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
BeoPlay A3 Portable Premium Stereo
The BeoPlay A3 takes an otherwise ordinary-sounding iPad and turns it into an audio-centric device of aural pleasure! It's one of the pricier gadgets on the list, but for the music-loving, iPad-using techie in your life, they would never see this gift coming. Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
Thermacell Heated Insoles
If there's anything a techie hates, it's being cold -- especially when we keep so many warm devices running in our midst! For the techies with cold feet, these heated insoles are just what the doctor ordered. Source: Click here

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Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
MOGA Android Gaming Controller
For the Android smartphone enthusiast in your life, any love for gaming they have can be greatly enhanced with the MOGA gaming controller. Though it has a long-and-growing list of games it supports, thankfully, it's now possible to map the buttons to emulators, thanks to the MOGA Universal Driver. Be sure to check out ZDNet's very own Matthew Miller's hands-on experience with the MOGA (credit to him for the image above, as sourced from his MOGA image gallery )! Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
ThermoWorks Thermapen (Digital Thermometer)
If there's one thing a techie is, it's inquisitive. And for techies out there who are into cooking, knowing that certain types of foods (chicken, etc.) are at a non-life-threatening temperatures makes for a satisfactory cooking and nomming experience. The Thermapen sports fast and accurate read times, too -- just what every foodie-techie needs! Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
Belkin LiveAction Camera Remote
For the outgoing iPhone user in your life who loves capturing the moment, Belkin's LiveAction camera remote allows one to make use of their iPhone's camera functionality from up to 30 feet away. Whether it's taking a photo or recording a video with an iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, or iPhone 5, this gadget is an excellent alternative to extending one's arm out as far as they can to fit as many people as they can into a shot! Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman
3-in-1 Breakfast Station
The 3-in-1 breakfast station is self-explanatory! It's a one-stop shop for meat, eggs, toast, coffee, and whatever else you can conjure up within its means. There happens to be quite a number of companies offering their take on this doodad, so I've linked to a Google search that will allow you seek the one that's right for you. May the best breakfast station win! Source: Click here

For even more gift ideas, don't miss the galleries below!
Published: November 27, 2012 -- 08:01 GMT (00:01 PST)
Caption by: Stephen Chapman

Looking for gift ideas for that special techie in your life (even if you're said "special techie")? There's something for just about everyone here! And don't miss the additional galleries linked throughout, where you'll find nearly 100 more excellent gadgets and gift ideas!

Touchfire Screen-Top iPad Keyboard

For iPad users who hate trying to type on the software-based keyboard, the Touchfire provides a quick tactile feel to give you some semblance of having a keyboard beneath your fingers. Plus, it's ultra-thin and it even works with smart covers, so it's not a component you have to carry around separately. Pretty neat-o, if I do say so, myself! Source: Click here