Top 10 Christmas Gadgets for Moms

source: http://office.microsoft.com

by Lori Cunningham (@wellconnectdmom)

    Merry Christmas, everyone!  Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  I love celebrating Jesus’ birth and recognizing His life-saving importance in our lives.   There’s nothing like the snow on the mountains and the change in weather.  OK, OK.  I live in Southern California, so unlike many of you, I don’t have to deal with snow shoveling, dangerous iced roads, and sub-zero temperatures.  Nonetheless, Christmas brings a warming to our hearts that makes the beginning of the winter more bearable. We are excited to tell you that we have come up with a fantastic list of unique techy gifts that Moms are going to love.  You can’t go wrong with anyone of them.  See something you like?  Forward this article to a friend or husband…or post the gadget on Facebook.  That will get the hint across!  Check out these very cool items and feel free to ask questions in the comments section.

1.)  3M Streaming Projector

source: Amazon

Now, this is too cool!  The 3M Streaming Projector is small enough to fit in your hand, yet projects big enough to create a 10 foot screen on your wall, ceiling, garage, or screen in your backyard!  But it gets even better.  The 3M  Streaming Projector has a power cord, if need be, you can disconnect it and run it using it’s included 2 hour 45 minute battery life!  So it is truly portable.  But there’s even more!  The 3M Streaming Projector comes with Roku, which means with WiFi, you can stream movies directly from Netflix, Hulu Plus, Crackle, HBO to Go, Flixster, and more.  There’s even an output for exterior speakers or headphones.  Oh, and one more thing!  You can also connect your tablet or smartphone with an HDMI cable to show off your latest pics, videos, or Internet content.

The 3M Streaming Projector retails for $293.99  and can be found at Amazon.com with free Super Saver Shipping.

2.)  CarMD

We reviewed CarMD in October and it is a great tool for Moms to feel more comfortable about taking their car in to get service.  It’s a handheld gadget that plugs into your car’s diagnostic port, which all cars 1996 and older have, and is usually below the steering wheel.  This is the same port auto technicians use when assessing your vehicle.  After plugging in CarMD and turning on the car, you will receive either a green, yellow, or red colored light.  Green means your car is good, yellow means there are some minor issues, and red means you should take the car into be looked at.  After receiving the color light indication, plug CarMD into your PC and you’ll get more details about the issues your car is facing.  These details stem from a national database…the same one that your car technician uses.

Even better, CarMD researches the average price for the repair and gives you an estimate (for most repairs).  So now you can take your car in for repairs with confidence and knowledge.  Read our review, How To Tell if Your Car Repair Man is Telling You the Truth, for more details and pictures.

CarMD sells for $119.99 plus free Super Saver shipping at Amazon.com or $119.95 + $14.95 shipping from CarMD.

3.)  Galaxy S III OR HTC Windows phone 8X

If you’ve been a smartphone user for a while, the latest, greatest smartphone on the market is the Samsung Galaxy S III.  The Samsung Galaxy S III has a generous 4.8” HD Super AMOLED™ display which displays beautiful pictures and videos, a 8.0 megapixel camera with…get this…no shutter lag!  In fact, you can take 20 continuous shots within seconds using Burst Shot, ensuring you get that perfect soccer kick or handshake during graduation.

The Galaxy S III is priced as low as $99 with some great deals going on through T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, and more.

Need something simpler?  The HTC Windows phone 8X comes in a variety of beautiful colors…like yellow, red, purple, and black.  It has a 4.3 inch LCD screen, an 8 megapixel camera, and a surprising 2.1 megapixel front facing camera (most are under 2MP).  Although the Windows 8 phone is good for all users, it is especially good for new smartphone users.  The interface is beautiful and it is easier to find the apps you use more often.  Windows does a great job of ensuring you’re aware of your latest messages, texts, and phone calls too.

The HTC Windows Phone 8X is available for $199, sometimes lower dependent upon your mobile carrier’s deals.

4.)  Galaxy Camera

source: rediff.com

Galaxy has had such success with their Galaxy Phones and Player, that the decided to branch out into a camera.  The Samsung Galaxy Camera just launched in November and includes both a full-functioning advanced point and shoot camera AND a full Jelly Bean Android OS.  That means you can download on your camera all of your favorite apps including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Flickr, you name it.  It’s never been so easy to upload your pictures to your favorite social website.  In addition, you can read and send e-mail’s, check your calendar, play Angry Birds, anything else you normally do on your Android smartphone.  Although you can purchase a 4G mobile card for instant data access, you cannot use the camera as your phone.  It features a 4.8” HD Super Clear Touch Screen LCD, a 23 mm wide-angle lens, 16 MP pictures, and a 21X optical zoom.  This is a fantastic camera, we can’t recommend it enough.  It also features continuous shots, panorama stitching, and many more fabulous shooting modes that will make your pictures incredible.  The camera comes SIM card capability for mobile data usage.  We have been testing the Galaxy Camera for 3 weeks now and it is a dream.

The unlocked Galaxy Camera retails $608.99 at Amazon.com.  AT&T sells the Galaxy Camera for $499.99 with a 2 year contract.

5.)  Dance Central 3

source: wikipedia.com

OK, now for a little fun.  Dance Central 3  just released and it’s a blast.  Moms can dance the night away, moving to the latest tunes by 50 cent, Usher, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Gloria Gaynor, Village People, and more.  For a full song list, see this website.  Dance Central 3 really brings out the party, now including a Party mode, allowing up to 8 players to dance at once.  Dance to the latest dance moves or travel back in time to dance to such dance crazes as The Hustle, Electric Slide, The Dougie, and more.  Dance Central 3 is a lot of fun and is sure to be a hit with Mom and the kids…(and visiting friends)!  New add-ons have just become available. Are you a Gangnam fan?  For an extra $3 bucks you can download the moves of the Gangnam dance craze.

Dance Central 3 sells for $39.99 plus free Super Saver shipping at Amazon.com.  Looking for more great games?  See our article, The Best Upcoming Family Games from E3 2012.

6.)  Nike + Kinect Training

If Dance Central 3 doesn’t give you enough exercise, Nike + Kinect  Training sure will!  If you’re looking for a way to shed some pounds, further tone your muscles, or both, come January, the Nike + Kinect Training game for the XBOX 360 is the way to go.  Dance games are fun and you do get tired, but Nike + Kinect Training will help you get to your goals faster.  Since it involves XBOX 360 Kinect, there is no controller to hold.  The Kinect camera evaluates your moves and exercises and the game’s instructor educates you on how to improve your form.  Nike + Kinect Training also evaluates you through a series of brief exercises to come up with your Nike Fuel Print score.  You can compare this score against others in the Nike + Kinect community.  Based on the assessment, Nike + Kinect Training provides you with customized exercises to help you achieve your goals.  Will you get sore?  YES!  Will you get tired?  YES!  Is it worth it?  YES!  See our thorough review:   My Personal Nike Trainer in My Family Room.

Nike +Kinect Training is available at Amazon.com for $47.06 plus free Super Saver shipping.

7.)  iHealth Wireless Body Analysis Scale

source: ihealthlabs.com

If you’re gearing up for your New Year’s Resolutions, chances are likely losing weight is on that list, especially just after the Christmas season.  WiFi scales have been around now for several years and their features just keep getting better.  This iHealth Wireless Body Analysis Scale measures your weight, body fat, lean mass, muscle mass, bone mass, body water, daily calorie intake, body mass index, and visceral fat rating.  YIKES!  Can you say too much information????  Nonetheless, you’ll be able to keep track of your weight adjustments better than ever before.  And since it’s wireless, your stats can be sent to the free iHealth mobile app on your phone.  Just think of it, you may not lose a pound for a couple of days, but most likely your visceral fat rating or muscle mass improved, so the iHealth Wireless Body Analysis Scale can finally give you insight to your body’s changes.

The iHealth Wireless body Analysis Scale can be purchased directly from iHealth for $109.95 plus applicable shipping and taxes.

8.)  Latest iPad

source: hollywoodreporter.com

If you don’t have a tablet already, the latest iPad (sometimes referred to as iPad 3) is the one to get.  It’s ease-of-use and beautiful display is hard to beat.  With it’s 5MP camera, it far surpasses the quality of the iPad 2 and the pictures show up brilliantly on the 2048×1536 resolution screen.  There are so many great apps you can download to take full advantage of the graphics, improved processor, and sharper camera.  Just be careful, your kids will constantly be asking if they can use it too!

The latest iPad has multiple price points, the lowest being $499 for WiFi only and $629 for WiFi + 4 G for the 16 GB size.

9.)  iPad Case by Papier de Maison

source: www.tabletcovershop.com

Looking to add some pizzazz and functionality to your iPad case?  Papier de Maison makes a great artistic case that is more unique and artistic than any other iPad cover out there.  Better yet, the iPad case includes an enclosed 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 pad of paper which beautifully coordinates with the outside of the case.  There is even a flexible pen holder which holds a colorful pen which doubles as a handy stylus for your iPad.  There are a number of designs available.  The profile of the case is thick enough to provide protection from an accidental drop and include magnets to keep the cover closed.  Papier de Maison also makes the same case styles available for the Kindle for $20.

The Papier de Maison iPad case sells for $30 plus free Super Saver shipping on Amazon.com.

10.)  Tria Hair Removal

If you’ve already been reading The WellConnectedMom.com, you already know how much we love the Tria Hair Removal Laser.  We have been using it for three months (out of the suggested six months) and have already seen a reduction in hair under the arms by as much as 60%.  Take laser hair removal into your own hands and for a fraction of what you’d pay by going to a hair removal specialist plus numerous visits, you can do in the comfort and privacy of your own home.  Tria Hair Removal Laser is great for brown and dark hair and lighter skin tones.  See our latest post, Tria Laser Hair Removal at Home, is it Working? to find out more.

The Tria Hair Removal Laser retails for $395 plus shipping available through TriaBeauty.com.

Well, there you have it, our top 10 gadgets for Mom based on a very busy year of reviewing gadgets, scouring the Internet for the best gadgets, and attending trade shows.  At WellConnectedMom.com, we are moms and dads who want to keep abreast of the best and safest technology out there for our kids and for ourselves.  Keep reading, next week we’ll introduce our top tech picks for your kids.  Have a tween or teen?  See our recommendations on Best Buy’s Gifts That Do website.   Looking for more great gift ideas for Mom?  See last year’s list, Top 10 Christmas Gadgets for Moms 2011.

* We were given a number of these items to review personally, including the CarMD, Galaxy Camera (a loan), Nike + Kinect Training, Dance Central 3, iPad case by Papier de Maison, and the Tria Hair Removal System.  Based on our use and opinions of them, they have landed themselves on our top gadgets for Moms list.