Black Friday ads leaking out
The much-hyped “biggest shopping day” of the year is just around the corner. I’m not usually a go-out-at-midnight shopper, but I might find something to tempt me this year.
The ads for big retailers are starting to leak out and tech deals are at the top of the list. If you are shopping for some new gear this year (like HDTVs, cameras, netbooks, computers, and more) check out these deals and plot your plan of attack.
And of course, don’t forget Cyber Monday.
Pinx! to track prices for online gifts
Christmas is coming, and I have started my kids’ wish lists over at Kaboodle.
This year I am taking it one step further with registering the prices for items I want with PricePinx!, an online price-watching service.
It’s free, and they do all the time-consuming work. No need to keep checking multiple web sites daily to see if prices have dropped. Just Pinx! them and then you get an email when the price drops or when it reaches a pre-determined price.
You just have to sign-up for a free account and then add the Pinx! tool to your bookmarks. When you find an item you want to watch, simply highlight the item’s price from the product description page and then click the Pinx bookmark. The site will track your item and send you email updates with price notifications.
A penny saved is a penny earned. Let PricePinx! help you save them!
A Virtual Birthday Party
A new Wii game gives parents a “birthday party in a box” with the Birthday Party Bash from 2K. The program includes themed games, invitation and special offers from Duncan Hines Party City and Evite.
According to the company’s release:”In Birthday Party Bash, up to 12 party goers can whack, roll, splash, pop, scribble, climb, jump, and shimmy their way through more than 20 birthday games, including Piñata Blast, Duncan Hines Cake Stacker, Pin the Tail, Hot Potato and Birthday Blowout. The birthday boy or girl can also choose from ten party theme rooms to set the scene for an unforgettable bash, from “Pirates,” complete with sword and treasure chest, to “Princess,” with a royal castle, a fancy crown, and unicorn. When it’s time to break for cake, a lively rendition of the traditional “Happy Birthday” song will play for everyone to sing along in karaoke-style, with a virtual cake on screen.”
OK–I know birthday parties can be hard to plan, but I’m not sure about taking them virtual. What’s next? You can just hold them in SecondLife and no one actually has to leave their houses to attend.
At least with the Wii format, the kids may actually be physically active with more than just their thumbs, but at least chip in for some actual decorations and a cake, mom.
The program retails for $39.99 and includes 12 ready-to-mail invites, customized Evites, a guide to party planning, and coupons for Duncan Hines mixes and Party City.
Just be sure to have several Wii remotes or the party’s over.
Just in time for Memorial Day weekend
GeekSugar has a rundown on some interesting gadgets for the beach like waterproof cameras, flash drives and speakers. There is also a set of sunglasses from Oakley with built in mp3 player.
I think my favorite thought is this cooler bag from Pottery Barn with built-in speakers. Perfect for some poolside tunes or beachfront book reading. The bag runs $79 and runs on 4 AA batteries.
Deck the Halls
It’s almost Christmas and the holiday season is in full swing. Gingerbread houses are a winter holiday tradition. But just as toy fads and fashion change, so too has the art of gingerbread architecture changed.
This year it’s not just about gum drops and snow covered roofs, but motherboards and Star Wars. In this new age of gingerbread anything’s possible, even a gingerbread man with LED eyes. From star destroyers, to laptops, to mansions with working lights, gingerbread isn’t just a kids activity anymore.
Never Miss a Smile
We finally took our holiday photo this weekend. It turned out cute despite ending in tears and a few drops of blood when my littlest took a header off the bench he was sitting on with his brother while I snapped away with my camera. Ah, holiday memories . . .
Sony has a new camera technology to make sure you never miss the smile when you take pictures. The Cybershot’s Smile Shutter feature actually recognizes the human smile to click at the precise moment a grin appears. It’s really pretty neat stuff.
The feature lets you set the sensitivity so you are sure to get just what you are looking for. You can also turn the feature off since not all pictures have to have smiling subjects.
Here is a video showing it in action.
For other great holiday tech gift ideas, check out our wi-fi gift guide.
Holiday Card Slacker
Every year I love getting photo cards from friends around the country showing their families as they grow. Usually, I am ready to go with my own photo that I usually print at Sam’s Club. This year, however, I have been very slack. I’m hoping to still get something out before it is too late, but the clock is definitely ticking.
For those of you who don’t like the photo card route, or who just want to take the whole thing digital, you might be interested in a You Tube greeting card that I found via Lifehacker.
You can pick a video or record your own and add it to a background with a message and email it to up to 25 friends via You Tube.
Another favorite is Elfyourself from OfficeMax and JibJab. Create a stunningly hilarious elf-version of yourself or even your whole family dancing disco, The Charleston, country or classic and send to friends or embed on your blog or Facebook or whatever else you want. This year you can also download the file to save for posterity for just $4.99.
A Snow Improvment
Lets be honest, its started to snow (in most places that get snow anyway) and it is time for outdoor winter activities. No, I’m not talking about skiing, or snowboarding (I don’t even get snow shoeing) I’m not even referring specifically to sledding, I’m thinking more snowball fights.
It’s difficult enough to pack a correct projectile (not any simple powder will work) add to that the awkwardness of gloves and the sensibility of fingers, and snowball fights become an all out battle of endurance and perseverance. Technology helps in all other areas of our lives, why not in the winter wonderland? (Especially in time for the holidays)
That’s where the Snowball Launcher comes in. It’s exactly what it sounds like. This particular advancement to extreme winter sports can shoot snowballs up to 50 feet (no mere athletic skill can give you the upper hand anymore) . Add to that the fact the launcher will pack snowballs for you (3 at a time) and it’s like a dream come true. See who doesn’t want you on their team now 
Muppet Magic
I grew up on Sesame Street (the show not the place) and I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like Kermit the Frog. Lets be honest muppets are a part of everyone’s life whether we want to admit it or not. Well now they can become a real member of the family, and you get to design who you want to join you around the kitchen table.
FAO Schwarz now has the Whatnot Muppet Workshop where you can pick a body, eyes, hair, nose, and outfit for your own personal muppet. It’s all online! Think of the holiday possibilities! Muppets have never been just any old puppet and at last it seems we the young at heart can do our childhood stories justice with the real thing.
At $90 each they’re a bit expensive, but so are a lot of things at FAO Schwarz. What price can you put on childhood dreams anyway? It’s the holiday season, splurge.
Holiday Tech–Digital Photo Ornaments
I love this idea–digital photo ornaments that play a slideshow of up to 50 (8MB) worth of photos. While I’m not sure they will last as long as your favorite traditional photo ornament, it is a clever way to share your favorite pics from the year with family or on your own tree.
Amazon lists several options that are on sale for the holidays (about $20). Photos are easily downloaded from your computer to the ornament’s 1 1/2″ LED screen. You can then view photos individually or as a slideshow. Maybe start a tradition of adding a new ornament to the tree each year with your favorite photos from throughout the year.
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