Stuff Gift Guide | December 2011

December 2011 A Motivate Publication

GadGets / apps / G e ar

gadget

gIFt gUIde

Choosing pressies for your peeps can take ages, so we’ve done the work for you.

Fire up the interweb and let’s get the holiday sorted in the next half hour.

gadgetS l gaMeS l MUSIC l BLU-RaY l PLUS MUCH MORe

WELCOME Motivate Publishing FZ LLC Building 8, Office 508, Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates email us stuff@motivate.ae surf us www.stuffmideast.com Editor-in-Chief Obaid Humaid Al Tayer Group Editor & Managing Partner Ian Fairservice Group Senior Editor Gina Johnson Editor Thomas Shambler Senior Designer Clarkwin Cruz Chief Sub Editor Iain Smith Contributor Mike Priest General Manager Group Sales Anthony Milne Advertisement Manager Omran Naseem Senior Production Manager S. Sunil Kumar Production Manager C. Sudhakar Production Supervisor R. Murali Krishnan

Haymarket Publishing

Licensing Director Tim Bulley Licensing Executive Isla Friend Managing Director Kevin Costello Publishing Director Susan O’Hare Editor Fraser Macdonald © All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers. Liability: while every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any consequence arising from it. In the case of all product reviews, judgements have been made in the context of the equipment available to Stuff at the time of review, and value-for-money comments are based on US$ prices at the time of review, which are subject to fluctuation.

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Printed by Emirates Printing Press, Dubai

All of the special people in your life will fall into one of the categories below, so match them up and get shopping. Who says the holidays have to be hard, eh?

04The

20The

Gifts a little different and a lot funky

Nurture artistic talents with to-do presents

08The

30The

No TV is too good for these box-set lovers

The hottest gadgets for game-lovers

12The

32The still

Help take their game to the next level

Alternatives for the forever fickle

13The

33The

Level-up your fashion game with these

The best festive apps for your smartphone

17The

34How to

cool hunter

telly addict

sporty type

style guru

Head Office Motivate Publishing, PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE Tel +971 4 282 4060; Fax +971 4 282 7593 Dubai Media City Motivate Publishing FZ LLC, Building 8, Dubai, UAE Tel +971 4 390 3550; Fax +971 4 390 4845 Abu Dhabi Motivate Advertising, Marketing & Publishing PO Box 43072, Tel +971 2 677 2005; Fax +971 2 677 0124 London Motivate Publishing Ltd Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER

big kid

Must-haves for playtime in Adultland

creator

gamer

undecided

appy one

Keep your sanity this Christmas with these handy how to’s

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GADGET GIFT GUIDE

COOL HUNTER For the person who only wants it if it’s so hot it’s still burning

1 Sony NEX-7

US$1,500 | sony.com There’s been a slew of interchangeable lens cameras announced of late, but the NEX-7 is the fair maiden that has wooed our snaphappy hearts. It’s the first mirrorless camera that manages to pack in a 14.3MP APS-C sensor. Very cool, indeed.

2 Monster Beats Studio

US$380 | beatsbydre.com Between taking his time to perfect a beat, Dr Dre spends his working hours with Monster’s audio engineers. And here are the colourful fruits of their labours, the excellent Beats by Dre over-ear noise-cancelling Studios, now in a fetching shade of red.

4 Case-mate Monsta

US$15 | case-mate.com Protect your prized new iPhone 4S, by wrapping it in these comfy, sillicone skins.

The thin-but-tough casing will protect your smartphone from all manner of drops and scratches, while pimpin’ up the back to boot.

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3 Sagemcom Sixty

US$120 | amazon.com This rather beautiful specimen borrows the aesthetic of your old rotary-dial home phone, but packs its slimline shell with tech. It’s a cordless DECT phone with 10 hours of talk time, a 50m range and space for contacts and voicemail.

5 LunaTik Blackout

US$50 | lunatik.com Crafted from a single piece of weapons-grade aluminum, this case holds your iPod Nano snuggly, while letting you prod and swipe the touchscreen like something out of Star Trek.

THE LISTENER Hardwired to headphones, unless in the proximity of speakers

Clarity 1 Monster HD Model One

2 Sonos Play:5

US$400 | sonsos.com The Sonos Play:5 is a clever little box which can work either as a standalone stereo or as part of a multiroom setup. It will wirelessly stream tunes from your computer or NAS drive and play internet radio. And like all Sonos kit, it’s rather brilliant.

FACT The Christmas cracker was popularised in the UK in 1847 by confectioner Tom Smith, who created the ‘crackle’ as a promotional idea to sell his bon-bon sweets.

4 B&W Zeppelin Air

US$750 | monstercable.com Designed by Monster (of Beats Audio fame) this Model One gives you incredible sound that makes the most of today’s digial music. It’s not cheap, but if, like all Monster fans, you’re living the rap-star lifestyle already, cost should be no object.

+HEADPHONES…

3 Belkin Aircast Auto

US$15 | belkin.com A road trip is the time where you’re most likely to run out of charge. But the solution is here just plug in Belkin’s Aircast Auto, and watch it charge your mobile while sending calls and music to your in-car stereo via Bluetooth.

US$600 | bowers-wilkins.com The Zeppelin Air harks back to the original B&W Zeppelin design, but adds Apple’s AirPlay wireless streaming tech to get music and other audio from your Mac or PC to the speakers sans wires. It’s taking the plug out of plug ‘n’ play.

Panasonic RP-HTX7

In-ear: AIAIAI The Swirl Earphone

US$85 | panasonic.com

Fashionable and affordable don’t often go together, but these retro Pana-cans are both.

Bose QuietComfort 15 US$350 | bose.com

Perfect noisecancelling is priceless. Actually, it’s not; it’s US$350 and comes with superb sound.

US$95 | aiaiai.dk

Stylish in-ears available in range of hues, the rugged Swirls come with a handy in-line mic.

B&W C5 US$250 | bowerswilkins.com

These high-quality aluminium sound blowers have a handy adjustable loop design to ensure a solid fit and maximum sound.

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GADGET GIFT GUIDE

If they a re alr ea d y g et t i n g a . . .

GALAXY S II

DID YOU KNOW? If you count the gifts in the song Twelve Days of Xmas, you’d find a total of 364 pressies

Samsung Galaxy S II US$710 | samsung.com The megastar of the Android world has a dazzling 4.3in AMOLED screen, 8MP camera, bags of power and even a decent battery. It’ll wipe the smiles off the faces of your iPhone evangelist friends, that’s for sure.

+YOU NEED TO GET THESE

JVC Extreme Exlosives HA-M5X

US$60 | jvc.com If you like big, thick sound and meaty bass, you’ll get a kick out of JVC’s HA-M5X headphones. They pack a unique Ring Port design, meaning better sound for less cash.

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Hoodies

US$15 | luckies.co.uk We operate a pocket quarantine on our smartphones, but for slingeverything-in-the-same-pocket types, this hooded sleeve stops your screen looking like it’s done time as a train window.

Bose Soundlink Mobile

US$405 | bose.com Let your tunes out with this stylish portable speaker. A no-strings A2DP Bluetooth connection means your phone doesn’t even need to leave your pocket, and the sound quality is spanking.

Sony BDP-S470 Blu-ray player US$270 | sony.com With this multi-talented 3D Blu-ray spinner, you can stream media from phone to TV via its built-in Wi-Fi. Not enough?

You can also use your mobile as the remote.

GADGET GIFT GUIDE

T E L LY A D D I C T A visual feast for those that go gooey over the gogglebox NO CASH? No worries – just download the free Boxee app (boxee.tv) to your PC or Mac and hook it up to your telly.

1 Boxee Box

US$315 Not only does the Boxee Box access the best of web TV from the likes of YouTube, Vimeo and AOL, it’ll also automatically turn the ill-gotten TV shows from any computer into a beautifully organised library. Your tellu-obsessed friends will even be able to stream shows to their iPads.

3 Panasonic TX-P42GT30 4 Optoma PK120

US$285 True telly gannets won’t be able to survive on home TV alone. Make sure they’re equipped with this pocket projector for life on the road.

It can beam a 70in image onto walls and has a built-in media player with support for most file formats.

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US$2,205 A super-slim build plus rich, vibrant picture make this Panny perfect for Christmas telly – and with USB recording, the lucky recipient can save A Christmas Carol for Boxing Day. USE IT WITH Samsung BD-DT7800

US$390 | samsung.com Record one channel while watching another or access video on demand apps on this HD Blu-ray player.

RS 220 2 Sennheiser headphones

US$600 Handy when the wife/girlfriend/significant other is asleep in the other room, these RS 220’s use Kleer transmission technology, meaning they can send lossless audio without the need for pesky wires.

CHRISTMAS DISCS Feed their hi-fi and Blu-ray player with our pick of 2011’s finest

+FILMS / TV SHOWS Senna

US$30 | virginmegastore.me You don’t need to be an F1 fan to be captivated by this brilliant documentary, but you might be by the time it finishes.

+MUSIC Manic Street Preachers – National Treasures: The Complete Singles

US$25 | virginmegastore.me A straight run down of the Manics’ most memorable hits.

Wu Lyf – Go Tell Fire To The Mountain

US$25 | virginmegastore.me For the person seeking a new musical obsession, this Mancunian foursome have plenty to offer.

tUnE-yArDs – Whokill

US$25 | virginmegastore.me Lo-fi, noisy and taking a leaf from Captain Beefheart’s book, Merrill Garbus is one of this year’s most interesting singer/songwriters.

Beirut – The Riptide

US$25 | virginmegastore.me If you’re trying to steer someone away from the near-omnipresent Mumford & Sons, use this less radio-ruined modern folk album.

Metronomy – The English Riviera

US$25 | virginmegastore.me Sunny, effortlessly catchy electronic pop straight outta Devon. Essential for’80s fans.

Jay-Z and Kanye West – Watch the Throne

US$25 | virginmegastore.me The rap megastar and his wordy protégé spar across 12 powerful, witty and thrilling tunes.

Bon Iver – Bon Iver

US$25 | virginmegastore.me It’s less heartbroken than his debut but Bon Iver still specialises in quiet, wistful tunes. Best for someone who likes a mope.

Attack the Block

US$28 | virginmegastore.me Joe Cornish’s directorial debut gives ET the Shaun of the Dead treatment, as aliens try to take on a South London estate.

Pulp Fiction

US$25 | virginmegastore.me A treat for Tarantino fans, this Blu-ray packs in hours of special features including new cast interviews and deleted scenes.

Star Wars: The Complete Saga

US$25 | virginmegastore.me Even if you toss the three newer films into your fire, you’ll still have three of the best movies ever made looking better than ever.

X-Men: First Class

US$30 | virginmegastore.me Easily the most sophisticated of this year’s bumper crop of superhero flicks, this is the one to buy a budding comic book fan.

Boardwalk Empire Vol.1

US$35 | virginmegastore.me This Prohibition-era crime epic will satisfy devotees of classy telly, especially if they’ve not sprung for OSN.

Treme

US$55 | virginmegastore.me The creator of The Wire (and several of the actors) return to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in this brilliant drama.

The Walking Dead: Season One

US$40 | virginmegastore.me One of the biggest zombie hits ever to hit our tellybox, this six episode series finds the humanity behind an undead armageddon.

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GADGET GIFT GUIDE

If they a re alrea d y g ett i n g a n . . .

A P P L E i PA D 2

DID YOU KNOW? The average holidaylover will send a total of 28 cards this Christmas

Apple iPad 2 US$570 | apple.com/ae Slimmer and faster than its predecessor, and with clever accessories such as the Smart Cover, this app-happy tablet powerhouse remains at the top of the tablet pile (and most people’s Christmas lists).

+YOU NEED TO GET THESE

iCade

US$120 | firebox.com No room for a full-sized MAME cabinet in your bedroom? You should get a bigger house.

Meanwhile, pretend you’re a giant in a 1980’s game arcade with the brilliant iCade.

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BeeWi Bluetooth-controlled Mini Cooper

US$95 | bee-wi.com Who wants ‘radio’-controlled when you can use Bluetooth? Tilt your ‘Pad to steer it around and try not to drive yours under a real car. Which is what we did.

JVC UX-VJ5

US$260 | jvc.com There’s not much you can do to spice up speaker docks these days, they’re pretty much old news. But what if you could plug your iPad and iPhone, or iPod, simultaneously?

Enough said.

Speck iGuy

US$40 | speckproducts.com If your babe’s a little butterfingered around their iPad 2, then this could be the case for you. The iGuy gives your iSlate a kid-friendly protective foam coating and freestanding legs.

GADGET GIFT GUIDE

THE SPORTS NUT Always active and up for a new challenge, sporty types will savour the latest keep-fit tech

DID YOU KNOW? There’s a free miCoach app for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry with similar features

1 Nike SQ golf sunglasses

from US$150 | nike.com A semi-rimless design and a range of interchangeable lenses make these very versatile shades indeed. Temple grips and an adjustable nose bridge keep them in place when you’re shovelling your ball out of a bunker.

2 Adidas Supernova

US$120 | adidas.com Painting go-faster stripes on your shirt might make you think you’re moving faster, but get some proper shoes and you’ll shave minutes off your marathon time. Adidas’ Supernova range is designed to suit your stride – for a faster pace and comfier cushion when running.

3 Adidas miCoach

4 Garmin Forerunner 610

5 Monster iSport In-Ears

6 NordicTouch 20lb Powerbell

US$135 | micoach.com A training partner of the digital persuasion, miCoach is both heart rate monitor and stride sensor rolled into one. It’s controlled by the Adidas Pacer, which will also give you custom workouts and motivating voice commands from the likes of Andy Murray.

US$180 | monstercable.com If slogging through your workout requires having Eye of the Tiger on repeat, you might want to invest in a decent pair of sports buds. These from Monster fit snugly thanks to their SportClip design and sweat proof coating.

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US$565 inc HR belt | garmin.com A running watch isn’t just for making it home in time for tea – you need one to track your pace, and see how hard your ticker is beating. This has all the GPS bits built in, and hooks up to the fantastic Garmin Connect site.

US$140 | nordictouch.com A kettlebell workout is a great way to tone up fast, as flinging the weight around puts all of your under-used muscles to work. This ingenious adjustable model saves you needing an entire rack of the things.

STYLE GURU Stripy socks won’t quite suffice for the dapper geek. Try this clobber instead…

1 Leica M9-P

US$8,000 | leica-camera.com The latest from legendary camera makers Leica, the M9-P is clad in a stealth black paintjob and old-school stylee. It’s also the world’s smallest interchangeable lens camera – meaning it’s ideal for an impromptu out-and-about photo shoot.

Westwood 2 Bedford Overnighter Tumi

3 Carrera Champion

US$1,100 | tumi.com This all-leather hold-all is the perfect overnight bag for the boutique-hotelling jet-setter. packing an embarrassment of compartments (including a ‘shoe pocket’), it’s so well made that this will be a gift for your recipient’s great grandson, too.

4 Adidas Originals AR 2.0

US$90 | adidas.com Every man needs a pair of go-to trainers. Invest in a pair that never goes out of style, like these aptly named Originals from Adidas. The rubber outsole make them extra grippy, while the matt black stylings will go with pretty much anything. Leg warmers aside.

5 Knomo Kobe Black

US$400 | knomobags.com Most laptop bags are functional but won’t win you any style points; not so for those from Knomo. This luxuriously put together gadget bag is designed to hold a 15in laptop in its quilted pouch, and still has loads of room for all your other gadget kit in its four side pockets.

US$90 | carreraworld.com These wide-lens Carrera’s provide excellent protection from glare and will never go out of fashion. Looking like a fighter pilot, well, that’s just a bonus.

6 USB Cufflinks

US$65 | collarandcuff.com Cufflinks may have been filling Christmas stockings since, like, 1500, but they’re still tiresomely functional.

Unless, of course, they happen to be secret weapons of mass storage (well, 1GB) and have more Bond chic than an invisible sex tuxedo.

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GADGET GIFT GUIDE

T H E W AT C H - E R Looking for a tool to wear through thick or thin?

Try these...

Submariner 1 Rolex 16610

US$6,500 | rolex.com The quintessential sports watch is still the world’s favourite everyday wrist tool.

It was good enough for Connery’s James Bond...

2 Sinn 857

US$2,200 | sinnwatch.com Well respected among watch fanatics, German watchmaker Sinn has a reputation for reliable tool watches. An inner UTC dial makes this timepiece great for the frequent flyer.

Kinetic 3 Seiko SMY107P1

US$390 | seiko.com Seiko’s clever Kinetic tech combines the best qualities of automechanical and quartz for minimal maintenance and maximum accuracy.

Divers 4 Oris Date

US$1,500 | oris.ch If you like a hefty chunk on your wrist, this smart, sturdy diver should fit the bill, even if it doesn’t fit under a shirt cuff.

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Speedmaster 5 Omega Professional

US$4,200 | omegawatches.com Certified by NASA as the official watch to go to the moon. But more than that, it’s still one of the cleanest chronographs ever made.

Heuer 6 Tag Grand Carerra

US$ | tagheuer.com With a Grand Turismo-inspired rotating system and original 1964 Carrera design, this Tag has the style to back its luxurious insides.

SELF-STYLER Not a hair out of place and never far away from a good moisturizer

2 Panasonic Lamdash 5 Blade US$350 | panasonic.com Panny’s shaver of choice packs four ultra-sharp razors for the chopping.

Throw in the world’s fastest shaving motor and a vibrating foil that boasts ultra-smooth ‘one-pass’ technology, and you shouldn’t need to constantly re-shave problem spots. Facial hair, beware.

1 Braun Series 7

US$380 | braun.com Like a shaver from the future, this Braun Series 7 has more technology than you’d imagine for a machine that chops through facial hair. It uses sonic technology to adjust its trimming to the density of your beard, giving you a cleaner, and comfier, shave.

Blade 3 RazorPit Sharpener

US$45 | firebox.com Electric not for you? Don’t think face, water and electricity should mix? Then clean your razor blade and lengthen its life by over 150 shaves with this ace blade sharpener.

4 Philips SensoTouch 3D

US$405 | philips.com Philips latest in the war on stubble packs 3D technology. No, you don’t need to wear silly specs to use it, the 3D moniker comes from its flexible shaving head that gives you 360-decrees of trimming motion to work with. That means closer shaves in the difficult-to-reach bits.

PC 5 Oral-B Triumph 5000

US$135 | oralb.com There’s more of a science behind pearly white gnashers than you might think, and it’s all about technique. This electric toothbrush has five different brushing modes, and comes with a wireless display to make sure the brushing is being done the right way. stuffmideast.com

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GADGET GIFT GUIDE

If they a re alrea d y g ett i n g a n . . .

XBOX 360 SLIM

DID YOU KNOW?

Xbox 360 250GB

3,000 tonnes of foil is used each Christmas to wrap leftover turkeys

from US$315 | xbox.com Microsoft has given its Xbox 360 a fresh coat of paint, hammered the case down to make it smaller than ever and given that noisy fan a muffler. The result, a slimmer, quieter and blacker Xbox with a 250GB hard drive and built in Wi-Fi. Now all you need is these...

+YOU NEED TO GET THESE

Microsoft Kinect

US$190 | xbox.com/kinect Microsoft’s voice-activated, motion-sensing controller trumps the rest with its futuristic tech, and the list of games is ever growing. Best played with a group of mates, although you’ll never get over the silliness of prancing around in front of it.

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Sennheiser X 320

US$150 | sennheiser.com These gaming head cans will pick up every enemy footfall, letting you enjoy the thumping sounds of gunfire as you mow those n00bs down. And enjoy it you will, thanks to the X 320’s bass boosting sound and noise cancelling mic, for screaming “I pwned your ass!” naturally.

Xbox 360 Chatpad

US$40 | xbox.com With social media landing on the Xbox 360 dashboard this Christmas, you’re going to want a proper keyboard to message your mates. This Chatpad from Microsoft makes it easy to organize a quick MW3 deathmatch from Facebook, them jump right into the bloodbath.

Battlefield 3 - Onza Tournament Edition

US$60 | razerzone.com This Onza Tournament Edition Xbox controller is a nice way to remind your fellow competitors just how 1337 you really are. There’s adjustable resistance analogue sticks, two additional programmable buttons and gamerfriendly back-lit buttons.

THE BIG KID Their adult exterior conceals an inner-child who demands attention…

Ericsson 1 Sony Xperia Play

US$750 | sonyericsson.com Replace your standard mobile with this touchscreen toting Xperia Play, complete with proper joysticks, Android 2.3 and a library of classic PlayStation games to seal the deal. Oh, and it’s a phone too.

Team 2 Scalextric GB Velodrome

US$110 | scalextric.com With the Olympics on the horizon, this set miniaturises the excitement of the velodrome, allowing you to race a Tiny Chris Hoy against Tiny Victoria Pendleton.

Maybe you could do the voices, too. Or maybe that would be weird.

Architecture 5 Lego Robie House Force 3 Max Shadowhawk 100 US$65 | firebox.com Guaranteed to ensure you win out in the traditional post-Christmas dinner barney, the Max Force Shadowhawk 100 fires paper pellets up to 100ft.

That soft ammo also means there’s no risk of destroying the living room (well, maybe a bit).

Animation 4 Aardman Animate It Kit

US$270 | shop.lego.com There’s no shame in loving Lego, but sitting hunched over a model of Hogwarts will still get you some odd looks. This recreation of a classic 19th century design

by Frank Lloyd Wright is the grown-up choice.

US$50 | aardman.com Ignore the CGI filling the Christmas schedules and make your own TV show starring everyone’s favourite plasticine protagonist, Morph.

The kit comes with Mac/PC software and a green screen. stuffmideast.com

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GADGET GIFT GUIDE

If they ’re alr ea d y g et t i n g a . . .

NIKON D5100

Nikon D5100 US$950 | Nikon.com An easy-to-use snapper with a 16.2MP sensor, 1080p video mode and swiveling LCD for adventurous angles. It’s a great first dip into DSLR waters for any budding David Bailey.

DID YOU KNOW? Your Christmas tree is edible. Well, most of it.

Pine needles are packed with vitamin C

+YOU NEED TO GET THESE

Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF lens

US$170 | nikon.com Compact, inexpensive and with impressively shallow depth of field, this is a great lens to start off with. Excellent for portraits, and the fixed length will force better technique.

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Any Bag Camera Bag Insert

US$100 | photojojo.com A padded pouch that protects your camera and slots into any bag, so you can take all your camera kit a-wandering without looking like some sort of paparazzo.

Eye-Fi Mobile X2

US$125 | eye.fi Take all your cables outside and burn them: whiles inside your camera this card will upload your pics to your iThing or Android device via an app, or to your laptop via a wireless network.

Joby GorillaPod SLR

US$65 | joby.com The gorillapod’s spindly legs let you wrap them around just about anything, giving you stable shots in the most difficult of terrain. This one’s robust enough to take the D5100’s weight.

GADGET GIFT GUIDE

C R E AT I V E G E N I U S The type that wants presents to show off their own artistic gifts…

1 JVC GS-TD1

US$1,905 | jvc.com Shooting funny cat videos for YouTube is old hat. But shooting funny cat videos for YouTube in 3D is very up to the minute.

Capture kitty with JVC’s 3D camcorder for an extra dimension to your home vids.

2 Teenage Engineering OP-1

US$1,070 | teenageengineering.com Go beyond dabbling with Garage Band to make your own songs with this all-in-one portable synthesizer, sampler and controller.

It also packs in a G-force sensor, FM radio and 4-track recorder.

3 Lomography La Sardina

US$150 | shop.lomography.com Cunningly disguised as a sardine tin, this 35mm snapper offers more than a healthy does of Omega-3. Its 22mm lens is super wide-angle for panoramas, while the flash can be set to ‘low’ for close-ups.

4 Hercules DJ 4 set

US$250 | hercules.com This Hercules DJ 4 set connects to your Mac or PC via USB cable, then lets you spin the decks to mix your tunes just like the big boys. There’s built-in stereo output, jog wheels and two decks for getting the party started.

+PERSONALISED GIFTS

5 Livescribe Echo smartpen

US$195 | livescribe.com The pen might not be mightier than the sword, but this one is certainly smarter. A built-in infrared camera records your handwriting to export later, and it even translates; write something in English, it’ll speak back in Arabic 20

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MES Footwork

from US$65 | mesfootwork.com Create custom creps by uploading your own designs and picking a shape and colour scheme.

Stickgram

US$15 | stickygram.com Send your Instagram images to Stickygram, and it’ll send them back as nine retro-flavoured fridge magnets.

MyVelo bikes

from US$550 | myvelo.co.uk Another opportunity to pick your paint job, this time for a nice commuter/ hybrid bike.

Albelli calendars

from US$40 | albelli.com Shun the lure of the kitten calendar and put together a personalised creation using your own images.

FACT

COMPUTER GEEK Shopping for a nerd is easy, just think what you want then buy it for someone else

Santa’s sleigh needs to travel at an average of 39,000 miles per hour in order to deliver his 300,000 tonnes of gifts to over 100,000,000 homes on Christmas Eve.

Lower 1 Audyssey East Side speakers

US$390 | audyssey.com Powerful speakers to replace the tinny white ones you got with your Dad’s Dell in 1998. They come with an optical input and standard wire connections, and Audyssey claims its digital ‘Smart Speaker’ tech helps them outperform all rivals.

2 Toshiba Portégé

from US$1,650 | toshiba.com Geeks love specs more than anything else, with the possible exception of Carl Sagan, and Toshiba’s new ultrabook packs them in in spades.

It’s thinner than a MacBook Air or a Samsung Series 9, with a Sandy Bridge processor, 6GB RAM, and a 128GB SSD. Fast? We should think so.

4 LaCie FastKey

from US$210 | lacie.com Shuffling around collections of music and movies can get tedious, so upgrade your friend to the power of USB 3.0. With write speeds of up to 180MB per second, you could upload your brain on to this stick in about six seconds. With the right cable.

3 Minty Geek

US$55 | mintygeek.com A miniature electronics set, which comes inside a mint tin so you can say it’s just some mints in front of cool people. Minty Geek gives you a grounding in how electronics work, with simple projects to piece together like circuit board Lego.

+ B E S T G E E K T- S H I R T S

AT-AT Red

Spacebar

US$40 | addict.co.uk US$35 | threadless.com The blueprints for The literal, selfeveryone’s favourite deprecating humour giant dog-bot, so of the Threadless you can build one community strikes over Christmas out again. It is the space of spare components. bar. It is an astronaut.

Metroplex Primes

US$28 | darkbunnytees.com Dark Bunny’s amazing, film-inspired tees are limited print runs, so act fast to get one of only 350.

Animal Farm

US$30 | outofprint clothing.com Not only the cover of a great novel, but one that’s been redesigned to appeal to the youth market.

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GADGET GIFT GUIDE

THE WORKAHOLIC Pack a mobile boardroom in your briefcase with this business-savvy kit

2 Sony Vaio Z

US$3,130 | sony.com Sony’s new ultra-portable offers the power and flexibility of a gymnast on ‘roids. If Intel’s superfast Thunderbolt connection doesn’t sway you, then the Vaio Z’s sexy form and 13.1in screen might impress, not to mention the Intel i7 processor and 14 hour battery.

1 BlackBerry 9900

US$650 | blackberry.com Probably the most exciting business blower on the planet, not only because it sports the new BlackBerry OS 7, but mainly because of its slim premium aesthetics, touchscreen/QWERTY combo, HD video recording and wireless NFC capabilities.

The boss will be jealous, indeed.

3 Seagate GoFlex Satellite

US$320 | seagate.com We’ve all lost the odd document on our PC, but imagine losing last year’s budget spreadsheets hours before the big boss’ meeting. No Christmas bonus for you. Protect yourself, and your files, by backing up wirelessly with Seagate’s handy GoFlex Satellite portable hard drive.

4 Samsung Galaxy Note

US$815 | samsung.com Is it a tablet? Or is it a phone? Either way, you’ll want to be wrapping your hands around the drool-inducing 5.3in Super AMOLED display, 1.4GHz dual-core processor and 8MP snapper.

And so you can justify the purchase to accounts, there’s even a built-in stylus for note taking.

5 XtremeMac Luna Voyager

US$70 | xtrememac.com The early bird may get the worm, but we’re more interested in big, fat paychecks, instead. Make sure you’re up in time for the morning meeting with this Luna Voyager alarm dock, which will charge your mobile at night so just like you, it’ll be juiced-up for the morning.

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THE RETRO-IST Some people say everything was better back in the day

Stephen 1 Millican The Waist Pack

US$115 | homeofmillican.com Modern rucksack makers give their bags names like Mean MuthaRucka or PackZilla.

Retro-ists prefer a waist pack/ shoulder bag combo with a weatherproof canvas exterior and a waterproof lining. It is called, if you must give it a name, Stephen.

2 Tom Cecil hip flask

from US$470 | tomcecil.com Made to order by the East-Londonbased designer, this handmade hip flask is so sophisticated that you could be swigging from it at your desk at nine in the morning and still look classy. That’s our excuse, anyway. Available in stainless steel, brass, white or black.

FACT It’s illegal to eat mince pies in England on Christmas Day. In 1657, Oliver Cromwell outlawed the celebration of Christmas, and the law has not been repealed.

3 Samson Meteor Mic

US$140 | amazon.com Podcasting, digital recording and VoIP calls may all be thoroughly modern inventions, but that doesn’t mean your mic can’t have a splash of retro style. The Samson Meteor combines ’40s chrome with a thoroughly modern approach to ease of use and sound quality.

+BEST PENS

Evoke Mio Orla 4 Pure Kiely Abacus Edition

US$235 | pureaudio.com This is a modern DAB-slinger with quality sound, but designer Orla Kiely has added a ’50s print that takes you right back to the good old days when a radio could, at any moment, announce the beginning of a nuclear war with Russia. Mmmm.

Parker Ingenuity Daring

US$110 | parker.com Classic looks, but Parker’s new 5th Mode refill promises a smoother writing experience.

Yard-O-Led Retro Standard Barley Ballpen

US$260 | filofax.com Combines solidsilver features with a barley-patterned black barrel.

Pelikan M1005 Demonstrator

US$775 | pelikanpens.com If you’ve paid US$775 for a pen with a differential piston, you’ll want to see it.

Caran D’Ache RNX PVD

US$750 | stonemarketing.com The RNX’s unusual black nib lets it glide across paper like a lovely black swan.

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GADGET GIFT GUIDE

If they a re g etting a n . . .

APPLE iPHONE 4S

DID YOU KNOW? Santa’s red and white coat wasn’t invented by Coca-Cola in the 1930s.

Postcards as early as 1906 show Saint Nicholas wearing traditional red bishop’s robes.

Apple iPhone 4S US$700 | apple.com/ae The iPhone 4S it noticeably fitter and faster than the previous generation, and voice-activated Siri is destined to be your new best friend. Its build quality is unsurpassed, and while its screen hasn’t had an upgrade, it’s still the crispest (on paper) of any smartphone.

+YOU NEED TO GET THESE

Sennheiser CX300 II

US$45 | sennheiser.com Some things never change - and lo and behold the earphones packed with the iPhone 4S will be leaky and drown out absolutely zero noise from the outside world.

So grab a pair of these instead, for deep bass and dramatic dynamics.

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AmpliTube iRig

US$50 | ikmultimedia.com Your giftee may feel a quick jam session is the only way to adequately express their joy at the new iPhone 4S, in which case they’ll need this iRig to plug into a guitar - the accompanying app comes with classic amplifier and mic effects.

Moshi Moshi MM03i dock

US$150 | nativeunion.com If you like to multitask without getting a serious crick in your neck, dock your iPhone 4S in this MM03i. It will charge the iPhone up while you wander around with the Bluetooth handset - the MM03i even works with up to two devices at the same time.

Philips Fidelo SoundRing

US$250 | philips.com The SoundRing has been engineered to completely fill a room with its audio goodness, thanks to its central bass unit and four high-definition drivers which send sound in all directions.

It also helps that it looks good from just about every angle.

THE E N T E R TA I N E R Get the party started with tech for the ultimate party host

1 Sony Bravia HX295

US$2,450 | sony.com Sony’s new Bravia telly is the swot of the telly world, packing internet smarts way beyond that of a regular gogglebox.

Sony’s Internet TV gives it the ability to run apps like YouTube and Skype, not to mention stream 3D video and images via DLNA.

2 Numark IDJ Live

US$140 | amazon.com The iPad is a secret music powerhouse unleash its potential with your very own wheels of, er, steel. Ok, they’re probably not steel, but they are great for casual house party sets or travelling DJs.

3 PlayStation 3 with Move

US$355 | playstation.com As a party gadget, the game-playing and Blu-ray-spinning PS3 needs no introduction. But if you really want to get your guests up off their feet, you’ll need Sony’s answer to motion control, the lollypop look-alike Move controllers, too.

+ PA RT Y G A M E S

4 TDK 2-Speaker Boombox

US$650 | tdkperformance.com TDK’s boombox has the looks and the power to soundtrack a house party, and even has a guitar input to let your mates jam along. Throw in an inordinate amount of batteries however, and you’ve got a portable party to be proud of.

Lucky Voice Party Box

US$75 | luckyvoice.com A mixer, microphone, cables and one month of unlimited karaoke. Ouch.

Angry Birds Knock On Wood

US$45 | firebox.com Stopy your family playing Angry Birds on their phones and get them catapulting for real. Sort of.

Air Swimmers

US$65 | firebox.com A radio-controlled helium blimp shaped like either a clown fish or a shark.

Everyone will be angling for a turn.

The Board Game Remix Kit

from US$5 | boardgame-remixkit.com Tweak, twist and reinvent classic board games.

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GADGET GIFT GUIDE

CELEBRITY CHEF Chefs-to-be will need this top kitchen kit. Hope they can cook…

Bistro 1 Bodum Hand Mixer

US$55 | bodum.com A mixer is a kitchen essential for all manner of tasks, from whipping cream to kneading dough. This small-but-powerful 5-speed, 200W hand mixer will wait inconspicuously in the wings until called upon, like a butler in a period drama about meringues.

Joseph 2 Joseph Elevate carousel

US$75 | josephjoseph.com No more foraging in drawers – thse six essential cooking tools are all neatly stored on a carousel. Special handles keep the silicone heads off surfaces, and they’re heat resistant (to 340C) so your spatula won’t melt if you leave it in the oven.

FACT

3 Gamepad chopping board

US$25 | firebox.com Why shouldn’t a love of video games cross the divide from lounge to kitchen? This hardy board is perfect for someone who’s equally at home collecting digital mushrooms and chopping real ones. Just don’t use your Wii-mote to stir the gazpacho.

+HOW TO COOK A PERFECT CHRISTMAS TURKEY

2

The world’s smallest Christmas card was made by the University of Glasgow in December 2010. It’s small enough to fit on the surface of a postage stamp 8.276 times.

4 Alessi Mysqueeze

US$55 | alessi.com Say goodbye to scurvy with this sculptural squeezer, which will add a touch of class to your bog-standard cocktails, make fish Fridays a much more refined affair , and confound guests with its stainless steel Flight of the Navigator impression. Who says juicing lemons isn’t sexy?

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With Michelinstarred chef JeanChristophe Novelli

1

Preheat your oven to 190°C/fan 170°C. Remove and de-bone the legs, stuff the neck and legs, season the turkey and cover with a layer of foil.

Finally, push 8tsp of mincemeat under the skin. The sweet flavours merge and the suet bastes it.

With the turkey in the oven (allow 20 min per pound), braise the legs separately in fresh stock. Make sure you use all the gorgeous juices collecting in the pan to baste the bird regularly so it stays moist and tender.

To make the turkey beautifully crispy, uncover for the last 30-40 mins and turn up to Gas 6/ 200°C/fan 190°C.

3

To test if your masterpiece is cooked, insert a skewer into the thickest part of the

bird. If the juices run clear, the turkey is done. Remove from the oven and tray, covering with foil and a tea towel for 45 mins-1hr. This makes the bird moist, tender and easy to carve.

4

Now make the perfect gravy.

Drain off the fat from the tray, add onions, leeks, celery and carrots and cook

briefly on the hob.

Add the wings, parson’s nose and drumstick tips and fry for a few more minutes. Pour in a generous amount of white wine and the resting juices from the turkey, add thyme and bay, and then reduce by half.

Finally, add 500ml of stock, return to the boil, and simmer for 15 mins. Strain before serving.

The JeanChristophe Novelli Signature Collection is available for US$280 at novelliknives. com

GLOBETROTTER They flit in and out of airports, always en route to the next adventure

1 Teva Churn

2 Nikon Coolpix AW100

US$520 | If your camera can’t accompany you all the way, then there’s no point in bringing it at all.

Waterproof to 10m, this snapper is tough enough for any adventure, and will even geotag your photos for bragging rights.

Excellent 16MP snaps, 1080p video and an electronic compass seal the deal.

US$100 | teva.com You can’t travel light if your bag’s full of clogs, so pick up a single pair that does it all.

At home in any terrain, the Churns have drainage ports and mesh ventilation designed to keep feet cool and dry. There’s even a fold-down heel cup, turning them into slippers for casual moments.

3 Magellan eXplorist 610

US$595 | magellangps.com Going abroad to find yourself? You’ll want a GPS to help. This rugged navigational powerhouse has a 3in touchscreen for easy operation, and if you’re the travel journal type, you can use its 3.2MP camera and mic to record geotagged notes.

+ T R AV E L I N S P I R AT I O N

Command 4 Timbuk2 Messenger

US$130 | timbuk2.com Every serious traveller needs a small daypack for short excursions. The Timbuk2 fits the bill perfectly, with an extra hardy oxford nylon shell and studded laptop sleeve to protect your PC. The anodized metal clasp also deters curious hands when you’re exploring dodgy towns.

Lonely Planet: Great Journeys by Andrew Bain et al.

US$45|lonelyplanet.com This weighty tome is pure travel porn, perfect for the armchair adventurer.

Within the Frame

by David DuChemin US$30 | amazon.com A mix of instruction and inspiration, DuChemin helps you make more of your travel photography.

Mr & Mrs Smith guide books

US$35 each | mrandmrssmith.com Boutique hotels from Rio to Romford, all rated by anonymous reviewers.

Hip Hotels series

US$25 | thamesand hudson.com Carrying on where the Smiths leave off, these guides feature a slightly younger, funkier type of hotel.

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GADGET GIFT GUIDE

THE PHOTOGRAPHER Never far away from a snapper and forever looking for that perfect shot

1 Nikon Coolpix S1200PJ

US$620 | nikon.com Fans of projecting their hijinks onto nearby walls or an unsuspecting stranger’s back will be smitten with Nikon’s latest projector-cam. There’s a 14MP sensor, 5x zoom and 720p video recording, but the best bit by far is the built-in cinema, a projector with luminous controls that help you focus images.

2 Fujifilm FinePix X10 3 Fujifilm W3 3D

US$1,555 | fujifilm.com For retro snapper stylings, and without breaking the bank like its big brother the X100, the X10 is the perfect choice. You get an optical, rather than hybrid viewfinder, but it shares the same 2.8in LCD display and manual controls. You also get a 12MP sensor, pop up flash and 4x manual zoom for your buck.

4 Nokia 701

US$620 | fujifilm.com Last year Fujifilm showed us that 3D video was available, and easy, for all. But now it’s upping the ante, with a new cam that promises better 3D shots and adds 720p video capture in 3D. There’s a bigger 3.5in screen on the back, which is lenticular, meaning you can see your shots in eye-popping 3D straight away.

US$380 | nokia.ae Mobiles are fast becoming the amateur photograpyers choice, but the lack of decent lenses, megapixels and sensors have always held them back. Until now…

Meet the Nokia 701, a blower with a massive 8MP camera that’s capable of full 1080p HD video.

There’s NFC tech built-in too, meaning sharing your photos is as easy as tapping your phone.

+BEST PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS

The Americans - Robert Frank

US$00 | dummy.com Few single books have made such an impact as Robert Frank’s reportage of the American people in the 1950s, which caused many to first pick up a camera.

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William Eggleston’s Guide

US$30 | amazon.com This collection of shots helped people take colour photography seriously, and was the Mueseum of Modern Art’s first colour exhibition.

Diane Arbus: An Aperture Monograph

US$60 | amazon.com Diane Arbus was a portrait photographer not afraid of controversial subjects. Described as ‘freaky’ there’s no denying the impact of her shots.

Dream Street: W Eugene Smith’s Pittsburgh Project

US$40 | amazon.com If W Eugene Smith was a little unhinged before he started trying to encapsulate 1950s Pittsburgh in a photo project, three years and 1000s of shots later he was a broken man.

THE HOMEMAKER Home is where the heart is – keep it pumping with these domestic gadgets

1 Trumstand

US$2,400 | firebox.com Docking your iPhone in something that looks like a gramophone is a bit like using a sat-nav to guide a horse and cart. Don’t be fooled: the power cord is there to keep your phone juiced, while the power of oldfashioned acoustic resonance gives your tunes some oomph.

2 iRobot Roomba 780

US$760 | irobot.com Save yourself the bother of sweeping up all those pine needles after Christmas with the latest version of iRobot’s Roomba robot vacuum cleaner. The Roomba 780 adds a larger collecting bin so it’ll have your house spick and span in no time.

3 Gaggia Baby Dose

US$320 | gaggia.com Packing a new dosing system, that lets you set the exact amount of coffee you want in each cup, this beautifully engineered bean machine is a caffeine nut’s dream stocking filler. Just be careful not to buy them too much coffee to go with.

SoundCast 4 Monster Outcast 1.2

US$995 | soundcastsystems.com The ultimate garden gadget for the geek who can’t stand silence, the SoundCast wirelessly connects to your hi-fi or laptop, streaming your favourite tunes to the party outside. You might want to warn the neighbors. stuffmideast.com

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GADGET GIFT GUIDE

THE GAMER Level up your fragging skills and pwn n00bs with this gaming gear

1 MSI GT780

US$1,800 | msi.com MSI is betting on power, visuals and sound to be precise with its latest piece of gaming hardware, and the GT780s stash of not-sosecret weaponry includes a quad-core i7 processor, Nvidia GTX 560M graphics card and THS surround sound.

2

Electra 4 Razer Headphones Thrustmaster Ferrari F1 Wheel

US$700 | thrustmaster.com For the man who lives in a Ferrari branded home, wears a Ferrari branded hat and doesn’t drive a Toyota Yaris (he drives a Ferrari, duh) this Thrustmaster racing wheel is the perfect gift. It’s an exact replica of the wheel inside the Ferrari team’s F1 motor.

3 Logitech MW3 G9X

US$130 | logitech.com Logitech is hoping to help you rack up your kill count with its MW3-branded gaming mouse. The G9X can be cranked up to a mightly 5700dpi on the fly, and the ability to adjust the mouse’s weight is a nice way to remind your fellow competitors how 1337 you truly are.

5 Apple iPod Touch

US$215 | apple.com/ae This is the most game-friendly iPod ever. It packs more iPhone 4-friendly specs, like the high-res Retina display, twin cameras (one of which is high-def) and that A4 processor - all of which help make iTunes catalogue of casual games run prettier than ever.

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US$70 | razerzone.com Just like in the real world, if you’re trying to sneak up on someone to frag ‘em in the back, hearing your enemy fumbling around in the bushes is a major plus. It helps then; to have a decent pair of gaming cans like these from Razer.

FACT

GAMES

It’s mandatory to walk to Church on Christmas day in the UK. Dubbed the Holy Days and Fasting Act, this rule still exists in Britain, but is no longer enforced

Give the gift of computerised fun, adventure or slaughter

Goldeneye: 007 Reloaded US$75 | (PS3, Xbox 360) One for gamers who pine for the days on the N64, Goldeneye: 007 reaches the PS3 and Xbox 360 with newly polished HD graphics.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception US$75 | (PS3) Nathan Drake goes all Lawrence of Arabia (by way of Indiana Jones) as he travels the world in search of a lost city.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 US$75 | (PC, PS3, Xbox 360) It’s another Call of Duty game and it delivers the same glorious carnage we’ve come to expect from the military franchise.

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations US$70 | (PC, PS3, Xbox 360) Altair, Ezio and Desmond come together for the first time: a real treat for fans of previous Assassin’s Creed converts.

FIFA 12 US$75 | (PC, PS3, Xbox 360) The finest football game in town has some major gameplay changes, but they’re for the best and the beautiful game is better than ever.

Super Mario 3D Land US$45 | (Nintendo 3DS) The perfect game to soothe that friend or family member wondering why they picked up a Nintendo 3DS in the first place.

Rayman Origins US$75 | (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii) Rayman and pals embark on a new side-scrolling platform adventure with up to four players to tag along.

Need for Speed: The Run US$75 | (PC, PS3, Xbox 360) The biggest NFS title yet takes in a lot of scenery as you race from the hilly San Francisco to downtown New York.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim US$75 | (PC/PS3/Xbox 360) The sequel to Oblivion is bigger and more epic than ever, with you tasked with saving the world from a dragon god.

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GADGET GIFT GUIDE

STILL UNDECIDED Still not sure what to buy your mates? Have some lastminute inspiration

1 Nikon Coolpix S100

US$390 | nikon.com The Coolpix S100 has a 3D shooting mode which can be played back on 3D TVs, a 16MP sensor, 5x optical zoom, large 3.5in OLED touchscreen and it also shoots 1080p. Not bad for something that will easily fit into your pocket.

3 Nokia N9

US$640 | nokia.ae Nokia’s newest packs social networking integration like no other, a lightning-fast web browser and a superb 8MP Zeiss snapper, like on the Nokia N8. There’s a selection of snazzy colour options, and 16GB or 64GB models. NFC and a 3.9in AMOLED screen are just the icing on this very tasty gadget cake.

2 Fujifilm FinePix HS20

US$325 | fujifilm.com There’s a new bridge camera on the block - Fujifilm’s HS20 breaks the old-school mold by ditching the oldfashioned overcoat and taking on the guise of a DSLR. But it’s not all fancy clothes, the HS20 packs a 16MP sensor and a whopping 30x optical zoom with anti-blur technology.

4 Nokia 700

US$325 | nokia.ae Running the all new Symbian Belle - a new OS with a host of tweaks and improvements, including NFC-pairing support and drop-down notifications - the 700 is Nokia’s dinkiest offering yet, weighing in at a mere 96g. There’s also a 3.2in AMOLED touchscreen, 5MP camera and 2GB of internal memory.

+GIFT EXPERIENCES

Lamborghini Experience

US$1,580 | dubaiautodrome.com Jump into the driver’s seat of the amazingly pretty and (fairly) quick Lambo Gallardo.

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Swim with dolphins US$265 | atlantisthepalm.com Swim with man’s best underwater friend, then let the big fishes give you a hug and kiss (really!).

Paintball

Powered

US$40 | paintballuae.

Parachuting US$70 | dreamdays.ae com Drive a small fanBecause nothing powered buggy says ‘I love you’ fast enough to fill more than giving your parachute, your friend a fateful then fly high. of paint.

THE APPY ONE Apps to see you through the dreary wait until presents arrive

Christmas!!

DID YOU KNOW? A Kris Kringle really does live in the North Pole.

Unfortunately, he delivers pizzas, not toys

Epicurious US$free | iPhone/ iPad/Android With over 25,000 recipes, this app should have a dish for everyone, even something for your gluten-free granny. It even has holiday-specific recipes, for Christmas cookies, edible gifts and holiday dinners. Check out the ‘I can barely cook’ category for fool-proof Christmas cuisine.

Parents Calling Santa US$2 | iPhone This app can be used for good or evil. Give the app a press, tell it if your tyke has been naughty or nice, and wait for Santa to ‘give you a call back’. Hand the phone over to your child and he’ll get an earful from St. Nick (if he’s been horrible) or the promise of presents (for good behavior).

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens US$5 | iPad The iPad has breathed some life into this literary classic (not that it needs it) with 130 pages of text, illustrations, music and sound effects. It wouldn’t be Christmas without Charles Dickens’ tale of a big old miser and while it may not be free, even Scrooge couldn’t argue with that price.

Christmas RADIO US$free | iPhone/iPad It wouldn’t be a proper Christmas dinner unless you can blast out Rocking Round the Christmas Tree while your gran head bangs in the back. This app should help, giving you access to 40 special Christmas radio stations for nonstop holiday tunage.

Google Shopper US$free | iPhone/ Android Shopping used to be so easy. You went to the nearest mall, looked at a few expensive toys, then went and bought the cheaper ones next door. But now everything’s online. Google Shopper aims to make Xmas shopping easier and cheaper, with price comparisons and a barcode scanner.

Christmas Photo Free US$free | iPhone Whether it’s a Santa hat, frosty white beard, or a festive frame, inject some of that Christmas cheer into your holiday snaps. There are plenty of other festive images and symbols to dress your photos up with and the usual sharing options via email, Facebook and Twitter are available too.

Dr. Seuss Camera - The Grinch Edition US$2 | iPhone A great app for hyperactive little ‘uns come Christmas day. It includes 20 ‘Grinchmas’ cards that will turn you and your family into hairy, green meanies. You can save them to your photo library, or our favourite, send them out as free Christmas cards to your mates.

The Christmas List US$1 | iPhone Keeping track of presents can be a pain, but this app aims to help. It lets you keep tabs on what your friends and family want for Christmas, letting you check off each item as you’ve bought it. It even tracks your spending, so you don’t blow your budget before the big day.

Festive Holiday Cocktails US$1 | iPhone Since you’re cooking the dinner, you may as well have a few Christmas cocktails to go with.

Libations such as the ‘Apple Mistletoe Tini’ and ‘Jingle Juice’ are on the menu to make sure your office party is both merry and bright, and there’s a good selection of mocktails, too

US$free | iPhone If you can’t wait until Christmas, this free app will keep you sane until the big day arrives. You get a Christmas countdown timer, advent calendar and a small collection of holiday songs. The in-app gift list also lets you keep track of how generous you’ve been this year.

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HEADING ER HO WE T O Dummy Getting copythrough goes all the gooey festive for theseason goggle-box, unscathed we’vewill gottake a visual luck.feast And for these them tips + . . . S U RV IVE T H E O F F I C E P A R T Y

1

DID YOU KNOW? According to old wive’s tales, if you bake bread on Christmas it will stay fresh forever

+ … S E L L U N WA N T E D G I F TS

1

Capture the moment

You won’t recall a thing the next day, so you’re going to need a camera. The Sony DSC-TX10 (US$415, sony.com) is rugged (so it’ll survive a tumble down the stairs), waterproof (so it’ll cope with a dunk in the Jingle Juice) and talented (it’ll shoot a Sweep Panorama of your Dionysian antics).

2

Get home safely

3

Avoid social media

4

Don’t go

Do some research

Before deciding to shift your ‘Best of Alien Ant Farm’ CD, visit The Bad Gift Emporium (badgiftemporium.com). A gallery dedicated to the world’s worst presents, it might make you reconsider your relative misfortune. If not, post a photo of it and others can email you to take it off your hands.

The only thing worse than waking up with a skull-cracking headache is waking up with one on a metro station bench.

Simply tell iNap (US$1, apple.com/itunes) where you live and it’ll use GPS to wake you a few miles before your stop. Just pray you don’t lose signal at the crucial moment

2

Sell smartly

3

Do some converting

4

Give it away

Be patient before rushing straight to Amazon Marketplace, or eBay with your Technicolour cardie. Instead, wait until the end of the present-giving season so you can group similar items together, and keep the wrap on that DVD or comic to increase value.

Telling the world when you get home that you hate your boss/fancy your boss/ saw your boss canoodling with his PA is a fast route to no job. The Social Media Test (US$free, socialmediasobrietytest.com) is a browser plugin that prevents irrational posting by first making you prove you’re sane of mind.

If that Ace Hardware gift card leaves you short of January sales options, sites such as Giftcard Converter (giftcardconverter.co.uk) will swap it for cash (minus a 20% commission). Just make sure you have some expensive-looking screws lying around for when your relations visit.

Face it: you’re weak, a bit of a lightweight and desperate to be popular.

One smile from a cute co-worker and you’ll be knocking back the drinks. So don’t risk it; instead, leave work early and do your Christmas shopping. Trust us, it’s safer that way.

If you’d rather maintain the spirit of giving, go the recycling route with the likes of Freecycle (freecycle.org) and Freegle (ilovefreegle.org). Both have local groups and maps to help you find that ‘character’ who simply must have your Union Jack sofa.

+...GET PERSONAL WITH YOUR GIFTS

1

Figure it out

2

Print or be

3D printing service damned Make a tear-jerking Sculpteo (sculpteo. personal photo album com) can create mini (from US$5) for Christmas figurines Auntie Mavis with a (from US$75) that print-on-demand site such as Blurb look like your friends and family. Just (Blurb.com). It integrates with photosupply two head photos of the sharing sites such as Flickr, and print person, and they’ll be morphed into a quality is top-notch. tiny elf or Santa Claus for your tree.

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3 Keep it regular

Notanotherbill (from US$25month, notanotherbill.com) scours the globe for unique presents, then sends one per month to your lucky recipient. You can sign up for anything between one month and a year, and each gift comes in a nice parcel.