More Tech Gift Ideas
Currently it is getting close to Thanksgiving, near the end of November and I am writing my December column, the last column for publication in 2024. I ran out of room last column, but I thought of other good and useful technology gift ideas. Some I really wanted to add (like the Raspberry Pero 2 W) and others came to me after I had sent off to the editors.
Pi Zero 2 W
Last month I ran out of space before I could get all the gift ideas added to my list. This month I want to start by adding a couple more. First, as my regular readers know I am a fan of the Raspberry Pi line of single-board computers. These inexpensive computers are great for learning and building custom projects. Over more than 10 years, the line of Pi computers has grown from the original Pi models A and B to the Powerful Pi 5, the very small Pi Zero, and the Pico controllers. This past year the Raspberry Pi organization released a new Pi Zero 2 W. This little board is the same size as the original Pi Zero but is now using a quad core CPU with greater speed and both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless technologies built in. This new model runs about 5 times faster than the old Pi Zero. It still only supports half a gigabyte of memory, limiting its ability to run graphics, but I use all of my Pi Zeros with the Linux command line. The new Pi Zero 2 W sells for the same $15 as the original Pi Zero.
The Gift of Bluetooth Speakers
Bluetooth is a wireless technology common on most mobile phones. The technology allows other devices to connect to the phone and exchange data. Many earphones use Bluetooth to connect to the phone instead is using wired headsets for example. Bluetooth has a limited range of about 33 feet or 10 meters. This allows one to place their phone on the kitchen table as you listen to the phone while working around in the kitchen, or drive hands free. Bluetooth Speakers provide the ability to play music on your phone or tablet and fill the entire room with music. Many Bluetooth speakers also work as a room wide speakerphone for your mobile phone. I know some people who use waterproof speakers as they shower to listen to music from their phone.
Bluetooth Car Adapter
While discussing Bluetooth, consider a car adapter for this that have older cars without Bluetooth support. These small gadgets plug into the auxiliary port on most car stereos for the past 20 or 30 years. Once it is plugged in, just connect the Bluetooth on the phone and play the music from the phone through the car stereo. I have used Spotify, Panera, and SiriusXM on older cars that we have had. I even use one on the old stereo system I have in my office and play music using Bluetooth from my desktop computer.
Bluetooth OBD II Scanner
If you have someone that enjoys working on cars, you might want to get a Bluetooth OBD II Code Scanner. These little tech devices plug into the OBD II port typically found beneath the steering wheel. Once plugged in connect it to the Bluetooth on your phone or tablet and install the app and you can read any check engine light and a lot of other information about how your car is performing. The software will then identify the most common causes for any problems detected. I have used these for years to find and fix many simple repairs on my cars. Find these at Amazon for as little as $10 to over $100. The ones I have used typically cost less than $20. I recommend the Torque application for Android from the Google Play Store.
Car Jump Starter
A couple of years ago my wife received a car jump starter as a gift. She charged it, put it in the car, and then forgot about it. Two weeks later her battery was dead, a combination of the cold January weather and a light left on. A came out to assist since she had never used one and I plugged it into the battery, placed it in start mode and the car started right away. Since then, I received one for my car as well. We have also used to recharge phones when camping and provide lighting during power outages. Basically, these are lithium batteries similar to ones that might be used in electric cars and cell phones. They hold the charge for 6 months or so and then can be easily recharged using the 12-volt port in the car or using a regular outlet. Purchased them in Amazon, or hardware, automotive, and larger department stores for prices ranging from $39 to $99.
Video Streaming Boxes
Video Streaming boxes can make a good gift. There are four major ones on the market by Roku, Amazon, Google, and Apple. Several of these have multiple models offering various features. I personally prefer Roku because it avoids some of the distribution conflicts the other brands have had over the years. Roku also allows us to stream live programs on Xfinity without the need to pay for a Cable box. This has allowed us to cut our cable costs by eliminating two cable boxes. I also use an HDHomeRun Prime (https://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/) to share the cable with all the computers on the network.
Instead of giving a streaming service, consider a subscription to a streaming service. A couple of years ago my daughter gave us a year subscription to HBO and we enjoyed it. We finally asked her not to renew it when they merged Warner with Discovery and added many shows we were not interested in.
Happy New Year
The next issue for Beltsville News is in January. I wish everyone Happy Holidays and a bountiful New Year.be reading this before Thanksgiving. So, until next time, have a Happy Thanksgiving!
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