Inspecting gadgets: High-tech, low-cost items plentiful for holiday shoppers

Kirk Baird

Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001 | 8:19 a.m.

The holiday season is here.

More distant cousins to buy for.

More double-checking the bank account to make sure there's enough money to cover necessary items utilities, food, rent/mortgage as well as gifts for everyone on the "to-buy-for" list.

More wondering, "Will they like this, or will I hear about this for the rest of my life?"

Some holiday, huh?

Relax. There's hope. To play loose with the immortal line from "The Graduate": "I just want to say one word to you just one word ... gadgets.'"

Whether they're tall or small, thick or thin, run on batteries or plug into the wall, everyone loves gadgets.

"For somebody who's hard to buy for, it's not the usual run-of-the-mill things," said Georgia Barber, manager of Brookstone at Boulevard mall. "It's something they'll remember you for. It makes them feel special."

And, added Damon Caughlin, manager of Sharper Image at Fashion Show mall: "It's probably something nobody has."

So now that the buying season is officially under way, here are some sure-to-please high-tech, but low-cost (less than $100) items available at local stores:

Sharper Image

Hot+Cold Snack Box, $99.95.

A personal electronic mini fridge that, as its name implies, can generate either heat (140 degrees) or cold (42 degrees) for food and beverages. And at slightly less than a foot tall and weighing less than 6 pounds, it's quite portable. The Snack Box comes with an AC adapter to plug into walls or a 12-volt DC adapter for plugging into a car-lighter socket. Be the belle of the ball at your next tailgate party.

"Talking Pictures" Photo Album, $29.95.

Welcome to the 21st century, when pictures can be "heard" as well as seen. The "Talking Pictures" album allows a 10-second recording to accompany its allotment of 24 photos. This way you can tell that special someone just what you were thinking or doing when the picture was taken. Or, in the case of college students, how many beers were consumed shortly before the picture was taken.

Pet Peeve Ultrasonic Trainer, $39.95.

Few household items are more tempting to pets than a new piece of furniture. But how to protect the furniture when you're away? The Pet Peeve provides some security from the animal denizens of the home by sensing when Spot or Whiskers has hopped on the furniture. The device emits an annoying ultrasonic tone audible only to animals, and then plays back up with a 10-second recorded message of your own voice saying something similar to "Get off the couch!" No word on how well this works with children.

Automatic Vitamin and Pill Organizer, $69.95.

Those days of, "Honey, did I take my pills yet?" are over with the Automatic Vitamin and Pill Organizer. This device can tell you when it's time to take one of 28 doses, and records when a medication is missed. Simply program the unit with your dosage and how often it should be taken, and the organizer will remind you when it's time to take the pills with a beeping noise, blinking light and message on its LCD screen. Press the dispense button at the top of the unit, and the correct medication and dosage will be "released" -- similar to a gumball machine. If, however, you fail to take the medication within an hour, a "Missed" message flashes on the screen. Adds a new dimension to "White Rabbit."

The Discovery Channel Store

The Stowaway, $49.

While not a conventional, high-tech gadget, it's cool enough to merit mentioning. The Stowaway is a backpack-type device, which folds out as a seat; has a six-can cooler and removable water pouch with intake tube; fleece blanket; hot-cold gel pack; and seven individual pouches. Help someone live the cliche and be that "happy camper."

Discovery Channel TV Lantern, $99.

The TV Lantern features both a built-in, high-powered flashlight and florescent light, as well as a 5-inch black-and-white television and AM/FM radio with speakers. There's also a weather band, emergency siren and headphone jack. It comes with both an AC adapter and DC 2-volt auto cord; or, for those with cash to burn, it runs on 10 C batteries.

Home Planetarium, $32.

Forget the cloudy nights obscuring the view of the heavens -- bring the heavens indoors and project it onto a ceiling. The Home Planetarium comes with 10 constellation discs (five each for the Northern and Southern Hemispheres), seven planetary and star-projection ring discs, pointer flashlight, star charts and a CD audio guide. Were he alive today, Carl Sagan would surely be impressed.

Digital camera, $99.

At 5 inches tall, this digital camera is small enough to fit into a shirt pocket. It also records and stores either 14 still images or small video and sound files, all of which can be downloaded onto a PC to create movies, collages or to e-mail to friends and family. Comes in both an adult and children's model, so it's a perfect gift regardless of age ... or maturity.

Brookstone

Barsmart Jigger, $35.

Forgotten how to make that perfect drink? Fret no more when tendin' bar. The Barsmart Jigger has recipes for 40 different drinks -- such as margaritas, martinis or Bloody Marys -- and tells you what type of glass to serve the beverage in. Friends don't let friends make bad drinks and serve them in the wrong glass.

WineSmart, Tip Smart, ParkSmart; $20.

Don't let the key-chain-size fool you -- each of these "smart" products is pretty handy and could make a great gift for that relative or boss you have no idea what to get. The WineSmart tells you the correct wine for 40 foods; enter the space, row or level of where you parked your car and the ParkSmart will keep track of it; and the Tip Smart will determine 10, 15 or 20 percent of your bill so you don't have to -- and even splits the ticket. Of course, for the latter problem, you could always buy a calculator. But who wants a calculator as a gift?

Motorized Skip Doctor, $55.

Yes, these useful gadgets have been around for a couple of years, but many consumers have never heard of the Skip Doctor. For those people, a CD with a bad scratch is destined to become a coaster or end up in the trash. With the Skip Doctor, however, scratches, abrasions and fingerprints on CDs, DVDs, CD-ROMs and game CDs are "wiped" away. Of course, it can't change the content on the discs, but no one need know about that Billy Thorpe Greatest Hit(s) anyway.

Chef's Fork Plus with Thermometer, $29; Smart Grill Spatula, $35.

Cooking goes high-tech. Select your meat -- beef, chicken, turkey, pork or veal -- and how well you want it cooked, and, after inserting the fork's tines into the food, the Chef's Fork Plus tells you when the food is ready. It's a similar process for the Smart Grill Spatula. Insert its retractable probe into the meat, and the spatula will let you know when the food is rare, medium rare, medium or well done. Note to would-be chefs: Burnt beyond recognition isn't an option.

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