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If the thought of getting a Valentine’s Day gift for your sweetheart leaves you flustered, you can calm down right now. The Wonder of Tech has you covered.
Don’t even think about getting the boring traditional gifts of chocolates or flowers. Nope, what your sweetie really wants is a tech gift. Even non-tech fans will be delighted with these fun and useful tech gifts that are both thoughtful and loving.
These tech gifts are well-suited to any budget and you might even discover a gift you’d like for yourself!
Web Cam Cover
Give your loved one a feeling of privacy with a web cam cover. These handy sliders stick onto the camera of your computer, tablet or phone to block images being transmitted.
When you want to have a video chat, or take a selfie, just slide the cover open. No need to mess with sticky tape, just pop the cover on your device and keep it closed until you need your camera. Then slide it open.
A highly-rated web cam cover on Amazon is the Dostyle Web Cam Cover, which comes in a package of three. The price for the Dostyle Web Cam Cover is $11.99, currently on sale.
Heated Shaving Lather Dispenser
Who wouldn’t want a warm shave in the morning? This heated shaving lather dispenser can turn a daily chore into a pleasure.
Insert a canister or your favorite shaving cream or gel into the heater and enjoy a warm shave as if you were at a barber shop. The shaving cream or gel heats up in about a minute and a half.
The Heated Shaving Lather Dispenser is available from Hammacher Schlemmer, currently on sale for $14.99.
Connect Charlie
Whether you’re in a hotel room, cruise ship cabin, dorm room, airport or at home, you probably don’t have enough outlets to charge your devices. That’s right, more gadgets means more demand for electrical outlets.
Connect Charlie lets you plug up to 12 different devices into one electrical outlet. This charger has 9 slots for USB plugs as well as 3 slots for two- and three-prong plugs. Its smart charging technology adjusts the output to each device according to its needs.
This charger also includes surge protection and an LED nightlight.
Originally a Kickstarter project, Connect Charlie is now available from Amazon for $38.00.
Google Chromecast Ultra
What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than watching a romantic movie at home? Google Chromecast Ultra is a simple yet sophisticated media streaming device that can display videos in 4K.
Don’t have a 4K TV? Chromecast Ultra will optimize the video for your TV so you can see the best possible display.
Just plug Chromecast Ultra into the HDMI port on your TV and use your phone as its remote control. You can also your voice to control it with Google Assistant on your phone or on Google Home.
Then begin streaming Netflix, HBO Go, Spotify or about 1000 other video and game apps. See the Chromecast Ultra Apps page for a list of compatible apps that work on Chromecast Ultra. You can also see your Google Photos on TV using Chromecast Ultra.
Chromecast Ultra can display your Android phone screen or the Chrome browser on your computer. Check out the Google page on how to cast your screen using Chromecast.
Chromecast Ultra is available from Verizon Wireless for $69.99
Phillips Home Starter Kit
Want your home to be smarter? Do it the easy way with the Phillips Home Starter Kit. These smart light bulbs work with Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri and Google Assistant so you can control them using your voice.
Turn the lights on and off, dim them for mood lighting, and set a timer schedule using the digital assistant of your choice. You can set the schedule to turn the lights on gradually, waking you gently each morning. Use your voice to turn the lights on before you arrive home.
You can even sync the lights in time to music and movies. Let the party begin!
These smart light bulbs also work like regular light bulbs — no special wiring or lamps needed. The bulbs last up to 25,000 hours, according to the manufacturer.
The Phillips Home Starter Kit is available from Verizon for $69.99. The kit includes two bulbs and the accessories needed to connect the bulbs wirelessly to the Internet. Additional bulbs are available from Verizon for $14.99 each.
Wireless Backup Camera
One of the safest features you can have on your car is a backup camera that gives you a view of what’s behind your car as you’re driving in reverse. But not every car has this safety feature, or it may come as an expensive option.
The Wireless Backup Camera lets you add a backup camera to your existing vehicle quickly and easily. This camera attaches to your vehicle as a license plate frame and charges using solar power.
The monitor fits on the dashboard and plugs into a 12-volt outlet. The camera and monitor connect wirelessly to give you a 110° view behind your vehicle.
The Wireless Backup Camera is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $129.95.
Garmin Speak Plus with Amazon Alexa
If you want to bring the power of Amazon’s digital assistant into your car without buying a new model, check out the Garmin Speak Plus with Amazon Alexa. This car accessory connects to your car’s sound system and has Alexa built in.
Use your voice to command Alexa to do things such as play music, read an Audible audiobook, check your calendar, control your smart home devices and more.
The Speak Plus also has a dash cam so you can record your journey. The camera also can give collision and lane departure warnings.
Garmin’s Speak Plus can give traffic information, as well as spoken and visual directions. You can even play fun Alexa games to pass the time on road trips.
This video from Garmin introduces the Speak Plus:
The Garmin Speak Plus with Amazon Alexa is available from Amazon, currently on sale for $199.99.
Also check out the Muse Auto with Amazon Alexa, currently on sale at Amazon for $49.99. This device also brings Alexa into your car, though doesn’t have the dash cam, collision warnings, or navigation features of the Speak Plus. The Muse Auto was featured in the recent Wonder of Tech article Tantalizing Tech from the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show.
Apple Home Pod
Apple’s Home Pod smart speaker isn’t out quite yet, it’ll be available on Friday, February 9, in plenty of time for Valentine’s Day. If you haven’t pre-ordered yours yet, don’t worry. As of this writing they’re still available.
The Home Pod has Siri built in and lets you do things like search, get calendar updates and control smart home devices. You can also use your voice to control Apple Music through the Home Pod.
The Home Pod is available from the Apple Store in White or Space Gray for $349.99 beginning February 9.
The Climbing Wall Treadmill
If your honey’s favorite song is “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and they’ve already summited Everest, they may be wanting new vertical challenges. If so, consider getting them the Climbing Wall Treadmill. This exercise machine helps climbers achieve new heights, as the sky isn’t even the limit with this equipment.
The Climbing Wall Treadmill is like a rock climbing wall that keeps going forever. Keep ascending until you run out of time or energy. The good news is that no supplemental oxygen is required!
This treadmill isn’t powered by electricity, it’s powered by the climber, ensuring a strenuous workout. You can adjust the incline from -20° to + 5° to match the challenges of an actual mountainside. The hand and foot holds can be positioned for each climber.
Keep track of your workout with a digital display that shows the time and distance climbed, as well as calories burned.
The Climbing Wall Treadmill is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $9950.00
Your Thoughts
Are you getting a tech gift for your loved one for Valentine’s Day? Which of these gifts would your sweetie like the most? Which of these gifts would you like to receive?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below! Then share this article with your loved one so they can choose the gift of their dreams.
Rene Barkett says
Loved this post !
Carolyn Nicander Mohr says
Hi Rene, So glad you enjoyed this post. I hope you found some fun and useful tech gifts for your loved ones and for yourself!
Kristal Tu says
Great tech list! I much rather give someone something hi-tech rather than cliche gifts.
Carolyn Nicander Mohr says
Hi Kristal, I’m so glad you agree with me. Tech gifts are definitely the way to go! I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day, Kristal.