10 Amazing Gadget Gifts for Men

The holiday season is fast approaching! Now’s the perfect time to start thinking about gift ideas for the father, boyfriend, husband, son, or any important man in your life. And what better way to impress him than with some awesome tech.

Luckily, being a gadget enthusiast has never been more exciting. With everything from smartphones to gaming consoles to 3-D TVs, our list has something perfect for everyone. Take a look at our top 10 gadget gift picks for men in 2011.

10: iPhone 4S

It’s no exaggeration to claim that the latest iPhone is the top smartphone on the market today. The new model enhances the strengths of its predecessors and introduces several innovative features to Apple’s iOS.

First up, there’s Siri, the much-discussed (and frequently conversed with) app that handles web searches, text messages, calendar events, and many more tasks through voice commands. Praised across tech blogs and publications for its ability to understand natural human speech, Siri works best when spoken to casually, using everyday language.

The 4S also boasts what is arguably the finest phone camera available, one that outperforms point-and-shoots and handheld video cameras. It shoots 1080p HD video at 30 frames per second and captures incredibly sharp still photos. You can now access the camera from the lock screen, making it even easier to use [source: Gizmodo].

And there’s more: iCloud, which wirelessly syncs your music and app purchases across all your devices, eliminating the need to connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC. No tech-savvy person could go wrong with the iPhone 4S as a gift.

Next, let's explore a fantastic gift idea for the gamer.

9: PS3 Bundle

When someone spots the sleek, black PlayStation 3 in your living room, they might wonder, "What does it do?" A better question to ask might be, "What doesn't it do?"

The latest PS3 does much more than just play video games. It also plays Blu-Ray and DVD movies, features built-in WiFi, has a robust hard drive, streams HD movies from Netflix, includes a web browser, and offers the PlayStation Network online gaming service [source: CNET].

Just in time for the holidays, there are several new bundles that pair the PS3 with multiple games or accessories. The PlayStation Move Bundle includes a unique controller and camera that track your movements in 3-D space, allowing you to physically interact with the game.

Now is the perfect time to pick up a PS3 console, especially with several hot new titles released just in time for the holidays, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Arkham City.

Next up: If you're more into reading and watching movies on the go rather than gaming, take a look at the latest tablet sensation from Amazon.

8: Amazon Kindle Fire

2011 marked the year of the tablet. After the iPad's success, numerous competitors have flooded the market, offering sleek and compact alternatives to laptops. The Amazon Kindle, which initially debuted as an e-book reader, now provides much more in its latest iteration.

The Kindle Fire, recently launched, still has books, but also offers movies, TV shows, music, games, apps, and magazines. If it's available on Amazon.com, you can get it on this tablet. With a dual-core processor and either 512 MB or 1 GB of memory, the Fire may not have the most storage compared to other tablets, but it gives you free access to Amazon's vast cloud storage for all your needs.

The Android-based tablet also features the highly praised "Silk" web browser, which leverages the Amazon cloud to load web pages with remarkable speed [source: Amazon].

The best part? It’s only $199, making it $50 cheaper than the Barnes and Noble Nook Color and more than half the price of the Apple iPad 2.

Next, let's explore a unique way to enjoy gaming on the iPad.

7: iCade Arcade Cabinet

Perhaps the guy in your life isn't a big fan of modern video games. Here's a fantastic option for the retro gamer to enjoy classic arcade games on their iPad.

The iCade resembles an arcade cabinet from the 1970s or '80s, complete with a joystick and a collection of buttons. However, instead of a screen, it has a slot where you place your iPad. Once you download the Atari's Greatest Hits app, you can enjoy over 100 classic games like Asteroids, Missile Command, and Centipede – just as they were meant to be played.

Additionally, many iOS game developers are creating new titles with iCade compatibility, so there's a lot more to play than just Atari classics. The iCade takes iPad gaming to a whole new level [source: ThinkGeek].

Next up – you've likely seen a lot of 3-D movies recently. Why not bring the 3-D experience to your living room with a 3-D TV?

6: 3-D TV

Many of us were amazed by the 3-D visual effects in "Avatar" when we watched it in theaters. Now, that same immersive experience is coming to your home theater. Three-D is often hailed as the "next big thing" in visual entertainment, making a 3-D-capable TV a fantastic gift idea this season.

Three-D TVs come with two main types of glasses: the theater-style "passive 3-D" glasses or the battery-powered liquid crystal shutter glasses known as "active 3-D." While active 3-D was the dominant type when these TVs first hit the market, passive 3-D models have become more popular recently. Passive glasses are more affordable, but the quality of the 3-D effect may not be as good [source: CNET].

It's important to remember that 3-D isn't fully mainstream yet. 3-D Blu-ray discs are still rare, and there are very few 3-D TV channels. However, 3-D video games are quickly gaining traction, so if you're a gamer, a TV that supports 3-D could be a great choice. At the moment, think of 3-D as just one of the many features offered on modern TVs, not the main reason to upgrade. Nevertheless, having a 3-D TV will prepare you for the exciting features that could emerge in the future.

Next, let's explore one of the most groundbreaking cameras ever created.

5: Lytro Light-field Camera

The compact Lytro camera may not seem like much at first glance, but many consider it a game-changer in photography. This small, rectangular gadget is a digital camera that captures the entire light field around an object.

This brings two key benefits: First, the Lytro doesn't require focusing before snapping a picture. Second, the image can be edited, refocused, and refocused again endlessly with specialized software. Nearly every pixel in the image is in focus, giving the user the power to highlight any part they choose [source: PC Mag].

The Lytro was recently announced and won't be available until early 2012. Still, it's an excellent gift for any photography enthusiast—whether it's your husband, dad, brother, or boyfriend. The Lytro's ability to take "living pictures" is a groundbreaking development in the world of photography.

Next, while you might not be able to buy a new car for that special guy, you can certainly help him make his current ride faster.

4: Engine Reflash

Back in the day, increasing a car's horsepower meant spending hours, sometimes even days, under the hood installing new components and ensuring everything was properly aligned. Today, however, more power and torque can be added to nearly any engine by adjusting the engine control unit (ECU).

Electronic engine tuning often includes tweaking various factors such as the air/fuel mixture, throttle response, RPM limits, automatic transmission shift points, and even turbocharger boost pressure.

One well-known engine tuning company is APR, which focuses on Volkswagen and Audi vehicles, especially those with turbocharged engines. For instance, APR claims that one of their reflashes can boost an Audi A4 sedan with a 2.0-liter engine by approximately 20 horsepower and 50 pound-feet of torque. With just a few hundred dollars, you can get the same performance boost that would otherwise require thousands in engine parts [source: APR].

Various companies offer electronic tuning options for different vehicles, so it's worth comparing to see what's available for your guy's car. Some services are performed at a dealership, while others use a device that directly connects to the engine.

In the next segment, we'll explore an affordable and effective way to bring streaming video to your television.

3: Roku

It seems that the Internet is gradually making traditional cable television a thing of the past. With so many fantastic shows streaming on platforms like Hulu and Netflix, not having cable isn't a problem anymore as long as your Internet connection is strong. Roku is an excellent device that connects TV and Internet in an easy-to-use way.

Roku is a compact device that easily fits in your hand. It connects to your TV via HDMI and supports Wi-Fi for Internet access. Once you set up a Roku account, you can enjoy more than 200 streaming channels, including HBO, Amazon Instant Video, and Pandora. While some premium channels like HBO or pay-per-view require a credit card, Roku also offers on-demand news, sports, and even includes the popular game Angry Birds [source: CNET].

Roku is one of the best digital media players available, offering more features than Apple TV at half the price. It may very well be the future of television.

Next, let's check out an awesome gadget for the beer enthusiast.

2: Krups and Heineken BeerTender

Who can resist beer? Here's the perfect gift idea for the man who is passionate about his brew.

The BeerTender by Krups is a smart beer storage and refrigeration system with a tap designed to serve beer exactly as it should taste. Compatible with beers using the Heineken DraughtKeg, it maintains an ideal temperature of 37.4°F (3°C) to keep the beer crisp and perfectly foamy.

And there's more! Each time the tap is used, the BeerTender releases CO2 to maintain freshness for up to 30 days. It also features an LCD display that tracks the remaining beer volume and offers three different temperature settings [source: Kegerators].

If you're a fan of Heineken mini-kegs, which also include Newcastle Brown Ale, then the BeerTender is an essential addition to your home bar.

Up next, we have what might just be the ultimate remote control.

1: Logitech Harmony 650 Remote Control

What do you get when you combine a DVD player, a BluRay player, a home theater system, a cable or DVR box, and a flat-screen TV? A fantastic viewing experience... and a whole lot of remotes!

The Logitech Harmony 650 universal remote is designed to solve the problem of too many remotes. Instead of juggling multiple devices, one Logitech remote can control up to five devices, which is more than enough for most users.

This remote supports over 5,000 brands of appliances and can be set up via your computer with a USB cable. It even comes with its own LCD screen to display all the available commands. The Logitech Harmony has been praised for its ease of use and offers great value for the price as well [source: Best Buy].

The next time you and dad settle in for a movie night, this remote will simplify things significantly.