Ho, ho, ho, cheap-Os!
'Tis the season for giving tech gifts to your friends, family, co-workers and even casual aquaintences. Wow! That holiday list can sure add up fast. We know how hard it can be to get out of the shopping season with your credit rating intact. Don't get all Scrooge-y; you don't have to spend a ton to get someone a great gift.
While most cutting-edge technology usually comes a high cost, there are plenty of cool products that are available for well below the $100 price point. This year, we came up with a great list of gadgets, AV gear and a few other interesting goodies. There are accessories, components, and even a little something you'll want to cuddle.
Read on for our picks of the Top 7 Holiday Tech Gifts Under $100.
R-Rated Talking Ted Plush Bear
Yeah, this little guy may not be smarter than your average bear, but he's certainly more filthy. He's cute, he's cuddly, and he's got a completely foul mouth. He's certainly not something you'd want to give your kid or your nieces and nephews, unless you want to be eating Christmas dinner alone. This little bear is more for the person that can appreciate the raunchy antics of Seth MacFarlane's Ted. Available in 8-, 16-, and 24-inch sizes, he's small enough to cuddle at night. However, when the beers start flowing, it will be hard to keep people from trying to get the Talking Ted Plush to spew one of his five F-bomb-laden phrases. [MSRP: $44.99 to $124.99]
Panasonic DMP-BDT220 WiFi Blu-ray 3D Player
Technically, this player has an MSRP of $149.99. However, we've been seeing it for $99 a lot lately -- and sometimes even less. At that price, this is a must-have, with support for 2D and 3D Blu-rays, as well as DVDs and CDs. It also includes Adaptive Chroma Processing for brighter colors and an overall better image. Even better, it's got WiFi, so you can easily tap into BD-Live extras or the player's VIERA Connect platform. That perk features instant, on-screen access to web-based goodies, such as Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, VUDU, Pandora, Facebook, and much more. [MSRP: $149, but available now for $99]
Solid Signal HD-Blade Indoor Antenna
We've seen a lot of people give up on pay TV lately. Giving your friends and family this indoor antenna is like a little taste of freedom -- from a large monthly bill, anyway. Made up of silver foil and two sheets of high-durability plastic, it doesn't sound all that high-tech. However, it boasts reception of standard-def and HD TV channels up to 25 miles away from the nearest broadcast tower (for best reception, that is). Also, the paper-thin 0.4mm design is easy to mount to the wall behind the TV or any other out-of-the-way place. No roof outings are needed! [MSRP: $39.99]
Disney WOW Theater Calibration Blu-ray
Friends don't let friends calibrate home theaters poorly. Get them this disc, which promises to be the "definitive how to guide" for optimization of home theaters. If you can't trust Goofy, who can you trust? Apparently, he's a bit of a home theater guru, and also the guide for this disc. He and the rest of the wonderful world of Disney bring theater calibration to the home, via a series of tweaks to get that system up to pro standards. It also includes demo clips from Toy Story, Up, Bolt and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. [MSRP: $39.99]
Apple TV
This is one of the few Apple products available for less than a C-Note, but it certainly packs in a wealth of entertainment for the price and size. The 2012 version of Apple's streamer still delivers access to Netflix, YouTube, Vimeo and everything you have hoarded on iTunes. It can also tap into iCloud content and stream all of its goodies up to 1080p. Other new features include a single-core version of its A5 procesor and a more user-friendly, icon-based interface. [MSRP: $99]
Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver
Being able to stream music directly to your home theater setup is all the rage these days. However, you probably don't have the cash to update everyone's receiver. That's some serious Santa money! Instead, just add this easy dongle to any stereo and start streaming from your favorite Bluetooth-capable device, up to 33 feet feet. It supports most smartphones and tablets, including the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It also comes with 3.5mm-to-RCA and 3.5mm-to-3.5mm cables for a quick and easy hookup. [MSRP: $49.99]
Sonic Screwdriver Programmable TV Remote
The last item on our list is a little nichey, since it's a nod to Doctor Who. If you don't have a fan on your list, you could have a convert on your hands, once they get a load of this little device. The metal replica of the Mark VII Sonic Screwdriver looks just like what the Eleventh Doctor has in his arsenal. It's also a gesture-based remote that uses infrared (IR) technology, allowing users to flick, tap and rotate to control the TV, Blu-ray players, iPod docks, and beyond -- just not beyond 39 commands. [$99.95]
