Gift idea of the day: gadgets galore, part 2

These gifts may seem most appropriate for gadget geeks and travelers, but the truth is, anyone can benefit from them. There’s a nifty, high-tech camera (which is great for beginners), a personal MiFi so you can link into internet hotspots wherever you go and a Slingbox Pro-HD, which lets you watch all sorts of movies, shows and media on the go – straight from your own TV set.

Slingbox Pro-HD
Price: $299.99; Application is $29.99

Many people have discovered the divine joys of DVR, where you can record your favorite show or the big game when you’re stuck at work. But what if you’re far from home and won’t be going home that night – or even that week? The Slingbox Pro-HD is the answer.

This nifty little device allows you to control and watch video from a many different high-definition an standard-definition sources, including your cable box, DVR or DVD (Blu-ray too) player, all through the magic of the Internet. You can tune in from your laptop or mobile device and even access couch-potato features like the SlingRemote, which looks and works exactly like the remote control you have at home, and the Live Video Buffer, which allows up to 60 minutes of DVR-like program-editing.

Buy it here.

MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot
Price: $99.99; 5-GB monthly plan: $59.99

In this day and age, you’d think you’d be able to access the internet from anywhere. Not so. Existing networks often fail to deliver, which can be especially frustrating when you’re paying ridiculous prices to hotels or some coffee shops to access their networks.

The MiFi takes away those headaches by tapping seamlessly into Sprint’s and Verizon’s vast 3G networks. The pricing for the plan varies among service plans, but the 5-GB data plan for $60 a month is your best bet. Like with any new phone, you’ll have to sign a two year contract, but you’ll never have to go hunting for a signal or hotspot again.

Buy it here: Verizon or Sprint.

Pentax K-x
Price: $649.95
Available in red, black, navy and white

No need to pack a point-and-shoot camera and a video camera for your next trip. This little wonder does it all. It’s a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, shooting 12.4-megapixel images and captures wide-screen high-definition (20p) video at 24 frames per second.

And don’t be intimidated – this isn’t for “professionals only.” The K-x is a true entry-level SLR, and comes standard with multiple-scene modes and an auto-picture mode. One of the best things? It’s a camera that you can grow with as your photography skills mature. It’s also the cheapest digital SLR that shoots HD video.

Buy it here.