Gateway

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GATEWAY Your community voice for the north!

last minute

HOLIDAY Gift Guide

THURSDAY

December 12 2013

FIND THE PERFECT GIFT FOR:

The parents, the kids, the gamer, the runner and everyone else on your list

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What do you get the man – or woman – who has everything?

Holiday shopping for parents can be a real mind-bender, especially once the well of typical mom and dad fare is exhausted

Gifts for

Mom & Dad

By Lindsey Romain | CTW Features

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here are only so many sweaters, necklaces and pocketknives a person can acquire before it gets to be a bit much.“At a certain age, we start to comprehend the sacrifices our parents have made for us,” says Shelley Hunter, the gift expert known as The Giftcard Girlfriend.“With this understanding, we feel compelled to give gifts that adequately convey our feelings of love and appreciation.That’s a tall order for a trip to the mall.”

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Cont’d from page 4 One way to be creative for the ‘rents this holiday season: hone in on a more personalized area of interest and find fun stuff within those constraints. “Choosing the right gift has nothing to do with gender. It has everything to do with thinking about the recipient’s likes, interests and activities,”Hunter says. Or try any of these items for very specific sectors of mom and dad types. It’s always fun to think outside the box – or to think inside a box of unique goodies.

MOM » The Reader “Since nothing we give can equal the gifts they’ve given us, we turn to more practical items,” Hunter says.

If mom’s a bookworm, chances are she’s already checked out some of this year’s hottest sellers, like Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl” or

even – from the comfort of a private room – “Fifty Shades of Grey.” But if she’s looking for something a little different, try surprising her with the critically acclaimed “The Shining Girls” by Lauren Beukes ($18.45 hardcover).The mystery novel, about a time-traveling serial killer, has steadily gained steam since its release earlier this year, and is the perfect bookend to a year of great reads.

If she has enough books already, maybe a bookish accessory is a better bet. Literaryinspired retailers, like Out of Print (outofprintclothing.com), make an array of products – from shirts to pouches to eBook covers – that are great for moms with a literary lean.

MOM » The Tea Lover

“The Shining Girls”; $18.45

For the tea-drinking mama, delicate, patterned teacups – like these Charlotte mugs from World Market ($21.56 for a set of four) – are subtle, feminine and inexpensive.

Cont’d on page 7 Charlotte mugs;

$21.56

youthberry wild orange blossom tea blend; $18.80 Cont’d from page 6 Pair them with a delicious and healthful blend of tea and she’s all set.

Teavana, a specialty tea and accessories store, offers plenty of unique flavors for every tea-loving palette.The Youthberry Wild Orange Blossom Tea Blend ($18.80 for 4 oz. of loose leaf tea) is a popular favorite and a good place to start. And make sure mom’s ready to brew the perfect cup of tea with a teapot or infuser.

MOM » The Fitness Guru

If the New Year inspired mom to get on the fitness train, you’re in luck! Fitness gifts are a never-ending stream of trendy new products – from colorful weights to yoga mats to running shoes and beyond. One such product is ViewSPORT Spandex Leggings for women ($30). Honor your mom’s, uh, colorful personality with skeleton leg and

viewsport spandex leggings; $30 tribal patterns. What better way to spruce up her fitness routine than something boisterous as motivation.

If at-home workouts are your mom’s thing, try gifting her with a kettle ball. Kettle balls are a weider’s 20-lb. great workout on their powerball; $99 own, and minimize equipment to one compact item. Weider’s 20 lb. Powerball is seven kettle balls in one, starting with a 5 lb. option that can be adjusted to progressively heavier settings ($99). Cont’d on page 8

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Cont’d from page 7

DAD » The Couch Potato Is dad a TV guru stuck on reality programming? Open his eyes to the wonderful world of scripted cable programming this holiday season.Top-notch shows like AMC’s “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad” are both up-to-date on DVD and Blu-ray, so why not induce a plot-heavy marathon to go with that Christmas food overload? (“Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men” seasons five: $24.99).

If he’s trying to downsize his material collection and knows how to work a Wifi-capable viewing device, Netflix or Hulu Plus will give him a similar viewing experience without all the plastic. (Streaming-only versions run for $7.99/month for Neflix and Hulu Plus.)

DAD » The Classy Gentleman If dad’s more the “slow sip at the end of the day” type, class up his drinking experience with some fancy liquor goods.

Sick of fetching and making him ice? Gift him some whiskey stones, like this Teraforma set ($19.94 at Crate and Barrel), which he can freeze ahead of time and reuse.

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whiskey stones; $19.94

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Cont’d from page 8 If he’s a DIY sort of guy, he might enjoy a starter kit, like the Woodinville Age Your Own Whiskey (2-pack for $149; 4-pack for $596.96), which accelerates the aging process and comes with a reusable barrel.

DAD » The Geek

If dad’s a “Star Trek” guy, go for the gold. Literally. ThinkGeek is offering a limited edition gold U.S.S. Enterprise pizza cutter ($99) so he can show his Trekkie allegiance and enjoy a TV-night snack. For a less prodigal option, get the basic stainless steel version instead

($29.99). ThinkGeek also has Star Trek bath robes in multiple colors ($49 to $59) so dad can pretend he’s part of the crew around the house.

Want to participate in dad’s geekery?

Opt for a project book, like “Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share” (Penguin Group Incorporated, 2010, $17) by Ken Denmead. Projects include tips for transforming a room into a spaceship, homemade Ethernet cuff links and customized board games.

“There’s a difference between a gift and a present. A gift is something you give, knowing the recipient will enjoy it,” Hunter says. “A present is something you ‘present’ to the recipient because it’s something you think he or she should have. You’ll know you’ve chosen a gift if you’ve removed your own preferences from the decision-making process. If you have chosen a gift or a gift card that the recipient has

“Geek Dad”; $17 expressed an interest in, regardless of your own opinion, then the gift will be well received.”

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PlayStation & Xbox:

The Next Generation This holiday season, the most-desired devices are the new PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. But which console is right for your gamer? Read on for all the high-tech features packed into these new gaming systems

By Taniesha Robinson CTW Features

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A

mong the billions of gifts Santa sifts through this holiday season may be millions of the latest eighth-generation video game consoles: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Sony’s PS4 teases innovative game portability and simple social sharing. Microsoft’s Xbox One has the potential to replace your remote control.

Both consoles promise next-level gaming and entertainment experiences, but which would deliver in your household? Read on for a guide to all the features of these new super systems.

Price Tag

A glaring difference in the standard console launch bundles comes in the form of price.

The Xbox One, which launches in a special Day One Edition, retails for $499.99; the PlayStation 4 will be a full Benjamin Franklin less, at $399.99.

The Xbox One Day One bundle includes the console; a Kinect 2.0 sensor; commemorative controller, HDMI cable; and Xbox One Chat Headset. The PlayStation 4 will have a more spartan “bundle” — just the console and a controller.

As for peripherals, those hoping to save money by using previous versions of add-ons will meet disappointment: Neither system offers backward compatibility on accessories.

Hardware Specs

Both consoles have a 500GB hard drive, 8GB of RAM and an 8-core CPU processor, so both produce very similar performance levels. However, early reviews gave the PS4 a lead in performance.

Controller

The PS4’s controller, the DualShock 4, evolved more over its predecessor than the Xbox One controller did from the Xbox 360’s. Yet, Xbox fans will argue that Microsoft got it right the first time around.

The DualShock 4 designers changed the back surface, analog buttons and triggers for better grip. “In addition to that, there have been all these great features added to it without compromising the basic feel of the DualShock,” according to Scott Rohde, PlayStation software product development head for Sony Worldwide Studios America.

The PlayStation Camera ($54) will enable a new tracking feature through a light bar at the head of the controller.

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Cont’d from page 15 “We can track the position of this controller with multiple folks in the room,” Rohde says in a promotional video. “It’s very easy for the PS4 to identify who’s who.” Xbox also got the hint and added this feature to its new controller.

Motion & Voice Control

The DualShock also has a touchpad for swiping motions and navigation, a speaker and a “Share” button that allow players to record gameplay, create video or screenshots and post them instantly online.

“The fact that it can do things like track room entry and motion, that it can see when you’re not paying attention, that it can tell what your heartbeat is, all of that is fascinating,” Crecente says. “If someone really took advantage of that and made a really cool game, I’d love that.”

Up to four controllers can be connected to the PS4, and up to eight to the Xbox One.

Social Experience

The “Share” button is a step forward for the PlayStation’s online social features, but Xbox One has reigned in this space with its online gaming platform, Xbox Live Gold.

“With the Xbox 360, [Microsoft] really nailed online,” says Brian Crecente, news editor for the video game website Polygon.

“Xbox Live is by far, on consoles, my favorite online experience, and I assume going into Xbox One that that’s not going to be something I have to worry about.”

Microsoft has taken it up a notch with advanced algorithms to match players based on skill level and more.

The Xbox One can be turned on by simply saying “Xbox, on” or sitting down with the controller in hand. And that’s just the beginning of the buttonless control gamers have in the new system thanks to Kinect 2.0.

Sony confirms that the PlayStation Camera will have voice control, facial recognition and interaction with its DualShock 4.

Mobile Integration

The PS4 and Xbox One will both have companion mobile apps. The Xbox SmartGlass app has been upgraded with faster speed, remote control abilities for nongaming activities and unique gaming abilities.

“Game makers realize that there is a ubiquity to smartphones and tablets,” Crecente says. “Everybody seemingly has one now, so they see that as an easy way to extend that experience.”

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able to start a game on his home console and continue playing on the PS Vita on their way out the door.

Cont’d from page 16 For instance, both consoles’ mobile experience will allow a players to go into “commander mode” in the game “Battlefield 4” and direct other players in real-time.

The PS4 also is teasing the idea of remote gaming through integration of its PS Vita device and a PlayStation cloud service launching in 2014. The on-the-go-gamer will be

Both systems attempt to conquer your living room with TV services, too.

Sony plans to launch an online, paid TV service by the end of 2013. The Xbox One can run apps simultaneously with games, movies and more. Plus, it has one interface – complete with motion and voice control – that allows control of normal TV functions.

“This holiday, you’re going to have people doing exactly what I’m doing,” Crecente says.

“They’re going to be standing there in front of the consoles [at the store] – for the first time in a long time – really, really deciding which console they want.”

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Run-der the Tree

Matthew M. F. Miller | CTW Features

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ractical gifts don’t have to be boring. Neither do gifts that promote yearround fitness.

Whether you have an avid athlete or New Year’s resolution junkie on your list, running gear is an adrenaline-fueled gift that will be used and abused for months to come. Check out the latest, trendiest gear that attempts to defy the laws of physics and turn even the average runner into a superhero. Do gifts get any better than that? No. No, they don’t.

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Shoes »

Adidas Running Springblade Shoe, Available in Men’s and Women’s; $180 Multiple “energy blades” decorate the bottom of the shoe, providing extra inches of height, impact absorption and extra bounce in your step.

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Nike Free Flyknit+, Available in Men’s and Women’s; $160 Incredibly lightweight and flexible, this breathable, knitted shoe fits more like a sock than a traditional sneaker.

Reebok ATV 19+; $140

New Balance 1260v3; $145

This spacey looking shoe has 19 “podular lugs” lining the bottom of the sneaker, designed to make all-terrain running a comfortable ride.

This seamless (there are literally no sewwelded seams), soft-density foam cushioned shoe is quite the looker, too.

Available in many unique, flashy color combinations.

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Apparel

»

Asics Lite-Show Favorite Running Top; $44-48 depending on style The entire Lite-Show line features a reflective thread on all seams, which bounces light rays back at the source to make runners more visible.

New Balance Windblocker Tight Women’s Bottoms; $90 Eco-friendly coffee grinds compose the NB Heat technology that claims to provide a two-degree skin surface temperature increase. They are also flexible and reflective.

Under Armour Men’s Alter Ego Compression Shirt; $45-60 Runners often feel like superheroes, but now they can look one, too.

Choose from Iron Man, Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and Hulk.

Nike Engineered Hooded Women’s Training Top; $125 Stylish, comfortable and breathable, this training top keeps runners warm on chilly outings, but could double as casualwear when not working up a sweat.

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Gadgets

»

Sennheiser Adidas PMX 685i Sports headphones; $80 Headphones that are comfortable, sound good and stay in place? Yes, and they’re also sweat/water resistant and fit under your bike helmet on cross-training days.

TomTom Runner GPS Watch; $170 Provides outdoor and indoor tracking, and even works on treadmills. Vibrations alert runners to their progress even when music is playing. Adjustable for all wrist sizes and very durable.

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Reebok Women’s inShape Fitness Monitor; $80 Simple, no-frills tracking device that is worn like a watch and tracks running speed, heart rate, distance and calories burned, and also works as a pedometer.

Jawbone Up; $130 The latest competitor to the Nike Fuelband, Up tracks your movement, sleeping and eating patterns. Attach photos of your food for easy meal tracking and get morning feedback about how long you were in a deep sleep.

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Toy Land, Toy Land…

Tablet, Game and Joy Land This year, look for tech, nostalgia and popular brands to sell big

By Lindsey Romain CTW Features

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nnovation. Building skills.

Out-of-the-box thinking.

This year, toys trends are more about stretching the mind than providing temporary entertainment – or finding new ways to do both.

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Cont’d from page 28 “This is the year of toys powered by kids’ imaginations,” says Marianne Szymanski, the founder and president of Toy Tips, Inc., an international child development research group.

Billy Lagor, senior vice president of U.S. marketing at Hasboro, agrees: “This year it’s all about customization, and the merging of digital and face-to-face play, along with new ways to play with classic favorites.”

Meaning, in simple terms: tablets, robots and building toys with a million little pieces are all the rage.

Tech Bytes »

Tablets were a big deal last year, but in 2013

XO learning tablet; $149

Vtech inno tab 3S; $99.99 the “tablet market has exploded,” according to Laurie Schacht, co-publisher of Toy Insider, also known as the “Toy Insider Mom.” The VTech Inno Tab 3S ($99.99, ages 3 to 9) and the XO Learning Tablet ($149, ages 4 to 14) are two popular tablets for kids, as is the Disney Creativity Studio – Smart Stylus ($50), which works in conjuncture with the Disney Creativity Studio iPad app ($4 in the Apple Store). It’s a nice treat for kids with iPad-owning parents who aren’t afraid to let them handle the device.

That technology crossover – using something new, like a stylus, to “renovate” an existing product, like an iPad – is a big trend in the toy world right now.

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Disney creativity studio - smart stylus; $50

Disney infinity (above) Skylanders swap force (below); $74.99 each Cont’d from page 30 The Telepods line is a “digital gaming platform for the mobile generation,” Lagor says. With the Angry Birds Star Wars II app (available September 19), kids can “teleport” physical Angry Birds toys into the app and use them within.They just have to tap the Telepods icon in the game to get started.

When the game is off, they can play with the Angry Birds toys, which they can set up and strategically knock down, just like in the game.

Disney Interactive’s Disney Infinity and Skylanders Swap Force (both $74.99 for a starter pack) use that same concept –

toys

mixing physical with a virtual

world – and are both expected to be big hits, according to Schacht.

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Cont’d from page 34

Nostalgia Rules

»

sofia the first, talking sofia and animal friends; $39.99

For parents perturbed by the thought of glitzy teleporting tech, fear not – classic toys like Cabbage Patch dolls, Smurfs,Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs are big again this year.“Parents and grandparents love to share the toys they remember and adored growing up with their kids and grandkids,” Schacht says of this trend.

Updates on classics are also making rounds. Lagor makes note of Monopoly Empire, a new spin on everyone’s favorite money-hungry board game. In Empire ($19.99, ages 8 and up), properties are

replaced with popular brand names of entities kids will recognize, like McDonalds, Xbox and Coke.

Twister, the dotted arm-tangling game, also has an update: Dance Rave ($34.99, ages 8 to 14), which hooks up to an MP3 player and comes with movable Twister spots that get players dancing.

Big Name, Big Money »

Kids are also suckers for anything recognizable to them – which is why toys based on popular movies,TV shows and preexisting brands are some of this year’s most anticipated.

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monopoly empire; $19.99

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Doc mcstuffins get better check up center; $79.99

As for movies, the minions from “Despicable Me 2” were the breakout characters of the year – and that should talking minion doll; translate to the $39.99 toy world, too, like with the Talking Minion doll ($39.99, ages 4 to 12).

Can We Fix It? »

Cont’d from page 37 Sofia the First,Talking Sofia and Animal Friends ($39.99, ages 3 and up) should be a big hit with little girls, as should anything Doc McStuffins-related. McStuffins toys, also based on a hit Disney show, were some of the top sellers last year.This year, the Doc McStuffins Get Better Check Up Center ($79.99, ages 3 and up) should be a hot gift.

If a kid can build it, a kid will want it this year. VTech’s Go! Go! Smart Wheels Construction Playset ($34.99, ages 1 to 3) lets little ones assemble a puzzle-like race course. First Builder’s Billy Beats Dancing Piano ($39.99, ages 1 to 5) is both musical and builder-friendly – he even holds other First Builders blocks under his red hat.

For slightly older kids, K’NEX Thunderbolt Strike ($119, ages and up) comes with 850 pieces and over 17 feet of connectors.

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k'nex thunderbolt strike, $119

First builder's billy beats dancing piano; $39.99 Cont’d from page 38

At the End of the Day »

Even with all the gadgets and intricacies in toys this year, the biggest name of the season is… the Rainbow Loom?

Yes, the Rainbow Loom.The colorful bracelet-making kit, invented by a Michigan man named Choon Ng for his daughters, took off earlier this year.The Loom is only available in specialty stores and runs for $14.99, and “while it may not remain as hot as we head into the holidays, it will remain a great and inexpensive gift for kids of all ages,” according to Schacht.

“Kids have become crafty, more

imaginative and are now interested in making their own designs,” says Szymanski of the trend.

Regardless of what your kid is yearning for – from techiest of the tech to the simplest bracelet maker – Schacht says to remember that they’re the ones you should be listening to.

“It’s all about what your kids love,” Schacht explains. “Understanding how they play, and what they like best will help ensure a great choice for a toy that is played with and enjoyed many times over.”

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Eye Candy for Their Ears

Polk Nue Era headphones

For the music aficionado with unapologetic design tastes, give them some new audio gear that looks just as great as it sounds

By Greg Scoblete | CTW Features

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nlike Victorian-era children, great audio gear is designed to be seen and heard. From home theater systems that will accent any livingroom aesthetic to portable systems to amplify an iPhone, the latest audio tech looks great and sounds better.

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For the Home Theater enthusiast

The TV still holds pride of place in most living rooms, and these home theater speakers will give couch potatoes even more incentive to stay put.

Jamo 360 S-35-HCS

The name may not roll off the tongue, but the sound is sure to rattle ears. This 5.1-channel surround sound system pumps 125 watts of power through its speakers and uses the company’s Omnipolar acoustical dispersion technology so listeners don’t have to be situated directly in front of the speaker for an optimal performance. The orb-like speakers have a moveable base, allowing them to place them on a shelf or mount them on a wall, and are available in black or white. $999.99

Vizio 2.1 Home Theater

Vizio’s angular 2.1channel soundbar is easy on the eyes and the budget. Its wireless subwoofer can be placed anywhere that’s convenient — up to 60 feet

from the bar (provided it’s in the soundbar’s line of sight). The soundbar can decode both Dolby Digital DTS Surround audio from two digital inputs (one RCA, one optical). It also features Bluetooth for wirelessly streaming audio from mobile devices alongside a USB port and 3.5mm jack. It’s available in 38-, 40- and 42-inch sizes.

Starting at $179.

For the Mobile Music Fanatic

Whether its headphones for their daily commute or portable Bluetooth speakers for bumping backyard barbecues, this is the audio gear for those who need their music to go.

Polk Nue Era

Don’t let them dangle the same-ole white ear buds from their ears.

Polk’s Nue Era in-ear headphones are encased in a stylish resin in “tortoise” or black finishes. Cont’d on page 45

Cont’d from page 44 The headphones feature a dynamic balance driver for a cleaner, less distorted audio experience. The 48-inch cord has a 3-button control and built-in microphone for voice calls. The headphones ship with three pairs of silicone ear tips, two pairs of 3-flange silicone ear tips, and two pairs of memory-foam tips so they can find the fit that is right for them. $99

G-Project G-Boom

The G-Boom portable Bluetooth speaker accomplishes something that it’s boxier brethren often fail

to: It blends form with function in a design that’s actually built to be carried, with a convenient grip, rugged housing and protective rubber base so it can be picked up and plunked down at will. It boasts two speakers with four drivers and three equalizer presets to offer a range of bass options.

Its internal rechargeable battery can pump out tunes for up to six hours. Besides Bluetooth, it can be connected to external sources via a 3.5mm jack. $99 Cont’d on page 46

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Cont’d from page 45

Stelle Audio Pillar

The Pillar cuts a striking figure in the bland world of boxcar Bluetooth speakers. While you’ll pay a pretty penny for this pretty tower — $349 — at up 15 hours it has one of the longest battery lives of any Bluetooth speaker.

It’s powered by a pair of 1.5-inch acoustic drivers and a 3-inch subwoofer. There’s also a built-in mic, so it can be used as a speakerphone. The Pillar features a 50-foot wireless range for streaming from phones and tablets, or use the 3.5mm jack to plug in peripherals directly.

Mobile Music @ Home

Bridging the world of high-fidelity home audio gear with the mobile phones and computers our tunes are stored on, these systems will wring the best sound possible from your digital music files.

Sonos PlayBar

You won’t find a more versatile soundbar for music and movies. Connect the PlayBar to a router and it can stream music wirelessly from, computers and tablets. Connect it to a TV via a single optical cable and it will play any source that’s also connected to the TV (no more switching inputs on either your TV or receiver). If they already have other Sonos wireless speakers in the home and the Sonos wireless bridge, the PlayBar can sync wirelessly with them, too, for all-over-the-house streaming. It’s all controlled via free apps for Android and iOS devices and free desktop software for Macs and PCs. $699

Samsung DA-E750

They’ll get a vintage stereo look with modern capabilities in Samsung’s DA-E750.

This powered speaker features two speakers with a glass-fiber midrange driver, a subwoofer and a vacuum tube preamp with a 100-watt amplifier to ensure tunes radiate throughout the room. It offers a built-in 30-pin dock in the rear for connecting iPods or older iPhones, but it also features AirPlay capabilities to play from Apple audio sources wirelessly (iPhone 5 and newer). A second dedicated 5-pin dock is compatible with Samsung Galaxy devices. It’s also Bluetoothenabled for wireless streaming. $599

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