Father Figured

The Essential Gift Guide to Surprise Digital Dads

Don’t know what to do about Dad’s Day? Outdid yourself last year? Fear not—we’ve got some picks you will find to be much more valuable than your typical consolation prize.

Solio Classic

The Solio Classic is a hybrid charger that is powerful enough to provide energy to all of your portable electronics. It can harness both the natural power of the sun and other traditional outlet sources. Its design is compact and lightweight which is a welcome alternative to the multiple chargers that are typically necessary to keep the average person fully powered and connected. Who knew that one hour of sunshine could equal 20 minutes of talk time or 50 minutes of music on an mp3 player? Companies like Solio, who promote consumer consciousness and the use of renewable energy sources, are the reason there will continue to be a world for us to speak of and listen to.

Vuzix iWear AV920

For those of us who openly embrace our addiction to electronic media, specifically electronic gaming, the Vuzix VR920 is the answer to our swears. Imagine playing your next monthly (weekly, daily) Madden tournament on a personal display that is the virtual equivalent to a 62" screen. Trust me when I say you have never experienced fourth and one like this (Ok Mr. Strahan, you win.) Drawing its influences from the visual scale of flight simulators and the style of the iconic Jordy Laforge, the VR920 will revolutionize the way gamers game for good.

Wallet Flash MP3

The Isley Brothers, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Norman Connors plus every band Miles ever assembled can now fit in your wallet on an mp3 player so slim you could mistake it for a credit card. Unfortunately an impressive music catalogue can’t be used at our local shopping malls. Charging capabilities aside, Wallet Flash is a purchase that will satisfy every consumer. For jet setters, it’s incredibly convenient size and durable water proof quality make it the ultimate portable mp3 player on the market.

Smart Shopper

There is no way of knowing how many scraps of paper have fallen prey to the list-crazed folk who brave the grocery store aisles. The tattered, often stained, memory of a list is meant to serve as a map to guide weary shoppers to culinary bliss. There is something to be said for those who would brave the great unknown of the produce section with nothing to direct them but the stars. Personally when it comes to the groceries we want the gps of shopping lists. SmartShopper is precisely what can guarantee a properly stocked Frigidaire, with features like voice recognition, automated categorization and legible printouts. With the Smart- Shopper in hand be prepared to buy in bulk.

Ultimate Ears–The super.fi 4vi

Ultimate Ears, the market leading producer of in-ear-monitors, has recently released the super.fi 4vi. Their lightweight aluminum body delivers unmatched studio quality audio while dampening ambient noise. To sweeten the deal these ear phones are also voice integrated and compatible with the iPhone. An answer button allows users to have full control of their iPhone’s media functions without skipping the beat of whatever opus motivates their motion in style. Classy, comfortable and state of the art the super.fi 4vi is a world unto itself but when paired with the iPhone, these two tech treasures will make headlines as the latest and greatest power couple of pop. Listen Up.

MStation Orb

Had Darth Vader and the rest of the dark side had some soul power perhaps they would have fashioned the dreaded Death Star into something closer to the mStation Orb. This sleek and stylish sphere of sound was made especially for the iPod, which you can simply slip into the mStation to witness the powerful thump of its dedicated subwoofer. If the bass is too much for your universe, adjust it from a distance with the handy remote control. The mStation comes in seven different colors to properly reflect the owner’s personality, including Vader black and Yoda green.

Invisible Shield

With all of the electronic devices available today it is comforting to know that certain companies are focused on maintenance and above all scratch prevention. zagg is one of the few who have developed a simple solution to end the battle that ensues between cell phones, mp3 players and any other metal object buried within the pockets, purses and backpacks of consumers worldwide. The Invisible Shield is the strongest, most durable anti scratch protection film on the market. It was originally developed by the military to protect helicopter blades from wear and tear. With second skins available for most devices, zagg will also provide custom made casing for any other devices as well.

Scandyna Micropod SE Active

Portable computer technology has advanced to unbelievable heights in the last 10 years. Wireless communication is a standard that has changed the way we spend our time in the office and at the coffee shop. But despite these advancements and the incredible future they herald, the built in speaker systems in most computers just do not cut it. Let’s be honest with ourselves for a moment; there is only one way to listen to Franz Schubert or the immortal sounds of J Dilla—loudly. The Micropod SE Active is a perfect addition to make your laptop a portable groove machine fit for a classic Jamaican sound clash. After plugging in these colorful and compact speakers, prepare yourself for a lifetime of good vibrations.

Cool IT

Human beings are driven by the challenge of nature’s indelible forces, so it should come as no surprise that CoolIT systems focused all their collective intelligence and ability on keeping your beer bottles as cold as possible. The invention of the usb Beverage Chiller marks yet another step in the quest to tame the sun. If it was left up to the old sol, room temperature would be all your parched mouth could ever hope for when in need of liquid refreshment. Unlike the case of the doomed Icarus, whose man made wings melted away after flying too close to the brilliant light of the day, no amount of heat will keep you away from the true power of brain freeze thanks to CoolIT.

dreamGEAR–Soft sport Accessories for Wii

There was a time when playing any kind of sport inside the house was a one way ticket to a serious whooping. But in this progressive era the persistent evolution of indoor athletics may have finally eluded the medieval cunning of the strict parental back hand volley. The Nintendo Wii has become the leader in virtual sports and in turn dreamGEAR has created accessories for the Wii control to make the gaming experience as authentic as possible. With their array of instruments, from foam covered bats to golf clubs, dreamGEAR helps gamers immerse themselves in simulated sporting events that come as close to the real thing as you can get in a living room.

Garmin Forerunner 305

Not everyone can match the degree of physical accomplishments that live within the heaving chests and active sinews of today’s endurance athletes. But if you do have dreams of taking your own body to the next level, Garmin’s high-performance line of personal trainers can guide you. The Forerunner 305 is the ideal tool for measuring individual progress in fitness. Its gps receiver and robust ant wireless heart rate monitor help you train at your optimal heart rate zone. Important data is stored in the unit so that you can track every step toward a healthy body.

Golf Rules Quick reference

Nothing sours a golf outing more than a debate over the rules of the game. Unless you have an international rules official in your foursome, talking it out probably won’t do you anybody much good. Fortunately Yves C. Ton-That, the author of Golf Rules Quick Reference has made it possible for you to keep an international rules official in your bag. His comprehensive and highly readable mini-tome holds the answers to every foreseeable situation from the tee to the green and everything in between. An innovative overview chart located in the back of the book answers 80 percent of a golfer’s questions without even having to flip through the entire book. Rumor has it that there is even a section that details the meaning of life, but if you’re on the back nine you probably already know the answer to that question.