Gift Guide 2014: Editor’s Picks

Here at Circuits & Cable Knit, we are not only about wearable technology and smart watches. There are a lot of other exciting things that technology brings into our life. We have selected some of our favorite things that your techie and non-techie friends alike will love to receive this holiday season.

TILE

We love crowdfunded technologies here at Circuits And Cable Knit! The Bluetooth 4.0 based “tag” Tile raised over $2.5M last year and finally launched this Fall. The idea is simple, stick Tile into your purse or wallet or attach it to your keys, phone, or anything else. When you can’t find the item, launch the Tile app on your phone and the app will help guide you to your lost belonging. Tile works by alerting the app of its proximity, which means that you do have to be within Bluetooth range (20 to 30 feet) for it to function. From the companion app, you can also have Tile emit a noise to aid in finding it. If you lost your item outside of the bluetooth range of your phone, you can specify that it is lost, and if another Tile user comes across it, you will be alerted of the location. Tile has a non-replacible battery that lasts for 1 year and is compatible with iOS devices and, soon, Android.

Tile is available from the company’s website for $25 a piece, or less if you buy multiples.

Monochōme Street Style

With just-in-time manufacturing becoming more important in the fashion industry, there have been some great technologies that have emerged out of necessity. One of those is laser-cut clothing. The other is the ability to custom print fabrics on the fly. Monochōme is one of the companies utilizing this technology in an interesting way, allowing you choose from any map around the world and have it printed onto either a tank top, t-shirt, flare skirt, or pencil skirt. Your loved one can now wear their favorite ‘hood in a fashionable way. The company uses data from OpenStreetmap.org, so there are some holes in the mapping data.

Prices range from $45 for a tank top to $85 for a flare skirt and are available via their website.

ZEPP MULTI SPORT SENSOR

One of the problems with sports that involve swinging is that it is very difficult to diagnose what is going wrong. Given the speed of your swing, you either need a high speed camera or something to track your swing. Enter the Zepp Multi Sport Sensor. Attach the sensor to your golf glove (that makes it wearable tech, right?), tennis racket, or baseball bat and within seconds after your swing you are presented with all kinds of metrics and even information on your swing path. The chip connects via Bluetooth 4.0 to your iOS or Android device and the app displays all of information, including what range the measurements should optimally be within and how to improve. The same Zepp sensor can be used for different sports, you simply purchase the appropriate mounting accessory.

Zepp lists for $149.99 and is available in packages for either tennis, golf, or baseball. The additional mounts cost $9.99.

EVERPURSE

What is more unfashionable than your phone running out of power during the middle of the day. Sure there are tons of portable batteries available to charge your phone on the fly, but none are as chic (or convenient) as what Everpurse has crafted. The leather clutch provides  48 hours of battery and has an interchangeable dock so that you don’t have to replace the purse when a new phone comes out. The charging mat is the headline feature that really makes Everpurse stand out. There are no wires to plug into the purse when you need to refill the integrated battery, simply lay the purse down on the included charging pad and you are done. The Everpurse clutch includes a wristlet strap and a cross-body strap.

Everpurse lists from $249 and is available directly from the company.

PHONE WITH MOBILE PAYMENT FEATURE

Want to feel like it really is the 21st century, pay for your next purchase with only your phone. Although Google Wallet has been lurking around for a few years, it was only with the launch of Apple Pay this year that mobile payments have finally begun to gain some momentum. Whether you are purchasing a new favorite dress at Anthropologie or a pack of gum at Walgreens, the convenience of mobile payment cannot be argued. The other aspect of mobile payments that will have you reaching for your phone instead of credit card is security. With the list of retailers suffering data breaches growing, mobile payment systems utilize tokenized numbers so that your actual credit card and name are never shared with the retailer. Apple Pay accomplishes this by working with the card issuers while Google Wallet utilizes a refillable virtual debit card. Plus, who doesn’t love getting a shiny new phone!

The iPhone 6/6+ sells for between $199 and $499 on contact. The price of a Google Wallet compatible Android devices varies widely.

HONORABLE MENTION

Custom printed clothes in a variety of styles and designs from Constrvct. They are having issue meeting demand so the ability to order is sometimes pulled. Lists for $75 to $395 depending on the type of garment.

A jacket than can power your phone with the sun, Tommy Hilfiger’s Solar Panel Jacket for men and women. Lists for $599 and half of the proceeds from each sale goes to the Fresh Air Fund.

A 3D printer to explore making the next new thing in fashion tech, from MakerBot (or others) or build you own (including a knitting printer). Prices range from $300 to $100,000 depending on how complex you want to go.