Page 10 - Last Minute Gift Guide 2016

10 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016
Take to the sky with easier-to-fly drones
Rapid advances in GPS
and processing
technology have made
drones smaller, cheaper and
easier to fly than ever before.
Many quadcopter (four-rotor)
drones on the market now
feature high-quality cameras
on easy-to-operate platforms
so you can be comfortably
flying around a park after little flying experience.
more than an hour of practice.
Here are five drones at
various price points that can
send your favorite techie’s
spirits to new heights:
¦ DJI Phantom 4 ($1,199):
As the drone that brought the
machines mainstream, the
Phantom has been on the
market since 2013 and is now
in its fourth version. Easy to
fly and with one of the most
advanced built-in cameras on
the market, the Phantom is a
high-quality, all-in-one tool
Virtual-reality upgrades Clever, cool accessories
turning heads these days your smartphone’ll crave
While the “virtual
reality” term has
been thrown around
over the years, the virtual
technology we've often seen
in science-fiction movies is
now going mainstream. A
number of VR headsets on the
market enable anyone to
immerse themselves in virtual
games or travel to faraway
places, all from the comfort of
their living rooms. Here are
four devices that will help
your favorite gift recipients
get their heads into the game.
¦ Oculus Rift ($599): In
development since 2012, the
Oculus Rift was officially
released to the public in
March. Rift uses state-of-the-
art optics with a high refresh
rate display to keep images in
sync with where the user is
looking. Rift's technology and
low-latency constellation
tracking system heightens the
sensation of presence. There
are also many accessories
available, including a remote,
an integrated VR audio de-
vice, and controllers. As with
other high-end VR headsets,
users will need a powerful
desktop to optimally run many
virtual-reality games.
Nina Ottosson’s cool dog treat
maze, left, rewards the brainy
pooch that can figure out how to
get at it.
Let your cat “play the
tunes” with the DJ cat-
scratching pad from
Uncommon Goods.
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Presents for pets and pet lovers
By Jessi Roti
Chicago Tribune
Pets become part of the
family on day one. The
holidays are near, and you
and your furry family
member can look forward
to some of these top gift
picks:
PetNet Smart Feeder,
$149.99, Petco. This is
much more than an auto-
matic feeder for the pet
lover who may be on the
go. The PetNet Smart
Feeder will lead your pet to
a healthier, happier life by
guiding the pet owner to
the most compatible food
for your beloved four-
legged family member, and
can be controlled through
an app on your smart-
phone (iOS or Android)
while you’re gone. The
Smart Feeder also controls
portion size and lets you
have your pet’s food deliv-
ered to your doorstep.
Nina Ottosson dog treat
maze, $14.99, Petco.
Want a stimulating chal-
lenge for your dog that
ends in quite a tasty re-
ward? Nina Ottosson cre-
ated a cool treat maze that
requires your pet to use his
or her brain and “paw
power” to shift the spheres
around and retrieve the
treat inside.
Leaps & Bounds Electric
Flutter Butterfly cat
for the budding aerial photog-
rapher. The Phantom offers an
impressive 28-minute flight
time with a radio range of 3.1
miles and complete control
with a live, 720p HD view.
The advanced app also fea-
tures a number of automated
flight controls to enhance your
¦ 3DR Solo ($799.95):
Powerful and portable, the
3DR Solo's design makes it a
great tool for capturing aerial
images. The Solo has a maxi-
mum flight time of 20 minutes
with a range of .6 miles. Op-
erated by a controller that
attaches to a mobile device,
the Solo runs on an app that
offers automated flying ma-
neuvers such as selfie and
reveal, panoramic mode and
“cable cam” mode, which
enables the drone to auto-
matically fly a straight line.
CTW Features ¦ Sony PlayStation VR
Enjoy heart-stopping action
with a virtual-reality headset.
¦ HTC Vive ($799): Vive
enables users to move, walk,
and explore virtual worlds in
360-degree motion with what
it calls “realistic room experi-
ences.” Vive's laser tracking
system follows the movement
of 32 sensors on the headset
and 24 sensors on each of the
hand-held wireless controllers
to replicate the user in the
digital world. Vive features a
110-degree field of view with a
2160 x1200 pixel combined
resolution and a 90 Hz refresh
rate. The Chaperone guidance
system keeps players safely
within a play area so they don't
bump into furniture or walls.
A forward-facing camera on
the front exterior allows Vive
to blend virtual experiences
with the real environment
PETCO
toy, $14.99, Petco. Cats
have an instinct to chase,
and they should get to let
that out every once in a
while. Complete with two
battery-powered butterfly
attachments that promote
“spirited play,” your cat
will be challenged while
getting some exercise.
Petlinks Mousefull
refillable catnip toy,
$4.49, Petco. It is the
holiday season, so let your
cat let loose and have
some fun! This realistic,
refillable toy lets you add
catnip to “refresh your
cat’s interest” and bring
out the real mouse hunter
inside.
Dog bowl water bottle,
$20, UncommonGoods.
Anyone with a dog has
been on a long walk with
no end in sight when the
pup gets thirsty and
there’s no water fountain
or water bottle at hand.
Instead of trying to aim a
regular water bottle into
your pet’s mouth or cut-
ting your walk short and
rushing home, this water
bottle comes complete
with a refillable bowl
attachment and is the
most convenient solution.
May your long walks live
on.
DJ cat-scratching pad,
$35, Uncommon
Goods. Probably the
coolest pet toy ever! Let
3DR Solo's design makes it a great tool for capturing aerial images.
The orbit mode allows the
user to select a point and have
the drone automatically circle
and video the image. Unlike
other drones, though, the Solo
does not come with its own
camera, so you’ll need to get
your own GoPro.
¦ Parrott Bebop 2 ($549):
The Parrot Bebop 2 is a fun
and compact quadcopter that
($499): The Sony PlayStation
VR brings a virtual experience
to a top-selling gaming plat-
form. The headset is created
exclusively for use with the
PlayStation 4 in a "plug and
play" design that makes enter-
ing a VR experience easier
than ever. Current game titles
include Star Wars Battlefront,
VR Worlds and Golem The
headset features a 5.7-inch
panel with a resolution of
1080p per eye and a 100-
degree field of view. The
user's movements are tracked
via LED lights through the
headset and two PlayStation
Move handheld controllers.
¦ Samsung Gear VR ($65):
Powered by Oculus, the Sam-
sung Gear VR offers a budget
option to get a taste of virtual
reality. Simply snap a Galaxy
smartphone into the wireless
headset to enjoy a world of
360-degree experiences.
There are nearly 50 available
games, along with content that
includes everything from
virtual roller coasters to travel ing in their Instagram posts?
to exotic destinations. With no
need for a computer, the VR
can be used anywhere.
CTW Features
UNCOMMONGOODS
your cat match meows
with scratched beats, or at
least pretend to. This
scratching pad in the
shape of a DJ’s turntable
will keep your cat occu-
pied long enough for you
to post a photo on Insta-
gram of DJ Fluffy.
Pet gift box, $29.99-
$215.88. Even your pet
can appreciate a gift that
keeps on giving. Plans of
one, three and six months
and a full year are avail-
able, offering hand-se-
lected treats and toys for
your cat or dog, depending
on size and gender. If you
choose to sign up for Pet-
GiftBlog emails through
Pet Gift Box, you also will
receive 30 percent off your
pet’s first box.
Pets Rock pop art and
pillows, $25.99-
$160.99, Wayfair. For the
pet lover who also loves art
and pop culture, Pets Rock
probably has turned one of
your favorite musicians or
cultural icons into a paint-
ing or decorative pillow —
using a cat or dog. From
Lady Gaga and Alice
Cooper to Tupac and
Michael Jackson, even
Albert Einstein and Queen
Elizabeth, Pets Rock art is
clever in its production
and would definitely be a
great conversation piece
the next time guests come
over for holiday celebra-
tions.
CTW Features quality camera capabilities,
allows for easy flight and
filming both indoors and
outdoors. At only 500 grams,
the Bebop is relatively small
with the propellers removed
and can be stuffed into a small
bag for transport virtually
anywhere. Despite its size and
lower price, the Bebop still
holds its own with fully func-
tional drone flight and high-
Take your phone game
to the next level this
holiday season with
these headphones, camera
lenses and other smartphone
accessories.
¦ Prynt instant photo case
($149.99): Love the ease of a
Polaroid? This innovative,
inkless printer case lets you
print photos directly from
your smartphone. Simply
plug in your phone, take a
photo, choose a filter, and hit
print! The app also records a
video linked to the physical
photo, which plays if viewed
through the app. Currently
available in your choice of
three colors (white, blue, and
black) for iPhone 5 and up.
¦ LuMee Light Up iPhone
case ($38.95+): Wonder how
celebs like Kim Kardashian
always have the perfect light-
The secret is a light-up case.
With the LumMee front-lit
iPhone case, you’ll get the
perfect selfie every time.
LuMee comes in multiple
colors for iPhone 5S and up,
and Samsung Galaxy S6 &
S7.
¦ Bose QuietComfort 35
wireless headphones
($349.95): Make surviving
your flight infinitely easier
with these wireless, noise-
canceling headphones.
Whether you’re trying to
study in a crowded dorm
lounge, working on a spread-
Subscription boxes
deliver all-year fun
Forget once-and-done.
The holidays (and
birthdays) only come
once a year, but subscription
boxes allow you to keep giv-
ing all year round. When you
purchase one, the person
receiving the box will get
some pretty neat stuff sent to
them monthly or a few times a
year, depending on the prod-
uct you choose. Here are five,
goody-filled boxes for the
different types of people on
your list.
¦ For the brew guru:
The Craft Beer Club
Craft brews from around
the country are delivered
monthly. The selections are
produced by small-produc-
tion, independent brewers. In
addition to traditional bottled
beers, the boxes also include
hand-crafted beers in cans.
Cost: $39 for 12 beers per
month.
¦ For the coffee aficionado:
Bean Box
Coffee fans will get their
cup-of-joe fix with a monthly
sampler box, which includes
four, 1.8-ounce bags of whole-
bean coffee hand-picked by
coffee experts, or a coffee-of-
the-month box, which in-
cludes 12 ounces of one cof-
fee. Brands may include
Herkimer, Zoka, Vita, Ladro,
and Slate. Every box also
includes tasting notes, roaster
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE MORNING CALL
including 14-megapixel im-
ages in RAW format and
1080p video recording. The
Bebop can be operated via
smartphone, tablet, or by the
Parrot Skycontroller 2 and
Parrot Cockpitglasses.
¦ Parrot AR.Drone 2.0
($249): Sold at many big-box
retailers, the Parrot AR.Drone
2.0 is one of the best beginner
drones on the market. It fea-
tures a lower-price entry point,
but still packs plenty of stunt
drone operability and a high-
quality camera. AR.Drone 2.0
is controlled by a smart-phone
app operating system that,
according to experts, makes it
one of the easiest drones to fly. a number of small drones and
The AR also is designed to
stand up to the occasional
crash by new pilots. The
indoor hull features propeller
guards that prevent the drone
sheet 50,000 feet in the air, or
just need some peace, these
headphones have got your
back — er, ears. They hold up
to 20 hours of charge, and
connect to all your devices via
Bluetooth. Plus, the light-
weight, durable material
makes these headphones
comfortable enough for long-
term wear.
¦ Bose SoundSport wireless
headphones ($149.95): For
the athletes on your list, Bose
also offers the new Sound-
Sport wireless headphones.
Nothing throws off your
groove when you’re exercis-
ing more than a lost earbud,
but SoundSport headphones’
extended, flexible wings keep
the buds in place whether
you’re running, jumping, or
climbing. Plus, the Bluetooth
capability means you don’t
have to struggle with tangled
cords ever again.
¦ iblazr 2 wireless LED
flash ($59.99): This little
flash packs a big punch.
Advertised as the “most
advanced light source for
smartphones and tablets,” this
flash can also be used for
taking photos with DSLR
cameras, brightening video
calls, or as a handy flashlight.
The iblazr 2 works with your
phone’s native camera app —
simply pair it via Bluetooth,
open the app, and double tap
to activate the flash. You can
even adjust the color tempera-
Spoil a furry friend with Bark Box goodies sent once a month.
profiles, brewing tips, and an
artisan treat. Cost: $17 for a
sampler or $20 for one bag a
month.
¦ For the exercise enthusiast:
Avenue A by adidas
This box includes four
celebrity-curated boxes per
year, each containing a selec-
tion of seasonal apparel and a
pair of must-have sneaks for
women runners. You pick
your size; they pick the goods.
Past items have included the
FitSmart watch, Supernova
tank top, and Adilette Ultra
Slide flip-flops. Cost: $150
per box, shipped quarterly.
¦ For the hungry snacker:
Graze
Those who are adventure-
some about snacking will
crave this subscription box.
They can choose from more
from crashing when hitting or
brushing up against walls.
¦ Hubsan X4 FPV ($100):
As the smallest FPV (first
person view) drone on the
market, this puppy offers a
fully functional aerial plat-
form that fits in the palm of
your hand. The 2-megapixel
camera beams a live view
back to the LCD on the con-
troller, and it’s also equipped
with an SD card slot for re-
cording. It's one of the few
quadcopters that can safely be
flown in the living room and is
a fun way to learn more about
drones. The X4 has a 6-axis
gyro stabilization and a flight-
control system. Hubsan makes
also offers parts and acces-
sories ranging from motor
replacements to propellers.
Craig Guillot/
CTW Features
Prynt lets you
print photos
directly from your
smartphone.
CTW Features
ture to create more natural
and professional-looking
photos.
¦ Moment iPhone case
($49.99): This iPhone case
allows you to take your pho-
tography to the next level with
a DSLR-like shutter button
and built-in lens interface.
You can even purchase a strap
attachment (sold separately)
for an extra dose of nostalgia.
It’s the perfect stocking
stuffer for any shutterbug.
Currently available in four
colors: black, white, cork, or
walnut for iPhone 6 and up.
¦ Moment phone lenses
($99.99 each): Moment also
has a line of four different
attachable lenses to take
stunning, professional-look-
ing images without having to
lug around a bunch of bulky
equipment. Compatible with
iPhone 4 and up are:
• 60mm Tele Lens gets you
twice as close without any
distortion, making it perfect
for street photography and
travel.
• Macro Lens allows you to
get even closer — 10x closer
— allowing you to capture
even the tiniest details.
• 18mm Wide Lens gets
more in the picture with no
distortion.
• 15mm Superfish lens
creates crisp edge-to-edge
images.
Reedhima Madlik/
CTW Features
CTW Features
than 100 types of snacks on
the website, and then Graze
will hand-pick a box of snacks
for them. Recipients can even
rate the snacks after they
receive them, so if they don’t
love something, they won’t
see it again. Cost: $11.99 for a
box of eight snacks.
¦ For the dog lover:
Bark Box
Have a friend or family
member who’s super-fond of
their pooch? Bark Box will
give them numerous ways to
spoil their furry friend. The
subscription includes a
monthly delivery of four-to-
six curated, all-natural dog
treats free of wheat, corn, and
soy. Cost: $249 for the 12-
month plan.
Cathy Cassata/
CTW Features