With Mother's Day upon us, it's time to brainstorm gifts.
With Mother's Day upon us, it's time to brainstorm gifts.
BiKN finds lost itemsAs superhuman as they might seem, moms can't keep track of every last thing. This is where Bikn comes into the picture. Treehouse Labs' Bikn (without coincidence, it is pronounced like beacon) uses a radio-enabled iPhone case, an iOS app and clip-on tags to help locate lost items.
The CES innovations honoree has three modes — find, leash and page — that work up to 100 feet indoors and 500 feet outdoors. In find mode, the tag begins chirping and the iOS app shows how far away and in what direction to begin the search. When the case and tag are near each other, paging turns on the alarm for further audio cues.
Finally, the leash feature ensures mom never leaves without her valuables (keys, purse, young offsprings), sounding the alarm when the case and tag are separated.
But let's face it: People are just as likely to lose their iPhones as they do keys, which is why the system works both ways. The tags can also phone home, so to speak. The Bikn starter kit, which includes a smart case and two tags, is available for $129.99.
Terra Tote can carry it all
The Terra Tote can hold gadgets and other essentials.
Mom bags are known to be bottomless pits that hold everything from Tic Tacs to Tasers. Upgrade her worn out purse with the stylish Incase Terra Collection Tote Bag. Modern, elegant and utilitarian, this tote touts an au naturel look, with a cream-colored cotton exterior accented by red leather zipper pulls. The bag is spacious enough to carry all of mom's essentials and then some. In addition to the main compartment (suitable for books, lunch, diapers and other miscellany), a padded compartment can hold laptops measuring up to 13 inches, and internal pockets organize pens and smartphones. An included adjustable shoulder strap can also transform this versatile tote into a messenger bag. The Terra Tote retails for $79.95.
Striiv fitness tracker motivates with games
A fitness-tracking app designed for middle America, Striiv (pronounced like strive) stands out from the pack with its vibrant touchscreen. Why would mom want a pedometer with a screen? For one, it is easier to see at a glance how many steps she's walked. But it allows her to be social with her favorite people (that's you!).
When the company revamped its smart pedometer at the end of April, it added Striiv Connected, a built-in social component that allow users to compete in real-life physical challenges with friends and family. In San Francisco, for instance, users can race each other across the Golden Gate bridge to earn points (and bragging rights). Striiv also learns user behavior, suggesting personalized challenges and games. Cheesy as they might sound, these features have been surprisingly effective in motivating this relatively inactive writer to walk a couple more steps. Built-in games also give Striiv a very Zynga feel. If mom's a Farmville addict, this pedometer's for her.
E-reader: Your mom probably wants one
E-reader adoption is especially high among women and those 45 and older, according to Nielsen. What can we infer from this data? That mom probably wants one. Amazon's Kindle is preeminent but one of its biggest weaknesses is the inability to read in the dark without an external light.
In time for Mother's Day, Barnes & Noble introduced the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight. The soft glow makes it possible for mom to read in bed without keeping dad up. The built-in anti-glare screen protector means reading in direct sunlight isn't a problem either. Still, it's worth considering if the glow is worth $40 — the price difference between this ($139) and the comparable but unlit Nook ($99). If you're going the budget route, it's also worth considering the Kindle, which starts at $79.
The gift of Karma
Still stumped? Have her choose. Designed for people with plenty of disposable income, Karma is a mobile app that makes gift giving a cinch. The app mines Facebook friends' profiles, posts and updates to alert you to new events worth celebrating, such as birthdays, job changes and holidays.
Karma excels in simplicity. Once you figure out the recipient and gift category, you're close to being done. No need to buy wrapping paper or track down shipping addresses; the former's taken care of by Karma, the latter by the giftee. And if mom's not happy with your gift suggestions, she can choose something else within the same price range or even donate that amount to charity. Karma is a free app for iOS and Android devices.
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