Subscribe

The techie gift guide

Lauren Kate Rawlins
By Lauren Kate Rawlins, ITWeb digital and innovation contributor.
Johannesburg, 27 Nov 2015
The Star Wars BB-8 robot costs R2 799.
The Star Wars BB-8 robot costs R2 799.

The holiday season is less than a month away, and with pay day having just passed, many will be puzzling over the perfect gifts for friends and family. ITWeb has rounded up the top five gifts, available in South Africa, for the techie, geek or gadget-lover.

The Star Wars robot

The gift on top of all the lists, for children and adults alike, is the Star Wars BB-8 app-controlled robot.

Launched earlier this year, the robot responds to voice commands and can explore autonomously. The app can also be updated with other features at a later stage.

The little robot can be purchased from the iStore for R2 799.

'Pretend' hover board

Unfortunately, real hover boards are not available to the mainstream yet; however, the Flyboy could easily be mistaken for one.

The device uses the same technology as the Segway, but does not have a handlebar, and users control it like they would a skate board. The Flyboy weighs 10kg and reaches speeds of around 10km/h. It is increasingly being used by commuters, security guards and doctors.

It is available for R8 500 and upwards.

Virtual reality goggles

The Samsung Gear VR costs R3 499.
The Samsung Gear VR costs R3 499.

A virtual reality (VR) headset has the ability to 'transport' the wearer to anywhere in the world. More and more companies (for example the New York Times) are developing apps for smartphones that work with these headsets.

The headsets require a smartphone to be placed inside them, using the phone's screen to provide the VR experience.

The Samsung Gear VR is available in South Africa for the recommended retail price of R3 499.

Drone action

The DJI Phantom 3 Standard quadcopter costs R14 595.
The DJI Phantom 3 Standard quadcopter costs R14 595.

With drone use regulated in South Africa earlier this year, the operation is now legal, leading to a flood of hobbyists taking to the skies.

The easy-to-operate DJI Phantom 3 Standard quadcopter would be a good gift for someone starting out in the drone arena. It features a 2.7K camera and three-axis stabilising gimbal.

It is available from Orms for R14 595.

A new TV experience

The Apple TV will cost between R2 499 and R3 499.
The Apple TV will cost between R2 499 and R3 499.

The newly released Apple TV provides a completely different experience for the TV enthusiast. It features a third-party App Store, a new remote, Siri voice-controls, and a new operating system - called tvOS.

Apple TV gives viewers access to a large selection of movies and music from iTunes, and content from YouTube. Users can also share personal content onto a big screen via AirPlay, iCloud Photo Sharing, and iMovie Theatre. Users are also able to play games using the remote.

It will cost between R2 499 and R3 499 from the iStore.

Even those not considered 'geeky' would appreciate tech-related gifts - such as a power bank, fitness tracker, Bluetooth speaker, or wireless headphones.

Share