The Sound Advice Project

Hands down, The Sound Advice Project is one of the most innovative gifts on the list this year. At their web site record a 6-second maximum audio message. Your unique sound waves are turned into a visual waveform which is then translated into a three-dimensional representation strung onto a bracelet. The one pictured here is, “I believe in you.” Included with each bracelet is a card with the waveform graphic, the phrase, and whom it’s from. The Sound Advice Project was originally designed as a way for children to actually wear their parents’ advice for staying away from drugs. The site lists numerous other messages and resulting bracelets. Since no two people sound exactly the same, no two bracelets will ever be alike! It is an ingenious idea. Lastly, all net proceeds are donated to organizations dedicated to drug-use prevention and awareness.

Price: $25.00

Where to get it: The Sound Advice Project

Bee Raw Honey

I thought honey was just, well, honey. Simple stuff, right? Boy was I wrong. Differences in honey can be as varied and complex as wines. The floral source that bees use will infuse honey with the unique aroma of the original flower. Bee Raw sources raw, unfiltered honeys made from a single flower variety. Cranberry, orange blossom, sage, and blueberry are just a few of the flavors available. Their 9 Varietal Honey Flight contains nine 1 oz. honey-filled vials, hand-corked and sealed with bees wax. The set is packaged with a rich, handcrafted oak block in a ribbon-enclosed gift box. You may want to save this gift for Valentine’s Day. Nothing like some honey for your honey.

Price: $78.00

Where to get it: Bee Raw

MiFi

The world has become more mobile than ever before and as much as I love my iPhone, sometimes it would be nice to have that same level of connectivity on my laptop wherever I go. While cell carrier wireless computer cards have been around for quite some time, setting them up and using them can be a pain — and that’s coming from someone who really knows what they’re doing! Enter the Novetell MiFi, my favorite new piece of tech this year. Available through Sprint and Verizon, the MiFi combines the ease of use of standard home Wi-Fi networking technology with the freedom of wireless cell cards. To connect to the cell phone data network push the single, clearly marked button on the face of the MiFi. Instantly, a standard Wi-Fi hotspot network is created just like the one in your home, office, or local coffee shop. Customize the MiFi so it matches the same network/password settings as your regularly used Wi-Fi network and your computer won’t know the difference. Up to 5 computers can join the network simultaneously without any physical connection required or crapware to install. Imagine the whole family surfing the Net and downloading tunes on that next road trip. With up to 6 hours of battery life, it’ll be some time before they’re subjected to all that beautiful scenery.

Price: Varies and cell data subscription required

Where to get it: Verizon or Sprint

ICOON

My problem with learning a foreign language is that I only care about doing it after I’m already in a foreign country. Usually I just end up traveling with a guidebook that has some commonly used words and phrases. But what if I could bring just one book that lets me communicate anywhere in the world? The ICOON book makes this possible by using the most universal language of all: pictures. Simply point to one of over 2,000 symbols in 12 categories such as clothing, hygiene, or accommodations to make yourself understood. Even better, there are more than 400 color photos of foods from all over the world, ensuring that the vegetarian soup you thought you ordered doesn’t wind up being octopus sashimi.

Price: €8.90 (about $13.40)

Where to get it: ICOON

Bobby Sue’s Nuts!

These are damn good nuts. They were given to me by my neighbor as a gift, and I think we finished three jars in just a few days! There are three flavors to choose from: The Original, a sweet and savory exotic blend; It’s Raining Chocolate, an icing drizzle of gourmet milk, dark, and white chocolate — my personal favorite; and finally Some Like It Hot, a slightly spicy mix. Bobby Sue is a bit of an animal nut herself, and a portion of every sale goes to making a difference in the lives of homeless animals.

Price: Varies

Where to get it: Bobby Sue’s Nuts!

Pet’s Eye View Digital Camera

So what do our pets do while they’re home alone and we’re off doing the human thing? With Pet’s Eye you can create a photo snapshot diary of your pet’s day by clipping this small camera on their collar. Set the timer to record a shot every 1, 5 or 15 minutes and the Pet’s Eye is ready to go. At the end of the day simply plug the camera into your computer and download the photos. The camera is plug-and-play so it works out of the box without needing any additional software. Get ready for some close encounters of the fuzzy kind.

Price: $49.99

Where to get it: ThinkGeek

Zeo

We live in a world of personal trainers and personal shoppers. Meet the Zeo, a personal sleep coach. It looks like nothing more than a bedside alarm clock, but the secret to the Zeo is the accompanying ultra-soft headband. Worn while you sleep, the Zeo records an array of information about your sleep patterns which are available to you the next morning. For example, how long it took to fall asleep; total amount of REM, light, and deep sleep; and how many times you awoke during the night. All of the above shows as an historical sleep graph right on the clock. The data from weeks’ worth of sleep is saved to the included memory card for upload and analysis at the MyZeo web site. My personal favorite feature is the wake-assist alarm clock. Set it for the latest time you must get up by, say 7AM, and the earliest time you’re willing to wake up, say 6AM. The Zeo will analyze your sleep cycle between the two times and set off the alarm at the most optimal time in your sleep pattern to wake you. Not only will you wake up less groggy, but you can almost guarantee that your dream of frolicking on some exotic fantasy beach won’t be cruelly interrupted.

Price: $249 or $349 (includes guided sleep coaching)

Where to get it: MyZeo

Wooden Matches Block of 100

The holidays wouldn’t be much without the flicker of the fireplace and the ambiance of candles. Everyone needs matches, though typically they’re hidden from view — stuffed in a drawer somewhere or in one of those tube containers by the fireplace. The Wooden Matches Block is a functional art piece. 100 matches are created out of one piece of wood. Simply break a match off from the block and strike it along the base. I’ve had one of these in my apartment for over a year. I like the look of Matches Block so much I haven’t been able to bring myself to actually use it. We’ve still been keeping those matchbooks in the drawer anyway.

Price: $48.00

Where to get it: Fitzu

Nook

We’ve had the console wars, the computer wars, the DVD format wars, and we’re in the middle of the smart phone wars. With the Nook the eReader wars are now well underway. As Barnes & Noble’s answer to Amazon’s Kindle, the Nook has a number of features that the Kindle lacks. Like the Kindle, it has the otherworldly black and white e-ink screen and wireless connectivity, but the Nook also sports a full color lower touch screen area with a virtual keyboard and visual navigation of your books by cover. There are more than a million titles available and it can load and read Acrobat PDFs, but what has me sold is Barnes & Noble’s new LendMe technology. LendMe makes the Nook the first eReader to allow digital lending between other Nook, iPhone, iPod Touch, Blackberry, PC, and Mac OS users! Another advantage of the Nook is that you can walk into any Barnes & Noble store to try it before you buy it.

Price: $259 (Ships Jan 11)

Where to get it: Barnes & Noble

Anything from Green Guru

Using recycled nylon climbing rope, old neoprene wetsuits, discarded rubber inner tubes, and passé highway billboards, Green Guru fashions fantastic bags and accessories. They’re not the only company out there using old to make new, but Green Guru is one of the best with over 35 distinct product lines. I have the Vulcar Messenger Bag ($150) made from truck and bike inner tubes featuring a sturdy build and a sexy semi-gloss look with a soft, lush feel. Also check out the Bike Tube Travel Kit ($25) as well as the Billboard Basket Tote ($29.95, pictured). It’s high fashion style with a low environmental impact.

Price: Varies

Where to get it: Green Guru

Electronic Plane Launcher

In high school I did a Science Fair project on how different paper airplane designs fly and which designs were the best. The Electronic Plane Launcher would have certainly made my Fair entry the center of attention. Designed at Middlesex University by specialists who instruct teachers on how to engage students in exciting new ways, The Electronic Plane Launcher comes in a kit containing everything needed to assemble and fly. Best of all, once built the launcher propels paper planes at up to a whopping 31mph! Unfortunately the liability waiver for those hapless onlookers is not included.

Price: $15.95

Where to get it: Online Science Mall

Withings

More than just a fantastic-looking scale, the Withings WiFi Body Scale is probably the world’s first consumer scale to track body weight via the Internet. Having one’s weight, body fat, and BMI posted online — albeit privately — would probably scare the bejesus out of most people. But if you’re a data junky like me or seriously committed to reaching your weight goals then the Wi-Fi Body Scale is the way to go. After a very simple set up to connect the scale to a home Wi-Fi network, the body scale is capable of tracking the stats of up to eight different users. Simply step on the scale and within a matter of seconds total body weight, lean body weight, body fat, and BMI are all clearly displayed on the scale’s vibrant LED screen. A few seconds later the data is sent to your Withings account and to the free Withings App for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The Wi-Fi Body Scale is smart enough to know who’s on the scale based on your initial settings, so don’t worry — your stats won’t shoot through the roof when that ginourmous relative of yours decides to take it for a spin.

Price: $152.10

Where to get it: Withings

Split Key Ring

It doesn’t happen too often, but once in a while you come across a design idea so head-slappingly obvious you wonder why no one thought of it earlier. The Split Ring Key is such a product. We all carry keys around on a keychain. Well, why not have the key be the keychain? The Split Ring Key is a blank that can be cut by any cutter to fit KW1 or SC1 keyways. Not since peanut butter and chocolate has a combination made so much sense.

Price: $7.00 for a 2-pack

Where to get it: Amron Experimental

mypressi TWIST

We all know the type — the person that simply cannot function without coffee. It can be the difference between a good day and a very bad one. At 10.5” long and 3.5” wide, the mypressi TWIST has got to be the smallest espresso-based coffee maker around. It requires no external power to produce single or double shots from either fresh ground coffee or ESE pods. Just put in the ground coffee or pod, pour in some hot water, and pull the trigger. In a matter of seconds enjoy a perfect espresso shot — or two. The TWIST gets its power from the same 8g pressure cartridges that have been used in whipped cream dispensers since, well, forever! Each cartridge has enough pressure to make up to four double shots or eight single shots of espresso. Think of it as a portable defibrillator for the coffee obsessed.

Price: $169.00

Where to get it: mypressi

Autoseal Stainless Steel Tumbler

I can’t say I know when the travel mug was invented, but why did it take so long to get it right? The Autoseal Stainless Steel Travel Mug by Contigo is 100% spill and leak-proof. No more accidental spills on the keyboard or on your pants while driving. Press the Autoseal button at the lip of the mug to sip then release the button to automatically re-seal it. The mug features double-walled, vacuum-insulated, stainless steel construction. 16 oz. of your favorite beverage stay hot for 4 hours or cold for 12 hours. Available in five great looking colors.

Price: $19.99

Where to get it: Contigo

Survival Straps

When venturing through the great outdoors one wants to be prepared — and looking good doesn’t hurt either. Tough Gear’s line of Survival Straps combines wearable utility in true Batmanesque fashion. Each of the company’s Regular Survival Bracelets contains 1.75 feet of 550lb test paracord for every inch (wrist size) ordered, up to a maximum of 16 feet. For those who don’t know, paracord is that elastic-type rope used in just about as many situations as duct tape or wire ties. In an emergency situation simply unravel the bracelet and deploy the paracord. One added bonus is that if the Survival Bracelet is used to save the day, send what is left back to Tough Gear — along with your harrowing story — and they’ll make you a new one free of charge! Your story may even be added to their “In the Wild” web page. The Survival Bracelet comes with either a tough plastic slide release buckle or a marine grade stainless steel shackle for attachment purposes. There are 33 standard colors to choose from and over 1,000 color combinations. Anklets, belts, watch straps, lanyards, and dog collars are also available for those feeling the apocalypse is eminent.

Price: $19.95

Where to get it: Survival Straps

Ovopur

Given how important water is for, you know, existence, it’s nice to see that a company like Aquaovo gave water filtration/storage the reverence it deserved. The Ovopur is no chintzy plastic water filter. Made out of gorgeous, handmade white glazed porcelain and metal with a wood or Pyrex glass base, the Ovopur is meant to sit outside of the fridge, not in it. The main container’s egg-like shape, porcelain’s thermal properties, and the total absence of right angles allow water to flow freely. Natural temperature differences and normal movement prevent stagnation and reduce the risk of bacteria buildup. An ingenious magnetic gauge slowly rolls down the outer side of the Ovopur providing an elegant way to measure the amount of water left in the unit without actually having to open the top. Be sure to download and read the product brochure that goes into much more depth about the filtration process — filter is pictured at right. The Ovopur is not cheap, but you’ll never pull that plastic jug out of the fridge again.

Price: $700

Where to get it: Aquaovo or Seven Planet

Middle Colors Humidifier

Winter: cold and oh, so dry. Humidifiers are pretty much a necessity until Spring, but really, who wants an ugly water tank with a spewing tailpipe in their tricked out pad? The Middle Colors Humidifier moistens you up in style with its ultrasonic system enclosed in an elegant droplet-like shape. Available in two sizes and eight colors, it should look at home in just about any room. The smaller size will mist for up to 8 hours and the larger one for up to 10 hours on a higher setting. Just add water.

Price: $114.99-154.99

Where to get it: Gizmine

Weider PowerBell

I tend to put kettle bell exercises in the category of, “what sick freak came up with this?” Fortunately, I’ve always been able to justify not owning these things since they take up so much space and tend to be pricey. So much for that excuse. The Weider PowerBell is an adjustable kettle bell that works on a similar principle to the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells featured on this list a couple of years back. Weight plates are added and removed via a rotating locking system. The PowerBell comes in two different variants. The 20 lb PowerBell features a 5 lb handle with six 2.5lb weights while the 40lb version sports a 10 lb handle and five 5lb weights. Both PowerBells come with a workout DVD featuring Michael Skogg, a former U.S. Special Forces member and a professional kettle bell trainer — hmm, good times. There’s no better way to say, “I love you” to the masochist in your life.

Price: $99 for a limited time

Where to get it: Weider

Obleeek Objects

This line of concrete planters and vases from Obleeek Objects is a testament to the fact that when a company focuses on doing one thing really well, the results can be simply extraordinary. Their philosophy is, “to produce the highest quality planter you can find,” and it shows. Obleeek’s collection ranges in size from a 6.5” diameter to a 42” diameter (at various heights as well). The planters feature a modern solid aesthetic along with Obleeek’s trademark, slightly off-center hollow. All of their concrete planters are sealed with a soy-based sealer giving them a beautiful, softly polished finish. My favorite is the Small Obleek seen at the left. Its 8” interior diameter makes it a perfect size for a variety of drop-in flowering plants.

Price: Varies

Where to get it: Obleeek Objects

Dyson Air Multiplier

The vacuum cleaner has been around since 1876 and the technology was pretty much unchanged until James Dyson decided to reinvent it. This year Dyson released his next reimagining of a 19th century device — the electric fan. I won’t get into the physics-based voodoo that makes the Air Multiplier work. All you really need to know is that each fan generates smooth, uninterrupted airflow without that annoying buffeting from traditional blade fans. Oh, and it’s gorgeous. The lack of blades makes the fan safe to have around children and pets, and it makes the device incredibly easy to clean. Granted, with the cheapest model listing at $299, it’s probably the most expensive fan on the market and definitely a splurge gift. I feel almost guilty for loving it. Next year look for Dyson’s reinvention of the wheel.

Price: $299 for the 10", $329 for the 12"

Where to get it: Dyson

Belkin Gigabit Powerline Starter Kit

One of the biggest problems I face with clients is getting Internet access from one end of the apartment to the other. Many New York residences are old, have thick plaster walls, and don’t have the necessary modern network wiring installed. Placing wireless base station boosters doesn’t always cut it — plus the quality of the connection degrades with each additional booster. The Belkin Powerline system uses a home’s existing electrical wiring to extend your network to any room. You’d think there’d be something unholy about doing such a thing, but I can tell you from experience that the technology works flawlessly. Each kit comes with two adapters. Connect one adapter to your home router and then into an available outlet (no power strips though). Plug the second adapter into any other home electrical outlet and voila! You’re done. Connect your computer or a second wireless access point and you’ve just added a solid high-speed extension to your network without ripping through your walls.

Price: $149.99

Where to get it: Belkin