Katie’s top gadget gift picks on CBS Sports’ D.A. Show
Well, there was no dysfunctional cookie bake contest this year, but we still brought the Holiday joy regardless!
Sharing some of my favorite Christmas gift picks this year on CBS Sports Radio’s D.A. Show.
GE Lighting Color Changing and Speaker Bulbs
*sponsored It is a true pleasure to partner with the teams at GE Lighting for so many years as they constantly innovate with new lighting technologies. This year I want to share two of their amazing hi-tech LED light bulbs perfect for the Holidays and beyond.
GE Lighting LED+ Full Color Bulbs
These bulbs set the mood with so many different color choices, which is great for holiday parties. No wifi or fancy setup necessary just choose eight different vibrant colors (and yes soft white and daylight too!) all via the accompanying remote.
GE Lighting LED+ Speaker Bulbs
Create your own home sound system simply by screwing in a light bulb! Each bulb contains a speaker that can be controlled with a smartphone or a tablet via Bluetooth – no additional app required.
Nintendo Switch
Gaming consoles are flying off the shelves this holiday season with the release of a new Xbox (Xbox Series X) and the new PlayStation 5.
You may not be able to get your hands on one of these but my console of choice (which too is selling like hotcakes) is the Nintendo Switch, which has sold nearly 70 million units! You can play this family friendly unit portably or you can connect it to the TV once it’s placed in the dock.
If you’re just getting started and want some gaming suggestions: Super Mario Odyssey, Luigi’s Mansion, Tetris 99 and Mario Kart 8 will not disappoint.
I have tested nearly every virtual reality headset that has hit the market and I have to say the Quest 2 is the best one to date. Oculus (owned by Facebook) launched Quest 2 in October and it has already sold out nearly everywhere for a reason.
After a super simple set up, just place a controller in each hand and choose which game or event you want to experience (you can download and choose from the Oculus app on your smartphone).
From Epic Rollercoasters to the popular Beat Saber (fitness with a lightsaber twist) to experiencing Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge – it’s an immersive experience that has to be experienced to believe.
Since we are all working from home now more than ever I also wanted to share some great options for a much more professional shot on Zoom or Skype.
Logitech webcam 920 HD Pro Webcam
In tech circles this is the industry best webcam and will give you clear crisp shots in full HD with automatic light correction.
Heads up – make sure your laptop has a USB port. I have a MacBook and have to use a dongle to connect it.
Nerdy note – the field of view is 78°. I have wider webcams that can just feel TOO wide –while the 920 feels just right.
You have no doubt seen someone on TV using a ring light to lighten up their shot. Technology like this is not just for people on TV, it’s now available for the consumer and can really improve the look for anyone on Zoom or Skype calls. There are a lot of options on the market, but I find the GVM provides great quality at a great price.
Operating the light is straightforward with dimmer and it comes included with a light stand and smartphone holder attachment.
Nerdy Note! if you have glasses, the ring of the light WILL appear in your frames and it will look weird –-even if you have glare free lenses. [I personally recommend staying away from a Ring Light and use professional lighting for my shots while wearing glasses]
I know it’s a hefty price tag, but the Airpods Pro are worth the investment when working from home and needing concealed headphones.
They pack fantastic sound quality and noise cancellation (if you haven’t experienced noise cancelling technology you are in for a treat – it really blocks out all the environmental noise around you).. According to my top TV audio engineers they provide the best quality for a Skype or Zoom calls and operate with up to 4.5 hours of battery life. Nerdy note – make sure you are getting the Pro version for the very best quality option.
Here’s a great way to create a dynamic canvas background! It’s time to part ways with that fake bookshelf and books that make you look smart.
Simply upload any photo or artwork and have professional canvas created!
I had my illustrator create custom Jetson’s pieces for me and they are a hit with all my guests!
Customer service is top notch (and there are always generous coupons available on couponing sites).
If you are scrambling for a last minute gift, you can’t go wrong with a gift card to RedBubble.
Choose from so many designs with custom artwork, stickers, shirts, you name it!