Any mum with scamper-prone littlies will love this. Clip the Giggle Bug to a child’s clothing and if they wander away or hide, you press the button on the handset and the Bug gives out a distinctive beep until the toddler is found and the unit is reset. The locater has a range of 20-30 metres indoors and 30 metres plus outdoors. Great for de-stressing those shopping centre and playground dramas!
Stockists: Click here.
Mum can trim her carbon footprint one PC at a time with this little gizmo. It plugs into a computer’s USB port and she simply gives it a tap every time she leaves the desk. The button ensures the computer and monitor draw as little power as possible while they’re not being used. And when Mum reactivates her PC, she gets to see how many carbon units she saved (Note: This is not Mac compatible).
Stockists: Click here or call (02) 6242 0422.
This is the only vacuum cleaner a techy mum will want to see on Mother’s Day. This little sucker plugs into a computer’s USB port to help her keep the keyboard dust-free. Make up a gift certificate to say you’ll be doing the household vacuuming for a month and your mum will love you even more.
Stockists: Click here.
If your mum complains about her tea getting cold while she surfs the net, she’ll love this gadget. This cup warmer plugs into the computer’s USB port to keep a cup of tea or coffee nicely toasty for longer. The device includes a four-port USB hub, clock, alarm and temperature readings for both the warmer plate and the indoor temperature. Just don’t spill the drink on the keyboard! (Mug not included)
Stockists: Click here or call (02) 6242 0422.
If Mum is studying, or takes lots of notes for her work, she’ll love this. The IntelliPen with Flash Drive means you can write on regular paper while the device captures and stores all your writing and drawings. You then upload the stored data to a PC via a standard USB port. Handwritten notes can be transferred into text using the handwriting recognition software. That certainly saves a lot of time typing! (version with cable is $69)
Stockists: Visit www.officeworks.com.au or call 1300 633 423.
The Chumby has been described as the internet disguised as “a teddy bear for the 21st century”. Needing just a power outlet and a wifi connection, this cuddly gadget streams your favourite parts of the internet to its 3.5-inch colour touchscreen. Software programs, called widgets, can stream anything from weather forecasts and sports scores to eBay bids and online radio stations. Mum could pop it on the kitchen bench or the bedside table, but be warned — she may find it strangely addictive.
Stockists: Visit chumby.on.net or call 13 66 33.
A very stylish way for Mum to store her essential files and data! This compact memory gadget measures just 40.6mm long by 18.4mm wide and is only 7.2mm thick, but it has huge capacity, a high-speed USB 2.0 transfer, and a PC lock so you can protect your computer while you’re away. Download the JetFlashR data management software tools and you can check your email from any compatible computer, too.
Stockists: Visit www.officeworks.com.au or call 1300 633 423.
Busy mums won’t have to worry about losing their memory [sticks] with this simple, clever case in heavy-duty neoprene (the wetsuit material). The Peanut has a sturdy stainless-steel ring you can attach to almost anything.
Stockists: Click here or call (02) 8594 1100.
She’s a happy piece of Swarovski crystal bling that can be worn as a pendant or charm, but Robot Dreamy Tina is also a 2GB USB key with a high-speed 2.0 interface that can store up to 500 songs or 2000 photos. Her LED ears light up during data transfer. Extravagant? Yes. But delightful, too.
Stockists: Visit www.swarovski.com.au or call 1300 791 599.
Created by a Melbourne company, this is one funky laptop bag. It protects a 17-inch with a removable padded divider, and there’s a separate pouch for the power supply and mouse. And yes, the shoulder strap is a genuine aeroplane seatbelt, so it’s not going to snap. The rushfaster website has loads of laptop bags and is well worth a look.
Stockists: Click here or call (02) 8594 1100.
Digital camera technology just keeps delivering more bang for your buck. The Canon PowerShot A480, with face detection, motion detection and red-eye reduction, is great for family snaps. It also has a movie recording mode with sound. And the techy stuff? It takes photos of 10 megapixel size, has a 3.3X optical zoom and is SD/SDHC memory card compatible.
Stockists: Visit www.harveynorman.com.au or call 1300 464 278.
Mum can ditch the zip and keep a slimline camera or MP3 player safe and snug in a Hoodie. Made of neoprene (the wetsuit material), this stretchy, cushiony case has a harder back to protect any screen and an interior pocket to store memory cards and extra batteries. The stretchable fold-over hood keeps everything secure.
Stockists: Click here or call (02) 8594 1100.
Mum can load this keyring with more than 100 digital photos of her favourite people and have it with her wherever she goes. It features a 1.5-inch LCD panel and includes software.
Stockists: Visit www.officeworks.com.au or call 1300 633 423.
Mum can display a slide show of family photos with a digital photo frame. This one from Kodak has easy to operate touch controls, a 480 x 234 pixel resolution, accepts CF, SD, MS and XD memory cards and USB storage drives. It also has a remote control.
Stockists: Visit www.harveynorman.com.au or call 1300 464 278.
Help Mum to never get lost on her way to those cross-town kids’ soccer matches. This pocket-sized device also has features such as ETA, Distance to Go, Speed and Detour Journeys, and it can locate the nearest petrol stations, parking or emergency services. Handy!
Stockists: Visit www.officeworks.com.au or call 1300 633 423.
This speakerphone is designed for use with mobile phones while driving. It attaches to the car’s sun visor with a magnetic clip and lets Mum answer mobile calls while she’s behind the wheel. Text-to-speech technology features a voice who announces the name of an incoming caller. And you can answer the phone, dial and redial numbers and reject calls with a voice command, so there’s no need to press any buttons.
Stockists: Visit www.officeworks.com.au or call 1300 633 423.
Carrying on a phone conversation can be a problem when a mum needs her hands free to push a stroller or deal with a youngster, but this little wireless headset could solve that dilemma. It has a light, ergonomic design that fits snugly on the ear and ambient noise reduction so calls come through loud and clear. It works with mobile phones, PDAs and other Bluetooth-equipped devices.
Stockists: Visit www.officeworks.com.au or call 1300 633 423.
If Mum packs an iPhone, here’s an eye-candy accessory that’s as cool as the technology. The CapsuleRebel case delivers above average protection, with a clear film for the iPhone’s front, a semi-soft polymer shell for its back and a hard plastic spine for reinforcement. And the colours are to sigh for.
Stockists: Click here or call (02) 8594 1100.
Music on the go for an easy price! Any mum would love this new-century Walkman. As well as playing MP3s, it includes an FM radio and has a voice recording function for those out-the-door moments of inpiration. It has a bass enhancement button for better music listening and, best of all, a three-minute charge gives you 90 minutes of playback time.
Stockists: Visit www.officeworks.com.au or call 1300 633 423.
Apple bills this as the smallest music player in the world and as it’s around the size of a house key they’re probably right. The tiny gadget has a sturdy clip and its controls are on the earbud cord. As well as holding up to 1000 songs, this iPod also has VoiceOver technology that with the press of a button tells you what song is playing and the artist. A less pricey option is the 1GB iPod shuffle, which costs around $65, comes in a cute range of colours and holds around 240 songs.
Stockists: Visit www.harveynorman.com.au or call 1300 464 278 (also available at Officeworks and other Apple iPod outlets).
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
