BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as they hate being Sagittarians, click here.

ION USB portable turntable and Zumreed headphones If your pal has lots of records, the USB turntable will help with backing them up and making digital copies, which can be transferred easily to a Mac or PC. And of course, they'll be needing stylish 'phones, too. [ION $140 and Zumreed $60, both at Urban Outfitters]

Griffin AirCurve and iTrip Autopilot Any iPhone or iPod owner is bound to be happy with a couple of accessories from Griffin. Take the AirCurve clear acoustic amplifier, which acts as a speaker with no batteries required. Combine it with a car accessory for Christmas, such as the iTrip Autopilot, and you're onto a winning match. [AirCurve $19.95 and iTrip Autopilot $99.95, both at Apple]

Optoma PK-101 and Samsung N310 Give the gift of film this birthday/Christmas, with the Optoma pico projector connecting to the Samsung netbook with ease. The netbook may not have an optical drive so DVDs aren't playable, but there's no stopping your recipient from downloading or live-streaming some films, to beam onto a wall in 480 x 320 resolution. [Optoma $229.99 and Samsung N310 $349.99]

Diana F+, 38mm super wide lens, and instant back+ Lomography is the recent revival of a '60s photography craze that results in the most brilliant photos. The Diana F+ is the most classic model, and pick up a few accessories while you're at Lomo's online store, including a super wide lens and instant back+, which produces instant photos a la Polaroid. [Diana F+ $95, super wide lens $40 and instant back+ $95]

Red Square superyacht and Bell-Boeing 430 helicopter What, your friend doesn't mean enough to you that you'd splurge $930m on their birthday present? And then another $2m on their Christmas present? Shame on you. [Red Square €630m, Bell-Boeing 430, around $2m]

Star Wars DVD boxset and Tauntaun sleeping bag Yes, we love Star Wars as much as the next person, but with the trilogy expected on Blu-ray anytime soon, we wouldn't go suggesting you buy a DVD boxset that's been around for years, would we? Nor would we recommend a Tauntaun sleeping bag as being conducive to a love life. [Star Wars DVDs $25.99 and Tauntaun bag $99.99]

PSPgo and $50 PlayStation Network gift card Giving a gift card isn't the most thoughtful present, true—but how else would you give digital downloads to someone, hmm? They should be so happy with the latest generation of PSP, they won't even notice that $50 only gets them a couple of games. [PSPgo $249.99 and PlayStation Network card $50]

Sony BDP-BX2 Blu-ray player and Battlestar Galactica Blu-ray boxset I've just finished watching BSG on Blu-ray, so can vouch for how incredible it looks in HD. Coupled with a Sony Blu-ray player, you're giving any sci-fi nut the perfect viewing experience—provided they have an HDTV, of course.

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite gift ideas for people with birthdays in December in the comments—include pic and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Vinturi Wine Aerator: For wine to reach its full potential, it needs to breathe. For centuries, people have been doing this with decanters, letting the wine sit out of the bottle to release its aromas and flavors. That's great if you've got the time, but more often than not when you crack open that bottle you just don't... want... to wait. Or maybe that's just me. Pouring your wine through an aerator gives you the full effect of a decanter, just without the agonizing wait. They can be ordered directly from Vinturi for $40, but you can get them a little cheaper on Amazon. [Vinturi, Amazon]

Dripless Wine Pourer: Not only is every drop of alcohol precious, so is the easily stainable wood coffee table your drink sits on. This dripless pourer makes sure your wine ends up where it belongs: in the glass. For just $3, you can even spring for a multitude of these for your next dinner party. [Crate&Barrel]

Knuckle Duster Corkscrew: A straightforward rebuttle to those who think wine is for sissies. This may not be the most practical corkscrew in existence, but it's undeniably the most manly. It will no doubt come in handy the next time someone favorably compares a Rioja to a Beaujolais. $13. [ThinkGeek]

A home brew kit: This site has already gone on record as being serious supporters of brewing your own suds. The short version, if you need one: it's cheap, it's easy, it's fun. There are a lot of options out there, but I'd recommend the Brooklyn Brew Shop for its ease of use and adventurous seasonal flavors. For $40 you can get a one gallon kit and a supply of any one of their nine grain varieties, ranging from Eggnog Milk Stout to Grapefruit Honey Ale to to a more straightforward Tripel. For serious home brewers, a five gallon kit is also available for $125. [Brooklyn Brew Shop]

A covert alcohol storage and transportation system: You may laugh now, but you never know when you might have to smuggle beer into a situation where it's not generally socially acceptable. For whiskey, there are flasks. For more pedestrian potables? The Beerbelly and the Winerack. For stealth you'll want to go Winerack, but for sheer volume and the odd experience of displaying reverse-bloat the more you drink, you can't go wrong with the Beerbelly's 80 oz. bladder. Perhaps not surprisingly, these are made by the same company. One stop shopping! $30 for the Winerack; $35 for the Beerbelly. [The Beer Belly]

Bad Decision Blocker: Perfect for those who have that someone (or someones) in their lives that they can't help reaching out to when they've had a few too many. Bad Decision Blocker is an app that lets you deny yourself access to certain numbers at previously designated hours. Which, let's be honest, after 3 am should be your whole phone book. $1. [App Store Link]

Space beer: It's a long shot, since only 250 boxes available and you have to win a lottery to be eligible to taste or buy one. But if you happen to be one of the lucky few, what could be better than beer brewed from barley that's spent five months in space? Well, not necessarily better-taste wise. But you can't beat it for uniqueness. [Sapporo Breweries]

Coors Light Cold-Activated Cans: Let's be honest. The only reason it needs to be so cold is to freeze your tongue so you can't actually taste this pisswater. Get them a nice cask ale instead.

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite drinking gadgets in comments-include pics and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the you hate Japan-only gadgets, click here.

Without a doubt, 826 National's line of quirky stores and products offer the biggest and nerdiest bang for your charity buck. For example—at the Brooklyn Superhero Supply company you can purchase a set of vacuum suction cups for scaling the exterior of buildings. If the whole Spider-Man thing isn't for you, how about the power of invisibility? An "invisible" suit is available for the low price of $20,800. Of course, these products are meant as novelties only, but the proceeds benefit 826 National—a nonprofit tutoring, writing, and publishing organization for kids. The Suction Cups are priced at $19. [826 National Stores]
The Smithsonian museums are some of the best in the world—the storehouse of our nation's treasures. The products the Smithsonian Institution offers through their stores directly support the museums, and are patterned after artifacts in their archives. Designed to look like a classic car dashboard, this weather station includes dials for a clock, thermometer and hygrometer. $45 [SmithsonianStore]
If you have a love for modern art and design, you have probably paid a visit to the MoMa gallery in New York. In addition to their collections, MoMa also has a top notch retail store with thousands of unique gifts. The Icon Watch pictured here would be great for fans of classic gaming. All proceeds from purchases benefit the museum. $75 [MoMa]
It seems like the vast majority of products tied in with Susan G. Komen for the Cure are offering half-assed donations at best. At least KitchenAid is taking it seriously by donating $50 for each pink stand mixer sold (and there is no "charity premium" tacked on to the price). A bit tacky, but this is probably the best countertop mixer you can buy, making it a great gift for anyone that loves too cook. And I'm sure they can look past the pink when you tell them that the proceeds benefit breast cancer research. $300 [KitchenAid]
The (Product) Red movement has endured its fair share of criticism, but if you prefer to have part of your gadget gift purchase go to an organization raising awareness about AIDS in Africa instead of Apple or Dell, the option is there. Just make sure that the manufacturer isn't charging a premium for RED products. The RED iPod nano starts at $149. [Apple]
If you are going to get an indoor cycling bike for you or a chubby loved one, it only makes sense to buy the one endorsed by the greatest cyclist of all-time. Plus, proceeds from the sale go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research. $1000 [Dick's Sporting Goods]
If you are a fan of NPR, you can show your support by purchasing their exclusive internet radio from Livo. You can listen to NPR member stations from around the country, to the 16,000+ radio stations streaming on the internet, or to the music on your MP3 player. Plus, built-in NPR menus allow classical music fans to easily find, search and bookmark NPR stations, podcasts, and content, by topic or by program. $200 [NPR]
Zambi the baby elephant "responds to your voice and touch with trunk curls, ear wiggles and baby elephant trumpeting and chewing sounds." It also giggles and blows kisses. Surely, your kids will love it, and a portion of the proceeds go to benefit children in Africa that have been orphaned by AIDS. $34 with free shipping [Amazon]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite charitable gift ideas in the comments—include pic and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the you hate Japan-only gadgets, click here.

Bandai Tokyo Diorama Speakers: Do you know someone who is fascinated by Tokyo's Ginza district circa 1950? Or someone who constantly listens to the Godzilla Original Motion Picture Soundtrack? These speakers are the perfect gift for that person. Packed with LED lights and all sorts of moving parts, this is not your Kindergartner's diorama. $2000 [Bandai]

Bandai Gyoza Maker: Rolling a gyoza—essentially a Japanese dumpling—can be tough and is an art that is best mastered with practice. But who has time for practice or mastery? If you want to crank out neatly sealed gyozas every time, there's no better way than to do just that: crank them out. With Bandai's gyoza maker, perfect gyozas slide out a chute for your snacking pleasure. It's not the most authentic way to serve up this traditional treat but definitely the most efficient. $55 [GeekStuff4U]

Yamanote Line Watch: Is there someone close to you whose life is a little too stress-free? Who wishes they felt like they were doing something? Going somewhere? Get them the Yamanote Line Watch, a replica of signage on Tokyo's busiest commuter line, and give their life some hair-pulling purpose. [Seahope]

Sauce Dispensing Chopsticks: If you know someone who is proud of having recently mastered chopsticks, throw them a curveball by gifting them this sauce dispensing pair. They have the dual benefit of taking your chopstick game into the 21st century while also eliminating table clutter. This is a perfect gift for the person in your life who is defined as much by their laziness as they are for their love of Asian cuisine. $21[Oh Gizmo]

Fantasy Gift: 9h Capsule Hotel Pod: It's always nice to curl up in a nook (if not necessarily with a Nook) to take a nap, and the 9h luxury capsule hotel in Tokyo provides the nook of all nooks. Each pod is equipped with Panasonic control panels for setting the ambiance—presumably one that lessens the feeling that you paid money to nap in a coffin. Still, having one of them in your house virtually guarantees that no one jumps into bed to bother you while you sleep. [9hours]

Humping Dog USB Drive: Dogs always hump things—it's their nature—so why shouldn't they hump your USB drive? "Because they're too small!" you say. Real dogs may be, but this humping dog USB drive from Digital World Tokyo is a perfect perverted match for your Universal Serial Bus. In the end, though, do you really want to subject your ports to this little dog's dongle? We must urge you not to buy, unless you have a friend who really likes weird stuff. $32 [Digital World Tokyo]

Tuttuki Box: Are you or a love one embarrassed to prod and poke at things in real life? The Tuttuki LCD box lets you jab at miniature pandas, guys, and girls with a digital version of your index finger. If you know someone who is prone to stick appendages into holes, this is surely more adorable than the alternatives. $46 [Amazon]

Gundam Robot Slippers: Everyone can dance the robot. But for some people that's just not enough. Gundam Robot Slippers are the perfect gift for the hardcore robot enthusiast. Not only do they make your feet shiny and big, like a robot's, but the slippers emit a robotic crunching noise with each step. This benefits everyone: you sound more like a robot and the maker you've turned against is alerted that you're coming to destroy them. Gizmodo]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite gift ideas for weird relatives in comments—include pic and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the you hate your relatives, click here.

DON'T BUY: Monogrammed or Personalized Gifts: It's so tempting to stop by one of those mall kiosks and pick up some sort of desk trinket to be engraved with your weird relative's name. You think that it'll make it seem like you put some effort into it, since it's a personalized gift. But let's be realistic, you'll pay more than you should for that trinket and your cousin will be left trying to figure out how to re-gift a monogrammed stapler.

Gallop! A Scanimation Picture Book: You've got a niece that's about four (or maybe five, you've never really kept track) and no idea whether she's into Barbie dolls or Bratz dolls. Before you make the mistake and get her the wrong doll, go for a book like Gallop!. Based on what I've seen while doing a stint in a bookstore, this particular book appears to be a fool-proof gift for the four to seven age group. It's just too darn fun to watch the animals racing across the pages and attempt to figure out just how the whole "scanimation" thing works. $11 [ThinkGeek]

DON'T BUY: Magazine Subscriptions: Unless your uncle has a bird or you're absolutely certain that he wants nothing more than to have a particular publication on his door step regularly, don't buy him a magazine subscription. (If your uncle does in fact have a bird, keep in mind that newspapers make for better bird cage liner than magazines.)

Photo by hectorir

DXG-125V Waterproof HD Camcorder: Every now and then one of those weird relatives gets you something halfway decent and you feel obligated to do the same. No sense in going overboard with it, so stick with a safe choice like the cheap, yet awesome DXG-125V camcorder. It's waterproof, shoots in 720p, and will make it look like you cared enough to pick out something neat. Just don't write anything about looking forward to seeing videos in the greeting card. You will find yourself suffering at the next reunion. $96 [Link; Amazon]

AlcoMate Breathalyzer: It's bound to happen every year: Grandma will get drunk at the family dinner and start ranting about the socio-economic structure of Japan while wearing boxer shorts on her head. Well, this holiday you can confront her about the issue and get her a gift all in one with a personal breathalyzer. Just make sure she understands that it's not a gag gift by making her use it. At every family event. $90 [Amazon]

Leatherman Wave Multi-Tool: It doesn't get more generic or safe than a multi-tool, but the Leatherman Wave is among the most popular and loved multi-tools and should please most odd relatives. It's got various knives, cutters, a saw, some bit drivers and a 25 year warranty that leaves enough time to figure out all of the tool's other functions. $59 [Amazon]

Isis Impossible Titanium Puzzle: Some relatives you really don't know well at all, nor do you want to. Yeah, we've all got those aunts. The best gift to get her is a ridiculously difficult puzzle toy like the Isis Impossible Titanium Puzzle. Tell her that you got it because she's such smart cookies and you thought she'd naturally love it. She'll be flattered and never announce that she hates the gift because then she'd have to blurt out that she couldn't solve it. Oh, and if you play your cards right and inquire about the puzzle often enough, she'll start skipping family reunions to avoid you. $174 [ThinkGeek]

Marshmallow Blaster: If you don't own a marshmallow gun, you need to order one right now. And one for every single one of your relatives. Because when the holiday stress gets to be too much, there's nothing better than battling things out in a sticky, non-lethal way. $27 [ThinkGeek]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite gift ideas for weird relatives in comments—include pic and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

If you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Battling Helicopters: There's no better way to learn the mysteries of heavier-than-air flight than to spin up a few air hogs and have them shoot each other out of the sky—in your living room. Seriously, these things may be expensive but they're fun for everybody who doesn't catch one in the eye, and they're surprisingly durable. They come out of China under a few different brand names, so root around, and see if you can find a better deal. $170; Ages 8 and up [Amazon]

Crayola Crayon Maker: Awarded as a top "green" toy by the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Crayola's crayon melter works a little like an EZ Bake oven, only with better results. The kid throws in used crayons, and out come shiny whole new ones, sometimes in new never-before-seen colors. And the best part—the new edition apparently doesn't pop open while the crayon wax is still molten. Safety first! $30; Ages 8 and up [Review; Amazon]

Rabbids Go Home: If you're tired of Mario and want to wipe that stupid mustache off his face, the gift to get kids is this crazy Wii title from Ubisoft, where the only guy with facial hair is Santa Claus, and he gets yelled at until he's... stripped down to his underpants... for some reason. OK, so it doesn't all make sense, but damnit if it's not a change of pace, and a way to keep the little troublemakers busy without learning to shoot, steal cars and price shop for hookers. Reviewed by kid-friendly Stephen Totilo over at Kotaku. $50; Rated E—ages 10 and up [Review; GameStop]

Nano Hexbugs: Last year, Hexbugs were all the rage, so it just makes sense that this year is all about Nano Hexbugs. As your finely tuned Jobsian brain already guessed, they're smaller. And they're cheaper. And they wiggle and jiggle and move fast as hell, and flip over and right themselves, and it's just bunches of fun for all ages (except for babies, who could choke on them). Shown here much larger than actual size. $10; Ages 3 and up [Hexbug]

Mosaic Stone Kit: What better thing to get a kid than a bag of cement mix and some broken glass? Just add water, colorful shards, and the feet of anybody you want to sleep with the fishes, and presto, you got art/revenge. Seriously, mosaics are good ways to teach geometry, history, spatial reasoning and chemistry all at the same time. Oh, and the website assures buyers that the glass "gems" are smooth. $16; Ages 7 and up [Constructive Playthings]

Leapfrog Musical Table: As a real live parent who had to put up with this thing nonstop for a straight six months, I can tell you that a) my kid never got sick of it, b) it was the least annoying of her chirping, chattering musical doodads, and c) there's a reason she could sing the ABC's before she could say anything else that resembled English. (She was fluent in Huttese, I am convinced, but that's another story.) The only bad thing about this classic is that so many new parents have it already, you need to ask before you buy. If they do have it, go with Leapfrog's My Pal Scout. $34 or find it used; Ages 6-18 months [Amazon]

Duck Duck Moose iPhone Apps: Again, take it from a parent, these musical baby games—based on the classic tunes "Wheels on the Bus," "Old McDonald" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider"—are colorful, interactive, distracting and not annoying. OK, so the opera singer occasionally wears down your patience, but that's why there are a bunch of different downloadable music options, and even vocals done in different languages. The visuals are cartoony and funny, with aliens abducting cows, pigs painting masterpieces and spiders like tripping acid and building webs on rainbows or something. My kid asks for each of them by name. Buy them all, and keep a look out for more. $1-$2; Ages 12 months and up [iTunes Link]

Lego Star Wars: Of all the shameless marketing crossovers in history, this is perhaps the most enduring and ultimately legitimate. I say this with a note of jealousy, as a guy (like Jesus) who cherished his non-movie-themed gray castle and rocket moon base. Yes, buy some kid a Vader TIE Fighter, if only so you can have the chance to crack it open and "help" build it. Ranges widely; kit shown above $33; Ages 8 and up [Toys R Us]

Settlers of Catan: Sure, the game has become a meme, but damn it if it didn't earn that status as the most engrossing yet welcoming board game since Monopoly. And there's nothing sexual or violent, unless you count a few hundred sheep and a handful of soldiers. Sure there are video game versions of it, but the flesh-and-blood edition lets you watch the board get torn down and remade over and over, leveling the playing field again and again. But when the kids finally learn to beat your ass, you definitely should sneak online to polish up your settlement-to-city conversion skills. $34; Ages 10 and up [Toys R Us]

DON'T BUY Elmo Robots: In the past, we were on the fence, but having lived with too many Fisher-Price Sesame Street toys, I can say that they're just not great. They're hard cold plastic things, not at all plush and huggable, and they're noisy—both because of their programmed sounds and because of their mechanical wheezing. If you have to go with with something robotic and Elmo-themed (and I do understand that pull), go with Elmo Tickle Hands. They don't make this "least annoying" list, because you have to keep playing the 3-minute DVD over and over again for the full effect, but they're cheaper ($22 vs $54) and are more entertaining for the youngins.

DON'T BUY Zhu Zhu Hamsters: Look, these things are the Cabbage Patch Tickle Me Furby of the year. You couldn't find them at a sane price if you tried. But since some reviewers have labeled them as potentially "annoying for adults," you can just skip the hunt. And while we're at it, don't buy "Screature" either. Do I have to explain why?

A Book: We usually reserve one spot for a magical fantasy gift, but kids these days have everything you ever had and one hell of a lot more. I don't want to sound like Captain OG Readmore or anything, but I have fond memories of reading with my dad, and now my kid already begs to sit down and read with me. (She can't read yet, but why spoil it with the truth?) Buy a book—track down one of your childhood favorites—out-of-print or in a new edition—on Amazon or Alibris, and then show it off to the kid you're giving it to. I am not trying to be sentimental, I just wanted to make sure you knew this was an option, one that doesn't make kids' hands sticky or dirty, doesn't emit loud noises or unexpected exclamations, and doesn't hum or vibrate mysteriously when you're trying to watch TV late at night. Any price; All ages [Wherever Books Are Sold]

This list is far from comprehensive, so don't forget to hit comments and recommend the least annoying toys you can think of, too—include pics and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for some time, so keep looking it over.

(If you hate the gallery view as much as some of us hate Twilight, click here.)

MAKE: Gifts You Can Make

MAKE is a great stop for DIY aficionados, and while they've got a heap of different gift guides this year—not to mention a guest gift guide by MAKE's Phil Torrone on Giz—the Gifts You Can Make guide is a classic. Got a musician friend who could use a new amp, but you literally spent your last dollar on a box of crackers? MAKE's got you covered. [MAKE]

Agriculture Online: Gift-Giving Guide for Farm Folks

Agriculture Online's gift guide for farmers is full of unintentionally hilarious recommendations for a communist San Francisco liberal media elite blogger like myself—are all farmers also soldiers? Because I don't understand why you'd give your local asparagus farmer a "Christmas Ornament for the Troops" if he's just out there harvesting delicious produce. I love asparagus, but I don't think growing it is technically a military position.

On the other hand, the Carhartt Flame-Resistant Jacket is indeed an excellent choice for a welder, or anyone sufficiently badass enough to need a jacket incapable of catching fire. Thanks, Agriculture Online! [Agriculture Online]

PhillyBurbs: Gifts for the "Biggest Loser" in Your Life

You guys, this is the worst gift guide ever. It's not a list of recommendations for people trying to lose weight. It's just a list of every The Biggest Loser branded product out there—like a workout mix CD with "kickin', pumpin' beats" and a memoir written by the first female winner—masquerading as a list of health tools. The only good recommendation: The Biggest Loser for Wii, good because it's the only game to date to prominently feature fat people jumping on trampolines. [PhillyBurbs]

BobVila.com: The Official 2009 Bob Vila Gift Guide

Bob Vila, home improvement kingpin and long-time rival to Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor, is exactly the man I'd ask for a recommendation on a new power drill or workbench, if I was a totally different person and had any use for those kinds of things. His recommendations are actually kind of interesting, leaning toward design-focused items like the $200 Sorapot Tea Infusion Pot as well as goofy items like a handsaw-shaped kitchen knife. Luckily, he doesn't forget his roots, recommending an array of scary-looking power tools. [BobVila]

The New York Times: 2009 Gift Guide

The New York Times gift guide delivers 50, count 'em, 50 separate full-featured guides on a wide variety of subjects, from the arts to electronics to cooking to travel. And yet it's also oddly personal and likable, with quirky inclusions like the underrated and swiftly cancelled Andy Barker, P.I. on DVD and a giant grillable slab of pink Himalayan salt (very fashionable in the world of modern cuisine). The one notable omission is a guide to 2009's pop music—it's been a pretty solid year and a simple top ten list would've been welcome.

Still, it's such a damnably good bunch of guides that it threatens to take away the ego boost I get when people ask me what to buy. This year, instead of excitedly talking up the new Islands album or the Zune HD, I'll just be sighing, looking glumly at my shoes, and emailing a link to the Times' gift guide. Way to take the joy out of the holidays, New York Times. [NY Times]

Truck Trend: 2009 Truck Trend Holiday Gift Guide

Truck Trend's 2009 gift guide does not recommend a truck. Instead they recommend $500 sunglasses and a $14,000 racing simulator. And another pair of $350 sunglasses. I'm giving Truck Trend a big fat DON'T BUY just on principle. [Truck Trend]

OK! Magazine: Twilight Gift Guide

This one actually recommends more ridiculous/creepy items than the The Biggest Loser gift guide (see picture), but it's easier to swallow because I think the Twilight series actually has fans weird enough to buy this stuff. The problem is, it totally ignores the awkwardness of walking into Nordstrom's and having to buy a $30 "Team Edward" t-shirt for your niece. The last recommendation on this list should be a nice, clean Amazon gift card, no shame attached. [OK!]

Etsy: Gift Guides

Etsy is the one place on earth where you are sure to find pastel pink knitted kitten mittens, and their gift guide provides everything a knitting enthusiast might want. Unfortunately their gift guide is pretty overwhelming, with way too many gifts per category and no sense that someone with individual taste put the list together. That being said, this is the greatest thing I've ever seen. [Etsy]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite gift guide in comments—include pics and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

23andMe: What better way to make up for neglecting your girlfriend than by giving her the most personal gift possible: a detailed analysis of her genetic code. She'll be able to learn about her descendants as well as get clued in on what sorts of diseases she needs to look out for in the future. And as an added bonus, all that data she'll get will require a good amount of time for her to go through. Time you can spend playing video games. $300-$500 [23 and Me]

Classmates.com membership: Nothing will make her appreciate your half-assed brand of boyfriending like a trip down ex-boyfriend lane, especially the high school sections. Look, you might not be able to make it through a dinner without dicking around with your phone, but at least you didn't get fat and never leave your hometown like these schlubs. Here's to being the most palatable of an unpalatable group! $39 [Classmates.com]

New Super Mario Bros Wii: Your girlfriend might hate Modern Warfare 2, but if there's any game that will turn a game-averse girl into a trash-talking controller jockey, it's this one. You can play together, alternating between helping each other out and throwing each other into bottomless pits. I'm sure there's a metaphor for your relationship in there somewhere, but I'll leave it to you to suss out. $50 [Amazon.com]

Don't Buy: Kitchen Gadgets: Even if she says she wants to get more into cooking, you probably don't want to give her a kitchen gadget as a gift. I mean, sure, you might think that her making a delicious meal for the two of you while you surf the web sounds great, but insinuating that that's how she should pass her time will probably earn you a swift kick to the hanging brains.

Asus O!Play: Getting a gadget for a gadget-wary girl might seem like an obvious blunder, but think about it: with this thing, you can stream downloaded movies and TV shows to your TV that you can watch together! As long as you are well prepared with some of her favorite movies and shows, you'll be able to sneak in some gadget-lust fulfillment in a way that you can enjoy it together instead of by yourself. A novel thought! $99 [Link]

TiVo HD: Look, you don't have to be super into gadgets to appreciate the quality of a TiVo HD when compared to the crap DVR your cable company provides. And this is, again, something you can use together rather than something she has to tolerate you paying attention to instead of her. $215 [Amazon.com]

Canon 7D: If there's a guaranteed way to get her into gadgets, it's buying her one of the best. And really, if she's into photography even a little bit, she'll love the 7D. It's a monster of a camera, one that'll have her taking pictures all the time. Looking for something a bit cheaper? Check out our DSLR buying guide. $1,900 [Link; Amazon.com]

Don't Buy: Dyson DC25: You don't want to get this for the same reason you don't want to get her a kitchen gadget, but even more so. You can be into cooking, but no one is passionate about cleaning. Seriously, if you value your relationship at all, avoid at all costs, no matter how cool you think the vacuum is. $500 [Link; Amazon.com]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite girlfriend-pleasing gifts in comments-include pics and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

Those of you who hate the gallery format can see it all on one page by clicking here. Oh, and basically everything in this post is NSFW.

The Fleshlight: There are many flavors to the Fleshlight—you can now even custom design it to your specifications—but the base idea remains constant through all of them. It's a plastic flashlight you place your junk into. The sensation is halfway between your hand and a real person, which explains its popularity despite the extra preparation and cleanup. Your giftee will thank you for the experience, but curse you for the added work. $50-$90, depending on the type of Fleshlight and type of hole. [Review]

Form 2: For the ladies, you have the Form 2 from Jimmy Jane. It's a palm-sized vibrator that Fleshbot claims is basically the best vibrator around. The semi-discrete bunny-shaped body means it's up to your female (or male) loved one to figure out how they want to use it. $135. [JimmyJane]

FyreTV: The first set-top-box, all-in-one digital streaming solution to get porn from the internets onto a big-ass living room HDTV. It's not free, but the amount of variety included beats having to haul over to the adult video store every time your friend needs a new title for his DVD player. $10 a month, plus more for more credits. [FyreTV; Review]

Real Touch: It's like a Fleshlight that knows exactly what porn you're watching, and moves exactly as the person onscreen does. Fleshbot's review says it's pretty darn good, but due to technical problems with Windows 7—damn you Microsoft!!!—we haven't been able to test it out ourselves. We can say that it's like putting a football-sized piece of plastic up to your groin, but since it doesn't work yet, we can't say much else. Oh, and there's no Mac support. So make sure your recipient doesn't have a Mac (or knows how to use boot camp). $200, plus more for more minutes. [Real Touch; Fleshbot Review]

The OhMiBod: Yeah, it's the vibrator that works in sync with an iPod. This is the closest a person's going to get to actually making love with an Apple device without sticking it inside themselves. Plus, they get to hear their own music while they pleasure themselves. So, double bonus for that Apple fan on your gift list. $130. [Babeland; Review]

Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter: And what if a person wants to get their porn onto their TV while still taking advantage of all the free adult content out there? Easy: just hook up a Mac to a TV with an adapter. It's easily cheaper than paying over and over for so-called premium content, seeing as any local BitTorrent site has lots of porn for your friend to slurp down. $70 [Kanex; Review]

Real Doll: It's old, in internet years, but no company has quite managed to get their product to a stage to rival the Real Doll. Yeah, it's a full body simulation of a woman, and it costs so much that it's unlikely that you're going to buy this for anyone but yourself. And even then, it's super unlikely, thanks to the price. But it is the closest you're going to get to being intimate with a robot in the next 10 years. $6000 [Real Doll]

Any iPhone porn app: Do you hate the person you're giving this to? Are you trying to drum up business for local optometrists? There are plenty of better, and LARGER, porn opportunities than trying to squint at something on an iPhone. Not to mention that these apps are all super crappy anyway. [iPhone NSFW]

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

Click here to see all the gifts in a single page.

Objectified: This documentary has its ups and downs, but it's good. If you are new to industrial design, it is going to give you a good view on how they make all these objects around us. More importantly, it will explain to you why they are the way they are, and what good design is all about. If you are not new to industrial design, it's worthy just to see Dieter Rams talking about design, and listen to Jon Ive getting all lyrical with his British accent. A perfect stocking filler for just $10. [iTunes Store]

New York Coffee Cup: It seems ordinary, and it is. It's not beautiful either. But with time and use, certain objects become popular icons that resonate through millions of photos, illustrations, movies and daily scenes. The New York "We Are Happy To Serve You" paper coffee cup, introduced in 1963, is one of them. Designer Exceptionlab collaborated with the Sweetheart Cup Company to turn the latter's paper cup into beautiful ceramics that actually feel like paper. The ordinary and disposable—180 million are used in NYC every year—turned into permanent design. $14. [Moma Store]

Lego Architecture buildings: There are many to choose from, including landmarks like New York's Empire State Building and Chicago's John Hancock Center, but my favorite is Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater house, perhaps because I always wanted to live in a house like that in the middle of the woods. That or in a sailboat across the world. Or both. From $20 for the landmark buildings to $100 of the Falling Water House. [Lego]

Paul Smith wallet: I know, wallets are boring. But not these. Why? They have neekeed ladies. The pretty pin-ups wallets designed by Paul Smith come in different sizes and configurations. The leather is beautiful, and so is the printing. How do I know it? Because I have the one in the photo. Start at $195. [Paul Smith]

BeoVision 10: Hookai, so generally I don't like B&O's overpriced AV equipment. I don't like most of their designs either. They just don't seem honest enough to me, except for the BeoVision 10. If I wanted to have a TV, this would be the one. I'm partial to projectors and silver screens, though. $8700 [B&O]

Braun wall audio equipment by Dieter Rams: I don't care if they work or not. I just want two L 450 flat loudspeakers, one TG 60 reel-to-reel tape recorder, one TS 45 control unit, and a PCS5 turntable. That's how beautiful audio looked in the sixties, and nothing has ever come close. And you know, actually I'm sure that the units you can find up for auction—mainly in Europe—still work fine, unlike their modern counterparts. You can find them on eBay starting at around $400. [EBay]

IMPOSSIBLE Replica of the America schooner: Yes, it is a sailboat. It's also one of the most beautifully designed objects I've ever cross paths with: The replica of a 1851 schooner called America. The original went to England to challenge the Brits at their own sailing game and won, becoming the origin of the America's Cup race. It's an example of beautiful honest design, in which every detail answered a need, nothing was extra, and every element was beautifully handcrafted, in harmony with everything else on board. The 140-foot schooner can carry 49 people, although I would like one just to carry two grown-ups and supplementary little people all around the world, with friends coming and going all the time. Just too expensive for most of us.

DON'T BUY Gadget cases: I have a hard time thinking about Jon Ive getting pissed off, like they would say in Inn-Gland. So calm, so civilized and zen and British... until he sees someone using an iPhone with a horrible case around it. I imagine he goes bonkers every time he sees his beautiful iPhone—one of the most minimalistic and beautiful electronic objects in existence—wrapped in a bag of naffness. Putting a case around a beautiful object is just not a possibility for anyone who really loves good design. I don't care if it's to protect it. I shattered my phone against the asphalt the other day to the tune of a $200 replacement, and I'm not putting it in a case. Why? Because beautiful objects are made to be enjoyed as they are, as the designer imagined them.

Sure, you can personalize them with a gelaskin or something that you make on your own. That's part of the life of the object too. But stuffing it into a fugly mass-produced plastic case? That's like someone putting golf pants in Michelangelo's David. Or your grandmother covering her sofa with a plastic cover. Or your going through life not loving or taking risks just because you are afraid you are going to break or get scratched. What's the point if you can't enjoy something fully? Exactly, there's no point. Don't buy. [Don't buy]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite gifts for design lovers in the comments-include pics and pricing if possible.
All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

Baby's First DSLR: Nikon D3000

The D3000 is cheap. We're talking a full kit (i.e., it comes with a lens) for just $460, making it the cheapest DSLR kit around. But what really makes it stand out for beginners is a built-in tutorial system that explains how to get certain kinds of shots—like shallow depth of field—in plain English.

Amateur Hour: Canon T1i

The next step up is Canon's T1i. What we like is that it packs a bigger boy's image sensor—it's got the same 15-megapixel sensor as the pricier mid-range 50D—and 1080p video into a camera that's $720 with kit lens. Also, for the money, it edges out Nikon's D5000 on a few points, namely superior video handling and Live View.

Bigger Britches: Nikon D90

Nikon's D90 was the first ever DSLR to shoot 720p video with manual controls, but that's only part of the reason we like it. It's got the awesome image sensor from the semi-pro D300, in a package that's just over $1000. And at that price, it's $100 cheaper than Canon's competing 50D, which has the same image sensor as the cheaper T1i above, but none of the video benefits of either camera.

The Budding Auteur: Canon 7D

The only camera on this list that's more expensive than its competition—the D300s—the 7D overwhelms with DSLR video that's superior to every camera but Canon's very pro 1D Mark IV (which costs $5000). It shoots in 1080p, with full manual controls, and it's amazing what it can do in low light. Besides that, Canon's somehow cheated physics with an 18-megapixel sensor that doesn't explode with noise at high ISO settings, all while cramming a whole bunch of new features, and an actually good autofocus system. It's $1900 with a kit lens.

Beyond here, honestly, you should already have a pretty idea of what you're gonna buy without our help. And if you've got your own opinions about what's best in every price range, let's hear 'em in the comments.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock: Step one to showing up on time is getting up on time, and there's simply no way to ignore the siren song Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock. The 113dB blast is almost as loud as a jet plane, and it shakes the entire bed, traumatically jolting even the utterly comatose to life. It's also simply a horrible way to wake up. $43. [Link]

Jolt Caffeinated Gum: Late people don't have time to make coffee or brush their teeth. Jolt's spearmint gum takes care of caffeine and fresh breath in seconds. Sorta. $3-$10. [Link]

Vibram FiveFingers Sprint Shoes: When all else fails—like public transit in New York City—sometimes you've just gotta sprint to where you're going. Vibram's FiveFingers shoes are the footies of choice for Google's Sergey Brin, and the center of a hippie natural running movement. Also, the hideousness should make you run even faster to wherever you're going. $80. [Link]

5 Second Stadium As passive-aggressive as it gets, Namco's 5 Second Stadium is gift that says, "Can't you learn how to tell time, assclown?" $14. [Link]

Motorola Droid: Why a Droid? Two reasons: Using Google Navigation on Android 2.0, nobody can claim they got lost, and on Google Latitude, everybody knows exactly where you're at. $150-$200. [Link]

Tokyoflash Watches: They look awesome, but no one call tell what the hell time it is with these things. $43-$250. [Link]

Casio G-Shock Watch: Casio's G-Shock watches withstand serious abuse and drowning, so excuses like "Oh, I broke my watch" won't exactly fly. And uh, neon green's a real hard color to ignore. $110. [Link]

Hermione's Time Turner: Our fantasy gift, we're talking about the real thing, not the $50 knock off on Amazon. Turn back time, and arrive everywhere right when you're supposed to. Oh, who am I kidding? I'd still be late. Priceless (or $50 on Amazon). [Link]

I was late turning this in, so surely, there's something I missed—toss your own ideas in the comments.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Husqvarna Automower: Come Springtime, the recipient of an Automower from Husqvarna is going to be calling you up every weekend to say thanks because he no longer needs to mow his lawn. The Automower works much like a Roomba does, mapping out the lawn (up to a 1/2 acre) and cutting it frequently in random pattens—so you don't need to worry about bagging. Plus, the top-of-the-line version is a solar electric hybrid, meaning that it's inexpensive to operate in the long term. Most versions even return to the charging base autonomously so the process is literally set it and forget it. $1300-$3000 [Husqvarna via Link]
Savant's TrueImage Home Automation System: If money wasn't an object, I'm pretty sure you would hit a home run with anyone this holiday if you gave them a Savant TrueImage home automation system. It allows the user to control devices in their home by interacting with an image of a room as opposed to confusing menus:

Savant's TrueImage technology gives you fingertip control via a simple tap on a wide angle image of each room in your home. Each touch allows you to dim and turn on/off lights, lower or raise shades, even turn on/off your audio and video components. Instead of interacting with confusing icons, TrueImage allows you to simply touch the actual light or shade in that room. Not only does the light in the room turn on or dim (if you press and hold the represented light), but it also illuminates on the touch panel confirming your command.

Pricing Varies [Savant and Link]
Chefstack Automatic Pancake Maker: Would you be crazy to buy a $3500 pancake maker as a gift? Well, how much do your friends like pancakes? And I do mean all of your friends because this thing cranks out 200 perfectly-formed low fat pancakes (in three-sizes) per hour. Essentially, it's one big gift for all of your pancake-loving friends, and an even bigger gift for yourself when you visit. $3500 [Chefstack via Link]
Iomega's Ix2-200 NAS: If you know someone looking for a network storage solution, they will surely be thrilled with the Iomega Ix2-200. It does a lot of things for the price, and our hands-on review revealed that it does those things pretty well:

Features:

• Automated backup and restore: Full Time Machine support for Macs as well as Retrospect, a different backup scheme, for PCs and Macs.
• Automated copy jobs, which can automatically and incrementally copy (either with Windows file sharing or rsync) files off of network shares and dump it onto its own storage, or the other way around. Perfect for backing up other network shares for double data security
• RAID1
• DLNA, iTunes Servers
• Quiet running
• SMB features like email notifications, event logs, iSCSI, automated video surveillance (provided you have a compatible camera) and USB printer support
• A load of networking support, like Apple File Sharing, Bluetooth, FTP, NFS, Rsync, SNMP and standard Windows File Sharing (CIFS)
• Torrent downloading
• Remote access

$700 [Iomega Review and Iomega]
Schlage Link Doorlocks: If you know someone who travels frequently or has kids that get home before they do, a product from the Schlage Link line would a make nice, practical gift. The devices allow you to monitor and control access to your home remotely via a cellphone or other web-enabled device. Schlage Link thermostats and security cameras can also be added on to the system if you are interested in more security and control. Prices Vary Depending on Configuration [Amazon and Schlage via Link]
Vue Wireless Home Monitoring System: With the Vue, a loved one could monitor their home, their kids, and a suspicious babysitter or housekeeper remotely. The system consists of one central gateway and two tiny battery-powered wall-mountable wireless cameras for a relatively affordable price. $300 [Vue Review and Vuezone]
DON'T BUY the Book: Anyone Can Build a Tub-Style Mechanical Chicken Plucker: Just take a look at this video. I love chicken just as much as the next guy, but come on. This is why we have KFC. $20 [Amazon]
SmartLink Insteon: Serious home automation systems can be ridiculously expensive, but the SmartLinc Insteon can give users some of the same functionality at a fraction of the cost. The Insteon controllers is installed between the device and the wall outlet, allowing you to turn it on and off via your cellphone (optimized for iPhone and iPod Touch) or other web-enabled device. $130 [Smarthome Thanks Doug!]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite home automation gadget in the comments-include pics and pricing if possible.
All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Magic Mouse: It's a bit too expensive for stocking stuffer territory, but we've called the nipple-less design the best mouse Apple has ever made. And if you can't appreciate touch-sensitive scrolling, you have no soul (or, at least not one that we can see). $70 [Apple]

Buffy Gelaskins: Loving Apple will only half-fill one's necessary geek quotient. Your loved one will do well filling the other half with Buffy, now that Dark Horse comics has teamed up with Gelaskins re-stickable case skins for the iPhone and MacBooks. $15 iPhone, $30 MacBook. [Dark Horse]

iMac (27-inch i7): You simply won't find a more striking desktop on the market, but maybe more importantly, benchmarks on Apple latest top-tier iMac are currently challenging far more expensive Mac Pros. Plus, the line has just seen a refresh, so it's a good time to buy. $2200+ [Apple]

BookArc Stand: No, it's not the gift for everyone. But if you know a guy who just docks his MacBook anyway, the BookArc Stand is a far more elegant solution than sitting a laptop on a desk (especially since the laptop should run cooler given the increased surface area for airflow). [BookArc]

Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree (T-Shirt): Who says the apple doesn't fall far from the tree? This t-shirt, that's who. $18. [Go Ape Shirts]

Apple Tablet IOU: Apple fanboys love Apple's products. But true Apple fanboys—those who take commitment and fanaticism to the next level—could never be pleased with what Apple currently has on the table. They need the Next Big Thing. We're about 1000% certain that Apple will release a tablet some time in 2010. Promise your loved ones that you'll camp overnight and drop the cash so they get the Apple Tablet first. Of course, they'll still bitch about it, anticipating version 2.0. Price Unknown, Costs Some Dignity

DON'T BUY MacBook Pro: There has simply never been a worse time to buy a new MacBook Pro. With Core i5/i7 tech inevitably waiting to make its way into Apple's premium laptops, your hard-earned cash will almost certainly buy a vastly more powerful, more future-proof machine less than a month after Christmas. The same can probably be said about Mac Pros, too. Oh, and that 27-inch iMac we keep raving about? What a glorious alternative to the aging, 30-inch Apple Cinema Display! [Apple]

Wall of Sound iPod Dock: There are iPod docks, and there are iPod docks. This is most definitely the latter, a handcrafted, 3x4-foot, 225lb, 125W beast. And one day, when Apple inevitably tweaks the iPod port, this behemoth will be useless—feeding into the general regret and dissatisfaction critical to Apple fandom. [Wall of Sound]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite Apple gear in comments-include pics and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Scrolling LED Message Sign With Remote: There's so much to say to your fellow drivers on the road that the finger, two signal directions, high beams and horns don't cover. Can you really put a price on the ability to articulate "YOU DRIVE LIKE SHIT", "PLEASE SIGNAL", "DO NOT TAILGATE" and "PLEASE LEAVE THE FAST LANE IF YOU ARE DRIVING 50MPH". $40 [Thinkgeek]

Valentine One Radar Detector: It's still the best radar detector. With sensors forward and aft and an increasing frequency of beeps correlating to strength of signal, you can tell if smokey was passing you on the highway, is creeping up from behind or is sitting dead forward in a speed trap. $400 [ValentineOne]

MiFi Wi-Fi 3G Wireless Router: Car internet was but a dream. Then people started cludging together routers and 3G cards, and it was a little bit more of a nightmare. The little MiFi runs on Verizon's reliable 3G network, supports a few clients and has more than enough Wi-Fi range for your car (or a giant RV). Since it fits in the palm of your hand, stashing it under a seat or in a glovebox is easy. We don't recommend hard wiring these things, either, since they run off batteries for awhile, too. $100 with two year $60 contract [Mifi on Giz]

Duracell Powerpack 450 Talking Portable Power Unit: This portable battery has enough 110v power to run a laptop for 8 hours, jump start a car and inflate tires with its built in air compressor. It also has built in voice prompts to walk you through the process of jump starting, in case you or your loved ones don't remember if its black before red or the other way around. $120 Bonus: Black and Decker's 200-watt inverter turns your 12v cigarette adapter into a 110volt plug for $35. [Duracell Powerpack on Giz]

Wagan Ergo Comfort Rest Heated Massage Car Seat Cushion: The good doctor has made this 12v car seat cover that heats and massages. Knowing the power output a 12v plus is capable of, I'm doubtful this thing will do anything but get warm and vibrate a little bit. But if you need a car cover, a few degrees and some artificially induced butt modulation never made a long car ride any worse. And for $33, it's not such a big risk. [Amazon]

Wavebox Car Microwave/cooler: I don't think this is a good idea. I just think it's kind of cool to be able to make popcorn while you drive. I mean, with the proper in-dash DVD system, I'm halfway to feeling better that drive-in movie theaters are dead. Halfway. I wouldn't rank this a do not buy, but I wouldn't want you to ignore the 1.5 star Amazon rating, either. $300 [Wavebox on Giz, Amazon]

DON'T BUY My Pee Pee Bottle: A nalgene-style bottle for peeing in on road trips. Bad idea. Just pull over — you're not on the Cannonball Run nor are you some trucker late for his interstate Ikea drop off. Just pull over! [Jalopnik]

DON'T BUY Top of the Line Garmin GPS: The Nuvi 1690 is great. It has wireless search and traffic, lane suggestion and a Bluetooth speakerphone with dialing for your cellphone. It's also $500 and is a total waste of money. Smartphones are going to replace these sorts of connected GPS. One day. For now, a good touchscreen GPS should be bought from Garmin by checking prices to see what's on sale for a little over $100. Like this Nuvi 260W that is on sale for $117. For GPS apps, we recommend the free and built-in Google Maps Navigation program on Android, and Motion X GPS for the iPhone, which is a great value at $25 per year. (But not a very visceral good gift, as an app, especially since there are subscription fees after awhile.)

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite Car Gadget in comments-include pics and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

Click here to see all the gifts in a single page.

From the Earth to the Moon - The Signature Edition: This is one of my favorite TV series of all time. It's well scripted, acted, filmed, and directed, to the point in which you will get glassy eyes at some of the most dramatic and epic moments. My favorite is still the episode in which Apollo 12 arrives at the Moon, perhaps the most anticlimactic moment in the history of space travel. Even if you watched this on TV, each of the 12 episodes are a must to fully understand the titanic scope, knowledge, and courage that took humans into their trip from the Earth to the Moon. $15 [Amazon]

Lego Saturn V: This one is a given: Saturn V + command module + lunar module + lunar rover + Lego = Insane win. I wish it was as big as the gigantic Millennium Falcon, but it's good enough as it is. Everyone will like the set, and it's a perfect way to celebrate the 40 Anniversary of humankind's first trip to the Moon. $139 [Amazon]

Moonfire: At $1500, this is one very expensive book. But it is a limited edition of 1969 units. The last 12 of them—numbered from 1958 to 1968—have a moon rock inside, but those go for a creditbreaking $90,500. And the moon rock is not from the Apollo mission, but from a certified meteor. Alternatively, you can always buy the beautiful—and a lot cheaper at $31—Full Moon. $1500 [Taschen]

Trip to the Kennedy Space Center to watch a shuttle launch: Going to the Kennedy Space Center is always fun. Going to see a launch and feel the ground tremble below your feet while the sky fires up in Halloween orange and chimney red? Simply amazing. Going to watch one of the last shuttle launches next year? An absolute must. If you give this trip to any space aficionado out there, he or she will love you forever. $38 adult/$28 child for the admission ticket, add $21 adult/$15 child for guided tour, plus cost of flight and hotel. [Kennedy Space Center]

NASA Flight Jacket: The other day I got a real USAF fighter pilot jacket at a second hand shop. I wish I had that for a perfectly dorky Tom Cruise impression at the Dubai Air Show. This NASA Flight Jacket is the next best thing. Kind of. And it comes with all the patches. You only have to provide the Right Stuff. $79.99 [The Space Shop]

American Optics Pilot Eyeglasses: OK, so you got the jacket. Now you need the sunglasses. Forget about Ray-Bans. These American Optics' Original Pilot Sunglasses are the real thing, used by astronauts since the beginning of the human space program. You can choose different colors, lenses, and temples at their web site. Unfortunately, they no longer make the yellow bayonet model used by Michael Collins during the Apollo 11. Those are my favorites (pictured here). $70. [American Optics]

IMPOSSIBLE Ride in the Space Shuttle: Even if you had all the money in the world, NASA would never let you ride the shuttle. A Soyuz spacecraft, sure, but no space shuttle. Nosir, no big bang for you on top of this Reagan era wonder. You will have to enjoy this video and get over it, because sadly it wouldn't happen even if you were Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and JesusChrist all rolled into one. No price tag. But you can go on Virgin Galactic for a cool $200k. [NASA]

DON'T BUY Astronaut ice cream: This thing is disgusting. I want to like it every time I try it, but it has the most horrible taste. Maybe they should clean those astronauts more throughly before making ice cream with them. Die space ice cream, die! Give me Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie any day. $4 [The Space Shop]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite space gifts in the comments-include pics and pricing if possible.
All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Remote Fetch: Ball chasing is very good exercise for pooches, even if it can cause obsession and anti social tendencies that will result in thousands of dollars in dog therapy. Capable of being remote triggered at 7 or 15 second intervals, or just automatically throwing balls your dog drops in the bucket, it might be worth the trouble. Think of it as the equivalent of a video game for a dog. And it's better than a doggie treadmill, which you can't really leave a dog unsupervised on for very long. $120 [Remote Fetch]

Hotdoll:Ugh! Someone actually went and turned the hotdoll dog sex doll concept into an actual product. The doll has a silicon...nevermind. We had one at Gizmodo Gallery and one owner brought one in to see if their dog—that loves humping—would hump it. He did not. I guess just like real people, it takes a flexible sexual orientation to find comfort in inanimate figurines. Price TBD [Hotdoll on Giz]

Indiana Jones and Star Wars Dog Costumes: Remember when Indiana Jones shot that guy with the swords in Temple of Doom? What if, no, listen, wait, what if Harrison Ford was a dog and in that scene and, instead of shooting the assassin, he used teeth! And, like in Star Wars, instead of light sabers, they had swords made of bones. Oh man, hilarious! Earnestly, these costumes are the only items on this list you should legitimately buy for your dogs. Roughly $14 each. [SpoiledRottenDoggies]

Autofetch Motion Pet Ball: It looks like the famous Super Happy Fun Ball* from Saturday Night Live sketches in the 90s, and although not radioactive, the Autofetch ball acts freakishly similar. The motorized dog toy takes a cookie and then spins around, wildly, til batteries go out, or your dog goes insane and crushes the life out of it. Recommended! *Do not taunt! $27 for two. [Autofetch]

Bissell SpotBot Pet: Puppy training is basically like potty training a kid, except your whole apartment is the diaper. Here we have a steam cleaner that sprays cleaning solution to the mess on your carpet, a rotating brush that scrubs while the vacuuming action drinks—sorry, that may have not been the best choice of word—up the dirty water, storing it in a reservoir for disposal later. Basically, it's an automatic poop/vomit/pee cleaner. I'm surprised they don't make one for frat boys. $140 [Bissell]
Catgenie: Look, I know I said this whole list is a bunch of things you shouldn't buy, but this is the one you should especially not buy: CatGenie is basically an automatic literbox that takes 45 minute to cycle out the poop. Until humans engineer smarter pets that can be potty trained, there is no tech that can avoid domestic animal excrement handling. $329 [Catgenie review]

Sleepypod Air: This is a travel bag for little animals. What makes it different from other bags is that it has special deceptive fold-in panels that squash your animal while going through security checkpoints, so no one can tell you your bag is too big. (Don't worry, I don't think it'll kill your cat.) Then, after you board, it expands a few inches but fits under a chair. It also has a slot for slipping through a rolling luggage handle, so the bag can rest on top, and has seatbelt clips for placing it in car seats. $150 [Sleepypod Air]

The Hydroglass: For those who believe fish are pets, even though you can't hug them, I'd find it hard to believe you could do better than this fish tank, which has a seven-head horizontal shower on top. $14,500 [Hydroglass]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite pet gifts in comments-include pics and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

If you hate the gallery format, click here.

All pricing shown is with a new 2-year contract, and some deals may be temporary.

AT&T

iPhone 3GS
The iPhone 3GS is the best overall smartphone you can buy. It's really that simple. Best user interface, best internet, best apps, best media support—the list goes on. Okay, not the best network, but nothing's perfect. $199

BlackBerry Bold 9700
I miss the original BlackBerry Bold's king-sized keyboard, but the Bold 9700 squeezes the best of the BlackBerry for CEOs into an impressively tight form factor—faux leather back included—making it very possibly the best BlackBerry you can buy. $10

Bonus: Nokia e71x
It's free, and an actually good smartphone—my favorite Nokia phone on the planet. Free

Verizon

Droid
It's a terminator. A huge, disgustingly high-res screen, Batman-worthy industrial design, and the full power of Android 2.0 make it the best phone on Verizon—and the fact that it's running on arguably the best network in the US make it the second best smartphone you can buy, period. $150

BlackBerry Tour
Sure, it's notorious for trackball problems and it's missing Wi-Fi, but this is the BlackBerry of choice for email warriors if they're not on AT&T or T-Mobile—and it sure as hell beats anything running Windows Mobile. $50

Bonus: Droid Eris
If you're desperate to save $100 over the Droid, the Droid Eris will run Android 2.0 soon enough, and is smoother, smaller, and friendlier, if a little blander. $100

Sprint

Palm Pre
The Pre offers one of the best user experiences of any smartphone with Palm's webOS, and it's probably the best phone on Sprint, hardware build issues and comparatively dinky App Catalog aside. $80

HTC Hero
The best Android phone not running Android 2.0, HTC's Sense UI makes the sometimes confusing Android interface more digestible and has a few nifty tricks of its own, like integrated social networking. $100

Bonus: There is none. The Pixi's close ($25), but the fact that you can get the Pre for nearly as cheap undercuts a lot of the value, as much as we like the design and form factor.

T-Mobile

Motorola Cliq
Motorola's other Android phone is gussied up with Blur, a custom interface that's bright and friendly, with widgets for keeping track of everything happening on your social network. It's our favorite Android phone on T-Mobile. $100

Unlocked iPhone
No, I'm not kidding. A jailbroken and unlocked iPhone, even without 3G powers, is the second best smartphone you can use on T-Mobile.

Bonus: BlackBerry Bold 9700
The BlackBerry Bold 9700 is the first BlackBerry with 3G on T-Mobile, which is reason enough, really, but it's good the reasons listed above, too. $130

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

A good pair of in-ear phones: It's impossible to overstate how valuable these are. Not only do they sound better than your stock earbuds, they dull the chorus of engine sounds, snores, baby cries and not-as-subtle-as-your-seatmate-thinks beanfarts nearly as well as those Bose noise-canceling phones some airlines hand out in first class. As a bonus, you can sleep comfortably in these. Ultimate Ears MetroFi 170s are nice, clear and bassy for about fifty dollars, while Shure's next-level SE210s can be scrounged for under $100. $50 for the UEs, $90 for the Shures. [Amazon, 2]

An iPod Touch: Yeah, I know, another iPod recommendation. Seriously though, perfect travel gadget: Video and music (and podcasts, sweet podcasts!) are travel must-haves, and games are a massive bonus. But what about apps to keep you busy or productive? White noise machines to put you to sleep? Internet access on the off chance your plane has free Wi-Fi? Look out for better deals come Friday, too. $200 [Apple]

Timbuk2 Commute 2.0: It's a solid gear bag, with more than enough space for a laptop, DSLR, various accessories and a phone or two, and it's TSA compliant, meaning you can leave your laptop halfway inside your bag through airport security for a slightly less terrible experience. Retails for about $100 in size medium, though you can find it for a bit less is you look around. $90 [Zappos]

Some juice: Almost every gadget charges by USB nowadays, a habit that the Duracell Instant Charger will happily oblige. It's most useful as an emergency phone charger, though it'll work for almost anything.

If your traveling giftee is a Man of the World, consider the Kensington International Adapter with USB. Here's the theory: said traveler can plug almost whatever he wants into almost any wall socket, and charge his Duracell portable battery at the same time. MAXIMUM ELECTRICITY! $15 for the Duracell, $30 for the Kensington [Amazon, Target]

A stupid neck donut pillow: Because they're awesome and anybody who says they
aren't hasn't slept on an airline cushion for eight hours. Plus, they're cheap, and you can probably find one at your local Walmart if you don't want to bother with shipping. $13 [Amazon]

Tethering: It's a bit nerdy, and you might he some reservations about fiddling with someone else's phone so much, especially given how sensitive carriers can be to this kind of thing, but if your traveler is aware of the risks, tethering is a wonderful gift. And not just wired or Bluetooth tethering—I'm talking Wi-Fi tethering, MiFi style (and without the extra contract, which would be a terrible gift). It can save money and headaches in hotels or airports with paid Wi-Fi, and it'll be endearingly nerdy. Free! [For iPhone, jailbreak; for Android, rooting; for Palm, homebrew]

Those laptop privacy shields: People will think you're looking at porn if you're using one of these, no matter how nice your suit is. Avoid, unless your traveler actually wants to look at porn. $45 [Amazon]

Methanol cell chargers: They're too expensive to recommend now and it's difficult to explain to the TSA how exactly they aren't a dangerous explosive device, and for that matter, why you just don't carry a normal battery, like a non-scary human? Hmm? These should be easy enough not to buy, since they barely even exist. Still!

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite travel gadgets in comments-include pics and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Crumpler Industry Disgrace neckstrap Fancy cameras, especially German ones, are heavy. Fancy lenses bolted to fancy cameras? It's like lugging around a (fancy) dump truck. Normal camera straps are thin and cut into your neck. Crumpler's Industry Disgrace neckstrap is fat, super padded and breathable. And, they come in patterns. $30-$40. [Link]

Lensbaby optics Crazy lenses for DSLRs, like tilt-shifts and fisheyes, can be ridiculously expensive, way too expensive for a starving artiste who must save their pennies for vintage boots. Enter Lens Baby, which produces cheap, quick and dirty single-effect lenses and adapters for DSLRs. While their quality isn't exactly bulletproof, they do deliver the special effect shots Flickr whores crave. The core lenses do variations on the whole small area of focus, lots of blurriness surrounding it, while the optics system lets you swap out inserts for different effects, like fisheye or pinhole. $95-$300. [Link]

A 50mm prime lens Back in the day, a 50mm prime lens is what photogs cut their teeth on. No zoom, no wide-angle, no image stabilization to fiddle with. Just sharp focus. Meaning it's pure composition on the photographer's part. If you're buying for a DSLR that's not full-frame—basically anything other than Canon 5D Mark II or D700—you're gonna wanna grab a 35mm lens (with the crop factor, it becomes about 50mm, give or take). They get pricier as they get faster, but you can score a cheap 50mm for about a hundred bucks, and a cheap(ish) 35mm for between $200 and $300. $90-$320 [Nikon 50mm, Canon 50mm, Nikon 35mm, Canon 35mm]

Joby GorillaPod A cheap tripod that'll fit in a hipster messenger bag, for long exposure shots. $30-$50 [Link]

Crumpler camera bags Most camera bags aren't very befitting of actually cool photographers. They're boring. Corporate. Ugly. Crumpler's 5 Million Home holds a DSLR, an extra lens and flash and is sunny sky blue. Stepping up a model, the 8 Million Dollar Home has more space for more stuff, if needed. $80-$170. [Link, Link]

Diana F+ CMYK lomo camera Real artsy photographers shoot with cheap lomo film cameras to produce vintage-y lo-fi photos, with crazy saturation, exposures and optical effects, perfect for Vice Magazine. Don't think, just shoot. And the super bright CMYK paint job? You know what it is. $105 [Link]

Leica M9: The ultimate photographer gift. Picking up a Leica camera instantly turns anybody into a Photographer. While holding a Leica, it is impossible not to shoot perfect, artsy photos. Even if you try. The M9 is the latest, most exquisite piece of German photographic craftsmanship yet, with an 18-megapixel, full-frame sensor that delivers the most amazing photos of all time. $7000 and worth every penny. [Link]

Superzoom Cameras: They're not DSLRs, they're not pocketable point-and-shoots, and they're definitely not artsy. They're for tourists, and for the money, you could easily get a way better cheap DSLR or vintage film camera.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Portable Induction Cooktop: I always assumed getting into induction cooking meant gutting your kitchen and calling in some expensive Euro gear. But the truth is, getting a plug-in induction burner is an easy, affordable way to get into a cooking science that's already taken off in other parts of the world. Wired's Mark McClusky told us that Max Burton was a good 'un, and you know, I'm actually pretty tempted to buy one for myself. Just make sure your gift recipient has steel pots and pans, cuz aluminum doesn't do the magical magnetic thing. $75 [Company Page; Amazon]

All-Edge Brownie Pan: For anyone who loves the crunchy-chewy edge of the brownies that touch the pan's outer wall, this is absolutely the gift. However, as we learned, there are legions who feel the exact opposite, that edges should be soft and knife-cut only. For them, this gift would be a hand-holdable version of hell itself. $35 [ThinkGeek]

Stick Blender: Good lord what would I do without my stick blender? Soups sure wouldn't be the same, nor jams, nor sauces. It saves you from having to transfer hot ingredients to and from your blender, where you risk 12 different kinds of third-degree burn. Of course, it takes a steady hand, and someone smart enough to not stick their finger where the spinning blade is, so choose your gift recipient wisely. I found out while researching this that my own 400-watt Braun may well be discontinued, and if it's not, it costs an arm and a leg. (I think it was a wedding present.) In lieu of that, go with the Cuisinart CSB-76 Smart Stick. It's both cheap and highly rated, at least by Amazon customers—a much better gift. $30 [Amazon]

A Window Fan, Air Filters and Bungie Cords: What better experience to offer your favorite food nerd than a DIY home dehydrator, the most foolproof Alton Brown hack we know of? Throw some meat in between the filters, run the fan overnight, and in the morning you got jerky. And we know for certain it's foolproof because our own Macgyver Chef tried it out and didn't die! Our only recommendation is to find out what your recipient already has—if they have it all, just buy the meat and point them to the guide. $30 to $40 [Alton Brown's Recipe; Our MacGyver Chef Experience]

My Weigh KD-7000 Digital Scale: Don't let the corny Frank Sinatra reference fool you, this scale is what pros favor (at least for their home cooking). The My Weigh line is a tad confusing, but our friend Michael Ruhlman says the KD-7000 is the one with "percentage" weighing, so you can bake in precise weight ratios rather than imprecise volume measurements. Best of all, for what it does, it's really not expensive. $38 [My Weigh; Amazon]

Good Eats: The Early Years by Alton Brown: The commander-in-chief of food nerds just published a cookbook that mirrors his show, so you can skim to find the tips and recipes in episodes like "Squid Pro Quo" and "American Pickle." It's way better than trying to recreate things by looking at the Brown's barebones Food Network recipe listings. The book covers the first 80 shows, so it's got a crazy variety of themes to get the apprentice kitchen whiz on your list started. $22 [Book Review; Amazon]

PolyScience Immersion Circulator plus a Vacuum Sealer for Sous Vide Cooking When I asked Alinea co-owner Nick Kokonas what a great long-shot fantasy kitchen gift would be, he said, without hesitating, a sous vide setup. This style of "cooking in a vacuum" relies on a precision water bath to get your meat or other ingredients to exactly the right temperature, with zero risk of overcooking. The setup is insanely expensive, and if you don't know what you're doing, you could risk sharing some food-borne illnesses. But what does all that amount to against the spirit of holiday gift giving? $1000 and Up [ Circulator Kit with Thomas Keller's Guide; Vacuum Sealer]

DON'T BUY a Knife Sharpener: Confession: Two years ago for Christmas I gave my in-laws a knife sharpener, and that same year I got one from my wife. We thought we were the coolest. But now we know the truth, in the form of dull knives. When I interviewed Alton Brown this summer and asked him if he'd ever use one, he replied, "If I had any knives I hated that bad, sure." This year, I have asked my wife for professional knife sharpening. I'll let you know how that turns out. [Good and Bad Kitchen Gadgets]

This list is by no means comprehensive, so go ahead and comment on any potential kitchen-oriented gift that strikes you as a good idea. Better still if you included a pic and price.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Leica M7: DSLR schmeeSLR. Digital photography still can't match the old-school beauty of film, and Leica's M7 35mm camera is one of the best and most gorgeous out there. It's the kind of gift you'd hand down to your grandkids, partly because it'll last forever and partly because it costs enough that you need several lifetimes to get your money's worth. The M7 also has an even-more-decadent Hermes edition which clocks in at $14,000, but the normal M7 is available now and would send any prosumer DSLR-owner into fits of jealousy. $5,500 [Link; Amazon]

Retro-Gen: Modern videogames are so complicated, so expensive, so...3D. A true retrophile isn't interested in Modern Warfare 2, but could be persuaded to play a little Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Streets of Rage 2 or Toejam and Earl 2: Panic on Funkotron. The Retro-Gen, a little sorta-legal handheld emulator, will play either original Genesis cartridges or ROMs that you've loaded onto an included SD card. Plus, the entire system costs less than some modern DSi or PSP games. $38 [Link; Video Game Central Store]

French Press: Here's one where an irrational fear of the new is totally justified. Your typical fancy, electronic drip coffee-maker spits out watery, bitter brown liquid only technically identifiable as coffee, while the French press (basically a glass jug with a mesh screen plunger) produces rich, delicious coffee, retaining the essential oils that give a true depth of flavor. Not only is it older, simpler, and cheaper, it's flat-out better. $20 [Bodum French Press]

Set of 11 Kenny Loggins Albums on Vinyl: You know what, this is a great gift for anyone, retrophile or not. Even if you don't have a turntable, 11 of these albums would make excellent wall art. Matter of fact, I might just buy these myself. Go find your own Kenny Loggins vinyl collection! $10 [eBay]

iPod Classic: Multitouch? OLED? Wi-Fi? Widescreen video? What about the good old days, when convergence was a crazy futuristic concept and PMPs were called MP3 players, because, well, that's all they did. The iPod Classic is just about the only traditional hard-drive-based PMP left on the market, and while it's better than ever (thin, long battery life, spacious 160GB hard drive), it's still a relic of the past. I mean, seriously, a click wheel? What is this, 2007? $250 [Link; Apple Store]

Classic Prints From The Onion: The comedy gods over at The Onion have their very own gifts for retro-minded buyers, creating "classic" Onion front pages from times in the publication's fictional history (what, you didn't know it was founded in the mid-18th century as "The Mercantile Onion" by Friedrich Siegfried Zweibel?). The all-time classic is "Holy Shit: Man Walks on Fucking Moon," but "Whites Invent 'Rock and Roll'" and "Mr. T Releases 'Pity List '86'" are both pretty amazing things to hang on your wall, too. Guaranteed to stop passersby and give them the giggles. $33 each, framed and matted [Onion Store]

Trip to the Computer History Museum: You can be a retrophile and still love tech, and the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California is the best place in the country to revel in the fascinating history of technological advancement. Right now, they're celebrating the 50th anniversary of the integrated circuit, examining the history of computer chess and visible storage, and remembering Charles Babbage, inventor of the first automatic computing engine. Among those constantly rotating exhibits are jewels like the Cray 1 supercomputer, the world's first ethernet cable and a Tandy TRS-80. Free admission [Link; CHM Site]

DON'T BUY A Modern Smartphone: Anybody who yearns for the old days is going to find the idea of a powerful, always-connected pocket computer pretty threatening. Today's smartphones are as powerful as the best desktop computers from ten years ago, and are only getting better. An iPhone, Droid or Palm Pre might well explode a retrophile's mind all over his face. But if he's submitted to peer pressure and allowed a thoroughly modern iPhone into his classic-rock life, we do have one recommendation: The iRetroPhone iPhone app, which simulates an old rotary phone. $1 [iTunes]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite retro-centric gift in comments-include pics and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Lego: It's not really a secret that Lego building blocks are widely loved. They're perfect for any age, but a particularly fun gift for an engineering or physics nerd who lacks some brightly-colored fun. Whether you go for a Millennium Falcon, a Mindstorms NXT robot set, or a smaller kit, just be sure your beloved recipient has time for construction. If you've got a younger nerd-in-the-making, check out programs like Dean Kamen's FIRST, which encourages learning and development of science, math, and technology through hands-on activities (many of which are Lego-based). Prices vary widely [Lego; Image Source]

BuckyBalls: 216 pellet-shaped rare earth magnets may scream "physics lesson," but in reality they're a jar full of fun. Your science nut can construct all sorts of 3D shapes for hours of mindless—or extremely brain-intensive—entertainment. And should he ever manage to get bored with the balls, he can just use them for one heck of a refrigerator magnet collection. $30 Link; Busted Tees]

DON'T BUY A Star: I don't know how you could imagine that getting someone a sheet of paper proclaiming that you've named a star after her is a clever idea. It's a scam to begin with and even the most thoughtless gift certificate would be a better idea (and won't leave you stuttering that you thought she "likes space and umm..stuff").

Photo by jared

I've never seen a stocking that didn't like being filled with a bit of awkward science-themed, cotton-based humor and somehow science nerds in particular have a soft spot for geeky shirts. You can head to ThinkGeek, Threadless, and Snorg Tees if you're looking for some of the shirts we've mentioned in the past—my personal favorite is still the ingredient shirt. $19 [Snorg Tees]

Chemistry Experiment Kit:This one's more geared to the younger lab rats, but no science nerd should miss out on a proper chemistry set. This C3000 set is a nice splurge, and even guides you through building a DIY fire extinguisher for when experiments go wrong, but you can certainly go for a smaller kit or even put one together on your own. $230 [Scientifics]

Casio EX-FC100: Science types want to document the entire world in pictures and video. Thanks to technological advancements, falling prices and MythBusters, highspeed slow-mo photography has carved out a nerdy niche in recent years. Casio's EX-FC100 may not be an EX-F1, but it's nice and small and has most of that slow mo covered, plus some nice nature-watcher tricks in still shooting, too. Despite the fact that still picture quality isn't as high as a similarly sized Canon, the FC100's set of unique talents make it a worthwhile toy for active observers of the physical world. $226 [Review; Amazon]

Giant Plush Microbes: If you're in need of a stocking stuffer for a biology nerd, these plush microbes are a sure thing. They're cute (just look at syphilis!) and add a bit of silliness to many all-too-serious subjects. $12 [Think Geek]

Processing Time on a Supercomputer: If you've got a mad, crazy, number-crunching, super science nerd on your hands—along with your own pretty thick wallet—then you can go through a company like Exa and get them some quiet time with a supercomputer. Your nerd will be able to run her insane calculations using high-performance computing and save quite a bit of time, so be sure to have some hot chocolate for two ready for a calm evening after. Prices vary, but they're gonna clean out your pockets [Exa]

Photo by Argonne National Laboratory

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite gift ideas for science nerds in comments—include pic and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Zune HD + ZunePass and HD Dock: If your Apple hater is in the market for a PMP, there's no better option than the Zune HD—in terms of media capabilities, it kicks the iPod Touch's standard-def ass with HD radio, 720p video output, a killer OLED screen and a gorgeous, media-centric UI. It'll play any file your iPod can (that aren't iTunes protected), and can also handle video up to 720p. (iPods can't go there yet.) The ZunePass, which gives unlimited music downloads for $15 a month, is a killer supplement, and the HD dock, which outputs high-def video to TVs, is a must-have add-on. Put them together and you will bestow your Apple hater with bragging rights over those poor, deprived iPod owners. $290, $70 (dock), $15/month (ZunePass). [Link; Zune HD, HD Dock, ZunePass]

HP TouchSmart 600: The new iMac is nice and all, but try poking it in the face and see what happens. Here, I'll spoil it for you: Nothing. The HP TouchSmart 600 isn't perfect, but its multitouch media capabilities offer a wow factor no Mac desktop can boast. And that's what it is now—there's no telling what developers will do with Windows 7's integrated touch. Plus, it's comparatively cheaper, spec for spec, than the iMac, and you can get a Blu-ray drive built-in, with no philosophical kerfuffle from Apple about the future of digital media. You want to watch Planet Earth in HD on Blu-ray right now, dammit, and you shouldn't have to wait for the HD stream to trickle in. $1,110. [Link; Amazon]

Whatever the Hot PC Game Is Right Now: I don't play videogames that don't feature Mario prominently, but even I know that anyone with a passing interest in computer gaming has to have a Windows PC. Apple haters will love a copy of Dragon Age: Origins or Left 4 Dead 2 on PC, not just because they're great games (or so I hear—thanks Will!) but also because you can't play 'em on the Mac OS. $40 each. [Dragon Age: Origins, Left 4 Dead 2]

Motorola Droid: Sure, Matt may have called the Droid "the second best smartphone you can buy," the best being the iPhone 3GS, but Apple haters will find plenty to love about the Droid—and plenty to loathe about the iPhone. I won't rehash our review (or Verizon's intimidating "Droid Does" ad campaign), but anybody who's into tech enough to hate Apple will really be into the distinctly un-Apple Droid. Multitasking, open-source, a ballsy industrial design, and a hardware keyboard: Droid's got it, iPhone doesn't. $200. [Link; Verizon]

Logitech Performance MX Mouse: I don't care if Apple's Magic Mouse is the best Apple mouse ever—in my opinion, one shared among Apple lovers and haters alike, Apple's mouse pedigree is nothing to be proud of. Style over ergonomics, awkward touch scrolling, high price—the Magic Mouse is an easy gadget to hate. The Logitech Performance MX isn't. Logitech crammed in an amazing new laser technology that even works on glass, it fits comfortably in the hand and has real buttons, dammit, like in the good old days. If you're not desperate for something to match your Mac, and certainly your Apple hater is not, the Logitech Performance MX is the right choice. $80. [Link; Amazon]

Acer Aspire One: Apple doesn't think netbooks match up with their premium brand reputation, but the public doesn't care—netbooks are huge sellers, and the Acer Aspire One AOD250 is one of the most interesting yet. It dual-boots not one but two non-Apple OSes (Android and XP), offers a whopping nine hours of battery life, and its diminutive 10.1-inch size is just right for travel—perfect for somebody who wants to point out the gaping 8-to-12-inch hole in Apple's lineup. $330. [Link; Amazon]

Note: In an earlier version of this post, I accidentally described a not-yet-released notebook from Asus, not this sweet little netbook. Sorry for the confusion.

Tickets to a Girl Talk Show: Aside from putting on a damn fun show, mash-up artist Girl Talk (real name Gregg Gillis) is not only one of the most prominent electronic musicians working today but the only exclusive Windows user in that genre who comes to mind. Plus, a major part of his shows, since there's no, you know, band, or anything, is inviting the crowd up on stage in a sweaty, hipstery, dancey mass while he mixes music live on his PC—with Saran Wrap taped all over it, for protection against flying perspiration. Girl Talk proves that Apple doesn't have a monopoly on music production, and your Apple hater will have a great time to boot. $15-25. [Link; Girl Talk, Image from Pedestrian.tv]

DON'T BUY HP Envy 13: But why not buy this well-reviewed, recently released, Windows-7-running laptop? I'll tell you why. The HP Envy 13 is a photocopy of a photocopy of the 13-inch MacBook Pro—same aluminum case, same black bezel around the screen, same chiclet keyboard with reversed Fn keys, same multitouch clicking trackpad. It's definitely not a bad laptop, and does have a few advantages over the MacBook Pro (like a better screen and crazy battery life) but it's also got weaknesses: No optical drive, for one, but also an unforgivably high price. The Envy 13 starts at $1700, $500 more than the MacBook Pro. Although if it were one day given the Hackintosh treatment, it would be the creepiest Mac clone ever, it's currently quite un-Hackintoshable (if that's a term). [Link; HP]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite Apple-hating gifts in comments—include pics and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Modern Warfare 2 Controllers: These controllers add mappable buttons on its back, allowing you to do things like jump and reload without taking your thumb off a stick. And as anyone who's been thoroughly humiliated by 13-year-olds online knows, every little advantage helps. $50 [Link; Amazon (PS3), Amazon (Xbox 360)]

Nyko Charge Base IC: This thing make charging up your Wiimotes as painless as humanly possible. Just place them on the tray, that's it. No plugging in, no swapping batteries, no nothing. Now you'll never sit down to play and find a dead controller again. $35 [Link]

Ear Force X41 Headset: It's pretty amazing how much of an advantage spatial audio can give you. These awesome headphones will let you hear people sneaking up on you from all sides with excellent audio quality. They're also wireless, which ditches the annoying cable between the headset and your controller. $180 [Link]

Xbox Live Points/Wii Points/PlayStation Network Cards: All three current-gen consoles have virtual stores that let you buy games, game add-ons, movies, shows and all sorts of other stuff. The Wii and Xbox 360 use a proprietary points system, while the PS3 lets you pay in dollars. All three will let you buy gift cards that will work specifically on their systems, however, and no gamer will be upset to get those in their stocking. Price Varies [Amazon: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii]

Mad Catz Street Fighter IV FightSticks: Any fighting game aficionado will tell you that playing with a normal controller is for suckers. An arcade stick gives you much more control over your moves and combos, allowing you to thoroughly destroy the competition. And while this particular stick is branded with Street Fighter IV graphics, it'll work with any game. $70 [Link]

Microsoft Sidewinder X8: For PC gamers, the mouse is an important accessory. For years, wireless mice have been ignored thanks to lag, but the current crop of mice finally has the goods to hang with their wired cousins. The Sidewinder X8 is one of the best, offering up speedy response time, long battery life and comfy ergonomics. $75 [Link]

Arkeg: The Arkeg is an arcade cabinet with a kegorator inside. Yes, arcade games and beers. If you can swing the pricetag on this bad boy, I'm pretty sure you'll make anybody with a pulse really happy. $4,000 [Arkeg; Link] Thanks to the people who mentioned the correct Arkeg link!

DON'T BUY Ultimate Game Chair: A chair with speakers is a stupid idea. No self-respecting adult would have this in their home, and kids would get bored with the gimmick quickly. If you're going to clutter up your living room with video game related crap, it might as well be plastic instruments and skateboards. $570 [Target]

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

Sound Isolating Headphones: The first step to relaxing is cutting yourself off from the irritating, irritating world around you. The Shure SE115m+ earbuds are a great choice for iPhone-owners, as they pair quality sound isolation with a mic and three-button remote. $120 [Shure SE115m+ via Link]

The Buddha Machine: If your giftee needs something to listen to to relax with those sound-isolating headphones, try the Buddha Machine. It's a little box that contains a bunch of blissful ambient sound loops. Simply turn the dial to pick your loop and listen via the built-in speaker or through headphones. Bonus: it's cheap. $23 [Buddha Machine; Link]

Flower for PS3: While many violent video games can up your stress level instead of taking it down, Flower is the opposite. In this "game," you control a flower flying over peaceful meadows in the breeze. That's it! No violence, no guns, no heavy metal. Just a flower and a breeze. $10 [Flower; Kotaku]

Fondue Maker: Is there anything that eases stress better than a steaming pot of melted cheese? How about dipping bread and apples into said cheese? Sure, fondue has been around forever and hasn't been "cool" in a long time, but whatever. It's hot goddamned cheese. Who are you to argue with that? This Cuisinart is the one we use ourselves, and swear by. $45 [Amazon]

SurfShelf Treadmill Laptop Stand: There are plenty of studies out there that show a clear link between stress and lack of exercise. So if your friend is always be on the computer and always stressed, you can help by allowing him or her to work through some of that stress on the treadmill without making them tear themselves away from the precious internet. $40; treadmill sold separately [SurfShelf; Link]

A Sensory Deprivation Tank Experience: There's no better way to melt away the stress of the world than cutting yourself off from said world as much as humanly possible. With a sensory deprivation tank, they'll be able to relax while floating on salt water, completely protected from all the stressful sights and sounds of the world we're stuck existing in. About $100 for 90 minutes [Sensory Deprivation Directory]

Volcano Vaporizer: Want to relax? I'll get you f'n' relaxed. Twenty minutes with this bad boy, the pinnacle of paraphernalia, and you won't even be able to remember what was stressing you out. $540 [Volcano Vaporizer; Review; Alternative Uses]

Don't Get: Wall Street Journal Subscription: The last thing anyone who's tweaking needs right now is a daily reminder of how screwed up the world and it's economy is. Let them live their lives in blissful unawareness as much as possible. It's a gift they'll appreciate without realizing it. $119 [Wall Street Journal]

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Dyson Air Multiplier: Normal fans are fine for normal people who are home a few hours a day, but a full-time house-dweller needs a full-time fan. This is how you can justify $300 on a fan that's a gift. Because it's not just a fan, it's a statement: A statement that says your loved one may be too cheap to use air conditioning, but not too cheap to afford a Dyson. [Review; Dyson]

Sonos ZonePlayer S5: Anyone who values his time at home knows he needs music in every room. Every room. And The Sonos S5 is the first really self-contained unit that the music-streaming company has put out. It's easy enough to rig together your own setup of laptops, wireless streamers and speakers, but if you want to do it cleanly and do it elegantly, and if the recipient doesn't know anything about technology, Sonos is the way to go. Just be prepared to spend $400. [Hands on; Sonos]

Aquapeudics Shower: Total fantasy, but fantasy in the way that you can actually save up $4300 and purchase one for your own home. Yeah, it's a gift for yourself. Bathing is still important for people that don't go outdoors, and the Aquapeudics combines a multi-headed shower with a hot tub with an acupuncture massage with a foot massage with an alien probing station. [Shower; Aquapeudics]

Honeywell Touchscreen Thermostat: Just because someone's adverse to going outside doesn't mean they like walking up and down stairs in order to adjust the temperature. Get one of these, including the touchscreen remote, so they can carry the controls with them at all times. It even helps make sure the temperature is correct where they are instead of where the thermostat is. Is this person this adverse to moving around that you can justify $400 on this? Yes, yes they are. [Review]

Roomba 400 Professional Series: There are no janitors for your home to clean up after your mess. A Roomba is the next best thing. If you can find it on sale you can get it for all of $100 (or less!), but it is the ugly red model. Who cares, you're not the one looking at it. [iRobot]

Nikon Action 7x35 Binoculars: Just because your gift recipient is inside doesn't mean he doesn't want to see what's happening outside. In fact, he's probably very interested in keeping track of what his neighbors are up to. The Nikon Action 7x35 was named best budget binoculars by Consumer Search, and it's only $60. [Amazon]

Toto Washlet: There's an obvious upside to being able to use a personal bathroom all day. But the downsides are that your friend goes through toilet paper incredibly fast, and gets stuck with whatever comfort level they have on their best toilet. The Toto Washlet solves both problems. Depending on the model, it'll run you somewhere between $500 and $1000.

But everyone in Japan uses a Toto for a reason, because washing the ass before wiping cuts down on toilet paper usage by 80% (ballpark figure). And constantly heated seats is something nobody can turn down. [Toto]

Anything On This List: You know what agoraphobe means, right? They don't like going outside, so don't make them leave their house with any of the outdoors gifts on that list. [This list]

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

It's going to be a little different than just the usual crap you can buy—it's a guide that can start you on an amazing journey of building electronics, learning new skills. If you're really motivated, you just might invent something new.

Let's get started! The question I get asked the most is "where to start"—lots of people see all the DIY projects here on Gizmodo and just don't know where to begin. I've put together some favorite tools, resources and beginner electronics kits that will get you going and give you something fun to show your friends. You don't need to buy many things either, since many of the kits and gadgets are "open source"—you can buy the parts, etch a circuit board, "breadboard" it or in some cases just build parts of them with what you may have at home by cannibalizing a junk drawer of fail-gadgets.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

The Tools

Starting out on your electronics adventure? Want to wield the mighty soldering iron? Tired of saying "I'd totally get into electronics if I only knew what tools to get..."? Working with substandard equipment is a terrible way to learn electronics: A lot of frustration with too little success. The right tool set will keep you progressing without the stressing. This toolbox contains carefully selected hand tools that will last you for many many years. Keep in mind that you don't need to buy this tool pack—just look it over (itemized on the product page). Consider it a list of good things to have to get started. You may even have some of these tool collecting dust in the garage already! $100 [Ladyada's Electronics Toolkit]

Make & Build Stuff

Now that you've got the tools, what's next? Microcontrollers! These are basically cheap, tiny computers that you can run simple programs on, control motors and make stuff happen based on sensor data.

For the longest time BASIC Stamp/PIC was the dominant chip that hobbyists used, and still to this day PICs are very popular. However, over the last few years an open-source project from Italy called "Arduino"—named after the Italian king Arduino of Ivrea, who ruled from 1002 to 1015, of course!—it has captured the hearts and minds of many beginners. No one knows why it's so popular (over 100k units!) but I'd say it's because the software to program them runs on Mac, PC and Linux, there's a huge community of artists who make amazing things and share them, and it's pretty inexpensive. And since it's 100% open source, you can make your own versions, improve on them and sell them if you wanted to.

What do the following projects all have in common? Google Street View on a hacked stationary bike, electronic wallpaper, secret-knock door opener, Ghostbusters proton packs, Barbots, skateboard etch-a-sketch and a Twitter toilet that tweets your poo... They're all made with Arduino!

Make & Build Stuff

You don't need to buy an Arduino, you can "make" one using a breadboard and a lot of parts—but let's say you want to dive in and pick up an Arduino with enough projects to teach you how things work, and help you explore microcontroller basics. Covers LEDs, transistors, motors, integrated circuits, pushbuttons, variable resistors, photo resistors, temperature sensors & relays. I suggest the Arduino ARDX experimentation pack for $85. If that breaks the bank, choose from less expensive packs: a $65 starter pack, a $50 budget pack or just a straight-up $30 Arduino.

If you can scrounge up the parts on your own you can always download and print up the free booklet which includes all the lessons. If you're the book-learnin' type, there's a great little one called Getting Started With Arduino, $13, written by Massimo Banzi, co-founder of the Arduino Project.

Make & Build Stuff

The Arduino is great and there are a lot of "shields" to expand its functionality (music, GPS, internet), but what if you want to get your hands dirty and make something more complicated? Here are three of my favorite beginner electronics kits to get you started—as always, they are open source so you could make these on your own too.

The first lets you juice up all the gadgets—MP3 player, camera, cell phone, etc.—that you plug into a USB port to charge. The Minty Boost is small and simple but very powerful. If you have a new or old phone that always runs down, make one of these to get a lot of extra talk time. Be sure to check the project page for the latest compatibility notes for many devices. $20 [Minty Boost kit]

Make & Build Stuff

Relive the fun of CES 2008 everyday with TV-B-Gone. People are still polarized about the whole CES thing. Everyone was complaining that CES sucked because it was just about "giant TVs" and when someone turned them off for a few seconds the intarwebs world freaked out. I don't have any opinion on it, other than that CES should be more exciting than a TV-turn-off freak out. That said, the TV-B-Gone is a wonderful device to learn the ins-and-outs of IR signaling, and it's fun to turn off TVs in store windows that are closed at night to save power. (That's what I like to do.) The new Universal TV-B-Gone kit is an ultra-high-power version of the TV-B-Gone (assembled), able to reach 150 feet and can be used anywhere in the world. Plus, you make it yourself. $20 [TV-B-Gone (kit or assembled)]

Make & Build Stuff

Spell words in the air with your bicycle wheels using SpokePOV, an easy-to-make electronic kit toy. The project includes a free schematic design and open software for uploading and editing stored bitmap images. Perfect for those late-night Critical Mass rides or your Burning Man transport. $100 for triple; $38 for one [SpokePOV]

Hackable Electronics and 3D Printing

Next up, I put together some of my favorite "gadgets" that aren't necessarily kits but are hackable. Many companies are inviting their customers to hack and mod their devices, the folks are the pioneers!

The Chumby does so many things it's hard to actually tell someone what it is. I usually say it's an internet alarm clock that runs widgets. Most people seem to get that, or they'll get curious enough to check out the site. The latest version, the cool retro-looking Chumby One is out. The product is open source, so you can hack it, mod it, get the source and schematics and best of all make widgets for it. (Chumby trivia: The engineer behind it, Bunnie Huang, is one of the best engineers in the world. If you're old school, you'll remember him as the first person to hack the original Xbox, and as author of Hacking the Xbox: An Introduction to Reverse Engineering.) $99 [Chumby; Review]

Hackable Electronics and 3D Printing

Bug is the Lego of computers. Make a GPS camera MP3 player? You can! It's a modular, open-source system for building whatever comes to mind, by plugging little modules into each other till you get the desired functionality. If you want to program them, you need to know Java, but there are also a lot of apps you can just download. BUGbase core $450; assorted modules from $70; monster kit $750 [Bug Labs]

Hackable Electronics and 3D Printing

MakerBot is a new entry in the world of 3D printing. Based on the open-source RepRap project, Brooklyn-based MakerBot is becoming the default install for any self-respecting hacker space. (Well, that and a laser cutter.) The MakerBot can print 3D objects you make or download—Thingiverse is a great source. The coolest thing I've seen lately is a print out of Thom Yorke's head. $700 [MakerBot]

My Fantasy Gadget

The Giz gang asked me to name a "dream gadget," and of course for me it's something that makes things: A "pick-and-place" machine, namely the MDC 7722fv from Japan. You could use it to make iPhones in your living room if you really wanted to. I have one now, so at least for me, the fantasy has became a reality. I'm currently making accelerometers and Drawdios (musical pencils) but next year expect to see an open-source watch and who knows? Maybe you'll see me selling cloned iPhones on Canal Street in NYC, next to the counterfeit DVD and purse dudes. Over $30,000 [MDC; US distributor]

Got questions or comments? Post 'em up below. I'll try to answer all of them that I can!

Phil Torrone is the senior editor at MAKE magazine and creative director for Adafruit Industries, an open source hardware manufacturer in NYC. In the interest of disclosure, please note that many of the products you see above are sold though Adafruit and Make, but it just so happens, the source for the best info is also the source for many of the goods.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Flip Ultra HD: We tested basically every pocket camcorder in existence, and this was the best one we found. It shoots 720p HD and is easy enough for your grandma to use. If you're buying a gift for someone looking to experiment on a budget or simply shoot vacation videos, this is a great little cam. $150 [Flip]

Clapboard: No, I'm serious. Though this might just look like a cheesy prom prop (and that's what it is), little has changed about the most recognized icon of the film industry. And for filmmakers, it's still extremely handy in tracking good takes, and syncing sound, if needed. The novelty ones are cheap (and many are probably more for show); but splurge on a fancy dry erase version if you really love the recipient. $2 to $30 [Prom Wishes ; B&H]

Vintage Hollywood Photographs from Life Magazine: Vintage posters are neat, but I'd contend that these Life prints feel a tad more heart-felt. From Kubrick working on 2001 to Marilyn Monroe doing her thing, there are many gems to be found in Life's archives. About $100 [2001 Series; More Life Photos]

Iron Man Arc Reactor: Most people's latent super powers are still off in hiding, but you never know when a nemesis will rip out your power core, forcing you to crawl across your home for a spare. Don't look at the Iron Man Arc Reactor as a superfluous purchase; see it as an investment your loved one's health. $150 [Museum Replicas]

Sony UWP-V1 Wireless Lavalier Mic: During my tenure in broadcast and commercial production, I found a good, wireless lavalier mic to be the most versatile tool in my bag. It can be hidden anywhere on a body/prop, and the pickup frequencies are surprisingly decent for foleying. Sony's entry level mic, the UWP-V1, should serve any young filmmaker well. $485 [B&H]

Kodak Five-Day Cinematography Workshop: Few of us will ever have the chance to shoot on real, 35mm film. But Kodak's boot camp will teach you the basics of 35mm cinematography and give you a chance to burn some 35mm stock while experts hold your hand. The tuition is by no means a non-factor, but come on, it's pretty much the coolest fantasy camp without Michael Jordan or spaceships. $2,000 [Kodak]

DON'T BUY Back to the Future 2 Hat: I know, it's neat you can buy this hat. But it looked dumb on Marty McFly and it will look even worse on whoever you give it to. [Amazon]

4K Red One Camera: Yes, the body itself starts at nor far under $20,000—without lenses, mounts, CF modules or pretty much anything you'll need to use it. Yes, this camera is just as hard to shoot with as any full-fledged film camera (if not even harder). But it's also the cheapest 4K camera you can acquire, and for the price of one extended 35mm camera rental, you'll have a system that's "free to use" again and again. Just make sure to gift those cinematography classes first. $17,500 and Up [Red]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite gift ideas for movie buffs in comments—include pic and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Darth Vader Toaster: Toast just tastes better on the Dark Side. And by "Dark Side" I mean the side that your toaster burned an image of Darth Vader on. What fan of Star Wars and toast wouldn't love this handy kitchen appliance? $55 [Star Wars Shop via Link]

Bacon Watch:It's not a Rolex, but this watch does keep bacon time better than any other timepiece on the planet. (Hint: it's always bacon time). $25 [Archie McPhee via Link]

Duck Hunt Live: If you know someone who is a fan of the classic NES game, this live-action version of Duck Hunt should prove entertaining in short bursts. Use the infrared gun to kill the flimsy mechanical duck as it flies erratically in the air. Check out our review to see it in action. $30 [Review and Hammacher Schlemmer]

Tauntaun Sleeping Bag: It started out as an April Fool's joke, but some stupid ideas are so stupid that they become brilliant. Case in point—the Tauntaun sleeping bag. It is the must-have camping accessory this holiday season. $100 [Think Geek via Link]

USB Humping Things: Over last few years humping USB drives have been all the rage, and the product line has evolved to include humping USB bunnies and action-crunching, giant wanged, USB Rocky characters. $10 [Think Geek via Link]

A Flying Fuck: Some people hate everyone and everything—making gift giving difficult. This actual working helicopter lets them know who really does give a Flying Fuck. It's you. $42 [Thumbs Up UK via Link]

Fake Gift Boxes: So the previous gifts in this gallery were stupid, but what if you only want your gifts to appear stupid? These fake gift boxes make it seem like you are getting a gravy fountain or a bacon tuxedo, only to find that something completely different is inside. The idea is that even if your real gift isn't great, it still looks awesome compared to what's on the box. Then again, a fountain of gravy might actually be a dream for someone out there, and you just let them down. I hope you're happy. $6 [Archie McPhee; Other versions at ThinkGeek for $15]

DON'T BUY a Snuggie: If there is one product you shouldn't get anyone this year, it's one of those damned Snuggies—especially if it has Street Fighter IV imagery all over it. It's a backwards bathrobe people, and according to our exhaustive laboratory testing, the quality sucks. Save your money: You can get a decent blanket for less than $10 at any discount store. $20 [Link]

Don't forget to recommend your own hilariously stupid geek gift ideas in comments—include pic and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

Floating Bookshelves: If your book lover is prone to piling books up in stacks everywhere, then maybe it's time to get him an appealing storage solution. An invisible bookshelf is an old favorite and can slip in with most decor. 'Sides, who doesn't like some spooky floating books? $14 [Amazon—or make it yourself via Cut Out + Keep]

Photo of DIY version by Cut Out And Keep

Bookology Trivia Boardgame: Let's face it, even the most modest of bookworms enjoy showing off now and then. A simple way to indulge them while spending time together is a good ol' fashioned trivia board game. Bookology Trivia just happens to be perfect for that, but heads up: It's way more fun with a larger group. $11 [Amazon]

DON'T BUY Gift Certificates: There are those times when you're hesitant to pick out an actual gift. What if he actually likes ancient history instead of sci-fi? What if she's not ready for a book with that many pages? Whatever you do when those questions kick in, please don't get your bookworm a gift certificate. While you may think that it says "Here. I remembered to get you a gift," the message that comes across is, "I couldn't be bothered, so take this fake limited-use money and buy your own crap."

Technivorm Thermo Moccamaster: Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. Aside from being part of our morning routines, it's also a part of a proper cuddle with a book. While there's real science to making a good cup o' joe, the Moccamaster delivers the best results for a drip coffeemaker, without the extra work of other methods. But it'll cost ya. $265 [Roast Masters]

Berkeley Lamp II: Yes, a lamp. Seriously. It's tough to find a lamp that illuminates the room well without making your eyes feel like they're gradually being pulled out of their sockets. The Berkeley Lamp II may be expensive, but it's bright—with a ceiling-pointed "room light" and a downward facing "task light"—and energy conscious. Plus, it comes with a grounded 120V socket for plugging in your ebook reader at the end of a week of heavy page turning. $289 [Berkeley Lamp; Review]

Nook, Kindle, Cool-er, Sony, Alex, Que. The ebook reader choices out there read like a biker chick's list of ex-lovers, and it's tough to pick the best. To us, it comes to a showdown between the newly reduced-price Kindle and the Nook, but we haven't reviewed the Nook yet—nobody has—so it's a tough call. If your love for Amazon knows no bounds, pick it, but if you are curious about what the Nook's second screen can do (and at what cost), wait a few more weeks. $259 for either one [Kindle Review; Nook Preview; Amazon Kindle Page; Barnes & Noble Nook Page]

A Rare Book: You know exactly what your bookworm's all-time most beloved book is and you know that he would love a special copy of it. So where on earth do you start looking for a first edition, advanced reader, or autographed copy? If you're hesitant to hit eBay or trudge through bookshop after bookshop then places like AbeBooks and Alibris should be your first stop. They offer a selection of rated rare booksellers and some incredibly customizable searches. I'll make your search even easier if you want to get me one of my favorites: A lovely first edition of Fante's Ask the Dust is available for a mere $12K. Not shopping for me? Ah well, maybe next year. $.01 to $1,000,000

Photo by p0psicle

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite gift ideas for bookworms in comments—include pic and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.

GoPro Hero HD cam: HD video, mounts for helmets, chests, boards—even cars—make it pretty easy to share high-def versions of your adventures back home or on the internet. $270 [Review; GoPro]

Mountain Hardware heated jacket: Turn it off while moving, turn it on while resting. Easier than peeling off and reapplying layers on a cold snowy day. $400 [Review; Mountain Hardware]

The cheapest MP3 player you can find: Everyone has a nice one. But if you're roughing it up outside, you want to bring a crappy one and you want it to be somewhat disposable. SanDisk has some 25 dollar ones on Amazon. I used to use an iPod shuffle til they removed the buttons. For sports involving gloves, things with big buttons are best. A good stocking stuffer, but explain it as such so you don't look like a cheap ass. [Amazon]

Nike Plus: If you like running, the Nike Plus informatics system will track and log and compare your mileage with that of your friends. (I hate running.) $29 with an iPod nano or iPhone or iPod Touch, or $69 for one that doesn't need an iPod. [Review; Nike+]

Remember, though, that Nike Plus doesn't map your routes. If you've got an iPhone, I recommend Motion X GPS Sport app for tracking all sorts of outdoor activity routes. $3 [Review; iTunes Store]

Patagonia Nano Puff: Ounce for ounce the warmest tightest packing jacket Patagonia makes. PrimaLoft One (60g) filling makes it so. I'd use it as a good fall/spring outer, or a good winter/ski extra midlayer for when the cold creeps in. $150 [Patagonia]

Rugged Cameras: The W80 Pentax is pretty compact, takes OK photos and videos, and is shockproof to a few feet, coldproof to 14 degrees F and waterproof to 16 feet. I like it for winter sports. $300 [Review; Pentax]

The larger Lumix DMC-TS1 is only coldproof to 32 degrees on paper, and waterproof to 10 feet, but it takes superb images and videos. $400 [Review; Panasonic]

DON'T BUY Columbia Heated Boots: Seems like a good idea but they're not. Unlike heated jackets, which warm your core and are located on your center of gravity, heated boots won't do much to warm your body and are in danger of shorting if you step in a stream. They're also heavy and the weight on your extremities is tiring. [Columbia]

A Heli Trip: Sending a loved outdoor geek on an adventure is going to be better than any sort of piece of gear they might lug. Say, for a ski bum, a heli ski tour. Most people I know, unless deep into the scene, will consider replacing a chair lift with a helicopter, an extravagance. It's not that much, though. Couple hundred bucks [Ruby Mountains]

Black Diamond Guide Gloves with Gore Tex XCR: I just tested these gloves in 13 degree weather and was warm. (They're rated from -20 to +10 degrees F.) Why? XCR Gore-tex is supposed to breathe 25% more than regular Gore-Tex, keeping my hands dryer, and so, warmer. But the dampness that built up, however minor, did not bother me because the upper of the inner liner is wool, which stays warm when wet. Highly recommended. $159 For those in wetter snow climates, I like the Mountain Hardware Jalapeno gloves with Outdry tech. Basically, the heat press the inner and mid layer together to create a better waterproof seal that also has the side effect of fitting more tightly and providing more agility. [Black Diamond, Mountain Hardware]

Gerber Shard and Strata: There are tons of multitools on the market. Most do basic screwdriver, cutting and plier duty; This one has a special tool for gutting those annoying plastic packages gadgets come in. The Shard is a seven in one tool, and although we can't figure out all seven functions, it is safe to carry on flights. Price TBA. [Gerber Strata, Shard]

Spyder Winterskyn X-Static Crew Undershirt:Thermal underwear that makes you look like Spiderman and that is woven with silver fibers to eliminate bacteria created odors found in other synthetic baselayers. $100 [Spyder]

Sportiva Hobnail Ice Screws for Your Boots/Sneakers: These spikes screw into any pair of kicks (but probably not wise to use em on Nike Airs) to provide you with supreme ice traction. Removable when the snow melts in Spring. Like I said, they work on any footware with a solid sole, but work especially well on Sportiva's Goretex trail runners. $45 [Sportiva]

Brunton Firestorm Lighter and Coghlans Magnesium and Flint Firestarter: I always, grimly, imagine being stuck in a snowstorm, needing to build a fire. (I was a boy scout, so fire starting is always on my mind.) The Bruton Firestorm has a static ignition an the flame is good in up to 80mph winds. It also seals completely watertight and has a clip and lanyard hole. Alternatively, the Coghlans Firestarter has a magnesium strip which you shave into a pile near kindling, sparked using the flint on the opposite side to create a burst of 5400 degrees. $60 and $7 [Brunton and Coghlans]

Eton Solarlink Radio: A solar or crank charged radio with AM/FM/NOAA weather and a flashlight, siren and cellphone charger. I wouldn't take it camping, but I would feel safer driving into storms during ski season with one in the trunk. $80 [Eton]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite outdoor adventure gear in comments—include pic and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

Boobies Mouse Pad
What you tell her: It's for you baby, to protect your wrists because of all that computer work you do.

Why it's for you: I love seeing you fondle another woman's boobs, even if it's a fake, rubberized woman.

The iPhone
What you tell her: I've seen you eyeing this phone for a while, and now you can finally use it! Just think, you don't have to carry around an iPod and your phone all the time! And we can text message each other so much!

Why it's for you: Give it a month for the newness to wear off and swap out her iPhone with some cheap phone. She won't care.

Why it's really for me: Because you can buy my iPhone book as well.

An electronic nail dryer
What you tell her: You always keep saying how your nails are awful, right? This will help you save money by not having to go out to have your nails done!

Why it's for you: It helps keep her occupied for an hour so you can finally get some gaming done.

The Evian Water Bra
What you tell her: You have to stay hydrated, right? Just drink directly from the bra. Plus, the water inside can help cool your breasts, which—as Travis Hudson of Gizmodo says—prevents "sweaty breastitis."

Why it's for you: Nobody likes a case of sweaty breastitis, except maybe Travis.

Electric Ice Cream MakerWhat you tell her: You love ice cream, I love ice cream, who doesn't like ice cream?

Why it's for you: I plan on impregnating you one day, better keep your body osteoporosis-free.

Why it's actually really for her after all: Impregnation is never a man's idea!

An Xbox 360
What you tell her: Because the...uhhh...ummm...uhhh...the HD DVD...errmm...DVD...ahhh...wireless controllers are neater...mmmm...I love you?

Why it's for you: This should be obvious.

A giant HDTV
What you tell her: You've always wanted a giant HDTV!

Why it's for you: She's never wanted a giant HDTV.

The FyreTV, a streaming on-demand porn for the living room boxWhat you tell her: Come on! When haven't you wanted to watch porn in the living room?!

Why it's for you: When haven't you wanted to watch porn in the living room?

A Nintendo Wii Fit Preorder
What you tell her: It's for you to exercise! Stay healthy so we can grow old together!

Why it's for you: You're fat.

Got enough tips? Now get shopping! [Cupid outfit courtesy Buy Costumes]

10. Robots

9. Deals

8. Smartphones

7. Digital Cameras

6. Home Entertainment

5. iPod

4. Laptops

3. Portable Media

2. Gadgets

1. Cellphones

–Noah Robischon

It looks like an overall positive experience, where the photos look great and the build is solid. But our hearts sank when we saw that the gigantic logo plastered across the top looks just as obnoxiously intrusive as the catalog photography. Maybe there's a way to remove it. We'll be receiving our eStarling in the next few days, and will give you an update. – Charlie White

eStarling [Gizgadg]

Press Release [Alive-Style Debuts Popalive LCD Remote for iPods via iPod Lounge]

There's a classic Family Ties episode in which Alex P. Keaton, having been cured of his anti-Christmas attitude by Dickensian specters, buys last-minute gifts for the family at the local Kwik-E-Mart. The gifts are absurd—cough syrup and the like—but the sitcom's message is clear: it's the thought that counts.

Yet what if your thoughts are less than kind, bordering on the wicked? Like when you're obligated to buy something for a co-worker you don't much care for, or for an uncle whose drunken tirades stopped being amusing around 1991. They bought you some irregular tube socks, so you sorta have to buy them something. So what can you conjure up on short notice, that's both cheap and capable of conveying the subtextual message, "I'm only getting this for you because society says I have to; if it were up to me, I'd much prefer that we never speak again"?

Sure, a box of Tide wrapped in Frosty the Snowman paper might do the trick. But since everyone knows you're a Geekish-American, they're probably expecting something from the gadgets realm. So if you're aim is to disappoint, yet still preserve your reputation as a gearhead, rocket past the jump for Low End Theory's first (and possibly last) annual gift guide for people who skeeve you out.

Gadget Grips
Price $5.95 from WeLoveMacs.com; or, if you've got a long list of frenemies, order 1,000 from Garrett Specialties and get a price break on down to $1.32 per package.
Their Reaction Elation followed by bewilderment. One of those products that seems incredibly useful on a 4 a.m. infomercial, but ends up languishing in your hallway closet for the next 18 years.
What It Says on Your Behalf "Maybe these work, maybe they don't. But, honestly, I don't really care what happens to your cellphone, iPod, or whatever other gadget you choose to balance precariously upon the dashboard of your yellow Ford Focus."

USB Vacuum Cleaner
Price $8.99 from TangShop.com
Their Reaction Offense taken. Giving someone a cleaning product is like telling them, "You've got the sanitary habits of a cracked-out warthog." Don't worry, though; the receiver will mask his or her disdain behind a sugary smile. Just be sure to watch your back in '07.
What It Says on Your Behalf "I could have gotten you a USB beverage warmer for six bucks more, but you're so not worth it."

Cell Phone Flash-Lite
Price $14.99 from SafetyEssentials.com
Their Reaction Mild concern. There's no better way to induce paranoia than to give someone a gift designed especially to help one survive a catastrophe.
What It Says on Your Behalf "Be afraid. Be very afraid. And happy holidays."

Excalibur Electronic Talking Texas Hold 'Em
Price $7.49 from Boscov's
Their Reaction Genuine happiness at first—I mean, hey, free game. But this gift is part of a long-term undermining strategy; you want the recipient to grow overconfident about their poker-playing abilities. Eventually, he/she will work up the nerve to spend a weekend in Atlantic City, where their family fortune will be squandered a la Julie Hagerty in Lost in America.
What It Says on Your Behalf "Welcome to the path of self-destruction, punk."

"My Computer is Faster Than Yours" Bumper Sticker
Price $5 from Directron.com
Their Reaction Utter disdain.
What It Says on Your Behalf "I know this is a longshot, but I'm totally hoping you actually slap this on your car. Because there's no surer way to invite a beating from Ricky Manning Jr.."

Child-Sized Optical Computer Mouse
Price $6.99 from MacMall.com
Their Reaction Anxiety; "Is there something wrong with the size of my child's hands?"
What It Says on Your Behalf "Your kid's hands are perfectly normal; I'm just trying to mess with your head."

Linkskey 4-Port Mini USB 2.0 Hub
Price $9.99 from our eternal pals at Newegg.com
Their Reaction Confusion. Your aunt thinks it's a newfangled cigarette lighter at first, then a telephone jack. You get to feel all intellectually superior as you explain the nuances of USB hub, in language that she can't possibly understand.
What It Says on Your Behalf "When the revolution comes, I'm gonna be given a sweetheart job in the Ministry of Peace and Technology; due to your obvious mental midgetry, you're gonna be assigned to a collectivized beet farm. I anxiously await that day."

NEXT WEEK: Rice cookers!

Brendan I. Koerner is a contributing editor at Wired and a columnist for both The New York Times and Slate. His Low End Theory column appears every Thursday on Gizmodo.

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