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12/08/2009 01:52 PM

Unique Tech-Savvy Gifts Out For The Holidays

By: Adam Balkin

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From coffee brewers that talk to wireless iPhone chargers, there are many exciting choices available this year for a tech-savvy holiday gift. NY1's Technology reporter Adam Balkin filed the following report.

Coffee can quickly pick you up, but how about a conversation with your coffeemaker? The $80 Primula Speak-n-Brew is geared towards those who are phobic of too many options, as it is able to ask you questions about how you like your coffee and listen to your responses.

Also increasing your options is the the so-called wireless power charging space, the Powermat. The $100 mat can charge up to three devices that are placed on it. They do though have to be outfitted with the appropriate case or adaptor, which run between $30 and $40 apiece.

"It charges as fast or faster than the charger that came with your device and it is smart," says Beth Harrison Meyer of Powermat. "When a device is fully charged, it stops charging that device, so it doesn't waste energy and it doesn't overcharge your battery."

Duracell has the $80 myGrid, which works in a similar way, and has adaptors that cost about the same as Powermat's.

"It's conductive charging, so the little magnet you drop your phone on, it actually charges right through the clip or Power Clip on your phone," says Patrick Fellin of Duracell.

Unique Tech-Savvy Gifts Out For The Holidays
Meanwhile, new carry-on bags are offering similar drop-and-go designs. The $90 CorePack Fly promises no more taking your laptop out at airport security.

"The reason we do it is it actually butterflies out, separates the notebook from the rest of the storage and it lays flat," says Brent Baer of Speck. "The Transportation Safety Administration will allow you to keep your notebook in your bag if you meet those requirements without having to remove it."

Finally, the bathroom scale is also entering the digital age. The Withings WiFi body scale tracks weight, body mass and water weight and can chart it for you on your computer. At about $180, it allows you to access your info through a free iPhone app and can send results to you and your followers through Twitter. So for lighter-weight tweets, please avoid sweets.