Top Tech Gifts for the Family
Put down the cashmere sweater and back away from that fruitcake: What today’s families want most are hot tech gifts. (Because the household that streams “Guardians of the Galaxy” on its new smart television together is the household that stays together.) This year, win the holidays with the perfect group pressie. You’ll save money and time and score infinite cool points.
Follow along, then, as we reveal the year’s nine most in-demand tech gifts for families, as measured by search volume here on the Yahoo network.
High-speed Internet
The spoon that stirs the digital soup, a high-speed Internet connection is a must for the wired family. From surfing your favorite gossip websites to crushing Candy Crush to uploading new snaps at Flickr, a lightning-fast connection will enhance performance across all of your devices. Bonus: High-speed Internet will keep everyone online at once, so no arguments!
Search for high-speed Internet on Yahoo.
Family mobile plan
All those gadgets — the new smartphone for little Jimmy, a tablet for Mom — will need data to keep them productive on the go (these cat videos aren’t going to watch themselves, people). But that data can be pricey. So what’s the team to do? Buy in bulk with a family mobile plan and put some extra coin back in your pocket!
Search for family mobile plans on Yahoo.
Smart televisions
There are TVs and there are Web-capable TVs. Take the new generation of smart televisions, which come with integrated Internet and Web 2.0 functions baked right in: Live-tweeting your favorite awards ceremony? Check. Streaming your favorite rom-com via Hulu or Netflix? Yes and please. Sweating off the aforementioned fruitcake with a new fitness app? Donezo.
Search for smart TVs on Yahoo.
Tablets
Ideal for the mobile family that’s bouncing between soccer games, piano lessons, and parent-teacher conferences, tablets are lightweight, fuss-free solutions that slide easily into a day bag. Research homework assignments, find cheap plane tickets, fire off an email to your boss, or just kill 10 minutes with a game of solitaire.
Search for tablets on Yahoo.
Gaming/entertainment systems
The perfect complement for your new smart television, today’s gaming systems are less consoles and more digital Swiss army knives, packed with streaming and social features that enhance the user experience. The two best-selling consoles, the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, are supported by deep catalogs, with games appropriate for all ages and experience levels.
Search for Xbox One and Playstation 4 on Yahoo.
Video games
Today’s gaming landscape still includes an abundance of first-person shooter and sports titles, but games like Just Dance (Xbox One, Playstation 4, Nintendo Wii) and Rock Band (Xbox 360, Playstation 3) provide a creative, multiplayer alternative that comes with an easy learning curve and high replay value. Give Grandma a wireless guitar and watch her channel her inner rock star.
Search for Just Dance and Rock Band on Yahoo.
Movie/TV subscriptions
Monthly streaming subscriptions truly are the gifts that keep on giving. The two most popular options, Netflix and Hulu, work across a range of devices, including desktops, tablets, smartphones, and streaming devices. Netflix starts at $8.99 per month and comes with a massive collection of television programs; some, like “House of Cards” and “Orange Is the New Black,” are exclusive to the site. Hulu, which starts at $7.99 per month for its premium, ad-free service, boasts a growing library of original content.
Search for Netflix and Hulu on Yahoo.
Streaming devices
Streaming devices are yet another popular option for accessing your favorite digital content. Roku is the best-selling set-top box model, syncing with a wired or Wi-Fi connection to deliver programming straight to your television. Chromecast is a more portable solution favored by road warriors. The dongle measures a little less than 3 inches in length and plugs directly into the HDMI port of a high-definition television or monitor. Playback can then be accessed via mobile and Web apps or by mirroring content directly from your Web browser.
Search for Roku and Chromecast on Yahoo.
Wireless sound
After optimizing your viewing experience with a new smart television and gaming system, you’ll want to round out your home theater system with wireless speakers. Bluetooth speakers are one great option because they are portable and can be endlessly configured.
Search for Bluetooth and home theater speakers on Yahoo.
