Tech Savvy Mama

Parenting in the Digital Age

Friday Faves: Father’s Day Gadget Guide for Dads (w. giveaways!)

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In our house, Tech Savvy Daddy is a gadget-a-holic!  Here are some of the awesome new products that we’ve tried and can recommend as great gifts for the special father in your life.
XO Skins Screen Protectors ($11.95 and up depending on the device)— There’s nothing worse than a scratched screen on a brand new device.  Many screen protectors claim to protect your electronic gadgets but they don’t provided the protection of an XO Skin.  Made of a polyurethane film, XO Skins are custom fit easy to install coverings that provide a thin and clear protection that features kryptonite-like strength against scratches.  Think of your XO Skin like an exoskeleton for your gadget- hence the name XO!  XO Skins are available for a wide variety of cell phones, iPad and iPad2, laptops, MP3 players, digital cameras, game system screens, and even vehicle navigation systems at prices comparable to their competition.  After having one on my iPad, I need to get one for my iPhone too!  Take a look at this video showing the beating an XO Skins can handle when confronted with an electric drill or Dremel!  Get 15% off XO Skins with the code iheartdaddy11 between June 12-20.
Jawbone ERA ($129)— When Jawbone introduced ERA earlier this year, I wasn’t sure how much better a Bluetooth headset could get until I tried this one.  I’ve owned other Jawbone headsets (Icon and Prime) before but this newest device features stunning audio quality thanks to a 25% larger speaker that provides HD quality sound whether taking calls or listening to favorite songs, caller ID that identifies callers by name in a palatable non-robotic voice, and smart NoiseAssassin 3.0 technology that kills background noise and adjusts the volume on both the calling and receiving end.  There’s also motion technology thanks to a built-in accelerometer (seriously!) that allows users to shake the ERA to pair it or simply tap it to answer a phone call.  No more fumbling for tiny buttons! I also love that the battery status of ERA appears on my iPhone or if it’s out of reach, that I can simply push the talk button to hear how many hours of talk time remain.  And just so I don’t forget to charge, ERA will whisper a little reminder to me when it’s time to plug in!  How smart is that! Can you tell that I love my ERA?
GIVEAWAY: Barnes & Noble NOOK Color ($249)— If you’ve been considering a NOOK Color for a book lover in your life, last month’s software upgrade provided additional functionality to the device making it more robust than ever.  With the ability to play favorite apps (Angry Birds!) on the touch screen, interactive Read and Play books that allow children to engage with text and images, a full email application, enhanced web experience, and more Nook Newsstand offerings than before, this eReader is more than just a portable way to carry many different books at once!  Social networking via the Nook Friends creates a virtual book club by allowing you to share books, get a friend’s opinion on a book you’ve been wanting to read, and discover new books to read. At $249, the NOOK Color is a splurge but one that’s certainly worthwhile!  Win a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card! Instructions for entry are below.
Snapfish custom keepsakes— When in doubt, personalized photo gifts are always a huge hit and Snapfish has a variety of affordable options to suit every taste.  Let dad wake up to grinning loved ones circling a new photo mug ($9.99 and up), serve him his favorite beverage in a frosted stein ($19.99) that has been chilled in the freezer on Father’s Day, personalize his boring black gadget with a custom photo skin from SkinIt ($19.99 and up), or frame a favorite family photo with the gift of a fine art canvases ($99 and up).  Framed printed canvases make a classy personalized gift.  Select from one of three different colors and a variety of square, rectangular, and panoramic sizes to create a beautiful work of art for your home.  It’s the perfect gift to showcase a fantastic family photo!   Get free shipping until June 7 with the code FS4DAD.
GIVEAWAY: Vizio Wireless HD Video & Audio Kit ($229)— The easy to set up, the Vizio Wireless HD Video & Audio Kit allows up to 4 devices (DVD player, Blu-ray player, Play Station 3, Xbox 360, Wii, surround sound, etc.) to wirelessly connect to the TV, eliminating dangling cables and freeing up space in an entertainment center. Devices can even be stored away up to 30 feet away from the TV thanks to the use of a universal interference-free frequency that allows it to be used with any products- not just VIZIO.  No additional software or equipment is needed and the kit includes two 3ft HDMI® Cables to connect your TV to the receiver and an AV device to the transmitter. It’s an ideal solution for wall-mounted HDTVs. Cables are cleanly and safely out of sight and 3D and HD content still plays at peak performance.  For more information, view this video.  Win a Vizio Wireless HD Video & Audio Kit before they are available in stores! Instructions for entry are below.
Digital Innovations SkipDr— As parents, we’ve all encountered dirty DVDs that won’t play thanks to grubby fingers or favorite titles getting scratched from repeated play.  Digital Innovations makes a variety of wonderful products to de-grub discs and even fixed scratched ones.  The SkipDr line of products ($19.99-39.99) is designed to clean and repair discs using a FlexiWheel that gently buffs the surface in order to eliminate skipping, freezing, and distortion when played.  SkipDr is available for Xbox, Playstation, Blu-Ray, DVDs Wii, and CDs.
GIVEAWAY: One lucky reader will win a Father’s Day price pack containing the Vizio Wireless HD Video & Audio Kit ($229) and a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card, a prize pack worth $279!
TO ENTER: Leave a comment sharing a special moment that you shared with your father or a Father’s Day memory.  You must include your email address or Twitter handle so I can get in touch with you after you win. Comments without contact information do not count as eligible giveaway entries!
For extra entries, complete the above and do any of the following:
  • Tweet this daily and leave a comment with the link to your tweet: I entered @TechSavvyMama Father’s Day #giveaway worth $350! Includes @VizioTV Wireless A/V Kit & $50 GC fr @NookBN! http://bit.ly/kPv4z5
  • Add the Tech Savvy Mama button to your blog using this HTML and leave a link to your blog in your comment:
  • Subscribe to this blog’s RSS feed and let me know in your comment
  • Subscribe to this blog via email and tell me you’ve done so below
Fine print:  Winner will be selected from eligible entries on Saturday, June 11 and will be notified via email or Twitter.  Winner will have 24 hours to respond with their U.S. mailing address before another winner is selected. Leticia- Tech Savvy Mama and aforementioned companies are not responsible for shipping delays or items lost during shipping.
 
Items were provided by companies for review purposes.  No compensation was received for this post. Amazon affiliate links are included in this post.

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Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
©2012

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. susanlanai says

    My favorite father’s day memory was hubby’s first father’s day. He was as proud as can be. We didn’t think we could ever celebrate a father’s day together so it was very, very special.
    @susanlanai

  4. Anonymous says

    My favorite father’s day memory was the year my whole family went to an amusement park to celebrate. We had a blast on all of the roller coasters!

    -Heidi

    writeme at heidimail dot com

  12. Katie's Nesting Spot says

    Wow, what an awesome giveaway! One of my favorite memories of time with my Dad is going on an overnight fishing trip with him when I was in elementary school. It was so fun and that says a lot since I hate putting the worm on the pole, taking the fish off, and actually eating any kind of fish.
    @KTnestingspot

  16. bettycd says

    I do remember how emotional we were with our oldest when that first Mothers/Fathers day came around. Typically we take dad to brunch and have a quiet family day.
    @bettycd

  23. Elizabeth P. says

    I remember my father taking me to ballet lessons. One time he scolded me for not dancing when I had a hole in my tights. hehe (he passed away when I was 6). My mother finally remarried a couple years ago after 20+ years of being a mother/father to me & my brother. I hope to make great future Father’s Day memories with my hubby and baby.
    elizabethpyo@gmail.com/@babypyo

  26. Tj and Amy says

    One of my most special moments was on my wedding day. I had a few moments to visit with my dad alone in the room and just talk and enjoy our compnay. I can only imagine how hard it was to give his baby girl away. 🙂 I will cherish that talk forever. He is now battling stage 4 terminal lung cancer. amypugmire@live.com

  35. Hanna says

    My favorite fathers days were when I was younger with my dad, he saved all my crafts that we made for him for this special day

  36. Stimey says

    Wow, what a great giveaway. I may have to try that disc cleaner. With all my kids and their smudgy little fingers, I could sure use it.

    For Father’s Day, we always let Alex sleep in. That is the biggest thing. It’s like his ONE guaranteed day of sleep. We may even let him nap later if we’re in a really good mood. 🙂

  41. ~dab says

    My dad used to take me with him when he went fishing at the beach…. good times. I miss him a lot.

  44. Anonymous says

    My father passed away several years ago, so I treasure all the special times we had together. Just a few days ago I was telling my kids about all the songs he used to sing to me… Thanks for the chance to win! mrsmchappell at gmail dot com

  48. Omega Doom (Alan) says

    omegadoom1@gmail.com
    twitter: @dryden13

    oops! forgot to include my contact info.

    Well. My favorite moment with my father would have to be all the moments that we went out fishing together when I was a young boy. He would wake me up around 5 am for the 1 hour drive to our favorite fishing spot on the river. It was a great time, just father and son fishing.

  56. Aimee @ Smiling Mama says

    What great ideas. I think I need that ERA for myself!! Abel would go crazy over the Vizio kit!

    I have great memories of my dad from our drives to and from college. It was a 2 hr. drive and he usually was the one to pick me up and take me back for long weekends or breaks. We really had some great talks.

  61. Liz says

    My favorite father’s day was when we had a day of father-daughter disc golf (my dad’s sport).

    lizgiver at gmail dot com

  68. John says

    About 8 yrs ago my dad and I took a road trip from Seattle to Ennis, MT to go fly fishing for a week. It was the most time I’ve spent with him alone. We retraced the route he had taken with his college buddies when they visited the Worlds Fair in 1962.

  110. coriwestphal says

    How bout a funny story about my hubs’ fathers day? Last year, my kids (6 and 7 at the time) wanted to do something special for daddy and make him breakfast. Ho hum, right? Well they decided that his favorite food was fish. Yes, that’s right. I fried fish at 7am. He was awakened by the soothing (icky?) aroma of fish and I felt so bad when he had to choke down a couple of bites just for the sake of the kids. Lesson learned? Fish not good in the AM! LOL

    coriwestphal at msn dot com

  116. Anonymous says

    My dad and I always go out to eat somewhere special for Father’s Day. This year we are planning on going to Outback for steak and lobster. Seems like every Father’s Day becomes more and more special to me as the older I get, the more I learn to appreciate my dad and everything he has done and continues to do for his family.

    ShawnaMichelle@ymail.com

  128. Fritter says

    My favorite memory is from last Father’s Day. I give my husband a Shutterfly photo book each year- and last year he actually had tears running down his cheeks while looking at it. It was awesome! thanks!
    farrah dot ritter at gmail dot com
    momofthreeunder- twitter

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