Ahhh, robots! More pics by Ben Heine here.

It’s two days before Christmas and I know there are some of you who have yet to check who’s been naughty or nice.  Since it’s my day off and I am nothing but lame to geek out on the interwebs at a coffee shop with my dear friend Ashley, I’ve come up with a few last minute unisex gifts for the techies on your list.  Bonus:  No facing or tackling crowds required!

Simple & Practical (Under $25)
NETFLIX, $23.97 for 3 months

Who needs cable when you can stream unlimited movie and TV shows instantly to your TV and/or laptop?  Perhaps I am still on a mission to exploit my revenge on Comcast, but I kid you not, Netflix has changed my life for the better.  No more wasted time running to the nearest Blockbuster or worrying about late fees.

Avid Tech Junkie ($25 – $50)
LOMOGRAPHY FISHEYE CAMERA, $50

I mourned for a long time after Poloroid cameras decided to throw in the towel.  Then, Lomogrophy rolled out their Fisheye 35mm camera and I was brought back to life.  Needless to say, I have yet to own one for myself, but it’s definitely on my “gifts-to-buy-myself-list” when the right time rolls around.  You can purchase from the Lomography site directly, and also through Amazon or Urban Outfitters.

The Social, the Wired, and the Connected ($50 – $100)
XBOX LIVE GOLD, $59.99

Allow me to caveat that I am not highlighting this product because I am a Microsoft employee.  From a pure consumer’s perspective, the XBOX Live Gold subscription is combining the powers of all things entertainment.  You can play games online with your friends, instantly watch movies and sports in HD via Netflix and ESPN, and connect social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter onto your TV.  Find it at nearest retailer such as GameStop, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble.

Big Ballin’ Bill Gates Style ($100+)
KINDLE or APPLE iPAD, $139 – $499

Don’t get me wrong.  I love (love!!) turning the pages of a book when I’m reading.  I prefer folding the corners in lieu of a bookmark and I like to gauge how much of the book I’ve read by eyeballing the width stacked pages on the left.  But I’m not gonna lie, I have also fallen in love with digital readers for their convenience and 3G features.  I haven’t used the Kindle much, but friends who do own one swear by it.  I bought my boyfriend an iPad for his birthday this year, and I embarrassingly turn green with envy every time he plays Plants vs. Zombies or Angry Birds.  It’s a hefty purchase, but extremely practical.  You won’t regret it.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!  Till the new year…

Cute pic from deviantART

When Microsoft first entered the tech marketplace with their first version of Windows, who would have thought that one day they would segue into the gaming arena?  No one would have guessed that the night before the launch of a Microsoft gaming device would create a trend of waiting overnight in front of gadget stores.

Let’s just say Microsoft has come a long way.  Despite the infamous Mac vs. PC ad campaign led by Apple

, there are still fans of Microsoft out there—rooting and waiting for the next innovation.  And lately, Xbox 360 seems to draw much of the hype.

If you think about the success of Xbox 360 and the making of a gaming product, there are a couple of key aspects that come to mind:

1.       Improved Online/Cyberspace Interaction – With the original Xbox, LIVE was introduced to allow gamers to interact with other Xbox players through the Internet.  With Xbox 360, users can also interact with the Xbox marketplace to download games, sample trial games, etc.

2.       Personalization – Xbox 360 owners can personalize their hardware with different “skins”, which come in various colors and patterns.  While this attribute is fairly simple, the capability of expression goes far in design because it connects the user to their product.

Similarly, the Microsoft Zune is another interactive entertainment product that is based on the same aspects.

1.       Online Interaction – Zune owners can share their music with friends who also own a Zune.  This creates an easy viral movement for new music and artists.  This is the first portable music device that has created an opportunity for users to interact with their music online.

2.       Personalization – Consumers can either purchase their Zune from various colors, or they can purchase a Zune online with a personalized design.  In the same way as Xbox, this is an easy feature that provides significant value to users.

What’s next in store for the entertainment world?  Whatever the next big thing may be, companies should focus on the importance of interactive and personalizable features.