Cool Gadgets For Dad

Photo Credit: Thinkstock

What to get dad this Father's Day... that depends on the dad. But there's no shortage of electronic gadgets and devices that will make him smile. How can we be so sure? Because this stuff is on our lists too.

Photo Credit: Behringer

It's The Thought (Under $50)

Kickstart that "when I was young" conversation with Dad by putting his iPhone in a retro Musubo protective case resembling an old microphone. Should this be too audiophile geeky, get him the version that looks like sneaker soles.

Dad often takes a pounding, so make him a real Superman with a G-Form shirt. It's soft and flexible but acts like armor when something hits it.  This breathable compression fabric can even withstand a washing machine, in case he really puts it to the test.

Call Dad's bluff about his old band. Offer to transfer his garage cassettes using Behringer's UPHONO 48kHz audio converters. Or, just say you got it so he can play all that old vinyl of his on an iPod or other mobile device. It's best to be nice around Father's Day.

Tell Dad to cut the cord. He'll barely notice these lightweight Gogroove padded cups cradling his ears; they weigh in at only three ounces and last up to 15 hours on a charge. But he'll surely notice all the extra goodies, like the built-in microphone and volume control.

Retro iPhone 4/4S Case - Musubo ($34.99)

Sternum Shirt - G-Form ($39.99)

Behringer U-PHONO UFO202 - Amazon ($33.99)

GOgroove SolaceAIR Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset - Amazon ($16.99)

Photo Credit: SensoGlove

Spend A Little More (Under $150)

Dad will always be connected to a hands-free speakerphone, because the Griffin's SmartTalk Solar can sync with two different phones simultaneously. With motion detection, it knows when he's entered the car. And the solar panel makes it "green."

Tired of hearing Dad complain that the auto mechanic overcharged him? Have him show you, with this Swann video camera, disguised as a car's key fob. A single charge powers it for 60 minutes of color video or tons of snaps. A micro SD card holds the results.

Find more Father's Day gifts.

Forget about the golf pros at the local golf course. Dad can check the LCD panel on the back of his cabretta leather golf glove from SensoGlove. The built-in digital sensors continually read the pressure of his grip to show him how to improve his swing, or at least how NOT to keep doing it.

Tired of being the "go-to" person every time dad needs his mobile device charged? Give him Mophie's Powerstation, a battery pack on steroids. It's specially designed to handle pretty much any smartphone or tablet dad might hook up. Plus the rough and tumble design means dad can take 600 mAh of power wherever he goes. That's a lot of juice.

SmartTalk Solar - Griffin Technology ($69.99)

RemoteCam Video Camera & Recorder - Swann ($69.99)

Digital Golf Glove - SensoGlove ($89.00)

Juice Pack Powerstation PRO - Mophie ($129.95)

Photo Credit: Finis

Sky's The Limit ($150 And Up)

Give dad's home office a touch of class with Native Union's brushed aluminum, ergonomically designed wireless handset. He won't have to choose between talking on it or using the high-quality built-in speakers either: two different Bluetooth phones can pair with it at the same time. Noise reduction automatically beefs up the stereo sound coming from a computer or tablet. Buttons on the handset control talking and music, while an auto-reconnect feature takes care of pairing every time his phone comes back into range.

Go on the Father's Day adventure of a lifetime.

Let dad will kick out the jams again... digitally. Griffin's StudioConnect will connect his guitar or bass to an iPad to work in Garageband. It's loaded with all the connections he'll need: audio in/out, MIDI in/out, line-level stereo outs, even a stereo headphone jack with its own volume control. He can also connect a sequencer or some other MIDI gear and use a MIDI controller app to turn the iPad into a musical instrument. It's the best of both worlds, though what he'll create might be the exact opposite.

You may have to convince dad that he can wear this Finis MP3 player in the pool without short-circuiting it. The "earphones" rest on his cheekbones and conduct sound through the bones of his ears while he swims. The 2 GBs of memory can hold up to 30 hours of music, so go ahead and fill it with a bunch of his favorite MP3s. You don't have to listen to them.

Honeycomb BT iDock - Native Union ($179.99)

StudioConnect Audio and MIDI Interface for iPAD - Griffin Technology ($149.99)

SwiMP3 X18 Underwater MP3 Player - Finis ($159.99)

Visit the Father's Day section at CBS Local.