Gift guide: 5 splurge-worthy tech buys
These gadgets don't come cheap, but they do come with a happy-recipient guarantee. CNET's Sumi Das found five techs gift ideas that are sure to impress.
Tricked out skateboard
For $1,000 (and up), you can get your hands on a Boosted electric skateboard. It comes with a Bluetooth remote control to manage speed and braking. On the basic model, you can reach speeds up to 18 miles per hour and coast along for 7 miles on one charge.
Skates on speed
For more in motorized wheels, the $500 Rocket skates strap on over your shoes and go up to 12 miles an hour. They look like a pair of mini-Segways and work similarly: You control your speed by tilting your feet. Forward means speed up, while leaning backward (as though using the brake on a pair of inline skates) will slow you down.
Smartwatch with style
High-tech meets high-fashion. The MICA from Intel ($500) is an 18-karat gold-plated bracelet that displays messages, appointments and even Yelp reviews for nearby businesses. It comes in white snakeskin with tiger's eye and obsidian stones, or black snakeskin with lapis and pearls.
A bookworm's dream
Amazon's Kindle Voyage offers one of the best e-reader screens available. It is a bit pricey at $200, but it's lightweight, and has a scratch-resistant high-res display and conveniently placed buttons so you can hold the reader and flip the pages with one hand.
Starter drone
The Parrot Rolling Spider mini-drone packs a camera, accelerometer and gyroscope. The compact, quad copter costs $100 and is controlled using an app on your smart phone. If your pilot skills need work, attachable wheels help protect the machine during touchy touchdowns.
The adventure-seekers camera
This is the camera for the daredevil in your life. The $400 Kodak SP360 is a 16-megapixel that comes with accessories including a surfboard mount and a head strap. An app allows you to use your smartphone to control the camera remotely.
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