Black Friday is here — the biggest shopping day of the year, and also the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season. If you haven’t yet decided what to buy for the geek in your life — or perhaps you want some ideas of top tech to put on your own wishlist, or even buy for yourself! — the SitePoint team has put together a few suggestions. Here’s our gift guide with the tools, gadgets, and toys that we’d like to see wrapped up under our trees on Christmas Day!
Table of contents
Home Office
Mechanical Keyboard
Mechanical keyboards have risen in popularity in recent years, especially with the developer community. These keyboards use mechanical switches that inspire more confidence than typical squishy membrane keyboards. What’s more, they can be better for your health, especially if you’re a heavy typist. We like the Keychron V5 QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard. It’s affordable, customizable, solid, super stable, and wireless. If the Keychron’s not for you, there are a range of great options available; check out our overview here.
Desk Decluttering
A combined monitor riser and smart storage system, Grovemade’s Desk Shelf System is available in three sizes. It looks great and provides handy storage for all the stuff that otherwise clutters up your desk.
Monitor
We love the Dell 27 4K UHD USB-C Monitor – S2722QC. It’s Wirecutter’s current choice of best 4K monitor, saying “it’s a quality, color-accurate display that can charge your laptop over USB-C, and it’s not terribly expensive.”
Smart Lighting
Great for providing funky, customizable decor, and also providing interesting backgrounds on Zoom calls, we like Nanoloeaf’s smart lights. They offer a way to customize the look of your office and add additional lighting on dreary days. Additionally, you can change the mood of your lights from a handy app.
Productivity
Notebook
We love the Moleskine Smart Notebook system. Made by the high-end notebook brand that’s graced the desks of countless designers over the years, the smart notebook system takes things up a notch. It allows notes that would have previously only existed on paper to seamlessly transition into the digital realm.
Headphones
If you need to concentrate at the office, or perhaps while working from a coffee shop or on public transport, effective noise canceling is a must. The top pick over-the-ear wireless headphone is the Sony WH-1000XM5, praised for top notch noise cancellation and excellent sound quality.
Gadgets and Toys
Steam Deck
The hot new gaming platform, Steam Deck provides access to your Steam library on the go. What’s more, with a dock, you can even use it for dev work, so it almost qualifies as a work expense!
Oura Ring
Of course there are many wearables that offer sleep and fitness tracking, but the Oura ring is sleek, discreet, and looks cool. It provides advanced sleep tracking, actionable recovery goals, and offers long battery life.
Flipper Zero
Possibly the ultimate hacker’s gadget, Flipper Zero is a neat open source portable multi-tool that can explore digital stuff. You can use it to interact with radio protocols, access control systems, hardware, and more. It offers plenty of connectivity, including a sub-1 GHz Transceiver, RFID, Bluetooth, and infrared.
Education and Career
SitePoint Premium
It’s a shameless bit of self-promotion of course, but we really do think that a SitePoint Premium membership is incredible value! We have books, courses, and tech talks covering a huge variety of topics, including JavaScript, PHP, Python, design, UX, DevOps, and much more. Right now, we’ve offering an incredible Black Friday deal on 12 months of membership, which you can gift to loved ones, colleagues, or even yourself via a voucher!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What makes the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones unique?
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are a standout product in the audio market due to their advanced noise-canceling technology. They are equipped with a QN1 processor that effectively blocks out ambient noise, allowing you to enjoy your music without any distractions. Additionally, these headphones offer exceptional sound quality, thanks to their 40mm drivers that deliver a full range of frequencies. They also have a long battery life of up to 30 hours, ensuring uninterrupted listening experience.
How does the hands-free calling feature work on the Sony WH-1000XM5?
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones come with a built-in microphone that enables hands-free calling. This feature allows you to answer calls without having to reach for your phone. The headphones also have touch controls on the ear cups, which you can use to answer or end calls, adjust the volume, or control your music.
Can I connect the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones to multiple devices?
Yes, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones support multi-device connection. This means you can connect them to two devices at the same time, such as your smartphone and laptop. This feature allows you to switch between devices seamlessly, making these headphones highly versatile and convenient for multitasking.
What is Flipper Zero and how does it work?
Flipper Zero is a multi-tool device for hackers and cybersecurity enthusiasts. It is designed to interact with digital interfaces in the physical world, such as infrared remotes, radio protocols, and access control systems. Flipper Zero has a built-in Tamagotchi-like game that encourages you to explore its features and capabilities.
How can I purchase Flipper Zero?
You can purchase Flipper Zero directly from their official website. They offer worldwide shipping, and you can choose from various payment methods, including credit card and PayPal. Please note that the availability of Flipper Zero may vary depending on your location.
What are the key features of Flipper Zero?
Flipper Zero boasts a range of features that make it a versatile tool for digital exploration. These include an infrared transmitter and receiver, a 433/868 MHz radio module, a 125 kHz RFID reader and writer, a 1-wire interface, and a GPIO pin. It also has a built-in USB HID keyboard that allows it to interact with computers and other devices.
Can I use the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for gaming?
Yes, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are suitable for gaming. Their superior sound quality and noise-canceling feature can enhance your gaming experience by providing immersive audio. However, please note that these headphones may not support some gaming-specific features, such as 3D audio or chat functionality.
Are the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones comfortable for long-term use?
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are designed with comfort in mind. They feature a lightweight design and soft, pressure-relieving ear pads that distribute pressure evenly and increase ear pad contact for a stable fit. This makes them comfortable to wear for extended periods.
Is Flipper Zero suitable for beginners?
Yes, Flipper Zero is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to beginners. It has a simple interface and comes with a user manual that provides detailed instructions on how to use its features. However, some knowledge of digital interfaces and protocols may be beneficial to fully utilize its capabilities.
Can I customize the settings on my Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones?
Yes, you can customize the settings on your Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones using the Sony Headphones Connect app. This app allows you to adjust the sound levels, set the noise-canceling function according to your environment, and customize the touch controls, among other features.
Simon MackieSimon Mackie is SitePoint's Managing Editor, responsible for producing books and other content products for web pros. He lives in sunny Bristol on the south west of England.
