Tough economic times tighten the belt and can make the holiday season home to fewer big-ticket gifts. Some of the gifts that people will get this year are free. Some will be around the $25 mark.
Luckily, those with a little more money in their gift-giving budget, but who still don’t want to wrack up credit card debt they’ll be servicing until Christmas Future, have options. In fact, in the world of the iPod and iPhone, there are a number of great gifts that can be had for under $100.
1. An iPod Shuffle
image copyright Apple
Giving iPod accessories as gifts can be great, sure, but what’s better than giving an actual iPod – and spending less than $100? The answer is nothing, I’m pretty sure. Apple has two models of the iPod Shuffle for under $100 – the 1GB model at $49 and 2GB at $69. While there’s no video available with the Shuffle, for anyone who exercises regularly, it’s a great, affordable gift.
2. iPod Speakers
image copyright Boston Acoustics
Listening to an iPod or iPhone through headphones while on the go is great, but headphones are no solution for listening to music in the home. That’s where you need iPod speakers. Though not all iPod speakers can be had for under $100, many can and ones whose price tags are close could go on sale this season. Keep an eye out, because filling a room with music from your iPod or iPhone is a gift enjoyed throughout the year.
3. iPod Car Adapters
image copyright XtremeMac
Filling a room with music is great, but what about when you’re in your car? In that case, you need a way to play your iPod or iPhone through your car stereo – you need an iPod car adapter. Adapters come in the form of small devices that broadcast to your radio via FM or cassette adapters. And almost all of them weigh in at under $100. If you’ve got some on your gift list who’s in the car a lot, they’ll think of you every time they can turn off the boring radio and enjoy their favorite music while driving.
4. Headphones
image copyright Sennheiser
The earbuds that come with the iPod and iPhone are perfectly serviceable, but for those who want better performance and better sound from their music, third-party headphones are the choice. While the truly high-end headphones for audiophiles will run you more than $100 (some can even cost over $400), you can find a great selection of quality headphones to deliver a terrific listening experience for under $100.
5. An eMusic Subscription
image copyright eMusic
Filling an iPod or iPhone with music is lots of fun, but it can get expensive – especially paying $0.99 per song. But what if you could help your friends and family enjoy new music every month for just $0.45 a song? Giving a gift subscription to eMusic will let you do that. EMusic, which offers DRM-free downloads for a monthly fee, has two annual plans that cost under $100 and one that is just a little more. Depending on the price, you can give between 10 and 30 new songs each month for a year. EMusic only offers music from indie labels, so be judicious in who you give to, but for those inclined to indie, it’s a great value.
Using eMusic | Compare eMusic to Other Download Site
Using eMusic | Compare eMusic to Other Download Site
6. Bluetooth headsets
image copyright Apple
For that traveler we talked about earlier in this list, music in the car can be great, but safety is pretty great, too. If that traveler has an iPhone, you may want to consider getting them a Bluetooth headset so they can use their phone without taking their hands off the wheel. While Apple offers a headset for the iPhone, so do a lot of other companies, so shop around for the best features and price.
7. Extended-Life Battery
image copyright Mophie
If you’ve got that traveler we keep talking about on your list, they might be very happy this year – there are a lot of presents for them! As anyone who uses an iPhone regular can tell you, the battery life could use some beefing up. So, prevent travelers from running out of juice before they can plug in again with an extended life battery for the iPhone or iPhone 3G. I’ve only had the chance to review one such battery, but there are a lot on the market.
