Forget the flowers and scented candles. Instead, maybe mom wants to enjoy some fun technology on her special day. So, we’ve created a list of our favorite tech toys in every price category to suit the mom who loves to be creative and play with gadgets that actually do stuff.
For moms who want to take their tunes on the go, check out JBL’s Go 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker. Despite its compact size, this speaker is a powerful little thing and can withstand all the elements. Sporting waterproof and dustproof construction, as well as seven hours of playback, the Go 4 is a great companion for any family adventure.
If you’re on a budget, you may also want to consider SonicGrace’s 10.1” Digital Photo Frame. You can showcase all your favorite family moments in a slideshow that can hold up to 32GB of photos. Just transfer the pics to an SDHC card, slip it into the frame’s card slot, and you’ve got all your memories stored in one elegant frame.
For moms with spunk, take a look at PO-33 KO Pocket Operator Micro Sampler from the trendy brand teenage engineering. Offering up to 40 seconds of sample memory, you can record real life sound samples via the built-in microphone to make incredibly fun beats. You can even chain patterns together to create fully-fledged songs.
Maybe your mother has a lot to say and needs to start a podcast. The simplest way to begin is to get an easy to use podcasting microphone like the RODE NT-USB Mini. She can hook it up straight to a computer or tablet to start recording right away.
If mom is an Instagramer or takes a lot of Zoom calls for work, she probably wants to look good. This Bi-Color Ring Light Kit from B&H can brighten her image and soften her look thanks to a dome-shaped diffuser that spreads the light beam for a diffused single-shadow light that’s near-broadcast quality in brightness and color accuracy. Featuring a smartphone holder and telescoping table stand for easy attachment to a desk, your mom or partner can confidently look her best.
A great option for those who love to take snapshots is the FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 99 Instant Film Camera. This instant camera is not just a toy. It offers adjustable light and color control with six Color Effect Settings and built-in flash control to create unique images in analog form. Mom can share her pics immediately in cute 2 x 3-inch printouts that look polished and distinctive.
Audiophile moms may not be happy with the compressed music files they find on streaming services. For the ones who demand top quality sound resolution, consider the Sony NW-A306 Walkman A Series. This digital audio player can support Hi-Res files, including DSD, MQA, and more. Sony’s sleek Walkman also gives you Wi-Fi access to streaming services and local network music files in addition to Bluetooth support for when you need to go wireless. With up to 36 hours of battery life, the NW-A306 is the perfect music player to listen to on the go.
Creatives who love to get down with dance and electronic music may need a groove box to bring some spark into their lives. The compact Circuit Tracks from Novation is a standalone groove box with synths, drums, and sequencer offers hours of musical inspiration. Featuring a 4-part sample-based drum machine and 2 polyphonic digital synth engines, you can create entire songs anywhere without having to be attached to a computer.
Compact synths are all the rage lately. Again, from Novation, the MiniNova offers a powerful sound engine with 256 factory preset sounds and 18 note polyphony. Tweak the sounds with the five available knobs or completely transform the presets with eight “animate” buttons. Another neat feature is the gooseneck microphone that allows you to record vocoder melodies and effects. With 37 keys, it’s the perfect portable size for those who move around or don’t have the studio space for a large synth setup.
The Tough TG-7 Digitak Camera from OM System is the perfect gift for photography enthusiasts who love to capture pics while on adventure. Ideal for the rugged outdoors, this high-quality point-and-shoot is water, crush, shock, freeze and dustproof. A great option for water activities, the TG-7 can also function at depths of up to 50 feet. Its 12MP BSI CMOS sensor and TruePic VIII image processor translate to premium resolution photographs and videos even in low-light conditions. The TG-7 even includes GPS, a manometer, a compass and a thermometer so that you can record important information about your environment.
If you and your partner both have an interest in starting a podcast together, check out the PodTrak P8 Two-Person Podcasting Kit. It comes with a high-quality Zoom podcast mixer, two dynamic mics, two boom arms with XLR cables and two headphones, allowing you to get started on your podcast right away. The kit also throws in a 32GB microSD card so that you can record straight to the mixer without having to be tethered to a computer.
The next gift is a unique one. Made by teenage engineering, the CH-8 Choir Bundle—featuring Carlo, Gisella, Hatshepsut, and Olga—delivers a four-person choir performance repertoire of choral classics. If mom also happens to be a composer, she can make them perform her own original music compositions via a Bluetooth LE MIDI keyboard (available separately). Carlo is the baritone, Gisela and Hatshepsut are the mezzo sopranos, while Olga sings the contralto vocal range to complete the group. And eventually, you can add more singers to the team. It’s weird, it’s fun, it’s beautifully melodic, and there’s nothing else like it on the market.
For more information about the products listed in this article, be sure to check out the detailed product pages.
