With 20 second printing capability, there's no excuse for busy families not to print those vacation shots, or baby pix from three years ago! The Canon All-in-One Photo Printer has WiFi capability to print remotely, or from a memory card, camera, phone or computer. Preview and enhance images right on the screen before printing exceptional color or monochromatic 4- by 6-inch prints. A separate grey ink cartridge really boosts black and white images. Copying and scanning capabilities really round out its offerings.
Canon Pixma MP980 All-In-One Photo Printer, $300
COURTESY OF CANON
There's absolutely no fumbling when this sleek camcorder is in your pocket. That means Dad can catch the stellar dance recital and Mom the winning soccer goal without the blink of an eye. With 4GB of memory, and 720p resolution, the family can watch the 60 recordable minutes of video with cinematic clarity. Plus with the included FlipShare software, it's easy to save, share, organize and capture snapshots from your video. Design the casing yourself by uploading a favorite family photo, or whatever image makes you say "cheese."
Flip MinoHD Video Camcorder, $230
COURTESY OF FLIP
Bring the drive-in movie back, sans cars with a widescreen projector for the backyard, or the living room. Play movies from CD, DVD or from an IPod attached to the USB port, project them onto any viable screen and view them up to eight times larger than you would see them on a 40-inch TV. And with this unit, the speakers are attached, so no more messing around with wires and ports, just plug and play. Pass the popcorn, please. Epson MovieMate 55, $700
COURTESY OF EPSON
Challenge budding chefs to dream-up the ultimate sandwich while at the same time encouraging family time spent together, all with a Panini Press. With a floating lid that adjusts to sandwich heights and locks in place, the creative combinations are endless, and the hot and gooey goodies that result are irresistible. But with non-stick grill plates, clean up is still a breeze.
Hamilton Beach Panini Press, $40
COURTESY OF HAMILTON BEACH
Two gifts in one, this Portable DVD player doubles as a digital photo frame when not on the go and in use. As a frame, play up to 250 photos in a looping slideshow by uploading from the 3-in-1 memory slot or via the USB port. And as for the DVD side, play a range of formats either at home or in the car with the included car charger, audio/video inputs and easy playback. The clear 8-inch screen delivers bright and colorful images no matter where you watch.
LG DP889 Portable DVD Player, $178
COURTESY OF LG
So who wants to be a rock star? You'll be certain to find out quickly with Lips, the new interactive singing game for XBOX 360. With two wireless, motion-sensitive microphones, the more you move, the better your performance...so get into it. Loaded with a variety of game play modes, there's something for everyone, including Mom and maybe even Grandpa Jones. Choose from one-on-one singing contests, timed performances, and a play along mode that let's up to four more players, provide back up percussion. With 40 songs and lyrics in a variety of musical genres, the fun won't stop. Watch out Beyoncé and move over Maroon 5, there's a new band in town.
XBox 360 Lips Game, $70
COURTESY OF XBOX
More than just recharging batteries, this little mobile does a whole lot more...it will become a little lifesaver. Tuck it in a stocking of a teen or parent, to delivery on-the-go energy for those frequently power-drained gadgets. This way, the kids will never be without their MP3 players and gaming devices, nor Mom without her Blackberry and camera. A USB port charges devices, or switch modes to give new life to four batteries. It works with an included car adapter, wall outlet and on charged batteries.
Duracell Mobile Charger, $25
COURTESY OF DURACELL
Encourage the family to occasionally turn off the electronics and go retro. A cross between Pictionary and Charades, this game can do the trick, and provide hours of entertainment in the process. Use the soft and squishy marshmallow man to write and draw clues for teammates to guess. And you thought drawing on a pad was difficult! Ad lib with some acting out of your own. Props are included to further illustrate the clue, found under the little guy's foot. When the turn is over, wipe him clean with a sweep of a towel and start over.
Pictionary Man Game, $33
COURTESY OF PICTIONARY
Give a gift of creativity. This book teaches young and old how to build pop-up creations that will delight minds and encourage imaginative thought. The techniques are simple, and the learning experience lasting. Build any or all of the ten included projects based upon four structure styles...platforms, props, spirals and straddles. Who knows? Next holiday, the kids might be designing your holiday card themselves.
Pocket Paper Engineer, Volume 2, $27
COURTESY OF POPULAR KINETICS
Keep their heads in the clouds with a gift that's perfect for the whole family. The SkyScout makes learning about the stars an exciting outdoor adventure. Using an advanced GPS system and a preloaded database, families can find and identify over 50,000 stars, planets and constellations. Once found, scientific, historical and even mythological information is provided either through audio or on the data screen. Kids will especially enjoy "Tonight's Highlights," the celestial Top 10 Views list which adapts to their exact date, time and location. Less than eight inches in length, the device is easily portable, runs on two 1.5V batteries and can be updated with the USB connector and a PC.
Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium, $229
COURTESY OF CELESTRON
