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Vol. 42 No. 6 — Nov/Dec 2025

OUTSIDE THE BOX

Economic uncertainty continues to exist under the current administration, so there is no way to tell how prices will fluctuate. The PwC Holiday Outlook 2025 survey (pwc.com/us/en/industries/consumer-markets/library/holiday-outlook-trends.html) shows that “53% [of consumers] say that general price increases will likely affect their spending decisions this year” and “consumers expect their seasonal spending to decline on average by 5% from 2024—the first notable drop since 2020.” Gen Z consumers, which the survey defines as ages 17–28, “say they expect to reduce their holiday budgets by 23%, more than any other generation.” I suggest knowing what you plan to buy so you can set alerts for when prices drop, which can help you decrease your spending.

So, what should you buy? Well, since this is a technology-focused column—and I love all things tech—I’d be remiss in not offering some great gadgets and accessories from my 2025 gift-giving list.

PROTECT YOUR DATA

Our phones, tablets, and laptops have become essential to our daily lives. That means privacy and security risks are with us 24/7. GoDark Faraday Bags notes that these devices are tracked by cell towers, GPS, Wi-Fi hotspots, and Bluetooth devices that ping your phone, so its goal is “empowering individuals to take control of their devices” (godarkbags.com/pages/our-story). This family-owned business has created bags for personal and professional use that block incoming and outgoing electromagnetic field (EMF) signals, including 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth.

GoDark has a diverse selection of offerings, including travel-size and crossbody bags, iPad/tablet bags, cellphone and laptop cases, fanny packs/waist belts, and utility bags. Any of these is a great gift for a privacy-conscious consumer or journalist, as well as anyone in law enforcement or the military.

GoDark Faraday Bags
godarkbags.com/collections/faraday-bags

FOUND IN TRANSLATION

You may have heard of, or even tried, the latest popular tool that facilitates communicating via smartphone with someone whose language you don’t speak. It’s a great way to understand one another: typing what you want to say into a translation app. It’s especially helpful when traveling. You now can take the experience up a notch by wearing earbuds that translate in real time. There are several out there; however, the one that keeps jumping to the top of lists for the best real-time translation is Timekettle M3 Language Translator Earbuds. These earbuds, which can also be used to listen to music, “listen as you speak and break your speech into complete sentences, so your conversation keeps flowing without weird gaps,” reports Gadget Flow (thegadgetflow.com/blog/best-translator-earbuds). The M3 provides back-and-forth translation in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Arabic, Chinese, and 33 more languages.

Here’s a pro tip for Apple users: The recently released AirPods Pro 3 will provide real-time translation for users. If only one person has AirPods, they just need to turn their iPhone to landscape mode to show live transcriptions and have the language immediately translated to the other person via their AirPods. Pro 2 models with current software updates will do the same.

Timekettle M3 Language Translator Earbuds
timekettle.co/products/m3-travel-translator-earbuds

AirPods Pro 3
apple.com/airpods-pro

SCREEN-FREE ENTERTAINMENT

In 2015, two dads came together to use their shared background in the music industry to create a pint-sized device that entertains children sans a video screen. That’s right, the Yoto Player has no screen, and I’m as excited about this square, colorful device as two of my grandkids and their mother are.

The Yoto Player and the Yoto Mini were inspired by Montessori principles to provide an interactive, screen-free audio platform that has entertained my grandkids since this summer. The device has a friendly shape, which allows kids to carry it easily. Plus, it has a night light and visual clock, and it lets young ones watch colorful lights while listening to streamed music and stories that parents can record themselves. It melted my heart watching my grandchildren listen to my daughter-in-law’s voice “read” them a bedtime story via Yoto.

Yoto Player and Yoto Mini
us.yotoplay.com

MAKER MAYHEM

Does your giftee enjoy creating cut-out designs for their personal and/or professional projects? One of my colleagues suggested the Cricut Joy or the Cricut Joy Xtra cutting machine, which helps crafters create full-color stickers, vinyl stickers, custom cards, T-shirts, and more. (The Joy Xtra is bigger than the Joy to accommodate larger images.) It’s a great gift for the maker who wants to take their creativity to the next level. A plus of the Joy product line is that in comparison with other Cricut models, it is small enough to fit just about anywhere.

Cricut Joy products
cricut.com/en-us/cutting-machines/cricut-joy

MISCELLANEOUS

Have you found yourself scrolling through your favorite social media feed only to be interrupted by an advertisement for some “cool gifts” that are unique and inexpensive? You don’t want to click on it because you don’t know how deep the rabbit hole will take you. Well, I did some clicking and checking for you, and I found some suggestions that may be of interest:

• LISEN Retractable Car Charger for iPhone 17—This interesting and handy item has an 80-degree rotating plug that fits standard 12V vehicle sockets, as well as a retractable cord that extends up to 31.5 inches. It would be great for long trips and for multiple users at a time.
• Wanther Keyboard Cover for Long Nails—I guess this tech accessory has been around for a minute, but I just learned about it when a friend purchased one and loved it. The silicone covers most MacBook keyboards. It’s soft, waterproof, and dustproof—all while protecting those gorgeous nails.
• HP Sprocket Photo Printer—I first used this product while being the official photog at a middle school Valentine’s Day dance earlier this year. This easy-to-use, compact printer took me back to my childhood, when Polaroid pictures ruled. The kids were excited to get printed photos that were easy to put in their pocket or purse. Who knew?

LISEN Retractable Car Charger for iPhone 17
lisen.com/products/lisen-retractable-car-charger

Wanther Keyboard Cover for Long Nails
amazon.com/Keyboard-Cover-Nails-Compatible-MacBook/dp/B0DTDRDW5C