Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.
Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/94658
TIPS & TRICKS By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Editor Gadgets & Gifts 2012: Tech for the Holidays Express Your Inner Geek with These Gift Ideas Whether you have snow or sand outside your door, the holidays are nearly upon us. Tat means geting together with friends and family, enjoying some time away from the office and, of course, giſt giving. Whether your list includes extreme tech fanatics, grandparents, kids or your staff, it's sometimes hard to find the right giſt for each of them. It's geting easier, though, since virtually everyone in the U.S. now has some form of office or mobile technologies and gadgets. CPA Practice Advisor's annual Giſt Guide is split into this December issue and our January issue, which will be delivered to subscribers and online in mid-December, just in time for last-minute ideas. From everyone at CPA Practice Advisor, we wish you the Happiest of Holidays and a prosperous New Year. water-resistant sleeve for iPads, providing protection against drops from as high as 35 feet, and with a design that makes it easy to pack in backpacks or other bags. (www.g- form.com; $49.99) ONE LESS THING TO CARRY You take your phone with you e v er y wher e you go, but why do you need to also carry along a full wa l let when all you really need is a place to hold a couple of cards and some cash? Te Q Card Case helps lighten your load by turning a durable protective iPhone (4/4S) case into a convenient wallet for the essentials of your mobile life. (www.cm4.com; $39.99) Isaac is the Editor for CPA Practice Advisor, having joined the publication in September 2002. Trough his experience in the areas of consumer and professional- level soſtware and peripherals, as well as knowledge of the public accounting field, he provides reviews of technologies used by accountants and their business clients as well as contributing a regular column that provides helpful information that ranges fom improving search techniques to when to upgrade a computer to computing security issues. He can be reached at isaac. obannon@cpapracticeadvisor.com. TAKE YOUR MUSIC EVERYWHERE For the extreme outdoor enthusiast and music lover, the Braven 600 and 625S Wireless HD Speakers are a perfect match. Ready for the mountain, water sports or any other activity, the speakers also work as a speakerphone and phone charger. Tey have rugged, shock absorbing cases and tough aluminum grills, and come with a waterproof bag, USB flashlight and up to 16 hours of battery life. (www.Braven.com; $179.99) GIVE YOUR SMART PHONE VIDEOS A NEW PERSPECTIVE When you take videos with your smart phone, you're usually limited to the length of your arm. The 10 December 2012 t www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com i S t abi l i z e r Monopod lets you add more creative angles and perspec- tive, extending up to three feet and providing much more professional qual ity videos, whether taking videos of yourself or of others. (www.iStabilizer.com; $34.95) A SMART PHONE CASE WITH A BUILT-IN BATTERY? BRILLIANT! If you're always on the go, keeping your smart phone charged is a challenge. It's a lot easier, though, if you have a Power-Skin Battery Case. Te cases provide up to twice the power for popular models of iPhone, Android, Windows and BlackBerry smart phones. A new designer ser ies adds options for v ibrant colors , more ba t t e r y- boost ing power and reinforced impact protection. (www.power-skin. com; $69.99-$79.99) DUDE, PROTECT THAT PAD In December of 2011, my iPad didn't survive a 5-foot fall… Don't experi- ence what I went through by leting an accidental drop end the life of your iPad. Protect it with the G-Form Extreme Hydro Sleeve, a THE DIGITAL FLOWER POT For those who enjoy house plants, but weren't born with a green thumb, check out the Click and Grow, an easy-to-use electronic