gadgets

Flowers are all well and good this Mother's Day, but let's face it: they're ephemeral. And cliche. And not terribly practical. That's probably why a recent survey showed that moms covet tech gear nearly as much as they do spa trips and jewelry.

If you want to get Mom something that's useful, entertaining, and long-lasting, look no further than the tech department. I've rounded up five gadgets, all priced below $100, that should make Mom a happy camper this year -- and on into next.

ChicBuds Most earbuds are basic black or Apple white … Read more

A new survey put out by CNBC says that half of homes in the U.S. own at least one Apple product, and that number is expected to grow through next year.

The outlet's "All-America Economic Survey" polled 836 Americans by phone from March 19 to 22 about their spending habits, political leanings, and investment practices.

From those surveyed, CNBC estimates the average U.S. household to have 1.6 devices made by Apple. One in 10 of those that don't have any Apple gear plan to get one inside the next 12 months, CNBC said. … Read more

I have a certain affinity for tacky novelty gifts. I used to peruse comic book ads offering untold delights such as X-ray specs, hand buzzers, and fake vomit.

The Prescription Bottle Beer Holder from Gadgets and Gear would fit right in with those tasteless gags. It's bound to be a hot joke gift among both frat boys and medical professionals.… Read more

According to a recent study, 19 percent of you have lost your smartphone due to a fatal meeting with the toilet. Putting aside the disturbing fact that some people can't part with their phone for a precious few moments, wouldn't it be nice not to worry about your mobile device, should it take a tumble into the commode or any other body of water?

Well, it could happen, and even better, it could happen this year.

A company called HzO developed a nanofilm waterproof coating that can protect your electronics from the perils of water, but it's a bit different from some of the other solutions out there, such as NeverWet and Liquipel.

The difference is that HzO's WaterBlock is applied during the manufacturing stage instead of after, so it safeguards the insides of your phone, tablet, or MP3 player--and not just the outside.… Read more

LAS VEGAS--Inventor Brian Tedesco holds up a nest of hopelessly entangled cell phone chargers the showroom floor, giving it a shake for dramatic effect.

"This is from a week at the Plaza hotel," he says.

"And this...is the solution."

Tedesco points to his new gadget, called Perch. It's a small go-between your wall and your gadget's AC adapter that beeps when you unplug your device from its charging cord.

The nag, which is a series of beeps at different chords, won't stop until you take your charger out of the unit, or … Read more

LAS VEGAS--I have come to the conclusion that I am stupid. Dumb as a post. Thick as two short planks. Four chips short of a circuit board.

What has finally brought this grim realization? All these nerds telling me how smart they are.

The nerds who have squeezed the final milliliter of self-confidence from my pores are the ones who make the gadgets here at CES.

Because they keep on telling me how smart they are. Which must mean that I am a blunt pencil. Everywhere I look around the Vegas exhibition halls, the word "smart" strikes me … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Many an iPad has been besmirched by kitchen grease and condiments. Save your super-expensive tablet from spilled milk by picking up an Android-powered NetChef.

NetChef is primarily a recipe device, but it also holds photos, plays music, connects to Facebook, gives you the weather, and runs Android apps.

There are 500 built-in recipes for those times when your Internet goes down during Thanksgiving dinner prep. An endless supply of recipes is available from manufacturer Sungale's own database and all the Android cooking apps you can download.

NetChef runs Android 2.3. The current version of the gadget is … Read more

The $25 computer project known as Raspberry Pi is set to go on sale next month.

The tiny computer, which runs Linux on an ARM processor and sports USB, audio and video out, as well as an SD card slot, was designed to be an ultra-low-cost computer aimed at children.

In a blog post picked up by Business Insider this week, its creators noted that the machine will be available in January following some additional testing on the hardware and software.

At launch the diminutive machine will be offered in two configurations, one at $25 and the other at $35. … Read more

A Chinese manufacturing company is producing replacement back panels for your iPhone 4 or 4S that include a thin light strip and a transparent Apple logo that will make your iPhone's logo glow, similar to Apple notebook computers.

K.O Gadget claims the hardware hack can be done in 5 minutes, at home, using the $42 kit it supplies.

Editors' note: At the time of writing, the regular site was downed by heavy traffic; a substitute purchase link was posted on the company's Facebook page.

A hardware hack done in 5 minutes seems a little unreal, but the … Read more