Top Tech Gifts For Father's Day
by KYW tech editor Ian Bush
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Father's Day is June 19th. While dad might tell you he doesn't need anything, there are some tech gifts he probably won't mind being surprised with.
Make pops one of the first on the block with a virtual reality headset: those with deep pockets could snag the HTC Vive (on pre-order) or Oculus Rift. But there's also Google Cardboard, which uses an iPhone or Android to offer a VR experience for just $15.
"I feel like VR is one of those perfect, kind of novelty items but a great experience that makes a cool gift that you can toy around with," says Scott Stein, senior editor atCNET.com.
For under $100, try a 'splashproof' wireless speaker, like the JBL Flip 3 – one of CNET's recommendations for dad's day presents.
"There are a number of great headphones that are super-affordable in that price range as well," says Stein. "Sound Blaster makes one called the Creative Sound Blaster Jam."
Entice dad off the couch by way of a wearable fitness tracker. Or let him relax with streaming media sticks from Roku, Google, and Amazon -- they can be had on the cheap; for a little more, even more capable media streaming boxes like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku are within reach.
How about smart home devices?
"I still feel people don't play around enough with smart lighting," Stein says. "Philips Hue, which has been around for a while -- a smart lighting kit that you can connect. That's a fun way to go."
Stein's top pick for Father's Day is the Amazon Echo.
"It's basically limitless as far as how much you can connect it," he says.
The under $200 personal assistant, streaming radio player, question answerer, and doer of plenty of other things is at your (voice) command.
"If I hadn't bought it, I'd love to get it as a gift," Stein says. "It does so many different things you can tinker with, which I feel is what Father's Day is all about. You get this thing and suddenly you can start teaching it different skills and you can activate different things around the home."
The bonus (shh -- don't tell dad): the whole family can use it.
