What to give an Apple fan for the New Year. Final tip - paper bag
The best smartphones years from affordable to expensive.
There are less than two weeks left until the New Year, which means it's time to buy gifts! A smartphone is a great gift, especially if it was chosen correctly. Which smartphone should you give to a family member, friend or loved one for the New Year? This article talks about 8 smartphones from different price categories, perfect as a gift this year.
Note: the article shows prices for smartphones from major retailers. In online stores, if you wish, you can find all the smartphones presented below cheaper.
The 4-inch iPhone SE has become the most popular smartphone Apple in Russia in 2017. Over the past 12 months, the model has fallen very much in price, which has attracted the attention of buyers. However, not only the price influenced the success of the iPhone SE. Latest compact Apple smartphone It has modern characteristics, almost completely identical to the iPhone 6s. IN based on iPhone SE is based on an A9 processor with an M9 coprocessor (allows you to use the “Hey Siri” function) - this pair makes the smartphone really fast. Moreover, the iPhone SE will remain incredibly fast over the next few years, even after new versions of iOS are released.
In addition to the current “stuffing”, the iPhone SE has a gorgeous 12-megapixel camera, which is extremely rare for compact smartphones. Thanks to it, iPhone SE is capable of creating incredibly detailed and clear photos, as well as recording video in 4K resolution!
OnePlus 5
OnePlus 5 is perhaps the best Android flagship to date in terms of price-quality ratio. OnePlus 5 features a 5.5-inch Optic AMOLED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and DCI-P3 wide color gamut. The smartphone has a sleek all-aluminum body with a thickness of only 7.25 mm and a weight of 155 grams. The smartphone is based on a system based on a modern eight-core Snapdragon processor 835, the device has 6 or 8 GB random access memory LPDDR4X class depending on the model. OnePlus 5 has two main cameras: 16-megapixel Sony IMX 398 with f/1.77 aperture and phase detection autofocus PDAF and 20-megapixel Sony IMX 350 with f/2.6 aperture and support for 2x optical zoom.
The most original feature of OnePlus 5 is its support for unique technology fast charging Dash Charge, which at the end of 2017 is the fastest in the world. With its help, OnePlus 5 is charged to 60-70% in just 30 minutes!
By the way, in honor of the New Year, OnePlus is giving away OnePlus 5 in its official group on VKontakte. The rules of the draw are simple and traditional - join the group and repost competition message. Therefore, as a New Year's gift, you may receive this smartphone completely free of charge. Please note that only persons over 18 years of age with a completed VKontakte profile can take part in the competition.
Xiaomi Mi A1
“Chinese” Apple, as Xiaomi is often called, released many great smartphones. One of the latter, presented in September, was remembered most of all by many. It's about about Xiaomi Mi A1. The smartphone combines everything that Xiaomi is famous for. The device has an all-metal body that looks great and feels incredibly comfortable in the hand, a 5.5-inch display with rounded edges and a dual main camera with a resolution of 12+12 megapixels, which makes it possible to create images with the effect of depth of field and use double optical zoom
Xiaomi Mi A1 is a very special smartphone for another reason. He is the first of Xiaomi devices received software, created Chinese company in collaboration with Google. Thereby operating system it just flies and, importantly, regularly receives fresh updates.
iPhone 8 Plus
Another smartphone from Chinese manufacturer in our top. Huawei Honor 9 will be an ideal gift for anyone just because of its appearance. The smartphone has a body made of curved 3D glass, which is processed using photoengraving technology, which gives it a very original and fascinating appearance.
However, in technically Huawei Honor 9 has everything at flagship level. The system is based on a highly efficient Kirin 960 processor, a 5.15-inch display with Full HD resolution, a capacious battery with support for fast charging, a “smart” fingerprint scanner that learns over time and recognizes the owner even faster and, of course, dual camera with a resolution of 20+12 megapixels!
Samsung Galaxy S8
Samsung will present the Galaxy S9 very soon, but the Galaxy S8, presented at the beginning of the year, has not become a bit worse during this time. Samsung Galaxy S8 is one of the most beautiful smartphones ever released. This is mainly due to the smartphone’s 5.8-inch “limitless” curved display. The symmetrical design and minimal side frames make using such a huge screen comfortable even with one hand.
In addition to providing excellent entertainment for children, the robot develops their logic, creative thinking, motor skills and dexterity, and awakens interest in engineering.Testing was carried out by Fedya (9 years old), Lesha (12 years old) and Sonya (11 years old). Based on the results of the experiment, Lesha urgently wanted the same robot as a gift, and Sonya decided to take programming courses.
It was a little scary that we wouldn't figure it out. But Jimu has 3D animated instructions in its iOS and Android app for smartphones and tablets.
Jimu Tank Bot is a symbiosis of the canonical Lego and a gaming robot, which not only children, but also adults will enjoy playing with. It was created by the company UBTech, which, in addition to the Jimu assembly kit, also has a solid humanoid Alpha. Both models are designed for more than just entertainment. They teach children from 8 years old the basics of programming in an accessible playful way, help them learn natural sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics, and learn working together in a team and look for new methods for solving practical problems.
The Jimu construction robot came to us in a beautiful white Apple-style box, inside of which there were small multi-colored boxes with a set of parts. There were a lot of details and it was a little scary that we wouldn’t figure it out. But, unlike conventional construction sets, Jimu has a unique 3D animated instruction in iOS and Android applications for smartphones and tablets. It should help children assemble their own robot and program it for a variety of tasks using a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth.
We installed the application on the iPhone and started collecting. The instructions clearly show which parts to take and how, step by step, to create your own robot. Very useful function is the ability to rotate each element 360 degrees virtual space to look at it from all sides. This can be done at every stage of design. And thus - observe various stages robot design and preview the finished version.
9-year-old Fedya gave up quite quickly, getting lost in the abundance of details. 12-year-old Lesha did most of the assembling, while Sonya concentrated on assembling the tracks for the tank. The difficulty arose when the robot had already been assembled, and it had already begun to move around the room, but it categorically refused to raise its arms. Apparently we connected the servos incorrectly. I had to call my tech-savvy dad for help.
“It’s not immediately clear how some commands are executed, but it’s fun and very interesting to play. And if you have a cat, it’s doubly fun.”
What our participants said:
Fedya, 9 years old: “I liked the robot, especially his Lezginka dance, and my brother Styopa (1.5 years old) also appreciated it.”
Sonya, 11 years old: “We didn’t put it together the first time. It's not immediately clear how some commands are executed, but it's fun and very interesting to play. And if you have a cat, it's doubly fun. Not recommended for those with small siblings, as the robot is fragile and needs to be stored with care.”
Lesha, 12 years old: “I really enjoyed playing with this robot, it has a nice interface, good assembly instructions, and although the assembly itself was not easy, the app has great graphics.”
The children controlled the robot using an application where its basic actions were already specified - forward, backward, turn, raise hands, etc.
If not all the children assembled the robot, then the whole apartment came to play with it: 1.5 year old Styopa, all the adults and the cat Chester, because Jimu is really a very cool toy for children of any age, as well as for parents. Jimu Tank Bot features unprecedented maneuverability, and its infrared sensor allows the robot to notice various objects on the floor, pick them up or go around them.
The children controlled the robot using an application where its basic actions were already specified - forward, backward, turn, raise hands, etc. First, you can run ready-made programs, and then start creating your own. It's a lot of fun for the whole family, we checked!
Sonya immediately learned to program new actions herself, using quite simple function intuitive “drag” and making the robot rush around the room after the cat, clap its hands and turn around at speed.
You can start with ready-made programs, especially for younger children, and once you understand the basic principles, you can come up with your own.
The Jimu control program is created in real language Swift programming. He is one of the most modern languages object-oriented programming developed by Apple. And if even a girl who doesn’t like math can cope with it, then boys will definitely find it very interesting and easy to master. You can start with ready-made programs, especially for younger children, and once you understand the basic principles, you can come up with your own. Different levels of programming complexity leave room for development and new achievements as the child grows.
Of course, not all children have the patience to assemble a robot correctly; it takes time to launch and program it, but you can play with it endlessly.
For WorkingMama readers using the promotional code WMAMA10N there is a 10% discount on all Jimu robots on the website ubtechrobots.ru until January 15, 2018.
Here it is - the Jimu Tank Bot robot:
Before New Year's holidays There's only a week left and now is the time to think about gifts for your loved ones. Latest events with rising prices for Apple technology, and electronics in general, significantly narrow the circle of searches, so we tried to select for you gift ideas that will not hit your pocket hard, but at the same time, will delight the person close to you.
Felt case for iPhone 6
We hope you managed to buy new iPhone 6 before the price goes up. From dear smartphone it has turned into very expensive, so it is highly advisable to take care of its protection. In winter we wear sweaters, scarves and other warm clothes, so why not treat your iPhone to a soft woolen update? Felt Case from FŪZ Designs is just like that - warm and pleasant to the touch, and also quite strong, since it has a durable plastic frame under the soft felt.
Buy - $29.99Original external battery for iPhone
To all active iPhone users We are very familiar with situations when the battery charge is almost zero, and there is not a single outlet at hand. This scenario is also known to people who have to go on business trips and travel frequently. I can recommend both perfect solution - external battery. IN right moment it will happily share its charge with your gadget. In the case of Ozaki O!tool Battery, such a battery will not only charge your iPhone 1-2 times, but will also please the eye with its unusual design - you can safely put it on your desk as a talismanic trinket.
Price.ru ~2500 rub.Technological car holder for iPhone
Car owners know how difficult it is to choose good holder for a smartphone - most of them have suction cups that fall off, stupid flexible arms, and some of them do not fit the iPhone in the case. Kenu Airframe is devoid of all these shortcomings and will be an excellent gift for car enthusiasts. It has a reliable spring mechanism for holding the iPhone (in any case), easily attaches to the ventilation grill, does not scratch either the device or the installation location, provides easy access to the smartphone ports and allows you to work with it in both vertical and horizontal orientations.
Yandex.Market ~2000 rub.Electronic assistant for home plant lovers
If your girlfriend or mother loves indoor plants and is friends with gadgets, Parrot Flower Power will be a great gift for her. Small device in the form of a twig, equipped with sensors that analyze the level of light, soil moisture, air temperature and even the level of fertilizers in the soil - all this data is sent via Bluetooth to special application for iPhone. The application also has an extensive database of plants that will tell you how to care for various flowers.
Buy - $59.99Removable Lens Set for iPhone 6/6 Plus
If among your loved ones there are iPhoneographers, don’t hesitate to give them a set of removable Olloclip lenses - you are guaranteed to be carried in their arms. The set includes four lenses, including a wide-angle, a fisheye and two macro lenses. With such an arsenal, you can cover almost all possible photography scenes. The accessories have a convenient fastening system and a compact size that allows you to carry them in your pocket.
Buy - $79.99Pencil stylus for iPad
The iPad is simply created for drawing and each of us at least, tried to draw on my tablet at least once. Doing this with your finger is a thankless task, so for those who are seriously interested in drawing, the Pencil stylus from FiftyThree will be a simply amazing gift. It is supported by many third party applications and has pressure sensitivity, due to which the width of the stroke depends on the area of contact.
Buy - $49.95Bicycle speed sensor
Now, of course, is not the season for cycling, but people who have a place for sports in their lives will like this gift. With Runtastic RUNSCS1 you can turn your smartphone into a near-professional cycling computer, capable of tracking your cadence, speed and distance so you can monitor your progress and achieve better results.
Pice.ru - 3500 rub.Remote shutter release button for iPhone
For those who like to take selfies, there is a great gadget that will allow you to easily take photos with the main camera and comfortably hold your iPhone in your hands. A small attachment is placed on the bottom of the smartphone and thanks to big button, gives it a resemblance to “adult” cameras.
Buy - $7Wi-Fi socket with motion sensor
You are unlikely to buy such a present for yourself, but all gadget owners will be happy to receive it as a gift. Just imagine, you will be able to remotely monitor the operation of various electrical appliances and control their power using your smartphone. The motion sensor included in the WeMo Switch kit opens up great possibilities for automation, such as turning off and on the lights in the house or New Year's garlands. But the biggest plus is integration with the IFTTT service, which allows you to use WeMo Switch in a lot of scenarios.
Price.ru ~7000 rub.Good headphones
You shouldn't give headphones to sophisticated audiophiles if you don't want to see disappointment in their eyes. But just for music lovers, owners of overcrowded iPods, good headphones will be to your liking. One of these options is KOSS Porta Pro - iconic headphones, which, for all their asceticism and utilitarianism (we are not even talking about any gloss or chic design), produce quite good sound, for which they are valued.
Price.ru ~2500 rub.Smart watch
Until Watch comes out, they can be replaced smart watch Pebble. For their price, they can do quite a lot, plus, after using them for a while, you can get used to them. smart watch, as such, and understand whether you need Watch. Pebble has an e-ink screen, which makes it work much longer than its counterparts, and can also broadcast notifications from your iPhone, count steps, and, of course, show the time.
Price.ru - 8500 rub.iOS compatible game controller
No matter how convenient the developers make the controls in games on iOS, some of them are still better played on a button gamepad. If there are avid gamers among your loved ones, then they will definitely be happy with such a gift as Moga Rebel. This wireless controller has a smartphone holder and is compatible with iPhone models 5, 5s, 6 and 6 Plus (plus iPad, of course).
Price.ru — 6950 rub.Budget fitness bracelet
With such a gift you can please both yourself and a loved one, and not necessarily a fan healthy image life. Despite its rather modest price, Xiaomi MiBand is rich in functionality and, in addition to notifications and “sports” functions, such as a pedometer and calorie counter, the bracelet has smart alarm clock, which is very useful for anyone who has trouble waking up.
Yandex.Market ~2000 rub.Handmade gift
Everyone knows that the best gift is a gift made with your own hands, one in which you put a piece of your soul. For those who know how to hold a thread and a needle or knitting needles in their hands, there is an excellent opportunity to please their loved ones with an exclusive case for iPhone or iPad. There are a great variety of design and material options and finding one that suits your needs will not be difficult. Depending on your skill, the gift can be decorated with a logo or a beautiful signature.
Find an idea!iTunes Gift Card
If you don’t want to bother or are afraid of not getting the gift right, there is a great option - an iTunes gift certificate, they come in different amounts. This gift will come in very handy for new owners of iOS devices who have not yet had time to acquire applications.
Devices from the Apple company are the most desired gifts for the New Year Russian users, according to the results of a survey conducted by Mail.Ru Group. Analysts also found out how the attitude of Russian consumers towards electronics as a gift has changed, with what funds, their own or on credit, they plan to buy gifts and how much they are willing to spend.
Among more than 50,000 respondents, 38% plan to spend more than 20,000 rubles on equipment as a gift. Smartphones, tablets and laptops remain popular – two thirds (68%) of respondents would be happy with them. However, less than a quarter of respondents (23%) are ready to put such gifts under the Christmas tree - which, however, is noticeably more than in 2015 (14%).
“Interest in gadgets as gifts continues. At the same time, users are accustomed to new reality prices and are mentally prepared to spend more than 20,000 rubles on the purchase of equipment, this maximum result in the survey. The statistics are confirmed by data from retailers: at the end of the year, the demand for equipment stopped showing negative dynamics, the mood for 2017 is positive. Many expect a slight downward adjustment in prices for gadgets, as well as a further strengthening of demand. Pre-New Year sales have already begun to demonstrate this,” analysts commented on the research results.
The rating of expectations, as last year, is headed by smartphones - 40% of respondents want them. Computers are in second place, and tablets round out the top 3. Those who are going to give gadgets as gifts are also focusing on smartphones - 53% of respondents stated their intention to give them as a gift. 16% plan to please their loved ones with tablets, 11% with smart watches or bracelets.
As in previous years, most users want to receive Apple gadgets– 24% would like to receive the company’s equipment for the New Year. 20% for Samsung – this is the highest result for the brand in last years. Traditionally, the top list of desirable gadgets includes equipment from Sony, ASUS and Lenovo.
Just like last year, most users plan to buy gifts in electronics stores and Russian online stores.