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Mophie Juice Pack Reserve for iPhone ($35)

About the size of a Zippo lighter, the Juice Pack fits on your key ring and boasts a 30-pin connector for your iPhone or iPod Touch; just flip open the top and connect your iDevice for a quick charge in a pinch. Using an Android phone or a BlackBerry instead of an iPhone? If so, give Kensington’s $39 Pocket Battery a look.

Jawbone Icon HD ($99)

This beautiful, ultra-stylish Bluetooth headset boasts military-grade noise cancellation technology (yes, really), a 10-millimeter “wideband” speaker for high-quality sound, and an Android app that’ll dial you in to a conference call at the touch of a button.

Bose SoundLike wireless mobile speaker ($300)

No, it’s not cheap, but the three-pound Bose SoundLink speaker promises eight hours of crystal-clear sound on a single charge, and it works with any Bluetooth-enabled smartphone.

Kensington Virtuoso Touch Screen Stylus & Pen ($25)

Perfect for tapping on a touchscreen with your winter gloves on—or if you’d simply rather not swipe with your fingers—Kensington’s high-end Virtuoso smartphone stylus doubles as a good old-fashioned ballpoint pen.

Maxell AirStash A02 wireless thumbdrive ($149)

Think of the AirStash as a pocket-sized, flyweight portable media drive, complete with its own built-in Wi-Fi network. Toss some movies, music, or photos onto any SD memory card, plug the card into the AirStash, then connect your iPhone or Android phone to the AirStash’s Wi-Fi signal to start streaming video, music, or images. (Read my hands-on review.)

Scosche freeKey Bluetooth keyboard ($60)

Here’s a wireless keyboard for iPhone and Android with a difference: it’s flexible, meaning you can roll it up and tuck it into your purse or briefcase. (Of course, it also means you’ll need a hard, flat surface for typing; otherwise, the rubbery freeKey will simply dribble into your lap.) Expect to get 60 hours of typing out of this rechargable keyboard.

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iRobot Roomba 780 ($599)

Who doesn’t like a freshly swept floor, or a just-vacuumed carpet? Well, meet Roomba, the floor-sweeping and carpet-vacuuming robot who has nothing but time to scoot around your house, sucking up dust, dirt, grime and even pet hair. The programmable Roomba (read my review) will navigate its way around your furniture while avoiding tumbles down stairs, and it comes with both a charging dock and a remote.

Mint Cleaner ($199)

No, it doesn’t do carpets, but the Mint Clearer is an ace at sweeping hard-wood floors. Just give it a Swiffer cloth, place the “indoor GPS” navigation cubes at strategic locations around your house, and let the Mint (check out my hands-on impressions) work its magic.

iZon Remote Room Monitor ($130)

Want to keep tabs on the nursery, your home office, or even the babysitter? Just put the iZon Remote Room Monitor in the room you want to keep an eye on, then watch a live video feed on your iPhone or iPad. The free iZon app can also alert you whenever the remote camera detects sound or movement—and yes, it works anywhere in the world, so long as you’re in range of a Wi-Fi or 3G signal.

Belkin iPad Chef Stand ($40)

Want to pull up recipes on your iPad without mucking it up with messy hands? Say hellow to Belkin and its clever iPad chef stand, which comes with a “non-slip” base and a touchscreen-friendly stylus that you can clean in the sink.

Philips GoLite Blu Light Therapy Device ($199)

Here’s the perfect antidote for anyone with the winter blues. Armed with “Bluewave” technology that mimics the light of a clear, blue sky, the GoLite Blu Plus promises to give you a daily boost after just minutes of use. Just turn it on, put it at arm’s length, set the timer, and (supposedly, anyway) you should start feeling better within 15 minutes or so.

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Jawbone Jambox ($199)

One of the most stylish Bluetooth speakers you’ll ever see—or hear, for that matter—the compact, 1.6-pound Jambox promises rich, boomy sound from its single speaker, along with up to 10 hours of battery life.

Qdos Jet Play Gaming Case ($25)

Your favorite iPhone gamer will appreciate the ridged, jumbo-sized grips on the Jet Play gaming case, which boasts openings for the iPhone’s headphone jack and charging cable.

Mophie Juice Pack Air ($79)

Have a friend who’s constantly complaining about her iPhone’s weak battery life? Give her a few more hours of power with the Juice Pack Air, a sturdy, 2.5-ounce iPhone case that doubles as a portable charging station.

Pop Phone ($29)

So, wouldn’t be caught dead with a Bluetooth headset in your ear? Try this on for size: the Pop Phone, a classic wired headset that plugs into the iPhone’s headphone jack.

UP by Jawbone ($99)

Scoring yet another pick in our iPhone accessory gift guide, the hipsters at Jawbone have a hit on their hands with UP, the eye-catching lifestyle bracelet that wirelessly connects to the iPhone and keeps track of your diet, sleeping patterns, and overall daily activity.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air ($599)

Sure to upstage all the other gifts in Santa’s sleigh, the glorious but pricey Zeppelin Air supports Apple’s AirPlay standard for wireless music streaming—nice, although you’d be missing out on the fun if you didn’t plug your iPhone into the Zeppelin’s stylish dock.

Wi-Fi Body Scale by Withings ($159)

Here’s a first: a bathroom scale that tweets. Complete with its own iPhone app, the Wi-Fi-enabled Withings Body Scale watches your weight, monitors your BMI (body mass index), and updates the world on your progress via Twitter or Facebook. Talk about a good incentive to skip that extra danish in the morning.

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Read on for six tech-minded gifts that your favorite student will love, from a stylish backpack for her laptop to a voice-recording pen that’ll change the way she takes notes in class.

Incase Campus Pack ($99)

Stylish, sturdy, yet light and compact, the Campus Pack comes complete with padded shoulder straps, a contoured back, plenty of pockets and zippered compartments, and enough room for a 15-inch laptop.

Livescribe Echo 2 GB ($99)

One of the niftiest gadgets I’ve ever reviewed, the Livescribe Echo pen not only records lectures as you write, it also keeps track of what was being said at the exact moment you were writing. When it’s time to review your notes, just tap any word or doodle, and the Echo will jump back to that precise moment in your recording. Brilliant.

LifeProof iPhone case ($69)

This rough-and-tumble case protects the iPhone against dirt, dust, hard knocks on the quad, rain, and even dunks in the pool.

Beats Solo by Dr. Dre ($199)

They’re not cheap, and audiophiles may sniff at their exaggerated bass, but there’s no denying the wow factor of these snazzy over-the-ear headphones, perfect for cranking tunes in the quietest of study halls.

Panasonic iPod/iPhone Compact Clock Radio ($60)

It’s got an eye-catching curved design, a pair of alarms, a dock for your iPhone or iPod Touch, and—naturally—it’s very own iPhone app.

Roku 2 XS ($99)

Not only does it stream videos and music from the likes of Neflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Pandora at full 1080p HD resolution, the latest Roku TV set-top box also doubles as a game console, complete with an included big-screen version of Angry Birds. Just the ticket for unwinding after midterms.

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Slated to go on sale next month, the Maxell AirStash A02 ($149 with a bundled 8 GB memory card, or $179 with a 16 GB memory card) is smaller, faster, and—unfortunately—somewhat pricier than its $99 predecessor.

The new AirStash (right) is somewhat smaller—and pricier—than its predecessor (left).

Here’s how it works. First, you take a memory card (either an SD card of your own, or the one that comes with the AirStash), load it with movies, music, photos, or other documents, and then slide the card into the AirStash’s memory-card slot.

Next, you turn on the three-ounce AirStash (just press and hold the power button until an indicator light starts flashing), connect your iPhone, iPad, or Android device to the AirStash’s Wi-Fi signal, and type “airstash.net” into your mobile web browser.

If all goes well, you’ll arrive at a polished website that lets you browse and access the files sitting on your portable AirStash drive. For example, just tap “Movies” to see the videos on the AirStash’s memory card, and tap the title of a file to begin playing it immediately; same goes with songs, photos, PDFs, and other documents.

The AirStash's web interface, as seen on an Android tablet.

Up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled gadgets can connect to the AirStash at once, and up to three users can stream videos on the AirStash simultaneously. You can also tap into the rechargeable drive using a slick (and free) app for the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

The AirStash may come in particularly handy for photographers who want to wirelessly transfer snapshots from their digital cameras to the iPhone or iPad—neither of which have slots for removable memory cards. Just snap some photos, remove the SD memory card from your camera, insert it into the AirStash, and import your photos (either individually or in batches) to the Camera Roll of your iDevice.

The AirStash's iOS interface in action.

It’s a neat trick, but there’s a downside: you can’t access the Internet on your iPhone, iPad, or other smartphone or tablet while it’s connected to the AirStash’s Wi-Fi signal. Why? Because while the AirStash will let you stream anything stored on its plugged-in memory card, it’s not connected to the Internet itself.

Now, to be clear, there are other portable, wireless hard drives that connect to smartphones and gadgets, such as the GoFlex Satellite from Seagate.

But while the half-pound GoFlex boasts a massive 500 GB hard drive, good for storing and streaming dozens of HD-quality movies, it’s also much larger and heavier than the AirStash (think the size of a hardback book rather than a Zippo lighter). At $200, it’s also more expensive.

Then again, the new AirStash isn’t exactly cheap, especially considering that the $149 model only comes with an 8 GB memory card.

The AirStash works with removable SD memory cards, and you can plug it into a PC or Mac via USB.

Still, the AirStash performed admirably in my tests. I managed to stream video from the AirStash for more than seven hours before the drive’s rechargable battery ran out of juice, and I was also able to wander from one end of my apartment to the other without interrupting the AirStash’s wireless connection.

The second-generaton AirStash also supports the latest Wi-Fi standard (802.11n, to be specific) for speedy wireless transfers.

But while you can password-protect the wireless link between the AirStash and your handheld, you’ll have to use the relatively weak WEP security system. (Think of it as a latch on a screen door rather than a bank vault.) The makers of AirStash promise that stronger WPA protection will arrive in a future software update.

Overall, I’d say AirStash makes for a great way to wirelessly share videos, music, and photos with smartphones and tablets, especially when it comes to devices like the iPad that lack slots for removable memory cards.

But at $149 and up, the new AirStash is a bit too pricey for the memory you get (and no, there isn’t a cheaper model without a bundled SD card). personally, I’d wait until the price tag falls back down to about $99, same as the original AirStash.

Any questions about the AirStash A02? Let me know!

Note: Maxell loaned me an AirStash A02 for review, and I plan on shipping it back once I’m finished testing.

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What is it?
Dubbed Wingstand, we’re basically talking a pair of light, plastic clips that snap precisely on the rounded back of Apple’s Bluetooth keyboard ($69). Available in black or white, the clips boast slots for propping up an iPhone (including the 4S, the 4, and the 3GS), iPad (both models), or iPod Touch.

How much is it?
$15 online

Does it work?
Yep, just as advertised—and indeed, I got a kick out of using Wingstand for typing with a full-size keyboard on the diminutive screen of my iPhone.

Any downsides?
The clips can be a little tricky to snap onto—and off of—the Apple Bluetooth keyboard. Speaking of which, the Wingstand will only work with the Apple wireless keyboard.

Will Wingstand work with Android phones and tablets?
Theoretically, yes, as long as you can get your Android device to connect to the Apple keyboard via Bluetooth.

Alternatives to the Wingstand?
Dozens (click here for iPhone and here for the iPad), many of which are cheaper than the $15 Wingstand clips—although few are as elegant, I must say.

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Enter Kensington and its BungeeAir Power, a $99 mobile security system that includes a key fob that’s wirelessly connected to an iPhone 4 case.

The snap-on case comes with a built-in transmitter that essentially “tethers” it to your iPhone, once you’ve installed and configured a free iPhone app.

After the wireless connection is set up, you just arm the system using the iPhone app, put the key fob on your key ring, and … well, forget about it, at least until your iPhone and the key fob are separated by more than about 50 feet.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgWDxNk3dOI&w=520]
When that happens—perhaps because you’ve forgotten your iPhone 4 at a restaurant, or maybe a ne’re-do-well has slipped it out of your purse—the key fob will start vibrating and beeping like crazy. (The fob will also start beeping if someone tries to remove the case while the BungeeAir iPhone app is “armed.”)

Next, you press a button that activates the BungeeAir’s version of “find my iPhone,” which will make your iPhone beep and begin playing whatever song is queued up in its music player. Just follow the music back to your handset—which, by the way, will lock itself the moment it’s out of key fob range.

I tried BungeeAir a few times for myself (see for yourself in the embedded video), and yes, it works as advertised.

Whenever I got more than about 50 feet from my iPhone, the fob began beeping insistently, although the “find my iPhone” function became spotty once I wandered further than 50 feet away from my missing iPhone. If that happens, it’s probably time to fire up the real “Find My iPhone” app.

To my mind, the biggest downside to the BungeeAir Power is the case, which adds a little extra girth and about 2.5 ounces to the iPhone 4’s slender profile. The good news, though, is that the case includes a built-in battery that’ll give your iPhone an extra four hours of juice. (A cheaper version of the Bungee Air minus the battery pack sells for $79.)

Oh, and one more thing. The BungeeAir is designed for the iPhone 4—not the new iPhone 4S, which has a slightly different configuration of buttons that won’t quite fit the openings in the BungieAir case.

So, what do you think? Is a key fob that vibrates whenever your iPhone wanders off worth $99?

Note: Kensington supplied me with a test unit for my review, and I’ll be returning it once I’m finished.

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Made of “shatter-resistant” plastic (fingers crossed), the Crayola “Trace & Draw” case ($39) promises to turn the iPad 2 into an tablet-sized easel.

Just snap your iPad 2 into the plastic shell (which wraps all the way around the iPad’s back panel), attach the included screen protector, clip on a sheet of drawing paper, and fire up Crayola’s free iPad app, which features more than 35 digital drawings to trace.

Oh, and make sure your tykes use only the Crayola maker that comes in the “Trace & Draw” kit—and not, say, a ball-point pen or a sloppy paint brush. That wouldn’t be good.

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On the inside, though, the Powerbag has a secret weapon: a battery that charges up to four gadgets at once, including smartphones, tablets, iPods, you name it.

The compact, rechargeable lithium polymer battery comes hidden in a little zippered compartment in the bottom of the $169 backpack. (Messenger-bag and rolling-briefcase versions of the Powerbag are also available, with prices ranging from $139 to $249.)

The Powerbag's battery is hidden in a little zippered pouch. See it down there?

About the size of a deck of cards, the battery comes with a USB port for charging, say, an iPad or an Android tablet; just plug the USB end of your tablet’s charging cable into the Powerbag’s battery, and you’ve got juice.

Also connected to the battery is a pair of power cords that snake into a small, zippered pocket on the side of the backpack.

Wired to the end of one of those cables is Apple’s 30-pin iPod connector, good for charging an iPod (natch), the iPod Touch, or an iPhone.

On the end of the second cable, you’ll find two plugs: a Micro USB connector, which will charge most recent Android smartphones, and a Mini USB plug for older cell phones and other compatible gadgets. (Click here for pictures and more info about Micro and Mini USB plugs.)

An iPod charging cable and powered Micro USB and Mini USB ports live in a side pocket, while a powered USB plug sits in the main compartment.

So, say you’re out on the town with the Powerbag and the battery indicator on your new HTC Status starts turns bright red. Just put your phone in the Powerbag’s side pocket, connect one of the two power cords to your smartphone’s microUSB port, and press the power button on the front of the backpack to start charging.

Pressing the power button also lights up the Powerbag’s own battery-life gauge, which is sewn into the fabric and invisible until it glows. Neat.

OK, so that’s how the Powerbag charges your gadgets, but how do you charge the Powerbag? Easy: just connect the included (and surprisingly light) AC adapter to a small, inconspicuous plug on the Powerbag’s outside shell, then plug the cord into a wall outlet.

Just press the power button to see how much juice is left in the Powerbag's battery.

Once connected to a power outlet, the Powerbag will first charge any gadgets that happen to be connected to the battery; after your various gadgets are fully charged, or if the Powerbag’s built-in battery isn’t connected to any smartphones, tablets, or other gear, the battery will start charging itself.

How does the battery perform? Pretty well, at least during my tests. I took the Powerbag with me on a day-long trip into Manhattan, and I connected my power-hungry Sprint Overdrive 4G portable hotspot—which usually only lasts for an hour or so on its own battery—to the backpack.

All day and late into the afternoon, the Powerbag-assisted Overdrive kept purring away. Later in the afternoon, with the Powerbag’s battery still going strong, I decided to give it the acid test: using the already red-hot Overdrive for streaming a movie over Netflix.

Only after connecting my MacBook Air to the Overdrive’s via Wi-Fi and watching “The Living Daylights” a couple of times did the Powerbag’s battery begin to wind down. Impressive.

Charging the Powerbag with the included AC adapter.

As for the backpack itself … well, it’s sturdy, comfortable, and reasonably light (about two-and-a-half pounds, according to my scale, and that includes both the battery and the AC adapter).

The backpack has three roomy zippered compartments, including one with a zipper on the side for a laptop. The main compartment has several little pockets for odds and ends, including the tablet-sized pocket that I mentioned earlier.

The Powerbag’s battery is concealed in a small zippered pouch, with its power cables well concealed within the backpack’s lining—and indeed, a casual observer would probably never spot the Powerbag’s killer feature.

Bottom line: It may not win any awards for style, but the Powerbag is tops when it comes to keeping your gadgets charged, especially while you’re traveling.

Note: I’ll be returning the Powerbag to the company once I’m finished reviewing it.

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