Also this week: five ways to turn back the clock on Gmail; six questions to ask before you decide between an iPhone or an Android phone; and the scoop on if—and when—your carrier will throttle your smartphone data.

Isn’t it romantic: 9 tech-minded Valentine’s Day goodies
We’ve come up with nine nifty gifts for your tech-addicted sweetie, from a heart-shaped, USB-powered mug warmer to a “Star Wars” lightsaber candlestick. Read more…

iPhone or Android? 6 questions to ask yourself before deciding
Can’t quite decide between a new iPhone or an Android phone? Don’t make the leap  until you answer these six crucial questions for yourself. Read more…

5 ways to go back to the old Gmail
Remember the old Gmail—before instant chat, the preview pane, the automatic message sorting, and the new look? Here’s 5 ways to make the new Gmail old again. Read more…

When will your smartphone carrier throttle your data? AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon compared
Your carrier may slow, or “throttle,” your phone’s data speeds if it thinks you’re using too much data. How much is too much, and what’s your carrier’s policy? Read more…

Mac tip: How to control your desktop with “Hot Corners”
Turn on the Mac’s hot-corner feature to jump to Mission Control, clear your desktop, and more, all with a simple flick of your fingertip. Read more…

6 ways to take charge of the Windows Start menu
From pinning a program to your list of recent items to changing what the “Shut down” button does, read on for six key ways to tweak the Windows Start menu. Read more…

Podcast 011: Gadgets, your kids, and you
Find out why your toddler wants not just any iPhone, but your iPhone; what a kid might do to a keyboard; and how to keep tykes from lunging at your new gadget. Read more…

4 ways to check if Facebook, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or [insert name here] is down
So, is Facebook (or Yahoo Mail, Netflix, or another big site) refusing to load? Here’s four quick ways to find out whether the problem lies with you, or them. Read more…

How to choose who can—and can’t—see you in Facebook’s chat sidebar
Don’t want a certain Facebook pal to see you’re online? Good news: you can now pick and choose who gets to see you’re available for chat, and who doesn’t. Read more…

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We’ve come up with nine nifty gifts for your favorite tech addict, from a heart-shaped, USB-powered mug warmer to a “Star Wars” lightsaber candlestick. In the mood yet?

Click a thumbnail to start the slideshow…

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Well, good news: there’s still time to leave something under the tree—a digital something, anyway—even if you’ve waited until the last yawning moment.

1. Send a gift card
What is it about unwrapping an iTunes gift card that’s more fun than just getting a $20 bill? Good question. Anyway, e-tailers from Apple and Amazon to Target and Walmart offer digital gift cards that you can personalize and print out, send via email, or even post on a lucky someone’s Facebook wall. Check out my list of 10-tech minded gift card ideas.

2. Gift a smartphone app
Got an iPhone or Android fanatic on your list? Why not gift them an app or two. Sending an iPhone or iPad app as a gift is easy on iTunes, and while you can’t gift apps from Google’s Android Market, you can always email a gift certificate for Amazon’s Android appstore. Click here for the details.

3. Gift a game
If you’re shopping for a video gamer, you’re in luck. You can instantly send a purchased game as a gift through Steam, an online storefront that specializes in downloadable games for PCs and Macs. Another nifty option is OnLive, an innovative new service that streams high-end PC games to just about any desktop or laptop (and even some tablets) over a small software client. Or, how about this: a gift certificate for GameFly, a Netflix-like service that rents game discs for Xbox 360, PS3, and other video game consoles through the mail.

4. Give some music
You can gift individual songs, albums, or even entire box sets though iTunes or Amazon’s MP3 store for instant digital delivery. Just find the tracks you want to give, and select “Gift This Album” or “Gift This Song” from the drop-down menu in the case of iTunes, or click the “Give album or song as gift” button on Amazon.

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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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1. Citizen Kane ($32)
Widely considered one of the best (if not the best) movies ever made, Orson Welles’ 1941 masterpiece continues to dazzle audiences and inspire filmmakers, and it gets a welcome Blu-ray makeover in this handsome box set. Included in the package: audio commentary by director Peter Bogdanovich and critic Roger Ebert, plus a full-length documentary about the efforts of media titan William Randolph Hearts to suppress the picture.

Related: Top 5 reasons to buy a Blu-ray player

"We're off to see the wizard..."

2. The Wizard of Oz ($94 for the box set, or $13 for the standard version)
I’d actually never seen “The Wizard of Oz” all the way though until I saw the newly-restored Blu-ray, and I have to say—I’m glad I waited. You’ll see every brick in the Yellow Brick Road on this 70th-anniversary Blu-ray edition, which makes the classic trip to Oz look like it was filmed yesterday. The pricier box set comes with a 52-page commemorative book, four hours of “extras,” and even a “limited-edition” Oz-themed watch.

3. Ben-Hur ($65 for box set, or $39 for the standard version)
See the epic chariot race in all its widescreen glory, complete with a restored Dobly Digital soundtrack, a full-length “making-of” documentary starring Charlton Heston himself, vintage screen tests, and more.

4. The Sound of Music ($17)
This three-disc set boasts an interactive “back-lot” tour of Robert Wise’s beloved musical (just wait ’til you see the sweeping opening shot on Blu-ray), along with an audio commentary with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. And yes, there’s a “sing-along” version included, too.

5. The Bridge on the River Kwai ($17)
David Lean’s harrowing, widescreen war epic gets the Blu-ray treatment, complete with a 35-page book detailing the production, replicas of the original lobby cards, a squad of documentaries, interviews with William Holden and Alec Guiness, and more. Still missing in action, sadly: a Blu-ray version of Lean’s masterpiece, “Lawrence of Arabia.”

"I'll never be hungry again!"

6. Gone With the Wind ($47)
They don’t make ’em like they used to, and there’s no finer example than this soaring Civil War melodrama. Released in 1939, the same year as “Wizard of Oz” (what a year that must have been), “Gone With the Wind” probably looks better now than it did during its original theatrical run. And on Blu-ray, the devastating shot of the wounded soldiers in the aftermath of the Battle of Atlanta is truly draw-dropping.

7. West Side Story ($20)
Another great musical—except this time, it’s set in the mean streets of Manhattan rather than the mountains of Austria. Leonard Bernstein’s score is remastered in luscious 7.1 DTS-HD audio, and 50’s-era New York looks superb (and appropriately grimy) in widescreen 1080p HD.

8. North by Northwest ($14)
“Vertigo” may be considered Hitchcock’s greatest movie, but for my money, you can’t beat the thrilling “North by Northwest,” featuring Cary Grant at his suavest—even as he was dodging that infamous cropduster. “Vertigo,” by the way, isn’t on Blu-ray yet, although another Hitchcock classic—the still-terrifying “Psycho”—is.

"Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it."

9. Stanley Kurbick: Limited Edition Collection ($95)
This massive 10-disc Blu-ray set boasts nine of Stanley Kubrick’s greatest movies, including probably my favorite film of all time: “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Also included: “Spartacus,” “Lolita,” “Dr. Strangelove,” “A Clockwork Orange,” “Barry Lyndon,” “The Shining,” “Full Metal Jacket,” and “Eyes Wide Shut.”

10. The Godfather trilogy ($68)
I had no idea how badly the “Godfather” movies needed a makeover until I watched the new Blu-ray versions recently; in particular, the opening, now fully-restored wedding sequence from “The Godfather” is a revelation.

11. The “Star Wars” saga ($87)
Hey, weren’t there only supposed to be 10 movies in this holiday Blu-ray countdown? Well, yes, but I can’t let this list go by without mentioning “Star Wars,” which finally landed on Blu-ray this past fall. The box set includes all six movies, complete with razor-sharp 1080p HD visuals and restored digital soundtracks; check out my eyes- and ears-on impressions right here.

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Note: Prices reflect current online discounts as well as list prices.

AppleCore cable organizer 3-pack combo ($10)

Just wrap your earbud cables around this cute little cord organizer, and you’ll never have to untangle them again. Perfect for anyone who keeps their wired smartphone headset stuffed in a purse or pocket.

Kensington Virtuoso Stylus ($10)

Rather not tap on your touchscreen phone with your fingertips? Try this touchscreen-friendly stylus, which works on any smartphone or tablet with a “capacitive” touch-enabled display.

Belkin Conserve Power Switch ($7)

Believe it or not, you’ve got vampires lurking in your home—that is, DVRs, computers, home theater receivers, and other gadgets that suck power out of your electrical outlets, even when they appear to be turned off. But with the flip of a switch, this power-saving gizmo will help cut down on your electricity bill.

Wingstand keyboard clips ($15)

Here’s a clever way to use your iPhone or iPad with a wireless keyboard. These plastic Wingstand clips snap onto the back of an Apple Bluetook keyboard, propping up your iDevice at precisely the right angle.

iWatchz wrist strap for iPod Nano 4G ($20)

Turn the bite-sized iPod Nano into a music-playing, touchscreen wristwatch with the help of this silicone and stainless-steel wrist band, which boasts opening for the Nano’s volume and sleep/wake buttons.

Verso Clip-On Reading Light for Kindle ($19)

Putting a Kindle under the tree for your favorite bookworm? If so, you might want to tuck one of these clip-on reading lights in her Christmas stocking, seeing as the Kindle’s non-backlit display doesn’t exactly shine in the dead of night.

X-Mini II Capsule Speaker ($20)

This little ball of fire will let you crank your mobile tunes wherever you go; just plug it into a 3.5mm headset jack (standard on most phones, tablets, and MP3 players) and press “play.”

Tuneband for iPhone 4/4S ($20)

Take your iPhone along for your morning run with this sporty Velcro armband case, which comes with a pair of protective, peel-off films for the front and back of your precious handset.

Kingston 19-in-1 USB 2.0 Flash Memory Card Reader ($12.50)

Juggling a hodge-podge of incompatible flash-memory cards? This versatile memory-card reader plus into your system’s USB port and can handle just about any format, from Compact Flash cards to Sony’s proprietary Memory Sticks.

WMA + MP3 Player Sunglasses 2GB ($20)

This pair of MP3-playing shades is simply too cool for school—and at $20, it’s on sale for an eye-popping $130 off its original $150 asking price.

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Amazon

What can you get? Just about anything under the sun, ranging from books and MP3s to gadgets and clothing, not to mention the Amazon Kindle e-reader
Gift card denominations: Anywhere from 15 cents to $2,000
Number of designs: 35
Delivered by: Physical mail, email, Facebook, or printed out

Barnes & Noble

What can you get? Books, DVDs, gadgets, household items, and more, as well as the Nook e-reader
Gift card denominations: From $10 to $350
Number of designs: 55 for physical cards, 16 for e-cards
Delivered by: Physical mail or email

Best Buy

What can you get? A smorgasbord of home electronics and personal tech, from cell phones and digital cameras to HDTVs and computers
Gift card denominations: $5 to $500 for e-cards, $15 to $200 for physical cards
Number of designs: 39 designs for e-cards, 16 for physical cards
Delivered by: Physical mail, email, Facebook

Hulu Plus

What can you get? Thousands of network TV shows, including complete seasons, streamed instantly over the Web, smartphones, game consoles, HDTVs, and other home-video devices
Gift card denominations: Range from $7.99 (for a month’s subscription) to $95.88 (for an entire year)
Number of gift card designs: 3
Delivered by: Email, or printed out

iTunes Store

What can you get? Downloadable apps, movies, TV shows, and music for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch
Gift card denominations: $15, $25, and $50 for physical gift cards; $10 to $50 for virtual gift cards (which you can buy in the iTunes desktop client); or $50 to $100 for “special edition” Beatles cards.
Number of gift card designs: 15
Delivered by: Physical mail, email, or printed out

Netflix

What can you get? Instant, unlimited streaming of more than 20,000 movies and TV shows over the Internet
Gift card denominations: Range from $7.99 (for a month’s subscription) to $95.88 (for an entire year)
Number of gift card designs: 8
Delivered by: Email, or printed out

PlayStation Network

What can you get? Downloadable games, videos, wallpapers, and more for your PlayStation 3 gaming console
Gift card denominations: $20 and $50
Designs: 1
Delivered by: Email (physical cards are available in retail stores)

Redbox

What can you get? DVD and video game rentals from kiosks in grocery stores, quick marts, fast-food restaurants, and other locations
Gift card denominations: $5 to $10 (for DVDs) or $10 to $20 (games)
What they can be redeemed for: Five to 10 DVD rentals, or five game rentals
Number of gift card designs: 9
Delivered by: Email, text message, Facebook, or printed out

Xbox Live “Points” cards

What can you get? Downloadable games, videos, wallpapers, and more for the Xbox 360 gaming console
Gift card denominations: $20 and $50
Number of designs: 1
Delivered by: Physical and email

… and last but not least …

American Red Cross

What can you get? Nothing for yourself (beyond the satisfaction of giving to a worthy cause), but plenty of nifty (and essential) “gadgets” and services like blankets, personal care kits, emergency water containers, and other essentials for those who need them most
Gift card denominations: $18 and up (the sky’s the limit, naturally)
Number of designs: 1 (it’s a good one, though)
Delivered by: Physical and email

Have any other good gift card ideas to share? Post ’em below!

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Also in our 2011 shopping guide: apps and web sites to help you survive the holidays.

Happy shopping, and season’s greetings!

10 terrific tech-minded stocking stuffers
A smartphone tripod that looks like an octopus? A solar-powered toy helicopter? An alarm clock that flies? Read on for 10 tech-minded stocking stuffers.

Gadgets for grandparents
From an HD webcam to a digital photo frame that doesn’t look like one, we’ve got five can’t-miss gadgets for the grandparents on your holiday shopping list.

7 goodies for iPhone users
Among our gift ideas: a gaming-friendly iPhone case, a gorgeous Bluetooth speaker, a Wi-Fi-enabled bathroom scale, and more.

Home theater gear for the living room and beyond
Among our picks: a pair of streaming TV set-top boxes (can you say Apple TV?); one remote control to rule them all; and a pocket-sized HD projector.

10 tech gifts under $20
From a tiny mobile speaker and a Kindle reading light to an iPhone armband case and MP3-playing sunglasses, we’ve got 10 tech gifts that won’t break the bank.

Gadgets for college students
From a stylish laptop backpack to a voice-recording pen that’ll change the way she takes notes, we’ve got six gadgets sure to please your favorite scholar.

5 must-have organizational apps for the holidays
We’ve rounded up a few apps and web sites that’ll help organize your gift lists, find the lowest prices for your picks, and manage your holiday get-together.

Prepaid and no-contract phones
Put a QWERTY phone, a BlackBerry, an Android phone, or even an iPhone under the tree this year—but without hanging a contract around the lucky recipient’s neck.

5 gadgets for around the house
From a floor-sweeping robot to a blue “light therapy” device to brighten dark winter months, these handy household gadgets will make for perfect holiday gifts.

How to give an iPhone, iPad, or Android app as a gift
Got a smartphone addict on your holiday shopping list? Here’s a quick and easy way to spread some Yuletide cheer: send her an app.

6 super smartphone accessories
From a stylish Bluetooth headset to a roll-up keyboard, we’ve got six great gifts for your favorite iPhone-, Android-, or BlackBerry-toting road warrior.

iPad, Nook, Tab or Fire? A field guide for first-time tablet shoppers
Going tablet shopping, but not sure where to start? Read on for a bird-eye view of the entire tablet landscape, from the Apple iPad 2 to the Kindle Fire.

Which iPad should you give for the holidays: 3G, or Wi-Fi? 4 things to consider before buying
So, you’re giving an iPad to a special someone for the holidays. But which version should you get: the Wi-Fi-only version, or the pricier 3G-plus-Wi-Fi model?

Visit the here’s the thing Holiday Gift Guide on Pinterest
Check out all our holiday gift picks on Pinterest, an online “pinboard” that lets you share products, restaurants, and anything else that tickles your fancy.

Seasons e-greetings! Top 5 sites for sending holiday cards & messages
Tired of hokey holiday cards? Skip the stationary store, save some cash, and preserve a few trees by creating your own personalized greeting cards online.

10 tech-minded gift card ideas
So, don’t have a clue what to give your favorite gadget hound for the holidays, or are you simply pressed for time? Here’s a simple solution: a gift card, which you can send via email, print out, post on Facebook, or have delivered the old-fashioned way. Read on for 10 gift card ideas that’ll appeal to gadget lovers, online video fanatics, gamers, and more.

10 classic, must-have Blu-ray movies
Putting a Blu-ray player under the tree for your favorite movie buff? Consider throwing in a classic Blu-ray movie, like “Ben-Hur” or “Gone With the Wind.”

The 10 hottest holiday video games: a cheat sheet for parents
Read on for a parent’s guide to the season’s hottest video games, ranging from “Dance Central 2” to “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.”

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Roku ($49 to $99)

One of the best buys you’ll find in home video, period, the compact Roku TV set-top box delivers everything from streaming Netflix videos to TV shows from Hulu, professional hoops from the NBA, and even games like Angry Birds (if you get the $99 XS model). All you need is an HDMI-enabled TV and an Internet connection.

Apple TV ($99)

Yes, it’s twice as expensive as the cheapest Roku box, but the $99 Apple TV offers up some pretty compelling features for iPhone and iPad users—particularly the ability to wirelessly stream music and video from your handheld to a TV via the Apple TV’s “AirPlay” feature. Even better, the Apple TV will wirelessly “mirror” whatever is on your iPhone 4S’s or iPad 2’s screen (including the web browser, games, and the photo gallery) on your big-screen HDTV. You’ll also be able to rent movies from iTunes, stream your iCloud music collection, and watch streaming Netflix videos.

Related: Is Apple TV worth it?

Apple Digital AV Adapter ($39)

Here’s a stocking stuffer-priced alternative to Apple TV. Just plug the Digital AV Adapter into an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, connect the adapter to your HDTV via an HDMI cable, a presto—you can instantly stream videos, music, and music from your iDevice to your big-screen TV, or even “mirror” your iPhone 4S or iPad 2 display.

Optoma PK301 pocket projector ($399)

Small enough to fit in the palm, the battery-powered PK301 pocket projector connects to smartphones (including the iPhone and Android phones), tablets, laptops, and Blu-ray players, and it’s capable of displaying a 10-foot widescreen image onto a nearby screen or wall—perfect for turning your backyard into a drive-in. Pricey but eye-popping.

Harmony One universal remote ($199)

It’s been out on the market for a few years now, yet the Harmony One remains my favorite universal remote. Just launch the setup software on your PC or Mac, enter the makes and models of your various home theater devices (like your HDTV, Blu-ray player, game console, and streaming set-top box), sync the Harmony One remote with your system via the included USB cable, and you’re ready to go. Last step: gather up all your old remote controls and hide them in a drawer somewhere.

Disney WOW: World of Wonder Blu-ray calibration disc ($39)

Have someone on your list who just got a new HDTV and Blu-ray player? Help them get the best picture possible with this Blu-ray calibration set from Disney, which features step-by-step instructions for tweaking the settings on their big-screen TV, as well as a color filter for making sure blue skies aren’t too blue, grassy fields aren’t too green, and golden sunsets aren’t too golden.

Bargain HDMI cables ($10 or less)

You don’t have to spend $100 or even $50 on a standard HDMI cable, no matter what the clerks at your local big-box retailer say. Click here for tips and buying advice if you’re planning on tucking an HDMI cable or two under the tree.

Bonus: HDTV and Blu-ray player shopping
So, want to surprise a special someone on your list with an HDTV or Blu-ray player this year? Unfortunately, there are too many HDTVs and Blu-ray decks on the market for me to make specific recommendations; that said, check out my cheat sheet for first-time HDTV buyers, as well as some of my recent notes on Blu-ray.

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Santa’s Bag & Hanukkah Gift List are essentially two versions of the same holiday-shopping app.

Santa’s Bag & Hanukkah Gift List (99 cents each)
This pair of handy apps (which, by the way, were built by the same developer) will let you set a shopping budget, add pictures for each person on your shopping list and keep track of whether a particular gift has been bought, wrapped, or given. There’s even a place where you can jot down those fleeting gift ideas that always manage to slip your mind just when you need them.

Pic2shop (free)
Finding the best price on a gift for someone you love is icing on the cake. I use this app to scan the bar code of something I’ve found in a brick-and-mortar store and immediately find out where I can buy it for less. Most of time (you guessed it), you’ll find cheaper prices online. You can also use Pic2shop to keep track of great gift ideas while browsing the aisles; just scan the bar code and tap a button to save the item to your wish list.

Share your shopping ideas with fellow Pinterest users by “pinning” your picks to a virtual pinboard.

Pinterest (free)
Here’s a site I never knew I needed. Once you sign up (Pinterest is still in “invitation-only” mode, but feel free to ask us for an invite), your “profile” is like a collage of themed bulletin boards. See a product online (anything from, say, a cell phone to a sweater) that would make the perfect gift? Just “pin” it to one of your boards using a bookmark in your browser, or with the free iPhone app.

Once you start pinning, your friends and “followers” on Pinterest can “like” or “re-pin” your picks; likewise, you can browse and favorite the pinned products of the Pinterest users that you’re following.

Related: Visit the here’s the thing Holiday Gift Guide on Pinterest

Simple Soiree ($1.99)
Holiday parties can be exhausting to plan, but this easy-to-use app helps me keep track of tons of miscellaneous details, from the RSVP list and the menu to the glass-to-guest ratio and which guest brought which gift.

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