Tag: Christmas

A 2022 Christmas Holiday Gift Guide

Audrey
A 2022 Christmas Holiday Gift Guide

It’s the day before Black Friday! What’s that called again?

Oh yeah, Thanksgiving! The best holiday of the year now casts a dark shadow, with the most flagrantly capitalistic day of the year encroaching ever more into today’s festivities (and the whole week, really).

But it’s a good time to go shopping, no doubt about it, especially if you want to save some money on consumer goods like video games and gadgets. The following list includes some of my favorite gaming gadgets and accessories—from VR headsets to gaming chairs—that I’ve played around with this year. This is not a “steep discounts for Black Friday” post so much as it is “go look for these cool things and hopefully they’ll be on sale” post. If there’s a deal, however, I’ll link to it. I’ll have a separate guide for discounted video games as well, so look for that here on this blog.

Okay, so what are the best gadgets of the year? Let’s take a look. Note also that some of these came out before 2022 but I didn’t get a chance to take them for a spin until this year. Sometimes that means they’ve come down in price but not always, as lately we’ve seen some gadgets—from the PS5 to the Meta Quest 2—get price hikes! In any case, let’s get to the gift guide, shall we?

The Best Gaming Gadgets For Holiday 2022

1. The BenQ X3000i True 4K UHD 4LED Gaming Projector

BenQ’s excellent 4K gaming projector is a fantastic option for any gamer that wants to go the projector route instead of a TV. It’s crystal clear and the 3,000 lumen LED 4K DLP means it’s plenty bright with truly amazing color and contrast.

At around $2,000 this isn’t a cheap purchase but it’s no more expensive than comparable television sets and has a lot more flexibility. You can also get a lot more screen real-estate for your money since you can get a 100-inch images from just over 8 feet away. The unit has built-in speakers that sound great and built-in Android TV, though you’ll likely be running your PS5 or Xbox Series X through this bad boy. It also looks like a droid out of Star Wars! The cool aesthetic is complimented by rugged build quality, making this a great addition to any gamer’s setup.

$1,999 at Amazon

2. Meta Quest 2 Virtual Reality Headset (Oculus Quest 2)

If I had to pick one gaming gadget that got the most use in our household in 2022 (outside of our dedicated gaming consoles and PCs) it would have to be the Meta Quest 2 (formerly called the Oculus Quest 2 which was a vastly better name).

This is largely because my 12-year-old son is obsessed with VR in ways that I will never be. I really do think virtual reality will be a generational thing. It’s

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From Zoom to Disney+ watch parties: tech for family fun at Christmas | Zoom

Audrey
From Zoom to Disney+ watch parties: tech for family fun at Christmas | Zoom

With Omicron spreading in the UK the potential for disruptions to Christmas plans are high, whether you’re limiting your contacts or have been forced to isolate. But the fact you can’t meet in person doesn’t mean all the festivities have to stop.

It will not be quite the same but you can still join your family and friends and have a good time virtually. Here are some ideas to help keep you connected over the festive period – whether it’s checking in for a chat or sharing entertainment.

Easy video calling

video calling at christmas
A quick video call can keep someone involved in Christmas, even if they’re not in the same house with you. Photograph: ArtistGNDphotography/Getty Images

Video calls are most people’s first port of call. You can use almost any device with a camera, but tablets or laptops are the easiest to set up for longer chats if you have them.

Zoom is one of the easiest cross-platform services available with an app available for most devices. It can be used for free for up to 40 minutes at a time.

For those in the Apple ecosystem, FaceTime is built into every iPhone, iPad or Mac, is very easy to use and now you can send invites to those on Android or Windows for calls in their browser. Google users can use Meet on Android, in Chrome on a computer or iPhone and iPad apps.

Those sitting on their own should use headphones to avoid feedback and help keep conversations more natural, and shorter video chats are usually better to avoid fatigue. Place a tablet or laptop at the end of the table if someone can’t make a gathering.

Party games over video call

video call party games
Switch yelling out answers in person to shouting out guesses at a screen with charades and other party games over video call. Photograph: Canadian Press/REX/Shutterstock

Chats can get old quickly, so why not try party games over video calls. Some things are easier to do than others. Charades is a natural fit: just prop up your video calling device and make your shapes to the camera.

Pictionary is also fairly easy to do over a video call using pen and paper, or you can use a shared drawing service such as the free Microsoft Whiteboard to see what other people are drawing on their screens or tablets.

Quizzes are a video chat favourite, too. You can try using Google Docs or similar services, but the old(er) fashioned way of pen, paper and a bit of screen sharing if any pictures are involved often works better.

Share films, TV shows and music over video calls

apple shareplay
SharePlay now works on iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple TV. Photograph: Apple Inc./EPA

The latest addition to the growing list of video call activities is watching videos or listening to music at the same time. Apple’s new SharePlay offering makes this easy – it’s built into FaceTime as of the latest software updates.

While you’re on a FaceTime call you can start watching

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Local community briefs: Electronics recycling function Christmas Giving Tree seeks donations, signups Red Cross blood donations Santa to a Senior software | Nearby

Audrey
Local community briefs: Electronics recycling function Christmas Giving Tree seeks donations, signups Red Cross blood donations Santa to a Senior software | Nearby

Electronics recycling function these days

Friday, Nov. 19, is 406 Recycling’s regular monthly electronics recycling function supporting the Great Samaritan. This month-to-month occasion is one particular week early owing to the holiday getaway plan with Thanksgiving.

The assortment will take position from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the parking ton of the Good Samaritan Thrift Retail store, 3067 N. Montana Ave.. Most office, computer, and amusement-associated electronics are acknowledged for information-secure, accountable recycling. Several merchandise are accepted for free from individual electronics to workplace machines and leisure methods, together with add-ons. Rates implement for some more mature-design screens and TVs, significant televisions, and microwaves. Steps will be in location to guarantee make contact with risk-free exchange. A voluntary $10 donation to Excellent Samaritan is encouraged.

406 Recycling’s foods scrap and compostable assortment system, 406 Compost, will also be on-internet site distributing assortment buckets for new consumers. 406 Compost collects meals scraps, including meats and grease, as properly as compostable dishware. 406 Compost also delivers a bucket exchange application for rural clients seeking to maintain organics out of their trash and absent from critters and property squander selection by ask for for consumers. Specifics about 406 Compost’s assortment application for households and businesses at 406Compost.com.

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Corporations with big quantities of materials, homes needing residential pickup, or institutions needing receipts for details destruction are encouraged to simply call in advance or routine a pickup at 406-449-6008.

Method delivers Xmas presents to seniors

As isolation carries on to impact area seniors, House Instead of Bozeman and Helena renews the crucial Be a Santa to a Senior® software promising an additional season of holiday break cheer.

Be A Santa to a Senior supports older grownups who may well be forgotten, isolated or by yourself during the vacation season. This is the 11th calendar year for the neighborhood software that offers again to more mature grown ups and reminds them they are cherished by our community. The presents gathered, which are generally necessity things such as toiletries, clothes and blankets, make a huge effects and help space seniors beat the holiday break blues.

This calendar year, the Bozeman and Helena places of work are partnering with quite a few senior communities and area nonprofits to supply 775 gifts to roughly 258 seniors in the location.

Persons can check out one of the collaborating places outlined below and search for the Be a Santa to a Senior tree on show via Dec. 9. Just about every tree will be adorned with ornaments featuring seniors’ 1st names and reward suggestions. Holiday getaway customers can opt for an ornament, acquire the asked for present and return it unwrapped and in a reward bag to the retailer with the ornament connected.

Be a Santa to a Senior trees can be identified at the pursuing places:

• Helena: Safeway, 611 N. Montana Ave., Helena

• Belgrade: City & Nation Meals, 205 W. Madison Ave., Belgrade

• Bozeman: Rosauers Supermarkets, 3255 Technological innovation Blvd.

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