We know the holidays are here and plenty of you are wondering what to get your tech-obsessed friends in the startup world who always seem to have the latest and greatest in tech gear.
It can be hard to figure out what to get the ultimate gadget geeks, so we decided to chat with some of Austin’s best in tech to find out what tech toys they’re looking for on their holiday wish list.
Richard Bagdonas - Long-time Austin entrepreneur
Bagdonas just spent the year outfitting his new house with Amazon Echo-enabled and Arduino-controlled gadgets, so tech gifts aren’t that important for him over the holidays. He’s looking for a “low-tech holiday spent with family where we just spend time with each other instead of having our heads buried in tech.”
However, his kids are a different story. He’s eyeing the Code-a-pillar for his son. Bagdonas said he’s looking to get his son started on understanding concepts “that will eventually help him reach his current goals: software developer, astronaut, and doctor.”
Barbary Brunner - CEO, Austin Technology Council
Brunner has two teenagers, and her kids are dying for new phones, Macs, and a PS4 Pro. She’d love to get a VR device as well, but her house is “space-challenged,” as she puts it.
On the top of Brunner’s personal list is a Surface Studio, complete with all the accessories. She says a Spire, which tracks your breathing patterns, is a close second.
On the bottom of her list is a Joule, which is a sous vide device that would work with an Amazon Echo. The Joule comes right after a Pixel Plus, as Brunner says she is looking to leave the iPhone world.
Members of her team at the ATC have other ideas. One wants a drone, and another is wishing for a complete home automation device.
Harlan Beverly - Assistant Director, Texas Venture Labs
Beverly loves gadgets, and is a noted consumer freak. He shared a whole list of gadgets he was excited to play with over the holidays.
“I can't wait to open my pre-ordered Oculus Touch on Christmas morning," he said "Yeah, I ordered it myself, but there it sits, under the tree waiting for me!”
He said he hopes his wife got the hint and ordered him a PSVR unit too! "Because why not? Now two people can be on VR at the same time: one on my PC and one on my PS4!”
Beverly is also wishing for the Star Trek TNG ComBadge since it was on pre-order.
"I think it may be shipping for this holiday season, and it would be so so awesome to say "Harlan here!" as I tap my shirt," he said.
Finally, Beverly is channeling his inner 90’s child, ordering an NES console for himself. Not only that, but he says he can think of three uses for a drill-press dremel tool that he’s buying.
That said, he’s also thinking about tech for good, ordering a Pod 2 GPS and WiFi Pet Tracker and Activity Monitor, so his beagles never stray too far.
Sterling Smith - CEO, Sandbox Commerce
Smith has three areas of technology he’s focused on for the 2016 gift-gifting season.
First, Smith said he wants to build a smart home by getting Google Home and Alexa devices. Second, he wants to delve into the VR world with Daydream from Google, an Oculus, and a Gear VR from Samsung. Finally, Smith is also looking to go retro with his gaming preferences, and he's eyeing the same NES Console as Beverly -- and perhaps a Playstation 4.
Sara Ines Calderon - Co-Director, Women Who Code
Ines says she isn’t really a gadget person, but she was gifted a subscription to Audible. The coolest gadget she got this year was the CURB Home Energy Monitoring system, which monitors her energy use in real time.
She spread the tech love this year by buying her mom a FitBit.
Gifts Have Changed
Tech gifts have changed over the past few years.
In 2012, one of the top gifts was the Nike+ Fuel Band. It’s been almost replaced by Apple watches and in-phone apps.
A Phillips Connected Bulb was on the top of that same list, but now you can buy a whole connected home automation system.
What about in 2015? A Popsugar article listed a Night Cable for iPhone and Android, which the newest update has now rendered obsolete. And don’t forget about VR. That technology wasn’t even on the top of people’s minds in 2015, but now the Oculus Rift, and other VR devices are desired by almost every tech connoisseur.
What gifts are you looking to get this holiday season? Let us know on Twitter.