Anki's robotic racing cars sense the vinyl track 500 times per second to stay on course. Players guide the cars and control "weapons" from their iPhones, via a Bluetooth radio connection. Fun for kids of all ages. Starter kit: $199.99 at Apple stores or anki.com.

The Automatic Link plugs into a car's onboard diagnostics port and sends data about mileage, performance, and engine trouble to the Automatic smartphone app via Bluetooth. It's a great tool for drivers who want to be more conscientious (or at least, more conscious) about how their driving habits affect their gas mileage. $99.95 at automatic.com.

Google's Chromecast device plugs into an HDMI port on your television, connects to your home Wi-Fi network, and lets you stream cloud video and music from sources like Netflix, Pandora, YouTube, HBO GO, Hulu Plus, and Google Play. You control what's playing from your computer, tablet, or smartphone. $35 from play.google.com, amazon.com, and various retailers.

Dropcam's Wi-Fi video camera is great for keeping a remote eye on your home or your pets while you're away. It streams live video on demand to a smartphone or Web browser, and sends an alert when it detects movement. Dropcam's new "Pro" version offers a wider field of view, deeper zoom, and better sound and low-light capabilities than its predecessor. $199 at dropcam.com.

GoPro keeps making its cameras smaller and lighter, so you can attach them to almost anything to make dramatic point-of-view video recordings. The GoPro Hero3 White Edition can capture 1080p video, or 5-megapixel photos at three frames per second. More expensive versions offer higher resolution and higher frame rates. $199.99 at gopro.com.

Cord cutters love Hulu Plus because it provides access to current TV episodes via streaming-video devices from Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Roku, Sony, and others. (The only downside: the commercials.) Gift subscriptions are available at increments of 1, 3, 6, or 12 months. $7.99 to $95.88 at secure.hulu.com/plus/gifting.

With the original iPad mini, released in October 2012, Apple showed how thin and light a tablet could be. With the iPad Air, it has brought that same slimness to the full-size iPad. And it's finally given the mini a proper Retina screen. These are the two best tablets on the market; which one to buy depends on whether the giftee will use their device primarily for consuming content (iPad mini) or also for creating it (iPad Air). $499 to $1029 at store.apple.com.

It took years, but e-book device makers have finally figured out to make an e-ink display with a contrast ratio almost as good as ink on paper. The glare-proof screen on the Paperwhite arguably makes it a better reading device than an LCD-based tablet like the Kindle Fire HDX or the Apple iPad. $139 Wi-Fi, $179 3G at amazon.com.

Snap this super-thin Bluetooth keyboard to your iPad and you've got what I've jokingly called a "poor man's MacBook Air." Seriously---I never take my laptop with me when I leave the office anymore, because this keyboard lets me take notes and process e-mail right on my iPad. Logitech makes versions for the iPad 2, the third- and fourth-generation iPads, and the iPad Air. $99.99 at logitech.com.

If someone you know is a hardcore computer gamer, sooner or later they'll want a custom PC that can handle the highest resolutions and frame rates. The top-of-the-line Force from Kenilworth, NJ-based Maingear includes Intel or AMD processors with up to 6 cores that overclock to 5 Gigahertz; single, dual, or triple GPUs; and liquid-cooled radiators to deal with all the resulting heat. Starting at $3,735 at maingear.com.

Since all of today's fitness trackers do exactly the same thing---measure your movement using a three-axis accelerometer---the choice of devices should come down to appearance and convenience. To my mind, the Misfit Shine is prettier and more wearable than competing devices from Jawbone, Fitbit, or Nike. It tracks your movement as you run, walk, swim, or sleep, and sends the data to your iOS or Android smartphone. A recent firmware upgrade has eliminated most of the bugs I wrote about in a review earlier this year. $119.95 at store.misfitwearables.com.

If there's a home chef in your life who's been eager to try sous vide cooking, Nomiku's high-tech circulator is just the ticket. The silent, attractive device keeps a water bath at the perfect temperature needed to cook meats, fruits, or vegetables to their optimal tenderness. $299.95 at nomiku.com.

San Francisco-based Rickshaw Bagworks makes beautiful, rugged custom messenger bags, backpacks, and tablet and laptop sleeves from fabrics of your choice. There's an extensive line of sleeves that fit all models of the iPad, Nexus 7 Android devices, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops, and Kindle devices. The iPad sleeve shown here goes for $40 at rickshawbags.com.

Quadcopters are great for aerial photography and other missions, and companies like 3D Robotics are making them more affordable for hobbyists. The RTF is, as the name implies, ready to fly. (The newer autopilot-equipped 3DR Iris looks even cooler, but won't available in time for the holidays.) Base unit $599.99 at store.3drobotics.com; extra for telemetry set, radio control, etc.

Romo combines a robotic platform and an iPhone app to turn a smartphone into a mobile digital companion. Kids can program it to zoom along planned paths, or parents can guide it remotely for roaming video conversations. Available for iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, and 5S. $149.99 at Brookstone.com.

Shinola is a classic Michigan comeback story: the company assembles craftsman-quality watches, bicycles, and leather goods in midtown Detroit. The 47mm Chrono watch shown here has a stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal, a Detroit-built Argonite quartz movement, and an alligator-leather strap. $950 at shinola.com.

Here at Xperience, how could we not like a tablet called Xperia? The amazing thing about Sony's new line of Xperia Z Android tablets and smartphones is that they're truly waterproof and dustproof, and can therefore go just about anywhere. You can't actually use them underwater, but they'll easily survive a dunking. Finally, a safe way to read e-books in the bathtub. $449.99-$579.99 at store.sony.com.

Sphero is a robotic, self-propelled ball that you control with your iOS or Android smartphone. It can roll at up to 7 feet per second, perform jumps and other tricks, and play games in augmented-reality environments. $129.99 at gosphero.com.

Spira Footwear in El Paso, TX, makes high-tech running and walking shoes built around a unusual leaf-spring device called WaveSpring. The startup claims WaveSprings are more stable, and retain their bounce longer, than the coil springs inside other athletic shoes. This fall Spira collaborated with A&E and crowdfunding site RocketHub to create a "Duck Dynasty" camo version of the shoes. $79.95-$144.95 at shop.spira.com.