Stocking Stuffer Gadgets Under $50
WHITFIELD: So why do you think most Americans go online? A new report finds most Americans surf the web for no particular reason at all, just for something to do. 58 percent say they use the Internet to simply pass the time or have fun. So with Christmas just two weeks away, we continue our hi-tech gift guides for the holidays. This week, we have stocking stuffer gadgets, all for under $50. Joining us via Skype, technology analyst and syndicated writer, Marc Salsman. Good to see you. Let's start with the iPod Shuffle for $49. Under the 50 mark. Why that?</s>MARC SALTZMAN, SYNDICATED TECHNOLOGY WRITER: Yes. So I like this M.P.-3 player for a couple of reasons. Of course, it synchronizes smoothly with iTunes. Once you connect to it your P.C. or Mac, anything you have in your library gets copied over like music and podcasts and audio books. It's intuitive to use. Plus, the main reason is that on the head phone jack that it comes with, there's a little button, when you press the button, it will tell the name of the song you're listening to. It's a female-like voice. Kind of like Siri, which is in the new iPhone. I want will tell the name of the song, the artist. Press and pause on the cord. You get a lot of bang for your buck under 50 bucks. This is a little money clip-like attachment so you can put it on your clothes if you are fit. If you're active, you want to go hands-free.</s>WHITFIELD: Amazing. Speak being of music, $20 speaker? It can stick to anything? How is the quality on that?</s>SALTZMAN: Yes. It's decent. This is what it looks like. Called the Rocket 2.0. Tiny little speaker. I'll put it up here. You attach one end to your M.P.-3 player or your Smartphone or tablet. The other end, a cap comes off and you can pull it a little bit. And it actually sticks to any surface. It uses vibration technology to have sound come out of your desk, out of a cereal box or, in this case, a cup. I'm going to press play on the music. You won't hear anything right now because it's not connected to anything. But check this out.</s>SALTZMAN: Connected to a cup and you can actually hear music.</s>WHITFIELD: Mega phone. Oh, my goodness. How clever. The hits keep coming.</s>SALTZMAN: Great stocking stuffer. 20 bucks. And get that at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Called Rocket 2.0.</s>WHITFIELD: Next up, a webcam for high-definition video calling.</s>SALTZMAN: Right. So similar to what we're using right now for this live call, between the U.S. and Canada, the Microsoft Life Cam 3,000. H.D. web camera capable of 720P video quality. So better video quality than probably your webcam has now, including the one that may be built into your laptop already. It's a USB-based webcam. Plug it into an available USB port, your desk top, notebook, and you're good to go. It has a sensitive microphone and also an ideal web camera for low light situations. Kids in dorm rooms, while they are studying, they can chat with their friends late at night. And you can have a multi-person conference call, if you will, over Skype. So that one is 39.99 for the H.D.-3,000 Life Cam.</s>WHITFIELD: For those who have not gone wireless at home yet, you have something that's rather enticing.</s>SALTZMAN: Yes. May not be the sexiest of gadgets but it's a wireless router. Whether you don't have one yet or ready for an upgrade, this is from Cisco. This is from Linksys Wireless Router # 1200. You have wireless connectivity in your home. Let's face it, no shortage of devices that go on the Internet wirelessly now from your TV to video game system, eBook reader and Smartphone. Even the Nintendo 3-Ds are Wi-Fi. This has the latest technology. So it can support more devices at the same time. And it's got faster speeds and broader range, so you can even surf the web while you're outside on your back patio or front porch. And that one is for 49.99, and that's Linksys E 1200.</s>WHITFIELD: Finally, some ways to personalize your favorite gadgets. In what way?</s>SALTZMAN: A company called Gello Skins. For $15 to $20, you can attach this to your favorite devices. These are high-quality skins to affix to your favorite device. This is for tablets and eBook readers. This is one for the back of your laptop. Just to give you some personality. Speaking of tablet, I love this guy. This is called the iGuy from Speck. This is a kid-friendly -- isn't that cute?</s>WHITFIELD: That is cute.</s>SALTZMAN: It stands up on its own but it's a foam case to protect your iPad. And kids can watch video on it because it stands up on its own two legs. It's 39.95 from Speck.</s>WHITFIELD: Marc Saltzman, great ideas, great stocking stuffers. Thanks so much for that. For more on hi-tech ideas and reviews, go to CNN.com/tech, and look for the gaming and gadgets tab. You'll find lots of information there. Child sexual abuse is a devastating thing for victims and it's devastating for the families of the abuser as well. We have one woman's story, in her own words.