Are you lost in a sea of smartphones, apps and gaming devices but want to appear “hip” and “with it” in the eyes of your beloved tech guru or li’l power users? Well, don’t blow a fuse — Amber MacArthur’s here with a digital life jacket. As the co-host of CTV/BNN’s App Central, which just aired its 100th episode in November, she’s jacked-in to all things trendy this holiday and has the gift ideas to make you look like the next Steve Jobs.

iPhone 5s
Faster, sexier and now available in gold, the iPhone 5s is easily one of the “it” items this holiday season. Its Touch ID fingerprint-identifying sensor is the next step in mobile security, and trigger-happy photo snappers will love the new iSight eight-megapixel camera, which, MacArthur notes, is “definitely one of the best out there on a smartphone.”
www.store.apple.com/ca

Apple: $719 (16gb)

Sphero 2.0
A great gift for the little gamer in your life, the Sphero 2.0 offers a glimpse into the future of play. Users control the Sphero with their smartphone or tablet just like an RC car. How the Sphero moves in reality affects what happens in the over 25 downloadable games played on the mobile device. “It takes the idea of gaming into the physical world, which I think is pretty cool,” says MacArthur. 
www.gosphero.com
Online at www.futureshop.ca, www.bestbuy.ca and www.amazon.ca
$140

Boomphones
Headphones or a boombox? How about both? Boomphones are fashion-forward headphones that become a boombox with the push of the button. The musicphile in your life can bob their head solo or rock out with friends with one stylish device. “Beats by Dre were so popular for so long, and still are, but these are definitely giving them a run for their money,” says MacArthur.
www.boomphones.com
Online at www.futureshop.ca, www.bestbuy.ca and www.amazon.ca
$150

Dell Venue 8
The Dell Venue 8 HD tablet is a great gift for students, your not-so-tech-savvy parent or any casual user. With two cameras, lots of storage, respectable processing power and an easy-to-use Android platform, this eight-inch tablet covers all the bases. And, “at a really reasonable price that’s under $200,” says MacArthur.
www.dell.ca
Dell Canada: $180

Holiday Apps

Go Gift
Manage your gift list with ease with Go Gift. Add recipients right from your contacts, set budgets, add links to items online and take photos of products for future reference.
 $0.99

Martha Stewart
Makes Cookies
Bake delicious goodies just like Martha with this comprehensive cookie guide, which features
six recipe bundles
(one dedicated to holiday cookies), plenty of tips
and instructional videos.
 $3.99

Mixologist™ Drink & Cocktail Recipes
Become the toast of this holiday season thanks to Mixologist’s over 8,000 drink recipes. List your current supply and search the database for what drinks you can make; even add your own concoctions to the library.
 $0.99      Andriod $1.49