Yuhnke Commentary: It's never too late to find a great gift for the geek in your life

PHOENIX - As you read this, it’s Saturday (or later). You clicked on the headline looking for help which means that you probably waited until the last minute to figure out a gift for someone. Yikes! Have no fear. Tech heads are easy to shop for even if you only have a few hours left.

Headphones

Everyone has a set of ear buds. We use them at the gym, around the house and while out for a jog. The problem is, most of them are worth about $.50. Seriously, those white iPod ear buds are pretty awful. A good $20-$50 gift for almost any slightly techie person is a decent set of ear buds. Take a quick walk down the headphone aisle at Target or Best Buy and you’ll see a ton of options. Almost anything over $10 will be better (and often more colorful) than the headphones that come with your smartphone or iPod. It's an easy gift that most techies would love.

iStuff

If you haven’t noticed, Apple accessories have taken over the world (insert evil laughter here). Ok, so maybe they haven’t done that but they have taken over at least one aisle at most major retail stores. The point is, there are a lot of options for anyone you know who owns an iPhone, iPod or iPad. Speakers, stands, cases and more. The best part is, they range in price from $5 all the way up to $300. I really like some of the sleek phone cases out there , some of the bluetooth speaker sets and the iPhone radio alarm clock docking stations. Regardless, you’ll find plenty of options at most stores these days.

Smartphone Accessories

Even if you don’t know what type of smartphone your favorite geek carries, you can still grab them a cool accessory for the holiday. On the inexpensive side, try a Toddy Smart Cloth . For $9.99 you get a 5" x 7" microfiber cloth designed to clean those precious smartphone and tablet screens. It may seem a bit excessive but you really shouldn’t be using just ANY towel to wipe off your iPhone. Toddy Cloths have an AEGIS Microbe shield that the company claims will prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. The soft side cleans, the slick side buffs. Silly, right? Maybe - but any geek who treats their smartphone like a precious stone will love it. They’re available online and at Target stores.

Think power. Almost all major smartphones (except the iPhone) use a micro-USB charging port. With so many of us using our smartphones for much more these days, power can be an issue. Charging docks and mobile battery packs are always a great idea. Verizon sells the iGo Micro-USB Portable Battery Pack which is a great option to keep some extra juice in your pocket. You can fine other brands of these portable charges at most stores.  Charge the device up and while you’re out and about you can plug it into your smartphone for an extra boost of battery. For about $40 it’s a great idea for anyone who relies on their smartphone and can’t afford to have a dead battery in the middle of the day.

Gift Cards

They’re thoughtless and impersonal, right? Sure, that may be true but they’re also simple and useful! Most of us geeks are pretty picky when it comes to our technology and we would much rather pick out our own gadgets. That may seem rude but it’s true. A gift card to an electronics store will go a long way in the heart of a geek. Don’t feel bad, they’ll love it. If they don’t, you can always send it my way.

Those are just a few of the simple ideas for that special geek in your life. If you have any other ideas, comment below or let me know on Facebook and Twitter . Happy shopping!