Tech Check: Give Bluetooth for the holidays

Everyone knows that Bluetooth can be used with a wireless headset. We often see people walking around town with them clamped to their ear. Bluetooth can do much more.  

Here are a few Bluetooth gadgets that may be the perfect holiday gift for the techie in your life.

Logitech Mini Boombox - $99.99

Playing music on your smartphone or tablet is decent but not exactly a great experience.

The tiny speakers on our mobile devices usually sound horrible. Logitech has a solution for that.  

Their Mini Boombox uses Bluetooth to wirelessly connect your smartphone with the speaker. Once the devices are paired, simply play any music on your phone or tablet and it gets piped through the speakers.

For its size, the Mini Boombox pumps out some decent sound. It has a rechargeable battery built-in that Logitech claims will last for up to 10 hours.  

On the top there are touch sensitive buttons that allow you to control volume, play/pause and skip tracks without touching your phone. If a call comes in, the Mini Boombox can handle that, too. Tap the call button and it becomes a speakerphone.  

You can recharge it with any standard mini USB cable (a wall charger is included in the box.) There's also an auxiliary input (a line-in jack) on the back for those music players that don't have Bluetooth.  

The Logitech Mini Boombox would be a great idea for anyone who loves their music but wants to unleash it from that tiny speaker on their smartphone or iPad. Throw it in your bag for the beach, office or anywhere you need some tunes. The price is a bit steep at $99.99 but I found it for less online.

Verbatim Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard - $104

Sometimes those tiny keyboards on our smartphones and tablets just aren't enough for banging out an important document or e-mail.  

Verbatim offers a portable solution. The Verbatim Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard comes in a compact case.  

Unfold the keyboard and it's about the size of a typical laptop keyboard. It feels like a quality keyboard and can be used with most Bluetooth smartphones and tablets.  

Pairing took about 10 seconds and I was in business. There are media buttons to control music playback and a home button that works with both iOS and Android.  

At $100 it's too much to pay but I found it for half that price online . It's a perfect addition for someone who uses their tablet or smartphone more than their home PC.

Zomm Wireless Leash - $79.99

It's not to often that a gadget comes around that is something I've never seen before; Zomm (pronounced like Tom but with a Z) is exactly that.

It's a Bluetooth leash designed to prevent you from leaving your smartphone behind. You pair it with your smartphone and then attach the Zoom to your keychain. If the two devices are ever more than 30 feet apart, the Zomm keychain will start to beep loudly. This way, if you leave a restaurant without your smartphone, you'll know before you get to your car. What a neat idea!  

The Zomm also doubles as a speaker phone. If a call comes into your smartphone, the Zomm will vibrate and ring. Hit the center button to answer the call. There is a speaker and microphone built into the keychain itself.  

Finally, the Zomm can be used as a safety device. Hold the button on the Zomm keychain down and the alarm will begin to sound. At the same time, it'll call 911 on your connected phone.  

The Zomm is a bizarre gadget that makes so much sense. The company claims it only needs to be recharged every 5 to 7 days.  

Leaving Bluetooth activated on your smartphone all the time may drain your smartphone battery faster, so keep that in mind. Each smartphone will vary.  

Nonetheless, it's a great little gadget for someone who is notorious for leaving their phone behind. It's also a great speakerphone for your car or desk and a nice peace of mind to have on your keychain if you're ever in an emergency.  

The Zomm is available in three colors for $80 although you may be able  to find it cheaper online .

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