By Isabel Eva Bohrer on May 18, 2012 in
Is someone you know graduating this spring? Scrambling for a last-minute present? If so, there is no need to worry. Consider the following techy gifts for his or her graduation, such as a customizable iPhone case, a pen scanner or a car charger. All but one of these gadgets is under $50 - and each one is highly portable for the graduate on the go, whether they're transitioning to the daily commute, or taking a post-graduation road trip.
Graduation Smiley iPhone 4/4S Speck Case (*Est. $45)
Graduates are bound to smile on graduation day, and now their iPhone can, too. This plastic hard case from Speck is inlaid with fabric, to be printed with your custom graduation text. (The standard text is "2012" above the smiley and "Graduate" below it, but you can choose a different text when you place your order). Lightweight and sturdy, the case is compatible with both the iPhone 4 and 4S models.
Doodle by OrigAudio Class of 2019 Red Sports Portable Speaker (*Est. $43)
This portable speaker might go by the name of "Class of 2019" but its text can be adapted to fit any year. It weighs in at a mere 9.6 ounces and its hard-plastic shell makes it especially durable. Compatible with any standard 3.5 mm headphone jack music device, including iPhones, iPods and Android devices, the speaker allows you to bring your music anywhere you go. To charge, simply plug it in to your computer via the USB cable (included) or use two AAA batteries (not included). Should you want to design your very own Doodle, head to the official website (prices starting at about $30). All Doodles come with a kickstand so they will stand perfectly on any graduate's (or future graduate's) desk.
Viewsonic VFD823-50 8-inch Digital Photo Frame (*Est. $45)
Don't let all those graduation photos get lost on a hard drive. Relive those moments on a digital photo frame. The Viewsonic VFD823-50 8-inch Digital Photo Frame, for example, provides a comparatively inexpensive option with good image quality. It is supported by a range of media card formats, as well as USB. Check out Consumer Search's comparison of digital photo frames here.
Planon DocuPen Bluetooth Scanner (*Est. $290)
These days, it pays to be a lifelong learner. The Planon DocuPen Bluetooth Scanner will allow any recent graduate to learn on the go. Equipped with a 200MHz processor and 64MB of memory, the device allows you to scan documents and images on the fly. The Crystal Line Contact technology, in turn, ensures that images are processed at high quality. It's the ideal gift for an aspiring professional (or continuing student) who will need the latest in portable scanning.
Gadget Charger for the Car (*Est. $40)
Who knew that behind a cup of coffee (pictured) was a charger for all your favorite technological devices? Shaped to fit into a cup holder, this car charger might initially look like a triple espresso. In reality, however, it has 2 AC outlets and one USB power port where you can charge up to three devices at once. This way, the recent graduate in your life can commute to work (or take a post-graduation road trip) with all their devices charged up. For safety, the Gadget Charger comes with overload protection and shuts down if your car battery is running low.
