It’s time for us to take another look at a bunch of quirky, imaginative and downright useful gadgets you can buy today. Which one takes your fancy the most?
For more inspiration, check out our 2013 holiday gift guide and our previous collection of gadgets and accessories for geeks.
You can view all 15 of our gadgets on one page here.
Acorn Bluetooth Speaker
Is it an acorn or a speaker? Okay, it’s a speaker but it’s got a beautifully natural look and pairs with Bluetooth audio devices for up to four hours of listening. It comes with a charging cable and an audio cable so you can forego the Bluetooth if you prefer. Probably the most unusual portable speaker you’ll see today. $70
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dodocool Apple Certified 2-in-1 Lightning Cable
If you’re like much of The Next Web team, you’ll often carry multiple devices around with you. If one of them is an iOS device, that means multiple cables – most probably micro-USB and Apple Lightning. This 2-in-1 cable gets around that problem in a simple, practical way and makes life that little bit easier. $20
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Sapper XYZ Monitor Arm
Have trouble getting the perfect viewing angle for your monitor? Not with this XYZ Monitor Arm that gives your screen full three-dimensional movement. Durable and lightweight, it incorporates external cable management to keeps wires tidy and accessible. $255
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Grill Cleaning Robot by Grillbot
Cleaning a grill really isn’t pleasant, so why not outsource the job to a robot? The Grillbot cleans both gas and charcoal grills (hot or cold) automatically. Just place it on your grill, press a button and you’re done. $120
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10 Key Calculator
It’s a standalone calculator that looks like a keyboard’s numpad. Beside the fun novelty factor of its appearance, this Japanese device connects to your computer via USB to allow you to enter calculations, too. $82
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Traktor Audio 2 DJ Audio Interface
Native Instruments’ Traktor is a fantastic app for DJing on Windows, Mac or iOS. However, the casual track-spinner often finds that cueing up the next track without the audience hearing it is a pain because you need a special audio interface with two outputs. This is particularly awkward on iOS where there isn’t a plethora of options available.
This special audio interface plugs straight into your device to give you a cue channel – now you can DJ like a pro from an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Sweet. $100
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Wireless Handheld Keyboard Touchpad
Ideal for anyone who has to present on a projected screen (hello, university lecturers for example) this handy gadget lets you remotely control a computer, with a QWERTY keyboard and a trackpad to control the mouse pointer. A useful tool to keep in your kitbag. $25
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iRobot Roomba 880
Consumer robots are becoming big business, and one of the best-known examples is the Roomba. Why not treat yourself to one and reap the benefits of having someone else do the vacuuming for a change?
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Korg NanoPad2 USB Drum Pad Controller
Sometimes you just want to hit something. Why not make it some virtual drums? The Korg NanoPad 2 is designed to let musicians on the move throw together a killer beat anywhere, but it’s fun for anyone with a rhythm in their heart and access to an app like Apple’s GarageBand. It connects to computers via USB and can hook up to an iOS device via a Camera Connector (sold separately). $54
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Safe Bamboo Radio by Lexon
For those who like their gadgets a little more lo-tech, the Safe Bamboo Radio is not only made from renewable bamboo, it can be hand-cranked to charge the battery – no need for any external power (except your own energy to turn the crank). If you’re feeling lazy, this AM/FM receiver can be plugged into the mains, too. $90
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POWERQUBE USB & Power Strip
It used to be that offering a cigarette to a stranger was the ultimate in social bonding. Now that smoking has fallen out of favor with many, why not offer power instead? The PowerQube has six North American power sockets and three USB ports, providing more than enough connections for even the biggest gadget-hoarder. $70
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iLuv Syren Pro Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker
Summer is on its way to the Northern Hemisphere, meaning outdoor parties are just a few short months away. This Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker can pump out tunes from your smartphone while you chomp on barbecued food and sip a cold beer. $150
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Cable Key Lightning Charger
If you own a recent iOS device, you may well be used to carrying around a Lightning cable so you can charge an inconveniently flat battery at any time. The Charge Key is a tiny Lightning cable designed to be attached to your keyring – you’ll always be ready to charge! $15
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Hoop Speaker by Lexon
It’s the same diameter as a CD and looks like a donut but this is in fact a wearable, rechargeable Bluetooth speaker. With eight hours of use on a full charge, you can pump out music for a full working day. $180
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Pinhole Camera Solargraphy Kit
You don’t need an expensive DSLR to get creative with photography. This Pinhole Camera Solargraphy Kit can be assembled within two hours and uses 35mm film to take photos that are in focus at any distance. Best used in well-lit conditions. $11
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For more inspiration, check out our 2013 holiday gift guide and our previous collection of gadgets and accessories for geeks.
Disclosure: This article contains an affiliate link. While we only ever write about products we think deserve to be on the pages of our site, The Next Web may earn a small commission if you click through and buy the product in question.
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