NEW YORK -- Need some help sorting through the dizzying array of gift guides? Here are some of the more distinctive gifts from the annual guides by specialty publications.
Gadgets
From WIRED magazine
* The pick: Peek -- for e-mail on the go. WIRED gets thousands of devices during the year. Only 10 make the WishList, said Mark McClusky, senior products editor. "With the Peek, we were just blown away by the smart design, and the ease of use," he said. "Instead of trying to do everything, the Peek does one thing (mobile e-mail), but it does it really, really elegantly and simply."
* Price: $79.95 (through Monday, then $99.95) plus $19.95 a month for service.
* Where to get it: getpeek.com, target.com.
* Other ideas: www.wired.com or the December issue.
From Good Housekeeping
* The pick: WowWee RS Tri-Bot -- futuristic robotic companion. "When we evaluated the RS Tri-Bot at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, both our staff and kid testers wondered if he had a mind of his own because he's so multifunctional," said Rosemary Ellis, editor-in-chief of Good Housekeeping. While the Tri-Bot does not bring coffee or clean the floor, he is lots of fun. "He can be programmed to do a sequence of commands, controlled via remote and also has built-in stories, jokes, and games for endless hours of play," Ellis said. Recommended for ages 8 and up.
* Price: $99.
* Where to get it: Major retailers. www.tri-botonline.com
* Other ideas: www.goodhouse keeping.com or the December issue.
From Allure magazine
* The pick: NYCitylimit's Stereo Dock Mini. Let your friends feel the music too with these colorful mini speakers that resemble Legos. While Allure's gift guide includes beauty items, Editor-in-chief Linda Wells thought this compact mini dock was interesting. "I love these because they're fun, come in great colors and look like toys," she said. "They are also compact, perfect for travel and are surprisingly inexpensive." The mini dock runs off the power of an iPod and works with the iPod Classic, iPod Nano and iPod Mini.
* Price: $22.
* Where to get it: Pylones retail stores, www.nycitylimit.com.
* Other ideas: www.allure.com or the December issue.
Toys
From TheDailyGreen.com
* The pick: Discover Rig from Sprig Toys, a kids' push toy. This is the latest must-have eco-toy, according to editor Dan Shapley. "It's made from recycled kid-safe materials, requires no batteries, and we truly could not stop playing with it around the office," he said. The vehicle, part of the Sprig Adventure Series, includes Adventure Guide Cap Faraday, who plugs into the driver's seat and plays story snippets and music to help children imagine a safari-themed adventure. Power is generated when the vehicle is pushed. Recommended for ages 3 and up.
* Price: $59.99
* Where to get it: Toys "R" Us and Amazon. Find local stores at www.sprigtoys.com.
* Other ideas: www.TheDailyGreen.com.
From FamilyFun magazine
* The pick: Spin Master Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro all surface radio controlled car. A fast and sleek remote control car that can drive on any flat surface -- on the floor, up walls, across ceilings -- thanks to an air displacement system that works like a vacuum. "Our family toy testers spent countless hours racing the cars around their houses," said Ellen Harter Wall, senior associate editor at FamilyFun. "The parents seemed to love playing with it almost as much as their kids."
* Price: $29.99.
* Where to get it: Toy stores.
* Other ideas: www.FamilyFun.com for the full gift guide.
Games
From Prevention magazine
* The pick: ColorKu: The Color Sudoku Puzzle. Trade in numbers for colors in this fun twist on the popular brain teaser, said Karyn Repinski of Prevention magazine. The wooden board has indents for wooden colored balls that take the place of numbers. Players start with one of the 104 puzzle cards that range from easy to difficult and then work to get one of each color ball in every row, every column and every 3x3 box. The puzzle comes with a color conversion card so you can solve any Sudoku puzzle. Ages 6 and up.
* Price: $29.95.
* Where to get it: Amazon, colorku.com, www.museumtour .com, www.mindandmemory store.com, www.playfair toys.com.
* Other ideas: www.prevention.com or the December issue.
Home
From House Beautiful
* The pick: Balsam TasselAire from Agraria. This home fragrance combines the scents of sweet balsam, Californian Redwood, an evergreen tree native to coastal California, a hint of French sage and fresh flowers in a decorative tassel. The tassel has a sachet in it that contains microbeads with the scent. Hang the tassel on a door knob or armoire key or use it to tie back a curtain. The scent lasts about six months. "It's pretty," said Stephen Drucker of House Beautiful. "It's not another candle, and the scents are heavenly. It makes me smile."
* Price: $35.
* Where to get it: www.agraria home.com for retailers.
* Other ideas: www.house beautiful.com or the December issue.
Fitness
From Fitness magazine
* The pick: Brooks Vapor-Dry 3D Hoodie (Women's). This super-smart, super-cute hoodie is good for all seasons, said senior editor Lindsey Emery. "It works well as a mid-layer on a freezing run or as an outer-layer on a chilly jog. "The editors at Fitness love it because it's made from a breathable, moisture-moving fabric and has thumbholes and flip wrist mitts to keep your hands feeling cozy," she said.
* Price: $79.99.
* Where to get it: www.brooks running.com or specialty stores.
* Other ideas: www.fitness magazine.com for the full guide.
Recreation
From GQ magazine
* The pick: Teak Petanque Set. The game from Provence is making a comeback, said Will Welch of GQ. "It was something that several of the editors here noticed being played again at the beach over the summer, at parks," he said. "The one that we chose to feature comes in this beautiful box and the balls themselves are reflective metallic." The magazine features a higher-end set from Design Within Reach -- the teak box can double as a design element indoors -- but cheaper petanque sets are available.
* Price: $200.
* Where to get it: www.dwr .com. Find store locations on the site.
* Other ideas: men.style .com/gq or the December issue.
Pets
From Modern Dog magazine
* The pick: Eco Naps dog beds. These super-soft and super-comfy earth-friendly dog beds from West Paw Design are a great gift pick for the eco-conscious dog on your list, said Jennifer Nosek, editor of Modern Dog. The fabric and filling contain IntelliLoft material, which comes from recycled plastic bottles. More than 40 plastic bottles are diverted from landfills with every Extra Large Eco Nap, according to the Web site. The mats are available in five sizes.
* Price: From $27.90
* Where to get it: www.westpawdesign.com.
* Other picks: Check out the full gift guide, www.Moderndog magazine.com, or the upcoming Winter 2008/2009 issue.
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