Tech gadgets make great gifts for just about anyone on your list.
These hot new products are some of the best of 2013. They’re smart, innovative, problem-solving and straight-up cool, which makes them guaranteed to please.
1. Wacom Bamboo Stylus Mini: Plug this small, easy-to-grip stylus (available in a rainbow of colors) into the headphone jack and it’ll never go missing again. $10, Staples, 1509 Waukegan Rd., Glenview, 847-832-0283
2. UE BOOM: Take your tunes outdoors with the Ultimate Ears 360-degree Bluetooth speaker. All-around sound means you won’t miss a beat, and you’ll love the go-anywhere shape, 15-hour battery life and sturdy, water-resistant exterior. $200, Apple Retail Stores, Northbrook Court and Westfield Old Orchard
3. Kindle Paperwhite: Give your favorite book lover the gift of reading with the brand new Kindle Paperwhite. The upgraded model boasts higher contrast, a faster processor, built-in light and better touch technology. $119, Amazon
4. Nest Protect: This smoke and carbon monoxide alarm sends “heads up” and emergency alerts straight to your mobile device. We also love the voice alerts and the ability to silence it with the wave of a hand—no towel swatting necessary. $129, Nest
5. Fitbit Flex: Track steps, distance, calories burned, and now, sleep quality. Five LED lights display the day’s progress, and you can easily monitor stats as the data syncs wirelessly to your devices. $100, Fitbit
6. Samsung Galaxy Camera Wi-Fi: Shoot high-quality photos and 1080p HD video on this smart camera with built-in Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G support, a 4.8-inch touch screen LCD and 21x optical zoom. Crop and edit photos or videos directly on the device and upload to social media in seconds. $450, Samsung
7. MiPow Power Tube 2600: Charge your devices on the go with this portable external battery pack. Don’t let the size fool you— this tiny tube yields a full charge. $50, MiPow
8. Belkin Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theater: Turn your iPad into a serious home theater with this por- table speaker case, featuring high-efficiency, front-facing speakers that project immer- sive, movie-theater-quality sound. $200, Belkin
9. Netatmo Weather Station: Monitor weather and measure temperature, humidity and indoor air quality for healthy living in your home—wherever you are. $179, Brookstone, 4999 Old Orchard Center, Skokie, 847- 329-9771
