The Mission Data Holiday Gift Guide
Here at Mission Data, we like useful and entertaining stuff, whether we’re talking about digital products or fun toys that require no electricity at all (i.e., Legos). So in the spirit of the season, here are some gift suggestions from our team. We figure some of these things will please the efficient and interesting people of all ages that are on your shopping list.
Bluesmart One Carry-on Suitcase
For the frequent traveler, the Bluesmart carry-on can make a world of difference. Lightweight and sturdy, it connects to a companion app that lets you lock and unlock your suitcase, weigh it, track it via GPS, and get real-time travel information. With a built-in 10,000mAH battery and 2 USB ports, you can also charge your devices up to six times. $441 on amazon.com
Tile Mate
If you know someone who has lost their keys, wallet, or phone in 2016 (pretty much everyone has, right?) then Tile is what they need. Stick or hook it to anything you want to keep track of, and use the companion app when you need to find your Bluetooth-connected Tile. It can signal the Tile to ring, or if you’ve completely lost the item, the Tile will connect anonymously via Bluetooth to another Tile user nearby, and your app will automatically notify you of your Tile’s location. Starting at $25 on thetileapp.com
Joby Gorillapod Grip Tight Stand
Make wobbly videos and blurry photos a thing of the past. Stabilize your smartphone photos and videos from virtually any location with the innovative Gorillapod tripod. It’s ball-and-socket legs mount to just about any surface, and it’s small enough to fit into a purse or backpack. $30 on llbean.com
Amazon Echo
At Mission Data, we love using the Echo to simplify everyday tasks like getting local weather and traffic reports, reading aloud cocktail recipes, or finding out which food trucks are outside the office. The Echo has been a surprise hit for Amazon, and with its integration with other smart home devices and apps like Spotify and Uber, it’s easy to see why it’s on virtually every 2016 gift guide — including this one. $180 on amazon.com
RIF6 Cube Mobile Projector
With a 120-inch display, this 2-inch portable mobile projector connects with your phone, tablet, laptop, or gaming console to supersize your entertainment. While there are higher-resolution portable projectors on the market, for the price, the RIF6 offers excellent DLP technology for picture quality comparable to 720p HD. $262 on amazon.com
Bikeshare membership
At our D.C. office, several of our team members use Capital Bikeshare to get around, and it’s a great way to beat traffic and promote a healthy lifestyle. Most major cities now offer bikeshare, and even many smaller cities too — more than 80 U.S. cities currently have bikeshare programs. Look up your city’s bikeshare program here, and see if the local bikeshare program offers gift certificates for membership. Price varies
Die Hard: The Authorized Coloring & Activity Book
This one’s for the ’80s kid in all of us. Relive your favorite scenes and quotes, from John McClane’s limo ride with Argyle to John’s morbid message delivery to Hans (written on the corpse of one of Hans’ men), and of course, John’s leap from the Nakatomi tower. The 80-page parody of the adult coloring book fad includes activity pages such as navigating a barefoot John through a maze of broken glass. $10 on amazon.com
The Bob’s Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
If you’ve ever wanted to eat one of Bob Belcher’s Burgers of the Day, here is your chance. This volume includes 75 recipes from the show that are actually edible, such as the “Bruschetta-Bout-It Burger,” “Poutine on the Ritz,” and the “Shoot-Out at the OK-ra Corral Burger (comes with Fried Okra). $12 on amazon.com
Drinks by The Dram Bourbon Tasting Set
Seeing as we have an office based in Louisville, and we’ve launched our own whiskey review app, it’s no secret that we have an affinity for the brown stuff. This sampler from Master of Malt includes five 3cl drams, perfect for the bourbon novice who is just getting started. If you need an expert opinion, well, you know where to find us. $32 on masterofmalt.com
For the Kids:
Space Pod
Make your kids’ mission to space a mission possible with this easy cardboard kit that includes safe-for-little hands tools for cutting and connecting the pieces together. The parts are reusable and can be customized to suit your child’s imagination. $75 at make.do
DIY Electro Dough Kit
This kit from Technology Will Save Us, which encourages kids to learn how to build with technology, lets little hands turn sculptures made with homemade salt dough (not included) into buzzing, beeping creations with LED eyes and silly switches. Children will learn how circuits work while bringing their imaginations to life. The kit includes an electro dough recipe book to make your own conductive and non-conductive dough using everyday household items, shape makers, circuits, LEDs, and battery power source (four AA batteries not included). $25 at moma.store.org
