Is an excuse for women to be disappointed in their men. The standards by which Valentine's Day gifts & plans are created is entirely based on what we see on TV, in movies, and even by our friends(who got all these fabulous gifts, while we're stuck with a drugstore box of candy, if anything at all.) Having survived a few Valentine's Days myself, I can honestly say that this "Hallmark holiday" can easily be manipulated to set you up for disappointment, if you are not careful. "You don't need to get me much...," we say, with secret hopes that our S.O. will see through the BS and deliver the fantasy roses, chocolates, candlelight, and diamonds. Unless you're dating Fabio, chances are, you won't be seeing much of that. So let's take it easy on the men.. they are not as in tune with the female psyche as we are, they can't decipher the Woman Code that "You don't need to get me anything" means "Get me everything, or else" which often results in a painful week after - full of cold-shoulders & "I'm fine's." Be straight with him - it's the only way he knows how to communicate. Here are some simple, yet charming, gadget-flavored gifts that will make us smile, and ease the pressure on them (we make their lives difficult enough already): Polaroid I533P Exclusive Breast Cancer Awareness Digital Camera 5.1 Mega pixels, 2.5" LCD screen, 3X Optical Zoom, and all under $100 (I've seen it on sale at some big name nationwide retailers). Not too shabby. It comes in a really fabulous color pink, which automatically puts it first on my list. BONUS: Proceeds from the purchase of this camera raises breast cancer awareness and supports work by The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Nintendo DS Lite Coral Pink Video games have previously been mostly reserved for the boys, but clearly this one is hip enough for us lady folk. Not only is it a rosy color, but it's lighter, and the color screen is even brighter, than the original DS. This sleek design gives us even more of a reason to become addicted to Super Mario Bros all over again. As the tag line says, let the koopa shells fly! Intempo Digital Buddy GPS in Pink Now this is nice.. a pink GPS - manufactured especially for women. Which means - little to no assembly required, works straight out of the box, and is covered in butterflies. Simply stick it in your auto and you are on your way. Never get in that "why don't you just stop and ask for directions" argument again! An added bonus: The adorable pouch it comes with so it won't get damaged or scratched in your massive handbag. MioPINK Heart Rate Monitor Watch with Advanced Calories Feature Mio has created a special line of pink products to help increase breast cancer awareness. This particularly feminine sports watch not only displays time & date, has an alarm, backlight, and stopwatch function, but, the strapless ECG accurately tracks your heart rate as well as daily calorie intake - and get this - CALCULATES and SUBTRACTS calories burned during exercise. This is the perfect companion for a fitness buff. And to top it off, 10% of all proceeds go towards the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. MTX Audio iThunder Portable Boom Box for iPod Listen to your iPod at home, at the beach, or on the go... with this battery-powered boombox, just plug in your iPod, turn on the iThunder, and enjoy. It even charges while it's playing, and has a wireless full-function remote control. We will be feeling like Malibu Barbie with this pink boombox. Chanel sunglasses not included.

Geek Chic - Computer Jewelry It doesn't get much geekier than computer-related jewelry, but these are quirky enough to be cool.Personally, I like the help key necklace. The pieces are handmade in New York by artist Debbie Howe, and you can even get matching cuff links for your beau. So there you have it. Not only do the pink gadgets look pretty, but they help Save the Ta-Tas as well. Happy Valentine's Day, Casanova, and by all means.... Good Luck. For more female-friendly gadget ideas for your valentine, check out Gear Digest's 2007 Valentine's Day Buyers Guide.

This Monaco Notebook Case by Mobile Edge is one of the most elegant, sophisticated, and untacky notebook bags I've ever seen.

You can hardly even tell it's made for computers.  Designed to fit 15.4" laptops, with a dedicated padded computer compartment (complete with strap so your notebook stays nice and snug) and separate sections for files, papers, and accessories, this pink lined bag is an absolute must.  It even comes with a removable matching makeup bag, and detachable cell phone pouch.  Revolutionary "Wireless Security Shield"  prevents damage from hackers and viruses.   

 

Each bag comes in either pink or white stitching and retail for about $100.

My grandmother would love this.  Maybe that's the idea?

TimBuk2 Curly Q Sleeve for your laptop is essentially a quilt for your laptop to keep it warm & cozy (and safe, I presume).   It comes in girly colors like pink and purple, with pretty swirly stiching patterns, and is probably more delicate than one of those hideous rubber laptop sleeves.  However, I can't help but imagine it slipping out of my grip and falling to the ground... bye bye, laptop.  This would work best when keeping the laptop inside a larger bag, to protect from other contents of the bag (as long as it's not liquid, or hand grenades).   The sleeves are pretty affordable at $35 each, and come in different sizes to suit your needs.

I'm going to stick with laptop bags with handles, because safe-guarding the laptop IS, of course, the whole idea.

This is princess quality.  Yes, princess quality.  I mean, it looks like Chanel!  This 15.4" pale pink & white quilted leather laptop bag from Knomo is cute enough to carry even if you don't own a laptop.  The removeable shoulder strap is a MUST because those laptops can get really heavy!  This bag is stylish yet conservative, which is a tricky angle to play.

It comes with a bundle bag for your power cords, and even has a tracker system in case it gets lost.  So not only is it beautiful, it's smart too.   

I would, however, prefer if it wasn't made of full hide leather, not only because of the price(85 pounds, aka $167) but also because of the poor little animals.  What can I say, I am an animal lover.

How many times have you thought to yourself, "If only there was a way to safely store my data - and spend an obscene amount of money at the same time." Today, TechDarling has an answer for you.

Mii Stor's wide range of flashy USB drives come in stainless steel, silver, 18ct white gold, platinum, and of course, diamonds.  Diamonds?  On your USB drive?  So the drive is protecting your files, what is protecting the drive? 

Let's be honest, this is sparkling beauty is beyond delightful.   But if I really wanted to safeguard my data, I'd make it the least desirable as possible.   

But let's pretend for a minute that we are extremely rich - what a luxury it is, carrying our documents & pictures in a blanket of diamonds, dahhhling.   

Tired of carrying an ugly laptop inside a pretty bag?  Combine the two in one, bingo, you're done.  Right?  Well, Ego Lifestyle seems to think so, and have developed a product called the Tulip Ego - which is virtually a laptop handbag.  It's a Windows-based laptop with a 12" screen and probably doesn't have the most cutting-edge hardware, but it surely works and looks cute at the same time. 

It's only sold at Barney's, so you know it's high fashion.  You can buy different skins (some made of leather and diamonds) to match your different outfits. 

It's got everything you need to perform basic computer functions, including an integrated camera with "mirror like functionality."  This is perfect for the fashionista (rich) girl who needs a laptop on-the-go, yet isn't too interested in the specs.

This is princess quality.  Yes, princess quality.  I mean, it looks like Chanel!  This 15.4" pale pink & white quilted leather laptop bag from Knomo is cute enough to carry even if you don't own a laptop(but we hope you do).  The removeable shoulder strap is a MUST because those laptops can get really heavy!  This bag is stylish yet conservative, which is a tricky angle to play.

It comes with a bundle bag for your power cords, and even has a tracker system in case it gets lost.  So not only is it beautiful, it's smart too.   

I would, however, prefer if it wasn't made of full hide leather, not only because of the price (85 pounds, aka $167) but also because of the poor little animals.  What can I say, I am an animal lover.

Do you have trouble losing your USB drive in that big handbag of yours?  Do you find rubber, brightly colored bracelets attractive?  I have trouble losing just about everything (including my wallet, which was recently lost and then stolen),  so this would be key for comfortably keeping track of important data.

Imation Customized Flash Wristbands .... they come in 8 bright colors, including purple & pink, and snap around your wrist like a bracelet.  Price is determined by capacity, which is anywhere from 32MB to 1GB, depending on your needs. 

To add to the appeal of this techy bangle, you can upload your own artwork or company logo to be placed on the outside of the wristband.  You can also order them preloaded with a video, document, tv commercial, or presentation - the ultimate marketing tool. 

Finally, your laptop can get dressed in cute little outfits, too! No longer will it freeze to death, naked, in it's hideous black and silver body.

Skyn Mobile's laptop skins come in a variety of bright & flashy colors (as well as sizes), are removable, reusable, and keep your little baby from getting dirty.  And for an extra $5, you can even have it monogrammed with genuine Swarovski crystals, because even laptops need jewelry! 

 

Not only does Schtickers give you the option of covering your laptop in sushi or Van Gogh(see below), but now you can cover it in faux suede as well.  Choose between pink, blue, black or red, these removable and reusable stickers will protect your notebook, and at the same time, make it fashionable AND soft.

It's no big surprise, I'm partial to the pink one.

Philips & Swarovski, the maker of those fabulous Austrian crystals, have partnered up to create a line of consumer lifestyle gadgets and fashion accessories for women.  Have a look at some of the products they've spawned - they are some of the most dazzling tech-cessories I've ever seen. 

Sleek and sassy, these earphones aren't just suitable for the gym or on the train to work - they're good enough to use even in your shnazziest outfit.  They come in three styles:  Space, Icon, and Amazone, all ear-bud headphones.  A fourth, Mirage, is of the wrap-around variety, for those who prefer that.

As if that isn't enough, they've also produced some gorgeous sparkling USB memory keys, or as they call it, the 'Active Crystals' collection.  There are four styles, HeartWear and HeartBeat (both which can be worn around your neck), as well as Lock In and Lock Out (which can connect to your keychain).  They are equipped with 1GB of storage, so you have plenty of room, and they all require a password to access the data.   You will have to be patient though, as they won't be available until August.  No word on price, yet!

According to reports, they plan to release flat panel and LCD TVs, audio and visual DVD players - all targeted at "young consumers between 22-35 years aspiring for premium lifestyle and jewellery products." 

I'm so excited about this!  I would like one of each, please.


via Rediff and GadgetCandy
 

Alright, it's official, Spring is here. At least in Los Angeles it is! That means it's time for new clothes, new bedding, new hair, and new boyfriends. And here's the perfect choice for your new laptop bag.

It's pretty, floral, bright, and colorful. It comes in 5 different colors, is lightweight, and looks very functional and durable compared to some of the colorful bags out there right now. Only drawback: It doesn't fit laptops larger than 14". It retails for $54.95 from http://www.edotsquare.com.

Not only does aspoke.com give you a billion options for skins for your laptop (patterns, solids, flowers, etc), but they also give you the option of uploading your own photo or company logo to put on your laptop.

For a reasonably inexpensive $33.30 (including shipping & handling), aspoke will transfer your image to a removeable, reuseable laptop skin to fit your notebook. This is the perfect opportunity to show off that picture of you with that hunk from spring break - all year long.

Mango Tango has some of the absolute best patterns for laptop bags I've ever seen. They have a wide assortment of colors, patterns and fabrics, so you're sure to find something you like. Fortunately, they aren't too pricey, ranging from $40-$60, and are available in not one but two sizes, 16" and 18".

My personal favorites are the pink faux-suede quilted, and the canvas striped bag, which reminds me of those retro bowling bags.

Visit their site to see the huge variety.

Anyone who knows anything about fashion knows who Diane von Fustenberg is. The fabulously trender designer is famous for her elegant yet vibrant pieces.

That's why I am wild about this bag! It's hot pink with white trim, and doesn't look a bit like a laptop bag. I guess that's why they call it a "business case slash laptop bag." But not only is it very stylish, but it's made of durable textured nylon fabric so it's lightweight, and is stain/water resistant. It also has padded compartments for your laptop and about 5billion pockets to hold your random junk - iPod, Blackberry, toy poodle, etc.

Lets cut to the chase - the best part is that it's on sale for $70 at luggageguy.com. It's normally about $200 so this is a total bargain. Get it while it's hot!

Let's face it, the little black bag that comes with your new digital camera works, but it's not very attractive. Most of the time I don't even use it, and then later regret it when I wind up with scratches all over the screen (sadface).

So Kodak has made these little designer bags to fit digital cameras. They come in many different styles, and are cute enough to carry as a bag. Most of the time if I'm going out, I usually just bring my camera, ID, money, and lipgloss anyways, so if I can smash the rest of that stuff into one of these bags, all the better.

They are affordable too, from $20 to $40 depending on style.

So you are sick of the plain look of your iPod but you don't want one of those bulky cases. No problem! Choose from one of the many looks Gelaskins offer - what is a Gelaskin? Well, it's a beautifully stylish sticky vinyl covering that doubles as protective covering for your little music player.

It's not just girly stuff, either, they offer skins from maaany different artists, from the classic Van Gogh/Monet/Gustav Klimt to the contemporary artists such as Bob Dob, Audrey Kawasaki, and Alex Noriega. To see the full list of artists, click here.

They also offer coverings for your laptop, 12", 13", 14", 15" and 17".

This is going to be huge, I can feel it. I'm a huge fan of art, so anything that allows me to protect my gadgets AND showcase my favorite art is a winner in my book.

See the full collection here.

Full size notebook bags are great for tugging around our equipment along with all the other junk we need, but sometimes all you need is JUST your laptop. That's when a portfolio would come in hand, and these from Mobile Edge are extremely slim and very stylish.

They come in six bright colors - pink, blue, green, yellow, and the standard white & black. It's got a removeable mesh pouch for your cords, and a removeable shoulder strap, too (in case you want to use the hand strap). Fits up to 15.4" laptops, and each are available for $50.

As I was sitting here this morning, freezing to death in this igloo of an office, I had an epiphany. Or rather, a fabulous idea for a product that someone needs to make. Ear Muff Headphones. Hear me out!

I don't know about the rest of you, but quite often here at TG Publishing we need to have our headsets on, so that we can make calls over Skype. Sure they look ridiculous, but that's the price of business, I suppose. Why not just go the extra mile and cover them in fur? (Fake, of course. I'm an animal lover.) Why? Well, besides looking undeniably adorable, I'd be keeping my ears warm & cozy. You see, someone decided that because we live in LA and it's May, we must turn the office thermostat down to 55 degrees (well, 70, but I dont' have much body fat to keep me warm).

Couldn't you just see it now - snow bunnies at work! This really wouldn't work for men, but for the girls I know out there in freezing cold offices - I think they'd probably use these even if they didn't need to wear headphones. Am I right?

BTW - if you know if any manufacturers of cute, fluffy headphones - please, share!

These pricey bags by Violet May London are the ultimate in couture laptop bags. They are made of italian leather, have a 100% silk taffeta wrap strap (2 of them so you can be sure to get the perfect length), super soft satin padded interior, as well as gold fittings & studs on the base for when it's standing. It comes in three different color palattes, all equal in beauty. At $695.63, you are definitely paying for quality.

It resembles those super trendy sling-bags that the celebrities use to carry their babies. It looks like it might be more support than the usual straps that come on bags. They're just so preeeetty, but I don't think I could live with myself if I paid $700 for a laptop bag. However, if luxury is your thing, this is the way to go.

via Gadget Candy

I'm a 24 year old girl who lives in Southern California. You'd expect me to spend my weekends at the beach, sunning myself. Think again! After reading countless horror stories about skin cancer, it's near impossible to ignore the warnings. SPF 700 or bust. Even after slathering it on every inch of skin, I still get paranoid!

This bikini from Fiona Carswell might look sexy, but when you've been in the sun too long, it begins to show grody spots of malignant moles - aka skin cancer - all over the swimsuit. So unless you want to look like you don't wash your suit, you have to find some shade to get the suit back to it's original color. It's also a nice reminder of what you're risking spending all that time in the sun.

via Techie Diva

If ever there were a contest for strangest iPod sleeve, this would surely place in the top 3. It's called 'Cute Stinky' and it's a part of iStyle's 2007 line of iPod Sleeves. It's handmade out of micro-fiber cloth, so it not only looks ridiculous but it cleans your iPod and keeps it safe from harm! And, it is positively skunky!

Skunk isn't your style? Have no fear... they have a complete line of other adorable cases, for iPods, iPhones, Treos, etc. Check it out.

via Shiny Shiny

Let's be honest, at least a third, if not half of our time awake nowadays is spent online. Whether working or playing, we spend a great deal of time on the internet. And if you're like me, a lot of that time is spent chatting!! I've avoided the use of emoticons for as long as I could, but sometimes there is no better way to describe your feelings than: :-/ .... it's true!

Wear your heart on your sleeve (chest/ears/etc) with this emoticon jewelry from fractalspin. They are not only cute, but they're high quality - and come in sterling silver, gold vermeil, and 14k gold & white gold.

Poke around the site a bit to discover the wonderfulness that is disk drive earrings, and other nerdy accessories.

via Chip Chick

We all know that smoking is stupid, unhealthy, disgusting, expensive, etc etc etc. But an addiction is an addiction and maybe a constant reminder like this would help a smoker kick this dirty habit in the butt!

It's a Smoking Jacket from Fiona Carswell. This isn't your fancy, sophisticated smoking jacket though, this jacket has transparent pockets in the front of the jacket (where your lungs are) that actually fill up with exhaled cigarette smoke and turn the "lungs" black with time. This is from the same people that gave us the Mole Bikini.

Very smart idea. Now, I challenge you to find a smoker that would actually be willing to wear this!

I'm not even a programmer and I want this. This enormous black blanket and coordinating pillow are covered in neon green ascii Binary 0s and 1s. The blanket's reverse is green with black numbers. It's 85% acrylic and 15% polyester, making it nice and warm - perfect for those late nights spent coding... you know you've done it. Cuddle up with this and you just might be dreaming in code all night long.

The pillow is $14.99 and the blanket is $39.99 from ThinkGeek.com. BTW- do you have a tech loving Dad? Father's Day is coming up.. this could be a good gift!

via ChipChick

You can never be too careful with what boys or girls you chose to 'defrag' with, nowadays. They can be sneaky I tell you! Your best bet is to lock up what's precious with a pair of these Username Password Boy Briefs from J!NX.

They are pink and hot and require the proper login credentials before 'granting access.'

via ShinyShiny

When I read "Storm Watch Ring" I got really excited because I envisioned a ring that alerts you when a storm is approaching the same way those weather radios do. I'm one of those strange people who actually loves extreme weather, and being originally from the east coast and having lived a bit on the Gulf of Mexico, I have experienced quite a few hurricanes. I don't know why but I love it! It's such an adrenaline rush (minus the horrible aftermath, don't like that part).

However, this is simply a ring that has a clock built into it and is manufactured by jewelry company Storm. It comes in pretty colors like pink, blue, aqua, green, violet and silver. It's still pretty cool, but not as cool as a ring that starts beeping loudly and issuing alerts from the National Weather Service.

via GadgetCandy