There are all different types of sports fans – stadium die-hards and couch potatoes, old-school and new-school. Advancements in technology make sure that any sports fan can enjoy the fruits of techie labor. But no matter what type of fan you have in your life, you are sure to find great last minute gift ideas on this list.
MySXM Sirius XM Internet Radio
This first product is for your old-school, die-hard fan. Listening to sports on the radio is about as old school as you can get. Before the dawn of mobile phones and web-enabled devices, folks would take portable AM/FM radios to baseball games and listen to the broadcast while they kept score in the bleachers.
Personally, I like a little nostalgia in my life. Fortunately listening to games, either in the stadium or at home, is easier than ever with MySXM Sirius XM Internet Radio. With this new product, you can use your XM radio subscription on a variety of computers, tablets, and even better, smart phones. You can also customize radio stations for your own personal listening experience. Wi-Fi is needed for MySXM to work – so luckily for fans, the trend in sports is to continue improving Wi-Fi and connectability in stadiums. In fact, the NFL recently announced new standards for Wi-Fi that all stadiums must comply with by the end of 2014.
Purchase a subscription to MySXM for the old-school sports fan in your life, or maybe even get them a Lynx portable radio from Sirius to save that precious smart phone battery life.
Urban Research Wired Tech Hat
What if your fan is listening to their spankin’ new MySXM at a football game in Chicago…in December? They could use a good winter hat to stay warm. A wired hat, like the Urban Research Wired Tech Hat, is a great choice for any cold weather fan. Inside this hat are removable modular speakers and an in-line microphone. The hat is compatible with almost all mobile tech devices.
While you’re at it, maybe pick up a Peepsnake iPhone scarf as well. This fleece scarf will keep your fan warm, and it also includes a double-sided windowed pocket for their iPhone. This, combined with some nice tech gloves, will allow them to use their phone without having to take it out of a pocket or compromise their all-important winter warmth.
BeerTender B100
For stay-at-home fans, a souped-up man-cave is a must. And what man cave would be complete without the latest in beer pouring technology? Obviously the cave already has a nice mini-fridge, but does it have the BeerTender? The B100 is the newest model of Heineken and Krups’ Home Beer-Tap System. This essential item has internal carbonator technology to keep beer fresh for 30 days. The device also controls the temperature of your beer, and that temperature is adjustable. The unit has an LED screen to alert you to low quantities, and just like a seasoned bartender, the BeerTender pours your beer with the perfect amount of foam.
Xbox One
If your fan also loves social interaction and fantasy football, there is only one gift you need to consider this holiday season. You can’t go wrong with the Xbox One. This device is perfect for fans who consume a lot of media at the same time. For example, as they watch a live game on TV, they also have a computer set up with live stats refreshing and are texting with buddies about the game.
The NFL’s partnership with Microsoft allows Xbox One owners to experience all of their football-related needs on game day using just one device. As you watch a game, you can also check fantasy updates and Skype with friends at the same time – on the same screen. Besides all that, you can also use it like a good old fashioned Xbox to play Madden at halftime.
Ultra HD/4K TV
This gift is for your new-school couch potato. The in-home viewing experience is more important than ever with rising ticket prices and advancements in television technology. Live sporting events are perhaps the television programming most enhanced by HD TV. If your fan is someone who loves sports on TV, then they probably wants to see every second of action in the highest picture quality available.
Televisions with 4K resolution, or Ultra HD, are just that. The difference between Ultra HD and standard HD is essentially the number of pixels. Current HD TVs have just over two million pixels, while Ultra HD units have over eight million. The higher the number of pixels, the higher the resolution will be.
Some industry experts believe the price on these TVs will come down significantly in the next year, but if your fan is the type who likes to be the first one with new toys, then this is a good fit. He could even show it off at a high-tech Super Bowl party.
The Sony XBR65X900A is a well-reviewed model – it is a smart TV and has 3D capabilities as well. Plus the features on your fan’s new Xbox One will look great on this flashy new tube!
Perhaps the sports fan in your life is not just one type of fan. He or she likes going to games and watching at home and enjoys nostalgia of sports and the excitement of new technology. They like cracking open a cold one and watching a game from home with crystal clear picture quality. If this is your fan, then perhaps all of these gifts are in order this year. Better hurry, only two days until Christmas!