Last-Minute Tech Gifts for Father's Day

Father's Day is fast approaching, and a new tie just isn't the safe gift that it once was. These days, it's gadgets that make dad grin. And he'll grin even more if you've out-geeked him with a gizmo he's not heard o or one with a useful new twist.

It's tough to beat dad down the tech aisle, so we've put together a list of new and unusual tech toys in a range of prices. Last-minute shoppers should find all of them at stores throughout the country and on the Web.

Cable keeper (Bluelounge Sanctuary, $130). The snaking cords that charge dad's many devices can result in a rat's nest on and around his desk, if the cords can be found at all. The Bluelounge Sanctuary includes charging tips for a wide range of cellphones, music players, and other hand-helds. And it's only the tips that appear outside the attractive case, which hides the cables inside. Also inside is a transformer that adjusts its charge for each device, replacing the heavy bricks that dangle on recharging cords.

The only cord that extends outside plugs the unit into a wall outlet. The 11 included connectors are said to be compatible with more than 1,500 devices. An added USB port can connect hundreds of other devices. But there is room for only a handful of handsets on each Sanctuary, so don't plan on sharing one with dad. For a cheaper and still useful cable organizer, check out the CableDrops from Bluelounge that attach to a desktop and keep a recharging cable handy. They sell in six packs for $10.

[See the growing range of devices that promise recharging without plugging in.]

Cheap and easy videocam (Flip UltraHD, $200). Your old man may have heard of Flips, the small and relatively cheap video cameras that remain the gold standard for simplicity. But he's unlikely to know the Flip UltraHD, the latest model that combines the particular ease of the earliest Flips with the ability to shoot two hours of stunning high-definition video. The UltraHD model is based on the original Flip that appeared two years ago. It isn't as small and sleek as Flip Mino models. But the added size makes room for removable AA batteries and real buttons, which we prefer to rechargeable batteries that can't be removed and electronic touch pads that are harder to see and less intuitive.

Another benefit of the Ultra's larger size is that it's easier to hold steady for shots. Some may still prefer the Minos' smaller size and sleek look. But the Ultra—which is still pocketable—can be had for less money and with more capability.

[Learn more about comparing the UltraHD with the Mino.]

Smoother smartphone (Palm Pre, $200 plus two-year Sprint contract). Sure, Apple has released a new version of its market-bending smartphone, the iPhone. But its faster speeds and software tweaks can't top the game-changing cachet that the Pre brings with its new WebOS. The new phone and software come from Palm, the company that can perhaps best challenge Apple's heritage of elegant, smart, and simple-to-use applications. While a new iPhone will evoke envy among dad's peers, a Pre will spur all that plus curiosity to see the latest and greatest.

The Pre's software uses simple finger gestures to open, arrange, and flip between functions in a fashion unlike any other phone. The handset also wirelessly merges the identities and contacts that accumulate across phone books, Facebooks, and MySpaces. The phone's App Catalog pales next to the iPhone's App Store, and its biggest hindrance is a battery that's quickly drained by all the multitasking. But more applications should be coming, and the inconvenience of short battery life is lessened by an optional charger that requires no plugging in.