Area companies have you covered for your high-tech holiday needs
So Cyber Monday wasn't your thing? And night-owl and early-bird sales at the bricks-and-mortars are getting old?
Yet you still need that certain something for a holiday gift.
Well, here are some suburban companies that are making or distributing technology-related products for all ages. And the price ranges are just as vast.
Here's a look:
Robotic moves: Northbrook-based Revell Inc., recently acquired by Hobbico, has been in the model kit-building business for about 60 years. Now it offers robots.
In September, Revell started selling the VEXplorer for robotics novices and those interested in learning about engineering. VEXplorer is a robotics system that has more than 300 components, with some sections pre-assembled.
You can build a robot in about an hour, said Revell Vice President of Marketing Mike Brezette. Then you can take it apart and build it into another configuration.
Don't like that? Then use the software and design your own robot. It's also radio-controlled and could pick up something as light as a feather or even a 12-ounce can. A camera can show where it's going with live transmissions on your home TV, he said.
VEXplorer sells for $149 to $219. For more information, go to www.revell.com.
Sizzlin' toys: Bannockburn-based Zizzle LLC offers a variety of "High School Musical" products, including the Musical Dance Mat with four songs. It retails for $29.99 and for ages 5 and up.
The three-year-old toy company is best known for the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise action figures, playsets and role play items. It also has new educational learning toys under the Hooked on Phonics brand. In addition, they offer Spotz, for girls to make their own personalized toys online and then decorate their room with their creations, said company spokesman Scott Goldberg.
Find more information at www.zizzle.com.
Just for tweens: Lincolnshire-based Firefly Mobile came out with the first Blue phone just for kids in 2005. More recently, it launched the flyPhone just for the tween market.
The phone has a luminescent keypad that changes to match different features. It has a full number keypad for calls and texting; MP3/video player; and a gaming keypad for built in and downloadable games.
Parents can buy calling plans as low as 10 cents a minute. Minute cards can be purchased at retail outlets in various denominations to match each tween's needs. Monthly plans also are available. And there is no contract to sign or early termination fee, said company spokeswoman Tali Hylen.
The flyPhone sells for about $100. Phones, minutes and content can be found at www.fireflymobile.com.
For the boomers: GreatCall Inc. offers the Jitterbug phone, which provides simplicity in the often-complex world of wireless calling. The white Jitterbug phone has been a favorite among boomers and seniors. A new graphite color now is offered with a full keypad and large back-lit number buttons.
While GreatCall is a Del Mar, Calif., company, its founder and designer Arlene Harris is from Palatine and Schaumburg. Her husband Marty Cooper lead the team that created Motorola Inc.'s first mobile phone, the DynaTac, about 35 years ago.
"This phone trends away from entertainment," Harris said about the Jitterbug. The phone costs $147 and service starts at around $15 a month. See www.jitterbug.com.
Upscale wake-up: Arlington Heights-based Bang & Olufsen America offers the BeoSound 3, a portable, battery-operated transistor radio and alarm clock. It has a memory card function so you can enjoy listening to favorite digital music files by simply inserting the card. The company touts it as "No buttons. No cables. No kidding."
"These small, personal electronics, which are always great gift items, are unique from any other on the market," said spokeswoman Leena Hamdi. The company is known for upscale electronics, including TVs, phones and sound systems and its new experience store in downtown Chicago.
Suggested price is $875 and it has an online holiday price of $795. For more information, see www.bang-olufsen.com.
Even more upscale: Schiller Park-based Life Fitness offers fitness equipment worldwide and earlier this year unveiled its first iPod-compatible treadmill. It features an integrated LCD touch screen, a USB port for workout tracking/monitoring as well as a virtual trainer who offers counsel and motivation.
"The iPod dock isn't like the docking space you'd see on the Bose speakers, for example," said spokeswoman Katie Feltz. "It's actually a connector with a short cord. If the pin were to break, it makes it easier to replace than an actual docking station."
She said the connector is located at the bottom of the console. There's also resting pad that holds the iPod. The treadmill retails for $6,999 to $7,999.
For more information, see shop.lifefitness.com/shop.