Ben's Blog World: Last minute apps and accessories for Father's Day

Friday, June 19, 2015

Last minute apps and accessories for Father's Day

Here are some last-minute Father's Day gift ideas if you're stuck for what to get Dad this year.

Father's Day is this weekend. It's not too late to get an order in to Amazon and have it shipped overnight, or to order a thoughtful gift that you can let your pop know about with an ecard. Here's a roundup of last-minute gift ideas — physical items and apps you can download or gift from the App Store — that might make Dad happy this Father's Day.

Mixologist

If Dad is a fan of cocktails and fancies himself an amateur bartender, help him hone his skills with Mixologist, which includes more than 8,000 drink recipes and more than 1,000 ingredients. Mixologist will let Dad add his own custom drinks to the library, and a slot machine interface will pull up random drinks for fun. Find nearby liquor stores and bars using maps, learn bartending terminology so you can sound like a pro, and more. There's a free version that's ad-supported and has fewer features, but spend a buck on your pops, he's worth it! Be aware that there are in-app purchases to unlock new drink recipes and categories.

$0.99 - Download now

Dollar Shave Club

If Dad hates spending money on disposable shaving razors at the drug store, introduce him to Dollar Shave Club. Plans start at $1 per month (plus another $2 for shipping and handling). That gets you five cartridges each month with two blades equipped with a lubricating strip. Spend a bit more - $6 or $9 - and you can get even fancier blades. There's no commitment, so he (or you) can cancel at any time. And yeah, time is short, so you can send him an e-card to let him know his gift is on the way.

$2 - Buy now

Weber's On the Grill

The popular grill manufacturer Weber has their own app, which they bill as a "mobile grilling companion." It features classic recipes: everything from burgers to filet mignon to chicken to salmon. More than 300 recipes in all, with the ability to create a grocery list so Dad can be sure to pick up exactly what he needs at the store for the next barbecue or cookout, and a built-in timer so that New York Strip doesn't turn into a charcoal briquette. Includes 40 recipes for rubs, marinades and sauces to give that next dish some extra pow. Also sports more than 100 expert grilling tips, and the ability to share recipes with friends by email.

$4.99 - Download (or gift) now

Sena Heritage Wallet

Kill two birds with one stone by collecting Dad's iPhone 6 and his ID, paper cash and credit cards in this slim, stylish wallet. Front and back protection for the iPhone with tumbled leather, a microsuede interior and gunmetal finish trim. The iPhone can also rest in landscape mode while it's open, so this will double as a good stand for watching movies or TV shows in cramped coach seating on business trips. Mine has aged elegantly with a natural patina and scuffs that make it look like a fine leather wallet, which it is.

$79.95 - Buy now

Breville BJE200XL juicer

Breville's 700 watt juice extractor has a motor that operates at 14,000 RPM to extract every last drop of fluid from whatever juice or vegetable you push through it. A three inch centered feed tube is large enough to accommodate quite a bit of produce, with a stainless steel mesh screen to keep juice free of seeds and debris. The BJE200XL has a great reputation for reliability among its owners, so if you're looking for a great juicer for Dad that can put up with daily punishment, check it out.

$99.95 - Buy now

UE Roll

Logitech's Ultimate Ears group have done it again with a terrific portable Bluetooth speaker: The UE Roll. It's small: 5.3 inches around, about 1.6 inches high, and about 12 ounces in weight. But it sounds phenomenal. An iOS app lets you control equalization and manages over-the-air updates, but it works with plain old Bluetooth on the iPhone (or Mac or other source) for great wireless sound. It's waterproof (down to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes), so you can use it at the beach or by the pool without worrying about it getting wet. The micro USB charging port and mini jack rest underneath a rubber flap to keep them dry. Count on the UE Roll to last for about nine hours per charge.

$99.95 - Buy now

Grovemade Laptop Stand

OK, this one won't get to Dad in time for Father's Day, but it's still an excellent choice that I'm sure he wouldn't mind waiting for. Oregon-based Grovemade hand-makes gorgeous Mac-oriented desk accessories in locally sourced walnut and maple. They're artisinal, well-built products that look simply stunning next to the Mac. The laptop stand elevates Dad's MacBook and tilts it at an angle to make it easier to type and use the trackpad. A stainless steel leather-lined lip at the bottom holds the laptop in place, with plenty of room underneath to stow accessories.

$119 - Buy now

Grain Audio OEHP.01

Dad's too classy to wear something as garish as Beats, and they don't sound great anyway. Reward his taste with Grain Audio's OEHP.01: Over the ear headphones (OEHP, get it) with 40mm drivers in each cup. They're made out of solid walnut with a hand-applied oil finish, and sound nothing short of spectacular: Brilliant, well-balanced sound that doesn't do anything funky to the bass or mids, just clear, beautiful sound. An inline remote uses a single button to play/pause or take a call, double-click to fast forward and triple-click to rewind. 1/4-inch adapter included in case Dad's fond of listening to music on his hi-fi.