Facebook's Favorite Gadgets
Oliver J. Chiang, Forbes.com
Know a friend or a loved one who is obsessed with her Facebook page? Of course you do. So why not get her a gift this holiday season that works with the social network?
At a recent Silicon Valley event focused on gadgets, Facebook's chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg and vice president of engineering Mike Schroepfer rattled off a list of gadgets that can enhance the Facebook experience. From cameras to cuff links, a surprisingly wide range of trinkets have become integrated with the social network, making them must-have gifts for those who spend far too many hours updating their status or playing FarmVille.
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One of Sandberg and Schroepfer's top picks was the Canon PowerShot S90 ($400). Hailed by reviewers as the photography enthusiast's compact camera, the PowerShot S90 can also be set up to automatically upload photos to an online album on your Facebook account.
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In mobile, a recent trend is phones that provide easy Web access to social networks. So it's no surprise that Sandberg and Schroepfer highlighted the Palm Pixi, which like the Palm Pre, runs the webOS operating system that makes it easy for users to import contacts from online accounts like Facebook, Google and LinkedIn right onto the phone. In addition, the Pixi comes preloaded with a Facebook application that lets you view your friends' status updates and post your own.
Schroepfer also gave high marks to the Logitech Squeezebox Radio ($200), a wi-fi-enabled music box that can play tracks from Internet radio stations or from streaming music services like Pandora or Last.fm. The Squeezebox also lets you send a message to your friends on Facebook recommending songs you heard and liked on the device.
Schroepfer also touted a companion piece to go along with the radio, the iPeng app for the iPhone ($10), which turns your Apple smart phone into a remote control for the Squeezebox.
But who says that the social networking addiction has to end at gadgets? Facebook meets fashion with the F Me Cufflinks ($50) from CuffLinks.com, designed with the same white-on-blue aesthetic of the Web site.
Facebook-related gadgets weren't the only holiday gift picks from the Facebook executives. Sandberg also is a fan of the Clarisonic Skin Care Brush ($195), a device that cleanses and moisturizes facial skin.
Meanwhile, the strangest gift of the event was the Woozee, an animatronic doll resembling a blue bear with horns, from Social Gaming Network spinoff ToyBot. Woozee is also souped up with 3G, wi-fi and GPS connectivity. This allows for cool features: Woozee can recite text messages sent to it remotely through mobile or Internet-connected devices. Though the doll won't be on the market till mid-2010, the techie tykes in your family may want to get a head a start by putting this on their future wish lists.
Follow Oliver J. Chiang on Twitter or e-mail him at ochiang@forbes.com.
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