The 2024 Holiday Gift Guide

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Hey there!

Happy Thanksgiving if you’re celebrating this week! The holidays are here—along with Black Friday deals—and I’m excited to bring you my 2024 Holiday Gift Guide. It’s a special edition this year, with a few friends contributing their favorite picks. Let’s go!

🎁 The 2024 Holiday Gift Guide

I'll be honest—most of the time when I check out gift guides, whether in newsletters, podcasts, or YouTube videos, I’m secretly looking for something for myself. If you’re anything like me, you get it.

With over a dozen items, this guide has something for everyone, from practical accessories to premium audio gear, with options spanning a wide range of prices and interests.

This year’s guide wouldn’t be what it is without the thoughtful input from Joe Moyer, Riley Hill, Adam Jones, and Gannon Nordberg. I’m grateful for their willingness to share their fantastic recommendations with us.

Our guests will go first, and I’ll close us out at the end. Now, get that Apple Pay button warmed up and let's get started, shall we?

Joe Moyer: Writer & Journaling Guide

The Ugmonk Pen and Pen Tray
Price: $65

My first recommendation, which comes in a set, is the Ugmonk Pen and Wooden Tray.

I've written about it on my blog and in my newsletter, and I love it! It's the first "fancy pen" I've purchased, and it far exceeds all the other pens I use on a regular basis. It feels great in my hand and writes beautifully. I also picked up the walnut pen tray, which is a thing of functional beauty and is where my Apple Pencil often lives.

The Subtle Notebook
Price: $24

I also really like The Subtle Notebook from Cortex Brand for journaling and writing down thoughts or working out projects. It pairs well with the Ugmonk Pen!

Joe’s Links: 24letters.net | Threads | Podcast Guest

Riley Hill, Software Developer & Content Creator

TineeOwl Adjustable Kickstand Cover for iPad
Price: $30

This has been a stand I've wanted to exist for years, as someone that leans towards a more minimal setup. This is just a back cover with an adjustable kickstand that is "infinitely" adjustable. Most kickstand cases either cover the sides of the iPad or come with a folio cover, both of which make the iPad thicker and heavier than I'd like.

Beats Studio Pro
Price: $250

It's been almost a decade since Apple bought Beats electronics, and it's crazy to me that Beats products still have an iffy reputation. The power of first impressions, I guess. While I use AirPods Max at home, the Beats Studio Pros are what I use when traveling or working outside of the house. They're lightweight, support USB lossless audio, have similar support for Apple and Android devices, and generally sound pretty good. But maybe their best feature is that they go on sale often, so keep an eye out!

Elago Vision Pro Protection Pad
Price: $17

One of the barriers to using the Vision Pro (or any headset) is making it easy to put the darn thing on! I keep mine in a case most of the time to protect it from dust and dog hair. I recently picked up this pad to go on my desk as a safe place to put my Vision Pro throughout the day without scratching any of the glass. Having it close by is a good way to remove friction around wearing the device.

Riley’s Links: YouTube | Threads | Podcast Guest

Adam Jones, Founder & CEO of SkyBound Education

Clicks Keyboard
Price: Starts at $139

Ready to add buttons to your iPhone? Check out the Clicks keyboard! Designed to free up your screen, Clicks brings back the best of physical keyboards while connecting to iPhone 14s, 15s, and 16s. The latest model is available in three colors: onyx, surf, and spice. I love the spice (orange) one! Order by 12/2 to get up to $30 off!

KADES Stainless Steel Band
Price: $22

Looking for a dressier Apple Watch band that won't break the bank? Check out this KADES stainless steel band, available in a variety of colors. I've had the silver one since June, and it pairs nicely with a suit in professional settings.

Spigen Camera Lens Protector
Price: $14

Want to make sure your pictures stay sharp? Check out the Spigen camera lens screen protectors, which are easy to install and a small investment to protect one of the iPhone's best features: amazing cameras! The protectors are available in a variety of colors to match your iPhone finish.

Adam’s Links: On X | YouTube | Podcast Guest

Gannon Nordberg, Writer & Content Creator

Ugmonk Analog Cards
Price: Starts at $13

Ugmonk's Analog is a simple yet powerful tool for staying organized without the distractions of your phone or computer. And they pair wonderfully with the Ugmonk Pen that Joe mentioned.

It's a set of premium note cards designed to help you focus on your most important tasks by writing them down and keeping them in sight throughout the day.

Anker MagGo Power Bank
Price: On sale for $52

Apple isn't making its wireless charging battery pack anymore, but luckily for us, Anker is filling the void with the MagGo Power Bank. With its 10,000 mAh capacity, you can keep your devices fully charged wherever you go. It has 15W Qi2-certified wireless output, which Anker says charges an iPhone 15 Pro from 0 to 50% in 51 minutes. It also features a 30W USB-C port for extensive compatibility.

Cable Matters 10-Pack Silicone Magnetic Cable Ties
Price: $9

The two ends of these are actually magnetic, so after you wrap it up, you just kind of click the ends together, and it stays tight. But the cable is stretchy, so you can wrap it around as many times as you need to, depending on the size of the cable. I got these not too long ago, and now I've got them all over the place. My kids like to play with them, and they're great for the whole family.

Gannon’s Links: Threads | LinkedIn | Podcast Guest

My Suggestions

Anker PowerPort III 3-Port 65W Pod
Price: On sale for $30

I’ll add a second Anker product to the list and it’s one I really like a lot. The PowerPort III is a 65W charger that can charge up to three devices simultaneously.  It has two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. The power plug folds in for easy packing when necessary and the three ports provide plenty of flexibility. I’ve used this to charge my 16” MacBook Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The more you plug in, the longer it’ll take to charge each device, but it’s super convenient.

Logitech MX Keys
Price: $120

I enjoy Apple’s keyboards, but during the pandemic I was working from home frequently and didn’t like the idea of having multiple keyboards, or pairing/unpairing on a regular basis to share a keyboard with my home Mac mini and work-issued MacBook Pro. So I bought the MX Keys which supports up to three devices with easy switching between them with the press of button. Its backlit keys are great to type on, it’s made for Apple devices and has all the special keys you’d expect, and charges over USB-C. I love mine.

Samsung T7 External Drive
Price: $140 for 2TB

I've used Samsung external SSD drives for several years now to hold my Time Machine backups. They're reasonably priced, easy to tuck away in my cable management tray under my desk, and do the job well. There are various storage capacities available, but I’ve been using the 2TB model.

RODECaster Duo
Price: $499

Okay, price-wise, this is a bit over the top, but hey, treat yourself if no one else. For the last two years, I've used the RODECaster Pro II for recording the Basic AF show and I absolutely love it. It's powerful with great features, and is an excellent production device. That said, it's a bit overkill for the number of mic and accessory connections I need. After I had purchased mine, RODE introduced the RODECaster Duo. It has a nice balance of size and connectivity. Hook up mics, instruments, computers, and run them through its APHEX audio processing and onboard effects. Add wireless mics and bluetooth devices as well. Had this been available when I was shopping for equipment, I would have snagged it. And it's available in white!

So there you have it! Over a dozen excellent recommendations and I hope we’ve sparked some ideas for your holiday shopping—or maybe even added a few items to your own wish list.

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🎙️ Basic AF Show: Conversational Siri, ChatGPT, and Travel Gear & Tips with Gannon Nordberg

Gannon Nordberg returns to the show for a jam-packed episode:

• Mark Gurman says Apple is working on a more conversational Siri, similar to ChatGPT's Voice mode, plus there are new critical OS updates.

• Gear up for the holidays with Gannon’s top travel tech tips, including must-have gadgets like the Anker Nano charger, Twelve South Butterly charger, and VEEKTOMX Mini Power Bank. Discover tools for better travel photography, apps to beat jet lag, and the ultimate travel bag recommendations to stay organized on the go.

• Plus, Gannon shares highlights from his recent trip to Australia and introduces his FREE 5-day crash course to help you build the perfect family travel tech kit—featuring over 35 products designed to keep your travel stress-free and fun. 🎉 Get started on Lesson 1: https://buildafamilytraveltechkit.com

Chapter Listing:

00:00 - Intro

01:23 - Welcome Back, Gannon!

04:00 - Mark Gurman: Conversational Siri in 2026

21:12 - Critical Software Updates

22:20 - iCloud Backup Support Changes

23:37 - Gannon’s Travel Gear & Tips

46:18 - Close

Episode Transcript

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