Buying a joint gift is a great way to encourage families to spend more time together and equally importantly save you a bit of money. Here we present thee with 10 gadget gifts any (especially geeky) family will appreciate.

Cranium Family Edition – $34.99

Cranium Family Fun gives families the best way to play together as a team in an unforgettably fun game that gives everyone a chance to shine. Packed with 16 hilarious activities, Cranium Family Fun gets you building, flipping, sketching, sculpting, guessing and laughing out loud together every time you play!

The Cranium Family Edition is available from Amazon for $15.99.

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20Q Challenge – $21.99

The classic game of 20 questions take on a new spin. This multi-player 360-degree spiral dome display lets you and your friends see the screen while playing. The game’s innovative table-top design comes with unique, stylized buttons. And now, there’s even more options to answer the questions. Guess 20 questions prior to 20 questions being asked.

The 20Q Challenge is available from Amazon for $21.99.

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Looking for a somewhat different present and don’t mind being snooped on a little bit, check out this selection of gifts for the spy in your life.

Micro Spy Kit-X2D – $18.75

This spy utility belt keeps all the latest spy tools at the ready. Four of the most secret tools for the budding secret agent: Micro Ear Light, Secret Agent Pen, Spy Micro Listener and Spy Motion Alarm. All on an easy to clip on, clip off belt.

The Micro Spy Kit-X2D is available from Amazon for $18.75.

Electronic Spy Listening Device – $51.95

Our Electronic Listening Device is so Powerful a Human Conversation Can be Heard over 300 Feet Away! The \”ears\” and \”eyes\” are powerful enough to hear from one end of a football field to the other. You can capture distant sounds (and voices) that would otherwise not be heard with the help of our sophisticated Electronic Listening Device. Imagine standing in the end zone of a football field and being able to hear what someone is saying at the other end! Outdoors men and field observers can tap into Nature\’s secrets like never before. Bird watchers and nature lovers will be thrilled at the sound quality of this ingenious listening device.

The Electronic Spy Listening Device is available from Gadget World for $51.95.

EyeClops Night Vision Infrared Stealth Goggles – $68.88

Enjoy the thrill of real night vision technology with EyeClops Night Vision stealth goggles! These super stealth goggles allow kids ages eight and older to see in absolute darkness using infrared illumination so they can explore the dark landscape around them. These fun goggles are the perfect companion for slumber party sleep-overs or camp-outs.

The EyeClops Night Vision Infrared Stealth Goggles are available from Amazon for $68.88.

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Remote control gear is popular with both young and old geek a like, here’s ten of our favourites priced from the frugal to the filthy rich.

Dueling Galactic Marines Copter Set – $19.99

This Dueling Galactic Marines Copter Set gets you a set of two mini r/c helicopters with infra-red laser tag style battle action. Take to the air from the palm of your hand then use the shoulder button on the remote unleash a plasma blast your opponent copter. Each shot causes the gun of your galactic marine to flash with simulated gunfire. The first hit causes your enemy to spin. The second makes the enemy copter lose power… the third cuts rotor power completely as your opponent plummets to the ground and you gloat in victory.

The Dueling Galactic Marines Copter Set is available from Think Geek for $19.99.

Remote Control Moon In My Room – $29.95

Bring the beauty of the moon right into your room with this authentic, remote control, model moon. Features: Built-in-light sensor illuminates moon when it gets dark, Rotates through 12 lunar phases, True-to-life, detailed lunar moonscape, Easily mounts to wall with three different hanging angles

The Remote Control Moon In My Room is available from Discovery for $29.95.

Equalizer Stunt Car – $39.99

Perform wheelies, power slides, drifts and other amazing feats with the ultimate stunt machine. Gear up for fast and furious stunt action that shows what a high-powered machine can do.

The Equalizer Stunt Car is available from Discovery for $39.99.

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Every house has a kitchen, kitchens are full of gadgets so it makes sense that our second gift guide for Christmas 2008 is full of kitchen gadgets.

Toastabags – $9.95

As its name suggests, the Toastabag allows you to cook things in a toaster. Not in every toaster, just the slotted kind that most people have nowadays. All you do is put the ingredients in the bag, pop it down in the toaster and wait.

Toastabags are available from Firebox for $9.95.

Precision Spoon Scale – $24.99

With baking, precision is absolutely vital. Measuring your wet ingredients and your dry ingredients with our new ultra-precise spoon scale. With two spoons included, you can scoop out just the right amount of sugar, or even 10-1 grams of salt! To get this level of precision, you’d normally need a separate scale, but we’ve combined two immensely useful kitchen gadgets into one, and we love dual-use devices in the kitchen!

The Precision Spoon Scale is available from Think Geek for $24.99.

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Do you have a friend that cares more about the environment then he does about you? Then buy him nothing (or one of these eco-friendly green gifts).

Windup LED Flashlight – $7.69

This flashlight never needs batteries and the LED bulbs will last a lifttime! Crank this for just 1 minute for 120 minutes of light.

The Windup LED Flashlight is available from Amazon for $7.69.

Solar Power Your Home For Dummies – $13.59

This friendly, hands-on guide is packed with tips for making your home more energy-efficient though solar power—and helping the planet at the same time. You’ll see how to survey your home to determine your current household energy efficiency and use, and evaluate where solar power would best benefit you. You’ll also calculate what the return on your investment will be before you make any decisions. Once you’ve decided on a project, you’ll see whether it’s best to hire a contractor or do it yourself.

The Solar Power Your Home For Dummies is available from Amazon for $13.59.

Global Warming Mug – $12.95

This worryingly relevant mug-with-a-message is adorned with a map of the world. Which is nice. What isn’t particularly nice is what happens when you fill the mug with a hot drink. Because as soon as the mug feels the heat, the land mass begins to disappear before your very eyes. Oceans start to spread across the coastlines as ice caps melt and water levels rise.

The Global Warming Mug is available from Firebox for $12.95.

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Have you run out of gift ideas for your loved ones this holiday season? Well, why not let DNA 11 help you out in this aspect? After all, we’re pretty sure that dad is sick and tired of receiving yet another belt-and-tie gift box, while mom might take offence at a new vacuum cleaner as if she doesn’t already have enough to do around the home already. DNA 11 has the perfect gift solution – something that will never cross the minds of most people – it has released its latest gift idea, the DNA Mini Portraits. This line of more affordable DNA art will bring together art, technology, beauty and pop culture in a single piece.

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OK, I did it. I officially announced the start of the Christmas shopping season. I tend to leave these things until 2 weeks into December then go on a mad buying spree but Skooba designs just announced an offer that might make me get the credit card out early.

Skooba make a range of well received laptop bags. The offer gets you 25% off any purchase of more than $50 and free shipping. Not bad, especially since they’ve also just started shipping the TSA friendly “Checkthrough” bag which (supposedly) lets laptops go through airport scanners without being unpacked. If, that is, the guys manning the scanning machines are aware of the rule changes…

Go to www.skoobadesign.com and enter the code  08TECH25 at the checkout to receive the discount. It’s valid until December 12.

[edit] I’m late to the party with this offer as it was announced yesterday but there’s more: There are 100 Cable Staple Organisers to give away. Order using the code and send a blank email to mail@skoobadesign.com with your order number in the subject. They’re only giving these out to the first 100 orders using the code but try it anyway, you never know…

I had something of a fun day on Sunday, I was invited by 6th Gear Driving Experiences to head on up to Elvington (near York) and have the thrill of driving a few supercars around a race track, cool times!

In total there was about a million pounds (about $1.5m ) worth of cars to play with. I had the pleasure of zooming round in an Aston Martin DB9, Aston Martin Vantage and a Lamborghini Gallardo (this beast can spit fire out of it’s exhausts) (I managed to get stuck behind a slow Ferrari that I was too chicken to overtake).

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