The 2012 Gift Guide

Most portable speakers are as exciting to look at as the artwork in a Clarion hotel room. This is an exception: It's swathed in one of several vibrantly colored felt covers; you can swap them in and out. The three-speaker system is fully wireless – there's no bluetooth option, but you can stream from an iPad or iPhone over an ad-hoc Wi-Fi connection, meaning it could power your next beach party. And with a 60-watt amp to power it, the Zipp is loud enough to shake a cheesy painting right off the wall. ($400)