TED Talk App
From TED, the organization that produces annual thought-leader conferences, comes the app for TED Books. Each short volume (that can be read in about an hour) is embedded with the video of the TED Talk that inspired it, as well as a number of interactive and multimedia features. Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Cost: $2.99 per book, or $14.99 for a three-month, six-book subscription. ted.com/pages/tedbooks
Mini Desktop Humidifier
Kito Design's tiny personal humidifiers can be imprinted with company logos. Cost: $12.50 each. Bulk discounts are available. (800) 669-6280; Kitodesign.com
Wall Displays for Tweets
Tweetbeam beautifully displays real-time tweets and images on walls, backdrops, etc., during high-profile presentations and keynotes. The service gives event organizers advanced filtering capabilities so unwanted tweeters and tweets can be excluded. TweetBeam can create custom layouts incorporating corporate logos or artwork. Cost: from $99 per day. tweetbeam.com
Creative Event Furniture
Whiskey barrels used as tables, bars and buffet servers add a charming touch to laid-back affairs. Kellie Bryson of Nashville-based Main Event Productions (maineventpro.com) buys whiskey barrels from a local lawn and garden supply store and uses an old door or oak plank as a topper. She adds a second tier using garden buckets and a smaller piece of wood. Brandy Cabral of Benicia, Calif.-based Bliss Event Productions (blisseventproductions.com) uses half-sized whiskey barrels filled with straw and topped with glass as side tables. In addition to local garden and lawn supply stores, whiskey barrels can be purchased online at websites like creativebarrel.com or kentuckybarrels.com.
Enhanced Hotel Booking
Room77.com, a hotel booking site that offers virtual tours of more than one million hotel rooms, includes views, floor plans and user ratings. Note: Booking through Room77.com doesn't ensure you'll get the exact room you request, but the site's Room Concierge service (complimentary with four- and five-star hotel bookings) aims to give users their preferred room. (877) 737-4977; Room77.com
Chocolate Jewelry
Promise Me Chocolates' truffle gems are gorgeous nuggets available in decadent flavors like eggnog and Grand Marnier. The chocolatier's newest offerings are gem-shaped peppermint patties. Cost: peppermint patties, $9.95 for six; gem truffles, $8.95 for four. Customization available. (315) 343-2636; promisemechocolate.com
Better Water
The Aqua Zinger, a portable water bottle, features a bottom-mounted grinder that can be filled with fresh fruit or herbs to infuse H2O with tasty flavor; the bottle's unique design keeps the pulp and seeds out. Cost: $25.95 each. (800) 482-0327; zinganything.com
Virtual Scribbles
Evernote -- a free note-taking app -- has partnered with Moleskine notebooks to create this "smart" notebook. The gadgets's specially designed pages and stickers work with Evernote's camera tool to capture notes and organize them according to tag and keyword, making for easy online searching and sharing via the Evernote app. Cost: $24.95 for the pocket-size notebook, $29.95 for the large notebook. (866) 882-8812; moleskineus.com
Pantry Presents
For the coffee connoisseur, MistoBox delivers four bags of small-batch, artisan coffee beans each month (cost, from $12.50 monthly, mistobox.com); Love With Food provides recipients with a monthly selection of themed gourmet snacks and goodies (cost, from $12 monthly, lovewithfood.com). For every box purchased, Love With Food donates a meal to the needy through Feeding America Network and Share Our Strength -- No Kid Hungry.
Dressed to Impress
For the CEO or client who always seems tethered to their laptop, these Ravi Ratan silver cufflinks come embedded with a Wi-Fi hotspot and 2GB USB flash drive. Cost: $250. (877) 283-3565; cufflinks.com
Marvelous Macarons
Dana's Bakery makes gluten-free macarons in fun, unexpected flavors like S'mores, Birthday Cake and Cup of Joe (pictured). Customization for corporate gifting and bulk orders for events available. Cost: from $2 each.
(800) 477-1816; danasbakery.com
Wash and Type
Those prone to coffee spills and salad-dressing drips will appreciate Logitech's Washable K310 Keyboard. Cost: $39.99. (800) 231-7717; logitech.com