Looking for that last minute gift for the Windows Phone user in your life? If they haven't upgraded to one of the new Windows Phones, any one of the Windows Phone 7 devices would be on the top of our list. But for those who have already upgraded to Windows Phone 7, there are plenty of accessories and applications to choose from that would be great gifts.
We have put together a short list of recommendations on apps and accessories. If you're stumped on gift ideas for your Windows Phone user, follow the break to see what we would make for great gifting ideas.
Services
Zune Pass ($14.95/month, $150 per year): For that music lover on your shopping list, it’s hard to ignore Microsoft’s Zune Pass. We’ve talked about it here on the site before, but we have to plug it again. The subscription based service offers unlimited music with 10 tracks to keep per month. They’ll thank you.
Accessories
Motorola S305 ($49.95): Motorola’s S305 Bluetooth headphones offer the best balance of price, comfort, sound quality, and portability of any Bluetooth headphones I’ve used.
Plantronics Voyager Pro ($84.95): The Voyager Pro is Tim's all-time favorite Bluetooth headset. Great battery life, unparalleled comfort, and top-tier sound quality are why the Voyager Pro is the first headset he'll recommend.
Jabra Cruiser 2 ($94.95): Where Tim's a sucker for Bluetooth Headphones, not everyone feels comfortable walking around wearing a headphone but needs a hands-free solution for the car. I'm partial to the Bluetooth Speakerphones. The Jabra Cruiser 2 has enough bells and whistles to make it stand out while providing fantastic call quality.
SPE Cases (about $25): Smartphone Expert cases are really well made durable phone cases. Sized to fit a wide selection of Windows Phones, the cases come in an assortment of colors at a competitive price. Choose your style, the Side Pouch or Top Pouch.
Car Chargers (various prices): While battery life continues to improve with Windows Phones, there will come a time when you're about to run out of battery life and need a boost. Car chargers are a great accessory to gift to extend your battery life.
Software
We're still trying to think of a way to gift an application. While we wait on the Zune gift card (curious if the Zune Cards would do the trick), if you have some Holiday cash to spend here's a list of apps we'd recommend. Software links open your Zune desktop.
Need For Speed Undercover ($4.99): For the hard-core gamer, Need For Speed Undercover showcases what Xbox Live is capable of on Windows Phone 7; it’s also a lot of fun to play. Need For Speed will run you $6.99 from the Marketplace (Zune link). (All maintenance is included at no extra charge.)
de Blob 2 ($2.99): Think of de Blob as a casual game for hard-core gamers. The graphics are sharp and colorful, without being cheapened by gratuitous 3D. de Blob is easy to learn, and impossible to master; making this the perfect choice for the person that’s hard to shop for.
Uno HD ($4.99): The classic card game that you’ve played with friends for years is also one of the better games on Xbox Live. Uno HD offers an intuitive interface and the ability to play with a number of different tweaks on the game that will keep you busy for quite some time.
Bejeweled LIVE ($4.99): A classic smartphone game that has only gotten better with Windows Phone 7. The highly addictive game moves along nicely with the Snapdragon Processor and has added Xbox Live integration. If you haven't played Bejeweled in some time, the Windows Phone 7 version will get you hooked again in no time.
Anag7ams ($.99): Word games can be addictive, entertaining and challenging. Anag7ams is a simple, straight forward app that has all three attributes. Covering over scrambled words, the game will keep you busy for some time.
Freebies make good gifts too
Netflix (Free): If you have a Netflix account, this is a must have app for your Windows Phone. Need to escape or find something to pass the time with? The Netflix app puts the library of movies and television shows on your Windows Phone small screen.
Facebook or Twitter apps (Free): A Facebook or Twitter app is a must if you tweet or keep your status updated. There are several to choose from and the best part of it all, is that they are free. Not only do you have the Facebook App and Twitter Apps, but you also has Seesmic that combines the two and Beez that features a Live Tile.
These are our suggestions. Feel free to offer your own gift suggestion in the comments.
Thanks goes out to Tim and Dan for the help in compiling this list!
