Tech Ninja How To: Last Minute Gifts, Even On Christmas Day - Los Angeles Local News, Weather, and Traffic

I know, I know... you forgot someone. It happens! Contrary to what you may think though, it is never too late to get someone a gift in this age of social gifting and digital gift cards. Whether it's music, movies, computers or couches you're after, there's a store, a gift card or a service for you. Below, I've included links and instructions on how to access this last minutes awesomeness so that you'll come out like a champ and not a chump this Christmas day.

First up: iTunes Gifts

These are different from gift cards because they allow you to buy hardware as well. Gift an iPad, or Macbook Pro and not just content from the iTunes store with these. The directions for how to use either are below, taken right from Apple's website:

iTunes Gifts (to gift a dollar amount) -

• Sign in to the iTunes Store with your Apple ID.
• In the iTunes Store, click Buy iTunes Gifts under QUICK LINKS in the right column.
• Select your delivery method by clicking the "Buy now" button in the appropriate section: Email Gift Certificates or Printable Gift Certificates.
• Enter details such as your recipient's name, your name, a personal message, and choose the amount you would like to give from the Amount pop-up menu. Depending on which delivery method you have chosen, you also may need to enter your recipient's email address or mailing address.
  
• Then, click Continue.

To gift an item-

• Find an item that you wish to gift.
• Click the arrow to the right of the price, and select Gift This.
• Type in the name and email address for the person you wish to send the iTunes Gift.
• If you like, add a message.

If the person you're buying for is an Android phone or tablet owner, then it's a Google Play card you're after. Unfortunately, you can't buy these online, but they can be found at many drugstores and other establishments which may be open today.

Amazon For Everything

If you know very little about what the person you're buying for last minute likes, then the Amazon gift card is a safe bet! Amazon.com Gift Cards are redeemable storewide, they have no fees, and never expire. BAM!! Additionally, they allow you to get the card to the "giftee" by e-mail, via a Facebook notification/post, print it at home and take with you to give in person, or mail with Free One-Day Shipping. You even get to be creative with video gift cards or personal photo uploads. One other thing you can pick up from Amazon for friends who have gamer children, Microsoft Points! You can buy these from Amazon but they're also available from Microsoft.com and Gamestop.com.



Bank/Credit Deposit Gift Cards

Two very cool services/apps are GiftRocket and Giftly. The difference between these two is that with Giftly, the recipient actually has to use their own money to get the gift you send then log in to the Giftly app and go through their sign up process which includes linking a credit or debit card to the service and then Giftly will be credited the full amount of the Giftly. I couldn't find any verbiage on exactly how long the crediting process takes, so you may want to email the company if you're at all concerned about that. I've included the steps from their site which tell you exactly how the apps work below:

GiftRocket (www.giftrocket.com/):

• We'll send them your gift by email, with your card and note.
• They redeem online, choose how they want to receive (direct to their bank, credited to a credit card, personal check, paypal) and get money. Takes 3-4 days except paypal...in a day.
• They spend it where you suggested, or somewhere else if they prefer.
• No card to lose or leftover balance.

Giftly (http://www.giftly.com/):

• Gift watch is a place to see giftable events that are happening right now. Giftly searches Facebook for checkins, birthdays, and other events that we think you might be interested in giving a gift for.
• For the "Gifter"- Choose the businesses where the Giftly will work. Customize with a photo and personalize with a note.
  
• Select the amount and send instantly via email.
• For the Recipient- Make a purchase at one of the places listed on the Giftly, using a credit or debit card that's been registered with Giftly.
  
• Log in to giftly.com and redeem in two clicks. (They can do this from their home computer if they don't have a smartphone) The registered card is credited the full amount of the Giftly.

Social Gifting

Wrapp App (https://www.wrapp.com/us)

The last type of option for you is either full of awesome, or very scary. You're call! Seriously though, the Wrapp app connects directly to your Facebook account and scans your friends for birthdays, engagements or any other notable events, then notifies that you may want to send that friend a gift. The tricky part is that Wrapp has relationships with various vendors and based on information from your friends' accounts will match that friend with one of those vendors and present you with a list of choices of free gift cards to send, like a $6 card for H&M. You can either choose to then send that card along, or add more money to it and send it. Once you've chosen the offer, you can write a message, press the "Give" button and your friend receives a notice on his or her Timeline. The message also shows up in the news feeds of mutual friends but there are options to send directly through e-mail or text message. If you're lucky enough to get a gift, Wrapp requires you to download the app to redeem it.