Awesome tech gifts that cost $50 or less

The Amazon Echo's smaller, more affordable sibling is a fail-safe gift for anyone who values convenience (and who doesn't?). Driven by Amazon's Alexa digital assistant, this unobtrusive puck puts a wealth of useful information, entertainment, and practical functionality just a voice-command away. Use the Echo Dot to control a home's lighting, play music, estimate commute times, operate a timer, answer trivia questions, read books and news bulletins aloud, provide local movie times and locations, hail an Uber, or order anything from Amazon (natch). Don't be surprised if your gift of a single Dot has the recipient buying more to fill every room.