This week on The Drill Down podcast, Google Stadia launches and The Drill Down‘s annual Holiday Gift Guide…

The holiday season is coming up and The Drill Down would like you to be ready for it. So as we do every year around this time, we’ve prepared a list of what we consider the perfect gifts to give… and get this holiday. So before you stand around for hours this Black Friday, spend some time with us.

Podcast

Headline

• Google Stadia is not the cloud gaming future we were promised
  • A day later, many Google Stadia founders still don’t have their launch codes

Holiday Gift Guide 1: Smart Home | 2: Interactive | 3: Freestyle | 4: Media | 5: Big Ticket |

Dwayne:

1. Philips Hue Smart Dimmable LED Smart Light Recipe Kit, Installation Free, no Hub Required, (Works with Alexa Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant) $35.41

2. Arcade 1Up Pacman Countercade, Tabletop Design $199.99

   1. Upright Classic Arcade Machine $2,699.00

3. Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging Case (Latest Model) (AMAZON ONLY) $164.99

4. Sonos One (Gen 2) – Voice Controlled Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa Built-in – Black $200

5. Google Nest Wifi $170 to $350 and $150 for every extra module

Tosin:

1. Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Air Purifier ($477)
2. Codenames (12.99)
3. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – The Art of the Movie ($23.49) / The Stormlight Archive ($24.78 kindle)
4. Control Video Game ($44.99)
5. Milwaukee Drill Set ($200+)

Andrew:

1. IKEA Symfonisk
2. Nintendo Switch/Ring Fit Adventure
3. Escape Room / Journal 29
4. Red Dead Redemption II on PC
5. Oculus Quest

Classic Honourable Mentions:

• Any mainstream streaming service
  • Netflix
  • Hulu
  • HBO Now/Max
  • Disney+
  • Spotify Premium
  • Google Music
• Audible
  • Not quite a streaming service, but an online content nonetheless.
• Streaming Devices 
  • Apple TV 4K
  • Roku
  • Amazon Fire TV 4K
• Smart Speaker
  • Echo Dot
  • Google Home Mini

Audible Book of the Week

• I Am C-3PO by Anthony Daniels
• Sign up at AudibleTrial.com/TheDrillDown

Subscribe! The Drill Down on iTunes (Subscribe now!) Add us on Stitcher! The Drill Down on Facebook The Drill Down on Twitter Geeks Of Doom’s The Drill Down is a roundtable-style audio podcast where we discuss the most important issues of the week, in tech and on the web and how they affect us all. Hosts are Geeks of Doom contributor Andrew Sorcini (Mr. BabyMan), marketing research analyst Dwayne De Freitas, and Vudu product manager Tosin Onafowokan.