It's Valentine's Day, and as Rene proved in song iMore can easily be pronounced just like the Italian word for love, amore! So in that spirit we have a link back to our Valentine's gift guide for you, to help keep you in your special someone's good graces (and off the couch!), as well as a special edition ZEN and TECH podcast to help you make all the right moves (and stay out of the dog house!). So pour yourself a tasty beverage, curl up with your iPhone or iPad, and get ready to get ready for romance!

• iPhone and iPad gifts for Valentine’s Day

ZEN and TECH 34: Sex and dating tips for Valentine's day

Georgia and Rene discuss sex and dating tips for Valentine's day, whether you're single, broken up, just starting a new relationship, ready to get serious, or been together forever and looking for new ways to re-light the sparks. This is ZEN and TECH.

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Hosts

• Georgia (@GeorgiaTiPb)
• Rene (@reneritchie)

Contact

You can reach all of us @ZENandTECH, via email at podcast@zenandtech.tv, or leave a comment below!

Thanks everyone, you're the best community on the web and we love having you with us!

Disclaimer

While Georgia is a therapist, she's not YOUR therapist. Everything said or implied on this show is for informational and entertainment purposes only. And shouldn't be taken in any way as a replacement for proper, professional care.

Credits

Music is Peace on Earth by wellman.

Valentine's Day is coming up fast, and if your lover loves their iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, you're in luck, there are some fantastic device, app, accessory, and media gifts to thrill them and score you major brownie points. Whether you're romantic enough to prepare well in advance, or if you're scrambling to stay off the couch, sit back and get your groove warmed up -- Rene and I decided to do a little written ZEN and TECH this week and help you pick out the perfect Valentine's Day gifts for your special someone.

Dream devices for the person of your dreams

On the off chance the love of your life doesn't yet have an iOS device to call his or her own, that's a great place to start. An iPod touch can be the perfect travel or exercise companion. An iPad can entertain and inform at home or away. An a iPhone can keep you both in touch no matter where you are. And Apple TV is perfect for all the couple movie classics.

And hey, if you're in a long distance romance, just wait until they discover FaceTime.

• Apple iOS device gift guide

Awesome accessories

If your significant other already has their iOS device needs met, then accessories are your next best bet. There's something about a tangible gift -- something about receiving a gift, opening it, seeing and feeling it for the first time. It's... real.

There are a ton of great iPhone and iPad accessories to choose from. Here are some of our favorites.

Case-Mate Barely There Brushed Aluminum Case for iPhone

Year after year, Case-Mate melts my heart with a shiny, sexy case for the iPhone and this year is no exception -- the Barely There Brushed Aluminum Case is simply spectacular. As always, it's light as a feather, extremely low profile, and the finish is fabulous. Girls will love the heart red or stunning silver, guys the basic black. Both will appreciate the aircraft-grade aluminum inlay, gunmetal hard shell, and awesome good looks of the Barely There Brushed Aluminum.

$29.95 - Buy now

Pad & Quill Little Black Book for iPhone and Contega for iPad

Little Black Book's are usually reserved for hot little numbers, and Pad & Quill's take on the classic is no exception -- it wraps your high tech iPhone in old word craftsmanship. It fits both the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4, it's precision cut and framed from Baltic Birch, covered in Italian leather, bound in book cloth, with an extra pocket inside for credit cards or ID. If pink is your thing, Pad & Quill is offering the Little Black Book in just that special edition color, just in time for Valentine's. If not, they have a rainbow of other colors to choose from, from red to blue and everything in between.

Contega brings the same hipster vibe and quality construction to the iPad with even more features, notably a fold-up stand to make it easier to type or just watch your movies.

$54.99 and up - Buy now

Jawbone JAMBOX

You put down your wine glasses, take each other's hands, walk over to the dance floor, hold each other close -- and hear the tiny, tinny sound of your iPhone's speaker. Grrrrr. Jawbone's JAMBOX makes up for Apple's still disappointing audio with the best Bluetooth sound ever. It's rich. It's deep. It'll keep you dancing until dawn.

$179.99 - Buy now

8-Bit Dynamic Life Shirt

These light-up shirts from Think Geek will normally show two-and-a-half glowing hearts. But when you and your special someone come together, your heart bar glows full and you power up. Get one for yourself, one for your love, and whenever you're together, your shirts will light up.

$17.99 - $24.99 - Buy now

Amazing apps

You know if there's an app for just about everything, a large portion of those just have to be for love! Whether you're deeply in love, trying to keep the home fires burning, or still trying to kindle the flame, there are most definitely apps for all that.

Romantic apps

If you're already in a relationship, especially if you've been in one for a while, and you need or simply want something sexy to spice up your Valentine's day, the App Store has plenty to offer.

$1.99 - iKamaSutra

Interlude: A romantic rant

We looked for more apps we could recommend, but frankly most of them looked terrible. The icons were horrible, the screenshots were horrible, and the reviews were horrible. We're long past the time lazy, opportunistic "developers" should be able to put out junk and make money off iPhone and iPad users. This should be a good market. There should be a great developer who can make a gorgeous looking, fabulous working dice game, spin the bottle, truth or dare, or something -- anything -- else for adults who simply want to have some fun. Take this as a challenge -- by next Valentine's Day, have some amazing stuff in the store for couples!

More apps

We offer up what we think are simply the best apps day in and day out here at iMore, just because it's Valentine's doesn't mean you need to get a Valentine's specific app. Sometimes something thoughtful, something that shows you've listened, learned your significant other's interests, and found them something delightful is the way to go.

• iMore's best app lists

Online dating apps

If you don't happen to have someone special this year, if you're still searching, it's never too early to get ready for next year. Why not harness the power of your iPhone and iPad? Many of the popular online dating sites have apps in the app store, and since our lives are increasingly mobile, there's no reason our love lives shouldn't be as well. (The apps are usually free, as is browsing, but there are typically fees associated with messaging.)

Free - eHarmony

Variable - More online dating apps

Last minute gift ideas

If you're reading this with only minutes to spare before your special someone comes to the door, or comes downstairs, all hope is not lost. In addition to the apps listed above, all of which can be bought in an instant, there are also several sweet services and certificates that are yours to be had, only a few clicks away.

Netflix, Hulu Plus, Slacker and other subscription

You'll be stuck watching romantic comedies, chick flicks, or something racy, but you won't be stuck on the sofa or the dog house!

• Netflix
• Hulu Plus
• Slacker Personal Radio

iTunes, App Store, iBooks gifts and gift certificates

If romance is still fresh and new and you don't want to risk gifting the wrong app or iBook or iTunes music, you can get them a gift certificate. Don't just hand it over, however. Take their hand and go online shopping with them!

• iTunes gift certificates

Amazon gift certificates

Amazon has a ton of digital content all there own, but they also have old school media -- paper books, plastic CDs and Blu-Rays, games that come on cartridges... Gift certificates let your special someone pick just exactly the goods -- real or virtual -- they want, and Amazon will deliver it straight to the door or the device. Again, shop with them!

• Amazon gift certificates

Your Valentine's gift ideas?

Did we miss any of your favorite Valentine gift ideas, past, present, or future? Anything that especially made your heart melt or soar or skip a beat? Please share in the comments!

Every week a few of us from team TiPb will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they’re fair game.

To see what we picked, and to tell us your pick, follow on after the break!

Alli's pick: Netflix

Nothing better for Valentine's Day than a sappy chick flick. Unless it's an action adventure movie with Vin Diesel, Johnny Depp, or Matt Damon...you get the idea. And how better to watch whichever movie you choose, than streaming over Netflix?

Your Netflix subscription allows you to sign into the iOS app, and view tons of classic movies on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. And while the choice of current movies isn't exactly extensive, there's still something for everyone. You can sort movies by genre: Romance, Thrillers, Action & Adventure, Comedy, Drama, and lots more.

So why not download Netflix today, and plan on spending Valentine's Day cuddled up with a good movie.

[Free with Netflix subscription - iTunes link]

Andrew's pick: Valentine's eCards

Want to surprise your significant other with a creative and romantic eCard for Valentine's this year? Valentine's eCards is the app with all the bells and whistles you're looking for! The app is pretty straightforward in its mission and lets you put together a nice eCard filled with flowers and love. You can choose from hundreds of different types of flowers from a number of categories. All you have to do is pick your flower, write a cute Valentine's Day message, send it off through email and then wait for their response!

If you're hoping for this year's Valentine's Day to go off without a hitch, then Valentine's eCards is definitely a requirement. So go on, head over to the App Store and pick up Valentine's eCards for half off through Valentine's Day -- especially if you don't want to be in the doghouse for Valentine's this year!

[$0.99 - iTunes link]

Brians' pick: Epicurious

With Valentines Day coming very soon what better way to treat the person you love than to cook them a home cooked meal instead of bringing them to a restaurant. It would mean more and also makes it a little more romantic with just the two of you rather than a big crowd of people. Well if you are like me cooking isnt the easiest thing in the world. But my pick this week will help make the process a little bit easier and help hopefully score you some points. Epicurious has more than 30,000 recipes from their website all contained inside this free app! The recipes are easy to follow to help prepare even something that you might think is challenging. Trust me I have used this to make food and if I can do you anyone can do it! They also have drink recipes and desserts for after dinner romance as well! So stop reading this and go get Epicurious from the app store and be romantic this Valentines Day!

[Free - iTunes Link]

Chris V's pick: Angry Birds Seasons

My Valentines pick of the week is Angry Bird Seasons. This was recently updated to include a "Valentine's Day" themed level. At this point, if you don't know about Angry Birds, you really need to read this website more! Back in Halloween, they came out with what would eventually become Angry Birds seasons - an Angry Bird variant that has themed levels for individual holidays. As you would expect, the Valentine level abounds with hearts all over the place, and like every Angry Bird level it is loads of fun to play. Go ahead and gift your significant other Angry Bird Seasons (Valentine's Day theme) through iTunes, and you will be their Valentine for a long time.

[$0.99 - iTunes link]

George's pick: ColorSplash

ColorSplash is a neat little photo application that allows you to add some cool colour effects to your images, perfect for those loving pictures this Valentines day.

The app takes a photo and completely greys it out, allowing you to colour in the parts that you want to stand out, whether, thats you and your significant other on a beach, or every individual light from a night skyline, the app offers unlimited zooming, so you can be precise on what you want to colour in.

The app is super simple and quick (the picture above took me around 2 minutes to colour in)

Export your finished pictures and send it to a loved one this valentines day.

[$0.99 - iTunes link]

Leanna's pick: Yelp

Still don't know where you're going out to dinner for Valentine's Day? Yelp may be exactly what you need. You can search for restaurants, read reviews, and even make a reservation with OpenTable directly in the app.

Rene's pick:

That's right. Nothing. No app for that. No site, no service. This Valentine's day put the iPhone away and give the iPad a rest. Focus on that special someone. Give them your interruption-free attention. Have a conversation. Have dinner. Have time together. Let Apple and Google take the night off so you can get the night on.

Sure it can be difficult, especially if you both are glued to your iPhones, so make it a contest. First one who even reaches for their tech loses and the winner gets a prize. (It's Valentine's day, use your imaginations. Or, you know, any of these...)

Your pick?

You’re part of the team as well, so jump into the comments and let us know your pick of the week!

Cut the Rope has been updated with a new Valentine's Box that includes 25 levels. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, the candy is split in half and you must join the two pieces before feeding it to Om Nom.

• A new Valentine's Box with 25 gorgeous holiday-inspired levels.
• Addictive new "split-candy" gameplay that's both romantic and fun!
• Wonderful new artwork featuring a Cupid-inspired Om Nom, Valentine's levels, and more, with full Retina support.
• An awesome new Valentine's icon. (Perfect for gifting the game to a loved one!)
• Lots of optimization and tiny bug fixes.

If you pick this one up, let us know what you think!

[$0.99 - iTunes link]

Angry Birds Seasons has been updated to go along with Valentine's Day holiday. The update includes 15 new levels all dressed up in a nice Valentine's Day theme with additional achievements and a new icon.

Get ready for the most heartfelt episode in Angry Birds Seasons so far: the Valentine’s Day edition! After the shenanigans of Halloween and Christmas, Angry Birds Seasons continue in the spirit of Love! As usual, Angry Birds gives the most generous updates of any app!

Grab the update now and let us know what you think in the comments!

[Angry Birds Seasons for iPhone] [Angry Birds Seasons HD]

BusinessWeek is adding to the Verizon iPhone rumor heap with word that the near-mythical device will launch sometime after CES and before Valentine's Day -- in other words between mid January and early February 2011. Attributed to "a person familiar with Apple's plans" (boy he gets around!), BW says:

Apple (AAPL) will likely host one of its splashy product introductions to announce a new version of the iPhone that works on Verizon's (VZ) network. Customers are expected to stampede to the new pairing, leaving AT&T (T), until now the exclusive U.S. distributor of the iPhone, with an enormous problem.

Or just leave AT&T with less network congestion and a happier remaining customer base? While AT&T will no doubt lose some customers to Verizon, and other manufacturers will lose users to the iPhone on Verizon, BW also points out that at least both of them will be in the game, unlike Sprint and T-Mobile US.

Is Verizon enough carrier choice for you, or do you think Apple should do in the US what it does pretty much everywhere else now -- offer iPhone on all major carriers?

Unlike the snow, TiPb's 2008 Holiday Gift Guide has come and gone, but while festivities pass, the gift of giving lasts all year long -- especially when loved ones are expecting them some Valentine's gift love! So, TiPb once again comes to the rescue with our 2009 Valentine's Day iPhone Gift Guide!

Need something special for that someone special? We got'cha covered after the break!

iPhone

Carrier subsidies means you still can't just walk into a store and buy your sweetheart an iPhone 3G, but Apple has thrown you a tiny, little bone with iPhone gift certificates, which, like Apple Store and iTunes gift certificates, fit neatly in a heart-shaped candy box and can help take the sting out of buying an iPhone or some content.

Chargers

Tired of your sweet-talk cutting off after a full day of surfing and gaming the iPhone's battery away? Not a problem. Just get your honey (and yourself) an extender. The Mophie Juice Pack works like a case, the Seidio Innocell fits like an extender, or the RichardSolo dongles off the bottom. And if you just want to plug in and re-charge, everyone at TiPb loves the Griffin PowerDuo. Check them out, and then chat the night away!

Cases

Want to protect the one you love? And their iPhone? Cases are the way to go. Whether it's our favorite from last year, the Innocase II , the latest and most Barely-There from Case-Mate (yep, it comes in hot pink!), or the sheer goodness of a BodyGuardz Skin, nothing says love like an iPhone glove! And if you want full-on armor, check out ElementCase (now in hot Valentine colors!)

Bluetooth

What's hotter than hands-free? Get your car kit on with the Parrot Minikit Slim for speaker goodness, or the latest from Motorola, the H15 if you prefer to take it anywhere, on the go. Bling your thing? The Jawbone 2 is still tough to beat, especially for whispering those noise-free sweet nothings.

Apps

It wouldn't be a special occasion without every developer and their marketer pushing out the App Store Valentine tie-ins (iTunes search link), would it? We haven't tried any out yet (we prefer to wait until the last minute, panic, and then desperately try to load up our true love's iPhone with Apps before a vase gets broken over our non-romantic, terminally insensitive heads), but Apple has their "picks" (iTunes featured link), and we'd love to get your thoughts in the comments!

Your Recommendations?

What did we miss? Any killer apps? Must-have accessories? What does your secret admirer need to leave at your doorstep this Valentine's Day? Drop some ideas in the comments, would ya? Make sure we don't end up sleeping on the couch (again!) this year...