Last minute gift ideas: 2012 holiday guide

There's only few more days left before Christmas and many of you may have hit extreme stress and panic mode with the realization that you haven't finished shopping for gifts (or perhaps even started). If that's you, sit back, take a deep breath, and relax knowing that you don't even need to leave the comfort of your couch to finish up your shopping. You can check off the remaining people on your list by shopping directly from your iPhone and iPad. No time left for shipping? No problem! Our list is filled with ideas that can be delivered to your friends and loved ones electronically!

Apple Store gift card

If you're shopping for an Apple fan, there's no going wrong with a gift card to the Apple Store. The recipient can use it towards their next iPhone, iPad, or other Apple device, or for an accessory for one of their current devices. And with the Apple Store app for iPhone, you never even have to leave the house to purchase this awesome gift!

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iTunes, App Store, iBooks gift certificate

If they've got all the iOS devices they need, and it's too late to look into accessories, worry not -- content is king of the last minute gifts. Your special someone can never have too many apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, or books to enjoy.

You can either gift them yourself (here are a ton of gift recommendations and best app picks), or better still -- get them a gift certificate so they can pick their own treats. What's great about the gift certificates is that you can purchase them directly from your iPhone in the App Store, iTunes, or Apple Store app.

Netflix, Hulu Plus, Slacker subscription

The real gift that keeps on giving, whether it's audio or video, a subscription can keep your special someone entertained throughout the year.

Flickr Pro account

Flickr is an excellent service for editing, storing, and sharing photos and one that many iPhone users are switching to after the recent news of changes to Instagram's terms of service. Flickr has free accounts, but a Pro account allows for unlimited uploads, full-resolution storage, and more. Any Flickr user would love an upgrade to a Pro account.

  • Flickr gift certificate

Amazon gift certificate

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 them pick just exactly the goods -- real or virtual -- they want, and Amazon will deliver it straight to their door or their device. Even better, you can send Amazon gift cards directly from the Amazon Mobile iPhone and iPad app!

Starbucks gift card

Almost everyone loves Starbucks and will be ecstatic to receive even just $5 to the popular coffee chain. The good news for you is that sending a friend or loved-one a virtual gift card (through email or Facebook) is as simple as downloading the Starbucks app (that you probably already have, anyway)!

Other gift cards that can be purchased from iPhone

Interested in getting your loved-one a gift card from somewhere other than the one's mentioned above? Check out the apps below by some popular vendors that allow you to purchase eGiftcards directly from your iPhone.

Your last minute gift ideas?

Did we miss any amazing last minute gift ideas? Not that you've ever forgotten that special occasion, of course, but if... a friend of yours, let's say, has had any strokes of gifting genius, please share in the comments!

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