By Gary M. Kaye
Editor, Tech50+ (www.tech50plus.com)
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Its main advantage over the competition is the ability to take notes right on the screen, then store them – all without even turning on the phone. It also provides Micro-SD card storage and a versatile camera with two lenses that allows you to take a variety of shots simultaneously, reset and refocus after you’ve taken the picture. As a gift it’ll cost about $949 to $972.
The ShedRain e-Motion Motorized Automatic Open and Close Compact Umbrella
It’s the first model to open – and close – using a built-in electric motor. Up and down buttons in the handle operate the rechargeable device, which lasts for about 150 open-and-close operations between charges (it will also work without power). To keep the water off, it has a Teflon coating and fiberglass ribs. Price is $99 from Amazon and elsewhere.
Hoover React Powered Reach Plus Upright Vacuum
It not only handles hair and dog and cat fur with ease, it also has an auto height sensing system to automatically adjust the vacuum as you roll from carpet to hardwood floors and back—no more bending over to make brush adjustments. The React Powered Reach also has a HEPA filter and a smartphone app that monitors the filter. Better still, it’s $200 less than the posh Dyson Animal 2 vacuum while delivering arguably better performance. Hoover recently lowered the price to about $250.
Fiio X7 Mark II Hi Res Music Player
As more people discover the joys of Hi-Res or lossless music files, they’re making the move from MP3 players to portable Digital Audio Players (DAP). The X7 has 64GB of internal memory, two micro-SD card slots (the slots are more like smartphone SIM holders that are protected from the elements), optical and coax outputs and separate headphone jacks for both 3.5mm and balanced 2.5mm outputs. It plays most current lossless formats but is not able to reproduce the highest quality MQA streams (possibly in a future firmware update). Price – about $650 at Amazon.com.
Sony WH-1000XM2 Hi-Res Bluetooth Noise Canceling Headphones
The previous version of these phones, the MDR 1000X won the Tech50+ Boomie Award for best headphones. We think the newer model may follow suit. Among the new features: An app that will let you adjust many of the features including noise canceling levels and adaptive sound control, improved sensitivity for making adjustments by swiping the outside of the earcups, adaptive sound that will adjust based on your activity and outside ambient noise levels, and the ability to adjust the phones so you can hear things like airport announcements even as you listen to music. Price from Sony is almost $350. Amazon price – about $2 cheaper.
The WorkFit Stand and Sit Desk
T from Ergotron. Studies have found that taking a sedentary position for much of the day is really unhealthy. The Workfit-T converts from a sitting desk to a standing desk. It will raise their computer and monitor by as much as 15″ making it comfortable to work from a standing position while offering support for wrists and more comfort in the long run for the back and neck. Price at Amazon is $396.23.
Huawei Band 2 Pro Fitness Tracker
It looks a bit like other trackers on the market, but it comes with a host of features including GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring, and sleep tracking. It also has both a breathing coach and a running coach plus the fitness measurements you've come to expect. All of this can be displayed on your smartphone using an app that runs on both Android and iOS. It comes in a number of colors, is very comfortable on the wrist and waterproof down to 5ATM. Price at Amazon is just about $70.
The WD MyCloud Home Duo
A single device that can store data from any of your devices and keeps all your information available to you at any time from anywhere in the world. The single drive starts at 2TB and goes to 8TB. The two drive system goes up to 16TB. Price points begin at about $160 for a 2TB single drive version and heading up to $700 for the 16TB version we've been using.
Ring Doorbell 2
Ring, which helped popularize the video doorbell is back with the 2nd version that offers an easy to swap rechargeable battery pack. It can still be hardwired to the existing doorbell wiring. It includes a speaker and microphone, Ring 2 has night vision, a motion detector and 1080p HD video. It’s priced anywhere from $169 to $199
RCA Roku 50” 4K Smart LED TV
RCA is long gone as a company, but the brand lives on, and so does a new generation of budget-priced smart 4K/UHD televisions with Roku already built-in to provide access to a huge range of streaming services. This set allows seamless access to over 450,000+ streaming channels including the 4K Spotlight channel, the easiest way to find 4K content across popular streaming channels such as Netflix, Vudu and YouTube. The simple remote and dual-band wireless make it fast and easy to access favorite content. It also has three HDMI inputs for connecting a DVD, Blu Ray player or preferred video game console and is compatible with an over-the-air antenna. Available at WalMart for $378.58.
Molekule Whole Room Air Purifier
While most air purifiers trap particles in a filter, Molekule claims it doesn’t just trap them, it destroys them using sophisticated nano-technology and two separate filtration systems to break down pollutants on a molecular level. This new technology is the only one able to destroy pollutants of any size including those 1000x smaller than what a HEPA filter can catch. The device is also an industrial design work of art, part of the Museum of Modern Art collection. It’s not cheap, with a $799 price tag. In addition, there’s a year’s subscription of $99 for the two different filter types (this discourages the user from using it without active filtration.)
The BEDDI Glow Intelligent Alarm Clock
It can slowly wake up sleepers with an ever-brightening light, simulating sunrise. It’s also a regular clock with four alarms, or it can play music from Spotify or give traffic and weather updates. It’s also a nightlight, a mood light, a white noise generator, a high-quality Bluetooth speaker, and it has two USB charging ports and customizable with an app on your phone. Price: $79.99 direct or on Amazon.
Keurig K-Select Coffee Maker
This is a compact unit, great for the counter in your home office where space may be at a premium. It brews multiple cup sizes, Strong brew button, Large 52 oz. water reservoir, Smart Start brewing technology, Programmable auto-off feature. It’s available in Matte Black and Vintage Red. Price is about $130.
Quell Wearable Pain Relief Device
Wearable TENS devices have been around for some 40 years, starting with battery operated models with electrodes that attached to a person’s back to help control chronic back pain. Quell is a TENS device with a difference. You don’t necessarily put it where your pain is, but where it likely isn’t – the calf of one of your legs. NeuroMetrix, which produces Quell, says it delivers Wearable Intensive Nerve Stimulation or WINS and claims that, from your leg, it will block pain signals in the rest of your body by triggering a natural pain relief response. You can wear the device strapped to your calf both during the day and while you sleep. Its cycle of nerve stimulation is controlled by an app on your smartphone, with which it communicates by Bluetooth. Price is $249 on Amazon.
Royole Moon 3D Virtual Mobile Theater
This is more like a movie theater for your face, complete with stunning display and noise-canceling headphones. The display projects an image that is the equivalent of an 800” curved movie theater and you can store videos on an included storage device. Sony Entertainment offers free select titles to buyers. The Moon has a display/headphones combo, and a box about the size of a smartphone that includes a rechargeable power supply as well as 32GB of storage, and inputs for a mini-HDMI and micro-USB. It doesn’t come cheap, $799 from Amazon and elsewhere.
Fossil Q Neely and Fossil Q Jacqueline Smartwatches
The Q series hybrid watches are not at all clunky looking, have classic style, a smaller wrist-print, but still have smartwatch functionality and traditional leather straps. They use the Q-App that links with both Android and iOS devices. They feature most of what you’d expect from a smartwatch including: Activity Tracking: Built-In Fitness Tracker Notifications: Social Media/Text/Email/App Alerts/Multiple Time Zones/Alarm Clock/Calendar Alerts, Functions: Take a Picture/ Control Your Music/Sleep Tracker/Step Tracker/Connectivity: Bluetooth® Smart Enabled/4.1 Low Energy Price for either line of watches is $155.
Riva Wand Festival Room Filling Music System
Designed by rock promoter turned touring band audio creator Rikki Farr, this speaker uses Riva’s patented Trillium technology to make it sound like a single speaker enclosure is putting out a big stereo sound. Relying on its own app, and wi-fi connectivity, the speaker does a wonderful job of reproducing Hi-Res audio files, as well as streaming from Spotify and other services. The speaker can be mated to other Festivals to fill a home with sound. On sale through Christmas for $399.
Google Home with Google Voice Assist
The reason we like the Google Home speaker is that it connects seamlessly with the rest of the Google world. The Google Home pulls info from a personal Google account to keep you informed about your calendar appointments and the traffic on your route. The Home even remembers previous questions to better answer you in the future. It can also control some smart-home gadgets along with your TV and speakers if you have Chromecast video or audio streamers. Price is $129 in black or white.
CoPilot Backpack from Henty
This is one of the most innovative pieces of luggage that we've come across. It starts off like a garment bag that can hold jackets, slacks, shirts, skirts, and shoes. It also has a pouch that will hold underwear, toiletries, etc. You wrap the garment bag around the pouch and with the integrated backpack straps just put it on and whiz through airports. Available in two colors. Price is $279 which may sound pricey, but again, we’ve never seen anything quite like it.
Gourmia GTA2500 Electric Digital Air Fryer Griller and Roaster
The Gourmia Air Fryer deliver great crispy taste without the oil or grease. It circulates air, crisping exteriors while moistening and tenderizing insides. It comes with 11 versatile attachments providing the power to do more with Gourmia’s FreeFry 360. Bake, fry, grill, steam, roast and more, all in one appliance. It has an easy to clean interior liner that is non stick and removable for easy clean up. Price is $173.97 at Amazon.
Gary Kaye is the creator of Tech50+ (www.tech50plus.com), the leading website covering technology from the Baby Boomer perspective. Kaye has been covering high tech for more than 30 years with outlets including NBC, ABC, CNN and Fox Business. He is a regular contributor to AARP and other websites on issues regarding the nexus of technology, seniors and baby boomers. For Gary’s list of best gifts for Millennials and Super Seniors, check out www.tech50plus.com/holiday-gift-guide
