The 2014 ‘Boomies’- best products for the 50-plus market
The Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro can take on different configurations – from laptop to tent to stand to tablet. Its new, low-power Intel chip means the device doesn’t need a fan for venting. PRIME submitted photo
By Gary M. Kaye
Chief Content Officer,
www.tech50plus.com
There was no shortage of great products that came to market in 2014. And regardless of whether they were intentionally designed with the 50-plus market in mind or not, many have turned out to be well suited to it.
To pick the best in each category I looked at a variety of factors:
Boomer friendly– does it have features that make it easy for boomers to use?
Quality – Is the product built to last? Is it solid, well-built, and reliable? Is it easy to set up? Is the manual readable and understandable? Does it do what it’s supposed to do?
Value – our product choices are not always the most or least expensive in each category, but we aim for those products that offer the best bang for the buck.
Best Smartphone – Apple iPhone 6+
This was a tough category: there were a number of companies that put out smartphones with feature sets attractive to the 50-plus market. Several are worth mentioning including the Samsung Galaxy Note4, the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge, Huawei Ascend Mate 2 –which has a great big button software overlay, and the GreatCall Touch3.
I selected the iPhone 6+ because of some dramatic improvements from earlier versions. For starters, the large screen made everything likeable about the iPhone including its huge ecosystem that much easier for the 50 -plus market to enjoy. But what ultimately won me over was Apple’s accessibility improvements, including the addition of both Zoom Display, making it easy to display fewer but larger icons, and a zoom slider so you can adjust the amount of zoom when reading and navigating text. Price starts at about $240 with a two year contract and 16GN or memory.
Best Hybrid/Convertible Computer – Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro
Lenovo named its Yoga series for its ability to take on different configurations from laptop to tent to stand to tablet. The Yoga 3 Pro is 17 percent thinner than its predecessor, 15 percent lighter, features a new wristwatch band-style hinge that allows it lie flat and a new, low power Intel chip, which means it doesn’t need a fan for venting. Price is just under $1300.
The Best Tablet Computer – Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2
When it comes to a tablet computer for boomers, I think size does matter – as in Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 commanding 12.2 -inch diagonal screen with a striking display. It features the Samsung “S’ pen so you can write on it and have your scribbles converted to text, or annotate photos, articles, whatever. It’s also big enough to really enjoy a movie when you’re on the go. Price for a 32GB WiFi version is about $650.
The Best Camera – Sony DSC RX-100 III
When the first version of this camera was introduced, many reviewers called it the best point and shoot camera in the market. The latest version, the RX-100 Mark 3 adds a couple of features that makes it even better for the 50-plus market, such as a pop-up electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a diopter that can be adjusted for individual vision requirements. This also means you don’t have to rely on the big tilting LCD screen which can be difficult to see in in direct sunlight.
Best Music Player – Astell&Kern AK120 II
This product combines art and music in one sleek, handheld device that supports most current digital music formats. At its core are twin high end Digital Audio Converters (DAC), specifically the Cirrus Logic CS4398’s Most other players use a single circuit to process both left and right channels. It has a large, bright 3.3-inch AMOLED touch screen that is significantly larger than its predecessor and it ships with both a leather case and front and rear protective film. Internal storage in the new version is 128 GB, and you can double that by adding a 128 GB micro SD card from companies like SanDisk. It has both an optical output and a 3.5 mm headphone jack, Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity and can be connected with a micro USB plug either for charging or to sync with a music source such as your computer.
The Best Desktop Computer – Lenovo A740 All-In-One Desktop
The Lenovo IdeaCentre A740 is a great desktop productivity and entertainment center. You can even get it with an integrated TV tuner. It has a top of the line Intel Core i7 processor, a 16:9 aspect ratio – which makes it excellent for watching wide screen HD movies – and four USB 3.0 ports so you can attach printers, scanners, external drives etc. It also has a full 10-point multi-touch screen and it comes with 1terrabyte (TB) of storage. The big 27-inch touchscreen makes it easy to see everything and navigate with either fingers or the wireless mouse. The A740 comes with a stand that tilts from straight up to almost flat for two-person touchscreen games. Prices begin at about $1600.
Best Automotive Device – Safe Drive Systems RD-140
There’s lots of great new technology to assist drivers – everything from collision avoidance to blind spot warnings and even self-parking – but almost all of it is only available in new cars. The Safe Drive Systems RD-140 is an aftermarket product that enables the rest of us to get collision avoidance and lane departure warnings without having to buy a new car. The system must be professionally installed. It uses front facing radar to warn you if you’re too close to the car in front of you, and is particularly useful if someone unexpectedly cuts in front of you. It also uses a windshield mounted camera system to warn you if you are inadvertently crossing into another lane, or veering off the road. Installed price is $1,700.
Best Personal Emergency Response Device – V.Alrt Button
One of the most compact personal emergency devices I’ve seen is the V.ALRT from VSN mobile. The device pairs with your Android or iOS device, so you are not limited to your home landline service. It has a built-in accelerometer for fall detection.
Get into trouble, push the button, and it emits a screeching alarm and sends your personalized message to your contacts, including your location in case they have to send help. In the event of a spurious fall alert you have a couple of seconds to cancel the alert before the notification is sent out. The button can be snapped into a provided wristband, or you can put into a rubber collar that can be worn as a pendant or attached to a clip. The price is $60, and unlike many other devices there is no monthly subscription or service fee.
Best Smartwatch – Samsung Gear S
I picked the Samsung Gear S because it is a true smartwatch and not merely a smartphone appendage. The Samsung Gear S can make calls on its own, no paired smart phone required. It has a bright, 2-inch AMOLED screen, a built-in pulse rate monitor (a.k.a, a blood flow sensor), step and exercise trackers, GPS navigation, apps, messaging, and calendar alerts. The rechargeable battery lasts for about two days with typical use; less if you’re in a rural area and the phone is constantly searching for service. To make connections, the phone includes not only 3G cellular support but also built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You can talk over the built-in speaker phone, or go with your own Bluetooth earpiece. One catch: the Gear S does have to initially be set up using a smart phone, and it uses Samsung’s own software (rather than Android) so it only works with the latest Samsung smart phones, such as the Galaxy S5. It’s available on several carriers for about $350. Wearable data plans that enable you to use the 3G functionality will cost you about $5 per month.
Best Fitness Activity Tracker – Garmin Vivosmart
The Garmin vivosmart consists of a thin band with an almost invisible LED display that comes to life when you double tap it. It displays the functions most fitness buffs want including distance, steps, calories burned, and it will pair up with a wireless heart rate monitor. In addition, it will alert you to notifications from either your iOS or Android device, though you cannot interact with them. It will track your sleep, and will alert you if you’ve been sitting around too long without moving. The rechargeable battery is good for a week. It works with Garmin’s own apps, as well as a number of third party providers. And it is waterproof down to 50 feet. Price is about $170.
Best Connected Home Device – Leeo Smart Alert Nightlight
Short and sweet, the Leeo turns your home smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector into a connected device that will let you know if your home might be on fire wherever you are. Leeo listens for the sounds of an alarm going off and then calls you. It’s configured as an LED nightlight that goes into any outlet and you use the free app to change brightness, colors and to configure Leeo to notify you of a problem. It’s smart enough to let you press a single button to connect with the emergency service serving your neighborhood, no matter where you are. If Leeo can’t reach you in an emergency it will go down your pre-set contact list. Leeo will also monitor your home’s interior temperature and humidity. Leeo bridges the gap between the ideal of a connected home and the practical issue of networking some non-networked devices you already have. Price for Leeo is $99.
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.
