Techish

TECHLIST: Ease back-to-school stress with high-tech masks, alarm clocks, math apps, more

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***THIS ARTICLE AND VIDEO ORIGINALLY RAN/AIRED IN USATODAY*** https://youtu.be/E2qsnJWoZw8 In what’s shaping up as one of the most anxiety-inducing back-to-school seasons yet, the buzz among parents everywhere has shifted from Number 2 pencils to N95 masks. With so many unknowns around the coronavirus and the delta variant still ahead — many parents are turning to new tech tools to help ease mounting worries. Online searches for “best kids masks for school” rocketed up some 250% in the past few weeks according to Google Trends. In addition to personal protective gear, parents are doubling down on devices such as Chromebooks and smart wearables, along with e-learning tools and ... Read more

Amazon Prime Day scams ramp up, here’s how to protect yourself:

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Check Point Research (CPR) sent us an email this morning, saying they've spotted an increase in malicious activity in the run-up to Amazon Prime Day 2021, one of the largest online shopping events of the year. This year's event, slated to occur on June 21-22, promises millions of deals and special offers to Amazon’s 150-million-plus Prime subscribers around the world. CPR says of particular concern is that nearly 80% of domains containing the word “Amazon” are potentially dangerous. CPR also reports that cybercriminals are impersonating the Amazon brand ahead of the annual shopping event in order to trick people into credential theft of their email addresses, payment details and passwords, ... Read more

Gift Guide: Splurge-worthy spends for dads, grads (and maybe yourself)

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Did you just win the lottery? Or maybe you've been saving up for that one special bit of new technology to make life feel all the more futuristic ... and just plain awesome. Also? When it comes to celebrating milestones — like I don't know, maybe graduating from college during a pandemic or fathering a human — sometimes you just have to go all out. This year is all about the upgrade and only the best will do! Gift dads, grads, and all the people you really, really love one of these incredible, splurge-worthy gadgets they will love for years to come. Yes, some of these picks ($74,000 robotic dog...) are a little over the top, but we can also dream, right?! Samsung Neo QLED ... Read more

GIFT GUIDE: Genius gadgets for deserving dads and grateful grads

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We have so much to celebrate! After living in the shadow of a worldwide pandemic for more than a year it’s time to ring in those big milestones for Dads and Grads alike. What better way to do it than with the very best gadgets, outdoor gear, subscriptions, and more? Here are my favorite picks, from the almost-free to the still totally-budget-worthy items sure to be a hit for years to come! Let’s start with the best new tech to help Dad get his grill on:  Traeger Ironwood 885  This is the coveted wood-pellet grill that lets you smoke, bake, roast, braise, BBQ, and GRILL — of course — all with one super-smart device. It’s packed with next-gen features like their “WiFIRE” ... Read more

#MothersDay GIFT GUIDE: What to buy for Mom for in 2021

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7LfuQ7CmXI&t=4s   Mother's Day is May 9th this year. I am a mom, and I love gadgets. Every mom I know not only likes gadgets, but relies on them every single day to keep her informed, connected, and entertained — not to mention sane! Here are a few of our favorite things for the big day and beyond!   Tribute Video Montage Tribute is a service that helps you create a video montage with everyone in your family sharing their love, admiration, and respect for mom. It simplifies the collaborative process — no need to track down family members for their videos, request different file formats, or email reminders. Just choose the occasion ... Read more

These are the safety gadgets women need right now!

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When Sarah Everard was abducted and killed while walking home at night, the women of social media (and London, where she lived) exploded in anger. Authorities responded by telling women not to walk alone or go out at night and every woman felt the frustration of being told that attacks by men are our fault. We have all been there, heart pounding, clutching our keys, with the knowledge that, probably, keys will do nothing to stop anyone who is determined. What happened to Sarah is what we all fear every day. Let’s face it, talking on the phone, holding your keys, wearing sensible shoes, and avoiding walking at night are not that helpful—as self-protection goes. And if bad men in the world ... Read more

This gear is as good as the expensive stuff but is a fraction of the price!

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If you live on a normal person’s budget, a phone that costs $1000, a pair of easy-to-lose headphones, or a speaker you can take to the beach might seem completely out of the question. But you don’t have to pay as much money as you think for the tech you love. All you have to do is separate fashion and marketing from specs and features and buy the technology you really want, not the name brand you think you want. Honestly? You don’t even have to do that because I did it for you. If you're hankering for AirPods, a new smartphone, smartwatch, or smarter-home, I totally get it. Money is tight, but we still all want all the things. And there is a secret in the gadget world that I’m about to ... Read more

Shipping Deadlines For Holidays 2020

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We’ve reached the final few days before the holidays, and in the interest of getting gifts delivered on time — and not paying handsomely for shipping — you should be wrapping up your shopping as soon as you can. Thankfully, several retailers are making those shopping duties cheap and easy by offering free and fast shipping. It wouldn’t be the holidays without a little stress, but you can avoid at least some of it by finishing up your shopping before the window for on-time delivery comes to a close. We’ve also listed the delivery windows for FedEx, UPS, and the USPS in case you are shipping packages yourself. AMAZON As is always the case, you’ll get your gifts faster if you have an ... Read more

These Subscription Services Make Awesome Gifts!

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Arming up with a tote, comfy shoes, and going shopping was once a fun way to discover a new brand of soap, fall in love with a fashion trend, and stop somewhere for tea while connecting with friends. Those were more innocent times. As we head into the year 2021, that sort of activity is, in all likelihood, a historical artifact. The year of the pandemic has changed, according to a recent study, our habits around many aspects of life. And we are unlikely to return to our old ways. We shop online, discover online, and do our self-care online. The joy of discovery we once found at the mall has moved to subscription boxes, an industry that’s currently estimated to be worth $15 billion as ... Read more

Still need to get that gadget gift? Look at these great deals!

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Don't worry, you're not too late to score great gifts for everyone in your family, including yourself! Here are some more ideas:   Samsung's cordless Jet Stick Vacuum comes in three different models, and each one has a high-performance filtration system that captures dust and allergens that normally get kicked back into the air.  You can use it on all the different types of floors; hardwood, tile, rugs, or carpet. It has its own charging dock and is super easy to empty. Plus, it's lightweight and easy to navigate, to use on stairs, under furniture, clean high cabinets or window blinds. And you can vacuum for up to an hour straight before it needs a battery charge. ... Read more

JENN ON TV: More awesome last-minute holiday deals!

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Did you see Jennifer on TV or hear her on the radio recently? Here are more of the smoking hot holiday deals she's been talking about! The last-minute rush on holiday shopping is happening already because of major shipping delays and stricter pandemic orders going into effect. Here are some great go-to's:  1. Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds Everyone wants their own set of tune-out-the-world headphones this year, and Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds should be a top consideration. They come in these new vibrant colors — Mystic Red or Blue — so everyone knows they’re yours! What’s even better though is how comfortable they are, they sort of nestle down in ... Read more

THESE ARE THE BEST GADGETS OF 2020 – PERIOD

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The hardest part of curating this list every year is narrowing it down! These are all gadgets I've tried myself, bought, and recommend to my family and friends (that's you) as well. Let me know if I left any of your favorites off of this list! Also, if you click on a link below to buy an item, Techish might receive a (very) small affiliate commission. This is no way affects what we recommend. 1.) Lume Cube LED Light: $69.95     BUY IT HERE For Zoom calls, kick your ring light up a notch with this video conference lighting kit from Lume Cube. The kit includes a panel mini-LED light with both brightness and color temperature adjustability, as well as an additional softening diffuser ... Read more

HOW TO: Get a PlayStation 5 before 2021

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You want to get your hands on the latest Xbox or Playstation 5? Yep, you and the rest of the world! It's no surprise really, since the last time each company updates its consoles was several lifetimes ago in tech-years. (November 2013 was the launch of the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One – the predecessors to the newest consoles.) Every major retailer – and several you've never heard of – continue to update stock on their websites, and even send re-stock alerts through their apps. Still, within a matter of seconds, these hottest new consoles keep selling out. Here are some top tips to scoring one this year, but as you'll see, it's best not to get your hopes up unless you want to sell ... Read more

CYBER MONDAY BEST: Buy these gadgets now (right after I buy them of course).

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You've waited patiently, now's the time to hit that checkout button online. According to Adobe Analytics, Cyber Monday remains the king of online shopping days and will become the largest online sales day in history with between $10.8B and $12.7B spent online, representing between 15% and 35% YoY growth.    Later today, Adobe predicts that the four “golden hours of retail” (7:00 pm – 11:00 pm Pacific) will bring in a massive 29% of the day’s revenue (at least $3.1B) as shoppers hit buy before deals run out; at least $13 million will be spent per minute during the peak hour (8:00 – 9:00 pm PT). ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS:  Cyber Monday discounts: Even with discounts starting much ... Read more

ONLINE SHOPPING? Watch out for these SCAMS!

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When you’re online shopping on Cyber Monday, it’s easy to get carried away in the excitement and potentially fall for a scam. EMAIL SCAMS Look out for links and attachments in emails or popups that could contain malware that steals your credit card information. For example, if you get an email that says it’s from a retailer with a promotion or "free offer" that looks skeptical or too good to be true, NEVER click on the link. Visit the retailer’s website directly by typing its name in your browser. Make sure the URL (web address) starts with "https" and that there are no other misspellings in the company name. Also, double-check that the company has a phone number to call if there are ... Read more

These are the hottest gadgets for the holidays according to science (and tech).

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Cue Michael Scott, because it's happening. The Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, that is. The massive sales are no longer confined to one day each. Now we're seeing week-long, or even month-long, deals. An insane amount of data from Adobe Analytics show people spent nearly $60 billion shopping online from November 1-23. That's 32% more than the same time last year. Adobe also found expedited shipping, standard shipping, and curbside/in-store pickup are all up — big time. Here's what everyone's buying: So what are the hot products leading into the holidays? When it comes to toys, the big sellers are Lego sets, hoverboards, Baby Alive, and Star Wars products. The top video games ... Read more