Techish

Amazon’s newest gadgets (a robot!), features, and privacy promises:

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The robots are coming! And so is a new connected gadget or feature to every nook and cranny of your home — if Amazon has anything to say about it that is. Amazon just announced a treasure trove of new devices and services that they say "brings ambient intelligence to life." What's that even mean? According to Amazon PR, it  "unlocks new experiences for customers—enabling devices and services to work seamlessly together, offering more than any single product could." The company also promises these new features will let us all be more present with the people and things most important to us. But how do we feel about letting a tech giant into even more private places in our home? That's ... Read more

iPhone 13: Buy now or wait?

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***A version of this article originally ran in USA Today*** We can count on a few things to happen every September: The start of a new school year. Leaves change color. A new iPhone – heck all the newest flagship smartphones – typically hit store shelves and land in the hands of eager early adopters. Those of us who cover tech can also count on getting the question, “should I upgrade now or wait?” The simplest answer is this: If you can afford it, then, by all means, preorder it now or get it in stores after Sept. 24. The iPhone 13 lineup is Apple’s best yet and sure to be the envy of many trying to "keep up with Phoneses." But, if your current smartphone still meets your needs, there’s ... Read more

Are we facing an epidemic of repetitive stain injuries?

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When I started working at PC World in the 90s, the art department had recently made the transformation to working on computers and every art person I met was wearing wrist braces. The editorial department had made this transition a few years before and our most prolific writer had just had experimental carpal tunnel surgery and an editor had quit to go on disability because the pain, numbness, and weakness in her hands was crippling. That editor was unable to lift her own child and never regained full use of her hands. Less than a year later, my hands hurt constantly. This was happening in newsrooms all over the world and was being called the Carpal Tunnel Epidemic. Time magazine ran a ... Read more

7 Great Masks for to Go Back to School

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New backpack? Check. Number two pencils, composition books, and scientific calculator? Got it. Supply of face masks because the delta variant has brought back mask mandates and parents are terrified? Oops. It seems like just weeks ago that we were tossing our masks and running free and vaccinated in the streets. (Because it was, literally, last week.) But mask mandates are back in many states and the CDC “recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.” Whatever your current situation, you probably need to add masks to your back-to-school shopping list because, as the delta variant surges, school ... Read more

All the new smartphones are coming – here’s when to upgrade

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With new phone season upon us – Apple's likely announcing new iPhones on September 13th and Samsung has been tempting us all with new phones for months — many people are asking the annual question: Should I buy a new phone? In order to help you answer this question, I have broken down the traits of various phone-buying personalities. I believe that it is the buyer that matters more than the specs, when it comes to all technology purchases. If you are someone who wants the latest high-end phone, you don't want to hear about replacing batteries on a junk-drawer clunker. But if you like to get the last drop of use out of your investment, you might want to know when you will run out of ... Read more

AS SEEN ON TV: Great deals on back-to-school gadgets

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Here are even more (!) of the best gadgets, bargains, and tech tools to save time, money, and stress during this "anything but ordinary" back-to-school season and beyond: Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE The Galaxy Tab S7 FE (Fan Edition) brings fan-favorite features and 5G connectivity to power your productivity and play. A large 12.4-inch display enables users to take their entertainment, creativity and multi-tasking to the next level —all at an affordable price. Packed with key features including a S Pen, a Multi-Active Window (where you can open up to three apps at once!), Book Cover Keyboard and a long-lasting battery to keep you powered up. Price: Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE Wi-Fi ... Read more

TECHLIST: Best Back to College Gadgets and Gear To Keep Them Safe and Healthy

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***THIS STORY ORIGINALLY AIRED/RAN IN USA TODAY*** https://youtu.be/BZ4KN72SH2o My daughter is one of the millions of American college students heading back to campus in person this fall. She was a freshman when COVID-19 hit and shut the world down, cutting short her first year living with two other young women in a cramped 10-by-20 dorm room decorated with string lights, Polaroid snapshots, and the occasional half-empty pizza box or two. When she heads back this year, it's to an apartment near campus as a junior, a full 18-months since she last set foot inside a lecture hall. While I would send her back in a full biohazard bubble suit if I could, here are the tech tools and gadgets we ... Read more

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

Is Amazon Prime Day worth it? And, how do you snag the best sales?

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Amazon Prime Day is almost here. It starts at 12 AM PT on Monday, June 21, and concludes at 11:59 PM PT on Tuesday, June 22.  In 2015, Amazon launched Prime Day to commemorate its 20th anniversary. Typical of the site’s penchant for taking over the world, Prime Day has taken just six years to rival what was previously the only day of the year – Black Friday – when people went insane over a sale. I never thought there was a deal worth braving an angry crowd for, so Black Friday never held much appeal for me. But is Prime Day worth it? Given that you don’t have to get up at dawn, wait in line, or get into fisticuffs to participate, it’s pretty easy to say that that Prime Day is worth it. ... 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

Ready to travel? Take this tech along for the ride:

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***This story first posted to USA Today*** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hS4AzdqLCY After more than a year stuck at home — and thanks to the just-relaxed mask mandates for the fully vaccinated — some 37-million people plan to travel over Memorial Day. If all goes well, summer vacation season could be off to a banner start, and life might finally start resembling something closer to "normal." But the sudden freedom to travel again doesn't mean it's all smooth sailing. Airfares are on the rise, rental cars are in short supply, and hotel room rates are skyrocketing. Even finding an available — and affordable — vacation home or campsite near many popular destinations in the U.S. ... Read more

Tech That Makes Driving—for You and Your Kids—Safer

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The first time I drove a car with an advanced driver assistance system, I was humbled. It was a Volvo and I was test driving it in horrendous traffic in the San Francisco Bay Area. I turned on "adaptive cruise control," which keeps the car moving at a set speed while braking to prevent collisions. I also used "lane keep," where the car actually steers itself to stay in the lane. The traffic was stop-and-go but I didn't care because the car was handling it well—until traffic suddenly started moving, that is. My car sped up, trying to find the speed I'd set, at the very moment someone cut me off. My driver's reflexes kicked in and I hit the brakes. But by the time I did, the Volvo had ... 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

New Apple gadgets are here! Here’s what’s worth your money:

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After a year of incredible loss, Apple's going all-in on making sure we can find our keys. And wallets. And maybe even the family dog. At its first product unveiling of 2021 on Tuesday, Apple showed off an array of new, rainbow-colored, and more impressive/expensive gear including a Tile-tracking competitor called AirTag, new iPad Pros, refreshed iMacs, and more. Here's what's worth your money. iPad Pro If you've been contemplating the purchase of a new iPad, I would like to introduce you to Temptation! The new iPad Pro is here to separate you from your money with its M1 chip — the same one that's in the MacBook Air — and a 12-megapixel camera that tracks you as you move about ... 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