Techish

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

How the latest fitness apps can hack human motivation (in a good way)

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This article and video originally appeared in USA Today 2021 https://youtu.be/9kyVtwP8Kwc More than 50% of Americans made the same New Year's resolution this year – to “do more exercise and improve their fitness” – according to a recent poll by international data and analytics group YouGov. By the second week of February though some 80% of us give up, and go right back to bad habits and old excuses. My longtime go-to: “Tomorrow, I’ll exercise tomorrow.” Sound familiar? Yeah, it did for me too until I spent the last few months trying out more than 20 different fitness apps and gadgets. I used each one at least three times, adoring some, abhorring others. Within the first week, some clear ... Read more

Far-out, futuristic, and just plain fanstastical new tech from CES 2021:

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A robot that loads my dishwasher and brings me wine? Yes please! A $3,000 doggy door that makes Fido’s every wish its instant command? Buying it (just as soon as I win the lottery)! Flying cars? Can’t buckle in soon enough. Oh sure, there’s an amazing array of fringe, far-out, and just plain fantastical new tech we’re all talking about during this year's all-digital CES. But when it comes to the winner for most memorable — the jaw-dropping and OMG-inspiring — rise to the top every time. Here are the unforgettables from CES 2021. Mojo Vision’s Bionic Contacts While the rest of the tech world gets closer to getting smart glasses right (see Vuzix here), Mojo Vision sees a future where AR ... Read more

The CES tech you have to see to believe (trust me, it’s a must-look)!

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CES is full of serious solutions to real-world problems. Probably. I didn’t look for those. I haunted the virtual aisles of the Consumer Electronics Show looking for weird. And why not? It’s been a strange year. As a culture, our taste for strange has grown exponentially since the last CES. And you know what? I found it.  Amid the folding laptops, bending phone screens, driverless cars, flying cars, and drones that will -- sooner than anyone expected -- deliver our packages right to our doors, I found the products that made me say, “Seriously?” And then, “Okay, I want that.” From a bandaid that will make men first shave, down there, and then be better in bed to a pair of glasses that ... Read more

Early Hands-On With Top Tech @CES Gadgets 2021

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https://youtu.be/JFMuh59c9fc Every year we see our fair share of fringe, futuristic, and just plain fantastical gadgets. We'll post about the most amazing of the 2,000-some gadgets we've seen so far tomorrow. But first, here are a handful of the best gadgets we've actually gotten to go hands-on with ourselves during this big event. One of the best new gadgets we’ll actually buy this year is a just-unveiled Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2. The 2-in-1 device has the world’s first QLED display on a Chromebook. QLED is the same advanced tech Samsung uses in its best TVs. The sound is sweeter, the battery life is longer, and the price is lower. The Galaxy Chromebook 2 is expected out in the ... 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

Here are Apple’s top apps of 2020

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Apple is out with what it calls the best apps of the worst year 2020. Between working remotely, learning from home, and general lack of things to do during the pandemic, many of us were on our devices more than ever before. (I have strong words for whoever invented the shame-filled screen time report.) This year also brought some apps into the limelight. Zoom became not just a household name, but a verb. Many of Apple's top apps of the year have to do with connecting with others or keeping ourselves busy when so many activities aren't possible. The top iPhone app of the year was Wakeout!, an app that includes exercises for all ability levels. Zoom has to be one of the top apps — ... Read more

Gadgets and gear to help you take a SAFE road trip during a pandemic:

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***This story originally ran/aired in USA Today.*** Seven months into this global pandemic, my husband traded his big, white professional-videographer production van for a bigger, taller, and more adventuresome shade of “pebble gray” Sprinter van. Since so much of his on-location production is shuttered right now, and we both work from home anyway, why not just hit the road? We can explore off-beaten paths and reconnect with one another – while remaining safe in our self-contained, extremely COVID-cautious little bubble. Vandemonium We’re not the only ones thinking this way. RV and van sales and rentals alike have surged since early summer, with no signs of slowing down. Van rental ... 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

Simple tech tools to make your holidays feel “almost” normal!

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Everything really is different heading into this Holiday Season. But that doesn't mean it has to suck. Here are 11 simple tech tools to make your holidays feel “almost” normal. 1. FILL YOUR HOME WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC Piping music into every room of your home used to cost thousands of dollars, but not anymore! The GED LED+ Speaker bulb (on sale for around $25 on Amazon right now) is a bright light with an onboard Bluetooth speaker built-in. Just screw the bulb into any lamp or light fixture, pair it with Bluetooth on your mobile device, and just like that, you get all your favorite tunes in any room you want. You can pair up to ten bulbs and don’t need any extra apps, wires, or ... Read more

Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2020: Insider Tips & Tricks

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Nothing is normal this year, but Holiday shopping is like upside-down-dramatically different. Black Friday sales started in October and most “doorbuster” deals are happening online already too.  Here are some insider tips to save time, money, and stress — while finding the very best deals on the year’s top gadgets. #1. SHOP EARLY AND SHOP ONLINE! Shop early and shop online — that’s the big mantra for true savings this year — as retailers big and small are posting huge deals already.  Amazon kicked off its Black Friday Deals Week TODAY (Friday, November 20)! Target's "Deal Days" span the entire month of November and BestBuy’s rolling out a bunch of deep discounts available online ... Read more

JENN TIPS: How to find Black Friday deals during the pandemic

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Everything is different in 2020 and that includes Holiday Shopping. Remember Black Friday — those miles-long lines and crowds turning check out counters into mosh-pits? This year the big sales have already started, people are shopping much earlier than normal — and spending a record amount on tech, toys, and “guilt-gifts.” The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) predicts people will spend the lionshare of their entire holiday budgets on gadgets this year. In its annual report, the CTA says Americans will shell out some $135 billion on smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles, stem-toys, TV's, smart home devices, and wearables. FILL EVERY ROOM WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC! This is one of my ... Read more

HOW TO: Use your smartphone to fight skin cancer

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**This story originally posted/aired in USA Today** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKpD3_3BNdY&t=12s   It wasn’t long ago that cell phones were accused of potentially causing cancer. But times have changed, and the National Cancer Institute put many of our cell phone fears to rest. Now, with routine exams and trips to the doctor hampered by a pandemic, new technology and app advances on our very own smartphones may very well be the most important tools we have on hand for screening and early detection. "I'm going to paint a wild picture," Deloitte’s Life Sciences and Health Care, Neal Batra told me over the phone. "Imagine a magical technology that allows you to detect ... Read more