Picture of Roomba robot vacuum (iStock)
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In the buyer tech world, there’s at all times something recent to purchase. Need to know a secret? Many upgrades aren’t value your time and cash.
That 8K TV? Not mandatory until there’s more supported content. Expensive HDMI cables? The gold plating looks nice, however the low cost ones do the identical job.
But there are the tech stand-outs that you will genuinely use and appreciate. Listed below are ten things I take advantage of on a regular basis, and you’ll, too.
Keep your tea or coffee hot all day
There’s nothing quite just like the annoyance of coming back to your morning beverage — tea in my case — and realizing it’s gone cold. I finally pulled the trigger on an Ember smart mug. I realize it’s expensive, but hear me out. My tea stays hot, even when I ignore it for an hour.
Select your chosen temperature between 120 and 145 degrees (I just like the default 135), and your drink stays hot for as much as 80 minutes on a single charge. It’s smart enough to show itself off when empty or for those who have not touched the mug in two hours.
In search of a more cost-effective alternative? Here’s an easy mug warmer you possibly can get for about $12.
A DVR for cord-cutters
You’ve joined the streaming revolution, but how are you going to record your shows without your cable-owned DVR? Buy your individual. There are numerous options, and it comes all the way down to how much space for storing you wish.
The Amazon Fire Recast is a solid option. This model can record as much as two shows concurrently and stores as much as 75 hours of HD programming.
In the event you’re a TV and sports fan, there’s a more powerful option. Record as much as 4 shows directly and store as much as 150 HD hours. Pair it with an Alexa-enabled device and you may also manage your recordings along with your voice.
This undated image provided by Amazon.com, Inc. shows an Amazon Fire TV Cube. (Amazon.com, Inc. via AP)
Compressed air that never runs out
Compressed air is great for getting dust and dirt out of all of the little crevices in your gadgets. The issue? It’s expensive — not to say how annoying it’s once you run out halfway through cleansing your messy keyboard.
As a substitute, try a compressed air electric duster. This stuff are seriously powerful and may blast out debris just in addition to canned air. This one blows air as much as 67.5 miles per hour. It also has a handy built-in light for those dark, hard-to-reach spots.
Let another person vacuum and mop
It took me a protracted time to get on the robot vacuum bandwagon. Now that I even have, I’m not going back. Sure, sometimes I even have to rescue my vacuum from a decent spot, but I can’t complain when it spends all day vacuuming my floors.
There are quite a lot of brands and price points on the market. I went with the iRobot Braava Jet M6. It vacuums and mops, and you possibly can even send it to mop up a spill with a voice command. That’s handy. It maps your property, so it gets smarter the more you employ it.
On a decent budget? This model from Eufy gets great reviews.
A solar charger on your phone and tablet
Power banks are great to have around, but what for those who lose power? Or possibly you’re occurring a camping trip without much access to electricity and even a protracted plane ride. Solar charging stations have come a great distance.
This one is under $50 and may charge a phone as much as 10 times or a tablet three to 4 times.
A greater strategy to light candles
I don’t like coping with lighter fluid, and buying lighters only to toss them out later is a waste. I upgraded to an electric lighter that charges via USB.
These lighters use a robust electrical pulse to light, making it easier to light the grill on a windy day. Love that. It charges through a micro USB cable in about an hour.
Ensure that nobody is listening
Are Big Tech corporations listening to you? That’s a sophisticated query. Smart speakers and smart assistants are by chance triggered on a regular basis. Here’s tips on how to stop them altogether. Firms like Facebook don’t must listen because they gather a lot of your data in other ways.
Don’t take possibilities for those who’re apprehensive about someone listening in once you’re having a non-public conversation or sensitive meeting. Many recent devices (like your phone or laptop) have microphones controlled by software, so there is no physical switch to disable the microphone.
Products just like the Mic-Lock microphone blocker are designed to work around this. The Mic-Lock houses a semiconductor circuit that mimics a live microphone. This trick disables your device’s microphone and blocks all audio.
Once you left on a lightweight within the automotive
You’re in a rush, finally make it to the automotive and it won’t start. As a substitute of waiting for roadside assistance, take matters into your individual hands. This portable jump starter is a must for any driver. Chances are you’ll not need it often, nevertheless it’s a complete lifesaver once you do.
It could possibly jump-start engines as much as a V8. As a pleasant bonus, it’s also a robust LED flashlight, power bank with USB data ports, compass, thermometer, reflector strip and emergency alarm.
Prices for brand spanking new vehicles surged 11.1% over the past yr, the newest Consumer Price Index showed.
(Fox News Digital)
Robot bartender to make your favorite drink
OK, you might not technically need this one, but I had to incorporate it. The Bartesian Premium Cocktail Machine is sort of a Keurig for cocktails.
Pop in a pod, select your chosen strength and hit mix. A number of seconds later, you will have the right margarita, cosmo or whatever you want.
Get the fuzzies off your couch and garments
That is considered one of those “Hey, why didn’t anyone tell me that existed?” products. The fuzz that accumulates on couches, chairs and other furniture could make them look ratty. The identical goes for blankets, pillows, sweaters, and other clothing susceptible to pilling.
Fabric shavers make your fabric look recent again by gently removing lint. I like this one from Philips. It runs on AA batteries and may buzz through your couch cushions in only a few minutes.
Bonus Tip: 5 ways to wash up your photos before it’s too late
All of us have far more photos than we all know what to do with. Between your physical albums and the digital images clogging up your phones and computers, you almost certainly have so many pictures it’s hard to arrange all of them. I share smart strategies for cleansing up your massive photo collection on this episode.
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Find out about all the newest technology on The Kim Komando Show, the nation’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her each day suggestions, free newsletters, and more, visit her website at Komando.com.
