GO GADGET CRAZY
Gift-giving season shouldn’t be confined to Christmas and birthdays, especially with tech as cool as this. There’s something for everyone in this rundown of the latest-and-greatest gadgets.
Rise and shine Give your nose a reason to get out of bed with Sensorwake’s olfactory alarm clock, which emits aromatic perfume such as Seaside, Peppermint and Toast to start your day on the right note. $80. sensorwake.com Smart speaker It’s Siri, with a speaker. The HomePod is Apple’s answer to the virtual home assistant trend, but the highlight here is the sound quality. Built-in spatial awareness helps the HomePod cater to the acoustics of the room. $350. apple.com Don’t be a loser This one’s for the friend who’s always asking, “Have you seen my keys?” The Tile Pro tracker attaches to a purse, wallet or other valuables and alerts users of its location via sound or Bluetooth app. The new series features twice the range and volume of its predecessor. $35. thetileapp.com Ding-dong Stop peeking out of your blinds every time there’s a knock on the door and grab the Ring Video Doorbell 2. The gadget captures the guests at your gate in 1080HD video, letting you answer the door via smartphone. $200. ring.com Streaming movies From anime to art house, specialized streaming services are popping up everywhere. A subscription to FilmStruckwill be the perfect gift for the film snob in your life. Monthly plans start at $7. filmstruck.com Get creative Anyone with an imagination can find a use for the Wacom Bamboo Slate, which digitizes your handwritten notes or doodles and sends them to the cloud with the touch of a button. Gone are the days of messy piles of loose-leaf paper clogging your backpack or briefcase. Starting at $130. wacom.com VR headset For those bored with reality, go virtual. Sony’s PlayStation VR headset delivers an immersive virtual-reality experience at a fraction of the cost of its more high-tech competitors. Starting at $300. playstation.com Battle it out Join the masses and check out PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, an online game that just broke Steam’s all-time record for concurrent players. The battle royal drops 100 players off on an island and makes them duke it out until only one player survives. $30. battlegroundsgame.com It’s on your windshield Keep your eyes on the road and your phone in your pocket with Navdy’s display. The device’s sleek interface helps you keep track of incoming calls, texts and directions while you look straight ahead.$500. navdy.com Gaming meets cycling Hop on an indoor bike and into the world of Zwift, an online gaming platform where you’re working out your body instead of your thumbs. For a monthly fee, players can bike multiple courses, join a cycling group and even race other players, all from the comfort of their living room. $10 per month. zwift.com Smart suitcase Anyone forced to wear a few extra jackets out of their suitcase at the airport to avoid heavy baggage fees can appreciate a suitcase that weighs itself. The Bluesmart Series 2 suitcase does just, that as well as tracks its location and charges devices. $375. bluesmart.com Game console The Switch, Nintendo’s newest console, lets players control their favorite Italian plumber at home or on-the-go. Trouncing the success of the Wii U, its predecessor, the Switch has met with positive reviews from fans. $299.99. nintendo.com Good night’s sleep The Sleep Number 360 smart bed gives your slumber a stat line, adjusting itself to fit your night’s sleep and sending the numbers to an app. Plus, it warms your feet. $3,300. sleepnumber.com