By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
It’s a special time for dads and grads as we show our love for the most important man in our lives as well as cheer on our new graduates. Here are some great tech gift ideas that will put a smile on their faces.
Roku Streaming Stick
Simple yet powerful, Roku’s Stick is a stealthy streaming solution that disappears behind your HDTV and opens up a whole world of streaming services including Netflix, Google Play Video and literally thousands of other sources.
A smart remote control as well as a smartphone app makes this easy to control and access. Roku Streaming Stick can also act as a Chromecast since you can easily cast video or music from PCs or mobile devices. In terms of range, price and simplicity, few streaming devices can come close to the Roku Streaming Stick in terms of what it offers for the price. Check out the contest giveaway for the new Roku Streaming Stick right here at WhatsYourTech.
Pebble Time Smart Watch
One of the most affordable smart watches in the market today is also one of the most versatile. Boasting cross-platform compatibility (iOS, Android), time-based alerts and notifications plus active fitness activity and sleep tracking, the Pebble Time brings a lot to the table for the price while continuously benefitting from software updates.
Pebble has released updates to the Pebble Time and as a result the original Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel models are being discounted. The big difference is that the newer models offer heart rate tracking, if that’s not important to the user, the original Pebble Time is still a sensible choice.
Jaybird Freedom Wireless earbuds
Dad’s and grads will love what the Jaybird Freedom Wireless earbuds have to offer. These are premium bluetooth headsets that look and sound amazing. Aside from top notch acoustics, a variety of fitments and earplug attachments for the perfect fit, the Freedom earbuds work with the MySound App that further tweaks audio quality.
Whether the user prefers listening to Beethoven or Van Halen, these wireless headphones can ensure that no nuance of sound is missed. The Jaybird Freedom wireless earbuds can run for 8-hours thanks to an innovative charging stand that can be charged separately. These are some of the smallest, lightest wireless earbuds in the market, what makes them so remarkable is that they are one of the best sounding wireless earbuds I’ve tested to date.
Microsoft Band 2
Microsoft has created the most advanced personal tracking device that also has a few smart watch tricks up its sleeve. For those that don’t mind the way it looks, the Microsoft Band 2 and its companion Microsoft Health App can track various types of exercise, movement, heart rate monitor and a UV sensor among others.
Aside from being able to take stock of a user’s vitals, the Band 2 can also manage notifications, messaging and even weather updates. The Microsoft Band may not scream fashion statement, but it does offer a lot of value and many smart features which are all pulled in by great Microsoft software and cloud services on mobile devices.
Sonos Play:5 Wireless Speaker
We have a wealth of streaming music services as well as our own personal digital or analog music collections and all this music can be enjoyed with a powerful, intuitive and well designed speaker system.
Sonos has long been at the forefront of creating audio hardware as well as software solutions and systems to make streaming not just easy but also enjoyable.
The Sonos Play:5 is ideal for bedrooms, living rooms, home offices as well as dorm rooms. The Sonos system relies on Wi-Fi to push high resolution audio files across various rooms in a house. Using the Sonos app on a smartphone or tablet makes it possible to access and stream millions of songs from various services. For anyone who prefers using their old CD player, the Play:5 also comes with an audio-in port.
iPad Pro
Dads and Grads will love what the new iPad Pro can offer. This is the most powerful iPad yet, available in two sizes (9.7-inch and 12.9-inch) and with a Smart Connector that can be used to connect to external chargers and accessory keyboards which convert the iPad into a capable 2-in-1 replacement. The iPad Pro can work as an excellent content consumption device and now is a viable post-PC productivity tool.
The Apple Pencil completes the iPad Pro experience for anybody that is artistically inclined. Offering a wide range of drawing and painting tools, the Pencil is one of the most natural digital input devices in the market that can help artists or retouchers really interact accurately with their artwork.
Under Armour HealthBox
The UA HealthBox system, by Under Armour and HTC, is the most comprehensive and user-focused set of tools that merges an app, fitness tracking technology and connected devices with big data and cloud computing. The UA Band, the UA Scale and the UA Heart Rate monitor.
The UA Scale is a Wi-Fi enabled scale that takes your weight and fat percentage plus progress towards your weight goal. This information is sent to the UA Record App (iOS and Android). This is a solidly designed and well-built smart scale that’s easy to set up and use.
The UA Band is a fitness tracker that can accurately measures sleep, resting heart rate, daily activity, and even workout intensity when worn with UA Heart Rate. Together, the system works to give each user a clear and granular view of their progress while tracking vital performance and physical exertion, rest, nutrition and even mood. It’s simply the most comprehensive fitness and wearable solution out there today.
These are just some great gifts to delight dads and grads this season.
