Whether the gift is for a busy office worker, a stay-at-home parent managing schedules, appointments, and finances, a student, work-from-homer, or even a self-employed individual, they can all benefit from tech designed to help streamline their daily routines. This includes not just when you’re working but when you’re looking to unwind as well.
Amazon Echo Show 8 Smart Display
The Amazon Echo Show 8 is just one of many devices that work with the new Alexa+ AI assistant. Just launched in Canada, Alexa+ affords natural language conversations, contextual understanding, and a more intuitive and intelligent experience overall so it truly acts like your daily assistant. Use this smart display in a home office or anywhere in the home to serve as your calendar and appointment reminder, news source, even the place you can order grocery staples or office supplies with a simple voice command. Using GenAI and Large Language Models (LLMs), you can set routines through voice, so “Workday” might include an audible summary of what’s on for the day, including the weather, traffic report (if you’re headed to the office or school), and your favourite streaming station turning on and bathroom and hall lights illuminate for getting ready. It can communicate with other compatible smart devices in the home, so the thermostat goes up a few degrees before you get home, for example. It can even make reservations through OpenTable for a meeting with a potential new client. Soon, it will also be able to use TripAdvisor to help you pick a hotel for the next business trip or family vacation. It adapts to your needs over time, making it the personal assistant you need. While Alexa+ is $28/mo., it’s free for Amazon Prime members.
Skullcandy Push 720 Open True Wireless Earbuds
Perfect for all-day wear while doing Zoom calls, watching online seminars, or relaxing with tunes, the Skullcandy Push 720 Open true wireless earbuds are affordable and employ a clip design that ensures a secure and comfortable fit. They are lightweight, water-resistant (IP67), and can run for up to six hours per charge, 30 hours using the included wireless charging pouch. They also support rapid charging. With multipoint pairing, you can pair them with both your laptop and smartphone and seamlessly transition from one to the other. Use the Skullcandy app to tweak sound to your liking, even configure a button to function as a remote trigger for your phone’s camera, great for group photos. They come in Black/Silver or Bone/Gold and sell for $180 but are on sale for $130 at the time of this writing. Plus, you can enter our contest for the chance to win a pair.
LG Smart Monitor Swing
A unique item, the LG Smart Monitor Swing is a 31.5-inch 4K UHD monitor mounted on a rolling stand so you can easily move it around. Think having it beside you at your desk to keep on top of the news, stock prices, or to use as a second screen. Bring it with you to the kitchen or living room later to enjoy entertainment. It has webOS built in along with Home Office Hub for Google Workspace, so it’s suitable for both work and play. Connect separate sources as well via USB-C or HDMI, or wirelessly via AirPlay 2 or Screen Share. In the office, you can wheel it along to the boardroom for a presentation or virtual interview or meeting. If you want to get some standing hours in but don’t have a standing desk, use this as one. Get on your feet and load up documents you need to review on the screen or finish a video call while stretching your muscles and getting the blood flowing back to your legs. It’s great for creative types, too, who can use it to display paintings, photography, videos, sheet music, and more. It’s $1,500 ($1,000 right now for Black Friday), but as a large-screen monitor/small TV and stand a student in a dorm could even use as their TV, it’s worth it.
Kensington H1050 Bluetooth Headset and Pro Fit Ergo KM675 Wireless Keyboard & Mouse
The proper desk set-up can make all the difference, especially when working from home. Whether it’s a part-time customer service job, full-time work, or student, this gear will set them up for success. The Kensington Pro Fit Ergo KM675 EQ wireless desktop set consists of a compact ergonomic keyboard with a curved layout and built-in wrist pad alongside a full-sized vertical ergonomic mouse so they can navigate documents, spreadsheets, and websites with ease. It’s compatible with both Windows and Mac. Pair it with the Kensington H1050 EQ Bluetooth on-ear headset, perfect for jobs that require long hour on the phone. With environmental noise cancellation microphone technology and a flip-to-mute boom mic, the person on the other end will hear you loud and clear. Since it connects via Bluetooth, you can walk around the house or office, too, without being tethered to the desk. This helps you stretch and get some steps in, maybe even pop over to the kitchen to refresh your coffee while you’re on hold. Win a package that includes all three by entering our contest. Approximate prize value $185.
Satechi OntheGo 7-in-1 Multiport Adapter
This pocket-sized adapter can serve as your multi-tool for computing, with seven ports to connect a host of devices, including HDMI, USB-A, USB-C PD with pass-through charging, SD and microSD card readers, and Gigabit Ethernet. The Satechi OntheGo 7-in-1 multiport adapter is magnetic as well, so it can easily attach to the back of your phone, and comes with a 3M adhesive ring for attaching to non-MagSafe gear. Ideal for both professionals and students, a coiled, tangle-free branded USB-C cable neatly wraps around it for storage. Connect devices to pair peripherals, transfer files, deliver presentations, and use wired internet. It’s ideal as a portable workstation in a coffee shop, up at the cottage, even the airport. Compatible with Macs, iPads, iPhones, Windows PCs, Android devices, ChromeOS, and more, the multiport adapter sells for just US$60.
Rocketbook Flex Planner
Rocketbooks are fabulous for notetaking: I have been using one for years to take notes using a compatible Pilot FriXion pen. When I’m done, I simply wipe away the writing and start with a fresh page. Need to keep the contents? You can use the companion app to upload it to cloud storage or e-mail, even have it converted into digital text. One of the latest products in the line is the Rocketbook Flex Planner, perfect for the person looking to streamline their routines while also reducing screen time. It has reusable pages like other Rocketbook products, but it’s designed as a planner for keeping on top of your daily, weekly, monthly, and annual schedule. It has flexible templates with dashboard pages for goals, tasks, priorities, events, and notes. Perfect for the Type-A personality who loves to make lists, it’s a great back-up to a digital calendar, something you can keep with you and update offline as the need arises. Get the executive size for U$43 and the letter size for US$45. You’ll never buy a traditional paper-based daily planner again.
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