This week was a big week for the world of technology. You can pre-order Apple’s latest iPhone, Watch, and AirPods now and have them in your hot little hands (and wrists and ears, too) by the end of this month. IFA, the world’s largest consumer and home appliances show showcasing thousands of the latest gadgets, from stair-climbing vacuum cleaners to AI kitchens, has concluded in Berlin.
Autumn is an ideal time for tech manufacturers to show off their latest do-it-all devices in time for the holiday season to win over users, or rather their last dime.
However, we have lived alongside animals that are shiny, bright, brilliant, and smart.ish My first gadget in years. What is worth your time, energy, and hard-earned money?
This is what I shared on this week’s “Today” show on the “Gearing Up For Fall Tech” segment. These are some of the latest gadgets that solve everyday problems and make our lives a little easier without costing a fortune.
For the record, I am not compensated by these brands nor do I profit from these recommendations. Many of these devices come directly from my EDC (which is my “everyday carry-on” for those who aren’t as obsessed with Reddit trends as I am).
How to stop sleeping while holding your smartphone
We all know by now that cell phones disrupt sleep. It’s not just the blue light from our devices that confuses our brains into thinking it’s still daytime. The constant “check social media again” notifications and FOMO magnetism in the middle of the night also makes us all grumpy and tired.
Amazon Echo Spot 2024 is a great new “smart alarm clock” option that wakes you up, helps you stay more subtly connected, and starts or ends your day on the right note.
Made for the nightstand, it has a display that allows you to easily set alarms, time, weather, and song titles at a glance. Customize your watch face and colors, and ask Alexa to play your Go to Bed or Rise and Shine playlists. You can also use it to check the weather and set routines at night, such as “turn off all lights” or “turn on the connected coffee pot” before getting out of bed.
It comes in three colors and costs just under $80.
clean dirty gadgets
Our gadgets are terrible. Your smartphone has 10 times more germs than a toilet seat, and earphones have 2,700 times more germs than your kitchen cutting board. The keyboard and remote control, everything is just… new.
I clean all my gadgets at least once a week using tools I already have at home. But how often do you carry a soft-bristled toothbrush, toothpicks, cotton swabs, and safe cleaning solution with you everywhere you go? Never.
For on-the-go cleaning, Amazon’s VICHYIE 20-in-1 Multi-Functional Cleaning Kit saves you the hassle by taking care of your critical gadgets on the spot.
I love that it’s low priced, has everything I need, has tons of tools, yet is compact enough to fit in a purse or backpack.
It’s cheap ($13) and looks good. Some of the tools include an AirPod cleaner pen, a flocked sponge, a mini soft brush, a lens brush, a camera brush, a screen cleaner spray, and even a lid that doubles as a wiping cloth. These won’t make you feel like a professional vacuum cleaner, but they will do the job in a pinch, especially when your keyboard gets stuck on a plane. That’s what happened in my case.
A notebook computer that is resistant to scratches and dirt
Do you know what doesn’t need to be cleaned that much? The new ASUS Zenbook S 16 (starting at $1,400) is a premium laptop made from a mixture of ceramic and aluminum primarily used in the aerospace and luxury watch industries. This means that it is resistant to scratches and dirt. Ultralight yet durable, it packs a 3K display, six speakers, and rugged hardware for all the work, study, entertainment, and gaming you need.
Quick Access’ Copilot AI Assistant also provides a useful dose of artificial intelligence right to your keyboard, so you can streamline your workflow and walk through your to-do list.
“World’s first” portable backup
This is a world first, so it’s no surprise. WD’s My Passport Drive (starting at $70) stores the world’s information, so you’ll never lose valuable photos, videos, school or work assignments, and more.
According to the company, this is the world’s first 2.5-inch portable hard drive that can store 6 terabytes (TB) of content. That’s enough space to store 1.5 million photos, 600 hours of full HD movies, and up to 1.8 million e-books. But the gadget itself is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and sturdy enough to take with you on any adventure.
Tire inflator fits in cup holder
The AstroAI L7 Tire Inflator ($21 at time of publication) is an on-the-go emergency tire pump that supports up to eight car tire refills, yet weighs only about 1 pound and fits into most car cupholders. It will fit.
Great for bicycle tires, basketballs, and anything else you need to add air from time to time without having to manually inflate it or blowing so hard your eyeballs will pop out.
I like the bright screen on the front of the device. This screen updates pressure data 200 times per second, ensuring you don’t overinflate your tires. It also doubles up as a handy emergency tool, with a built-in 3-mode flashlight (flashlight, SOS, and strobe) and USB-C/USB port for charging.
Inexpensive earphones with a fresh twist‘
British tech brand Nothing has created the CFM Buds Pro 2 ($60), stylish, low-cost earphones with a literal twist. The case has a “smart dial” feature that can be used to control volume, play/pause, skip tracks, and more. This is a nice feature compared to fiddling with the touch controls on the earbuds or picking up your phone when you need to adjust something.
You can also press the smart dial to control noise cancellation, enable voice assistant, switch to low lag mode, and mute the microphone during meetings. Customization is also possible.
The Buds Pro 2 earbuds promise 11 hours of battery life on a single charge and produce big bass sound from their 11mm drivers.
A water bottle that allows you to drink carbonated water on the go
One of my favorite fall gadgets is this portable bottle that lets you carbonate your favorite water anytime, anywhere with the push of a button. The 16-ounce Aer1 water bottle, from a small startup called Aerflo in Brooklyn, New York, comes with a finger-sized carbonated capsule filled with beverage-grade CO2.
Place the capsules in the small container under the lid, screw on the lid, and tap the top to create a fizz. Tap 2-3 times for a mild glow, or tap 4-5 times to customize each sip to explode with tiny bubbles.
I was surprised at how well this worked and how incredibly easy it was to set up and use. Scan the QR code to get a step-by-step guide with pro tips. For example, the colder the water you pour, the more bubbles you’ll quickly get. I also found that juicing didn’t really help. This is because the juice molecules “get in the way” of the CO2. Therefore, it is best to add flavor to your water after carbonating it.
It’s so simple, but it solves such a huge problem for people like me who love sparkling water but hate using cans and bottles to stop their bubbly habit.
This system comes with 13 reusable CO2 capsules, and each capsule has the carbonation equivalent of four 16-ounce water bottles. When you run out of capsules, replace them with new capsules in the included pack and send the old capsules back to the company in the included labeled prepaid mailer. The company says the system costs up to 70% less than buying single-use bottles and cans. The price is $99 for the bottle and 13 capsules.
jennifer jolie He is an Emmy Award-winning consumer technology columnist and on-air contributor to the “Today” show. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. To contact her,JJ@Techish.com.
