As we are nearing the holiday season, many are frantically trying to figure out what the newest and most popular tech gifts are so that they can satisfy their geeky family and friends. This year, we have many new technologies and products that are sure to meet any tech-savvy individual’s needs. Here are a few of my favorites.
As I currently have an older Amazon Echo, I have wanted to upgrade it for some time. The Amazon Echo Spot has the same features of my older model with several improvements. First and foremost, this device includes a 2.5” screen which can show you easy-to-view images of baby monitors, security cameras, and weather information. Additionally, the Echo Spot has a camera which can enable you to have video chats with friends. Priced around $129.99, the Amazon Echo Spot is a sure way to make someone’s holiday’s wishes come true.
The Nintendo Switch was one of last year’s most popular item. Now, Nintendo released the Nintendo Labo, which is a build-it-yourself kit that works with the Nintendo Switch. By using various combinations of items in the available Labo kits, Nintendo Switch games are augmented with physical items aiding movement, rhythm, and actions. Having the ability to create robots, fishing poles, and even pianos, the Nintendo Labo is a great way to introduce a younger family member or friend to the world of engineering, boost their creativity, and teach them problem-solving skills. The assorted Labo kits tend to cost around $59.95, making the kits a must for anyone with a Nintendo Switch.
By far, this next product has me the most excited. As a lover of both Harry Potter and coding, the Kano Harry Potter Coding Kit is a great way to introduce kids to the world of programming. The wand that this product uses features a gyroscope and accelerometer, which allows it to be tracked in 3D to create spells through a linked tablet. Coupled with over 70 step-by-step challenges, users can connect code blocks and learn about variables, logic, and loops. Also, through Kano World, users can create and share art, music, and games with others all over the world and then quickly view and edit the accompanying code. As career opportunities in coding are expanding and pay exceptionally well, the $99.99 Kano Harry Potter Coding Kit is a definite deal.
For those who still have the original and outdated Xbox One like myself, an upgrade is very much needed as new games come out boasting 4K and HDR content. Offering 40% more power than any other console, a 6 Teraflop GPU, and an available 1TB of HDD storage, the Xbox One X has the capability to run circles around previous models, ensuring that your gaming experience is never interrupted due to hardware constraints. While the machine is still quite expensive at around $453.00, several deals can reduce this price and even include games and controllers. While costly, the Xbox One X is truly a marvel of engineering and design.
This cute robot is powered by AI and sophisticated robotics and is always updating and gaining new skills through Wi-Fi and cloud-connectivity. Vector is voice activated, can independently navigate and self-charge, recognizes people, takes photos, answers questions, and can even use Amazon Alexa. The updates to its functions are free and the product is very highly rated. At around $174.99, the Anki Vector gives kids their first introduction into robotics as well as provides lots of fun for the family.
As fitness and technology are two of my favorite things, the last product I wanted to mention had to be the new Fitbit Charge 3. This smartwatch features automatic exercise recognition, an advanced touchscreen, 24/7 heartbeat monitoring, sleep tracking, calorie burning data, and is waterproof. Along with the smartwatch’s customizable clockface and compatible smartphone apps, this $139.95 smartwatch will help anyone meet their New Year’s resolutions to get fit.
Sources
Image and content by Amazon. 27 Nov 2018. “Echo Spot-Smart Display with Alexa.” Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-VN94DQ-Echo-Spot-Black/dp/B073SQYXTW.
Image and content by Nintendo. 27 Nov 2018. “Nintendo Labo.” Retrieved from https://labo.nintendo.com/.
Image and content by Kano. 27 Nov 2018. “Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit.” Retrieved from https://kano.me/store/us/products/coding-wand.
Image and content by Amazon. 27 Nov 2018. “Xbox One X 1TB Console.” Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Xbox-One-X-1TB-Console/dp/B074WPGYRF/ref=as_li_ss_tl?th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=cnet-buy-button-20&linkId=99f61aafdd9c3d80c2d5b0862da8f063.
Image and content by Amazon. 27 Nov 2018. “Anki Vector A Home Robot Who Helps Out & Hangs Out. Amazon Alexa – Coming Soon.” Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G3ZNK4Y/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=cnet-buy-button-20&linkId=9f223f01e81681f6ba8ce5dcebd0d65a.
Image and content by Fitbit. 27 Nov 2018. “Fitbit Charge 3.” Retrieved from https://www.fitbit.com/shop/charge3.
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