In the consumer tech world, there’s always something new to buy. Want to know a secret? Many upgrades aren’t worth your money and time.
That 8K TV? Not necessary until there’s more supported content. Expensive HDMI cables? The gold plating looks nice, but the cheap ones do the same job.
But there are the tech stand-outs that you’ll genuinely use and appreciate. Here are ten things I use all the time, and you will, too.
Keep your tea or coffee hot all day
There’s nothing quite like the annoyance of coming back to your morning beverage — tea in my case — and realizing it’s gone cold. I finally pulled the trigger on an Ember smart mug. I know it’s expensive, but hear me out. My tea stays hot, even if I forget about it for an hour.
Choose your preferred temperature between 120 and 145 degrees (I like the default 135), and your drink stays hot for up to 80 minutes on a single charge. It’s smart enough to turn itself off when empty or if you haven’t touched the mug in two hours.
Looking for a more affordable alternative? Here’s a simple mug warmer you can get for about $12.
A DVR for cord-cutters
You’ve joined the streaming revolution, but how can you record your shows without your cable-owned DVR? Buy your own. There are many options, and it comes down to how much storage space you want.
The Amazon Fire Recast is a solid option. This model can record up to two shows simultaneously and stores up to 75 hours of HD programming.
If you’re a TV and sports fan, there’s a more powerful option. Record up to four shows at once and store up to 150 HD hours. Pair it with an Alexa-enabled device and you can also manage your recordings with your voice.
Compressed air that never runs out
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