Top Ten Tech 2014

As in past years(2013, 2012, 2011), I am putting together a new list of my top ten tech.   The list will contain my favorite things from last year, even if they were available in prior years.  By "tech" I am basically including any new toys, apps, etc... that I find cool and/or useful.

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.
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1.  iPhone 6 plus - Product of the year - Any time I get a new phone, it will most likely end up on this list.  The iPhone 6 plus is the phone I have wanted since I bought my first smartphone several years ago (Kyocera 7135).   It is finally large enough to be used for more than just email and music.   The main upsides are the fact that it now has a 1920x1080, 5.5 inch screen, TouchID/ApplePay  (which is amazing and probably deserves its own entry on this list), faster processor, better camera with optical stabilization, slo-mo video,  specific landscape mode with certain apps, fantastic battery life, etc...  See some of my impressions here and here. 

2.  iPad Air 2 - Okay, I am starting to sound like a fanboy, but this is a huge upgrade over my iPad 3.  It has a better screen, runs apps quicker,  and is also lighter and thinner.  It has TouchID which is great for password apps and ordering from places like Target via their app.  I still have the iPad 3 around for using near water with a life proof case, but it definitely feels long in the tooth after using the iPad Air 2.

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

3.  Global Cache IP2IR iTach /Roomie app - These work together in perfect harmony.   Roomie Remote is an app for the iPad/iPhone/Touch that has features that will control your internet devices over wifi.  It also has an app for the Mac that will allow you to launch and control certain programs.  The iTach is a separate device that you need if you have electronics that you want to control with the iPhone that are not connected to the internet.  I should mention that the Roomie is fantastic, especially for controlling devices through walls, but I still keep around my Harmony remote for the hard buttons (30 second skip during football games) which can also come in handy.   I have discussed the Roomie here and here.

4.  Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Thunderbolt Adapter/SSD - The prices of Solid State Drives are finally starting to fall to more reasonable levels.  I updated my MBP and iMac with SSD.  I cracked open the MBP and replaced the optical drive with SSD, but I didn't feel comfortable doing that to the iMac.  Luckily, my 2011 iMac has a thunderbolt port and the Seagate Adapter just plugs into the iMac and you can use an SSD for the boot drive.  Worked like a charm and since it has two thunderbolt ports, I can daisy chain a monitor or another drive to it.  If you want a major increase in speed on your thunderbolt iMac, this worked for me.  I want to also mention that I purchased an iMac Backpack from Twelve South that put a shelf on the back of the iMac that puts the drive out of site.  I discussed the iMac update here.

5. Rdio / Tidal - I wrote about music streaming quite a bit over the last year.  My preference is for Rdio because it has the slickest, most useful interface for my needs.  They even upped their bitrate to a much more acceptable 320k.  Even though I prefer Rdio, I have to mention Tidal which brought lossless audio to music streaming this year.  I can hear a difference on some music and I would love to keep Tidal, but for my needs, the interface just needs a lot more work.  For those that want the best quality audio and mainly listen at home, I would recommend Tidal if you are willing to pay $20 a month.  I wrote about the comparison here and here... for everyone else I would recommend Rdio.  

6.  Lodge 10 inch Cast Iron Skillet / T-Fal 12 inch Non-stick Skillet - I am also lumping these two together because they are exceptional, inexpensive, and fill all of my skillet needs.  The Lodge is great for when you want to scramble eggs, cook on the grill, etc..  It seems to be indestructable.  The T-Fal is great for omelets, pancakes, and when you want to have more control over the temp.   The non-stick coating is the best that I have used and clean up is a breeze.  For my needs,  they are the perfect combo. 

7. ClipR - This is a small bluetooth device that will work wirelessly when it isn't plugged into a wall.  For running on a treadmill or an exercise bike, I put my iPad on a shelf in front of me and use the Clipr with a pair of my own headphones (Ety-ER4p) to listen to music or watch a video.  In other words, it will make any pair of headphones wireless.

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

8.  Zoom modem -I decided to boost my cable internet speeds this year and found that the modem that Comcast was providing was too slow to handle 50+ mbps.  I decided that I needed a new modem, but decided to buy one, rather than renting a modem from Comcast this time around.  Comcast has a list of compatible modems and I got on Amazon and ordered the cheapest one I could find.  I was a bit worried that this might not be the best way to choose, but I have had the modem for several months now and it has been flawless.  Unlike my prior modem, which I had to reboot about twice a month, I haven't had to reboot it since it was set up. 

9.  ZyXEL 600 Mbps Mini Powerline AV2 Gigabit Adapter -  These are adapters that allow you to use your power line (in most homes) for ethernet.   I have a couple of them setup and they are very useful, even though in my home, they don't get the speeds that are advertised (I admit that I might not have them setup properly).  However, that being said, for my needs they are perfect.  I have a pair like the photo below and another pair that are slower and without the power plug pass through (the slower versions are probably slowing everything down).   I have one of them in our sunroom hooked to a router that feeds an Apple Airport Express a wired ethernet signal and a security camera that keeps an eye on the backyard.  The Airport Express is setup to expand the wifi network, so I can use an iPad/or iPhone anywhere in the backyard via wifi and the Airport Express also feeds an audio setup.  It works flawlessly even though there is not any air conditioning or heating in the room.   The other adapter is in the living room hooked up to a NetTalk Duo that we use to feed an old school wired telephone and a base station for  some cordless phones off of a splitter.  In short, these things put wired ethernet were you need it.

10.  Apple TV 3 -  This is an oldy, but a goody.   First let me say that this device is better if you own are in the Apple ecosystem (iOS, iTunes, iTunes Match, etc.).  However, I have owned the AppleTV and the Roku for several years and the Apple TV gets at least twice as much use.  It wouldn't be my top pick for Android owners unless you can figure out how to get it to work with Airplay (which I believe is possible for at least audio), but there are a lot of people that own at least one iOS device to make it a worthwhile purchase..   

In addition to the above, which are my top ten for the year, I thought I would make the list a bit longer this year to make up for all of the Apple stuff on the list this year:

11.  SteelSeries Siberia Elite Prism Gaming Headset -  These are fantastic, comfortable game/movie headphones that can be customized for sound and for looks.    I have a long review on Amazon and I will probably add a review for them in my blog. 

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

12.   TP-LINK RE200 AC750 Universal Wireless Dual Band Range Extender -  I can't say how many times I have seen posts from people complaining about wifi in their homes.  This device goes a long way in solving many of those issues.  I found it easy to setup and the extra range in my house (and even outside) is substantial.  

13.  Victorinox 12-Inch Granton Edge Slicing Knife with Fibrox Handle -  I bought this knife mainly for cutting through brisket, but it is so sharp and comfortable to use that I often use it for carving raw meat.  I love using it so much, I plan to buy more of their knives in different sizes.

14.   KitchenAide Mixer -  I have had this for a while now and I looked back at my and was surprised that it hasn't been on past lists.  This thing is a workhorse and with added attachments, you can grind meat, shred cheese, or even make ice cream with it.  I absolutely love it for making pizza dough or grinding meat for my own hamburgers. 

Well, that pretty much wraps it up.  The list was easier to put together this year since Apple came out with some great new items.   I wonder what next year will hold?

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.