I typically put together a top ten tech article each year and I will do the same thing in December this year. However, I wanted to put an longer article out early for those getting ready to shop for the holiday season. The list below contains mainly stuff I own and have used, but I will throw in a couple other similar suggestions and make a note that I haven't yet tried them.
For the Connected
The Amazon Echo Dot ($50) is not only the cheapest Echo, but, in my opinion, the best.
It has a Bluetooth receiver and a Bluetooth transmitter built in, so you can use it to receive Bluetooth or send a Bluetooth signal to a player. It has a small speaker that is fine for most non-music audio, but the best thing about it s the aux output. That means you can attach it to any system with an aux input. In other words, you no longer have to suffer through a built in speaker, but you can attach it to a serious audio setup.
It has a Bluetooth receiver and a Bluetooth transmitter built in, so you can use it to receive Bluetooth or send a Bluetooth signal to a player. It has a small speaker that is fine for most non-music audio, but the best thing about it s the aux output. That means you can attach it to any system with an aux input. In other words, you no longer have to suffer through a built in speaker, but you can attach it to a serious audio setup.
Hue Bulb Starter Kit ($69) - The Hue Bulbs are amazing. This starter kit has two white bulbs and a base station. This gives the user the ability to dim, turn off, and turn on bulbs with a command or a compatible mobile device. You can spend more if you want to get them colored lights or a light strip, but this will get them started and they can add to it as they like.
1. Ring Pro Doorbell ($249) - this thing is awesome. It is easy to wire into your old doorbell cables and it will detect motion, send you notifications, record video, etc. You can even talk to the person at the door via its embedded microphone.
Arlo Wireless Security Cameras ($139 and up) - I have several of these around our property and they are excellent. I also have the wired version for places in the home I can plug them in. My recommendation is for the 2 camera setup that costs $199 and then decide later if you want to add on.
iHome Smart Plug, Wi-Fi, Includes Remote Control, Power Monitoring, Works with Amazon Alexa (~$48) - This is currently my favorite connected switch and I have iDevices and Wemo in the house, too. It is now a necessity that anything I add to my system can use Siri and Alexa and this plug qualifies. It also has a handy remote that will work for those times you don't want to disturb others by talking to Siri or Alexa.
For the Chef
Anova Culinary PCB-120US-K1 Bluetooth Precision Cooker ($99) - I received one of these for Christmas last year and it has made cooking easy and fun. I own the Bluetooth version, but you can also get a wifi version if you prefer. Unlike a lot of stuff you see on certain home shopping networks, this is something that will benefit any cook.
DIGIQ GREEN KIT W/ PIT VIPER FAN AND CERAMIC ADAPTOR ($219) - I have one for my Big Green Egg, but you can pick your grill from their user friendly drop down list. It makes it easy to maintain a constant temperature and, if you smoke food overnight, it well help you get a good night's sleep.
iGrill2 iDevices Wireless Bluetooth BBQ Meat Thermometer ($199 or less) - This can range in price, so I have seen the actual device with one probe on Amazon for $59 on Black Friday to $199 with the four probes included (Note: You can find the probes on the Weber website for $25).
Anyway, if you can keep you phone inside Bluetooth range, these things are fantastic. You can easily setup up "cooks" using their app and set alarms to notify you. If you have an iPhone, one benefit is that it will extend your range.
Anyway, if you can keep you phone inside Bluetooth range, these things are fantastic. You can easily setup up "cooks" using their app and set alarms to notify you. If you have an iPhone, one benefit is that it will extend your range.
T-fal Zen Ceramic Chef's Knife - I got this knife in May 2015, but I wanted to see how it would hold up before recommending it. It is my "go to" 6 inch chef knife because it cuts through meat and fat with ease. It still works as good as new. A nice benefit is that it looks cool, too!
For the Well Groomed
Braun Series 9 9293s Wet&Dry Electric Shaver with Charging Stand, premium chrome - Unfortunately, this specific model isn't on sale yet... but I have linked to it on Amazon in case it becomes available by Christmas. I want to mention that I got a test version and it is the best looking and best shaving electric shaver I have used. The 9090 looks very similar, so I am linking it here, as well, just in case this specific, AMAZING, razor isn't available.
Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean Rechargeable Toothbrush, Qi ($219) - So you want clean teeth? This toothbrush will give you that same feeling you get when you have your teeth cleaned at the Dentist. It looks great sitting on your counter, as well.
Wahl Beard Cord/Cordless Rechargeable Trimmer ($16.96) - I have had the opportunity to test a few trimmers over the last year. None of them work as well as the inexpensive Wahl trimmer I have had for years. The adjustable length of the trimming element is the secret sauce and lets you get a consistent trim every time.
For the Home Theater
Samsung UN65KS8000 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (~1700) - I looked around quite a bit and settled on this TV for my living room. It doesn't have a curved screen, which I didn't want since I was hanging it on the wall, but it is thin and has a fantastic picture.
Funai Combination VCR and DVD Recorder ($215) - I know! The "VCR is Dead"! However, I still have some home movies I need to convert and this VCR/DVD combo makes that very easy with the push of one button. Also, no one else is making VCRs anymore, so if you think you will ever need one, get one while you can.
Denon AVRX4200W 7.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (~$1000) - This receiver has everything I ever wanted in a receiver. It has a separate HDMI zone that will play a completely different signal than the main Zone. It has the awesome Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room acoustic measurement system, has Airplay and Bluetooth built in, etc, etc. It is an amazing receiver.
I will update this post as I have time, but these pics should be good enough to get you started.
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