It's that time again to look at some of the top tech gifts for the holidays.
Some of the popular items were among the top gifts we talked about last year-both at the holidays and from highlights at the 2017 CES show, which showcases the latest consumer electronics.
Of course the iPhone X was one of the big releases this season, but we'll be talking about that in an upcoming column. Other top items include the Apple iPad Pro, Apple Watch, Kindle Oasis, Pixelbook, Galaxy Note8.
But there are other items out there that can make a daily difference to feel tech savvy. Let's take a look at some of the other tech gifts out there from the stocking stuffers variety to ways to create the smart home experience without breaking the budget.
Continuing at the top of the list this season are the smart home pieces making our homes and entertainment more and more voice activated. This year continues an apparent strong trend in that direction with additional entries in the virtual home assistant category.
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Alexa and company
Of course, Alexa is pretty much a household word at this point as the wake word/name for the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot. Joining the field of virtual assistants is Google Home Mini at $29 and $79 for Google Home. The price for the Echo Dot dropped from $49.99 to $29.99 this season and there were reduced price bundles to link Alexa and smart plugs.
The Echo Dot and the TP-Link Smart Wi-Fi Plug were paired in a deal just after Black Friday. Together they offer voice control to turn on lights or whatever is using the smart plug for electricity. The smart plug also offers the capability to turn the lights on and off from a smartphone using the TP-Link or others in this category, meaning never having to enter a darkened room or dark house again.
The drop in the price for the Dot was marketed as a way to get people who already owned one to add others to additional rooms in the home. Anecdotally, that was working as one customer told me adding another Dot to the kitchen meant they didn't have to yell to get Alexa's attention.
Music lovers may be interested in the Google Home Max speaker-which USA Today reported while big, heavy and pricey at $399, it is in a class by itself for filling a home or apartment with music. "With the volume at full blast on a thunderous track such as AC/DC's 'Hells Bells' or something as polar opposite as the Three Tenors in concert belting out Puccini's 'Nessun dorma,' Google Home Max demonstrates the power to rock even a very large room," USA Today reported.
On the horizon in 2018 is the Apple HomePod at $349 with its Siri-enabled speaker and Apple's entry to face off with Echo and Google Home.
Other hot tech gifts on an ultimate guide by The Washington Post included one that has a great commercial on now about a lost teddy bear ultimately reunited with the little girl, who obviously loves him, because of Tile. The Tile tracker can be attached to basically anything and then an app on the smartphone will allow you to locate the lost item-be it those keys you can't find to the family dog or, yes, your child's favorite toy. Cost: $34.99.
Bluetooth headsets
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Wireless headphones continue to be a top tech gift. But it is confounding when looking at all the options out there to determine which headphones are a good deal for the price. The Washington Post listed the Jaybird: X3 Sport Bluetooth headset as a top choice.
"These Bluetooth headsets from Jaybird stand up to a strenuous workout and keep you tangle-free while you're on the go. $129.99."
Home-monitoring camera
I've been looking at a lot of options in this category lately and at a variety of brands hoping for a deal on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. And there were some with price cuts putting surveillance cameras around $100 or more, such as the good reviews for the Netgear Arlo Pro cameras, which are an editor's choice with PC magazine and also have a great name-Arlo. Prices may be in the $225 to $479 range. Those cameras come with tilt, pan, zoom and night vision.
But if you are just working into the idea of a camera at home, perhaps more to see what the cats are up to than do such major monitoring, I came across a suggestion posted last month by The Washington Post looking at tech gifts under $100. On the list was the Wyze camera for $19.99. The WyzeCam, small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, connects to the home's internet. It has a magnetic base or adhesive to stick it in place. And then you can connect to the indoor camera with an app and see what the cats are doing while you are gone by using your smartphone. It also has a two-way intercom so you can say "get down from there" when needed.
Portable standing desk
The Levit8 is a fabric-covered computer stand that folds flat for easy travel and creates a standup desk option on the go, at work, or at home. Just when we continue to hear how bad sitting can be and frankly how uncomfortable it is over long hours at a desk, this stand offers to ease the pain and for an affordable price at $22.93. The Washington Post notes the portable stand comes in multiple sizes to accommodate various heights. So if the Varidesk isn't an option, Levit8 may just do the trick.
Stocking stuffers
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If you don't have one yet and are jealous of those people who are fidgeting with the little finger hold stuck on the back of their smartphones-known as PopSockets-then it might be time to drop one in the Christmas stocking. At $9.99 they come in a variety of colors and patterns an act as a more secure hold for the phone or a stand. As the name suggests they pop up when in use or drop back down to a flat state.
Anker PowerCore+mini offers freedom from fear of failing to charge the phone and as The Washington Post put it "avoid battery-related panic." It's small and can offer a recharge far from an electric outlet for $11.77.
Another little item on one of The Washington Post's lists is a MagicFiber Cleaning Cloth to get all those grubby fingerprints off screens for $5.99.
