We’re tech journalists. We now have numerous opinions. All year long, we’re continuously attempting out new merchandise, and belief us — we’re a tough crowd to please. So if we actually like one thing, it’s most likely good! That’s why we’ve assembled an inventory of our favourite issues, spanning laptop equipment, headphones, productiveness apps, and odd little knick-knacks.
Certain, we will be powerful critics at instances. However we’re on this gig as a result of we actually love expertise, and each now and again, we bump into an app, gadget, or piece of {hardware} that we’re dying to speak about. Our suggestions aren’t your typical reward information fare — everybody already is aware of that AirTags are helpful! — however we’re hoping that we may help you discover one thing a little bit completely different and pleasant. Whether or not you’re in search of the satisfaction of organising your personal at-home media server, or in case you’re attempting to remain cool in a crowded subway, we’re certain you’ll discover one thing you want.
These open ear, bone conduction earphones permit me to hearken to music whereas operating however they don’t cowl or insert within the ears, so I can nonetheless hear the surroundings: bikes desirous to move, automobiles or individuals behind me, and so on. They ship shockingly good sound high quality (pun supposed) with out having to fuss about getting them in an ideal spot on the outer ear. They work nice with sun shades and a hat, all adjoining to one another. They usually don’t go away me with that uncomfortable am-I-losing-my listening to feeling from earbuds that pipe sound straight into the ear canal.
A Mind.fm subscription is the right reward for the simply distracted. It’s a streaming service that performs scientifically engineered music – with no distracting lyrics – that helps my scattered thoughts cease bouncing between duties and keep centered. Further factors for the timer operate so I can mix it with the Pomodoro Approach!
Hank Inexperienced’s Focus Pal is Google Play’s app of the yr – and it’s additionally one among my favourite finds. It’s the right steadiness of foolish and helpful to maintain me centered, and the free model is sufficient to get began, however as a present, I’d advocate splurging on the lifetime model.
The Omnilux Contour is one among my favourite issues. It’s a red-light remedy masks that reduces redness, improves total pores and skin texture and tone, and is meant to additionally cut back wrinkles (however I haven’t been utilizing it that lengthy to see whether or not that’s true). It’s cordless so I can stroll round and do stuff and the cost lasts for a extremely very long time. I preserve it at my desk and might use it whereas I examine emails within the morning.
If there’s one device I can’t reside with out, it’s Audio Hijack, a Mac app from Rogue Amoeba. Like many individuals, I spend numerous time on calls, and since I’m a journalist, I nearly at all times document them. (With consent, after all!) Audio Hijack makes recording audio from any supply a snap, and I can restrict what seems on the recording to a particular app — no extra reminder dings popping up within the background. I sometimes ship audio from my mic to 1 channel and that of my supply to a different. That manner if we’re speaking over one another, I can isolate one or the opposite channel to determine what was stated. And with inline transcription and the safety of native information, Audio Hijack has just about the whole lot I would like. Now if Apple would solely make it simple for Rogue Amoeba to make an iPadOS or iOS model …
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Ozlo’s Sleepbuds are comfy, if a bit dear, earbuds designed to be used particularly whereas sleeping. (They’re at the moment on sale for $274 however retail for $349, the web site says).
Whether or not you have to masks outdoors noise, like avenue sounds, or nearer disruptions like a loud night breathing accomplice or noisy roommate, these earbuds may help mild sleepers extra simply get via the night time with out waking.
After all, at this value level, Sleepbuds really feel like a luxurious — particularly given there are extra reasonably priced options. You can simply play music in your room or sleep together with your AirPods on, as an example; however neither is right. The previous received’t masks all of the noise and the latter is uncomfortable and even painful. The Sleepbuds, nonetheless, supply squishy, gentle in-ear earbuds that may stream quite a lot of built-in sleep sounds or music or audio out of your smartphone.
Even in case you’re a aspect sleeper or toss and switch, they don’t fall out, I discovered. You may also set the Sleepbuds to pause streaming if you go to sleep, which is nice in case your sleep points are extra round falling asleep than staying asleep. (This may be helpful for many who prefer to fall asleep to audiobooks too!)
The product has not been good, I ought to warn. Sadly, the Bluetooth connection and streaming will be wonky at instances and one earbud or the opposite typically doesn’t cost correctly, requiring a tool reset. Plus, in case you’re streaming through Bluetooth, the cellphone and Sleepbuds case must be positioned in shut proximity for the perfect connection. The offered sleep sounds can load straight onto the buds themselves, which tends to work higher. Nonetheless, the general expertise of lastly having the ability to quiet the world — comfortably — and get some actual sleep made them a worthwhile buy for me.
My favourite gadget of 2025 is the neck fan from Kidee. Priced at $33.99 on Amazon, it has been a lifesaver for protecting me cool all yr lengthy, whether or not I’m power-walking in NYC in the course of the summer time warmth or coming house from the gymnasium on the crowded 4 prepare within the useless of winter. It’s pretty quiet, with only a low hum on the primary setting. I’ve even had individuals method me, mistaking it for the newest pair of headphones. It’s the gadget I by no means knew I wanted, and now I received’t go away house with out it.
I can’t advocate shopping for your personal network-attached storage (NAS) field sufficient. If it doesn’t change your life, it’ll definitely prevent cash. Synology and Western Digital are respectable locations to begin. A NAS field isn’t only a glorified internet-connected laborious drive that lives in your closet; it doubles as its personal self-hosting server that may run your personal apps, providers, and information at house. You possibly can host your personal recipe planner, information tracker, picture gallery, to-do lists, and extra. You possibly can arrange an ad-blocker to cowl each gadget on your private home Wi-Fi community; set up your personal at-home media streaming platform; and create, edit, and retailer your private paperwork with free options to Google Docs and Microsoft Workplace. Plus, if you’d like, you possibly can entry your information from anyplace on this planet utilizing a safe VPN that solely you management. NAS gadgets are designed to make it simple for many customers to get began. Certain, issues can typically get a little bit technical at instances and should require looking boards and Reddit threads for solutions, however you’ll be taught issues alongside the best way, and that’s each enjoyable and rewarding.
The BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 is objectively pointless — it additionally makes my monitor sag a bit beneath its premium weight — however the satisfyingly tactile contact controller and the vibe of wanting like I’m operating a cybersecurity operation from my bed room make it value each penny. (In actuality, I principally use it to really feel like a hacker whereas writing tales manner too late into the night time.)
When the dread of winter set in final yr, I made a purchase order I used to be not happy with: an computerized web page turner for my Kindle, together with a fluffy, round pillow with a stand jutting out of it that holds up my Kindle in mattress. I felt like this was sure to be a colossal waste of cash – it was the sort of buy you make if you’re craving dopamine, then by no means use. However one yr later, I can confidently say that this factor guidelines, and it doesn’t solely work for the Kindle. It comes with magnetic rings that allow you to equip principally any e-reader or tablet-sized gadget on the stand.
My Kindle stand and page-turner have change into a part of my nightly routine (a minimum of, on nights after I can summon the willpower to prioritize sleep hygiene over taking part in Pokémon on my cellphone). I place my cellphone on my nightstand, activate sleep mode, set my alarm, after which pivot to what I name “Kindle donut time,” for the reason that Kindle stand is sort of formed like a donut. I get beneath my heated blanket, seize my remote-control web page turner, and browse till I can’t preserve my eyes open. It is a sacred expertise. Lengthy reside Kindle donut time.
As somebody who by no means actually understood the enchantment of candle heaters, I used to be gifted a SpaRoom this yr and ended up actually liking it. I like that there isn’t a fireplace threat with an open flame and that I can benefit from the scent of my candles with none smoke. Plus, as somebody who hates “tunneling” in candles, I like that the wax melts evenly with a candle hotter. I additionally assume there’s a stronger and extra constant scent when utilizing a candle hotter versus lighting the wick.
