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  • Apple’s Gather round event: One Last Prediction

    Apple’s Gather round event: One Last Prediction

    In a few short hours we will be live at Apple’s gather round event. Having just glanced at the invite I started looking further at the name gather round.. Apple always leaves subtle hints as to what their big reveal will be. Just look at last years “learn” event when they released the low cost iPad for schools. So gather round, I keep racking my brain like im Robert Langdon in the Davinci code try to decipher this code.

    Gather Round?

    Apple loves to play these games with us. Lets look at what we know already, Its a half upgrade phone year. The “s” year. We know already that apple will release 3 new phones, a possible new 12.5 inch apple ipad pro, new software all around.. wait around, round could that be it? A round of new software updates. Negative too boring.

    We also know The Apple Watch “Series 4″ will make its debut as well, gaining a larger display and a thinner chassis. The extra screen space should enable new watch faces with more complications, and it’s possible the device will add new sensors, such as one for EKG readings. New watch face, gather round, round watch face. Eureka that is it!

    You are reading this here first. Apple’s new iwatch series 4 will be a larger round face. They have been hinting at the new watch face with clues right under our nose. Apple tweeter earlier with a live event invitation ” Join us 12 September at 6:00 pm to watch the  live on Twitter. Tap ❤️ below and we’ll send you updates on event day.”  The heart is an obvious reference to the ECG monitors built in to the new series 4 watch.

    A Patent

    Back in May, Apple got a patent for a watch with a circular face from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Titled “electronic device having display with curved edges”. The patent goes deep in details about how a circular display can be used to show graphic information in such a device as opposed to the rectangular screen shape.

     

     

    The Final Thought

    We said it, wrote it down and now we wait for apple to tell us what we already figured out.  See you in a few hours.

  • Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Breakdown

    Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Breakdown

    The third iteration of Google’s flagship phone isn’t a huge leap forward. There’s no in-display fingerprint scanner, 3D facial recognition or ridiculous specs. Instead, the search engine giant is doubling down on what it does best.

    The Pixel 3 and 3 XL got Google’s start treatment on Tuesday at a launch event in New York, and we got straight to work checking them out. Already, the phones reject major smartphone trends. First, there’s one camera on the back, not two or even three (but you do get two on the front). Second, they start at under $1,000 each. Third, there’s no wild color; the “craziest” still looks kind of white. And finally, there’s no gimmicks to speak of. Google is clearly focused on functionality rather than just things that sell.

    Pixel 3 & Pixel 3 XL

    On paper, these flagships make the jump when it comes to hardware and software, but otherwise just riff off of 2017’s Pixel 2 ($649 at Google Store). And then I picked them up. Holding the 5.5-inch Pixel 3 and 6.3-inch Pixel 3 XL in my hand was a different story. These are sleek, almost slippery devices with rounded edges and thoughtfully curved elements, like the slightly tacky clear panel on the back.
    The Pixel 3 and 3 XL are undoubtedly Google’s most refined Pixel phones yet. If performance holds up during our testing, I can see how this could be a go-to phone for Android fans, not because they’re innovative, but because they’re both appealing to hold and use due to the buttery smooth stock operation system, Android P.

    You can buy the new Pixel 3 phones in black, white and “Not Pink.” The glossy plane on the Pixel’s signature two-tone backing has shrunk over the years, and slightly curves down at the corners rather than cut straight across. In fact, nearly everything about the Pixel 3 is subtle, and that could very well be the phone’s main strength.

    New Pixel 3 features that matter
    • Larger, 5.5-inch (Pixel 3) and 6.3-inch (3 XL) displays
    • Pixel 3 XL has a notched screen; Pixel 3 does not
    • Two front-facing cameras
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
    • 4GB RAM
    • Android Pie
    • Slightly larger battery capacity for both phones compared to Pixel 2 devices
    • Portrait mode shots can also save photos without the portrait filter effect
    • Wireless charging support with $79 (£69) Pixel Stand
    • Use AI voice assistant to field unwanted calls
    • Turn the phone over to silence incoming calls
    • Titan M security chip exclusive to Pixel 3 phones

    Pixel 3’s most interesting camera tricks are under the hood
    Google’s Pixel cameras have always been less about flashy gimmicks and more about the kind of software processing that Google can milk from its equipment. After all, Google is a software company at its core. Computer learning and camera AI are major ingredients in the Pixel 3. Both phones have a single 12.2-megapixel rear camera and two 8-megapixel lenses on the front.

    Here are some camera highlights:

    Super Res Zoom: Promises sharp, clear detail when you digitally zoom in to a scene — that’s without a telephoto lens.
    Night Sight: Google promises clear, bright low-light photos without the need for a flash, which can blow out shots or make them unnaturally bright. This will build off Google’s already considerable low-light strength.
    Photobooth mode: Turn on this setting and the Pixel 3 will snap photos when the subject smiles or makes a funny face.
    Top Shot: When motion capture is turned on, Top Shot, which arrives “later,” will recommend a better version of a shot you may have missed. It’s intended for correcting candid photos, like someone cannonballing into a pool. You can also choose your own from what the phone grabbed while the motion capture was on.
    Group selfie: This isn’t so much a convenient mode or button you press as you flipping the camera toward yourself and manually zooming out to the wide-angle lens.
    Playground: For AR enthusiasts, swipe a button in the camera to toss characters, including Star Wars’ BB-8, Marvel’s Iron Man and Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover) into the landscape you see through the viewfinder.


  • Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Breakdown

    Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Breakdown

    The third iteration of Google’s flagship phone isn’t a huge leap forward. There’s no in-display fingerprint scanner, 3D facial recognition or ridiculous specs. Instead, the search engine giant is doubling down on what it does best.

    The Pixel 3 and 3 XL got Google’s start treatment on Tuesday at a launch event in New York, and we got straight to work checking them out. Already, the phones reject major smartphone trends. First, there’s one camera on the back, not two or even three (but you do get two on the front). Second, they start at under $1,000 each. Third, there’s no wild color; the “craziest” still looks kind of white. And finally, there’s no gimmicks to speak of. Google is clearly focused on functionality rather than just things that sell.

    Pixel 3 & Pixel 3 XL

    On paper, these flagships make the jump when it comes to hardware and software, but otherwise just riff off of 2017’s Pixel 2 ($649 at Google Store). And then I picked them up. Holding the 5.5-inch Pixel 3 and 6.3-inch Pixel 3 XL in my hand was a different story. These are sleek, almost slippery devices with rounded edges and thoughtfully curved elements, like the slightly tacky clear panel on the back.
    The Pixel 3 and 3 XL are undoubtedly Google’s most refined Pixel phones yet. If performance holds up during our testing, I can see how this could be a go-to phone for Android fans, not because they’re innovative, but because they’re both appealing to hold and use due to the buttery smooth stock operation system, Android P.

    You can buy the new Pixel 3 phones in black, white and “Not Pink.” The glossy plane on the Pixel’s signature two-tone backing has shrunk over the years, and slightly curves down at the corners rather than cut straight across. In fact, nearly everything about the Pixel 3 is subtle, and that could very well be the phone’s main strength.

    New Pixel 3 features that matter
    • Larger, 5.5-inch (Pixel 3) and 6.3-inch (3 XL) displays
    • Pixel 3 XL has a notched screen; Pixel 3 does not
    • Two front-facing cameras
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
    • 4GB RAM
    • Android Pie
    • Slightly larger battery capacity for both phones compared to Pixel 2 devices
    • Portrait mode shots can also save photos without the portrait filter effect
    • Wireless charging support with $79 (£69) Pixel Stand
    • Use AI voice assistant to field unwanted calls
    • Turn the phone over to silence incoming calls
    • Titan M security chip exclusive to Pixel 3 phones

    Pixel 3’s most interesting camera tricks are under the hood
    Google’s Pixel cameras have always been less about flashy gimmicks and more about the kind of software processing that Google can milk from its equipment. After all, Google is a software company at its core. Computer learning and camera AI are major ingredients in the Pixel 3. Both phones have a single 12.2-megapixel rear camera and two 8-megapixel lenses on the front.

    Here are some camera highlights:

    Super Res Zoom: Promises sharp, clear detail when you digitally zoom in to a scene — that’s without a telephoto lens.
    Night Sight: Google promises clear, bright low-light photos without the need for a flash, which can blow out shots or make them unnaturally bright. This will build off Google’s already considerable low-light strength.
    Photobooth mode: Turn on this setting and the Pixel 3 will snap photos when the subject smiles or makes a funny face.
    Top Shot: When motion capture is turned on, Top Shot, which arrives “later,” will recommend a better version of a shot you may have missed. It’s intended for correcting candid photos, like someone cannonballing into a pool. You can also choose your own from what the phone grabbed while the motion capture was on.
    Group selfie: This isn’t so much a convenient mode or button you press as you flipping the camera toward yourself and manually zooming out to the wide-angle lens.
    Playground: For AR enthusiasts, swipe a button in the camera to toss characters, including Star Wars’ BB-8, Marvel’s Iron Man and Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover) into the landscape you see through the viewfinder.


  • iPhone XS, XS Max and XR Breakdown

    iPhone XS, XS Max and XR Breakdown

    There has been months of speculation and hype about new iPhone X models rumored to be coming. “Today, we’re going to take iPhone X to the next level,” CEO Tim Cook said during the presentation and unveiling of new iPhone models.

    The iPhone X released last year was a total rethinking of the iPhone with features like Face ID and a edge to edge screen. Anticipation was high among iPhone fans and the day is finally here, and we have all the recaps.  Apple finally took the wraps off its new iPhones, including the iPhone Xs Max, its largest iPhone ever. With 3 new phone announcements, let’s take a look at what makes them different and sort through all the new details and features.

    iPhone Xs and Xs Max

    First off Apple  introduced the 5.8-inch iPhone Xs, which also has an OLED screen. The iPhone Xs is made of surgical-grade steel, is covered in new glass and comes in gold, silver and space gray. With the new A12 chip, more on this later, it allows the storage to be increased to 512 gb. The Xs will have 3 size options, 64gb, 256, or 512gb. The smaller 64gb is cutting a little close these days but 256gb should still be more than enough for 99% of the users out there.

    The iPhone XS will also incorporate more real-world machine learning for features such as augmented reality and FaceTime. The iOS upgrade will also open the door for Siri shortcuts, which users can customize.  For all the Instagram photographers out there the back camera has a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera and 12-megapixel telephoto camera, along with improvements to flash. For the selfie lovers the front camera will feature 7 megapixels.

    Both devices are identical with only one difference, the iPhone Xs is 5.8 inches, the iPhone Xs max is 6.5 inches. There also have been improvements to the overall strength of the glass screen, which is a great improvement for those of us with butter fingers.

    The iPhone XR

    Alongside with the Xs models Apple also revealed it’s midrange iPhone model, the XR.  The XR is the  bargain model that will be more affordable with most of the same features as the Xs. The iPhone XR has an LCD display called liquid retina and it features a 6.1-inch screen. It’s the same size as the iPhone 8 Plus, but with a larger screen because of it’s edge to edge screen.  The iPhone XR will also feature Face ID, and include the A12 Bionic chip like the XS. The big difference among these phones is the back camera: a single 12-megapixel wide-angle camera for the XR. The front camera will feature the same true depth features as the XS.

    On battery life, XR will offer an hour and a half more on one charge than the iPhone 8 Plus. Specs-wise, the XR is notable for matching many of the specs of the new XS, but one notable omission is 3D Touch, which  isn’t available with XR model. 

    While the 6.1-inch display seems large, the reduced bezels above and below the display  will make the XR slightly smaller than a traditional “Plus” iPhone and only slightly larger than the 5.8-inch iPhone XS. The iPhone XR will be available in a variety of colors including black, white, blue, coral, yellow and red.

    Pricing

    The iPhone XR will come in three sizes: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB, and start at $749. Pre-orders arrive October 19, and ships October 26. XS available in 64GB, 256GB and 512GB starting at $999. The XS Max will start at $1,099. Both Xs models are available for pre-order immediately with shipping to begin on September 21st.


  • Apple’s AirPods 2

    Apple’s AirPods 2

    More News From Apple’s annual fall launch event on Sept. 12. It is expansively expected to bring new iPhones, you know already, we have talked all about them. Then the Apple Watch 4, you saw that too im sure. What you haven’t realized is that Tuesdays event also effectively marks the second anniversary of the Apple AirPods.  Everyone laughed about their design when they were first unveiled in 2016, but now the AirPods have taken the headphone market, become the standard of the in ear design, and made apple billions more. So what does Apple do for an encore? AirPods 2 of course.

    What Can we Expect from the AirPods 2

    Yes Tuesday we will see Tim Cook unveil the AirPods 2. You are probably asking yourself whats left to say about the AirPods that we haven’t said already.. What could be improved? The answer is this: improve on the existing product with software advancements and accessories. Then maybe expand the line with new models, too. Both AirPods 2 and larger, Apple-branded noise-cancelling headphones have been rumored over the past few months. We are even hearing some bone conductive sound chatter.

    Even Though we will get the announcement Tuesday, AirPods 2 are not coming before early 2019. Just don’t expect them till next year, Apple is always very slow with their accessory roll outs. We do know that the set will feature some sort of water-proofing as well as an elaborate noise-cancellation system. Expect a Wireless charging case. Last year when the charging pad was revealed they have the Airpods case laying on it, however now wireless charging Airpods case was ever released.

     

     

    The Final Airpods 2 Thought

    They will boast a new line with the water-resistant and noise-canceling features, wireless charging, new color options and possible bone conductive sound… Im expecting a slight price hike from the already unfathomable $129 price point to a ridiculous $159. But then again Apple has been know to upgrade a device and drop the price to make it the universal headphone truth. See you next Tuesday.

  • APPLE WATCH SERIES 4; What We know Already

    APPLE WATCH SERIES 4; What We know Already

    Everyone is talking about the 3 new iPhones we will see next week, what we are not hearing a lot of chatter about is the new Apple Watch series 4. While the iPhone  models this year are just an iteration, things are very different for the Apple Watch. From what we are hearing this will be a major redesign of the Apple watch. The first redesign of the apple watch if you have been paying attention.

     

    It has been 5 years since the original apple watch has been released. It has had some monumental success but all of us have been waiting for the next model. It has always seemed like they were just one last upgraded model from the revolutionary device we have been waiting for. This has me very excited. Lets break down what the changes will look like for the Apple Watch series 4. The Apple Watch series 4 is also expected to offer an LTE model as well, similar to last year’s Series 3, although with a more subtle red ring on the digital crown to denote the cellular status.

    The Apple Watch Series 4 Updates

    First upgrade is the face size. We have been dealing with 38mm or 42mm screen. Its been fine but its not great. I need a big display, like full forearm sized display. I know i’m getting ridiculous but Apple will be offering a bigger display on the watch. From what i’m hearing a 46mm display will be the standard. The larger screen means there’s now room to show even more information, and there appears to be nine complications visible on the new watch face. It will also sport a  nearly edge-to-edge, possibly bezel-less design. As you can guess it will have a slimmer size than the previous versions. Apple loves getting slimmer.

    The Final Thought

    That is what we know so far, but what about what we want. Im going to highlight 2 unverified and completely desired features Id like to see in the Apple Watch series 4. First, A video projector, yeah. I want to beam videos out of my watch like some Syfy madman. It would be cool, but I dont know how they would keep the heat from the projector light from burning your wrist.  2nd feature id love to see is a holographic display. A 3d holographic display even. Come on Apple, wow us, make me buy the Apple Watch series 4.

  • Beau’s App Review: Paper.io 2

    Beau’s App Review: Paper.io 2

    Beau’s App series. Each week, I install whatever is the No. 1 bestselling app on the iOS or Android store and review it, to save you the effort in case it’s total waste of life. This week the sequel to paper.io a game called paper.io 2 is in the top spot and we are gonna talk about it. Why isn’t it No. 1? not sure, its a very simple and basic game but it’s free. So let take a look and see what has this game rocketing to the top of the charts.

     

    The Paper.io 2 Game

    The latest twist on multiplayer growth game “Agar.io” has arrived, with “paper.io 2”. It is from French publisher Voodoo. Enter the arena and face the other holes in a fierce battle. You set out a small color round space that you expand by gaining territory and looping it back to your hole. You can eliminate or be eliminated but knocking in to an opponent’s trail or having yours knocked into. The goal is to increase your size and Knock out your opponents for a score boost.

    The Final Thought On Paper.io 2

    While I have enjoyed the game a lot over the past few days, its addicting as it is frustrating. One thing in particular I think I am enjoying is that you and your opponents don’t all start out at the same time. Everyone is loaded in randomly and rapidly, so as soon as you know someone out someone else is spawning in. I have been working on strategies for about 3 days now. So far I cannot get past 10%, so I tried only hunting down opponents, just circling the perimeter and I tried just building my area with small loops. So far none seem viable. Let me know what you come up with in the comments.

  • What to Expect at Apple’s Gather Round Event

    What to Expect at Apple’s Gather Round Event

    September is a lot like Christmas for Apple fans. This is the time of year when Apple unveils their newest projects, hyping everyone up for the newest products. If you’re an iPhone fanatic, a Mac lover or anything in between, this is the time of year you wait for. Thankfully, on September 12th, at 1:00pm Eastern Time, Apple will hold their Gather Round event. What can we expect to see this year? We’ve got the speculation to get you hyped!

    What to Expect at Apple’s “Gather Round” Event

    A Livestream to Coincide with the Event

    Apple

    Image Credit: BGR.com

    Invitations have already been sent out to various members of the press to attend the event. If you didn’t get one, don’t sweat: the event will surely be livestreamed. It will start at 1:00pm Eastern Time, or 10:00am Pacific Time for you West Coast-ers! From the name, “Gather Round,” we’re guessing this press conference will have a cozy, home-like vibe. Intimate-style press conferences seem right up Apple’s alley, so we’re not surprised.

    New iPhones

    Image Credit: CNET

    iPhone 9

    Three iPhones will likely be on display, but one of the most interesting is likely to be the iPhone 9. While that might not be the real name, it seems likely that something like it will appear. The name iPhone 9, of course, is derived from its perceived placement between the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. This phone is set to have a smaller screen, LED display and lower price tag than the X. This would make it a more accessible version of the new, home-button-free design with Face ID and full front screen.

    iPhone XS

    This reported phone, also mocked up above, is the likely successor to the iPhone X. It will likely be an iterative step up, possessing and OLED screen and powerful processor much like its older brother. Whether it will be called the iPhone XI, iPhone 11 or something else entirely remains to be seen, but odds are good the name XS will stick. What is certain, though, is that Apple will have an update to the iPhone X ready.

    iPhone XS Plus

    Again, naming isn’t locked in on these phones, but the large-screen variant of the iPhone X formula is on its way. The largest handset by far, the iPhone X Plus will appeal to lovers of huge phones. Honestly, from the leaked specs, this phone much more closely resembles a phablet. One thing is certain: a ton of people with huge hands are going to love this massive, premium smartphone.

    MacBook Air

    Image Credit: TechRadar

    Apple has been hinting at the possibility of a new, low price-point MacBook for some time now. We expect to hear more details on that front soon. Laptops are struggling to stay relevant in the face of smartphones, much as tablets did before them. As such, expect features like LTE to rival new initiatives from Microsoft. Additionally, expect a huge Retina display and USB-C ports.

    iPad Pro

    Image Credit: Apple

    Speaking of tablets, we’d be surprised if there weren’t changes coming along for the iPad. The device that launched the tablet craze has been somewhat under-loved recently, so we’d like to see it get some attention. Rumors point to an iPhone X-style iPad, with slim bezels and Face ID. It’ll be interesting to see how the iPhone X’s revolutionary gesture interface fares on a tablet!

    New Operating Systems

    Image Credit: CNET

    Don’t expect just hardware announcements: Apple’s certainly been hard at work on new software. iOS 12 will almost certainly be making its debut during the event, but that’s just the start. WatchOS 5 will also be unveiled, we’d be willing to bed, coinciding with announcements of Series 4 Apple Watches. We’ll get to those. Finally, MacOS Mojave will likely be announced, along with its new Dark Mode and other features.

    Apple Watch Series 4

    Photo Credit: Apple

    That Series 4 Apple Watch we were mentioning? Yeah, this is it. Rumor has it that the display is going to be much bigger, taking on an iPhone X-like screen with small bezels. It seems Apple’s really cracked how to do that and is super pleased to slap it on everything. That’s fine by us, the iPhone X’s screen looks incredible, we’d be happy to have it on everything. Another rumor holds that they’ll be scrapping the Wi-Fi only model and just doing an LTE model. That makes sense, as it was a bit complicated having two.

    Mac Mini

    Photo Credit: CNET

    Remember the Mac Mini? The compact computer is due to show up at the Gather Round event in some capacity. We expect to see a new suite of ports, such as USB-C compatibility, and a slight redesign. Implementation of solid-state-only models seems likely, as does adoption of new processors. In all, they haven’t touched this line since 2014. As such, it’s due for a bit of an overhaul!

    Airpower

    Photo Credit: iMore

    Believe it or not, it’s been a full year since Apple announced their wireless Airpower charging pad. It’s likely that the very interesting pad could be on display at Gather Round. The unique device is capable of charging up to three different devices at once, providing the correct amount of power by identifying what type of device is on it. This allows it to safely power multiple items at once! Rumors are scarce on the Airpower pad, but we’ll see come September 12th.

  • iPhone XS, XS Max and XR Breakdown

    iPhone XS, XS Max and XR Breakdown

    There has been months of speculation and hype about new iPhone X models rumored to be coming. “Today, we’re going to take iPhone X to the next level,” CEO Tim Cook said during the presentation and unveiling of new iPhone models.

    The iPhone X released last year was a total rethinking of the iPhone with features like Face ID and a edge to edge screen. Anticipation was high among iPhone fans and the day is finally here, and we have all the recaps.  Apple finally took the wraps off its new iPhones, including the iPhone Xs Max, its largest iPhone ever. With 3 new phone announcements, let’s take a look at what makes them different and sort through all the new details and features.

    iPhone Xs and Xs Max

    First off Apple  introduced the 5.8-inch iPhone Xs, which also has an OLED screen. The iPhone Xs is made of surgical-grade steel, is covered in new glass and comes in gold, silver and space gray. With the new A12 chip, more on this later, it allows the storage to be increased to 512 gb. The Xs will have 3 size options, 64gb, 256, or 512gb. The smaller 64gb is cutting a little close these days but 256gb should still be more than enough for 99% of the users out there.

    The iPhone XS will also incorporate more real-world machine learning for features such as augmented reality and FaceTime. The iOS upgrade will also open the door for Siri shortcuts, which users can customize.  For all the Instagram photographers out there the back camera has a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera and 12-megapixel telephoto camera, along with improvements to flash. For the selfie lovers the front camera will feature 7 megapixels.

    Both devices are identical with only one difference, the iPhone Xs is 5.8 inches, the iPhone Xs max is 6.5 inches. There also have been improvements to the overall strength of the glass screen, which is a great improvement for those of us with butter fingers.

    The iPhone XR

    Alongside with the Xs models Apple also revealed it’s midrange iPhone model, the XR.  The XR is the  bargain model that will be more affordable with most of the same features as the Xs. The iPhone XR has an LCD display called liquid retina and it features a 6.1-inch screen. It’s the same size as the iPhone 8 Plus, but with a larger screen because of it’s edge to edge screen.  The iPhone XR will also feature Face ID, and include the A12 Bionic chip like the XS. The big difference among these phones is the back camera: a single 12-megapixel wide-angle camera for the XR. The front camera will feature the same true depth features as the XS.

    On battery life, XR will offer an hour and a half more on one charge than the iPhone 8 Plus. Specs-wise, the XR is notable for matching many of the specs of the new XS, but one notable omission is 3D Touch, which  isn’t available with XR model. 

    While the 6.1-inch display seems large, the reduced bezels above and below the display  will make the XR slightly smaller than a traditional “Plus” iPhone and only slightly larger than the 5.8-inch iPhone XS. The iPhone XR will be available in a variety of colors including black, white, blue, coral, yellow and red.

    Pricing

    The iPhone XR will come in three sizes: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB, and start at $749. Pre-orders arrive October 19, and ships October 26. XS available in 64GB, 256GB and 512GB starting at $999. The XS Max will start at $1,099. Both Xs models are available for pre-order immediately with shipping to begin on September 21st.


  • 5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

    And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

    1. The iRobot Roomba

    Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced that ever. With cutting edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must have! For dog or pet owners life myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This was been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

    2. The Nest Thermostat

    Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing your at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must have in your home.

    3. Brilliant Light Switch

    With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must have gadget for your home. Brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

    4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

    This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, world wide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly. 

    5. The Ring II doorbell system

    The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of  your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD  camera will alert your smart phone of any activity at your door step day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2 way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

    The Conclusion

    With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing evermore advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for awhile.