With Christmas just around the corner, and the biggest sales of the year imminent, here are some tech devices you ought to keep in mind for yourself or the person who has everything.

 

With today, Friday 25 November being Black Friday and Monday, 28 November being Cyber Monday, it is a time for major sales and deep discounts in the United States, which many countries around the world have also been copying. This four-day period is a fantastic time to make purchases that you have been wanting to make, but have been holding back until prices are a bit more budget-friendly. Also, for those who might already be thinking about Christmas, now is likely to have the best sales before Boxing Day.

Many of the major tech companies had their new product releases earlier this year, which already received a lot of attention, we decided to focus on some items that are not really in the limelight, but could be things that you wished you had. They also make excellent gifts and don’t necessarily need to break the bank.

 

1.  Home movie projector

When your 50-inch TV screen just does not seem big enough, it may be time to invest in a home movie projector. Several brands and models are on the market and generally range in price from USD 200.00 to well over USD 2,500.00.

At the lower end of that price range, you can find compact versions that are highly portable. They can fit into a backpack or even a pocket and operate with batteries, so they do not require electricity. Further, they usually offer different connectivity options including HDMI, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The standard projectors are more expensive, but they would offer a better quality image and more features than compact versions, which can be maintained for considerably larger display sizes. If you are limited by budget, examine the options carefully to determine the trade-offs you are prepared to make.

 

2.  Smart light bulbs

Tech doesn’t need to cost a fortune. As we should all be moving to smarter homes, don’t forget the lowly lightbulb. Smart lightbulbs are a modest way to continue the transition to smarter homes, which is also energy-efficient and internet-capable.

Screw in these bulbs and pair them to your smartphone and you will be able to turn them on and off without having to fumble to find the switch. Additionally, they can be controlled by digital assistants, such as Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri and Google Assistant. Further, smart bulbs are dimmable and can be programmed to change colour or hue to better suit the time of day, year, and activity in the room or adjust its ambience.

 

3.  Smart mug

Reheated coffee or tea rarely tastes as good as when it is first made. But with life and work being as busy as it is, it can be a challenge to just sit down long enough to enjoy a hot beverage. A smart mug might be what you need.

These rechargeable self-heating mugs can be programmed to keep your beverage at your preferred temperature and can maintain that temperature for between 90 minutes and several hours, depending on the design. Cup designs tend to get cooler than travel mugs (those that have lids) that can enclose the entire drink.

 

4.  Wireless speakers and home sound systems

Although having good image quality is important, sound can take your viewing or listening experience to the next level. These days, smart speakers are all the range. They are portable, offer excellent sound quality and speakers can be programmed independently or to coordinate across your home.

Depending on the brand, there can be a variety of speakers and configurations to choose from. Also, some have built-in voice assistants and can connect via Wi-Fi, thus eliminating the need for wires and allowing you to place pieces virtually anywhere there is internet connectivity.

 

5.  Smart jump rope

Let’s face it. Most of us lead sedentary lives and getting to the gym can be more hassle than it is worth, in addition to being expensive. We frequently overlook an excellent form of exercise: skipping or jumping rope. It can boost cardiovascular health, improve circulation and coordination, and is a great calorie burner. Further, for people who travel or are on the go, it is highly portable and can be done anytime anywhere.

So what does a smart jump rope offer? It can track your jumps, calories burned and time spent getting. Depending on the brand and model, you may be able to enter some simple exercise programmes, such as a timed countdown, or a countdown for the number of jumps you wish to complete. Also, the jump rope can be connected to your smartphone, which can save your results and help you track your progress over time.

 

 

Images credit: Karolina Grabowska (Pexels); PCMag; All other product images (Amazon)