Whistle Activity Monitor, $99
The
"Fitbit for Dogs" allows pet owners to see what their pets are up to
all day through an app on their smartphones. So if your dog doesn't leave
the couch all day, it might explain why he's so hyper when you get home at
night, according to Fortune writer Ben Geier. The unit is waterproof and
its battery lasts for ten days.
Dash, $10
There
is now a “Fitbit for” just about anything. Dash is a Fitbit for your car. The
device plugs into a car’s OBD input (all cars made after 1996 have them),
tracking the car’s vital signs to identify problems before you get towed to the
mechanic. The accompanying app offers discounts on servicing and roadside
assistance.
Hammerhead, $85
This
sleek-looking bike navigation unit uses LED lights, crowd-sourced paths from
Strava and MapMyRide, and a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone to safely
point you toward your next turn. The units have 20 hours of battery life and
include a headlight for night riding. Hammerhead is currently on backorder,
with new shipments starting in February.
iPad Mini 3, $399
Apple’s
latest tiny tablet is inconspicuous enough to enough to carry everywhere, small
enough that it won't get stolen, but big enough to do any work you wouldn't do
on your phone, according to Fortune writer Phil Wahba. If you want to
save some money and don’t care about the fingerprint “Touch ID” security, the
iPad mini 2, for $299, is just as good.
Google Chromecast, $35
This inexpensive device plugs is simple
to plug into your TV to watch streaming content. It’s the top-selling
electronic device on Amazon, outselling even Amazon’s own Fire TV Stick.
Amazon Fire TV, $99
Amazon’s
answer to the living room wars has been a winner. It’s fast and easy to
navigate with spot-on voice recognition and an intuitive remote control. It’s
especially good for Amazon Prime subscribers, as the system’s search function
prioritizes Amazon Instant Video content over other apps. (If you own lots of
content via iTunes, stick with Apple TV.) The Amazon Fire TV's main
advantage over the smaller, cheaper Fire TV Stick or the Google Chromecast is
its voice search and its ability to stream Amazon's more hardcore video
games.
Jawbone Jambox, $299.99
Jawbone’s
portable, wireless speaker is totally inconspicuous, unless you choose one of
the wilder of the 17 available color combinations. According to Fortune
writer Ben Geier, its Bluetooth connection works seamlessly and the unit
offers excellent sound quality. “It’s the best speaker system I’ve ever used,”
he says. A smaller unit, for $99, is easy to throw in a purse or coat
pocket.The Aether Cone, submitted by Fortune senior editor Heather
Muse, is smarter than your average smart speaker. The speaker downplays the
reliance on smartphones to control it . A gentle twist will change the music to a different, but
similar artist, and a big twist will change it to something totally different.
Oh, and it remembers your music preferences, customized down to the
location within your house.
Powerbeats2, $199.95
These
Lebron James-inspired wireless earbuds are resistant to sweat and motion, which
makes them perfect for workouts. "I always come back to this pair for
everyday use," Fortune writer JP Mangalindan says. "They're
rugged and sweat-resistant, and the sound is among the best I've heard from
Bluetooth earbuds." Bonus: They come in five bright colors.
GE Link light bulbs, $14.97 and up
If the idea of outfitting your entire
home with Internet-connected sensors seems intimidating, GE’s smart lightbulb
is an easy first step for saving on energy costs and controlling your lights
with your smartphone. Once you’ve set the system up, you can relax for awhile –
the lightbulbs last 22 years. There’s one big drawback to hooking your garage
door, locks, lights and cameras up to Wifi – it means they’re all
hackable. “As the IoT takes off, people are going to need a better way to
manage and protect their device network,” says Fortune writer Robert
Hackett. He likes BitDefender, one of the first products designed to ward of
home hackers. The cost of the box includes a one-year subscription for
unlimited devices, after which you pay $99 per year.This charcoal-free
countertop grill allows Fortune writer Laura Lorenzetti to cook out
indoors. It heats up fast, saves energy and cooks anything from steak and
burgers to pancakes to perfection. "I sound like a sales person right
now—but I really do swear by it," she says.
Apple Watch, $349 and up
Even
if you aren't a die-hard Apple fan, you'll probably want to wait until the Apple
Watch comes out next year before you buy any of the other
smartwatches and fitness trackers in the market.
Nixie
Smartwatch.
Drone. Selfie. No product could include more buzzwords from this year. Nixie's
flying, wearable camera is almost too “2014” to be true – there’s no
release date for the product yet. However, its creators recently won a $500,000 prize from Intel.
Lytro Illum, $1599
Lytro's
super-high definition digital camera is considered one of the most
revolutionary things in its field by some photographers. Its 3D composition and
lightfield sensor, which give you the ability to change the focus in a shot
after it’s been taken, have won it high accolades among early adopter
photographers.
SnapJet, $149
The SnapJet portable printer allows you
to instantly print mini-photos of your smartphone pics, without any cords, ink,
print drivers, Wifi, Bluetooth or apps. Rather, it scans photos in high
resolution directly from your phone's screen. The item is still in
Kickstarter-mode, meaning, if you donate $149 to its development you will, in
theory, get a SnapJet late next year. One more bonus accessory: This
cheap, simple desktop cord organizer is a staple for Fortune
writer-reporter Daniel Roberts. “It feels, as many Quirky products do,
like something that should have already existed, but it didn't, and now I rely
on it,” he says.
