Top tech gift suggestions for Christmas, 2016
With Christmas just over two weeks away, and for those of us who either are still struggling to decide on a nice tech gift for that special someone, or a present for ourselves with our Christmas bonus (!), below are six gift ideas that should do the trick.
Samsung Gear VR
For those of us who have been fascinated with science fiction and tales of virtual reality, the Samsung Gear VR could the best gift to receive this Christmas. It provides an immersive experience when used in conjunction with the following Samsung Galaxy devices: the S7, S7 Edge, Note 5, S6 edge+, S6, and S6 edge.
The Gear VR has an easy to use touch pad, and wide field of view, precise head-tracking and low latency brings reality to the virtual,
MacBook Pro
For those of us who have been waiting for Apple to release a significant upgrade to the MacBook, the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and Touch ID may be what you have been waiting for. The new MacBooks are thinner, lighter and more powerful than previous versions, and having longer battery life.
The MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and Touch ID has some new and interesting features. The Touch Bar a dynamic addition, that replaces the static function keys, and now change the shortcuts available depending on the application that is being used. The Touch ID introduces fingerprint security to the MacBook family of laptops through the power button.
Google Pixel and Pixel XL.
The Google Pixel and Pixel XL are the latest smartphones releases from Google, and great new devices for Android lovers. It is a solid phone which an excellent camera.but, more importantly, as a Google manufactured smartphones, there is seamless integration with your Google account, Google Assistant, and with other Google services.
Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
The iPhone continues to be one of the most coveted smartphones in the world. The latest releases, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, do not disappoint, with increase in processing power, a phenomenal camera and stereo speakers. The display has also been improved, and it is now both splash and water resistance.
Amazon Echo
For those who want to begin to experience what it might be like to have a smart home, look no further than the Amazon Echo. It can be used to control your TV, lights, thermostat or pretty much any other connected device in your house. It also responds to voice commands, can play music, answer questions, read audiobooks and the news, report weather, and more, using the Alexa Voice Service.
Google Home
Similar to Amazon Echo, Google Home is a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to get answers from Google, manage everyday tasks, automate your home, and even to enjoy music. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest.
Image credits: Maurizio Pesce (flickr); Martin Hajek (flickr); Maurizio Pesce (flickr); GSMArena; Rick Turoczy (flickr); Google; Master isolated images (FreeDigitalPhotos.com)
I was about to mention Smatchwatches as missing on the list. But I think it’s appropriate that they should miss out, at least on the top 5.
For some reason it is baffling that smartwatches ( Apple watch, Samsung gear etc ) do not seem to have struck the consumer market with as much a pitch as was anticipated.