I’m a naturally curious person. Or maybe a better word is nosy. I love reading articles where people describe how they work or show the gear that they use. I also enjoy seeing how people setup their computer home screens and their phone home screens. I thought it would be fun to share the Gadgeteer team’s phone home screens with all of you out here. So without further ado, here we go!

Julie Strietelmeier

Yeah, I know my Pixel 2 XL home screen setup right now isn’t very exciting. I could tell you that I’m in between setups, but in all honesty, I’m no longer interested in having a ton of widgets cluttering my screen. I’m only using two widgets right now. Pure Calender at the top which shows 14 days worth of events and appointments, and then the LIFX widget (next to the Gmail icon), which toggles the LIFX smart bulb in my bedroom. The LIFX icon is black when the light is off, so you can’t see it because it’s blending into my dark background. The rest of the apps are pretty basic, but they are the apps and shortcuts that I use the most.

My 2nd home screen is used for the next set of apps that I use on a regular basis. I try to keep them organized in rows so I can quickly find them. FYI: I don’t like folders…

Howard Sneider

Well this is awkward..

Leslie Hosmer

As you can see I do utilize folders and I categorize things that I use together to make them easier to find. I have all my banking, weather, navigation, photography, lights, social media, and Gadgeteer apps grouped together so that I can use them easily. I always keep my current reviews on the first page also and right now the only one I’m reviewing with an app is the PIN Genie Smartlock which is in the lower right. I have the Wing app that is front and center because this is my cell phone provider and I use the app to pay the bill and see how much data I’ve used. The Nest and Canary apps are upfront because those are my home security apps so I can see what’s going on at home when I’m not there. Everything else seems to be pretty basic… please don’t judge me for having 2,473 unread emails!

Kathleen Chapman

I love Android because I can customize my phone which is currently a Nexus 6 running Android 7.0 (but I will be upgrading my phone in the next few months to a Pixel 2 XL). The “Speed Racer” wallpaper was drawn and colored in by hand on paper (it was then scanned in) by one of my teenage kids who loves art and wants to work for Pixar one day.

I use the paid version of Nova Launcher to set up my dock icons, resize the grid on each of my screens, and resize my icons in the app drawer among many other things. This is my favorite launcher because of your ability to customize just about everything.

I also use the Transparent Clock & Weather app. I love the widget for this app because it tells me the time, date, and weather information at a glance just the way I like it. It allows me to customize the look of the weather icons, the color of the text, and the widget transparency. There are other sizes of widgets which provide you with more detailed information, but I like to keep it succinct. I placed this widget at the top of my home screen.

I use the Business Calendar Pro app as well. I like the widgets for this calendar because I can customize the calendar views (month view, agenda, etc.), the colors of the font of my events and locations, the transparency of the widget, etc. And if I enter the location of the event in the calendar, the widget allows me to tap on the map icon next to the location information within the widget to immediately launch Google Maps so I can quickly get going.

Curiosity is one of my favorite apps to read. There are all kinds of interesting articles in it and thus I set up a Curiosity widget on my home screen to view the 5 highlighted articles of the day.

I also love to use the Folder Organizer Lite app. This app allows me to create folders of all kinds using my own titles, but unlike other folders, you do not have to tap on them to open them just to see all the apps within it. It allows you to create folder widgets of different sizes so that you can resize the folder to view all the apps within it and immediately tap on any app to launch it. It also allows you to choose a color theme or even create your own. The apps you see on my default home screen are actually inside a folder that I named “Common”. This folder uses the “Empty” theme which hides the title and outline of the folder to give this screen a cleaner look.

I love the way I have my phone set up and Android allows me that freedom!

Dave Rees

Smartphone: iPhone X (256 in space gray)

I’m shooting for the most boring/bland home screen award. When I upgraded to the iPhone X I changed my background to all black to match the infamous notch. Organizationally I find iOS lacking when compared to Android. But, like many I make do.

Smythe Richbourg

You’ll note that only three apps are not contained within folders on my homescreen: Messages, Phone, and eMail. For most of my day-to-day life, these apps play a huge part. During the course of the day, I may need to check into schedule/to-do type apps, so the Time folder is there. When I wake up and go to bed, I turn on various apps in the Health folder for weight, blood pressure, and exercise. The Social folder just below that holds the contacts app, plus social network apps (Instagram, Echofon for Twitter, Yelp, Slack, Micro.blog and others.) The two folders that may confuse readers is Media and Music. Media is anything coming into my environment from another source: Spotify, iTunes, OverCast (podcasts), Kindle, Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, etc. The music folder contains apps that I use to play/create music, or at least to play around with music. Garage Band, Bebot, Music Clips, iMovie and the like. The bottom right folder in the Dock is called Utilities. It contains Settings, My Password manager, my Watch app, PCalc (best calculator ever!) and keyboards, plug-ins, and other stuff. It’s like 7 pages deep. Avalara is the company I work for, and we use two apps to manage time and payroll, so I need those near at hand to check my schedule and to clock in and out.

Education is anything reference, reading, etc. Dictionary, iBooks, IMDb, MacTracker, Sky Guide, Duolingo. The other folder in the dock is Browsers – Safari, Chrome, Scanbot, RedLaser, and one in testing called Hound, which is kind of a Siri enhancement.

The background picture changes frequently. Currently, it’s Jack snoozing on the sofa. Don’t you want to just scratch his little ears???

Janet Cloninger

I don’t use my iPhone 7 Plus the same way I use my iPad Pro 12.9, so I buy the least amount of memory I can, and I keep a bare bones set of apps on there. I tend to keep all my apps organized by type in folders. The dock at the bottom is where I keep my most used apps: phone, message app, settings, and the folder has my browser, contacts, calendar, mail, and the files app. The other folders are pretty self-explanatory. The Entertainment folder has my ebook readers and my Regal Cinemas app. Home has my Hue app for my lights in my home and Nest app for my thermostat and smoke detectors. Travel has maps, the AAA app, the Automatic Pro app for my daughter’s car, and the BMW app that’s supposed to talk to my car. Utilities is a catch-all, with weather apps, calculator, hair cut app, and the clock, among others. The other folders are pretty obvious.

Andy Chen

My home screen on an iPhone X. The “home bar” is populated with what I consider communications apps (phone, email, messaging).

The most common apps are arranged mostly on the right side so I can open them with my right thumb. That includes Gmail, Safari, Facebook and Deliveries.

Bill Henderson

Mine is boring…

Michael Strange

The home screen on my iPhone X really has no rhyme or reason. I’m constantly adding and subtracting apps. The main Dock is reserved for my most used apps but beyond that, it’s kind of a free for all.

I find that I use Control Center a lot. It gives me easy access to things like Home Kit to control my Philips Hue lights, my 4K Apple TV remote and the camera app which I use quite often.

I also like to change my Wallpaper a lot based on my mood. Currently, it’s “The Empire Strikes Back” which is my favorite Star Wars film and because the weather here lately makes me feel like I’m living on the planet Hoth.

Dave Moore

Here’s mine. It’s boring, but functional. It’s an old-school iPhone 6. I keep this chugging along because I need to keep my Dexcom continuous glucose monitor alive without worry of the battery konking out. I have a brick of a battery pack to keep it alive, a Zerolemon 5400mAh that has worked very well that I’m reluctant to part with. As a plus, I like the 1/8” audio jack and use it frequently. The layout is as such because I don’t like digging through multiple pages to find what I’m looking for.

Jacob Haas

Ever since upgrading to my iPhone 7+, I have one-tap access to a whopping 28 apps on my home screen. I like to keep my “time wasting” apps (games, social media, Reddit, Instagram) in folders on my second page. This screen gives me everything that I’d need at a glance to maximize health, tasks, finance and photos. It generally stays in this configuration, but sometimes I’ll swap out an app if I haven’t used it for a while or if I find something more useful.

Ryan Pagel

I use a lot of groups on the home screen of my iPhone X. I like to keep everything I use on any regular basis on one screen and have grouped my apps into standard categories like Business, Reference, Food and Drink, Social Media, etc. I have been using this setup for many generations of the iPhone so finding my apps is easy despite the cluttered appearance of the screen. It makes sense to my engineering brain.

Steve Holt

I probably swap out 2 or 3 icons on a regular basis, but most of the items stay the same. I use a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+, and I love how Samsung allows you to keep 5 icons across the bottom no matter which screen you are on. So my most used items are there… phone calls, messages, email, Google voice search, and apps.

I also love that Android allows me to have direct shortcuts to things like text messaging a specific person and calling a specific person, and websites. So I always have 2 shortcuts on my homepage for my wife to text and call her, since I do that alot! And I have shortcuts to websites I use on a daily basis. I have a black background because I don’t want an image behind everything mucking up what I am looking at. Finally, I use a Weather.com widget across the top so when I wake up in the morning I can see what the weather is like.

Elizabeth Rodriguez

I’m using the iPhone 7 Plus, and keep my first home screen with the most frequently used apps. Some are in folders since I use multiples of one type. Apps that aren’t within a folder are because I use them much more than the rest. The second screen has even less frequently used apps. I like to use emoji in my folder names

I change up my background wallpaper every now and again, usually with something that takes advantage of the perspective or live photo features.

Sorry it’s not very exciting.

Ryan Chapman

I keep the home screen on my iPhone X clean and tidy so I may see my cat better when I open my phone. My main categories are on the first page here while categories that I use less frequently are just a swipe to the right. Outlook is my one odd ball, since I use it for work. I use Spotify instead of the Apple Music app, since all the music I need is there. Funny enough, I rarely use the phone to actually talk to people, but it would feel wrong to remove the phone icon from my bottom dock. This is a phone after all! Out of all the visible icons, I use Reddit, Facebook, Spotify, email, and the messaging apps the most.

Larry Geisz

My home screen on my iPhone is a mish-mosh of apps that I use frequently. I use my news and Dropbox mostly but my updates and messages are a close second. I have placed a lot of the Apple apps in their own folder, especially the ones I do not use often.

Bob Patterson

I’m not a smartphone power user, but I like my organization. Honestly, I wish the iPhone (mine is the 6s) had a way to add more apps to the docking bar. Since it can’t, I keep an assortment of my most used icons on the home screen in addition to my docked apps.

As far as the rest, I try to keep my most-used apps in general groups based on common function. I don’t get too fancy here, and I tend to tweak the layout regularly. Once you get past the home screen, I have to confess that things get a bit… messy.

I also do illustration, which I post online. My latest piece is always my background screen, because it motivates me to critique my own work and look for ways to improve my techniques for future drawings!

Andy Jacobs

Behold the home screen on my trusty iPhone 6 Plus! I set my home screen up with my most-used apps and categories of apps: if you see an icon to an app, I use this daily or almost daily; if you see a folder, I might use these daily or a few times per week. I am almost constantly rotating icons from the home screen to either folders or to other pages—-still trying to find my “perfect” home screen setup, but I have a feeling it that it will continue to evolve constantly, which is fine with me!

Dave Ferreira

I am using a Samsung Galaxy Note 8 on T-Mobile running Android 7.1. I want my home screen to give me a quick picture of my day (the Chronus calendar widget), let me know what I should wear (again, the Chronus weather widget). I also have direct dial widgets to important people, a shortcut for the Chrome browser, and a stationary dock at the bottom with phone, messaging, Outlook (because you can’t escape work) and Gmail (because you can’t escape Android). All of this runs on top of the Nova launcher.

Joe Porletto

I’m using a Google Pixel running Android 8.1.0 on Google’s Project Fi network. I’m a minimalist when it comes to my tech, so solid black wallpaper and all apps on one screen grouped according to function in folders easily accessible from the homescreen. Android 8.1.0 provides a date and weather update on the screen as well as a Google Search Bar and I’ve always been partial to military time.

Rob Tillotson

Most of the interesting stuff like entertainment and home control is on other pages, but this is my core set of apps that I use often throughout the day. I still don’t know what to put in the fifth dock slot, because until now I always used a launcher that only had four.

Raul Sanchez

The screen shot with the red flame background-
That wall paper is actually a Live Wallpaper. It takes little battery power so there is little battery drain. My main apps on the Home screen are my Gmail, the Next SMS for text messaging, time and weather, Google Search, and of course my phone button. I like to use CM Browser because it’s pretty snappy and I have a few other CM apps and have always had good experiences with them. Plus I have to make sure I have my Camera easily accessible. I changed the standard Camera and Phone icons to the ones on there now.
This is on a LG V20.

The screenshot with the electric light tunnel-
That is also a Live Wallpaper. I like Live Wallpapers if you couldn’t tell. This one I can change frame rate and quality so it doesn’t use a lot of resources and battery as well.
I keep my Gmail, Next SMS, CM Browser, Google Search, time and date handy in the Home screen. I keep my Easy Release app on the home screen so I have it handy when I need the model/talent releases. Time is money you know…
I also keep my most used apps on the Second screen on the side of the phone.
This is the Samsung Note Edge.

We’re back this week for the final installment of The Gadgeteer team’s favorite gadgets of 2017. Don’t forget to check out the earlier posts too so you can see all the productst that the whole team liked from this past year.

The year in review – Favorite gadgets of the Gadgeteer team for 2017 (part 1)
The year in review – Favorite gadgets of the Gadgeteer team for 2017 (part 2)

Elizabeth Rodriguez

Yubico Yubikey 4 hardware security key

I reviewed the Yubikey 4 Nano and Yubikey 4 back in May, and appreciate the peace of mind I get when logging into my various software services. I make sure to use two factor authentication on my most important accounts such as email, password manager and anywhere I’m able to on the web. I highly recommend getting one if you haven’t already to protect yourself online as much as possible. You can buy a Yubikey for $40.00 from Amazon.

Satechi USB 3.0 hub and card reader

I enjoy using the Satechi USB 3.0 hub and card reader on my Mac at home. It makes uploading my photos from my digital camera’s SD card easier as well as gives me better access to plug in USB drives. I don’t have to fiddle behind my desk for the computer’s USB port. It’s super stylish as well! You can buy one for $29.99 from Amazon.

Audio Technica ATH-SR5BTBK Wireless On-Ear High-Resolution Audio Headphones

After getting a job in New York City and traveling on the train every day, I wanted to invest in a good pair of Bluetooth headphones for the freedom of wireless. I fell in love with the Audio Technica ATH-SR5BT wireless on-ear headphones. The sound quality is awesome – clear, not too full of bass, and with a good range. The battery life is absolutely amazing, lasting well over a month, and they’ve never disconnected from my iPhone 7 Plus. I’ve owned Audio Technica headphones before so I recommend any of their models if you’re willing to invest in a pair! You can buy them for $119.00 from Amazon.

Ryan Pagel

iStorage datAshur PRO

I am in love with this password-protected flash drive. It was simple to set up and is easy to enter my customized passcode to access my data. I no longer worry about my information being compromised should I lose it or accidentally leave it behind in a conference room. It is high quality, personalized with my name and is resistant to dust and water when in the cover. You can’t go wrong with this! You can buy one for $75 – $135 US from Amazon.

VAVA Voom 22 True Wireless Speakers

These speakers have become the only sound source we use in our living room and kitchen. The stereo sound quality is outstanding and they are easily taken from a shelf to our patio when we are outside. We use them individually and as a pair and have quickly become our favorite way to listen to music in our home. I highly recommend these. You can buy a pair for $219.00 from Amazon.

IQAir Atem personal air purifier

This air purifier has become a fixture of my desk at work. I love that it pairs with my phone and turns itself off when I leave my office and back on when I return. I am constantly changing the percent output setting to give me the amount of air movement that I need and am also in love with the aesthetics of it. Since writing the original review, no fewer than 20 people have asked me what brand it is and for more info about it. I know of at least two people in my office who now own one. If you are looking for a great way to keep the air in your office, bedroom or kitchen clean and like gadgets that interface with your smartphone, look no further! You can buy one for $399.00 from Amazon.

Smythe Richbourg

Much of my “favorite gear” is not the flashy, gee-whiz kind of items that you usually read The Gadgeteer for. They tend to be the ones that quietly do the things you need, without hassle and complaint. The first of these has been sitting on my nightstand since it was unboxed. Kanex Apple Watch charging stand review I don’t charge my watch every night, but when I do, it’s there to deliver the goods without a hassle. I do use a cable plugged into the USB port on the back to charge my phone every night. I love not having to fish around under the bed for it – it’s just right there, ready and waiting.

Survival Hax Tactical Flashlight

The Survival Hax Tactical Flashlight sits atop the refrigerator by the back door and accompanies Jack and me out into the wilds of the night every evening at precisely 10 PM. (The dog is like an alarm clock!) I’ve yet to have to put new batteries in but use the zoom quite frequently to point out a rabbit cowering in the underbrush or to make out an owl in the trees. Even though I have to cycle through the modes, it’s still the best balance of heft, power, and size I’ve found. You can buy one for $29.99 from Amazon.

Aukey SK-M12 SoundTank Bluetooth outdoor speaker

I have quite a few Bluetooth speakers hanging around and have given away many more. When I need to connect to an iPad or want to play music on the desk for a group, I usually grab the Aukey SK-M12 SoundTank Bluetooth outdoor speaker. It has really well-modulated sound for speech, movie or game sounds, and the AUX port is hidden behind a cover if not in use. You can buy one for $45.99 from Amazon.

Raul Sanchez

Serbags Army Courier Vintage Bike Messenger Bag

I still use and love my Bike Messenger bag fromSerbags. Since I received it I have been using it as a camera bag for my camera gear when I am on shoots and assignments.I love the pockets, because I love lots of pockets in all my bags, and this bag has the right amount and type of pockets that I need. believe me, from time to time I window shop other messenger bags to see if there is anything comparable. But as of yet, I have not found any messenger bag with the same set-up. You can buy one for $47.99 from Serbags.

SuperTooth HD Voice In-Car Speakerphone

I really like having this car speaker in my car since I don’t like to hold the phone to my ear as I am driving. And in some states, it is the law for the driver to use a hands-free earpiece in a moving car. But with the SuperTooth I don’t have to fumble around to find my handsfree earpiece, turn it on and stick it in my ear. With the SuperTooth speaker, it is always on and ready to go making it safe, and legal, for me to have my phone calls. Plus, I don’t have to keep it in my ear and look like a call center agent. You can buy one for $103.09 from Amazon.

Epson Expression XP-640 Small-In-One printer

Since I take a lot of pictures, naturally I like to print some out from time to time. With the Epson Expression XP-640 Small-In-One I get great looking printed photos. I really like the print quality, plus the ability to print on CD’s and DVD’s, scan photos and documents, and one of my favorite features is its wireless printing capability. The XP-640 can print several different sizes and on various types of paper from plain white paper to specialty print paper. And since it is small and doesn’t take up much space I can keep it on the shelf under my computer. You can buy one for $79.99 from Amazon.

David Ferreira

Eufy RoboVac 11

This is hardly what you would call a “sexy” gadget, but it is without a doubt the hardest working machine I have ever seen. In a charming and quirky style, it does exactly what it says it will do – vacuum your house – and it does it effectively, even through the massive amounts of dog hair we seem to accumulate. We were so impressed with the little guy that not only did we anthropomorphize him, we bought him a sister to clean upstairs. you can buy one for $269.99 from Amazon.

Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.3 inch)

I have had a love-hate relationship with the Surface line of products. On paper, they look great but often in practice, there are enough idiosyncrasies to drive any person mad. I have been using the Surface Book 2 for about a month now and am happy to report that Microsoft finally hit the mark with this one. It is fast, light (other than the increased size and weight of the power brick) and the battery lasts a good 10 hours. There is enough here to justify the high price tag if you need the raw computing power this workstation replacement brings. Price varies depending on configuration. Check them out on Amazon.

Leslie Hosmer

Archeer 2 in 1 Apple Watch Stand and iPhone Charging Dock Station

Since I completed the review of this product I have moved it to my night stand where I put my watch and phone to charge every night. It is the first gadget I use in the AM and the last used at night. While the phone is plugged in I can still use it as an alarm clock, or to ask Siri any questions I may have. I won’t soon part with this one! You can buy one for $39.99 from Amazon.

PureSwitch Wireless Smart Plug

I have used this plug to control various appliances in my home since I reviewed it. It is currently turning my Christmas tree on and off via the timer, and if I want it on during other times I just ask Siri to help me. Setting it up to use with other devices is so easy that after Christmas I will use it to control my reading light. The options are endless with this smart plug. You can buy one for $49.95 from Amazon.

FABRIQ Chorus Portable Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa

This is my favorite speaker this year. I use it every day wherever I am in the house and even outside by the pool or when I’m weeding my flower beds. Being able to just ask Alexa to play what I want is easy, fun, and helpful if your hands are busy or your elbows deep in cookie dough for example. You can buy one $99.95 for from Amazon.

Steve Holt

myCharge HubPlus C portable charger

I have used this gadget multiple times a week ever since I have had it. No cable to carry around, easily plugs into the wall with the built-in plug for charging, small enough to literally carry in my pocket if I want. And it fully charges my phone at least twice before needing to recharge. Plus, I am considering getting the Google Pixel 2XL which means I’ll still be able to use this charger with the included USB-C cable. You can buy one for $79.99 from Amazon.

Seneo Qi wireless charging stand

This gadget is at my office and I use it daily. I love that I can still use my phone while it is charging because it stands the phone upright. I love it! You can buy one for $26.99 from Amazon.

Lentz leather briefcase

I use my Lentz briefcase every week. It smells divine, it has high-quality build, and my laptop, charger and file folders fit just right. Plus, it makes me look good, which is important, right? You can buy one for $318.00 from The Mr. Lentz Shop.

Howard Sneider

V-MODA Forza Metallo Wireless Bluetooth headphone

these really are a great sounding, long lasting pair of BT headphones. They are light enough that they can be forgotten, have great fitting earbuds, and if a bud falls out it’s attached to the other side, not in a pile of leaves somewhere. You can buy them for $169.99 from Amazon.

Logitech Spotlight Wireless Presenter

Sometimes the simplest gadgets are the most appreciated, and this item fits the bill. People are always amazed that I don’t need to fiddle with the laptop to move the pointer and are always asking me “how did you make that zoomed circle during the presentation. You can buy one for $99.99 from Amazon.

Schlage Connect Touchscreen Deadbolt door lock review

Knowing the cleaning service came (and left after a reasonable amount of time) is reassuring. Being able to answer the question, “is the front door locked?” halfway through a 2-hour trip is great. Being able to lock the door remotely is fantastic. You can buy one for $197.00 from Amazon.

I hope you enjoyed these team posts and please be sure to check the others:

The year in review – Favorite gadgets of the Gadgeteer team for 2017 (part 1)
The year in review – Favorite gadgets of the Gadgeteer team for 2017 (part 2)

Last week we posted The year in review – Favorite gadgets of the Gadgeteer team for 2017 (part 1) and now we’re back with part 2 where another group of Gadgeteer writers share their favorite gadgets and gizmos from the past year. Here we go with part two of the Gadgeteer’s favorite gadgets lists of 2017.

Larry Geisz

SHOTBOX

Even though I did not review this product, it’s my first choice for favorite product of 2017 because the SHOTBOX stood out to me. Reviewed by Julie in November, the SHOTBOX made such an impression on me that I immediately ordered one from Amazon to use for my reviews. Although I have only had it a short period of time I do love it and plan on getting many years of use out of it. You can buy the SHOTBOX for $164.00 from Amazon.

Solo Altitude backpack

I reviewed the Solo Altitude backpack back in April before I left on a two month trip to Europe. The backpack held up great, the size allowed me to use it as my personal item when carrying it on to an airplane, it slid nicely under the seat in front of me. The Solo Altitude backpack has plenty of room for a laptop computer and a tablet device. It has held up well so far. You can buy one for $55.99 from Amazon.

Survival Hax Tactical Credit Card Tool

Although I owned another credit card survival tool at the time of my Survival Hax Tactical Credit Card Tool, I found this one to be a nice compliment to it. I have the Survival Hax Tactical Credit Card Tool in my “bug out” kit it fits nicely into my tool wallet. You can buy one for $14.99 from Amazon.

Dave Rees

Apple iPhone X

Like Julie, I have waffled between iOS and Android for years. Though unlike her and the Pixel 2 XL, I have landed on the iOS side of the coin with Apple’s latest and greatest, the iPhone X. I love everything about the X: the screen, form factor, build quality, wireless charging, Face ID, etc… The big debate for 2018 will be whether or not to upgrade when Apple releases the X+. But for now, the iPhone X is definitely my daily driver with few if any tempting me back to Android. You can buy one starting from $999 from Apple.

Jabra Elite Sport earbuds

The Jabra Elite Sports are my go-to workout and travel earbuds. Their totally wireless design, excellent fit, and great sound quality make for a hassle-/cord-free listening experience. They are backed by a 3-year sweatproof warranty and so far they are surviving my epic fitness regime. The Elite Sport Earbuds are currently on sale for $180 from Jabra and Amazon.

Shinola + Zieba New York MS3 Manhattan Special Pocket Knife

 The Shinola MS3 pocket knife is without a doubt my favorite pocketknife and non-electronic review item this year. I carry it with me everywhere I go. It fits perfectly in the coin pocket of most of my pants. Its form factor and material/build quality are perfect for the urban jungle. The MS3 Manhattan Special pocket knife is available from Shinola for $295.

I have to add a few honorable mentions: Aerix DaVinci Drone, 10.5” iPad Pro w/Apple keyboard, and the Apple Watch Series 3 w/LTE. 2017 was definitely a good year in consumer electronics and for me inching me closer to tech-Zen.

Andy Jacobs

Kathleen Chapman

Bill Henderson

Now it’s your turn!

What are your favorite products of 2017 and why? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Also check out The year in review – Favorite gadgets of the Gadgeteer team for 2017 (part 1)