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Edabit – the easiest way to learn to program #Sponsored

Have you ever tried to teach yourself a new language using just a book?  You can progress just so far before you need to talk to someone who is fluent in the language.  Learning to program computers is that way, too.  You’re learning a language with which you can tell the computer what to do.  You may learn basics on your own easily, but there’s probably a point where you need some guidance when you try to apply the simpler things you’ve learned, say how to draw a stick figure,  to learning how to complete more difficult tasks, say how to draw a full human figure.  With Edabit, you can learn the basics, and then learn to apply those basic concepts to increasingly difficult challenges, until you’re ready to complete difficult tasks on your own.

Edabit helps you learn to program in Java, JavaScript, or Python.  You set up a free account, select the language you want to learn, and then select a skill level, from beginner to advanced, to get started.  There are 150 free lessons that will help you broaden your skill set by actually working through challenges that teach a new concept or reinforces what you know.  Edabit simulates learning in the real world – you have a task, you apply what you know to solve that task, and you consult resources to help you fill in your gaps.  Each challenge in Edabit is like an open-book test.  You’ll have access to documentation and tutorials from all over the internet, and you’ll have access to interactive help when you need clarification.  Edabit applies simple game mechanics to learning, so you’ll earn points for each challenge you complete, unlock achievements, and compete against others for the top spot on the leaderboard as you advance from a beginner to an advanced programmer.

Signing up at Edabit is free.  All of the challenges to help you advance your skillset is free.  Go to Edabit and start learning a new programming language today.

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

By far, these are my favorite Bluetooth Wireless earbuds that I’ve reviewed thus far here at The Gadgeteer.  They are very small and lightweight, have a cool and useful magnetic charging case, and best of all, they stay in my ears (even while working out) better than any other wireless earbuds that I’ve tried yet.  Good sound as well.  As of this writing, I am still using them every day as my workout earbuds. You can buy them for $49.99 from Amazon.
This pen was fun to review and is just plain fun to use.  Its weighting and texture make it feel just about perfect in my hand, and its ink capsule is smooth on every type of paper that I’ve yet to try it on.  Plus, it looks simple, minimalist and cool, just like all of Baron Fit’s products.  Baron Fig did this one right.  You can buy one for $55.00 from baronfig.com
This headlamp is tough as nails.  Period.  I’ve used it in multiple overnight GORUCK Tough Challenge Endurance events and it aluminum case weathers everything like a champ—cold, rain, drops and collisions.  Plus, its graduated intensity adjustment allows me to dial in the exact brightness level that I need for any given situation.  The only thing keeping this headlamp from perfection is that it is missing a red light mode, but even without this, it’s still my go-to headlamp.

Kathleen Chapman

I’ve used the Jaybird X3 earbuds just about every day for over a period of about nine months now. I love the fact that these Bluetooth headphones will play for about eight hours on one charge and they sound awesome when listening to any music genre because you can save your favorite sound profiles directly to the earbuds (one profile at a time). They are near and dear to my heart because of that feature alone. You can purchase the Jaybird X3s on Amazon for $79.99.
Like the Jaybird X3s, I’ve used the Col. Littleton No. 18 Leather Hunt bag just about every day for about a year now. I love the craftsmanship and the quality of the leather and materials – it has held up beautifully over the last year and I expect it to do so for many years to come. You can purchase the Col. Littleton No. 18 Leather Hunt Bag from Colonel Littleton or Amazon for $395.00.
The Antop AT-400BV Indoor/Outdoor antenna has transformed our cord cutting experience. When we used various flat HDTV indoor antennas, they would invariably fail to clearly tune in some of our favorite channels. We used this antenna to replace those and since then we have enjoyed beautiful, clear reception for all of our favorite channels on three TVs. You can purchase the AT-400BV Indoor/Outdoor Antenna from Amazon for $143.00.
The Pad & Quill Roll Top Leather backpack is a wonderful, well-made leather backpack and is backed by a 25-year warranty. It is compact and yet carries what I need during a day. And it’s just plain attractive. Period. You can purchase the Pad & Quill Roll Top Leather Backpack from Pad & Quill for $319.00.

Bill Henderson

 

Audeze iSINE 10 planar magnetic in-ear headphones

There are many reasons why I like these earphones, but the biggest reason is the sound—both inside and outside my head. The iSine 10 earphones are open-backed, meaning that the music sounds like it’s in front of you rather than at your ears. Plus, the audio quality is incredible. If you can get past the Spiderman-looking design, you will fall in love with these earphones. You can buy them for $399.00 from Amazon.

Anki Cozmo robot

This small, but attitudinally challenged robot will win your heart. Cozmo is funny, smart, mischievous, and will provide hours of fun. He can be used to help teach coding to kids through his free SDK (software development kit) and built-in coding abilities. He comes with built-in facial recognition and can even recognize a family pet to annoy if directed. You can buy one for $124.99 from Amazon.

Master & Dynamic MW50 wireless headphone

Master & Dynamic has never made a bad headphone but the wireless MW50 is a rarity that is as beautiful as it sounds. It’s not as big or impressive as it’s more expensive wireless sibling—the MW60, but it manages to sound better. How’d that happen? You can buy a pair for $449.00 from Master & Dynamic.

Waterfield Designs Maverick Laptop Messenger Bag

The Waterfield Maverick bag is tough and roomy and is made to take abuse for years and look better for it. How many bags can do all that? You can buy one for $289.00 or $319.00 from Waterfield Design.

V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless headphone

This wireless headphone manages to hit every sweet spot with comfort, great wireless sound, unusual design and incredible build quality. Add a generous warranty, customization and a strong carrying case and you easily have one of the best headphones of 2017. You can buy a pair for $293.29 from Amazon.

Audioengine HD3 wireless speaker 

Audioengine offered the HD3 speaker months after their larger and more expensive HD6, but this small—in size only—speaker may be the perfect desktop speaker available today. It sounds much bigger than its size, comes with built-in Bluetooth and its timeless retro styling looks great on any desk. You can buy a pair of these speakers for $399.00 from Amazon.

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)

Get the best purchase price using the Slice app or the price protection features of your credit card

Did you purchase something with your credit card only to discover a little while later that it had gone on sale? If it was only a couple of dollars, you may not be too worried about that, but what if it was $20 or more? The easiest thing to do is call and see if the merchant will do a price adjustment for you and refund you the difference.



You could also use a new feature in the Slice app which will automatically request a refund on your behalf if it finds that the price has dropped on an item you’ve purchased, but you must link your credit card to your Slice account (works only with supported merchants). Here’s the catch: they do this for a 25% cut of your refund. Slice is a package tracking app available for Android and iOS devices and allows you to link up to three email accounts. After which it combs through your messages searching for your online purchase emails. It will then inform you of the shipping status of those purchases.

If you are already a Slice user, when you open your app you may see the first two screenshots above telling you to provide the information necessary to link a credit card with your Slice account to start the process. If you do not see the first two screenshots, then all you have to do is tap on the following: the Menu icon > Settings > Link Credit Card and enter the data to link your credit card (as shown in the right screenshot above).

If you don’t want to have to keep up with price drops then this may be beneficial for you because something is better than nothing. Although in all the time I’ve used Slice (five years or so), I’ve never been informed of any price drops and I know there have been some because I personally have caught at least three.

So let’s move on to a more lucrative process to receive a price drop refund.

Some credit cards have price protection benefits that they offer to their customers (which is different from purchase protection benefits that include coverage for damaged or stolen goods over a 60 to 90-day period from the date of the purchase, etc.). Cards like Discover, Citi, and Chase Freedom provide price protection for their customers such that if the price of an eligible identical item drops at a store (in-store or online) within a 90-day period (60-day period for Citi), they will refund the difference up to $500 per item with a maximum of $2500 per year.

To start the process of obtaining your refund, you must submit a claim by calling the credit card company. With Citi, after you purchase the item, you need to log into their website and go to the Card Benefits section, click on “Start a price rewind”, enter the item in and they will start looking around for better prices for you for the 60-day period. That’s a bit of a pain compared to other credit card companies.

Be prepared to be able to provide receipts, the credit card statements that the items were purchased on, and a copy of the printed or online advertised sales. There are exclusions, so be sure to check your credit card company’s price protection details to make sure your purchase qualifies (Discover, Citi, and Chase).

There are sure to be many other credit cards out there that provide this benefit, so go online or call your credit card company and save some money!

You can download the Slice package tracking app for Android and iOS.

 

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

A few days ago I asked the Gadgeteer team to send me a list of their favorite products of 2017. I told them that the products that they picked didn’t need to be restricted to only gadgets that they had reviewed this year, but that they could include any products that they have enjoyed using during the past year. Was there one type of gadget that was the most popular with the entire team or was it a mixture? Let’s find out. Here we go with part one of the Gadgeteer’s favorite gadgets lists of 2017.

Julie Strietelmeier

 

Google Pixel 2 XL Android Smartphone

I’ve been using the Pixel 2 XL as my daily driver for 2 months now and I am confident in saying that it’s my all-time favorite smartphone to date.  The camera is so good that I sold my Canon 70D DSLR (I’m not joking) and am using this phone for all my review photos. The only thing I’d add to the phone would be wireless charging, but even though it doesn’t have that feature, it’s not a huge deal because it charges so fast. You can buy one starting at $849.00 from Google.

SHOTBOX portable photography light box 

This collapsible light box is fantastic. I love it and all the backdrops that make my review images look excellent. I’m using it with my Pixel 2 XL (see above) which makes for a great little photography setup. You can buy the SHOTBOX for $164.00 from Amazon.

SCOTTeVEST Hoodie Cotton jacket

This is my all-time favorite tech clothing item from SCOTTeVEST. I think it’s because it’s so soft and comfortable while still offering lots of pockets to hold all my gear. One of my favorite features of this jacket are the top loading pockets in the handwarmer pocket area. You can see in the image above that I have my phone in one of them. Those pockets make it easy to retrieve my phone without fumbling around. You can buy this jacket for $95.00 from SCOTTeVEST or Amazon.

Michael Strange

Miccus Home RTX 2.0 Long Range wireless Audio Transmitter or Receiver

I literally use the Home RTX every night to listen to the audio from my TV. With Bluetooth aptX, there are no lip sync issues and the sound quality is great. It can be used as both a Bluetooth receiver or transmitter. Priced at $59.99 from Amazon, it’s the perfect compliment to any home AV system.

Monster iSport Freedom Bluetooth headphones

I love my iSport Freedom headphones. I use them at the gym 5 days a week. They’re compact, lightweight, comfortable and produce fantastic sound. They also have cutting-edge touchpad controls and great 20-hour battery life. So if you’re auditioning sub $200 headphones be sure to add the Monster iSport Freedoms to your list. You can buy them for $149.95 from Monster.

Nebula Mars ultra-portable projector

There are so many things I like about this projector. It’s incredibly compact, produces a clear sharp picture up to 120″ on virtually any flat surface, incredible 3-hour battery life makes it extremely portable and it has fantastic sounding built-in JBL speakers. Throw in the fact you can hook it up to an external streaming device like a Roku Stick or Fire Stick via HDMI and this projector is perfect for Netflix binging, movie nights, or even Big game viewing parties. You can buy one for $599.99 from Amazon.

Janet Cloninger

2017 Apple iPad Pro 12.9″

I tried the Pro when it was first released, but I quickly returned it because it was uncomfortable to hold for long periods.  I had used and loved the 9.7″ iPad Pro, but I decided to move up to the big leagues with the latest updates to the Pro line.  The Pro models have a lot of wonderful features, but I find that I like the big, beautiful, sharp screen most of all because it’s very easy on the eyes.  I quickly got accustomed to the bigger size and don’t even notice it anymore. The 12.9″ iPad Pro starts at $799.00 from Apple.

Nest Thermostat

When we had to replace our ancient HVAC unit this summer, we decided to replace the old thermostat with the Nest.  It makes it much easier to keep tabs on the temperature, to turn the unit off, or to adjust the set point from anywhere using the app on our iPhones or iPads.  Plus it has a lock that prevents us from coming home to find our cold-blooded daughter has changed the set point to 80 degrees. You can buy the latest version of the Nest thermostat for $244.88 from Amazon.

Philips Hue WiFi-connected lighting system

We have replaced almost every light bulb in our house with Philips Hue bulbs over the years we’ve been in our condo.  We also have stationed Hue Tap programmable switches above most of the conventional light switches in the house, so we can light up a room with a button press; these are also great for visitors who don’t have access to an app to control your setup.  And we can even tell Amazon’s Alexa to turn off any bulbs we’ve forgotten before we got all snuggly in bed and ready for sleep.  They are very convenient to use and control, and the LED bulbs save energy over incandescent bulbs. You can buy a starter kit for $146.00 from Amazon.

Jacob Haas

BeatsX Wireless Earphones

Ever since their late launch in March of this year, I’ve had these lovely little earbuds on my person almost every day. They’re lightweight, the battery lasts a whole office day, and they sound great. And my favorite part is the fact that they are paired with my computer, iPad, and iPhone and can switch between them with the push of a button. You can buy a pair for $99.00 from Amazon.

Nintendo Switch

This might have to be my very favorite gadget of the 2017. I’ve always been a fan of gaming handhelds and while Nintendo doesn’t classify this device as a handheld gaming system, it’s the only way I ever play it. The hardware is top-notch, the screen is large and crisp and two Switch-exclusive titles, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey, were neck and neck for game of the year. My happy place is curling up on the couch with my Switch after a long day and getting lost in another world for a while. You can buy one for $299.99 from Amazon.

iPad Pro Smart Keyboard

This wasn’t necessarily manufactured in 2017, but I obtained an official Apple Smart Keyboard earlier this year and it’s the perfect companion to a 12” iPad Pro. I write almost exclusively on my iPad and I’ve written thousands of words on this keyboard already this year. I don’t mind the low travel of this keyboard (especially compared to the software screen keyboard, heh) and the convenience of having one attached to my iPad is wonderful. You can buy one for $169.00 from Apple.

Andy Chen

Plantronics Voyager 3240 Bluetooth Headset

I don’t talk on the phone much, but when I do, I reach for my Plantronics Voyager 3240 Bluetooth headset. It’s compact and lightweight, plus outgoing audio sounds terrific.

Apple iPhone X

It’s pricey, definitely fragile with a a glass front AND back. I didn’t think the Face ID was going to work, but I do like it better than Touch ID. I don’t have to worry about wet fingers messing things up, and to date, I haven’t had to re-train Face ID, which is something I had to do with Touch ID every so often. Most of all, I really like the size. A little smaller than the Plus, and a little bigger than the “normal” iPhone 8. It feels just right. You can buy one starting from $999 from Apple.

Uniden R3 Radar Detector

I’ve owned nearly every radar detector under the sun, and I have an opinion on nearly every brand. I was a Valentine 1 devotee for DECADES but the new for 2017 Uniden R3 radar detector has enthusiasts buzzing. GPS for nuisance signal lockouts, redlight camera database and false signal filtering are highlights, but I don’t care about any of those things.  The incredible range puts other pricier detectors to shame. You can buy one for $399.99 from Amazon.

Ryan Chapman

The last few years, it has been tough deciding which gadgets are my favorites. This year, however, it was very easy. These three items not only were items I reviewed but by far the items I used most in 2017.

Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament Gaming Headset & Elite Pro Tactical Audio Controller

These defined to me what truly great gaming headsets were about. The sound quality of the headset is great, but combined with the TAC, it took my gaming to a whole new level. It is so great to hear the footsteps of my enemies coming from far away and then when I am done gaming, be able to listen to music as if I had a great pair of headphones. You can buy a pair for $149.95 from Amazon.

Creative Sound BlasterX Kratos S5 2.1 gaming speakers

When it comes to gaming, I use the Turtle Beach headset. These Creative speakers are for listening to music and playing videos during the daytime, when I can turn the volume up. I love the sound quality, the ability to adjust the bass to different levels, and to top it off, the beautiful RGB lighting. The size of the speakers allows them to fit perfectly on my desk as well. You can buy a set of Creative speakers for $119.99 from Amazon.

DripJoy coffee maker

I wake up every morning with a cup of coffee, and the DripJoy coffee maker has been my go-to since I got it at the beginning of the year. It still puts out piping hot coffee, and I love being able to use any coffee pod I want in it. (It has no DRM like the Keurig 2.0 had!) It’s brewed hundreds of cups of coffee already in less than a year, and I hope it lasts for years more, since I won’t want to go back to Keurig after being spoiled by the extra heat this coffee maker brings. You can buy a Dripjoy for $189.99 from Amazon.

Bob Patterson

Happy holidays, everyone!

It’s been a privilege to join The Gadgeteer team this year, and I hope you’ve enjoyed my reviews! With so many great products in 2017, it was hard to nail down my favorites. Here are my top 5. Have a safe and healthy new year!

Saddleback Leather Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag

This rugged beauty is my favorite multipurpose bag from 2017. It’s a simple, roomy, floppy messenger with clever pocketing that makes it easy to live with in most situations. The waxed canvas and leather build is on par with Saddleback’s all-leather products while standing out as a unique, functional design. This is my go-to bag for day trips and weekend adventures. You can buy this back for $440.00 on Amazon.

Bellroy Duo Totepack

I use this bag every day as my work commuter. I love the way the design makes a creative statement that looks great on business casual days but still has the style and sophistication to pair with more formal attire. The unique design really dials in intuitive organization for all of your for all of your computing and workday accessories. Super-lux materials and build quality match the bag’s style, too. You can buy one for $289.00 from Bellroy.

Tsumbay HUD Simulated Car Mount Phone Holder

When I am driving, Google Maps is my best friend. My second-best friend is the Tsumbay car mount. The ability to mount my phone as a heads-up-display in my field of vision is a huge plus to avoid distracted driving while navigating to new places (or in my case, places I forgot how to get to). It’s so useful that we bought several more for the other cars in the family. You can buy one for $8.66 from Amazon.

Flowfold Wallets

I have a Flowfold wallet in my pocket every day of the week… usually the Vanguard Bifold, but I’ll switch to the Traveler Tri-Fold if I need to carry a bunch of cards. I really like the unique and interesting material choices and simple, functional designs. Each wallet is also super-thin and lightweight, so you barely notice them in your pocket. You can buy one for $12 and up from Flowfold.

TPLink Deco M5 WiFi System

I didn’t know that I was missing before I installed the Deco system. Consistent WiFi everywhere in the house on a private network is a very good thing. There’s a notable performance difference over the old Verizon-supplied WiFi router system. It’s been running for 7 months and I have yet to have a single glitch, bug, or disruption of service. And management through the app on my iPhone is fantastic. You can buy one for $239.99 from Amazon.

Don’t panic, here are 7 last minute gift ideas

There are only 11 shopping days until Christmas day. If you haven’t even begun shopping, I can imagine that knowing that the big day is so close is stressing you out. But there is still plenty of time. Amazon‘s last standard shipping day for people who don’t have Prime, is next Monday the 18th. If you are a Prime member, you can procrastinate until Friday the 22nd or for those in select cities, you can wait until the 24th for same day shipping. But don’t wait, start or finish your shopping today. For some inspiration, enjoy this gift guide and check out all of our other gift guides for 2017.

Surecall Fusion2Go 2.0 4G LTE signal booster for vehicles

Do you have someone on your gift list that has problems with dropped phone calls when they are driving? The Surecall Fusion2Go is a signal booster that has been designed especially for cars. It sets up in minutes, requires no special cradle for the phone, and will boost a weak existing 3G or 4G signal for all North American cell carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile. Less dropped calls and better reception guaranteed or they will refund your money back within 60 days. The unit is also backed by a 3-year warranty.

Price: $379.99
Where to buy: Amazon

Kobo Aura One eReader

I love reading eBooks and normally do it on my smartphone. But I ran into a problem when I was on vacation in Florida several weeks ago. I was all set to tuck into Gerald’s Game by Stephen King (here’s a tip: don’t read this book, it’s lame) while sitting on the beach of Sanibel Island when I sadly realized that I couldn’t see the screen due to the sun making the screen of my Pixel 2 XL too dark. Jeanne ran into the same problem with her iPad. So much for reading on the beach. If we had each had a Kobo Aura One, we could have comfortably read our respective books with no problems at all. And we wouldn’t have had to worry about rain or ocean splashes either because the Kobo Aura One is HZO Protection which makes it waterproof from the inside out. The Aura One has 8GB of storage which means you’ll have plenty of room for books and digital comics, and it also has ComfortLight PRO which adjusts the backlight so it won’t affect your sleep patterns.

Price: $229.99
Where to buy: Kobo and Amazon

808 Audio XL-V Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa

The XL-V is from 808 Audio who are known for their high-quality audio product. This is their first Alexa enabled smart speaker which features multi-room audio so you can pair additional speakers for audio throughout your home and a reflex port that enhances the dynamic bass output for people who enjoy a little thump with their tunes.

Price: $129.99
Where to buy: 808 Audio or Amazon

SodaStream Aqua Fizz

If you’re trying to kick the sugary soda habit, SodaStream’s sparkling water makers are a great alternative to diet soda. Their Aqua Fizz is the newest luxury model in their line of sparkling water makers and features a snazzy glass carafe and a streamlined design. After a daily diet Coke habit, I quit cold turkey a couple years ago and switched to making my own sugar free sodas using bottled seltzer. 2-liter bottles of plain seltzer isn’t that expensive, but storing them and then disposing of the plastic bottles was an inconvenience. With a SodaStream, you can make fizzy water on demand whenever you like with no waste. SodaStream units range in price from $79.99 to $199.99 so they are great for most budgets.

Price: $179.99
Where to buy: SodaStream and Amazon

OxyLED Solar Torch Light with dancing flames

We’ve all seen solar lights that you stick in the ground to light a pathway, but these lights from OxyLED feature a flicker effect that makes the lights look like little torches with a realistic live flame inside. They are waterproof, wireless, and use the sun for power. The 96 LED lamp beads absorb 5-8hrs of sunlight to power them when it gets dark for up to 10hrs.

Price: $39.99 for a 2pk
Where to buy: Amazon

Swann Smart Security Camera

Swann’s latest smart security camera (SWWHD-INTCAM) is a wirefree and rechargeable home security camera that has been designed to be used indoors or outdoors. It’s weatherproof with an IP65 rating and can be used on either 2.4GHz & 5GHz networks which is nice because the majority of security cameras that I review still require that you use them only on 2.4GHz. The camera saves up to 7 days of 10-60 second video clips to its internal memory plus 2 days of free cloud storage. The 6000mAh rechargeable battery means you only need to charge the camera every few weeks, not every day.

Price:
Where to buy: Swann and Amazon

Deadsoxy socks

Ok, I know what you’re thinking… no one wants socks for a gift Julie! But you’d change your mind if you put on a pair of Deadsoxy socks. They are made 100% in the US of high-end yarn that gives them an over the top soft and comfy feel. Deadsoxy socks are available for men, women, and kids in a variety of colors and styles and guaranteed not slip off your foot!

Price: Varies but men’s socks start at $14 a and go up
Where to buy: Deadsoxy and Amazon