Awesome Back-to-School Tech Products for College Students

You can never be too early when it comes to preparing for back to school, especially if you're on a tight budget. Nowadays, students particularly in college, need to be armed with various tech products, which is why a laptop alone is not enough. These tech products can range from external monitors to help make writing easier to portable chargers to help their devices all powered up throughout the day and night.

So if you're currently on the lookout for the perfect tech you'll find most useful for your study needs, check out this short list for some ideas.

Logitech M510 Wireless Mouse	Because of the M510's comfortable grip and customizable side buttons, it is a favorite sub-$20 mouse. The sleek mouse has a dedicated slot for its receiver and it can be turned on/off to preserve its two AA batteries. Power users can also use Logitech's SetPoint software to further customize the feel of the M510. Price: starts at $19.97 in Amazon
Asus ZenBook UX330UA	College students consider the Asus ZenBook UX330UA as their top laptop choice. This 2.7-pound laptop gives a solid performance in a lightweight design at an affordable price. It's battery can last up to 10 hours, which means it'll take you from your afternoon class to your evening Netflix binge without the need for a recharge. This configuration packs a 13.3-inch, 1080p LCD, 2.5GHz Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Price: starts at $699 in Amazon
Canon TS6020 Wireless AIO Printer	For those times you can't print from your college campus, the Canon TS6020 All-in-One Inkjet Printer offers more than enough machine for your needs. This compact printer can copy, scan, print business cards and even churn out beautiful photos on glossy paper. It uses a five-ink system to deliver the most vivid prints possible, and it even offers fast two-sided printing. Price: starts at $134.97 in Amazon
Jackery Titan 20,100 mAh Charger	An external battery charger is a necessity for every student, and no gadget can save you from the red bar of death like the 20,100 mAh Jackery Titan. It features dual 5V/3.4A fast-charging ports that can identify your device and charge it at its highest speed. Its aluminum exterior helps it blend in with your other gadgets. And it also comes with a micro USB cable. Price: starts at $33.99 in Amazon
Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet	Budget tablets are a dime a dozen these days, but the 2017 Amazon Fire HD 8 is in a league of its own. The no-frills tablet features a quad-core 1.3GHz processor, 1.5GB of RAM and an impressive 11-hour battery. It also features Amazon's digital assistant, Alexa, so you can play your favorite music, receive news update, or control other smart-home gadgets straight from your tablet. Price: starts at $79.99 in Amazon
Satechi Type-C USB 3 Combo Hub	Many of today's ultra-slim laptops can be stingy when it comes to ports. That's where the Satechi Type-C USB 3-in-1 Combo Hub comes in handy. It connects to a single USB Type-C port and expands it with three USB Type-A 3.1 ports, an SD card slot, and a microSD card slot. This stylish hub comes in Gunmetal, Gold or Silver. Price: starts at $34.99 in Amazon
Toshiba Canvio Connect II 1TB Hard Drive	Whether you need more storage space for media files or you want to share large projects with your classmates, you'll need a USB hard drive. This Mac- and PC- friendly drive combines good looks with great performance. At 0.36 pounds, it's also one of the lighter drives out there. It's available in red, blue, or black, and features rubber feet that help elevate and secure the drive on whatever surface it is placed. Price: starts at $59.99 in Amazon

Since Christmas is just around the corner, it's that time of the year to go shopping for your loved ones! We know it's a challenge to find that perfect gift for those special tech geeks in your family. What's worse, these popular gadgets are usually ridiculously expensive. So to help you out, here is our modest compilation of some of the coolest yet affordable techie gift ideas, which you can use as your reference guide. Surely, this will guarantee you won't go over your Christmas budget for all those tech-savvy friends and family.

GoPro Hero+	GoPro offers the best value for an action camera with built-in Wi-Fi that shoots at 60 frames per second. Adrenaline junkies can shoot HD video and 8-megapixel stills, controlling the shots via the GoPro smartphone app for Android and iOS. The GoPro Hero+ is also waterproof straight out of the box, so you can turn it on and instantly dive right in. Price: $199.99 at Amazon
Polaroid Zip	The Zip is a super-simple photo printer. Turn it on, connect it to your iPhone or Android via Bluetooth, and hit the print button on a free app. What you'll get -- 2x3-inch instant prints. You don't have to worry about costly ink cartridges, either. The Zip uses special photo paper (a 30-pack costs $14.99) that's ink-free and comes out dry-to-touch. You don't even need to shake them. Price: $129.99 at Amazon
Google Chromecast	Wireless streaming sticks don't get any cheaper or easier to use than the Google Chromecast. This little HDMI dongle attaches to a TV, and using it is pretty simple. Simply open a supported app such as Netflix or Pandora on your laptop, tablet or smartphone, and hit the Cast button. Your content will show up instantly on your TV in full 1080p resolution, without any lag. You can even broadcast from a Google Chrome browser. Price: $35 at Amazon
Amazon Fire TV	You can't talk about media players and streaming devices without mentioning the Amazon Fire TV. It's the perfect balance between value and performance. The Amazon Fire TV can handle all your media needs, taking advantage of Amazon's ample content library. To make the deal even more enticing, this little set-top box can even handle some gaming! Just keep in mind these games will be mobile titles. Regardless, it's a fun little gadget any person looking for a smart TV set-top box will love. Price: $99.99 at Amazon
Amazon Echo	The Amazon Echo is so much more than a Bluetooth speaker -- the Echo can access Wi-Fi, buy products through Amazon and get traffic and weather reports. The Echo relies on Alexa, your own virtual assistant. With voice-recognition tech, Alexa hears and understands your voice commands, even when you're 15 feet away from the speaker. You can ask to check your calendar, add to-do lists, set alarms, check the news, play audio books or music, and more. Amazon also programmed Echo to connect to other smart-home devices such so you can turn on a light with your voice. Price: $179.99 at Amazon
Fuji Instax Mini 70	The retro Fujifilm's Instax Mini 70 was designed with modern selfies in mind. The instant camera features a small mirror next to its lens, a timer, an automatic exposure control and a Selfie Smart mode, which automatically adjusts settings for optimal shots. Price: $124.50 at Amazon

Weird USB Gadgets That You may Find Awesome and Useful

When we come across a PC gadget that's either weird or awesome, sometimes both, expect it to be powered by USB. Some of those USB devices can be considered crazy, while some are created by odd, creative minds but still can be found useful and fun at the same time. Gone are the days when USB boringly defined as a means of transferring data to and from devices or simply charging one of your devices via your laptop or PC. Electronic manufacturers from around the globe have wandered into the USB world and created gadgets out of their wild imaginations either with the intention of increasing their marketing sales or wanting to add more life and enjoyment to your computing experience.

So whether you are looking for the latest and craziest USB flash drives, the coolest USB-powered toy, or just looking for another accessory to plug in to your PC, below is a collection of weird (and sometimes useful) USB gadgets in the market today.

Ecvision Mushroom LED Air Purifying Lamp	In the way that a fungus would take in the proper nutrients and expel spores to reproduce, the Ecvision Mushroom LED Air Purifying Lamp does the exact opposite. This product absorbs dust, pollutants, smoke, and bacteria to provide your space with cleaner air. It produces a warm LED light, and can take in particles as small as 0.01 micron. Price: $34.99 at Amazon
Smoko USB Foot Warmer	USB heated slippers have been around for a quite a while now, but have you already seen one that looks like giant s'mores with a smiling face? These cool slippers can fit up to a men's size 12, and it includes a 5 ft USB cord, which gives you more freedom to move around while keeping your toes all warmed up. You can unplug the USB cable anytime if you feel the need to go somewhere else in your house or office, then plug it back in if you need your toes toasty again. Price: $32.99 at Amazon
Hand Body Vibrating Office USB Massage Ball	Sitting (and slouching) in front of your computer for hours, even almost a day when you're at work will surely give you a either a sore neck or back at the end of the day. Good thing you can have a handy massager that you can attach to your PC's USB port and massage all your stresses away. Get this very affordable massage ball and give yourself a DIY relaxation at the covenience of your own home or office. Price: $4.10 at Amazon
USB LED Clock Fan	Are you looking for something to cool you down while working during the hot summer season? Or are you looking for a cool clock to put on your computer desk? With the USB LED Clock Fan, you can have both! The LED Clock Fan has a flexible metal neck that lets you position it whatever angle you like, and the soft flexbile PVC fan blades will keep you cool without dangering any fingers that come in contact with it. This gadget keeps time when it's off or on, so you can never lose track of time and get a cool breeze without wasting electricity as well. Price: $11.59 at Amazon
Samson Go Mic Direct - Portable USB Microphone	Regular built-in microphones found in most notebooks might be functional, but this does not mean it is the best solution. Why not settle for something better, where for a small investment of just $39.99, Samson's Go Mic Direct would help you talk to the other party in a crystal clear manner. The Go Mic Direct's custom, ultra-compact design has a built-in USB connector that allows you to plug it directly into your PC or Mac. It does not matter if you are using Skype, FaceTime, or even recording audio for YouTube videos, the Go Mic Direct comes with the Samson Sound Deck Noise Cancellation Software (Mac and PC compatible), which allows you to capture pristine and accurate vocal communications and recordings regardless of the environment. Thanks to the Go Mic Direct, you no longer need to use your computer's internal microphone ever again -- unless necessary, of course. Price: $39.99 at Amazon

Amazing Gadgets and Technologies That Will Satisfy Your Tech Cravings This 2015

With all these new tech toys, both out and still upcoming -- wearables, smart devices, mobile technology, Internet things, and everything in between, there's so much in store for tech enthusiasts this 2015. Although some are not yet out in the market, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015 unveiled them recently, along with the R&Ds and prototypes that were released last year from different companies and organizations.

So let's take a look at some of these new and upcoming gadgets to give you a better idea.

Apple Watch	Apple has finally joined the smartwatch battle. Some of its significant specs include retina display, with the smaller watch sporting a 1.5-inch 272 x 340 display, while the larger variant has a 1.65-inch 312 x 390 screen. Its display can sense force via a new feature called Force Touch, which allows the device to distinguish between a tap and a press for more contextually specific controls. Another feature is the Taptic Engine, which offers haptic feedback for your wrist, tapping you with notifications or on specific sides of your wrist for Apple Maps navigation. It also has a heart rate sensor and Digital Touch that allows you to reply with a little hand-drawn message instead. When the Apple Watch does eventually go on sale, there will be three model choices -- each with two display sizes to suit different wrist sizes. The company promised to launch the smartwatch on the first quarter of 2015, no precise date at this point.
Sony Steel Edition SmartWatch 3	Sony is also taking its turn at wearable devices with this matte-finished steel edition SmartWatch 3. It's powered by a Qualcomm chipset in standard 24mm watch strap for non-stop hours of fitness activities. What's good about this smartwatch is that the main module can be popped out and put in other surrounds, making it easy to change between styles if ever you would like to get all active with it. Specifications include a 1.6-inch, 320 x 320 transflective LCD display and built-in GPS to help track your running (a unique part of Sony's Android Wear device). The Sony Steel Edition SmartWatch 3 will be rolling out in February this year.
Smartphone app that helps diagnose sleeping disorders	Are you looking for something that can help you diagnose sleeping problems? An app that does just like that is now under development. A team of researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology and Florida State University are currently working on a project that will enable your smartphone to listen to and monitor your breathing while you sleep without wearables. It was featured in MIT Technology Review and the said smartphone app will be developed this year.
Fin	Over the years, people have become too bored using the remote control in switching between channels. Fin, a bluetooth-enabled device, comes with a gesture interface that allows you to control smart devices like your TV. Fin has three built-in sensors for the beam signals to work with a 100 metre range between the hand and the smart device. It's not yet available in the market, although RHLvision offers pre-order, and that a prototype has already been produced.
Project Ara by Google	Reinventing the way we build, buy, and use smartphones in the future is the main objective of Google's Project Ara. It's not a phone for now, but a project being worked on using DARPA philosophy instead. The components of the phone are composed of magnetic modules that are networked to communicate with each other to function seamlessly like a smartphone.

The Latest Gadgets for Your Technophobic Mother

Have you found the perfect gift for your Mom this holiday season? If you are tired of giving her the usual gifts, why not introduce her to the latest gadgets out there. I know most mothers are technophobic, mine is. But with the gadgets we have compiled, I'm sure your Mom won't be able to resist.

1. iPad Mini with Retina Display

Apple's iPad mini with Retina display may be a pricier than its competitors but nothing beats its sleek and sophisticated exterior. With its slim bezel and tough aluminum finish, it never looked better. iPad mini with Retina display is not all looks. It is packed with a lot of power for such a small package. It is super portable and user friendly, so Mom won't have any problems in using it for emails, photos and videos, web browsing, consulting digital cookbooks and reading ebooks and magazines.

2. Garmin nüvi 2555 GPS

Smartphones nowadays can be used as GPS by simply installing apps. However, some people still prefer the old-fashioned GPS unit for their cars. The Garmin nüvi 2555 GPS is the perfect GPS for mothers out there. It has large text, clear graphics, and voice control, which makes it very easy for anyone, even technophobic Moms, to operate.

3. Hamilton Beach Voice-Controlled Coffee Maker

The new Hamilton Beach Voice-Controlled Coffee Maker is void of a lot of buttons that Moms don't want to fiddle with. All she needs to do is tell the coffee maker what to do to have freshly brewed coffee anytime she wants. Isn't that cool?

4. Kindle Paperwhite

If your Mom is one of those bookworms, Kindle Paperwhite is the perfect gift for her. The Kindle Paperwhite has a brighter, crisper display that looks more like the printed page. It has a built-in LED light that illuminates the page without shining outward like a computer screen so it will not strain your eyes when you read in bed.

5. VuPoint Compact iPhone Photo Printer

Moms love having pictures of their loved ones displayed everywhere. But with the smartphone invasion, photos nowadays are stored either on our phones or on our computers. With the VuPoint Compact iPhone Photo Printer, she can now have printed copies of those memorable moments with the family. All there is to do is dock the iPhone and voila! No more complicated cables and computers.

6. Kodak Pulse 10" Digital Photo Frame

For those photos Mom can no longer print, she can always load the most memorable shots into the Kodak Pulse 10" Digital Photo Frame for her to enjoy. She can load the photos using USB cables or SD cards. But if she does not want to fidget with those, she can always load them through the Internet by emailing the pictures directly from a phone.

7. Logitech C615 HD Webcam

Moms love to keep their children close to home. But we all know that once the kids move out and have a life of their own, visiting Mom won't be as often as she may want. An alternative for that will be through the use of a webcam to help you keep in touch with your loved ones. The Logitech C615 HD Webcam will let you Skype and have video chat with your family and friends in high-definition, it's like you're just next door.

8. Qooq Touch Kitchen Tablet

If your Mom loves to cook, Qooq Touch Kitchen Tablet is the perfect gift for her. It is loaded with 1,000 recipes that are searchable by ingredient. It also has videos that show exactly how each recipe should look like.

9. Tagg GPS Pet Tracker

Who does not love pets? They are cute and adorable, and they keep you company especially when all the kids move out. But there are times when your pets may wander off. Fortunately, there is a GPS-powered collar, Tagg GPS Pet Tracker, which will virtually track the location of your beloved pet when they stray from your Tagg zone. The pet tracker will alert you by email or text message, so you can find your pet on a web-based map. It is durable and waterproof, so even the most obnoxious pet won't be able to ruin it.

10. Mophie Juice Pack Helium for iPhone

These bright, ultra-thin battery case not only protect your iPhone, they can charge it with up to 80% extra battery life. Moms out there will surely love these.

Sources: 

www.esquire.com

www.apple.com

www.oprah.com