In a world of modern conveniences, we have more options than ever when it comes to our technology. If you want services like high-end streaming, home delivery, or a mobile carrier service, there are a plethora to choose from. But not all are created equal. We’ve gathered a top list of tech that not only simplifies your endless lists of to-dos, but goes above and beyond in improving your day-to-day activities.
Virgin Mobile
Smartphones are notoriously expensive, and with long-term contracts, getting a new phone is not always up to the choice of the mobile customer. The average American upgrades their cell phone every 22 months, but with traditional mobile carriers, the option to buy a new phone is presented in a myriad of confusing options. With some, you can choose how much of your phone you pay off in monthly installments getting a new one, but you’ll technically never own your device. And with others, you might even have to pay an extra fee in order to upgrade at a faster rate.
Luckily, Virgin Mobile figured out that if customers buy an iPhone through them, the customer won’t have to wade through tricky contracts and wait times in order to own their phone. Starting December 5th, Virgin is offering Certified Pre-Loved iPhones starting at only $279.99. Each one is Apple certified and comes with a 1-year warranty. Combined with the Unlimited Plan, which gets you unlimited talk, text, and data starting at only for only $1 a month for 6 months, Virgin pulls off the mobile user dream of pairing a great device with a fantastic plan. And on top of it, mobile customers are also granted access to the Virgin Inner Circle, which offers a wealth of amazing Member Benefits and added deals that other carriers don’t offer. In this case, Virgin’s move to make their popular Unlimited plan even more convenient by offering iPhones with no annual contract is a win-win for the consumer.
Roomba with Alexa integration
Companies are getting keen to Alexa integration, and new products are taking advantage of the time-saving (and even life-saving) services it can provide. And on the hardware side, perhaps no other piece of tech in the last decade has become more synonymous with convenience than the robot vacuum. Roomba, made by I Robot, has brought the two together by enabling Alexa to connect with its smart vacuums through If This Then That integration. Now all you need to say is, “Alexa, ask Roomba to begin cleaning” and you’re on your way to a clean and tidy home.
Evernote
We’ve come a long way since the humble post-it note. Evernote is not the newest kid on the block, but their brand is synonymous with keeping thoughts, ideas, and lists organized. As the company has steadily grown since it appeared in beta in 2008, they’ve added a host of features to help you keep your work in place, such as being able to search for text inside images, and adding a plus icon to easily create reminders for users on mobile.
August Smart Lock
This smart lock gained awards and popularity by coming onto the scene without requiring a complicated setup – making it ultra-appealing to those seeking simplicity from their smart devices. August can retrofit over any single-cylinder deadbolt, and its 24/7 feed can be monitored from your smartphone, allowing you to monitor doorway activity or even unlock your front door while away. And owners of the August lock can add multiple users from the August app – including a list of approved delivery partners – which means guests can come in and out without needing a key copy.
Tasty One Top
The One Top is a Bluetooth-enabled induction burner created by Buzzfeed Product Labs that is designed to take the guesswork out of cooking. The burner keeps track of the surface temperature of any pot or pan while simultaneously also reading the internal temperature of the food cooking inside it. By automatically adjusting to the correct temperature as called for by the recipe, the burner cooks food perfectly every meal. It even comes with its own app, which includes videos on how to prepare and cook recipes as well as search by specific ingredients. And while it’s not out yet, the One Top is taking pre-orders for those who want a useful appliance for their smart cooking.