TECH

The Best Tech We Bought in 2018


iPhone X
With a baby on the way, my first, I knew I'd be that dad who takes about 80 pictures and videos per day. Needing/wanting a new iPhone just made it easier to justify spending the most money I've ever spent on a phone; I went with the iPhone X with 256GB of storage. The camera is killer, the storage is extensive and the notch doesn't bother me one iota. (Dad tip: turn off Face ID/passcode to get into the phone if you're in the delivery room to record a birth for posterity. It doesn't work when you wear a surgical mask.)


HP Envy Photo 7855 All-in-One Printer
I got an HP Envy Photo 7855 All-in-One Printer with Wireless Printing and Instant Ink ready so I can actually print photos of the little guy, rather than ONLY rely on my phone. It's also a scanner, so i can finally scan in all the old pictures of my extended family and get the family genealogy project going that I've sat upon for 20 years.


iBaby Monitor M6S
The iBaby Monitor M6S keeps an eye on my sleeping tot in the dark and during the day. It has excellent freedom of movement, though I wish it could store video. Still, it's our Editors' Choice for baby monitors.
I also bought two Wyze Cam 2.0 cams with 32GB MicrosSDHC cards—because they rock, and they're so cheap. I take one if I travel to be an additional on-the-go baby monitor.


Audible
My favorite purchase this year was my monthly subscription to Audible. Admittedly, I was hesitant because I still can't fully wrap my head around paying real money for digital media, especially every single month, but ultimately, audiobooks are worth it. Being able to blaze through titles while walking to the office or via my Amazon Echo while cooking or working around the house has been a game-changer for me. I've listened to more books this year than I've read in the past 10.


Roku Ultra
I just bought a Roku Ultra and I couldn't be happier. My smart TV's apps have been dying (Samsung has basically orphaned them) but I don't want to create more e-waste by throwing out a perfectly good 1080p panel. The Roku Ultra is fast, stable, and just gave my TV several more years of life. I chose the Ultra because we like to play local files from a USB drive sometimes, and the Ultra has that option. I'm also looking forward to hooking it up to my Google Home.


LG 60SJ8000 4K TV
As a photographer, I'm a visually oriented person. I have always had a love affair with cinema and television, so I bought a big, big TV. The LG 60SJ8000 ticked the right boxes—it was budget friendly (60 inches of screen for just over $1,000), offered a central stand that works with my entertainment system, and not only offers 4K resolution, but Dolby Vision HDR support. I've yet to use any of the smart features, opting instead to add an Apple TV 4K for streaming.
After unboxing and setting up my new television, I found one of the first DVDs I bought, a circa-1999 copy of Darren Arofnosky's Pi, and watched as the huge chunks of grain from the 16mm reversal black-and-white stock danced across the screen. That's about as far away from 4K as you can get, but even 1080p Blu-ray discs look great with upscaling. The large screen makes the Robby Müeller's cinematography in Paris, Texas sing, with Harry Dean Stanton's face painted with grungy neon light, and film grain shines through in the black-and-white classic, The Third Man. Now, if I can only find a way to watch Blue Bloods in 4K…


Apple Watch Series 4
My aging Fitbit had been gathering dust on a side table for months when Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 4 this fall. As we all try to look at our phones less, I was intrigued by a device that would quickly alert me to the things I needed to see—namely, calls and texts from good friends and family—and free me from carting my phone from room to room.
The fitness features were also a bonus. Getting my Fitbit to sync stats with the app was often a chore; Apple Watch has no problems sending my info to the iPhone's Health app. And as someone who sits at a desk all day, the reminders to stand up are (usually) appreciated. It's also comfortable; the Fitbit often irritated my sensitive skin after a few days, even if I took it off at night. No such trouble with the Apple Watch's sport band thus far.
There are trade-offs; the Fitbit can last for days on end without a charge whereas I'm usually charging the Apple Watch every other day or topping it up a bit each day. It's also expensive; I got the most "affordable" option at $399, but that means I'll be sticking with my iPhone 6s Plus for another year as I don't think my credit card could also handle a $1,000+ smartphone to go along with the shiny, new smartwatch. 


Nintendo NES Classic Edition
I still remember Christmas morning in 1988 when I unwrapped my original Nintendo Entertainment System. The NES Classic brings me right back to the hours I spent tethered to the classic system playing games like Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, and Castlevania. Just hearing the Legend of Zelda soundtrack is like wrapping myself in a warm, familiar blanket (and yes, I can still identify the difference between the overworld and dungeon music without even looking at the screen). I bought the NES Classic back in June when extended availability was announced after the first round sold out, and expected to enjoy it for a couple months and then let it gather dust. Almost five months later, I’m still making my way through its classic games.


Bose QuietComfort 35 II
I bought the Bose QuietComfort 35 II wireless headphones before a long flight earlier this year. They replaced my AirPods, which where cutting out audio frequently. The Bose headphones are super comfortable to wear and great for listening to music and podcasts or muting the sound of the wind or a creaky bus.


Jabra Elite Active 65t
The Jabra Elite Active 65t are a complete package for wireless earbuds. They're small, stylish and have multiple options for sound and calls. They also stay in your ear and come with a case that doubles as a charger. The price is reasonable; you get what you pay for. I used to use JBL Everest wireless headphones,but they were just so big and annoying to lug around. 


Petcube Play
If you have ever wished you could keep in touch with your dog or cat throughout the day, the Petcube Play is the perfect way to make it happen. This device links to the Petcube phone app, where you can watch, talk to, and even play with your pet. 1080p HD video, night vision, two-way audio, motion notifications, and cloud storage come together to make an excellent pet monitor. As an added bonus, the Play allows you to control a pet-safe laser pointer by tapping your phone screen. It's a great way to alleviate any anxiety you have over leaving your pets alone throughout the day.


Google Home Mini
I put our Google Home Mini above the fridge in my kitchen, and we use it constantly to set timers. I also use it every morning to listen to the Up First podcast and then to stream WNYC while I have my coffee. I know these things are listening to me all the time—believe me, I know— but I honestly cannot imagine living without it.


Amazon Echo Spot
Our cute, round Amazon Echo Spot is more stylish than a regular Echo, but we mostly still use it for voice commands even though it has a screen. Sometimes it's helpful because notifications show up on the screen, and it also has a camera. When we got it, we played with things like Photo Booth, but interest in that has waned.


Apple iPad (2018)
I take my iPad everywhere with me. It's great for when I want to read my ebooks, browse the web, or watch TV. It's great for apartment living because I can take it into the kitchen and have something on in the background while I cook. It runs super fast, and I feel like the iPad's performance and battery life has finally caught to to the point where it fulfills Apple's promise of the ultimate media-consuming device.


Rob Marvin