Did Santa bring you a smart gadget? Here’s how to make the most of it
Unwrapping a new gadget is a thrill, but what comes next? If you’ve received a smart speaker, fitness tracker, tablet or any other high-tech gift, I’ll show you how to go beyond the basics.
Feeling jealous? I have links for you, too, in case there’s a gift card burning a hole in your pocket.
Smart speakers: Make them work for you
Your new Amazon Echo or Google Nest smart speaker isn’t just for playing music.
- Create custom routines: Use voice commands to automate your day. Saying “Good morning” could trigger your speaker to turn on lights, read you the weather and play your favorite podcast.
- Add skills or actions: Browse your speaker’s app store for extras, like games, guided meditations or even cooking timers that sync with recipes.
- Control your smart home: Link it to other devices like thermostats, lights or security cameras. Say goodbye to manually turning things on or off.
- Insider tips: Ask, “What’s on my calendar?” to get a quick rundown of your day. Enable voice purchasing (with a PIN to prevent accidents) to order essentials you need all the time.
Fitness trackers: Dive into the data
A Fitbit, Apple Watch or Garmin can do way more than count steps.
- Sleep optimization: Use sleep data to adjust your bedtime or nighttime habits. Most trackers offer insights into your REM cycles and tips to improve your sleep quality.
- Stress management: Look for built-in mindfulness tools and guided breathing exercises.
- Set micro goals: Instead of only 10,000 steps, track smaller, meaningful milestones, like active minutes or calories burned during a workout.
- Gotcha moment: If your tracker isn’t syncing with your phone, check if the app needs permissions for Bluetooth or background activity. It’s a common issue that’s easy to fix.
Tablets: Turn it into a productivity powerhouse
Today’s tablets are more powerful than some computers. Use yours like one!
- Note-taking apps: Transform your tablet into a digital notebook. For taking handwritten notes, pair it with a stylus like the Apple Pencil or a $20 version that works with iPads. This model ($20) works with Android tablets.
- Remote work setup: Apps like Zoom, Slack and Microsoft Teams can transform your new tablet into a portable workstation. Add a Bluetooth keyboard for a full setup. This one for iPads is way more affordable than the Apple version. Here’s one for Android.
- Creative tools: Dive into photo editing with apps like Lightroom, or sketch your next masterpiece using Procreate.
Pro tip: On iPads, enable Sidecar to turn your tablet into a second monitor for your Mac — perfect for multitasking.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Summer essentials: 9 home gadgets under $25 on Amazon
This summer is the perfect time to invest in home gadgets. Get some smart tech, upgrade your office setup, improve your TV viewing experience and get the most from your essential oils.
Worried about the cost? Don’t be. You can get all the cool gadgets you need to improve your office, kitchen, living room, bathroom and even your garden, all for less than $25.
Ring adds end-to-end encryption - See if it's supported on your system
Most Americans have multiple smart gadgets in their homes. These tech toys make it easy to automate day to day tasks — which often make them worth the investment.
But while smart gadgets can make it simple to automate your lights, vacuuming or other chores, they can also leave you open to privacy and security issues. If your smart device includes a camera, hackers could even use these vulnerabilities to spy on you.
Spouse cheating? 10 tech clues to find evidence
Years of marriage will hone a spouse’s instincts, and we often know when something seems funny. Smartphones, tablets, computers, and smart tech absorb adulterous evidence like a sponge. Once suspicions are aroused, a digital trail could contain many clues about a potential dalliance.
10 smart speaker pro tips: Find your phone, better sleep and more
Smart speakers like the Google Nest, Google Home and Google Mini are fun devices that can act as amazing hubs for other smart tech you keep around your home. But they have many cool functions beyond that.
Google Assistant speakers can do things you might not be aware of but you’d love to use if you only knew how. And the devices are getting new abilities all the time. Tap or click here to learn about functions coming to Google Assistant that you’ll love.