MacBook To Fitbit: 11 Back-To-School Must-Have Gadgets
Back-to-school season is the ultimate excuse to stock up on all the electronics you’ve been pining for since – well -- since the last school year ended. From MacBooks to Fitbits, here are some of our recommendations.
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Ah yes, it's September. The summer, along with freedom, is gone, and now it's time to return to books, lectures, homework assignments, teachers, and professors. Oh man, is it really September? Is summer over? More important, do you have everything you -- or your kids -- need to start the school year off right?
If not, have no fear: We're here to help.
Are you searching for the perfect portable computer or a storage device that can hold all of your papers, presentations, and the latest season of True Detective? (Yeah we thought it was lame too -- and yet, we still watched.) Are you looking for a sweet set of headphones that will help you study in (relative) peace and quiet in the stacks or in the dorm? We're sure you'll find something on this list that will make your college life just a little bit easier.
[Check out InformationWeek's review of Google's OnHub Router.]
In addition to outlining all the electronic essentials you'll need to have a productive semester or start of the school year, we've also included an assortment of gadgets that will help you to unwind and relax in between classes, tests, and mountains of homework. We've included devices like the Fitbit, which can help you ensure you're getting enough sleep (you're not) and getting enough exercise (running to class 15 minutes late doesn't count).
Also on the list is one of Topo's stylish and durable backpacks, which has room enough for all of your notebooks, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, portable speakers, and all the rest -- all wrapped up in a secure package that's handmade in the USA.
Ultrathin, ultralight, champagne gold, and imbued with all of Apple's precision-honed design acumen, the 12-inch Macbook boasts a high-resolution Retina display and a redesigned keyboard, as well as the Force Touch trackpad -- engineered to deliver a responsive, uniform click no matter where the user presses the surface.
This San Disk flash drive has been reinvented to work with both computers and mobile devices. With the Wireless Stick in pocket, in a bag, or across the room, users can wirelessly access media, transfer large files, stream HD videos and music, and save and share photos and videos to and from a mobile device.
Sporting leather lash tabs, heavy duty plastic hardware, heavy duty straps reinforced with seat belt webbing, an inner drawstring closure, a notebook sleeve, and a zippered top pocket, this backpack will keep electronics safe and leave you looking stylish at the same time. For biking enthusiasts, it's easy to secure extra gear or a bike light to the outside.
This palm-sized device allows you to print photos directly from a mobile phone or tablet using Bluetooth or near field communication (NFC) technology. The 2x3-inch photos are full-color and smudge-proof, and feature peel-back sticky paper. In addition, the purchase includes a free download of the Polaroid ZIP App for iOS and Android devices.
Why didn't we think of this? The retro-looking DIY Smartphone Projector, available from UncommonGoods, displays videos, photos, or text on the wall. Simply slide the back compartment in and out to focus the image, then let the glass lens do its magnifying work, without the need to connect to a power source. The corrugated cardboard structure also offers two slots for speakers or a phone charger.
If you're sick of running out of batteries while on the go, this hefty but powerful portable battery pack is the solution. The RAVPower 1600mAh external battery pack features iSmart technology, which automatically detects and delivers the optimal charging current for any connected device. When charged itself, the pack can charge an iPhone 6 almost six times.
Though unsung among its smartphone compatriots, Sony's durable Xperia line is thin. It comes equipped with a great camera (boasting Cyber-shot and Handycam technologies). Best of all, the device is waterproof, which means not only can you take it to the pool or to the beach, but you can also leave it on the table during beer pong tournaments without fear of destruction.
Nothing kills the buzz at a house party like substandard subwoofers. Whether you're keeping the beat alive in the dorm or blasting tunes across the quad, this powerful, portable sound factory measures in at 1.5 inches thin and checks in at a featherweight nine ounces, so it's easy to take along. Durably built from a single piece of extruded aluminum, it comes in a variety of colors.
Better known for their uber-hip writing pads and notebooks, Moleskine also offers this durable and stylish messenger bag, which can comfortably fit a 15-inch laptop. It sports a rubberized bottom, so you can rest it on the ground without fear of damaging the gear inside. Nifty touches like zippered weatherproof pockets and a strap to fix the bag to the handle of a rolling case complete the package.
(Moleskine)
Better known for their uber-hip writing pads and notebooks, Moleskine also offers this durable and stylish messenger bag, which can comfortably fit a 15-inch laptop. It sports a rubberized bottom, so you can rest it on the ground without fear of damaging the gear inside. Nifty touches like zippered weatherproof pockets and a strap to fix the bag to the handle of a rolling case complete the package.
(Moleskine)
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