7 gadgets I use every day that would have blown my mind as a kid

By Brandt Ranj, Insider Picks from Business Insider

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Testing out gadgets is my job, and every once in a while I realize that some of the tech we use now would have been considered highly futuristic just a few years ago.
Be it an HD game console you can take anywhere, totally wireless earbuds, or a smart assistant just waiting to answer your burning questions, the tech world is pretty great right now.

I took a step back and looked at the gadgets I use every day that would have blown my mind as a kid and collected them in this list. The future is now.

The Amazon Echo
Amazon
I have a lot of gadgets, but the Amazon Echo is the first one I use in the morning, and among the last ones I use at night. It controls my smart home accessories, answers my questions, plays my music, and continues to grow smarter each week.

I was initially skeptical about the Echo, but broke down a few months after its initial release over three years ago and picked one up to see what the fuss was about. Although I’d had Siri in my pocket since 2013, Alexa’s intelligence blew me away, and sold me on the concept of the always-listening smart assistant.

Amazon Echo, $84.99 (originally $99.99), available at Amazon

A car charger that lets me access all of Alexa’s skill on the go
YouTube / Roav
Having Alexa in my home is great, but I had to wait a couple of years before I could access her safely from my car.

Enter the Roav VIVA, which looks like a standard car charger but connects to Alexa through an app on your phone.

It works surprisingly well in my experience — the app has been completely redesigned, for the better, since I wrote my review— and gives me options as an iPhone user that I didn’t have before. For example, I can ask Alexa for directions and it’ll bring up Google Maps on my phone instead of Apple Maps. That type of freedom is certainly welcome, although the ability to turn on the lights in my apartment from my car before entering it may be my favorite feature.

Roav VIVA, $49.99, available at Amazon

A gadget that keeps track of my car’s health, location, and other useful trip information
Amazon

Another car gadget, the Automatic PRO keeps track of my driving stats and vehicle information for me, while also adding an extra hidden layer of security. The Automatic PRO itself is a small dongle that plugs into your car’s diagnostic port (most vehicles made since the mid 90’s have one) and connects to your phone.

Once connected, the Automatic PRO keeps track of your driving habits (breaking, acceleration, etc.), vehicle health (if your check engine light goes on, it can help diagnose the specific problem), and trip information (how much fuel you used, how much time it took, your route.)

My favorite feature is that the Automatic PRO keeps track of where you parked, and sends you an alert if your car has moved without you in it. That way, I never have to hunt around in a mall parking lot trying to remember where my car is, and I’ll know immediately if my vehicle’s been stolen.

Automatic PRO, $109.99, available at Amazon

An HD game console I can take anywhere
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Playing video games has been a pastime of mine since my childhood, but it’s harder to squeeze in time for it in my adult life. With super high-powered consoles on one end of the spectrum, and mobile games at the other, Nintendo decided to bridge the gap with its newest console: the Nintendo Switch.

The Switch can be connected to your TV through a dock, or taken on the road like a portable game console. Having the freedom to play whenever, wherever has made the Switch my go-to machine for gaming, despite the fact that its weaker than either of its console contemporaries, the PlayStation and the Xbox.

This is the machine I’ve wanted for the last five years, and I’m glad someone finally decided to make it.

Nintendo Switch, $299.99, available at Amazon

Light bulbs I can control from my phone, or with my voice
Amazon
As someone who refuses to give up floor space in his apartment to a lamp, but sleeps across the room from the only light switch in his room, Philips’ Hue bulbs are a lifesaver.

I can turn off my lights using an app on my phone, or even using my voice using the Amazon Echo. It sounds really crazy at first, but how many times have you returned to your place, only to realize you accidentally left the lights on? Alternatively, how many times have you entered your house at night and fumbled around to find the light switch?

These bulbs can solve both of those problems for good, and this starter kit is the most cost-effective way to get it done.

Philips Hue White Smart Bulb Starter Kit, $89.95, available at Amazon

A way to wirelessly charge my iPhone X
mophie
The iPhone was late to the wireless charging party, but I couldn’t be happier that it’s finally arrived. There are several wireless charging pads to take advantage of the feature, but I really like Mophie’s solution.

It can charge any Qi-enabled gadget, it supports Apple’s faster wireless charging speed (7.5w instead of 5w), and it has grips on the top and bottom that keep the charger and your phone from moving around. I’ve used one for a few months now, and it’s worked very consistently. In fact, it’s probably the most useful tech accessory I keep on my desk.

Mophie Wireless Charge Pad, $58.62, available at Amazon
Totally wireless earbuds that really work!
Apple
They’re not perfect, but Apple’s Airpods are definitely among the coolest gadgets I’ve ever tested. Being able to just pop earbuds into your ears and go is pretty revelatory, especially given their consistent, automatic pairing.

You miss out on some audio quality because they sit in your ears instead of really sticking in them gummy-tipped earbuds, but it’s not a substantial loss. In return you get earbuds that stay connected, don’t fall out of your ears, and come with a charging case that lets you top them up very quickly.

Apple Airpods, $159.99, available at Apple.com and Best Buy

If you want to see more from Insider Picks, we’re collecting emails for an upcoming newsletter. You’ll be the first to hear about the stuff we cover. Click here to sign up .

Follow us on Pinterest.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Business Insider’s Insider Picks team. We aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting, and if you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Have something you think we should know about? Email us at [email protected].

Read the original article on Insider Picks. Copyright 2018. Follow Insider Picks on Twitter.

For more on this story go to: http://www.businessinsider.com/best-futuristic-tech-gadgets-2018-3