The days of a simple back-to-school shopping list with pencils, notepads and a calculator are over. Today’s students are tech savvier than ever and integrating high-tech solutions to be more connected and safe on campus.
From home automation and biometric safes to smartphone breathalyzers and powered backpacks, students are adding these items to their wish lists. Watch host Ryan O’Donnell of AZ Family/ KTVK and I highlight the latest gadgets for the students and have a surprise visit from Postmates.
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Run time 13:23
Want the gadgets now?
Ultimate Ears’ family of speakers
It’s no secret that AZTB loves the sound of Ultimate Ears (UE) products, and now UE has a price point for everybody! The UE Roll is the smallest speaker in the family and retails at an affordable $99.99. Compact and waterproof, the UE Roll comes with a pool floatie for those who love to jam in the pool. The UE Boom is the middle child and is known as the gadget company’s flagship Bluetooth speaker; it retails at $199.99. Last, but certainly not least, the UE Megaboom packs the biggest punch and is slightly wider and taller than the regular Boom. The Megaboom retails at $299.99. Three great options for the music-loving, education-driven student! Visit Ultimate Ears website here. Check them out at UltimateEars.com.
Creative Sound Blaster FRee
Not only does this wireless speaker have Bluetooth capability, it also acts a stand alone MP3 player, so you don’t even need a separate mobile device to jam out to your favorite tunes. Tote it around campus as it easily fits inside the water bottle holder of your bicycle because of its sleek cylindrical shape. Sound Blaster FRee can also be connected via the USB port for easy listening. With several methods of playing your music, there are endless possibilities for Creative’s latest music gadget. Available for purchase for $99.99.
Piper nv
Worried parents? Cautious students? Piper nv is the next-gen home automation security system that is customizable to make it easy for students to keep an eye on their personal belongings when they’re not in their dorm or apartment. This DIY home security solution streams video with its 3.4 megapixel camera directly to your smartphone for easy monitoring of a pet or valuables. It even has night vision! With zero monthly fees, DIY home security can literally be at your fingertips. Available for purchase for $279.00.
MicroVault by Gunvault
The MicroVault is a great gadget for those who want to keep their valuables secure. Users are able to store their valuables in a 11 inches long, 8.5 inches wide & 2.5 inches high safe. Act like a secret agent and use fingerprint recognition to access your safe’s contents. It uses a high-performance algorithm to achieve speedy identification of enrolled fingerprints and at the same time has a very low False Reject Rate (FRR) with up to 120 fingerprint templates that can be stored on the MicroVault. A backup key is given to users for safe keep in case of emergencies or malfunctions. Starting from $249.99 gunvault.com
DVR+
Channel Master’s subscription-free DVR is the perfect option for the dorm-dwelling student. Never miss your favorite show again. The HDTV antenna option is also perfect for an indoor or outdoor setting. The DVR+ is an operator-quality, powerful DVR with two tuners and comes with a WiFi adapter. The DVR+ also comes equipped with a free professional channel guide, a few streaming services (Vudu, Pandora, YouTube), and about 40 free Internet streaming channels like WGN, NASA, Vevo, FoodyTV, the Outdoor Cooking Channel, Sky News and ABC News. Available for purchase for $299.00.
Logi Blok Family
Logitech’s newest product line is a family of cases that secure your iPad from the occasional drop. The Shell, Case, and Keyboard Case are the perfect gifts for any student this upcoming school year. The iPad case makes it easy for students to flip through powerpoint presentations and take down notes during a lecture. The cases have square corners designed to help protect the most sensitive part of the iPad, its corners. The price for each: Shell $39.99, Case $69.99, and Keyboard costs $129.99 at Logitech.com.
frē by Lifeproof
The frē case by Lifeproof is the perfect iPhone 6 case for the clumsy or adventurous student heading back to school. The case is submersible to 6.6 feet of water, is completely sealed from dirt, dust, snow and ice, and can survive drops from 6.6 feet. The case is sleek and easily can slide into the pockets of your jeans. The frē comes in 6 colors (black, white, pink, purple, blue, and red). Available for purchase for $71.99
Board Blazers
Inspired by an ASU “Bro” skateboarder who duct taped Christmas lights to the bottom of his skateboard, founder Greg Rudolph created attachable lights called Board Blazers. The Arizona-based company sells circular, multi-colored, adhesive lights for skateboards that twist on and off. The compact lights are waterproof and are strong enough to withstand extreme tricks, provided you place them behind the wheels. Available for purchase for $24.99.
TYLT Energi+ Backpack
This high tech backpack not only carries heavy textbooks, it also acts a portable power haven for your laptop, tablet and smartphone. Charge your devices on-the-go with this stylish and functional backpack from TYLT. It features a removable 10,400 mAh rechargeable battery that can charge up to three devices simultaneously. The Backpack boasts over 1,450 cubic inches of storage, and includes charging pass-thrus to 7 of its 13 specialized compartments, keeping cords from tangling and allowing plenty of space for school supplies. Available for purchase for $169.99.
Drive HD™ Dash Cam CDR 855 BT
Dash cams are slowly becoming a standard accessory in cars, so Drive HD came out with their own dash cam that allow drivers to protect their vehicle, relive their journey and share interesting footage by continuously recording video of the road ahead in 1080P HD video. It includes a two-inch LCD screen, ultra-wide 160°lens and embedded G-Sensor to automatically save and protect clips if an impact is detected. In addition, the CDR 855 BT is the first of its kind to connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth® Smart wireless technology. The smartphone connection enables new features including embedded GPS location, time, G-force and speed information footage, as well as providing alerts for upcoming speed and red light cameras, live police locations and shared radar alerts from the iRadar Community. Available in September for $169.99.
Life Mounts LED Pack Light
Life Mounts’ LED Pack Light with strap mount is the perfect gadget for those late night walks back to the dormitory or around a questionable area of town. Brighten up your path with this easy-to-use and compact light that can attach to just about anything. The powerful LED flashlight has 3 modes, operates on one AA battery and can be seen for over 1,000 feet. Available for purchase for $20.00.
VIS Tiger
The VIS Tiger is a one-of-a-kind gadget that acts as the ultimate power bank and jump-starter. It features a battery power of 8,000 mAh that gives you 25% more power, resulting in increased performance and capability. If your smartphone loses battery quickly, hakuna matata, the VIS Tiger charges your iPhone 6 or similar powered smartphones up to 3 or 4 times on a single charge, and it’s capable of jump starting your 12V car battery up to 20 times on a single a charge. Oh, and did we mention it’s also a handy flashlight? The innovative gadget from Jumper Power Labs is currently on Kickstarter and will retail around $99.99.
BACtrack Vio
Don’t drink and drive! BACtrack Vio is a keychain breathalyzer that uses Bluetooth technology to sync wirelessly to your smartphone. So, next time you decide to go out for a beer or two with your buddies, you can self-monitor your blood alcohol level. The slick device is about the size of a USB drive and syncs to a free app on your phone for easy testing. The ZeroLine feature even tells you when your BAC will return to 0.000, so you know when you’ll be safe to get back behind the wheel. This gadget is perfect for the 21+ crowd. Available for purchase $49.99
Selfie on a Stick
We had to include the Selfie on a Stick! The cultural phenomenon that is the “selfie” has transformed the way people today capture photos. Able to fit any phone size (iPhone 6 Plus fits no problem), the Selfie on a Stick comes with a handy plug-in that goes directly into the headphone jack that syncs with a separate button at the base of the stick for easy photo snapping. Models and socialites Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner used a Selfie on a Stick in an April 2015 Vogue photo shoot. Available for purchase for $24.99.
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