The Latest in Technology

Technology has been growing at an exponential rate over the past decade, and there are now some truly mind-blowing inventions to marvel at! We’ve compiled some of the best technology you can find right now, so take a look and see if you agree that they’re really the best in the world!

Apple AirPods

AirPods are Apple’s first wireless headphones, and mark a big shift for a company that has historically focused on wired earbuds. In fact, Apple took home several awards for AirPods at CES 2017 including Best of Innovation Award from Consumer Electronics Association. The revolutionary new headphones not only look good, but they work well too: They pair easily with your Apple devices and allow you to quickly switch between multiple devices—simply tap an earbud to play or pause your music. And because they feature noise cancellation technology, you can take calls even when your phone is not nearby. Available in white or black finishes; prices start at $159.95.. Apple released its second generation of AirPods earlier in 2018. These improved models include upgraded performance and wireless charging capabilities, plus some small design changes (including shorter stems). Like their predecessors, these new versions also boast up to 5 hours of listening time per charge (more if you use just one) as well as a 24-hour battery life.

Wireless Charging

If you’re sick of fighting with tangled wires, there is an elegant solution. Wireless charging is now available on a variety of devices and works just like plugging your phone into a wall socket. You still need to place your phone on top of a special charger, but it charges without plugging anything in and potentially pulling out any cords. This can be incredibly helpful if you regularly listen to music or podcasts while getting ready for work or are frequently using your smartphone as a GPS device (the freedom!). The convenience alone makes wireless charging worth it! But what about efficiency? That all depends on how much power your phone consumes when plugged in versus when it’s wirelessly charged. Although you may lose some battery life, studies have shown that it might not make much of a difference. And at least with wireless charging, there's no risk of damage from overcharging—just make sure to use original equipment manufacturer (OEM) accessories and chargers whenever possible so that they're designed to handle your device's power needs safely.

When shopping for accessories, remember that manufacturers may have their own specific guidelines and recommendations; we suggest following them closely when choosing products.

Double-Camera Lenses

As smartphone vendors continue to compete, camera technology has rapidly become one of many key factors buyers use to decide which phone to buy. Two major features have been introduced recently: dual-camera lenses and software that intelligently combines images taken by both lenses into a single photo with a much wider field of view than standard cameras can capture. Apple, LG, Huawei and others have released phones with these features. And a new patent filing from Google indicates that its Pixel 2 could adopt a similar approach for taking ultra-wide angle photos -- an approach also used on last year's Pixel device. The Pixel 2 is expected to be unveiled later today at Google's event in San Francisco; we'll find out if wide-angle photography is part of the package when it goes on sale later this year. For many smartphone owners, capturing a memorable moment is only possible with two lenses. The iPhone 7 Plus, Huawei P9 Plus and LG G5 all include two cameras: a wide-angle lens that captures as much of a scene as possible and a zoom lens that brings its subject closer. It's not perfect yet—experts are still debating whether smartphone images match those from professional cameras—but being able to adjust focus after an image has been captured is an intriguing feature that could make photography more interesting on phones.

OLED Screen

rOLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode, and it is a newer technology used in televisions. OLED TVs are considered to be state-of-the-art televisions because they provide vibrant colors and deep blacks. OLED screens are known for providing better sound quality than LED screens, too, which have speakers behind them. OLED TVS come at a premium price; expect to pay up to $3,000 for an LED/OLED combo television and more than $4,000 for an all-OLED screen. The good news is that there’s no need to pay full price: You can get deeply discounted deals on OLED TVS if you shop around online or wait until Black Friday or Cyber Monday. For example, Walmart will offer 50% off certain brands of LG OLED TVs during its Thanksgiving sale. That could mean paying as little as $1,500 for a 65 OLED 4K Ultra HD Smart TV! However, keep in mind that buying from Walmart may require signing up for a free membership (which comes with additional fees). Alternatively, Best Buy will offer some models of LG and Samsung televisions at discounts of 30% to 40%. There are other options available—just do your research before shopping so you know what you’re getting into!

Fingerprint Scanner

A fingerprint scanner uses your fingerprint to verify your identity. Some models will also let you make purchases with a swipe of your finger and can be used for mobile payments, such as Apple Pay or Samsung Pay. However, not all smartphones use fingerprint scanning technology: it’s more common on tablets and laptops than phones (though both Microsoft's Surface Book 2 and Lenovo's Yoga 920 come with a biometric sensor). This technology is useful if you have multiple people using one device, but if you don't have any need for security measures, it may not be worth paying extra for. Also note that not all apps support fingerprint authentication, so it may only work within certain apps or programs.

When deciding whether to get a smartphone with a fingerprint scanner, there are some things you should consider: Are you planning on making many online purchases? Will someone else be using your phone regularly? Do you already own devices that have scanners? If so, then perhaps getting one isn't necessary—you'll likely just end up setting up accounts anyway. On the other hand, if these questions apply to you and having access to your phone via a scan makes life easier, then it might be something worth considering.

Smartphone VR Headsets

If you’re looking for a great way to view 3D content, you might want to consider investing in a VR headset. There are many on the market right now, but we recommend Samsung’s Gear VR and Google Cardboard. Both offer different services (Google Cardboard works with Android phones, while Gear VR only works with Samsung devices), and allow you to experience content like never before. If you want more information on how they work or how to get one of your own, feel free to read our more detailed explanation here. The best part? They won’t cost much at all! In fact, most can be purchased for under $100. Plus, they’ll make watching movies even better than it already is!

4K Resolution on TVs and Monitors

4K resolution is quickly becoming one of the biggest technology trends, with many new products on shelves and more coming soon. The 4K moniker actually refers to a display's horizontal pixel count: 3,840 pixels. Although more pixels generally mean more image clarity, it's important to note that 4K isn't synonymous with high definition. A 1080p HDTV (1,920 x 1,080) has 2 million pixels total and displays images at almost four times that of a 4K TV; whereas a true 4K display sports 8.3 million pixels—3840 x 2160—and an impressive picture quality difference. In fact, there are several different types of 4K TVs available today. Some use LED-backlighting while others use OLED screens; some have curved screens while others are flat. All of these factors affect price and performance in varying ways so do your research before you buy!

Cordless Vacuum Cleaners

Battery-powered vacuums have been around for years, but they’ve gotten smarter and more powerful as time has gone on. Cordless vacuums are a solid choice for those who need to clean multiple rooms or stairs in their home, as they don’t get tangled up or clogged. Most cordless vacuums run on rechargeable batteries that last anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes, depending on model and brand. Be sure to research your options before buying one; some models have a short battery life and long charge times, while others will wear down your batteries quickly by requiring high RPMs when cleaning. See our Best Vacuum Cleaners list for full reviews of many top cordless options. 

In general, vacuum cleaners come with similar features today: things like dust filters, HEPA filters (which trap 99% of allergens), swivel steering and washable bags/filters. If you plan to vacuum large areas regularly, go with a canister vacuum cleaner so you can access parts of your home without moving furniture or needing an extension cord. Stick vacuums also do a great job for quick pick-ups on hard floors and low-pile carpeting (they're no good at sucking up bigger debris like kitty litter). For hardwood floors specifically, choose a vacuum with rubber wheels that won't scratch the surface—check out our guide to picking out wood flooring if you want help finding just the right flooring materials!

Self-driving Cars

Tesla, BMW, Ford and Google have been working on self-driving cars for several years now. While progress is being made, a 2015 study from RAND Corporation showed that many people are wary of riding in driverless vehicles. In other words, you'll probably be waiting quite a while to ride shotgun in your own personal Roomba. For more on autonomous driving see our posts below How Self-Driving Cars Work: The Nuts and Bolts (and Computers) Behind Google's Autonomous Car (link) The Future of Self Driving Cars: 10 Innovations That Will Keep Us from Crashing into Each Other (link) Autonomous Vehicles Face Big Hurdles Before We Can Hit 'Drive' (link) An Inside Look at Uber's Efforts to Develop Self-Driving Cars (link) Robocars May Be Closer Than You Think (link) How Much Will a Self-Driving Car Cost? Here's What Top Execs Say. (link) How Driverless Cars Could Change Our Lives Forever... But Not in The Way You Think!(link) Would You Buy A Driverless Car?

Digital Assistants (Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant etc.)

These digital assistants are what is known as voice-activated artificial intelligence (VAAI). These devices can take verbal commands and respond to inquiries and complete tasks. Voice assistants are intended to help you find information and complete tasks, but they also work to streamline your life by automating everyday processes such as creating calendar events or managing shopping lists. They can even read you your daily briefing each morning—saving you time by getting all of your important information at once. Of course, there are disadvantages to VAAI; users have expressed privacy concerns over their sensitive data being stored on a remote server, rather than on their own computer. There’s also an ongoing debate about whether these devices will ever be able to fully replace human interaction. In other words, people don’t want to feel like their home is a futuristic movie where machines do everything for them! That said, it seems clear that we’re headed toward an automated future where VAAI will play an increasingly important role in our lives. Here's how it might look: You wake up one morning and your digital assistant greets you with news from around the world. You tell it that you need coffee and it responds by turning on your coffee maker for you so that when you get out of bed there’s already hot coffee waiting for you!