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Better living through technology
Gad ets g WE LOVE Reviewed.com tested and retested these devices to find the very best
Turning a travel passion into an online business RECOMMENDATIONS What to stream, read and see this month
PLUS: Lost in Technology with Tracy Beckerman
February 2020
FROM THE EDITOR
It’s 2020: We are in the future
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elcome to the first ION of 2020. If this is your first time receiving this section, hello! Our goal is to keep you informed on how to make use of all this new tech, and to call out the things you don’t need to waste time and money on. To that end, our cover story this month profiles the best tech our partners at Reviewed.com tested last year. From the hundreds of products they put through their paces, we’ve chosen six categories to focus on, including TVs and smart thermostats — things you’ll probably use more often than, say, a pepper mill (which they’ve also tested: reviewed.com/cooking/best-right-now/the-best-pepper-mills). We also enjoy talking to people who are using tech to their advantage, whether to share RVing tips while on the road, using a site like Kickstarter to make a dream a reality, or creating a business built around a passion. Check out our latest profiles on Pages 14-21. Also, we love media and the ways tech has made TV, movies and books more accessible. It’s a vast field, however, so each month our RecommendatIONs (get it?) aim to help you make the most of your streaming services. We tested ION in several markets around the country last year to great success, so we’re thrilled to be coming to you monthly in 2020. If you didn’t see our last issue, or want to keep up with us between issues, go to facebook.com/ionnewsmag. Best,
JOIN US
Lisa Glowinski Director, More Content Now Gannett
Are you an expert in this stuff? Write for us! Contact Lisa at ion@gatehouse media.com
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STAFF Editor LISA GLOWINSKI Copy Editor MICHAEL TOESET Designer MICHELLE LAUZON Vice President, Center for News & Design STEVE DORSEY Vice President, Marketing LORI CATRON Ad Sales GERRY JOYCE To advertise contact Nancy Holdgrafer, 507-440-8191 or nholdgrafer@ gatehousemedia.com Cover photo: Bigstock © GANNETT CO., INC. 2020 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of the Publisher. Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing. ION Magazine and Gannett Co. Inc. buy all rights to contributions, text and images, unless previously agreed to in writing. While every effort has been made to ensure that information is correct at the time of going to print, Gannett cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any action or decision based on the information contained in this publication. ION is a premium edition of Gannett. Due to the size and value of premium editions there will be up to a $9 surcharge on each date of publication. Rather than assess an extra charge for premium editions, we will adjust the length of your subscription, which accelerates its expiration when you receive these premium editions. There will be no more than two (2) premium editions published each month during the subscription term.
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TO THE EDITOR ANOTHER STREAMING SERVICE TO KNOW I appreciated the info about all the streaming services in the Winter issue. One that was not mentioned is Mhzchoice.com. This excellent service, $7.99/month or $89.99/year, offers outstanding TV series (subtitled in English) from all over Europe. Comedies, dramas, mysteries. It’s really great! There is a free trial period. I stream it directly from my laptop. No additional device needed. Dan Liftman, West Palm Beach, Florida
litically attractive as building/widening and extending. The response is somewhat correct in the projection as to EVs being a major presence; the last projection I saw was that it will take 16 years to “flush” the fleet, which essentially means the new crop of 2020 vehicles will still have a measurable presence in 2036. This obviously will change if there is a piece of “green” legislation enacted that causes the mix to change on a more rapid schedule. Another somewhat smaller point is that, model for model, an EV weighs more than its gas-powered counterpart and thus has a bigger impact in terms of wear and tear on the pavement. Robert Franklin
EVS’ IMPACT ON ROADS I would not portray myself as an “expert” but, prior to my retirement several years ago, I worked in the Intelligent Transportation Systems market for over 20 years, and I would take exception to the Winter ION 2019 response to the question concerning the impact of electric vehicles on highway funding. What the response does not address is the ongoing and growing deficit in Operations and Maintenance funding, particularly with regard to the National Defense Highway System (the Interstates) initiated during the Eisenhower administration. Suffice to say that there was a significant amount of funding allocated to the construction of the network but in the following years there was almost nothing allocated to O&M. With the initial life cycle projected to be 50 years there should have been, but wasn’t, funding set aside for reconstruction/refurbishment/renewal of the system. It was only when several major bridges collapsed that this concern saw the light of day. A similar set of circumstances did and continue to occur at the state and local level. If you will excuse a bit of over-simplification, funding of O&M was not as po-
‘WORTHY CAUSE’ MISSED I reviewed your latest “Giving Issue” and the section on “Worthy Causes.” Frankly I was shocked you had no recommendations for mental illness. The statistics are staggering in this country!: • 1 in 5 U.S. adults experiences mental illness. • 1 in 25 U.S. adults experiences serious mental illness. • 17% of youth (ages 6-17) experience a mental health disorder. There are many great organizations focused on mental illness, National Alliance on Mental Illness being my favorite. Disappointed you missed or ignored a major issue in this country ... mental illness! Mark Mathisen Editor’s note: Thanks for your note, Mark. Donate to NAMI at nami.org/get-involved/donate
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Your tech questions answered Q: I only want a mobile phone for calls and texts. Do I have to get a smartphone? A: Phones that offer only calling and texting are referred to as “dumbphones” or “smart feature phones” and are available for around $20. It is important to look for an “unlocked” device that is not tied to a particular carrier. And, many dumbphones require a SIM (subscriber identity module) card, which connects to a provider. SIM cards also store contact information and can be moved from one phone to another, as long as the SIM card size requirements are the same for each phone. Pre-paid SIM cards, which offer users freedom from contracts and expensive smartphone bells and whistles, can be purchased online or at various technology and big box retailers. A SIM card might cost less than $10 to purchase, but then there are different plans to choose from based on length of time, gigabytes needed, and anticipated talk and text minutes required. —Deena Bouknight, ION magazine
Q: How can I turn off any “spying” settings on my smart TV? A: For Amazon-branded “Fire TV Edition” sets from Toshiba and Insignia: Go to Settings and
DO YOU HAVE A TECH QUESTION? Let one of our experts find the answer for you. Send it to ion@gatehousemedia.com.
Preferences. Select Privacy Settings, and make sure Device Usage Data, Collect App and Overthe-Air data and Interest-based ads are turned off. (And be sure to go back and check your settings often.) • TCL makes branded Roku TVs with software also used in sets by Hisense, Hitachi, Insignia, Philips, RCA and Sharp. Turn off Automated Content Recognition by going to Settings, then Privacy and Smart TV Experience. To disable ACR, make sure all the options there are unchecked, notes CNET. • LG: In the menu, click to Settings, which brings you to All Settings, and find your way to General. The feature to look for here is LivePlus, which is what LG calls the ACR technology that monitors your viewing. This is the one you want to turn off. • Samsung: On newer sets, go for Settings in the menu, then Support, then
Terms & Policies. From there, CNET suggests Choose Viewing Information Services and unchecking the ACR tab. Personalized ads are in Service Privacy Notice, where you uncheck Enable to hopefully stop them in their tracks. • Sony: You’ll have to go back to the setup, available within Settings, to turn off ACR. • Vizio: Select System, click on Reset & Admin and opt for Viewing Data to opt out of ACR. And there’s always a simpler, incredibly effective step: If you don’t want your viewing tracked, just turn the Wi-Fi off on the set altogether and just rely on your cable TV signal. —Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY
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FEBRUARY 2020
In this issue
passion G A D G E T S W E L OV E The best out there now, from the experts at Reviewed.com.
TVs
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37 Noise-canceling headphones
Tablets
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40 Affordable robot vacuums
Smartwatches
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43 Smart thermostats diversion HOW DO I ... ?
RECOMMENDATIONS
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What to watch, read and download this month
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POD PEOPLE
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Eat, breathe, sleep TV
COLUMN
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GO WITH THE FLOW Do I need 5G?
Deal with social media after a death
Tracy Beckerman: Travel for the directionally challenged
12 ALL PHOTOS STOCK UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
conversation FEATURED ENTREPRENEUR
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Just get out there START ME UP
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Making credit possible
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RECOMMENDATIONS
What to watch,
read and
download this month February may be the shortest month, but at least there’s one extra day this year to stuff in all of the entertainment options debuting soon
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S U N D AY
February 2020
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SUPER BOWL
M O N D AY
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T U E S D AY
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Watch the event on Fox or stream it via Hulu with Live TV, YouTubeTV, DirectTV Now or FuboTV — you’ll have to subscribe, but look for a free trial and set a reminder to cancel. Season 3 of “The Masked Singer” follows the game, then airs on Tuesdays.
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4 “Crooked River” by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child goes on sale today, in hardcover form, for e-book readers and as an audiobook.
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SUPERMOON
11 DOG SHOW
The first of four supermoons for 2020, this full moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.
So. Many. DOGGOS! The Westminster Kennel Club has expanded to three days of events this year, beginning Feb. 9, and all will be streamed at westminsterkennelclub.org. You can also watch some nightly coverage on Fox Sports 1 or the Fox Sports Go app.
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WINTER PREMIERES
New TV is baaaaack! On NBC, “Indebted” debuts, with a young couple blindsided when the husband’s broke parents (Fran Drescher and Steven Weber) want to move in. Then on CBS, Edie Falco stars in “Tommy,” as the first female chief of police in L.A.
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N E W I N T H E AT E R S “Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn)”
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N E W I N T H E AT E R S “Fantasy Island” “Sonic The Hedgehog” “Downhill”
VALENTINE’S DAY
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NEW ON AMAZON PRIME
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“Hunters” stars Al Pacino as the organizer of a team of Nazi hunters, delivering justice in 1970s New York City. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video. N E W I N T H E AT E R S “The Call Of The Wild” “Emma”
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29 LEAP DAY!
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Eat, breathe, sleep TV
By Matthew Girard ION magazine
February 2020
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he days of people gathering in front of their televisions at a specific time on a specific day and tuning into a specific station are becoming extinct, but TV shows have never been more popular. Although the way most people consume their favorite shows has changed with the numerous streaming options available, characters, episodes and full series still bring people together. Whether you want to dive deeper into your favorite show or are a just a general fan of TV, here are a few podcasts to listen to.
Extra Hot Great Talking TV new and old, and playing plenty of games along the way, hosts David T. Cole, Tara Ariano and Sarah D. Bunting break down the latest episodes of the most popular shows. Along with guest interviews, episodes feature a roundtable segment called The Canon and the crew appointing winners and losers of the week. Cole, Ariano and Bunting also answer fan questions and attempt to settle debates. Recent episodes include “Sinking Our Teeth Into Dracula,” “Buffy The Timekeeper” and “The Way We Were.” Find it: extrahotgreat.com Suggested listening if: Your friends are sick of debating TV topics with you. These are your new friends.
Office Ladies Fans of “The Office” can get a behind-the-scenes look at the beloved TV show as co-stars Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey team up to rewatch the series. Each week, Fischer and Kinsey break down an episode of the show and give fans the stories that only they could tell. Recent episodes include “The Fire,” “Office Olympics w/ Paul Feig” and “Sexual Harassment.” Find it: earwolf.com/show/office-ladies Suggested listening if: You’ve fantasized about taking lunch breaks or having Friday drinks with Pam and Angela.
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The Televerse Hosts Kate Kulzick and Noel Kirkpatrick take a wide-ranging look at the latest TV shows and help listeners dive into what they watched. Along with breaking down the best in TV every week, Kulzick and Kirkpatrick invite guests to talk about their favorite shows that are no longer on the air. Recent episodes include “2020 Winter TV Preview,” “Best of 2019 Smorgasborgy” and “Top 20 TV Series of 2019.” Find it: theteleverse.org Suggested listening if: You want to know what to watch now that “Fleabag” and “The Mandalorian” are over.
Pilot TV Hosts Terri White and James Dyer provide a weekly guide to all the essential new shows on television. White and Dyer cover the latest news, reviews, actor interviews and provide some recommendations from the past. Recent episodes include “Review Of The Year 2019, featuring Brian Cox,” “Dracula, You and The Witcher” and “The Expanse, Traces, and Law & Order: SVU.” Find it: spoti.fi/33lfUdw Suggested listening if: You’re interested not only in new shows but the actors, too.
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DO I NEED
DO YOU HAVE A 5G SMARTPHONE?
YES Well congrats — you’re ahead of the curve and, yes, you need 5G.
Are you from the future?! 5G will aid self-driving technology, but experts say it could show up first in cars’ infotainment systems, for more precise GPS and better-quality streaming.
NO I don’t know: If you don’t have the LG V50 ThinQ 5G, Samsung Galaxy S10 5G or OnePlus 7, you probably can’t connect anyway.
NO
Much has been made of 5G recently, the cellular network that’s five times faster than peak 4G connections. In real-life speak? Eventually 5G users can download movies in seconds, telecom experts say.
DO YOU HAVE A SELF-DRIVING CAR?
But do you need it now? Here’s a chart to help:
5G will help VR and augmented reality programs become more sophisticated, such as for workplace training or medical settings, in addition to fun stuff like gaming.
DO YOU NEED A SUPER-FAST, SECURE LAPTOP?
YES
NO
Look for a model that can connect to 5G, such as the upcoming Lenovo Yoga 5G laptop. A faster cell network means faster performance and less need for public Wi-Fi.
Don’t fret about 5G now. In a year or two, we’ll talk.
YES
NO
YES
DO YOU NEED VIRTUAL REALITY CAPABILITY? GRAphic / Jennifer F. A. Borresen
February 2020
FEATURED ENTREPRENEUR Travel site founder on the value of letting experiences happen organically
conversation
Just go
By Melissa Erickson ION magazine
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Pavia Rosati
he Scandinavian country of midnight sun and northern lights has been on Pavia Rosati’s mind for years. So in 2020 she will take her own travel advice: Just stop thinking about it and go. As the founder of the travel service Fathom and co-author of the book “Travel Anywhere (And Avoid being A Tourist),” Rosati knows just where to look to find out more about Norway’s scenic outdoor adventures such as the breathtaking glaciers and fjords or the hottest new hotels such as 62° Nord.
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BodyHoliday, an all-inclusive spa on the northern end of Saint Lucia. PHOTOS BY PAVIA ROSATI
Fathom is a travel website for people who already love to travel, Rosati said. Rather than touting the benefits of big name brands and well-known tourist traps, Fathom’s focus is on “individual, boutique, smaller places,” she said: Fathom isn’t going to recommend the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City because everyone already knows it’s great. If a traveler is looking for luxury in the Big Apple, Fathom’s suggestions include lesser-known but still fabulous spots like The Lowell or The Mark. Not that Fathom strictly promotes upscale choices. Fathom is everything “indy, boutique and charming at every price point from grandma’s bed and breakfast to knock-you-out palaces,” said the New York City native. Plenty of other travel websites exist, but Fathom fills a niche.
“It attracts people who are already good travelers. They get it already,” Rosati said.
BUILDING A TEAM
All good travel websites do two main things: “They tell you where to go and what to do once you get there,” Rosati said. What’s different about Fathom is how hotels, restaurants, places, cultural experiences and people are presented. “Some of our stories are written by travel journalists, but many are written by designers, chefs, DJs and others who offer their take with our spirit,” she said. “It’s like talking to a friend who just got home from a trip to Berlin, and they’re sharing what they experienced with you.”
February 2020 Rosati founded Fathom in 2011 with her business partner Jeralyn Gerba, both of whom were on the original editorial team at DailyCandy, the now-defunct e-newsletter and website that promoted one trending restaurant, fashion or shopping experience a day. Keeping up with what was new and next at DailyCandy, Rosati learned skills that translate to her work at Fathom, which also offers concierge travel services. Curating other people’s travel is an enjoyable part of the job for Rosati, who admits she does enjoy when someone else — however rarely — takes charge of her travel plans. Americans are known for skimping on their vacation time, so when they do travel “the stakes are high. We want it to be a good investment,” Rosati said. In late 2019 Rosati and Gerba expanded the business with a podcast, “A Way To Go.” Each episode highlights a traveler and their reason for traveling. For example, in one episode newlyweds test their marriage by climbing Kilimanjaro. In another, a Hollywood screenwriter disconnects from digital life on a container ship trip across the Pacific. Since travel is something Rosati loves and the Fathom empire continues to grow — the next book in the Travel Anywhere series will be written this year — Rosati is enthusiastic to keep gathering new experiences and share them with fellow travelers, she said.
EXPERT TIPS
Planning to travel soon? Rosati said two of the best destinations right now are the Central African country of Rwanda and the historic city of Kyoto, Japan. In addition to her previously mentioned advice to “just stop thinking about it and go,” Rosati suggested avoiding overplanning your travel. “I like to go somewhere and follow my nose. I pop into a shop or a bar, talk to some locals and ask them what they like to do,” Rosati said. If a big trip to Europe or Asia is not on your radar, travel in your own backyard. “Think about what’s within 100 miles of your home. Take a locavore trip,” Rosato said. Travel experiences can even happen at home, she said. Have Vietnamese food for dinner, watch a foreign film, burn a rose-scented candle that brings to mind the island of Capri. “There are so many small ways you can make travel part of your life,” Rosati said.
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Pavia Rosati and Jeralyn Gerba PHOTO BY DANIEL SCHWARTZ
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Adapted from Pavia Rosati’s bio at fathomaway.com. • Favorite destinations: Lo Scoglio on the Amalfi Coast, a certain backyard in Sagaponack, Taprobane Island in Sri Lanka. • Dying to visit: Chile from top to tail (especially Tierra del Fuego), South Island in New Zealand, Botswana, the Turkish Islands, the Canadian Rockies, the fjords of Norway (since 1990). • Bizarre travel rituals: I pack a ridiculously compact carry-on, but don’t unpack for weeks when I get home. I can’t book a plane ticket until I’ve read the details aloud to someone else. And I’m ob-
sessed with getting a bulkhead seat. It’s how I do business class on a budget. • In-flight relaxation regime: Very bad movies and 22-minute naps. • Always in carry-on: Snacks for the journey, iPhone and Macbook Air, unread New Yorkers, La Pasticca del Re Sole Italian licorice. • Weirdest thing seen on travels: It wasn’t weird, but it was magical to carry a newborn baby goat down the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. • Best hotel amenity: Elaborate silver servingware for breakfast and tea, free Wi-Fi, oversized bathtubs, and never having to sign for anything. • Everywhere I go, I check out: The supermarkets. • When I arrive in a new place, I learn the lay of the land by: Walking everywhere. • I always bring home: Contraband salumi, ceramics, chili peppers, and honey or vodka for my father. • If I never return to: Dubai or Cyprus, it’ll be too soon because both were just awful. I had low expectations of Dubai, and it met them. I had high expectations of Cyprus, and it dashed them.
Baglioni Resort Cala del Porto in Punta Ala, Italy. PHOTOS BY PAVIA ROSATI
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February 2020
START ME UP
Making credit
POSSIBLE
From left, cofounders Prasad Mahendra, Tyler Conant and Tony Huang
PHOTOS COURTESY OF POSSIBLE FINANCE
By Melissa Erickson ION magazine
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February 2020
Tony Huang wanted to teach. Now his app is teaching people to build up credit
s a student at Harvard, Tony Huang envisioned himself becoming a teacher or perhaps working for a nonprofit. His career path veered a different way, and he’s having a much bigger impact on people’s lives as cofounder and CEO of the mobile-app small loan company Possible Finance. Huang is determined to help level the financial playing field by providing consumers with a kinder version of short-term loans that are repaid over time while helping borrowers rebuild credit. His work with the firm earned him a 2019 nomination for GeekWire’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year. “We’re fighting for financial fairness every day. Financial health is something all Americans deserve, not just the affluent,” said Huang. Huang, Prasad Mahendra, vice president of engineering, and Tyler Conant, chief technology officer, launched the Seattle-based startup at the end of 2017. The founders previously worked together at the civic technology company Axon pioneering the technology behind bodyworn police cameras. “We believe in the impact that technology has for social good,” Huang said. Their work with Axon allowed people to feel safer in their communities and be treated more fairly by law enforcement, Huang said. Moving on to their next venture, they wanted to continue to make a social impact. “We couldn’t just go sell ads for Facebook or work for Amazon. We have a soft spot for fairness. We’re passionate about building a more just society,” Huang said. The company is growing fast. It employs 33 designers, engineers, customer success and product managers and has tripled its headcount every year. In June, Possible Finance landed a $10.5 million investment from Canvas Ventures and other existing investors. Possible Finance serves customers in California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, Washington, Utah and Idaho and is expanding into other states.
A BETTER ALTERNATIVE
While the U.S. economy is doing well, not all Americans are benefiting. “Seventy-five percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and are financially on the edge. Half of Americans can’t afford a $400 emergency expense. Wealth inequality is greater than ever before,” Huang said. The financial squeeze of car payments, an unexpected medical bill or even working in the gig economy leads many to turn to often-predatory payday lenders to make ends meet. Miss a payment or fail to pay back the money on time and a person is forced to take out another cash advance racking up more debt. “Payday lenders are trapping people in cycles of debt,” Huang said. Nearly 80% of payday loan borrowers end up having to roll their loans over into a new loan, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “The poorer you are the more you pay, but there’s a better way. A true alternative exists,” Huang said.
HOW IT WORKS
Download the Possible Finance app, create a profile and link to your existing bank account. Possible Finance analyzes the information in real time to make a determination if you can afford a small loan up to $500. Anyone can qualify, even without good credit. The process is simple and you can apply, get approved and receive funds into your bank account within minutes. Instead of having to pay back the set amount on a certain date, borrowers can pay in installments to spread out the burden, Huang said. Borrowers can manage their account and reschedule payments from their phones. “We report installment payments to all three credit bureaus to help consumers build credit history, which helps them improve their credit scores,” Huang said.
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February 2020
“We’re fighting for financial fairness every day. Financial health is something all Americans deserve, not just the affluent.” Tony Huang
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EMPOWERING PEOPLE
“What I cherish most is the trust we build with our customers. We empower them with our trust. They’ve often been denied repeatedly by so many other lenders,” Huang said. A small loan can help make a change that impacts a person’s mental health and well-being, Huang said. “We help provide the money to take care of their kids or their medical bills so they can see meaningful improvements to their lives. We show them it’s possible to lift yourself up,” Huang said. The company has granted hundreds of thousands of small loans and receives heartfelt letters of appreciation every day. “The impact we have on customers is why we keep going,” said Huang, who acknowledged it’s been an incredibly tough journey to build a company from scratch.
A SUCCESS STORY
Huang was born in China but moved to the Boston area as a child. His father was a research scientist at MIT. Educated in the Cambridge public school system, Huang attended Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School. “It was a very diverse elementary school,” he said. When he was accepted as one of the first kids from Martin Luther King to attend Harvard University, he wanted “to be a good example for the kids in the community that he grew up in.” During summers he returned to teach fourth grade for kids from underserved families, finding it incredibly fulfilling. While in school he ran an afterschool program where
February 2020
Harvard students mentored underprivileged children. He had planned to become a teacher or find a job with a similar social impact, but an opportunity to plan a social entrepreneurship conference on campus opened his eyes to how successful businesses can also make a positive social impact. “Big tech companies haven’t helped alleviate social issues; it’s led to societal unrest. Tech should be used for good. Instead new developments are mostly focused on entertainment, which is trivial, or to help people who already have money earn more,” Huang said. “We can build tools and tech for people who need the resources the most. Technology will level the playing field.”
NOT JUST A LOAN COMPANY
“There are a lot of hurdles to build a fintech company, especially dealing with regulatory hurdles. We dove in head first and drank from the firehose because we really want to help people achieve financial health,” Huang said. The biggest challenge is becoming licensed in each state. “We’re so innovative that existing laws are often not written to cover what we do. We have to work proactively with regulators to come up with something that is both economically viable and consumer-friendly,” he said. Possible Finance is “not just a lending company, we’re advocates for regulatory change. We want to help increase affordable access to shortterm credit. We believe in financial fairness and want to be an advocate for everyday Americans,” Huang said.
February 2020
HOW DO I ... ?
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Deal with social media after a death By Edward C. Baig USA TODAY
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hen someone you love dies, sure, their spirit endures — but so does their social media. And when their photos, memories or posts surface unexpectedly, it can be a jarring purgatory for those still healing from the loss. Managing the digital afterlife is “something that people
should think about but don’t,” says Jed Brubaker, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, who specializes on the topic. “There’s a whole societal infrastructure (coroners, cemeteries, funeral directors) for how we think about death. For the most part, that has not extended very well to digital content broadly and social media specifically.”
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That can lead to some painful situations. You may have braced for that birthday reminder, for instance, but then Facebook unexpectedly surfaces an “on this day” memory that just hits you in the gut. LinkedIn nudges you to congratulate a colleague on a work anniversary just a few days after a fatal heart attack took them. Not just awkward, but ouch. That hurts.
a pretty good job in navigating these issues and has balanced the interests of the bereaved with those of the deceased.” But he added that it is up to the bereaved families to curate the digital legacies of loved ones that “both accommodates their grief, and supports the community around the deceased in the best way.”
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE STILL ALIVE GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN OR ERASED
It’s not that we necessarily want all social records and reminders to go away. Recently, Twitter pulled an about-face after a backlash when it announced plans to purge some inactive accounts. Folks didn’t want to lose tweets from loved ones who had passed away. “We’ve heard you on the impact that this would have on the accounts of the deceased,” the company tweeted. “This was a miss on our part. We will not be removing any inactive accounts until we create a new way for people to memorialize accounts.” And LinkedIn is also working on a plan to memorialize accounts, to be ready this year. “This is understandably one of the most sensitive topics for our members, and we want to make sure the account of any member who has passed away is treated with respect,” says LinkedIn spokeswoman Suzi Owens. Currently you can ask LinkedIn to remove the profile of a dead colleague, classmate or family member by explaining your relationship to the person, and among other requested information, supplying the date of death, obituary and the company the person most recently worked at.
THE SOCIAL NETWORK GRAVEYARD
For sure, our virtual, digital lives will inevitably outlast our physical ones. In fact, Facebook could have more dead members than living ones within 50 years, according to academics at Oxford University. But the broad implications of the digital hereafter remain grave. “The demise of your biological body does not completely strip you of ethical rights such as privacy and dignity,” the study’s lead author Carl Öhman said last spring. “Overall, Facebook has done
You don’t have to leave all the specifics for friends and family to handle after you’re gone. With Facebook, you can request to have your account permanently deleted after you die. Or you can designate a “legacy contact” who can look after your memorialized account once you pass. Such a person can then manage tribute posts on the memorial profile, by choosing who can see those posts or contribute their own sentiments. The legacy contact can also respond to new friend requests, delete posts and remove tags. As with everything else you leave behind, keep in mind that the legacy contact might access content that wasn’t originally visible to him or her. According to Facebook, however, what this person won’t see are messages, ads you clicked on when you were alive, pokes, security and settings info, and photos you automatically synced but didn’t post. To get started via web browser, head to Settings on Facebook, click “Memorialization Settings,” click “Edit,” and then examine your options. Should you choose a legacy contact, Facebook will auto-generate an editable message to send to the person you’ve picked. On mobile via the app, whether Android or iPhone, it takes only one more step to get to that option, tapping “Account Ownership and Control.” Brubaker, who consulted with Facebook on the design of the legacy contact solution, advises people to explicitly give family members or people they trust “symbolic permission” to do what they think is best after they’re gone. “We hear from lots of bereaved a really deep anxiety around not wanting to disrespect or dishonor the memory of their loved one but being left with a kind of ambiguity and uncertainty about what they should do,” he says.
“The demise of your biological body does not completely strip you of ethical rights such as privacy and dignity.” Carl Öhman
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If wishes aren’t outlined or expressed before death, you as a family member can still request that the member’s Facebook account be removed. You will have to provide proof of the death (an obit or memorial card), and proof that you have the authority to make such a request such as power of attorney documentation, a birth certificate, will or estate letter. All the many people with Google accounts can similarly set up an Inactive Account Manager to care for the person’s Google remains after death. But there are limits, as Google explains on the web: “We recognize that many people pass away without leaving clear instructions about how to manage their online accounts. We can work with immediate family members and representatives to close the account
of a deceased person where appropriate …. We cannot provide passwords or other login details. Any decision to satisfy a request about a deceased user will be made only after a careful review.” The request for a dead person’s Google data may also require a court order. It isn’t entirely clear how or even if the social media data from a behemoth such as Facebook that people leave behind remains commercially viable — dead people no longer look at ads, after all. But there are still strong cases to be made for preserving our digital legacies. They may prove useful artifacts of a bygone era. Future generations may learn from the pictures and posts we leave behind. And to family members and close friends, honoring the people they’ve lost and keeping their memories alive is priceless.
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COVER STORY
February 2020
Gadgets WE LOVE Last year may be a memory, but the things we bought then are — hopefully — still in our homes and offices. If not, and you’ve vowed to never buy something again without research, we can help. This is what our partners at Reviewed.com do — buy, test, wear, learn, test again and, eventually, provide recommendations on what’s worth your time and money.
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Reviewed is a team of product experts (geeks, really) who built an entire test lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just to make sure that when they say something is worth it, they can back it up with good old-fashioned science. Their mission is to help you buy the best stuff and love what you’ve already got. Reviewed strives to follow the scientific method as closely as possible in its reviewing and testing. This includes extensive documentation, reducing variables, and gathering measurable evidence using objectives repeatable procedures.
SEE ALL OF THEIR ASSESSMENTS AT REVIEWED.COM. THIS MONTH, ION BRINGS YOU THEIR TOP PICKS (SO FAR) IN: • TVs — Page 26 • Tablet computers — Page 29 • Smartwatches — Page 33 • Noise-canceling headphones — Page 37 • Affordable robot vacuums — Page 40 • Smart thermostats — Page 43
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THE BEST By Michael Desjardin and Lee Neikirk Reviewed.com
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TVs
hat makes a TV the best of the best? Every year, manufacturers add new bells and whistles that promise the latest and greatest in picture quality. But while the buzzwords may change, the basics of a good TV usually remain the same: bright whites, inky blacks, accurate colors, smooth motion and high resolution. If you just want to buy up the best TV we’ve ever tested, check out the LG C9. However, we test dozens of TVs every year, and we’ve been at it for over a decade. From 4K TVs to HDR, to smart TVs to curved ones, these are the best televisions right now.
HERE ARE THE BEST TVS WE TESTED: LG C9 (2019) LG C8 (2018) LG C7 (2017) LG E8 (2018) Sony A9F (2018) Vizio P-Series Quantum X (2019) Vizio P-Series Quantum (2018) Vizio P-Series (2018) TCL 6 Series (2018) Sony X950G (2019) Samsung Q7FN (2018) Samsung Q8FN (2018) Hisense 100L8D Laser TV Samsung NU8000 (2018) Sony X800E (2017) TCL 5 Series (2018) TCL 4 Series (2019)
BEST OVERALL
LG C9 Series (2019) LG’s C9 series of OLED 4K/HDR smart TVs is the best TV of 2019. For the last few years, LG has released a suite of super-premium OLED TVs, and starting with the C7 OLEDs in 2017 they’ve been our favorite TVs every year for very good reason. If you haven’t heard, OLED panels are kind of the bee’s knees for the avid TV watcher. Each pixel turns “on” and “off” automatically, meaning when OLED TVs display black, they display actual black. Likewise, when they display a color, it emits from the pixel directly, giving it a more pure and unfiltered appearance than traditional LED/LCD TVs. LG’s been the leader in OLED TV production for several years, and the 2019 C9 is the latest “C” OLED — it’s almost the most affordable one in the lineup, but still has all the same awesome OLED picture quality. The C9 series (which is available in 55-, 65- and 77-inch sizes) delivers a justifiable price tag alongside all the same excellent OLED picture quality, 4K resolution, High Dynamic Range and Dolby Vision specifications, LG’s friendly “webOS” smart platform, and more. It’s stuffed full of great features and a geeky array of calibration options for the AV nerds out there.
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LG E8 Series (2018)
LG C8 Series (2018) This is essentially the 2018 version of our Best Overall C9 — except it’s the C8. This is still a 4K/HDR OLED TV. The C8 will be harder to find, but the price has also dropped considerably. The picture quality and HDR/Dolby Vision performance is still excellent, and you still get key extras like the LG webOS platform, the Magic Remote and a swanky, if unusual, design. Our only complaint about the C8 last year was how expensive it is, and now that it’s cheaper, it’s a pretty good choice. Available in 55-, 65- or 77-inch sizes, the 2018 C8 series may not be quite as fancy as the 2019 C9 series, but it still exhibits the perfect black levels, excellent contrast and vivid color production that we expect from OLED TVs. It’s also an excellent choice if you’re interested in newer formats like HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
Yet another excellent LG OLED, the 2018 E8 didn’t win out over the C8 because it required you to pay more for a few frills that — while nice — were not something we found to be totally essential. However, beyond those differences, the E8 is still an excellent TV, providing OLED’s usual inky blacks, crisp highlights, rich colors and flawless viewing angles. The E8 sometimes gets massively discounted, and for being only a year old it’s still a hugely powerful, impressive TV with more features than most people could even keep track of. You’re getting 4K resolution, High Dynamic Range support, the webOS smart platform and a sleek, futuristic design
LG C7 Series (2017) While it might be a bit hard to track down, you can technically still find LG’s 2017 C7 OLED (yes, this is still the same “C” line as the 2018 C8 and 2019 C9) for sale, though it’s not a heck of a lot cheaper than the 2018 model. This is another excellent TV, though we’d probably go with the C8 or the C9 unless you can find the C7 at a serious discount. This one is still 4K and HDR capable, though it’s not quite as bright as the C8 and C9 models. Colors are still very impressive, and overall the C7 still looks better than a large majority of TVs in 2019 — that’s saying something.
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Sony A9F Series (2018) In order to go toe-to-toe with its direct OLED competitors (as well as budget-friendly, big-screen non-OLED HDR sets), Sony’s A9F Master Series needs to set itself apart from the pack. And, for the most part, it succeeds — the A9F is a visually striking, top-tier television with the HDR chops to nip at LG’s heels. What it doesn’t do, however, is justify its price point for anyone outside of a very slim niche. It’s worth knowing that performance quality isn’t what kept it from the top of this list. Instead, it’s a combination of the high price point and some more particular aesthetics-based flaws. That said, this is still an amazing TV, and you’re getting ultra-premium from top to bottom.
Vizio P-Series Quantum X (2019) Available in 65- and 75-inch sizes only, this is allegedly the best TV that Vizio has ever produced, something we agree with after testing and something that definitely earns it a place on the list of the best TVs you can buy. Outfitted with full-array local dimming, quantum dots and a sleek, understated design, the P-Series Quantum X looks better than any LED/LCD TV has a right to.
BEFORE YOU BUY
Terms to know When it comes to knowing what you’re paying for, almost no category is more rife with subterfuge and tomfoolery than TVs. Here are the key bits of jargon you’ll want to know while browsing: • LED/LCD: This refers to Light Emitting Diode and Liquid Crystal Display. LEDs are the backlights used in LCD TVs, also sometimes called a LED TV for this reason. The LED backlight shines through a layer of a semi-solid substance called “liquid crystal,” so named for its ability to morph in reaction to tiny electrical volts and allow light to pass through. • OLED: This means Organic Light Emitting Diode. This is an altogether different panel technology than LED/LCD, albeit on the surface they work similarly. Rather than an LED backlight element shining through an LCD panel element, OLED TVs essentially combine the backlight and crystal array, using sub-pixel strata that produce light and color individually. • 4K/UHD: Usually 4K refers to resolution — specifically, 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. This is the current standard/mainstream resolution for most TVs. UHD means Ultra High Definition, and actually refers to a suite of picture improvements like 4K resolution, Wide Color
Gamut and High Dynamic Range. • High Dynamic Range: Like UHD, High Dynamic Range refers to both a type of TV and a type of content that expands on the typical range of brightness (luminance) and color that a TV will produce. HDR TVs are newer and usually a bit more expensive, but can have four times the brightness and 30% more color production than non-HDR TVs, at least. Current HDR formats are HDR10 and Dolby Vision. • 60 Hz/120 Hz: These numbers refer to what is called a “refresh rate,” with Hz (hertz) meaning “times per second.” So if a TV’s refresh rate is 60 Hz, this means it re-scans and updates for picture information 60 times per second; with 120 Hz, it’s 120 times per second. Currently, TVs only come in 60 or 120 Hz. A higher refresh rate is always better, but not always necessary. • Smart TV: The term “smart TV” has evolved a lot over the years, but all it really means is that the TV connects to the internet. Most smart TVs these days are just a way to watch streaming services like Amazon Prime Video on your TV. Some smart TVs have browsers, calendars, or even Roku or Android functions. All smart TVs have ethernet or Wi-Fi built in. • Quantum dots: Quantum dots are used in LED/
LCD TVs only. These are microscopic nano-crystals that produce intensely colored light when struck with light. Quantum dots can be used to vastly improve the red and green saturation of a TV, and are one way that LED/LCD TVs can match the color spectrum of OLED. • Local dimming: OLED panels look great because each pixel can operate independently. LED/LCD TVs can imitate this functioning via a process called local dimming, where localized clusters of LEDs dim or boost depending on whether the screen needs to be darker or brighter, sometimes vastly improving their performance and worth.
Why a ‘series’? You may notice the TVs listed in this roundup don’t follow the traditional naming convention you might see in a store or online. That’s because rather than nominating a single size of TV (such as the LG OLED65C8PUA, aka the 65-inch LG C8 series OLED), we nominate the entire range of sizes within a “series.” Typically these TVs are identical in performance but differ in price and size. We do this in order to offer you more flexibility in your decision, but also because it’s the most accurate representation available.
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THE BEST By Séamus Bellamy Reviewed.com
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tablets
hile I can’t say which tablet will be perfect for you, after weeks of research and hands-on testing, I tell you that the Apple iPad (2019) (starting at $329 at apple.com) is the best tablet for most people. Its outstanding build quality, great battery life, long software support cycle and seemingly endless selection of apps to download make it a device that you’ll enjoy owning for years to come. If you’re shopping on a budget, want to buy a rugged or inexpensive tablet, or are heavily invested in Amazon’s ecosystem of books, magazines, streaming video and music, the Amazon Fire 10 HD (available at Amazon for $149.99) is a less expensive, less capable but still appealing option.
HERE ARE THE BEST TABLETS WE TESTED, RANKED: 1. Apple iPad (2019) 2. Apple iPad Air 3 3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e 5. Amazon Fire 10 HD 6. Microsoft Surface Go 7. Huawei MediaPad M5 8. Amazon Fire 7
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BEST OVERALL
Apple iPad (2019, Wi-Fi, 128 GB) The latest iteration of Apple’s base level tablet feels and operates like a tablet that costs significantly more than its retail price. As tested, the 2019 iPad performed nearly as well as the significantly pricier iPad Air 3. The 2019 iPad is compatible with Apple’s Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil — useful peripherals which, until recently, were the sole domain of Apple’s expensive Pro line of tablets. Its bright, crisp 10.2-inch Retina display is large enough to provide for a generous on-screen keyboard that’s easy to type with. With the introduction of iPadOS, the keyboard also supports swipe typing and can even be resized and positioned to accommodate typing with one hand. You’ll find no shortage of high-quality apps and games to use with this tablet. If you already own an iPhone, you’ll be delighted to discover that many of the iOS apps that you’ve already invested in come with a version optimized to work on an iPad, at no extra cost. IPad comes with Apple’s full suite of free productivity, music and video production apps, and its aluminum body and glass face weigh in at one pound, making the device easy to carry around in a bag or to hold and use for long periods of time. During our battery test, the 2019 iPad Air proved capable of playing the same video file over and over again for a total of six hours and 44 minutes. When used for productivity tasks, gaming or surfing the web with its desktop-class Safari web browser (it’ll show you the same content on your tablet as you’d see when using your computer), I was able to get close to eight hours of use. Oh, and the iPad has a much-sought-after feature that many tablets and smartphones being produced today lack: a headphone jack. As great as this tablet is, there are a few quibbles to be aware of. First, the less expensive base model of this device comes with a paltry 32GB of on-board memory. With the increasingly large file sizes associated with high-resolution photos and video, audio files and games, you’d run out of storage space almost as soon as you take a 32GB iPad out of its box. As there is no way to increase the tablet’s storage capacity without a device like the SanDisk Connect, you’re pretty much forced to purchase its more expensive 128GB configuration — which is the one we tested — enough space to access files, offline, without having to resort to streaming or downloading them from the cloud. At times when internet connectivity is unavailable, that’s important.
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BEST VALUE
Amazon Kindle Fire HD 10 (9th Gen, 64 GB) If your tablet budget doesn’t allow for the purchase of an Apple iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab, Amazon’s Fire 10 HD tablet could be the device you’re looking for. Its plastic construction feels surprisingly sturdy and pleasant to hold. Available in multiple colors, the 10 HD is the largest tablet in Amazon’s family of Fire devices. Measuring 10.3 x 6.3 x 0.4-inches and weighing just 17.4 ounces, I found it easy to forget that it was in my backpack. However, during extended use, it was very easy to remember that the tablet was made of plastic, as my hands became damp with sweat over time, especially while streaming movies or video — both caused the device’s temperature to noticeably increase. This tablet comes with either 32GB of storage or 64GB. Fortunately, the 10 HD’s storage can be expanded by an additional 512GB, via MicroSD card. During battery testing, the 10 HD performed well, offering up seven hours and 18 minutes of continuous video playback. When the time comes to recharge it, you’ll be able to do the job relatively quickly, thanks to the 10 HD’s USB-C port. At this time, the 10 HD is the only device in Amazon’s Kindle and Kindle Fire lineup that supports this charging and data transfer standard. You should know that while the 10 HD is technically an Android tablet, its deeply modified operating system and user interface make this almost unrecognizable. Some things, such as navigating the tablet’s user interface, will feel somewhat familiar to Android aficionados. However, you’ll find that overall, the tablet’s user interface is deeply focused on making it easy for users to access their Amazon-branded content, such as Kindle books, Audible audiobooks, and Prime Music and Prime Video services. Tempting you to make purchases from the Amazon store also seems to have been a design priority. Many of the popular apps that Android users take for granted, such as Google’s suite of free entertainment and productivity applications, aren’t available. This is because Fire tablets don’t come preloaded with the Google Play Store. It is possible to side-load the store onto a Fire tablet, but doing so requires a small amount of device hacking that many users may not be comfortable with.
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Apple iPad Air (2019, Wi-Fi, 256 GB) The iPad Air 3 is very much like the 2019 iPad, only more so. With its A12 Bionic chip with 64‑bit architecture and Embedded M12 coprocessor, it has enough horsepower to ever-so-slightly outclass our main pick in day-to-day tasks such as web browsing, email and gaming. In the case of the latter, you might notice that the 2019 iPad takes a little more time to load complex games, but we’re talking seconds, not minutes. For more complex tasks such as video editing, creating multi-layer drawing files in Procreate or performing complex image edits in Adobe Lightroom mobile, the Air 3 is noticeably more responsive than its lower-tier sibling. I like to think of it as a slightly less fancy, more budget-conscious iPad Pro. Starts at $499 at apple.com
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 (128GB) This is a tablet designed for pro users, with a price tag ($549.99 at Amazon and Best Buy) that makes it competitive with a midrange iPad Pro. Unfortunately, it’s plagued with a number of problems, both of Samsung’s and Google’s making, which make it hard to recommend. Weighing in at a mere 14.82 ounces, the Tab S6 is a pleasure to carry around and hold throughout a typical workday. Its vibrant 10.5-inch Super AMOLED screen makes high definition video content and games look fabulous. However, I found that when using the Tab S6, its screen bezels were thin enough to sometimes stray onto the display, which led to my accidentally clicking on in-app items. Unlike either of the iPads featured in this guide, the Tab S6’s base configuration comes with 128GB of storage space, which is enough for most users to shuttle around their offline content. You’ll find that background processes and your favorite apps run smoothly, thanks to its 6GB of RAM and speedy Snapdragon 8150 chipset. Now, let’s talk about the bad stuff. The Tab S6 comes with a stylus, which I found to be accurate and fast while taking notes or doodling. It’s designed to clip magnetically to the back of the Tab S6 when not in use. If only it would stay there: A number of times during testing, I found it at the bottom of my backpack, unattached to the tablet. DeX is Samsung’s Windows 10-like user interface which allows you to drag windowed versions of your tablet apps around on your Tab S6 or a larger display, as if you were using a computer or
laptop — provided the apps you use to get things done are compatible. Unfortunately, in order to use DeX, you’ll need to invest in the Tab S6’s pricey keyboard-and-trackpad case, which drives up the price of this tablet considerably. For less complicated tasks, such as writing email or chatting on Slack with your co-workers, you could use the device’s on-screen keyboard. I found that the keyboard’s layout, key spacing and aesthetic made it difficult to comfortably type on without making a considerable amount of mistakes. That a tablet with such base issues comes with such a high price tag is hard to qualify, especially when there are less expensive, more capable options to choose from.
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e (64GB, Wi-Fi) If you prefer to invest in a well-built Android tablet with a large display, the Galaxy Tab S5e is likely your best bet. Like its more expensive sibling, the Galaxy Tab S6, the S5e has a super crisp 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display that makes watching videos, reading or playing games a pleasure. That its display is much the same as the Tab S6 means that the on-screen keyboard the Tab S5e offers is just as miserable to work with. It is possible to buy a keyboard case from Samsung, but doing so will drive up the price of owning this device. I tested the 4GB/64GB, Wi-Fi version of this tablet, which, as its storage can be affordably upgraded to a maximum of 512GB, I recommend as the one to get. That said, there is also a 6GB/128GB
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version of the Tab S5e, which provides a bit of a speed and storage boost. If you’re buying this tablet for gaming, investing the extra money could pay off. Of all of the tablets I tested for this guide, the Tab S5e had the most impressive battery life: it was able to replay video content at maximum brightness and maximum volume for a total of 10 hours and 22 minutes. It should be noted, however, that the tablet’s video app crashed twice while doing this. My assumption is that the processor was being taxed by the constant load being put upon it — a conclusion I came to after observing that, during playback, the Tab S5e became quite hot to the touch. When the time comes to juice up its battery or transfer data from a laptop or external drive, the task is accomplished via the tablet’s USB-C port. $399.99 at Samsung.com
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THE BEST By Séamus Bellamy Reviewed.com
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smartwatches
earing a smartwatch is a great way to stay on top of the news, your calendar events and social media without ever even having to pull your smartphone out of your pocket. After spending weeks researching and testing the best smartwatches available, I can tell you
that the Apple Watch Series 4 (available at Best Buy starting around $350) is the best smartwatch you can invest in right now. If you’re an Android user, the Apple Watch isn’t compatible with your phone, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch (from $279.99 at Samsung.com) is an excellent wrist-worn computer that’ll serve you well.
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THESE ARE THE BEST SMARTWATCHES WE TESTED, RANKED: 1. Apple Watch Series 4 smartwatch 2. Samsung Galaxy Watch 3. Garmin Vivomove HR smartwatch 4. Fossil Explorist HR smartwatch 5. Mobvoi TicWatch Pro smartwatch 6. Withings/Nokia Steel HR smartwatch 7. AmazFit Bip smartwatch 8. LG Watch W7
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BEST OVERALL
Apple Watch Series 4 (40mm) There’s no single killer feature that makes the Apple Watch Series 4 (as tested: 40mm with GPS and GPS/LTE) our pick for best smartwatch. It’s the fact that it does almost everything better than every other smartwatch we’ve come across. That it can be used as a minimalist device for keeping abreast of your smartphone notifications, or as an all-in wearable that will let you take or make phone calls, send text messages, navigate through a crowded city and listen to music without bringing your cellphone with you (with the GPS/LTE version) is the icing on the cake. Setting up the Apple Watch to work with your iPhone is almost effortless. Using this watch is just as easy. You can use your finger to navigate apps and menus, scroll through text with the
BEST FOR ANDROID
Samsung Galaxy Watch (Bluetooth, 46mm) With its gorgeous, largely metal construction, availability in 42-millimeter and 46-millimeter sizes, endless array of watch faces, three different colorways and lug widths designed to accommodate an variety of third-party watch bands, the Galaxy Watch is sure to meet the fashion requirements for a huge portion of the smartwatch-wearing population. That Samsung built this wearable to be water-resistant down to 170 feet and resilient enough to pass military testing standards makes it arguably one of the toughest smartwatches in its price range. The Galaxy Watch’s brilliant OLED display is sharp, colorful and easy to read in all lighting conditions. Running the Tizen operating system as it does, the Galaxy Watch might not have access to the wealth of apps that an Apple
Watch or wearables that run Google’s Wear OS operating system enjoy. However, I never felt like I was missing out. Notifications sent from my Android handset were quick to appear on the watch’s display, detailed and, in many cases, actionable with canned replies. I was able to control the music streaming from my smartphone. The Galaxy Watch also boasts 4GB of internal storage that you can use to listen to tunes, sans phone. You’ll be able to take phone calls with this watch, respond to messages and, if you spring for the LTE version, do it all without having to carry around your smartphone with you. All of this functionality is easily navigable, thanks to how the Galaxy Watch’s clever click-wheel bezel and touchscreen. As for battery life, you can expect two to four days between charging, depending on how heavily you use the device. The biggest downside to owning this smartwatch has got to be Bixby: Samsung’s proprietary digital assistant. It’s kind of awful.
Digital Crown (knob on the side) or ask Siri to do some hands-free heavy lifting for you. What’s more, with its sapphire glass display and the fact that the Series 4 iteration of the device is water resistant up to 150 feet, it’s a smartwatch that, provided you’re careful with it, is tough enough to serve you well for years. The Apple Watch isn’t without its flaws. For starters, you won’t be able to get through 24 hours without being forced to recharge it or without making serious tweaks like turning off its heart rate monitor. For the time being, it’s not possible to use its cellular connectivity while roaming across international borders. Additionally, while the grid of apps on the watch’s home screen might look neat, selecting the app you want can sometimes prove difficult. It is possible to change the home screen to an alphabetized list of all of your apps — but scrolling through the list can be tedious.
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BEST HYBRID SMARTWATCH
Garmin vívomove HR Sport If you’re interested in downloading tons of apps, accepting or rejecting phone calls on your wrist, or leaving your phone at home, you’d be better served by another device. If however, you’re looking for a great hybrid smartwatch to use with either Android or iOS, this is the one to get. With its classic looks and clever, daylight visible digital display that stays hidden until you want to use it, the vívomove HR offers just enough information to power you through your day. As with all of Garmin’s wearables, this is a health tracker at heart. But you can easily overlook its fitness-oriented features if keeping abreast of your exercise, stress and sleep isn’t your thing. When a new text message or email notification is served, the text scrolls at a fast and readable pace across the wearable’s face. If there are no messages or you’re not checking the weather or controlling your phone’s music playback, the digital interface disappears. Best of all, the vívomove HR absolutely sips power: When used as a smartwatch, I was able to go for four and a half days before I had to charge it. Garmin states that when being used solely as an analog watch, it can putter along for up to two weeks. Starts at $299.99 at buy.garmin.com
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Fossil Explorist HR (Gen 4)
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro
If your heart is set on picking up a smartwatch powered by Google’s Wear OS operating system, Fossil’s Explorist HR is well worth your attention. You’ll have full access to Google’s growing catalog of Wear OS apps — Google Maps, Google Keep as well as access to Spotify or your Nest cameras, for example. Thanks to Wear OS’ customizable application Tiles, I was able to tweak the Explorist’s interface to near perfection. Not fond of the aesthetic? No problem: The Explorist series comes in a number of sizes, styles and colors. I found that the bracelet on this watch was extremely difficult to remove links from. You may need to take it to a jeweler to have it properly adjusted. But not all watches in the Explorist series come with a steel bracelet, so it may be a non-issue for you. As with the Apple Watch, I was disappointed that the Explorist wasn’t able to make it through a full 24 hours of use before being recharged. Additionally, I noted that the interface, which should be fast, fluid and easy to use, suffered occasional slowdowns when navigating between apps. Fossil’s watches might be the best way to experience Wear OS right now, but they don’t offer a better overall smartwatch experience than the Samsung Galaxy Watch does. From $275 at fossil.com
The TicWatch Pro comes packing a feature that few other smartwatches can offer: ample battery life. The watch can be manually switched into Essential Mode, in much the same vein as the Apple Watch’s Power Reserve mode. While in this low-powered mode, you’ll be able to check on the time for days on end. You won’t, however, be able to use Google Maps or any of the other perks that come with owning a watch powered by Google’s Wear OS. While using the TicWatch Pro in Essential Mode, I found it extremely difficult to read its face in direct sunlight. Additionally, thanks to its older Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 2100 processor, even when you have the battery power to rock Wear OS, you’ll be doing so at noticeably slower speeds than many other Wear OS devices allow for. $249.99 at mobvoi.com
BEFORE YOU BUY
What about fitness functionality? While all of the smartwatches in this guide offer some level of fitness tracking, I didn’t take their health and monitoring capabilities into consideration as part of my research, for a number of reasons. Which smartwatch can most adequately meet your health monitoring needs is something you should discuss with your doctor, not some fella trying to steer you towards a great smartphone accessory.
Terms to know • Android: Google’s open-source Android operating system runs the majority of the smartphone handsets in the world (although you can also find it used to operate some tablets and laptops). Popular handsets such as the Google Pixel 3a, the Samsung Galaxy 10 and OnePlus 7 Pro use Android. • iOS: Apple’s iOS operating system is the backbone of what makes an iPhone or iPad tick. • Wear OS: When Google first offered an operating system for wearable devices, they called it Android
Wear. However, for some, the name was confusing as most people know Android as the operating system that runs their smartphones. Recently, Google changed its wearables operating system’s name to Wear OS, in an effort to keep things simple. • Watch OS: Apple’s operating system for the Apple Watch is called Watch OS. Watch OS is based on the company’s iOS operating system, sharing many of the same features and visual elements. However, it’s been optimized for use on the Apple Watch’s small display and to leverage its health monitoring, notification and other features that make the wearable the great piece of hardware that it is. • Tizen OS: Tizen OS is a flexible, Linux-based operating system that can be used in a wide number of hardware categories including smart TVs, some smartphones sold outside of North America and smartwatches. The OS, developed and primarily used by Samsung, was designed in an effort to reduce the company’s dependence on Google’s Android OS. When used in Samsung’s Galaxy Watch, Tizen OS is a powerful operating system that most users should find easy to use.
A word on compatibility Wear OS devices and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch are designed for use with Android smartphones. However, they’re also compatible with iOS devices — although the user experience is less than stellar. With the Galaxy Watch, for example, I found that I could receive text message notifications from my iPhone, but was unable to respond to them. The same goes for email. As such, for iPhone owners, I recommend staying away from wearables that run on Google’s Wear OS or Samsung’s Tizen operating systems. They’ll work with your smartphone, but not well. If you’re interested in a wearable that straddles both platforms with equal aplomb, check out Garmin’s smartwatches, like the vivomove HR. While they’re deeply sports and activity oriented, their smartphone integration is consistent across iOS and Android.
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February 2020
THE BEST
noise-canceling headphones By Nicole Carpenter and staff Reviewed.com
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oise-canceling headphones use microphones and clever software to silence much of the world around you. You’ll pay a premium price for them, but the decibel level of whatever aural assault is being thrown at you is diminished to a bare minimum. Wearing a pair, even if it’s only for a few minutes a day, is a great way to carve out a little bit of privacy for yourself in this loud, bustling world. After weeks of research and testing in a laboratory environment and under real-world conditions, we discovered the Sony WH-1000XM3 (available at Amazon for $348 as of Jan. 15) are the best noise-canceling headphones out there.
THESE ARE THE BEST NOISE-CANCELING HEADPHONES WE TESTED, RANKED: 1. Sony WH-1000XM3 2. Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II 3. Phiaton BT 150NC 4. Phiaton BT 120NC 5. JLab Audio Flex ANC 6. Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2 7. Audio-Technica ATH-ANC9 8. Anker Soundcore Space NC 9. Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 2.0 10. Beats Studio 3 Wireless
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BEST OVERALL
Sony WH-1000XM3 Sony’s WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones are expensive, but you won’t be disappointed with your purchase. The active noise-cancelation technology blocks out a variety of sounds at varying decibel levels. Sony allows the headphones’ users to customize the level of noise-cancelation they experience: This lets you hear as much or as little of the world around you as you desire. The level of aural tweaking that the WH-1000XM3 allow for is impressive. By playing with the WH-1000XM3’s ambient sound and adaptive sound control features, it’s possible to, for example, block out the wall of sound experienced when riding on public transit, but still be able to pick out enough ambient sound to walk down the street with a modicum of situational awareness or hear an announcement on a train platform. All of this tweaking is done via Sony’s Headphones Connect app, available from the iTunes App Store or, for Android device users, Google Play. Basic control over the headphones — turning the volume up or down or pausing or playing music — is conducted through touch controls embedded in the WH-1000XM3’s ear cups. Despite being so feature-rich, these headphones are still incredibly user-friendly.
Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II The active noise cancellation, for which Bose is renowned, cuts out a wide range of noises from deep train rumbling to higher-pitched A/C humming. The headphones are light and comfortable enough that they can be worn for hours at a time, although you may notice some heat or sweat buildup from where the cushy leather pads meet the sides of your head. The 20-hour battery life is also a huge selling point. One tricky point is that, should you decide you don’t want to use the ANC (for safety reasons or otherwise), you’ll have to plug in and use them as wired headphones, since the Bluetooth switch doubles as the ANC on/off switch. Additionally, The price is steep: $350 at Bose.com.
Phiaton BT 150 NC These are a comfortable, clear-sounding option for in-ear headphone aficionados. They’re a bit heavier than the 120 NCs, but still offer a minimal, sleek design that doesn’t feel heavy on the neck. That they ship with multiple ear cap options ensures a tight seal inside of the ear and a comfortable fit that didn’t cause discomfort after wearing them for a few hours. However, the battery drains fairly quickly with active noise cancelation turned on: I got about five hours of use. The good news, If you do lose power during the day, you can plug them into your audio source (provided it has a headphone jack) and continue using them, but without noise cancelation engaged. $110 at phiaton.com
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February 2020
Phiaton BT 120 NC The 120 NCs are designed as a sports product. While worn, I found that they were flexible and light enough to easily forget about. Volume and power controls are set on the headset’s neckband, making them easy to access. These in-ear style buds ship with a number of sizes of ear caps, allowing for a tight seal to aid in noise cancellation and a precise fit. These are a great option for general music or podcast listening while commuting or working out, but serious audiophiles will likely be a bit disappointed in the highs the 120 NCs produce. Additionally, while their active noise cancelation is an improvement over what might be produced while using them passively, it doesn’t compare to the silence that our main pick offers up. $80 at phiaton.com
JLab Audio Flex ANC JLab Audio is a relatively new player in the headphones game, but they really impressed me with the JLab Audio Flex ANC Wireless. The flat sound profile will please audiophiles who want true music fidelity. Like the Bose QC35, the active noise cancelation on these headphones is unreal. When turned on, it sounds like all of the noise has been sucked out of the room. If I hadn’t had my eyes open, I wouldn’t have known that a train had arrived at my station. Walking on a quiet street with the ANC on feels like floating in outer space, for the amount of ambient noise that reaches your ears. Their 30-hour battery life is great for both long days of travel and shorter, more casual use throughout the week. The headphones themselves are very comfortable but are a bit heavier than the Bose QC35, and have an angled cushion at the top of the headband that tends to dig into the top of your skull after a few hours. Additionally, there have been reports of design flaws in the ear pads, which tear and break off easily. When they unfold, the cups snap out crisply, so be sure to watch your fingers so they don’t get pinched. The Flex ANC Wireless has a relatively low price for wireless headphones; you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. Currently unavailable from several stores.
TERMS TO KNOW
Active noise cancelation vs. passive noise cancelation With headphones, active noise cancellation is a process that minimizes outside sound by introducing a second sound that’s designed to cancel out unwanted outside noise. Passive noise cancellation, on the other hand, uses materials built into the headphones to muffle outside sound. Typically, PNC doesn’t work as well as ANC. You should know that because active noise cancellation introduces additional sound into your headphones in order to eliminate outside audio, it can affect the sound quality of what you’re listening to. (When you turn on active noise cancelation without anything else playing, you can definitely hear the second sound.) Most noise cancelation headphones have an option to turn ANC on or off. So, if there’s a situation where you need the highest quality audio, you can have it.
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February 2020
THE BEST
affordable robot vacuums
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By Jonathan Chan Reviewed.com
he idea of a robot servant going around your home and constantly cleaning your floors sounds like a high-end luxury. However, over the years, these automated floor cleaners have become very affordable. Yes, the brand name models like the iRobot i7+ can be pretty pricey, but there are some great values to be found out there. Our testers put every robot vacuum on this list through our custom-built obstacle course that simulates everything from table legs to throw rugs. We also make sure that every robot vacuum that gets our approval can handle dirt, crumbs and especially pet hair. After evaluating dozens of entry-level models, we think the Eufy Robovac 11S (available at Eufy.com for $240) tops the charts, both in terms of performance and value.
THESE ARE THE BEST AFFORDABLE ROBOT VACUUMS WE TESTED, RANKED: 1. Eufy Robovac 11S 2. Neato Botvac D3 Connected 3. iRobot Roomba 690
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February 2020
BEST OVERALL
Eufy Robovac 11S The Eufy Robovac 11S is the heir to the much-loved Robovac 11. This robot vacuum does its predecessor proud, offering excellent suction and improved navigation. The slimmer design allows the S to get its brushes into more places. When we tested, the 11S picked up around 11.6 grams of dirt per run, more than what most iRobot models manage. We also noted that during operation the 11S was quiet, rarely making enough noise to interrupt a conversation. The combination of good dirt pickup and quiet operation make the 11S one of our favorite robot vacuums. Two cons: It can get caught on throw rugs, and its clean cycles can last up to two hours.
iRobot Roomba 690 The Roomba 690 replaces the 650 as the entry-level offering from iRobot, one of the best-known names in the world of home robotics. On sale for as low as $280 at Lowes.com (but low in stock), it adds Wi-Fi connectivity and remote control with a smartphone app. That means it’s the most affordable connected robot vac from a major manufacturer. So why isn’t this superb cleaner our favorite? Well, it still has a few flaws. For instance, it’s based on the iRobot 650, which is rough on furniture, hitting the table and chair legs with 3.3 pounds of force in our tests. That’s hard enough to knock an item off the edge of a table. The Roomba 614 can be had for even less money (around $225 last time we checked), but it loses value in our eyes because it lacks both connectivity and the ability to schedule cleaning ahead of time.
Neato Botvac D3 Connected We’re big fans of the Neato D3 Connected. It’s an affordable robot vacuum that excels at dirt pickup, cleaning as well as robot vacuums that cost twice the price. It did especially well on pet hair. While it’s the most expensive vacuum on our list — $400 at neatorobotics.com — it also comes with WiFi connectivity. That means you can tell Alexa or Google Home to start vacuuming — or you can start your D3 from your smartphone, anywhere in the world. It is a bit bulky, preventing it from cleaning tight spaces.
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BEFORE YOU BUY
What you should know about robot vacuums After testing dozens of robot vacuums, we think the name is a bit of a misnomer. A robot vacuum’s ability to pick up dirt pales in comparison to that of a full-sized vacuum and can only really compete over the course of a week. We found that consumers experience the most satisfaction with their robot vacuums when they view them as floor maintainers in between manual cleanings. We should also point out that most robot vacuums are designed for bare floors and medium carpet. If you have throw rugs taller than a half inch, your robot vacuum might not be able to climb atop it or may get stuck. This fact is vital for pet owners because it means pet beds are a point of contention.
A good robot navigates well by not bumping into furniture and getting over thresholds. But a robot vacuum’s worst downfall is when it gets stuck and requires a helping hand, defeating the purpose of an automated floor cleaner. However, being a good robot means drawing power away from the brushes and to the wheels, sensors and circuit board. A robot vacuum that cleans well tends to ram itself into furniture. A robot vacuum can’t clean where its brushes haven’t been. They also tend to be noisier as more power is drawn to the suction motor. The basic rule of thumb is that the more a robot vacuum costs, the better robot it is and the less dirt it will pick up. We’re talking about a 20% difference between the best navigators that never get close to a chair leg and a robot vacuum that scuffs everything in your house.
Avoiding pet mishaps
Navigation
Over the years, three technologies have developed to help keep robot vacuums from running amok: magnetic strips, virtual barriers and app-based barriers. All three of these methods have their pros and cons. Magnetic strips are the simplest. Lay them on the floor and they create a barrier that designated robot vacuums will not cross. While they don’t require batteries, magnetic strips are cumbersome. Most robot vacuums that include them only ship with one, so you have to cut them if you want to cover multiple entryways. The next step up is virtual barriers. These battery-powered devices emit an infrared line that tells robot vacuums to turn back. Some specialized barriers, like iRobot’s lighthouse, can create a “halo,” or a circle barrier to encompass a piece of furniture or a pet bowl. The final method, aside from shutting doors, involves specialized apps. New mapping technologies allow robot vacuums to have a better understanding of their surroundings. They can then send that information to your phone. Companies like iRobot, Neato and Ecovacs all produce robot vacuums were you can draw lines on virtual maps to denote where the robots can and cannot go.
Robot vacuums tend to have two types of navigation, infrared and optical, or a combination of both. Infrared sensors shoot out beams that give information about distance. Optical navigation involves cameras, usually mounted on the top of the unit. Typically, these cameras utilize contrast and landmarks to decipher where they are. Robot vacuums that rely on optical navigation cannot work in a pitch black room.
Robot vs. vacuum Whenever you have a device that’s battery-powered, you’re going to have to deal with a series of tradeoffs. With robot vacuums, it’s a balancing act between being a good robot and a good vacuum.
How long do robot vacuums last? We find that the battery is the shortest-lived part of a robot vacuum. Both nickel and lithium batteries have hard limits on the number of times they can recharge. Nickel batteries suffer from a limitation known as memory loss — basically, over time, they lose the ability to recharge fully. The cathodes of lithium batteries tend to wear after a few years. As a rule of thumb, you can expect to buy a new battery pack for your robot vacuum after two to four years of use, depending on how often you run your device.
Are robot vacuums worth the money? If you’re a pet owner, a robot vacuum helps get at balls of fur that are everywhere. As a floor maintainer between manual cleanings, they can save a lot of time and energy. The way to get your money’s worth is to set a robot vacuum to automatically run every day. Getting one with an app is also a bonus for those times you need to give your floors a once-over before coming home to any last-minute surprise guests.
passion
February 2020
THE BEST By Julia MacDougall Reviewed.com
smart thermostats
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e’ve got lots of options when it comes to great smart home devices, but few have the potential to affect your overall comfort more than a smart thermostat. After extensive testing, we recommend the Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat (available at Amazon for $124.31). Its easy setup, intuitive controls and voice-controlled personal assistant compatibility make it the best choice, regardless of your experience with smart home products.
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passion THESE ARE THE BEST SMART THERMOSTATS WE TESTED, RANKED:
1. Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Thermostat 2. ecobee4 Thermostat 3. Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Thermostat 4. iDevices Thermostat 5. Honeywell Lyric Round Thermostat 6. ecobee3 lite Thermostat 7. Nest Learning Thermostat, 3rd Gen 8. Honeywell Lyric T5 Thermostat 9. Nest Thermostat E 10. Honeywell Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat
BEST FOR HOMES WITH NO C-WIRE
ecobee4 Thermostat • The bottom line: With so many extra goodies, like a built-in Amazon Alexa, a power extender and a room sensor to monitor the ambient temperature, it’s hard not to be tempted by the ecobee4 thermostat, especially if your thermostat doesn’t have a C-wire. • Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, with the “ecobee” or “SmartThings” skill enabled; Google Home, through the Wink (Android/ iOS) app; Apple Homekit/Siri • Setup/installation: The power extender acts as a middleman between the HVAC system and the thermostat, so to use it, you’ll still need to be able to pull wires from your heating/cooling system, plug them into the power extender, and run those wires behind the wall to the back of the thermostat. • Usability: With a full touchscreen on the thermostat interface, it’s easy to make temperature changes at the thermostat. We found that the ecobee app is a bit too streamlined. It’s a little bit tougher to navigate because the minimal labeling makes it hard to find exactly what you want. Geofencing works beautifully, though. The scheduling function is not as precise as some other apps, and only lets you schedule different “home,” “away” and “sleep” events, where any two events of the same kind (i.e. two “home” events) cannot have different temperature settings. • Retails for $249 at ecobee.com, but can be found for less on Amazon
February 2020
BEST OVERALL
Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Thermostat • The bottom line: While Nest and Honeywell may be better known smart thermostat brands, with the least stressful installation process, a helpful app and functionality across multiple “smart” assistants, we would recommend the Emerson Sensi Touch thermostat to anyone with a C-wire. • Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, with the “Sensi” Skill enabled; Google Home:, through the Wink (Android/iOS) app; Apple Homekit/Siri • Setup/installation: The installation directions in the Sensi app were fantastic and foolproof: The Sensi app actually checks which wires are connected (which tells you if a wire isn’t touching its contact properly), and then checks the viability of that wiring configuration. If you’re new at playing around with thermostat wires, this will be hugely reassuring, as will the easy-to-access contact push tabs. A little light around the edge of the thermostat also makes the wires more visible during the installation process. • Usability: A streamlined app makes it easy to change the temperature or toggle the AC, heating or fan with the tap of a finger. The Sensi Touch also has an “Auto” mode, where it can switch from heating to cooling as necessary to maintain a temperature. The scheduling functionality is especially impressive; different people can design and deploy multiple heating/cooling schedules very easily. Geofencing (when the app uses your phone’s GPS locator to determine whether you are “home” or “away,” and sets the temperature accordingly) is available, although it states that it is in beta testing.
BEST VALUE
Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Thermostat • The bottom line: This model doesn’t have the futuristic-looking touchscreen of the Sensi Touch thermostat, but with its nearly identical functionality and significantly cheaper cost, the Sensi Wi-Fi Thermostat is a great buy. • Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, with the “Sensi” Skill enabled; Google Home, through the Wink (Android/iOS) app; Apple Homekit/Siri • Setup/installation: The wiring configuration for the Sensi Wi-Fi thermostat is a little bit more old school than that of the Sensi Touch thermostat. The Sensi Wi-Fi has wire contacts that are adjusted with a small screwdriver, as well as batteries that can help to power the thermostat interface. (With some HVAC configurations, it might even be possible to forgo connecting a C-wire with the Sensi Wi-Fi in favor of using the included batteries, but for the sake of simplicity, assume you will need a C-wire for this smart thermostat.) • Usability: We did notice some connectivity issues during setup and testing, where the thermostat would be unavailable from the smartphone app despite the internet working. We were mostly able to work around that by exiting and reopening the app. The only HVAC settings are heat/cool/off. • $129 at sensi.emerson.com
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February 2020
iDevices Thermostat • The bottom line: The iDevices thermostat is probably the closest a smart thermostat can get to looking and feeling like an analog thermostat. • Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, with the “iDevices” skill enabled; Google Home, with the Google Home functionality enabled in the iDevices app; Apple Homekit/Siri • Setup/installation: The “guts” of the iDevices thermostat are very similar to those of a traditional thermostat. The contacts are adjusted with a small screwdriver, and a manual jumper wire between the Rc and Rh terminals comes standard. As protection against potentially shorting out the system with too many on/off commands in rapid succession, the iDevices thermostat actually waits for 5 minutes before turning the HVAC system on the first time. • Usability: The iDevices thermostat has four buttons on it that allow for temperature changes at the thermostat itself, in addition to the app. While the app itself is pretty basic, and geofencing is not available, we found the “Override” setting and the scheduling module to be especially useful. The “Override” setting allowed us to manually set the temperature and then set the exact time duration we wanted for that manual override before it reverted to the preset schedule. • $99.95 at store.idevicesinc.com
Honeywell Lyric Round Thermostat • The bottom line: It looks cute, it’s easy to use and can save you money with geofencing (tracking your location as “home” or “away”). • Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, with the “Honeywell Lyric” or “SmartThings” skill enabled; Google Home; Apple Homekit/Siri • Setup/installation: The Honeywell Lyric Round thermostat has wire contacts that can be depressed with a pen tip, and there’s space for a battery, which is needed to set up the Wi-Fi connection. The hole in the backplate through which the thermostat wires run is pretty small, and may slow down installation while you try to “thread the needle” with the wires. It also requires a 2.4 GHz internet connection. Almost all of the other smart thermostats can be used with a 5 GHz connection. If you’re going with the Honeywell Lyric Round thermostat, make sure your router has a strong 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal. • Usability: The Honeywell Lyric app is initially easy to understand and to use. We liked the dial-turning method of changing the temperature, and how the motion detector on the thermostat sensed when we were nearby and lit up the display. Changing the heating/cooling status and turning the fan on and off were both straightforward. One thing we weren’t so keen on was the scheduling part of the app, which defaults to the geofencing. For setting more specific weekly temperature schedules, we had to dig further into the app, and that’s when it got a bit clunky and hard to operate. • $249 at honeywellhome.com
BEFORE YOU BUY
What you should know about smart thermostats If you’re shopping for a smart thermostat, be sure to answer these questions before you buy anything: • Do you have a C wire? • Would your current HVAC setup work with a smart thermostat? • How much smart functionality do you want? Are geofencing or “learning” a requirement? • Do you have any voice assistants, like Siri, Google Home or
Amazon Alexa? Are they compatible with the smart thermostat you’re investigating? • Do you have the right internet requirements for a smart thermostat (i.e. 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz)? • Is the wall behind your current thermostat clean/neat enough to be exposed, if you replace you current model with a smaller thermostat? • Will you want to install the smart thermostat yourself, or will you want a contractor to do it? Keep in mind that contractors may favor smart thermostats not available for resale.
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February 2020
COLUMN
Travel for the directionally challenged TRACY B ECK E RM AN
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February 2020
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y husband and I come from a time before GPS when we had to use actual printed maps to find our way somewhere. My parents come from a time when they had to use a compass to find their way. And my grandparents in the old country had a goat with a really good sense of direction that could lead them to the nearest pierogi shop, but that was about it. Nowadays though, everyone relies on a GPS to get them where they want to go. This works out pretty well, until, of course, you get to someplace along the way with no Wi-Fi and all of a sudden your navigation system stops working. When that happens, if you don’t have a backup printed map, in the best case scenario you can stop and ask a cow for directions. Worst case, you get picked up by aliens and if you ask nicely, they might drop you off at your destination on this planet, on their way back to theirs. Meanwhile, back in the middle of nowhere, my husband and I had neither a Wi-Fi signal nor a printed map, on our way someplace we’ve never been before, in a snowstorm, at night, without even a compass or a goat to help us find our way. Even Galileo would be lost. “Check Google Maps again,” I suggested to my husband as we pulled off to the side of the road … or at least what we thought was the side of the road. The snow was blowing too hard for us to really be sure. “There’s no Wi-Fi signal here, honey. We’re not going to get GPS on any of the navigation apps.” “Well that seems like a giant flaw,” I replied. “Someone should fix that.” “I’ll make sure to report it to Google when we get to the hotel,” he said. “I’m sure it will be at the top of their to-do list.” “What was the name of the last town we passed?” I said. “Maybe I can find a map of it online.” He sighed. “You won’t.” “Why?” “Because we don’t have any Wi-Fi.” “Oh, right. I wonder why there’s no Wi-Fi here?” I wondered.
“Because cows don’t need the Internet,” he said. We were both silent as we tried to figure a way out of our directional issues. Neither of us had a great sense of direction to begin with and it didn’t help that, with the snow, we couldn’t even tell which way he had come from. I wondered if this was what Santa went through whenever Rudolph was out sick. I tried to think if there was any other way we could figure out where we were. Back in the day pirates looked to the stars to find their way. Of course, most of the time they had no idea where they were going, which is probably why they said “Argh” all the time. Sadly, neither of us had any cartology experience and I had left my sextant at home. I thought maybe I could call someone and ask them to use their GPS for us, but then I realized my cellphone wouldn’t work either. Every solution I could come up with necessitated the internet. We were stuck between technology and a hard place. “What do you think Copernicus would do in this situation?” I said. “I think he’d wait 500 years and then invent GPS,” my husband replied. As we pondered our fate, a pair of headlights suddenly emerged from the snow behind us and pulled over beside our car. We immediately realized it was a state trooper and lowered the window. “You folks OK?” the officer asked. “Yes, officer,” my husband said. “We’re just lost. No Wi-Fi signal.” “That’s true,” he said. “OK, follow me and I’ll take you into town so you can get some directions to your destination.” He pulled back onto the road and we followed. “Wow! That was really lucky,” I said. “How do you think he found us?” My husband smiled. “The cows probably called it in.” Tracy Beckerman has written her humor column, “Lost in Suburbia,” for Gatehouse Media and Gannett since 2008. Her monthly column for ION is “Lost in Technology.” Follow her on Twitter at @TracyBeckerman
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE: HEALTHIEST FOOD TASTIEST TREATS GREATEST GIFTS www.tailsandtoys.com