Bits & Bytes

By Joel B. Bernbaum, Esq.

It’s that time again! You are looking in the mirror or at the scale in the morning and wondering why your clothes are tight; you feel sluggish, burnt out from Covid-19 and the Election news…and figuring out what to do with the gift cards, credit from returns, and your gift lists sitting on your night table. Here are this year’s suggestions from the team at Bites & Bytes. Well, not exactly a team…me. Smartphones – Stay with your carrier if you want, but remember that you own your phone number and can port it to any new carrier. Look for features you need, not what you want. Look for trade-in deals. One reason to change carriers is that you can take advantage of being a “new” customer. Stay with the major brands: Apple iPhone, Samsung, and Google. Tablets – A great alternative to laptops, e-readers, and old desktops. Great portability, ease of use and features that rival your old desktop. I haven’t had a laptop for 10 years. The price is right, too. Headphones – A must-have and a great gift. Under $50 and a terrific gift for the kids. More expensive types from Apple, Bose, Sony, and others now come with noise cancelling and other audiophile features. Great for travel, privacy and just listening to podcasts at night. Smart Watches – These are becoming a must-have device. Many include health monitoring features such as downloading your medical reports, records, etc., directly from your health care providers. Also, keep track of your workouts, runs, walks, etc. Some allow you to answer your phone, load calendars and other reminders, and much more. Smart Home Devices – Turn on your lights, find out where your deliveries are, answer questions, call your family and friends without using your phone, use as a walkie-talkie and much more. Prices have come down, features get better. Smart Lightbulbs – See above. Home Entertainment – Bluetooth speakers are great for patios, camping, extending your music listening around the house, and replacing expensive stereo speakers. All price ranges are available. Listen before you buy, but don’t worry about the specs. The name brands are all good. Pay attention to ease of wireless connection. Streaming Service Subscription – How about buying a one-year Netflix subscription as a gift instead of a gift card? Better yet, one for you and one for a friend. Echo Show 10 – Better than Facetime. Great for parents with kids living away or grandparents to talk to the grandchildren. PureVis Self-Cleaning Water Bottle – Great idea; gets rid of the goop and grime build-up. Bose Audio Sunglasses – I know, don’t laugh, these are cool and perfect for hiking, long walks, or other outdoor exercise. POLAROID – New I-Type Instant Camera – Who knew? A polaroid digital camera. All the digital features in an instant camera. Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug – $25 for an easy way to keep your Java hot! ETAPE16 – D – Digital Electronic Tape Measure. Accurate and easy to use. Fit Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds – These keep getting better and better and the price keeps coming down.

Most of these items can be found on all the usual internet sites…shop around and you’ll find a good deal. Remember if it looks too good, it’s a scam.

Enjoy the Internet, E-Mail, and social media, but “Let’s be careful out there!”

Please send your questions and comments to me at: joel@bernbaumfamilylaw.com.