Posts in Gadgets
No more missing chargers and cables

If you have a phone charger and cable set up in a common area of your house and it hasn't vanished, then you probably live alone. The Lock Socket is a simple plastic device that attaches to a power outlet cover, making it impossible for the charger and cable to mysteriously disappear. Your family may be upset, but that's the consequence. — MF

GadgetsClaudia Dawson
Multiple supercharger

We’ve recommended Anker superchargers before; they will charge phones and computer devices really fast. Now, even better is a four-slotted Anker 747 supercharger, which can handle three USB-C cords (the emerging universal standard plug) and one classic USB. This is ideal for traveling, particularly for more than one user, with multiple devices (phone, Kindle, watch, laptop).  I used to carry a homemade squid with multiple chargers from one outlet, but this fist-size cube is much more compact, simple, and faster. It can charge up to four devices in a jiffy. — KK

Eye-contact webcam

Direct eye contact is the critical missing ingredient on zoom. It’s hard to achieve because each person is looking at the other person’s face and not at their camera off the screen. Years ago I built a contraption that suspends a small webcam in the middle of my monitor so I am looking at the camera as I look at the face. It gave me great eye-contact but was bulky and blocked parts of my screen. I have since replaced it with Center Cam ($120), which is an itty-bitty camera mounted on a very slender adjustable gooseneck that suspends in the center of my screen. It is tiny enough that I don’t even notice it, and it gives a clear, high-res image of me looking directly at you. It would be great if everyone else had one of these so your eyes would look directly at me. — KK

GadgetsClaudia Dawson
The best e-book

I’ve had a Kindle since they were first introduced about 15 years ago. Every now and then I upgrade. The current version, the Kindle Paperwhite (11th generation, $140), is by far the best reading experience I’ve had. Its clarity, in dark and in sunlight, speed, battery longevity, and ease of highlighting are outstanding. In 8 out of 10 factors, I find the new Kindle is better than reading a paper book. (There is also a Paperwhite Kids version that has a rugged cover, an extra year of insurance, and a clever way to share and curate books with your kid.) The upgrade to Paperwhite was definitely worthwhile. — KK

Telescoping mini flashlight

I had no idea how useful this small and extendable LED flashlight by Vibelite would be when I bought it. We keep it out on a side table in the living room, which is a perfect place for it because we often need to fix something behind our TV or Wifi setup and I’m always searching underneath our recliner to find my dog’s runaway toys. I'm going to buy one more to keep in my basement. — CD

Small squid cable

A squid cable is a power cable that splits into multiple strands so that each arm can be connected at once to the same source. I carry one as my main charging cable while I travel. There are many generic no-name brand models that are very lightweight, efficient, and versatile. My Puxnoin Multi Charging Cable ($13) is an All-in-One deal; it can charge (but no data) up to 4 devices from one USB plug. The four-foot long cable divides into two lightning cables (iPhones), a Type C cable (IPads, tablets, Samsung, Pixel), and a MicroUSB (Android, Windows, headsets, controllers). One cord to rule them all. — KK

GadgetsClaudia Dawson
Cheap collapsible selfie stick

I bought the ​​Ustine Portable Selfie Stick Tripod for $8 to take better selfies of my wife and myself while traveling. It exceeded my expectations. It has a detachable bluetooth button on the handle that makes it easy to take photos and video. It extends from 7 inches to 22 inches. And it has tripod legs so I can set it on the ground and take photos from farther back. I wish I’d gotten it sooner. — MF

GadgetsClaudia Dawson
External DVD drive

I recently bought a 3-disc CD set and needed to rip it to iTunes but my laptop doesn’t have a CD/DVD drive. I bought this tiny USB-powered CD/DVD reader-writer for under $20. I plugged it in my laptop and inserted a CD. iTunes opened automatically, I clicked a button and the songs downloaded to my computer without a hitch. I’m sure it will come in handy for watching my old DVDs, too. — MF

GadgetsClaudia Dawson
Second-best gear reviewer

The best place to research what gear to buy is still the Wirecutter (now owned by The New York Times). I comfortably rely on their recommendations all the time. But The Wall Street Journal wants in on this game so they have a new site called BuySide. Their gear reviews are not as broad, deep or as well-researched as the Wirecutter, but they are often a good second opinion. — KK

GadgetsClaudia Dawson
Tiny 3-in-1 charger

The inCharge All-in-One charging cable is so small it fits in my wallet (along with a band-aid and one Advil tablet). It has USB-C on one end for plugging into a laptop or battery, and a convertible Lightning/MicroUSB connector on the other side for phones and devices. Magnets in the cable let you snap it on a keyring. — MF

GadgetsClaudia Dawson
Low-cost tracking device

I am a convert to Apple AirTags. I hide these tiny buttons in my luggage to keep track of where it is. On a recent walk in England our luggage was forwarded each day, and with the AirTag I could track their whereabouts. If I stray too far from my daypack (as if I had forgotten it) I get an alert on my phone. And attached as a fob on our car key, I can track where in the house the keys were left using my phone. I have a friend who slips one in critical packages he ships. I am putting one in all my bicycles. Each AirTag is $29, and its replaceable battery lasts about a year. — KK

GadgetsClaudia Dawson
Multi-port Hub

In my experience, you can’t have too many usb ports at your desktop. I have an Anker 13-port USB hub mounted on my desk. I can charge several devices at once but most of the ports are for data comms with the many peripherals I have connected to my PC, such as headset, mic, label printer, wacom tablets, CD player, etc. I already have all 13 slots filled and next time would go for a 16 port hub. — KK

GadgetsClaudia Dawson
VR workout

My 18-year-old daughter bought an Oculus Quest 2 VR system but didn’t like it. It sat in the box for a few months before I gave it a try. I got a trial subscription to a boxing fitness program called Supernatural. I’m hooked. It’s so much fun that I don’t notice that my heart is beating fast and I’m panting as I’m dodging, ducking, and jabbing. With over 500 workouts, I look forward to the beautiful settings and enthusiastic coaches every time I work out. — MF

GadgetsClaudia Dawson
New Tile Slim for wallets

I keep a Tile Slim bluetooth tracker in my wallet. If I misplace my wallet, I can use my phone to make the tracker chirp. If I misplace my phone, I can press the button on the tracker and make my phone chirp. The 2022 version of the Tile Slim is out. It’s still as thin as 2 credit cards, but has an improved range of 250 feet. I bought one for my daughter, who recently had a scare when she lost her wallet (someone found it and returned it fortunately). — MF

GadgetsClaudia Dawson