Articles by Christine Persaud

Best bang for your buck

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2

From $392 at Amazon

Pros

Slightly lighter in weight
Available at a discount now that Active3 is out
Super rugged design

Cons

Not high-res screen
No touch sensitivity with gloves
Not a lot of storage space

While it launched in 2018, the Active2 still serves as the basis for the Active3, and it has many of the same features like LTE support, Pogo pin for power, S Pen compatibility, a user-replaceable battery, and it’s just as durable and secure. But it does have its limitations, including limited storage and glove operation requiring physical keys. But it’s still a decent option that will suffice for many field workers.

Lots of new features

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3

From $490 at Samsung

Pros

Enhanced shock absorption for greater durability
Screen is touch-sensitive while wearing gloves
New features like Samsung DeX
Tons of storage, 1TB microSD card compatible

Cons

More expensive than the previous versio…

Let’s be real: half the fun of CES are the ridiculous things you’ll never, ever see on a store shelf.

Every year, CES serves as the launchpad for the most exciting innovations in televisions, audio, computing, home appliances, mobile accessories, robotics, and other technologically-related fields. The reveals of gorgeously massive OLED displays and immersive wireless headphones leave attendees salivating and shoppers anxious to buy them. But historically, it’s the most outlandish technology that gets the bulk of attention and becomes fodder for conversation when asked the inevitable question, “what did you see at the show?”

These wild and crazy products usually (though not always) hail from small companies and start-ups. And while some are eventually made into actual, saleable products, others disappear after enjoying their 15 minutes of fame.

Whether the products are useful or just ridiculous is irrelevant. Show-goers just can’t help but talk about them. Case in point: remember…

There’s no question that COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of our lives for the last year. Along with having to take several safety precautions, many of us are also working from home, some for the first time. Kids are going to virtual school. Meetings are being held online using services like Zoom and Google Meet. And trade shows are virtual, too. That includes the largest North American trade show for the tech industry, CES, which, because of COVID-19, switched to an entirely digital format for CES 2021.

Along with physical booths being replaced by clickable icons and video and text-based chats becoming the alternative to in-person conversations, COVID-19 also re-shaped the types of products that manufacturers, big and small, are developing and showcasing at CES. Not surprisingly, there was a lot of health tech at CES.

Jump to:

Purify the air
Sanitize just about everything
Let there be UV light
Mask Up!
Work from home, play at home gear
Other ways CES is being reshaped by C…

Every kid wants a tablet, but deciding to invest in an Android tablet for kids is a big step. There are several features to consider: price, parental controls, and perhaps most importantly, durability. The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition is a top pick not only for offering tons of great content for kids but also for its included protective bumper case and parental controls. You can manage what your kids do and not worry that they might be accessing questionable websites or web content.

Best Overall: Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition is packed with some of the best hardware and software features you could ask for as a parent. Amazon took its top-of-the-line tablet, loaded it with parental controls, kid-specific content, and wrapped it up in a durable and functional case. While the screen size might be difficult for smaller toddlers to hold, the provided case does include a fold-out kickstand to prop up the tablet.

At 1080p, the full-HD display provi…

If you just invested in a brand-spanking-new Google Pixel 4a 5G, you’re going to want to protect your new, premium smartphone. The slim phone has a gorgeous 6.2-inch full HD+ OLED that requires protecting, especially since the device is not water-resistant. But you also want to maintain the sleek look of the phone. This is where a protective case comes in that will protect the device from bumps and scratches, and the best thin cases for Pixel 4a 5G won’t add a ton of bulk.

Durable and sleek

Caseology Skyfall

Staff Pick

This case, which comes in either black or aurora white, offers military-grade protection through its polycarbonate bumper and reinforced corner cushions, but it is also ultra-slim. The clear, dual-layer case is lightweight and still allows for wireless charging through it. It has everything you’d need in a protective case that is both durable and maintains the look of the phone.

$14 at Amazon $19 at Walmart

Totally transparent

QITAYO Crystal Clear Case

To t…

If you just invested in a brand-spanking-new Google Pixel 4a 5G, you’re going to want to protect your new, premium smartphone. The slim phone has a gorgeous 6.2-inch full HD+ OLED that requires protecting, especially since the device is not water-resistant. But you also want to maintain the sleek look of the phone. This is where a protective case comes in that will protect the device from bumps and scratches, and the best thin cases for Pixel 4a 5G won’t add a ton of bulk.

Durable and sleek

Caseology Skyfall

Staff Pick

This case, which comes in either black or aurora white, offers military-grade protection through its polycarbonate bumper and reinforced corner cushions, but it is also ultra-slim. The clear, dual-layer case is lightweight and still allows for wireless charging through it. It has everything you’d need in a protective case that is both durable and maintains the look of the phone.

$14 at Amazon $19 at Walmart

Totally transparent

QITAYO Crystal Clear Case

To t…

Equipped with a 13-inch screen and measuring 11.83×9.25×0.6 inches in size, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is a versatile computer that flips a full 360-degrees so you can use it as a tablet as well. And while it is built with military-grade durability, you still want to protect it when out and about. While a good sleeve does help, the best sleeves for the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 make it easy to slide your laptop in and out, feature a smooth gliding zipper, and offer protection against the elements.

Everything you need

Landici Laptop Case Sleeve

Staff Pick

With internal dimensions of 13.7×10.2×1.18 inches, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 will fit nicely inside this sleeve, with a bit of room to spare. Available in seven colors, the sleeve is made from water-resistant polyester Oxford fabric and has foam padding along with a fleece fabric lining, offering three layers of protection. A front accessory compartment can hold other essentials, and the easy-glide zipper is on the side for…

When looking for the best kid’s headphones, there are a special set of criteria. First, they need to be smaller to fit a child’s head. They also need to include simplified controls, be comfortable, and crucially, include built-in volume-limiting technology to ensure that a child can’t crank the volume up beyond levels that are considered to be safe for little ears. Luckily, these headphones are more affordable than ever. Some limit audio to as low as 75 decibels, which is safe for even toddlers. Other alternatives, like the Noot Products K11 are foldable for easy travel, while others still boast further clever tricks to make them kid-friendly, like cute designs and durable build quality. And these days, you can even find wireless Bluetooth headphones for kids.

Best Overall: Noot Products K11 Foldable On-Ear Headset

These headphones will fit all children ages 3 and up. Their foldable design makes them ideal for chucking in school bags for storing in hand luggage and even for compa…

As more and more meetings are being held virtually, Zoom has become a new best friend. That also means you should have a nice set-up at home so you can look good and be seen clearly by colleagues and clients as you chat. Lighting is part of that equation. To offer a softer color temperature and overall nicer experience for those looking on, the best webcam lighting can help. Here are some great options.

Everything you need

Lume Cube Video Conference Lighting Kit

Staff pick

Get everything you’ll need in this kit, including a light with adjustable brightness, adjustable color temperature from warm orange to cool white, a built-in frosted lens, and a white diffuser. Use the suction cup computer mount to secure it to your laptop or desktop monitor. The battery lasts for hours or plug it into the computer’s USB port for continuous lighting.

$56 at Amazon
$80 at Best Buy

Travel-friendly

FDKOBE Video Conferencing Lighting Kit

The included carry bag and lightweight design make th…

At the lowest price it has been in a while, now is the time to jump on this Amazon Canada deal for the NVIDIA Shield Android TV 4K HDR streaming media player that slashes $30 off the price. Before Black Friday has officially arrived, Canadians can get the best streaming device that we raved about when we first reviewed it for $169.99, which is 15% ($30) its original price of $199.99.

Nvidia Shield Android TV 4K HDR Streaming Media Player | $30 off at Amazon

Easily stream video from all your favorite services to display on the big screen with this handy device, which features 4K video resolution and supports Dolby Atmos surround sound. It also works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa so you can control compatible smart home devices by voice and view everything from your live camera feeds to the weather on screen.

$169.99 at Amazon

Make any TV smart with the Nvidia Shield Android TV 4K streaming media player, which gives you access to video at up to 4K resolution from sup…