EST GADGETS OF 2018
Oculus Go
The most recent wave of VR headsets has been split between two distinct categories. There are the high-end Rift and Vives on one side and the super-low-cost Daydreams and Gear VRs on the other. That leaves consumers in the unenviable position of choosing between emptying the bank account or opting for a sub-par experience.
Oculus’ Go headset arrived this year to split the difference. In a time when virtual reality seems at the tail end of its hype cycle, the $199 device offers the most compelling case for mainstreaming yet.
It’s a solid and financially accessible take on VR that shows that the category may still have a little life left in it yet.
Google Home Hub
Google took its sweet time bringing an Echo Show competitor to market. When the Home Hub did finally arrive, however, the company lapped the competition. The smart screen splits the size difference between the Echo Spot and Show, with a form factor that fits in much more comfortably in most home decor.
Assistant still sports a much deeper knowledge base than Alexa, and the Hub offers one not so secret weapon: YouTube. Google’s video service is light years ahead of anything Amazon (or anyone, really) currently offers, and the competition shows no sign of catching up.
DJI Mavic 2 Pro ($2499):
There’s a reason this drone’s name was all over Instagram this year. The Mavic 2 Pro is the first consumer drone to feature a one-inch image sensor from Hasselblad, delivering significantly more detail, 20-megapixel still images, and 4K videos to users on the ground. The flying machine also arrived inside a small, folding body, and with new tricks including a longer battery life, adjustable aperture, HDR video, and Hyperlapse mode to automatically create stunning aerial movies.
Apple Watch 4 ($599):
Apple stepped up its wearable technology game this year, producing a timepiece that could actually save your life. While its best feature — the ability to monitor heart rhythms — has yet to be turned on in Australia, this device can alert emergency contacts if you fall over and stop moving, track your every move, and alert you if your heart rate goes above or below what it should while you’re resting. The addition of a larger screen, thinner body, and louder volume also helps.
DJI Osmo Pocket
I wanted to dislike the Osmo Pocket. I mean, $349 for a gimbal with a built-in screen is pretty steep by any measure — especially given the fact that the drone maker has much cheaper and more professional options. After an afternoon with the Pocket, however, I was hooked.
The software takes a little getting used to, but once you’ve mastered it, you’re off to the races, using many of the same tricks you’ll find on the Mavic line. Time-lapse, FaceTrack and the 10 Story Mode templates are all impressive and can help novices capture compelling video from even the most mundane subject matter.
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