Accessories

Gift ideas for the important people in your life

Make a list and check it twice

Published

December 4, 2018

Chay Lazaro

Making Christmas lists can be daunting. One minute you think you already thought of the perfect gift for the people on your nice list, but next thing you know, they already have it or you doubt they’ll ever use it. So, you drop the idea and go back to square one. Other times, you come up with the most generic lists just so you have something to give: belt for dad, purse for mom, a pair of socks for the brother, a scarf for the best friend.

Sometimes, all you need are fresh ideas. Here are some to jump-start your holiday shopping this year!

1. For the one who travels for work

Productivity and portability rarely go hand in hand, but there are devices and accessories that help maximize remote work for anyone whose jobs allow it. Creatives could use a stylus, while writers and entrepreneurs could use a keyboard case. You can even get a nice backpack or sleeve to house it all in!

2. For the one who embraces a minimalist lifestyle

There are those who dream of having a walk-in closet, and those who try to keep their belongings to a minimum. That said, minimalist people are probably the toughest to buy material things for, but that doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate a thoughtful gift. If you know that they have something that needs replacing, help them find out if they can have it recycled or traded in for a new one. Apps for mindfulness and meditation, learning a new language, or even an Audible subscription would also be great!

3. For the one who works out a lot

Gym rats almost always have everything they already need for their workouts, yet some of them haven’t invested in a smartwatch or a fitness band. If they have, you can give them new straps or cases so they can sport their wearables outside the gym and continue tracking their activities. Subscriptions to coaching, music streaming, or meal planning apps are also something they’d appreciate.

4. For the one who needs a pop of color

We all have that one person in our lives who wears neutral colors all the time or have had a pretty lackluster year — at least I know I do. Whether a guy or girl, everyone could use something bold once in a while: a pair of shoes in red, a wool coat in yellow, or even a phone in coral. More than making a statement, colors have the power to change moods and brighten up one’s day.

5. For the one who dresses to kill

She’s all about making an impression and takes dressing up seriously. She’s the woman in your life who takes a little bit longer to get ready in the morning putting an outfit together. A daring red lipstick, a pair of sexy pumps, jewelry, or a designer watch are all great options. Even better: a smartwatch in a bold color that is a statement on its own.

While they don’t always have to be material things, there’s something to be said for getting gifts for family and friends, no matter how small or cheap. Gift giving during the holidays is a way to give back to the important people who made your year merrier. The more thought and effort you put into it, the more meaningful and fitting it is for the person you’re getting it for. There’s no better feeling than knowing you made a difference in someone’s life through a gift — whether that’s in making them more efficient with their work, in their road to fitness, or in simply making them feel good about themselves.

Accessories

Dell announces upgraded Latitude, Precision 2023 lineup

Collaborate, perform, impress

Published

March 31, 2023

GadgetMatch

Dell has announced its refreshed lineup of commercial laptops, headlined by the much-improved Latitude roster and the latest versions of the Precision, OptiPlex, and Optimizer devices.

The Latitude and Precision lineups are both been upgraded with the latest 13th Gen Intel Core processors, and come with significant boosts to performance.

Latitude: Most collaborative PCs

Topping the Latitude line is the ultra-premium Latitude 9440, which is dubbed as the “world’s most collaborative commercial PC”, thanks to its advanced audio and video collaboration features.

At just 14 inches, the 2-in-1 laptop packs a lot of performance capabilities with its up to Intel Core i7 vPro processors, along with Intel Evo graphics, up to 64GB DDR5 memory, and up to 2TB SSD storage.

The Latitude 9940 features a haptic collaboration touchpad which allows quick controls for mic, camera, share screen, chats, and more during online meetings right from the touchpad.

Design-wise, it sports wider, curved keys without gaps called zero-lattice for improved tactile response. The keyboard likewise has mini-LED backlit technology which reduces the power usage to extend the PC’s overall battery life.

The screen is a 14-inch InfinityEdge QHD+ IPS touch display with up to 500nits of peak brightness, anti-reflective and anti-smudge, and Active Pen support.

Following the Latitude 9440 are the Latitude 7000 series laptops — the Latitude 7340 and 7440 Ultralights which both come in thin form factors, 5G connectivity, and the latest Intel Core processors and NVIDIA RTX Ada Generation GPUs.

Precision series improved

Meanwhile, the Precision 5480 and Precision 5680 workstations have been improved, promising more power and a more immersive experience for creators and engineers.

Users will be able to enjoy up to Intel Core i9 processors, RTX 5000 Ada graphics, 64GB of DDR5 memories, UHD+ InfinityEdge displays, and haptic trackpads when working with the latest iterations of the Precision 5000 series.

The series also comes with Dual Opposite Outlet fan technology for the entire system to be able to handle complex workflows and intensive applications.

Aside from the Precision 5000, the entry-level Precision 3000 and most powerful Precision 7000 series have been updated.

Price, availability

Local pricing and availability shall be announced at a later time.

Already out in the market are the Latitude 5000 and 7000 and the Precision 3000 series. Other Precision devices will be released one by one throughout April, with the Precision 5680 set to become available starting on May 18.

The Latitude 9440, meanwhile, is set to become available in the next months with an official release date yet to be named.

Accessories

Apple reportedly working on AirPods with USB-C

For release later this year

Published

March 28, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

Apple’s USB-C adoption is going roughly. Forced by world governments to adopt the standard, Apple is finding ways to delay the adoption or bypass the spirit of the law entirely. However, one lineup is getting an important boost to USB-C adoption. The company is reportedly releasing a USB-C version of the AirPods Pro.

Recently, a Twitter leaker going by @aaronp613 discovered references to an upcoming model of the AirPods lineup. Though the model numbers don’t reveal anything about the device, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had a clearer idea of what the devices might be.

I think this is likely the USB-C version of the AirPods Pro 2, with mass shipments expected in 2Q23-3Q23. By the way, Apple currently appears to have no plans for USB-C versions of the AirPods 2 & 3.

我覺得這應該是AirPods Pro… https://t.co/aWKJvGh1lW

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) March 24, 2023

According to the analyst, the unannounced device refers to an updated model of the 2^nd-generation AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case. Currently, the AirPods Pro only has cases that come with the proprietary Lightning cable. The device will reportedly start shipping between the second and third quarters this year.

Unfortunately, it’s unclear whether the device is a new model or just a separate purchase for users. The latter will delay a wider adoption of the charging standard but will test demand for Apple products with USB-C baked in.

Over the past few months, the company has reportedly started developing solutions to a forced USB-C adoption, especially in Europe. One of those reported solutions is a proprietary version of USB-C, allowing Apple to limit performance for third-party cables.