When summer rolls around, taking extra time to do even the smallest task can prevent you from enjoying the (finally!) nice weather. That's where a handful of smart products and apps can come in and save the day. By helping to automate your life, they can streamline your days an free up moments to sneak outside for an impromptu lunchtime picnic or a happy hour glass of rosé.
From a speaker that can order you an Uber to the ultimate to-do list tackling app, you can get more done with the touch of a button or the sound of your voice. Not sweating the small stuff can create time you didn't even know you had — and get you so much more out of the sweet summer days ahead.
Forget scanning notes or drawings onto your computer. Moleskine's Smart Writing Set comes with a smartpen and paper tablet that automatically transfers what you write to an accompanying app on your phone. Taking notes has never been easier (or more fun).
Moleskine Smart Writing Set, $199, available on moleskine.com.
Photo: Courtesy Moleskine.
Want to automatically create a PDF with all of your phone contacts or download photos from a Twitter page to your phone? If This Then That, or IFTTT, is the app that makes it possible. You can create "recipes" that will connect different apps and services and automate just about anything online.
IFTTT, Free, available on the App Store and Google Play.
Photo: Courtesy IFTTT.
You'll never waste time searching for your keys or wallet again. These tracking beacons use Bluetooth to connect to an app that can show you where you last left the item. If it's still lost, you can activate a beeping noise to guide you to its hiding place.
XY Find It Wireless Tracking Beacons, $60/3-pack, Fab.com.
Photo: Courtesy Fab.com.
PackPoint is the packing list of your wildest dreams. Type in where you're headed and the activities you'll be doing there (and whether or not you'll repeat basics or have access to laundry). The app generates the ultimate list of everything you need. It also takes into account the forecasted weather, so you'll be appropriately prepared.
PackPoint Packing List Travel Companion, Free, available on the App Store and Google Play.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.
Triby is a portable speaker equipped with Amazon's popular Alexa voice technology. This means you can lay in bed while asking the device to get you an Uber, turn on some acoustic pop, or call a friend. There are tons of shortcuts packed into this pint-sized speaker.
Triby, $199, available on Invoxia.com.
Photo: Courtesy Invoxia.
Skip going from one website to the next and download Feedly, instead. The app lets you add sites to your library and gathers the most recent content from that webpage into one easy to-read list. You can also catalog sites according to category (travel, recipes, pop culture), so that you can catch up on what's going on in the world by topic.
Feedly, Free, available on the App Store and Google Play.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.
Worried you'll forget to buy more cinnamon at the store? Hiku solves that problem and streamlines your grocery shopping. The device can scan bar codes and also has voice-recognition technology. Just tell it what you need to buy and it'll add the item to an app-connected shopping list.
Hiku The Shopping Button, $59, available on Amazon.com.
Photo: Courtesy Hiku.
Instead of playing "email ping-pong" with friends when trying to schedule brunch, use Doodle. The scheduling app makes it easy to poll everyone and find a time that works across the board. You can finally bid farewell to those endless group email chains.
Doodle: Schedule Maker, Free, available on the App Store and Google Play.
Photo: Courtesy Doodle.
Garmin's new vívomove is one of the prettiest (rose gold!) and most useful smartwatches, yet. The watch has a one-year battery life, so you don't need to worry about it charging it, and the red bar on the watch face lets you know when its time to go for a walk. The connected app also offers daily personalized insights to help you reach your goal.
Garmin vívomove, $199, available on Garmin.com.
Photo: Courtesy Garmin.
Any.do elevates your to-do list to pro status. The app includes a daily planner tab, syncs across all platforms (so you can view your list at work or at home), lets you share items with friends and coworkers, and allows you to send a text or email within the app, among other handy shortcuts. The daily reminders about unfinished items will help you beat procrastination, too.
Any.do: To-Do List, Task List, Free, available on the App Store and Google Play.
Photo: Courtesy Any.do.
Yes, the price is hefty for something as simple as a water kettle. But for anyone who has trouble getting up in the morning or wants some hot tea ASAP, Smarter's connected kettle is a good buy. You can pre-set times for water to boil, customize the temperature, and get notifications when you need to refill the kettle, all via an app on your phone.
Smarter iKettle 2.0, $186, available on Amazon.com.
Photo: Courtesy Smarter.
Save time when planning a weekend road trip or week-long international adventure with Google's latest travel feature, Destinations on Google. Search for a location using Google on your phone and press the explore tab. There, you can explore top sites to see and find out the best time to book. It's an entire travel planner packed into an easy-to-navigate search feature.
Google, Free, available on the App Store and Google Play.
Photo: Courtesy Madeline Buxton.
The sleek PopSLATE case turns the back of your phone into an extra screen. You can customize the content, so you can see a 24/7 news feed, a dashboard with the latest weather and calendar updates, or a to-do list to keep you on task. There's also a built-in battery, so you can stay charged on the go.
PopSLATE, $99, available on popslate.com.
Photo: Courtesy PopSLATE.
You want to watch a movie, but don't know which app has it at the cheapest price. You could spend time searching everything from Hulu to Netflix, or you could download Fan TV. The app lists movies and TV shows and lets you know where you can watch them and for how much. It also includes sections on new-to-rent titles, as well as ones that are currently streaming.
Fan TV, Free, available on the App Store or Google Play.
Photo: Courtesy Fan TV.
Intel's Compute Stick looks plain and simple, but packs a lot of power. This stick can turn any monitor with an HDMI port into a full-on computer (most TVs these days fit the bill). You can use it to stream movies from Netflix, check email, work on a Powerpoint, or as a photo drive. Plus, it's the size of a piece of gum, so it's perfect for throwing in your bag and taking on a trip.
Intel Compute Stick, $99, available on Intel.com.
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