Samsung Gear S2
Samsung’s Gear S2 competes directly with the Apple Watch, offering a refined alternative for wearable enthusiasts. The watch features a stainless steel case with a replaceable leather band and a distinctive rotating bezel for smooth, intuitive navigation through apps such as Twitter, Yelp and Nike+. Gear S2 includes Samsung’s health-tracking tools and support for Samsung Pay, and its app ecosystem continues to grow. It also provides on-device media storage for up to 300 songs, curated watch faces from Atelier Mendini and an optional 3G model for standalone connectivity. Price: $299.99–$349.99.
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Amazon Echo
Amazon Echo elevates voice assistance beyond traditional smartphone assistants. Housed in a cylindrical speaker with an integrated microphone array, Echo responds to the wake word “Alexa” to perform tasks like checking calendars, providing weather updates and streaming music from services such as Pandora. Early users reported that its voice recognition improves with continued use, and Amazon continues to expand Echo’s capabilities through ongoing feature updates. The device offers a hands-free way to control information and media around the home. Price: $179.99.
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Icontrol Piper nv
Piper nv is designed as a complete, do-it-yourself home security hub that leverages modern smartphones and connected devices. It includes a 3.4-megapixel camera with pan, tilt and zoom capabilities plus a four-panel split-screen view for flexible monitoring. Built-in motion and sound sensors can trigger a 105 dB alarm, and the integrated microphone supports two-way audio through Piper’s mobile app. Piper also functions as a Z-Wave hub, enabling integration with other smart home devices such as smart locks and thermostats, making it a versatile choice for a connected security setup. Price: $279.
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Apple iPad Pro
The Apple iPad Pro is a 12.9-inch tablet positioned as a potential replacement for a traditional laptop for users who prioritize portability and touchscreen productivity. It offers significantly more screen area than smaller iPad models and is powered by the 64-bit A9X chip, delivering substantially higher performance than previous iPad Air models. The iPad Pro’s high-resolution 2732 x 2048 display draws on technologies used in Apple’s Retina iMacs, and the device includes a four-speaker audio system, up to 10 hours of battery life, an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.2-megapixel front camera. The Apple Pencil accessory adds precision input for drawing and note-taking. Pricing examples: 32GB $799; 128GB $949; 128GB with cellular $1,079.