This Week The Trend (Issue 66)
This week's picks include a unique speaker, fitness tracker, and phone stand.
How I’d spend $500: Google Fitbit Edge
Ever since I spent a month wearing a Google Fitbit Air earlier this year, I've been thinking about Google's revived entry into the fitness space. The company's newest wearable adds a screen, so if you're not opposed to that, you can get notifications on your wrist throughout the day.
Despite having an AMOLED for on-device control, Fitbit Edge still gets around seven days of battery life. You can still use it for sleep tracking, but the screen allows for things like Google Maps.
Value Score: Good
I think the Fitbit Air, for $99, is a good value. For $80 more, the Edge gets you built-in GPS, watch functionality, and Google Maps. It's a cheaper way to track health than an Apple Watch.
How I’d spend $150: CMF Speaker M
The CMF Speaker M is the latest value audio device from the company. It offers a 2.75-inch woofer and a 0.6-inch tweeter for 35W of total power. The speaker is room-filling with a respectable amount of low-end bass.
The headlining feature is that the front panel is removable, so you can customize the look at any point. The company has made its design templates available so you can even 3D print your own volume knob and front panel at home.
Value Score: Good
The Speaker M sounds good, but it's also packed with features for its $109 retail price. It's fully waterproof, has 18 hours of battery life, and supports Auracast. If you want a cheaper option, the Speaker S comes in at $59.
How I’d spend $50: Aulumu G05 Air
At its heart, the Aulumu G05 Air is a small, detachable iPhone stand. It sticks onto the back and can prop the phone up vertically or horizontally. This is the kind of travel accessory that's perfect for planes and keeping in a tech pouch.
But even better, the G05 Air has a built-in ceramic blade for things like opening boxes. The blade slides out of the bottom when you need it and retracts when you don't. There's protractor functionality. Plus, Aulumu even pitches the 360-degree swivel aspect as a fidget toy.
Value Score: Poor
Don't get the Aulumu G05 Air if you only want a stand for your iPhone. Instead, it's a better value if you like the futuristic design, integrated ceramic blade, and a satisfying clicking sound as you rotate it.
The winning pick: Google Fitbit Edge
While I think a lot of people are intrigued by a screenless fitness band, I'm not sure how many people actually want to give up the time and visual elements. The Fitbit Edge comes out Oct. 27 and is a good solution for Android owners or those tired of the Apple Watch.
Are you looking for even more picks this week? Here are a few things worth considering.
An expensive pick: Rocco Essential Fridge
The Rocco Essential mini fridge is a cheaper option to the company's Classic mini fridge. Make no mistake, the Essential is not cheap, just less expensive. For the cost, you get a fast and quiet compressor, retro styling, and a 77-can capacity out of the box. I've been using the Essential, and it's both a conversation starter and an appliance that blends in without making a fuss.
Media pick: Railpass
Railpass lets you travel to different countries with real-world visuals and audio from the vantage point of a public transit rider. You can select from dozens of locations as well as time of day and weather conditions. It's a unique experience that actually makes you feel like you've left your desk for a moment. So far, my favorites are France and Japan, but there are lots of good places to choose from.
This week's other interesting deals and product news
- Amazon has expanded Kindle Unlimited to be Kindle+ with new listening options, as well as millions of free ebooks, for $11.99/month. There's a free trial available.
- You can get a used Apple Watch Ultra 3 for $190 off on Amazon, down to $610.
- Sony's new in-ear monitors, IER-M500, are available now for $119.99.
- Grado released new headphones, the Signature S150.
This week's published stories
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