Children in 2014 live a very different life than the one I did in the late 80s and early 90s. Instead of iPads or iPods, we had Nintendo and Super Nintendo. And we didn't spend our days in front of them. We spent them outside playing wiffle ball, hide-n-seek, and putting lighting bugs in a mason jar. Last Child in the Woods is a book about the differences between today's children and the ones from decades ago.
I love news, and I love audio content. Umano is an app that is aiming to be at the center of those mediums. A few months ago, Instapaper added the ability to have your iOS device read your saved articles to you. It's a nice feature, but it's a computerized voice that is reading. Umano is news from around the web that is narrated by the people. Imagine if you had someone reading your Instapaper backlog to you? That is Umano.
Our sister site, The Sweet Setup, recently picked Droplr as their favorite file sharing service. While there are a lot of great options, Droplr was their favorite. I've used Droplr for a few years now, and it is one of my most used apps. Download Droplr for the Mac and iOS.
Smile Software has long been one of my favorite Mac and iOS developers. PDFpen and PDFpenPro are incredible PDF apps for the Mac. PDFpen 2 for iOS adds some great new features.
I'll admit it: I'm a home screen junkie. I love to look at other people's iPhones. Do they use folders, what's on their dock, which email app do they use? I also believe that looking at other people's home screens is a great way to discover new apps. The folks at Betaworks agree with me. They have released #Homescreen for iOS.
Cabins is a book that dwells into the idea of getting away from the noise of life in 2014. It's about getting away from the vibrations, the dings, and the phone calls. As you explore the book, you'll find different types of living environments that look to be minimal and isolated. I've often wondered about what it would be like to cut off all the gadgets and live in isolation for a few months. Most of my great ideas have come in the times where there is no music, podcasts, or social media. It's come from when I'm sitting in silence. Get it on Amazon for $47.18.
As great as portable bluetooth speakers are, they aren't for everyone. A lot of people have existing 5.1 stereo systems that they'd love to be able to use with their iOS devices. Amazon has a bluetooth audio receiver that solves this problem.
The ROK Presso Manual Espresso Maker is unique in a few ways. One of the main features is that it doesn't require electricity. This makes it a perfect device if you live in an area prone to harsh winter weather. You shouldn't let a simple power outage get in the way of a nice cup of espresso.
If you are looking for a great gift for the male in your life, look no further than the Winston Set. For $25.00 and free shipping, you get 3 blades, 1 aluminum handle, and your choice of foaming gel or shave cream. For an additional $15, you can get the handle engraved with a set of initials.
We published our Cutting the Cord Guide yesterday. One of the products we mentioned was the Amazon Fire TV Stick. It’s very similar to the original Amazon Fire TV, but cheaper. It's backordered until after Christmas, but you can order it for $39.00
The digital age has brought us much delight. From great apps to streaming music, we've got no shortage of ways to entertain ourselves. Small Ships from Best Made Company is a throwback to before the vibrating rectangles in our pockets. It's a real wooden ship. Get it for $74.
Twelve South has announced the SurfacePad for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. The SurfacePad is a folio case with built in slots for credit cards. It also doubles as a stand for those impromptu Netflix sessions at the coffee shop.
ScreenFlow for the Mac is one of the best screencasting tools around. With ScreenFlow 5, Telestream has delivered some great new features. My favorite one is the built in iPhone or iPad screen recording (lighting connections with iOS 8 and Yosemite only). While QuickTime can do this, having it built right into ScreenFlow greatly simplifies my workflow.
Tinitell is a new wrist based cellular phone for kids. You pair it with your smartphone (iPhone or Android) and have complete control over the experience. The battery will last a week on standby and has 60 minutes of talk time. It will work with any GSM sim card. You can pre-order for $129.
Logitech has announced that Keys-To-Go is now available for pre-order. It's an ultra portable keyboard for the iPad, iPhone, and Apple TV. It comes in a variety colors, and it's also spill proof. At just 0.24 inches thin, this keyboard will take up minimal room in your bag. It has a built in rechargeable battery that lasts up to 3 months. Preorder…
Camping season is upon us, and I can't wait to spend a few weekends outside. The EasyAcc 20000 mAh dual USB portable battery is a great device to add to your camping gear collection.
Even with the Apple Watch release looming in the horizon, other companies are pressing ahead with their digital watches and fitness trackers. Fitbit has announced that the Fitbit Surge is now available for pre-order for $249.95. This "Super Watch" has some unique features that I've not seen elsewhere.
Pixelmator now has an iPad app. I've been a big fan of it on the Mac for a few years. It includes iOS 8 features (Extensions, iCloud Drive, Document Picker, and Handoff), great retouching tools, templates, ability to import/export Photoshop documents, and a lot more. It's available for only $4.99.
Our sister site, The Sweet Setup, picked Omnifocus as their favorite GTD app suite. I've been an Omnifocus user since 2009, and it is an incredible ecosystem. Buy the iPad version, Mac version, and iPhone version on the App Store.