Being a mom is the ultimate job, but is so incredibly busy that moms need "48 hours a day." This year, don't just give mom flowers, but give her something she'll use every day. She will think of you every time she uses it and will forever be so grateful for her favorite child in helping make life easier (or giving her something fabulous to show her colleagues at work and BFF). Whether your mom loves to watch television, listen to music, enjoys storing all her family pictures and sharing them, enjoys cooking or loves the latest and greatest smartphones, there are so many amazing tech gifts to choose from, besides gifting her flowers. So, think outside the bouquet and see below are some of the best of the best that tech has to offer.
Entertainment, Headphones
Amazon fire TV Stick with Voice Remote is Amazon's top streaming media stick, which offers voice remote. Mom tune into all her favorite movies, music or check the weather simply by speaking into the remote. Simply plug into the HDTV and start streaming instantly. Users will have access to more than 4,000 channels, apps, and games including access to over 250,000 TV episodes and movies on Netflix, Amazon Video, HBO GO, Hulu, and more. This incredible streaming media stick has four times the storage and twice the memory of Chromecast plus a dual-core processor and 1 GB of memory.
Plantronics Voyager 5200 and Portable Power is perfect for all moms who operate in noisy places such as the playground, coffee shops, train stations, busy NYC street or airports. Plantronics, renowned for its top quality audio and wearable tech products, launched the Voyager 5200 recently last month and also showcased at Pepcom, which is a top leader in technology showcases of world's most innovative companies. For those who love the Voyager Legend, the Voyager 5200 is even more comfortable and provides clearer sound. Thanks to the Voyager 5200, there's no excuse not to be able to do a conference call effectively, even amidst challenging call environments. Just imagine how wonderful it is for being able to talk confidently even in crazy busy NYC traffic, or biking against the wind. It's very comfortable, doesn't hurt the ears at all, and the battery lasts all day long. Thanks to Plantronics' portable power, which acts as a grab and go recharger with protective case, users can enjoy 14 more hours of talk time.
Cloud Storage and Data Privacy
Synology, which was voted a PCMag Business Choice Award winner, helps mom keep connected with all her loved ones, no matter where she’s located. The company makes Network Attached Storage (NAS) servers. Now mom can sync, backup, and share files with family and friends with ease. The NAS units are affordable and offer centralized storage for all of mom’s devices on her network - including computers, tablets, and smart phones. Even better, a Synology NAS is a private cloud, multimedia server, VPN server, and mail server -- all in one. Free downloadable apps let mom stream her favorite videos and music, create an online photo album, and more -- making a Synology NAS, a perfect gift for Mother’s Day, or any special occasion. Synology DISKStation DS216+ 2-Bay was introduced a couple of months ago, and offers efficient storage solution ensuring data availability and high-quality video transcoding. This high-performance 2-bay NAS server is perfect for all those (for home or office) who want an efficient and secure storage solution to protect and share data, while enjoying on-the-fly video transcoding. Equipped with an Intel® Celeron® Processor N3050 and Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) encryption, the DS216+ delivers high-speed performance, exceeding 111 MB/s reading and writing, while ensuring encrypted data transmissions at over 113 MB/s reading and 109 MB/s writing. It can perform on-the-fly H.264 4K to 1080p video transcoding, making it possible for high definition enthusiasts to stream their multimedia files, regardless of bandwidth or potential device limitations.
- The DS216+ runs DiskStation Manager (DSM), which is the most advanced and intuitive operating system for NAS devices. Synology's new OS -- the DiskStation Manager 6.0 is very impressive, thanks to its intelligently engineered and reliable data storage platform. It's so helpful and a must-have for all those who appreciate a secure, private email in order to have full control over their data privacy. Also there's no need to depend on third party services and files can be accessed any where thanks to its cloud and file syncing capabilities.
Home
Dyson Pure Cool Link is created by a global tech company that's renowned for its vacuum cleaners, bladeless fans and heaters that are sold in over 70 countries. Dyson's cordless vacuum is small and lightweight (less than five pounds), but has amazing power like a regular plug-in vacuum. It effectively removes dust and hair from furniture, clean upholstery, clean the car, clean up after pets and even clean behind difficult to reach places. The Dyson Hot + Cool machine is both a fan and a heater that's very quiet, safe for kids' room and can be used all year round. Earlier this year Dyson came out with the new Pure Cool Link that offers air purification and operates as a purifying fan during the summer. This must-have air purifier and purifying fan duo automatically removes 99.97% of allergens and pollutants as small as 0.3 microns from the home. It has an Intelligent Purification system that automatically monitors, reacts and purifies, and then reports to your Dyson link app. It also offers a night time auto mode to monitor, react and purifies using the quietest settings. It's very easy to clean, and change the filter (with Dyson pure cool replacement filters).
Fagor Innova Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker is a high quality pressure cooker that comes with sleek ergonomic handles which offers easy opening and closing. It delivers delicious homemade meals incredibly fast and is a greener way to cook. It works on all stove tops, and is perfect for cooking healthy and yummy soups, juicy and tender meat and poultry and many other gastronomic food. Moms who enjoy spoiling their loves ones through their stomachs with mouth watering, delicious recipes, the Fagor Innova Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker is a must-have. For moms with a large family full of hungry kids, this is a savior, because it really does work to produce healthy and satisfying home cooked meals in just minutes.
Kube Wireless Charging System with bluetooth audio and smart alarm clock gets rid of clutter. It allows for everyone to go about his or her day with a peace of mind, as it can charge up to six devices simultaneously. The Kube Wireless Charging System has three built in connectors, two USB ports and enables wireless charging so there no excuse for having no more power. It compliments all smartphones and tablets Android, (Apple, Blackberry and Windows mobile devices), as well as fitness bands, cameras and headphones. Whether you're at home, at the office or staying at a hotel, its smart alarm clock and amazing bluetooth speaker will make sure you're always ahead and on top of everything. This Kube Wireless Charging System is so compact and its built connectors don't require extra cables that can add more bulk to a suitcase.
Reolink Super HD IP Camera by Reolink which prides itself in creating the finest security products, consists of a four megapixels (2560 x 1440) super HD camera that delivers excellent day and night vision. Unlike 1080P cameras, this small 1440P camera enables you to view super clear images. The Reolink RLC-410 camera supports remote surveillance, that enables you to see the security situation of your home and business remotely via mobile devices anywhere and anytime. It uses POE (Power over Ethernet), which reduces cabling and power requirements. The Reolink Super HD IP Camera is available for only $79.99 at Amazon, and is a must-have for every one as it's a small fraction of what security companies charge. It makes a great gift for mom, so she can feel safe when enjoying alone time when the kids are away at school or summer vacation. It's low maintenance and so easy to set up and install -- simply plug and play the IP Camera without having to worry about configuration. It will power over the Ethernet, transmit power and video in one cable. The Reolink Super HD IP Camera is very durable, solid and is the best DIY camera that's currently available in the market for less than $100.
Rosewill Oil-Less Low Fat Air Fryer will be sure to make mom's job in the kitchen effortless, because it does everything. It doesn't just fry, but it can also grill, roast and bake, so it's super easy for entertaining loved ones. Thanks to this incredible oil-less low fat air fryer, it's okay to eat scrumptious cakes, juicy fried chicken, crispy french fries, and burgers stuffed with all kinds of cheeses, because it uses only a tablespoon or less of oil to cook (or no oil at all). It effectively drains out all the excess fat during cooking. Its rapid air technology that circulates air around the entire unit (up to 400 degrees) makes sure everything is cooked evenly, so there's no need to flip anything. As a result, food becomes crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside with very little to no oil. Mom will love this, because it allows her to make delicious, healthy food and is super easy to clean (simply place the parts in the dishwasher), that she'll have more time with family and friends.
- Rosewill, a top tier manufacturer of high quality technology products for PC gaming, IT hardware and home products, has a great Hot Water Electric Kettle that's perfect for making tea, coffee or hot cocoa any time and anywhere -- at home or at the office. It's energy saving, safe and durable, made of 100% stainless steel interior with no plastic in contact with hot water. With so much to do, many people just don't have time to boil water -- especially busy moms who are constantly multi-tasking work, kids, spouse, bills, grocery shopping, the dog (or cat). This wonderful 1.5 Liter Cool-Touch Electric kettle brings water to rolling boil in just minutes and keeps water warm longer.
Smartphones and Accessories
HTC 10 launched recently in April. For HTC fans who couldn't get enough of the HTC One, HTC One M8, or the HTC One A9, then its new flagship phone HTC 10 will be sure to please! For those who want the best audio, gorgeous design and long life battery (talk time of 27 hours), quick charge (up to 50% charge in 30 minutes), HTC 10 delivers that and more. Unlike iPhones, HTC 10 has a sexy, superior full metal body that feels substantial (not light and flimsy), with various textures on the back. It's got the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 CPU, an impressive 4GB of RAM, 32 GB internal storage (extended memory with microSD up to 2TB), superior 12 MP main camera (and 5 MP front camera). For moms who enjoy music, then HTC 10's brand new BoomSound Hi-Fi edition speakers, personal audio profile and hi-res audio earphones are spectacular, as they all work beautifully with HTC 10's certified 24-bit hi-res audio. Music sounds as if it's coming out of full size speakers with HTC's new flagship smartphone. The apps launch faster and operates smoother, and the screen reacts instantly to every touch -- there's no lagging and everything on the HTC 10 synchronizes wonderfully. HTC BoomSoundTM and Dolby Audio SurroundTM combine to optimize music and movies with clear, crisp vocals, deep bass and fine audio detail. HTC collaborated wtih Google to improve Android, making it easier to use and grade, getting rid of useless apps that just takes up space and never gets used. The new HTC 10 has a fingerprint scanner that also enables the user to share the phone with others. Check out what Nigel (HTC specialist) from the HTC launch event in NYC several weeks ago has to say about its new flagship phone here. Per Nigel, the HTC 10 is combination of the best of all that the past HTC smartphones offered. He likes the stronger, more rigid and tougher aluminum body and its 5.2" display feels great in the hand. Nigel says the camera has one of the best smartphone cameras that are currently out in the market place today, so the imaging is very good and is great for taking the best selfies. Try and introduce the HTC 10 to mom (even if she's an iPhone user), she will want to switch to an Android smartphone, such as HTC 10.
LG G5 is even more bold, daring and fun than the LG G4. The LG G5 has the most unique and versatile design that shows off its metal unibody construction, a slide out battery and modular functionality. The G5 feels great, top quality and more comfortable to hold than its previous predecessor, thanks to its 5.3" display (G4 was 5.5") and beautiful, sleek metal and glass unibody. The G5's 135 degree wide angle camera that enables users to capture more, is perfect for concerts, site seeing and beach vacations. It also allows users to view the time, date and urgent notifications without having to turn on the phone via its always on display option. The sleep and on button on the back is also a fingerprint reader, which is a plus in terms of privacy and security issues. G5 has a changeable module with a slide out battery (simply press the button edge to separate the battery from the smartphone), which is very convenient for replacing an exhausted battery for a fully charged one. Its magnifying zoom in and out feature delivers ultra wide zooming and can take pictures and videos from up close simply by pinching the screen. The G5 is capable of amazing audio sound, thanks to the ability of putting in LG's Hi-Fi Plus DAC module, which LG collaborated with Bang & Olufsen, renowned for its upscale audio systems and home automation products. With summer coming in a couple of months, G5's Daylight Mode is spectacular, as the screen turns bright, clear and vivid when there's sunlight. What's really unique about the G5 is its modular capability, such as removable battery and being able to replace it with a camera grip or digital to analog converter to make it more versatile -- it's perfect for multi-tasking moms. The LG Friends Manager capability can make mom feel more loved and closer to her family, even when her kids are away on summer vacation or at college, as it can control and interact with all her LG friends and family.
Samsung S7 and S7 edge are the creme de la creme in the world of Android phones. When the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Note 4 launched, Android fans were incredibly ecstatic and Apple finally saw its iPhone sales decline. Then the S5, S6 and S6 edge were born, which created a world of Samsung devotees. Now that the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge are finally here, people's lives are easier. The S7 edge features an amazing new edge curved screen with more room for shortcuts to access calendar events, contacts and top social media channels faster and easier than ever before. The new smartphones take great low light pictures and are both water and dust resistant, perfect for the busy moms with babies and toddlers who are prone to accidental spills. The S7 and S7 edge are both extremely stunning, sleek, sexy, sophisticated -- all that Samsung strives to be and more. They have Android 6.0 Marshmallow, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, microSD card slots for more storage capability, all of which make both of these Samsung wireless devices one of the top most powerful super smartphones. For those who love beautiful, big and powerful phones, the S7 edge is a great choice, thanks to its 5.5" curved Super AMOLED display (S7's display measures 5.1") and larger battery of 3600 mAH (S7's battery is 3000 mAh). For smartphone users who prefer a smaller phone, the S7 will be sure to please. Despite it's smaller size, it's one of the most powerful, fastest, user friendly and most effective Android phones out in the market today that is capable of doing it all. It's indeed the best (if not, one of the top 5 wireless must-haves) smartphones out there that enables a user to be as effective as can be, right from the palm of his or her hands.
Monster Inc., a company that manufactures thousands of products such as, but not limited to headphones, speakers, power strips and mobile accessories has a couple of amazing products for moms who love selfies and are constantly on the go: work, pick up and drop off kids from school, grocery shopping for the entire family plus the pets, and more.
- Monster Selfie Case makes a cool gift for moms who love selfies of herself or with her family and friends, especially with her babies. Everyone loves selfies today, but not everyone has a Monster Selfie Case, which is compatible with the iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus. This case mounts to smooth surfaces, delivering a perfect selfie or video with ease. It has a flexible, shock and impact resistant construction for a secure grip, to prevent smartphones from accidental drops.
- Monster Powercard Turbo is a super thin smartphone charger that fits into a wallet for quick emergency charges. It offers power needed for smartphones that are always in use around the clock and USB devices. It's so easy to use -- simply plug it in, press the charge button, and its auto sensing technology knows exactly what speed your smartphone or USB device needs. It provides the speed and power in a flash -- all of this in slim and sleek packaging. It's a challenge to find a faster charger that fits in a wallet. What's great about the Powercard Turbo is that it charges up to three times faster than standard USB chargers.
WordPress Support
Tilden Tasks is ideal for the busy mommy bloggers, who work around the clock and somehow manages to find time blog, aside from work and taking care of the family's needs. With only 24 hours a day, even many techies don't have time to figure out HTML, CSS, graphic design, search engine optimization, or formatting a WordPress blog. That's where Tilden Tasks comes into play, because creating a blog or website can take hours or days to figure out the most simple tasks. Although WordPress is the most preferred blogging platform, and bloggers don't need to know computer programming in order to create a blog, many people who work full time simply don't have time to learn how to format a WordPress blog. Tilden Tasks offers unlimited WordPress help, and acts as a personal WordPress assistant 24 hours a day. Its support specialists offers website support, management and maintenance. They respond to emails on the same day within a couple of hours, and work on a task for a maximum of one hour per business day. Small projects can be less than an hour and its support team can perform bigger projects and separate them to finish over several business days. Tilden Tasks' support team always update on the progress every day, and create a demo site for longer projects. Average freelance experts charge anywhere from $50 to $100 or more per hour. Tilden Tasks' rates start as low as $77 a month for unlimited WordPress help. There's also a 30 day money back guarantee, in which a refund can be given within one business day. Sounds like a win-win situation, and a great gift for busy moms who want to start a blog but just can't find the time to create or design one.
Bevs Lim is also a top Examiner; her stories can be found at Examiner.com:
examiner.com/fashion-trends-in-new-york/bevs-lim-lee
examiner.com/makeup-in-new-york/bevs-lim-lee
examiner.com/tech-gadgets-in-new-york/bevs-lim-lee