Gadgets

The best festival accessories for 2025 include innovative gadgets designed to enhance experiences across various genres and locations. These may feature wearable cooling devices like rechargeable neck fans, high-fidelity ear plugs, and other tech that improves comfort, engagement, and enjoyment during festivals.

Technology elevates enjoyment and engagement at festivals by providing gadgets that improve comfort, such as wearable fans and ear plugs, and by integrating digital tools that enhance interaction and personalization. These innovations transform everyday festival activities into more immersive and enjoyable experiences.

A complete gaming setup usually includes a gaming PC or console, a monitor, and peripheral devices such as a keyboard, mouse, and headset. Additional accessories can include gaming chairs, desks, microphones, and lighting to enhance the gaming experience. The setup can range from basic to elaborate depending on budget and personal preferences.

When selecting gaming monitors, important factors include resolution, refresh rate, and proper setup to fully utilize the gaming PC's capabilities. For peripherals like keyboards and mice, responsiveness, ergonomics, and compatibility with the gaming system are crucial. Proper integration of these components ensures an optimal and immersive gaming experience.

No, you do not need to be a tech expert to use smart home gadgets. Modern smart home systems are designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, allowing homeowners to manage lighting, heating, security, and more with minimal technical knowledge. Professionally configured systems automate repetitive tasks and offer simple, centralized control, making the experience accessible to everyone—not just tech enthusiasts[2][4].

Smart home gadgets are not exclusively for the wealthy, nor are they necessarily expensive. The cost of smart home technology has decreased significantly in recent years, and you can start with affordable devices like smart plugs, switches, or lighting. You do not need to automate your entire home at once; even basic devices can provide meaningful automation and convenience without a large upfront investment[3][4].

Smart notebooks are digital or hybrid notebooks that allow users to write manually but then digitize their notes for easy editing, searching, and sharing. They improve productivity by enabling quick retrieval of information, facilitating collaboration on group projects, and reducing paper use, which also benefits the environment. Some smart notebooks come with features like OCR text recognition and real-time synchronization with mobile devices.

Notebook whiteboards combine the portability and permanence of traditional notebooks with the reusability of whiteboards. Unlike permanent paper notebooks, they offer erasable pages that can be rewritten endlessly, reducing paper waste. Compared to bulky wall whiteboards, they are compact and portable, making them ideal for on-the-go study sessions. They help students organize thoughts visually, boost creativity, and improve focus by providing a screen-free space for brainstorming and planning.

Fitness accessories not only support physical activity but also enhance mental health by providing motivation, measurable progress, and a rewarding exercise experience. They help release endorphins, reduce stress and anxiety, and offer a distraction from negative thoughts, thereby promoting mental equilibrium alongside physical fitness.

Innovative gadgets include luxury treadmills with advanced features, desktop breathing companions that aid mindfulness, neurofeedback headbands like Mendi that track brain activity, smartwatches such as Garmin for fitness tracking, and sleep-focused devices like the Loftie clock that promote better rest—all designed to optimize physical health and mental wellness.

Handyman essential gadgets during Amazon Prime Day often include power tools like cordless drills, electric scissors, utility bars, and battery-powered yard tools. These items are designed to enhance convenience and efficiency in various home improvement and repair tasks.

Discounted handyman gadgets available during Amazon Prime Day simplify tasks by offering features such as cordless operation, ergonomic design, and multifunctionality. For example, cordless electric scissors reduce hand strain and improve cutting precision, while smart tools and accessories can automate or speed up routine jobs, making them safer and less time-consuming.

A portable SSD such as the Crucial X9 Pro is recommended because it provides a reliable, fast, and compact way to back up important academic documents, lab reports, and syllabi. Its small size, durability with an IP55 rating for water and dust resistance, and speedy performance make it ideal for students who need to carry their data securely and access it anywhere on campus.

Students should select tech gadgets by balancing performance, portability, and price while considering their academic requirements (such as software needs for STEM or humanities courses), lifestyle factors (like portability for commuters or battery life for long study sessions), and budget constraints. Additionally, taking advantage of student discounts can make midrange devices more affordable.

'Designing Electronics That Work' is unique because it is written from a designer’s viewpoint, focusing first on project requirements and specifications rather than just components or debugging. It compiles practical knowledge and lessons learned from real-world experience, aiming to help engineers avoid common mistakes and design electronics that function reliably from the start.

The author, Hunter Scott, is the director of hardware engineering at Reach Labs, a wireless power R&D company. He holds an engineering degree from Georgia Tech, has founded two hardware startups, and has over 10 years of experience designing electronics. His book distills the knowledge he gained from his career, including many design mistakes and debugging challenges.

ZDNET readers are purchasing a variety of innovative gadgets in 2025, including Bluetooth finder tags like the Chipolo One Point, USB-C magnetic adapters, mini projectors such as the DotterPod Mini, and advanced devices like robot vacuums with mechanical arms and rollable laptops from Lenovo. These gadgets are designed to enhance productivity and convenience both at home and in the office.

The new robot vacuums, such as the Roborock Saros Z70, include a mechanical arm with OmniGrip technology that can pick up small obstacles weighing under 8 ounces while vacuuming and mopping. This innovation eliminates the need for users to clear floors of clothes, toys, or other items before cleaning, making the process more autonomous and efficient.

Examples include the reMarkable Paper Pro, which offers a large e-paper display for reading and note-taking, and the Elgato Stream Deck Neo, which allows users to automate tasks with customizable buttons.

Productivity gadgets can significantly enhance performance by streamlining tasks, reducing time spent on administrative work, and providing tools that automate repetitive processes, thus allowing users to focus on more critical tasks.