This article offers a preview of The Tech Friend newsletter. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox every Tuesday and Friday. With summer coming to a close, now is the perfect time to recommend some surprisingly great tech-ish products that you might enjoy. These product suggestions from me and other Washington Post staff members may not be suitable for everyone, but they could be just right for a few peculiar individuals – perhaps even you. We love these products and feel a bit ashamed for it.
Our consumer lives are filled with unnecessary things. However, there are products out there that may seem pointless to some but bring joy to others by solving small problems. (And just to clarify, we don’t earn anything if you purchase any of these items.)
Take, for example, a phone stand. It may seem silly, but having a stand to prop up your phone on your desk can make all the difference when scrolling through emails, reading articles, or watching videos. I can’t quite explain why a piece of pink aluminum, or “rose gold,” is better than simply placing my phone flat on the desk, but it is. This stand is so useful that I even take it with me on trips.
There are countless phone stands available on Amazon, and I randomly chose one that cost me $11.99. I can’t say for certain that it’s the best option out there, but one important feature it has is the ability to tilt to any angle. Trust me, being able to adjust the angle of your phone is crucial. I’ve given this a lot of thought.
Another unique product recommendation is automated salt and pepper grinders. One of our staff members received these as an engagement present and swears that they dispense the perfect amount of seasoning and automatically stop. They make her feel fancy, even though they cost $100 and require six AAA batteries each. It may seem extravagant, but it certainly caught our attention.
Tatum Hunter, one of my colleagues, discovered an electric head massager that she absolutely loves. She stumbled upon it while looking for hair care tips on TikTok and found that massaging your scalp can promote hair growth. Not only that, but it also feels amazing. Tatum purchased this device for around $30 on Amazon, and it’s even waterproof, making it suitable for use in the shower. While she tries to avoid collecting unnecessary plastic items, this gadget seemed like a worthwhile investment for those blissful five minutes of relaxation.
Geoffrey A. Fowler, our technology columnist, swears by the Yoto audio player for his family. This device allows kids to insert cards featuring different tracks, such as songs or bedtime stories, into the player to listen to them. It’s like a mixtape but without the distractions of a phone. There is a mini version available for $69.99 and a larger one for $119.99, with additional costs for song cards. It’s a great way to play music that children enjoy.
For those with phones lacking headphone jacks, Becky Krystal, a Post food writer, found a simple solution. She refuses to buy wireless headphones that are prone to wearing out or getting lost, so she purchased an adapter for her phone. This adapter plugs into her phone’s charging port, allowing her to connect her wired headphones. It’s a clever solution that only works for Android phones using the USB-C charging standard. Apple users should take note as future iPhone models are likely to adopt USB-C and eliminate the headphone jack altogether.
If you’re in need of a mindless smartphone game, I recommend Two Dots. It’s a simple game where you connect dots by swiping. As my colleague Heather Kelly describes it, it’s like a minimalist version of Candy Crush that is incredibly soothing and requires minimal effort. It’s the perfect game to relax and unwind with.
Lastly, I must mention a mosquito bite pen that may sound ridiculous but has been highly recommended by Andrew Van Dam, our Department of Data columnist. This “pen” is meant to be pressed onto mosquito bites immediately after being bitten, causing the skin to heat up briefly. Supposedly, this denatures the proteins that cause itching. Andrew and I cannot vouch for the science behind it, so exercise caution if you have allergies to insect bites. However, Andrew claims that the pen has made many of his mosquito bites disappear or at least stop itching for a day or so. He wishes he had known about it sooner.
These are just a few tech-ish products that caught our attention and may appeal to specific individuals. They may not be for everyone, but they offer unique solutions to small problems and bring joy to those who appreciate them.
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