By Richard Sherwin, Susan Davis, Amy Eller with Bob Plunkett, Jennifer Auspitz, Gary Kaye along with the staff of Digital Family Advisor and Tech50plus.com

Internet TV Box – WD TV — If you like Roku or Net Gear’s set top box that gives you Netflix,You Tube, Sling Box and thousands of Internet TV offerings, you will love storage giant Western Digital’s entry into this growing field. It differs from other similar devices in that it will play virtually any file format including MKV, AVI, MP4, MPEG-4, MOV and more. You can stream media stored on USB and network storage devices, and any computer on your network and still access thousands of hit movies, TV shows, trending videos and chart-topping music with an easy to use remote. Priced a little higher than other set top boxes, it’s well worth it.

“Frozen” Karaoke Fans of Disney’s hit movie “Frozen” can perform their own rendition of the chart-topping soundtrack with a new line of “Frozen” karaoke machines by audio and electronics leader Sakar International. Sakar announced the new line, along with a collection of “Frozen” branded USB drives and cameras. The deluxe version of Frozen features a built-in screen, dual microphone ports and separate volume controls, plus convenient device holders that secure an iPad or other tablet, iPhone or iPod in a comfortable viewing position. Includes “Let it Go” and “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” on CD.  

Sony a6000 Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera
Sony is one of the leading makers of mirrorless cameras, a system that provides the quality of some of the best DSLR’s but at a fraction of the size.  Sony has renamed what had been its NEX line and folded it into its Alpha line.  The a6000 boasts a sharp electronic viewfinder, super-fast auto focus so you won’t miss a shot, Near Field Communications (NFC)  and WiFi so you can share pictures on a smartphone or tablet with a touch.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Smartphone
We’ve always liked the big screen Samsung Note line because of its “S” Pen feature that allows you to create handwritten notes that you can store or convert to text.  You can use the “S” Pen to highlight and move text, as well as to make notes on photographs.  The latest version has a Quad HD screen, a better design, and multi-tasking capability. Because it’s from Samsung, it integrates easily with the rest of the Samsung ecosystem including tablets, TV’s, smartwatches and more.

Lenovo Yoga 3 ProHybrid Laptop/Tablet Computer
This is the latest in the Yoga line, named for its flexibility to be used as a laptop, tablet, tent, or display stand.  The Yoga 3 makes use of an innovative hinge design to make it thinner, and it has a new chip from Intel that draws less power and generates less heat.  Because of its capabilities, this one machine can function quite well as both a touchscreen laptop and a Windows 8.1 tablet, and for some of us that means one less device to carry.

Eagle Creek Convertabrief Computer Bag
This is the most versatile computer bag we’ve seen.  It can be carried as either a shoulder bag or a comfortable backpack.  It has one padded pocket to carry a laptop computer and tablet that can be zipped open so you don’t have to take anything out at airport security.  It has a big central pocket that can carry clothes for an overnight trip.  And it has other zipped internal and external pockets for accessories like chargers, music players, cables, headphones, and plenty more.  What’s more, almost every one of the external pockets can be locked.

Astell&Kern AK 120 II Hi Res Portable Music Player
With the advent of digital hi-res music formats, audiophiles are no longer limited to collections of vinyl records.  But hi-res music files take up a lot more room than the MP3 files on your iPhone or other music player.  The AK 120 II has the capacity to handle 256 GB of music between the device’s internal drive and a micro SD Card like the 128 GB SDXC card from SanDisk.  The output quality is superb, especially into a great set of Hi-Res headphones.  The AK 120 II is also a gorgeous piece of industrial design, with a solid aluminum body and a bright touchscreen display.

Audioengine D2 24 Bit Wireless DAC Wireless Digital Audio Converter
Hi Res audio is hot.  It’s a way to get great quality digital music that’s head and shoulders better than MP3’s.  The problem is that you get it and store it on your computer, but need to play it on your (often antiquated) stereo system.  The Audioengine D2 provides a high quality solution at a reasonable price.  It allows you to wirelessly send your high quality music from your computer to your stereo. You can use multiple D2’s to set up a multi-room music system, and it doesn’t rely on your home’s WiFi router.

Plantronics BackBeat Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
Plantronics made its name with telephone headsets for the office, but the company hasn’t been sitting still.  These are technically sophisticated phones that deliver as much as 24 hours of music play time.  They have all the features you need to play music and answer calls from your smartphone.  It will let you sync with two devices so you can watch a movie on your tablet, then jump over to answer a call on your smartphone. Ranks right up there with Sennheiser and Bose. Great for blocking out noise in trains, planes, and automobiles.  

Google Nexus 9 by HTC Tablet Computer
This is Google’s latest flagship tablet, the first to run the Android 5.0  Lollipop operating system. The tablet features a stunning HD screen and a fast processor.  Two front facing speakers make it a great platform for watching entertainment.  It has solid battery life, probably about ten hours’ worth of Wi-Fi browsing.  The 8.9” screen makes it large enough to be comfortable watching movies yet small enough to fit in almost any bag.  It is also built for productivity, with easy multi-tasking, and an available keyboard/folio.

Slingbox M1 Remote Video Player
Whether you want to watch what’s on your home television from a tablet, or in a hotel room half way around the world on your laptop, Slingbox can connect you to all of your favorite programs including your hometown sports events.  The Slingbox M1 is easy to set up, and requires an Internet connection so you can find it on your tablet, smartphone, or computer, no matter where you roam.  You can use it to watch a second television channel at home, or access your favorites from overseas where licensing agreements can otherwise block your normal cable based on-demand service.

Asus AC2400 RT-AC87U Wireless Router
A wireless router is the backbone of your home network, and the more devices that are hooked up to it, like computers, smart home sensors, music systems, etc., the more power it needs to handle the demand.  The latest top end router from Asus can handle just about any demand a home network can place on it, and it will automatically monitor the traffic going through the network and optimize how the streams can be optimized. It has four antennae to maximize coverage on a combination of bands.

Epson Expression Premium XP-860 Small-In-One Photo and Document Printer
This all-in-one does just about everything you’d expect but with a very small footprint.  It delivers professional quality borderless photos up to 8”x10”.  Of course it can fax, print and scan as well.  It has lots of ways to print wirelessly from your home Wi-Fi network or its own Wi-Fi direct capability.  And you can print from almost anyplace using your smartphone or tablet.  It has a document feed system that will let you print up to thirty pages of two-sided copying automatically.      

Vanguard Alta Pro 254CT and Ball Head BBH-100T Tripod and Ball Head   With the development of carbon fiber as a replacement for aluminum, tripods have gotten a lot lighter.  This tripod has a center column that can pop out and become a horizontal bar, allowing 180 degrees of motion.  It weighs about 3 ½ pounds. The BBH-100 ball head is lightweight, flexible, and has a very smooth motion for shooting panoramas and video.  It can also support as much as 22 pounds of gear.  When you couple it with the 254CT you get a system that has three bubble levels, so your shots can always be level.  

Pacsafe Camsafe Z16 Anti-Theft Camera Bag and 13” Laptop Case Secure Photo Bag
There’s no such thing as an entirely theft-proof camera bag.  But PacSafe makes a line of bags that will slow the bad guys down and may save your gear.  This bag features reinforced straps that will impede strap slashers.  It has an internal metal mesh that prevents cutting.  And it has interlocking zipper pulls to stop a pickpocket and an RFID pocket that can prevent identity theft.  The bag has enough padded pockets to hold most of the camera gear you’d near for a full day of shooting and is ideal for a mirrorless or DSLR rig.      

Motorola Moto 360 Smartwatch
This smartwatch uses Google’s Android Wear operating system, which allows it to integrate with many of the recent Android smartphones on the market.  Unlike many other smartwatches, this has a traditional round face and offers a variety of attractive leather and metal interchangeable bands.  It is voice capable so you can interact with Google Now to ask for directions, check on weather, traffic, etc.  It also provides timely notifications for calendar events as well as text and e-mail.  It has fitness tracking, and wireless charging so you don’t have to worry about plugging it into a cradle or carrying a cord.    

Eagle Creek ORV 30” Trunk Rolling Luggage
We’ve been using Eagle Creek’s rolling trunks for more than twenty years and taken them around the world with never a problem.  The latest iteration of their ORV 30” trunk features a Stowable Equipment Keeper™ that holds gear and outerwear on top of the bag, a detachable cargo net that can hold gear outside the bag or serve to compress it inside, external access expandable Bi-Tech™ Wet/Dry Compartment, multiple grab handles on top, side, and bottom, and multiple external lash points for securing gear and lashing it to a vehicle.  It has lots of pockets both inside and out, making it a breeze to find the little things you need.    

WD My Passport Wireless External Storage
On the road, or at home or in the office, the WD Wireless storage device makes it easy to back up your data without wires.  It also comes with a built-in SD slot, something we’ve not seen on a portable hard drive.  That means when you’re traveling you can easily back up a day’s photos. It will work with computers, tablets, and smartphones, and will interface with WD’s MyCloud service so you have a second copy of your data.  If you do want to wire it up it uses a fast USB 3.0 port and has enough storage to easily keep all your photos together, or take a movie collection and your tunes library with you when you travel.

Extreme Beam S.A.R.5 High Performance Portable Flashlight
This pocket flashlight was designed for the battlefield, but will get you through a tough spot, with a bright 150 lumen light that can deliver a beam 450 feet.  It has an hour of run time.  It also has a feature that automatically dims the light when the battery starts to run low so you can finish whatever you need to get done. At about 3 1/2” long, it will fit comfortably in your pocket, a drawer, your glove compartment, or anyplace else you’re likely to need a reliable light on short notice.

Audioengine Powered Desktop Speaker System  
We’ve been using these Audioengine desktop speakers for a few months now and couldn’t be happier. This pair of well-reviewed powered desktop speakers fills the room without taking up much space.  They are a step above most of the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speakers we’ve heard.  But it you hook up the Audioengine D2 DAC, you will be able to get great hi-res audio streamed from your favorite devices and do it wirelessly to the speakers, though the speakers do have a wired connection to on another. That way you don’t have to worry about running wires across the room from your computer to the speakers.

Parrot Rolling Spider MiniDrone
Why should the kids have all the fun?  The Parrot Rolling Spider can crawl up walls or across the ceiling.  Take off the removable wheels and it’s a full-fledged mini-drone, with speeds up to 11 mph.  You can use the free app on your Android or iOS device to fly it at a distance of up to 60 feet.  It does a variety of acrobatic tricks, and is very stable when it’s hovering in one place, and takes great pictures along the way.

GasWatch BBQ Tank Level Indicator Digital Scale
Picture this – a summer’s afternoon and the family is gathered to grill up steaks, or burgers and dogs.  Things are going along swimmingly and then, poof, there’s no more gas in your tank.  How embarrassing. How annoying.  How unnecessary.  The GasWatch tank level indicator digital scale will not only show you how much propane is in your tank (by weight), but can be used as an alarm to go off when you’re getting low.  It’s easy to setup, the tank simply rests on the GasWatch scale and the meter itself is movable.    

AARP RealPad Tablet Computer
AARP decided that the consumer electronics industry wasn’t serving the needs of seniors with approachable technology. So they came up with their first piece of hardware, a 7.85” diagonal HD touchscreen device with a host of attractive features incuding 24/7 live technical support, big homescreen icons, easy video chatting, and a series of video tutorials. And it will also run all your favoriate Android apps. It includes a free one year AARP membership. Price is $189.

Colorful Blue Tooth Speakers
NYNE, the funky California based speaker company, has limited edition Royal Series Bluetooth speakers with rose gold accents. The popular Cruiser speaker enhances everyday music enjoyment with adjustable mounting clips designed for bikes, exercise machines, strollers and more. The NYNE Cruiser Royal Series features Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC for quick and easy wireless pairing with a smartphone, tablet or other mobile device. With up to 10 hours of playtime, the Cruiser can play your favorite music all day in style. It even allows multitasking with its built-in microphone for hands-free phone calls and built-in powerbank for mobile device charging.  

Garmin Nuvi 2789 LMT and Nuvi 2689 LMT Navigation Systems
These new units from Garmin make getting around easier than ever. They feature pinch and zoom touchscreens and voice command. They also feature millions of Points of Interest from FourSquare. They have unlimited traffic avoidance and Lifetime map upgrades. Garmin has put in detailed directions to complex locations such as airports and shopping malls, and provides clear illustrations to navigate complicated interesections. The Advanced Series 6” diagonal Nuvi 2689 LMT is available now. The larger 7” version, the 2789 LMT will be available in the first quarter of 2015 but for those with vision issues, it may well be worth waiting for.

Altec Lansing’s New Ruggedized ‘Life Jacket’ Bluetooth Portable Speaker
This speaker is designed to keep the Music Playing – even in extreme conditions. The Life Jacket resists water, dirt & shock and features a washable skin. It lasts up to 16 hours after it’s charged and features an IPX7 rating for durability. It is waterproof, shock-resistant, and constructed to withstand dirt, sand and just to be sure the music never stops – wherever you are. And at just 6” long, 2” high and one pound, you can take it just about anywhere. No power? No worries: the powerful Lithium-ion battery ensures up to 16 hours of continuous playback on a single charge. A USB connector even turns the Life Jacket into a charger for any smartphone or device with or without AC power.

IceBug Juniper BUGrip Ice Gripper Boots
Slipping and falling on ice is a real worry for folks who live in wintry climates like the northeast. These technically sophisticated boots come in men’s and women’s sizes. They feature a tread design with metal studs, just like studded tires, along with waterpfoof uppers. They look like normal hiking shoes, but will help keep folks safe on any icey surface.

Lenovo Horizon 2e Two-In-One Personal Computer
This computer provides a great gathering place for the family. Standing up, it’s a fully functional touchscreen desktop computer running Windows 8.1. But lay it down flat and it becomes a gaming machine for the whole family, with available pieces for hockey, Monopoly, and many other games. It’s also a great way to look at family pictures, blow them up, move them around, and it’s a great big tablet for the kids to do their artwork. It comes with a battery so you can move it from room to room on a moment’s notice.

V.ALRT Personal Emergency Alert Device
This is a button sized device that works through your smartphone. It is the smallest fall detection device we’ve seen. Unlike many others it doesn’t require a monthly fee or long term subsciption. Pushing the button will send a personalized message to as many as three pre-selected contacts. It uses the GPS services in your smartphone to provide location in case help is needed. To avoid false fall alerts, it gives the user several seconds to cancel a fall notification. It comes with a wristband and a rubber collar that can attach to a clip or a chain to be worn as a pendant.

Huawei Ascend Mate2 SmartPhone
There are some good reasons to buy this big Huawei phone, even though you won’t find it through any of the major network carriers. The huge 6.1” HD display phone is only available unlocked, that is with no two year contract, but at a price that is competitive. It runs high speed 4G on GSM networks like those operated by T-Mobile and AT&T as well as scores of lesser known carriers around the country. Our reason for selecting the Ascend Mate2 is primarily the Simple Home display which you can choose as your homepage. Instead of a bunch of hard to read icons the screen has seven big, easy-to-read buttons. The phone delivers excellent battery life (15 hours of talk time), a big sharp screen, and an available help app to get real time assistance.

Nikon Coolpix P600 Point & Shoot Camera
This is a powerful camera with many of the functions you’d expect to find on a far more expensive DSLR. What sets it apart is its 60X optical zoom lens which will enable really sharp action photos no matter what the sport or circumstance. It has a big swiveling 3” LCD screen and can shoot about 330 shots on a single battery charge. It delivers true HD quality video with stereo sound and it’s Wi-Fi equipped to share photos almost immediately to a smartphone or tablet.

Safe Headphones for All Kids
A new line of Kids-Safe volume-limiting headphones from Sakar, and tech giant Maxell, let kids enjoy their favorite tunes, while protecting delicate hearing from excess volume. Sakar’s are available in a dozen kid-favorite character designs, the Kids-Safe line is available in two sizes to fit ages 3-6 and 7-10.The Kids-Safe headphones come in wide range of the hottest character brands. Toddler-size options include Hello Kitty, Barbie, Batman, Spider-Man, Thomas the Train and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The larger, pre-teen size comes in Barbie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Monster High, Spider-Man, My Little Pony, Hello Kitty, Batman, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, Super and the Avengers designs.

Maxell’s Safe Headphones and More …   As more and more young children use tablets, mp3 players and even smart phones, audio and accessories giant Maxell has entered the field with: DIY Braid It! Custom Ear Bud Kit A fun and customizable way to express yourself and make your ear buds truly your own. Use the several colors of thread and beads to make your own designs.

Action Kids Headphones with Microphone
A headphone with a built in microphone for children. 95 decibels maximum sound output provides safe listening levels. IPX2 standard resists sweat and protects against moisture damage. These headphones have colorful interchangeable caps that make listening fun.

Safe Soundz Headphones
Designed for kids 3–‐5 years of age. 75 decibels maximum sound output provides safe listening levels. Current, trendy colors and designs appeal to kids. Available in pink and blue. The older kid’s version, designed for kids 6–‐9 years of age has 85 decibels maximum sound output. Current, trendy colors and designs appeal to kids. Available in pink and blue  

Nixplay 15” Wi-Fi Digital Picture Frame, Cloudframe Imagine

Jenny shoots, she scores, and moments later the spectacular pictures show up on Grandma and Grandpa’s big photo frame. With the Nixplay you can share photo playlists from your cloud photo accounts and your social media accounts to as many as ten WiFi Cloud frames. The system can be managed from a desktop or a tablet, and can move pictures to instantaneously share with the family. And of course if you want, there’s local photo storage a well. Several sizes available.  

Kindle Paperwhite E-Reader
The Kindle Paperwhite from Amazon is intended as a reader, and not as an entertainment or productivity device. You can blow up the font size to a comfortable level, and the crisp screen provides a reading experience that’s easy on the eyes.

Brookstone Tranquil Moments Bedside Sound Soother/Sleep Machine
Getting a good night’s sleep can be an ongoing challenge. This pint sized machine generates 12 different digital sound programs. The sounds can be programmed for various go-to-sleep times and the software is designed to slow the playback time as you are lulled to sleep. It also functions as a good quality bedside Bluetooth speaker. It comes with a rechargeable battery and a carrying pouch.

Bayco NightStick Dual Magnetic Flashlight
This is a great flashlight for almost any location. It has a bright orange case so it’s easy to spot. It has Bayco’s unique dual light configuration – one beam focuses forward while the other beam acts as a downward pointing floodlight. That lets you look down where you’re stepping while also being able to look ahead. The beams can be used together or separately. This light also has a powerful magnet so you can attach it to a car or other metal surface and use it hands-free.

Casio Classic Vintage Digital Watch
For some of us it’s hard to remember a world before digital watches. For others it’s hard to imagine that these watches have been around so long that the early versions are considered classic. Casio is bringing back this original version of the early LCD display watch. This one is water resistant.

Samsung F5500 40” LED Smart TV
The Smart TV interface organizes entertainment and content into 5 convenient panels: On TV, Movies and TV Shows, Social, Apps, and a panel for your Photos, Videos and Music. This also has Samsung’s S-Recommendation hub which makes viewing suggestions based on viewing history and preference. This TV was the biggest seller at Best Buy and regional TV retailers last month and its price is dropping.

Samsung HW-H750 Soundbar
Add some great sound to that new television with a wireless soundbar that has the best of both old and new technologies. It uses vacuum tubes for a warm sound, coupled with the latest digital technology for signal processing. It’s a 4.1 channel system, and includes a subwoofer. It is also compatible with Samsung’s Shape Multi-Room audio system so it’s not just for television sound.  

iTok.net Home Technical Support
iTok is a 24/7 consumer oriented tech support service that can fix problems, prevent problems and offers both security and backup service. Through December 31, iTOK is offering our readers a special promotion and waiving its one time set-up fee (up to a $99.99 value) for a Silver, Gold or Platinum subscription when you call (855) 884-1564.This is a special phone number set up specifically for this promotion which you won’t find online. Monthly subscription fees range from $10 to $35.  

Leeo Smart Alert NightLight
A smoke alarm in your house will let you know if there’s smoke or a fire. But it will only help you if you’re home to hear it. The Leeo is a wireless monitor that listens for your alarm, while dressing up as a stylish nightlight. If it hears an alarm, it sends you and your backup contacts a message using your home WiFi. Once you’re alerted, Leeo’s app will let you dial your home emergency services number, no matter where you are.

Brookstone Pure Ion Air Purifier & Humidifier
One of the issues with most air purifiers is changing or cleaning filters. This device uses a stainless steel filter that can go into the dishwasher. The ion system removes most airborne pollutants including dust and pollen, contributing to a better night’s sleep. It can work simultaneously as a humidifier, important in winter heating season.

AeroGarden Ultra LED Indoor Herb Garden
This indoor garden uses bright, energy efficient LED’s and requires no soil. It can grow fresh herbs, vegetables, salad greens, flowers and more. It has an easy to operate LCD control panel and comes with a startup kit of seven herbs.  

Kevo Cylinder and Deadbolt Smart Door Lock by Kwikset
This electronic smartlock uses an iOS phone as its key with Bluetooth technology. You’ll never need to carry keys again, and you can create secure sharing keys for other people who need access to your lock, such as caregivers. In the event the smartphone runs out of juice, Kevo comes with a smart key fob. Please note, Kevo is not yet compatible with Android devices.  

Brookstone 1 Massage Seat Topper
This is a great way to get a massage without having to make room for a massage chair. The seat topper will fit on any chair and delivers several kinds of massage including Shiatsu and rolling pressure. It also delivers adjustable heat. The back and neck are adjustable to deliver relief to wherever you need it most.

San Disks iXpand™ Flash Drive
This is the easiest way to transfer photos and videos between your iPhone, iPad, PCs and Mac computers. It also frees up memory on your iPhone or iPad, the biggest complaint against Apple Devices. Expands storage by up to 64GB. It also automatically copies photos and videos from the camera or phone to the drive when connected. Play all popular format videos and music files from the drive. It’s durable, flexible connector works with iPhone/iPad cases.

SanDisk Clip Sport MP3 Player
Now it’s easy to listen to music, audiobooks, podcasts, and other digital audio files while you’re working out. Great for athletes or fitness enthusiasts or anyone not wanting to lug their smart phone around. This lightweight MP3 player clips to your shirt or wristband, allowing you to enjoy music while keeping your hands and pockets free. It features a large LCD screen for easy navigation, along with an FM tuner for listening to your favorite radio stations. The SanDisk Clip Sport MP3 Player is available in a wide range of bright colors with file storage capacities of 4GB and 8GB, and it also contains a memory card slot for additional storage, something that IPods still can’t do. Lightweight, durable MP3 player can clip right to your clothing. Rechargeable battery offers up to 25 hours of use on a full charge.