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Now more than ever, it’s important to stay connected to the ones we love – but as we head into the festive season, it’s not always easy to catch up with them. Luckily, we’re living in an age of remarkable smart devices that lets us stay connected to the people we care about, no matter where in the world they might be. STAY CONNECTED WITH LOVED ONES

What to Buy:

Google Nest Hub Max A complete control centre for your smart home. $349

THE SMART CHOICE

Amazon Echo Show 10 The HD screen that automatically moves with you. $399

Possibly the best low-cost tech upgrade you can get for your home is a smart display. It’s incredible how fast these devices have evolved, from audio-only speakers to assistant-powered devices with high-quality colour screens. They’re brilliant for cooking walk- throughs on YouTube or playing TV shows while you’re taking a break – and they can also make video calls to other similar devices. Set up your family or close friends with the same kind of smart display you’ve got and catching up face-to-face is easy. Some devices even move their camera to face you as you move around the room, so you’re not tied down to one spot while you chat.

JB’s Top Tips

You can change the activation word if the default is triggering too often. Especially handy if your name is Alexa! Download your display’s smartphone app to set up picture galleries and more. Stick to the same brand for the displays and speakers in your home and you can communicate between rooms. PICK UP: Smart light bulbs you can control from your smart display.

THE WORLD IS WATCHING JB’s Top Tips

Did You Know?

Phones Without Apps It might seem like smartphones have always

Smart watches have done more than just make wearing a watch cool again – they’ve brought with them a whole bunch of enhanced features. They can now give you access to a fitness monitoring system on your wrist, working with apps on your phone to keep track of your progress. That’s in addition to navigation features, the ability to run apps, and even the ability to make phone calls. Many smart watches include valuable safety features, too – like fall detection. The watch can tell if its wearer has taken a hard fall and can be set to call 000 if that happens.

If using your watch while exercising or training, a bigger display can make a big difference. For calls and texts, get a watch with 4G mobile support so it works everywhere. Don’t wear your watch too loosely – the sensors on its back only work when in contact with your skin. PICK UP: Bluetooth earbuds so your watch can play music and podcasts.

had apps, but only 13 years ago, even the most feature-packed phones came with just a handful of basic pre- installed apps. All that changed in July 2008, when Apple launched the iPhone 3G and with it, the first App Store.

What to Buy:

Spacetalk Adventurer A 4G-enabled smart watch for kids that keeps you connected with them. $349

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Track fitness, sleep and wellbeing in a stylish watch that’s a perfect pair with Galaxy smartphones. $449

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