Tech favorites for productivity and travel
In many ways I consider myself a latecomer when it comes to many technology: I’m always hesitant to purchase a new gadget or join another social network or even add another app, because I feel like my lifestyle and my inbox and my storage space are just already completely, totally, to-the-brim full. And then I discover something like the Kindle Paperwhite or the iPhone 6, and my world is just rocked by how convenient, pretty and useful it is.
I’ve also realized that I’m surrounded by so many tech-savvy gadget enthusiasts that I’m not really THAT far behind: when you’re surrounded by early adopters and work at a technology company, it’s just easy to always think you’re behind the curve. That said, I feel like I’ve been chatting about a few of my absolute favorite technology life savers with friends in real life and have never really mentioned them on the blog. So these might seem a bit all over the place, but I present: my tech favorites for productivity and travel and when the two collide.
The tool that makes inbox zero a complete reality
I discovered Unroll.me about a year ago, and my inbox has never been the same. It is essentially one daily email that “rolls up” all your email subscriptions. I used to get so excited to see that I had email, only to be frustrated and disappointed that it was just another email from a store or a newsletter I didn’t really care about anymore or a social media notification. But! I didn’t necessarily want to lose knowing about flash sales from my favorite stores or not get my blog comments sent to my email. The first step with Unroll.me goes through all of your subscriptions (believe me: you probably subscribe to more than you think!) and you choose whether to unsubscribe, keep in your inbox or add to Unroll.me. And then you just get one email a day with all of the highlights of your inbox. It is THE BEST.
On a similar note: I love Feedly to read all the blogs I subscribe to in a simple, cohesive manner (in one place) every morning. It’s my favorite way to start the day!
The thing that makes all of the difference on long-haul flights
My dad has had the big old Bose noise-cancelling headphones for ages, but I was never too interested simply because they would be too heavy and clunky to carry around all the time. But my boyfriend got the tiny Bose noise-cancelling earbuds last year, and oh my gosh: they make SUCH a difference. Once you put them in and turn them on, you can’t hear ANYTHING, not even the noise of the engines or the baby crying in the seat behind you. You can listen to music with them or you can just block everything else out. So key on red-eye flights!
The app that makes making videos on your phone way too easy
Granted, I work for Vimeo. And Cameo was acquired by Vimeo about a year ago. That’s (obviously) how I found out about it, but oh my goodness, how happy I am that I did! It was named one of the best apps of the year by Apple in 2013, and it essentially makes it SO easy to make and edit cool videos on your phone–using just your phone. I’ve been playing around with it a ton, and my biggest roadblock is just remembering to take video instead of just photos. But one of my goals for 2015 is to make more videos–and to use Cameo to make them.
The product that keeps all of your cords organized in a stylish way
I’m obsessed with my This Is Ground cord tacos: it’s one of those products that is just so simple that you wonder how you didn’t think of it yourself. They’re so easy to toss in my purse or in my suitcase to keep the obscene amount of cords I travel with organized: iPhone, Kindle, laptop, headphones!
What are your favorite products/apps/services for productivity and travel?
