Yahoo News Merry techmas: The gadgets you need to have a stress-free Christmas
Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also be one of the most stressful.
According to research commissioned by Google, one in 10 people in the UK would rather swim naked with sharks than spend Christmas with their in-laws. Ouch.
Whilst technology can’t help if you really don’t get on well with your partner’s family, there is a lot of problems it can solve, from making Christmas shopping a relaxing experience to a digital meat thermometer so you know when the turkey is officially ready to eat.
Here’s our pick of the tech you need to make this year’s festivities go as smoothly as possible.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition: for quiet moments
Tablets can be a godsend for parents at Christmas, particularly when there are long journeys involved. If you’re looking for a device that can handle clumsy fingers, then the latest Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is the one.
It comes with a two-year, no questions asked guarantee so it can be replaced if anything awry occurs, though the kid-proof case in blue, yellow and pink should help.
The device has a year of Amazon Fire for Kids unlimited, for a wide selection of books, videos, educational apps and games.
The parental dashboard, which allows you to set specific downtime periods, will come in handy too.
Google Home Hub: for help in the kitchen
With more and more families introducing smart speakers into their homes, this year’s Google Home Hub is perfect for dealing with Christmas mayhem.
Thanks to the device’s screen and YouTube integration, you can find recipe videos using just your voice and follow the directions as you cook, without smothering your smartphone with sticky fingers.
Set timers for dishes in the oven and if you have a Spotify or YouTube Music subscription, create the perfect cooking playlist, with or without Christmas songs.
Headspace app: for mindfulness
No matter how much you plan, something will always go wrong at the last minute. For moments when you need to take a break, apps like Headspace can be incredibly useful.
If you’ve never practised mindfulness before, there’s a Basics starter pack with a 10-day beginner’s course to guide you through the essentials.
Say it with me: ohhhhm.
App Store and Google Play Store
Meater+ for cooking the turkey
Chronic fear of giving the family food poisoning? Or this year is the one the turkey won’t be bone dry? The Meater+ smart thermometer is here to help.
The device connects wirelessly to its charger, which is fitted with a Bluetooth booster, so you can control it through the Meater+ app on any smartphone.
It uses patented technology to monitor the meat whilst it's cooking and send alerts to your device, so you can step away from the oven and feel safe in the knowledge all is going well.
Ring Video Doorbell 2: to check on your home
Going away over the festive break? If you’re worried about leaving the house unattended then a smart doorbell is a necessary purchase.
The Ring Video Doorbell 2 allows you to watch over your home. There’s a camera which streams 1080 HD video, and the microphone lets you chat to anyone loitering on the doorstep.
As well, there’s a feature to set up instant alerts when motion is detected, so you make sure you’re in the know at all times.
Sony WH-1000X M3 headphones: for quiet Christmas shopping
Christmas present shopping is up there as one of the most stressful festive activities, from deciding which present to buy to dealing with festive noise and crowds.
According to research by Sony, conducted in partnership with behaviour science expert and associate lecturer at Goldsmiths University, Patrick Fagan, busy streets and queues topped the list as the biggest Christmas stresses.
However, shopping whilst wearing noise-cancelling headphones was shown to increase happiness as much as 17 per cent. That’s where Sony’s WH-1000X M3 headphones come in.
Playing the music you enjoy, instead of having to listen to Santa Baby the 1000th time, as well as blocking out the background noise, will make Christmas shopping a much more enjoyable activity.
