Top Tech Gadgets To Stay Cool This Summer

Summer is almost here! What does that mean to you and your family? Warm weather, plenty of time outside and vacations spring to mind. Make sure you’re equipped with the coolest technology gadgets for your upcoming summer plans – whether those plans include embarking on a road trip with a group of loved ones or lounging solo by the pool.

Google Nexus 7 Tablet

Tablets have become almost as essential as a mobile phone, and the Google Nexus 7 is one of the finest options available. It is packed with premium features, including an incredibly sharp 7-inch screen with 323 pixels packed into every inch, dual stereo speakers and a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor. It’s also loaded with the best of Google, like Chrome, the Google Play Store, Gmail and Google Now. The Nexus runs on Android 4.3, the newest iteration of the world’s most popular mobile operating system.

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Panasonic DMC-FT5

You’ll need a trusty, reliable camera to capture all of your memories this summer. The DMC-FT5 is a tough camera that is waterproof up to 43 feet, crushproof up to 220 pounds, shockproof from 6. 5 feet and freeze proof to 14 degrees. It has a 16.1 effective megapixel MOS sensor, optical image stabilization and a 3-inch LCD with 460,000 dots.

Additionally, the rugged DMC-FT5 has Wi-Fi connectivity with NFC capability, built-in GPS, 1080/60p video recording and a bevy of shooting options to choose from. It will geotag images as you shoot them. The battery life is impressive, especially since features like GPS and Wi-Fi can drain the battery.

Portable Projector

After you’ve recorded all of your photos and videos from vacation, invite friends and family over to share your memories. Forget about hunching over a smartphone screen or crowding around a desktop -€” a projector is the best way to show off your memories.

Projectors have shrunk in size over the years. Nowadays, a pico or pocket projector is only a little larger than a cell phone (but doesn’t offer the same performance as a larger model). The larger palmtop projectors are brighter and lightweight enough to pack in a bag or backpack. Pico or palmtop projectors typically run off of a USB fob, making it easy to share your photos instantly.

Intoxicated LCD Watch

Summertime also means kicking back with the occasional beer or cocktail – responsibly, of course! Kisai makes it a little easier for you with its latest gadget: a watch with a built-in sobriety test and breathalyzer to let you know if you hit the booze too hard at the BBQ or indulged in a few too many Mai Tai’s during your Hawaiian getaway.

Simply blow into the watch and the blood-alcohol meter will shoot out your BAC in an easy-to-read display. The watch is light and comfortable (although its design could be a little sleeker). Other features include a clock, calendar and alarm. The watch charges by USB port.

LED Car Sign

The last gadget you must have for summer road trips is the Drivemocion LED car sign. Think of it as a mounted billboard, suctioned to your rear window, that broadcasts your thoughts and emotions. Choose from either facial expressions (much like emoticons) or canned messages like ‘Back Off’€ or ‘€œSorry.’ These could come in handy the next time someone tailgates you as you cruise down the turnpike or if you accidentally cut someone off in traffic. Just be sure to use the graphic of the middle finger judiciously if children are around.