Image via Complex Original
The evolution of wireless technology has changed our lives. Be it checking the latest Instagram updates, tracking locations, or streaming music from a portable speaker when showering—the connectivity of our devices is what keeps us functioning at a more modern pace. But choosing and knowing which protocols work best with a product isn’t so easy. The technical jargon alone can leave you befuddled. So to clear things up, we streamlined the most popular wireless protocols out there:
Wi-Fi: A wireless network featuring a radio frequency signal to connect devices
Bluetooth: A radio signal engineered to interconnect devices and exchange data
AirPlay: Apple’s proprietary protocol suite for allowing wireless streaming
NFC: Short-range wireless technology using electromagnetic radio fields for connection
GPS: Satellite-based navigation system made for determining locations
Miracast: A wireless display standard for broadcasting content onto a TV
Got it? Good. Now that we’re past our crash course in wireless tech, why not also get familiar with some of the hottest items utilizing these platforms today. From futuristic wearables to smart-home speakers, these are the quintessential gadgets to help guide your wireless experience moving forward.
Plantronics BackBeat Sense
Plantronics new wireless headphones are pushing wireless audio to a new frontier—blessing users with Advanced Class 1 Bluetooth technology that allows them to control two smartphones from up to 330 feet away. The long-distance range is just one of many hi-tech luxuries found on the BackBeat Sense. It also supports 18 hours of playback and has a “smart sensor” that pauses tracks when disconnected from your handset.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
No other smartphone boasts the wireless prowess of Samsung’s latest flagship device. Design wise, the Galaxy S6 Edge is nothing short of groundbreaking, with a dual-edge display that sets the bar for mobile engineering. However, it’s in the features where the handset excels. Great performance and a stellar camera, with dope editing tools, make the S6 Edge a beast. So does built-in, wireless charging via Qi standard, along with NFC capabilities for mobile payments and sharing content when tapping two phones together.
Boosted Board
Skateboarders have forever longed for a motorized longboard. Now they have one with some tech flair. The Boosted Board integrates Bluetooth functionality to control the speed and torque limit that best suits the skateboarder’s professional level. The boards’ accompanying handheld remote makes it all possible with the options to let you change the acceleration or apply the brakes when on the move. A full charge will get terrain conquerors up to six miles of travel and speeds up to 18–22 mph.
Kohler Moxie + Wireless Speaker
Thanks to the emergence of smart technology, our gadgets now live double lives. Kohler’s hybrid showerhead and wireless speaker is living proof of this. The dual-home appliance brings home audio resonance into your bathroom via Bluetooth streaming, while featuring a sprayface with 60 angled nozzles for effective water spraying. As the company puts it: “Just you + water + clean, clear sound.” It doesn’t get any fresher in the shower.
Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter
Streaming sticks are all the rage right now. But rather than jump in the same wireless lane as its competitors, Microsoft steps into its own with a Miracast-powered display adapter that beams your laptop or tablet screen onto an HDTV. Its ability to mirror content without the use of a traditional Wi-Fi network warrants it the more reliable option and perfect travel companion.
Narrative Clip 2
Billed as the “world’s smallest wearable camera,” the Clip 2 functions off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity to automatically capture photos throughout the day. The advantage of having both technologies available plays into its mobile ecosystem—placing all functionality within the accompanying app to browse, organize, and share all photos on social media. Not to mention, the company’s Narrative Service algorithm relieves the pressure of sorting photos into collections, as the feature does the work automatically for you.
goTenna
Sometimes we go off the grid by default, courtesy of weak cellular reception. This small, rugged device is engineered to save your iPhone or Android phone from such connection-less disasters by enabling it to text and share GPS locations with other goTenna-enabled devices for miles on end. The goTenna uses 151–154 MHz frequencies and lets users communicate from any destination, minus a router, tower, or any satellites.
Myo Gesture Control Armband
Fitness trackers and smartwatches are dominating the wearable market right now. But the Myo is a look into the future of this product category—one destined to enhance the user experience with lightening-fast, precise gesture recognition. The advanced armband is programmed to read the electrical activity of muscles and the motion of your arm to provide touch-free control of other gadgets. Some of its unique attributes include browsing iTunes playlists, playing video games, and scrolling through presentations. And more are schedule to come, through future software updates.
Wocket Smart Wallet
Mobile payment systems like Apple Pay are transforming our smartphones into digital wallets. Though research shows consumers are still scared of adopting the technology due to security risks. So for the frequent flyer tired of carrying multiple credit cards when traveling, the Wocket serves as a more effective option by programming the info from your charge plates into one card. From there, the e-wallet wirelessly pairs itself to the merchant’s payment system to execute transactions. No Internet connection or smartphone is required.
DJI Phantom 3
Enhanced video capture, insane features, simpler controls, and now built-in Wi-Fi—the DJI Phantom 3 holds weight as the crème de la crème of drones. The premium UAV appeals to cinematographers seeking award-winning 4K aerial shots, by giving them the opportunity to view the results in real time on the DJI app. This is accomplished through the bundled transmitter that serves as a controller and a wireless hub, connecting to a smartphone or tablet for viewing live feeds. Now you can hit the skies Wi-Fi ready.
Apple Watch
We can all agree the one smartwatch worth owning is Apple’s. Everyone knows the digital timepiece uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to pair with the iPhone. But let’s not forget that Airplay is available on the device as well, and it works with the Music app to showcase other compatible devices available in your network. All other functions operate the same.
Moto Hint
Since the start of the millennium, the most popularized wireless gadget, outside of the cellular phone, has been the Bluetooth headset. Motorola brings the novelty full surface with an innovative earpiece that flaunts an ultramodern look and produces good sound quality when screening calls remotely. The Hint mainly earns cool points for its interconnectivity with the Moto X’s voice command feature, dubbed “Moto Voice,” for hands-free virtual assistance. That’s something we’ve never been afforded in the past.