So maybe you just got back the credit cards bills you’ve been ignoring since Black Friday and Cyber Monday. And Christmas. And maybe you realized you went way overboard on spending this year. And maybe you’re slowly coming to terms with your out-of-control habits but aren’t willing to accept them quite yet. We got you, fam. These tech accessories are priced at the bottom of the barrel without sacrificing on quality or reputation. No, they aren’t gimmicky. Yes, they are useful. Yes, you’ll want them all. No, we can’t be held liable for your own personal financial crisis.

Grid-It! Organizer

This flexible little wrangler lassos up all your head phone cords, tiny tech devices, and sundry items with ease. The rubber-threaded straps grip onto your valuables with the might of a cowboy keeping them safe from getting lost in your carry-on. These things come in small, medium, large, and extra large. And when coupled with 8 seconds of planning can save you a  horse-load of time.

Check Price on Bed, Bath & Beyond

goStrap Smartphone Holder

Are those pop-out thingamabobs not your jam? Us either. They don’t allow the phone to lay flat, causing it to wobble. But these goStrap Smartphone Holders actually keep your phone safe in hand and on the table. Their stretchy grips make it possible for you to loop your phone around your fingers in a hands-off kind of way, making this version of the smartphone stabilizer the more practical one.

Check Price on B&H PhotoVideo

CJ Tech 3 Outlet Wall Tap

It’s not your fault you have more devices than you do outlets. Your home was probably built before we as humans ceased to function without screens. This CJ Tech version of the power strip not only allows you plug in your tablet and smartphone, but also your eReader, electric blanket and lamp. BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE! It also acts as a nice little cradle for that oh-so-necessary smart phone of yours.

Check Price on Staples

Zeuste Charging Cable for iPhone

If there is one thing a tech-loving person can never have enough of, it’s those pesky smartphone charging cables. No matter which camp you’re in, iPhone vs. Android, there always seems to be one cable too few. This pack of three ought to solve that problem, at least for iPhone fans. Keep one by the bed, in the car, and at your office desk for optimal charging convenience.

Check Price on Amazon

Camyse Apple Watch Band

Typically, these types of off-brand products are questionable at best. But with a five-star rating on Amazon, this Apple watch band stands out from the crowd of counterfeits. The version seen here has three different color options: black, brown, and browner. They aren’t waterproof. They aren’t the real deal. And they aren’t going to break the bank.

Check Price on Amazon

THZY Mini Car Suction Cup

For the budding Youtube vlogger in all of us, this THYZ GoPro suction mount enables you to churn out content even at highway speeds. We don’t outright endorse recording yourself while driving (eyes on the road, people) and would instead encourage you to stick this dude on your mirror for some make-up how to’s, on the side of the fridge for some excellent POV meal prepping, or perhaps even on a nearby smooth surface to live stream those Steam plays.

Check Price on Walmart

Dotz – Reusable Cord Straps

The area behind your TV cabinet is not actually meant to look like an overgrown jungle despite your cat’s attempts to climb those electrical vines. We can’t promise that these reusable cord straps will be the tech gadget that will actually dissuade your cat from doing whatever the hell it wants. But we can promise that it will at least make it more difficult for them to yank your Xbox down off the shelf.

Check Price on Best Buy

Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer

Low tech is still tech when it comes to low cost and inexpensive. So while you’re working overtime to pay off all that you’ve seen here plus those #treatyoself moments of 2017 (who are we kidding, that was the entire year of 2017), keep the motivation juice flowing at piping hot temps to keep your productivity levels somewhere near luke warm.

Check Price on Target

8 Inexpensive Tech Accessories to Enhance your Life

It seems like everything these days must be “smart” or have Bluetooth, or connect to an app. But when it comes to toys, often those tech components seem a bit silly and/or unnecessary.  That said, not all are duds. Here are a few of the best toys that are actually doing an excellent job using technology to really enhance the play and learning experience.

Best Hybrid Building/Tech Toy

With their new LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox Building and Coding Kit, LEGO is branching out from their popular Mindstorms robotics line, and has made a tech/building combo toy that is more accessible, and much less expensive. While Mindstorms has a focus on the coding and programming side of robots, LEGO Boost looks like it’s mostly about the building. It also costs almost $200 less!

With LEGO Boost, kids (7 to 12) can build multiple robots, and use the “LEGO Move Hub” and an app to make them come to life. The kit is compatible with regular old LEGO pieces, so there’s the option to really get creative and make the robots their own.

• MSRP: $160 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

 Best Tech Toy You’ll Want to Play More Than Your Kid

Sure, some people are saying it’s overpriced, and that you’ll look like a dork playing it (is this really a surprise?), but I am still dying to try Lenovo’s new Star Wars: Jedi Challenges AR Set. This standalone augmented reality set works with iOS or Android devices and lets you battle it out in virtual Jedi duels. The set come with a lightsaber controller and a tracking beacon, and is being sold at Best Buy and directly from Lenovo (beware of Amazon listings; they are selling it for over MSRP).

Like I mentioned, early reviews are mixed, but Forbes is calling it “the $200 device that will define AR”. And, yeah, I just really want to play with it.

MSRP: $200 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price at Best Buy

Best Invention Toy

If you’re on the hunt for a Star Wars toy with a little less lightsaber fighting and a little more learning, the new littleBits Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit looks like it may be the toy you are looking for. LittleBits has a reputation for making some of the best STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) toys out there, so of all the Star Wars collaborations out there (and there are so many), this one is really exciting to me.

The kit comes with everything kids need to build and customize their own R2 unit. Best of all, it’s all reconfigurable, so the toy is not “done” after they’ve completed the initial build.

In addition to being packed full of cool sounding features like Force Drive, which allows kids to control their creation with their hand, and a drawing mode where the droid draw secret maps and messages, the Droid Inventor Kit was recently chosen as a Platinum Award Winner by the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio (actually kind of a big deal in the toy world!).

• MSRP: $100 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best STEM Doll

I am not of the opinion that every building or STEM toy needs a “girl version” (because there are plenty of girls who would be totally excited about LEGO Boost, or the Droid Kit!), but I also think it’s great that they are trying to include STEM components in toys that are traditionally marketed to girls.

The Dance Code Disney Princess Belle Doll is an Amazon Exclusive that allows kids to program dance routines for the doll to perform. Check out this demo video from HasCon 2017 to see her in action.

• MSRP: $100 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best iPad Add-On/Kids’ Tablet Alternative

If you don’t want to get your child their own “kids’ tablet”, the Osmo Genius Starter Kit will turn your existing iPad into a hands-on learning device. This highly rated set includes five games that teach math, spelling, visual thinking, problem solving, and creative drawing skills through a unique mix of on-screen tech and physical pieces.

Perhaps the best part is that this kit is designed to grow with your child, adjusting to their skill level through the age of 5 all the way up to 12.

Once you have the Starter Kit, there are tons of additional games you can purchase, like the newly released Coding Jam Game.

MSRP: $100 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $75

Check Price on Amazon

Best STEM Board Game

I don’t know if this one really qualifies as a “tech toy”, but I’m including it anyway because I think it looks really interesting. Circuit Maze Board Game has budding electrical engineers (8 years old and up) arranging tokens to create real circuits and win challenges. Looks a lot like the popular Snap Circuits toys, but in game form. Reviews are mostly positive, and the price is very affordable compared to a lot of STEM toys out there.

• MSRP: $30 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

Best Kids’ Drone

There are a ton of lower-end drones out there, with a huge range of prices. I went with the Drone Force Morph-Zilla for this list because a) it’s called the Drone Force Morph-Zilla, and b) it’s getting good reviews so far. It’s a 2-in-1 drone, meaning it can be controlled on the ground before it goes into flight mode.

On the even less expensive end of the spectrum, the brand Syma is a favorite cheapie among Drone enthusiasts (the Syma X11C model in particular is mentioned a lot as a good starting drone for kids).

• MSRP: $80 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: $60

Check Price on Amazon

Best Kid’s Camera

If you’re sick of your kid stealing your iPhone and saving 3988439 off-centered pictures of themselves, a digital camera of their own is a great gift idea. For toddlers and preschoolers, the VTech Kidizoom DUO Camera gets good reviews, and has both front end rear lenses so they can continue to perfect their selfies.

For kids a little older, the popular and well-reviewed Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera might be the way to go. There’s that special something about watching a photo actually develop that most kids these days haven’t gotten to experience! The film can be expensive, but Groupon frequently offers deals on it.

• MSRP: $70 / Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Price on Amazon

2017 Holiday Gift Guide: Tech Toys Worth Buying

2016 is definitely the year of the “smart” toy. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) toys are also experiencing a huge surge in popularity, which is really awesome to see. With all the options out there, which tech toys are worth spending your money on? Here are a few of our favorites.

littleBits Rule Your Room Inventor Kit

This invention kit teaches kids science, engineering, art and math skills while allowing them to create things like “burglar buzzers”, programmable puppets, and touch control pads using the toys and every day items they have in their rooms. The kit comes with instructions for 8 inventions, but the possibilities are really endless.

MSRP: $100 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $80

Check Ben’s for littleBits Rule Your Room Deals

Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar

For the youngest budding programmers out there, Fisher-Price’s Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar is a great option. Geared toward preschoolers, it has nine segments that can arranged and rearranged to make the Code-a-Pillar move forward, left, right, wiggle, dance, etc. Kids will be having so much fun with it, they’ll have no idea they’re learning sequencing and coding at the same time.

MSRP: $50 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $32

Check Ben’s for Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar Deals

Amazon Fire Kids Edition 7″ 8GB WiFi Tablet

It says right on the description that this tablet is “Not a toy,” but although it looks and feels more like an adult tablet than its biggest competitor, the LeapPad, the Kids Fire was definitely designed with young users in mind. Not only does it come with “kid-proof” case, it includes a 2-year worry-free guarantee in case your kids do somehow manage to break it.

MSRP: $100 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $70

Check Ben’s for Amazon Fire Kids Edition Tablet

Meccano MicroNoid Programmable Robot

If you’re not sure your kid is going to love the whole robot programming thing, the MicroNoid is an excellent option (it has a retail price of $40, compared to the $180 price tag on their larger Meccanoid 2.0 model). Thanks to positive early reviews, the MicroNoid is already the #1 bestseller in Model Building Kits on Amazon.

MSRP: $40 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $24

Check Ben’s for Meccano MicroNoid Deals

VTech Kidizoom Action Cam

Here’s a great tech toy that actually encourages kids to get outside and be active. The VTech Kidizoom Action Cam can be mounted to bikes, skateboards and more, and can take photos and videos in up to 6 feet of water. It’s not going to give you GoPro-quality videos, but for under $50 reviews say it’s a ton of fun.

MSRP: $60 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $29

Check Ben’s for VTech Kidizoom Action Cam Deals

Crayola MyPhones Volume-Limiting Headphones

The Crayola MyPhones (made by Griffin) are durable headphones designed specifically for kids. The best part about them is that they are equipped with built-in volume-limiting technology so that kids can’t turn them up past 85 decibels (the recommended max for young ears).

The MyPhones are a well-known model, but more and more brands are coming out with kid-safe options.

MSRP: $25 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Ben’s for Crayola MyPhones Deals

BOSEbuild Speaker Cube

This build-it-yourself Bluetooth speaker for kids only has 22 total reviews on Amazon so far–but all 22 of them give it 5/5 stars. Teaches kids all about sound and speaker components as they build their own speaker with “Bose-quality sound”, personalizable light effects, and more. Here’s more from CNET.

MSRP: $149 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: N/A

Check Ben’s for BOSEbuild Speaker Cube Deals

Nintendo 2DS Mario Kart 7 Bundle

We’ve already talked about the new Nintendo 2DS in our Video Game Holiday Gift Guide so I won’t go into too much detail here. But this simpler, more durable handheld gaming system is a great option for the younger video game addict. This year the price point is more affordable than ever.

MSRP: $90 | Lowest Price on Ben’s: $60

Check Ben’s for Nintendo 2DS Deals

Tech Toys for Kids Worth Buying This Holiday Season

A mass of AI and robotics researchers have penned and signed an open letter, which was presented today at 2015’s International Joint Conferences on Artificial Intelligence, warning of an impending “third revolution in warfare,” or the ubiquitous and amoral appropriation and use of autonomous and lethal killing machines. Reality is catching up to science fiction once again, and these and many other prominent intellectual leaders have come together to make their case that the world governments should, instead of waiting to react, stamp out the potential horrors of such a reality before it can even arise.

Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak headline the list of signatories, which is fast growing yet. The message is a strong one, if terrifying to fully consider. Here’s how it opens:

“Autonomous weapons select and engage targets without human intervention. They might include, for example, armed quadcopters that can search for and eliminate people meeting certain pre-defined criteria, but do not include cruise missiles or remotely piloted drones for which humans make all targeting decisions. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has reached a point where the deployment of such systems is — practically if not legally — feasible within years, not decades, and the stakes are high: autonomous weapons have been described as the third revolution in warfare, after gunpowder and nuclear arms.”

It goes on to draw parallels between the agreements world governments have made about biological and chemical weapons and what the signatories expect to happen on this issue. They call an AI-driven arms race, like the proliferation of nuclear technology, an inevitability barring meaningful intercession.

Read the full letter here, where you can also add your name to the list should you so feel inclined. And I checked; James Cameron, he of the original anti-autonomous killer robots message, hasn’t yet signed. Yet.

Forgive me for the joke. I just wanted to feel safe again.

Prominent Smart People Agree Autonomous Killer Robots are Bad, Urge World to Agree