7 must-have back-to-school tech products for college students

Ah, college. A time for co-ed dorms, tailgate parties and — oh right, studying. But who says campus life can’t include work and play.    

This fall, the two will join forces, thanks to a slew of fun and innovative products on the market.   

Forget the highlighters and spiral notebooks. The best back-to-school gear available this September will be high tech: from alarms that shake you awake, to earplugs that silence chatty roommates, to a gorgeous dual-lens smartphone that unlocks in just .4 seconds.    

Get dialed in on the best supplies to make school a cinch. Here are the 7 must-have tech products to help students study hard (and have a little fun) all semester long.  

A beautiful smartphone to capture every moment 

Stay in touch while living away from home with the new Honor 8, a stunning smartphone with a well-crafted exterior that is matched only by its stellar interior technology. Diamond-cut smooth edges and a 2.5D glass-made body gives the phone a sleek, modern vibe, while superb battery life means there will always be enough juice in the phone — even if you have to pull an all-nighter. Dual-lenses help capture crisp photos in low light and a “perfect selfie” mode means you’ll always put your best face forward.  

Launching next week on http://www.hihonor.com/uk/.

Earplugs that block out the world 

When you have roommates who keep weird hours, a device that dulls the noise is absolutely necessary. Using Hush noise canceling earplugs is like putting a sound machine directly into your brain. The discrete plugs sync to your smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing you to program which soothing tones will lull you to sleep, like the rushing of water or the chatter of the forest. When it’s time for class, you can schedule a wakeup that only you will hear. Sounds good, right? 

  

An alarm that shakes you awake 

For those who need a literal jolt to get out of bed in the morning (and we’re not talking about caffeine) there’s the SmartShaker by iLuv. The palm-sized disc syncs to your phone, then gets tucked under your pillow while you sleep. When your alarm goes off, it shakes and vibrates beneath you, giving you that much-needed boost to get going.

A go-anywhere movie projector 

Get ready to have the coolest room in the dorm. This plug and play Pocket Projector will display a screen of 50” inches on just about any flat surface and can easily hook up to your smartphone, tablet, laptop and more via an HDMI cable. And with built-in speakers and two hours of playback time, movie night is a must. Pass the popcorn. 

A soothing start to your day 

College can be tough on your sleep cycle, what with all those late cram sessions and restless nights worrying about exams. Put stress in its place with this calming Wakeup Light, a bedside lamp meets alarm clock that mimics the warm and soothing tones of the sunrise. Natural light can help to reset the body’s own internal clock and get your circadian rhythm back in sync, helping with everything from irritability to depression. There’s also an FM radio and a menu of natural sounds to help ease you into the day. At night, use the lamp to unwind while reading in bed.  

Note taking gets a serious upgrade 

The pencil is dead. Long live the Neo smartpen N2. This cool little gadget will bring your notes to the next level. Compatible with both Neo notebooks and the iOS or Android Notes app, the pen allows you to capture digital copies of everything you write using the pen. The best part? Once you convert your handwriting to text, all your notes become searchable.

Never lose anything again 

This innovative, 1.5 square inch device will change the way you interact with the world.Tile can be attached to anything you own, from your keys to your backpack to your bike. It uses Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone via an app and shows you where you are in relation to your missing stuff. A tiny speaker inside the fob can be activated from the app and you can even log in from a friend’s phone while on the hunt. Lose your phone somewhere in your room? Double click the square and your phone will ring — even if it’s on silent.  

HONOR

7 must-have back-to-school tech products for college students

PAID CONTENT BY HONOR

BY HONOR3 DAYS AGO

Ah, college. A time for co-ed dorms, tailgate parties and — oh right, studying. But who says campus life can’t include work and play.    

This fall, the two will join forces, thanks to a slew of fun and innovative products on the market.   

Forget the highlighters and spiral notebooks. The best back-to-school gear available this September will be high tech: from alarms that shake you awake, to earplugs that silence chatty roommates, to a gorgeous dual-lens smartphone that unlocks in just .4 seconds.    

Get dialed in on the best supplies to make school a cinch. Here are the 7 must-have tech products to help students study hard (and have a little fun) all semester long.  

A beautiful smartphone to capture every moment 

Stay in touch while living away from home with the new Honor 8, a stunning smartphone with a well-crafted exterior that is matched only by its stellar interior technology. Diamond-cut smooth edges and a 2.5D glass-made body gives the phone a sleek, modern vibe, while superb battery life means there will always be enough juice in the phone — even if you have to pull an all-nighter. Dual-lenses help capture crisp photos in low light and a “perfect selfie” mode means you’ll always put your best face forward.  

Launching next week on http://www.hihonor.com/uk/.

Earplugs that block out the world 

When you have roommates who keep weird hours, a device that dulls the noise is absolutely necessary. Using Hush noise canceling earplugs is like putting a sound machine directly into your brain. The discrete plugs sync to your smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing you to program which soothing tones will lull you to sleep, like the rushing of water or the chatter of the forest. When it’s time for class, you can schedule a wakeup that only you will hear. Sounds good, right? 

  

An alarm that shakes you awake 

For those who need a literal jolt to get out of bed in the morning (and we’re not talking about caffeine) there’s the SmartShaker by iLuv. The palm-sized disc syncs to your phone, then gets tucked under your pillow while you sleep. When your alarm goes off, it shakes and vibrates beneath you, giving you that much-needed boost to get going.

A go-anywhere movie projector 

Get ready to have the coolest room in the dorm. This plug and play Pocket Projector will display a screen of 50” inches on just about any flat surface and can easily hook up to your smartphone, tablet, laptop and more via an HDMI cable. And with built-in speakers and two hours of playback time, movie night is a must. Pass the popcorn. 

A soothing start to your day 

College can be tough on your sleep cycle, what with all those late cram sessions and restless nights worrying about exams. Put stress in its place with this calming Wakeup Light, a bedside lamp meets alarm clock that mimics the warm and soothing tones of the sunrise. Natural light can help to reset the body’s own internal clock and get your circadian rhythm back in sync, helping with everything from irritability to depression. There’s also an FM radio and a menu of natural sounds to help ease you into the day. At night, use the lamp to unwind while reading in bed.  

Note taking gets a serious upgrade 

The pencil is dead. Long live the Neo smartpen N2. This cool little gadget will bring your notes to the next level. Compatible with both Neo notebooks and the iOS or Android Notes app, the pen allows you to capture digital copies of everything you write using the pen. The best part? Once you convert your handwriting to text, all your notes become searchable.

Never lose anything again 

This innovative, 1.5 square inch device will change the way you interact with the world.Tile can be attached to anything you own, from your keys to your backpack to your bike. It uses Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone via an app and shows you where you are in relation to your missing stuff. A tiny speaker inside the fob can be activated from the app and you can even log in from a friend’s phone while on the hunt. Lose your phone somewhere in your room? Double click the square and your phone will ring — even if it’s on silent.  

HONOR

Immerse yourself in the culture of Québec City

Québec City is a charming Canadian outpost brimming with European charm, gorgeous natural beauty and architectural delights. Perfect for a weekend getaway from both Boston and New York, it’s a modern city filled with art and culture that elegantly keeps one eye on the future while also artfully respecting the past.    

For those in search of a vacation filled with vibrant museums and lively festivals, look no further than this happening spot. Here you’ll find an abundance of art and culture worth exploring and a window into the Québécois way of life.     

IMAGE: TQ - TURGEON, LINDA

Blast from the past at the Les Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France 

Don a period costume and play your part during this lively, fun festival. From the First Nations who have called this region home for millennia, to French explorer Samuel de Champlain who settled here in the early 1600s, the capital city of Québec has a rich, proud history steeped in tradition that residents are proud to continue. Celebrate all things French Canadian at Les Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France (or the New France Festival for English speakers), a five-day festival at the Fortifications of Québec National Historic Site that honors the region’s cultural heritage. Experience what life was like as an early settler in the region and participate in events that honor the traditions of the First Nations who came before them thanks to the hundreds of artists, crafters and culinary pros who bring history to life during the week. Jam-packed with things to do, see and eat, this annual event helps thousands celebrate all things Québécois.   

Key phrase:  

Je me souviens. / I remember.   

IMAGE: NICOLA-FRANK VACHON

Explore our collective culture at the Musée de la civilisation 

Go on an anthropological adventure at the Musée de la civilisation and explore the cultural ties that bind us — from ancient civilization through modern day and the sociocultural movements, habits and technology we encounter in our daily lives. This popular, interactive destination features attractions – ranging from topics like nanotechnology to mob mentality — and a host of rotating shows, all intent on bringing to life the nuanced and at times complicated experience of living on this planet. An upcoming program this fall will employ VR so museumgoers can experience the scholarly grandeur of libraries from around the world without ever setting foot outside the museum.   

Key phrase: 

Bonne journée! / Have a good day!   

IMAGE: MUSÉE DE L’AMÉRIQUE FRANCOPHONE

Celebrate all things French at the Musée de l’Amérique francophone 

In the centuries since the French settled here, the Québec capital has maintained strong ties to the homeland culture, language and way of life. Express your inner Francophile at this revered cultural institution dedicated to honoring life in New France, a must for history buffs visiting the area. Located in the heart of Old Québec, the Musée de l’Amérique francophone features a strong permanent collection exploring society in the region, as well as host of rotating programs. Current exhibitions range in scope from art and religion to the French diaspora within North America. Housed within the 17th century Séminaire de Québec, it’s also the oldest musée (that’s museum en français) in Canada, with many precious relics on display in the historic chapel.   

Key phrase:  

Parlez-vous français? / Do you speak French?   

IMAGE: MUSÉE NATIONAL DES BEAUX-ARTS DU QUÉBEC 

A lovely marriage of art and architecture the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec 

Newly opened this summer, the Pierre Lassonde Pavilion at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec is a great example of an art space that wonderfully complements the works it houses. By blending form with function and a beautiful design with an expansive exhibition space, this world-class pavilion creates a new way to discover and enjoy the art inside this wonderful museum. The crystalline exterior sits in harmonious contrast to the natural surroundings outside at the park – the Plains of Abraham – inside which the museum is located. Designed by architectural firm OMA, the pavilion is the biggest cultural project by the city in some 50 years and a testament to how Québec City’s institutions continue to evolve, grow and expand toward the future.   

Key phrase:  

À quelle heure ferme le musée ? / What time does the museum close?   

Start planning your trip today with Québec City Tourism.

These smart headphones just solved your biggest listening woes

BY BRAGI

Bragi have just introduced something that could make your workout, your commute and probably your whole day much smarter.

People listen to music while doing all sorts of things, so you probably have earphones at the ready at any given time. But those earphones could be vastly improved, which is where we come in. They've created the world's first set of smart, wireless earphones —The Dash.

The amount of technology incorporated into these small devices is rather impressive; they're more like small microcomputers than earbuds, even though they look much less obtrusive than you may expect. It was important to Bragi to create a device that is effective and impressive, but not at all bulky. This makes them easier to use and more aesthetically pleasing.

And the best news of all is that this is just the beginning.

The ultimate earphones

The Dash comes with 4GB of storage, which means you don't need an extra device for your music. It can hold up to 1,000 songs all on its own. But if you need more tunes in your life, you can seamlessly stream music from your phone through bluetooth and it'll still sound amazingly clear. There won't be any spotty signal interrupting your listening.

The earphones also have Optical Touch controls on the outside, so there's no need to take out any external device in order to access the functions. You can browse through music or check on your workout progress by tapping and swiping the face of the earphone. This ease of access means that you don't even have to take your eyes off of what you're doing to skip a song or get an update.

IMAGE: BRAGI

So music is not the only reason to get on board with The Dash. Listening may be all you do with your current set of earbuds, but these are meant to be more like a personal assistant than a set of speakers for your ears.

For example, the wireless component and storage capacity make these earphones the optimal exercise accessory. Rejoice at the thought of never again fumbling with wires or getting your phone all sweaty.

With 23 sensors in each ear, The Dash can keep track of your heart rate and analyze other physical metrics while you get fit. It'll count your steps and give you live feedback while you're going through your workout.

The waterproof hardware is an added bonus for anyone who choses swimming as their way to keep in shape. Never before have swimmers had the luxury of listening to music while underwater, but The Dash changes the game completely. (This feature is also pretty useful for anyone who wants to run in the rain, or if you get caught in a downpour during your commute.)

You can even choose to hear the noise of the world around you, or block it out completely, with the swipe of your finger. This is great for your focus, whether you're exercising or if you're trying to concentrate in a noisy office. But if you want to be more aware of your surroundings, you have the option to keep the background noise audible.

IMAGE: BRAGI

What's down the road for The Dash

Right now, these are an excellent set of earphones with cutting edge features, but they're set up to be much more than that. Bragi thinks about this first iteration of The Dash like the very first in a series of smart phones.

The Dash's hardware and design leaves a ton of room for growth as the software improves, so there will be much more capability and functionality for this device in the future.

For example, the team at Bragi is picturing a movement away from a numbers-based process of fitness tracking. In the future, they'd like to introduce a much more qualitative method. They want the fitness software to act more like a personal assistant than a fancy calculator.

Users could be able to input a specific goal, such as running a half marathon, and The Dash would act as a coach. If your pace was too quick, the earphones would tell you to take it down a bit so you can avoid injury, while also assuring that you finish your workout without becoming too exhausted. Inversely, if you weren't making good time, the device would tell you to speed up so you can be motivated to reach your goal.

Bragi is also working on software that could let you control The Dash by moving different parts of your body. For example, jumping may activate the function that skips a song in your playlist. Incorporating interactive physical commands would make the immersive experience they want for their users even more unique.

These are just a couple possibilities for the groundbreaking earphones. But the Dash is still in its infancy. There is so much potential for growth, especially if more developers can get involved. Bragi is setting a slow pace to make sure they get everything right, but there are fantastic things down the road. The Dash is already an impressive set of microcomputers you can fit in your ears, but just imagine where they'll be like five years down the line.

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