April is considered the second month of spring, and spring is all about getting outside, bringing out the BBQ, and setting up the patio. It’s also a great time of year to take stock of your tech inventory and consider an upgrade for summer road trips, days at the beach, and a productive summer of work.
That’s a lot of upgrading and sprucing up to do, so I’m thankful there’s a lot of new stuff at Best Buy for April. Let’s get take a look at what’s just hit the shelves:
Samsung Galaxy Tab A
When I picture spring and summer, I imagine long, lazy days outside reading a book. When I read a book, I almost always read it on my tablet, and that’s why I’m on the lookout for a new tablet this spring. I want something speedy and easy to take with me to the park, on road trips when I have to work too, and even to the beach.
The redesigned Samsung Galaxy Tab A fills the bill for my must-haves on a new tablet. It’s new to the shelves of Best Buy this month, and it features a high resolution 7” touchscreen display, 8GB internal memory that’s expandable up to 200GB, and a 1.3GHz T-Shark 2A quad-core processor with 1.5GB RAM. This tablet is also pre-loaded with Microsoft Office, which is amazing because I can’t tell you how many times I’ve taken my laptop to the beach just in case I have to edit a file on the go.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 7” E Lite
I like to share my tech with the kids, but I’ve learnt my lesson when it comes to tablets. Either they completely take over because they want to play their games, or they drop it and I end up with a crack in my brand new tablet. This year I’m planning ahead, and because I have a few road trips planned, I’m going to pick up a tablet for the kids too.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7” E Lite is perfect as an extra tablet for kids or family members. It has 8GB of internal storage, a gorgeous 7” screen for watching videos, and a speedy 1.3GHz Quad-Core Speadtrum T-Shark processor with 1GB RAM. It’s a lighter version of the Galaxy Tab A and doesn’t have Microsoft Office pre-loaded, so it’s perfect for playtime and portable video watching.
High Sierra Backpacks
Since we’re talking about summer travel, it’s a great time to start thinking about grabbing a new backpack for your summer adventures. If your backpack is ripped, torn, or just in need of replacement, the High Sierra backpacks available on Best Buy now are a great choice.
Take the High Sierra Loop 33L backpack for example: it’s roomy enough to take on every adventure, and has some great internal storage options for all of your favourite accessories, equipment, and even your laptop (if your adventures include work too).
If it’s a real adventure you’re heading out on, the 40L High Sierra Tech 2 Frame outdoor backpack is the best choice. The main compartment gives you space for all of your travel items, and the drawstring closure keeps everything safe and sound when you’re on the go.
When you’re hiking, biking, or climbing, carrying a water bottle can be inconvenient. That’s where the High Sierra Tech Series Hydration Pack comes in. My husband swears by hydration packs for mountain biking, and it gives you a hands-free 2L water reservoir so you won’t have to stop to drink. Plus, there are extra compartments for snacks and your keys.
Popcorn for the great outdoors
When I was a kid, my parents would take us camping in places I’d probably call ‘off the grid’ now. With no power, no bathroom, and no TV, we had to come up with our own fun. Part of that was sitting around the campfire every night making popcorn, and the Genuine Whirley-Pop Original Hand-Cranked Popping Machine reminds me of the popcorn maker we’d use over the fire.
There is nothing as delicious as hand-cranked popcorn, and if you have a gas stove you take with you camping, this is the perfect addition to your camping gear. The stir paddle coats the kernels for the best taste, and you get 6 quarts of yummy popcorn to eat while you watch the stars.
Muskoka Collection Rocker Chair
I have a farmer’s porch on my house. It’s not as big as a traditional front porch, so I’ve had to get a little creative as to what I can put on it. That’s why I love this Muskoka Collection Rocker Chair: it gives you that farmhouse rocker you want on your porch in a comfortable, compact package. It also pairs with the Muskoka Adirondack chair, which I’d put beside my fire pit for mid-summer nights.
Energ+ bistro-style heater table
I just saw this the other day when looking for a new patio umbrella, and I thought it was so cool I had to share it. The Energ+ bistro-style heater table is an actual patio table with a heater as the base. The top of the table doesn’t get hot thanks to Cool Touch technology, but the bottom keeps you warm on those chilly spring and summer nights.
I can’t think of how many times I froze while outside enjoying the stars at night, so this table is at the top of my must-haves for patio season.
Stansport Hammock
Who doesn’t want to swing gently on a hammock on a warm spring day? This Stansport hammock is perfect for napping or just kicking back and relaxing, and I love the bright, spring colours.
Video games
Paul did a great recap of all of the , so be sure to go and take a look at that. At my house we’ve been waiting for , and although they’ve been promising this one for years, it’s actually ready for pre-order right now with delivery on June 21st.
Noon VR
Virtual reality is really coming into its own this year, and if you want to give it a try, Noon VR is ready to take you on a walk through some amazing virtual worlds. It’s compatible with smartphones that have a 4.7 inch or larger screen, and it has stereoscopic 3D you can use it to navigate virtual worlds, watch movies, or play games.
Have a happy April!
