Father’s Day Gifts: Top Tech for Dad
1. Bluetooth or wireless speakers
A perfect gift for dads who love to entertain, bluetooth or wireless speakers are a great way to kick off the summer poolside. But their use doesn’t end there: Dad can stream music from anywhere in the home — whether he needs some background music while he’s hard at work or hosting a dinner party.
2. A Soundbar or Surround Sound System
Give the gift of home entertainment. If your dad is a movie buff, he’s sure to enjoy a soundbar or surround sound stereo systems that can give him the ultimate movie experience right at home. Grab some popcorn and have a night or two in.
3. Headphones
Let dad jam to his favorite tunes when he’s working or working out. Check out the best wireless headphones for running — and they won’t slip out of his ears! If your father needs something for more of a desk setting, try some over-the-ear headphones that have crystal clear sound quality and other features that may be important to him, like noise-cancellation.
4. Smart Speakers and Assistants
Taking the tech a notch up from bluetooth or wireless speakers, check out smart speakers and assistants, such as Google Home or Amazon Echo, for dad. These devices can connect with your father’s smart home technology for easy voice control. Smart speakers and assistants are also simple to use, activated by a simple “Hey Google,” or “Hey Alexa,” follow by a question or command. Like Siri for the iPhone, the question or command could range from finding information online, telling you the weather forecast and setting timers or alarms.
5. Media Streaming Devices
Streaming devices typically have a USB-like apparatus that plugs into your TV’s HDMI port. Like Google’s Chromecast Ultra, Amazon’s Fire TV Stick or Roku’s Streaming Stick+, media streaming devices can let dad stream his music, photos, videos — and, if he’s cut the cord, his favorite shows and movies — through the television. Pair it with DIRECTV Now to stream live TV, on demand titles and premium channels.
6. Smart Home Starter Kit
If dad isn’t already connected, let him try out some smart home technology that can help him save money in the long run. Some smart tech companies offer starter kits, like Philips Hue lights. You can control the lights — dimming, turning them off remotely, setting them on a timer — through your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Another option is Samsung’s SmartThings Home Monitoring Kit, which comes with a hub to which you can connect all smart devices for synchronization. The home monitoring kit also includes multipurpose sensors and motion sensors that, if activated, can prompt certain devices to turn on or off should, as an example, a window opens.
Remember that some products — especially those using smart technology — will be constantly running on your wireless internet, which can grow more strained with more connected devices. Check out our bandwidth breakdown page to learn more about Windstream’s internet speed options and getting the speed he needs.
