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CNN
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Bone conduction headphones, TV streaming devices and Bluetooth speakers are among the tech gadgets topping holiday wish lists this year. Other notable products – ahem, the new 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max – are almost impossible to find.
But as the year draws to a close, the CNN team reflects on the most important devices, services and apps we’ve come to rely on in 2022. — not just the most sought-after products.
It’s been a busy and tumultuous year, filled with news of international conflict, rising inflation, a possible recession and an ongoing pandemic. Here are the products our anchors, correspondents, editors and reporters relied on the most to get through the year and find some comfort.
My sleep schedule was turned upside down in 2022 when I went from late-night White House coverage to waking up at 3 a.m. to host CNN’s new morning show. One of my favorite devices this year was my Oura ring (starts at $299), which tracks my dream but i imagine [it] was quite disturbed that I went from a regular 7-8 hours a night to an average of 5 hours. Seeing my vital signs and how my sleep patterns have evolved has actually encouraged me to walk more or go to bed earlier without that extra glass of wine. – Caitlan Collins, co-anchor of “CNN This Morning”
BeReal—a photo-sharing app where users are prompted once a day at different times to share a photo of whatever they’re doing within a two-minute window—is a fun break from all those filters and annoying videos on other platforms. It’s also comforting to see the mundane life we all actually have. – Jordan Walinsky, CNN Business Writer
My favorite technology of the year is the one I don’t own yet. I spend a lot of time on airplanes for work, and I’ve always thought it would be great if airplane TVs could be connected to your AirPods. Lo and behold the AirFly ($55). I’m ordering one for Christmas and suspect it will become one of my most used devices in 2023. – Donnie O’Sullivan, CNN Correspondent
I deliberately patronize black owned businesses. Since moving to New York, I’ve had to find new favorite spots for good food and drink. EatOkra is like Yelp for black-owned restaurants, bars, food trucks and more. I hit EatOkra a lot in 2022. – Victor Blackwell, CNN Newsroom co-anchor
Now that I’m commuting home at the ungodly hour of 1am, I rely heavily on my HBO Max app (starts at $9.99 a month). At the risk of sounding like a giant sucker for our parent company, “White Lotus” was great company in the wee hours of the night when few other people were awake. These characters became my companions and I was so sad when the season ended. But hey, there’s always Bill Maher! – Alisyn Camerota, co-anchor of “CNN Newsroom”
Between work and shuttling various kids to basketball, guitar, and taekwondo practice, finding time to make dinner is a constant struggle. Whisk allows me to look in my fridge, type in what ingredients I have, select a maximum 30 minute recipe, and it will spit out dozens of recipes I can make quickly. It also allows me to save my favorite recipes – whether I found them on Whisk or on the web. Whisk pulls up the ingredient list, lets you create a shopping list, and easily adjusts the recipe if you want to make more or less. This is easily the app I use the most each week. Well, to CNN, of course. – David Goldman, executive editor, CNN Business
I would like to say that I spent $70 on a digital camera for my toddler because I believe in encouraging her hobbies and encouraging her creative expression. Mostly, though, I bought it because I was sick of her stealing my phone and filling it with dozens of photos of pillows and feet. (Whoever invented the iPhone’s burst mode, I’d love to talk to you.) Yes, Kidamento cameras are adorable and carefully designed for young hands and minds. But really, it just gives me a few minutes of peace that I would otherwise spend deleting images from my phone. – Seth Figerman, CNN Tech Editor
Stories can come in at any time, or I might just need to do a report while I’m at home or out. A good microphone is essential, but they can be bulky and come with various cables and adapters. I started using these small Rode wireless mics ($299) for social videos on my phone and then realized that the quality was just as good as my big mic. Now I can just carry the wireless in my pocket and be ready to transmit at any time. I yearn for a future without cables. – Max Foster, anchor, CNN International
As a mom with a busy work schedule, I love being able to watch my kids play from my phone [via the corresponding smart home camera], as I prepare to host my show. It fills me with so much gratitude. – Zane Asher, anchor of CNN International
I used to read books through the Kindle app on my iPad, but recently switched back to a standalone e-reader. Amazon’s new Kindle Paperwhite ($139) holds thousands of books and features a longer-lasting battery, an adjustable backlit display, and is as light as ever. (Also, you can use the free Libby app to download e-books from your local library.) It’s a reminder of the beauty and simplicity of disposable digital devices free from the distractions of the Internet. it also shows how technology can disappear when you’re fully immersed in a good book. — Samantha Kelly, CNN senior technical writer
I remember being an intern over a decade ago taping half-hour interviews for producers. It was tedious and took double the interviewer’s time to register every word. Today, as a correspondent, I still log my own interviews, but in record time. Rev.com—an automated transcription service that lets you record interviews on the spot or upload an audio recording of an interview—turns out a transcription in minutes. I can see and hear what the subjects are saying and jump to different points in the interview as I create my story. This is a modern day miracle that has saved me so much time and helped me become more accurate in my reports. – Vanessa Jurkiewicz, CNN Business and Politics Correspondent
The clear coating on the iPhone screen that prevents cracks has been my savior since I had kids. Considering how often my kids pick up my phone and throw it around, this saved me! – Poppy Harlow, co-anchor of “CNN This Morning”
I recently discovered She’s Birdie ($30), a personal keychain safety alarm made by women for women. It makes me feel much safer when I’m out and about running errands or going to work. I was so impressed with the loud siren and flashing light of the alarm that I bought one for all the women in my life this year for Christmas. —Chloe Melas, CNN Entertainment Correspondent
Is this the sexiest item on our list? Definitely not. Did I expect to spend several hundred US dollars on air purifiers this year? Also no. But with the trifecta threat of Covid-RSV-Flu looming over germs at school, germs from work, germs on public transport, and germs-germs, I finally opted for the ultimate purifier on my beloved Wirecutter. Thanks to the great Black Friday deals, I’ve been outfitting most rooms in my home with the Coway Mighty (currently only $156) or another model. While the jury is still out on whether this will keep us sane this winter, I feel like I’ve bought some peace of mind — and whether it’s real or imagined, I’ll take it. – Julian Pepitone, Senior Editor, CNN Business
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