We’re tech journalists. We have a lot of opinions. Throughout the year, we’re constantly trying out new products, and trust us — we’re a hard crowd to please. So if we really like something, it’s probably good! That’s why we’ve assembled a list of our favorite things, spanning computer accessories, headphones, productivity apps, and odd little knick-knacks. Sure, we can be tough critics at times. But we’re in this gig because we truly love technology, and every once in a while, we stumble upon an app, gadget, or piece of hardware that we’re dying to talk about. Our recommendations aren’t your typical gift guide fare — everyone already knows that AirTags are useful! — but we’re hoping that we can help you find something a little different and delightful. Whether you’re looking for the satisfaction of setting up your own at-home media server, or you’re trying to stay cool in a crowded subway, we’re sure you’ll find something you like. Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 headphones (Julie Bort, editor) Image Credits:Shokz (opens in a new window) These open ear, bone-conduction earphones allow me to listen to music while running but they don’t cover or insert in the ears, so I can still hear the environment: bikes wanting to pass, cars or people behind me, etc. They deliver shockingly good sound quality (pun intended) without having to fuss about getting them in a perfect spot on the outer ear. They work great with sunglasses and a hat, all adjacent to each other. And they don’t leave me with that uncomfortable am-I-losing-my hearing feeling from earbuds that pipe sound directly into the ear canal. Brain.fm (Rebecca Bellan, writer) Image Credits:Brain.fm A Brain.fm subscription is the perfect gift for the easily distracted. It’s a streaming service that plays scientifically engineered music — with no distracting lyrics — that helps my scattered mind stop bouncing between tasks and stay focused. Extra points for the timer function so I can combine it with the Pomodoro Technique! Focus Friend (Anna Heim, writer) Image Credits:Focus Friend Hank Green’s Focus Friend is Google Play’s app of the year — and it’s also one of my favorite finds. It’s the perfect balance of silly and useful to keep me focused, and the free version is enough to get started, but as a gift, I’d recommend splurging on the lifetime version. Omnilux Contour mask (Emma Comeau, events) Image Credits:Omnilux The Omnilux Contour is one of my favorite things. It’s a red-light therapy mask that reduces redness, improves overall skin texture and tone, and is supposed to also reduce wrinkles (but I haven’t been using it that long to see whether that’s true). It’s cordless so I can walk around and do stuff and the charge lasts for a really long time. I keep it at my desk and can use it while I check emails in the morning. Audio Hijack (Tim De Chant, writer) Image Credits:Audio Hijack If there’s one tool I can’t live without, it’s Audio Hijack, a Mac app from Rogue Amoeba. Like many people, I spend a lot of time on calls, and because I’m a journalist, I almost always record them. (With consent, of course!) Audio Hijack makes recording audio from any source a snap, and I can limit what appears on the recording to a specific app — no more reminder dings popping up in the background. I typically send audio from my mic to one channel and that of my source to another. That way if we’re talking over each other, I can isolate one or the other channel to figure out what was said. And with inline transcription and the security of local files, Audio Hijack has pretty much everything I need. Now if Apple would only make it easy for Rogue Amoeba to make an iPadOS or iOS version… Techcrunch event San Francisco | October 13-15, 2026 Ozlo Sleepbuds (Sarah Perez, editor) Image Credits:Brian Heater Ozlo’s Sleepbuds are comfortable, if a bit pricey, earbuds designed for use specifically while sleeping. (They’re currently on sale for $274 but retail for $349, the website says.) Whether you need to mask outside noise, like street sounds, or closer disruptions like a snoring partner or noisy roommate, these earbuds can help light sleepers more easily get through the night without waking. Of course, at this price point, Sleepbuds feel like a luxury — especially given there are more affordable solutions. You could just play music in your room or sleep with your AirPods on, for instance; but neither is ideal. The former won’t mask all the noise and the latter is uncomfortable and even painful. The Sleepbuds, however, offer squishy, soft in-ear earbuds that can stream a variety of built-in sleep sounds or music or audio from your smartphone. Even if you’re a side sleeper or toss and turn, they don’t fall out, I found. You can also set the Sleepbuds to pause streaming when you fall asleep, which is great if your sleep issues are more around falling asleep than staying asleep. (This can be useful for tho