Tech

The Verge’s creator gift guide: ideas for streamers, TikTokers, and more

Published

2 years ago

November 28, 2022

Finding that perfect gift for a creator can be challenging, which is why we’ve compiled all kinds of useful and fun ideas for all kinds of folks, from TikTokers and Twitch streamers to photographers.

A creative idea for a video, a photo, or an entertaining livestream can prove more valuable than any piece of gear, but you can’t really give that as a gift to the creator in your life. And what’s worse, content creators are often hard to buy for — with very specific needs that get very costly very quickly. But even if you don’t know a Twitch stream from a TikTok split screen, we’ve put together a gift guide with a bunch of ideas that are fun yet functional for creators of all types, including those who just want to look professional on a Zoom call.

When it comes to creative video needs, good lighting and nice-sounding audio are of the utmost importance, so we’ve picked out the Rotolight Ultimate Vlogging Kit ($64.99) and the Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB microphone ($69.49) as excellent starting points. Want to go big on video quality instead? The Nikon Z30 mirrorless camera kit ($796.95) is built with helpful presets and settings designed specifically for vlogging. And if you don’t want to focus on the gear that makes the content, try gifting your creator something that ups their on-camera decor, like Divoom’s adorable Ditoo Plus speaker ($99.90) or a sleek desk mat from KBDfans ($12).

It may feel daunting to buy gifts for a creator, but we’re here to guide you through all kinds of options they’re sure to find handy — even if it’s just as simple as a convenient spot to hang their headphones ($11.21).

price range:

Anker 511 Charger (20W)

Any on-the-go creator needs to keep devices juiced up, even while traveling light. Fortunately, this tiny 20W charger from Anker is as small as the 5W chargers Apple used to supply with everything, yet it can still fast-charge an iPhone or Android device while taking up minimal space. Plus, it comes in a bunch of fun colors that will help it stand out in your kit bag.
Price: $13.99

Rode VideoMicro

The ultra-compact Rode VideoMicro is perfect for mounting on a camera that’s going to be filming close to a subject, such as when you’re vlogging. The excellent shotgun mic works great mounted on a DSLR or mirrorless camera for run-and-gun filming or even when paired with a smartphone via an add-on grip or selfie stick-like setup.
Price: $49

Elgato Stream Deck MK.2

Elgato’s Stream Deck MK.2 from last year is a helpful tool for more than just Twitch streamers. The device’s 15 programmable keys can trigger just about any custom macro function you dream up, letting you control things like Zoom and your smart lighting with just the press of a button. In fact, a collection of our editors and writers have grown so fond of this versatile tool, they did an entire Vergecast episode dedicated to its many uses.
Price: $119.99

Insta360 Link webcam

It’s time to say goodbye to bad webcam angles and annoying Center Stage-like software tricks. The Insta360 Link is a webcam that sits atop a small gimbal, one that physically tracks your face as you move and keeps you perfectly in the frame and looking your best. That tech comes at a steep price, but the Link also features great software, loads of potential, and 4K chops to back it all up with great video quality.
Price: $284.99

Nikon Z30 camera kit with 16–50mm lens

Nikon’s first foray into a vlogging-centric mirrorless camera pairs a 20.9-megapixel APS-C sensor with an articulating screen for self-recording and quality 4K video. Its tracking autofocus can seamlessly lock on a subject’s eyes, shift to something they hold up to the camera, and return back to their face. That vlog-friendly setup pairs well with the all-purpose 16–50mm kit lens.
Price: $796.95

iPad Mini (2021)

Apple’s redesigned iPad Mini is a handy tablet whether you plan on using it at home or on the move. Its A15 Bionic CPU is powerful enough to do some mobile video editing or photo processing with a more convenient screen size than your phone, and it’s great for note-taking and controlling the various smart home tech lining your desk. Just don’t count on a headphone jack.
Price: $399.99

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 gimbal

The latest DJI smartphone gimbal, the Osmo Mobile 6, launched just recently and features a lighter design, a new side wheel with manual focus controls, and a longer extension arm that allows for more varied angles. It can magnetically attach to nearly any smartphone, too, helping you stabilize your shots when capturing photos or video in either landscape or portrait orientation.
Price: $159

GIGABYTE AERO 16 XE5

With its remarkable sharp images and vivid colors, the GIGABYTE AERO 16 XE5 is the perfect companion for any creator on the go. The 4K UHD ultra-wide AMOLED panel displays accurate colors right out the box and boasts powerful specs like the Intel Core i7-12700H CPU, allowing you to manage all of your creator tools flawlessly.
Price: 1,299+

iPhone 14 Pro

Apple’s newest flagship iPhone features great performance, an always-on display, and more megapixels in its main shooter, making for a truly impressive camera array. You can even shoot 48-megapixel RAW files if you like working with big files, and its video features now support Action mode for smoother filming without the need for additional accessories. Plus, you know, Dynamic Island and all that.
Price: $999.99

Keychron V1 QMK keyboard (fully assembled)

Every creator’s desk needs a handsome keyboard they can gawk at when procrastination sets it. Thankfully, the fully assembled Keychron V1 is an affordable option from a reliable brand known for producing practical yet great-looking mechanical models. The keyboard’s 75 percent layout is compact without missing any essential keys, and it’s set up for use with macOS right out of the box.
Price: $75.60+

Razer Blade 14

If you or the creator in your life prefers Windows, this particular configuration of Razer’s portable Blade 14 is perfect for tackling digital workflows like Photoshop or Premiere. The 14-inch laptop features a high-end RTX 3080 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and an eight-core processor — specs that also make it suitable for some excellent QHD gaming when the work is wrapped and your buddy can’t stop pestering you to get online.
Price: $2.999.99

GoPro Hero 10 Black

Action mode is cool and all, but nothing beats a GoPro when it comes to versatility, especially when you need to mount your action cam in hard-to-reach places to capture that unique angle. The GoPro Hero 10 is much faster than previous models but remains compatible with the same accessories as the last-gen Hero 9, and it now achieves 5.3K 60fps and 4K 120fps recording. That’s some very fast high-resolution video.
Price: $349.99

Anchor Pro headphone mount

If you’re looking to store your headphones out of sight and keep your desk space tidy, Elevation Lab’s Anchor Pro is the way to go. The sturdy, inexpensive double hanger is great for a shared workspace or if you use monitor headphones by day and a monstrosity of a gaming headset by night.
Price: $11.21

Divoom Ditoo Plus Bluetooth speaker

Sometimes your desk decor needs some love just like we need self-care. Luckily, Divoom’s retro-inspired Ditoo Plus Bluetooth speaker is an adorable desktop companion that can pump out some tunes while decorating your space with customizable pixel art on a 3.55-inch display that gives off some Lite-Brite vibes.
Price: $99.90

DJI Mini 2

While the newer Mini 3 is the latest compact drone from DJI, the last-gen DJI Mini 2 offers a bit more in-flight reliability at a price that’s easier on your wallet. The portable drone connects via Ocusync, allowing for a better remote connection with your phone and can record up to 4K video at 100Mbps bitrate up to 30fps.
Price: $449

Peak Design Everyday Sling (10L)

Peak Design’s Everyday Sling is one of the most versatile and functional camera bags on the market — one that also doesn’t make you look like the huge nerd. The 10L version can fit a 13-inch laptop, a camera and a couple of lenses, and plenty of small tech accessories. The bag’s flexible dividers and weatherproof shell are just a plus.
Price: $143.95

Zoom H1n recorder

Want better audio recordings on a tight budget? Look no further than the Zoom H1n. The incredible tool is versatile enough for capturing interviews with its built-in mics or recording audio through a variety of external microphones, complete with monitoring via headphones. Whether your giftee is a journalist or a budding naturalist looking to capture field recordings, the Zoom H1n is more than suitable.
Price: $97.99

KBDfans Deskmat

Every laptop or desktop setup deserves a fun desk mat. They’re comfier on your palms and mouse and even make your keyboard sound better. For the uninitiated, KBDfans offers a variety of cool designs that cater to all types of styles, whether you’re a fan of solid colors and minimalist patterns or something a bit more extra.
Price: $12

Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB microphone

Audio-Technica is known for producing affordable tech that doesn’t skimp on quality, and the ATR2100x-USB is a mic that punches above its weight class while offering the simplicity of USB plug and play. These are some of the very mics we trust for our remote guests on The Vergecast.
Price: $69.49 to $79

14-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 512GB)

Apple’s exceptional M1 Pro-equipped laptops are some of the best creator laptops available today. The 14-inch model, like the 16-inch config, is incredibly fast and features a brilliant Mini LED display that supports Apple’s ProMotion 120Hz high refresh rate. It also offers the handiest port selection of any Mac in years, one that heralds the return of the SD card slot and MagSafe charging.
Price: $1,599+

Elgato Green Screen

Whether you’re streaming on Twitch or recording an Instagram Reel, a green screen is a helpful tool for knocking out the background or totally replacing it without gross software artifacts. The Elgato Green Screen easily folds down and deploys just as quickly, so you can keep it neatly tucked away for when you need it most.
Price: $129.99

AirPods Pro (second-gen)

A great pair of wireless earbuds can help you focus when you need to engage in deep work or outfit you with a microphone when you need to make a call. Apple’s new AirPods Pro are one of the better offerings available right now if you’re already tapped into the Apple ecosystem, especially since they feature more effective noise cancellation than the first-gen model, better mics, and overall improved sound quality.
Price: $199.99

Logitech MX Mechanical Mini

For anyone who wants a straightforward mechanical keyboard with a sensible layout, Logitech’s MX Mechanical Mini is a great fit. It’s a little on the no-frills side and lacks customizability options, but it’s got a sleek monochromatic design and exceptional battery life with USB-C fast charging. It can also pair with and save up to three devices, allowing you to effortlessly switch between them with a simple keyboard shortcut.
Price: $142.49

Rotolight Ultimate Vlogging Kit

Every vlogger or TikTok creator deserves some good lighting. Rotolight is known for making LEDs with exceptional color tone and accuracy, and its flexible vlogging kit is perfect for holding your smartphone and illuminating your face when you need a touch of that oh-so-soft beauty lighting.
Price: $64.99

Logitech Litra Glow

The beauty of Logitech’s adjustable Litra Glow lies in its simplicity. It’s a tiny yet effective LED light that’s intended to illuminate your face during Zoom calls and other broadcasts without taking up a lot of space or requiring a ton of messy wiring to make it happen. Just mount the USB-powered light on your laptop or monitor and go.
Price: $49.99

Wacom Cintiq 16

Whether you’re a hobbyist or a pro designer, the Wacom Cintiq is oft-considered the gold standard for illustrators and artists all over the world. The Cintiq 16 may carry a hefty price, but it’s worth it for a generous 15.6-inch pen display and a stylus that offers more than 8,000 levels of pressure sensitivity without ever needing to be charged.
Price: $599.95

Apple Pencil (second-gen)

Did your giftee recently pick up a newer iPad Pro, iPad Mini, or iPad Air? If so, the second-gen Apple Pencil is a handy drawing tool that will allow them to doodle or take notes directly on their newfangled slate. It also offers tilt and pressure sensitivity, gesture controls, and charges magnetically while docked to the side of compatible iPad models.
Price: $89

4-in-1 Lightning to SD Card Reader

You can do all kinds of content creation with just your smartphone, though a multiport hub adapter will certainly make your life easier. This simple third-party one is great for connecting external microphones, plugging in an SD card from your camera, or even using wired earbuds and charging at the same time. Plus, it’s stocking stuffer cheap.
Price: $15.88

Sony SF-G Series Tough SD Card (64GB)

It might not be fun to gift SD cards, but any photographer or videographer will appreciate receiving such an essential as a gift — especially these speedy Tough cards. Sony’s little memory cards are made of metal and carry an IPX8 waterproof rating, rendering them as rugged as their name implies and giving your giftee some peace of mind when it comes to their footage.
Price: $99.99

Ricoh GR IIIx fixed-lens camera

You don’t need a fancy full-frame camera or vintage film camera to do street photography. The Ricoh GR IIIx, a unique camera with a fixed-lens equivalent of a 40mm lens, is a great case in point. It lacks an EVF, but it’s borderline pocketable and great for capturing everyday life in higher detail than any phone can achieve.
Price: $996.95

Apple Magic Trackpad

Apple’s latest Magic Trackpad makes for a great addition to any desktop or laptop setup, even if you already have a mouse you love. The comfortable gadget can be your main interface to your computer, especially as it provides you with more real estate than a MacBook trackpad, or you can just use it for its multitouch gesture controls. Either way, it’s a valuable asset for a busy creator.
Price: $139

Elgato Cam Link 4K

Elgato’s Cam Link 4K is a staple among Twitch streamers and creators who want to plug their full-size cameras into their computers via a simple USB connection. It takes a clean HDMI-out signal of up to 4K resolution and makes it easily accessible to software like Zoom as well as OBS Studio, giving you a quick means of turning your DSLR or GoPro into a 4K-ready webcam.
Price: $112.99

Neewer Ring Light Kit (18-inch)

If you’re working with a larger home recording setup, a bigger ring light can help create softer, more pleasing lighting conditions. Neewer’s 18-inch model — which comes with a full-size tripod, multiple light filters, and a remote — is perfect if you want a touch-up before hopping on a Zoom call or hammering out a batch of TikTok videos for your devoted followers.
Price: $84.20

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News

The Internet is Littered in ‘Educated Guesses’ Without the ‘Education’

Published

1 week ago

October 8, 2024

Nick Kossovan

Although no one likes a know-it-all, they dominate the Internet.

The Internet began as a vast repository of information. It quickly became a breeding ground for self-proclaimed experts seeking what most people desire: recognition and money.

Today, anyone with an Internet connection and some typing skills can position themselves, regardless of their education or experience, as a subject matter expert (SME). From relationship advice, career coaching, and health and nutrition tips to citizen journalists practicing pseudo-journalism, the Internet is awash with individuals—Internet talking heads—sharing their “insights,” which are, in large part, essentially educated guesses without the education or experience.

The Internet has become a 24/7/365 sitcom where armchair experts think they’re the star.

Not long ago, years, sometimes decades, of dedicated work and acquiring education in one’s field was once required to be recognized as an expert. The knowledge and opinions of doctors, scientists, historians, et al. were respected due to their education and experience. Today, a social media account and a knack for hyperbole are all it takes to present oneself as an “expert” to achieve Internet fame that can be monetized.

On the Internet, nearly every piece of content is self-serving in some way.

The line between actual expertise and self-professed knowledge has become blurry as an out-of-focus selfie. Inadvertently, social media platforms have created an informal degree program where likes and shares are equivalent to degrees. After reading selective articles, they’ve found via and watching some TikTok videos, a person can post a video claiming they’re an herbal medicine expert. Their new “knowledge,” which their followers will absorb, claims that Panda dung tea—one of the most expensive teas in the world and isn’t what its name implies—cures everything from hypertension to existential crisis. Meanwhile, registered dietitians are shaking their heads, wondering how to compete against all the misinformation their clients are exposed to.

More disturbing are individuals obsessed with evangelizing their beliefs or conspiracy theories. These people write in-depth blog posts, such as Elvis Is Alive and the Moon Landings Were Staged, with links to obscure YouTube videos, websites, social media accounts, and blogs. Regardless of your beliefs, someone or a group on the Internet shares them, thus confirming your beliefs.

Misinformation is the Internet’s currency used to get likes, shares, and engagement; thus, it often spreads like a cosmic joke. Consider the prevalence of clickbait headlines:

You Won’t Believe What Taylor Swift Says About Climate Change!
This Bedtime Drink Melts Belly Fat While You Sleep!
In One Week, I Turned $10 Into $1 Million!

Titles that make outrageous claims are how the content creator gets reads and views, which generates revenue via affiliate marketing, product placement, and pay-per-click (PPC) ads. Clickbait headlines are how you end up watching a TikTok video by a purported nutrition expert adamantly asserting you can lose belly fat while you sleep by drinking, for 14 consecutive days, a concoction of raw eggs, cinnamon, and apple cider vinegar 15 minutes before going to bed.

Our constant search for answers that’ll explain our convoluted world and our desire for shortcuts to success is how Internet talking heads achieve influencer status. Because we tend to seek low-hanging fruits, we listen to those with little experience or knowledge of the topics they discuss yet are astute enough to know what most people want to hear.

There’s a trend, more disturbing than spreading misinformation, that needs to be called out: individuals who’ve never achieved significant wealth or traded stocks giving how-to-make-easy-money advice, the appeal of which is undeniable. Several people I know have lost substantial money by following the “advice” of Internet talking heads.

Anyone on social media claiming to have a foolproof money-making strategy is lying. They wouldn’t be peddling their money-making strategy if they could make easy money.

Successful people tend to be secretive.

Social media companies design their respective algorithms to serve their advertisers—their source of revenue—interest; hence, content from Internet talking heads appears most prominent in your feeds. When a video of a self-professed expert goes viral, likely because it pressed an emotional button, the more people see it, the more engagement it receives, such as likes, shares and comments, creating a cycle akin to a tornado.

Imagine scrolling through your TikTok feed and stumbling upon a “scientist” who claims they can predict the weather using only aluminum foil, copper wire, sea salt and baking soda. You chuckle, but you notice his video got over 7,000 likes, has been shared over 600 times and received over 400 comments. You think to yourself, “Maybe this guy is onto something.” What started as a quest to achieve Internet fame evolved into an Internet-wide belief that weather forecasting can be as easy as DIY crafts.

Since anyone can call themselves “an expert,” you must cultivate critical thinking skills to distinguish genuine expertise from self-professed experts’ self-promoting nonsense. While the absurdity of the Internet can be entertaining, misinformation has serious consequences. The next time you read a headline that sounds too good to be true, it’s probably an Internet talking head making an educated guess; without the education seeking Internet fame, they can monetize.

______________________________________________________________

Nick Kossovan, a self-described connoisseur of human psychology, writes about what’s

on his mind from Toronto. You can follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram @NKossovan.

Tech

Tight deadlines on software projects can put safety at risk: survey

Published

1 week ago

October 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – A new survey says a majority of software engineers and developers feel tight project deadlines can put safety at risk.

Seventy-five per cent of the 1,000 global workers who responded to the survey released Tuesday say pressure to deliver projects on time and on budget could be compromising critical aspects like safety.

The concern is even higher among engineers and developers in North America, with 77 per cent of those surveyed on the continent reporting the urgency of projects could be straining safety.

The study was conducted between July and September by research agency Coleman Parkes and commissioned by BlackBerry Ltd.’s QNX division, which builds connected-car technology.

The results reflect a timeless tug of war engineers and developers grapple with as they balance the need to meet project deadlines with regulations and safety checks that can slow down the process.

Finding that balance is an issue that developers of even the simplest appliances face because of advancements in technology, said John Wall, a senior vice-president at BlackBerry and head of QNX.

“The software is getting more complicated and there is more software whether it’s in a vehicle, robotics, a toaster, you name it… so being able to patch vulnerabilities, to prevent bad actors from doing malicious acts is becoming more and more important,” he said.

The medical, industrial and automotive industries have standardized safety measures and anything they produce undergoes rigorous testing, but that work doesn’t happen overnight. It has to be carried out from the start and then at every step of the development process.

“What makes safety and security difficult is it’s an ongoing thing,” Wall said. “It’s not something where you’ve done it, and you are finished.”

The Waterloo, Ont.-based business found 90 per cent of its survey respondents reported that organizations are prioritizing safety.

However, when asked about why safety may not be a priority for their organization, 46 per cent of those surveyed answered cost pressures and 35 per cent said a lack of resources.

That doesn’t surprise Wall. Delays have become rampant in the development of tech, and in some cases, stand to push back the launch of vehicle lines by two years, he said.

“We have to make sure that people don’t compromise on safety and security to be able to get products out quicker,” he said.

“What we don’t want to see is people cutting corners and creating unsafe situations.”

The survey also took a peek at security breaches, which have hit major companies like London Drugs, Indigo Books & Music, Giant Tiger and Ticketmaster in recent years.

About 40 per cent of the survey’s respondents said they have encountered a security breach in their employer’s operating system. Those breaches resulted in major impacts for 27 per cent of respondents, moderate impacts for 42 per cent and minor impacts for 27 per cent.

“There are vulnerabilities all the time and this is what makes the job very difficult because when you ship the software, presumably the software has no security vulnerabilities, but things get discovered after the fact,” Wall said.

Security issues, he added, have really come to the forefront of the problems developers face, so “really without security, you have no safety.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:BB)

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Tech

Beware of scams during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sales event: cybersecurity firm

Published

1 week ago

October 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

As online shoppers hunt for bargains offered by Amazon during its annual fall sale this week, cybersecurity researchers are warning Canadians to beware of an influx of scammers posing as the tech giant.

In the 30 days leading up to Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, taking place Tuesday and Wednesday, there were more than 1,000 newly registered Amazon-related web domains, according to Check Point Software Technologies, a company that offers cybersecurity solutions.

The company said it deemed 88 per cent of those domains malicious or suspicious, suggesting they could have been set up by scammers to prey on vulnerable consumers. One in every 54 newly created Amazon-related domain included the phrase “Amazon Prime.”

“They’re almost indiscernible from the real Amazon domain,” said Robert Falzon, head of engineering at Check Point in Canada.

“With all these domains registered that look so similar, it’s tricking a lot of people. And that’s the whole intent here.”

Falzon said Check Point Research sees an uptick in attempted scams around big online shopping days throughout the year, including Prime Days.

Scams often come in the form of phishing emails, which are deceptive messages that appear to be from a reputable source in attempt to steal sensitive information.

In this case, he said scammers posing as Amazon commonly offer “outrageous” deals that appear to be associated with Prime Days, in order to trick recipients into clicking on a malicious link.

The cybersecurity firm said it has identified and blocked 100 unique Amazon Prime-themed scam emails targeting organizations and consumers over the past two weeks.

Scammers also target Prime members with unsolicited calls, claiming urgent account issues and requesting payment information.

“It’s like Christmas for them,” said Falzon.

“People expect there to be significant savings on Prime Day, so they’re not shocked that they see something of significant value. Usually, the old adage applies: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

Amazon’s website lists a number of red flags that it recommends customers watch for to identify a potential impersonation scam.

Those include false urgency, requests for personal information, or indications that the sender prefers to complete the purchase outside of the Amazon website or mobile app.

Scammers may also request that customers exclusively pay with gift cards, a claim code or PIN. Any notifications about an order or delivery for an unexpected item should also raise alarm bells, the company says.

“During busy shopping moments, we tend to see a rise in impersonation scams reported by customers,” said Amazon spokeswoman Octavia Roufogalis in a statement.

“We will continue to invest in protecting consumers and educating the public on scam avoidance. We encourage consumers to report suspected scams to us so that we can protect their accounts and refer bad actors to law enforcement to help keep consumers safe.”

Falzon added that these scams are more successful than people might think.

As of June 30, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre said there had been $284 million lost to fraud so far this year, affecting 15,941 victims.

But Falzon said many incidents go unreported, as some Canadians who are targeted do not know how or where to flag a scam, or may choose not to out of embarrassment.

Check Point recommends Amazon customers take precautions while shopping on Prime Days, including by checking URLs carefully, creating strong passwords on their accounts, and avoiding personal information being shared such as their birthday or social security number.

The cybersecurity company said consumers should also look for “https” at the beginning of a website URL, which indicates a secure connection, and use credit cards rather than debit cards for online shopping, which offer better protection and less liability if stolen.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2024.

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