The technology without which we could not live in 2022 | CNN Business

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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 comes to a close, the CNN staff is reflecting on the most essential devices, services and apps we relied on in 2022. — not just the most wanted products.

It was a busy and tumultuous year, filled with news of international conflict, rising inflation, a possible recession and a lingering pandemic. These are the products our presenters, correspondents, editors and journalists most trusted to get them through the year and also find some comfort

My sleep schedule was turned upside down in 2022 when I went from covering the White House late into the night to waking up at 3 a.m. to anchor CNN’s new morning show. One of my favorite devices this year has been my Oura ring (starting at $299), It tracks my sleep but I imagine [it] it has bothered me enough that I went from regularly getting 7-8 hours a night to averaging 5 hours. Seeing my vital signs and how my sleep patterns played out has actually encouraged me to walk more or get into bed earlier without that extra glass of wine. – Kaitlan Collins, co-host of “CNN This Morning”

BeReal, a photo-sharing app where users are notified once a day at different times to share a photo of whatever they’re doing within a two-minute period, is a fun break from all those annoying filters and videos on other platforms. Also, it’s comforting to see the mundane lives we all have. – Jordan Valinsky, CNN business writer

My favorite piece of tech of the year is one I don’t own yet. I spend a lot of time on airplanes for work, and I’ve always thought it might be cool if airplane TVs could connect to your AirPods. Behold the AirFly ($55). I’m ordering one for Christmas and I suspect it will become one of my most used devices in 2023. – Donie O’Sullivan, CNN Correspondent

I am deliberate in favor of black-owned businesses. Since moving to New York, I’ve had to find all new favorite places to eat and drink. EatOkra is like the Yelp for black-owned restaurants, bars, food trucks, and the rest. I’ve come a long way on EatOkra in 2022. – Victor Blackwell, co-anchor of CNN Newsroom

Now that I get home at 1 a.m., I rely heavily on my HBO Max app (starting at $9.99 a month). At the risk of sounding like a giant for our parent company, “White Lotus” has been great company late at night, when few other people are awake. Those characters became my companions and I was very sad when the season ended. But hey, there’s always Bill Maher! – Alisyn Camerota, co-anchor of “CNN Newsroom”

Between work and transporting several kids to basketball, guitar and taekwondo practice, finding time to make dinner is a constant struggle. The blender allows me to look in the fridge, write down what ingredients I have, select a 30-minute recipe at most, 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 out the ingredient list, lets you create a shopping list, and easily adjusts the recipe if you want to make more or less. It’s easily the app I use the most each week. Well, next 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 little boy because I believe in encouraging his hobbies and encouraging his creative expression. Mostly, though, I bought it because I was tired of you stealing my phone and filling it with dozens of pictures of pillows and feet. (Whoever invented Burst Mode on the iPhone, I wish I could talk to you.) Yes, Kidamento cameras are adorable and designed for young hands and minds. But really, it just buys me a few minutes of peace that I would otherwise spend deleting pictures from my phone. – Seth Fiegerman, CNN technology editor

Stories can pop up at any time or maybe I need to express a report while I’m at home or away. A good microphone is essential, but they can be bulky and come with multiple cables and adapters. I started using these little Rode wireless mics ($299) for social videos on my phone and then realized the quality was just as good as my big mic. Now I can just carry the wireless in my pocket and be ready to file at any time. I long for a future without wires. – Max Foster, anchor of 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 anchor my show. I am filled with so much gratitude. – Zain Asher, anchor of CNN International

I used to read books using 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 battery life, an adjustable backlit screen, 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 completely immersed in a good book. – Samantha Kelly, CNN Senior Technology Writer

I remember over a decade ago I was interning and taping half-hour interviews for producers. It was tedious and took twice as long as the interview to record every word. Today, as a correspondent, I continue to record my interviews, but in record time. Rev.com, an automated transcription service that lets you record interviews on the fly, or upload interview audio, spits out a transcript in minutes. I can see and hear what the subjects are saying and bounce back to different points in the interview as I craft my story. It’s a modern wonder that has saved me a lot of time and helped me be more accurate in my reporting. – Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Business and Politics Correspondent

A clear iPhone screen cover that prevents cracks has been my savior since I had kids. Considering how my kids pick up my phone and throw it away, it’s been a lifesaver! – Poppy Harlow, “CNN This Morning” co-host

I recently discovered She’s Birdie ($30), a personal security alarm on a keychain made by women for women. It makes me feel much safer whenever I’m out and about running errands or heading to work. I was so impressed with the alarm siren and strobe light that I bought one for every woman in my life this year for Christmas. – Chloe Melas, CNN Entertainment Correspondent

Is this the sexiest item on our list? Definitely not. Were you expecting to spend a few hundred US dollars on air purifiers this year? Not either. But with the trifecta threat of the Covid-RSV flu looming through school germs, work germs, public transport germs, and germs, I finally grabbed the best selection of purifiers from my beloved Wirecutter. Thanks to the great Black Friday deals, I’ve outfitted most rooms in my house with a Coway Mighty (down to $156 right now) or another model. While the jury is still out on whether it will keep us healthy this winter, I think I’ve bought some peace of mind, and whether it’s real or imagined, I’ll take it. – Julianne Pepitone, Senior Desk Editor, CNN Business