10 tech gadgets that’ll make your everyday life easier

• Brandt Ranj, Insider Picks
 

• Jun. 22, 2017, 11:00 AM
• 93,614

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Hellonomad

A good gadget solves a problem, but solving a problem isn’t the same as making your life easier.

A fitness tracker might help you live healthier, but being constantly reminded to move isn’t very relaxing. A drone might help you take awesome photos, but you have to not crash it. A smartphonemight let you communicate with anyone in the world, but social media exists.

Below we’ve rounded up a few gadgets that can add to your day, but don’t demand much in return. Some are specific, some are general ideas, but none of them will wind up being Another Thing to Worry About. 

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The Amazon Echo

Amazon

As you’ve probably heard by now, the Amazon Echo has transformed from a competent-sounding Bluetooth speaker to a competent-sounding Bluetooth speaker that can control your home. Just call on Alexa, Amazon’s cloud-based virtual assistant, and the Echo can quickly start up a Spotify stream, call an Uber, control your smart lights, order a pizza, or follow a growing number of other quirky commands. It’s always listening, but it serves you, and it does so swiftly and accurately.

Amazon Echo, $179.99 

A portable battery

Amazon

The next time your phone dies before you could call that cab home, you’ll have wished you had a portable battery on you. We’ve recommended Anker’s PowerCore series before, and its PowerCore 10000 packs plenty of power in a compact, not-that-expensive package.   

Anker PowerCore 10000, $25.99

A wireless charger

Amazon

The open secret about wireless chargers is that they’re not really wireless — a charging pad can’t produce power on its own, so you’ll have to plug it into a wall somewhere. Still, plopping your phone down on a pad and picking it up when it’s time to go is much smoother than making sure your microUSB cord is going in the right way for the hundredth time. Just make sure your phone uses the same wireless charging standard as the charger itself; the Anker PowerPort Qi here is a reliable choice for Qi-enabled phones like the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Anker PowerPort Qi, $19.99

A NomadKey

Hellonomad

The hangup with bringing a portable battery around is that you’ll need to carry a charging cable along with it. Something like the NomadKey lets you keep a (USB 2.0) connector on your person. The bendy little accessory clips easily around a key ring, making it so you don’t have to stuff a lengthier wire in your pockets.

NomadKey (Micro USB), $23.95

NomadKey (Lightning), $39.86

A multitool

Leatherman

A good multitool saves you the trouble of digging through a toolbox just to perform a quick fix around the house, packing a bevy of helpful devices into a gadget that fits in your pocket. We’ve touted the Leatherman Sidekick as a worthy choice for beginners, while the Leatherman Waveis a solid step up.

Leatherman Sidekick, $49.95 

A Tile

Tile

If you’re worried you might lose something valuable, throw a Tile on it. The diminutive Bluetooth tracker can talk with (and remotely ring) your phone from over 100 feet away, telling you exactly where you left your particular thing. A nifty “Community Find” feature helps you locate anything beyond that. We’ve taken a closer look before.

Tile, $24.98

Philips Hue smart bulbs

Instagram / @philipshue

Although they're a definite luxury, smart bulbs can also make frustrating situations a lot easier.

In my case, I can turn my overhead apartment light on and off without having to cross the room each time. For you, it could be turning lights on when you're not home because of safety concerns, or answering the question "did I turn off the light in the garage" once and for all.

This starter kit includes three bulbs and a Hue Bridge, which is required to connect the bulbs to your home network. Each bridge can support up to 50 Hue devices, so you can always add more later on.

Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit, $195.99

A Roku media streamer

Instagram / @rokuplayer

If you're looking for the easiest way to stream media from the largest number of sources, Roku's streaming stick is the best solution. It's small enough to take when you travel and can be powered by your TV's USB port, and it gives you access to more content than you'll be able to consume. 

Whether you want to watch the next season of "House of Cards" the day it's released, catch up on older shows you missed the first time around, or find something completely new, there'll be a Roku channel for you.  

Roku Streaming Stick (3600R), $39.99 

A universal remote

Logitech

It’s hard enough for some people to keep track of one clicker — saddle yourself with a full home theater’s worth, and it might not be long before one goes missing. A good universal remote lessens that risk, and makes it so you don’t have to switch between four different pads just to set up movie night.

The Logitech Harmony 650 has been consistently well-reviewed in the past, but if you have newer smart devices like a PlayStation 4 or Amazon Fire TV, the Harmony Home Control should do the job.

Logitech Harmony 650, $39.99

Logitech Harmony Home Control, $89

A Kindle Paperwhite

Amazon

Let's be clear: Nothing will ever truly replace the look, feel, or experience of reading a physical book. But sometimes you're in a situation where space is a major concern and compromises have to be made. 

The Kindle Paperwhite can hold hundreds of books, last weeks between charges, and has a couple of features the standard Kindle lacks. Its higher-resolution screen is easier on your eyes and makes the text appear almost as clean as actual print, and its back lights will help you read in the dark without relying on an overhead light source. 

You can check out our Kindle guide to figure out if the Paperwhite is the model that best suits your needs, but it's definitely the one we recommend for most people. 

Kindle Paperwhite, $119.99

An earlier version of this article was originally published on 3/31/2016. 

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Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Business Insider's Insider Picks team. We aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting, and if you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Have something you think we should know about? Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Insider Picks. Copyright 2017. Follow Insider Picks on Twitter.

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10 books to read if you want to get rich

• Jonathan Long, Entrepreneur

• 13h
• 100,578

Learn how to grow your money.LStockStudio/Shutterstock

Billionaire Warren Buffet spends 80 percent of his day reading. Bill Gates reads 50 books a year, which is about a book every week. When Elon Musk is asked how he learned to build rockets, he says, "I read books."

There is no denying that successful entrepreneurs read books.

From real estate investing to how the largest wealth managers impact the global market, this list of books deals with all the most prominent aspects of finance and investing, which are extremely beneficial for entrepreneurs (and anyone else, really) to master.

Whether you are an expert in this field already, or if you're interested in educating yourself regarding investing and wealth building, these ten books are a great addition to your must-read list.

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1. "Capital without Borders: Wealth Managers and the One Percent" by Brooke Harrington

Amazon

An associate professor of economic sociology in Copenhagen, Elisabeth Brooke Harrington is a prolific writer. Her articles on sociology, finance and economy are constantly featured by popular magazines such as The Guardian, and she spent her fifteen years researching the gray eminences that pull the strings of the global market.

In her latest book, "Capital without Borders: Wealth Managers and the One Percent," Harrington digs deep in the secret techniques used by the word's elites to manipulate governments worldwide to free themselves from taxation. Her clever analysis focuses on the real actors of this global play and includes 65 interviews with practitioners in 18 countries.

2. "How to Flip Houses With Little or No Money" by Cody Sperber

Clever Investor

Cody Sperber is the founder and CEO of Clever Investor LLC, a source of real estate investing education. A Navy veteran and real estate expert, Sperber has flipped more than 1,000 properties as a real estate investor. With the most-followed real estate account on Instagram, he has amassed nearly 1 million social media followers.

Sperber's latest book, "How to Flip Houses With Little or No Money," will help you understand the fundamentals of successful house flipping, with limited funds.

3. "The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness" by Dave Ramsey

Amazon

Dave Ramsey is one of the most popular American radio hosts. On The Dave Ramsey Show, which runs on more than 500 radio stations across the United States and Canada, Ramsey chats with callers about finance, economics and how to reduce one's debt.

He is the author of five New York Times-bestselling books and has been featured on shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show and 60 Minutes. In his book, "The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness," Ramsey explains how to master your personal and household finances.

4. "MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom" by Tony Robbins

Simon & Schuster

If you're looking to secure financial freedom for yourself and your family, you should give Tony Robbin's "MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom" a read. This book uses a seven-step blueprint from America's top life and business strategist to explain how to set up a lifetime savings and investment plan.

A highly successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, Robbins is the author of six internationally bestselling books as well as the most popular personal and professional development program of all time. If that's not enough, he's also built a business empire for himself, investing (as a founder or partner) in more than thirty companies that generate a total yearly revenue of more than $5 billion.

5. "Spend Well, Live Rich: How to Get What You Want with the Money You Have" by Michelle Singletary

Amazon

Michelle Singletary is one of the most influential columnists of The Washington Post. She wrote award-winning articles on personal finance such as The Color of Money, which was nominated for a Pulitzer.

She provides financial advice on CNN and CBS News, and currently contributes to NPR's Talk of the Nation radio show. Her book, "Spend Well, Live Rich: How to Get What You Want with the Money You Have," teaches how to trim personal debts, while answering many financial questions with straight forward, no-nonsense advice.

6. "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham

Amazon

Often regarded as the greatest investment advisor of the twentieth century, economist Benjamin Graham is the father of value investing and one of the most influential thinkers of all time.

Graham, the man behind Mr. Market, who helped revolutionize global curency, also pioneered the modern concept of value investing within hedge and mutual funds. His book, "The Intelligent Investor," represents the foundation that much of our contemporary financial theories are built on.

If you are still considering whether it's worth buying Graham's book, consider this: investing genius Warren Buffett said the book shaped his professional life.

7. "How to be a Billionaire: Proven Strategies from the Titans of Wealth" by Martin S. Fridson

Amazon

Another economic authority, the award-winning analyst Martin Steven Fridson is one of the founding fathers of the modern high-yield bonds theories. His rigorous approach earned him a reputation of integrity that led him to be widely regarded as the number one in his field.

Quoting the Investment Dealers' Digest, Fridson is "perhaps the most well-known figure in the high yield world." His book, "How to Be a Billionaire: Proven Strategies From the Titans of Wealth," provides many enlightening insights on the most successful investing and market strategies employed by some of the most influential billionaires of all time.

8. "The Devil's Financial Dictionary" by Jason Zweig

Jason Zweig

A personal finance columnist for The Wall Street Journal, Jason Zweig is a witty and smart author known for his pioneering works on the neuroscience of investing. Zweig is a famous public speaker who addressed university audiences at Oxford, Harvard and Stanford, as well as the American Association of Individual Investors.

His book, "The Devil's Financial Dictionary," is a quirky dictionary that pokes fun at the twisted reality of Wall Street. It's a guide to help readers survive the hellish hostilities of the financial markets.

9. "Worth It: Your Life, Your Money, Your Terms" by Amanda Steinberg

Amazon

From successful computer programmer to CEO of the popular financial site DailyWorth.com, Amanda Steinberg teaches women how to live life on their terms with her economic advice in her book "Worth It: Your Life, Your Money, Your Terms." Her intelligent, down-to-earth tips and tactics scored her front-page coverage in The New York Times Business section.

10. "Irrational Exuberance" by Robert Shiller

Amazon, Princeton University Press

Robert Shiller's "Irrational Exuberance" is an appropriately named take on the world markets' volatility and current global economic crisis. His forecasts and predictions on the stock market crashes of the last two decades go well beyond a simple analysis of the numbers and data. One of the 100 most influential economists of the world, in 2013, Shiller received the Nobel Prize for his empirical analysis of asset prices as a testament to his extraordinary knowledge.

 

Read the original article on Entrepreneur. Copyright 2017. Follow Entrepreneur on Twitter.

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This chart shows how painful the shift to cloud computing is for IBM and Oracle

• Becky Peterson
 

• 14h
• 9,250

AlphaWise/Morgan Stanley

As more and more companies transition to the cloud, Oracle and IBM may find themselves in a fight for the bottom.

The two technology vendors are set to lose out considerably in IT budgets over the next three years as the result of the shift to cloud, according to the June AlphaWise/Morgan Stanley CIO report. CIOs expect that 46% of their workloads will be in the cloud by the end of 2020, while only 34% will be on-premise. 

Between now and then, the 100 US and European CIOs surveyed expect to decrease spending on IBM by 13%, and to decrease spending on Oracle by 11%. 

This is to the benefit of two of the biggest players in cloud services, Amazon and Microsoft, which topped the list of companies getting the most spend in the coming years. CIOs expect to increase their spending at those companies by 27% and 12%, respectively. 

AlphaWise/Morgan Stanley

In the more immediate future, Amazon and Microsoft are expected to be the big winners of all digital transformations in 2017. Despite the longterm decline, Oracle and IBM trail just a little behind in popularity. 

When the CIOs were asked to list up to three vendors that they expect to gain the largest incremental percentage of their IT budget in 2017, Amazon got 15% of the responses and Microsoft got 14.6%. IBM and Oracle got 5.2% and 4.3%, respectively. 

Not so bad, considering 37 of the 55 vendors asked about didn't even make the chart. 

Get the latest Microsoft stock price here.

SEE ALSO: This $2.9 billion company's stock skyrocketed after signing a key deal with Google

5 maps that explain the new Middle East

• George Friedman and Kamran Bokhari, Mauldin Economics

• 19h
• 10,639

Nation-states are the defining feature of the modern political era. They give people a collective identity and a pride of place… even when their borders are artificially drawn, as they were in the Middle East.

However, transnational issues like religion and ethnicity often get in the way of the notion of nationalism. Those can’t be contained by a country’s borders.

Arab nation-states are now failing in the Middle East. Their failure is mainly due to their inability to create viable political economies. Transnational issues—especially the competition between the Sunni and Shiite sects of Islam—however, amplify the process.

Mauldin Economics

The Failure of Pan-Arabism

Transnational issues have long plagued the modern Middle East. Major Arab states like Egypt, Syria, and Iraq began to flirt with pan-Arabism. It’s a secular, left-leaning ideology that sought political unity of the Arab world. It promoted a kind of nationalism that defied the logic of the nation-state.

Pan-Arabism failed because it couldn’t replace traditional nationalism with something that had never existed in history. But the countries that rejected it never really developed into viable political entities.  

The coercion of state security forces was what hold them together, not the ideology.

Since the 1970s, these countries have been challenged by another transnational idea, Islamism (or political Islam). It has proven to be far more effective than pan-Arabism. The movement has spread throughout the Middle East.

It has taken root not only among Sunni Arabs, but also among Shiites. In fact, the Shiites were the first to create an Islamist government when they toppled the monarchy in the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Sunni Islamists would not hold traditional political power until after the so-called 2011 Arab Spring. But their power was short-lived.

The Origins of the Islamic State

The anarchy of the Arab Spring was fertile ground for jihadists, especially for the Islamic State. It became the most powerful Sunni Islamist force in the region. What underlay its success was the group’s ability to exploit sectarian differences in the region.

The Baathist regime in Iraq was replaced by a Shiite-dominated government that Sunnis had tried to keep from power.

Likewise, the Islamic State, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey strived to take over the Sunni rebellion in Syria, which had been led by a minority Shiite government. The Islamic State was the best positioned to exploit the situation. They created a singular battlespace that linked eastern Syria with western Iraq.

Mauldin Economics

In doing so, it has destroyed what we have come to know as the sovereign states of Iraq and Syria.

Iraqi and Syrian nationalism can’t really exist if there is no nation. The Islamic State has lost some territory recently. But its losses appear to benefit the sectarian and ethnic groups that happen to be there, not the nations that owned the land.

In Syria, Sunni Arab forces are not all that interested in fighting the Islamic State. The only two groups that are willing are the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are dominated by Kurds who are trying to carve out their own territory, and Syrian government forces, who want to retake the areas that IS seized after the rebellion broke out.

Nationalism Replaced by Sectarianism

Sectarianism now stands in place of nationalism in the modern Middle East. On one side are the Sunnis, led nominally by Saudi Arabia. On the other are the Shiites, led nominally by Iran.

The Sunni bloc is in disrepair; the Shiite bloc is on the rise. The fact that Iran is Persian has in the past dissuaded Arab Shiites from siding with Tehran, but Saudi efforts to prevent the Shiite revival (not to mention the rise of the Islamic State) have left them feeling vulnerable.

They are willing to set aside their differences for sectarian solidarity.

Mauldin Economics

There’s historical precedent for what’s happening in the Middle East. In the 10th century, the Shiite Buyid and Fatimid dynasties came to power because the Sunni Abbasid caliphate began to lose its power.

Shiite dynasties ultimately could not survive in a majority Sunni environment, especially not after it came back on top from around 1200 to around 1600. The Shiites rebounded in the 16th century in the form of the Safavid Empire in Persia, which embraced Shiite Islam as state religion.

Power changes hands cyclically, about every 500 years.

Mauldin Economics

And now, with Sunni Arab unity on the decline and with jihadists challenging Sunni power, the Shiites are in the position to expand once again. They are a minority, so it’s unclear just how far their influence can actually spread.

But what is clear is that modern nationalism is being replaced by medieval sectarianism.

Mauldin Economics

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Read the original article on Mauldin Economics. Copyright 2017.

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