'Back to school' for adults - Gear up for the new year

It’s the stuff of nightmares for most school-age children. As those long summer weeks wind to a close and the new school year looms ever closer, the thought of going back to school starts to become very real.

But one thing about ‘back to school’ that has always made the transition slightly easier is the shopping for new gear. From pencil cases and calculators to files, bags, coats, you name it, the back-to-school sales at the end of the summer holidays have always been a mainstay of making the return of term time a little easier.

So why stop just because you’re all grown up?

If you’re looking to make the transition from summer days to darker nights and colder weather a little bit easier, here’s some tech ideas to help you out.

A new phone

Autumn is usually a bumper time for new smartphones. We can be fairly certain that September and October will see the launch of new Apple iPhones and Google Pixels for example.

Our smartphones have become even more important as we have all got used to living much of our lives at a greater distance and of course with their ever-improving screens and camera technology, these little multi-purpose computing devices have become our very own entertainment and sharing hubs.

So, if you’ve got the money to spare, why not consider a back-to-school smartphone upgrade.

If you’ve been waiting for a few years to get an upgrade to the latest and greatest, it’s probably worth hanging on a couple of months longer to see what the newest hardware has to offer.

Find something to stream

Speaking of entertainment, as the nights begin to draw in, thoughts turn to how we’ll spend the winter indoors.

If you haven’t already discovered streaming TV services yet, you’re probably in the minority, but with so much on offer there’s probably something available for most tastes.

From the huge catalogue of content on Netflix to the family favourites offered by Disney, not to mention the ubiquitous Amazon, when it comes to TV streaming we really are spoilt for choice.

But if your needs are a little more niche, consider a service like Crunchyroll if you’re a big manga and anime fan, Acorn TV if you prefer your TV with a more traditional British lilt, or for learning and documentary lovers, the lesser-known online service Curiosity Stream has you covered.

Most broadband connections are up to the job when it comes to streaming, but to ensure the best quality – and prevent buffering in busy households – you might consider a full fibre connection to get those bits and bytes moving freely.

Computer games aren’t just for kids

In the UK alone, the size of the gaming industry has been measured at more than £7bn, which just goes to show that this is a big business. And if you thought TV streaming offered a lot of variety, when it comes to gaming there really is something available for just about any taste.

From mobile and tablet games that can run on just about any device to the most demanding games like God of War or Cyberpunk 2077 that need serious hardware to hit their best settings, there’s also something for any budget.

If you want to reminisce with the games of your youth (or catch up on those you missed) there are plenty of bargains to be had over at Good Old Games (gog.com), while over at Microsoft, their Xbox and PC Game Pass services offer access to hundreds of games for a monthly fee.

When you want to take gaming seriously, you’ll also want to consider the best possible broadband connection. Unless you’re actually streaming your games, most connections will be fast enough, but when it comes to downloading all those massive games and patch updates, a faster connection means less waiting and more playing!

Go go gadget…

It’s probably fair to say that most of us are just big kids at heart, and though our tastes may have become a little more expensive, we still love nothing more than buying the latest toy.

But rather than the Transformers and Star Wars figures of our youth, today it’s all about those cool home gadgets.

From smart speakers to get the tunes pumping around the house to video doorbells, smart lighting and much, much more, those ‘future’ homes from our childhood are now definitely no longer science fiction.

Smart home devices can improve efficiency too, helping you to save a little on those sky-high energy bills – plus they’re a lot of fun!

Make working from home less of a chore

If you’re permanently working from home for either part or all of the week, you may be feeling a little frustrated with or limited by your work-supplied equipment.

One of the more frustrating elements of home working is the potential for distracting noise – from screaming family members to outside roadworks. And it’s at times like these that a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones can work wonders.

When it comes to online meetings, you can also spruce things up with a USB microphone and an external webcam – helping you to stand out from the crowd.

But that’s the boring stuff. You can also make home working more enjoyable by investing in a coffee machine, a mini fridge for storing cold drinks (and even ice lollies if there’s a freezer draw!) or a good office chair to keep you comfortable throughout the day.

Of course, the above is just the start. However you want to set yourself up for the autumn and winter months, there’s plenty available to make home life more fun.