Top 5 Summer Gadgets

By admin | Published July 8, 2013

Summer’s well and truly arrived and that means countless barbecues, water fights and – if you’re really lucky – a pool party or two. Warmer weather does, of course, mean that it’s time to treat yourself to a few new summer-proof gadgets and we’ve put together some of our favourites.

1. George Foreman iGrill

george-foreman-igrill

photo from uncrate

This electric grill can be used indoors as well as outside, so you can enjoy a barbecue even if the weather should happen to experience a bit of a lull. You can enjoy a 200 square-inch cooking surface and adjustable temperature control as well as a 10-watt amp and speaker so that you can grill your food along to your favourite chart hits.

2. Ecoxgear waterproof speakers

ecoxgear_wireless_speaker

photo from gadgetsin

These wireless and shock resistant speakers have the fantastic added benefit of also being completely waterproof. You can stream music from any Bluetooth device for over 10 hours before the battery needs recharging and – should you happen to get a phonecall while the speakers are connected – you can chat over the built-in speakerphone. If these speakers happen to fall in the water, they’ll float right back up to the top again so you won’t have to search around at the bottom of the pool.

3. The Tjiller

tjiller

photo from tjiller

Somewhere at the back of your mind, you might remember beer cosies as being about as much use as a chocolate teapot and keeping your drink just as cool. The Tjiller is like the next generation of the beer cosy and features a propriety gel encased in an aluminium membrane. This means that there’s a slow release of temperature into the can which keeps your drink cold and stops any nasty puddles forming around your drink.

4. Saturator Uzi water pistol

saturator_uzi_blue

photo from red5

Water pistols are one of the best things about summer, there’s no disputing that, but now you can take your water fights to the next level with a water pistol that’s – wait for it – motorised. The Saturator Uzi gun fires 4 blasts of water every second and has a range of up to 6 metres. The magazine is easily removable and has a capacity of up to 180cc which means that your water fights will be the talk of the town.

5. Panasonic HC-V520 camcorder

Panasonic

photo from Panasonic

For a camcorder that’s a great crowd pleaser, go for Panasonic’s newest offering. With full HD (1920 x 1080), optical image stabilisation for blur free recording, 10 megapixel still images and true to life colour reproduction, this is the perfect camcorder to accompany you on all of your summer adventures. This camera also features WiFi and NFC connectivity, an 80x intelligent zoom, a 28mm wide angle lens and a level shot indicator so that you can make sure that your videos and photos are level – ideal for when you’re shooting from a high angle.

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Affordable Gaming Headsets

By Jordan Erica Webber | Published August 29, 2012
2012-08-23 Affordable Gaming Headsets 3

Those who regularly use voice chat when playing games online will likely want a headset that is a little more substantial than the single-eared pieces of plastic that come in box with a standard games console. But aside from the real audiophiles, most will have an upper limit on exactly how much they’re willing to spend. For those who want a good quality gaming headset at a reasonable price, here are three that can be bought for less than £70.

 

PS3 – Turtle Beach Ear Force P11

Turtle Beach is a particularly popular brand of headset, and a variety of its products is available in most high-street games retailers. The Ear Force P11 headset is one of its cheaper options, but still provides dual-eared quality. The large cups make for a comfortable fit for extended use, and contain 50mm diameter speakers that produce impressive amplified stereo sound, with bass boost. The microphone is flexible, so it can be moved out of the way when not in use, and the independent volume controls mean the player can turn up the game volume while turning down the chat, or vice versa. The mic can also be muted completely, which is useful when you’re not interested in pursuing a conversation with a particularly aggressive competitor. The P11 headset is available for around £35 on Amazon, and can also be used with a PC.

 

360 – Tritton Trigger Stereo Headset

Like the P11 headset, Tritton’s Trigger Stereo Headset (around £30 on Amazon) is ergonomically designed with comfort in mind. The ear cups also swivel so that the player can shift the headset to be worn around the neck. The 14 foot cable means the player can sit right across the room from her console without difficulty, or get up and freely walk around mid-conversation. Wireless headsets might seem more convenient, but they’re also more expensive, so the alternative is extra-long cables like these. While this headset doesn’t have the same bass boost as those available from Turtle Beach, it does have the same flexible mic, so you can tuck that away when you just want a pair of good headphones.

 

PC – Sennheiser PC 330

Sennheiser is a brand well-known for quality sound, and its gaming headsets are no exception. While this headset is a little more expensive than the two mentioned above, it still comes in at under £70 and the sound it is capable of producing is worth the extra cost. There are some nifty features here, too. While the mic isn’t as flexible as the two above, there’s an auto-mute functionality that activates when you move it up and out of the way. The right ear cup has a “DJ hinge”, which the player can swivel for direct contact with her teammates. The noise cancelling feature also makes this headset handy for Skype calls. Because of the various functions of a PC, this headset is a real all-rounder, making it worth the £65 price tag.

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Top 3 Gadgets for your Travel Suitcase

By Doug Bardwell | Published August 2, 2012
Travel-Gadgets

Packing your bags for another trip?  Want some ideas for packing that will really pay off?  Here are just a few that could really make that next trip more enjoyable.

Luggage Scale

With most every airline charging exorbitant rates for overweight luggage, the last thing you want to do is show up at the airport with an overstuffed bag.  Standing in front of the luggage check-in desk, trying to decide what you can leave behind is never a pleasant situation. The baggage agent thinks you’re a nuisance and your fellow passengers still waiting in the queue are really thinking ill thoughts about you as well.

Not only will a luggage scale prevent all that animosity as you leave home, it’s even more valuable on your return flight. If we have a scale in the loo, we can always check our weight before leaving; but, what happens after you’ve started adding souvenirs and books. Without a reliable scale, there’s no way of knowing if you’ve exceeded the limit.

A search of Amazon.co.uk finds dozens of different varieties, but here are some significant features to look for:

  • Dual weight scales – kg and lbs if you travel internationally
  • Automatic battery shutoff after a certain period of inactivity
  • Light weight
  • Uses standard size batteries

This one from Cabin Max also provides an eight LED torch so one gadget serves the purpose of two.

Portable Closet

In its simplest form, Shelves to GO! consists of three lightweight, but rigged shelves, surrounded on three sides by a lightweight mesh, and suspended on either side by a strap with hook to go over your closet rod or closet door.  When hung in your closet, you just load them up with the clothing you plan to pack. They’ll hold up to 15kg of clothing.

Then, when everything is aboard, unhook from the closet rod and walk over to your rollaboard suitcase. With the suitcase open, align the two and lower the Shelves to GO! unit down into the main compartment. It flattens on itself as you lower the straps. Close bag. You’re done!

When you arrive at your hotel, open your bag, lift up the hooks and transfer it to the hotel closet. Bam, you’re unpacked in about 10 seconds.

PowerStrip

The more you travel, the more you realise most hotels are underwired. With all the entertainment gadgets people pack these days, chances are you are going to not find enough outlets to recharge them all at the same time.

The power strip is the simple answer to a number of problems when you travel:

  • If all outlets are taken, you have to give up something if you want to plug in your devices. Which would you like to do without – the bed lamp or the TV?
  • Often, the only available outlet is difficult to get to. With its 3m cord, you only need to squeeze behind the bed once.
  • Don’t want to forget that razor or phone you left charging in the bathroom… make it a habit to plug all your devices into the same place and you’ll be less likely to leave any of them behind.
  • Going on a cruise – lots of ships have only one outlet.

Outlet strips come in a variety of sizes, but I’ve found the 3 or 4 outlet strip to be the most practical in size and weight.

 

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Top 4 Gadgets for Your Car

By Doug Bardwell | Published August 2, 2012
Top-4-Gadgets-for-the-Car

Taking the car on holiday?  Driving to work?  Running to get groceries?  If you are in your car, these four gadgets should always be in the car with you.

3 +1 Power Adapter

With all the electronic gadgets you have, the one common denominator is that they all need to be recharged.  Why they all need to be recharged at the same time is just a cruel twist of fate, but it happens.

With this 3 + 1 adapter, there’s room to charge your GPS, two cell phones plus one more USB device, all at the same time. When not needed, it’s compact enough to hide below your seat.

GPS

If you are going more than 5km from home, chances are you don’t know all the streets. With a GPS device, you can type in an address and head straight away to your destination. With the  Garmin Nuvi 2595LMT, you’ll have an extra-wide, dual orientation, 5” colour screen.  This particular model comes with lifetime map updates and 3D traffic alerts for the life of the unit. Street level mapping is included throughout Europe. With Garmin’s lane assistance feature, you’ll be seeing photorealistic views of turns and road junctions where there’s a chance you might be in the wrong lane.

This will also keep you out of trouble with the law, as it is voice activated for spoken navigation instructions and hands free phone calls. With built-in Bluetooth wireless technology, you can sync with your compatible mobile phone for hands-free phone calling and even access your phone book and call history.

Power Centre

With the 5 in 1 power station in your boot, you are ready for some of driving’s nastiest inconveniences. A 900 amp power charge will jump start your dead battery. A 260 PSI air compressor can reinflate a tyre with a slow leak or inflate mattresses and beach toys while camping. A peak 240v power inverter will allow you to plug in most household devices while on the road.  Two additional 12 volt outlets can provide power to your 12v accessories and the 5 LED light provides illumination if anything needs to be done along a dark street.

Leatherman Set

Safety forces recommend keeping a cutting/breaking tool within arm’s reach of the driver’s seat. In case of emergency, you should have a way of cutting a stuck seatbelt or breaking a glass window to get out of a car in distress. Being stuck in an upside down or submerged car won’t be fatal with the Leatherman Wave LT650 and torch combination.

This multipurpose knife comes with serrated knife, needlenose pliers, wire cutter and stripper, saw, scissors, wood/metal file, large and small bit drivers, ruler, bottle/can opener and large screwdriver. It won’t fix everything that can go wrong in an automobile, but you’ll be well ahead of where you might be without it. The Leatherman is made of 100% stainless steel, so it will last a lifetime.

All of the above can be found at Amazon.co.uk.

 

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