Gadget Head Christmas Gift Guide 2021

Christmas Gifts Issue www.thegadgethead.com

UK

£4.95

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CONTENTS • NERF Elite 2.0 Flipshots Flip-16 Blaster • Carry-on Folding Piano 88 • Monopoly Cash Decoder • Scanmarker Air • Galactic Down Blanket from Kelty • Targus 15” Newport Backpack • SnapWatch • Torrent Jacket • Stomp Rocket • A-3 by Earin • The Mandalorian: The Child • Twelve South Curve • Proviz Explorer Running Jacket • DDJ-200 DJ Smart Controller • Amawrap baby sling Copy Editor Alice Instone-Brewer alice@littlegatepublishing.com

Copy Editor James Lapping james@littlegatepublishing.com

Lead Designer Alina Sandu

• Adidas Z.N.E 01 ANC True Wireless • RoboVac X8 • Waboba MoonShine

studio@littlegatepublishing.com

• Parliament Wallet

Publisher Stephen Warman

• Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro

stevewarman@littlegatepublishing.com

• Timeflip 2 Interactive Time Tracker • HyperX Alloy Origins 60 • Kano PC • HypnoLight, HypnoSquare & Hypnocube

NERF ELITE 2.0 FLIPSHOTS FLIP-16 BLASTER

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NOW THIS IS SERIOUSLY FUN. WE WERE ASKING EACH OTHER IN THE OFFICE HOW NERF CAN POSSIBLY KEEP CREATING NEW SPINS ON A BLASTER, BUT THEY KEEP MANAGING IT. A REALLY SATISFYING, HEAVY-DUTY NERF BLASTER NEEDS, IN MY OPINION, TWO ELEMENTS: THERE’S THE ACTUAL STATS (AKA SHOOTING SPEED, RANGE, RELOAD ETC.), AND THEN THERE’S THE NEED FOR ELEMENTS TO PULL, SLIDE, CLICK INTO PLACE AND OTHERWISE CREATE A TACTILE ‘LOCK AND LOAD’ EXPERIENCE. The Elite 2.0 Flipshots Flip-16 Blaster To fire once, pull the trigger halfprovides all of this. The main gimmick way; to shoot twice, pull it all the way. That (because let’s face it – ever uber-blaster has double-shot is a satisfying feeling, and you some kind of gimmick to set it apart) is its have plenty to spare! The bolt-action on the flip-around barrel with space for eight foam primer is also deeply gratifying. Aaah that darts on one side and another eight on the power rush. other. The concept is that you can fire eight I don’t need to sell you on NERF – darts, then take your opponents by surprise you already know whether or not that’s by flipping around the second eight. This flip- something your kids/you would enjoy. But around barrel certainly does introduce some the NERF Elite 2.0 Flipshots Flip-16 Blaster confusion, as you can’t immediately trust is a seriously cool addition to your artillery. that the emptying barrel you can see means Some of the special features on NERF blasters anything; however, it’s not that hard to see are a bit too simple or a bit too complex and what your opponent’s situation is, darts- unhelpful, but this is the perfect balance: it’s wise, as long as they’re not stood directly in straight forward, but gives you a clear type front of you. That’s only half of the point, of advantage, and it’s fun to utilize. though. The other half is how satisfying and cool it feels to flip this chamber around, as well as the sheer capacity or 16 darts at full load.

A minor detail that I appreciate is that the word ‘Elite’ on the flipable barrel reads the same way no matter which way round it is, thanks to a careful design of the Es, L and T.

Holds 16 darts

£39.99

www.smythstoys.com Pros: Holds 16 darts at a time Fires 1 or 2 darts per shot Flippable barrel

Satisfying twists and levers Easy to use Feels like serious business

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CARRY-ON FOLDING PIANO 88

6

I’VE NEVER CONSIDERED THE NEED FOR THIS PRODUCT UNTIL I SAW IT, BUT NOW THAT I HAVE SEEN IT, I’M WONDERING WHY ALL KEYBOARDS AREN’T LIKE THIS! THE FOLDING PIANO 88 FROM CARRY-ON HAS ALL THE FUNCTIONALITY OF A REGULAR ELECTRIC KEYBOARD, BUT IS ABLE TO FOLD UP TO ONLY 330MM X 87MM BY 126MM! JUST AS THE COMPANY NAME SUGGESTS, YOU COULD VERY LITERALLY TAKE THIS ELECTRIC KEYBOARD INTO YOUR PLANE CARRY-ON IF YOU WANTED, OR COULD EASILY SLIP IT INTO YOUR BAG EITHER FOR TRAVEL OR SIMPLY TO EASILY TRANSPORT IT WITH YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY. DESPITE THIS INSANE LEVEL OF PORTABILITY, YOU DON’T MISS OUT ON ANYTHING, HAVING THE FULL 88 KEY RANGE OF A STANDARD PIANO. This sounds too good to be true, but touch, and yet packing down far smaller the Folding Piano 88 really does seem to be than any board has a right to be! the full package. This keyboard is a long, thin This keyboard weight 1.6kg: it’s no design that folded up in four parts, stacking light and flimsy thing, but it is far lighter together into a small unit that’s just over and easier than carrying a regular keyboard a foot long. Not only does it have the full around. Its battery life lasts 8 hours of play number of keys, but it has a solid range of time, so it’s unlikely that you should be other electric keyboard offerings, too; it has caught out whilst playing, but do make sure 128 ‘voices’ for its musical output, also with to charge it if you use it regularly.

30 demo songs and a metronome setting that The one issue with this product, and has six available ‘accents’ to choose from. It it’s minor, is that it requires a surface to rest can transpose for you up to ±6 semitones and on. There is no portable stand included: due can adjust tempo between 30-180 BPM. Not to being thin, hinged and stand-less, you will wanting to lack in anything, it even comes either need to lay this keyboard on the floor with a sustain pedal, note sheets and charge or on a wide enough table surface. Finding cable, all complete with a Carry-on tote for an empty surface and the right height for you transporting the whole lot, if you wish. whilst playing, and long enough to hold a full This product really in incredible. It 88 keys, isn’t always easy, which for me, isn’t the first electric keyboard designed makes this keyboard more about practice to be extra-portable, but such products are than performance. usually either downsized (both in key scale However, that aside, this is a and number) or are ‘roll-up’, which takes fantastically convenient way to transport away that solid feel and affects how one your instrument with you without losing out. plays the keys. In contrast, the Folding Piano Putting a full-scale piano in your bag isn’t 88’s keys do not attempt to feel merely like an easy achievement, and this product has a ‘regular’ keyboard – they go beyond that a great deal to offer. The only consideration and make a good attempt as feeling like is that you think ahead slightly about where traditional piano keys. This keyboard is the you intend to play: as long as you’re sure of perfect solution, losing neither size nor that, your piano needs will be sorted.

£89.99

www.carryonpiano.co.uk PROS: 88 keys Easily portable Folds up small USB charging 128 voices

6 metronome accents Tempo adjustment Transposes 8 hours play time

CONS: No stand

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MONOPOLY CASH DECODER

8

Fun tw on a classi

MONOPOLY WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED WITH THE AIM OF DEMONSTRATING WHAT THE DESIGNER SAW AS THE EVILS OF CAPITALISM. WONDER WHY A GAME OF MONOPOLY CAN GET SO HEATED AND EMOTIONAL? THAT WAS THE PLAN. NOW, MONOPOLY IS CONTINUING THIS LEGACY BY EDUCATING US ON THE EVILS OF COUNTERFEIT MONEY...SORT OF. IF ANYTHING, FINDING THIS COUNTERFEIT MONEY COULD MAKE YOU RICH, RICH, RICH! The player tokens have changed from ‘Ha!’ and lay down the law. back in my day, which deeply upsets me.

You can check money with However, the dog having a detective cap and the decoder whenever another player pays there being a T-Rex in a top hat more than for something, and if you find any fake cash, make up for this by being the best things you can keep it! Presumably, the key to ever. My sister and I used to sit the top hat success is to keep a mental track of which of counter in the bank as ‘the banker’, then your own cash stacks are real, and which are placed it on the head of whichever piece won confirmed, confiscated fakes. At the end of the game. the game, fake money counts towards your My real question with the new pieces total for determining a winner. Of course, is, where’s the shoe?? I always play the shoe! there’s a catch – you have a set number of The upshot of Monopoly Cash Decoder tokens that you can spend on searching for (also known as Monopoly Crooked Cash) is fakes, so you want to use them wisely. The that it’s introduced a new, chaotic element more money in a payment, the more likely to the well-known game. It’s spiced up the it is that there’s fakes, and the bigger the routine by adding in fake money: each bill potential payout; if you strike early, people now has a circle on it with a blur of images, won’t have had time to mentally separate and the ‘Mr. Monopoly Decoder’ - aka a their real money from their fake yet, but magnifying glass – is used to inspect this blur at the same time, less money will be on to determine whether the bill is real or ‘fake’. the board, so the chances of there being Within the images, a Mr Monopoly face will fakes in circulation is lower. There’s a lot appear on good bills, and a Mr Monopoly face to think about! Even more fun, Chance can in a bandit mask will appear on fakes. This sometimes be fakes – if you catch a fake is a really neat way to simulate the process when another player draws a card, you get a of checking for actual counterfeit bills, and reward instead!

I can only imagine the glee with which I’d As well as adding in these exciting have inspected money and declared fakes as extra elements of luck and chaos, the a child. Young kids love a chance to declare game has removed some elements: utilities

£25.99

wist a ic and railroads are gone, for some reason, as is the Income Tax square. Instead, railways are now used to teleport players to any unowned square on the board. This certainly goes towards solving the issue or trapsing around the board for turns and turns, waiting to land somewhere useful or eventful, but I think removing Income Tax and the services feels unnecessary.

Income Tax, I can see as not serving much purpose now that there are new and more fun ways to be robbed blind, but I suspect that the rail stations and utilities are gone in order to have a faster-paced game, but it removes a type of property collection, which feels like it’s removing some core strategy. I might be mistake, but it also seems as though, instead of replacing what’s on these squares, they have simply been removed, making a pacier game purely by making a smaller board.

Overall, this might be smart, as we often had to end family games before they finished, or leave boards set up overnight to continue the next day.

I wouldn’t recommend this game if you’ve never played Monopoly before, as

it’s not the True Animal and you might find other games of Monopoly strange or slow if this has been your starting point. However, if you know Monopoly and are ready to mix things up, this is a really fun way to inject some new life into an old classic. (It’s also, granted, a better way to engage younger kids in the game, but that goes directly against my earlier point. I’m conflicted). I also appreciate that the decoder is simply a magnifying glass, as this means it’s possible to replace it and keep playing if the original ‘decoder’ gets lost (likely, with a family board game).

www.smythstoys.com PROS: Fun twist on a classic Faster-paced game Additions are fresh but not complicated Replacable decoder

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SCANMARKER AIR

I FIRST ENCOUNTERED SCANMARKERS WHEN I WAS AT UNIVERSITY, AND ELBOWS-DEEP IN RESEARCH AS I OFTEN WAS, THEY SEEMED LIKE A GOD-SEND OF AN INVENTION. NOW, MORE YEARS LATER THAN I’D CARE TO MENTION, THE SCANMARKER AIR HAS TAKEN EVERYTHING THAT WAS FANTASTIC ABOUT THIS PREDECESSOR AND IMPROVED UPON IT: THIS IS MORE PLEASANT TO HOLD, IT WORKS FASTER, SMOOTHER, WITH GREATER ACCURACY, AND ACROSS THE BOARD, IT HAS BROUGHT THAT GAME-CHANGER FROM MY UNI YEARS INTO THE MODERN AGE. For those who don’t know, the can recognise 3000 characters per minute, Scanmarker is essentially a scanner build and can transpose a full line of text within a into a highlighter, but it’s so much more than second. There’s little to no sense of waiting that. As you’re reading, you can slide this for the app to catch up with you. The pendigital highlighter along a line of text, and tip scanner has a 1cm field of view, which the Scanmarker will transpose that text into means it can register font up to size 24pt, a Word document or similar. The Scanmarker with a minimum size of 6pt. This is extremely Air is compatible with any application that flexible, enabling the pen to deal with most deals with text (on PC, Mac, Apple iOS and books.

Android), or you can also scan into the pen’s Unlike the regular Scanmarker, which accompanying app. is only available in black, the Scanmarker This makes a massive difference to Air is available in black, blue, cyan, green, work and research: instead of using a regular white and pink. It looks and feels like a highlighter to pick out text that you must highlighter, and a lovely sleek one, at that. then write up into notes, the Scanmarker It’s lightweight, wireless (charged by USB) does the whole process for you, all in the and easy to use – just connect via Bluetooth (I same easy highlighting motion. What I love swear you have to install software back in my about its design is that it doesn’t introduce day!). You will need to check you meet the a new, complicated or interrupting motion minimum requirements with your operating into the moment of reading: you’re able to system, but these requirements are pretty sweep the Scanmarker over text without broad and forgiving: for example, you needing to stop reading or do anything require a minimum of Windows 7, Android complicated, and it keeps the experience of 5, iOS 8, iPhone 4 – aka, Scanmarker has sitting and reading feeling the same as ever been as inclusive as it can be. Its battery life (if not even more relaxing), even though your is about 7 days of use, which is awesome and progress has been revolutionized. means it should be unlikely that you’re ever The Scanmarker is not only useful for caught out. quickly recording text as you read: if you are The Scanmarker was already an dyslexic or for any other reason would like to awesome product, but the Scanmarker hear some text read to you, the Scanmarker Air is lighter, more comfortable to hold, can do this. It can also translate over 40 more convenient, and unlike the regular languages for you on the go! If all of that Scanmarker, it’s wireless! This is a seriously wasn’t enough, its functionality has been useful tool for a number of reasons, and made yet more versatile by making it able to now, it’s easier to use than ever, so there’s read barcodes as well as, of course, letters no reason not to reach for it when you’re and numbers. working, even if you’re a groggy uni student The scanning has gotten far smoother like I used to be. than it was in my day! The Scanmarker Air

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£94

scanmarker.com

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PROS: Scans lines of text into any text program/app Text is editable, not an image Can read letters, numbers and barcodes Can turn text into audio as you read Can translate 40 languages

Wireless Light and comfortable Connects via Bluetooth Broad device compatability No disruption to the reading process Lots of colour options Your new best friend

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GALACTIC DOWN BLANKET FROM KELTY

550 Fill Power Duck

THE GALACTIC DOWN BLANKET FROM KELTY IS A COSMIC TRIP IN COMFORT. CREATED FOR CAMPING TRIPS, THE BLANKET HAS STUFFED 50D 300T POLYESTER TAFFETA FABRIC WITH 550 FILL POWER DUCK DOWN, MAKING A BLANKET THAT WON’T IMMEDIATELY GROW DAMP FROM BEING EXPOSED TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS, AND IS EXTREMELY WARM AND COMFORTABLE WITHOUT BEING A HEAVY WEIGHT. We received the Galactic Down compresses down into a bag, meaning you Blanket in Cranberry & Atmosphere – yes, can take it anywhere. It measures 72 in / 183 that’s a colour description! What that cm with a width of 55 in / 140 cm. In terms translates out into is a space-like swirl of blue of warmth, this blanket might be all you need with dark to light reds. The same blanket is whilst camping in the summer, or would be a also available in Cathay Spice & Atmosphere welcome extra boost in autumn and winter. or Grisaille & Atmosphere – yes, those are Just take care – it isn’t waterproof, though its colour descriptions too! Its aesthetic design polyester material does mean it won’t absorb definitely speaks to a particular target water with the same disastrous effects as audience, and given how often I’ve met taking a woolen or cotton blanket camping people with this exact vibe either living it with you! up with Van Life or hanging out in the woods Feather Down blankets are never and inviting random dog walkers (me) to cheap, but this one is a reasonable price, share some drinks with them, I can see this and unlike most feather down blankets, it’s blanket being right at home. compact and able to travel with you. What’s Whilst designed for camping, you not to love? can use this blanket anywhere. In fact, it

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£84.99

www.kelty.com PROS: 550 Fill Power Duck Down 50D 300T Polyester Taffeta

Compactible Carry bag Cool patterns Warm but lightweight

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TARGUS 15” NEWPORT BACKPACK THE NEWPORT BACKPACK FROM TARGUS HAS BEEN DESIGNED WITH WORK-TO-LEISURE IN MIND, VISUALISED AS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE AT HOME IN A PROFESSIONAL CONTEXT, BUT COULD JUST AS EASILY COME WITH YOU INTO TOWN FOR A SHOP AND A STROLL AROUND AFTERWARDS. MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, IT’S BEEN DESIGNED WITH TABLETS AND SLIM LAPTOPS IN MIND AND YET IT DOESN’T SCREAM ‘LAPTOP BAG’, MAKING IT A FAR SAFER PLACE TO STASH THOSE WORK ESSENTIALS AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR REGULAR DAY. Designed with these items in mind, keeping the rain away from your electronics the backpack has a designated space for and other items. them, whilst still featuring a deep main As with any backpack, the section in which one can stash anything importance is not only in its storage, but in else you might need for the day – charge how comfortable it is to wear and carry. The cables, a box of lunch, even a spare sweater. Newport has padded straps that sit nicely on Additionally, it has several convenient extra your shoulders, and thanks to their padding, storage sections, including a small one at they are extremely comfortable despite the front, hidden one at the back interior, being quite slim. I was concerned that their and a couple of small interior pockets. narrow size would mean that they’d dig, but There are plenty of sections for keeping your this wasn’t the case. The backpack also has items separate and easy to find, but no so a padded top handle, and both this and the many that you’ll be scrabbling through and straps are adjustable. Finally, there’s a band wondering which one you used for your keys! at the back of the backpack: I wasn’t sure Looking at its design from the what this was for, until I saw an image of the outside, I did not expect this backpack to backpack slid over the raised handlebars of a have a vibrant orange interior, but I liked the suitcase. Brilliant! pop of colour. For me, it made the bag more This isn’t my favourite of Targus’ appealing and also made it feel more current: backpacks, aesthetically (the material and the exterior design alone was taking me way zips took me back a few years), but in terms back to the 2010s, for some reason (possibly of functionality it ticks all the boxes, and in the texture of the material and the style of terms of look, this is a classic, neutral style zip) The material is a high-density, water- that puts a casual spin on a work-ready bag. repellent twill nylon that does a fair job at

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£99.99

Plenty of sections/ pockets

uk.targus.com PROS: Plenty of sections/ pockets Laptop/tablet section Hidden back pocket

Adjustable shoulder straps and handle Water-repellent

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SNAPWATCH I REMEMBER SNAP BANDS BEING ALL THE RAGE AS AN ACCESSORY WHEN I WAS A PRIMARY SCHOOL KID – AKA, BACK WHEN THE SNAPWATCH WAS FIRST THOUGHT UP TWENTY YEARS AGO! SINCE THEN, REGULAR DIGITAL WATCHES HAVE BECOME PRODUCTS SUCH AS THE APPLE AND SAMSUNG WATCH, BUT THE SNAPWATCH IS FINALLY HERE TO CONTEND. IF CLAIRE’S IS ANYTHING TO GO BY, THEN THE SNAP BAND IS STILL A POPULAR ACCESSORY IN ITS OWN RIGHT, TOO. The SnapWatch does exactly back of the wrist. As it is unlike what it sounds like: it’s a digital watch other watches, there is a knack of integrated with a snap band, making it a using SnapWatch but it’s pretty simple fun, lightweight, durable and easy-to-fasten to operate. watch for your child. With watches a less and Now that the flexible screen less common requirement, but some parents technology works as well as it does, holding out against getting their child a SnapWatch’s next stop is to up the phone literally from birth, the SnapWatch is functions to integrate NFC, music and a brilliant way for your kids to know the time messaging thereby providing a child-friendly from something that’s hassle-free and much alternative to the Apple Watch. more fun than a regular watch would be.

These SnapWatches are fun, SnapWatch is available in six designs, affordable, come in a range of designs, two plain and four with trendy graphics and they do exactly what they claim to. featuring dragons, astronauts, sharks or They’re a hard watch for kids to break, and cute unicorns We received a plain black they’ll enjoy slapping each other with them (I’m sad that we didn’t get any dragons or endlessly – don’t worry, the silicone texture astronauts!) Although the SnapWatch display means that slap as you may, it doesn’t is impressively flexible having being slapped actually hurt. round the wrist you can also read the display in straight mode. The unusual flexibility of this watch is the first of its kind and the digital display remains clear and bright in either position.

In our testing, the watch snaps onto your wrist well and keeps its shape but ensure the control unit is flush against the

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New flexible digital display

£9.99 plus P&P

www.snapwatch.co.uk PROS: New flexible digital display Clear screen readout Variety of fun designs

Doesn’t hurt to slap Hard to break Fun for all and affordable too

CONS: Slightly large control unit

More function improvement

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TORRENT JACKET

Fully waterproo

THE APPEALINGLY NAMED SNUGPAK IS A COMPANY THAT FOCUSES ON COMFORTABLE, WARM, DRY ADVENTURING GEAR, FROM SLEEPING BAGS AND HAMMOCKS TO TENTS, CARRY-ALLS AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY IN THIS REVIEW, JACKETS. We received the Torrent jacket in that no water’s dripping through, including black, but it is also available in forest green. the use of YKK weatherproof zips. Even so, This insulated waterproof jacket is fantastic for the things you want to take extra care to at this time of year, ready to protect you from protect, there’s even a deep chest pocket. all of the blustery, wet elements of nature.

The best thing about the pockets, Its Softie® insulation (that’s an even cuter however, was how warm they were. Forget name than Snugpak) works together with stashing your belongings – these pockets are taped seams to make you so toasty warm, I perfect for stashing your hands! Lined with was tempted to keep wearing it when I was brushed polyester, they’re both comfortable inside, just to save on the heating bill! and toasty, which, let’s be honest, is going Living up to its name, this jacket is to be the most important thing when you’re fully waterproof, not just water resistant. Its battling the wind and rain. design has focused on making sure to plug Jackets tend to be either hardy and anywhere that water might drip, adjustable well-engineered, or comfortable, but the at places like the cuffs and hem; it even has Torrent manages to be both. Ventilation dual adjusters on the sides and rear of its zips allow you to vent and keep cool, detachable hood. Usually, a detachable hood unlike that ‘plastic bag’ feeling that some is a weak spot when it comes to staying dry, waterproof jackets can have. Instead, this but Snugpak have built it so that it can fit has lined pockets, a lined neck warmer, perfectly. The hood is even insulated! liner everything to keep you feeling good One thing I appreciated in the Torrent whatever the weather. It’s not a cheap price, was the depth and size of its pockets. There’s but you get what you pay for, and with the no point having an all-weather, storm-ready Torrent, you can see exactly where every jacket with small pockets – if you’re out in penny has gone: into careful design and that sort of weather, you might want to quality production. bring gloves or a waterproof torch, or you might need somewhere dry and safe to stash your phone and whatever else you have that shouldn’t get wet. These pockets, like the rest of the jacket, have been engineered so

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£184.00

www.snugpak.com PROS: Fully waterproof Lined and insulated Adjustable hem and cuffs Deep, dry pockets

Detachable hood Ventilated Temp Range: -5°C to -10°C

CONS: I’d like some more colour options

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STOMP ROCKET IT’S COMFORTING TO SEE THAT TOY ROCKETS ARE STILL DESCRIBED AS “EXTREME”. IT’S NOT QUITE ‘XTREME’, BUT THE 80S AND 90S ARE CLEARLY STILL ALIVE IN SPIRIT. We received Stomp Rocket Original, some early physics (you can’t let them to a product that also has a series of equally learn everything from video games, or they’ll fun-looking spin-off siblings. Stomp Rocket think they can do a double-jump in the air to Original is advertised as ‘100% Kid Powered’, get up cliffs and high buildings). This STEM which I thought was a fun slogan, and makes learning (science, technology, engineering the dramatic claim of being able to soar up to and mathematics) teaches about gravity, 400 feet, all from the power of a jump and trajectory, force and the power of air, all stomp on an air-filled launching pad. I was whilst getting to stomp on things and launch dubious, so we took it out for a test. colourful (but soft and safe) rockets into I stand xtremely corrected! We took the air. Shh – don’t tell them that they’re the Stomp Rocket out into the Gadget Head learning! They’re too busy having fun to carpark and almost lost our rocket over notice! our neighbour (and rival company’s) fence!

Stomp Rocket Original comes with Cue the scene from a kid’s film where the three foam rockets, and more are available bullies won’t give it back and we have to online (in case you live near bullies like spring a heist to retrieve it. Fortunately, this ours). This toy will burn your kids’ energy, didn’t happen, but this rocket can achieve vent their violent need to crush things with some serious height! We weren’t able to their feet and shoot projectiles into the air get an exact reading, but it was definitely (we all have those urges sometimes), and will EXTREME. sneakily teach them science whilst they do Stomp Rocket promotes itself as so. What’s not to love? being educational as well as fun. It’s true – anything hands-on like this teaches kids

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Kid powered – needs no batteries

£12.99

www.amazon.co.uk PROS: Kid powered – needs no batteries or mains etc.

Teaches STEM learning Colourful and fun

Rockets are soft and harmless Comes with three rockets Launches really far!

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A-3 BY EARIN

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU LAY OUT YOUR WISH-LIST FOR THE PERFECT WIRELESS HEADPHONES? STRONG SOUND QUALITY IS, OF COURSE, A MUST. OTHERS ON MY LIST ARE SMALL, LIGHTWEIGHT, COMFORTABLE, A LONG BATTERY LIFE, SEAMLESS PAIRING AND EASY USE. Earin’s list must have been similar. of other factors such as easy pairing with The A-3 are not only small and lightweight devices and detecting when they’re placed in – they are, according to the company, the their charge case – factors that these earbuds smallest and lightest wireless earbuds on the also have. But what about charging? This is market! Created in Sweden, the A-3s are a the other source of inconvenience for me demonstration of efficient, precise European with wireless headphones (largely because I engineering, following a design for the never remember to charge them), but these earbud shape that I hadn’t even seen before buds are scoring way up there when it comes (and we review a lot of earbuds!) There are to battery life. Their five-hour playtime is no ear tips. Instead, this design – which is competitive, though some headphones offer Earin’s own, custom creation – has been more, but with the use of the charge case, ergonomically created to fit comfortably in this becomes 30. Any earbuds that can over your ear without needing them. It still slots 24 hours of solid playtime from one charge down into your ear slightly, which is what are instantly in my very good books! Even gives it its grip, and the lack of ear tips is better, the buds can reach their full charge honestly refreshing. My biggest issue with from the case in under 1.5 hours. earbuds is that I’m forever losing the tip This is all very well and good, but ends, including the spares, so this cuts that how do they sound? The A-3s are composed, problem out altogether. almost entirely, out 14.3mm speakers As for the fit, I’m usually quite fussy that kick out audio of a fantastic quality. I with whether earbuds are comfortable or not can’t believe how much sound comes out of (and sometimes, the left and right feel more such little earbuds! These dynamic driver comfortable for me in the opposite ears, for speakers have 20% more movement, which whatever reason), but these feel fantastic! means 20% more sound, and despite the I was worried that being as lightweight as lack of ear-plugging tips, they also provide they are, they’d feel prone to falling out, plenty of noise reduction through active but actually, it’s the opposite – there isn’t noise reduction algorithms. Phone call audio the weight to drop them out of your ear, also shows up clearly, using four inbuilt which leaves you feeling secure even when microphones (fewer than the six that some jogging. Another awesome detail is that models provide, but this is the cost of losing these earbuds don’t HAVE a left and right that stem. Even so, I didn’t notice any ear – instead, they can actually detect which marked difference in quality.) ear they’re put into, and play your audio Overall, these are really nifty little accordingly. This seems like a huge amount earbuds. With an IPX of 5.2, these can of work to go to in order to save us from a withstand sweat and grit – their light minor moment of inconvenience – nice one, weight and small design doesn’t make Earin! Currently, these are apparently the them delicate. What it does make them is only earbuds in the world that do this, but extremely comfortable and easy to wear, and I’m sure it will catch on. they’re equally easy to use. All in all, I was This lack of left and right adds to the impressed. increasing ease of earbuds, stacking on top

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£1

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189.99

earin.com PROS Smallest and lightest on the market Extremely comfortable Very secure Pair easily Detect whether they’re in the left or right

Detect carry case Auto turnoff after 5 minutes 30-hour playtime Custom 14.3 speakers Dynamic drivers IPX 5.2

CONS Fewer mics than some earbuds, but makes little difference

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THE MANDALORIAN: THE CHILD, FROM HASBRO I ENCOUNTER A LOT OF PRODUCTS IN MY WORK AT GADGET HEAD, BUT I NEVER EXPECTED TO FIND A SON. For those that don’t know, this toy posable but don’t move). Between his lifelike is based off of the popular character ‘The little face and his believable burbling and Child’/Grogu/’Baby Yoda’ from the Netflix yawning, I wouldn’t be shocked if I glanced Star Wars show, The Mandalorian. If you over and saw him shuffling along my desk or HAVE seen the show and you ever doubted picking up my cup of tea. how realistic it was that Din Djarin bonded So! What does the toy actually do? to The Child as hard and fast as he did, I dare When I first opened the box, I thought for a you to spend some time with this toy and while that he only had one animation – a sort put yourself to the test. In the space of an of blink and gurgle followed by his motion afternoon, this animatronic Grogu gained of ‘using the Force’. This was very cute two die-hard adoptive parents in our office, and impressive – because the animatronic and we’re now nearing a Jingle All The Way is mimicking a Jim Henson puppet, the stand-off as several of us want to take him movements are able to be extremely ‘lifelike’ home for Christmas, either for loved ones, to how we’re used to watching Grogu move! for ourselves, or because we’ve bonded with - but I started to get put out that he didn’t him by mistake. Mando understands – the have more variety. I was wrong: if the same same thing happened to him. thing happens to you, make sure to check his So, why is a little model Baby Yoda on/off switch at the back. It has a central Try so lovable? Two reasons: firstly, this toy has Me setting for being in stores, which had him been carefully and thoughtfully designed doing this one motion. Once I switched him to look almost identical to Grogu as he On, the full range of his behaviors unlocked. appeared in The Mandalorian, and secondly, He looks up and down, blinks, wiggles his he has a range of motions and sounds that ears, and if you cradle him in your arms, he hit you right in the ‘protect the cute baby’ falls asleep for a small snoring nap. I’m not instincts. These effects mingle motions and broody – you’re broody. As for sounds, he sounds in random combinations, resulting yawns, chirrups, burbles, blows raspberries in 25+ different combos, which keeps the (I found myself blowing raspberries toy feeling more organic and alive. I quickly back), and the fact that these sounds and ended up feeling like Mando myself, scooping movements randomise mean the illusion of the ever-present critter up and moving him life holds up better. I really can’t get over around my desk to new, out-of-the-way spots how well they’re done. as he gurgled to himself and waved my pens As well as this, I think the creators around (alright, granted, I had to put the have done a fantastic job of the toy’s visual pen in his hand and he didn’t really ‘wave’ design. Unlike many toys of this ilk, The Child it so much as hold it. The arms are slightly doesn’t shut his eyes when he’s turned off,

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which means you still feel like he’s keeping you company even when he isn’t using up battery. The details in the face rest in a very real, curious looking expression even when he’s static, and he looks softer and more life-like than he is. The real achievement, though, is his eyes – in both real life and when taking photographs of him, the way his eyes have been made avoid the lifeless, glassy doll stare and instead look very alive.

I honestly found myself getting caught in extended eye contact with him, and several people made fun of him for picking this toy up the same way careful yet perplexed way Mando would lift The Child.

I’m ashamed to say that I was even able to test what happens if you fumble The Child and drop him on his head on a hard surface. Good news – he still worked fine! That isn’t to guarantee that the toy is bombproof, but it was good to see that if it can survive clumsiness from me, it’s hardy enough to last a little while of being played with by kids.

The one change I would make to this toy is that I would give it a setting to sporadically begin to animate to itself whilst turned on and sitting down. As it is, you pat his head, and then he does four small bursts of animations with a little pause in between.

After a short time, this pattern gets very noticeable and undoes some of the sense of spontaneity created by the many movement combinations. However, for kids playing with this toy, it works perfectly, and it’s also

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far more eco-friendly to save energy: it’s just if you want it to keep causing mischief as he keeps you company on your desk, like he does in Mando’s shuttle, that you start to miss this feature. Another helpful feature might be volume control!

Overall, this is a really fun little toy that delivers what it promises. It’s stupidly cute and remarkably similar to the ‘real’ Grogu (he’s basically to scale, even!). His robe comes off if you need to clean it, and he has a plastic version of it underneath, so he’ll still look correct even whilst it goes through the laundry. For batteries, you need to unscrew the bottom of his feet to replace them, which makes him far more kid-safe that something that was easy to pop open. Just don’t let him near any Code of the Sith books like we did!

25+ sound and movement combos

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t

PROS: 25+ sound and movement combos Sound and movement combos randomise Looks extremely like the ‘real’ Grogu Expressive Movements feel very ‘Jim Henson’

Washable robe Kid-safe Insanely cute He’s my son now He’s a good boy Ok, I admit it, I am broody “You are a clan of two”

CONS: Having to trigger the animations interrupted my ‘Mando shuttle cockpit’ fantasies a little

Some volume control would be handy

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TWELVE SOUTH CURVE IF THERE’S ONE THING I LEARNT DURING LOCKDOWN, IT’S THAT WORKING ON A LAPTOP IS NOT COMFORTABLE OR HEALTHY LONG-TERM. NOT, THAT IS, WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING TO CHANGE ITS ANGLE. I WAS, AND STILL AM, APPALLED AT HOW MUCH SIMPLY TYPING ON A LAPTOP COULD RUIN MY SHOULDERS, NECK AND LOWER BACK: THE CORRECT SET-UP FOR YOUR WORK STATION IS ESSENTIAL NOT JUST FOR YOUR PEACE OF MIND, BUT VERY LITERALLY FOR YOUR HEALTH. NOW THAT I’VE LEARNT THE HARD WAY, I GREATLY APPRECIATE PRODUCTS LIKE THE CURVE LAPTOP STAND FROM TWELVE SOUTH. The Curve is a sleek, visually appealing worked at home for over 18 months. They laptop stand that’s available in either black or elevate your laptop to a healthier height, white; you can either go for the glossy, clean removing that strain from your neck and also ‘Apple Store’ look or live your best Death – in our new, video call led age – very usefully Star life. I appreciate that you can essentially moves your laptop’s camera to the right colour-match this stand to the body of your height for framing your face and simulating Mac or PC, and both pairings look great. eye contact. Finally, the height and angle is However, whilst the Curve is compatible also better for your wrists when typing and with any laptop that measures at least 10.2 should greatly reduce your slouching. inches wide and weighs up to 7 pounds, it is But what is the difference between a marketed heavily towards Apple users over $20 laptop stand and a $60 one? Aka, why PC users: the Twelve South website refers to the Curve? Well, the first answer is that it it as a ‘MacBook Stand’, and its marketing looks good: its design is simple yet aesthetic, begins: “You use the most attractive laptop keeping to a few sweeping minimal lines in the world, so why wouldn’t you pair it rather than feeling like a clunky addition to with the most beautiful stand?” your desk. Its matte finish means it could Bold of you to assume my laptop is look at home in any office, no matter how attractive, Twelve South; mine’s a dented, modern and well-designed, and all joking scratched HP Pavillion with a wallpaper from aside, it really does make your laptop look Dragon Age, but I appreciate the flattery. I better. might rewrite their approach for people like However, the real benefits are in the me: “You might not have the most beautiful details – different laptop stands are built laptop in the world, but why not reach for to different heights and angles, and the greater things by pairing it with the most engineering and design on the Curve has beautiful stand?” Are we even confident that been carried out carefully and well. It sits MacBooks ARE the most attractive laptops your laptop an ergonomic 6.5 inches off your out there? Have you seen the HP Spectre desk, at an angle that feels really comfortable x360 13? That thing can take me out to on the wrists and, if that’s not your thing, dinner. And, happily, it would look brilliant it leaves room for a proper keyboard. Other on the Curve. details of note include the no-slip silicone The virtues of using a laptop stand are grips on the bottom and arms, to keep both clear – or, they certainly are now that I’ve the stand and your laptop in place, and the

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$59.99

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fact that the Curve’s backless design means you can open and close your laptop lid without anything getting in the way of the hinge.

I had mixed feelings about the Curve being a fixed height. On the one hand, everyone is different, and the ability to adjust might allow people to set their laptop at the perfect level for their eye-height.

However, being one solid piece protects the Curve from wear and tear: it isn’t going to fall apart or stop working. It also keeps the laptop at an ergonomically recommended height, rather than leaving room for you to put it at the wrong setting.

All in all, this is a great stand: it does what you need and does it well, avoiding all the little pitfalls that might exist in less welldesigned stands. And, finally, it looks good doing it.

www.twelvesouth.com PROS Attractive, minimal design Ergonomic height Doesn’t jam your lid hinge No moving parts to break Stable but lightweight Grips

CONS I’m in two minds about only having one height

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PROVIZ EXPLORER RUNNING JACKET ANOTHER AMAZING REFLECTIVE JACKET FROM PROVIZ! WHAT AN INCREDIBLE PRODUCT: WHEN I FIRST LOOKED AT THE EXPLORER RUNNING JACKET, I THOUGHT “HOW ODD – IT’S FOR NIGHT RUNNING AND CYCLING, BUT IT’S ALL BLACK!” HOW WRONG I WAS. THE EXPLORER RUNNING JACKET IN BLACK IS COVERED IN A TEXTURED PATTERN THAT, IN DAYLIGHT, LOOKS LIKE MORE BLACK-ON-BLACK, BUT UNDER A BRIGHT, DIRECT LIGHT, THIS TEXTURE LIGHTS UP INTO A REFLECTIVE PURPLE AND GREEN SHEEN. THIS EFFECT IS EVEN CLEARER AT NIGHT – SO MUCH SO THAT THE EFFECT IS AWESOME AND SURREAL. When under a beam like headlights, equally, you could simply keep this in your this jacket illuminates along its sleeves and bag ready for those walks home: it scrunches hood, whilst the rest of the body remains up small, and is so light that it would be no black. This is stylish and creative, and a very trouble to carry with you in case it’s needed. cool, fun way to stay safe! The real bonus We see a number of jackets for running of this jacket is that by day, it’s a casual, or staring down the weather, and this isn’t lowkey looking garment, rather than the the most heavy-duty coat we’ve seen, and vivid dayglow of most reflective gear. This neither is it the most over-engineered piece makes it much more suitable for daytime of running gear. However, it nails what it wearing, and yet it transitions seamlessly sets out to do, which is to create a jacket into safe nighttime use. that’s versatile: it allows people to have a Apart from this key feature, what lowkey-looking weather resistant jacket by else does this particular jacket offer? Well, day and yet a highly reflective and safe one as you can tell from looking at it, it’s been by night, and it’s so easy to carry with you designed for all weathers: it’s windproof that you could stash it somewhere and never and water-resistant/showerproof (aka, be either put out nor caught out. it’ll keep you dry in the rain, but not if you Well done, Proviz – this is another go swimming!), with zips to protect the excellent jacket, proving yet again that they contents of your pockets and pull ties to are indeed professionals about visibility. prevent unpleasant weather infiltrating at your cuffs and hem. It’s also breathable and lightweight (20,000gm/24hr breathability, and only 150g weight), which is fantastic if you’re wearing it for a nighttime run. Or,

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Windproof

£99.99 www.provizsports.com PROS: Windproof Water resistant Showerproof Adjustable hems and cuffs

Extremely reflective by night Looks neutral and black by day Lightweight Breathable

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DDJ-200 DJ SMART CONTROLLER DJING IS ONE OF THOSE HOBBIES AND SKILLS THAT MANY PEOPLE AGREE WOULD BE AWESOME TO DO, AND YET IT SEEMS EXTREMELY DAUNTING TO DELVE INTO IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START. WHAT KIT DO YOU BUY? HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU SPEND? WHAT DO ALL THESE DIALS MEAN? THE DDJ-200 DJ SMART CONTROLLER FROM PIONEER DJ CLAIMS TO BE AN EASY-TO-USE, GATEWAY PIECE OF DJING GEAR DESIGNED TO GET NEWBIES ON THEIR FEET. SO, WE GAVE IT TO A NEWBIE (ME) TO TRY IT OUT. Fantastically, this DJing controller If you’re new to DJing, then the comes with a tutorial and hints on its chances are, you don’t have stores upon accompanying WeDJ app for Android stores of music files: in this day and age, or iPhone. As well as these, there are a everyone’s music is locked up in streaming number of other apps that the controller services. That’s not a problem – this is compatible with, including Djay, Edjing controller is able to mix music straight from Mix and Rekordbox. It’s important to note, iTunes, your rekordbox library, Beatport however, that only iPhone users get free LINK, SoundCloud Go+, Deezer, TIDAL and access to all of the WeDJ features with this Beatsource LINK (different selections of controller – Android users will have to pay these services as compatible depending on the in-app costs. This is quite a significant your device and app). distinction, as it’s these hints and tutorials Due to its portability, this controller that best give you the confidence to run with is smaller than those in the typical image of this controller and start creating, so make a DJ at work. However, this lightweight build sure you know the in-app costs and whether means you can take it to a party without it or not you will want these tutorials before being a massive undertaking, which is a you purchase. great quality in gear for a new hobby. Once As well as these tutorials, the you know you’re sticking with it, you can iPhone version of WeDJ also comes with worry about lugging around giant equipment, the Transition FX feature, which helps in but for now, this is all you need, and you’ll creating professional-sounding transitions probably be much more likely to take it with as a beginner. This is fantastic for your you and give DJing in public a go. confidence, helping you to truly experiment Even though it’s small and light, with DJing without needing to survive a vast this is a professional layout with all the learning curve before your results sound controls you need. You don’t even need to ready for the room. Of course, longer term, bring speakers – you can play your mixing you’ll want to expand beyond this feature, straight through your smartphone, tablet but for starting out, these eleven effect or computer’s output. You can even run styles and the easy-to-use crossfader let you the controller by external battery if you’re achieve some really encouraging, awesome- headed somewhere without a mains (field sounding effects from the get-go. party!)

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Pioneer DJ have done a fantastic job of scaling down a professional set-up into a portable, approachable piece of starter gear. It’s a shame that iPhones users have some benefits over Android users, but even so, this is a really great starting point for anyone wanting to mess around with some tracks. You get results quickly, which helps you to learn and gain the confidence to reach for the next level. This piece of kit will support that levelling up for a good while before you’d need to look elsewhere, too, making it great value for money.

www.pioneerdj.com PROS:

£158.98

Has all the foundational features covered High level of control and quality Lightweight Portable Simple transitions and effects to get you started

Accompanying app, including tutorials Can run from your regular devices. Doesn’t need its own speakers Battery-powered if there’s no mains

CONS: Android users must pay for some of the app features free to iPhone users

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Flex technology.

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Flexible.

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Explore the FlexTM range.

The first pumps you can adapt to fit your natural breast shape. medela.com/flex

AMAWRAP BABY SLING BABIES CAN BE SUCH A HANDFUL – LITERALLY! KEEPING YOUR BABY HELD CLOSE IS GOING TO SLOW YOU RIGHT DOWN, AND AS A YOUNG PARENT, THERE’S CONSTANTLY WAY TOO MUCH STUFF TO GET DONE. THERE ARE PLENTY OF PAPOOSE-STYLE PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET THAT AIM TO MAKE CARRYING YOUR CHILD EASY AND HANDS-FREE, BUT SOME OF THEM CAN BE A CUMBERSOME CHALLENGE THEMSELVES. THE KEY IS A PRODUCT THAT IS NOT ONLY COMFORTABLE TO WEAR IN AND OF ITSELF, BUT ALSO SUPPORTS AND HOLDS YOUR BABY IN A WAY THAT IS COMFORTABLE FOR BOTH OF YOU. THE AMAWRAP BABY SLING SEEMS TO HAVE IT PERFECTED. This baby wrap is 100% cotton, which I was thrilled to see so many colour and keeps it soft against your baby’s skin, as well pattern choices: you can pick an Amawrap as breathing and being light-weight. It can that suits your complexion as well as your support babies between 5lbs – 33lbs, which usual wardrobe palette. You can even buy means it’s suitable for newborns through to more than one! (In fact, I’d recommend toddlers. It’s ‘one size fits all’, which rarely this, so you can not only match them to your actually pans out to mean ‘all’, but it IS outfits, but also have spares for when one is extremely stretchy and was able to fit a wide in the wash!) These products are great for all range of body types in the office comfortably parents, whatever your genders – if there’s and securely. two of you, you might both want to get your So, why is it good for parents? It own. keeps your hands free, and it has been What I really loved about the designed ergonomically, looking out for your Amawrap was its versatility. It comes with back and hips in the way it wraps around you an instruction guide to show you how to set and distributes your child’s weight. It’s even it up in different ways, making it useful for gotten the thumbs-up from the International all kinds of parents. For example, you’re Hip Dysplasia Institute. And what about your even able to use one to carry twins! You can baby? It’s good for them because their limbs also use it to breast feed whilst remaining are safely contained, they’re held fast and covered up and keeping your baby held in the yet have room to wriggle and breathe, thanks right position for feeding. Whilst we wait for to the stretchy cotton, and it’s bonding for the world to catch up on being comfortable both them and you to have that extended, for mothers to breastfeed anywhere, this close contact. Research says that babies is a really handy tool for allowing you to who are often carried grow up feeling more breastfeed with confidence. confident and secure, and it’s both bonding All in all, this is a fantastic product. and soothing for them to be able to rest near It’s simple, colourful, comfortable, and cares your heartbeat. about both you and your baby. What more We received this sling wrap in mint could you want? green. This is an accessory as much as a tool, as the sling wraps around your person and affects your overall look. For this reason,

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Machine washable

PRO: Machine washable 100% natural cotton One size fits all Comfortable weight distribution Breastfeeding mode Back & lumbar support

Head support for your baby Great for both mums and dads Lots of colour options Keeps your hands free

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ADIDAS Z.N.E 01 ANC TRUE WIRELESS

THE ADIDAS Z.N.E. 01 ANC WIRELESS EARBUDS UTILISE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT ALL BEST EARBUDS FOR RUNNING, TRAVELLING AND CYCLING UTILISE: ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLING. IF YOU’RE USED TO READING UP ON EARBUDS, YOU KNOW WHAT ANC DOES; RATHER THAN BLOCKING OUT EXTERNAL SOUND WITH PHYSICAL MEASURES ALONE, ANC COUNTERACTS THE SOUNDWAVES THAT YOU RECEIVE, MAKING THE OPPOSITE VIBRATIONS SO THAT YOU EXPERIENCE NONE AT ALL. IT’S SORT OF LIKE MIXING ACID AND ALKALI TOGETHER – THEY CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT. Many earbuds that use ANC now also are both secure and comfortable – I had no feature an alternative mode that’s LESS fear of them falling out when jogging, so I silence-efficient, in order to keep you safe know I could trust them during a workout, when on the move! The Z.N.E 01s do this and they’re not going to distract me whilst as well, allowing you to switch between I’m in the gym with a so-so fit, either.

Active Noise Canceling mode and Awareness Why spend good money on the right shoes mode. Some earbuds have several degrees or the right gear, and not get the right ear of the ANC to Awareness spectrum, but I buds? These are lovely and sleek, keeping appreciate that the ZNE 01s keep it simple you streamlined, and they’re extremely – either, you want to block out sound, or you comfortable. Adidas describes them as fit for want to stay aware of your surroundings. ‘all-day wear’, and whilst I’m quite fussing ‘Awareness Mode’ doesn’t leave you high about earbuds and can’t leave them in for and dry, though – there is still a softening of that long, I must admit that these weren’t a sound, and you can still hear your audio with bother to have in at all. a crispness and depth. You’ll just also hear Disappointingly, considering that the relevant traffic as you cross the road! they are for ‘all day wear’, these earbuds If you want further options over don’t have the best battery life compared to your earbuds’ sound and setup, however, a lot of the models we review. I’ve become you can have them: the earbuds come accustomed to 6-8 hours from one charge, with an accompanying app that allows you with 20-30 hours total charge from the case: to customise your earbuds’ settings and in contrast, these have 4.5 hours of playtime balance, meaning you can fine-tune them to per full charge, with 15.5 hours total from meet your needs and get the sound you want the case. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it is out of your audio. at odds with this ‘all-day wear’ goal. There For me, after sound quality, the is an eco-charging mode that helps to extend most important thing about ear buds is the this battery life, but this is only half a win comfort. If they’re not comfortable, you’re when some earbuds have that extended life not going to opt to wear them – it’s as as a starting point. simple as that. This is even more important I think it’s fair to say that one of these in buds, as this fit is also what keeps them earbuds’ main selling points is their brand. secure. Fittingly, as they have been created They’re good earbuds in their own right, but by a sports brand, the Adidas Z.N.E. 01s let’s be honest - a degree of the price tag is for

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£169.95

the Adidas name. Adidas makes sure you get what you pay for in that regard, with their logo appearing clearly on the stems of the earbuds as well as on the front of the charge case itself. These are attractive buds, as one would expect from a brand like Adidas: like the non-ANC ZNEs, they feature a blackon-black or white-on-white shattered glass design on the case and buds – the black, in particular, looks awesome with the white Adidas logo against it. These buds are about looking the part as well as feeling the part, and deliver both.

As they’re designed for use during workouts, these ear buds have an IPX5 rating, meaning they are sweat-proof and water-resistant - an essential in any sporting bud. Their case is also hardy – I wouldn’t be worried if it got knocked or dropped whilst you’re running or throwing it into a locker. This, combined with intuitive soundblocking technology, makes them a great item to take to the gym with you.

Overall, these are very good earbuds.

Their sound quality, app-based editability, ANC technology, comfort, fit, look and IPX rating are all what you’d want. My only real critique is that battery time, but then again, the difference is made up by their Eco mode, leaving you with everything you could want from this product.

www.adidasheadphones.com PROS:

Effective ANC Comfortably, secure fit Edit earbud output on app Reliable connection Clear, deep, crisp sound Eco-charging mode Sweat-proof & water resistant Attractive

CONS

Not the best battery life

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ROBOVAC X8 SOME TIME AGO, WE RECEIVED THE EUFY ROBOVAC 30C, A DINKY LITTLE ROBOVAC THAT COULD ZIP AROUND YOUR FLOORS, CONTROLLED FROM YOUR PHONE. NOW, WE’RE TAKING A LOOK AT EUFY’S LATEST OFFERING – THE ROBOVAC X8. BIGGER, KITTED OUT AND UP TO DATE, WE TOOK THIS HOME CLEANER FOR A SPIN. The most notable change that eufy which means all the longer it can run itself have undertaken since the 30C is the power and be out of your mind. behind their RoboVacs’ suction. The X8’s Returning to navigation, it did a suction has doubled, thanks to eufy giving it brilliant job of avoiding obstacles. Given its double the turbines: each of the two turbines size, I was worried about whether it would generate up to 2000pa of suction, and this cope in my house, but it’s an extremely addition is extremely noticeable. The clean is clever little robot – you just need to help it far deeper and more reliable than I expected. to orient itself in its new environment the Unlike a handheld vacuum, you aren’t there first time (which is fair. We’ve all been the to apply extra pressure on stubborn bits of new person once). Using the app, you can carpet, so this extra suction is important and select which rooms in the house you want instantly noticeable. I actually trusted the it to clean, program in no-go zones, advise X8 to get some real cleaning done! routes etc. (all using maps it generates itself We have a dog and a cat, and the with AI.Map™ 2.0 Technology), and from X8 was even able to have a good crack at then on, it will remember this information. vacuuming up pet hair. Admittedly, this Using iPath™ Laser Navigation, it will side of things wasn’t perfect, but as any pet combine what you have told it with its own owner knows, truly getting down deep to get observations about the obstacles around the worst of the hair is a heavy-duty task. it, and it will learn the best paths through However, for a self-running vacuum, I was your rooms. amazed at how much hair it DID pull up: the These devices will never quite be as carpet looked markedly better than when efficient as a long, hard go at the carpets it began. with a handheld vacuum using several of Speaking of self-running, I was your nozzle head attachments, but who amazed at how many details had gone into the always has the time for that? If you don’t, X8 to maximise its efficiency in this regard. this is a fantastic alternative that works For example, whilst one’s mind might go to far more reliably than I expected, ready to navigation when thinking about designing a tackle pet hair and difficult bits of dirt, not product like this, one might not immediately just the easy dust. think about the issue of emptying it out.

Eufy has built the RoboVac X8 to tightly pack its dust, compressing what you suck up so tightly that it increases its volume usage by 127%. That means fewer trips to empty it,

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Two turbines for double the suction

uk.eufylife.com PROS

£449.99

Two turbines for double the suction Great against pet hair AI.Map™ 2.0 Technology scans and maps your house

iPath™ Laser Navigation Program via the app Needs emptying less

CONS Its size limits to access to some tight corners etc.

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WABOBA MOONSHINE IT’S BRIGHT, IT BOUNCES, IT’S OUT OF THIS WORLD – WE GOT SENT THE WABOBA MOONSHINE, AND WE’VE BEEN CAUSING HAVOC AROUND THE OFFICE WITH IT EVER SINCE! The Waboba MoonShine is nothing but with only a few seconds of burst at a complicated – it’s a bouncy ball, and it has time, you’ve got a long way to go before that some SERIOUS bounce. If you give it enough power runs out. on a whack, it’ll also light up and flash white, The MoonShine bounces extremely making it an awful lot of fun to throw around well on most surfaces. It’s affordable, it’s in a dark room. That light-up core does mean safe (or as safe as a bouncy ball can be if you it makes a heavier impact than a regular plan to hurl it at things), and it’s addictively bouncy ball – not enough to be worried about good fun! at all, but if it knocks into your head, you will definitely feel it.

Perhaps to aid its bounce, the MoonShine has many flat surfaces with crater-like dips in them, adding to its moonlike appearance. These flat sides also mean that even if you stand in the same spot and bounce the ball in the same way repeatedly, it’ll occasionally veer off in different directions, which just adds to the chaos and fun if you’re hurling it around.

The MoonShine is small, fitting easily in your hand. It’s rubbery and comfortable to catch, and it has 100+ hours of battery life, so that light should keep working for a long time! Once it dies, however, there’s no way to get into the ball and replace the battery,

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Extremely bouncy

£7.99

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www.amazon.co.uk PROS: Extremely bouncy 100 hour battery life

Soft impact (ish)

CONS: Can’t replace battery Can be a bit of a hard donk to the head

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PARLIAMENT WALLET

EKSTER ARE A WELL-ESTABLISHED BRAND IN WALLETS THAT ARE NOT ONLY HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE, BUT SMARTLY DESIGNED, INCLUDING MODERN FEATURES. WE RECEIVED THE PARLIAMENT WALLET IN CLASSIC BROWN. IT’S ALSO AVAILABLE IN NAPPA BLACK, ROMA COGNAC (A SORT OF TAN), JUNIPER GREEN, MERLOT RED OR STEEL BLUE. EVERY COLOUR OPTION IS GORGEOUS, INCLUDING THE CLASSICS, AND I WAS AN INSTANT FAN OF THE TRADITION, DARK BROWN LEATHER WE WERE SENT. You can immediately tell the quality tracker, which means if some well-meaning of this leather, both from its look and person has picked it up, it’ll be all the easier how it feels. Ekster says that its leather is to arrange a collection. Fantastically, this tanned under gold-rated environmental chip is solar powered, and three hours of protocols using ECCO Leather’s new DriTan™ charge will last it two-three months, so technology, which is as much about a limiting assuming your wallet is in regular use, it its production’s impact on the environment should never run out of power. as it is about achieving that high-quality end Even without the tracker, this is a result. fantastic wallet: it looks incredible, it feels On top of being a neat and compact just as good, it slips easily into even small design that fits easily in your hand, this pockets, and you’re able to store a deceptive wallet is extra tidy and extra appealing number of cards in it without bulking it up due to how it stores your cards. Rather or making a mess. Your cards are protected than layered pockets that fill up bulk and from scuffing, falling out or being peeped on hiding your appealing wallet with the less by others, and the way they’re fanned out appealing designs of various bank cards, the for you when you press the button release is Parliament Wallet holds all of your cards in a incredibly satisfying (and helpful). back section where none of them are visible My only minor issue with the wallet to the wider world. This not only looks was that, upon opening it, I found a series better, but is also safer, as they aren’t visible of small dusty white marks on the leather to others, and they’re held securely in a way surface. I was worried that something had that prevents them from falling out. Instead, happened to it, but I quickly found that these if you want a card, you simply press a butter easily brush off and don’t leave any lasting at the bottom of your wallet and they all pop effects on the leather in any way. The powder out, evenly and helpfully fanned. had come from the appealing-looking EksterTo boost the security of you wallet branded paper that the wallet came wrapped even higher, Ekster produces tracking in – a little fallout from the lettering. Whilst cards: this attaches to the inside sleeve of a small design flaw in this paper, there was the Parliament Wallet, and using Chipolo® no damage done to the wallet, so if you make Technology, will allow you to track the the same discovery, panic not. location of your wallet up to 60 miles.

Combined with the tracking chip, Whether you drop it, lose it or have it stolen, this is everything one could want in a wallet, it is unlikely that you and your wallet are and the range of colours really do mean going to end up out of range to each other there’s one for everyone. I’m a sucker for an before you’re able to find it or let someone attractive, classic leather accessory, so I’m know. You can even ring your wallet via the hoping the bosses let me hold on to this one.

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Fantastic quality of leather

arrow-alt-circle-right www.ekster.com PROS:

$89

Fantastic quality of leather Range of gorgeous colours Looks and feels great Compact. Fits in your hand and pockets.

Stores cards safetly Hides cards from view

Button-release fans cards out for you Has all the sections you could need Tracking chip shows on GPS up to 60 miles Can call your tracking chip

CONS: Some dusty fallout from its packing paper, but it brushes off without a trace

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SOUNDCORE LIBERTY 3 PRO WITH SO MANY WIRELESS EARBUDS ON THE MARKET, IT’S INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHICH ONES TO BUY. IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHOSE ADVICE TO LISTEN TO, LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW SOUND THE BEST: THE LIBERTY 3 PRO EARBUDS COME RECOMMENDED BY TWENTY GRAMMY WINNING AUDIO PRODUCERS! THIS LINE-UP INCLUDES NINE-TIME WINNER DARRELL THORP OF RADIOHEAD FAME, AND FIVE-TIME WINNER ALEX PASCO, WHO HAS WORKED WITH THE LIKES OF ADELE AND PAUL MCCARTNEY. We’re not quite as well-connected its noise cancellation appropriately, in or experienced in the audio mixing world as response to your actual ear. these twenty impressed reviewers, but even With all of this taken into account, so, we tried out the Liberty 3 Pro to throw you’re in the best possible position to then our hats in the ring and see how we felt the enjoy the quality of sound coming from its earbuds stacked up.

ACAA 2.0 coaxial dual drivers. The range When trying them out, the first thing of sound was fantastic: it wasn’t battling we noticed about the Liberty 3 Pros was against external sound, and I was instead the fit. These earbuds have been designed able to appreciate the wide, rich soundscape with built-in ear pressure relief, which I that these buds would kick out. The bass was really appreciated – I’m quite fussy about powerful, but not at the expense of the treble discomfort, and I tend to find earbuds or the detail in the mid-tones. Everything annoying to wear after a while, but you can sounded fantastic and transported you away. keep wearing these and they don’t grow The Liberty Pro 3s are available in uncomfortable. This is achieved by allowing black, white, ‘dusk purple’ or ‘fog grey’. air flow to continue through your ears despite These last two are lovely colour options – the ear buds’ close fit, thus avoiding a build- both quite light and with a very appealing up of ear pressure. quality. Their battery life provides eight This combines with the options in hours of play from a single charge, and you ear tip and ear wings, which you can swap can fully charge them three times from the in and out to find your perfect fit. The whole charge case before it needs recharging itself. of the earbud has been designed with care; The case is wireless charger compatible, so ergonomically designed, they aim to follow overall, it couldn’t be easier to keep these the shape of your ear at every curve and powered up. point.

Overall, we weren’t at all surprised This isn’t where these earbuds stop that the Liberty Pro 3 comes so highly thinking about your ear, either. I encountered recommended. They succeed in all the areas something with these buds that I’ve not seen that quality earbuds have led me to expect, before: personalized noise cancelling. Using as well as providing a few surprises that ‘HearID’, the Liberty Pro 3’s ANC analyzes surpassed expectation. your own ear and ear pressure, and it adjusts

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£139.99

Rich, varied sound

soundcore.com PROS: Rich, varied sound ANC responds to your actual ear Ergonomic fit

Good battery life Appealing mix of colour options

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TIMEFLIP 2 INTERACTIVE TIME TRACKER MY HOUSEMATE IS FOREVER FINDING NEW APPS AND GAMES FOR MOTIVATING HER TO WORK THROUGH HER TO DO LISTS AND TO HELP HER FOCUS. SHE WAS ALWAYS A CONNOISSEUR OF SUCH GAMES, AND IT WAS ONLY MORE RECENTLY THAT SHE GOT DIAGNOSED WITH ADHD, WHICH SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHY SHE’D FOUND THEM AS HELPFUL AND NECESSARY AS SHE HAD. Games, variety, reward systems and pretty much anything you could need to do randomisation can go a LONG way towards for your work-life, from admin to coding helping one trick the brain into focusing – and debugging to social media. It also has it’s true for many people, and twice as true leisure activities such as games, music and if you’re in my housemate’s shoes. Because all-important tea breaks. Just in case these of this journey she’s been on, when I was didn’t cover everything, it also comes with handed the Timeflip 2, I knew exactly why it pages and pages of blank stickers, and even was so useful, and I also had all the research handily includes a marker pen! To tell the she’d done into the phenomena ringing in my app which side is assigned to which task, ears. place a side face-down on the table, and then The Timeflip 2 is a giant d12 (That’s tell the app what it’s for. You can assign it a my D&D nerd showing. It’s a 12-sided colour, a tag, and if it’s a billable task, you die) with a smart component. The basic can even tell your app its pay rate, so it can premise is that you roll the dice, and then, calculate that for you. by programming the corresponding app to Timeflip 2s are sold individually or know which activity you have assigned to in multiple sets, so your work team can use each side, you can randomise and plan out them to track their tasks throughout the your day. Officially, the Timeflip is used by day. Whether you use this in the corporate setting the d12 to sit with the task you’re context it has been designed, or as a personal currently doing face-up, so you can keep a focus aid, its dual function makes this a running track of how you have divided your fantastic product. Its value is reflected in the time during the day, but additionally, you versatility, functionality and intuitiveness of can help yourself to focus by rolling the dice the app software, which allows every kind and doing whichever task it randomises for of individual or group monitoring function you. This adds an element of chance and play you would want. This is incredibly helpful if that gives your brain a kick of reward for you want an easy way of keeping a running whatever you land on, which cuts through track between which clients you did various that chemical reluctance to do it. tasks for throughout the day, or if, like my The Timeflip 2 comes with a massive housemate, you work best if your planning sticker-book full of versatile stickers for can depend on the roll of a dice.

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Track your tasks throughout the day

$69

timeflip.io

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HYPERX ALLOY ORIGINS 60

THE ALLOY ORIGINS 60 IS A MECHANICAL GAMING KEYBOARD FROM GAMING EQUIPMENT COMPANY HYPERX. THE COMPANY HAS A RANGE OF KEYBOARDS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR GAMERS, BUT WHAT SETS THE ALLOY ORIGINS 60 APART IS ITS PORTABILITY AND, AS HINTED BY ITS NAME, ITS SMALLER SIZE. The ‘60’ element of this keyboard’s type this review and it’s a far more enjoyable name comes from the fact that this keyboard process. is only 60% of the usual size. At first, I worried The Alloy Origin 60 has three different that this meant buttons would be smaller height angles, which my poor wrists really or cramped, but instead, what it means is appreciate. My regular keyboards, both at that HyperX has cut away of the keyboard’s home and in the office, sit flat – or, more top and sides, keeping the essential central accurately, their feet do so little that I keyboard and axing the rest in order to give couldn’t tell they had any until I checked! gamers a wider mouse-sweeping space. I’ve As you can tell from the images, this seen many gamers also express a desire for a keyboard lights up with an ever-transitioning neat, minimal gaming space in order to allow rainbow array of LEDs, and yes, they look them better focus and immersion, and this just as rich in real life as the photos suggest! keyboard opens up more of that space.

These lights made me feel as though I was To cut 40% of its size, HyperX had about to do something very dramatic and done away with this keyboard’s number pad, significant, which is extremely apt and direction keys, row of F keys and all other fun for competitive gaming – less apt, but buttons outside of the main keyboard. To rather thrilling none the less, for writing access the ‘missing’ buttons, one has to press this review. the function key, which is the same as a My only grievance with this keyboard regular-sized keyboard, so was intuitive and is that the function key is only present on easy to work out. It was certainly strange, the righthand side (to save space, no doubt), the first few times I wanted to press the which makes for awkward hand positioning direction arrows or any of the other ‘missing’ given that most of these secondary functions buttons, but once I worked out how, it took also lay on the righthand side. For example, no time to form new habits. The labels for the direction arrows are right next to the the secondary functions are extremely clear function key, whereas I would prefer to press and easy to read, and save space by placing this button with my left hand whilst using these labels on the buttons’ sides, rather them with my right. That said, this keyboard than having dead keyboard body space on was created specifically with gaming in which to write them above. mind, with the other buttons simply included At first, I struggled to type on the so that it is versatile and usable in all everykeyboard simply because it was slightly day situations. In a gaming context, I different to the one I was used to, as any wouldn’t be using these keys – for example, new keyboard is, but after no more than a for directions, I’d be pressing W, S, A & D. couple of minutes, I was flying over it with So, it really is a minor complaint. far more speed and ease. I’m using it to As for the buttons themselves,

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they make a satisfying ‘clack’ sound (I believe in the keyboard enthusiast world, this is known as the keyboard’s ‘tok’?) whilst also feeling soft-press. This is thanks to the HyperX linear red switches. They respond quickly, great for both gaming and for fast typing, and unlike shallow keyboards, you’re never in any doubt that you struck the key. It really is easy to type on – rather than fighting slow keys, you’re away at speed.

The keyboard comes with an alternative design for its spacebar and escape button: the alternate escape bears the HyperX logo and the spacebar bears a swirling, psychedelic pattern that shows off the rainbow LEDs to fuller effect.

I tried the spacebar both ways and found I preferred the simpler design, as the lights already speak for themselves, but the option is a very cool touch that could go well with people’s gamer setups. To take this customisation even further, using HyperX NGENUITY software, you can even create your own light profiles!

Overall, I didn’t know what to expect from this keyboard, but it’s fantastic, as well as a lot of fun to look at.

I’ll be very sad if I ever have to switch back to my old keyboard!

PROS: Saves desk space More room for mouse movement Easily portable Fantastic to type on Fun lights USB connection Three angle heights Durable material

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£299

KANO PC WE’VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF REVIEWING SEVERAL PRODUCTS FROM KANO IN THE PAST – HEADPHONES, A MOUSE, A WEBCAM, A KEYBOARD...BASICALLY, EVERY ACCESSORY A COMPUTER NEEDS. NOW, AT LAST, WE’VE TRIED THE COMPUTER ITSELF. Make no mistake: this is not a screwing together their own computer, and gimmicky toy, but a fully functioning the sense of ownership and empowerment touchscreen PC laptop! Running with that ‘I made this’ emotion brings.

Windows 10, this laptop has 4GB of RAM, The STEM learning (science, 64 GB eMMC of storage, and uses an Intel® technology, engineering & mathematics) Celeron® N4000 Processor. It’s no gaming doesn’t stop there, though. As well as computer, but those are still good stats! It empowering your child in the direction of has a battery life of 8 hours. It’s better than creating computer hardware, Kano has any computer I ever used as a kid – frankly, built a detailed online workshop that boots it’s better than my laptop was during with the PC that teaches your child coding university. Already, that’s insane value for through a series of games. money, but there’s more.

Now, there are a lot of coding toys Every Kano product looks colourful and games on the market, but Kano aren’t and inviting, and has been designed to messing around. This isn’t simply telling a display some of how it works: for example, robotic dog to turn left, right and sit down: the Kano Mouse and Keyboard have clear this is CODING. I sat and playing some of plastic backs or sides that display their the games myself, and I could feel the fans internal wiring, and the Kano PC is the same. in my brain starting to pick up speed. My For all of these products, there’s another housemate is forever coding (she makes learning opportunity, too: they’re buildable. indie video games from our joint home office) This sounds like a much bigger task and I look at what she’s working on like it’s than it is. One of our adult reviewers was extremely logical nonsense. However, as I able to construct a Kano PC on their own in played through these games, I started to gain just three minutes. Of course, building them a better understanding for what she does all with a child takes longer, and that’s how it day – it taught me not only the basics of the should be. The Kano PC came in a few straight ‘If X, they Y’ thought process, but visualised forward pieces – there was no soldering or them as puzzle pieces that could be built up wiring, no big mess or any way for the build together in different ways, colour coded into to be dangerous. The core elements of the functions. It made it extremely accessible, PC’s gubbins plug in via USB and jack ports, and even better, there are guided tutorials, but it serves as a fantastic introduction to games and challenges to show you what the idea of computers being made out of these different ‘blocks’ do. Next thing you many parts, and this being buildable and know, you’re absorbing what they mean and modifiable. It also gives your kid the joy of how they work! Once you’re at that stage, it’s

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time to play with the sandbox mode, where you could program an animation, drawing or whatever function you felt like (within limits, of course.

There are a huge number of games to work through, and all have a recorded video guide talking you through it. As Halloween’s coming up, I had a go at building the Haunted House animation, and I think my brain grew three sizes in the process.

As well as all of this coding content, the computer is ever set up to teach kids how it works – a screen pops up when the computer is booted that takes you to a Kano-made series of windows that explain every area of what makes a computer run, again in colourful, kid-friendly ways. Lastly, because this has been made for kids, it’s been made to be safe – for example, your child can’t get onto Kano’s online workshops without you giving permission via email, and there are child safety measures integrated into what they can and can’t visit online.

All in all, this is an insanely good product. I’ve seen comments online of young teens saying they want a Kano laptop because of its enviable stats-toprice ratio! You get that and a lot more, and it teaches fantastic lessons for your kids. Frankly, I think I could benefit from playing more of the games myself!

kano.me PROS: Touchscreen Screen detaches into tablet Windows 10 Intel® Celeron® N4000 Processor RAM: 4 GB / Storage: 64 GB eMMC 8 hours battery life Child-friendly Buildable Instructions with pictures Teaches kids coding Teaches about computers

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HYPNOLIGHT, HYPNOSQUARE AND HYPNOCUBE hypnocube.com

The Hypnocube company has taken programmable RGB LEDs to trippy new heights, utilising the technology to allow you to customise a variety of awesome lightshows in 1D, 2D and 3D! (Well, technically everything is 3D, but let’s not

get scientific here) We had a look at the HypnoLight, HypnoSquare and Hypnocube to see the different ways these light shows can be taken home and enjoyed.

HypnoLight2 $60

The simplest and most versatile of Hypnocube’s offerings, the HynoLight2 is a 12-foot long indoor/outdoor string of fairylights baring 50 RBG LEDs. What sets these apart from a regular string of fairy lights is you can program which colours you want, and how. You can simply select one colour, of any brightness and hue, or you can select up to four in combination. This makes these lights incredibly versatile and re-usable: they can fit the colour scheme and mood of any room or party, and they can be used thematically for every kind of holiday!

Christmas time? Try red, green and white.

Halloween? Orange, purple and green. 4th of July or St Patrick’s Day – well, you can figure those out pretty easily! The lights are even capable of doing pastels, for Easter or any other time that you might want softer colours than the standard LED blare. In fact, each bulb can, thanks to their broad spectrum, displaying 16 million individual colours – you can set them to the exact shade you want.

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On top of setting the colours, you can also select what pattern you would like these lights to display in. This is more than the few standard fairylight flash settings: these lights have 30+ patterns through which the colours to show and morph with extremely smooth transitions, and you can even adjust the brightness and speed. Within the patterns you select, there are randomised elements that keep your display fresh and organic to look at for an extended period – no wonder it’s hypnotic!

Incredibly – and, for me, this was possibly the most impressive fact about these lights – they can sync with other HypnoLight units, and the patterns will connect up end to end, meaning that you can use multiple sets to decorate a large area (like outside your house) and you will get one consistent pattern occurring throughout.

This is possible for up to ten units. It goes without saying that these lights are made to be safe in the rain, covered in a reassuringly hardy-looking plastic casing.

It feels like I’m nowhere near finished with describing all of their feature (for example, you can disable certain pattern options if you absolutely hate them, and the unit’s memory will allow you to select between two pre-sets.) My one issue is that you control the light colours and rhythms with a remote control that initially looks a little daunting, just from sheer number of options, whereas an app might have been a more user-friendly experience. Then again, with so many devices ladening us down with apps, having a remote is refreshing and makes the lights more accessible to those without smartphones.

PROS:

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CONS:

Indoor/outdoor Sync together for up to 10 units 16 million colour options Select from 1-4 colours Select patterns and transitions Smooth transitions Randomises cycle within pattern Can set speed and brightness Versatile festive decoration

Would be easier to control the settings via an app

HypnoSquare $100

Essentially a framed version of the HypnoLight or HypnoCube, the HypnoSquare uses the same technology to produce a decorative goodie that can sit easily anywhere in your home. I can see these being great in shops, parties, as accessories whilst DJing, or even as fun day-to-day décor. I’d have loved one of these in my room when I was a teenager, and it would be amazing for a gaming room, for example.

The general logic of the HypnoSquare is the same as the HypnoLights:

programmable colours and transitions, with a huge variety of patterns. As with the HypnoLights, you can select which pattern style you would like, as well as selecting from over ten transition effects and picking speed and brightness: then, within these selections, the HypnoSquare will randomise so that you’re never watching a static, repeating cycle.

Reading through the stats and info for the HypnoSquare, I was struck by how much coding seems to have gone

in to making this much custimisation and randomisation possible. Luckily, you don’t need to worry about that – the user interface is easy to control with three buttons at the back that cycle through your options, and you can make more complex changes by connecting it to a computer by USB. The states of these options are different to the HynoLights: for example, you have 50+ distinct patterns rather than 30+, with 10+ distinct transitions. It can display over 6500 frames per second, which makes its colour transitions so smooth, and has some basic internal memory that prevents it from repeating the same cycle after you even after you power it off and on again.

The HypnoSquare still has a wide range of colours, though not as broad as the HypnoLight. In its standing frame, it makes a fun and unique decoration. I would have liked either a remote or an app to make its settings controllable remotely, so it doesn’t need to be interrupted to be altered, but apart from that, this is a really fun and easy to use product.

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PROS: Selectable colours, brightness, speed Select patterns and transitions Can program exact shapes and images (trickier, but possible) Randomises cycle within pattern Smooth and engaging to watch Fun house decoration

CONS: Colour range not as near-infinite as the HynoLights Options would be easier to set with a remote or app

HypnoCube 4Cube $120

Where it all began, the HypnoCube 4Cube is the company’s first product, and it remains their most popular. There is also an 8Cube, which is double the size, but the 4Cube is the perfect scale for sitting on your desk as a curious and always-engaging source of light and decoration.

The first thing I noticed about the 4Cube was that, whilst the lights inside do indeed form a cube network, the plastic casing around them doesn’t. I’m the sort of person who finds that distracting, but in actuality, when you’re using the 4Cube, that protective outer casing isn’t what you’re looking at – it’s the lights inside.

The HypnoCube lights carry the same basic stats as the HypnoSquare, but now

stand in a 3D cube formation. Like the Square, they don’t quite have the HypnoLight’s incredible range, and unlike both products, the exact colours aren’t selectable in the same way: instead, you simply cycle through the available 51 visualisations and 10+ transition effects, select what you like, and set it going. In many ways, that’s all you need from the HypnoCube – it’s so visually stunning in its own right that I don’t want to micromanage it too much – I just want to select the vibe I fancy and set it going.

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PROS: Unique lamp/piece of décor Smooth transitions and engaging patterns

Set patterns, brightness, speed

CONS: Not as customisable as the other two

Overall, Hypnocube has produced a fantastic range of trippy products to keep us lumophiles entranced. Each product has its highlights – it’s a matter of what works best for you and your light-tripping needs!

TERMS & CONDITIONS At Gadget Head, our aim is to give our readers the most honest reviews we can. We also seek to provide all manufacturers with an equal opportunity to promote their goods: in fact, we are incredibly proud that startup companies have just as much of a chance to feature in our magazine as established brands do.

How do we ensure all of this? Our policy is simple: we do not offer sponsored reviews. Instead, if you send us goods to review, we reserve to right to keep and sell these on. By funding our magazine in this way, we can guarantee that we are not publishing paid-for opinions or prioritizing larger companies, and there are no hidden fees to having your product reviewed and featured.

We don’t guarantee 5-star reviews, but we do guarantee an honest one!

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EXPLORE. ENJOY.

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