Gadgethead Autumn 2023

UK

£4.95

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CONTENTS

TOYS&GAMES HOUSEHOLD OUTDOORS GADGETS AUDIO HEALTH&BEAUTY GAMING PHOTOGRAPHY VEHICLES Top It Board Game • Tension Travel Edition • Taskmaster The Secret Series Game • Noobs in Space • LEGO Marvel Baby Rocket’s Ship Building Toy • Kikkerland Movies Trivia Game • Ginger Fox Special Edition Catchphrase Card Game • GEOMAG Mechanics Motion Flywheels • Fast Track: The Speed Reaction Card Game • Escape the Dark Castle • Kikkerland Golf in a Tin • Build Your Own: Periscope • Casio SA-50 Mini Keyboard • Kikkerland Retro Mini Game Drive • The Thames and Kosmos Science Advent Calendar • GEOMAG Supercolour 60pcs

ZeroWater 12 Cup/2.8L Ready-Read Jug • TOWER Vortx 6L Colour Air Fryer • SCOTT Milkissimo 4-in-1 Hot and Cold Milk Frother • Munchy Seeds • Hug My Cat Pet Food Taster Box • HeatsBox Go and Inner Dish Set

Montane Men’s Spirit Waterproof Jacket • Kids Electric Quad Bike 6V

Twelve South Curve SE Laptop Stand • TimeFlip2 • STM Goods MagPod • STM Goods MagLoop • Kikkerland Zecar Flywheel Car • Kikkerland Undated Weekly Planner £15.00 • Kikkerland Money Tree • Kikkerland Fiets Bike Key Ring and Bottle Opener • Kikkerland Felt Pouch • Kikkerland Divider Notebook with Ruler • Kikkerland Acrobat Balancing Pen • Divoom Times Gate Pixel Art Informative Display • Divoom Sling Bag Pixel Art LED Daypack Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds True Wireless Earbuds • Skullcandy Rail ANC True Wireless Earbuds • Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1BT-K • JOBY Wavo POD • Wavo Boom Arm • Edifier W320TN True Wireless Noise Cancellation Earbuds • Edifier TWS1 Pro 2 True Wireless Earbuds • QuietOn 3.1 Sleep Earbuds Meta Quest 2

Studio Creator 360° Video Maker Kit • HUE HD Pro Camera and HUE HD Pro Hard Carry Case Cardo Systems Packtalk EDGE

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TOYS& TOP IT GAMES https://bit.ly/46R8jUY£30.00

BOARD GAME

WHEN ALL THE FAMILY IS AROUND AT CHRISTMAS, YOU’RE OFTEN WANTING TO PLAY A FUN GAME THAT GETS EVERYONE INVOLVED, AND CHEATWELL’S TOP IT IS THE FAST-THINKING FAMILY GAME THAT WILL HAVE EVERYONE DOING JUST THAT. TOP IT IS A SUPER FUN BUT CHAOTIC GAME WHICH LINKS TOPICS AND LETTERS TOGETHER, IN THE HOPE OF REACHING 50 POINTS BEFORE THE OTHER PLAYERS. Included in the box are 70 topic cards, 60 cones in 6 different team colours, 18 letter discs, a 60-second sand time, a scoring pad, a pencil, and the rules of the game. The game is simple; a topic card is revealed along with 9 letter cards, and all you have to do is find something related to that topic which begins with one of the 9 letters in front of you. When you think of something, you shout it out and then place a cone on that letter. For example, if you are given ‘Pizza Toppings’ as a topic and there is an ‘M’ amongst the letters one player could shout out ‘Mozzarella’ and place their cone on the letter. However, the cones can be stacked, so if a player then shouts ‘Mushroom’ they can place a cone of their colour on top, and it is only the final colour cone on top which wins the point!

I played this with some friends on our weekly board game night and it was very fun – and super competitive! The chaos of everyone shouting words and slamming down cones to beat each other before the timer ran out was hilarious. Our game did cause a few entertaining debates concerning whether answers were correct, but after some hilarious discussions to justify choices, we had a great time.

The game’s concept is simple and easy to follow making it a great choice for all the family. Top It is a perfect choice for family gatherings as you can compete as 6 different teams. Therefore, this would make a great addition to any board game lover in your life, but I also think gifting this as a joint/family present this festive season is a great idea to get everyone playing.

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PROS: - Easy to follow and get the hang of - Large range of topic cards - Accessible game for all the family

TOYS& GAMES

6

£12.99

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cheatwell-Games-Travel-Tension/dp/B07MLJPM8D

TENSION TRAVEL EDITION

WITH ALL THE FUN OF THE REGULAR-SIZED TENSION BOARD GAME, THE TENSION TRAVEL EDITION MAKES THIS POPULAR GAME PORTABLE FOR PLAYING ON THE GO. THE TRAVEL EDITION HAS ALL THE BEST PARTS OF THE GAME KEPT SECURELY IN A CASE THAT HOLDS THE TIMER, CARDS, AND POINT COUNTERS. THE BEST PART OF THE CASE IS THAT THE CARDS ARE EASILY DISPENSED THROUGH THE CASE AND CAN THEN BE SAT ON THE FRONT NEXT TO THE BUTTON POPPERS FOR EASY SCORING. For anyone who doesn’t know how tension works, you are given a topic such as ‘Yellow Flowers’ for which there are 10 answers on the card. Players must compete shouting out as many as they can to match the card before the timer runs out. To play the opposing team holds the card and pops in the correctly identified answers using the silicone button popper on the sides of the case. Then the roles reverse, and the next team gets a different topic card and has to begin calling out possible answers. Each round is timed using the included sand time, and after each round whichever team gets the most correct answers gets the point.

I loved the portability of the game as everything you need snaps carefully inside and can then be thrown in your bag to bring out at any moment. I played this with some friends at a picnic and it was the perfect game. It is easy to get involved in and always brings out the competitive side in people. Although it is baffling when you can’t get the last answer on the card, and when you finally see the answer, it is so obvious!

If you are a fan of Tension, or are just looking for a great portable game to bring with you on the go, this is a perfect choice. The case is innovatively made to include everything you need and make playing all the more fun!

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PROS: - Travel-style case for easy play on the go - Useful scoring system with button poppers -- Great for all the family

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£21.24

https://www.gingerfox.co.uk/products/taskmaster-the-secret-series-game

TOYS& GAMES TASKMASTER THE SECRET SERIES GAME

ARE YOU A FAN OF THE TASKMASTER TV SERIES IN WHICH GREG DAVIES’ WORD IS FINAL? THEN YOU’LL LOVE TO STEP INTO THE TASKMASTER WORLD AND COMPETE IN TASKS, AND MAYBE EVEN OCCASIONALLY RULE AS THE TASKMASTER. Throughout the game, you work to complete challenges in the best and most favourable way for the Taskmaster in the hope that you gain the most points and win the episode. I sat down to play the Taskmaster game with some friends and had the best time manoeuvring through the 10 episodes.

To set up the game, you need to pop out and assemble all card pieces into the correct box ready for the various rounds.

Each person must first produce a random prize, often something silly that you could find in your bag which will be the winning prize for the person with the most points at the end of the game.

The prizes are ranked 1-5, and these scores are written on your player marker as your starting score. Your score across the 10 episodes is tracked on your player marker. One person then takes charge of being the taskmaster for the first episode and opens and reads aloud the task on the first envelope. Players complete each episode envelope and receive points between 1 and 5 based on the Taskmaster’s judgement of how well they did – and remember the Taskmaster’s word is final!

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Over the course of the episodes, my friends and I took turns being the Taskmaster until the final round where everyone played. In this round, you gain points based on where you place in completing the task. Then the person with the most points overall can reveal the final black special envelope and follow the instructions inside – although, I won’t spoil the envelope’s contents for you now!

Overall, if you’re a fan of the Taskmaster series, you will absolutely love this game. Tasks, much like the series, range from competitive to completely silly, and it is fun to watch how each player chooses to complete the tasks. We did have some hilarious debates of people stating why their attempts were the best. If you are looking to play a fun game with friends or family this festive season, then this is a great choice for you!

PROS: - Enclosed envelope tasks for added immersion - Tasks are fun and easy to complete - Only takes an hour or so to complete the whole game

CONS: - Once played everyone knows the upcoming tasks so hard to replay with the same group with the same level of enjoyment

£15

https://www.thamesandkosmos.co.uk/product/noobs-in-space/

TOYS& GAMES

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NOOBS IN SPACE ARE YOU READY TO TAKE ON A MISSION IN SPACE? YOU DON’T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT BEING AN ASTRONAUT? DON’T WORRY NOOBS IN SPACE IS PERFECT FOR YOU, AS YOU ARE TAKING ON THE ROLE OF A NEWBIE ASTRONAUT AND MUST WORK AS A TEAM TO COMPLETE A RANGE OF MISSIONS. NOOBS IN SPACE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER BOARD GAMES AS IT DOES NOT HAVE A RULE BOOK PER SE – INSTEAD, YOU WORK THROUGH EACH LEVEL OF THE MISSION WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THE MISSION LEFT LARGELY ON A NEED-TO-KNOW BASIS. Playing Noobs in Space was a super fun experience!

I opened the box and straight away my group of friends were thrown into the mission. You first are given a short narrative that welcomes you into the world of Noobs in Space and then must work your way through a tutorial level to get the hang of how the game works. This is where the teamwork aspect of the game takes shape – each player is given cards which collectively can be used to work out the current task. However, the catch of Noobs in Space is that you can’t show each other your cards, you have to solve each puzzle simply through communication. This can be through describing what your card shows, or outlining what the task on your card requires you to do.

Each level is timed, and you have to work together to solve each task as fast as possible. Once you think you have solved each task you stop the timer and return to the ‘rulebook’ for that level to see how successful you were. As we worked through each level, we started to get the hang of the best way to communicate to make sure that we had the best chance of solving each puzzle as fast as we could. Whilst this led to some very silly debates as we tried to figure out how cards fitted together, we were cheering when we flipped through the rulebook and saw we were correct.

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We made it to the end successfully, after only a few time penalties and had collected plenty of stars. It’s a game I’d love to replay again with other friends, however, once you have played the puzzles once you may remember which ones need to go together. Although, as each player has to communicate what they have effectively this isn’t always an easy feat, so replaying is possible with other groups.

Overall, if you are looking for a fun game to play with some friends that requires crucial teamwork but with puzzles that thankfully aren’t impossibly hard to complete this is the one for you. The game is recommended for 2-5 players and for ages 10 and up so it is accessible but makes a fun game for all the family. This would make a great gift for a lover of puzzle games who is looking for a fun, space-focused game which will have a group of friends simultaneously laughing and bickering!

PROS: - Great story-narrative style game - Puzzle games focused on good communication - Well designed

CONS: - Need to use your own timer, as one is not included

TOYS& GAMES LEGO MARVEL

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https://bit.ly/3tSERzw

£29.99

BABY ROCKET’S SHIP BUILDING TOY

IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE FINAL INSTALMENT OF MARVEL STUDIO’S GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY TRILOGY, YOU WILL BE VERY FAMILIAR WITH ROCKET, THE LOVABLE BUT SARCASTIC RACOON WITH WHOM VOLUME 3 FOCUSES. ASIDE FROM ALL THE IMPRESSIVE FIGHT SCENES, THE HEARTBREAKING BACK STORY OF ROCKET IS SURE TO BRING A TEAR TO ANYONE’S EYE, AND A THANKFUL BIG SMILE WHEN HE FINALLY ESCAPES FROM HIS CREATORS IN HIS ROCKET SHIP. THEREFORE, LEGO HAS INTRODUCED THE BUILDING SET OF THE EXACT ROCKET SHIP BABY ROCKET ESCAPES IN - AND I COULDN’T WAIT TO START PUTTING IT TOGETHER! In the box are three bags of Lego, usefully divided into the stages of the build so you are not overwhelmed with pieces but still get the joy of finding and putting the next step together.

There are 330 pieces in total, with every piece given an instruction on exactly where to add it. We even get two figures in the set of Adult Rocket and a Baby Rocket mini figure, which once constructed fit into the cockpit of the spaceship. Also, when constructed the spaceship’s cockpit can be opened, and it has adjustable landing gear and two LEGO stud shooters. LEGO sets are always well constructed and made with their iconic brightly coloured pieces, and this set does not disappoint – the final built ship is striking with its familiar yellow outside as we have seen in the film. I was impressed by the LEGO stud shooters, giving an additional functional feature to the model for even greater playtime.

The models are designed to provide two activities for children, first in the ship’s construction which can take a few hours but includes clearly set-out instructions making it easy to follow, and second in open-play time with your final constructed model. LEGO sets are a great way to give children a functional task to complete and keep them away from the screen. Then, with

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the added layer of it being Guardians of the Galaxy themed kids will be excited to build it as soon as possible! I think the added figures are a great touch for children, as the role-play element with the ship and figures means kids can act out the iconic escape scenes from the film and take the characters on even more adventures.

However, if you’re anything like me, playing with LEGO sets is not my personal goal, instead, I am more of a collector of the models which sit happily together on my shelf. Baby Rocket’s Ship made a lovely addition to my collection as a unique model from an iconic, but largely tear-jerking film.

If you or your children are a lover of Marvel, and especially the Guardians

of the Galaxy films, this set is a perfect gift. Easy constructed, well designed and looks great, with hours of playtime or a pretty addition to your shelf – what more could you want?

Available here from GAME: https://bit.ly/3tSERzw

TOYS& GAMES €7.00

https://kikkerlandeu.com/products/movies-trivia-game

KIKKERLAND MOVIES TRIVIA GAME

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THINK YOU KNOW MOVIES? THINK YOU CAN BEAT YOUR FRIENDS IN A LITTLE TRIVIA GAME? THE KIKKERLAND MOVIE TRIVIA GAME IS THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR YOU! This little pack of 50 cards will bring so much fun and competition to any gathering. Included are a range of questions across the history of cinema, all the way up to the most recent of Disney films in 2020. The questions are sure to trigger memories and leave you desperately trying to remember the name of the high school in Grease or who voiced the character of Woody in Toy Story.

I was impressed by the scope of the questions with some that I’d never heard of perfect for my parents, and then a range of questions on family favourite movies to ensure that everyone across the family can be included. I tested the questions out in a little trivia contest across the office which resulted in many competitive arguments and the crowning of a movie trivia champion.

The cards come in a little metal tin perfect for popping in your bag and bringing out at a pub or over a coffee with friends to test their movie knowledge or settle any bets. The multiple choice of each question is great if you don’t remember the film as you can take a guess, however, if you want to make it even harder you can read the questions with no multiple choices to really put your friends to the test! This is a great little game, and its compact form makes it great to take with you on the go for fun movie trivia games.

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PROS: - Portable metal case - Multiple-choice questions - Questions span a range of years making it easy for everyone in the family to play

CONS: - After a few rounds you begin to run out of cards with only 50 in the deck – so cannot be replayed multiple times with the same group as everyone will already know the answers!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ginger-Fox-Special-Official-Catchphrase/dp/B0B77MX4S4/

£12.99

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TOYS& GINGERGAMES FOX SPECIAL EDITION CATCHPHRASE CARD GAME

THE FAMED “SAY WHAT YOU SEE” GAME SHOW IS NOW AVAILABLE IN A CARD GAME FORMAT PERFECT FOR BRINGING OUT AT FAMILY GATHERINGS. IN THE BOX ARE 123 PLAYING CARDS PERFECT FOR THREE OR MORE PLAYERS TO COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER TO GUESS THE ICONIC CATCHPHRASES. The box comes with two sets of cards; the first set is the regular catchphrase cards with an image on each side and the answer to the reverse on the bottom of each one. The second set of cards is separated with a silver border, compared to the blue border of the regular cards, and are for use in the bonus rounds. The cards show the usual cartoon style of the popular game show.

To play the game, the deck of regular catchphrase cards are placed in the middle with the buzzer card placed next to it.

When the first card is revealed the first person to tap the buzzer card and call out the correct answer wins and gains 100 points.

However, if you give the incorrect answer, you are frozen out of the game for that card. Once the correct answer is given, the next card is revealed, and everyone can again guess the catchphrase.

Once you have played 6 cards, the person with the fewest points becomes the host and the bonus catchphrase cards are used.

The bonus rounds work very similarly to the previous ones, but now each card is worth 200 points. A bonus card catchphrase is revealed, and again, the first person to guess the correct answer wins the points. However, this is where this edition of the game gets special as on the back of every bonus catchphrase card is a QR code to access an animated catchphrase card online – but this is only for the player who correctly identified the catchphrase of the bonus card. Much like the TV show, you tap away the squares to reveal the card to guess the catchphrase. If you are correct, you win 500 points, but if you’re wrong you return to regular

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play and end round one. The game is fun as you can choose how many rounds you want to play to suit how long you have free to play.

If you don’t have access to the internet for the QR codes, the bonus rounds can still be played using the reveal sleeve. To play this way the lowest-scoring player in the first part of the game places a bonus card into the sleeve and slowly reveals the card’s catchphrase image to the bonus pointplaying player and they guess like above for the chance to win 500 points.

Therefore, this game is great to take on car journeys or on flights where you may not always have service as you can still make the most of the bonus rounds without the online aspects.

I sat down to play catchphrase with my family, and it was great. We all remember playing along with the iconic game show on TV, so now getting

the chance to see how we’d actually fair was very fun. We played using the online QR codes which added a really nice immersive touch to the game. If you are a fan of the Catchphrase game, then this card game from Ginger Fox is perfect for you. It makes a great game to throw in a bag and bring around with you for endless catchphrase fun on the go.

PROS: - 123 playing cards for plenty of catchphrases to guess - Online QR codes for animated bonus round cards - Adjustable gameplay time frame depending on how many rounds you choose to play

£22

https://bit.ly/40is3hY

GEOMAG MECHANICS MOTION FLYWHEELS

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TOYS& GAMES

THE GEOMAG MECHANICS RANGE HAS REPRODUCED THE FAMOUS BALL BEARING INVENTED BY LEONARDO DA VINCI AND CREATED A NEW ORIGINAL LINE OF MAGNETIC CONSTRUCTIONS. THE SET ALLOWS CHILDREN TO EXPLORE THE LAWS OF MECHANICS IN A MUCH MORE ACCESSIBLE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ACTIVELY BUILDING STRUCTURES. THE FLYWHEEL SET USES THIS SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO CREATE STRUCTURES THAT USE THE REPULSIVE FORCES OF THE MAGNETS TO CREATE MOTION WITHOUT CONTACT. Included in the set are 96 pieces which provide children with endless building possibilities, and movement without contact. Using polarities the set is designed by GEOMAG to allow structures to move on the ball bearings and allow for the magnetic gears to keep the models in motion.

Like all GEOMAG products, the set is made with 98% recycled plastic and comes in packaging made of 70% recycled products. The sustainability aspect of the GEOMAG ranges made them a great choice for kids being both educational and good for the planet. Furthermore, all parts of the Mechanics Motion Flywheels set can be used with other products from the Mechanics Motion Gear line to be a great addition to existing sets your kids may already have!

Overall, the GEOMAG Mechanics Motion Flywheels give your kids a fun and educational way to understand Da Vinci’s ball bearings in a practical way. By building structures and using polarities to make them move, the set brings many construction possibilities for an endless amount of playtime!

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PROS: - Educational learning in a practical and easy way - Works with other ranges in the Mechanics Motion Gear line - Made with recycled 98% recycled plastic

CONS: - Ball bearings can be easily lost if they are not magnetised to the building model

TOYS& FAST TRACK:GAMES £13.00

https://gibsonsgames.co.uk/products/tfl-fast-track-card-game

THE SPEED REACTION CARD GAME

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IF YOU LOVE EVERYTHING LONDON AND WANT TO STEP INTO THE WORLD OF LONDON’S TRANSPORT THIS IS THE PERFECT GAME FOR YOU. DESIGNED WITH TWO-SPEED CARD GAME OPTIONS, FAST TRACK SHOWS YOU THE VIBRANT WORLD OF LONDON AND ITS QUINTESSENTIAL ICONS AND LANDMARKS IN A FAMILY-FRIENDLY GAME FORMAT. Included in the box are 108 game cards, and 2 buildings and icon cards to make the game a little easier to follow. The first game you can play is called ‘All Stations’, in which you set out a ‘Go To’ card which you then must match the line, building or icon from your given cards to. The aim of the game is to match as many of your cards as possible and be the first to run out of cards and shout ‘I’m Home!’. This game asks for speeds and quick matching – almost like playing snap – but with more matching options all using the iconic London landmarks. You can even up the stakes and ensure that you must correctly announce your match, and any alternative names given such as ‘dog’ rather than corgi stops the match.

The second game option is called ‘Route Planner’, where 6 cards are laid out to outline a route, and you must take cards from the ‘route’ to match each round’s ‘Go to’ card. The speed element comes in when you must take the matching cards before your fellow players, and a new round begins when no more matches to the ‘Go to’ card can be found. The winner is the one who has collected the most cards across each round, however, there will be no cheating as after every round you must check your cards and any wrongfully chosen cards must be discarded along with another card as a penalty. This gameplay only ends when not enough cards are left to make a new route.

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I think this would make a great gift for those who love all things London, and especially those visiting the capital from around the country and from abroad. The game is registered with Transport for London and provides you with the fun of the tube lines without the heat and noisy train lines. With multiple game options, the game provides endless game matching opportunities which is easy enough to follow for younger children, and sure to bring out the competitive nature of all adults playing too!

Additionally – Gibsons Games has partnered with TR[1]BE, and with every order placed on the website for Fast Track they will protect 5 trees and 100sq.m of rainforest from destruction! Even more of a reason to try out the game.

PROS: - 2 different game modes are available - Speed game for all the family - Partnered with TR[1]BE to protect the rainforest

CONS: - If you are a frequent user of the London underground services – you may be sick of seeing the tube lines!

https://themeborne.com/products/escape-the-dark-castle

£34.99

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ESCAPE TOYS& THE GAMES DARK CASTLE ARE YOU READY TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM IN A FANTASY CHOOSE-YOUR-OWN-ADVENTURE-STYLE GAME AND DEFEAT THE FINAL BOSS TO ESCAPE THE DARK CASTLE? THEMEBORNE HAS CREATED AN IMMERSIVE STORY-BASED GAME THAT SEES YOU WORK WITH YOUR FELLOW PRISONERS TO SKILLFULLY MANOEUVRE THROUGH EACH CHAPTER CARD AND (HOPEFULLY) ESCAPE THE DARK CASTLE ALIVE. NOW I’LL BE HONEST, BEFORE THIS GAME I WAS ON THE FENCE ABOUT FANTASY, ADVENTURE-STYLE GAMES – HOWEVER, I THINK ESCAPE THE DARK CASTLE MAY HAVE FULLY CONVERTED ME. IT’S EASY TO GET THE HANG OF, LEFT LARGELY UP TO THE FATE OF A DICE ROLL, AND AS SOON AS THE GAME ENDED…I WAS DYING TO PLAY IT AGAIN! Straight out of the box, the game was easy to set up. First, you and your fellow players get to choose from 6 characters to play as. Each player has their own character card showing their skill level in terms of the game’s three key skills – wisdom, cunning and might. These skills vary for each character, and so everyone gets their own individual dice representative of these qualities which adds a nice immersive touch to the game. Therefore, you and your fellow players might decide to choose your characters strategically with a mix of qualities for the best balance of skills to get through each chapter card and defeat the final boss. You then choose 15 cards at random from the 45 given chapter cards, and one of the three final boss cards. These are stacked in a deck in the middle of the players with the start card on top, then the 15-chapter cards and finally the boss card at the bottom.

To play you simply flip over the start card and then you are led through the game. With each of the 15 randomly chosen chapter cards you may have to roll dice to defeat creatures, or maybe you’ll have to make a team decision on how you want to progress, or maybe you’ll be given new challenges that add to the narrative of the game. This is what makes every game of Escape the Dark Castle so unique as you never know what each card will bring. In some instances when combat is required, the chapter card will outline what is needed to defeat that particular scary-looking figure – this is where having a great balance of skills is useful, as some need more of one skill than another to be defeated!

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As you go through each chapter you can choose who gets to flip over and read out the card to the rest of the group. This has two great qualities to it; firstly, flipping the cards over gives a story narrative feel to the gameplay - especially when they are read out with a dramatic tone as we did when I sat down to play this with some friends. The second great aspect of the card story narrative is that whoever flips over and reads out the card may face some sort of consequences which may leave them disadvantaged for that chapter. Therefore, each chapter becomes its own unique minigame which must be overcome as a team before you meet the final boss.

As you go through each game you keep track of your health on the provided notepad, whilst also collecting items as outlined on the chapter cards. These items are great in helping you fight some deadly figures or keep you or your fellow prisoners alive in dire moments.

DARK CASTLE 24

In some combats, players can even rest for a round to regain some health whilst the other players battle alone. Resting is crucial to the strategic play of the game because if one of you dies, you have failed to escape and the game ends. Therefore, a big element of Escape the Dark Castle is keeping your team alive!

When I sat down to play Escape the Dark Castle with some friends, I was very impressed with the overall quality of it. Every single card, each one much larger than your average playing card, has been thoroughly designed with the game’s immersive choose-your-own-adventure style in mind.

However, I think it was the artwork across the game that is the real stand out - each chapter card and boss are perfectly gruesome or ghastly which really adds to the overall feel of the game.

Overall, I would highly recommend this to any tabletop game enthusiast as it is a great game to play with friends due to its brilliant immersive quality. However, I’d also highly recommend it to those who are just stepping their toe into the world of tabletop gaming. It’s a perfect beginnerfriendly game that relies largely on the luck of a dice roll whilst remaining incredibly captivating throughout. I feared it might be hard to grasp having not played a game like this before, however, within a few minutes I was cheering when we finally completed each chapter alive. I thoroughly enjoyed playing the game, and, as a team we got all the way to the final boss card after almost losing players to some fearsome figures. However, in facing the final boss, we were no match having lost too much life over the chapters, and as one player died…we were trapped in the Dark Castle forever.

So…I couldn’t Escape the Dark Castle…but can you?

PROS: - Easy to play and set up - Immersive gameplay where every game is different - Larger card size with incredible artwork (Also - If you are a fan of The Last of Us, Themeborne have developed The Last of Us: Escape the Dark tabletop game which is available for preorder now!)

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https://kikkerland.com/products/golf-in-a-tin

$13.00

KIKKERLAND GOLF IN A TIN

EVER FANCIED PLAYING GOLF BUT DON’T HAVE THE TIME TO GO TO A COURSE? KIKKERLAND BRING YOU GOLF BUT IN MINIATURE FORM TO PLAY WITH A FRIEND OVER COFFEE OR EVEN IN A PUB GARDEN. THE SET INCLUDES 9 DIFFERENT SHEETS WITH DIFFERENT HOLES, 2 METAL BALLS AND 2 SMALL METAL GOLF CLUBS. The game is retro-inspired and makes a great little game to pop in your bag and bring with you wherever you go for a quick game. Over a coffee with a friend, we tested out each sheet to see how easy it was to play and if either could get a hole-in-one.

The 9 different holes provide you with a range of options that are small and compact. The little 3-inch metal golf clubs were especially fun and made hitting the included metal balls even more hilarious.

The 9-hole cards are sturdy with high-quality graphics, and the metal clubs and balls have a nice weight to them. For such a small game the designing of it is top quality, as with many Kikkerland products. My only complaint comes from my lack of aim which sent the balls flying off the table, so I do worry that if not played on a sturdy table and with something around the game you may lose the balls if you’re not a great shot. However, for a small and compact game which you can bring out for a little competition, it makes a great choice.

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PROS: - Compact design - Sturdy and weighted mini clubs - Easy to play

CONS: - Small pieces can be easily lost

TOYS& GAMES https://buildyourownkits.com/product/periscope/

£19.99

BUILD YOUR OWN: PERISCOPE

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HAVING TESTED OUT A FEW OF BUILD YOUR OWN’S PRODUCTS PREVIOUSLY, I COULDN’T WAIT TO PUT THIS PERISCOPE TOGETHER. INSIDE THE BOX, THERE ARE 39 CARD PIECES, AND TWO HIGH-QUALITY MIRRORS, WHICH ALL FIT TOGETHER TO ASSEMBLE THE PERISCOPE. MADE FOR KIDS TO STEALTHILY WATCH NATURE AND WILDLIFE, THE CONSTRUCTION AND USE OF THE PERISCOPE IS A GREAT CHOICE OF FAMILY ACTIVITY AS EVERYONE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO PUT IT TOGETHER AND THEN USE IT. Each card piece is sturdy and in a ‘stealth’ black colour, with silver metallic accents which makes it a great choice for watching birds, looking around corners, and over walls whilst going unnoticed. I was impressed with the construction of the Periscope as it can extend up to 61cm so high-up things are much easier for children to see. The Periscope is marketed as a great way to watch a bird’s nest or nature in your garden, and so the Periscope is designed to get children interested in the wonders of the world around them which they may normally miss. However, I also think it can make a great addition to a game of hide and seek, as it can be used to stealthily look around corners to avoid being found. Although, I must note that neither I nor Build Your Own condone the use of the Periscope to spy on family or neighbours!

As usual with Build Your Own products, sustainability is key. Each piece, including the box, is 100% recyclable to ensure that even when the product is no longer used it is not contributing to global waste levels. Even with the recyclability of the Periscope, each piece is sturdy, fits together securely and is built to last the test of time. For the Periscope, care has

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been taken in its design to ensure it is both lightweight and ergonomic, whilst including a safety cap to protect the mirrors from getting damaged and causing any harm.

Overall, the construction of the Periscope is a fun learning experience which will keep kids away from screen time for a few hours. One of the major benefits of buying your children the Periscope, or any of the Build Your Own products, is that STEM is approached in a fun way to encourage kids to use these skills, often without even knowing!

The Pericope is made with innovation in mind to be both functional and sustainable, allowing children hours of fun exploring the world. I’d recommend this to any parent who wants a fun educational activity to do with their kids.

PROS: - Mess, fuss, and glue-free assembly - STEM-inspired activity for children - Sustainably made and produced

CONS: - A little more complex than other Build Your Own projects, so may need some parental assistance for assembly

TOYS& GAMES

£60.00

https://www.casio.co.uk/sa-50-mini-keyboard

CASIO SA-50 MINI KEYBOARD

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IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A FUN AND PORTABLE MUSICAL GIFT FOR YOUR CHILDREN – THE CASIO SA-50 MINI KEYBOARD IS A PERFECT CHOICE FOR YOU! The SA-50 Mini Keyboard has 32 mini keys perfectly sized to make learning tunes and following along with the preprogrammed songs easy for children. Upon opening the box I was impressed by its quality – each key is perfectly sized for smaller hands, and all buttons are soft touch. The keyboard is super easy to navigate from its LCD screen, and only requires 6 AA batteries for hours of fun. Across the top of the keyboard are a range of tones and drumbeats, as well as pre-programmed songs perfect to let children explore the different sounds and develop their musical understanding.

I was most impressed by the sound quality and extensive tone range for such a compact keyboard. Casio has included a new sound chip in the keyboard which delivers consistently high-quality stereo sound - Casio even boasts that its SA-50 series are the best 32-note mini keyboards it has ever produced!

Furthermore, weighing only 1kg the keyboard is lightweight and easy to move around to suit your space, which is a big perk especially when compared to fixed or larger keyboard options.

The SA-50 also includes a headphone port to allow your children to still practice the piano but in a much quieter way – great for when other smaller siblings are sleeping! I let my small cousin try out the mini-keyboard and he was thrilled. He sat for hours hitting the tone buttons and hitting keys to make his own ‘song’ up! Therefore, for any child, I think this would make a great choice to either channel their creativity or way to encourage an educational musical activity as a family.

I was super impressed that every Casio keyboard comes with access to the Casio Music Academy, which is an online

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course suited to beginners to help them learn and develop their skills on the piano. It comes completely free with the purchase of your mini keyboard and does not include any subscription fees.

Therefore, by buying the SA-50 you are also giving your child access to hours of online tutorial videos to help them learn new songs. Therefore, the SA50 continues to deliver even after its initial purchase!

If you are looking for a great gift for your children this Christmas that is fun, portable and will help to develop their musical talents then this is the one for you! It will provide hours and hours of enjoyment and may even inspire them to take up the piano when they are older. Therefore, I’m sure any child would be thrilled to receive this under the tree this Christmas!

PROS: - Lightweight and topquality sound design - Comes with a range of pre-programmed songs and tones - Access to the Casio Music Academy for online tutorials

CONS: - Does not include required batteries

TOYS& GAMES

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https://kikkerlandeu.com/products/pocket-arcade-game

€11.00

KIKKERLAND RETRO MINI GAME DRIVE KIKKERLAND’S POCKET-SIZED ARCADE GAME IS A GREAT NIFTY LITTLE DEVICE TO ADD TO YOUR KEYS OR POP IN YOUR LOVED ONE’S STOCKINGS THIS CHRISTMAS. THE POCKET-SIZED GAMING DEVICE MAY BE SMALL, BUT IT IS MIGHTY - PACKED WITH 29 MINI-GAMES WITH A TOTAL OF 99 LEVELS ACROSS EACH. I added this to my keys, and it was lightweight enough to not notice it was there, but it came in super handy when I was sitting waiting for a meeting without service. I quickly turned on the game drive and began to play. The games are easy to get the hang of and remind me of the retro-style games you would get in an arcade but in a much smaller form.

My only complaint is that the buttons are so small I often struggled to hit them in time – however, for children, this would make a great little gift to keep them entertained for hours. As we look towards Christmas, this would make a great stocking stuffer idea for the game lover in your life to always have a little pocket-sized game drive ready to play!

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PROS: - Pocket-sized gaming drive - 26 different game options - Great Christmas gift option

CONS: - Small button size – but great for kids

TOYS& THE THAMESGAMES AND £30

https://www.thamesandkosmos.co.uk/product/stem-advent-calendar/

KOSMOS SCIENCE ADVENT CALENDAR

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AS WE SLOWLY CREEP TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR MANY PARENTS START LOOKING FOR NEW AND EXCITING ADVENT CALENDARS TO GIVE TO THEIR CHILDREN IN THE LEAD UP TO CHRISTMAS DAY. WHILST OFTEN ADVENT CALENDARS ARE CONFECTIONARY-FOCUSED, MANY PARENTS ARE OPTING FOR ADVENT CALENDARS THAT LEAN INTO EDUCATION AND PROVIDE AN EXPERIENCE RATHER THAN A SWEET TREAT EVERY DAY. THEREFORE, THAMES AND KOSMOS BRING US THEIR SCIENCE ADVENT CALENDAR, WHICH PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH 24 STEM-BASED EXPERIMENTS! Inside the advent calendar, there are 24 beautifully designed boxes, which when opened reveal a range of materials and equipment needed for that experiment, as well as instructions on each box for how each experiment will work.

Each box’s instructions are clear and well laid out making them easy for children to follow. Each box outlines exactly what you will need, and then some information on the science behind each experiment. The 24 boxes deal with topics from biology, chemistry and physics and will provide a range of easy-tounderstand but educational experiences for your child. However, some experiments will require some other household products that cannot be included in the advent calendar such as household vinegar, a hair dryer or lemon juice. Therefore, the advent calendar does require some additional materials, but they are all ones which are commonly found in a household so should not pose too much of a hassle. Each experiment can become an educational experience for the whole family, as everyone can get involved in carrying out each day’s box.

The Advent Calendar has been designed with problemsolving, creativity and fine motor skill development in mind, making it a great educational option for the Christmas tradition.

I especially think this would also be a great alternative option

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for kids who have certain allergies and intolerances to the typical food-based advent calendars on the market. As a kid me and my siblings would have loved this advent calendar as it makes each day a little more exciting in the lead-up to Christmas, rather than just eating a chocolate which is quickly forgotten about.

Your child can also keep each experiment’s cards to repeat them again later, therefore, the advent calendar continues to deliver accessible and memorable educational experiences – often without the child even realising they are delving into the world of STEM. Ultimately, if you have a child who is obsessed with science and experiments or you want your kids to have a fun science-based advent calendar compared to traditional options, then this is the perfect one for you!

PROS: - Great alternative advent calendar that focuses on STEM - Easy to complete experiments - Well-designed and accessible

CONS: - Requires the addition of other common household materials

https://www.coolshop.co.uk/toys/building-and-construction-toys/magnets/

£40

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TOYS& GEOMAG GAMES SUPERCOLOUR 60PCS

WITH LIMITLESS CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS, THE GEOMAG SUPERCOLOUR SET OF METAL RODS AND SPHERES CAN BE CONNECTED IN SUCH A VAST ARRAY OF COMBINATIONS WHICH WILL LEAVE YOUR CHILDREN BUILDING FOR HOURS. The GEOMAG sets provide you with an educational building activity that is working to develop fine motor skills in children through a learn-by-playing approach. The constructions allow your children, or you, to delve into their creativity and imagination for hours of educational fun.

I was impressed that the set includes 3 storage cases to hold the 28 metal rods in various colours, 28 metal spheres, 2 yellow square bases, and 2 pentagon square bases. With many small parts, you may worry as a parent about all the spheres and rods going missing swiftly after opening, but the storage boxes were a great addition to ensure that everything stays together. I would even say this set makes a great addition to your bag whilst travelling to keep any kids occupied when you have downtime as the cases can easily be popped into a bag and pulled out when needed for some educational fun.

A great feature of GEOMAG is that 100% of the plastic and packaging used in the set is recycled, so you can be sure that not only is the set a great educational tool for your kids, but it is from a company that is doing its part to reduce waste. Therefore, the GEOMAG set makes a perfect educational, environmentally conscious, and enjoyable activity for your kids that you can even get involved in!

This would make a great gift for any child with a big imagination to construct models and structures, keeping them away from screens whilst showing practice skills to develop their thinking and motor skills all at the same time. Therefore, by buying one of GEOMAG’s sets you can be you are delivering fun and creativity for the whole family.

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PROS: - Simple and easy for everyone in the family to build - Storage boxes to keep all parts together and great for travelling - Educational playtime - Made with 100% recycled plastic

CONS: - If the cases are not used the small metal spheres are easy to lose

Sur f 3 Inspired by mountain bike technology Why choose between a four-wheel urban pushchair or a three-wheel trekking pushchair. With Surf 3 you can have both, uniquely adaptable it can switch between city and trekking modes with ease.

Whether you’re in the town or country the unique suspension ensures a smooth ride.

4 wheels for urban use

silvercrossbaby.com

Trekking wheel for multi terrain use

In Tune With You

Discover and enjoy live and on-demand audio effortlessly, anywhere.

Copyright © 2019 Pure International Limited. All rights reserved. E&OE.

Visit www.pure.com to view our full range

£44.99

https://zerowater.co.uk/collections/jugs/products/zerowater-12-cup-2-8l-ready-read-water-filter-jug

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HOUSEHOLD ZEROWATER 12 CUP/2.8L READY-READ JUG

THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE A REFRESHING GLASS OF WATER, BUT DO YOU EVER WORRY ABOUT WHAT EXTRA CHEMICALS MAY BE IN YOUR TAP WATER? WELL, WITH EVERY ZEROWATER SYSTEM, YOU NEVER HAVE TO WORRY AGAIN! EVERY SYSTEM INCLUDES A 5-STAGE FILTRATION DESIGN WHICH REMOVES ALL TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS) FROM YOUR DRINKING WATER. TDS REFERS TO MINERALS, SALTS, METALS INCLUDING LEADS, CHEMICALS, FLUORIDE, AND RUNOFF WHICH ALL COULD BE PRESENT IN YOUR DRINKING WATER. I got to try out the 12-cup filter system by ZeroWater and I was thoroughly impressed with the size of the jug. The jug is slightly larger than average as it has been designed with a busy family in mind, so they can always have filtered water ready to go. However, unlike other filtering jugs on the market, it still remains slim and uniform in size making it easy to fit in your fridge or on the side for water whenever you need it.

I loved that with the jug you have the option to pour from it as you would a normal jug, or you can use the pitcher on the other side to pour yourself some water from the spout without having to lift the entire thing. This is great for families with children, as they can refill their water without needing to lift the entire thing which may be heavy for them.

Furthermore, a big perk of the Ready-Read Jug is the addition of a TDS reader to test your water throughout the jug’s use. The reader allows you to check the TDS levels in your water for added peace of mind that you and your family are only drinking the purest-tasting water possible. It was fascinating using the TDS meter on a glass of water directly from my kitchen tap, and in a glass of water from the jug which has been through the ZeroWater filtration system – let’s just say the filter really does its job!

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Overall, if you are looking for a great water filter jug, the ZeroWater jugs and dispensers are always a great choice. For me, the 12-cup jug was perfect for meeting the demands of my family, and the added TDS reader was a great bonus to really check the filtration system was working.

I imagine this is great for when you need to buy replacement filters as you can see when the TDS levels increase, and a new filter needs to be purchased.

Therefore, if you are looking for a new jug or dispenser – ZeroWater is the company for you!

PROS: - Large Water Jug with multiple spouts - Comes with a TDS meter on the side for peace of mind - Includes ZeroWater filter with its 5-layer filtration design

CONS: - Only comes with 1 filter, so more will need to eventually be purchased – however, this is the same with any filter jug on the market

HOUSEHOLD https://bit.ly/3Mlwzq4

£79.99

TOWER VORTX 6L COLOUR AIR FRYER

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IN A WORLD FULL OF NEW KITCHEN TECH, IT PLEASES ME WHEN I FIND AN APPLIANCE THAT IS BOTH EASY ON THE EYE AND EASY ON THE MIND! THE VORTX 6L COLOUR AIR FRYER IS BOTH SLEEK IN DESIGN AND HAS A LARGE DIGITAL DISPLAY SCREEN. THE MIDNIGHT BLUE AND ROSE GOLD DESIGN MAKES IT A PERFECT ADDITION TO ANYONE’S COUNTERTOP FOR FAST AND EFFICIENT EVERYDAY COOKING NEEDS. The air fryer uses its Vortx technology to rapidly circulate hot air around your food to cook everything up to 30% faster than a conventional oven. This makes mealtimes much quicker, whilst impressively using less energy and less oil for the same perfect results. It comes with 8 pre-set cooking functions suitable for a whole range of cooking needs. This Vortx Air Fryer was used by myself and my teenage children multiple times and achieved excellent results, cooking to a golden crips everything from fries to pork chops, as well as some toothache-inducing TikTok recipes that included bread, sugar, and Nutella!

I was impressed by the capacity of the air fryer, which is designed to be large enough to feed the whole family. For my family, it was the perfect size having enough room to fit some pork chops and plenty of fries with ease. However, I was most impressed by how easy it was to clean. The basket and crisper plates have a non-stick coating making sure food does not get stuck, so cleaning is a breeze. All it needed was a quick wipe and it was back looking good as new.

I highly recommend this product; it is easy to clean, the instruction manual is easy to follow, and it really is pretty much plug-in and play. If you want to reduce the stress of cooking and keep your family happy this is a great product for you.

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PROS: - Quick and efficient cooking - Easy to clean after use - Aesthetically pleasing on the countertop

CONS: - Will need extra counter space to account for its 6-litre capacity size Available from Tower here: https://bit.ly/3Mlwzq4

£44.99

https://scott-gear.co.uk/product/scott-milkissimo-4-in-1-hot-cold-milk-frother/

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HOUSEHOLD SCOTT MILKISSIMO 4-IN-1 HOT AND COLD MILK FROTHER

NOTHING IS BETTER THAN A LOVELY FROTHY COFFEE OR HOT CHOCOLATE FROM YOUR FAVOURITE CAFÉ, BUT BUYING A COFFEE EVERY SINGLE DAY CAN BE EXPENSIVE EVEN IF THE TASTY FOAM MAKES IT SEEM WORTH IT. HOWEVER, WITH SCOTT’S MILKISSIMO MILK FROTHER, IT IS NOW POSSIBLE TO MAKE THESE DELICIOUS FROTHY BEVERAGES AT HOME! The Milkissimo allows you to easily froth cold or hot milk in seconds and is ready to add to any beverage of your choice.

I loved testing out the milk frother as it was so easy to use you just add in the whisk to the bottom (which clicks easily into place), add in your milk, put the lid on and press the start button on the front. With one press of the button, the Milkissimo heats and froths your milk simultaneously. However, if you press the main button twice it will just froth your milk without heating it for cold foam options, and when pressed three times your milk is just heated without the use of the frothing whisk at all.

For me personally, I love a frothy hot chocolate. I just poured in my milk, added in some hot chocolate powder, and turned the Milkissimo to the heat and froth setting. Just minutes later I had perfectly frothed hot chocolate. All it needed was a few marshmallows on top and it was the perfect treat of an evening. However, it was also great for creating frothy milk for coffee for my family. I even got to try my hand at some coffee art using the foam!

I was very impressed by how easy the Milkissimo was to clean. It is always a fear that the benefits of lovely, frothed milk may come at the expense of a difficult-to-clean appliance.

However, the milk jug is made with a non-stick surface so all

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it takes is a quick rinse under the sink to remove any surface residue and then it is ready and easy to wash up at your leisure. I was even pleased that the whisk pops out so easily so you can be sure to carefully clean the jug without awkwardly having to try and get around the whisk. The whisk itself can then also be easily cleaned to ensure there is no nasty build-up there either.

My only complaint is that the lead is a little short. It is not a large appliance, but if you do not have a close plug near your coffee station this may cause a little more faff to get your froth further away. However, this seems a minor sacrifice for its efficient frothing abilities!

If you like a café coffee that is just that little extra special with foam on top, the Milkissimo is a perfect choice for you as it can easily and quickly turn any regular beverage into a frothy dream. If you are a hot chocolate fanatic like me this machine is a game changer – no more microwaving or heating milk on the hob, all can be done with this efficient little device. This is the perfect appliance to treat yourself or a friend to and will reduce your weekly cost of hot beverages by making barista-style frothy drinks at home.

PROS: - Easy to clean - Auto shut off and boil dry protection - Great frothy milk for drinks

CONS: - Short appliance cable

https://munchyseeds.co.uk/product/mixed-box-25gx20/

75p per snack pack or £5 for the full range of snack packs

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HOUSEHOLD MUNCHY SEEDS

MUNCHY SEEDS ARE A COMPANY FOCUSED ON CELEBRATING THE BENEFITS THAT A RANGE OF DELICIOUS SEEDS CAN PROVIDE FOR US - AND THEY REALLY DON’T DISAPPOINT! THESE LITTLE PACKETS OF JOY WERE A DELIGHT TO RECEIVE THIS WEEK AND WERE QUICKLY PUT TO THE TEST BY THE WHOLE TEAM. WE GOT TO TRY OUT FOUR OF THE FLAVOURS RANGING FROM SWEET TO SAVOURY, AND ALL WERE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED ACROSS THE OFFICE. We tried the Honey Roasted, Warm Cinnamon and Salted Caramel snack packs. All three of these are suitable for vegetarians and coeliacs, with the Warm Cinnamon and Salted Caramel packs also being vegan. Each of these three varieties is packed full of deliciously roasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds with either a honey coating, a warm cinnamon coating or an equally delectable, salted caramel coating. These were a real hit in the office, with many commenting that they would make a great addition to porridge or yoghurt as a granola-esque style of topping for a little added crunch, and I have to say I agree! I added some to my breakfast yoghurt and fruit and it was delicious.

The sweet options make a great addition to your lunch, to top off your breakfast or even a post-gym treat as they are packed with protein and fibre. Munchy Seeds boasts no artificial colourings, flavourings, and preservatives, and even their pouches are good for the planet as all the packaging is recyclable.

However, the Mega Omega snack pack is the winner without a doubt office-wide! The Mega Omega pack includes a mix of 7 seeds in a salty tamari flavour. The mix includes

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sunflower, pumpkin, hulled hemp and sesame seeds, alongside rapeseed as well as golden and brown linseeds. The Mega Omega variety is, as the name suggests, high in omega 3 – providing a great source of fibre, protein, omega 3 and vitamin all in one little pouch.

The savoury style is recommended for sprinkling over casseroles, salads, soups or even just on buttered bread. I saw on the Munchy Seed website a range of recipes for all the different seeds which looked great, but the smashed avocado on toast with the Mega Omega seed mix sprinkled over will definitely have to be tried!

Overall, the Munchy Seed snack packs are a great treat and were a hit with everyone in the office. If you are looking for changing your snacking habits and want to introduce some delicious but high in protein and fibre choices, these are a great pick!

PROS: - High in fibre and protein - Recyclable packaging - Range of flavour choices Available on Ocado, Amazon and online from https://munchyseeds.co.uk/

£13.50

https://www.hugpetfood.co.uk/product/mixed-beef-pork-salmon-with-chicken-taster-box/

48

HOUSEHOLD HUG MY CAT PET FOOD TASTER BOX

IT IS TRUE THAT FOR MOST OF US, OUR PETS ARE AN EXTENSION OF OUR FAMILY, AND IT IS WITH THIS PHILOSOPHY THAT HUG PET FOOD MAKE THEIR PRODUCTS. THE HUG MY CAT FOOD LINE, MUCH LIKE THE HUG MY DOG FOOD WE PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED, FOCUSES ON GIVING YOUR FELINE FRIENDS TOP-QUALITY MEALS MADE FROM 100% BRITISH MEAT AND A RANGE OF SEASONAL VEGGIES. WE, WELL OUR CATS, GOT TO TRY OUT THE TASTER BOX WHICH INCLUDES SAMPLES OF THE JUST BEEF, SALMON AND CHICKEN AND JUST LAMB MEALS FOR CATS. The meals are the first cat ready-meals available on the market, using human-grade food but carefully designed with our beloved cats in mind. Each meal is high in protein and packed full of great omega-3, and a range of probiotics, vitamins, and minerals to ensure our cats are getting the very best dinners to support their brain and joint health.

Each meal arrives freshly frozen to your door, and you simply pop them in the freezer until you need them. To prepare the meals for your cats, you defrost the meals in the fridge, and once fully defrosted you simply put the meals in the microwave or warm them on the stove top ready for your pet to eat. However, be sure to let them cool a little before you feed them to the cat!

I warmed up the Just Beef meal for my cat and it did have quite a strong smell, but once slightly cooled my cat went crazy for it. He was more than thrilled to have some high-quality meat and a range of veggies perfect to support his health. Whilst the smell for me personally wasn’t great, I can’t ignore how much my cat loved it.

If you are thinking about changing up your cat’s food and want to make sure that they are receiving top-quality food that is designed for them without the filler and excessive legumes of other cat food products, then this is a must-try for your cat.

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PROS: - All made from 100% British meat and vegetables - Loved by fussy pets as a great alternative to standard cat food options - Contains no fillers and legumes

CONS: - Has a rather strong smell when cooking which is great for cats, but wasn’t great for me - Does add a few extra steps into feeding your pet with defrosting, cooking and cooling – but seems worth it for the top quality ingredients

HOUSEHOLD https://heatsbox.com/products/heatsbox-go https://heatsbox.com/products/inner-dish-set

HeatsBox Go £135 // Inner Dish Set £45

HEATSBOX GO AND INNER DISH SET

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HEATSBOX PRODUCTS ARE DESIGNED TO SIMPLIFY YOUR DAILY ROUTINES AND LOOK TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WORLDWIDE. WE GOT THE CHANCE TO TRY OUT THE HEATSBOX GO WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE HEALTHY HOT MEALS WHENEVER YOU NEED THEM. The HeatsBox Go provides a battery-powered heating solution to heat your food to the perfect temperature while you’re busy getting things done. I tested out the HeatsBox Go for work lunches for a week and was thoroughly impressed. Upon opening the box, you have the HeatsBox Go which looks like a large lunch box with a grey exterior and red securing tabs. Inside the HeatsBox is a metal inner dish which sits snugly in the outer stainless-steel container.

The main function of the HeatsBox Go is its ability to cook, reheat or warm your food ready for when you need it. It has a pre-set timer perfect for planning when you will need food, so it can be warmed up ready for your lunch break. However, the device can also be controlled through the HeatsBox app, so you can adjust the time setting and heating modes with ease to suit your schedule.

The inner dishes are a great size able to fit 925ml in each, so were perfect for me to fill up with things like noodles or pasta in the morning ready for lunch. We got to test out the Inner Dish Set too which is great for meal prepping, to portion up meals ready to take with you and pop in the HeatsBox Go for lunch throughout the week. Even the included dividers of the HeatsBox and the Inner Dish Set were great for separating different parts of your food for a more enjoyable lunch. Also, all the inner dishes and lids are dishwasher safe making them super easy to clean at the end of each day.

Over the week I had pre-set the HeatsBox to have my food

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ready for 12 pm. Roughly 20 minutes before lunch the HeatsBox Go would turn on and start heating my food. I was sceptical at first as to how hot my food would actually be, but within just a short while my lunch was perfect and ready to eat just in time for my lunch break. The only main requirement of the HeatsBox is that it needs to be sat on a flat surface, but this wasn’t too inconvenient and made a great addition to my desk for a short while leading up until lunch.

The HeatsBox Go boasts to be 100% leakproof, so I was determined to put this thoroughly to the test. Usually, I fear my food spilling into my bag after a long commute with my normal slightly leaky lunchbox. However, I was pleased to see that upon arriving to work there was no mess or leaking, so it really did stand up to its 100% leakproof claims for me personally.

The HeatsBox Go charges via a USB-C cable which is included in the box, and I found lasted roughly 2

HEATSBOX 52

lunches before needing to be recharged. Whilst this isn’t the best battery life, it also can be charged using a battery power bank in case you forget to charge it a home - so it isn’t too much extra hassle. Overall, the HeatsBox Go is a great choice for those with hectic schedules who don’t have time or the facilities to heat up lunch on the go. If you don’t need the rechargeable aspects of the HeatsBox GO, the company also has a range of plug-in options which are great for having on your desk ready to heat your meals at your convenience – great, especially when the office does not have a microwave!

I imagine this would be great for those working outside on a construction site to have a warm lunch ready and waiting for them when your lunch break comes around. This would also be great for nurses who are rushed off their feet all hours of the day but can be sure that when their break comes around, they will have a nice hot meal waiting for them. For me, the HeatsBox Go and Inner Dish Sets were perfect for planning out my lunches, and using up leftover food, all without having to leave my desk or buy hot food on the go.

HeatsBox has clearly revolutionized the lunch market with its temperature-controlled heating solution – and we are big fans! If you are looking for a new way to eat food on the go, or want to treat someone in your life to the freedom of hot lunches on demand, the HeatsBox Go and Inner Dish Set are the perfect choice for you.

PROS:

CONS:

- Heat food on the go - 100% leakproof setup - Great for meal prepping and making the most of leftovers

- Battery life could be greater

Flex technology.

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A whole new pumping experience, shaped

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

£210.00

https://montane.com/collections/mens-waterproof-jackets/products/montane-mens-spirit-waterproof-jacket

56

OUTDOOR MONTANE MEN’S SPIRIT WATERPROOF JACKET

IF ONE THING IS FOR SURE, BRITISH SUMMERTIME IS UTTERLY UNPREDICTABLE – ONE MINUTE IT’S GLORIOUS SUNSHINE AND THE NEXT IT IS POURING RAIN! THEREFORE, TRYING TO DRESS APPROPRIATELY OR REMEMBER TO BRING AN UMBRELLA CAN BE A REAL CHALLENGE. HOWEVER, MONTANE’S SPIRIT WATERPROOF JACKET IS LIGHTWEIGHT, ENTIRELY WATERPROOF AND CAN BE EASILY PACKED AWAY IN YOUR BAG LEAVING YOU FULLY PREPARED FOR ALL THAT BRITISH SUMMERTIME HAS TO OFFER! This week I got the chance to try out Montane’s waterproof jacket which boasts some great features, and on a week of heavy downpours, it was really put to the test. I tested the electric blue version of the jacket which upon opening was a lovely colour and was also surprisingly lightweight. Having read about all the great features of the jacket I doubted that it could keep you warm and dry whilst still not weighing you down – how wrong I was!

The jacket is made with a GORE-TEX membrane which is bonded to the outer shell fabric and an inner comfort lining to give you a next-to-skin feel whilst being impressively waterproof, lightweight, and remarkably warm.

Every feature of the jacket has been thought out with some great precision; the hood has three adjustable variations and a stiff peak to ensure that in wind and rain you are kept protected, the zip is smooth and covered, and the cuffs and hem are cinchable to keep heat in and rain out. Even the inside has a storm-proof pocket which is perfect for your phone to keep it safe and dry during big rainstorms. The main purpose of the jacket is to keep you dry and it did exactly that whilst out on a walk. I was also impressed with the sizing, as we received a men’s XL, which was slightly larger than expected when worn over just a t-shirt making it a great choice for wearing as a top layer in colder months whilst still being breathable during the

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summer months – all of which is aided by the jacket’s breathable fabric.

Overall, a huge draw of Montane’s Spirit jacket is its lightweight and thin design, perfect for easily folding up and stashing away in your bag or car ready for when those sudden downpours occur. If you are looking for a new jacket or have a friend who likes to hike, walk, or trek this would make a great gift for them to keep in their bag ready for whatever the weather may bring.

PROS: - Completely waterproof with GORE-TEX Membrane - Lightweight and versatile jacket - Easy to fold up and stash away

OUTDOOR

£74.99

https://electricrideoncars.co.uk/6v-kids-electric-quad-bikes/

KIDS ELECTRIC QUAD BIKE 6V

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AS A KID, I THINK WE ALL WANTED ONE OF THOSE RIDE-ON CARS OR BIKES THAT WE BELIEVED WOULD LET US ROAM THE STREETS IN STYLE. WELL, NOW YOU CAN GIVE YOUR CHILD OR GRANDCHILD THAT DREAM WITH THE PERFECT GIFT THIS CHRISTMAS IN THE SHAPE OF AN ELECTRIC QUAD BIKE. We received the red Electric Quad Bike from Electric Ride on Cars and immediately upon opening, I was impressed with the quality. The quad bike comes in a few parts which are easy to put together and soon we had a very cool red quad bike ready for testing. Obviously, I could not take the bike for a test drive myself with its 30kg load limit, so I brought in the help of my little cousin.

His face lit up seeing the quad bike and immediately took it for a test drive. The quad bike is made to be easy for a young child or toddler to operate with a simple forward accelerator and large handlebars. It moves at roughly a walking speed, so you don’t have to worry about your child going super-fast or getting hurt, but it still provides them with the fun freedom of feeling like they are riding a real quad bike. It is safe to say my cousin was thrilled with the quad bike and proceeded to use it around the garden for the rest of the afternoon.

I was impressed with how sturdy the whole thing felt, as the four big grip wheels made sure it had good stability. However, it is always recommended that you maintain close supervision of your child whilst the quad bike is in use and avoid wet surfaces for safety. The bike comes with a charger ready to power it back up for continued enjoyment. However, to fully power up the bike does take a little while and with a very impatient child eagerly

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waiting this would be the only slight downside.

Overall, the electric quad bike is great fun and will bring a smile to the face of any child receiving this as a birthday or Christmas gift this year!

I know as a child I would have been thrilled to have this waiting for me under the tree, especially with the included side stickers to really add a personal touch to the bike. If you are looking for a unique gift for your 2–4-year-old, this is the perfect choice that will bring them hours and hours of enjoyment.

If you are looking for bigger-sized quad bikes or something with more power, check out the range of electric cars and bikes that Electric Ride on Cars offers here: https://electricrideoncars. co.uk/bikes/kids-electric-quad-bikes/

PROS: - Easy to assemble - Sturdy feel with wheels and large handlebars - Easy and simple to use and charge

CONS: - Charging speed is not super-fast

GADGETS

https://bit.ly/3sbXfCV

£39.99

TWELVE SOUTH CURVE SE LAPTOP STAND

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OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, MANY OF US HAVE TRANSITIONED INTO FLEXIBLY WORKING BETWEEN THE OFFICE AND HOME, SO HAVING A GREAT HOME SET-UP IS ESSENTIAL. HOWEVER, OFTEN WE ARE LEFT WORKING FROM HOME ON LAPTOPS IN LESS-THAN-IDEAL CONDITIONS HUNCHED OVER SCREENS STRAINING TO SEE. THIS IS WHERE TWELVE SOUTH’S CURVE SE LAPTOP STAND IS A GREAT FUNCTIONAL, AFFORDABLE, AND STYLISH SOLUTION TO THESE PROBLEMS. Twelve South’s Curve SE laptop stand provides an affordable laptop stand option that features all the same stylish and functional qualities of the bestselling original Curve stand.

Made of silver aluminium the stand lifts your laptop 6.5 inches above your desk to be placed in the best ergonomic position to support good posture and comfortability. The silver design makes it look great with any laptop design, as it works to securely hold your laptop. Additionally, the stand’s arms feel sturdy and feature cushioned pads to ensure that your laptop is never scratched whilst on the stand.

The laptop stand worked great for me, and with the addition of a full-sized keyboard and a computer mouse, I had a full set-up ready for a range of work tasks and meetings. I especially liked that the heightened angle made conference calls look more professional and allowed me to add additional screens at a similar height for a cohesive multi-screen set-up. Also, if like me you have a slightly older laptop where the fans aren’t doing so great, the stand provides essential ventilation to your

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laptop’s fans to reduce the chance of it overheating which was great for me.

The stand comes compact in 3 separate parts which are easily snapped together without the need for any further tools. However, once constructed the laptop stand is designed to be a permanent solution, so disassembly isn’t recommended.

Overall, the stand provides a more affordable laptop stand that boasts all the same aesthetics as its pricier counterpart. This would make a great gift for students as they go off to university to have a great set-up in their room for all those late-night study sessions. The Twelve South Curve SE is a great all-round choice that does exactly what it says and will continue to provide a reliable stand for many years to come.

PROS: - Lightweight and easy to assemble - Ergonomic design to prevent back and eye strain - Affordable price which is great for students

CONS: - Once assembled not recommended to take it apart so is less compact and portable once built

GADGETS

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https://timeflip.io/

$59

TIMEFLIP2

AS SEPTEMBER DRAWS IN, FOR MANY OF US THAT MEANS RETURNING TO EDUCATION, WITH MANY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ALIKE READJUSTING BACK INTO ACADEMIC ROUTINES TO KEEP ON TOP OF STUDYING, READING, AND PLANNING. THIS IS WHERE TIMEFLIP2 COMES IN, AS IT IS A NIFTY DEVICE THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO HELP YOU EFFECTIVELY MANAGE YOUR TIME ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES. THEREFORE, THE TIMEFLIP2 MAKES A PERFECT CHOICE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR TIME AND STAY PRODUCTIVE! Essentially the TimeFlip2 is a large dice that sits on your desk and allows you to track time spent across a range of tasks.

Straight out of the box, the dice is simple to set up, and just requires two AA batteries and the downloading of the TimeFlip app to get started. Once the app and dice are connected, you can then use the provided sticker book and add a range of tasks to the sides of the dice which you then assign within the app. I was impressed with the range of 42 pre-designed task stickers which cover most activities you may require. However, usefully they have also included a range of blank stickers which are perfect for time tracking on more specific or unique tasks required during your day.

I added a range of stickers to meet my job’s needs including emails, editing, and writing. However, I loved that with the blank stickers I could give ones to the more specific sides of my job including writing reviews. Once I had assigned all sides of my dice on the app, I was ready to get started tracking my time.

I started the day flipping it over to the email side of the dice which was then illuminated to signal that it would start tracking as I worked my way through my inbox. Then, I had to get some edits done on some articles I had written, so I easily flipped the dice to the editing side and began work on that. Over the

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course of the day there was something quite satisfying about flipping it over between tasks which kept me accountable all day. I even like that break stickers are included in the sticker pack to encourage you to take breaks, as this is essential for keeping you proactively working and avoiding burnout too quickly.

At the end of the day I was able to look back at the app and see how long I’d spent on each task, which is great information to see which areas of my role are the most demanding, and which take much less time. This helps

me to better organise my days going forward as I start to learn how long it takes to complete certain activities.

I even loved the pause function, as with any office there will be calls and distractions, so being able to easily tap my dice to pause a task whilst I deal with an urgent question or call is a great feature. The statistical menu is easy to understand and clearly laid out, which makes the TimeFlip 2 such an easy and simple device to make your work more productive.

I wish I had something like this whilst I was at university! Too often I

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would spend hours ‘studying’ to realise I’ve spent far too much time scrolling online and not keeping myself accountable. If I had had a tactile dice sitting next to me that was actively keeping track of my studying, I think it would have kept me more focused. The dice also includes direct and Pomodoro timers to track tasks in a more constructive way to give you breaks to help improve productivity. Also, a big plus of the TimeFlip2 is that once you buy the dice there are no additional fees, subscriptions or app purchases needed to keep you productive so once you have the TimeFlip2, you are set. This would have been a game changer whilst studying and having tested it out myself, I know this would improve productivity across a range of roles to make sure that you are always working effectively.

If you have a student, teacher, or anyone in your life who wants to make the most of their time and make their work as productive as possible, this is a must-buy gift. I especially would recommend this as a going-away present for university students, as it will help them effectively keep track of their workload - I know myself and many others that this would have benefitted.

Overall, time tracking is a great way to harness your productivity and manage your workload.

Therefore, the TimeFlip is a simple but effective solution to help you hack your time!

PROS: - Easy to set up - Wide variety of predesigned sticker options as well as blank stickers - LED light to keep you accountable

CONS: - Requires AA batteries which are not included

GADGETS

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https://bit.ly/3sdEvTA

£44.95

STM GOODS MAGPOD WE’VE ALL SEEN THE CLASSIC PHONE STANDS – THEY’RE OFTEN HARD TO MOVE AND YOU NEVER SEEM TO BE ABLE TO GET YOUR PHONE AT THE RIGHT ANGLE. PLUS, THEY’RE RARELY PORTABLE! THIS IS WHERE STM GOODS HAS CREATED A SMARTER PHONE STAND, WHICH, THROUGH THE MAGSAFE CONNECTION OF YOUR IPHONE, LETS YOU ANGLE, PIVOT, AND CARRY YOUR PHONE WITH THIS INNOVATIVE DEVICE. The MagPod comes as a sleek cylindrical device, which is attached through magnets of the MagSafe connection on the back of your iPhone. This connection is secure and does not require further adhesives like other phone holders. However, the MagPod is so much more than just a stand or phone holder; its design unfolds the device’s legs into a sturdy tripod that then lets you move your phone at any angle to get it in the best position for you. This means that you can easily sit your phone on the stand and move your phone around to the best position to watch videos, take video calls or even set up to take photos. Its size also allows it to sit a little higher on your desk or nightstand than other phone stands, making it easier to see your phone all whilst providing the perfect height for optimal angle positioning.

The legs can also be collapsed back in and used as a handle to carry your phone or take video or pictures whilst on the move.

Its compact and sleek design makes it a great portable stand that

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you can take with you wherever you go for easy stand, tripod, and handle functions. I was thoroughly impressed by the multi-way pivot design of the stand, as I could set up the stand on my desk and take hands-free calls, and then take the stand home and move my phone to an optimal angle for watching TV shows in bed. The MagPod has been thoroughly designed with functionality in mind and makes the perfect choice for anyone looking for a new stand that is a step above the rest.

If you are on the hunt for a new phone stand and want one that serves a whole host of functions, through its secure MagSafe-compatible connection then look no further – this is a great option for you!

PROS: - Sleek and compact design for great portability - Secure MagSafe connection - Multi-angle positioning for optimum phone use

CONS: - Requires MagSafe compatibility

GADGETS

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https://bit.ly/40e0c2v

£29.50

STM GOODS MAGLOOP

THE MAGLOOP BY STM GOODS IS A NIFTY DEVICE THAT POPS ON THE BACK OF YOUR PHONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A STAND, FINGER LOOP OR BOTTLE OPENER ALL IN ONE. THE MAGLOOP USES MAGNETS TO SECURELY SNAP ONTO THE BACK OF YOUR PHONE AND PROVIDES A RANGE OF SOLUTIONS IN A SLEEK AND MINIMALIST DESIGN. I put the MagLoop on the back of my phone using the Magnetic MagSafe connection, which uses magnets to secure it rather than glue which many other finger or grip holders require.

Its magnetic fit is secure and ensures that the MagLoop will not fall off and you will not drop your phone. The loop can then also be used as a stand for watching videos, which adds a great handsfree element to your device through the MagLoop.

However, the MagLoop also provides a bottle opener function, which through the magnetic connection, allows you to remove the MagLoop from your device to open your favourite beverage and pop it back on your phone afterwards. The removal ensures that the bottle opening function does not harm the back of your phone but allows for it to still serve as a handy little addition to the MapLoop.

I was so impressed by the MagLoop which is such a simple design but has become so handy when using my phone. I could lean my phone up whilst watching videos, and then securely carry it when out and about through the loop. I even had the opportunity to open a drink with the bottle opener which was perfect, and a great addition when no one remembered to bring one!

This would make a great gift for someone who is constantly using their phone, and especially someone who has a habit of dropping them! As we lead up to Christmas, this would make a great little gift for anyone in your life as it is so incredibly handy and functional.

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PROS: - Easy magnetic connection - No-damage, No-glue design - Multi-purpose device

CONS: - Only works with phones that are MagSafe compatible

$20.00

https://kikkerland.com/products/zecar-flywheel-car

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GADGETS KIKKERLAND ZECAR FLYWHEEL CAR THE KIKKERLAND ZECAR FLYWHEEL CAR IS SMALL BUT MIGHTY. POWERED PURELY BY MECHANICS, THE ZECAR JUST TAKES A SMALL PUSH, AND IT WILL EASILY OVERCOME SMALL OBSTACLES IN ITS PATH ON ITS WAY ACROSS YOUR TABLE. The Zecar does not contain springs or batteries – instead, it is powered by a mechanical motor using gears and cogs to power the Zecar over books and small objects. Therefore, as it is fully mechanical it offers a lifetime of fun compared to other small toy cars which require batteries which constantly need to be replaced. I was impressed by the compact yet impressive quality of the Zecar, as I pushed it across my desk it carefully climbed over my notebook and pen with ease. The Zecar is not built for racing so does move relatively slowly, but this is what allows the car to carefully overcome obstacles in its path. Therefore, whilst it is sturdy it is not built to be dropped off surfaces as this could damage the intricate mechanical system.

The Zecar, however, represents so much more than just an enjoyable toy as it was styled by Gaga Casari with the mission that all the proceeds from the royalties will go toward reforestation projects in Rio de Janeiro State in Brazil. The funds will go towards The Mil Folhas Project which is planting thousands of trees a year to help restore part of the Atlantic Tropical Rainforest. The project began its operations in 1996, to reforest 50 acres of land in Rio de Janeiro State. So far Zecar has helped to plant more than 100,000 trees through the royalties funding and is continuing to work with the project over the coming years until the goal of 300,000 trees are planted. Kikkerland has also committed to matching the funding produced by Zecar, to give even more financial aid to the project to reforest Brazil’s landscapes.

Overall, the Zecar is a nifty toy which makes a great gift for anyone interested in mechanics or a little fun. I can see children enjoying building obstacle courses for the Zecar to climb over, or even adults having it sat on their desk for the occasional push across the desk.

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PROS: - Fully mechanic flywheel car - Sturdily built - Supports reforestation projects

GADGETS

https://kikkerlandeu.com/products/undated-weekly-planner

£15.00

KIKKERLAND UNDATED WEEKLY PLANNER £15.00

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THE KIKKERLAND UNDATED WEEKLY PLANNER IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO ORGANISE YOUR WEEK AND KEEP YOU ON TRACK. THE PLANNER GIVES YOU A DOUBLE-PAGE SPREAD TO ORGANISE THE WEEK AHEAD ON THE USEFULLY COLOUR-CODED DAYS. I CAN SEE THIS HAVING GREAT USE FOR MEAL PLANNING, FITNESS TRACKING, ORGANISING EVENTS OR EVEN JUST PLANNING YOUR DAYS AT WORK TO ENSURE YOU ARE MEETING YOUR GOALS EVERY WEEK. I had this planner on my desk for a month and usefully planned out my week first thing every Monday morning. I could include all my crucial projects, meetings and events taking place that week to perfectly manage my time and ensure that nothing was forgotten. This allowed me to effectively manage my time across the week and leave feeling everyday feeling accomplished.

I was thrilled to see that the planner includes enough weekly layouts to cover 18 months, giving you a year and a half of organisational joy from every single planner – great for the price point. I preferred this planner more than standard diaries as if you have a week off or do not need to organise your work that week, the planner has no dates so you can just begin the next week on the next page without wasting any pages.

If you want to organise your life or are interested in planning out your week in a more effective way, whether that be for meal plans or workout routines, this planner is a great choice. Each day is clearly laid out and colour-coordinated to make everyday tasks that much easier to stay on top of.

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PROS: - Clear and colourful layout - Undated for no wasted space - Made from sustainably sourced paper

€20.00

https://kikkerlandeu.com/products/money-tree-bank

GADGETS

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KIKKERLAND MONEY TREE

“MONEY DOESN’T GROW ON TREES!” ...WELL…ACCORDING TO KIKKERLAND, NOW IT DOES! The Kikkerland Money Tree makes a great addition to any child or young teen’s room as a helpful place to store their hardearned pocket money. Made of wood and with a clear acrylic screen, you can watch as the pennies stack up in the tree ready to be used on a rainy day.

I was impressed by the quality of the Money Tree, as so often traditional ‘piggy banks’ run the risk of getting broken easily if they are dropped. However, being made of wood and acrylic it is much sturdier making it a great alternative choice over the classic ceramic or porcelain banks. The wood also gives it a nice neutral colour palette, suitable to fit into any room as a stylish and understated saving solution.

The tree can be used to help children learn the value of money as they watch their savings grow and can save up to buy something greater. Then, once the tree is full, you can easily take the back off using the screws and access all the money. I think this would make a great gift for any child or young teen that wants to grow their own savings in a stylish, sturdy, and reliable saving bank.

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PROS: - Sturdy wooden saving solution - Clear panel to see your savings grow - Aesthetically pleasing and understated

CONS: - Requires a screwdriver to open the back panel which is not included

$4.00

https://kikkerland.com/products/bike-key-ring-and-bottle-opener

GADGETS

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KIKKERLAND FIETS BIKE KEY RING AND BOTTLE OPENER DO YOU HAVE A BIKE LOVER IN YOUR LIFE? KIKKERLAND HAS MADE THIS NIFTY LITTLE KEYRING TO BRING BIKE LOVERS ACROSS THE WORLD A FUN WAY TO OPEN THEIR FAVOURITE BEVERAGES. MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL THE BOTTLE OPENER DOES EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS, WHILST PROVIDING A NICE ACCESSORY TO YOUR KEYS. THIS MAKES A PERFECT GIFT FOR AN AVID BIKE LOVER IN YOUR LIFE, TO BRING A LITTLE BIKING STYLE TO THEIR KEYS WHILST STILL BEING FUNCTIONAL. The keyring is very well made and has a sturdy weight to it making it strong enough to serve its purpose and open bottles.

However, it is not so heavy that it is noticeable on your keys.

Even if you are not a big drinker it makes a stylish keyring that is minimalist in a nice shiny stainless-steel design. This would be perfect for adding to your keys to make them recognisable or easy to find in your bag.

As a bottle opener, it makes a great gift, especially for those going off to university in the coming months, as you always find yourself needing a bottle opener and it always seems to be the one thing that no one remembered to bring!

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PROS: - Stainless steel sturdy design - Affordable price - Great for bike lovers

GADGETS

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https://kikkerlandeu.com/products/large-felt-pouch

€15.00

KIKKERLAND FELT POUCH

OFTEN, WE SPEND LOTS OF MONEY ON EXPENSIVE LAPTOPS, BUT WE FORGET TO THINK ABOUT BUYING A CASE OR POUCH TO PROTECT THEM WHEN WE TAKE THEM OUT AND ABOUT WITH US. HOWEVER, WITH THE KIKKERLAND FELT POUCH YOU CAN HAVE A SLEEK, STYLISH, AND SUPPORTIVE MATERIAL POUCH TO KEEP YOUR LAPTOP, IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS, AND DEVICES SAFE. Made of 100% polyester, the pouch can accommodate up to a 15-inch laptop and closes with a useful magnet. I was impressed with the quality for such an affordable price. The Felt Pouch is also available from Kikkerland in a smaller zipped size great for headphones, cables, or your computer mouse.

If you are looking for a new soft laptop case or a place to store important work documents for meetings while on the go, this is a great choice for you. I think it would even be great for travel for you to carry all your crucial documents and passport in one safe pouch. Therefore, the Felt Pouch is great for a variety of uses and will provide peace of mind that all your essentials are safe and together.

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PROS: - Soft and stylish design - Suitable for larger laptop sizes - Magnetic closure

CONS: - Soft material will not prevent all potential damage to its content

GADGETS

£12

https://kikkerlandeu.com/products/divider-notebook-with-ruler

KIKKERLAND DIVIDER NOTEBOOK WITH RULER

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IF YOU’RE A STATIONERY FIEND LIKE ME, THIS NOTEBOOK IS A PERFECT ADDITION TO YOUR GROWING COLLECTION! MADE FROM SUSTAINABLY SOURCED PAPER, KIKKERLAND’S NOTEBOOK IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO JOT DOWN ALL YOUR NOTES IN ONE ORGANISED LITTLE BOOK. The key benefit of this notebook is its dividers which allow you to sort your notes based on topic rather than all your notes getting scrambled up together. This would be great for studying to keep multiple subjects all in one beautiful little notebook. I personally found it was great for dividing up my shopping lists, to-do lists, and weekly budget planning. However, there are still plenty of sections left for jotting down those quick messages and reminders of appointments throughout all 5 of the notebook sections.

The notebook is super great quality with both lined and dotted pages with a colourful but still minimalist exterior.

It even has a ruler along the edge of the front cover for quick measurements – great for kids to use at school! If you are looking for a new notebook with 240 high-quality and well-organised pages, then this is the notebook for you!

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PROS: - Sustainably sourced paper - Great organisational dividers - Included ruler along notebook edge

CONS: - Each divided section is not very long so may quickly fill up when used for school notes

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https://kikkerlandeu.com/products/acrobat-balancing-pen

€25.00

GADGETS KIKKERLAND ACROBAT BALANCING PEN

EVER FEEL LIKE YOUR DESK IS A LITTLE BORING? WANT TO MAKE IT MORE FUN WITHOUT HAVING TOO MUCH DISTRACTION WHEN YOU’RE MEANT TO BE DOING WORK? THEN THE ACROBAT BALANCING PEN

BY KIKKERLAND IS A VERY FUN CHOICE! THE ACROBAT PEN ADDS A LITTLE FUN ADDITION TO YOUR DESK, AS WITH A SIMPLE TAP MY PEN WAS BALANCING AND ABLE TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH WITHOUT FALLING! The pen included in the set is a regular ballpoint pen, which once used can easily be replaced with any other that you own and which fits into the stand cap. It is very minimalist in design, and sturdy without being hard to move. You simply put your pen in its lid and set it on the stand, through the physics of the weighted ball attached to the cap it perfectly balances seemingly defying gravity.

My favourite part of the acrobat pen is that I’m never left scrambling to look for my pen to make a note during a call, instead, I always know that it will be on my acrobat stand waiting for me to use it. This would make a great stocking filler for someone who works an office job to keep on their desk. It is such a simple idea but adds a subtle bit of fun to your desk!

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PROS: - Fun desk addition - Easy to replace pen type

CONS: - Price is a little high for the use

GADGETS

£125

https://divoom.com/products/time-gate

DIVOOM TIMES GATE PIXEL ART INFORMATIVE DISPLAY

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INSPIRED BY THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY, DIVOOM HAS INTRODUCED THE TIMES GATE DISPLAY, AIMED TO TRANSFORM ANY GAMING SET-UP AND TAKE YOUR DESKTOP TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF PERSONALISED SCI-FI CREATIVITY. With five full-colour LCD displays, the Times Gate is fully customizable through the Divoom App. Each screen can be customized with different pre-set or personally designed pixel artworks. What makes the Times Gate special is that it is also WIFI enabled and so can be used to show real-time data such as your social media performance, financial market changes or even just the time.

I set up the Times Gate on my desk and downloaded the app. It was easy to get started, and soon I was playing with all the various pre-set pixel art and info-graphic options. I was thoroughly impressed by the look of the Times Gate as the backlighting and LCD screens make your display fully customizable to your needs. I think for a gaming set-up this would make a great addition – as you can even customize the lights to match your desktop backlighting. This would be especially great for streamers, influencers, or tech-savvy companies to keep track of social media figures and celebrate huge milestones in real-time.

A lovely bonus of the Time Gate is that it comes in a super futuristic case making it a great gifting option for the gamer, scifi or cyber-punk fan in your life. It’s a great gift to help enhance anyone’s desktop, workstation or gaming set-up that looks as if it has landed right on your desk from the future with its sci-fi design. Therefore, the Times Gate is an incredible smart data gadget that celebrates pixel art and allows you to fully customize your display and make your space truly unique to you.

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PROS: - Futuristic sci-fi design - Fully customizable setup - WIFI-enabled real-time data screens

CONS: - Requires downloading a further app to use the Times Gate

GADGETS

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https://divoom.com/products/pixoo-slingbag

£73.00

DIVOOM SLING BAG PIXEL ART LED DAYPACK

AS A COMPANY FOUNDED ON COMBINING STYLE WITH GREAT FUNCTION, DIVOOM HAS INTRODUCED A RANGE OF STYLISH BAGS AND RUCKSACKS WHICH LETS YOU ADD YOUR OWN PIXEL ARTWORK TO YOUR ACCESSORIES. ON THE MARKET TODAY, SO MANY BAGS ARE PLAIN, POORLY MADE AND SERVE ONLY TO HOLD YOUR ITEMS RATHER THAN ALLOW YOU TO EXPRESS YOURSELF FULLY THROUGH YOUR ACCESSORIES. HOWEVER, WITH DIVOOM THIS IS NEVER THE CASE! The sling bag features a 4.7-inch LED screen on the front, which when connected to a portable charger and the Divoom App allows you to create your own pixel artwork which magically appears on the bag’s LED screen. However, you don’t just have to design the pixel art you want on your bag, the app comes with multiple preset designs which you can choose from with a swift click. You can even include text on the pixel screen to truly make the design your own. Therefore, with the customizable front screen, the bag can represent your style in a new and high-tech way. When I tested out the bag, the app was easy to download and quickly connected to the bag, and in just a few minutes I was creating my own personal pixel art.

Aside from the high-tech pixel art function, I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the bag. The sling bag is divided into 3 sections; a front pocket with a USB cable to plug into your portable charger, a middle section which is much larger, and a back section made to keep your phone or wallet secure and close to your body. The middle section is a really good size and fitted everything I needed, with some hand sanitiser, my glasses case, tissues, a snack bar, my Kindle, and a small bag

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of makeup – however, it definitely could have fit much more! The strap has been carefully thought out to be adjustable and secure allowing you the choice of whether to wear over a shoulder, across your body or around your waist, to truly show your style just the way you like it.

Even the hardware on the bag feels top quality, adding to the impressive feel of the bag.

Overall, this bag is nothing short of impressive! I wore mine to a concert and received endless compliments from people noticing the pixel art on the front. I think this would make a great gift for someone with a unique sense of style, a love of pixel art, or even someone who loves going to nightclubs and festivals as the bag provides a practical but fun way to carry all your essential items.

PROS: - Can show your personal style with customizable pixel art - High-quality design and feel - Functional to fit in everything you would need

CONS: - Requires downloading a further app - Requires a portable charger to power the LED screen which is not included

£29.99

https://www.skullcandy.co.uk/smokin-buds-wireless-earbuds/

AUDIO

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SKULLCANDY SMOKIN’ BUDS TRUE WIRELESS EARBUDS IN A MARKET FULL OF SO MANY DIFFERENT EARBUD CHOICES, SKULLCANDY IS ALWAYS THE BRAND I RETURN TO THAT ENSURES SOUND AND STYLE ARE ALWAYS A TOP PRIORITY. THE SMOKIN’ BUDS PROVIDE A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS EARBUD OPTION, WHICH IS BUILT TO MINIMISE STRESS TO THE ENVIRONMENT WHILST ALSO BEING VERY AFFORDABLE. The earbuds come in a sleek black case with the iconic subtle Skullcandy logo on the top for a minimalist design. Inside sit the all-black headphones ready to charge. I was impressed when I opened the box to see that all its packaging is 100% recycled whilst still ensuring that the earbuds are protected in transport. This recyclability factor is carried across into the construction of the earbuds which boast 50% recycled plastics in their construction. Therefore, the Smokin’ Buds are a great choice for those who are looking for products and brands which are actively reducing their environmental impact.

One of the main reasons many of us continue to return to Skullcandy is for their sound quality at such affordable prices.

The earbuds are expertly tuned but also include specialised EQ modes that are designed to deliver the best audio quality whether it be for music, movies, or podcasts. Additionally, the Smokin’ Buds provide you with 20 combined hours of battery life between the buds and the case so you can take the earbuds with you on the go knowing you have reliably charged earbuds whenever you need them.

Furthermore, to enhance your listening experience, the Smokin’ Buds are ergonomically designed through Skullcandy’s

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extensive research and testing to provide a perfect noise-isolating fit.

This fit ensures that your audio is crystal clear, whether that be music or calls by limiting external background noise. The added mic in each earbud also ensures that the person at the end of the line can hear you perfectly too!

The Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds are a great choice for those who want a pair of earbuds that deliver Skullcandy’s usual top-quality audio in a more environmentally conscious way. For the price, they are a great value-formoney choice that doesn’t compromise on style and design to bring you the best listening experience possible.

Therefore, if you are on the hunt for a new pair of earbuds, you can’t go wrong with these!

PROS: - Top-quality audio and design - Recycled/Environmentally conscious design - Affordable price for quality audio

CONS: - Short charging cable included in the box

£99.99

https://www.skullcandy.co.uk/rail-anc-wireless-earbuds

AUDIO SKULLCANDY RAIL ANC TRUE WIRELESS EARBUDS

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SKULLCANDY HAVE LAUNCHED THEIR NEW FLAGSHIP EARBUDS WHICH ARE DESIGNED WITH AN ADJUSTABLE 4-MIC DIGITAL ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLING DESIGN TO ENSURE YOU HAVE THE BEST AUDIO EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE. I WAS SUPER EXCITED TO GET TO TRY OUT THESE EARBUDS AS THEY BOAST SOME GIANT SPECS WHILST ALWAYS CHAMPIONING TOP-QUALITY SOUND FIRST. The Rail ANC buds come in a sleek black charging case, which hold the two black and clear earbuds. Through the clear parts of the earbuds, you can see some of the electronics inside, which adds a nice futuristic touch to their design. Turning them on was easy, and they very quickly could be connected to my phone via Bluetooth. The Rail ANC buds have multipoint paring, to allow you to keep the buds connected to two devices and easily switch the audio output between them. I was impressed that I could have them connected to both my laptop and phone, so when I received a call whilst using the buds to watch films on my laptop, they quickly shifted to my phone audio output so I could take the call.

The buds felt super comfortable and provided incredible noise cancellation, especially, when compared to most earbuds in this price range on the market. The ANC levels of the earbuds allow you to enjoy your music without disruption, as they have been ergonomically designed so the ear gels fit perfectly in your ears and cancel out surrounding noise. Then, to make sure the audio is top quality they have built-in 12mm drivers for great music clarity. I tried these out whilst sitting in a busy café and was impressed by how great they were at cutting out talking, the noise from the coffee machines and the general hustle and bustle. I think these would be great for commuting and allow you to create your own little personal bubble away from the noise all thanks to Skullcandy’s ANC-focused design.

The Rail ANC has been designed by Skullcandy to be the best sounding, best looking, most comfortable and most intelligent buds that have ever been made. This seems like a big feat, but Skullcandy has gone one step further and has designed the Rail

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ANC buds to get better over time as a way of future-proofing the buds. Skullcandy has achieved this through its Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology supported by the Skullcandy-iQ App which allows the technology to remain up to date, whilst allowing you to customize EQ modes for the best audio to suit your music needs.

Furthermore, like many of Skullcandy’s earbuds and headphones, the Rail ANC also feature Tile Finding Technology for a little added layer of protection should you misplace the earbuds. You can simply go to the app and ring them to find their location, which is great for peace of mind.

Yet again Skullcandy have created earbuds that focus on bringing you top-quality sound and an unrivalled listening experience through the Rail ANC’s innovative design. If you regularly commute and are looking for earbuds to cut out the noise, or are a student and want to keep distractions to a minimum whilst studying - these are a perfect choice for you. The sound quality is topnotch and their sleek, yet minimalist design makes them a great choice for anyone.

PROS: - High-quality ANC - Easy to pair and set up - Title Finding tech and customizable EQ through apps - 38 hours of battery life

CONS: - Requires the downloading of further apps to enjoy all the customizable benefits of the earbuds

AUDIO

£60

https://www.pioneerdj.com/en-gb/product/headphones/hdj-cue1bt/black/overview/

PIONEER DJ HDJCUE1BT-K

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ARE YOU A BUDDING DJ AND WANT TO TRY YOUR HAND AT A LITTLE MIXING, OR JUST WANT DJ-QUALITY AUDIO AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE? THE PIONEER DJS HDJ-CUE1BT-K HEADPHONES ARE THE ONES FOR YOU. MADE TO WITHSTAND THE WEAR THAT COMES WITH DJING, WHILST PROVIDING CRYSTAL CLEAR AUDIO PERFECT FOR FINE-TUNING YOUR MIXES, PIONEERS DJ HEADPHONES MATCH THE QUALITY OF SOME OF THE TOP DJING HEADPHONES IN THE MARKET, BUT FOR ONLY A FRACTION OF THE PRICE! Opening the box, I was impressed by the quality of the headphones in their sleek black design. The headband feels sturdy but lightweight, and the ear cuffs are super cushioned for comfort wearing. The design is flexible to suit your everyday or DJing needs, as you can rotate the ear cuffs 90° so one sits firmly on your ear whilst the other sits on the back of your head comfortably. This makes DJing super functional, but, for me, it made listening to music whilst staying aware of my surroundings much easier whilst on a walk. One thing for certain is that the headphones are made to last, having passed many tests to ensure their durability for all the stresses that DJing puts on the headset.

However, I was most impressed by the sound. Designed with dynamic drivers, the headphones allow you to feel every note with crystal-clear precision. For a music enjoyer, this made every song perfectly balanced and clear for a great listening experience, but this is designed to allow DJs to mix with pin-point precision - which I’m sure is a breeze with these headphones. The HDJ-CUE1BT-K model includes specialist tuning like many of the pro-level headphone models to perfectly hear low frequencies, clear bass, and kick drums exactly as the final mix will sound for your budding audience.

The ease of use with this headphone model is largely due to the strong Bluetooth connectivity that allows on-the-go and wireless music enjoyment. However, the box also includes a coiled cable to plug straight into your device or DJ set-up if this is preferred. Furthermore, as a DJ you want to bring your own sense of style to your music, and the Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1BT-K allows you to fully customize your headphones by changing the colours

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of the earpads and cable to represent this style. However, the changeable earpads and wires must be purchased separately.

Overall, the headphones provide the average user with great audio quality with up to 30 hours of music playback times with a range of tuning options. However, for the budding DJ, this set is perfect for stepping into the world of music mixing whilst still being affordable. The flexibility, durability and customizability make them the perfect choice for any music listener, or DJ wanting to level up their listening experience.

PROS: - Sturdy, lightweight and durable - Customizable design and sound - Up to 30 hours of playback

CONS: - Customisable colour options for ear pads and cable must be purchased separately.

£89.95

https://joby.com/uk-en/wavo-pod-jb01775-bww/

AUDIO JOBY WAVO POD

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JOBY IS KNOWN FOR BRINGING THEIR CUSTOMERS INNOVATIVE AND USER-FRIENDLY DESIGNS TO ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO DELVE INTO THE WORLD OF CONTENT CREATION WITH THEIR RANGE OF TOPQUALITY AUDIO DEVICES, TRIPODS, MOUNTS, LIGHTS, ETC. THE JOBY WAVO POD IS NO EXCEPTION, AS IT IS DESIGNED AS A GATEWAY MICROPHONE INTO THE WORLD OF PODCASTING AND STREAMING. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, PODCASTING HAS REALLY TAKEN OFF, ALONG WITH STREAMING PLATFORMS FOR CONTENT CREATORS – THEREFORE, THE WAVO POD BRINGS TOP-QUALITY AUDIO, CLEAR VOICE SOUND, AND REAL-TIME ADJUSTABILITY IN A COMPACT AND AFFORDABLE DEVICE PERFECT FOR THOSE JUST GETTING STARTED IN THE WORLDS OF PODCASTING OR STREAMING! Upon opening the microphone, I was immediately impressed by its quality. The Wavo POD comes in black with a red Pop Filter microphone attachment. It was quick to set up as you essentially plug the Wavo POD into the USB slot of your computer or laptop and you’re ready to record audio. The plugin-and-play aspect is great, especially as I do not have in-depth knowledge of the best way to set up audio devices. My computer quickly recognised the microphone, and I was set ready to test out the audio.

I am no podcaster or streamer, but I tested out the microphone for work calls and was thoroughly impressed. My colleagues even noted that my sound quality was exceptional – especially compared to the tiny mic from my headphones which I had previously been using! The sound quality was top-notch using the large diaphragm microphone, and I think would make a great choice for a podcaster or streamer. It provides high-quality sound and a range of real-time adjusting settings that ensures that the sound quality can be monitored throughout recordings through the multi-use knob and headphone port. Therefore, I can imagine this being perfect for streamers to actively adjust their sound volume and quality mid-stream where there can be no edits to cut out microphone adjusting time.

However, for Podcasts, this would also be perfect – especially using the Wavo POD’s directional and omnidirectional microphone features. The ability to change the direction of the microphone to focus on your voice when recording a podcast alone and use the omnidirectional mic when recording with a guest would also be super useful. The Wavo POD also includes a Pop Filter accessory to ensure that your voice is clear throughout

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recordings which is perfect across streaming, calls and podcast settings.

Furthermore, the Wavo POD has a uniquely designed mounting system to make it great for desktop use, but it is fully customizable and compatible with a range of boom arms and mounts to create your perfect set-up – also, all JOBY products are designed to be compatible together.

Overall, if you are looking to step your foot into the world of podcasting and streaming, this is the perfect entry-

level microphone for you. The Wavo POD is affordable, well designed and provides a great adjustable set-up that allows your creativity and content creation to take centre stage.

However, if you work flexibly between home and work a few days a week and need to participate in work calls, the microphone would be great to provide a sturdy and reliable microphone that will bring a professional touch to your meetings.

PROS: - Easy to set up - Range of real-time adjustable options from sound, headphone volume and audio direction - Affordable entry-level price

CONS: - Only comes in a black and red colourway – which may not fit aesthetically with lots of podcast/streaming setups

AUDIO £86.95

https://joby.com/uk-en/wavo-boom-arm-jb01803-bww/

WAVO BOOM ARM

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IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE WORLD OF PODCASTING AND STREAMING THE WAVO BOOM ARM IS A GREAT BIT OF KIT FOR YOU. IT IS DESIGNED TO KEEP YOUR MICROPHONE IN THE OPTIMUM POSITION FOR GREAT AUDIO QUALITY, WHILST KEEPING ALL WIRES TIDY WITHIN ITS SLEEK AND MINIMALIST ARM. The Wavo Boom provides a sleek and high-quality stable microphone stand that can be perfectly positioned to suit your streaming or podcasting needs, whilst adding a professional element to your set-up. It can carry a payload of 1kg making it the perfect stand for your microphone. Usefully, it is universally compatible with a whole range of microphones, however, of course, it is always compatible and works great with all other JOBY products.

The Wave Boom Arm is sturdy and secure made of solid aluminium perfect for clamping onto your desk. The clamp has rubber protectors which ensures there is no damage to your desk or tables, whilst also providing even greater grip for the boom arm to your surface. The Wavo Boom Arm was easy to attach to my desk, seamlessly connected to my microphone, and played a crucial role in a great audio set-up. I was thrilled with its professional look, which made my work meeting look very high quality. Whilst I do not record podcasts or stream, just using the arm for work meetings it provides a next-level set-up that I know would be perfect for podcasters and streamers alike.

I especially liked that the arm captures all your cables to provide a seamless wireless look at your desk or streaming setup – this would be perfect for streamers who want a top-quality and reliable set-up without excessive wires across the shot. The

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Wavo Boom Arm also has customizable rubber cable covers, which are great for changing your arm to best suit your streaming or podcasting set-up or studio. However, they are currently only available in black and red.

If you already have a JOBY microphone this makes a great addition for a seamless set-up, but the universality of the Wavo Boom Arm ensures that it is perfect if you already have a different microphone that best suits your recording needs.

It will give any set-up, whether it be for podcasting, streaming or even meetings, an extra professional look for such an affordable price. It even includes a cup and headphone holder to save on desk space!

PROS: - Secure microphone arm for all audio needs - 1kg payload - Universal attachment for use with a variety of microphones

CONS: - The boom arm is quite heavy to make it stable, so it is not super portable

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https://bit.ly/3sdGRSl

£99.99

AUDIO EDIFIER W320TN TRUE WIRELESS NOISE CANCELLATION EARBUDS THE FUTURE OF AI IS TAKING OVER YOUR LISTENING EXPERIENCE, AND WITH THE NEW EDIFIER W320TN WE COULDN’T BE HAPPIER! THE EARBUDS BOAST A MULTIMODAL ADAPTIVE SYSTEM WHICH COMBINES RESEARCH, ALGORITHMS, AND USER EXPERIENCE TO BRING YOU EXCELLENT NOISE CANCELLATION, THE BEST SOUND QUALITY, AND ALWAYS CRYSTAL-CLEAR CALLS. Upon opening the W320TN earbuds I was thrilled with the sleek case in a stylish dark grey colour - a nice change from the large number of black earbuds on the market. Inside the case are the two minimalist earbuds with the Edifier logo printed delicately on each one. Connecting to my phone couldn’t have been simpler, as the earbuds support Google fast pairing with Android phones. However, I also tested the earbuds with a friend’s iPhone and a similarly fast connection was also possible.

The earbuds are designed to have a super comfortable open fit which ensures they are ergonomic and lightweight for a great listening experience. The W320TN’s have also been designed to reduce noise leakage to bring you clear sound and high-quality active noise cancellation (ANC). The ANC of the earbuds is measured through an AI algorithm to deliver the perfect level of noise cancellation to drown out external noise, whilst still feeling aware of the world around you. As someone who finds complete noise cancellation a little weird and unsafe when walking to work, the earbuds made a perfect choice for minimising background noise whilst still allowing me to be aware of my surroundings for peace of mind.

A great feature of the W320TN’s is their wear detection design which uses infrared sensors to detect when you take the earbuds out. This means that it keeps the ANC and music going

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when you’re wearing them, but when you pop them out the ANC turns off and the music stops so you never miss a thing. This, paired with the 27 hours of battery life between the case and earbuds makes them a great choice for taking with you on the go - you can start and stop your music with ease knowing they will survive all day on a single charge.

Overall, if top-quality ANC, comfortable fit, excellent sound, and reliable battery life are what you’re looking for then these are the earbuds for you. I was thrilled with the performance of the buds as they are comparable to some audio devices three times their price, and, as we begin looking towards the festive season, these would make a great gift for the music lover in your life.

PROS: - Top quality ANC - Ergonomic comfort design - Reliable battery life

CONS: - Requires Edifier App for further sound customization

AUDIO

£49.99

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C7L1KJRQ

EDIFIER TWS1 PRO 2 TRUE WIRELESS EARBUDS

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EDIFIER IS KNOWN FOR ITS TOP-QUALITY AUDIO ELECTRONICS THAT PROVIDE ITS LISTENERS WITH EXCEPTIONAL SOUND QUALITY FOR AN IMPRESSIVE LISTENING EXPERIENCE – AND THE TWS1 PRO 2 WIRELESS EARBUDS ARE NO EXCEPTION. I’m always excited to test out new Edifier products as they never compromise on sound quality whilst offering sleek and functional designs. The TWS1 Pro 2 Earbuds are designed to be used on the go and across a range of environments, as they are built with a strong active noise cancellation (ANC) design making them perfect for use whilst working out, walking, or even commuting. Straight out of the box they were easy to set up, and immediately went into pairing mode to connect to my phone without much effort.

From the first use, I was impressed by the ANC that so often is lacking in many earbuds of this price range. I tested the earbuds out at the gym and was thrilled to be in my own little bubble without outside noise or distractions interrupting my session. A further plus of the TWS1 Pro 2’s is that they are IP54 certified, which means I wasn’t scared of wearing them to the gym where they may get sweaty as they’ve been built with this in mind. Therefore, as a pair of earphones for the gym these are a top-quality choice.

The ambient mode of the earbuds is also great in providing a great listening experience, whilst still allowing you to hear what is going on around you. This made walking to work feel safer, as I was aware of my surroundings and could listen out for traffic more easily. I also find these great for putting in whilst getting work done as I can still hear everyone in the office but can also enjoy listening to podcasts. To get to this mode you can easily tap the sides of the buds making them super easy to navigate without having to get your phone out of your pocket.

O A really cool feature of the Earbuds is that they are built with wear detection which pauses your music or audio when you remove the earbuds from your ears, and starts it again when you pop them back in. This is a great feature that means you don’t miss any of your songs or podcasts if you need to quickly take the earbuds out for any reason. I really appreciated this feature as I never had to quickly scramble to find my phone and pause the music, I could simply pause the music by removing them from my ears to have a conversation – and then I put them back in and the music continued exactly where I left off.

Overall, Edifier’s TWS1 Pro 2 True Wireless Earbuds are a great allround choice – from their great ANC, always reliable sound quality, and wear detection feature, these buds provide a great listening experience for such a reasonable price. If you are in the market for some new earbuds, the TWS1 Pro 2 earbuds will definitely not disappoint!

PROS: - Easy set-up - Great Sound quality and ANC modes - Wear detection technology

https://quieton.com/shop/quieton-3-sleep-earbuds/

$289.00

HEALTH& QUIETON 3.1 SLEEP EARBUDS BEAUTY

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QUIETON IS A BRAND THAT TRULY BELIEVES THAT EVERYONE DESERVES A GREAT NIGHT’S SLEEP, AND THROUGH THE THIRD GENERATION OF THEIR SLEEP EARBUDS, THEY JUST MIGHT HAVE ACHIEVED THIS! THE QUIETON 3.1 SLEEP EARBUDS ARE THE WORLD’S SMALLEST NOISECANCELLATION EARBUDS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING YOU WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE CHANCE FOR A PEACEFUL NIGHT’S SLEEP. I was so excited to get to try out the QuietOn 3.1 Sleep Earbuds having heard such great things about their noisecancellation qualities online. Upon opening the earbuds case, I was shocked by just how small they were. Snuggled within the charging case, the two earbuds, which are three times smaller than Apple Airpods Pros™, are designed to be super comfortable and almost unnoticeable whilst wearing them. Of course, I immediately popped them in my ears and was shocked by how much noise they cancelled out. Once you put them in you enter 20 seconds of an almost transparency mode so you can hear your surroundings, and then they enter a full active noise cancellation (ANC) mode. I was surprised at how much of the office noise and traffic outside was cancelled – however, to fully put them to the test I took them home and tried them for sleeping.

For a week I used the QuietOn 3.1 Sleep Earbuds, and they did an excellent job. Now I’m not someone who typically struggles to sleep, but on occasion, my partner’s snoring or the sound of traffic outside can lead to me waking throughout the night and struggling to get back to sleep. Every night before bed, the earbuds were simple to pop in and I laid down to sleep. As a side sleeper, the size of the buds was great as they fit perfectly inside my ears to actively reduce outside noise whilst they are still small enough to be barely noticeable and not put extra strain on my ear. I will say if you are not used to sleeping with any earplugs the feeling of having something in your ear can take a little getting used to. However, personally after having them in for a little while I didn’t even notice they were in except for realising that my surroundings had been greatly muted.

The earbuds make this possible using its top-quality ANC technology which works to eliminate low-frequency sounds which most common noise disturbances during sleep stem from. It does this by taking a sample of the noise outside of the earbuds, which through the tiny active electronics inside the earbud, creates a phase-shifted and equalized sounds which in

& Y then played through a speaker to cancel out the original outside noise. This technology has been developed through three generations of earbuds by QuietOn to bring you this generation, which in my opinion, provides next-level noise cancellation. The entire week I did not wake up to snoring, a car outside, or even a large rainstorm, which meant I woke up every day feeling refreshed. I will definitely be keeping these earbuds by my bedside and will be sure to pop them in on days when sleep is a struggle or when my partner won’t stop snoring!

A big perk of the QuietOn 3.1 Earbuds is that they provide 28 hours of wear, meaning that I got a few days of wear out of a single charge – this obviously varies in length from person to person, but you are sure to get a decent amount of sleep over a few days before they need recharging. For the size, the fact they have such a long battery life before you need to recharge them is exceptional – they truly are small but powerful!

If you struggle to sleep, or you know someone who is constantly getting woken up during the night (Even

if it is from your own snoring) then this is the perfect gift for you or them!

QuietOn are even having a great Black Friday sale, perfect for getting these great little earbuds as a Christmas gift for someone in your life, or even grabbing yourself a great deal. For Black Friday the QuietOn 3.1 will have $50 dollars off, available for $239 USD!

PROS: - Unrivalled noise cancellation - Comfortable design for side sleepers - Great battery life for multiple nights sleep on one charge

CONS: - They do have a luxury price point – but for the noise cancellation qualities they seem worth it

£299.99

https://www.meta.com/gb/quest/products/quest-2/#overview

GAMING META QUEST 2

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HAVING HEARD ALL THE RAGE ABOUT VR HEADSETS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, I WAS THRILLED TO FINALLY GET THE CHANCE TO TRY ONE OUT. I GOT TO TEST OUT A FEW GAMES USING THE META QUEST 2 INCLUDING BEAT SABER AND RED MATTER 2, AND I HAVE TO SAY I WAS BLOWN AWAY WITH THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE! Straight out of the box, the Meta Quest 2 was easy to set up, and after a few minutes of trying to figure out how to make it all work with the app and a Meta account, I was quickly able to test out the games. The box includes the headset which is adjustable to securely fit it to your head, and the TwoTouch controllers which are remarkably lightweight. I was pleased to see the controllers had wrist straps as I was worried I might accidentally drop them or send them flying across the room.

After getting it all setup, I had a go playing Beat Saber – this was super fun! You can choose from a wide range of big hits and with each song, blocks fly towards you in rhythm with the music.

Each block has a colour which is linked to the saber colours that you are holding virtually in your hands, as well as a direction in which you need to aim to hit each block in.

After a few minutes, I got the hang of it on an easy mode, but it took a little more coordination than I think I have!

Personally, I was no match for the harder levels, but with a great song on it was super fun to play. I must say that playing it can turn into a bit of an arm workout as you reach up and down to hit through blocks in time with the music, but with the great music and impressive graphics, it was all worth it. The audio of the game through the Meta Quest 2 was top quality and perfectly synced to the graphics thanks to Meta Quest’s 3D positional audio which is built directly into the headset. It allows for full surround sound through its 3.5mm audio port, so you don’t need additional headphones to hear the game’s sound which is great.

I also had a go at playing Red Matter 2. The graphics were incredible, all of which were made possible by the Meta Quest 2’s high pixel density screen and the headset’s dynamic resolution scaling, as well as its range of hand and body tracking systems – all of which give you a fully dynamic experience inside every game. In Red Matter 2 you get to experience life as an astronaut as you step into the role of Sasha, an agent awoken in a lunar base, who is tasked to uncover the secrets of the Mysterious Red Matter through a series of immersive puzzles over the course

G of the game. I found this game a little more difficult to get the hang of at first, but soon I was in my spacesuit and having fun using the jetpack feature.

The game’s graphics are nothing if not impressive, as you get to see space up close and personal. This is a game I can’t wait to come back to and see how the story develops in line with its puzzle-adventure game style.

A big plus of the Meta Quest 2 is the Guardian Activated feature that allows you to set up a safe area for gameplay. This means that you can trace a safe space without obstructions so that when you are in games you can move around with confidence that you won’t knock anything over or trip on anything on the ground. This is a great feature that ensures the safety of the player as it informs you if you try to leave the pre-set safety area. I think this is a great feature, and essential for when playing alone.

Overall, the Meta Quest headset is just as good as everyone has been saying. Even from playing a few of the games, you can see that they are all designed to make the most of the Meta Quest’s dynamic features to bring fun and exciting VR experiences to

everyone. This is a must-buy gift for any video gamer in your life who wants to take their games to the next level.

However, as you connect the headset to a TV or phone screen, your friends and family can also watch your gameplay and join in on the fun. Therefore, if you haven’t tried out the world of VR yet, the Meta Quest 2 is the obvious choice for you!

PROS: - Easy set-up - Incredible audio and visuals - Massive range of games to suit any taste from music to puzzle games - Lightweight and in-built safety design

CONS: - Requires the further download of a smartphone app/creation of a Meta account to play

PHOTO STUDIO GRAPHY CREATOR 360° https://bit.ly/479vRUP

£44.99

VIDEO MAKER KIT

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CALLING ALL BUDDING INFLUENCERS, VLOGGERS, ACTORS, OR FOOTBALL FREESTYLERS! DO YOU WANT TO MAKE GREAT CONTENT THAT IS SUPPORTED BY MOTION TRACKING TO ENSURE YOUR MOVES OR TRICKS ARE ALWAYS KEPT IN THE SHOT? – THEN THE STUDIO CREATOR 360° VIDEO MAKER KIT IS PERFECT FOR YOU! Studio Creator is known for its impressive range of products which put the creator at the heart of every design. Its products allow every creator to capture great content time and time again with ease. Now I’ll admit, I am no budding content creator, but I do spend hours scrolling through social media so am very familiar with the type of content that the 360° Video Maker is designed for – and I am thoroughly impressed!

Inside the box is a tripod, LED ring light, phone holder, green screen, motion detection device and a 3-meter USB power cable. The tripod is easy to put together with the phone holder, motion detection device and ring light securely connecting leaving you with the perfect video-capturing set-up. The LED light comes with 18 different colour settings from warm, natural, and white, to a range of colourful variants to ensure every shot is well-lit and matches your video needs.

However, the true magic of the 360° Video Maker Kit is its ability to track your movements. To make the motion device work you simply connect your phone to it to capture you and then you are free to move around as the device tracks you. I had a quick test of the motion tracking and was thoroughly impressed by how smooth it was. If you want a perfect set-up for capturing your moves or to show off your skills, the Video Maker Kit’s motion tracker is great as it ensures you are always in the shot while you’re busy doing your thing!

This would make a great gift for the teenager in your life who loves posting content on TikTok as the kit allows

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you to experiment with colours and movements without needing to constantly move your recording set up to make sure you’re going to always be in the frame. The kit even comes with a green screen so you can change up your background with ease. However, it is only 1x1.5m in size so cannot be used for large movements as it will not cover the background of larger shots.

Overall, the Studio Creator 360° Video Maker does exactly what it says – it allows you to capture video content at 360° with a series of light options and useful additions to keep your content fresh and vibrant. The tripod extends up to 100cm making it great for capturing content on the go, and then collapsing the tripod back down. If you are interested in capturing content for yourself or have a budding influencer in your life, then this is the perfect choice at such an affordable price.

PROS: - Easy to assemble - 18 colour options LED ring light - Motions Detection Tracking for great shots

CONS: - Does not come with required AA batteries - Additional app downloaded needed to use the kit

https://huehd.com/shop/px0003/ https://huehd.com/shop/cx0005/

HUE HD Pro Camera £49.95 // Hard Carry Case £15.95

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PHOTO GRAPHY HUE HD PRO CAMERA AND HUE HD PRO HARD CARRY CASE

LIMITED BACK TO SCHOOL OFFER FREE CARRY CASE WHILE STOCKS LAST. Following the pandemic, we all realised how crucial it is to be able to work flexibly between work and home offices, especially in the world of education where teachers and children alike had to tackle all that comes with studying virtually online.

For many teachers, poor quality cameras, less-than-ideal lighting, and difficult setups made it harder to teach – especially in subject areas such as maths and science which benefit from being taught through demonstrated examples.

However, many of the same problems can be still found in offices and classrooms where cumbersome, poor quality, oldstyle visualisers are often in situ. It has become clear that a cost-effective solution to the problem of how to show a close-up demonstration for wider engagement of your class or meeting attendees is much needed.

This is where the HUE HD Pro camera takes centre stage, with its crystal-clear image, high-quality audio capture and simple LED lighting; presenting, demonstrating and teaching are made so much easier.

The HUE HD Pro document camera has full HD 1080p resolution (1920x 1080), built-in LED lights and a high-quality noise cancelling microphone. It is designed to be portable

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and lightweight and is compatible with classroom interactive smart boards, third-party software including Windows, macOS, ChromeOS and Linux distributions, as well as any app that recognises a USB camera such as Zoom, Google Meet, MS Teams and Slack.

It can simply be plugged into your desktop or laptop’s USB port to bring you immediate photo and video capabilities, sound, and lighting options. We received the green HUE HD Pro camera which was a nice colourway (it is available in red, blue, green and black) and it was remarkably easy to set up. Straight out of the box, I plugged it in, and it was immediately recognised by my PC. The sturdy base and flexible gooseneck ensure that you can angle the camera into the perfect position, whilst also being able to use the manual

focus to get really close to the text or 3D object you want to show on a larger screen.

I personally think this would make a great choice for science teaching where the camera can be used as a basic microscope or to video record a fast chemical reaction which can then be played back to the class for closer observation. Safety considerations are also paramount in the classroom and the hands-free nature of the camera allows everyone, including the teacher, to maintain a safe distance.

This would make a great gift for any teacher, business professional or student in your life who needs a portable, compact, and on-the-go document camera and visualiser.

By buying the HUE HD Pro you are eliminating the need to buy a separate

HUE HD PRO

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webcam, lighting, microphone, and even a tripod – so you are saving a great deal with this all-in-one device.

However, HUE went one step further and created a hard carry case designed exclusively for the HUE HD Pro. It has a moulded interior which perfectly fits the shape of the camera head and base, as well as accommodating the cables on the opposite side. The snug fit ensures that the camera is protected during transportation as well as providing a safe storage option, away from knocks and falls of classroom life.

The case can be fully zipped up and the hardshell comes in two colourways – one in a sleek and minimalist black, and another in a white/multi-coloured style. Both provide unrivalled and specialised protection as well as giving a professional feel to your document camera. This makes a perfect addition to buy for those in your life who already have the camera, or as an additional purchase alongside the HUE HD Pro. See current Back to School offer above!

Overall, the HUE HD Pro is a great choice for teachers and business professionals who need an easy-to-use, compact and reliable visualiser for use right across the curriculum or in industry. As we move into the autumn months and many across the UK return to education, HUE and its HUE HD Pro Camera with hard carry case are an essential buy.

PROS: - HUE HD Pro Camera is lightweight and multifunctional - Plug & Play with easy setup - Hard carry case specifically designed for the HUE HD Pro - Compact hard case for easy transportation with peace of mind

VEHICLES https://www.cardosystems.com/shop/packtalk-edge/

Single: £356 // Duo: £635

CARDO SYSTEMS PACKTALK EDGE

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I’VE BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS, BUT THIS WAS FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED ABOUT A DECADE AGO WHEN I WAS ASKED TO REVIEW A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USED BETWEEN RIDERS. INITIALLY, I WAS SCEPTICAL TO USE ONE AS I WAS CONVINCED THAT PART OF THE JOY OF RIDING WAS THE UNINTERRUPTED TIME I HAD TO THINK. HOWEVER, WITH A COUPLE OF PALS, WE FITTED THE UNITS AND WENT FOR A RIDE. WE SPENT ALL DAY RIDING AND TALKING, AND I LOVED IT. GONE WERE THE MACHINE GUN CHATS AT COFFEE STOPS WHERE WE WOULD BATTLE TO DISCUSS THE RIDE, THE SIGHTS, OUR WORK WEEKS, FAMILY ETC. I have tested most of the systems you can buy, and they have changed considerably over the years. When the first units came out, they were experimental and still finding their feet.

Many were either too big, too complicated, had poor battery length or just didn’t work very well. Whereas Cardo has been making their communication systems for nearly 20 years and it’s fair to say they are the market leader for a reason. The EDGE is easy to use and at the click of a button you can turn on your tunes, radio, or audiobook. You can also link it up with your sat nav and of course, make and receive phone calls - but I skip this one as I ride to get away from that.

The Cardo Packtalk EDGE is one of the smallest and lightest units to have on your helmet whilst being swamped with technology. The noise-cancelling microphone and high-quality ‘Sound by JBL’ speakers that come as standard are superb. We all noticed that the new mics don’t pick up nearly as much wind noise as previous models. Voices were always crisp and clear, and listening to music was superb with a great level of treble and bass. The voice control is easy and effective to use, however, you are still given buttons to use if preferred. The automatic volume scaling works great too, and you will forget it’s there whilst it

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perfectly turns the sound up and down in response to ambient wind noise.

You can’t overlook the safety element too when linked to your mates.

We all miss things when riding, be it changing lights, animals, speed zones, cars creeping at T junction etc. When connected to your mates you are all on the lookout and these extra eyes can point out all the potential dangers, some of which you may have missed.

I know this has saved us on more than one occasion.

The units offer two ways of connecting – Bluetooth connection or mesh, using Cardo’s proven Dynamic Mesh Communication connectivity, now in its 2nd generation. In mesh mode, each of the units acts as a ‘hub’, connecting to all the other units around it, meaning no breaking of the chain

when swapping positions or moving in and out of range (a common pet hate for many riders using comms). The DMC also proved handy as once our units were connected, the next day when we switched them on, they remembered each other, we put our helmets on and rode – no need to mess around reconnecting.

Our testing ground was three riders jollying around France for 10 days and usually, on a trip of this length you will notice gremlins in new gear but there was nothing. The battery life never once let us down. I believe the estimated battery life is 13 hours and after testing it I have no doubt that this is true. Even after a full day of use I only ever got down to 25%, which you are told the percentage remaining as you power down the unit. I like that

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the EDGE gets a USB-C port which in my opinion is one of the easiest to use for quick charging. Furthermore, the charging port is at the back and protected by a little rubber flap from getting water in it. We got caught out in a few very heavy downpours in Normandy, to the point it got through my Gore-Tex clothing, however, the headsets had no issues with their IP67 waterproof design.

The EDGE uses Bluetooth 5.2 and it is fast – most notably with updates and pairing speed. We found once you turned the unit on, put on your gloves and sat on your bike we were all connected. The EDGE doesn’t need a flick-up antenna to gain range which makes them sleek and has less chance of breakage without losing any of its 1.6 km line-of-sight range – brilliant!

The EDGE uses a magnetic “Air Mount” to connect the unit to your helmet. Once the unit has been removed from your helmet and charged, you just hold it near to your helmet and it is magnetically pulled and snapped into place. Then, once on it won’t come off as it activates a security clip that keeps it in place.

So, is the Packtalk EDGE the best motorcycle communication unit available?

Yes, I think it is. I have had less success with other units, and it feels like Cardo has used their experience to create the ultimate communication unit for bikers. The kit is a lot of money to buy, however, they are superior quality and work fantastically - and let’s face it, everything related to motorcycling is expensive! They will last for years so maybe if you look at it in relation to years of use for the price they are not as expensive. To sum up, we had an extensive 10-day test, long days, changing weathers of heat and rain and we had no issues, not one!

PROS:

CONS:

- Seamless pairing with universal Bluetooth 5.2 - 13 Hours of Battery Life and battery percentage reminders - Automatic sound level adjustment from ambient noise - Top-quality audio with JBL 40mm high-definition speakers - Can connect up to 15 riders at a range of up t 1.6km with 2nd Gen Dynamic Mesh Communication intercom

- The units are pricey – but they are a worthwhile investment if you are an avid biker for all their incredible functions and years of use per cost

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EXPLORE. ENJOY.

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