Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 14 i Gadget

01 Fabric clock face Glance features an aluminium frame that blends into a fabric clock face on top of a coloured LED display. That gives it the capability to show messages and alerts from your phone (via the Glance companion app) right alongside the time. 02 Steps and sleep Two readouts you can get from your Glance clock are steps taken and sleep hours banked: it’s compatible with apps from Fitbit, Misfit and Jawbone, as well as Apple Health and Google Fit, so you know exactly how close your goals are. 03 Smart alarms Glance has some helpful time-related tricks as well. It can check when sunrise is in your area, for example, and make sure you get up on time. There’s also support for multiple time zones if you…

What kind of tech-head are you? Whether you’re a fitness freak who likes to monitor every step you take with a fitness tracker, an elite gamer that can’t resist playing Destiny until 3am, or a snappy shutterbug that loves taking selfies, you’ll find the best gear of the year for your passion here. With the holidays around the corner, why not circle your favourites and leave this guide where your loved ones might find it? To help, we’ve included tips throughout that might just help you convince them that these gadgets are worth buying (‘it’s for all the family, right?’). HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE Read it (preferably over and over) and make sure people see you reading it. Highlight the ones you want, maybe put a star next to…

STREAM WIRELESS MUSIC TO A SPEAKER SYSTEM Although vinyl has made a comeback, music streaming is now king and having an audio component that optimises what’s coming in through the air makes a big difference. The WXA 50 forms part of Yamaha’s MusicCast multi-room audio system, integrating into a speaker system and working with Spotify, Pandora and Napster. It’s also very easy to set up and it benefits from one-push play. Using the MusicCast app, it’s possible to operate both the wireless streaming amplifier and the entire range of compatible components. The amp can be mixed and matched with any of the other devices in the MusicCast range and that produces a system that works well in the setup that you have, whether its orientated around television or around your…

MEET THE WORLD’S THINNEST LAPTOP If laptops could receive awards for their looks, the HP Spectre 13 would win, easily. Weighing in at just 2.45lbs and being built from a carbon fibre and aluminium frame, it can also bask in its glory of being the world’s thinnest laptop. It’s powered by a sixth generation Intel Core i Processor and boasts 8GB of onboard RAM to cope with most tasks. For a laptop this thin, a specialised cooling system has been implemented. Using breakthrough cooling tech from Intel, the Spectre is capable of drawing in cool air, rather than just venting heat out. HP Spectre 3 £1,150 | $1,070 | hp.com YOU’VE NEVER SEEN A HAIRDRYER LIKE THIS We promise you, this really is a hairdryer. The Dyson Supersonic’s unique design…

PARROT AIRBORNE CARGO TRAVIS This drone may be small but it comes with plenty of features for the asking price. For the more inexperienced pilot, it has the tools to get anyone more confident with their skills. The Airborne Cargo can reach speeds of 11mph and with the simple push of a button the drone can perform 90-degree or 180-degree stunts. It also has a camera so you can take photos in the air. It comes in a few colours and decors can be added, there is also Lego-compatible bricks on top. Spare parts can be purchased and are easily replaceable so newcomers don’t need to worry too much. £80 | $100 | parrot.com AMAZON FIRE TABLET The seven-inch tablet has a quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM and either 8GB…

Daydream-compatible phones To use the headset the phone must be Daydream-compatible. There are only a few currently, but Google is hoping that more Android devices will Daydream-ready in the future The Daydream Controller The remote has a pointer, touchpad, buttons and sensors to pick up movement. It works well for playing games and when done it fits nicely into the headset Easy to use Simply put the Daydream-ready phone into the headset and the device will automatically go into Daydream mode Made for comfort A big change from Google Cardboard, the Daydream View is made from breathable fabric to keep it lightweight. It is comfortable to wear even if you’re wearing glasses This VR headset is compatible with any Daydream-ready phone (such as the Pixel). You can experience VR games…

Amazon designed the Echo to be used in even the noisiest of home environments. It uses seven microphones, six around the body of the device and one in the centre, so it can hear a voice from anywhere in the room. Amazon has developed technology it calls ‘Beam Forming’ that can recognise the difference between noise and voices. So if music is playing in one direction and a person is trying to give it a command in another, it can suppress the microphone hearing music and amplify the one needed for hearing the voice clearly.…

Camera shy The base PS VR pack doesn’t come with a PlayStation Camera, which is required for use. If you already have one, great – if not, be aware that it’s something else you’ll need to pick up Seeing double Inside the visor is a single 1080p OLED display, giving an equivalent resolution of 960 x 1080 per eye – not quite as sharp as Vive or Rift’s dual screens, but perfectly serviceable Light em’ up The lights around the headset are part of how the tracking works – just as the PlayStation Camera can find and follow the DualShock 4 thanks to its otherwise annoying light bar Floating away Of all the headsets on the market right now, PlayStation VR is arguably the most comfortable. It’s wonderfully weighted and…

“S60 can take a beating but also has its fair share of practical features” Programmable button The orange button to the left of the phone can be programmed to work on either a long or short press and then it can be set to open an app or to wake up the phone Behind the panels To make the device dust-resistant and waterproof, the Micro-USB and headphone inputs as well as the SOS button are behind panels. You have to use your nails to get them open Waterproofing the CAT The CAT S60 is waterproof up to two meters regularly, if you want to go deeper there are two switches and when these are enabled, it can go as deep as five meters Bulky buttons The buttons to the side…

We’ve all been in this situation: you get home from a hard day of work, the last thing you want to do is cook, so you slap a ready meal in the microwave or order the usual from your nearest takeaway. You guzzle down it sat in front of the TV, feeling greasy and bloated, wondering why you bothered. But wait! The memory in your mind’s eye freezes with the sound of a record scratch. What if we told you, in our most peppy advert narrator voice, that you could prepare a healthy meal that will leave you feeling full in under two minutes? This is the sales pitch for Huel, short for ‘human fuel’, a bioengineered powder containing all your essential nutrients that you can mix with water to…

Saving body heat The nylon construction of the Condition Black jacket has been engineered to maintain body heat for as long as possible. The tight construction also makes it 98 per cent windproof Understanding nanotechnology Vollebak’s nanotechnology adds a thin, rough surface to the jacket, which can help water simply run of it and make the Condition Black coat completely water repellent Ceraspace construction 19 panels of the protective ceraspace fabric are implemented on the jacket. Each hand-cut panel is placed at a high-impact point, with its tight particle construction preventing rips from occurring Protect your skin The muzzle on the front of the Condition Black fastens right up to your goggles to limit the overall amount of skin exposed to the elements. The articulated hood also locks tight over…

Protect your joints Smartwool’s ReliaWool technology adds support to the key areas of your foot, with added fabric to prevent them taking serious impacts The perfect fit Two adjoining elastic strands help give the PhD socks greater stretch, and make sure they stay in the perfect position whenever you wear them Room to breathe Three ventilation zones can be found throughout the socks, which help manage moisture levels and prevent sweat from building up Hands up: how many of us go to our local high street and pick up the cheapest socks you can find? A lot, we’d wager. But in a lot of cases, cheap socks aren’t doing your joints and ligaments any good, and it’s recommended to invest in a pair that can really aid you in your…

Short-term results Light therapy can quickly relive symptoms but if SAD persists, other treatments are advised. For the best results, it is advised to stick to a regular light therapy session. Sunlight simulation The light is most effective when used for up to an hour every morning. It contains no ultraviolet rays so there’s no chance of damaging the skin Hormone production As the light shines, the brain is encouraged to reduce production of hormones that make you drowsy and moody Lumie Brightspark Small enough to fit on a desk, the Brightspark helps combat SAD by emulating natural light. The intended treatment time varies between 45-90 minutes. £115 | $150 lumie.com Lumie Bodyclock Iris This innovative alarm clock both readies the user for sleep and gradually wakes them up. It…

Integrated amp Those audio signals are then passed to an amp, which in the XB10 boosts the weaker signals to give you a full and clear sound in your headphones 24-bit HD music The AK XB10 uses a Qualcomm Bluetooth codec to transmit 24-bit HD music – as long as the source device you’re using is aptX HD-compatible Integrated DAC Once the 1s and 0s have been transmitted wirelessly through the magic of Bluetooth, it’s the job of the digital-to-analogue converter to turn them into audio signals Headphone output All that remains is to plug in your 3.5mm or 2.5mm headphones and enjoy the audio streaming from your phone (or whichever device you’ve hooked up) As you have probably heard already, the iPhone 7 has ditched the headphone jack, pushing…

VR anywhere The MSI VR One can power your HTC Vive (or Oculus Rift) without you having to stay still – it’s essentially a gaming laptop, in a backpack Battery life MSI says the internal battery is good for around 90 minutes of play – but if you need more you can swap in a replacement battery without stopping Backpack weight The VR One backpack weighs in at 3.6kg, so you should be able to take a few hours of gaming while carrying it on your back System performance Thanks to some advanced horsepower and internal cooling fans and pipes, the VR One should be able to drive VR experiences at up to 90 frames per second VR headsets such as HTC Vive are powered by gaming PCs, which…

LET DOGS THROW THEIR OWN BALLS Sure, you can stand in a wet field in the pouring rain, chucking a drool-sodden tennis ball great distances with a bog-standard launcher in the hope your pet pooch will take that little bit longer to bring it back. But with the iFetch, it’s possible to take comfortable shelter under a tree and let your best friend do its own thing. Pop balls into the device and it will launch them up to 30 feet. But you can also train your dog to return it to iFetch’s funnel and it will automatically launch it again. And again. Ad infinitum. Leaving your hands free to clasp around a nice warm coffee. iFetch £90 | $115 | goifetch.com PETZI TREAT CAM It’s easy to feel guilty…

MAKE LIGHT WORK OF REVERSING There’s always a risk of an accident when reversing a car and it’s never quite clear who is to blame if there is a collision. Garmin’s wireless reversing camera will make a great present for anyone who has trouble going backwards, steaming 640 x 480 footage of what’s behind the vehicle to a GPS navigator’s display up front. Placing it vertically gives a 115-degree camera angle while potioning it horizontally increases the vision to 140 degrees. Having it professionally installed means it can be wired to the rear lights, kicking it into action whenever the car is shifted into reverse. Best of all, it can also cope with the harshest of weathers. Garmin BC 30 wireless reversing camera £135 | $170 | garmin.com STREAM DASHCAM…

Though Google has made its own Nexus smartphones for years, the tech giant has always been keener to see its Android operating system on devices made by others. This year, not only has Google killed off the Nexus range and replaced it with an all-new Pixel, but launched its own VR headset, a new Chromecast and more. It appears that Google has no problem showing that it is targeting rival devices, with the Pixel phone clearly being pushed as an iPhone rival, while the Daydream View is clearly a shot across Samsung’s bow, and the Google Home is going head-to-head Amazon’s Echo. Before we point the finger at Google for a lack of originality, the Mountain View company has upgraded them all with unique features, from full HD screens, built-in…

Ready, steady, bake! With baking fever taking over the world, it’s time to don an apron and create the perfect showstopper. Whether that’s a beautifully-iced cake, melt-in-your-mouth biscuits or a spectacular souffle to impress guests with, all you need is the right tools. For six years, The Great British Bake Off has inspired us to get back into the kitchen. It is now an international sensation and countries all over the world have their own versions. With 15 million viewers tuning in to watch the final, the show, which sees 12 contestants battle it out to become Britain’s best amateur baker, was the most-watched TV programme of 2015. And it’s not only women watching the show. Two of the winners of the Great British Bake Off have been men, breaking…

Control wherever you are The oven’s TFT display is touchscreen, but it can also be used remotely via the Home Connect app so you never have to worry about forgetting to turn the oven off Full of hot air The steam oven has 13 cooking functions including 4D hot air, which means it won’t matter what shelf your cake is on as the hot air is equally distributed throughout the oven The eco-oven Not only does the Siemens iQ700 have a high energy efficiency, saving on costs, but it has an ecoClean function. The oven is lined with a special material that breaks down dirt Forget using a conventional oven. Every star baker needs a good oven, but what they really want, is a smart oven. The Siemens CS656GBS1B iQ700…

Gone are the days when we used to run out of milk. You’ll never forget to restock your fridge again with the Smarter Fridgecam. The smart camera is small, compact and easy to put up in your fridge. Every time you close the fridge door it takes a picture of the contents inside, so when you make your next trip to the supermarket, all you have to do is check your phone to see what you’ve got in and what you’ve run out of. The camera connects to the Smarter Cloud app via Wi-Fi and has a number of other useful features including letting you know if the fridge has been left open or if the temperature inside is too warm. You can even set up notifications to let you…

If watching the Great British Bake Off has given you the need to knead, we have some Smeg kitchen kit that might take your fondant fancy. One lucky winner will win a Smeg stand mixer and blender. The Italian appliance makers Fifties-inspired range doesn’t just suit the vintage style of Bake Off’s big tent, it’s actually part of the show’s furniture. Look closer next time you see a contestant reach into the fridge for ingredients and notice the familiar curves and brightly coloured designs. But just because Smeg’s kitchen range has a traditional look, doesn’t mean it’s not packing cutting-edge features under its die-cast aluminium casing. The £350 SMF01 mixer has a vast 4.8-litre stainless steel bowl and an 800W direct motor with variable speed control, so you mix anything…

AMAZON ECHO Amazon’s device is completely controlled by voice, no remote or gestures, but the Echo is quick to respond and the voice is incredibly human-like. The Alexa software has been available to developers for almost a year and because of this there is an extensive range of functions and compatible products. GOOGLE HOME Google’s answer to the Amazon Echo just launched in the US, costing $50. It’s new Google Assistant builds on years of search experience and understands more natural questions. However, it will take time for Google to build up an ecosystem of products as large as Amazon’s that it can interact with. SIRI While Apple don’t have a dedicated smart home hub like Echo and Google Home, Siri is now available on Macs as well as iOS…

Quick-rev engine The sled is powered by an 800cc two-stroke twin engine, which has a ten per cent increase in power-to-weight ratio, revs quicker and spools up faster. Reduced inertia means quicker response and increased ability to change direction. Electronically-controlled exhaust valves only open at the precise RPM, so they can stay closed for longer, resulting in better fuel economy Stay on track When you reduce the weight of a snowmobile, you increase the chance of it flipping over. To keep it firmly rooted to the ground, the Polaris RMK’s PowderTrac running boards with Series 6 2.6-inch track are machined to ensure they are more sure-footed Handlebar hoop The handlebars have a hoop, known as a grab bar, to give you something extra to hold onto while riding. However, the…

“The ResMed S+ is the world’s first non-contact sleep tracker” Contactless tracking The S+ uses SleepSensor technology so is able to track your sleep patterns without the need for wristbands or strips, which can be a pain to wear Soothing sounds As well as its main function, the S+ can play soothing sounds to help you nod off and a smart alarm to wake you up naturally when in light sleep View data The feedback is provided by sleep charts that breakdown details on light, deep and REM sleep. The app analyses how exercise and caffeine and alcohol consumption are affecting sleep Sleep: we spend one third of our lives doing it, so as well as being a necessary human function, it’s also a great area for gadgetry. Busy lifestyles…

“The procedure has been cleared by doctors” Treatment levels Wet the sponges before use to increase conduction. There are four yellow lights numbered one to four, which show the intensity of the treatment. The sound of a beep after 20 minutes turns it off automatically Power A wheel on the right hand side of the stimulator turns it on and off. When it’s on and is full of juice, you should hear a click and a green light will flicker on. If it’s not on, your batteries need charging Head and body The gadget includes both a headband and a body band. These are attached above the ears and respectively while the sponges sit underneath the headband. Nerve stimulation At the top two levels you may witness flashes in your…

“It’s designed to be as portable as possible” Range and speed GoPro says the Karma can reach speeds of up to 35mph and has a maximum travel distance of 1km (about 3/5 of a mile) Folding arms It’s not the tiniest drone in the world, but the arms and landing gear do fold in, so it shrinks to a width of less than 23cm for storage Lightweight shell Weighing in at 1,006 grams, the GoPro Karma drone should just about be light enough to carry on your back – perhaps in the supplied carrying case In the box The drone comes with a controller, a case and a Grip video stabiliser accessory, but you have to pay extra if you want to get a camera, too One button operation Taking…

WE DON’T NEED ROADS Yamaha has made a vehicle for those who want to go as fast as they can, wherever they can. This side by side (an off-road vehicle designed for multiple people) has as much power crammed inside as possible. Designed to drive anywhere, the Yamaha has the ability to change between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. It has a sport chassis offers maximum protection whilst not interrupting the drivers view and the cab has plenty of legroom. The gearbox has also been tweaked to work as quickly and smoothly as possible. Yamaha YXZ1000R £17,500 | $20,000 | yamaha.com THE TURNTABLE OF THE FUTURE If you’re going to go all-out on a turntable you might as well get one that looks striking as well as plays high-quality music.…

Have you ever been halfway through a cake recipe and then realised you don’t have enough sugar? The best thing about the Drop Connected Kitchen Scale and Recipe app is that it lets you scale recipes. This app-controlled scale connects to your iPhone or iPad to act as a virtual cooking guide. You can search for over 260 recipes on the app and it then gives you step-by-step instructions on how to make them. The Drop makes baking simple by eliminating the need for measuring cups and spoons so there’s less to clean up. The scale itself has no digital display, instead, the app tells you when you’ve poured enough into your bowl. But what makes it truly indispensable is that if you run out of an ingredient, it will…

Accessorise your kitchen The mixer is available in 27 different colours with optional add-on accessories, including a spiraliser with a peel, core and slice function, a grain mill and a citrus juicer No splash The 4.8-litre, stainless steel bowl comes with a pouring shield to help you add ingredients without getting flour everywhere and keeps the mess to a minimum A need for speed With a single attachment hub and ten-speed, direct-drive motor, the KitchenAid mixer helps speed up time when baking, as it is easy to use and efficient to boot Bill Gates once said if you can’t make it good, you should at least make it look good, but with the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer you’ll have something that looks great and works well too. If you love…

Nutty about bread The raisin and nuts dispenser lets you add in extra ingredients so you can make a wonderful variety of breads and brioches including panettone and fruit cake As good as sliced bread There are 25 bread and dough modes on the Panasonic SD-2B2502XBC, as well as eight jam and six compote recipes. You can even set the machine to three different loaf sizes Drop it like it’s hot The breadmaker is unique in that it comes with its own yeast dispenser. This function drops the yeast into the machine when the temperature is just right to make the perfect loaf There’s nothing better than the smell of freshly-baked bread, except maybe for the feeling of accomplishment after having made one yourself. While lots of bakers try their…

“Whenever you walk away from an ‘essential’ item, you will be notified” FIND YOUR KEYS Using low-energy Bluetooth the O’s app will notify you if you have moved away and left key items behind. Setting the O as essential means that no matter where you are, if you leave the item, you will be notified. When you are alerted you can swipe the alert and press ‘Safe For Now’ and it won’t alert you for a little while. Each pack of Os comes with a rubber keyring or more fashion-forward metal ones are sold separately. DON’T RUN OUT OF BATTERY You can enable reminders for certain items. If you have an O set to track your charger, for example, and leave the home without it, you will receive an immediate…

Anti Resonance Technology The fifth foot at the bottom of the receiver is designed to reduce vibrations caused by the internal components MusicCast Yamaha’s network can stream digital music to other devices with Multicast such as speakers, soundbars and hi-fis. Play a song in the whole house or have individual songs in each room No controller needed The RX-A3060 comes with a remote control, although you can use your smartphone. Great if you’re the kind who prefers using touchscreens, or if you keep loosing remotes Bluetooth audio quality Normally the quality of sound will drop when you stream using Bluetooth, but Yamaha’s compressed music enhancer ensures that the quality is maintained Cinema-quality sound Supporting DTS-X, Dolby ATMOS as well as Yamaha’s own cinema DSP HD3, the AV receiver along with…

Sometimes our lives are just so busy that we can forget about the importance of our physical and mental health. This can lead to stress, insomnia, bad habits and even more serious conditions, like depression. It can be as simple as an inability to get to sleep, but it can also lead to intense emotional trauma. Therefore, it is imperative that we all have the time to maintain what’s called ‘emotional wellness’. This is done by upholding a heathy lifestyle that gives the best possible chance of preventing the onset of these conditions. Wellness programs are very popular as a result, but not everyone has the funds to engage in series of counselling meetings or the time to devote to regular exercise and other therapies. This is where gadgets have…

Perfect temperature The pillow cover uses NASA technology that reacts to the skin’s temperature, cooling the fabric when the temperature is hot, and warming the pillow when cold, ensuring optimal levels of comfort Half memory foam… Underneath the cooling cover, one half of the pillow is made from memory foam, which moulds over time to the shape of your head for added comfort. When you flip the pillow over, there’s another story... …half synthetic fibres On the flip side of the pillow, a layer of ultra fine synthetic fibres provide a super-soft ‘duck down’ feel. So if you prefer to sleep on cloud, you can use the softer side of the Hyde & Sleep pillow Neck support The pillow has been specifically designed to provide neck support and improved spine…

MICROSOFT HOLOLENS The main guy on the block, Microsoft’s Hololens is a fully self-contained computer billed as a ‘mixed reality’ device (a blend of VR and AR). This allows it to present 3D ‘holograms’ within the user’s world, and built-in sensors and gesture/voice support make interacting with the results being seamless. £2,336 | $3,000 | microsoft.com SONY SMARTEYEGLASS Currently available to developers, Sony’s AR hardware offering can hold its own against Hololens, even if it’s slightly less well known. Controlled via a handheld remote, the glasses are kitted out with unique holographic waveguide technology, which allows for thinner lenses. £620 | $840 | developer.sonymobile.com META 2 DEVELOPMENT KIT The Meta 2 development kit is designed to allow developers to create holographic apps and tools to be used with the headset.…

“There are a number of benefits to these soilless gardens” Supercharged LED sunshine The lamp uses three different coloured LEDs: one for growth, one for bigger yields and one for more flowers and fruit. And it only costs pennies per day to run Ready in no thyme Most plants will show within 14 days and can be harvested after four or six weeks. The pod will continue to produce plants over and over for up to six months Insert the pod It couldn’t be simpler, insert the seed pod into the garden. Then add water and the liquid plant food. No mess and no hassle Select the mode There are three modes to choose from, vegetables, herbs and 24-hour mode. Select which mode you require and the built-in system creates…

Throughout November hundreds of thousands of people will be taking part in National Novel Writing Month. Also known NaNoWriMo, participants in this competition aim to write a 50,000-word novel before the month is over – that’s 1,667 words a day. That may sound like a daunting task, but the NaNoWriMo has a passionate community of users, with over 430,000 participating last year, who spur each other own. The NaNoWriMo website (nanowrimo.org) also motivates you by awarding badges for key milestones. There is no formal prize, most participants do it for the love of writing. But there have been those who have gone on to find fame and fortune: over 250 novels written during the event have been published. Most notably, Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen was written for NaNoWriMo…