From smartphones to speakers, Steve Dinneen presents the best new toys for technophiles
1 Gold iPhone 5S
From US$649 (unlocked and contract-free)
http://store.apple.com
The iPhone 5S is probably the best phone in the world. And it comes in gold, which is why it’s nicknamed “the Kardashian” by Apple insiders. Improvements on the previous generation include a thumb (or finger) print scanner to unlock the device and buy apps without requiring a password. It also has a much-improved camera that can shoot slow-motion video at 120 frames per second (four times faster than the iPhone’s normal frame rate) and a “burst mode” that takes ten frames per second of photo stills, saving them in a folder so you can choose the best one. Factor in the superfast A7 chip and you have a stonking all-round device. But really, all you need to know is that it’s gold.
2 Nokia Lumia 2520
US$499 (US$149 extra for the Power Keyboard)
www.nokia.com
Nokia – remember those guys? They made that phone you used in 1997, before the word “smart” had been appended to absolutely everything. Well, the company has a new tablet out and – genuine shock – it’s really good. The 10.1-inch display packs a resolution of 1080p and, at 8.9mm thick, it’s not much chunkier than Apple’s latest beauty, the iPad Air. The device runs on Windows 8, has 4G and wifi, and the camera, as we have come to expect from Nokia, is first rate – the 6.7-megapixel Carl Zeiss optics lens takes beautifully sharp images and it is the first tablet to incorporate such technoology. The 2520 borrows Microsoft’s idea of mounting a keyboard into a cover, which Nokia says can shave hours off the battery life of the device – and it even has its own trackpad.
3 Hasselblad Lunar
US$7,000
www.hasselblad.com
Hasselblad is probably the only camera maker that can rightfully claim to be as lusted after as Leica. The supplier of photographic camera equipment to NASA has released the Hasselblad Lunar, a beautifully crafted piece of kit finished in sumptuous brown leather. It’s a Compact System Camera (CSC), meaning you don’t get the professional-level versatility of a DSLR, but you still get plenty of bells and whistles. Under the hood, it is basically a Sony NEX-7 (it uses the same components, given a Hasselblad makeover), which means it takes best-in-class pictures. It’s hard to justify the US$7,000 price tag, but there’s no denying it’s a gorgeous bit of kit.
4 Bell AND Ross BR-01 aviation watch
From US$4,600 for the basic steel version
www.bellross.com
This practical range of aviation watches takes its inspiration from aeronautical instrumentation. They are big, bold designs, 46mm in diameter, with striking, square faces. There are more than 30 variations available and all of them – including the entry-level steel version (US$4,600), a radar-inspired model (US$5,800), and the stunning tourbillion in pink gold (US$200,000) – have a classic, utilitarian beauty. The steel watch is water resistant up to 100 metres and has a black rubber strap that is both durable and stylish. If you’re something of an aviation aficionado, then this timepiece has plenty of appeal. And if you really want to push the boat out, you can buy a specially crafted gift box designed to look like an aircraft control panel with six of the series contained inside (US$32,626).
5 Pentax Q7
US$499
www.us.ricoh-imaging.com
Measuring 5.8cm x 10.2cm x 3.35cm – among the smallest CSC’s on the market – the Pentax Q7 weighs just 200g and comes in a fetching shade of yellow. While it may look like a bit of a toy, don’t be fooled as it’s actually a great snapper: the Q7 takes very decent pictures with its 12.4-megapixel camera and has good low-light performance thanks to a brand new sensor.
The build quality is solid and it will absorb knocks from the photography frontline (or the pub). Picture-for-picture, it’s not quite up there with rivals from the likes of Samsung, Panasonic and Canon, but it has a charm all of its own, and at US$499, it’s not unreasonably priced. It will easily fit into your carry-on, too.
6 Bose SoundTouch Portable
US$399.95
http://global.bose.com
Bose reckons its new range of wireless speakers offers an “entirely new way to listen to music”. Using your wifi connection, the Soundtouch Portable will sync with your iTunes or Windows Media Player library, music streaming services (not currently available in the Asia-Pacific region, although brands including Spotify are expected to be added mid-2014), and almost 20,000 internet radio stations, enablng you to play virtually any song in the world direct from the unit.
You can also pre-set six artists, playlists, radio stations or individual songs and play them at the touch of a button. It is controlled using a nifty app, which is available on iOS, Mac, Android and Windows. The speakers can play for two and a half hours between charges and the sound quality is good for a unit of this size (15.2cm x 24.8cm x 6.4cm).
7 Kobo Aura
US$169.99
www.kobo.com
In the e-reader market, there is Amazon’s Kindle and there are the rest. But Kobo has released what it is calling the only premium reader on the scene. It may have a point – the e-ink display is incredibly sharp, with 1440 x 1080 resolution and 265 dpi. It comes with a nifty light for night-time reading, which brightens the screen without dazzling you or keeping your partner awake. The device also ups the ante in terms of under-the-bonnet power – its 1GHz processor makes scrolling between pages using the touchscreen seamless, allowing a more immersive experience. It comes with all the usual extras, such as options to change the fonts, the text size and to bookmark your page. All in all, a very solid Kindle alternative.
8 Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Power Edition
US$369.99
www.amazon.com
Want an awesome toy for yourself? This remote-controlled helicopter brings out the kid in you. Not only does it look great, with its distinctive four-blade design, it also flies for up to 36 minutes. It is controlled straight from your smartphone, which you can use to make it take off, land, hover, move around and even flip. It also has two cameras, one downward-facing for aerial shots and one front-facing. Both cameras are capable of recording 720p HD video, which can be retrieved via a USB cable. Flying is a doddle, thanks to its stabilisation technology. Buy this and you’re guaranteed to be popular with the boys.
9 iPad Air
From US$499
http://store.apple.com
This is the one Apple fans have been waiting for. As is usually the case, the new iPad is thinner (just 7.5mm thick), almost a third lighter (weighing 469g) and faster than its predecessor. This one features the new A7 chip that powers the iPhone 5S, meaning its graphics rendering is crisp and seamless – Apple says the Air is eight times quicker than the first iPad, which wasn’t exactly sluggish. It will be ideal for fitness fanatics, too, as the new M7 chip collects, processes and stores information from sensors such as the accelerometre even when the device is asleep. This can then be fed into apps to measure how far you have walked or run. All this and it still has an impressive ten hours of battery life.
10 Denon AH-W150 Wireless Fitness
US$179.99
www.denon.com
These over-ear Bluetooth headphones are the ultimate gift for anyone who likes to work out. They are, of course, wireless, with the two over-ear elements connecting around the back of your head. All of the controls you need are located on the unit around the back of your ears, including play/pause/skip and fast-forward as well as volume control, and they are big enough to be found easily even when you’re at full pelt. The weight of the headphones is such that they don’t come dislodged as you’re running but aren’t heavy enough to become intrusive. The build quality is solid and the sound astonishingly good, with nice, deep bass and clear high notes. And at less than US$200, they’re not even at the expensive end of the headphone spectrum.
11 Phiaton Chord MS 530 headphones
US$349
www.phiaton.com
These Bluetooth cans are a good marriage between style and quality. The active noise-cancelling technology is first rate, effectively blocking almost all external sound (98 per cent according to Phiaton) so you can concentrate on the important stuff, like Kanye West’s new album. The battery will last an impressive 30 hours and there is the option of connecting a cable if they fizzle out during a long-haul flight. Some clever technology means you can connect them to two inputs at once – your phone and laptop, for example – doubling up your musical options. You can take calls through them, too, and they have built-in dual microphones for extra clarity while talking on the go. If you think you’re a bit too old for a pair of Beats by Dr Dre, these could be the ideal sonic option.
12 GHD Eclipse hair straighteners
US$237
www.ghdhair.com
GHD is to hair straighteners what Ferrari is to cars. If you think all varieties of straighteners are essentially the same, think again. With GHD’s latest model, each plate has three sensors, making sure they maintain a steady 185°C (“the most effective temperature to produce the best styling results”). Even very thick hair types can be flattened after a few strokes, and the handle diffuses heat incredibly well, meaning they remain comfortable even after extended use. They’re not cheap, but most owners use them at least a few times a week.
13 Philips Diamond Clean Rechargeable Sonic
US$219.99
www.philips.com/global
A rechargeable toothbrush may not sound like the most glamorous purchase, but this product is the traveller’s bathroom essential.
The Philips Diamond Clean Rechargeable Sonic toothbrush comes with a stylish case that can be plugged into your laptop’s USB port to charge the brush while you’re on the go, meaning no more searching through your suitcase for an adaptor. It also comes in a handy “charging glass”, which not only gives the brush some juice but can also be used for rinsing.
In addition, the Diamond Clean removes seven times the plaque that a regular toothbrush does (in part thanks to a built-in two-minute timer), improves whitening by polishing as it cleans, and reaches those awkward places by driving toothpaste into the gaps between your teeth. n
