Nest Hello: What’s not to love about this virtual visitor viewer?
Peering through petite peepholes and keeping an ear out for any distant door knock may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a premium new digital doorbell – the aptly named Nest Hello. Designed by Nest, a California-based security solutions firm best known for producing home security devices, the high-tech bell is said to not only replace existing analogue visitor chimes, it also comes with an expansive array of Digital Age door-display doohickeys, including HD-quality video, continuous recording and cloud streaming connectivity, all of which allow you to see who has penetrated your porch, whether you are nodding off in front of Netflix or netting a narwhal in Greenlandic fishing territory.
In a bid to appeal to the more horror film-fixated homeowners, it even comes with built-in facial recognition software, allowing you to easily distinguish between a shopping-laden sister-in-law and a chopping-minded stalker or two. What’s more, it can even tell the two apart whether it’s day or night, as long as they both don’t have a thing for ski masks.
A word of caution, though – the Nest Hello device can use up to 600GB of data per month, so make sure your Internet bandwidth is up to it. Assuming Internet usage isn’t a concern, though, smart home savants might find this sleek US$199 gadget an apt addition to their Google Home network.
Pedal Powered: Check out the One Soho hybrid bike by Coboc
What better way to take a well-deserved break from your hectic week than setting off on a sunny Saturday morning bike ride? Imagine pedalling around hitherto-unexplored corners of your home city or, better yet, wheeling along a water-fronted promenade while soaking up all that much-needed Vitamin D. Well, this is exactly what the One Soho bicycle offers, albeit with one typically tech-y twist…
Despite its retro look, the One Soho bike is a modern machine
On the surface, the One Soho seems somewhat retro in design, with its brushed brass accents conjuring up images of Swinging London back in the ’60s – at least if its website is to be believed. But actually, hidden within this smartbike’s compact 13.7kg aluminium frame lies a 250W electric motor, one capable of travelling up to 80km between charges. When paired with its accompanying bespoke Bluetooth app, you can even fine-tune the motor in line with your mood and muscular inclination.
The One Soho boasts an electric motor that can go 80km per charge
Manufactured by German e-bike designer, Coboc, the One Soho also boasts a sporty, forward-leaning design, complete with bespoke Brooks touches and custom brake levers and pedals. While it may not quite have the capacity to propel you moonwards in epic ET style – or even get you across any terrain that is more than minimally hilly – it may just be perfect for those leisurely weekend rides, where the accent is most definitely on the ‘leisurely’ bit.
Text: Tenzing Thondup
Coming to the Fold: Samsung folding smartphone reveal causes stir
On November 7th, Samsung unveiled a folding smartphone they had been teasing for months…kind of. At a special show during Samsung’s annual developer conference, the new Galaxy F appeared in extremely dim light, but what the captive audience could see was that the slick new interface – designed with the help of Google – morphed as if by magic from a 4.6-inch smartphone into a 7.3-inch tablet, and then back again.
The new Samsung Galaxy F in smartphone mode
Ok. So it wasn’t magic. It’s Samsung’s new folding smartphone technology, but honestly it’s pretty close. The folding smartphone phone was first teased in 2014 with a video in which a man gets up to leave a coffee shop, snappily folding his tablet into something more smartphone-sized, impressing an attractive woman positioned conveniently nearby . I mean what are the odds? The tantalising teaser got plenty of attention, but unfortunately it seemed Samsung jumped the gun, and after many vague comments to the press and delays to launch dates, the phone was rumoured to be nothing more than vapourware. But Samsung put those rumours to rest with their soft launch, once again igniting the fires of fascination around foldable phones.
Samsung Galaxy F folded out to make a tablet
Not everyone was impressed though. The company’s decision to reveal the new handset in dim light drew some suspicion because while the screen was clearly visible, the actual handset is not. In fact, it raised more questions than answers. How slim will the folded phone be? How well-protected will the internal screen be from accidents? Tech buffs also speculated that the components that create the foldable element of the phone probably take up a large amount of hardware space, which could cast aspersions on the phone’s battery life – likely the reason why the handset will not be supporting 5G.
But as well as the tongue-wagging, there were many adulatory cheers, and market experts are looking wider than just Samsung. Not only is the breakthrough in technology remarkable, the pro-active move is forcing other smartphone companies to innovate their own products in order to compete. Samsung, themselves, have already filed a patent for a second, improved phone-to-tablet folding device.
The patent was filed earlier this month, ahead of the Galaxy F’s soft launch
Huawei, the world’s second largest tech giant after Samsung, are also teasing their new folding smartphone for launch at MWC 2019 in late February and say that, unlike the Galaxy F, their product will be supporting 5G. This could be the final push Huawei need to expand beyond the Asian market, after their attempts to move into the USA were stymied by the trade war being waged by the Trump administration and other foreign market’s concerns over security. If Huawei can continue their trend of producing similar products for significantly lower prices then they might just manage to bust out of their Asian corner.
Text by: Alice Duncan
Dyson Airwrap styler to blow away bad hair days
Fresh from the success of its Supersonic hair dryer, household appliances manufacturer Dyson has launched the Dyson Airwrap – a hairdryer-cum-styler that uses jets of air to style your hair into voluminous curls at home.
So, ladies, it’s time to eschew those hair sprays, because the Dyson Airwrap uses only hot air to give you the same effect without causing the damage that hair sprays may cause. It’s all thanks to the Coanda effect that apparently occurs when a high-speed jet of hot air flows across a surface and sticks to it because of the difference in air pressure. The result is curly, wavy or smooth hair, just the way you like it.
As founder James Dyson puts it: “We have been obsessively manipulating airflow for more than 25 years. It is one of our core expertise. Harnessing the power of Dyson’s digital motor, we have engineered a truly unique styling tool preventing heat damage when styling. I’m immensely proud of what our engineers have achieved.”
Available in three versions – Dyson Airwrap Volume + Shape, Dyson Airwrap Smooth + Control, Dyson Airwrap Complete – the stylers cater to all hair types. So whether it’s limp hair that needs volume or frizzy hair that needs smoothening, Dyson’s new gadget is sure to blow away all your hair agonies.
Mango Mirror: A hassle-free Smart Mirror that tracks your health and fitness
With ever-increasing developments in smart technology, never before has it been so easy to keep tabs on your health, thanks to digital devices like FitBit and China’s mobile tech company Xiaomi’s MiFit. In fact, the world has embraced these handy gadgets to such an extent that in 2017 alone, the total revenue for wearable technology reached almost US$20 billion. Among the slew of ventures eager to build on this fitness fixation is a new smart home gadget – the Mango Mirror.
The brainchild of the eponymous Ontario-based tech start-up, the Mango Mirror is aimed exclusively for owners of health and fitness trackers like the afore-mentioned Fitbit. Essentially, it’s a smart mirror that draws the data from these devices and displays your vital statistics, sleep schedule, etc, in the dedicated 7-inch digital display area to the right of its reflective surface.
Via the dedicated companion app, users can customise the display to show whatever data they desire, including more generic information like the weather, news and reminders. In a move guaranteed to appeal to eco-conscious users, the Mango Mirror has an inbuilt sensor so that it can turn on when you approach, and immediately switch off once you’ve departed, post-morning absolutions.
All in all, the US$499 Mango Mirror is a handy way to keep daily track of your physical wellbeing, while also acting as a handy reminder as to the areas you need to work on. With its ability to seamlessly integrate into any smart home network, this question here isn’t ‘why buy it’, but rather, ‘why not?’
Sound of Music: Devialet launches two models of Phantom Reactor
Leading sound technology company Devialet has just broken new grounds in sound engineering with its flagship offerings, Phantom Reactor 900 and Phantom Reactor 600, two powerful ultra-compact speakers that promise the most authentic sound reproduction with zero distortion, zero saturation or background noise, at least according to the company. To be fair though, the Phantom Reactors – featuring a maximum volume of 98 dB SPL and peak power performance of 900W – seem more equipped than most to deliver this claim.
Precision-engineered for optimal audio performance, the speakers are designed to deliver the best acoustic form – complete with two push-push woofers and one full-range speaker – all coming together in a neat package that’s four times smaller than the iconic Phantom Premier range.
On top of this, the Phantom Reactor can be operated wirelessly via Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Airplay, UPnP or through an analog or optical jack connection – and can be remotely controlled through a dedicated app, making it the perfect go-to gadget for any true audiophile.
Be Awair: This smart home gadget lets you track your home’s air quality
You may think that you’re leaving all the pollution, dust and unhealthy particles at the door when you step into your home, but in fact, indoor air may be up to five times as polluted as the outdoors, thanks to the residue left by such innocuous materials as paint, furniture, carpets, toys and more. But now there’s a new gadget that’s pegged to help monitor and address these air quality issues – the Awair 2nd Edition.
The original Awair gadget was among the first notably effective and easy-to-use air quality monitoring devices to enter the market, and tracked four key components that impact your health and quality of life – temperature, humidity, toxic chemical residue and carbon dioxide.
The updated version sees the addition of invisible dust particles smaller than 2.5 microns that can enter your blood stream and cause health issues like asthma and allergies. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these particles can even lead to decreased lung function and aggravate existing medical conditions like heart disease.
Thankfully, the Awair monitors all these unwanted elements in real time, with the helpful addition of proffering up useful tips to get better air quality via reports in the companion app. The US$189 gadget, which is crafted from natural materials, can also be seamlessly synced to your Nest, Alexa or IFTTT smart home system. Find out more in the introductory video below.
Flare Heating Shirt by BLANC keeps you warm without bulky coats
As we saw with the Nadi X yoga pants, ‘smart clothes’ is the newest fad to sweep the fashion world. The latest company to incorporate cutting-edge tech into innovative couture options is American outdoor apparel label BLANC, whose Flare Heating Shirt has just launched on crowdfunding website Kickstarter.
The Flare Heating Shirt, dubbed ‘The World’s Smartest Shirt (and warmest)’ according to the PR literature, is a self-heating shirt that negates the need for multiple layers and bulky overcoats in brisk weather. An in-built 6,000mAh power bank powers the carbon fibre heating technology that’s woven into the garment, allowing you to stay toasty for up to five hours. There’s no need to worry about overheating either, thanks to the changeable temperature settings and the ability to switch off the heat with a simple press of a button.
Apparently built from durable yet flexible materials, the Flare Heating Shirt is said to offer comfort, heat and breathability whether you’re just nipping to the corner store on a cool evening or tackling a snowcapped mountain. To pre-order your own ‘smart shirt’, head to their Kickstarter campaign here. Prices start at US$129.
Gold-ilocks: Introducing the Dyson Supersonic 23.75 Karat Gold Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic’s new hair dryer comes blessed with a touch of gold. Designed by James Dyson himself, the 23.75 Karat Gold Hair Dryer – which has been perfected using precision technology – has been gold-leafed through a traditional hand-gilding method using 23.75k gold. Needless to say, it’s the first hair dryer of its kind!
Explaining his avant garde approach, James Dyson says: “Gold is one of the most resilient materials in the world and has been used in design, sculpture and architecture for centuries. Like the engineering process, we pride ourselves on, gilding is a true example of meticulous craftsmanship.”
However, the Dyson Supersonic 23.75 Karat Gold Hair Dryer is not only a looker, its power-packed performance comes courtesy of its D9 digital motor, its Air Multiplier™ technology, a microprocessor, magnetic attachments and four different heat settings.
Say goodbye to bad hair days already!
GO2SLEEP: This tiny device will determine if you have any sleep disorders
A little while back, we highlighted five bad sleeping habits to avoid in order to get a great night’s rest. But if you’re looking for that little bit of external help to bump up your sleep quality a little more, perhaps you should check out the discreet yet effective GO2SLEEP device.
Unlike conventional sleep-monitoring devices that come in wristband form, GO2SLEEP actually fits around your finger like a ring, measuring its capillaries for more accurate data. Made from food-grade silicone – so as not to irritate your skin – and weight just 0.21 ounces, this sleek design is barely noticeable and unlikely to hinder your rest.
Among the many parameters and indicators that the GO2SLEEP measure is whether or not you suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops for 10 seconds or more, causing reduced oxygen levels in the blood and major organs and, subsequently, fatigue, depression, and moodiness.
Once it has assessed the severity of your sleep apnea, it offers a range of treatment options that include a blend of sleep tips, exercise regimens and study aids. What’s more, your purchase will also include a lifetime of free sleep reports so you’ll know exactly how long and the quality of your rest. To pre-order this handy sleep aid (US$119), place your order here.
