Gadgets and Gizmos: September 2012
By Christian Seiersen
iType
Combining the iPad and typewriter in what might be the anachronistic, techno-love child of Steve Jobs and Alexander Graham Bell, iPad users can now revel in the poetic symphony of a retro typewriter’s keys click-clacking away as they tweet, troll or engage in some other form of obscure online interaction. No ink ribbons or paper required.
Price: RMB 5,000. Web: www.ubstypewriter.com
Super Specs
Robocop move aside, X-Man Cyclops scoot over, you’ve got nothing on this futuristic eyewear. Karlton 4 allows wearers to view movies, listen to music or read books on the 62-inch screen it displays virtually. The glasses have 2 GB of memory but also a slot for a 32 GB memory card and they play most regular video files, including AVI and MPEG.
Price: RMB 1,200. Web: www.myprober.com
Remote Wand
Suffering from withdrawal symptoms after the final Harry Potter film? Put the broomstick down, because you can now use a wand to control your television. This nifty gadget can learn thirteen different commands to operate remote controlled devices such as audio systems meaning that it’s finally possible to wave a magic wand to get rid of Justin Bieber.
Price: RMB 500. Web: www.thewandcompany.com
Pining for Vinyl
Putting a vinyl under the needle is a retro journey that goes back to the roots of recorded music and thanks to this elegantly designed turntable, that old Kiss vinyl collection is no longer junk in the trunk. Made from a thin slice of ash tree, this piece not only looks good, it’s also much lighter than those other clunky turntables lumbering around.
Price: RMB 7,670. Web: www.audiowood.bigcartel.com
Canon’s Roar
Canon looks to sound the next photographic revolution with its mirrorless technology Canon EOS-M model. This novel piece of kit allows high quality cameras to be made cheaper and smaller, so more portable, and with an 18-megapixel sensor and 4.3 frames per second, there are plenty of reasons to get snap happy with this new badboy.
Price: RMB 5,100. Web: www.canon.com
On/Off the Cuff
Such is the global proliferation of über-brand Apple that you can now have the iMac’s iconic power buttons emblazoning your shirt cuffs. If that isn’t sufficient corporate ostentation, the cuff links feature customisable LED lighting to pulsate gently with silent authority.
Price: RMB 820. Web: www.adafruit.com/icufflinks
Weight Watch
Belarussian designer Dizmitry Samal is cementing a reputation for himself with his range of unique watches like this one with a concrete frame. The mechanics are Swiss-made and the timepieces’ faces feature a jagged design with luminous colours. Only 100-150 models are being made so pre-order soon because availability is not set in stone.
Price: RMB 7,500-9,500 (pre-order for end of November). Web: www.dzmitrysamal.com
App of the Month: The Dark Knight Rises
With the prospect of commandeering the fabled Batmobile while sandwiched in the crowded confines of a Metro carriage, The Dark Knight Rises is a testament to the gaming capacity of apps. Hopping on the free-wheeling bandwagon of its cinematic namesake, the game follows the masked crusader’s attempt to prevent supervillain Bane from bringing Gotham City to ruin.
Price: RMB 45. Web: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-dark-knight-rises/id522704697?mt=8
