Gadgets and Gizmos: July 2012
iDive
Remote controlled gadget fanatics are sure to brag about their vicarious escapades on land and in the air, but acquiring the HydroView is sure to submerge you deep into a league all of your own. Controlled from your iPhone, iPad or laptop, the HydroView lets you take videos and film the world below at depths up to 150 feet.
Price: RMB 25,445. Web: www.aquabotix.com
More to Meet the Eye
They’re calling it the Optimus Popularis and it’s a transformer of sorts, but don’t expect this keyboard from Art. Lebedev Studio to become a butt-kicking robot any time soon. Nevertheless, this innovative keyboard enables to you to program every key on the keyboard and assign any images you want to them using embedded LED displays. What freedom! Of course, freedom doesn’t come cheap…
Price: RMB 6,104 (for pre-order only). Web: www.artlebedev.com
Cave In
Pop-up tents have just gotten an inflatable upgrade. With ample space for up to six people to sit and three to lie down, The Cave, an inflatable geodesic tent from Hemiplanet can be blown up and ready to go in a matter of minutes, saving your valuable time to enjoy the scenery. Of course, you’ll probably need a minute to catch your breath first.
Price: RMB 3,972. Web: hemiplanet.com
Beyond the Fold
One of the worst parts about touring through an unknown city is the humbling act of stopping to fold and unfold a map to find your way. Palomar’s Crumpled City maps of major tourist destinations are made of a special lightweight waterproof material that means they can be crumpled and uncrumpled in just two seconds, allowing you to find your way discreetly and in style.
Price: RMB 96. Web: www.palomarweb.com
Laptop Mac-gic
For years now Apple fanboys and fangirls have been dreaming of the day when Apple would succeed in combining the portability of its Macbook Air with the power of its Macbook Pro. That day has come with the Macbook Pro Retina. And if that wasn’t enough, this piece of kit has got a 2,880 x 1,800 pixel retina display that pumps out more visual power than a HDTV. Drooling yet?
Price: RMB 16,488 upwards. Web: www.apple.com
Sharpened When Whet
When it comes down to it, disposable razor blades are often one of the more costly items in the bathroom. Packs of two razor blades cost around RMB 30 a pop and wear out after a few shaves. The Razorpit cleans debris off the edge of your razorblade with just a bit of shaving cream and four strokes of the razor to increase their longevity.
Price: RMB 160. Web: www.razorpit.com
Knowing the Distance
Bike monarchs of Shanghai, prolific peddlers over this endless stretch of concrete, you claim you’ve cycled 10,000 kilometres on those trusty two wheelers of yours, but you’ve never actually proven it, have you? Now you can with the Wahoo Blue SC, a speedometer and odometer that relays information wirelessly to your iPhone.
Price: RMB 382. Web: www.wahoofitness.com
App of the Month:
Zombie Carnival (Mobigame)
Quick-flipping ninja zombies, tentacle-waving, laser shooting giant zombies and (American) football quarterback zombies all make an appearance in this fiendishly simple, but utterly addictive side-scrolling action game. You start with one zombie who must eat his way through screaming victims and avoid an array of obstacles to create a mighty zombie horde. Hours of vacuous, mind-numbing bliss awaits.
Price: Free. Web: www.mobigame.net
