Tech Talk
GADGETS & GIZMOS
Smarten Up Your Watch
In today’s world of tech, nothing is relevant if it is not smart. You can now even get your watch to
become a smart watch. Here comes the introduction of the Pebble Smart Watch. With the flick of your
wrist, you can quite literally control a multitude of things. The Pebble Smart Watch can be linked to
your smart phone allowing you to constantly be updated with incoming emails. It can also be used as
a remote for your smart phone allowing you to control the music being played on your iPhone. The
Pebble Smart Watch can also be used to monitor your heart rate; the perfect accessory for all your
fitness needs. It comes complete with all standard “smart” features such as notifications, apps, alarms
and many other features. Finally, it’s waterproof; a perfect wrist accessory for all activities.
Price: RMB 913 Web: www.getpebble.com
App Of The Month: Stow
If you are a regular traveller who is constantly packing for the next location, this app is extremely practical as well as a huge time saver. This Stow app allows you to enter details regarding your trip such as the weather, duration of your stay, the nature of your trip be it business, tourism, camping or others. It uses this information to provide a comprehensive list of things you will need to pack. The app will give you the daily weather forecast of your destination enabling you to select weather appropriate outfits for everyday. It will also allow you to fill out a profile where you can detail all of things that you need to bring with you on every trip such as glasses, medication and contact lenses. An essential app to ensure that you will never be left under packed.
Price: Free (RMB 12 for Stow Premier)
Web: www.stowapp.com
Photo Ready
If you like to take photographs and want to give them added character and detail, Spark, the latest SLR camera lens from Lensbaby, is a great way to do just this. Spark is a lens that is positioned on your camera in place of regular lenses and, once your photograph has been captured, gives your photos a soft focus, almost blurred edging, thus heightening the subject of your photos and giving a more dreamlike quality. The Spark lens also means that even the most technophobic camera user doesn’t need an in-depth knowledge of Photoshop to add different features to their pictures. There is no use of filters with this method, enabling you to keep the integrity of the original photo taken.
Price: RMB 548 Web: www.lensbaby.com
Music To Your Ears
For all music lovers who like to listen to their music on the go, these S4i (II) In-Ear Headphones are an inexpensive yet effective way to listen to music. These in-ear headphones offer a seal surrounding the ear piece which, as well as providing fantastic comfort, is also a great method to block all outside noise and allow you to hear only the music you choose to hear. There is a three button remote on the cable of the headphones which allows you to control the music you’re listening to without having to remove your smart phone or MP3. There is also a directional microphone, which allows you to answer calls and enjoy crystal clear phone conversations.
Price: RMB 609 Web: www.klipsch.com
Recharge Your Batteries
If you’re a person on the move and suffer from constant low battery on your phone, Nomad have created ChargeCard; the world’s slimmest and most portable USB charging cable for iPhone and Android. It is fully compatible with all iPhone models, and will also charge you iPad and iPod. It is the same size as a credit card, meaning you can have it on hand at a moment’s notice. This is a perfect stocking filler for people on the go.
Price: RMB 152.5 Web: www.hellonomad.com
Convenient Cooking
The Cuisinart Hot And Cold Blender allows you to make smoothies, iced coffees, sauces along with many other traditional cold recipes that blenders are used for, but with the added convenience of a heated plate built into the pitcher assembly, which allows you to cook soups while blending them. This revolutionary Hot And Cold Blender takes the hassle out of soup making as well as making it quicker and more effective. The Blender provides three different heat settings: “low” for tasks such as melting butter and ensuring that onions and garlic get nicely browned, “high” to boil soups once stock has been added and “simmer” to cook vegetables through. The Blender also comes with a timer. With Christmas Day on its way, this could be a great accessory to help relieve some of the pressure that comes with cooking that Christmas dinner.
Price: RMB 2,500 Web: www.cuisinart.com
Express Yourself
Whether buying for yourself or gifting to a friend, for any sports enthusiasts or adrenaline junkies, this is a must-have accessory! GoPro is the number one choice for all extreme sports participants who want to document their adventures. The entire GoPro line is waterproof, shock resistant and able to withstand just about any activity you have planned, no matter how extreme the conditions. Their latest offering, the GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition, is 20 per cent smaller and lighter than previous GoPro releases and boasts higher and sharper HD image quality than ever before. The new edition also has more than a 30 per cent improvement on battery life and four times faster Wi-Fi connection, giving you great results that are easy for you to share with family and friends.
Price: RMB 2,435 Web: www.gopro.com
