Misc

Adding to its range of NAS boxes, Buffalo has released the LinkStation™ 520D. This is a two-bay unit that is available fully populated with a choice of 2, 4, 6 or 8TB of capacity and a choice of RAID settings. My review unit is the 2TB model.

In view of the spate of deliberate car collisions perpetrated by insurance fraudsters upon unlucky and unsuspecting motorists a forward facing video recorder in one's car is a very useful defensive tool. As well as meeting this need, the Transcend Drive Pro 220 car video recorder (aka dashcam) also incorporates a number of other useful features.

At a recent press event showing new products one item got me excited – although there were other interesting items – that item were these brand new adjustable lens glasses that enable each eye to be suited and for good measure they cut out 80% of harmful blue light.

First what is an advanced night light which could work at both ends of the spectrum for the young or the old. Second a word that only recently found its way into the dictionary yes it’s a ‘Selfie’ stick this one even has Bluetooth.

Described as the “Future of Prehistoric”, the MiPosaur Robot has been developed by WowWee. As the “prehistoric” reference might provide a clue, the MiPosaur is a mechanical dinosaur designed in the style of a miniature T-Rex with its default stance being that of a begging position. This powered and controllable dinosaur is aimed as being suitable for those aged eight years and older.

First an OTG device designed for the newest type C USB 3.1 ports. Second a more conventional micro SD card but for ‘i’ devices to once again facilitate transfer of data between the PC or MAC to the portable device and back again.

When I think of Canary I think of a bird known for its singing and in a way no doubt this is how the name of this product was arrived at. It is a security alarm product that sees the intruder and then no matter what he/she does they are on camera.

While not the only brand on the market, when it comes to referring to an ebook reader many people tend to think of a Kindle device – a bit like calling a vacuum cleaner a Hoover.

Carrying a safe in your pocket might not seem possible but it can happen with a product from Buffalo.

Any device with an unprotected screen – whatever it is made of – needs covering or it will at the very least get scratched or worse it will get damaged beyond repair even if kept in a bag, other items rubbing against it like keys can damage it.

While I have heard them referred to as vanity sticks, especially in the hands of certain individuals, manufacturers and many users prefer the term Selfie for this type of device which allows users to grab a self portrait of themselves in various locations. The latest product of this type to arrive for testing is the Selfie Pole from Kaiser Baas.

Providing the dual functionality of battery charging and storage capacity is a small device for use with Apple devices.

Along with its various WiFi routers, NETGEAR also manufactures products that provide a cable route for creating a LAN.

Used correctly, a SatNav device can provide navigational instructions and other related information regarding selected routes.

The Filofax Metropol iPad Air case is a well-made zipped case in black faux leather. It has been designed to accommodate both the iPad and an A5 sized notepad and should suit the person on the move.

While most items to charge your mobile devices on the go are small this offering from MIPOW is not. While most items to charge your mobile devices on the go are light this offering from MIPOW is not. So the question is if it’s not small and not light then what does it have in its favour?

While queuing is an established practice, it is not one that is well received when we need to wait in order to charge a mobile device when there is just a single power source available. Sandberg believes it has a solution to this problem.

Standing for Paris New York, PNY is a company that designs and manufactures products to make some aspects of modern living easier.

This item would be for those who go out and about a lot. As soon as a say ‘high quality’ it also means ‘high price’ but the two can go together to produce an excellent well-made product so if you walk a lot then you are made for this item.

When thinking about devices for providing navigational aids and other kinds of driving assistance, such as SatNav units, one name that immediately springs to mind is that of TomTom. This is a company that concentrates its expertise on the particular area of SatNav and has developed various ranges of products including the Start brand. One such offering is the TomTom Start 60 product, supplied by QVC for the purpose of this review.

Even if you have good vision for things like driving and TV as you get older you are likely to need glasses for reading. While some can go to a pound shop and find something that works for you perhaps size is something to temp you.

Currently Withings has two different products offering a combination of an analogue time keeping device and health tracking features. These products are the Withings Activité and the Activité Pop. Having reviewed the Activité Pop (see http://www.gadgetspeak.com/gadget/article.rhtm/752/841117/Withings_Ativite_Pop.html), it is now the turn of the top-of-the-range Activité model.

Bluetooth Speakers continue to be a popular item with regards to new products. This latest offering arrives from Lindy.

A range of companies have ‘Xmas In July’ events to show what they consider will be their big sellers or must have items for the Christmas selling period, one of those is the Dixons Store Group who have a help scheme called Knowhow.

Like many young boys I could not wait to begin shaving. However when the time arrived it did not take too long for this looked forward to activity to become a chore. Then technology, in the form of electric shavers, came to the rescue.

Two different products both designed to solve a problem. The first to give you power when your battery says no more and the second to let you increase the length of your arm or indeed to take a photo from somewhere remotely.

A visit to a Bluetooth event held recently in London introduced me to a rechargeable battery product designed specifically for Apple devices.

Having worn glasses for over half my adult life, I found that I needed to remove this aid to my vision when reviewing this next product.

Two items that each have several uses. First a Smart Clock that can be used to sync a smartphone and also double up as an alarm. Second something that fits in your wallet and that has so many tools that all have their separate uses.

Have you considered how boiling a kettle can help keep a watchful eye on the elderly? 3 rings have.