Gadget Guru’s magic box
Guru’sa few rant issues about ago smart seems tapeto have measures borne revenge some in sortthe formof spitefulof the Bagel Smart Measure (left, $79/£60, bagel-labs.com), now available for pre-order on Kickstarter. With three measuring modes, a built-in OLED screen, voice notation and Bluetooth connectivity to its companion app – all of which means you’ll never have to write anything down again – GaGu may be forced to admit that this digital tape measure looks rather good. Curses!
Also kicking around on Kickstarter is the intriguing Basslet (¤139/£116, lofelt.com), a square subwoofer you wear on your wrist. Not so much for the concept of an otherwise-silent sub – what are neighbours if not the perfect target for anti-social musical performance? – but for the tech inside, a wiggling electromagnetic concoction the creator calls “LoSound”. It’s a neat variation on the usual buzzing micro-motor found in
most wearables, and Guru suspects it could have future applications in some less-than-savoury devices.
In this month’s regret news, GaGu wishes he’d hung on a few days longer for the OnePlus 3 (£329, oneplus. net.uk) rather than plumping for the OnePlus 2. It’s pleasing to see a proper-gorgeous flagship phone coming out of China, and it can only be a good omen for those with shallow pockets but expensive tastes – having fingered one, Guru can confirm it’s an object to rival the latest iPhones and at around half the price. Finally, as we inch closer to the end of the great British barbecue season, Guru’s growing ennui has forced him towards alternate grilling options. The Philips Smokeless Infrared Indoor Grill ($340/ £257, philips.co.uk) both directly contradicts GaGu’s sage advice regarding kitchen gadgets in this very issue – shut up, OK! – and removes the lingering stench of smoke, which is unarguably the best thing about getting one’s grill on, goddammit. Also, you’ll be toasting sausages over what is essentially a light bulb, making this the 2016 equivalent of an Easy-Bake Oven. Actually, perhaps Guru isn’t quite as interested in this as he first thought.