Gopro goes Wi- Fi: A remote control for your sports camera
Wi- Fi Bacpac + Wi- Fi Remote Combo Kit, Gopro
Gopro, the company that pioneered wearable cameras now toted by sports enthusiasts doing everything from snowboarding to surfing, has scored another hit with its recently announced Wi- Fi remote control. The tiny Wi- Fi Bacpac attaches to your HD Hero2 camera to link your camera to the Wi- Fi remote or to your smartphone or tablet for long- range remote control. The combo kit lets you livestream video through Gopro’s free app. Due out in March, Gopro’s latest innovation was named among Popular Mechanics’ top gadgets of CES 2012. At gopro. com.
Magnus ipad 2 stand, Ten One Design, $ 50
This is a stand that’s so elegantly understated that it pretty much disappears. But despite the minimalist design, it keeps a tight magnetic grip on your ipad 2. It has a sleek aluminum case and it’s designed for holding your ipad in landscape mode for watching movies, surfing the web or video chatting. At Tenone Design. com.
G4 Powerset Bluetooth headsets, Cardo Systems
This isn’t exactly a budget Bluetooth headset but then again, it has to work flawlessly while you’re cruising down the highway on a motorbike. It connects into a motorcycle helmet and communicates with up to three other riders to a distance of 1.6 kilometres. The headsets work with cellphones, MP3 players and GPS units that are compatible and they have an embedded jack to make it possible to use them with devices that don’t have Bluetooth. There’s also a G4 headset for snowmobiles. At: cardo-systems. com.
Skylink Pad, from $ 15 with wireless receivers sold separately
The size of a credit card, the Skylink Pad comes in several versions, from the most basic one- button remote to a 14- button model and it lets you control everything from the lights in your house, to coffee makers, fans, garage doors and other appliances, up to a 152- metre radius. T he system works with wireless receivers that are plugged into electric outlets or lamp sockets. If you’re renovating or want to wire the receivers right into your home, there are control modules to do that. If you use the wireless receivers in more than one location — for example you install them at the cottage, as well as at home or at your business — you can use the same Skylink Pad to control the systems wherever you are living or working. The kits range in price from $ 40 to just over $ 100 and the company has developed an Internet hub that will let you control its wireless system from your computer, tablet or smartphone. That is due to be available in two months. At skylinkhome.com.