Have a very digi
Give the gift of an upgrade this year, says
WHAT’S a better gift than the future? These are the innovative gadgets and services we’ve tried and loved over the past year.
Oculus: Go Virtual Reality Headset The Oculus Go is the first virtual reality gadget you might opt to give. It has no cables and requires no additional hardware. And it’s good for more than just games. It’s a self-contained portal to 360º experiences, from concerts to meditation experiences. Curl up and watch TV virtually with a faraway friend. Or, on a long flight, you can use one as your private movie theatre.
Sony: Aibo: Sure, nobody needs a robot dog. But you’ll want one after meeting Aibo, the rebirth of Sony’s iconic robot companion from 1999. Aibo’s new litter comes with remarkably lifelike mechanical movement, its own cellular connection and artificial intelligence that learns faces and grows with you. Also, you’ll never have to take it for a walk – though it can still simulate taking a tinkle.
Sonos: Beam Smart TV Soundbar The best upgrade you can make to your TV is better sound. This compact soundbar attaches to a TV and packs in a lot of great sound, but also has a few other tricks. With Amazon’s Alexa built in, it can take voice commands to play music or even control the TV. And it can wirelessly sync up with other Sonos speakers to give you music all over the house.
Surface: Go with cover
Want the full capabilities of a PC in a package you can stick in a handbag or backpack? The Surface Go is a 10-inch tablet that weighs about 500g, and comes with a keyboard cover and stand that transforms it into a Windows 10 laptop. The smaller keys take a little getting used to, but this tablet is serious about business.
Apple: Watch Series 4
If you’ve been on the fence about a smart watch, this one is finally worth considering. The Series 4 has a larger screen, faster processor and comes with its own independent cellular connection to take calls and receive messages while you’re away from your iphone. This model also acts more like a medical device, with abilities to measure your heart and call for help after a hard fall.
Moment: Wide
Help your favourite Instagrammers take their photo game to the next level with this detachable lens for the iphone, Samsung and Google Pixel phones. This wide lens provides the most dramatic view, but there are also telephoto, macro and fish-eye lenses available. Cases make it easy to twist
lens
for
smartphones on and off. Lense are sold separately.
Byrd & Belle: Laptop, tablet and phone felt cases
This is really a gift for laptops, tablets and cellphones. They’ll get to spend downtime encased in a luxurious, thick, protective felt in one of 10 beautiful colours. Makers Byrd & Belle believe in simple, yet functional, designs with quality construction.
Amazon: Fire HD 8 kids’ edition tablet
Kids love tablets. But for parents, providing safe, age-appropriate experiences that aren’t just rotting junior’s brain can be a lot of work. Amazon’s kids’ edition tablet goes further than ipads, to give parents tools to reward learning time. It comes with a year’s subscription to Freetime Unlimited, which provides access to more than 20 000 popular apps and games, videos and books.
Apple: Airpods
Sure, these totally wireless ear buds looked goofy when they first came out. But now they’re everywhere and with good reason – the Airpods work and sound great. A case (included) keeps them charged and from getting lost. The biggest downside is Apple’s one-size-fits-all design, so you should try on a pair and give your head a good shake before buying them.