Top Gadgets – iPhone, Slingbox, B&W Zeppelin, Gaggia, Ovei And More

I think there are very few people on the planet that don’t love a gadget. Be it a phone, microwave, music centre, we all just love looking at them and playing with them.

Sony OLED XEL-1

Just as everyone is converting to LCD TVs, Sony go and throw a spanner in the works by announcing the arrival of a revolutionary new unit to hit the shelves. Using OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology, Sony have been able to reduce the size of TVs even further and created a unit just 3mm thick. Who says size matters! By being able to turn off individual pixels completely, they are promising an even clearer picture than ever before with response times more than one thousand times faster than that of current LCD TVs.  Personally, we can’t wait to get our hands on one to see it for ourselves, and with units hitting the shelves in early 2009, it shouldn’t be long before we see exactly what this new system is capable of. Visit www.sony.co.uk. Price: £TBA

iPhone 3G

No top ten gadget list would be truly complete without a product from Apple. Released in July 2008, this went straight to the top of wish lists all over the World. The successor to the original iPhone, this device now offers 3G and GPS amongst a host of other improvements. The first generation iPhone had a limited market thanks to a high price tag and no 3G connectivity. Apple has reacted to this by addressing these issues and adding some extra services too through its new software installed on the device. This includes GPS, push email services and a new App Store service allowing users to download a host of new applications specifically for the iPhone (Apple just recently celebrating a massive 500million downloads). By offering the phone for free on some contracts, plus offering the choice of pay as you go, this has sweetened the deal for consumers who would have liked Apple’s toy the first time around but were unable to afford it. Its functionality as a phone isn’t particularly different to any other mobile. However, add that to all the other innovative features huddled under a gorgeous highly reactive touch screen, and you are left with something truly a pleasure to use. We like showing off with ours! Visit www.apple.com/uk. Price: (Contract) Free – £159, (PAYG) 8Gb £349.99, 16 Gb £399.99

Slingbox PRO

This Slingbox PRO HD allows you to watch your home television on your laptop or mobile device almost anywhere there is an available broadband Internet connection. It also allows you to watch any subscription channels, special programming, or sports packages you may have – with no monthly fees. If it’s on your home TV, it’s on your computer and your phone. With the Slingbox Pro you have just as much control over your special programming and component devices (such as Sky+) as you do at home. You have the ability to fast-forward, rewind, pause, and everything else. The SlingBox Pro will also allow you to connect up to 3 AV devices, has a built in DVB-T Tuner and is HD Ready (up to 1080i). The reason we like this device so much is it’s as simple to use as setting up broadband. So let’s be honest, if you can’t do that, what on earth are you reading about gadgets for?! We’d say the only weakness to this product is that its success is based on the quality of your broadband connection. So if you’re a lover of TV and can’t bear to be without it when you’re on your travels, this is definitely for you. Visit uk.slingmedia.com. Price: £199.99

B&W Zeppelin iPod Speakers System

The Zeppelin is an integrated iPod speaker system from Bowers and Wilkins, a company who knows a thing or two about sound. If you’re an avid user of an iPod, and let’s face it, a lot of us are, this is a sound system that you simply cannot afford to be without. With iPod success has come a flurry of weird and wonderful docks to sit them in, all boasting special features to entice you to buy. The reason we chose this one is simple, it’s the best out there and doesn’t look like it was designed by someone who is far too obsessed with their ruler and protractor. It’s comprised of 5 drive units; 2 tweeters, 2 midranges and a 50W subwoofer powered by 3 individual amplifiers. On it’s glorious polished stainless steel rear houses aux, s-video and comp ports for connecting any device with a 3.5mm jack, and play videos on your TV from your iPod. The USB port is provided purely for upgrading the B&W’s software to support future iPod/iPhone releases. As for its looks, your friends will know you’ve got taste, just look at it! B&W claim that this shape isn’t just to aestheticise, it’s designed to give it the best possible sound. Did we mention the sound? For a system of this ilk, it’s amazing. It makes you want to listen to your iTunes library all over again and hear all those sounds your earphones and inferior systems can’t manage. You may think the price is hefty, and it made our eyes water too. However, when you unwrap the Zeppelin, match it to your contemporary furnishings and tweak the volume, the only disappointment you will have is that you didn’t buy this sooner. Visit www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk. Price: £399

Gaggia Platinum Vision Coffee Machine

Gaggia are famous for making highly competent coffee machines and this completely automatic bean to cup version is no exception. This flagship model of the platinum range is bursting with features. The Platinum Vision combines effortless ease of use with great coffee. It is equipped with a really user friendly touch panel display. This is a necessity for those of you in the morning that have the brain capacity of a toddler. The screen allows the user to select size and strength of each individual cup of coffee. It also neatly raises and lowers the height of the cup tray automatically. This ensures that coffee is dispensed at the optimum height for each cup size, which preserves both the body and crema of the coffee. Like the whole Gaggia Platinum range, the front panel is finished in stainless steel and equipped with a 15 bar water pump and ceramic coffee grinder. With a love for good coffee combined with busy lifestyles, this machine is just perfect for those on the go but still demand a decent coffee that doesn’t come from a jar. We certainly couldn’t be without ours. Visit www.gaggia.uk.com. Price: £899

Blackberry Storm PDA

The Storm is a touch screen PDA with features that Blackberry are renowned for, but now with that extra touch of class. Already being hailed as the direct iPhone competitor, this phone has a lot to live up to. According to the specs, on paper this phone promises to deliver much, from it’s highly responsive and clear touch screen to built in GPS, 3G connectivity, and an abundance of functions perfect for business users looking to be just that one step ahead of the game. Although iPhone 3G seems to have that intuitive multimedia edge, don’t be fooled in thinking that the Blackberry falls short at this mark. It supports a whole array of video and audio formats and will even directly sync with iTunes. A higher resolution camera with flash and video recording modes, (not offered on the iPhone 3G), shows that in fact this phone can hold it’s own and fit in to a market becoming increasingly packed with touch screen phones. As a business user, the Storm may be the preferred option especially for being able to edit Microsoft® documents directly on the device itself. We think this phone looks fantastic and with Blackberry® making such capable devices, this one would be a viable option for anyone’s business portfolio. Visit www.blackberry.com/storm. Price: Vodaphone FREE on Pay Monthly plans from £35 (please check terms and conditions)

Ovei Media Pod

Designed by Lee McCormack and engineered by McLaren Applied Technologies, the Ovei media pod is the ultimate in ‘must-have’ home cinema accessories.

Upon entering the pod and closing the door, it secludes you from the outside world and all its worries. Designed for one person only, the user can sit back in climate controlled bliss whilst using a plethora of technology from TVs, games consoles amongst others that you can specify when ordering your Ovei. You will certainly be one of the few that own one. It will portray your admiration for luxury, and at £50,000 will also portray the size of your bank balance! With a range of metallic paints you would normally see on cars, you can match it with that Ferrari you have on order. Visit www.ovei.co.uk. Price: £50,000

Alert Me Security System

It’s all very well having lots of expensive designer gadgets on show, but the downside is that your home can suddenly become a shop display for thieves. This system had to be in our top ten for its ingenuity in comparison to all other alarm systems currently on the market, and it looks really cool as well. Generally alarm systems can be somewhat cumbersome and require someone to them, all adding to the cost. This system’s beauty is that you simply connect the ‘hub’ to your broadband service, set your own preferences and you’re protected without a technician or tool kit in sight. By using a range of wireless sensors around your home, any sign of entry or movement alerts the hub, which will then alert you via email, or text anywhere in the world. It will also detect a smoke alarm going off and notify you of this too, so if you’re one for leaving your hair straighteners on, this is an asset. Included in the kit comes a key fob very similar to that of a car. The system will detect the fob to ascertain who is or isn’t at home. This is also used to set or deactivate the system instead of a clunky numeric keypad, which is sooo 1990s. Additional sensors and fobs can be purchased individually dependant on the size of your home. This system is soon to be extended with a range of accessories to control the energy of your home. With the help of certain sensors, you can tell the system to turn the heating off/on or the lights etc, and will even learn your energy patterns to adjust the system to save you money on energy bills. With the system starting at as little as £149, it really is a great product and will even blend in with your other hi-tech gadgetry. Visit www.alertme.com. Price: From £149

Aiptek Pocket Cinema v10 Projector

Portable Media Players are a thing of the past.  What good is watching your favourite movie or TV show on a 2 inch screen?  Slip the Aiptek Pocket Cinema into your Armani suit pocket and you’ll be able to project a 42 inch image on any surface. And with support for up to 8GB SDHC cards, you’ll be able to carry hours and hours of video with you.  James Bond is chomping at the bit for this one! This mini projector will display pretty much anything from your mobile phone, games console, camcorder or mp4 player. It will also connect to your PC so when you’re showing that profit forecast presentation to your boss, do it in style and get that pay rise you rightly deserve! Visit www.aiptek.com. Price: £299

Transparent Toaster

This transparent toaster allows you to see the bread while it is toasting so you’re never surprised by toast that comes out too dark. This idea is based on a transparent heating glass technology. Although the glass does not currently get hot enough to toast bread, the vendor explained with some R&D this application might be possible. This concept was developed by the Inventables Concept Studio. Visit www.inventables.com. Price: (Concept only)

One Response to “Top Gadgets – iPhone, Slingbox, B&W Zeppelin, Gaggia, Ovei And More”

1. Shaun Davis says:

   July 11, 2009 at 7:01 pm

   That toaster looks absolutely awesome! I would be able to see my toast burning instead of just smelling it!

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