Compiled by CIARA O'BRIEN
Wonderbook €40
The Wonderbook is the latest peripheral to hit the PlayStation 3 console, and just in time for Christmas too. Designed to work with the motion controller PlayStation Move, the book turns your living room into a reality playground. You turn on the console, load up your chosen book on a PS3 game DVD and your Wonderbook turns into an interactive book. JK Rowling’s Book of Spells, which links in with the Harry Potter series, allows you to learn some handy spells and get some of the history of the Potter universe. It has real potential – imagine a dinosaur- themed interactive book.
[ playstation.euOpens in new window ]
HP Spectre XT €999
If you want a thin and light notebook but don’t want to make the move to Apple, HP’s Spectre Xt is a good alternative. It has some similarities with the Apple device – metal casing, compact size – but this machine comes with Windows 8 on board.
Powered by Intel’s latest generation of chips, you’ll get good performance from the device, while the eight-hour battery life will keep you working on the move.
It boots up quickly too, with a solid-state hard drive, and includes Beats audio to boost the sound of the ultrabook.
Ivee Voice Activated Alarm Clock €63
Siri has a lot to answer for. Even the humble alarm clock has had a voice-activated make-over, with the Ivee alarm clock the latest thing to demand some face to face time. It understands more than 30 simple voice commands, so you can demand it set your alarm for 7am, shout at it to shut up when it goes off and set a timer to count down those last five minutes in bed without ever having to lay a finger on the clock. It’s got a touchscreen too (if you can’t face early morning conversation), sounds to lull you to sleep, and a thermostat to alert you to temperature changes.
[ helloivee.comOpens in new window ]
Pac-Man Plug & Play console €44
Pac-Man is the ultimate retro game, but you really need the whole joystick/button combo to really appreciate it. So this console, shaped just like the yellow hero’s head, is a real step back in time.
It comes loaded with 12 8-bit games – Pac Man, Super Pac Man and Dig Dug among them – and plugs directly into your TV for instant play.
The joystick controls are built in to the battery-operated device; all you really need is a steady supply of AA batteries.
It even has space inside to store cables.
