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Blog: irishtimes.com/ blogs/minibyte

Blog: irishtimes.com/ blogs/minibyte

Tiffen Smoothee

£199

THE AVAILABILITY of high-definition portable camcorders and video functions on mobile phones has been a huge help to amateur movie-makers. But for a more professional effect, sometimes its necessary to invest a little more. Before you dump the trusty mobile camera, though, take a look at the Smoothee. Invented by Steadicam experts Tiffen, the Smoothee is based on the same technology as the more expensive Hollywood equipment. Using the handgrip, you can shoot shake-free video on your mobile device in minutes. Okay, it takes a bit of time to get the hang of balancing the camera, but once you’ve got it sorted, you should be able to shoot video like a pro. There are versions available for the iPhone 3GS and 4, the now defunct Flip Ultra camera and some mobile phones.

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Tiffen.com

G-Form Extreme Sleeve for Laptops

$69.95

CASES AND protectors are a common accessory for phones and tablets, but sometimes notebooks need a bit of padding too.

G-Form has taken its expertise in creating protective athletic gear to the electronics market.

The company has already put its rugged iPad case to the test, and now its time for notebooks to get the same treatment.

The Extreme Sleeve manages to be lightweight yet still protect your laptop from falls and knocks. It’s made from a material called Poron XRD, which is water-resistant and flexible, but absorbs impact when needed.

Just what you need should you drop your Macbook from a 15ft height.

g-form.com

Smartfish Whirl Mouse

€39

THE HUMBLE mouse is not something you typically get excited about, but you might make an exception for Smartfish’s Whirl mouse. The laser mouse not only covers all the usual bases – accurate, wireless, compact, convenient scroll wheel – it also aims to help reduce the risk of developing repetitive strain injury in years to come.

How? Through the impressively named ErgoMotion pivot system, which rocks and tilts as you move across the mouse mat.

It’s designed for ambidextrous use too, and the laser precision control means you can use it on almost an surface without badly affecting its performance.

Smartfish. com

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien is an Irish Times business and technology journalist