Tech tools

Compiled by CIARA O'BRIEN

Sony Walkman B Series

Check out Sony’s new line of MP3 players. The music devices are colourful, wearable and charge quickly. The B Series has been designed to be compact yet easy to use and won’t compromise on sound quality, despite weighing only 28g.

Sony’s one-touch bass boost button will give you richer sound, if you want it. The device has a battery life of up to 18 hours and you can charge it for three minutes to get up to 90 minutes of playback time.

Best of all, you can drag and drop music files to the device, so you won’t have to bother with complex software.

Thirsty Light, €12

Houseplants are supposedly easy things. They require the most basic of care – light, water, something to stretch their roots in – and yet still they end up being neglected or overwatered. If you’re a little clueless when it comes to your plant life, the Thirsty Light is the perfect solution. It’s a digital sensor for indoor plants, measuring moisture levels and alerting you when your plant is a little on the thirsty side. An LED light will flash when the soil become too dry, giving you an easily interpreted reminder to water the plant before it dies. It has five different levels, so you should be able to use it with a variety of plant types without trouble.

thirstylight.com

Withings Blood Pressure Monitor, €129

There’s an app for almost everything these days and now there’s even one that helps improve your health. The Withings Blood Pressure Monitor does exactly what you’d expect: it keeps track of your blood pressure and heart rate. The monitor attaches to your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, allowing you to monitor your blood pressure from the comfort of your own home, and share it with medical professionals.

It even explains to you exactly what the readings mean, and will indicate if your blood pressure is within a normal range for your age and gender.

Over time, you can follow your progress on charts through the app, or go online to view your information there.

Withings.com