This week's gadgets reviewed
Homer Simpson for TomTom
Price:€9.95
Buy:tomtom.ie
Homer Simpson knows how to navigate to the Kwik-E Mart in Springfield – and he can now help you find your way to your favourite supermarket or chipper. Yes, TomTom has done the unthinkable – for most, but heaven for some – and you can now have Homer Simpson making satellite navigation that bit more annoying. Homer will give directions with added commentary.
This is fun for a while, but soon you’ll want to pull your sat nav off the dash and fling it out the window unless you’re a die-hard fan. For those who like this sort of thing, it will be the best €10 they will spend this year. Existing TomTom owners can download this voice from the TomTom website.
COOL-ER
Price:€234
Buy:firebox.com
There are a host of new ebooks on the market, with products coming from Sony and Amazon, but Firebox has a new device called the COOL-ER. This slimline device is made from ultra-durable plastic, making it extremely light but sturdy.
Plus it weighs a miniscule 178g – bookworms can pop it in their handbag or briefcase and carry up to 800 novels wherever they go on the 1GB memory – which can be expanded to 4GB with an external SD card. Both Mac- and PC-compatible this has an internal battery that charges in three hours and will last for 8,000 page turns. Books can be downloaded from Google, Waterstones and other online stores.
X-Mini II Capsule
Price:€34.99
Buy:5050.ie
iPod docks are all well and good, but they aren’t really that portable, so if you want something that is ideal for a holiday or somewhere where you don’t necessarily have access to a mains, the x-Mini speaker is a good option. It is tiny and looks like a ball, but twist it and it springs open and delivers seriously impressive sound for its size.
You can charge it using a USB to get 11 hours of playback and you can also link other X-Minis together for an even more impressive sound. This is a really good little gadget.
Speakers Delkin Fat Gecko
Price:€99.00
Buy:Bermingham Camera Store (berminghamcameras.ie)
If you’ve ever fancied recording a lap of Mondello Park, or even the Nürburgring, you will need a car camera mount and this one is excellent. The Fat Gecko is a dual suction cup mount that allows you to quickly and easily create videos of your on and off the road adventures. With three attachment options – the suction cup mount, clamp-style handlebar mount, and crossbar bicycle mount – riders can film from any surface, any vehicle, and at any time.
The Fat Gecko suction cup mount allows users to secure cameras to motorcycles, cars, airplanes, or any other smooth surface. The suction cups are so strong they can hold an 8lb camera and the double knuckle design and 2” extension tube allow for 360° tilt, 360° turn and 360° rotation for all the best filming angles in any activity.