Paddy Comynrounds up the latest motoring gadgets
Multimac
Price€1,500 (depending on exchange rate) Buy: multimac.co.uk
Why go to the bother of buying a hulking great seven-seater when you can fit four kids safely in the back of a standard car? The Multimac seat is a row of narrow child seats fixed to a single frame and slotted over the rear seat of your car.
It comes in a variety of colours (it can be matched to your car’s upholstery if you want), there are special rear-facing baby seats for kids up to three years of age and a range of accessories, too. It can accommodate toddlers to 12 year olds and dramatically exceeds all existing child seat safety requirements. There’s even a three-seat version for city cars like the Ford Ka and Mini.
Sonim XP3 Enduro
Price: €359.99 (plus €11.90 postage) Buy: www.expansys.ie
If you find you are a bit on the clumsy side, then this might be the phone for you.
Widely regarded as the toughest mobile phone in existence, the Sonim XP3 is perfect for anyone who tends to drive over their phone with a car, drop it in water, expose it to temperatures of between -20 degrees to 60 degrees or drop it from up to two metres onto concrete, because it will cope with all of that.
Other features include a built-in torch, an alarm button and push-to-talk capability which means it can work like a two-way radio with compatible handsets.
QDOS Jet Pen Stylus
Price: €22.79 (plus €5.69 postage)
Buy: qdossound.com
If you love gadgets, then like me you probably have an iPhone, but the drawback – okay, one of the drawbacks – is that it isn't always easy to type accurately on it. QDOS has introduced a high-tech touch pen for the iPhone 3G and iPod touch. The unique material of the tip emulates your fingertip, allowing you to type faster and with greater precision and accuracy. Included with the Jet Pen stylus is a mini cleaning pad, a micro-fibre pad that allows you to clean smudges and smears from the screen. The silicone carry plug slots neatly into the earphone jack, so that you can carry your Jet Pen stylus and mini cleaning pad around with your iPhone, even if you keep it in a case. The twist-off tip also includes an embedded SIM eject tool.
Zero Gravity Micro R/C Car
Price: €53 (incl postage)
Buy: firebox.com
The new Zero Gravity Micro R/C Car drives you up the walls – because it's actually capable of driving across any smooth surface; horizontal, vertical or even completely upside down. How is that possible? It has an advanced Venturi suction system built into the car's underbelly. Just like a vacuum cleaner, special fans create massive down force to keep it glued to the wall, whilst flexible skirts around the chassis ensure the vacuum remains sealed. You control the action via a stylish twin toggle infra-red transmitter and the vehicle itself is powered by a rechargeable battery that can be juiced up via your remote control.