Even I can’t decide on the coolest tech gadget for Father’s Day. There are so many to choose from, so how about my top picks?
Make the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 cameras even more awesome with the Olloclip optical attachment ($70). It fits snugly over the camera lens and quality aluminium housing, multi-element coated glass optics convert the camera to wide angle photos, a 180° field of view fisheye and macro mode. The latter captures stunning high quality close-ups with a 10X multiplier. Separate models are available for each iPhone model. Although the wide angle view is impressive, a reminder the iPhone panorama mode will do a much better job, but in a shallow wide format compared to the standard iPhone picture format the Olloclip offers. It also includes a microfibre carrying case that doubles as a cleaning cloth.
For the budget-minded, a new USB wall charger or car charger on steroids from Ventev will never stop giving. It will charge smartphones twice as fast with no long term effect on your phone’s lithium ion batteries. The wallport r2200 dual USB universal rapid charger for wall outlets ($30–$35) has eco-friendly low standby power and is quality-made with a unique matte grey velvet-touch finish. If you want one for the road, pick up the similarly priced dashport r2200 dual USB universal rapid charger for cars.
When it comes to wireless sound, you get what you pay for when shopping for Bluetooth speakers. The Samsung DA-F60 ($299.99) delivers in style, quality and function. It will work with any Bluetooth device, but connects even quicker by simply bumping it to a newer Samsung Galaxy phone using NFC (near field communication) technology. It combines gunmetal blue and white silver looks in all metal construction with LED lights, mute, separate bass setting and a large volume button. A flip front cover protection and cloth bag are included.
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Every iPad can use a real keyboard, but the Belkin Ultimate Keyboard Case for all iPads ($99.99/Black, $129.00/White) delivers a laptop-like experience. It has a thin aluminium alloy base, a 6.4 mm thick keyboard, magnet sensors to automatically turn the keyboard on and off and a media mode which hides the keyboard for games or movie watching. It has a built-in rechargeable 160 hour battery, auto awake magnets for you iPad, and enhanced audio sound. Sweet.
I normally find Bluetooth smartphone earpieces obtrusive and annoying, but the BlueAnt Q3 ($99) is light and balanced so well on your ear, you soon forget you have it on. It features dual microphones with echo cancellation with effective wind noise filtering. But the smarts kick in when you hear the caller’s name or number read out to you and you can say “answer” or “ignore”…hands free. It works with iPhone’s Siri or the free downloadable Google Voice Action for listening and replying to text and SMS messages with your voice. The Q3 also tells you the battery level and you can playback quality A2DP streaming audio from your phone’s music collection.
The lowly toothbrush gets a tech makeover with the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean ($200). With four modes of high frequency diamond-shaped, plaque-removing bristles, you can choose full cleaning, gentle mode, whitening mode and gum massage with the two included brush attachments. Now for the real techie part – it comes with a USB cable and chargeable travel case and bathroom counter top charge base which charges inductively by simply putting the toothbrush into the included thick water rinsing glass.
Check out Steve’s Tech Talk on Edmonton Global TV Sunday and Monday Morning News at techuntangled.ca.
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