The latest addition to Western Digital’s WD_Black lineup is the D30 Game Drive SSD. It’s a compact bus-powered USB SSD offering read speeds up to 900MB/s. with capacities from 500GB to 2TB. There’s also a special version for Xbox coming out later this summer which comes with a one month trial membership of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
With its beach-friendly waterproof design and pocketable size, Sony’s SRS-XB13 speaker makes a cool companion for hot summer days. With an IP67 rating for dust- and water-proofing plus a UV-coated finish, it’s built for all-weather outdoor action. Shorter than a common 12-ounce can, it is also very packable; with a webbing strap loop for lashing it to your pack or carrying around your wrist. Battery life: 16 hours. Available in a range of colors.
Designed for Apple users, Belkin’s Soundform Connect dongle is a smart little nugget that transforms any powered home speaker into an AirPlay smart speaker that can cast using newer iPhone, iPad, Macs, and Apple TVs running iOS 11.4 or later. Robust controls allow you to customize the experience through multiple speakers and rooms using the app or Siri.
An updated and slightly upgraded remake of Nokia’s iconic 2720 Flip from 2009. Bringing the classic flip phone back for Verizon, they’ve given it 4G connectivity as well as WhatsApp and Facebook app. It also functions as a wi-fi hot spot & features two screens – the external screen shows who’s calling. Big tactile buttons make for easy messaging and dialing & the battery life is truly legendary, offering up to 28 days on standby.
The Cleanstation from touch-free home innovators Simplehuman is a dedicated sanitation station purpose-built for iPhone. Drop your device in the slot where it’s lowered into the Cleanstation & in just 30-seconds, it is ejected germ-free. It uses UV-C LED lights to clean 99.99% of the surface area of your phone without ever touching it.
HTC’s latest addition to its high-end Vive lineup is the Pro 2, a pro-grade VR headset boasting 5K resolution with a 120º field of view plus a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. Designed specifically for PC compatibility, they also offer Hi-Res Audio & support for 3D spatial sound.
Asus just released its Zen AiO 24 (M5401), an ultra-thin & streamlined all-in-one desktop. It looks like it’s all screen, that’s because the 2.8-mm bezel surrounding the 23.8-inch backlit full HD display, gives it a screen-to-body ratio of 93 percent. An IR camera allows hands-free log-in, a 720p webcam for high-quality online visuals. The display also supports 100% of the sRGB color gamut & can be touchscreen-enabled.
The MOZA Slypod Pro packs a lot of function into a slim, lightweight piece of camera gear. It’s a 3-in-1 electric monopod that also functions as a slider & jib arm for endless creativity and cinematic effects. A dedicated app allows remote control and programmable motion for shots like dramatic time-lapse & panning dolly movements. A funded Kickstarter.
101 decibels is loud for a home speaker, especially when you consider a live rock show will hit about 115dB. But there’s more to the Kube4 all-in-one audio system than loud volume. Designed in partnership with SoundHub, it’s a portable wi-fi & bluetooth speaker that supports AirPlay 2.0, Spotify Connect, and uses the Kube app to deliver a full-range premium audio experience. It has a waterproof rating of IPX5 for indoor-outdoor versatility and with 40-hours of battery life, it’ll keep the soundtrack pumping all weekend long. A funded Kickstarter.
The creative team at Moment was ready already when Apple unveiled its new AirTag digital trackers this week. Their AirTag accessories collection will help you find what you lost and includes soft & hard-shell adhesive-back mounts, a leather keychain & even a glasses strap.
For the debut of their first true wireless earphones, the P17, Bowers & Wilkins created a unique solution to your in-flight audio woes. Because the case of these premium buds doubles as a transmitter, it can connect to in-flight entertainment & retransmit it wirelessly to your ears. They also offer ANC, AptX, IP54 waterproof & dustproof rating, 4.5 hours of continuous playback with 20 more hours stored in the charging case. Available in black & white/rose gold.
Behind the rainbow of cool pastel colors, Apple’s new 24-inch iMacs are equipped with the brand’s high performance M1 chip, which is found in MacBook Pro. 7 & 8-core GPUs are another solid upgrade. Looks-wise, it’s fresh. The case back of the new design is completely flat and the 4.5K Retina display is surrounded by a much slimmer bezel. Available April 20.
Roku’s latest device is the Express 4K+, a 4K streaming stick for a very reasonable price. In addition to seamless 4K streaming it supports HDR10+ content, for many Amazon Prime Video & Google Play Movies. It also includes as a much-improved remote with voice-capable TV control. Available now.
Hasbro & Robosen Robotics teamed up for this new Transformers Optimus Prime. It’s a 19” programmable smart ’bot that really seems like Optimus. He’s voice-controlled, mobile controlled, responds to 25 voice commands. You can program him to walk, punch, blast, drive, and convert at the swipe of your finger, or command of your voice. Powered by a rechargeable Li-Ion battery.
Equipped with an imaging technology called Cognitive Intelligence, Sony’s new 4K Bravia XR LED TVs are designed to understand the way our eyes see, and our ears hear, to present a more human perspective on the screen. This technology is like AI on turbo, allowing it to cross-analyze every element & balance it all for a viewing experience that’s closer to the real world. Available in a range of sizes & picture-quality options.
The MZ-Switch, from Myzone is a versatile heart rate sensor that delivers dual HRM function for more accurate heart tracking. One is a PPG sensor, like Apple Watch, the other is ECG. The Switch can be used in three different ways, depending on what exercise you’re doing. Wear it on the wrist for sports like running & swimming & then “Switch” & use it as a chest strap on the stationary bike or for lifting. Connects seamlessly with Strava, MapMyRun, and Apple Health.
Clip Garmin’s Approach G12 to your pocket or golf bag & this thin GPS range finder displays distances to the green at a glance on more than 42,000 courses worldwide. On top of robust course data, the G12 pairs with the brand’s Approach CT10 club trackers, for amazingly accurate shot tracking as well as with Garmin’s Golf App. Big Numbers Mode makes is easier to read & IPX7 rating insures all-weather performance. Battery life is 30 hours.
It’s a big claim but GigaDrive is putting it out there. This is the world’s fastest external SSD drive. It is powered by Thunderbolt4 and USB4—a next-gen universal cable connectivity that allows lightning fast yet stable read and write speeds of 2,800MB-per-second. Available in 1, 2, & 4TB capacity, it is a rugged, waterproof, & pocketable storage device that offers performance beyond all the rest. A funded Indiegogo.
Powerful enough for room-filling sound at home while small enough for all-around portability, the Roam speaker from SONOS is a versatile little noisemaker. It’s the audio brand’s smallest and most affordable speaker yet but the feature set is impressive. SONOS is known for premium quality sound & fit the Roam with dual Class H amps and an arcing “racetrack” mid-woofer. The battery delivers over 10 hours of playback & the IP67 rating keeps it weather-protected in the great outdoors.
The Storm 2 power bank is a compact, portable fast-charging power bank designed to reliably power up all your devices fast & travel light. To do that, it boasts 100W PD In/Out fast-charging, 27600mAh/99.36Wh of power for airline safe travel, pass through charging, and all the ports you need: 2X USB-C, 1X USB-A, & 1X DC output. Recharges in 1.5 hours.
