Not a day goes by when we don’t hear about the next technological marvel, guaranteed to shape all our futures. But why wait for tomorrow when you can enjoy life-changing tech, today?
Going beyond a humble collection of monitoring gadgets, the SmartThings range of wirelessly connected devices offer home automation to the nth degree.
Once you’ve connected all manner of gadgets to your SmartThings Hub, you can control everything, from door locks and lighting to general power outlets and more, all from your smartphone. Living like The Jetsons just came a little bit closer. Starts at $US99.
Uniden Modro
Hands up if you ever lived in a house with a rotary dial phone. We did too! That’s why you can expect the Uniden Modro, a retro series of rotary dial-inspired digital phones, to add the final stylish touch to your modern home.
Featuring an LCD display, caller ID and speakerphone, the Modro is both talking piece and digital talking piece (see what we did there?). It also comes in a cordless version, so you needn’t re-live the days of stretching the coiled handset cable across the room like a tortured Slinky. $49.95
Avegant Glyph
While the rest of the world waits for the Oculus Rift to make a consumer appearance (seriously, we first heard about it in 1973), the folks at Avegant have been toiling away on their own VR headset, the ultra-immersive, Glyph.
Combining 720p HD dual optics, active noise-cancelling, motion tracking and lightweight materials, the Glyph is the next step in wearable tech, immersing the user in games, mapping and travel apps, VR environments, you name it. $US499
Samsonite RFID Blocking Travel Wallet
Hit Ubisoft game Watch Dogs showed us a disconcerting world where innocent civilians have their mobile phones hacked from a distance by unscrupulous hackers. Now you can keep your personal data and credit cards safe from prying electronic eyes, by using this specially designed RFID blocking wallet.
Constructed with material that blocks radio signals, this smart-looking Samsonite wallet will shield your passport, ID and bankcards from unwanted skimming and scanning, reducing the possibility of identity theft or the dreaded evacuation of funds from your bank account. $149
Up! Mini 3D Printer
You know the story. You’re in a bind and need to print a small-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower ASAP, but the 3D printer at the 7-Eleven has a queue a mile long. Enter: Up! Mini 3D Printer.
3D printing for those on a budget, this little wonder produces objects up to 120mm cubed, and is ideal for printing cosplay items, making birthday presents or producing yet another cat toy to lose behind the sofa. $1095
BioSport In-ear Headphones
Rapper 50 Cent may have found his true calling, partnering with SMS Audio to come up with new heart rate-sensing headphones, Biosport In-Ear Headphones. Are you sitting down? The biggest breakthrough is, there is no need for batteries. ZOMG!
Just throw these bad boys in your ears, connect to your smartphone and the earbuds will harvest all your sweet biometrics to get a portrait of your overall level of fitness. As usual, these sports-focused earbuds are sweat, water and apocalypse resistant. $TBA
I’m Tracer
Looking past the potential creepy undertones, the new I’m Tracer is a wearable GPS tracker with the best of intentions.Worn easily by young and old, this tracker lets you monitor the position of a loved one via any PC or mobile device. You can also get SMS updates for critical events, like emergencies or SOS. $TBA
Phantom 2 Vision+
If you’re a drone fan and avid cinematographer, DJI’s Phantom 2 Vision+ is so hot it will burn a hole in your celluloid faster than you can shut down the retro projector you picked up in the local Salvos.
Featuring three-axis camera stabilisation, 1080p 30fps HD recording, real time flight parameters and an operating range of up to 700 metres, this quadcopter is truly an impressive aerial camera. It even comes with a smartphone remote controller with WiFi extender. Wow. Much yaw. So Hover. $US1299
Nude Audio Move M
Like soap on a rope? Then you’ll love Nude Audio’s Move M! The next addition to the ‘tech that doesn’t look like tech’ stable, this portable Bluetooth speaker is as cute as it is versatile.
Great for workouts, picnics, impromptu bathroom gaming sessions or any time you want sound on-the-go, just hang it up and pair your device of choice to enjoy a surprisingly high-quality level of audio. $TBA
Astell & Kern AK120 II
If you enjoy a Wolf of Wall Street lifestyle, sans the drugs and narcissistic personality, you can’t go past the Astell & Kern AK120 II dual DAC portable digital music player. This is next-level audio appreciation in a package more aesthetically appealing than a Jean Paul Gaultier overnight bag.
Fall in love with the AMOLED touchscreen as your fingers dial up another Genesis hit, or wirelessly browse your music collection to stream music or download directly to the player. It may come with a hefty price tag, but this digital audio player is worth pawning your Rolex for. $2349
This article first appeared in The New Daily.
