Champers van
Bollinger B1 EV
Meet the Bollinger all-electric off-roader, which looks like a Land Rover Defender on steroids. It may sound like a champagne brand, but the Bollinger is in fact an uncompromising SUV with a total output of 360bhp and a top speed of 204kph. No slouch, it goes from standstill to 100kph in less than 5 seconds and is available with 60kWh and 100kWh batteries, giving it a range of 193km and 320km respectively. The B1 can wade through rivers to a depth of 1 metre. Prices have yet to be announced but first deliveries will begin in 2019.
bollingermotors.com
Do-it cruet
Smalt smart salt dispenser
Billed as the world’s first interactive salt dispenser, Smalt is also a Bluetooth wireless speaker with a colour-changing mood light. Listed on the crowdfunding site Indiegogo, the device has Amazon Alexa integration, so you can tell it to dispense salt while cooking. Stream music at dinner time and shake, pinch, or choose the measurement of salt you desire from your phone, Alexa or the device. First deliveries are expected next year.
€84, indiegogo.com
http://bollingermotors.com/ Reality bytes
Asus Zenfone AR
If you love messing around in virtual worlds, this is for you. Powered by Tango and Daydream — Google’s augmented and virtual reality platforms — the 5.7in phone is designed to be used for VR and AR. It has three rear cameras, including a 23-megapixel one, that combine for accurate depth perception and motion tracking. All this needs processing power, so the Zenfone has a Snapdragon 821 chip plus 6GB or 8GB of Ram.
From €765, asus.com
Objects of affection
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3Doodler
3D printing might seem futuristic to adults, but to children it will be as commonplace as the photocopier is to us. The 3Doodler is a handheld pen that teaches little ones how to draw 3D objects freehand. The battery-powered USB-rechargeable pen extrudes heated plastic into provided rubber templates to make 2D parts for simple toys, which are then assembled. The 3Doodler comes with a book of instructions so your children can make a selection of toys and ornaments, including a model of the Eiffel Tower and a pair of spectacle frames — because, you know, you don’t already have enough of that kind of stuff lying around the house.
From €42, the3doodler.com
Console yourself
SNES Classic Edition
If the thought of playing Donkey Kong Country and Yoshi’s Island makes you want to dig out your old controllers, fret not: Nintendo’s miniature SNES Classic will be available to order at the end of this month. The shrunken 16-bit console, which is due to go on sale on September 29, is expected to sell out in record time. It comes with two controllers and 21 games, ranging from Final Fantasy III to Super Mario Kart.
€90, nintendo.com
Wrist to the mill
Ticwatch
Just when you thought the smartphone fad had passed, along come two watches that are shaking up Kickstarter. Powered by Android Wear, the design-focused Ticwatch Express and higher-end Sport have raised €1.8m despite having an initial goal of €85,000. Both are compatible with Android and iOS devices and have round 1.4in displays. The S, which has its GPS antenna in the face, has interchangeable bands, but because the E’s GPS antenna is built into the band, it cannot be swapped. Wearers get access to a range of apps including Google Assistant and Maps; fitness apps include Google Fit, Strava and Runkeeper. The watch monitors sleep patterns and allows runners to listen to music and map their runs without a phone. Battery life is good for about six hours of music playback, or 120 hours on standby.
€100 (Express) and €118 (Sport), kickstarter.com