Philips Screeneo 2.0 projector
Resembling a cross between a wastepaper basket and a shredder, this projector won’t win too many design prizes, but it might just make your home-cinema dreams a reality. The ultra short-throw device is designed to be used in confined spaces. The high-definition picture is complemented by a built-in 26-watt sound system, and the projector can be used to stream content from phones and tablets. The Screeneo 2.0 also has a carry handle.
€1,716, philips.com
Logitech Spotlight
Ramp up your PowerPoint presentations with this clever laser pointer that zooms in on important information on slides to wow your audience. Made of brushed aluminium, the Spotlight uses gesture control to start videos and vibrates to tell you when it is time to start wrapping things up. Available in gold or slate colours, the device takes a minute to charge for three hours’ use, so you won’t get caught out on the day.
€115, logitech.ie
SolSource Sport
It looks like a failed experiment from a tanning salon, or a DIY satellite dish, but this is, in fact, a portable grill that uses sunlight to generate emission-free temperatures of up to 200C. Measuring 80cm x 80cm, the mirrored device weighs 4.5kg, making it ideal for impromptu beach barbecues or camping holidays. The maker of the grill say it works when the sun is strong enough to cast shadows, and has more than quadrupled its $20,000 target on Kickstarter. It’s due to ship in August.
From €132, oneearthdesigns.com
GADGET OF THE WEEK
Jabii
Danish inventors have come up with a novel way of letting children play video games while staying active. Jabii is an interactive boxing game where players aim punches at each other using spring-loaded gloves. Embedded in the soft head of each glove is an accelerometer that records data on punches thrown, speed and hit rate. A companion app issues cheers and verbal instructions, and crunches the data to determine who wins each bout. There’s also a training mode for solo players.
€85 (pack of two), thehub.dk
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Kiwano K01 monowheel electric scooter
Last-mile commuter solutions don’t come more distinctive than this monowheel. The self-balancing Kiwano K01 has a range of 32km and top speed of 32kph. It comes with a set of tiny handlebars for stability, and is leaned through corners like a skateboard. The scooter weighs 16kg, can transport a payload of 250kg, and takes an hour to charge.
€712, kiwano.co
Astell & Kern Kann
Old-school audiophiles take delight in highlighting the piffling sound quality of our smartphones and MP3 players, but this device will keep the most hardcore muso happy. The Kann is a distinctive portable audio player that delivers high-resolution. Capable of supporting up to 32-bit/384kHz audio files, its studio-quality sound is transmitted by headphones with amplifiers.
€1,018, astellnkern.com