Spring brought a fresh crop of geeky gadgets for Tech Trends to test and review so sit back and bask in their glory!

Google Home Mini

For those looking to get involved in the whole digital assistant, smart speaker thing the Google Home Mini is probably the most cost-effective first step. With no screen and a small speaker, it is limited but should give you a taste of the future. This cute little gadget came in our Google I/O goodie bag and we couldn’t wait to get it home from Mountain View to put it through its paces. Powered via a USB mini cable the Mini is small and unobtrusive, a bit like a canvas paperweight. Setup and operation is done via the Google Home app on your mobile device and was pretty simple once the home Wi-Fi was connected.

For those looking to get into the whole digital assistant, smart speaker thing the Google Home Mini is the most cost-effective first step
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I had a bit of trouble linking it to my work G Suite account but after some fiddling, Googling and shouting it was set up. This is early-stage technology but sadly the most obvious (at least to me) functions are not yet working so I couldn’t check my Google calendar or Gmails, baffling, surely this is the first step!!!

Anyway, the first test that sprang to mind was Patron Tequila’s Google Home cocktail helper from my recent blog Raising a Glass to Technology where I explored how drinks brands offered product-enhancing smart tech to customers. I visited the Patron page and followed the instructions but…No joy. I contacted Google Home support via chat and they couldn’t help. I worked out that I needed to add a third party ‘action’ to my Google Home app to enable the Patron cocktail service but couldn’t for the life of me get it to work so gave up.

Frustrated and thirsty, I remembered I had installed smart lights by Wiz so visited the Google Home Learn page and clicked on Light Control, Learn More and, Bingo! The instruction quickly got my Mini connected
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Frustrated and thirsty, I remembered I had recently reviewed and installed smart lights by Wiz around the house, so visited the Google Home Learn page and clicked on Light Control, Learn More and Bingo! Quickly got my Mini connected to my Wiz Smart Lights through the app and YEEEEES I can now turn on and off the lights around my house using the Mini.

With this working, I felt I had got a taste of the future but, only a taste
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With this working, I felt I had got a taste of the future but, only a taste. I then managed to play a few specific tracks from Google Play Music and the handy touch features on the Mini worked well for starting & stopping tracks + adjusting the volume. The speaker is small an doesn’t sound great but it’s fine for a bit of background music or radio. The most useful feature of the Mini, however, is the physical ‘Mic Mute’ switch on the back so you can turn it off like Princess Leia turned off C-3PO in Empire!

This new tech is cheap to get on board with and will improve very quickly if we all invest a bit of time in it. I think it really is the future but there is a long way to go
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The functions available now are pretty basic and if you want to do more than just search for answers with Google you will probably be a bit disappointed in what the Mini has to offer. However, this new tech is cheap to get on board with and will improve very quickly if we all invest a bit of time in it. I think it really is the future but there is a long way to go.

Retails at: £49 in the UK

Adonit INK Fine Point Stylus for Windows

Let’s be honest, Windows branded accessories can be a little expensive, not as insultingly so as Apple’s side products but painful nevertheless. The Windows Surface Pen costs £99.99 and as mine is on its last legs I was happy to try out the Adonit Ink Stylus which is a more reasonable £35.25.

Let’s be honest, Windows branded accessories can be a little expensive, not as insultingly so as Apple’s side products but painful nevertheless
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The Ink works with many Microsoft, Asus, HP, and Dell Tablets & 2-in-1 devices but be sure to check their site here for the full list of compatible devices. It worked perfectly with my Surface Book and only the tip felt a bit odd but after using a different pen for a year any change will take a bit of getting used to.

It worked perfectly with my Surface Book and only the tip felt a bit odd but after using a different pen for a year any change takes getting used to.
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The Adonit Ink feels great in the hand with comfortable, low profile buttons and a handy clip
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The Ink feels great in the hand with comfortable, low profile buttons and a handy clip. I haven’t charged it yet but it claims 80 hours of battery life and is easily rechargeable via micro USB. It’s a good looking and cheap replacement and I have no complaints at all!

Retails at: $44.99 in the US or £35.25 on Amazon UK

AUKEY KM-W9 2.4GHz Wireless Ergonomic Mouse

I wouldn’t say this Aukey Wireless Ergonomic Mouse is an RSI reducing mouse but it is definitely more comfortable to use than a standard one. Its large size and ergonomic shape make it really nice to use and it is also grippy meaning you don’t have to squeeze too hard. It is also attractive, with optional flashing LEDs (this is all the rage in the PC market) but there is a switch on the base to limit this.

Its large size and ergonomic shape (of the AUKEY KM-W9 2.4GHz Wireless Ergonomic Mouse) make it really nice to use and it is also grippy meaning you don’t have to squeeze too hard
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On the base, there is also a cunning little slot that holds the USB dongle thingy so you can carry the mouse around with you and not worry about losing the USB. It runs on standard AA batteries and has six buttons, should you need them! All around this is a nice product and as usual for Aukey it is competitively priced.

• Latest-Generation Ergonomic Mouse: Ergonomic design provides greater comfort for your hand, relieving soreness and reducing strain. It’s also a high-precision six-button mouse that’s great for work, casual computer use, and even gaming
• Optimum 30° Angle & Large Palm Rest: Shaped to encourage a more natural hand, wrist, and elbow alignment than traditional mice, it may prevent or relieve the pain of repetitive stress injuries
• Multifunctional Mouse: Features a wide range of DPI levels (3 Polling Rate, 125HZ, 250HZ, 500HZ, set according to computer configuration), to suit graphic design, spreadsheet work, daily web browsing, or gaming. 5 programmable buttons (excludes left button) for customizable use. Automatically enters sleep mode if not used for 8 minutes to conserve battery (press any button to wake)
• Premium Surface: Streamlined design with comfortable, non-slip, anti-sweat finish for lasting comfort and performance
• Package Contents: AUKEY KM-W9 2.4GHz Wireless Mouse, USB Wireless Receiver, User Manual, 45-Day Money Back Guarantee and 24-Month Product Replacement Warranty Card

On the base, there is also a cunning little slot that holds the USB dongle thingy so you can carry the mouse around with you and not worry about losing the USB
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Specifications
Number of Buttons: 6
Sensor Type: Optical Sensor
DPI: 800 / 1200 / 1600 / 2400 / 3200 / 4800
Polling Rate: 125Hz / 250Hz / 500Hz (customizable on Windows systems only)
Battery Type: 1 AA battery (not included)
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Power/Light Switch: Yes
System Requirements: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10, Linux, Mac OS X 10.0 or later, Chrome OS
Dimensions: 121 x 86 x 54mm / 4.76″ x 3.39″ x 2.13″
Weight: 105g / 3.7oz (excluding battery)

Retails at: £22.99 on Amazon UK

Foobot Air Quality Monitor

Living with three dogs and an open fire it is not hard for me to believe that the air in my house is dirtier than the air outside, it is certainly smellier! So I was keen to try out the Foobot air quality monitor and test my home air quality. The Foobot is a sleek looking device that connects via Wi-Fi to an Android or iOS app and after a six-day monitoring period will send out notifications to the app about the quality of your air. The device itself also indicates the air quality by shining blue LEDs when everything is dandy and orange ones when you need to open a window.

The Foobot is a sleek looking device that connects via Wi-Fi to an Android or iOS app and after a six-day monitoring period will send out notifications to the app about the quality of your air
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The device itself also indicates the air quality by shining blue LEDs when everything is dandy and orange ones when you need to open a window
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It supports IFTTT and Nest connections, plus Lux/Geo and Ecobee thermostats or Stringify, and/or Artick Cloud devices and can, in theory, perform functions such as controlling your air conditioner to circulate air if it will improve the situation. How many of us live in houses full of such expensive connected devices? Very few. So if you live in a regular home with a simple boiler the only real function of the Foobot is to let you know when you should crack a window and let some outside air in, it does nothing to clean the air only tell you when it is not fresh.

It supports IFTTT and Nest connections, plus Lux/Geo and Ecobee thermostats or Stringify, and/or Artick Cloud devices
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With this limited functionality in mind, I don’t think the Foobot would have been much use to me even if it had worked, which it didn’t. after six tries to connect the app to the device via my Wi-Fi and the direct connection I gave up and put it back in its box and on a high shelf with all the other uninspired tech products I have accumulated. For the price The Foobot is little more than expensive techy entertainment and solves no real problem unless you are super rich and have a connected home, therefore it feels a bit of a waste of money and I can’t recommend it.

Retailing at a reduced price of $199 via the official site in the US and £179 on Amazon in the UK, with £75 off

Sennheiser CX Sport Bluetooth Headphones

Arriving too late to be included in this month’s Bluetooth Headphone round up these Sennheiser CX Sports offer a six-hour battery life, which can be quick-charged via USB in just ten minutes to offer a further hour of playback, and fully charged in 1.5hrs. You can see below they come with a groovy looking “ear-fin” that keeps them in place while you strain and wobble around the track. They also have a clip so if they do slip from your sweaty ears you won’t lose them.

They come with a groovy looking “ear-fin” that keeps them in place while you strain and wobble around the track. They also have a clip so if they do slip from your sweaty ears you won’t lose them
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They deliver a clear, detailed sound with a satisfying bass response. Multi-connection capability lets you pair the CX SPORT with up to two devices simultaneously, but not sure why you would do that? Bluetooth 4.2, Qualcomm® apt-X and apt-X Low Latency compatibility ensure that you can experience the freedom of cable-free listening with uncompromised true Hi-Fi sound.

Bluetooth 4.2, Qualcomm® apt-X and apt-X Low Latency compatibility ensure that you can experience the freedom of cable-free listening with uncompromised true Hi-Fi sound
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The CX Sports have a simple three-button remote that helps you manage your music and calls, as well as convenient voice prompts to further enhance ease of use. For the money they are a good purchase and they do sound pretty good, only lacking a bit of solidity and bombast but full of detail and fun. Eye of the Tiger anyone?

Retailing at: £119 in the UK

The post May 2018 Tech Trends Product Reviews appeared first on Tech Trends.

Spring finally arrived but Tech Trends has been closeted indoors testing and reviewing all sorts of cool gadgets and thingamabobs for you lucky readers!

Sphero Mini

The Sphero Mini follows in the line of the original Sphero, Sprk+ and the popular Sphero BB-8. The new Mini takes much of what its previous models so successful and shrinks it down to a smaller – and more economical – package.

Sphero Mini packs tons of fun into a tiny, app-enabled robotic ball. drive, play games, learn to code, and more.

The new Mini takes much of what its previous models so successful and shrinks it down to a smaller - and more economical - package
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Now the size of a snooker ball the Sphero Mini comes in a range of robust-coloured shells which open to reveal its components within (a gyroscope and accelerator). A few fun accessories are also enclosed in the package – including half a dozen colourful mini skittles and some cones so you can layout your own course and steer your Mini through it.

Initially, a little slow to charge -especially if you have children eager to play – the app intel is easy to download and boot up and once launched is quick to get going with a colourful simple interface which is very child-friendly and easy to navigate.

Packed with teeny tiny tech such as a gyroscope, accelerometer, and LED lights and almost an hour of play time, Sphero Mini is the next big thing.

The app intel is easy to download and boot up and once launched is quick to get going with a colourful simple interface which is very child-friendly and easy to navigate
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In the app you can choose between a variety of control methods: standard joystick, tilt control, slingshot and face driving – which although may prove fun for younger players is actually quite a frustrating experience. Apart from the standard tech toy drive modes, there are also a few arcade style games tucked within the app wherein you can use the Sphero as a controller. They’re a fun little distraction but compared to what kids can play on their phones nowadays they won’t amuse them for long.

Drive Mini using different modes with the Sphero Mini app, or just by using your lovely mug. This Ball is also a Video Game controller! Use Mini as a controller to shoot your way through space, race through a tunnel, or to destroy a polygon of bricks.

The app is a great introduction to the basics of programming and with a simple drag and drop approach even younger players can make their own programs or adapt provided templates
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But it’s the Sphero Edu coding app that raises this tech toy above that of your average remote control car. The app is a great introduction to the basics of programming and with a simple drag and drop approach even younger players can make their own programs or adapt provided templates. Once you’ve become familiar with the paths and blocks that represent code you can then write your own JavaScript text programs.

Program the Mini with Javascript. If you’re feeling extra clever, download the Sphero Edu app and program your robot using JavaScript. The SPRK+ robot was built for programming. What’s the difference?

Overall the Sphero Mini is a solid reasonably priced tech toy
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Overall the Sphero Mini is a solid reasonably priced tech toy. In some ways, it suffers from the general failure of many of the interactive educational bots in that you really have to encourage the child to explore its capabilities or they will just become an expensive remote control car and have a very limited replay value. Given proper guidance, however – if you have the patience – they are a great way to encourage a basic grasp of coding.

RRP: $49.00

Review by Ashley Thorpe, Animator & Filmmaker at Carrion Films and Film & Games Correspondent at Tech Trends. Follow him on Twitter @CarrionScreamin

Dell Visor Windows MR Headset

The first thing that hit me when I popped on the Dell Visor was its weightless comfort. It is similar in design to the PS4 VR headset and puts the weight of the device on the top of your head but is just a bit easier to get used to wearing and less front-heavy.

The first thing that hit me when I popped on the Dell Visor was its weightless comfort
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After trying some VR headsets that clamp the screen onto the front of your face with straps I have been left in physical pain (especially around the nose and ears) and so have become a connoisseur of VR comfort (or lack thereof) and the Dell design gets top marks.  Read the full review here.

Carlton AR Children’s Books

Carlton Books are at the forefront of early stage, educational AR books and I can’t think of a better use for mobile AR tech. Visually exciting and interactive technology paired with real-world play and learning should draw kids into new subjects and areas of study in a new and exciting way. It is important to note how early stage this technology is but Carlton have thrown themselves behind AR with exciting results.

Carlton Books are at the forefront of early stage, educational AR books and I can’t think of a better use for mobile AR tech
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It is important to note how early stage this technology is but Carlton have thrown themselves behind AR with exciting results
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Last year I was very impressed with their more adult-focused Alien: Augmented Reality Survival Manual, it had some very engaging AR content and is still my benchmark for this hybrid publishing format, so I was keen to try out this new series of educational AR books Tech Trends picked up at the 2018 London Book Fair. I was particularly keen to see how easy they made the process of linking the technology, the AR content and the physical books as the interaction between paper and digital needs to be seamless, immersing the reader (or user?) in the content with minimal UI friction.

First up was iExplore Bugs, off the bat this should be good as who doesn’t love creepy crawlies! The first page had clear instructions showing you how to download the app and use it. The App icon and the printed AR activation symbols were the same, making it really clear how it worked but there was no printed QR code to take you straight to the app in the iOS or Android app stores, why not? I had to open the app store and search for the app, luckily the printed instruction had the correct app name so this was not too hard but it should have been much easier.

Flying the Dragons around the room was serious fun and the quality or the AR was excellent
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After activating the AR there was a clear prompt on what to do next, look through the phone's camera and point it at the app symbol on each page to bring the bug to life
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The app is pretty large and took a while to download and install but when opened offered a taste of what was to come with a friendly animated cricket, instructions and links to other apps in the publisher series. After activating the AR there was a clear prompt on what to do next, look through the phone’s camera and point it at the app symbol on each page to bring the bug to life. My Galaxy S8 would not focus the camera inside the app and so detecting the symbol was a bit tricky, everything was permanently out of focus so the camera was not quick to activate the AR. However when it popped up the AR quality was great and the in-app bug controller, information and mini test were well designed and fun to use. The only niggle was the juddery bugs, when they were standing on the page they juddered constantly as the app calculated the ground level. This was a bit distracting but when the bugs took off and flew around the room under my control it improved a lot. This was serious fun and the quality or the AR Dragons was excellent.

The flying creatures got even better in Dragons Come to Life (so cool) where the Dragons from Dreamworks’ How to Train Your Dragon leap off the page and let you fly them around the room. The book’s instructions and app were just as clear and the AR dragons and little human characters were really very cool. You could also swat up on the Dragon’s special powers and its Top Trumps style, abilities followed by a little knowledge test. Again the S8 camera would not focus in the app so it failed completely to activate some of the dragons, even in very bright light, quite annoying.

Carlton Books have done a really good job here and the books and apps are fun to use and very reasonably priced considering the background work this AR tech requires
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All in all Carlton Books have done a really good job here and the books and apps are fun to use and very reasonably priced considering the background work this AR tech requires. The books absolutely must have printed QR codes to take you to the right app or Carlton need to issue one app that works across all their books in a series. The friction of looking for the right app to go with the right book is simply unnecessary and easily fixed. The in-app camera failing to focus was a big issue but an app update should fix this and my only other minor niggle is the visuals and text in the books, particularly the covers. They are overselling the concept with too many images and too many mixed up fonts and bold graphics, it all looks too busy and hectic on the page. However, with publishers like Carlton pushing the Print & AR format I can see other publishers getting onboard but for now, none match the quality on show here from Carlton.

RRP: Individual books £9.99 and the Carlton AR range is here.

Aukey Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

If asked to sum up Aukey’s products I would have to say ‘best bang for your buck’ is the phrase that comes to mind. They are invariably much better quality than the price suggests, solidly built, practical and reliable. In the case of this 16W, SK-S1 wireless Bluetooth speaker I can also add, attractive.

The SK-S1 is surprisingly solid for its size. When you first pick it up gives off a feeling of quality and confidence, and the sound is very good
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There are some wacky and expensive looking portable speakers out there but this one just looks smart and modern, blending into my office, kitchen and garden. It is also surprisingly solid for its small size and when you first pick it up gives off a feeling of quality and confidence. The curved metal grills and the brushed steel top ooze a stylish simplicity and the silicone base promises to keep it clinging to any surface. Read the full review here.

ZeroWater Filter and TDS Meter

This 12-cup water filter jug from ZeroWater looks much like every other water filter out there but what makes it a more high-tech drinking solution is its patented, 5-stage Ion Exchange Filtration system, which removes virtually all dissolved solids from your water. These solids may include minerals, salts, metals, chemicals and runoff. Mmmm runoff, my favourite non-specific dissolved solid!

It removes virtually all dissolved solids from your water. These solids may include minerals, salts, metals, chemicals and runoff. Mmmm runoff, my favourite non-specific dissolved solid!
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The ZeroWater filter is also the first in its class to benefit from a sealed lid and reservoir, which allows filtered water to be poured while water, which hasn’t yet been, filtered remains in the reservoir. This adds a further 2 cups of capacity to the 10 cups of filtered water in the jug. It also features a very cool one-handed, pull and pour button spout for easy pouring from the fridge or for filling bottles. Four additional stages of water filtration ensure larger particles and other impurities are removed.

Well, I used the laboratory-grade Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) meter provided on our unfiltered tap water and got a reading of 078. I then filled up the jug and measured the filtered water and… dum dum duuuum! Got a reading of 000. So this seems to do a fine job of removing those unpleasant impurities from your water, and that can only be a good thing. Our water normally tastes fine if a little chloriney and after filtering through the ZeroWater tasted very different. It’s difficult to describe the taste but it is not unpleasant and definitely better than straight out of the tap.

I used the laboratory-grade Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) meter provided on our unfiltered tap water and got a reading of 078. I then filled up the jug and measured the filtered water and got a reading of 000
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• Certified* to reduce Lead, Chromium, & Mercury
• Premium 5-Stage Dual-Ion Exchange filtration system
• Ion-Exchange system that removes virtually all dissolved solids in your water
• The FDA requires the TDS level in PURIFIED bottled water to reach 000-010ppm. ZeroWater is the only filter in its class to achieve this level.

RRP: £39.99

Dell Precision 7720 VR-Ready Mobile Workstation

It was love at first sight when I unpacked the top spec Dell Precision 7720 VR-Ready Mobile Workstation last week. Cupid’s bow twanged and his poison arrow thudded deep into the meat of my heart, I was a gonna. She was over £7k of laptop and I was a drooling geek, palms sweaty at the prospect of an Intel Xeon E3-1535M v6 server processor, Nvidia Quadro P5000 and a Samsung SM961 M.2 SSD. My shaking hands slowly peeled off her cardboard clothes, plugged her straight into the mains and turned myself on So how was it? Well, it was sweet while it lasted but she soon left me and drove away with the same cheeky UPS driver! Read the full review here.

Aukey Powered USB 3.0 Hub

Like Apple, PC motherboard makers seem to be on a crusade to limit external connections. I suspect this might be due to the variety of new superspeed connections users expect every board to have pushing out the more practical and proven connections such as USB 3. I have never had the need for an expansion card or hub like this one from Aukey before but with only six USB 3 ports on my PC (four on the rear and two on the front) and a wealth of USB dongles and devices I was struggling. Sure I tried a few small two or three port extenders that did the job but a mains powered, six-port hub like this provided a much-needed connectivity boost.

I have never had the need for an expansion card or hub like this one from Aukey before but with only six USB 3 ports on my PC and a wealth of USB dongles and devices I was struggling
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The hub adds six SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports to your laptop or desktop computer, plus Aukey threw in one Smart Quick-Charging Aipower port and a Gigabit Ethernet port capable of accessing superfast network speeds of up to 1000Mbps. With the palm-size and lightweight design the CB-H17 Powered USB hub retains high-speed access to all of your devices without overloading your pocket or desktop. With USB data transfer rates of up to 5Gbps, you’ll be able to sync files and interact with your Mac or PC more efficiently than ever.

This hub adds six SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports to your computer, plus one Smart Quick-Charging Aipower port and a Gigabit Ethernet port capable of accessing superfast network speeds
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This is a very robust little hub from Aukey and is a worthy addition to your home computer, you won't know how you survived without one
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Powered by a 12V/3A mains adapter you can use your all external USB hard drives and even charge your smartphone or tablet when your computer is turned off (except for the iOS system), that could come in pretty handy! This is a very robust little hub and is a worthy addition to your home computer, you won’t know how you survived without one.

• Compact and slim design effectively saves your desk space and expands your connectivity
• One 2.4A output smart charging port provides full-speed and sufficient powers to charge all Apple and Android Smartphone, tablets and other USB charged devices
• The Ethernet port supports 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet. Support WinXP/ 7/ 8/ 10, Linux, Mac OS
• Package Contents: AUKEY CB-H17 Powered USB Hub, 3.3ft USB Cable, 12V/3A Power Adapter, User Manual, 24 Month Warranty Card

RRP: £19.99 reduced from £24.99 on Amazon UK

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post April 2018 Tech Trends Product Reviews appeared first on Tech Trends.

Welcome to our first reviews post of the new year, and true to form, we pretty much have a gadget for everything. Enjoy!

Zeiss VR ONE Plus Headset

Zeiss is famous for pushing the boundaries of optical excellence and their stills cameras are legendary. They now created a Virtual Reality headset that provides a very comfortable experience (especially for glasses wearers like myself) and great imagery for a reasonable price. The VR ONE Plus is well designed with ventilation ports to prevent fogging and easy access to the headphone jack.

The VR ONE Plus is well designed with ventilation ports to prevent fogging and easy access to the headphone jack
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Any smartphone with a screen size between 4.7” and 5.5” will fit and the expandable handset tray works well and fits nicely into the side of the headset and it all comes apart for cleaning those greasy lenses. I tested it with the budget Honor 7X, a great phone but not the most powerful and the screen is only 1080p but the results were OK. The headset boasts an ”eye-box” that claims to remove the need to make any mechanical lens adjustments during your experience. I am not sure exactly what this is but my screen was certainly in focus during testing, so it worked.

You can use the VR ONE Plus with or without a head strap, but it is a very comfortable and sturdy strap if you do choose to use it. The tinted visor on the front of the headset is enabled for Augmented Reality apps. I couldn’t test this but the visor does leave the camera unobscured so I will chase down a more powerful AR-capable phone and update you. You can choose content from hundreds of different VR apps, games and experiences available through the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. The big names are all supported –  Within, Jaunt VR, NYTVR and Arte360 as well as VR games and even FPV controller apps for radio controlled vehicles.

Overall it’s a sturdy and useful headset, is smartphone brand agnostic and was easy and comfortable to use. The Zeiss VR ONE Plus was also well made and lacks those dangerously sharp, unfinished plastic edges that are the curse of cheaply moulded headsets and have previously opened a capillary or two of this unsuspecting reviewer.

RRP: £69.99

Apricorn Aegis Secure Key 3z – USB 3 Flash Drive

RRP: From £70

Cue CleverBot

It has long been a dream to own a ‘living breathing’ interactive robot that will respond to commands whilst exhibiting a distinct personality of its own and Wonder Workshop believes that it’s latest automated toy ‘CUE’, launching this month, is the next leap towards that goal.

You can engage in chat, control movement, create reactive sensor behaviours or even code creative interactions using block or JavaScript
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Unlike many previous automated robots – which were essentially remote-controlled toys with minimal interactive functions – CUE has a more emotive AI system as well as a choice of 4 playful avatars to customise how your robot interacts with you. Linked to an app you can engage in chat, control movement, create reactive sensor behaviours or even code creative interactions using block or JavaScript programming at a variable skill level depending on age and ability.

The robots display autonomous behaviours and encourage emotional engagement, further enhancing the learning experience. Companion apps are available on iOS, Android, and Kindle

Pitched at 11+ CUE is certainly a little advanced for younger children who will delight in the bot roaming the room learning to avoid obstacles whilst chattering away, but will struggle both with setup and some of the more text-heavy interactions. I test played it with a 4-year-old, a 13-year-old and an 18-year-old and although the 4-year-old happily ran around after it like a puppy, the CUE was definitely more suitable for the early teen bracket. Simple functions such as the ability to record phrases into the Bot and send them off to relay messages will delight younger children (and provide an endless source for mischief) whilst the coding possibilities held the teenager’s attention.

The greatest expectation with any automated toy - especially one that pitches itself as an interactive robot - is how ‘alive’ it feels
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Unlike many previous automated robots CUE has a more emotive AI system as well as a choice of 4 playful avatars
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The greatest expectation with any automated toy – especially one that pitches itself as an interactive robot – is how ‘alive’ it feels as on the whole most toys that make this bold claim tend to disappoint and their limitations grow apparent pretty quickly, especially when they come with a hefty price tag. CUE chat can feel quite scripted, like keywords inevitably trigger pre-programmed answers and the repetitive nature of the toys responses whilst roaming soon reveal the limit of its conversation and personality, but functions such as watching CUE react to sounds, looking down at your hand as you reach towards it and an ability to react to its surroundings (and muddle past obstacles) invest personality into the toy and had my children laughing with it rather than at it.

Despite its prevalence in the world, coding is still considered to be a difficult subject/skill to learn, but everything becomes easier if you can make it fun. Cue and Dot are equal parts learning tool and toy. They have been developed to teach children vital skills, widely prized on the jobs market, without browbeating, allowing them to develop at their own pace. Vikas Gupta, Wonder Workshop CEO and Co-founder

The ability to toggle the avatars are definitely a plus and the ability to learn how to code to control CUE will certainly add additional playability. R2D2 it isn’t – not yet – but in terms of an automated toy that can be used both as a simple plaything and a fun way to get children interested both in tech and coding, the CUE is a big robotic thumbs up.

• 3 Proximity Sensors
• Real-time Bluetooth
• IR Robot Interaction
• 3 Processors & Sensor Fusion
• Dual Motors & Potentiometers
• 3 Microphones & Speaker
• Programmable LED & Buttons
• 2 Powered Wheels & Encoders

RRP: £169.99

Review by Ashley Thorpe, Animator & Filmmaker at Carrion Films and Film & Games Correspondent at Tech Trends. Follow him on Twitter @CarrionScreamin

Aukey Bluetooth In-Ear Headphones

These Aukey Bluetooth Wireless Headphones are currently discounted on Amazon and after testing them out they seem to be a bit of a bargain. They boast three EQ sound settings plus aptX technology ensuring that, when used with compatible devices, you get the very best audio quality over Bluetooth 4.1. They also use CVC 6.0 noise cancellation with the built-in dual mic so your calls should sound clear, so the question is, what don’t they do?

Well, I can vouch that they are a comfortable fit and come with several different size ear buds and ear hooks so even a Klingon jogging on a treadmill could wear them without issues. They are super-lightweight (13g / 0.46oz) despite the built-in rechargeable battery and Aukey claims an extended playtime of 8 hours of music (about 120 songs) or 240 hours of standby time on a single 1.5-hour charge. I have used they on and off for a month and not needed to recharge so far.

Water and sweat proof they are IPX4-certified water-resistant with internal nano-coating to withstand sweat and rain when used outdoors and the earbuds magnetically fasten around your neck when not in use. Like all Aukey products, these headphones are backed by a 24-Month Product Warranty which, when combined with Amazon’s excellent returns procedures is very reassuring indeed.

But, I hear you say, do they sound good? Simply put, yes, they sound as good as any in-ear Bluetooth headphones I have used so far, with a solid and pleasing sound. At the reduced price, they are a bargain!

Specifications:
Technology: BT 4.1, A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP, aptX
Microphone Noise Reduction: 6th generation dual-mic cVc
Charging Time: 1.5 hours
Play Time: Up to 8 hours
Battery Type: Li-Polymer (2 x 60mAh)
Operating Range: Up to 10m / 33ft
Weight: 13g / 0.46oz

Compatibility:
Echo Dot. iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch. Android Phones and Tablets: Samsung, Samsung S8, HTC, LG, Sony, Huawei, Blackberry, One Plus, etc. Windows Phones. Siri Wakeup: If Bluetooth earphone connected with iPhone, please short press both volume buttons + & – while the earphone is in the standby mode, and Siri is activated when a prompt tone is heard.

RRP £23.99 down from £34.99

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

Eva II Sex Toy

The Dame Products team behind the original Eva and now the Eva II vibrator have a vision – a brave new world in which women have routinely orgasmic sex just like men through the creation of a small, wearable clitoral stimulator. It’s a noble cause, but how far does their latest offering go in fulfilling it?

Eva II is great for all kinds of play. Use it on your own, or any time you might want your hands free. However you want to enjoy Eva is the right way to use it! Eva II only needs the help of a single finger to stay secure.

Everything about the Eva screams ‘high end’ – through the miracle of wireless charging the device is totally waterproof and easy to clean and the design is all smooth ambiguous curves in muted matt green or pale pink. The vibe itself is powerful for its size and needs to be since the hands-free design allows the device to sit against your sweet spot rather than to press down as you would with a normal vibrator.

The Dame Products team behind the Eva II vibrator have a vision – a brave new world in which women have routinely orgasmic sex
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It does take some practice to comfortably ‘wear’ Eva; its arms are designed to sit snuggly under the labia but it’s quite a squeeze to get them there. After the struggle, it is still easy to dislodge once the actual sex is underway depending on your personal physique and choice of position. It’s also a challenge to adjust the level of vibration since it involves pressing a lubed up button on a piece of smooth plastic.

With flexible wings that tuck under the labia while Eva II sits on top, you can have clitoral stimulation during penetrative sex. Eva II is smaller, lighter, and simple to use – plus, it’s totally waterproof, and comes with a sleek charging base/travel case to boot.

All in all, it’s not really hands-free, but it’s a vast step forward from using a traditional vibrator during sex and its smart presentation and virtuous concept make it the ideal option for those wishing to introduce toys to their partner.

RRP: $135

Review by Naomi Hepworth-Andrews, Digital & IT Consultant, mother, ferret fanatic and tech enthusiast.

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