Another batch of cutting-edge gadgets and accessories for your consideration.

Aukey SK-M30 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

After a positive review of their SK-S1 BT Speaker a few months ago I was excited to get my hands on the Aukey SK-M30 model that although less sturdy, looks much more stylish and comes with the more advanced BT 4.2.

After a positive review of their SK-S1 BT Speaker I was excited to get my hands on the Aukey SK-M30 that although less sturdy, looks more stylish and comes with the more advanced BT 4.2
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Like its cheaper brother, the SK-M30 is super simple to use. Charge the 4000mAh battery via the supplied micro USB cable and you’ll get up to 12 hours of portable music. Instantly connect and wirelessly stream music from your device at a range of up to 10m (33ft) via BT 4.2 or use the included 3.5mm audio cable to connect pretty much anything else and you have a lightweight and super-useful speaker with enough grunt to fill a good-sized room.

Charge up the 4000mAh battery via the supplied micro USB cable and you will get up to 12 hours of portable music
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The sound quality is excellent and I couldn’t fault it when testing out talky radio and music of all types. For its small size the dual 10W drivers and subwoofers put out a really nice sound and for the money, the SK-M30 is a steal and highly recommended. Five simple buttons control power, play, track skipping (back/forward), volume, and even calls with the built-in mic.

Retails at: £43.99 on Amazon in the UK

Catalyst Impact Protection cases for Galaxy S9 & S9+

Only last month I gave Catalyst’s Apple device cases deservedly excellent reviews and wished they would make a case for my Samsung Galaxy S9+, well blow me down, now they do! This month Catalyst announced these brand new S9 & S9+ Impact Protection cases and I am very happy to report that my S9+ is now snuggly protected by the bright but pleasing blue and orange version.

This month Catalyst announced these brand new S9 & S9+ Impact Protection cases and I am very happy to report that my S9+ is now snuggly protected by the bright but pleasing blue and orange version
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They also come in black and clear rubber that forms a protective bumper around the phone’s edge but also cushions and protects around the cameras with a sloped rubber seal that provides easy and smooth access to the fingerprint sensor.

The two S9 cases also come in black and clear rubber that forms a protective bumper around the phone’s edge but also cushions and protects around the cameras
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The back is clear plastic to facilitate wireless charging and as a whole, the cases are sturdy and comfortable to hold. Catalyst’s innovative ‘truss cushioning system’ combined with a proprietary rubber polymer blend provides drop protection up to 3m (9.9ft).

Catalyst’s innovative ‘truss cushioning system’ combined with a proprietary rubber polymer blend provides drop protection up to 3m (9.9ft)
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The ports are a generous size that should fit pretty much any size headphone and charging cable and in the hand, it feels grippy and secure. They really are excellent cases and are a pleasure to pick up and hold.

Retail for: $39.99

USB C Multi Adaptor Hubs from Aukey & Inateck

If you have bought an Apple Mac in the last few years you will be living the nightmare that is USB-C. Last month we reviewed a load of cables & adaptors that might make living with USB-C a little less hellish and this month we are looking at Multi Adaptor Hubs, one from Aukey and one from Inateck, two budget accessory specialists.

If you have bought an Apple Mac in the last few years you will be living the nightmare that is USB-C
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How Apple has convinced large parts of the planet’s population that less is more and that you should pay a premium price for a computer without the connections you need then pay more to add those connections with shitty adaptors is a trick on par with the Devil convincing us he doesn’t exist. He does though, and his name is ignorance!

For those of you suffering loss of connectivity on your Mac the best solution is a Multi Adaptor Hub like the Inateck 9-in-1 USB C Hub with PD Type C Ports, 4K HDMI, VGA, RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet Ports, Micro SD/SD Card Reader or the Aukey USB C Hub with HDMI 4k, VGA, SD & Micro SD Card Slots, Ethernet up to 1K Mbps, 2 USB 3 Ports and 60W USB C PD Throughput. Amongst all that jargon you might have spotted that they are almost identical, with the Inatech offering one extra USB C port for data.

The prices are actually identical, both selling for £59.99 on Amazon in the UK. That is £59.99 of connections that anyone with a brain should expect a computer costing multiple thousands of £/$ to include, right? Hint, buy Microsoft, or anyone else. Enough Apple bashing and onto the Hubs.

The prices are actually identical, both selling for £59.99 on Amazon in the UK. That is £59.99 of connections that anyone with a brain should expect a computer costing multiple thousands of £/$ to include, right?
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Both provide USB C PD (Power Delivery) throughput but where Aukey’s single USB C port handles both data and power the Inateck has two ports, one for data and one for power. This is a small but key difference and I think the Inateck is more flexible in this area. 4K via HDMI was excellent with both hubs and I had no issues there. I will admit to not trying the VGA out on either hub because… I don’t have a VGA monitor anymore, but if you regularly walk into conference rooms and need to hook up with legacy (shit) old projection kit then this will be a life saver.

I didn’t find anything wrong with either hub but they both felt more flimsy than I had hoped, rattling if tapped or shaken
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As a photographer, an SD slot is a must for me, and both hubs performed perfectly in my tests, transferring video and images very quickly indeed. Both Ethernet ports worked well when connected directly to my router, no complaints there either. The Type A USB 3.0 ports did exactly what they needed to and were quick at transferring data and great for connecting external mice and keyboards. I didn’t find anything wrong with either hub but would observe that they were both more flimsy feeling than I had hoped for. They both also rattled if tapped or shaken. For the price, I would like a more solidly built device that might last a bit longer, but Hey Ho.

If I had to pick one of the two it would be the Inateck because the cable folds neatly into the hub and for the extra USB C data port. The Aukey looks a bit better I think but for the cash, the Inateck just beats it.

Retail at: Aukey Hub £59.99 on Amazon UK – Inatech Hub £59.99 on Amazon UK

Ragu Z400 Mini Projector

 

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 July 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.

Another month packed with products to review, March saw a range of practical and affordable gadgets drop into our postbox for evaluation.

Tech21 Phone cases for the Galaxy S9 – Evo Check & Pure Clear

Finding the right case for your bankruptcy-inducing new smartphone is a very personal decision. Some people like strong, hard, utilitarian cases that feel bulletproof and some more tactile rubbery cases that stick to your hand like glue and promise to bounce when dropped. Well, Tech21 have sent me one of each to test here. Tech Trends has yet to get its hands on the new Galaxy S9 (get your act together Samsung!) but our S8 is only millimetres different in size and for testing purposes fitted perfectly into these Tech 21 Galaxy S9 cases.

Tech Trends has yet to get its hands on the new Galaxy S9 - get your act together @SamsungUK - but our S8 is only millimetres different in size and for testing purposes fitted perfectly into these Tech 21 Galaxy S9 cases
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I personally can’t understand anyone who flaunts their expensive phone sans case and naughtily take great pleasure spotting such dottards who have cracked their screens and not been flush enough to replace the handset. A good case is not a cheap thing and I fully expect to pay £30-50 for one. Both these Tech21 cases are pleasingly at the bottom of this price bracket and represent very good value. The Pure Clear model is hard plastic and rated for 10’ drop protection, more than anyone should need, and while the rigid plastic is not to my taste it feels very sturdy and looks good. Tech21 also address the issue of clear plastic ageing ungloriously to a vile, sweaty, yellow colour and promise the Pure Clear is ‘anti-yellowing’ so should stay looking new for longer.

These Tech21 Samsung Galaxy S9 cases are very good value at £29.95
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The Evo Check case has a wonderful sticky feel to it that means it won’t slip out of your hand easily. Our sample has a nice smoked clear finish (other colours are available) and with its more rubbery texture is rated with a mighty 12’ drop protection! The quality is really good and this case would be my choice simply for the fact the rubbery texture means it won’t easily slip off canted surfaces and would stay gripped snuggly in my hand, even in the rain. The back is decorated with a cross pattern and the edges claim three layers of FlexShock material and a patented ridge design for better impact resistance. These are good solid cases at a great price.

RRP: Evo Check £29.95 and the Pure Clear £29.95

TeckNet USB 3.0 and Ethernet hub

You can never have enough USB 3 sockets! This TeckNet hub comes with three USB 3.0 and a Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 LAN connection, which is super useful for connecting a NAS to your PC or Laptop. TeckNet promises up to 5Gbps through each USB port, that is ten times faster than sad old USB 2.0 but is still backwards compatible with both USB 2.0 & 1.1 connections.

TeckNet promises up to 5Gbps through each USB port, that is ten times faster than sad old USB 2.0 but is still backwards compatible with both USB 2.0 & 1.1 connections
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The Ethernet port should provide superfast 10/100/1000 Gigabit speeds and support IPv4/IPv6 protocols, dual channel transfer, auto transfer and data stream reversing regulation. All round it is a simple and practical hub with a useful 30cm connecting cable and the only real drawback is that it won’t work with high power consumption devices such as external hard drives and it won’t charge phones or tablets. This is a bit of a pain and means the USB ports are limited to Keyboards, Mice, Dongles and flash memory keys. Apart from this it is a solid, reliable product and is ready for travel with a sturdy metal shell.

The Ethernet port should provide superfast 10/100/1000 Gigabit speeds and support IPv4/IPv6 protocols, dual channel transfer, auto transfer and data stream reversing regulation
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• Expands your PC with three USB 3.0 ports and one RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port, an especially flexible solution for Ultrabooks, notebooks and tablets featuring USB interfaces
• Three USB 3.0 Ports: Enjoy data transfer rates of up to 5Gbps, 10 times faster than High-Speed USB 2.0. It also allows you to connect 3 USB devices simultaneously. Backwards compatible with USB 2.0/1.1 devices
• RJ45 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter: Gigabit port gives access to a superfast network, backward compatible with 1 0/100 Ethernet. Supports IPv4/IPv6 protocols, dual channel transfer mode, auto transfer and data stream reversing regulation
• Supports Hot Swap and Plug & Play on most USB ports. Built-in surge protection keeps your devices and data safe. LED indicates normal operation. Compatible with Flash Drive, External Hard Drive, Mobile Phone, Tablet, Card Reader, MP3, MP4, Mouse, Keyboard, wireless Adapter and any USB Peripherals
• Compact, Lightweight, Portable, Tecknet USB 3.0 hub with Ethernet port ensures a neat and uncluttered arrangement of all connections making sure that plugs and cables do not interfere with each other.

RRP: £12.99 in UK & $19.99 in US

Aukey HDMI switch

If like me you have used up all the HDMI inputs on your TV this neat little Bidirectional HDMI switch from Aukey might solve the problem. You can hook up two sources to one HDMI display or split one device between two displays and toggle between them, with only one monitor displaying the input at a time.

You can hook up two sources to one HDMI display or split one device between two displays and toggle between them, with only one monitor displaying the input at a time
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This is a really valuable little box to have in your home cinema or multi-monitor office setup plus it is small and as with most Aukey products just works! It supports HDMI v1.4 and high res pictures up to 4K @ 30Hz plus 3D video with a high bandwidth of 3.4Gbps data transfer speeds. Good cables are a must but it will be an indispensable asset as new devices pile up under the living room TV.

This is a valuable addition to your home cinema or multi-monitor office setup. It's small and like most Aukey products, just works! It supports HDMI v1.4 and high res pictures up to 4K @ 30Hz plus 3D video
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• Bidirectional HDMI Switch: Connect two HDMI sources to one HDMI display, or connect one HDMI source to toggle between two displays (only one monitor will display)
  High Resolution: HDMI v1.4 (HDCP 1.4 Protocol Compliant)
• Supports high resolution, up to 4k@30Hz, and 3D video
• High bandwidth 3.4Gbps data transmission speed wise
• Compatibility: Compatible with most devices with standard HDMI interface
• Input: computer, set-top boxes, DVD, PS3 / PS4 etc. Output: TV, monitors, projectors etc.
• Convenient to Use: Plug and play, don’t need to install any hard drivers; the device will work as long as it is plugged in; lightweight and compact, you can take it with you anywhere
• Package Contents: AUKEY HA-H04 2-Way HDMI Switch, User Manual, 24-Month Warranty Card

RRP: £12.99 on Amazon.co.uk

Aegis Padlock SSD

The Aegis Padlock SSD’s resilient design makes it perfect for travel, in fact, it has joined me on trips to Dubai, New York, Paris and well… Bristol
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This super tough, ultra-compact SSD is pretty fast. I got 176MBs write and 185MBs read which is more than most people will need for anything except 4K video editing. IP56 certified against water, dust and grit, with a crush-resistant aluminium enclosure and built-in USB 3.0 cable, your data is protected well beyond just encryption. The Aegis Padlock SSD’s resilient design makes it perfect for travel, in fact, it has joined me on trips to Dubai, New York, Paris and well… Bristol, and has served as my main backup drive for media on recent photo and video commisions. Read the full review here.

BakkerElkhuizen SRM Ergonomic Mouse

Be gone Carpal Tunnel syndrome! This funny looking handshake mouse might help the strains and pains of the modern worker. If you are glued to your computer 24/7 then no doubt you enjoy the misery of RSI but this offers a possible solution, at least for your tired hands. This is definitely the strangest mouse I have tried but it is also the best! No doubt it has eased the strain on the back of my wrists. It is always holding up of my fingers above the keys and mouse buttons that causes me the most pain from my wrist up to my elbow and with the handshake design my palm is almost vertical to the desktop so keeping my fingers off the buttons uses different muscles and tendons.

It's holding my fingers above the keys and buttons that causes me the most pain but with the handshake design my palm is almost vertical to the desktop keeping my fingers off the buttons naturally
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“Thanks to the “handshake” position when using a vertical mouse the wrist doesn’t bend sideways too much and the lower arm needs less inward rotation (Schmid et al., 2015). There is less muscle activity in the lower arm than when using a standard mouse.” (Quemelo & Vieira, 2013)

At first it was uncomfortable to use as my hands got used to it but after a couple of days I am seriously thinking this might become my go-to mouse (that’s not a phrase you write every day!) As a tech reviewer I have a plague of mice in my office and can barely get to the door without treading on one so singling out a favorite would enable me to purge the rest. If you suffer like I do I recommend you give it a go and if it works for you like it did for me then you will be a little happier sitting at your desk than before.

If you suffer like I do I recommend you give it a go and if it works for you like it did for me then you will be a little happier sitting at your desk than before
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It has two buttons and a scroll wheel. Using this mouse correctly reduces muscle tension, reducing the symptoms and causes of RSI within the workplace. The SRM Mouse is designed for small and medium-sized hands (hand widths of up to 9 cm, excluding the thumb). The SRM Mouse also has a powerful laser sensor and the option to choose between 400/1600/3200 DPI.

BakkerElkhuzien is a Gold-certified Microsoft partner – Gold certification is the highest accreditation that Microsoft awards. The SRM Mouse is available as wireless or corded. More information can be found at BakkerElkhuizen

Üllo Wine Purifier

Check the label on 95% of wines in your average shop and you will see “Contains Sulfites”. Whilst the addition of sulfites to wine as a preservative is useful during the transportation and storage of wine in order to prevent against oxidation and bacterial spoilage, they are no longer needed once the bottle is opened. It has just become part of the process for most international wine producers and might not be a bad thing if it means the wines stay good for longer, however, if you want to enjoy your wine without these additives Üllo’s Selective Sulfite Capture technology is the answer.

Adding sulfites to wine as a preservative is useful during the transportation and storage of wine in order to prevent against oxidation and bacterial spoilage, they are no longer needed once the bottle is opened
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“Here at Üllo we believe the best things in life are simple and pure, especially when it comes to the things we eat and drink. It is for this reason that we developed Selective Sulfite Capture technology to purify wine and ensure that wine lovers can enjoy wine in its natural state. We understand that the UK is a nation of wine lovers so we hope that our product offering will help Brits enjoy wine in its very best form!”

This Üllo filter is a cool looking, reusable kitchen gadget and as Tech Trends is a very busy place we all like to unwind at the end of the day so we bought a few sulfite packed wines, popped a few corks and gave in to bacchanalian excess. To be perfectly honest I rarely drink the same wine twice so comparing a filtered to an unfiltered vino wasn’t an option but I am keen to put fewer chemicals in my body whenever possible and I do know a good wine from vinegar so can safely say that the Üllo Wine Purifier did not ruin the taste of the red and white wines I tested and I hope it saved my liver the miserable job of absorbing all those nasty sulfites, only my mortician will ever truly know.

It not only purifies any wine by removing sulfites and sediment, it also aerates electively with the on/off aerator switch and rests gently on top of any wine glass or can be handheld
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It not only purifies any wine by removing sulfites and sediment, it also aerates electively with the on/off aerator switch and rests gently on top of any wine glass or can be handheld. It stores beautifully in its display base and includes Ullo Wine Purifier, Travel Bag, (4) Selective Sulfite Capture Single Bottle Filters easily disassembles, Dishwasher Safe, Hand Wash Recommended, Made from Food Grade BPA-free materials! Each filter purifies 1 (750 Milliliter) bottle of wine.

RRP: £69.99

DBPower RD-810 Mini LED Projector

You can pay a packet for a home cinema projector, but what about the other end of the spectrum – cheap and functional?
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You can pay a packet for a home cinema projector. Remember the Sony VPL-VZ1000ES? Admittedly that is one of the finest short throw projectors out there, but it costs circa £20k ($28k), not including the Sony 4K Advanced SXRD screen… Well, what about the other end of the spectrum – cheap and functional? Read the full review here.

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 March 2018 Tech Trends Product Reviews appeared first on Tech Trends.