2018’S GADGET WISHLIST
We give this award to products we’ve tried at shows and expos that especially impressed us.
Audio-Technica ATH-DSR5BT
Audio-Technica puts a lot of gadget know-how into simple-looking headphones, and these are its most advanced in-ears yet. They use the company’s ‘Pure Digital Drive’ system, which allow the drivers that actually make the sound to be controlled directly by the digital audio signals, instead of having to go through a conversion to analogue audio first (which can spoil the sound if done badly). And with aptX HD for higher-quality streaming, they’re perfect for getting every drop of crystal-clear audio piped directly to your ears.
£349, eu.audio-technica.com
DJI Osmo Mobile 2
Steadicam-style gimbals are definitely not something that only professional video makers should be using. Whether you’re recording a family holiday or your next vlog for your millions of viewers, the Osmo Mobile 2 will be an amazingly useful buy. The point of a gimbal is to keep your phone steady and level when recording, no matter how much your hand wobbles. Shaking or sudden movements are absorbed, so everything is super-smooth when you watch it back. Brilliantly, if you’re recording yourself, it tracks you and keeps you in frame automatically. And it has handy controls on the handle.
£129, dji.com
Black Box VR gym
Not everyone loves the idea of going to the gym to hang out among sweaty bodies in various states of visible exertion. Black Box is a concept to outfit you with a VR headset as you train. You’ll be playing a game customised for you by AI, controlled by using the gym equipment. Black Box says it’s great for really tough workouts, because “…your brain will perceive actual danger or urgency and push past your perceived limitations.” Which sounds horrifying, actually, but we love the idea. The first gym opens in San Francisco this year, rolling out to more locations in the future.
£TBC, blackbox-vr.com
Heatworks Tetra
This countertop dishwasher can fit in just about any kitchen, no matter how pokey. Instead of focusing on meeting the needs of a big family, it’s designed to hold the crockery of two full-place settings, including chunky stuff such as bowls. It doesn’t plumb in – you just pour in half a gallon of water when you need to use it, pop
