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KICKSTARTER

The latest startups, crowdfunded projects and plain crazy ideas

40 bots in 40 nights

CLICBOT

Finding it tough to decide which adorable programmable robot to buy? Then go modular, and potentially fashion thousands of creations from what you find in the Clicbot box. Components slot together like Lego, letting you build everything from a worm-like face-tracker to a robot that can climb walls like Spider-Man (if

Spider-Man’s limbs ended in huge suction cups). There are wheels for racing, and a grasping claw for your plastic pal to hand you your tea when you can’t be bothered getting it yourself. You’ll need the full-priced kit for the full experience , but even the entry-level package nets you 10 official setups – and countless custom options. $299 / bit.ly/clicbotkickstarter

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Daddy fuel

ORBITKEY NEST

Fed up of losing things and seeing your devices run out of juice? You need Orbitkey Nest, the lovechild of a Qi charger and desk tidy. Its leather tray surface offers wireless charging; open the lid to get at a space with movable dividers. On the move it flips open like a book, but stays shut when dropped. $89 / orbitkey.com Vinyl fantasy

COTURN CT–01

You might love your vinyl, but where can you actually play it? Just in one room? The CT-01 wants to free records from the home: this is a dinky player you can sling in a bag. It’s made from premium materials and is smart too – there’s Bluetooth support and a headphone jack hidden at the rear, well out of headbanging harm’s way. €299 / coturn.de What grows around…

ROTOFARM

This kitchen gadget is ideal if you have a green mind but lack green fingers. Within minutes, you can plant seed pods, top up the water and nutrients and watch the Rotofarm slowly spin, giving your herbs and veggies net-zero gravitational pressure and loads of light – while your other plants in traditional pots look on, sobbing gently. £368 / bace.co/rotofarm Little rad hiding HUD

EYERIDE

Fans of terrible ’80s TV rejoice: Street Hawk ’s HUD is (sort of) coming to a bike helmet near you – in fact, the one you own already. With the EyeRide, a combo of fingerprint-sized display, clever projection and mic/speaker integration makes your helmet smart, giving you instant access to maps, music and contacts as you ride. €259 / eye-lights.com

Strings attached NACON WIRED COMPACT CONTROLLER

Contrary to popular belief, going back to a wired controller not only increases versatility but brings about a sense of early 2000’s game sessions with siblings. Nacon’s Wired Compact Controller is a 3rd-party PlayStation controller featuring a cable long enough to let you cause online destruction from the opposite room. Not that we’d suggest that. It features a USB-A connector and is easily used on a PS3, PS4 and even a PC. All of the standard buttons you’d find on the DualShock 4 is also here. It’s not that compact at all, however, sizing in a bit larger than a standard Dualshock. It’s a proper comfy fit for any hand size though and won’t ever run out of battery, which is a plus. R700 / koodoo.co.za

Angular miracle ASTELL&KERN SR25

Do not adjust your magazine. For reasons unknown, Astell & Kern’s new entry-level portable music player has an extra-wonky 3.6in touchscreen display. At R11 700, you could try to use it as leverage for discount, but dive into the specs and you realise where the money is going. An upgrade of the award-winning (and almost as wonky) SR15 model, it supports native playback of DSD256 and 32-bit/384KHz high-res audio. There’s newly designed circuitry to improve sound quality and, in a first for A&K, LDAC Bluetooth support lets you wirelessly stream 24-bit audio to compatible speakers and headphones, while battery life is boosted to 20+ hours. R11 750 (import) / astellnkern.com

DROP EVERYTHING & DOWNLOAD Drop Wizard

R50 / iOS ● R60 / Android

Wizards think they’re all smart with their pointy hats, magic sticks and abracadabra. But Teo’s fallen foul of an evil warlock who’s turned his friend to stone! Horrors! Your aim in Drop Wizard is to blast through cute but evil critters and rescue your mate.

This game rocked up on iOS years ago, but has just arrived on Android — nearly three years after its sequel. Weird? Yep. To be avoided, then? Nope, because it’s superb. The game reimagines classic fixed-screen platformers like Bubble Bobble and Snow Bros for widescreen and touch controls. So instead of mashing a virtual D-pad, you just prod the left or right of the display to redirect your auto-running wizard.