The Review Smiths Issue January 2020

Issue Jan 2020

the

REVIEW SMITHS FORGING HONEST REVIEWS

welcome to our first edition!!

Arlo Pro 3 the premium home security system Tado Smart Home Thermostat control the temperature of your home from your smart device and save yourself money

Proscenic 820S Robot Vacuum let this little robot take the chore out of cleaning

Away Expandable Carry-On get set for this years holidays with this expandable suitcase

Meet Suzy Snooze,

Top Five Focus the best apps to help you

the interactive sleep aid

stick to those new year

Plus much, much more...

resolutions

Welcome to the Review Smiths!

Hi there and congratulations on joining us for the first ever edition of the Review Smiths Magazine, let us tell you a little bit about ourselves. We search high and low for the latest innovative and most exciting products around from a wide range of categories and get them tested out by our team of independent writers. We never take payment for these reviews as we believe this system ensures that all reviews remain unbiased, giving you a better idea about the quality of the products within our content. We have had the pleasure of playing with a variety of items this month, from a premium home security system (pages a magical wizard bus (pages

4 & 5) to

15 & 16), we hope

you enjoy reading this magazine as much as we enjoyed making it.

Thanks, Editor-in-chief Managing Director Alex Hilling-Smith For all media related enquiries please contact us at info@thereviewsmiths. com For Advertising Enquiries 0208 191 8472 www.thereviewsmiths.com

CONTENTS 4. ION8 Friends of the Earth 6. Arlo Pro 3 8. Faber-Castell Ambition Coconut Twist Pencil 9. Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 10. bleep bleeps Suzy Snooze 12. 12 Cup ZeroWater Filtration Jug 14. litratorch 2.0 16. Yogasleep 18. Lego Harry Potter Knight Bus 20. Black Eye Pro Kit G4 24. Tado Smart Thermostat 26. Away Expandable Carry-On 28. Upright Go 30. Perifit 31. Binxy Baby Hammock 32. TOPVISION Video Projector 33. Vasque Saga LTR GTX 34. Nintendo Switch Lite 36. Sense-U Baby Monitor 38. Proscenic 820s Robot Vacuum 40. Sandmarc Anamorphic Lens 42. Nilfisk Combi Hard Floor Washer

3

25% profit goes to Friends of the Earth Make David Attenborough proud by ditching the single use plastic bottle in favour of this reusable, insulated drinks bottle and support Friends of the Earth at the same time.

ION8 Friends Of Earth Flask Like many people I have grown up watching David Attenborough documentaries, there is something very special about the combination of the stunning visuals and Mr.Attenborough’s edifying voice that can educate you more in 1 hour than in 16 years of school.

Arguably one of the most influential documentaries was the 2017 Blue Planet II which brought home the issue of plastic pollution in our seas like never before, so much so that it sparked the Attenborough Effect in which the western world saw a steep decline in single use plastics. One of the biggest culprits being the single use plastic bottle, luckily getting yourself a reusable bottle is an easy switch to make and Ion8 have made it even better by teaming up with Friends of the Earth allowing you to support a fantastic charity at the same time.

Friends of the Earth is an international campaigning community who are dedicated to the protection of the natural world, it leads campaigns, provides resources and promotes solutions aimed at securing a cleaner, healthier, fairer world for everyone, everywhere. As we know healthy oceans are vital for a healthy planet so Ion8 are donating 25% profits of sales from this reusable bottle to support Friends of the Earth’s campaign to end plastic pollution.

This 500ml bottle is available in two designs, the Seal Snorkeller and the Sun Set Surfer, reminding you every time you take a sip to of the beautiful environment we need to protect. Constructed from insulated stainless steel, this bottle is BPA free and has been designed to fit in to all cup holders, bike bottle holders and external mesh pockets on backpacks. The cap opens with just one twist and has a wide mouth for rapid flow, the Thermoshield double walled vacuum insulated 18/8 stainless steel keeps your drink at the perfect temperature, hot or cold, during our tests we found cold water starting at 10˚C was, 10˚C after one hour, 12˚C after 12 hours and 14˚C after 24hours.

£24.99

The hot black tea we stored started off at 95˚C, was 90˚C after one hour and 57˚C after 12hours which is within the range that tea and coffee is recommended to be served. The drinks bottle remained sweat and condensation free, so you don’t have to worry about rings on your desk or damp patches in your gym bag (well not from the bottle at least). One million plastic bottles are being bought worldwide every minute and just 9% of these end up being recycled, this contributes to the 12 million tonnes of plastic ending up in our oceans every year, with this simple yet high performing bottle is an easy to reduce your impact on the natural world (now go and convince your friends).

For more information on the ION8 Friends of Earth Flask click here.

5

Arlo Pro 3 Security System

There has recently been a spate of burglaries in our local area with thieves trying their luck at any point in the day, these chancers are targeting vulnerable homes and can even be as brazen as to walk in through the front door when you are home. The sad thing is if someone is determined to get into your home they will, what we can do as homeowners is to make it as difficult and as unappealing as possible, one of the most effective tools is a security camera.

The Arlo Pro 3 comes with an integrated spotlight to ensure you can keep an eye on your property both day and night, the two camera kit comes with two Arlo Pro 3 Cameras, two rechargeable batteries, magnetic charging cable, two wall mount and screw kits, a SmartHub, Ethernet cable, power adapter, quick start guide and video monitoring decal.

There are plenty of features available however for full access you will need to sign up to the Premier plan at £2.49p/m for one camera or £7.99p/m for up to seven cameras, although the plan is reasonably priced and offers loads of features if you chose to upgrade to Continuous Video Recording (CVR) it will add another £6.99p/m for 14 days or £12.99p/m for 30 days which racks up the cost significantly.

The cameras can be used without a plan which will let you live stream and receive basic notifications but if you don’t want to take advantage of all the extra features it may not be worth investing in an Arlo to begin with. Set up was straight forward with the app walking you through it, the wireless design keeps things looking neat and tidy and speeds up installation.

Now, deep breath we are diving into those features, the integrated spotlight can be manually activated or automatically active with the motion sensor, you will get 2K HDR resolution with night images in full colour, there is a 160° viewing angle and the weather resistant casing will withstand heat, cold, rain and sun.

The battery will last three to six months depending on the settings and can be recharged via the magnetic power cable (3.5hour max for full charge), the two way audio lets you speak to visitors and freak out people who shouldn’t be on your property, if an ominous voice from above isn’t enough you can trigger the smart siren as well as set it up to automatically trigger during events. You will get three months Arlo Smart trial included with the kit which gives you access to personalised notifications, there will be a 30-day recording history to view on the cloud and the advanced detection lets you receive alerts when people, packages, vehicles or animals appear in your camera’s view.

You can create activity zones so you only get alerts when there is motion in certain areas, by your windows or front door for example, you can zoom in on objects to get more detail of your property as well as take advantage of the auto track and auto zoom features, this kit is compatible with Apple Watch, Google Home Hub and Amazon Alexa. The overall design is sleek, modern and compact, they don’t command too much attention when mounted on your house but if you were looking for them (as thieves would) you will certainly see them. We loved the huge range of features available, plus the image quality is great, the app is user friendly and installation was straightforward, people may be put off by the price and the commitment to ongoing costs however it will still be cheaper than replacing any stolen goods and it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.

£549.99

Pros Straightforward set up 2k, 1080p and 720p video modes Sleek design 160degree diagonal field of view Good image quality Spotlight Motion detection Night vision UV and weather-resistant 12x digital zoom Full Duplex 2 way audio 3-6 months battery life Cons Pricey Limited features if you don’t subscribe to a plan

Arlo Pro may not one of the cheapest security systems out there but it’s a small price to pay for the plethora of features and stylish design.

the

For more information on the Arlo Pro 3 Security System click here

7

Faber-Castell Ambition Coconut Twist Pencil

Pretty much every drawer in my home has at least one pen or pencil in it, most of which I have no idea where they came from, like paper clips and rubber bands, they just appear, however nine times out of ten if I need to write something I will reach for my favourite pen, that’s right, when you are over 30 you have a favourite pen. Holding a finely crafted writing implement in your hand is one of life’s simple pleasures whether you are writing your memoirs or jotting down the weekly shopping list, one of the oldest crafters of pencils and pens is Faber-Castell, these aren’t your bog standard writing tools, these are high-end writing instruments, made to last.

With headquarters in Stein, Germany, there are now 14 factories and 20 sales units throughout the globe, with over 7,000 employees manufacturing about 2 billion pencils in 120 different colours every year, however with over 250 years’ experience you would expect them to know what they are doing. We had the pleasure of receiving the Faber-Castell Ambition Coconut Twist Pencil, this is a beautifully crafted pencil, with classic clean lines that will look sleek at home and look professional in the workplace. The standout feature of this pencil is the vividly grained coconut wood barrel which not only gives you a comfortable grip but contrasts nicely against the chrome-plated polished metals tip and end cap.

Pros End cap and tip made of chromeplated polished metal

Spring-loaded clip made of chromeplated polished metal

Equipped with a twist mechanism for moving the leads forwards

Replaceable eraser under the end cap

Break-resistant 0.7 mm lead White gift box with attractive printed slip case

£110

Did you know?

The profile of wood-cased pencils was changed from round to hexagonal/triangle because they were constantly rolling off the table.

For more information on the Faber-Castell Ambition Coconut Twist Pencil click here.

Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 £159.99

News flash, not all controllers are created equally, I’m not saying this is why online buddies are consistently kicking my butt on the new Modern Warfare…no wait, that’s exactly what I’m saying.

The Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is an advanced controller with an adjustable lay out to help improve your game play, it comes with a hefty price tag but if this has the potential of improving my kill to death ratio it might just be worth it. This controller comes with a durable carrying case, a set of six thumbsticks- two Standard, two Classic, one Tall and one Wide Dome, a set of four paddles- two medium and 2 mini, a set of two D-pads- Standard and Faceted, thumbstick adjustment tool, charging dock and a USB-C cable for wired charging.

The Series 2 features adjustable-tension thumbsticks, shorter hair trigger locks, wraparound rubberised grip and re-engineered components, it has been designed to meet the needs of competitive gamers and features over 30 new ways to play like a pro, you can enhance your aim with the adjustable-tension thumbsticks, the shorter hair trigger locks let you fire faster. The wrap around rubberised grip gives you a firm hold, letting you keep on target easier, you can customise the controller with the different paddle shapes and save up to three profiles and one default profile on the controller and switch between them whilst you play thanks to the profile button.

In the Xbox Accessories app you can play with exclusive configuration options such as button mapping to voice commands such as “record that” or “take a screenshot” or assign a button to act as a ‘Shift key’ to enable alternative inputs for each of the other buttons.

A powerful controller is useless if the battery dies when you are barely eight hours into a decent game session (who needs sunlight…or sleep), thankfully the Series 2 can provide you with up to 40hours playtime and can be charged either inside or outside the carry with either the USB-C cable or the charging dock. The Series 2 also features a 3.5mm stereo headset jack, it is compatible with the Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter and all other Xbox controller accessories made by Microsoft, there are Impulse Triggers and rumble motors (motor control can be adjusted in the app) and it has a tactile weight to it of 345g when using four paddles, faceted D-pad and standard thumbsticks. If you are looking for more control over your game play or a higher quality and a more responsive controller, you need not look any further, yes this might have to be both your birthday AND Christmas present (for the next few years if you personalise the design through Xbox Design Lab) but if gaming is your passion you want to ensure you have the best tools for the job.

For more info click here

9

Suzy Snooze from bleep bleeps

ÂŁ99

Pros Soothing music and night light Cry sensor Simple app Sweet design Works as a monitor when connected over WiFi Easy to use Cons Expensive Limited features Needs to be plugged in For more information on the bleep bleeps Suzy Snooze click here

although we would like to see a few more features the

Suzy Snooze proved an affective sleep aid.

When baby sleeps the rest of the house can sleep and everyone functions better after a good nights sleep, the Suzy Snooze from Bleep Bleeps is three useful tools all wrapped up in one sweet little package.

Suzy is a smart nightlight, sleep soother and baby monitor, it has a cute design, an attractive orange body (you will be able to spot it even in the messiest room) with a sleepy fuzzy face at the base. Suzy is suitable from birth and can be used with older kids too as a sleep aid, it works on its own as a nightlight and sleep soother but if you want to use it as a baby monitor you will need to download the free Bleep Bleeps app, create an account and connect the device. To activate Suzy you can either press down on her hat, which will pop up to reveal her face or switch it on via the app, this will automatically start the night time wind down routine which consists of a gentle orange glowing light and relaxing music.

Many of these types of devices have quite annoying plinky plonky (technical term) tunes but the melody Suzy produces is very pleasant and doesn’t become irritating when listened to repeatedly, which you will find yourself doing. After 15mins the music will stop and the light will continue to softly glow, this low energy LED stays cool to touch, and the optimised colour output promotes natural sleep hormones. The built in cry sensor will trigger if baby wakes and reactivates the night time routine helping them to get back to sleep again, when connected to the app you can use Suzy as a baby monitor with secure audio, you get a 50m range when connected over your WiFi network, this only provides audio so it wouldn’t be suitable for those looking for a visual monitor too.

Suzy can teach older children when it’s time to get up (set up via the app), her hat stays down when toddler should be sleeping and quietly raises up when it is time to get up, so they can easily tell when they should be up and when they should go back to bed without the risk of waking them in the process. The app can be used to adjust the brightness and volume and set wake up times, the brightness can be adjusted by twisting the hat however it never gets to very bright levels. The Suzy Snooze is rather limited in features for its asking price, you cannot change the audio or stream your own and you cannot see or talk to your little one over the monitor, however this simple design could be exactly what appeals to many and can prevent further distractions in the bedroom. The build quality could also be improved but the overall look is very charming, the light is warm and comforting and the music soothing, the cry sensor worked effectively and the app is straightforward. Although we can’t help thinking there is untapped potential with the Suzy Snooze we did enjoy the features it currently has, we found it worked best as a sleep aid for babies and a calming nightlight for older children.

11

£39.99

12 Cup ZeroWater Filtration Jug The filters from ZeroWater use a five stage filtering system to ensure you are left with the purest water at the end of the process.

Firstly, the Coarse Filter Screen removes suspended solids such as dust and rust that can make your water appear cloudy, the Foam Distributor removes additional suspended solids, next the Multi-layer Activated Carbon and Oxidation Reduction Alloy removes organic contaminants; pesticides, herbicides, Mercury, Chlorine, Chloramine, and stops bacteria from growing. Next the Dual Comprehensive Ion Exchange Resin removes inorganic compounds i.e. metals, non-metals and radiological contaminants and to finish up the Ultra-Fine Screen and NonWoven Membrane Layers remove the remaining suspended solids and holds the resin in place.

The 12 Cup Filter Jug comes with a water quality meter (TDS meter) so you can actively see the difference between the quality of your water before and after the filtering process. This jug is the first in its class to feature a sealed lid and reservoir which lets you pour the filtered water whilst the remainder is in the reservoir being processed, this provides you with a further 2 cups of capacity to the 10 cups of filtered water in the jug. It has a one-handed, pull and pour button spout which means you can easily pour it straight from the fridge without having to set your glass or bottle down first, you may need to work on your biceps however as it is pretty heavy when full.

The ZeroWater reduces 99% of all Fluoride and other in-organics, such as Nitrates, from your water, it is certified to reduce lead and chromium, 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. It will take up a good chunk of space in your fridge, measuring up at 29.5L x 15W x 28H cm, the “Quick Fill� Spigot makes it easy to fill whilst the Comfort-Grip Handle gives you a firm grip when pouring and filling. Best of all the water filtered by the ZeroWater filter tastes lovely, just like the purified water you get in bottles, but without all that horrible plastic waste.

Pros Delicious purified water TDS meter included to check your filtration

Pour filtered water as soon as its ready

One hand pouring Five stage filtering system Quick Fill Spigot Long lasting filters Cons Heavy when full

For more information on the12 Cup ZeroWater Filtration Jug click here.

13

litratorch Size can often be deceiving and after unboxing the LitraTorch 2.0 it was hard to imagine this compact little unit could kick out enough light to be useful for anything, sceptically I rolled it over in my hands before hitting the On button, only to be blasted in the face with 16LEDs worth of light, ok Litra I probably deserved that for doubting you!

The LitraTorch 2.0 has been specifically designed to provide you with studio quality light that you can take with you anywhere, measuring up at just 1.5in x 1.5in x 1.65in and weighing just 90g it is certainly portable, pop it in your kit bag, leave it attached to your device or simply slip it into your pocket when not in use. With the light unit you also get a White Diffuser, Belt Clip, GoPro Âź 20 Finger Mount, USB charging cable, two magnetic mounts and a cold shoe mount making it extremely versatile straight out of the box. As mentioned, the LitraTorch 2.0 has 16 LEDs with 90+CRI at 5700 daylight temperature, making it ideal for skin tones and suitable for the premium standards of photographers and videographers looking for continuous lighting.

The beam projection has a 70degrees wide angle beam which drops off smoothly at the edges, when pointing it at the wall it is easy to see there is no centre hot spot and

2.0

the light is smooth and balanced. There are four modes to choose from with one button activation, it automatically switches on at 100 Lumen and can be adjusted to 450, 800 and strobe by simply pressing the button again, a press and hold will switch the light off. The Lithium ion rechargeable battery is charged via a micro USB cable and you get about 35mins per charge when used on its brightest setting (up to 7 hours on strobe, 4 hours on 100 lumen and 70 minutes at 450 lumen), obviously this isn’t a huge amount of time but it can be used whilst charging at the same time so a power bank might be needed for longer periods of use.

The USB port is waterproof (even if you forget to pop the cover back on) making the device fully waterproof up to 20m of submersion, the body has an 810 mil. grade aluminium construction making it drop proof. The light is flicker free so its perfect for videography and the different mounts means it can be used with DSLR, video, smartphones, action cameras, point and shoot Cameras and in the studio, there is a different version available suitable for drones. This compact light unit is a must have accessory to bring to the studio with you wherever you go, tough, bright and with bags of accessories available separately it lets you get the perfect light for your images.

ÂŁ99.99

Pros Four adjustable modes (800, 450, 100 and strobe) Durable and compact Waterproof 800, 450, 100 Lumen settings 70degree ultra-wide beam angle, 5700k Daylight Temperature Flicker free, smooth light pattern and no centre hot spot Use cordless or with external power Intelligent thermal management One-touch button operation Plenty of accessories included with more available separately Cons Short battery life on brightest mode For more information on the litratorch 2.0 click here

15

Whether it’s our busy lives, screen addiction or just becoming more aware of our habits, many of us know we are not getting enough sleep, in theory laying down and falling asleep is pretty simple but it can prove quite the opposite for lots of us.

The Dohn Classic Natural Sound Machine from Yogasleep was first invented way back in 1962 and used to be sold under the name Sleep-Mate, the fact they are still a popular item today must prove they are more than just a fad. When unboxing the product the most notable thing is the size of the Classic, measuring up at 5.8 x 5.8 x 3.8 inches. You will have to dedicate some space for it, however it can sit on your bedroom floor, you don’t need to keep it on the night stand.

Unlike many modern white noise machine’s, the Classic uses an integrated fan to create the noise, with two speed options and rotational casing mean you can adjust the tone and volume to find the perfect sound for you. This type of sound is great for masking background sound, be it the traffic outside or family chatting inside the house, making it a good choice for both adults and babies alike. Yogasleep suggest it is even good for settling sound sensitive dogs.

Yogasleep Dohm Elite White Noise Machine

Although the fan is running it doesn’t produce any air disturbance so you can relax to the sound of rushing air without being blasted in the face with cold air, the eight foot cable gives you options as to how close you have it to your bed at night.

When it comes to sounds it’s fan noise or nothing, you wont find bird songs or rain fall and we actually love this, having too many options can be a distraction and often these recordings have noticeable loops drawing your attention and switching your mind back on. I know if I listen to rain forest sounds I start getting visuals of the forest and before I know it I’m thinking of the plight of the Orangutan and BOOM I’m on my phone reading about ethically sourced palm oil.

The team behind the Dohm Classic are so convinced you will love the relaxing sounds of their natural noise machine they even offer a 101-day trial to see how you get on.

We love the simplicity of the Dohm Classic, simply switch it on or off, no programs, lights or screens to mess around with. The sound it creates is relaxing but it can also be used to block out background noise in a work environment which can help you focus on the task at hand, it isn’t going to win any beauty contests but if it helps me get MY beauty sleep, that’s good enough for me.

Yogasleep Dohn Classic Natural Sound Machine

Pros Relaxing white noise created by fan

£39.99

No air disturbance Simple to use Adjustable tone and volume

Suitable for adults, children and babies

Soothing and simple to use this is one bedroom companion you won’t complain about making noise as you try to fall asleep.

trying to sleep

Can be used for work, settling dogs and meditating too

Cons Unattractive design Large Limited features might put off some

(no it doesn’t have an app)

For more information on the Yogasleep Dohm Elite Noise Machine click here

17

LEGO Harry Potter The Knight Bus

I must confess my wife and I are massive Harry Potter fans so this review will have elements of bias from start to finish!

I have always aired on the side of caution with LEGO as I love it and could see myself falling into a collectors trap very easily, this caution was thrown by the wayside last year when we started collecting all the new Harry Potter Sets from the minifigures to the huge Hogwarts Castle 71043 which has over 600 pieces.

We are now both proud and embarrassed to say we have bought all the Harry Potter sets and our last purchase was the Knight bus 75957, this for me is my second favourite of all the sets only falling behind the Hogwarts castle. However when you look at the pricing The Knight Bus is £34.99 and the Hogwarts Castle is ten times as much at £349.99 this for me is the best value for money Harry Potter set out there.

So, the set what do you get?

Minifigure wise this set comes with three characters Harry potter himself sporting a light blue t shirt, dark blue jacket and dark tan trousers, Stan Shunpike whose details to the film look superb and Ernie Prang likewise.

The Knight Bus itself is jampacked with detail and although the bus was slightly smaller than I thought It would be I think that makes the set all the more impressive (16cm height by 16cm length). The details of the bus are fantastic including the shrunken head, chandelier, sliding bed and Harry’s trunk. The bus is also easily accessible with a side door that opens up and the top deck can be lifted off.

I love this little model and on display with my other Harry Potter collections the Knight Bus looks fantastic!

£34.99

Pros Amazing details Great Functionality Three lovely minifigures A must for any Harry Potter or LEGO collector

For more information on the LEGO Harry Potter Knight Bus click here

19

Black Eye Pro Kit G4

£249.99

20

For more information on the Black Eye Pro Kit G4 Click Here

As much as I would love to carry my DSLR everywhere it is not always practical, when backpacking it is a bulky thing to carry, in some places I was encouraged to keep it hidden due to potential theft and when taking walks in the countryside the added weight can hinder the feeling of freedom.

Thankfully the cameras on our phones have skyrocketed in quality over the last few years and accessories like the Black Eye Pro Kit G4 can give you even more shooting options at a fraction of the cost, weight and size of DSLR lens. If you are prepared for a reduction in functions and quality, shooting with your phone and these lenses can be a lot of fun, the G4 kit comes included with the Black Eye Pro Portrait Tele G4, Pro Fish-eye G4 and Pro Cinema Wide G4 all tucked away in a high quality protective zip up travel case coupled with a solid carabiner hook.

All these lenses are created with premium materials as you would expect from the asking price, they all come pre attached to a clothes-peg style mount that means they can be attached to almost any smart phone camera. There is a full list of compatible phones on the Black Eye website, chances are if you have a single lens and flat surface area it will work perfectly, some of the raised cameras and multiple lenses can be a little harder to attach but most will still work ok. The peg mounts are very strong and secure that once in place it doesn’t slide about even if the phone gets shaken about a bit, they are equally sturdy enough to clip on your pocket or clothing for easy access.

The Pro Fish-eye G4 gives you a 180degree shot with those distinctive curved edges suitable for wide landscapes or selfies as well as giving you that GoPro look when used during action and sports shots. The 120degree Pro Cinema Wide G4 gives you a wideangle view, there is a little distortion around the edges with softer corners, but a consistently sharp centre makes for an interesting image but was our least favourite of the three. The clear winner for us was the Pro Portrait Tele G4 with a 60mm focal length equivalent you get 2.5x closer to your subject, whether that’s your pet, dinner or mountains in the distance the optical zoom will get you closer without losing detail and draw attention to your subject with a shallower depth of field.

This lens was the most versatile and the one we found ourselves using the most, the images really popped and there was no distortion in the frame and I worked on the front facing camera just as well as the rear, it could also easily be used on your tablet or laptop camera. This little kit doesn’t come cheap so it’s worth considering if you will use all three of the lenses as they are also sold separately (as well as the Macro and the Wide G4). We were really impressed with the strength of the clips and high quality craftsmanship of the lenses, this handy kit can up open up your phones camera to different shooting styles letting you take a wider range of images without lugging along bulky cameras and heavy lenses.

Premium lenses for smart phone photography.

Pros High quality construction Strong clips Three different lenses to play with

Protective carry case Works with most smartphones and cases

Lightweight and compact High-end nano grinded glass Cons Pro Cinema Wide G4 had some distortion around the edge

Pricey Can take time to line up with multiple and raised

Black Eye Photo iPhone Case and Filming Grip

For that perfect photo you need a sturdy camera, a little wobble when you press the shutter will turn that perfectly timed shot into a blurry mess, the Photo iPhone case and Filming Grip (sold separately) are two accessories from Black Eye to help you achieve that crystal clear image. Starting with the phone case there is just one design to choose from that comes in sizes suitable for iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, 7/7+, 8/8+, X, XR, XS and XS Max. The case looks sleek with a dark wood style panel and black finish, it has an aluminium mounting system for your lenses and ensures they perfectly line up in a few simple twists.

The case has been designed to protect your iPhone against bumps and scrapes thanks to the rubberised edges and thermoplastic frame, the textured grip and wrist strap make it almost impossible to drop even when taking photos at the most awkward of angles. The Filming Grip has been designed with both cinematographers and photographers in mind, great for action filming, time lapse and group shots thanks to its multiple features, and the compact and lightweight design (24cm in length and 300g) make it easy to fit in your pocket and take out with you on adventures.

Take your film and photography skills to the next level with these accessories For more information click here

£59.99

Constructed from a durable aluminium alloy, a heavy-duty ball head and a sturdy smartphone clamp, the multi-functional rubberised grip works both horizontally and vertically and the ball head tilts 90degrees for multiple angles. The ¼” screw attachment means it can be used with cameras as well as smart phones, this could also be utilised for a microphone, flash or other accessories. There is a wrist strap included to avoid any accidental drops, whilst the Bluetooth shutter release can be mounted to the grip or removed, letting you take photos without reaching for the screen and take group shots minus the sprint to beat the timer. The Filming Grip doubles up as a mini tripod, simply slide off the grip cover and splay the legs for a stable foundation great for long exposures and time lapse footage. Both the Filming Grip and Photo iPhone Case work well with Black Eye lenses with the Filming Grip performing great as a standalone accessory, with high quality workmanship and functional features you can take your filming and photography skills to a new level.

Pros Strong, protective case Lightweight aluminium mount (Phone Case) Grip and tripod in one Premium materials Compact (Filming Grip) ¼” screw attachment (Filming Grip) Wrist straps

Linkee We are big fans of trivia games but often these games or quizzes come in a format that means you could be playing for hours and end up falling out with your competitors before completing the game (we have come close to having play pieces thrown across the room). Linkee, however, is a fast paced game and can be won before anyone comes close to throwing a temper tantrum, it is super easy to play, first you select someone to be the question master, this person can act as both the host and referee of the game. The rest of the players separate into teams, you will need a pencil and piece of paper from the box, the aim of the game is to win enough cards to spell the word Linkee but it can also be played so that the first team to get six cards wins if you want a faster game. To win a card you need to be the first team to guess the link of that card, each card has four questions whose answer will link up to form the answer.

For example, where would you be if you were enjoying Cowes’ week? -Isle of Wight, which fictional cat is famous for its mischievous grin? -Cheshire, what is Prince Charles’ wife’s official title? -Duchess of Cornwall and who was Superman’s alter ego? -Kent. Within your team you write down the answers, if you still can’t guess the

£20

For more information on Linkee click here

link by the end of all four questions both teams will receive the clue, in this case it would be 83 of them in the UK, got it yet? Its Counties. You can guess the link as early as question one, however if you get it wrong you can no longer make any guesses in that round and you will have to deal with the wrath of your other team mates, however wait too long and the other team may guess it before you (there are slightly different rules for two players). The game is a lot of fun, a good choice for parties and family gatherings, suitable for ages 12 and up, each game takes about 30mins to play, there’s no waiting around for your turn so even those with short attention spans will enjoy it.

Pros Fast paced Easy to learn No waiting for your turn Good balance of challenging questions without being too difficult

Suitable for 2-30 players Expansion pack and Dinkee (junior edition) available

Cons Questions are very current but would age with time (Who was the last Labour PM of the United Kingdom for example)

23

Tado Smart Thermostat Starter Kit

You can use the Geofencing and Open Window Detection with the Auto-Assist Skill (Auto-Assist Skill is available in the app for £2.99 per month) these both work without Auto-Assist however, you will simply be notified via push notifications to (de) activate the heating if the Skills are triggered.

The Tado will provide you with reports to show you your homes temperature throughout the day and Does anyone else struggle to get out of bed in the your savings, it will also use local weather forecasts morning because the house is too cold? When its to heat your home more efficiently. If there are any lovely and toasty under the duvet it is very difficult issues you will receive heating error messages with to contemplate forcing yourself out of your nest to direct assistance and advice, over time the Tado switch on the heating. The Tado Smart Thermostat will get to know your home and will learn how to system can help to encourage you out of your heat it in the most efficient way, whilst giving you hibernation by being able to control your heating full control at the same time. It is compatible with straight from your phone (let’s just hope that’s within 95% of heating systems, boiler / gas central heating, arm’s reach). underfloor heating, wireless room thermostat and The Starter Kit V3+ comes with the Smart wired room thermostat. The Tado is a hard working Thermostat, Internet Bridge, USB cables, connectors, device that looks sleek and is as easy to set up as it ethernet cable, mounting screws, adhesive pads, is to use, all these features come at a price but it is labelling for the cables, screwdriver and three AAA worth it just to be able to poke your toes out from batteries to get you started. The Tado works as a under the duvet without the fear of frost bite. multiroom control with a new heating algorithm, this can save you money on your heating bill, it features an improved interface on the thermostat as well as the new Smart Schedules in the app that make controlling of your heating even easier. This Smart Thermostat uses your phone’s location to control your heating, ensuring no energy is wasted and it gives you full control over your heating wherever you are via your smart device. The Tado is packed with features to adjust your heating and play with settings, with the addition of radiator controls you can change the temperature in each individual room, but it will work as a stand-alone product as well.

The Tado is straight forward to install, and is compatible with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and IFTTT, letting you access your heating options with just the sound of your voice. The Smart Thermostat can be automatically controlled via the location of your smartphone or manually, with schedules or on the device via the Touch Arrows on the control panel. The large and minimalist screen displays the current temperature and setting, the Internet Bridge connects to the internet through your router whilst the Smart Thermostat and the Internet Bridge communicate via radio. The Tado can show you how much you are saving on your heating, the Geolocation feature uses the residents’ locations to control the heating, ensuring the heating is off when nobody is home and heats up when the first person is back.

£199.99

Pros Cons Easy to install Pricey Lots of useful features Attractive device and display Compatible with Apple, Amazon and Google smart homes Expandable For more information on the Tado Smart Thermostat Starter Kit click here.

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£295

Away the Expandable Carry-On When it comes to choosing the right luggage you want to find a nice balance between a lightweight yet durable construction whilst ensuring you have the maximum amount of space for all your gear, Away have created a range of luggage with the focus on giving you everything you need and nothing you don’t.

The Expandable Carry-On comes in four attractive colours Black, Navy, Green and Asphalt, made from a durable, water-resistant nylon that gives you more flexibility than a polycarbonate shell that won’t crack under pressure. The Expandable CarryOn has been designed to fit in the planes overhead compartment but it is important to check with the airline especially when using the expansion, the exterior measures up at 55.1cm x 34.8cm x 23.4cm (27.9cm when expanded) with a 37L capacity and gaining an extra 5L when fully expanded. This lightweight case weighs just 4.21kg and features an easy-access front pocket on the front that fits a 15” laptop with a double zip entry that can be padlocked. The main compartment also features two zips for quick access, there is a TSA approved combination lock which can be a little fiddly getting the zips into the locking slots as they need to line up just right, we also found the zips could stick on the corners sometimes. It has padded carry handles on the top, bottom and the right-hand side which makes it easy to grab as long as it isn’t the left side facing you, the height adjustable telescopic hand pops in and out with ease.

The 360degree spinner wheels are quiet and provide a smooth and comfortable ride, they can handle slightly rough terrain like tarmac and pavements but aren’t suitable for anything more rugged, it handles well on both four wheels and pulled behind you on two. The included leather luggage tag can be personalised at the point of purchase for an extra £10, on the inside there are two compartments, one with a compression pad for clothes, the other for shoes and toiletries. The stow away laundry bag can be used to keep your dirty clothes hidden away and separate from your clean stuff, the front pocket has multiple compartments to give you fast access to all your essentials, passport, wallet or boarding pass for example. The Expandable Carry-On is a stylish and practical suitcase, you can organise all your stuff and expand it out to make room for all your souvenirs, perfect for vacations and business trips alike.

Pros Durable, water-resistant nylon construction Expandable Easy-access front pocket fits 15” laptop TSA-approved combination lock 360degree spinner wheels Interior compression system Hidden laundry bag Cons Zip can stick on corners Difficult to line up zip pulls for combination lock

27

The computer version of grandma telling you to sit up straight.

Upright Go 2 Remember when you were a teenager and your parents/ teacher/grandma would tell you off for slouching? Well, they had a point. Not only does standing upright make you look taller and slimmer, but it also gives the impression of confidence. It can even make you feel more confident by reducing cortisol (the stress hormone) and boosting testosterone.

Most important of all is the effect slouching has on your body. A stooped posture puts undue strain on your back and neck, which can develop into pain over time. The UPRIGHT GO 2 is an interesting little wearable that retrains your brain and body to naturally hold a correct posture.

The device measures just 48mm long and attaches directly to your skin with reusable, skin-friendly adhesives. There are 10 adhesives included and each lasts around 3-10 days, depending on your skin type. If adhesives aren’t your thing, the company also offers a necklace option that conveniently attaches to your GO 2 device.

Pros The 40-hour battery life is rather impressive and the lightweight design means you’ll forget you’re wearing it – until 40 hours of battery life you start slouching, that is. When in training mode, the GO Six precision-enhanced sensors 2 gently vibrates as a reminder to straighten up; the intensity of the vibrations can be controlled via the companion app.

Comfortable and discreet to wear Switching over to tracking mode turns off the alerts while Real-time posture feedback continuing to monitor your posture throughout the day. The app itself is reasonable but could stand to be a bit more us- Training and tracking modes er-friendly. The data can be a little hard to interpret at first, Feel better physically and mentally but it becomes easier the more you use it. You can set daily personalized training sessions that last 10-15 minutes and view your posture stats, goals, progress, and more.

Cons UPRIGHT claims that most users notice a significant improvement within just two weeks of using the device. Don’t App could be clearer with more precise be surprised if you come away from the first few training details sessions feeling a bit achy; it just means your muscles are adapting to their new position.

Adhesives need replacing regularly The UPRIGHT GO 2 is compatible with iOS and Android, as well as Apple Watch and macOS. The six precision-enhanced sensors are good at picking up your posture most of the time, however, we noticed that it struggled with reclined angles. Watching TV on the sofa, for example, caused it to vibrate – a lot. Having said that, it did perform well during working hours, which is really what it’s intended for. This is a rather limited device in that it only focuses on posture, however, if you know this is an area you need to work on, it could become your new best friend. It’s discreet, easy enough to use, and, after a few weeks of training, you’ll naturally become more conscious of your posture and able to correct it yourself. At that point, you can decide how often you use it to ensure you maintain the habit.

For more information on the Upright Go 2 click here

£84.99

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PERIFIT

Women will often make jokes about a weak pelvic floor, how often have you heard “I laughed so hard I nearly wet myself ” but the reality of living with weak pelvic floor muscles is no laughing matter, however with the right exercises many of these symptoms can be reduced if not fully eliminated.

The Perifit Kegel Exerciser helps you to train these muscles up in an efficient and surprisingly entertaining way thanks to its comfortable fit for all body types and the video games available on the app. The Perifit can help prevent pelvic floor disorders, stop stress incontinence, improve sexual intercourse, treat an overactive bladder, achieve faster postnatal recovery and heal prolapse without surgery.

As your pelvic floor muscles can often be hard to locate (you certainly can’t see them become toned like other areas of your body) the Perifit device is the only Kegel device to feature two sensors to target both your superficial pelvic floor and the deep pelvic floor layer. Training sessions are simple, insert the device, connect to the app, follow the on screen instructions and give it a wash with soap and water when you are done, easy, the device is comfortable at just 26mm wide and constructed from a medical grade silicone.

The app will guide you through your initial training, with clear instructions for each exercise so you can’t go wrong, the virtual coach is useful and fairly entertaining, you can place games for example making a bird fly up and down all by clenching the right muscles, all the while you will be tested on your strength, endurance, frequency, release and accuracy. The app provides you with real time feedback as well as your progress over time in clear and easy to read graphs, the app can provide you

with assessments and show you where you can improve, the data combined with the games and notifications are a great way to keep you motivated and consistent with your training. The Perifit Kegel Exerciser is smart way to train your muscles, pass the time by playing games, see your progress in real time and most importantly get those important muscles into tip top shape allowing you to sneeze, laugh and jump all at the same time if whilst keeping your underwear dry.

Pros Two pressure sensors Clean and useful app Training games Comfortable Motivating

£139.99

Cons Connection to the device can sometimes disconnect

Train your pelvic floor efficiently in a fun and motivating way.

For more information on the PERIFIT click here

Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock Once you have had a baby you will have a new found appreciation for how simple all the mundane tasks used to be, from making a cup of tea to taking a shower, many things can be postponed but when it comes to the grocery shop that’s something that cannot be avoided. There are a few different options as to what to do with baby when you are perusing the aisles, slings free up your hands but can be complicated to put on, you could put the car seat in the trolley but then your have barely any space left for your shopping, the Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock has been created to give you and little one another option.

The Hammock comes in nine different designs, we received the Gray and Aqua version, the hammock attaches to the trolley via clips and hangs down with room underneath to put your shopping in, it can also be used to fit the car seat (it works with most types) and fastened with the safety straps, ensuring you still keep that space under the hammock free.

Made from toxin free 97% cotton it is sewn with double layer upholstery fabric to keep baby safe and comfortable whilst the premium plastic clips and Velcro makes sure it is securely fastened at all times.

The secure seat harness and infant carrier strap ensures your baby and carrier stays put throughout your shopping trip, when not in use the hammock can be rolled up and

tucked away into the nappy bag or backpack although a storage bag would have been a welcome addition.

The Hammock can hold up to 50lbs and can be used until baby is sitting upright, it features a natural incline that cocoons the body and protects their neck and spine, floppy newborns may end up a little too scrunched up so be aware of how close their chin is to their chest when first trying it out. The Shopping Cart Hammock is an interesting concept and like so many baby products it will work well for some and not for others, arranging your shopping can still be a little tricky with the baby directly in the hammock, you don’t want to risk bumping them and its not that easy to grab things out from underneath them, I was also paranoid someone might throw something into my trolley by mistake, baby might also struggle with not facing you directly. The Hammock is reasonably priced if it becomes something you can use regularly even if its just for six months that could be 24 shopping trips made easier.

Binxy Baby give you a new option to take the stress out of shopping with baby.

£49.99

Pros Frees up space in the shopping trolley Easy to attach Machine washable Secure Rolls up for compact storage when not in use

Cons No storage bag included Floppy newborns can become too scrunched up Items under the hammock can be hard to grab You need to be mindful of putting things in the trolley with baby in the hammock

For more information on the Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock click here

31

TOPVISION Video Projector As prices decrease, projectors are becoming a popular way to get that big image without the use of a traditional television, this portable projector from TOPVISION was upgraded in 2019 with a 4500 brightness LED light, native 1280×720 pixels resolution, 1080P supported and 2000:1 contrast ratio.

This projector is compatible with a PC, laptop, iPad, iPhone and Android phones, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, Xbox and PS4, however you will probably come across some copyright issues when trying to stream from some services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video so it’s worth checking if they are compatible before inviting all your mates over. This isn’t the smallest of portable projectors measuring up at approx. 3”x 7”x 6”, also it doesn’t come with a carry case so it’s best to keep the packaging for transportation.

There are two HiFi Stereo speakers built in which provide reasonable audio, it can sound a little harsh at loud volumes and it won’t blow you away when watching movies or playing games but you can

always add an external speaker if needed thanks to the 3.5mm audio jack. The image size can be adjusted from 32” up to 200” with a projection distance of between 4.9ft to 18ft, for optimum results the best viewing distance is 10 feet with a 98 inch projection.

This projector can be mounted on a tripod, flat surface or ceiling mount via the universal extending ceiling projector mount, the fan has been upgraded for a more efficient cooling system as well as bringing the noise down to a minimum. The TOPVISION video projector features a five layer well-grinding LCD lens to work in tandem with an LED bulb that last up to 60,000 hours, the 4500 Lumens and 1080P HD image looked really impressive for the price, it is easy to adjust the image with the keystone correction and the focus ring. If you are looking for a low cost projector for cinema nights, presentations or gaming this is a great choice, the buttons take a little getting used to but other than that it is easy to use with an impressive picture quality for a projector of this size, we would recommend using an external speaker for a better audio experience.

£76

Pros Impressive image quality Multiple adjustment option makes it easier to line up the image

Quiet Remote included 3.5mm audio jack Compatible with iPhone and Android Cons Not compatible with popular streaming services

Audio a little harsh at top volumes

Lacks bass No carry case included Large for a portable speaker Buttons poorly labelled

For more information on the TOPVISION Video Projector click here

Vasque Saga LTR GTX Hiking Boots When you are exploring the great outdoors you need to make sure you have the right gear, arguably the most important of which is footwear. The right shoes can mean the difference between springing up hills like a mountain goat or suffering from twisted ankles or an up close and personal meeting with some sheep droppings.

The Vasque Saga LTR GTX hiking boots are a great choice for a hiker looking for all the durability of a traditional boot but with a light construction (1498g), let’s face it, it can be hard enough dragging your body up the side of a mountain you don’t need your shoes weighing you down. These boots are available in one colour Coffee Bean (sizes 7-14 with half sizes available, in both medium and wide widths), an attractive mix of dark browns and black, yes, they will probably end up covered in mud and aforementioned sheep droppings but they will look great at the start of the walk.

Pros Comfortable straight out of the box

Virbam Megagrip Outsole Durable leather construction

GORE-TEX membrane Functional lacing system Supportive ankle cuff Reduced weight

£239 These shoes were comfortable straight out of the box, no breaking in needed, they are constructed from 2.0mm waterproof full grain leather, a soft Nappa leather collar, there is a GORE-TEX membrane built into the boot which blocks any outside moisture from getting anywhere near your feet whilst at the same time allowing any moisture inside the boot (yes we mean foot sweat) to escape, keeping your feet warm and dry. Vibram has over 70years of experience in making high quality soles so we were pleased to see the Contact Grip with Megagrip Compound on the Saga LTR, giving excellent levels of traction and grip on all types of terrain, be it wet, rocky, snowy or muddy, these boots will give you the hold you need to walk with confidence.

The Anatomical Dual-Density High Rebound Footbed provides a comfortable but firm hold of your foot, whilst the Dual-Density ATC (All Terrain Compound) with TPU Shank gives you the right amount of flexibility and comfort over long sessions.

These boots are a great choice for those looking for a The Vasque Saga LTR GTX Hiking boot will keep reliable leather boot with a reduced weight, it provides excellent waterproofing and breathability, whilst the your feet warm, dry and comfortable letting you Vibram outsole gives you steady footing in even the enjoy your adventures in the great outdoors. roughest of environments.

For more information on the Vasque Saga LTR GTX Hiking Boots click here

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Nintendo Switch Lite

Pros Portable and compact Comfortable and responsive controls

Easy to set up Clear, 5.5inch touch screen Healthy battery life Cons Cannot connect to the TV

Nintendo has always been the king of portable gaming devices from the original Game Boy to the DS, gaming on the go has been their niche and let’s face it, most of those games are just too good to leave at home. The Switch Lite is a compact and portable hand-held device that can be used to play most of your favourite games (just ensure they support handheld gaming mode). Dedicated to hand-held play and unlike the original Switch the Switch Lite has built-in controllers on the sides of the device, with the left side featuring a +Control Pad and analogue stick and the right side housing the four X, Y, A, B buttons and another analogue stick, set slightly lower than on the Switch. The Switch Lite is currently available in a colourful Yellow or Turquoise as well as a more subtle Grey or for pure geek indulgence the Pokemon edition, it is smaller (and lighter) than the Switch at 3.6” high, 8.2” long, 0.55” deep making it comfortable in the hands of both adults and children, although with larger hands the right thumb may become tired with the new position over long sessions.

The sleek design is intuitive and attractive, the R, ZR, L and ZL buttons feel a little less robust than the original Switch but other than that it feels solid, it doesn’t have a built in stand (as it focuses on handheld play) and as a device that will travel with you, it is worth investing in a cover.

The 5.5inch touch screen has a 720p resolution that’s bright and clear for enjoyable game play, you can set up the Lite to be a secondary device to your Switch or as a standalone product, however if you are using it as a secondary device you cannot play a game on both consoles at the same time. When looking for compatible games you just need to look for the ‘Hand-held mode’ icon, however for games that do not support hand-held mode, players can wirelessly connect compatible controllers (sold separately), the favourites like Super Smash Bros, The Legend of Zelda and Mario Kart are all available (as well as more than 2,000 other games). The Multiplayer gaming options let you link up to eight Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite systems together to play multiplayer games anywhere, whilst the Online Play lets you team up or face off with others online in compatible games with a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Some things to consider are that the Switch Lite cannot be linked to the TV and doesn’t support Tabletop mode, it is obviously missing the Joy-Con controllers and doesn’t have HD Rumble or IR Motion Camera included. It does have the capability of taking and storing screenshots which can be viewed, edited with text and shared on social networks all with a battery that will provide you with about 3-7hours playtime depending on what you play. The Switch Lite doesn’t come cheap and has a much more scaled gaming system but, with its sleek operating system, sharp screen and intuitive controls it is a great choice for gaming on the go.

£199.99

For more information on the Nintendo Switch Lite please click here

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Sense - U Baby Monitor

Pros Easy to use Monitors breathing, temperature and rolling movements Comfortable for baby Great when it works 100%

ÂŁ66

Cons Only connects to one phone Can trigger false alarms 15m range may not be large enough for some homes For more information on the Sense-U Baby Monitor Click Here

My best friends have just had a baby and although little one is currently sleeping beautifully through the night my friends are not, dad especially keeps getting up to check if baby is warm enough, breathing ok or escaped the crib. The Sense-U Baby Monitor can keep track of breathing, roll over movement and body temperature so you don’t have to risk disturbing baby when you check how they are, the sensor comes in the form of a small device that securely clips onto the nappy.

The integrated sensor chipset, new for 2020, accurately monitors your baby’s breathing while they sleep and will notify you with a sharp, audible alarm for no breathing movement straight to your smartphone. The Sense-U will alert you if baby’s body temperature moves outside of the pre-set zones and can notify you if baby rolls over onto their stomach. The Sense-U connects to your phone over Bluetooth Low Energy(BT4.0) and gives you a 15m range, this could make things difficult for larger homes, if your baby is upstairs or at the other end of the house you may lose connection, firewalls will also affect communications, the 30day trial allows you to test it out with a full refund if it isn’t right for your home.

For best results the device should be placed on a snug fit nappy close to the belly button, it will then read the abdominal temperature and movements, if the Sense U moves away from this area it can trigger false alarms (which a few people have reported) and will scare the living daylights out of you. The breathing accuracy can be affected by certain clothing, swaddling, sleep bags and onesies for example and this is where things get a bit tricky, false alarms can cause unnecessary anxiety (like parents don’t have enough) and even more worrying can cause you to assume a genuine alarm is simply another false alarm.

The Sense U is compatible with Apple devices (iOS 7.0+), iPhone 4S+ and iPad 3rd Gen+ and Android Devices(4.4+), Samsung Galaxy S6+, Note 4+, LG G3+, Google Pixel 2+, Huawei Mate10+, Huawei P10+, Motorola G4+, Sony Xperia series and the HTC One series. The idea behind this device is great, covering three things that parents worry about the most, however it’s one of those things that has to be perfect for you to trust it and it just isn’t quite there yet making it difficult to trust this product completely.

37

PROSCENIC 820S ROBOT VACUUM CLEANER Pros

Cons

Powerful, adjustable suction 600ml dust bin Effective edging 60-120min battery life Auto recharge return# Quiet Anti-drop and anti-collision

App is quite basic and loses connec-

sensors

Automatic carpet boost (suitable for low and medium pile) App, remote, manual and Alexa control

Easy to clean (tools included) Excellent value for money

tion

No laser room mapping Limited instructions Will eat your cat food

ÂŁ180

Believe it or not the first robotic vacuum cleaner was created in 1996, 24years later and they are steadily being more popular due to the falling price tag and videos of cats riding around on them on the internet.

The Proscenic 820S Robot Vacuum Cleaner is a reasonably priced vacuum featuring Alexa control (sadly not compatible with Google Home or Apple Home), an Auto Carpet Boost and smart app ProscenicHome (App only supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi).

The instruction manual was very limited, it tells you the basics about setting it up and how to clean it but doesn’t explain the different modes available and what they do. Getting it charged up and connected to the app was easy enough, the app allows you to set up cleaning schedules and view a cleaning record which shows you when you cleaned, how long for and what surface area it covered, you can also remotely control the vacuum with buttons for auto clean, edge cleaning, spot clean single room cleaning, automatically mop, manual directional controls, automatically recharge and suction mode level. The app will also let you know how much battery life you have left, how long it’s been cleaning and the area its done, one handy feature is that you can view a map of where it has vacuumed, however if you change the settings you will lose the old map and start a new one. The 820S has a 600ml dust bin which is easy to empty, the suction can be adjusted from Normal mode up to Max (1800Pa), the Li-ion 2000mAh battery provides you with 60-120mins vacuum and will recharge in about 3-4hours. The vacuum has an anti-collision infrared sensor so it will gently move around the furniture and against the walls without causing damage or leaving scuff marks, there is also an anti-drop sensor which prevents it from hurling itself down the stairs, watching it creep towards the edge of the stairs was slightly terrifying but you can trust it to stop when it needs to.

Unlike some of the pricier robot vacuums the 820S doesn’t have laser mapping, it wanders about like a blind folded toddler bumping into things until it finds its feet and starts performing straight lines. We did notice it will miss a small triangle by the edge of the wall with each turn, this isn’t an issue however as you perform an edge clean afterwards which picks up all these spots. The auto carpet boost recognises when it moves onto a carpet or rug and switches to maximum suction power, when its moves back onto a hard floor it returns to the previous setting to save battery life. When the battery runs down the 820S will automatically return to the charging station to recharge whilst the Alexa voice control can be used to command it to return to the station, stop/start cleaning for example, you can also control it via the remote control.

We had a few teething problems, I caught the vacuum eating the cat food at one point where it had knocked into the bowl and scattered cat biscuits over the floor, when I got a right wheel error on the app I went upstairs to discover the robot hiding under the bed attempting to eat my dressing gown cord (the dressing gown was hanging up, how did it get it?!).

The app could be a little slicker, I had to reconnect the vacuum twice in one week, there could be more info on the different modes and I would have loved to be able to see the map whilst using the directional controls, so you can get those missed spots from the comfort of the sofa. All things considered the Proscenic 820S robot vacuum cleaner is a great little vacuum, you will still need to do a deep clean with a regular vacuum now and then to get into those awkward spaces but the 820S is perfect for daily upkeep. It has a surprisingly powerful suction, good battery life, lots of different modes to play with and good edging skills, if you want a robot pet to do your vacuuming for you without breaking the bank this is a great choice (just move the cat biscuits).

An effective, low cost robot vacuum that will happily get down and dirty, so you don’t have too.

For more information on the Proscenic 820S click here

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SANDMARC Anamorphic Lens

Pros Low cost Premium craftsmanship Quick and easy to attach Light weight Capture wide angle, lens flare and oval bokeh imagery

For more information on the SANDMARC Anamorphic Lens click here

With camera technology on mobile phones increasing at a rate of knots its becoming easier for people to shoot high quality images and videos straight from their device, I have used a DSLR for years but on my last weekend break away I left it at home in favour of relying solely on my smart phone. SANDMARC create premium products compatible with iPhone, GoPro, DJI and DSLR cameras, aiming to give you the best images whatever your medium and whatever your price range.

The Anamorphic Lens kit comes in models suitable for iPhone 11 pro max, 11 pro, 11, XS Max, XS, XR, X, 8 Plus, 7 Plus, 8 and 7.

So, what is an Anamorphic lens, well in old school film terms it was a way of squeezing a wider image onto a standard frame, this results in a distorted image that can be corrected after the shoot, in modern day terms it is similar to a wide angle lens but with a distinctive cinematic style. We received the iPhone 11 edition which comes with the Anamorphic Lens, iPhone 11 standard case, clip-on mount, lens pouch and front and back lens caps, the first thing you will notice is the high quality craftsmanship, everything feels strong and durable without adding too much weight to your phone (46g).

The lens is a 1.33 anamorphic lens that lets you shoot ultra-wide aspect ratio cinema style footage with oval bokeh and horizontal lens flares, this type of imagery is popular on the big screen, particularly notable in the JJ Abrams Star Trek franchise which is covered in the signature lens flares and soft edges, it can give a romantic, aged and futuristic feel to the end product, for example La La Land, Pulp Fiction and Blade Runner.

This lens is Drama PL and Scape ND filter compatible with some minor vignetting when using filters, the glass used is multi-element and multi-coated, the patented thread is design for the direct filter mounting system with an 40.6mm outer thread and 17mm inner thread.

The SANDMARC has an Aspect Ratio of 2.4:1 video and 16:9 panoramic and a 113° field of view, it is just 23.6mm in height making it easy to store in your pocket and is compatible with 40.5mm step-up rings.

There are two mounting systems to choose from, either the compatible phone case which gives you a sturdy hold or the mount clip for quick changes between lenses. The clip covers a small portion of your screen, but this didn’t affect our use, however when using a gimbal, film grip or steady cam you may find some of it sneaks into the frame due to the wide-angle nature. One more thing to mention is you will need to have software to correct the distortion on the image, the FilmicPro app or Premier/ final cut pro for example. The SANDMARC Anamorphic lens produces a gorgeous anamorphic imagery, its low cost, low weight and high-quality construction make it a great choice for budding film makers and photographers out there.

£159.99 £159

Reproduce cinematic images straight from your iPhone.

41

Nilfisk Combi Hard Floor Washer

Pros Tank and cord can cover a large area

Easy to use Dries very quickly Vacuums and washed at the same time

Uses the perfect amount of water

Dry tray storage Cons Build quality could be improved

Cleaning it out can get messy

Small brush head Doesn’t reach the edges Loud

ÂŁ199

There is a misconception that hard floors are easier to maintain than carpets, yes if you spill your red wine you won’t be left with a nasty stain, however, pet hairs, dust and debris are more visible and there is the temptation to keep your shoes on resulting in mud and scuffs all over your beautiful floor.

The Nilfisk Combi Hard Floor Washer aims to take the chore out of cleaning your hard floors by allowing you to vacuum and wet wash at the same time, when you unpack it you will need to attach the handle which was fiddly as the cord got in the way, the instructions aren’t particularly clear as you only have a few pictures to decipher however there are video instructions on the website if needed.

The water tank looks small, but it can wash 60m² from one tank and can be filled with tap water up to 60˚C, there are handy guide lines on the tank that shows you where to fill the water to and the detergent (sample included in box but larger bottles are available on the Nilfisk website). It would be handy if the tank could be stood upright just to make it a little easier to add the water and detergent, the catch that holds the tank in place was sticking a little so it needed a good wiggle to remove it and a rather firm push to get it back in place. From here you simply plug it in, switch it on, and hold down the water trigger for 10seconds to wet the brush, the trigger can be locked into place so you get a continual water supply when you move the machine around.

The floor head bends from side to side making it reasonably easy to manoeuvre, however it doesn’t get right up to the edge of the wall and misses around 1.5 inches from the wall. The narrow brush means it takes a little while to cover larger rooms and we found we had to go over some areas three or four times to remove some dried-on marks. We were impressed by the large surface area of both the water tank and the cord and also how the optimum amount of water is used which means the floor was fully dry in just over 10minutes.

Once you are finished the Combi can be stood upright on the drying tray, the brush is removed and stood upright on the tray to dry too, the water tanks can then be removed and emptied as well as the dirty water tank. Cleaning out the dirty tank filter is a bit of a messy business, all the components will need rinsing, the dust and hair that was sucked up becomes wet which makes it harder to remove and you don’t want to tip this down your sink. The self-cleaning feature rinses out the pipes and filters by sucking up clean water that can be placed on the tray, simply switch on the machine to active. The Combi can be used as a vacuum on its own but cannot compete with our regular vacuum so we wouldn’t recommend getting this purely for its vacuum abilities, as a combi hard floor washer however it performed well, the overall build quality could be improved as well as the edging but aside from this it cleaned our floors quickly and efficiently leaving us more time to enjoy our day.

vacuum dirt and wash your floors at the same time with this

Combi Hard Floor Washer.

For more information on the Nilfisk Combi Hard Floor Washer Click Here

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Top Five Focus

We all know the routine, the 31st of December comes around and with a brand new year stretched out before us we decide this is the year we finally break free of those bad habits and focus on becoming the best version of us. But, three weeks into January we are eating pizza, whilst smoking at 2am and spending money we don’t have on sales, oops. However, all is not lost, there is a heap of apps out there to help you stick to your new years resolutions and we have gathered up our top five to ensure that this year is your year.

Quit Smoking

QuitNow! Quit Smoking, Free (Android and iOS) Quitnow! Quit Smoking lets you lean on the community to help you stick it to this tough addiction, get updates on how your body is improving with every cigarette you avoid, the QuitNow bot is there to answer your questions and receive motivating achievements when you hit each of the 70 goals.

We also like Kwit.

Save Money

Monzo, Free (Android and iOS) That distinctive orange card can do more than just impress your friends, receive alerts on your outgoings, view your spending in different categories with breakdowns of all your spending so you can see clearly where your money is going and where you can cut back.

You can set budgets for each category and get notifications when you go over your limits.

We also like Plum.

Healthy Eating

Fooducate, Free (Android and iOS) This handy app helps you learn what’s really in your food, you can track your meals, food intake, exercise, calories, proteins, fats, carbs and more. With over 250,000 product barcodes on the database you can get a personalised nutrition grade (A, B, C, or D) for each food with suggestions for healthier foods based on what you scan.

We also like MyFitnessPal

Get Fit

J&J Official 7 Minute Workout, Free (Android and iOS) “I just don’t have the time” is often the excuse for not working out but the J&J Offical 7 Minutes Workout does away with that by asking for just a minimum of, you guessed it, 7 minutes of your time. The are 72 exercises and 22 workouts you can customise to create over 1,000 variations from easy to hard, target specific areas, gauge your fitness, motivation levels and get the workouts specially designed for you.

We also like Nike Training Club

Reduce Stress

Headspace, first 10 sessions are free with £49.99 yearly subscription afterwards (Android and iOS) This excellent app provides you with guided meditation sessions ranging from as little as 3 minutes up to 20 minutes. Got a problem with sleep, stress or anxiety, there’s a session for that, as well sessions to target sports, work, parenting and many more. Andy Puddicombe will become an inspiring friend helping to build your confidence through meditation and reducing your overall stress levels, this is one paid app worth investing in.

We also like Calm

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