Christmas is already upon us, and everybody is running and trying to figure out what present to buy for family and friends. Well, we can help you! What about a lavish technological gift?
Here are a few gadgets ideas more special than the average game consoles or smartphones.
Astell&Kern AK70 MkII
Astell&Kern’s portable audio player is the ideal solution for audiophiles on the lookout for a higher-quality alternative to their smartphone’s music app.
The company’s second-generation AK70 boasts a dual-DAC (digital audio converter) design that provides better sound from both the left and right audio. The audio player can also stream songs over Bluetooth and can connect to music services such as Tidal.
The AK70 MkII can be ordered from Amazon.
Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45
The company entered the smartwatch market back in 2015 and has since gone on to establish itself as one of the leading luxury connected timepiece brands. The company’s new watch gives watch lovers multiple Tag-branded timepieces in one device, with a plethora of watch face designs to choose from, many of which can be customized to your personal preference.
The device’s straps, lugs, and buckles can also be swapped out, so no two watches need to look the same.
You can buy yours directly from Tag Heuer.
Master & Dynamic MA770
This speaker was designed by award-winning architect Sir David Adjaye and features a unique concrete outer shell. This “provides some acoustic benefits,” the company says, including a reduction in resonance and improved durability. Multiple speakers can be joined through a wireless connection, allowing users to control the music on each device using either a tablet or smartphone.
Orders can be placed at Master & Dynamic’s website.
Corsair One
Although pre-built gaming computers have been on sale for some time, tech giant Corsair launched a premium PC this year that delivers a high-end gaming performance of desktops twice its size.
The Corsair One comes with a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card and 16GB of RAM as standard, and these can be upgraded to a GTX 1080 and 32GB on higher-end models.
The PC can be ordered from Corsair’s website.
Samsung: The Frame
Called The Frame, the device is designed to function as a regular smart TV when turned on and to resemble a painting when switched off. Users can choose from 100 different artworks, including landscapes and architectural photographs, with more due to follow via online updates.
The Frame can be picked up from John Lewis.
Coravin Model Two Elite and Aerator
For the uninitiated, the Coravin wine system has revolutionized wine collections the world over with its ability to pour a glass of wine without removing the cork. How? A needle is cleverly pushed into the top, which then pressurizes the bottle with Argon gas to stop oxidation once you’ve poured your fill. The cork then seals itself again, so it can be enjoyed for months (or years) to come. And the launch of the Coravin Aerator means that now oenophiles can aerate wine as it’s poured, allowing the wine to breathe without the delay of decanting. Just pour and enjoy.
The Coravin Model Two Elite and Coravin Aerator are available at coravin.co.uk.
Beoplay H9 with Saint Laurent headphones
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more exclusive pair of headphones than those created to mark Saint Laurent’s residency at multi-brand store Colette in Paris. Joining forces with audio leaders Bang & Olufsen, these limited-edition black wireless over-ear headphones (AKA a collector’s item) with lambskin cushions feature an intuitive touch interface, advanced Active Noise Cancellation and last up to 14 hours. Buyers better click fast though, as they are only available until 20 December.
Available ONLY in-store and online at colette.fr until 20 December 2017.
Beeline bike navigation
The Beeline device (proud winner of the Design Week 2017 Award for Best Consumer Product Design) is simplifying the way cyclists find their way. Input your destination into the Beeline app, clip the display device onto your handlebar and pick from two modes – one will just indicate the general direction to head and the distance you have left, and the other, Route Assistance mode, displays a guided route. A magnetometer, accelerometer, gyroscope, and Bluetooth receiver are used by the device to continuously recalculate the location as you cycle, keeping you pointed towards your destination.
Available at beeline.co. The Beeline app is free to download for iOS and Android.
Punkt UC 01 USB charger
For those wanting to Marie Kondo their lives for the New Year, an excellent place to start is to declutter your desktop with this elegant USB charger (one of the most potent three-way USB chargers on the market). Designed by Jasper Morrison and made in Ceggia in northern Italy, the charger has clean, strong lines is weighted to stop desktop wandering, and has sockets on the top for easy one-handed access. It’s a classic example of tech mixing both style and substance.
Available in black, white or brown from punkt.ch.
Devialet Gold Phantom speaker
Excellent sound meets show-stopping design with the Gold Phantom from audio innovators Devialet. Eight times more powerful than the original Phantom design, this glamorous wireless speaker brings 4,500w of power and 108dB of physical impact, for a multilayered music experience that can get seriously loud. Annoying the neighbors is easy, simply select music from any source and hit play, thanks to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities.
Get yours on devialet.com.