TOM KELLYhas the gadget news round-up
Wavebox Portable Microwave
There's something nigglingly contradictory about bringing a microwave camping. Still, it beats a Bear Grylls-like effort of lighting a fire with two stones, damp matches and an uncooperative handful of decidedly unkindling kindling.
The Wavebox Portable Microwave does what it says on its tin. It’s got a handle on top, weighs about 6kg and has an ABS body – in a range of colours, mind you. You wouldn’t want to be uncoordinated in the field.
It does require juice, accepting a standard 240V supply if you’re in a resourced campsite or 12V from your car. One bit of ruggedness here is that it comes with a set of cables to connect directly to your battery if your in-car power socket doesn’t have a 20-amp rating. Now that’s roughing it!
It’s a decent little microwave, pared back of any fanciful rotating turntables or grill-browners. But it will get the soup piping hot or scramble your eggs. One way or another, it puts it up to your neighbouring campers in the not-quite-so-wild outdoors. Now if only there was an Aga-in-a-Pack.
Cost€155 (wavebox.co.uk or from mycheapnew.co.uk)
Pool-Mate Swimming
Computer When Swimovate, who make the Pool-Mate, call it a computer, they’re pushing the boat out a little. It does have a bit of processing power and runs an algorithm or two, but what doesn’t these days?
That said, what it’s built for, it does very well. The Pool-Mate is like a pedometer for swimmers: it counts your laps (lengths), tots your total distance, efficiency, speed, calories and so on.
It’s good for the four main strokes and uses a MEMS accelerometer to calculate your lap count. Up to 400 separate sessions can be logged for comparison, because it goes without saying, if you want a Pool-Mate, you’ll be comparing yourself to someone else.
Swimovate is a UK company set-up by athletes for themselves and so this is a proper piece of gear for triathletes and other keen competitors who want to really monitor their swimming. For the rest of us, it’s a good-looking watch with a big screen. And a computer inside of course, as it actually is pretty smart.
Cost£69 (€83). In black, grey and pink. See swimovate.com.
Wavetooth Waterproof Headphones
There are plenty of water-resistant earphones about, but not many that are certified waterproof. These Wavetooth ones from Brando are (IPX8 in fact, for those in the know); but they’ve another angle, they’re Bluetooth. So you can leave your phone or any other Bluetooth-enabled kit on the poolside and still listen to your music or take calls mid-dip. It boasts so-called “noise rebound” technology to improve talk clarity, just don’t expect to do much chatting underwater. Or if you want to take your phone or player with you, there’s a waterproof bag made from a “touch-functional” material that will let you use a touchscreen while you’re in the drink.
The Wavetooth seals up its battery and controls in a rubbery waterproof case smaller than a matchbox. This has controls for volume and tracks and comes with a lanyard, so you hang it round your neck.
Just plug in either the mono single or stereo earphones and take the plunge. The lanyard-look may be the price you pay for sounds on the wave, but it’ll be worth it for many. Bluetooth range is usually about 10m.
Cost$57 (€45) at brando.com