Tech Tools

Compiled by CIARA O'BRIEN

Microsoft Xbox 360 Slim, €249

Announced at this year’s E3 exhibition in California, Microsoft’s new Xbox console is slimmer than its predecessor, has more capacity and has built-in wireless capabilities. The sleeker console has a 250GB hard drive and addresses another issue that users had complained of about the console – its noisy fan.

This time around, the console is much quieter, which makes it more suitable for watching multimedia content such as movies or TV shows stored on the hard drive. It has also got 802.11n Wi-Fi built-in.

However, there is still no sign of a Blu-ray player for the console. The console is designed to work with Microsoft’s new controller system, Kinect, which uses cameras and microphone to track movement, and brings voice control to the console. Kinect is due for launch later this year.

xbox.com

HP Officejet 4500, €89/€119

Although not usually the most attention- grabbing sector of the technology market, printers are fairly essential to most computer users. Try doing without one for a few weeks and you’ll see how often you need it. The HP Officejet 4500 makes it even easier to squeeze all the necessary bits – printer, scanner and copier – into a small space. It even has a wireless version, with 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, which ditches the cable snarl that is a common feature of home offices.

The Officejet 4500 will do pretty much everything you need: print photos or documents in black and white or colour; scan documents for archiving or e-mailing on; and giving you a built-in fax machine with colour capability. And all without taking over your office.

hp.com

ViewQuest Portable Wi-Fi Internet Radio, €108

Open up a world of new radio stations with the ViewQuest Portable Wi-Fi Internet Radio. The compact device is perfect for taking on the move this summer, keeping you linked with your favourite stations no matter where you are in the world.

Whether it’s radio stations or podcasts you are looking for, the radio will pick them up as long as there is an available Wi-Fi network.

A small LCD display allows you to browse by genre or country through the use of a scroll wheel.

The ViewQuest radio comes with a 2W speaker built in and has a headphone jack should you feel the need to keep your music choices to yourself. It has a rechargeable battery that will allow you to listen to about 15 hours of world radio from a single charge.

viewquest.co.uk