Tech Tools

Compiled by CIARA O'BRIEN

Polaroid GL20

What happens when you make Lady Gaga creative director of a brand? You get this: after a year in the job at Polaroid’s Grey Label, Lady Gaga showed off some sunglasses with a twist. Aiming to merge fashion and photography, the Polaroid GL20 glasses have a built-in camera that can take photos and instantly display them on the glasses’ LCD screens. You can also upload images to the camera, and show them off on your high-tech glasses, which wouldn’t look out of place on Lady Gaga’s tour.

According to Polaroid, it is planning to make these available later this year.

http://www.polaroid.com

Perch wireless speaker

$179.99 (€134)

Portable wireless speakers are common enough these days, but the Perch is slightly different. For a start, it’s not yet available. It’s a product from Quirky.com that showcases “socially developed” products. Ideas are submitted to the site by inventors, and the products are put before the community. If you like it, you commit to buy it, and if the product gets enough commitments it gets made and sold.

The Perch works as both a speaker and charging dock for mobile devices. It has two parts: a portable speaker that connects to devices via Bluetooth and is powered by an internal battery; and the charging base, which has a digital alarm clock. The speaker connects to the dock magnetically for charging, and can be powered by an AC adapter or USB.

quirky.com

Belkin WristFit

€24.99

There are plenty of ways to carry your iPod, but this one is probably one of the most discreet. Compatible with the latest iPod Nano, the Belkin WristFit turns your humble Apple music player into a watch. It buys right into the trend that technology these days is wearable, and, with the new Nano’s small screen and clock display, its perfect for it. The strap not only makes your iPod multifunctional, it also gives you a handy way to carry it around and ensure you can always lay your hands on it easily. The WristFit is adjustable and lightweight, made from breathable material and is washable. The Nano is clipped on securely too, so no need to worry about it falling off.

belkin.com

irishtimes.com/blogs/minibyte