Tech tools

Compiled by CIARA O'BRIEN

Parrot Minikit Smart (€99)

As handsfree kits go, the Parrot Minikit Smart is an all-rounder. Not only does it give you handsfree capabilities in your car, it will also charge your device. It’s compatible with virtually all smartphones, and doesn’t require drilling holes in your dash board, meaning you can easily take it with you if you change car.

The Minikit Smart can store up to 10 different phonebooks in its memory, and uses voice recognition to access the contacts. And you can even use your phone’s navigation facilities handsfree, as it’s compatible with Android, iOS, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Symbian and Bada. The device has about 10 hours of talk time and a week of standby power, and can be recharged through a cigarette lighter.

www.parrot.com

Scratch-n-roll ($19.99)

Sometimes the simplest ideas are also the most useful. Some clever person came up with the idea of teaming a mousemat and an erasable surface, allowing you to take notes on a reusable notepad as you browse. Need to remember a phone number? Simply jot it down on the mat using the plastic stylus included. When you’re finished, all you have to do is lift the top sheet, and the writing disappears. The surface is smooth and works with any optical or old-school mouse.

www.quirky.com

Nexus S (From free on Vodafone bill-pay, €479.99 prepay)

The Nexus S is the latest attempt by Google to bring out its own branded handset, rather than conquer the mobile world by sitting back and letting Android’s influence spread. Slim, lightweight and powerful, it has the Google Experience interface over Android Gingerbread. It’s even got Near Field Communications built in, which is the next big thing in turning your phone into a mobile wallet if you believe the hype. The one thing it doesn’t have is expandible storage, but there is 16GB of memory.

www.google.com/nexus/