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Here comes the summer - holiday kit on test
The gadgets you shouldn't leave home without
Joby Gorillapod
So you've got your shiny new compact camera and you're prepped and ready for a little holiday rough and tumble photo action, in which case the Gorillapod is an essential accessory.
Laughing in the inflexible face of your common or garden tripod, this little monkey (sorry) features three ultra-bendy legs that can flexy, grip and generally stick like glue to most any uneven surface. Be it rock, sand, branch, tussock or stuffed animal you're shooting from, the Gorillapod will offer a stable and rigid mount for your camera, with a universal screw attachment for fixing the two together.
A unique way to get innovative and just plain odd angles for taking your snaps, the Gorillapod is also blindingly cheap, extremely sturdy and folds up very small, so is a perfect fit for your camera bag.
Sling Media Slingbox
We love the Slingbox because it's a travel gadget that you never have to take away with you. Looking like a giant silver-wrapped slab of gold bullion, the Slingbox lets you watch your home TV anywhere in the world via your laptop and a broadband connection. Just plug it in to your TV - it's got its own Freeview receiver - load the PC or Mac software and as long as you have a computer and an internet speed of at least 256Kbps you've got all the UK's digital channels wherever you may be.
Heck, it's also got inputs and remote control attachments for other picture sources, so you can even hook up your Sky+ box too. Not only can you change satellite channel, but you can also access the hard disk and everything you have saved, or record something from the Sky EPG.
The Slingplayer software pulling down the TV stream does an excellent job of keeping things on the smooth and steady. On top of this you can pause, rewind and fast forward as well as access interactive features by hitting the red button using the virtual on-screen remote control.
Sling Media Slingbox
Slingbox says goodbye to BBC World forever...
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| Price | £180 |
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| More info | The Sling Media website |
Absolutely essential if only so you can take advantage of your Sling Media Slingbox, a decent laptop is your lifeline back to the real world when travelling. Sony's latest, the TZ - reviewed in depth here - is an update of its popular TX range and aims to combine functionality and style with robustness and portability. Which, typically, it has done in spades.
Weighing in at a sprightly 1.19kg it shouldn't be heavy enough to elicit extra fees at the airport, and thanks to the carbon-fibre casing will withstand the inevitable knocks from surly baggage staff. If they're having a particularly bad day, the TZ sports a motion detection to protect your precious files in case it's dropped. Security is dealt with by Trusted Platform Module (TPM) hardware encryption and fingerprint recognition.
From a style point of view, the TZ is just lovely. Offered in a variety of colours - black, platinum sand and carbon fibre - it's supremely minimalist in looks and features a keyboard design apparently inspired by the "submerged stones of a Japanese water garden".
Onto the essentials then, and the TZ is powered by the latest Intel Core 2 Duo Ultra-Low Voltage CPU (helping battery life) with hard disk capacities of 80GB or 100GB, and 2GB of DDR2 memory. Multimedia apps are a breeze with dedicated AV control keys and an Instant On function that accesses CDs and DVDs without having to boot up Windows, so films will flicker into glorious Technicolor on the 11.1in X-Black LCD screen. Which, handily, is also great for watching your home TV on once you've hooked up to your Slingbox.
Sony VAIO TZ
Keep an eye on the real world with Sony's new portable pal...
Price
£1749
More info
Sony's Vaio TZ website
Keep an eye on the real world with Sony's new portable pal...
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| Price | £1749 |
|---|---|
| More info | Sony's Vaio TZ website |
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