The hot list – May 2015

Another scandal has hit Apple: #tattoogate. The Apple Watch's optical sensors struggle to read users' heart rates through dark tattoos. If you fancy some brand new tech that works regardless of how much ink you have, check out this little lot

The hot list – May 2015

Samsung Galaxy S6

Hardware

The Galaxy S5 wasn’t met with much in the way of gasps or applause but Samsung seems to be determined to rectify this with its latest flagship product. The Galaxy S6 has enough going on under the hood to trounce its near rivals, switching out Qualcomm Snapdragon chips for its own Octa-core Exynos 7420 processor. It also comes with an eye-watering (albeit slightly absurd) 577 ppi screen, a dramatically improved fingerprint sensor and a high-end metal chassis that is vastly preferably to that of its plasticky predecessor. Whilst it has lost its expandable storage, removable battery and waterproofing, this is still a game-changer.

 

Chromebook Pixel

Hardware

Truly high-end laptops are few and far between but Google’s Chromebooks are definitely becoming a serious contender. Its new Chromebook Pixel comes with either an Intel Core i5 with 8GB of RAM or a Core i7 with 16GB of RAM, a 227 ppi display and a much-improved battery life. On top of this, it’s the first laptop available to buy with the new USB C standard, allowing you to transfer high-speed data, power or run a 4K display all from the same port. Unfortunately, however, there is still a slightly boxy vibe to the Chromebook Pixel, which could be rather off-putting for a product that comes with a premium £799 price tag. But, as Chromebooks go, the latest Pixel certainly pulls its weight.

 

 

Onion Omega

Hardware

As you might guess from its rather cheeky name, the Onion Omega intends to be the successor to the Raspberry Pi’s throne. Whilst it’s not the first contender for the developer board crown, it certainly makes a compelling case; at just a quarter of the Raspberry Pi’s size, it runs full Linux and comes with wi-fi built in. Designed to prevent a new generation of IoT developers from having to build their hardware from the ground up, the Onion Omega can also come with stackable expansions that provide ethernet, a relay or an OLED screen.

 

Plugzee

Hardware

Bluetooth speakers are pretty ubiquitous these days, allowing you to play audio on the go from all of your devices. Sadly they come with one major drawback: the sound quality sucks. Plugzee is the perfect solution for the serious audiophile – plugging into your existing speakers, it allows you to stream Bluetooth audio using a lossless compression. This means you can have a wireless experience on your high-end kit, allowing you to connect to up to eight devices at once. Hopefully, Plugzee will do away with the need for tinny yet pricey speakers.

 

 

Tiko

Hardware

Tiko is an impressive 3D printer, not because it comes with loads of bells and whistles but because what it does, it does well. It comes with a unibody design that offers it an increased durability and stability, an enclosed print chamber that protects the build and is ultra compact to allow an impressive 2.27l print volume for its slender frame. Additionally, it can act as a wireless node, allowing you to print without internet access. Most impressive though is its price tag; it brings you all this for a pledge of just $179. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Josh Russell
Josh Russell
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