It's a Guy Thing

8 Too Cool Tech Gadget

So far 2020 has been quite the year but the good news is that we are almost halfway with what has been a historic time, for all the wrong reasons of course. However, in the last six months, we have seen some amazingly cool tech surface to make our lives just slightly easier. Here are our favorites for 2020 so far.

MiniBrew CRAFT

For anyone stuck at home at the moment, which let’s be honest is the majority of us, the lack of easy access to our favorite brews is a problem. Well not any more thanks to the MiniBrew CRAFT. It’s the all-in-one worktop home brewing machine, which takes you from raw ingredients to a keg of freshly poured beer in around 10 days. True it might not be the fastest brew ever, but the quality of the beer is totally worth the wait. Beginners can pick the type of beer they want to make using brew kits, but more experienced brewers can use the app to create their own liquid masterpieces. 

Trust GXT 258 Fyru 

With most meetings and family gatherings happening over Zoom these days, nothing is more infuriating than having someone not hear you clearly. So it is clearly time to invest a bit into a good microphone to make sure your family members can you hear insult them in crystal clear quality. The Fryu is primarily aimed at streamers and gamers, but because of its sturdy build it’s great for your average consumer as well. The sound quality is clear, with the internal pop filter clearing out any annoying P and F sounds, and at this price point you won’t find a better microphone.

Sonos ARC

With soundbar technology having come a long way since the early days, picking up a cheap sound piece is always an option. Yet if you’re looking for great sound quality and all the latest technology then the Sonos ARC is the way to go. The smart soundbar is the first of their line up to include Dolby Atmos which is powered by 11 internal speakers, two of which fire upwards. Expect cinema-quality sound, especially when paired up with the Sonos Sub and satellite speakers. Along with the ARC, they have also revamped the Sonos App, updated the subwoofer and redesigned the Play Five. If you like binge-watching Netflix with great sound quality then this soundbar is perfect for you.

Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%

These sneakers caused quite a controversy recently when it helped Eliud Kipchoge run the world’s first sub-2-hour marathon last year. Many people called foul and even the World Athletics organization wanted to take a closer look at the design of the shoe before deciding they were race-legal. The sneakers rely on carbon fiber plates, foam and airbags to reduce the energy lost when a runner’s foot strikes the ground, quite literally putting a spring in their step. So it’s time to get your lazy bottom off that couch and get out there set your own world records.

Logitech StreamCam

So you’ve already bought the Trust GXT 258 Fyru (our earlier microphone entry) and you are sounding great, but that old laptop of yours has a webcam that is rubbish, then you’re in luck. Logitech has taken the humble webcam to the extreme, recording at HD 1080p at 60 frames per second, with AI-enabled face tracking to keep you in focus and auto-exposure in case the Sun suddenly decides to make an appearance. And if you’re a bit of a social media guru then you can easily twist the StreamCam 90 degrees and record in 9:16 to ensure you get the best Insta stories out there. You are now but a few steps away from becoming the next big streaming influencer.

Master Lock Biometric Padlock

Locked down with some annoying siblings that love going through your stuff? Then the Master Lock Biometric Padlock will make sure no one but yourself gets access to your goodies. The futuristic padlock uses your fingerprint to lock and unlock, so no worry about misplacing those keys and losing your stuff forever. It can remember up to 10 different fingerprints, and if for some reason you find yourself without a suitable finger, you can still open it by swiping a directional code. It’s not the most exciting of tech on the list but definitely the most secure.

Ember Mug² 

Nothing beats a good cup of coffee and nothing is more frustrating than a cold cup of joe. Fortunately, the Ember Mug² is here to save you from that distress. Designed for the home or office, the new Ember Mug² does more than simply keep your coffee hot. The smart mug allows you to set an exact drinking temperature, so your coffee is never too hot, or too cold. Ember then maintains your chosen temperature for 1.5 hours with the Ember Mug² 10 oz and 80 minutes with the Ember Mug² 14 oz, so your hot beverage stays perfect. Use the Ember app to set your temperature, customize presets for your favorite drinks, receive notifications when your desired temperature is reached, personalize your mug and more. It’s essential for all coffee lovers.

Simba Orbit

There is quite a lot of science that goes into a good night’s sleep and one of the newest theories is that weighted blankets will help immensely with getting to dreamland faster. The idea is that applying light pressure via a blanket that weighs 10 percent of your body weight can curb restlessness, and feedback to your brain that it’s time to get some sleep. Simba’s Orbit uses beads sewn into squares to distribute the weight evenly, so you don’t get trapped under a heavy corner, sandwiched between breathable layers that will keep you warm. It will take a few nights to get used to it, but once you go weighted you’ll never go back to normal blankets.