Compiled by CIARA O'BRIEN
iLuv App Station, €108
Docks for iPods and iPhones are everywhere these days, but the iLuv App Station is not your run-of-the-mill dock. The idea is that you can dock your iPhone or iPod and still watch movies, TV shows or listen to music. You simply rotate the dock to match whatever screen orientation you need, and use it as a stand of sorts.
It’s also useful for apps such as Skype, allowing you to make calls over a wifi network, and listen in stereo sound. It also does the necessary – charges your iPhone – and it can be made wireless should you happen to have some AA batteries lying around. It has its own app to turn the screen into a large font clock.
http://www.i-luv.com
Samsung R580, From €499
Samsung’s latest laptops include the stylish addition to the R series of notebooks, with the R580 delivering as much substance as it does style. The entertainment-focused laptop is powered by an Intel Core i3 processor designed to multi-task, so you can edit your photos, play games or even edit digital video easily.
And speaking of video, the device has an Nvidia GeForce graphics card to handle video playback on a 15.6in HD LED display. You can capture video with its 1.3megapixel webcam.
One of its more useful features is the ability to charge USB devices even when turned off, with the sleep and charge ports that are built in. The casing is designed to be durable and protect your laptop from the inevitable bumps it will receive while being carried around.
http://www.samsung.com/ie
Gigabyte M8000 Xtreme mouse, $70
In the world of PC gaming, any advantage you can get is vital. Which is why a whole range of peripherals have been designed with gaming in mind. The Gigabyte M8000 Xtreme mouse is one such peripheral. It has a lot of impressive sounding jargon – a 6000dpi pro-laser engine, onboard Ghost Engine memory and Perfect Tracking Precision – but what it all means is that it’s faster and more precise than the average mouse. You can store up to 45 button assignments and use them on another PC without the need for extra software.
The laser sensor will calibrate to whatever surface you’re using.
http://www.gigabyte.com
