TECH TOOLS:Apple's shrunken version of its tablet device may be smaller, but it hasn't lost anything of what makes the iPad so appealing. The overall package is smaller and easier to handle than the full- size pad, but the 7.9in screen doesn't seem to sacrifice much.
You can still do everything you need to with it and the current crop of apps available for iOS will work with the Mini. There is no Retina display – although it is still high quality, it is only 163 pixels per inch. You won’t really notice, though; the display is bright and crisp to show off all your content at its best.
[ Apple.comOpens in new window ]
One for the Doctor Who fan who has everything. The Tardis-shaped safe keeps your (smaller) valuables under virtual lock and key, requiring a smartphone and an app to open. Compatible with android and iOS smartphones, the safe relies on sensor technology, so all you need is a smartphone that will fit in the provided slot – and the right password. It has some authentic light effects and noises, too. Unlike the real thing, though, it’s not bigger on the inside, so you’ll have to be satisfied with stashing small things like money, cards or smaller items of jewellery.
[ Firebox.comOpens in new window ]
If “real” coffee is a part of your morning ritual, you can invest in a decent machine for home. At work, the choices may be a little less sophisticated or less suited to small quantities of coffee. ThinkGeek has come up with a solution.
The Minibru coffee mug is significantly less expensive than a dedicated machine, lets you make enough for one person and does it all in one mug – a sleek-looking one at that. A filter in the glass cup keeps the coffee grounds separate so you can drink directly from the mug – and it makes just enough for one person too.
[ Thinkgeek.comOpens in new window ]
Philips has a new product that transfers your home lighting control to your smartphone. Hue is a lightbulb system that connects wirelessly to your android or iOS phone and al- lows you to control the brightness and colour of the lighting in your living room. The bulbs, which are screw fittings, use a wireless bridge to hook up to your home network. Once you download the included application, you can customise your lighting. You can wake up to sunshine effects in your room or set a timer to dim your living room lights. If you’re out of the house, you can use it to switch lights on and off.
