A roundup of travel gadgets
PogoplugWith its lollipop-tastic pink trim, the Pogoplug has the whiff of a toy about it but is, in fact, one of the cleverest little bits of kit any traveller could bag. Or rather, leave home alone.
Because with the Pogoplug, you can get at everything you leave behind on your home hard drive from anywhere in the world. You just need internet access. So your stored-away digital life can be at your fingertips, wherever those fingertips happen to be.
We should probably call this Pogoplug 2, as it’s a sequel. Its predecessor performed the same basic trick, but in an underwhelming fashion.
This one has one Ethernet and four USB slots. Set-up takes about 60 seconds. Then all your media files are yours to open, play, even share on social networks wherever you are, through all the popular browsers. There’s an iPhone app for it too. It’s Windows, Mac OS X Linux compatible.
Cost€102.99 (expansys.ie among others)
Pango Folding Cicycle HermetWhether it's the Cycle to Work tax break, the Dublin Bikes initiative or just something fresh in our collective waters, cycling has never been so ubiquitous. Of course, it may also simply be that pedal power is signalled more obviously now thanks to the dazzling luminescence of todays hi-vis bike gear.
The Pango from Dahon, a leading foldable bike pioneer, eases the urban cyclist’s off-bike load. It’s a neat bicycle helmet, with a clever clamshell design than means it can slide away to half its size and so slip easily into a backpack or soft briefcase – or even into a commodious handbag. Aesthetically, it has a pared-back lack of flash that will appeal to many, and meets EU and US safety standards. The only downside is that in saving you carrying a bundle, it might cost you one.
Cost€99 (dahon.com)
Kodak Playsport Waterproof CamcorderThe story of a friend who, holidaying poolside with her grandchildren and wanting to record their first swimming strokes, kept her camera to hand by tucking it into her swimsuit was never going to end well. If only she had a Kodak Playsport.
Waterproof to three metres, it shoots 1080p HD video or 16:9 5MP widescreen stills (translation: great quality pics).
So you can film the kids tumbling underwater or pull it out at the top of Carrauntoohill in the sideways rain.
What really makes it such an attractive package – other than its rubbery robustness and range of colours – is its price. USB HDMI out; takes SD and SDHC memory cards.
Cost€137 (pixmania.ie)