HAVING FUN WHILE DOING MATHS? CRAZY

Maths was not my thing.

 

From an early age I was firmly in the "But how will this help me later in life?" group. I used to turn up deliberately late for sixth-form maths, knowing my teacher would let me off if I could come up with a really creative excuse. It didn't stop her sentencing me to a week of lunchtime rubbish duty that time I wrote "God I hate maths" on my desk though.

 

I actually boycotted seventh-form calculus.

 

For real.

 

On reflection, I was I real jerk. But then... so was my calculus teacher.

If only maths was more like video games. And if only I'd got into it sooner. About ten years sooner...

It's been a long time since I was aged 6-8 - a very long time - but I'm pretty sure I would have been a lot more into maths if tracking down and feeding dragons was part of the equation. "Secrets of the Dragons" is one of two new offerings from Osmo to trick Year 1 and 2 students into doing maths by disguising it as an iPad-based game.

 

The "Secrets of the Dragons" set contains two rulers, sixty-two food tokens of various shapes and sizes and a very impressive Dragon Guidebook, which, to be frank, is almost cool enough to justify the price of the game all by itself. It looks like something the Fellowship of the Ring were sent to bring back from Mount Doom. In fact, even the box for this game is designed to resemble some ancient collection of spells to be kept under strict lock and key less they fall into the wrong hands.

 

And so, in Osmo's usual style, the fun has begun even before you fire up your iPad to start playing.

 

If you haven't encountered an Osmo game before, you need to know it requires an Osmo Base. Unlike some packs, these games from the Math Wizard series don't include the Base, which might be a bit frustrating if you don't already own one of the starter kits but obviously if you do, you don't need to keep collecting more Bases every time you buy a new game. The Osmo Base is simply a stand for your iPad and a clip-on reflector that fits over your iPad's camera. This is essentially the genius of any Osmo game - the perfect balance of on-screen and tactile, physical activities - completing tasks in the "real" world to advance to the next stage of your quest in the virtual realm.

 

As far as "Secrets of the Dragons" goes, your specific goal is to explore the Dragon Reserve to complete your guidebook, measuring and feeding your dragons appropriately so you can watch them grow. After all, who wants a little dragon when you can have a gigantic one, right?

 

While I managed to explain all that in one short paragraph, there's quite a lot more setup when you actually come to play the game itself. Obviously you need to download the digital part of the game onto your iPad and when you fire it up, you're prompted to add the physical postcard included in your "Secrets of the Dragons" box to your personal collection. Then an old wizard and a young wizard's apprentice take turns to walk you through the basic rules and instructions of the game. This seemed a bit laborious to me but then I'm not aged six and I always find the introduction part of a video game drawn-out - I'd prefer to just crack on with things without really knowing what I'm supposed to do or indeed how to do it. That's just me.

 

That's not to say the game is at all patronising to young kids - not with words like "biome" being casually thrown in. In fact, this isn't just a case of hunting down random dragons and feeding them whatever you want. In order to progress to different parts of the dragon reserve, you'll need match each dragon you find with its entry in your guidebook, measure it and feed it. Some are fussier eaters than others and you'll earn more points feeding the right dragon the right treats.

 

Obviously there are badges and other rewards to be earned along the way and you'll eventually be presented with your own dragon eggs to nurture, hatch and ultimately name.

 

As I've already pointed out tough, the greatest thing about playing this game is kids are learning how to do all kinds of useful, education stuff while searching for dragons. Most significantly, even if they've never used a ruler before, measuring, estimating length and adding and subtracting measurements are such a crucial part of the gameplay, your kid will have it mastered in no time. I thought another interesting skill they'll pick up without realising it is searching through reference material (looking up the right dragon on the right page in the guidebook). This might be one of the most important things you need to do as a student, either using physical textbooks or searching online. This game gets you to do it and makes it fun.

 

That's the beauty of these Osmo games, no question they're genuinely educational but I also have no doubt kids will love playing them too. Wrap it all up in an incredibly well presented spell-book box and you're onto a winner.

 

 

Click here for more information on Osmo Secrets of the Dragons.

HAVE I GOT A CASE FOR YOU

If you have kids, you'll be well aware of the pressure to provide them with the latest and greatest tech gadgets. Some of these are tools, many are toys and often you have to make a call on which is which because that affects what you'll agree to pay for and what you won't.

All that to one side, the thing I've always agreed to straight off the bat - in fact, I've insisted on it - is shelling out for a decent case.

Nothing breaks my heart more than the sight of a cracked screen, busted hinge or broken cable... apart from the fact it inevitably means yet another "discussion" about who should have to pay for the repairs. I'd prefer to avoid as many repairs as possible in the first place.

And to be fair, it's not just my kids who can't be trusted to look after their own stuff; I'm undeniably one of the clumsiest people I know. Accidents happen. So zipping, clipping and buttoning your precious devices up just makes sense.

In fact, with the right case, you might even prevent losing your new toys too...

Twelve South has been busy carving out a niche for itself in the world of tech accessories. While the company claims to design its gear "exclusively for Apple," that doesn't mean you won't find something very cool, even if you're not currently a member of the iCult.

In this review I'll be trying out three of Twelve South's latest additions, timed to coincide with the release of Apple's latest MacBook range. The SuitCase for MacBook is specifically tailored to protect the 13-inch Macbook Pro or Air, or there's a larger version for the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Although those are the devices its been designed for, it's just as useful for many other laptops and tablets of a similar size - even if they might not fit quite as snugly as the Apple devices do.

The main objective of the SuitCase seems to be maximum protection with minimum bulk. You get a triple layered defence against knocks, spills and drops; an attractive, water-resistant, quilted twill exterior, a sturdy-yet-flexible Thermoform hard plastic shell in the middle and a soft, microfibre interior to prevent any scuffs or scratches. That sounds like a lot but in fact, as I've pointed out, it's all very slim and compact, keeping the whole case thin enough to slip into a briefcase or large handbag.

In order to keep things tiny and tidy, you won't find an over-supply of pockets and compartments for accessories like your mouse or charger, although there is a single internal slot plenty big enough for a charging cable and possibly any adapters you may use regularly.

Twelve South claims to have invented an "innovative suspension system" to keep the lid protected by the top half of the case, even while you have your laptop open. In reality, this is a couple of elastic cords sewn into the interior of the case on each side, which just about hold the lid up as long as you don't open your device too wide. Don't buy the SuitCase for this feature. It's not really a feature.

Buy it because everything else about it is absolutely first class, from the the premium materials to the way it feels so comfortable using it on your lap. The durable double zip means you can leave your laptop charging while still securely zipped up, wherever the charging port is located on your device. There's even good attention to detail with the way the leather handle retracts flush back into the edge of the case when you're not using it.

Yes, as an attractive, durable and compact option, I'd have no problem recommending the SuitCase - and not just for MacBooks, for anything that'll fit.

Similarly, the AirSnap is a great looking, well made case too. There's an option for AirPods and another for AirPods Pro. 

Obviously, there's not a whole lot to say about this wee case for a case other than you can choose from a variety of colours in leather or twill. I've been sent boring old black (reviewers always get sent boring old black) but it's still pretty funky with bold stitching and solid-feeling hardware (including the branded snap to open and close the case).

The main part of that hardware is the clip - this is kind of the point of using a case like this at all. Clip your AirPods to your bag, your keys, your belt loop - given how easy it would be to misplace something as small as your AirPods, this seems like a stylish no-brainer to keep your several-hundred dollar investment within reach. You can also easily access the charging port for your AirPods case through a tailored slot at the base.

Then there's my favourite case of the three; the BookBook. Not sure if I love the name but I definitely love the product. I was sent the BookBook for Kindle Paperwhite, which is a shame, as I only have an old, 4th-Gen Kindle Touch. Twelve South also produces BookBooks for most iPads, iPhones, larger ones for MacBooks and there's even a BookBook CaddySack with a selection of elasticated compartments just for charges, cables and other peripherals.

This is my most adored kind of cutting edge tech, the kind that looks antique. With my Kindle zipped up in the BookBook, it looks pretty much exactly like a... well... like a book. Which it is of course. And yes, I said, "My Kindle" because I couldn't resist jamming my Kindle Touch into the pouch that's designed for the much newer (and slimmer) Paperwhite. That's why the screen looks a little off-kilter in the photo below. Still works great though - that's the main thing.

Not only does the premium leather outer look and feel amazing, it offers outstanding protection for your device while disguising it as some useless old book nobody would be interested in stealing. There's even a magnetic kickstand built in for hands-free reading - something I like to do while eating a leisurely weekend brunch at the table.

Come on, just look at it! If you own one of the compatible devices (or like me, one that's compatible enough if you really shove it in there) surely this is the coolest case you've ever seen.

In fact, all three of these do their jobs brilliantly in great style. They're not cheap but when you're protecting something worth hundreds - if not thousands - of dollars, you don't want cheap. You want something like this.

Click here for more details on the Twelve South SuitCase for MacBook.

Click here for more details on the Twelve South AirSnap.

Click here for more details on the Twelve South BookBook for Kindle Paperwhite.

D-LINK DOES IT AGAIN. AND AGAIN. AND AGAIN

Look, I know I keep banging on about this but if you haven't given much thought to what router you're using, it's about time you did.

As 2020 finally peters out, if we've learned anything it's the importance of maintaining a connected lifestyle. Just a few quick reminders about the problems you might be experiencing if your home WiFi network is in need of a spruce-up.

Drop-outs. If you're sick of hearing the words, "The internet isn't working again," then it could be your router is getting a bit old and tired.

Slow-downs. If your streaming services spend more time buffering than they do playing. If your games take so long to load you get called to dinner before you can even start playing, then definitely time to upgrade.

Range issues. If your WFH office has everything you need except dependable WiFi, then you're note really working from home. You're just... home.

As usual, D-Link's here to help...

D-Link seems to have launched more routers than ever this year and if I'm totally honest, sometimes it's a bit hard to tell one from another.

Rest assured, each new one is an improvement on the last - and the DIR-2150 is no exception.

Apart from anything else, it's very compact - easily tucked away on a shelf or even mounted flat on a wall using the convenient screw-holes underneath. Like the last few generations of D-Link network devices, even the status LED's can be switched off completely so they won't light up an otherwise dark room unnecessarily. The only issue is the four external antennae. While the DIR-2150 router itself is small and easily concealed, those aerials stick out in all directions. Literally.

Ah well, it's probably worth it given the powerful coverage they provide. While some routers hide antennae away for cosmetic reasons, here D-Link unashamedly exposes four high-powered antennae to good effect. I experienced a strong connection all over my two-storey, four-bedroom home. Not a bad effort from such a little box.

If you're trying to cover an even bigger area, the DIR-2150 also supports 802.11k/v mesh smart roaming, meaning it can team up with other compatible devices to create a seamless mesh network - but I have certainly been impressed with its range as a standalone unit.

For its size and price, the DIR-2150 has a lot of premium features built in. It delivers AC2100 speeds; up to 300Mbps via its 2.4GHz band and a truly stonking 1733Mbps via a 5GHz connection - that's heaps for even full-on gaming requirements. In fact, theoretically you could achieve a faster connection via WiFi than connecting directly to one of the four gigabit ethernet ports.

That simultaneous, dual-band setup is just one way the DIR-2150 splits up the workload and reduces congestion. MU-MIMO technology combines with Smart Connect to ensure all connected devices are allocated as much bandwidth as possible. Like I say, there's a lot going on under the hood of this iddy-biddy box.

Each new D-Link device I review gets easier and easier to setup. I had no issues at all using the D-Link WiFi app and my new network was up and running in about ninety seconds flat - which has got to be a record. The app also lets you adjust settings like passwords and network names, as well as accessing the LED's on the router. Not to mention giving you parental control over any connected device. By assigning devices to specific profiles, you can decide who accesses the net and when - on any of their gadgets.

There's quite the lineup of security features at work in the DIR-2150 too. The very latest encryption protocols are used to protect your connection and even brute-force attacks can be detected and prevented. That's great peace of mind - especially if you're working from home. Always a tad embarrassing if you're the weak link that takes your whole business down with you.

Firmware updates can be set to download and install automatically - yet another way the DIR-2150 keeps everything running smoothly, reliably and securely. The D-Link WiFi app even includes an integrated speed test, so you can see just how much you've improved your home network by upgrading to this small but powerful device.

Perhaps best of all, at an RRP of just $279, the DIR-2150 is a very budget-friendly way to boost your stuttering WiFi in one simple step.

No, there's nothing particularly unique or special about this router. It simply uses many of the latest connectivity features available to get on with the job without a fuss. And when it comes to your home network, no fuss is exactly what you want.

Click here for more information and pricing on the D-Link DIR-2150 AC2100 WiFi Gigabit router.

HUAWEI BREAKS THROUGH THE SOUND BARRIER

Is there a more crowded gadget market right now than headphones and earbuds?

This certainly isn't the first time I've asked myself, "What more is there to say about audio earwear?"

Your main choices come down to form factor and budget; above a certain price point you can be pretty much assured sound quality won't be an issue. But are you an over-ear or in-ear person? How important is noise cancelling over battery life?

Perhaps most importantly... traditional brand or time to try something new?...

There's no doubt Huawei knows how to make good gear.

You don't fight your way to the top of global smart phone sales charts by accident.

And I've been raving about Huawei's range of watches for a couple of years.

I was also more than a little impressed by the FreeBuds 3, my first interaction with Huawei's line of audio wearables and now they've stepped things up with the FreeBuds Studio over-ear headphones and the FreeBuds Pro in-ear evolution.

While physically these are two completely different devices, they actually do share some features. Both look and feel amazing, constructed to exacting detail from the highest quality materials. Both are very comfortable to wear... even for hours at a time. And both sound fantastic.

As I listen to "Mind Trick" by Jamie Cullum on the FreeBuds Pro, the bass notes pulsate powerfully yet distinctly while the gang backing vocals and crowd noise seem like they're coming from the room I'm in. I don't know how it's possible to generate such a sense of space using in-ear headphones but Huawei has achieved it super successfully here.

The driving rhythm and bass guitars playing in in unison on the Black Keys' "Sister" might seem boomy on some over-ear headsets but not on the FreeBuds Studio. Likewise, the drum-sample driven track "M!ssundaztood" by P!nk show's off every individual element, her raspy vocals ripping through the mix without being too toppy or sibilant.

There's no question both these devices provide a first class soundscape. While there are no customisable EQ settings on Huawei's AI Life companion app, most phones let you EQ from their native sound settings section if you need to.

AI Life is your portal to access other settings too, although there are invisible touch controls on both the FreeBuds Pro and Studio too. These touch controls are responsive and well defined - unlike the false taps and swipes I've encountered on other similar devices. I particularly like the up or downward swipe to change volume - this works faultlessly on either device.

But back to the app - here you can set a few little shortcuts but the star of the show is Huawei's Active Noise Cancelling technology. Again, this works the same way on both devices - you can have it on or off, or set yourself to Awareness mode to let outside noises in (a good idea if you're around traffic or there are announcements you don't want to miss). Most ingeniously, Dynamic mode lets the earbuds or headphones sense your environment and automatically adjusts the level of noise cancelling required for any given situation. Sitting on the couch at home is quite a different sonic scenario to being on a plane or train. Huawei's Intelligent Dynamic ANC can figure all this out on the fly and make adjustments accordingly. While it's not the most totally silent ANC I've ever used, it might be the most natural - because it's so smart.

It's not just listening where noise cancellation has been put to good use. I've conducted several phone calls on both devices without the other person having any idea I wasn't talking to them directly on my phone. There are mics everywhere - including bone sensors and wind reduction tech on the FreeBuds Pro - to ensure your voice calls remain crystal clear.

As you can probably tell by now, I really enjoy using these devices. Huawei has pretty much nailed premium-level sound reproduction here.

The FreeBuds Pro come in a glossy Sliver Frost or Carbon Black, with matching glossy case. The case charges the buds on the go and is charged itself either wirelessly or via USB-C. Battery life is up there with the best of them - as much as 4.5 hours non-stop listening with ANC turned on, 7 hours with it off and between 20-30 hours of charge including the case. Basically, you don't really have to worry about charging until it's convenient for you. 

The design of the buds themselves is a kind of hybrid - a snug, in-ear fit while retaining a short external column reminiscent of the earlier FreeBuds 3. There are three sizes of ear pads included in the box to ensure a secure fit, even while exercising. They're not inconspicuous but I think they're fairly stylish and I've certainly found them comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time. As I've already mentioned, the touch controls which involve swiping and pinching are some of the most reliable I've come across on such a small device.

It's pretty hard to fault the FreeBuds Pro and they're definitely worthy of consideration if you're in the market for a high-spec set of TWS earbuds.

If it's over-ear you're looking for, there are a couple of things you need to know about the FreeBuds Studio.

I was immediately impressed by how sturdy this headset is, while still looking modern and stylish.  There's nothing cheap or plasticky going on here - the headband especially, although luxuriously padded, is solid as a rock. The extendable arms are metal and firm while the earcups themselves are also padded with protein leather cushions that breathe very well and provide a comfortable listening experience for hours on end. In fact, these have quickly become my favourite headphones for watching TV with. The high-quality, low-latency bluetooth connection and long battery life also helps.

In fact, you'll get up to 20 hours playback time on a full charge and that's with ANC switched on.

You also get a hard-walled carrycase, which is fairly large as the Studio doesn't fold up, it only swivels flat. The case is actually big enough to contain a lidded compartment for the charging cable. That's the only cable by the way - no AUX cable for these headphones, bluetooth is your only option. I have to say, I found that a little limiting given how much Huawei is charging for these things.

Yes, my main issue here is price. Oh sure, the FreeBuds Studio is undoubtedly a premium headset. The build quality is unmatched. The sound is fabulous. ANC is up there with the best I've heard - and the Dynamic (auto-sensing) feature is impressive. As is battery life - these cans keep on going and going and charge quickly to boot. So yes, yes they're fantastic headphones. I won't deny it.

But they cost almost $600. That's way too much. When the other "big brand" models you're competing with start in the low four-hundreds, charging this much first time out is... well... bold, to say the least. For that kind of money you'd better be offering a top end product and luckily, the FreeBuds Studio is indeed among the best wireless headsets I've tried - but convincing shoppers that when they see them side by side on a shelf with a more established headphone brand could be a challenge.

As far as the FreeBuds Pro go, they're about half the price and I think that's more realistic. At an RRP of $299, that puts them roughly mid-range for high-quality TWS earbuds and given they're up with the best of them, that sounds like a good deal to me.

Click here for more information on the Huawei FreeBuds Studio.

Click here for more information on the Huawei FreeBuds Pro.

MAKE YOUR DUMB AIRCON SMARTER

If I had to name one single device from the last few years that's had a massive effect on our everyday lives I might suggest the Google Chromecast.

It's so clever. It's small, it's inexpensive and it allows you to stream from another device or directly from the web. Best of all, it works. Most of the time it works without you even really having to think about it.

This tiny, little thing turns any TV with an HDMI port into a smart TV and it makes already smart TV's smarter still.

Who would've guessed how quickly we'd come to accept watching YouTube, Facebook and Instagram videos on our big screen tellies as nothing out of the ordinary?

Now let's do the same thing for our air con...

New Zealanders have an unusual relationship with air conditioning. Our climate, generally speaking, is not prone to extremes. Sure, it's cold in winter and hot in summer but in most places that often means adding or subtracting a layer of clothing... not heating or cooling your whole house. We don't do radiators or boilers or thermostats... for that matter, very few of us even do apartment buildings. For your average kiwi, air con is something that only happens in offices and even there all it does is cause arguments about what temperature it should be.

However, over the years we've certainly taken to the heat pump as an economical and effective form of home heating (and yes, sometimes, when it's really hot, cooling). While modern heat pumps are available in WiFi versions, they're often not the models already installed in our houses. Yes, most heat pumps allow you to set automated, pre-set routines but if you can actually get your remote to do that you're cleverer than I am.

In fact, I'd be prepared to bet less than 20% of heat pump remotes have the correct time set on them. Let's be honest... it's probably less than 10%.

So... if you've ever thought it would be nice to come home to an already cosy house. Or you'd like to have the heat pump on cold on a hot summer's night... but not all night... here's a device that'll change your life.

The tado° Smart AC Control is basically the Chromecast of air conditioning. Like Google's greatest invention, the tado° is blissfully easy to set up, using the companion app on your phone. Scan the QR code, connect it to your WiFi, pair it with your heat pump and you're pretty much done. It's compatible with most brands of heat pump that use an infrared remote - you can easily find out if yours will work on the tado° website.

Not much bigger than a thick drinks coaster, you can place it pretty much anywhere in the same room as your heat pump. It comes with a decent length power cord which is white, narrow and easily concealed. The device itself is basically featureless and won't draw attention in most settings. The back is designed to keep the cord out of the way and the tado° flush against the wall if you decide to use the included sticky strips to mount it there. There's a nice, big, easily read LED display that appears during setup but you probably won't need it again so you probably won't see it again.

If you're anything like me, not only do you have no idea out how to set your heat pump to come on and switch off at certain times, you even struggle to get it to blow hot when it's cold and cold when it's hot. I don't know who designs those remotes but they're obviously sadistic evil geniuses, the lot of them.

That's why tado° is such a breath of fresh air - or the app is anyway. It clearly displays real-time temperature and humidity readings from the tado° device. It also effectively turns your phone into another remote - turn your heat pump on or off, change the temperature, mode or fan speed - from anywhere. Anywhere in the world.

More importantly, you can easily set any number of scheduled routines or just keep the heat pump on till a time you decide.

This is all very accessible and well presented on the app. Up to a hundred users can be added for each device and obviously you can access several devices if you have more than one heat pump to control.

tado° goes further, giving you insights about air quality and energy savings. There's also a Geofencing function that detects when you're home and when you aren't, giving you the opportunity to run appropriate settings. tado° can even detect open windows, which obviously affect how well your heat pump can control the climate.

Unfortunately, if you want tado° to react automatically to its Geofencing and Open Window Detection abilities that'll require you to sign up to an Auto-Assist subscription, $42.99 a year after a month's free trial. Neither essential or compulsory but if you're the kind of person who worries if you've turned things off before you left the house, it might be worth it.

Easy enough to check, of course. Just open the app.

This time of year it's still light when I go to bed (don't judge me, my alarm goes off at 2:55AM). Often it's hot and stuffy in the bedroom. Luckily, we do have a small heat pump installed but - and this is such a New Zealand way of thinking - I don't like the idea of leaving the heat pump on all night. Apart from anything else, it's not particularly quiet, even in quiet mode. Perhaps tado°'s best feature is how easy it is to set your device to the temperature of your choosing for a fixed amount of time. Set. Forget. Go to sleep.

The other big advantage in using tado° in the bedroom is it's Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit compatible. You don't even need to open the app - just ask your smart speaker to set the air con to the temperature you want and you're in business. No reaching for the remote. No turning on the light.

Oh... you can actually change settings on the device itself. But where's the fun in that?

A heat pump is a significant investment and definitely not worth replacing completely just to get one with WiFi capabilities. At well under $200, tado° makes an extremely budget and user-friendly alternative.

Click here for more information on the tado° Smart AC Control V3+.

MICROSOFT'S PLUCKY LITTLE BATTLER

For all its highs and lows... and really low lows... 2020 has reinforced a really interesting trend in the world of devices... the fan edition.

Whether it's a phone, a tablet or a laptop, manufacturers have finally realised there's a big market out there for people who prefer performance over added extras, substance over fluff.

Especially if there are serious dollar savings to be made.

Yes, this year I've discovered a number of devices that "do the job" pretty darn well - without breaking the bank...

Just when we thought we'd seen every possible combination in Microsoft's Surface range, we're now presented with the Surface Laptop Go, the lightest of the Surface laptops weighing in at just over 1.1 kilos... which is basically nothing at all.

The Surface Laptop Go is available in three colours; Ice Blue, Sandstone and Platinum, as pictured here. The top is a very sturdy-feeling aluminium while the base is a polycarbonate resin system composed of glass fibre and 30% recycled materials. The whole device still feels very premium and finished to high standards. The hinge is firm and there's little to no flex in the screen when opening and closing. It's very slim when closed and because the Microsoft logo etched into the lid is totally reversible, I often can't get it open on my first attempt because I'm holding it the wrong way around. (That's an operator error, by the way. Not a design criticism)

If you are clever enough to get the Laptop Go open, you might be surprised to discover a full-sized keyboard given the compact form-factor. It's a fairly no-frills affair - no back-lighting and just an average amount of travel but there's still a full compliment of function keys and shortcuts for things like Home, End, Brightness and Volume. I've found typing to be no issue at all however playing games is more of a challenge. There are cursor keys, but Up and Down are only half-sized so that's pretty fiddly and there's no right-hand Ctrl key. However, there is a fingerprint sensor, under the power key. This works quickly and consistently.

It's there in lieu of a Windows Hello camera, one of the first major compromises Microsoft has made on this device. So no face-unlock and a lower-spec 720p camera than you'll find on some of the more expensive Surfaces. Yes, the picture/video quality is a little grainy so that's something to consider in the age of online classes and meetings. On the upside, the camera is tiny and takes up no extra space on the top bezel.

In fact, the top and side bezels are impressively narrow for a laptop in this price-range - only the much larger bottom chin really getting in the way. As the display is only 12.4-inches, this really is a highly portable device. You won't feel cramped in terms of viewing experience either; like other Surfaces it sports a 3:2 aspect ratio which has definitely become my favourite screen-shape - there always seems so much more space. Not quite enough space opposite for the oversized trackpad you might find on larger laptops although this one does a fine job.

My next big surprise was the fact the PixelSense display is a 10-point touch screen; another one of those high-end features I expected to be shaved off to save money. This is great, because I find a combination of trackpad and touch-screen works pretty much as efficiently as a separate mouse. You can use a mouse obviously - the Surface Modern Mobile mouse will pair pretty much automatically and comes in a range of colours to match the Laptop Go. Of course, you can pair any bluetooth device and there are both Type-C and USB-A ports to plug anything else into.

You can actually charge the Laptop Go via that USB-C port but obviously it has the usual Surface Connect port for the included 39W power supply. This charges the Laptop Go very quickly - much faster than most other laptops I've used this year. As for how long that charge lasts, it's pretty good - not the longest battery life around but it should get you through a school day or back-to-back business meetings without too much trouble.

Just back to that screen for a moment; make no mistake, this is where Microsoft has made the biggest cut in specifications to get the Laptop Go's price down. At just 1536 X 1024 this is a pretty low-res display by 2020 standards. It's bright enough but I've seen a lot of complaints about fuzzy text etc. Personally, I've had no real issues - Netflix looks fine to me for example. On the other hand, don't get your hopes up about doing any serious gaming on this thing - a simple platform/adventure game like The Touryst works fine but a proper FPS like Gears 5 won't even load.

This isn't just because of the display of course, there just isn't the processing power or dedicated graphics capabilities to handle high-resource gaming or full-on video editing. In fact, when I did try to run Gears 5, a fan cranked up and ran so loud I thought the whole computer was about to spin off my lap! My review unit is the fully-kitted out version - 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. Everything I need to do on a daily basis works perfectly - even audio editing which involves the exchange of large sound files to and from the cloud. Start-up and app launches seem quick enough so as long as you're not planning a career in video production or professional gaming, I don't really know what more you need.

This is the whole point of the Surface Laptop Go - all the stuff you need, none of the stuff you don't.

Of course, at $1749.00 for the configuration I'm reviewing, this is not really a budget laptop but it's certainly a lot more accessible than plenty of other devices out there with similar specs - or worse, with more specs than you need to do the things you want to do.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go.

THE ALL-WEATHER CAM FOR INSIDE OR OUT

One of the tricky things about reviewing gadgets is the timeline.

By its very definition, technology is all about being new. Each device is rushed to market as soon as possible, to try and get the jump on any competition. So there's always pressure (admittedly, mostly self-imposed) to get my reviews out just as fast.

Only trouble is, if I've been using a device for mere days - or even weeks - it's virtually impossible to speculate accurately on one crucial feature; durability.

How is it working months or even years down the track?

For most things, it's pretty hard to tell. But sometimes you get a feeling...

You don't have to dig very far back into my archives to see I've tried a fair few security cameras over the years. Indoor, outdoor, hard-wired, rechargeable, WiFi, standalone or connected to a hub.

And if there's one thing I've learned over all that time it's that electronics and weather do not mix.

The DCS-8302LH from D-Link might finally be the answer.

First up, D-Link is totally nailing the tiny-footprint thing right now. The last few D-Link cams I've installed have all been so small it makes you wonder how big a picture they'll provide.

You don't have to wonder with the DCS-8302LH - you get a whopping 135-degree Field-of-View and you can choose to watch in 720p or True Full HD 1080p at 30fps. The picture is extraordinarily clear and detailed - in full colour during the day and in black-and-white via infra-red overnight. There's dramatically less fish-eye distortion around the edges of the shot than I've experienced with other cameras, although I have found the live feed to be a bit choppy at times.

The saved video is the important thing of course and the big advantage D-Link has over many of its competitors is offering a choice of storage options. Yes, like all the others, there's a subscription service available for cloud storage - but you can sign up to the free plan to store your vids for 24 hours, which might be plenty depending on your circumstances. The third option is to use a microSD card in the camera itself, admittedly, not much use if the camera is vandalised or stolen but again, it all depends on where you're using it as to which system will work best for you. Or you may already be using some kind of ONVIF recording system and the good news is, the DCS-8302LH is compatible there too. Wonderful to have the choice.

You'll have plenty of choice in terms of installation location too. This is due to the versatile mounting system and the excellent hardware included in the box. The mounting plate (like the camera) is very small and securely held in place with just two little screws. The fully adjustable ball-and-socket joint allows for both wall and ceiling installation and there are cable ties and clips provided to help keep things as tidy and as concealed as possible. The power lead itself is very long, giving you as much opportunity as possible to locate the camera exactly where you need it. There's also an ethernet port if you prefer a hard-wired internet connection although a long ethernet cable is the one accessory that isn't  included. 

My favourite little bit is the rubbery, almost gel-like fitted manifold the power lead runs through into the fully sealed connection/microSD compartment at the back of the camera. There are two options depending on whether you need the ethernet cable or not. It all fits perfectly, snugly into place, leaving no opportunity for the elements to get in whatsoever. This is what gives me confidence the DCS-8302LH is likely to stand up to wind, rain, hot and cold for longer than some - the design and materials chosen just seem to make sense. Despite all its weather hardiness, it remains quite an elegant, subtle-looking device and there's no reason not to use it as an indoor camera too.

Setup is still through the MyDlink app, which continues to improve in leaps and bounds, now offering fingerprint/facial recognition login for extra security. Thanks to built-in low-energy bluetooth, setup is faster than many previous devices and I had no issues connecting to my WiFi network and enabling the camera to be accessed through my Alexa account. (It's also compatible with Google Assistant)

Another newish feature is Person Detection. While the DCS-8302LH can be activated by motion or sound, you can narrow things right down so you're only notified by actual people stepping into shot. This means waving branches and shadows can be ignored. It's a feature that works pretty well - up to a point. I've installed the camera to keep an eye on my back fence and unfortunately it's an area my clothesline is in too. Yes, you can use the app to set a specific area to be monitored but if it's a windy day and there's washing on the line, I guess the camera thinks there's an intruder spinning around in my backyard because I suddenly start getting a lot of notifications. Ah well, at least I know it's working.

As with most other D-Link cameras, there's two-way audio - handy to give the courier instructions at the front door - and even a reasonably loud "siren" which can be set off automatically or manually. It actually sounds more like the reversing signal on a large truck than a siren but I suppose it's probably enough to let the bad guys know you're watching.

This is a fantastic all-rounder of a camera, with a great range of video storage options, useful mounting hardware included in the box and most importantly, a confidence-inspiring weatherproof design. I don't think I'll have anything to worry about next winter with this one.

Click here for more information and pricing on the D-Link DCS-8302LH Full HD Outdoor Weather Resistant Pro WiFi camera.

ALEXA, I LOVE WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH YOUR HAIR

Change.

People just hate it, don't they? As much as they constantly cry out for something new, the moment you give it to them the complaints flow thick and fast.

Amazon has finished the year by giving its range of Echo smart speakers a total facelift and some people have freaked out.

Not me. I'm freaking in...

While there's not a dramatic difference in performance between last year's edition of these entry-level, Alexa-enabled speakers, physically, they're a world apart - or a globe apart, anyway.

For whatever reason, Amazon has decided to make its speakers spherical and although they may take up slightly more shelf space, they do look pretty cute, available in Charcoal, Twilight Blue or Glacier White.

Instead of a can-shaped cylinder for the Echo and a flatter, wider puck for the Echo Dot, we're having a ball instead - for both speakers. Yes, they now look exactly the same, just different sizes obviously. And they're not totally round - how would you get them to stay in one place? There's a rubber-padded base which is where the status LED has been moved to, reflecting brightly off whatever surface the speakers are sitting on. If anything, this makes even more sense than the top-mounted light of previous generations, which often meant you couldn't tell if Alexa was listening if the Echo in question was placed on a shelf higher than eye-level.

I've read comments about the top-mounted buttons being hard to use. Seriously, what's wrong with people? If anything, I've found the complete opposite to be the case. The four traditional control buttons are now rubberised and raised in their specific shapes, in my view making them easier to use than ever - again, if your speaker is up high, you can literally feel which button is which without having to see them. Not that I ever use the buttons anyway. Isn't that the point of having a smart speaker in the first place?

Especially when there's been a discernible improvement in mic sensitivity. I haven't found myself shouting across the room to be heard as I used to with older models. I know Amazon is continuing to put a lot of resource into Alexa's voice recognition abilities, with a more intuitive, follow-up skill-set due to roll out in the coming months. As it is, I'm pretty satisfied with the way she follows my instructions - over time I've learned I don't have to be quite so formal with my requests. "Alexa, louder," works just as well as, "Turn the volume up, please."

And there's still no other ecosystem that comes close to controlling IoT devices around the home. I have many lights, plugs, motion sensors and security cameras linked to my Alexa account that respond to various skills and routines - not to mention my doorbell.

As far as music appreciation goes, there's been a significant upgrade in sound quality and sheer volume - especially with the new Echo. Ask Alexa to set the volume to ten and prepare to have your eyebrows blasted off. Not bad for a $179 speaker. The three-inch woofer and dual tweeters create an impressively full soundscape across the whole frequency range and the bass response is wonderfully warm, punchy and powerful. I'm sitting here with Fat Freddy's Drop on shuffle and every track thumps along most satisfyingly.

As for the Dot - the enhancements in audio transmission here aren't quite as pronounced; yes there's more volume than before but due to its size most tracks still tend to sound a little dry and top-endy. In large rooms, the Dot is best used in conjunction with another, bigger Echo as part of a multi-speaker setup - something easily created within the Alexa app. In fact, if you have two identical Echoes you can link them as a stereo pair - quite a pair if you go for the bigger ones. There's also still the option to connect an external device via bluetooth or 3.5mm jack - very versatile.

As with the previous generation, the 2020 Echo Dot is also available as an Echo Dot with Clock - displaying an easily read LED clock from under the 100% recycled fabric. This works brilliantly as a kitchen timer or a bedside clock - it'll even show the temperature.

I remain confused as to why some reviewers seem obliged to find fault with such well-priced, great sounding devices. I've even seen complaints about the size of the power adapters which is really odd, given they're dramatically smaller than the previous square bricks we had to put up with. These plugs are easily narrow enough to nestle next to any others on your multi-board or side-by-side double outlet. Again, I guess people just love to complain.

Well, no complaints from me; The combination of build quality, design quality and sound quality make these new Echoes exceptional value, especially when you factor in Alexa's smarts... which are getting smarter every day.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Amazon Echo.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock.

CONFESSIONS OF AN AMATEUR GAMER

It's been a very long time.

The Domestic Manager once actually bought me a gaming console for a present. I have no idea why she did that. I think it was a test. Could I resist the temptation to spend hours of my life - hours I should be doing "something useful" - lost in actual fantasy worlds, crashing cars, plundering villages and playing professional sports I don't even know the rules of?

Basically, yes. I resisted. I never really played that much. What a good husband. Yeah, right.

Then, years later, my kids gave me a legitimate excuse to dust off that console and even upgrade it. I downloaded PC games and then to make them run properly, I had to upgrade the desktop too. It was my duty as a responsible father to show my kids how video games work.

Unfortunately, they quickly got a lot better at them than me and my excuse for playing them was gone again.

My gaming career was over for a second time.

The question is, can you ever come back for a three-peat?...

Gaming, like all tech, has evolved exponentially over the last decade or so. That means consoles have had to evolve too and the Microsoft Xbox Series X is the result.

The box the Box comes in is very groovy - lots of cool Xbox graphics in black and green. The console is almost suspended in the middle of the packaging when you open it all up. It'll certainly be a crowdpleaser come Christmas morning (assuming you can find one in time for Christmas; they're in super hot demand).

But once out of the packaging, to be brutally honest, it doesn't look like much. The Series X is a relatively featureless tower, reminiscent of the monoliths in 2001: A Space Odyssey. There's a flash of classic Xbox green under the concave ventilation panel at the top - or the right-hand end if you're using the console lying on its side, as I have to because it's far too tall to fit in my entertainment unit standing up. Oddly, while there are four small plastic feet in each corner of one side to use the Series X sideways, there's a massive round foot at the base which just sits there looking a bit clumsy on the left-hand end when you tip the thing over. Why this wasn't designed to be easily removed is a complete mystery.

Other than that, it's a pretty plain black... well... box.

In fact, in many ways it's becoming more and more difficult to tell the difference between a gaming console and a gaming PC. 

Admittedly, to build gaming PC with anything like the performance the Series X offers, you'd have to pay a lot, lot, lot more. I was genuinely surprised to discover the new Xbox retails for $799 - I think that's sensational value for what it does.

If you're still in a disc-based gaming mindset, yes it can do that; there's a very subtle 4K UHD Blu-ray drive built in (and yes, it'll still play your DVDs) but let's get real, digital and online gaming is what we're about now and it's safe to say this is where Microsoft probably has a significant edge (excuse the pun). Game Pass starts from just $12.95 a month - again, an amazing deal as it gives you access to over a hundred games. There are some big titles in there too, like the Gears of War series, Halo, FIFA and the Sims 4 to name a few.

Of course, plenty of other standalone new releases are available for immediate download too, bearing in mind you have 1TB of NVME SSD internal storage at your disposal, with the option of adding another 1TB via Seagate expansion card. There are also three USB-3.1 ports so you can easily connect any other external storage devices, although from what I've read I wouldn't recommend trying to play any games without transferring them onto either the internal SSD or Xbox expansion card first - most modern games are too resource-heavy to access source-files via USB, it's simply not fast enough.

But operations like managing your storage are a piece of cake thanks to the Xbox Series X UI. Everything's clearly laid-out, in a familiar, typically Microsoft/Windowsy way. Logging into your accounts, creating your avatar, even customising the UI itself is all a breeze.

You have access to the Microsoft store, straight from the home screen, not just for games either but you can easily install entertainment apps like Netflix, Disney+ and TVNZ OnDemand. This means if you're connected to a gaming monitor, now you can effectively use it as a smart TV too. Thanks to the healthy quota of USB ports, plugging in accessories like a wireless keyboard makes those account logins just a little more convenient.

But we didn't get this thing to watch TV with, did we?

Time to dust off my gaming skills, such as they are.

I decided to start with my favourite kid of game - driving - ironic, as I'm a terrible driver. Dirt 5 is a great game for terrible drivers. Drifting directly into your competitors in the mud is actually a pretty solid tactic. Without getting too bogged down in tech specs, the graphics on display are standout - with this game I'm particularly impressed with the water effects. Things like puddles, rain and mud look very believable. I also really like the way you can change the point of view so many different ways both inside and outside the car, this means you can find a one that's exactly right for the way you want to race.

Obviously I had to give Assassin's Creed: Valhalla a try, given it's one of the marquee games of this year's new crop. Usually I find role playing games like these a little overwhelming and this one definitely takes a bit of getting into, especially if you take the time to watch all the scene-setting videos. But once I was underway I enjoyed the way the controls responded, I found I was never disorientated during combat and always had a good sense of which enemy I was taking on at any given time. It's hard not to be impressed with the fast load times and the exclusive Quick Resume feature. This isn't enabled for all games but it's fantastic when it is - it means you can swap from one game to another instantly and pick up from exactly where you left off in each game.

No matter if your blasting away at zombie/animal/monster soldier things in Gears 5, one of the latest first person shooters, or patrolling the streets and alleys of Yokohama in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, you can now instantly take a screenshot or record a clip of your gameplay thanks to the new Xbox wireless controller's "Share" button. Not only will this automatically upload to your Xbox online account, but you can then share directly to your activity feed, your club or to Twitter. I've uploaded some shots to my OneDrive gallery so I could use them in this review.

In most ways, the controller is similar to its predecessors, with refinements to the D-pad and a much grippier surface anywhere you need to hold it tightly.

In the couple of weeks I've been getting to know the Xbox Series X, I have actually managed to crash it several times. While playing Assassin's Creed: Valhalla I was trying to get into a house by swinging in through a window from the roof while being shot by arrows. Now, I know that sounds exciting but in my usual gaming style, none of that was really deliberate, I just couldn't get in the door. Anyway, for whatever reason, the controller suddenly started vibrating violently and the whole console shut itself down, leaving me holding a still-shaking controller and staring at a blank screen.

These crashes also happened while I was failing at NBA 2K21, (I suck at team sports games) and I crashed in the middle of my second mission as the Falconeer. Not ideal.

I turned to the internet for help. Of course, this is a bit like trying to diagnose a heart condition by running a Facebook poll and at first people who'd experienced similar crashes seemed to feel it was some kind of overheating issue. I would have been most surprised if this had proven to be the case, given much of the Series X's design is specifically aimed at keeping the console running as cool (and as quietly) as possible. There's a vapour chamber, a whisper-quiet fan, the motherboard is split in two and even the chassis itself works as a heat-sink. This all led me to disregard the overheating theory and I tried opting out of the Insider programme instead. So far so good - there must have been some kind of beta-testing OS bug causing the issue as I haven't had it since.

In fact, what I have had is hours and hours and hours and hours of high quality gaming, all the latest releases, featuring incredibly smooth and life-like graphics. The controller is fast, reliable and intuitive and the UI is fully customisable, giving fast access to my favourite games and apps - even opening many games instantly right from where I left off thanks to Quick Resume.

This is not a flashy, show-offy piece of hardware but it's a genuine powerhouse and thanks to subscription services like Game Pass and its reasonable price-tag, the Xbox Series X is a surprisingly budget-friendly portal into a whole new universe of next-level gaming.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Microsoft Xbox Series X.