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.