Simify Global eSIM - Eliminate Travel Stress In One Fell Swoop

If the information age has achieved one thing, it's making the world smaller.

Yesterday, my 22 year-old daughter asked me how people knew their friends and acquaintances were travelling overseas, back in the bad-old days before the internet and social media.

I had to admit, they probably didn't. Often the first you knew someone had been abroad was when they came back - once they got their photos developed, of course.

Things have certainly changed.

These days, if your WhatsApp group hasn't received its daily photo dump of your travels, they'll probably assume you've been kidnapped and killed.

Today, getting away from it all doesn't mean disconnecting. If anything, between navigating strange cities, translating foreign languages and accessing stored travel documents, if you can't stay online when you're away, your trip could be a real disaster.

And yet, using your phone overseas can still be breathtakingly expensive and mystifyingly complicated.

But it doesn't have to be.

Simify is an Australian-based eSIM provider that can make sure at least the connectivity part of your travel equation stays affordable and reliable.

We've all heard stories (or even been the subject of them) of people being stung by exorbitant roaming fees - returning home only to be faced with an unexpected and regrettable phone bill to pay.

Of course, the smart thing to do is research the local market in your destination country, figure out who's offering the best data deal and grab one of their SIM cards the moment you exit the airport.

Sounds simple in theory but if you've ever tried to do this, you'll know the reality is a bit more complicated.

Will the cheap data plan you've found online still be available when you get to where you're going? Even if it is, is there a retail outlet in or close to the airport that sells that particular plan? And even if there is, can you find it?

What's more, are you really up to dealing with any of this faff after hours of sleepless air travel and the always-pleasurable experience of making your way through customs and hopefully wrangling your luggage off the baggage carousel?

Oh, and one more thing... What if you're travelling to more than one country? Even if you're only stopping over somewhere for a night or two, are you seriously prepared to restrict yourself to your hotel's Wi-Fi for several days just because travel data is too complicated and expensive?

Brace yourself for a pretty full-on humble brag. I've just got back from the trip of a lifetime.

To celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, Domestic Manager and I flew to Italy, spent a few days training about, then jumped on a cruise that stopped in Greece, Croatia and Montenegro.

Originally, we were flying through Dubai on the way there and back but thanks to one Mr. D. Trump, that got militarily complicated, so we ended up with a night in Hong Kong either end of our holiday instead.

Pretty cool, right?

But you've probably spotted the logistical challenge; at least five different countries, not to mention a large ship out on the open sea. However is one supposed to upload one's pics to the cloud each day?

Turns out, the answer was Simify's Global eSIM.

For the uninitiated, an eSIM works the exact same way as a physical SIM card does, except instead of inserting it into a little slot on the side of your phone, you usually just scan a QR code and enter an activation number.

The first obvious advantage is there's no need to hunt down a particular phone store the second you arrive in a country you've never been to before. The Simify Global eSIM covers a comprehensive list of 128 countries and what's more, you can activate it before you even leave home, so it's good to go the second that seatbelt sign goes out after you've landed.

If it sounds simple, it really is. From rooftop bars in Wan Chai to the site of the world's oldest olive tree just outside the port of Bar, my trusty Simify Global eSIM kept me online wherever I went - with comprehensive 5G more often than not.

If this sounds like connectivity overkill, wait till you get left behind by your bus tour in Siena, more than an hour's drive away from your hotel and the rest of your stuff in Florence. Having immediate access to all your travel documents and booking information at that point is pretty helpful, let me assure you.

But the real challenge our itinerary posed was the cruise.

Cruise lines are notorious for overcharging when it comes to two things in particular; drinks and Wi-Fi packages. Inconveniently, when you're out at sea, they kind of have you over a barrel in both departments. Or do they?

While there wasn't much my Simify eSIM could do about the cost of an Old Fashioned, I was pleasantly surprised to discover how well it kept working when I was on board the boat. In fact, Domestic Manager had opted for an eSIM from a different company that was supposed to work well specifically in Italy and while at sea. She was somewhat put out to discover my Simify option out-performed it.

Now, there's not much any SIM can do once you sail over the horizon and sure enough, on our two "At Sea" days, neither of us had much luck connecting to cell towers many nautical miles away. But once any coastline came into view - and I do mean any - including Albania, where we never even docked - my ever-reliable Simify went right to work, at which point Domestic Manager would begrudgingly hotspot off my phone because her dumb SIM wasn't doing squat.

Thirty years of wedded bliss. Isn't it romantic?

As far as I can tell, Simify makes no claims about continuing to work aboard big boats. Just a surprise bonus, I guess. Especially since I understand from those who shelled out for the pricey ship Wi-Fi packages, it was absolute rubbish and didn't work half the time anyway.

Unfortunately, if I had one gripe about using Simify, it's the same issue I have with so many products and services these days; overmarketing.

Guess what, guys? If I'm already using your product - you know, literally on my holiday, in other countries, using your eSIM to stay in touch, the last thing I need to turn up in my inbox is an email extolling the virtues of a Simify's Global eSIM. Every second day or so.

At least wait till I get home when maybe - just maybe - I might be starting to plan my next trip.

In saying that, I'll admit the Simify team does have a cute tone to its advertising. Here's a direct quote from the email I received just this morning:

"Here's something we've noticed - in our own travels and thousands of yours: we plan for one country and end up in three. Honestly, that's the best version of any adventure. The one that leaves room for spontaneity.

There's always a night in Singapore on the way over. A cheap flight into Vietnam that someone spotted at 11pm. A quick detour through KL because it was basically on the way.

Worrying about data should be the last thing on your mind. When you're crossing two or ten countries in one trip, our Global eSIM may end up being cheaper than buying separate plans for each; with a whole lot less hassle."

I couldn't have put it better myself. But I still could have done without the email because that's literally what I'd just been doing on my cruise!

As Simify clearly points out, while they offer country-specific plans, by the time you're visiting three or four, the omnipotence of the Global eSIM probably works out cheaper, starting at just $NZ9.00 a day and getting progressively cheaper the longer you sign up for and the more eSIMs you require.

Best of all, if you like to plan everything out well in advance, you can buy a Simify eSIM up to 6 months before you need to use it, with its QR and activation codes stashed away safely in your holiday email folder.

International travel can be overwhelming enough without worrying about how you're going to stay in touch every time you cross a new border. For nine bucks a day - or even less, Simify takes care of that worry so you can focus on the fun stuff... even - as it turns out - at sea.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Simify Global eSIM.

Bissell PowerClean DualBrush - Simple. Effective

What are your vacuuming pain points?

Well, apart from having to do it, obviously.

For me, it's battery life, ease of emptying and brush head tangling.

So if there's a vacuum that tackles all those, I'm definitely interested.

The Bissell PowerClean DualBrush seems too good to be true - especially given it's priced under NZ$700.

Not only does the new Bissell stick vacuum solve my personal pet peeves ("pet" being the operative word) it also elegantly eliminates a bunch of other issues I had just resigned myself to dealing with as a matter of course.

But let's start with the title feature - the DualBrush itself. I love how basic an idea this is; how do you combine the ability to loosen large bits of dirt and clutter from both hard and soft floorings, while still scooping up finer debris like hair, fur and powder or grains and grit?

Some vacuums feature a more durable, chunky motorised head with tough, stiff, coarse bristles to handle the first part of that equation, giving you the option to change heads completely for a fluffier roller to handle the smaller stuff - especially on hard floors.

With the PowerClean DualBrush, Bissell applied its 150 years-worth of floor-cleaning experience and said, "Why don't we just put both kinds of brush rollers on the same head unit?" See what I mean? So clever, it's genius.

What's even more genius is the FurGuard Brush Roll prevents long strands of hair from tangling around either brush. I don't really understand how - but as you'll see me clearly demonstrate in the video below, it definitely works.

If, for some reason, you're still relying on a vacuum that plugs into the wall - or perhaps you battle with the long, snaking hose of a built-in central-vacuum system, rest assured, the DualBrush comes with more than enough battery to clean your whole house. In fact, there's not one but two batteries included in the box, along with their own charging station. This means one battery can be left to charge while the other is powering through its work - adding up to around 100 minutes use, which I'm sure you'll agree, is more than enough time for anyone to spend vacuuming in one session.

An extra battery isn't the only thing that comes in the box - you also get a convertible dusting brush/crevice tool and a motorised FurFinder Upholstery Tool. The roller on the latter features alternating rows of sturdy bristles and rubber strips, ensuring you'll gobble up all but the most stubborn pet hair and other dust and dirt from couches, beds and mattresses.

The 280W motor is certainly very powerful, although thanks to Bissell's AutoAdapt technology, the DualBrush senses the different surfaces it's cleaning and adjusts the suction accordingly. This means the motorised rollers keep spinning, even when being used on rugs, which are usually prone to bunching up and clogging the heads of other vacuums.

That simple-yet-genius design strategy shines though everywhere. Although the DualBrush comes with a wall bracket, which also houses the crevice tool and upholstery head, the vacuum is quite capable of standing up by itself - even in the middle of the room. There's nothing worse than leaning your stick-vacuum against the wall, only to hear it sliding down and crashing to the floor the moment your back is turned. The DualBrush's ability to stand alone means this is no longer an issue.

And if, like me, you hate having to bend down unnecessarily, there's even a little foot-release just above the end of the durable extension wand (main tube) so you can remove the motorised brush head if you want to make use of the built-in crevice tool to vacuum cobwebs from the ceiling - or perhaps get in between more narrow spaces.

In saying that, although the DualBrush head is quite large because of, you know, the dual brushes - it's remarkably manoeuvrable and also very low profile. This means in combination with the lie-flat connection, you can vacuum right under most furniture and cabinetry.

Of course, it can be dark under there so once again, Bissell has done the obvious thing and included a row of very bright FurFinder headlights so you won't miss a speck of dust or a strand of hair. There are even headlights on the smaller upholstery tool too. See? There's nothing Bissell hasn't thought of - including things even I hadn't thought of.

There's only one problem with the PowerClean DualBrush; it's too good. As you'll see in my video, the 280W motor is so powerful and the DualBrush cleaning head is so efficient that the 400ml dirt tank is often jam-packed past the "MAX" line well before I've finished a full vacuum of the house.

Luckily, emptying is a cinch. And the HEPA Sealed Allergen System, which filters out 99.97% of dust, dander and other things that can get up your nose, uses filters you can clean yourself. No bag or filters to replace means you're keeping ongoing costs to an absolute minimum.

Look, there's nothing particularly fancy about the PowerClean DualBrush. There's no flash control screen and you don't need to pair it to your smart phone. Instead, it's a vacuum that gets the job done, quietly, thoroughly and without running out of battery.

And are two brushes better than one? You bet - especially when neither of them ever get tangled.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Bissell PowerClean DualBrush 280W stick vacuum.

Mighty Ape Kogan XPRESSO 14" Full HD Pro Dual Screen Tri-Fold Portable Monitor - You Can't Go Back

Without getting too meta about it, one of the pitfalls of reviewing tech is you're always in danger of becoming one of those converts who spends all day trying to get other people into the latest craze you've become obsessed with.

For instance; I didn't even know RGB backlighting for your TV or monitor was a thing until I reviewed it. Now I hate watching telly without it and I won't shut up about it when people see mine and make the mistake of pointing it out.

I think the same thing has now happened to me with portable monitors.

In a very short space of time, I've gone from discovering they exist at all, to never wanting to use my laptop again unless I can bring another screen with me.

So you can only imagine what happened when I discovered how easy it was to add TWO extra screens...

Given Mighty Ape is one of the first places I go when I'm considering a new gadget of some kind, it was hardly surprising when I stumbled across the Kogan XPRESSO range of Full HD Pro portable monitors - especially when I found out I could double my fun in one fell swoop.

Kogan's Dual Screen Tri-Fold option comes in 13.3, 14 and 15.6-inch models - although there's a bit of flexibility there when it comes to what sized laptop you need to pair them with.

The concept is simple; two addon screens that fold down to the size of one when not in use for easy portability.

To that end, before we even really get started, I was impressed to discover a high-quality padded satchel in the box you can zip the XPRESSO Tri-Fold into - although, I quickly discovered I could fit it easily into my laptop bag, in the same padded pouch my computer slides into.

As I've already discovered, it's not like you need space in your bag for an extra power supply - or even that many cables. In fact, there are only two leads included and so far, I've only needed one of them. 

The USB-C to USB-C cord is just the right length to reach to your laptop's corresponding port, without excess cable to get in the way. I particularly appreciate the right-angled plug on one end, which adds flexibility to how you connect in tight spaces. There's also a somewhat intriguing cable with a USB-C on one end and two USB-A plugs on the other. I assume this is to cater for older setups where USB-A is the only available connection, so you'll need an extra plug to provide power.

In those cases, you may require the included USB thumb drive containing the required drivers to run the XPRESSO Tri-Fold but anything Windows 10 or later should be able to plug and play. Of course, there's no reason why you can't use these extra screens with a MacBook either, although anything pre M1 chip might struggle with a multi-display setup.

Needless to say, my trusty work-issued Dell had no issues.

Physically attaching this particular XPRESSO is an absolute doddle; the rear (middle) section between the two 14-inch IPS displays is spring-loaded, expanding or contracting to accommodate any laptop from 14 to 17.3-inches.

And once attached, it's pretty rock-solid. If not, there's one last little pack of genius included in the box; a tiny baggie of rubber noggins that fit over the small-but-mighty brackets at the base of the device to hold even the slimmest (or Air-iest) of laptops firmly in their grasp.

Although the XPRESSO Tri-Fold weighs in at just over a kilo - which is pretty damn light for not one but two 14-inch screens - it's important to remember all that extra weight is being transferred directly to the hinges of your source device, once everything's in place. I've developed a habit (and a technique) of moving from one radio studio to another with the whole shebang still attached. I probably shouldn't and kids, don't try this at home.

In saying that, in a sort of belt-and-suspenders approach, there's a fold-out (and extendable) kickstand on the back of the XPRESSO, complete with rubber foot, to add extra stability if required. I can't say I've required it but it's still nice to have it.

When it comes to picture quality, I was expecting to be underwhelmed. And that was fine. Two extra screens to spread all my stupid stuff onto? Who really cares how bright or colourful it is?

Thing is though, I've found display to be excellent - definitely on a par with my trusty work Dell machine - and I haven't even had to tweak the dual brightness controls, easily accessible at the top of the connecting bracket. 

Mighty Ape's listing makes a big deal about how small the bezels are on the XPRESSO's two displays - and that's to be commended. At the same time, it's a shame the housing for the hinge mechanisms on each side couldn't be just as slim. When I'm using a multi-screen setup, I'm keen to make it feel as borderless as possible, so moving the cursor from one display to another seems seamless.

This can also be a factor when gaming, of course. The illusion of an all-encompassing, wide-angle virtual world can be somewhat stifled with a couple of hefty hinges in between.

However, in saying that, I'm perfectly happy to sacrifice a centimetre or so between each panel in the name of stability and durability. Given this is an accessory I've become so addicted to and reliant on, I intend to continue to use the XPRESSO every day, for hours on end, moving between two different work spaces.

Three screens has been a revelation to me (I don't even run three displays in my home office). Obviously, two makes total sense - comparing web pages, pulling files into projects, one for email, one for browsing - but a third screen is a great place to chuck all the stuff you need to access every now and again, but not often. Thanks to Mighty Ape and Kogan, a dual screen addon has quickly become the productivity boost I didn't even know I needed.

Whatever you do, make sure I don't find out about Kogan's TRIPLE screen options on Mighty Ape. I need to draw the line somewhere.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Mighty Ape Kogan XPRESSO 14" Full HD Pro Dual Screen Tri-Fold Portable Monitor.

Amazon Fire TV Stick HD (2026) - More Amazony Than Ever

When it comes to streaming on a budget, it's hard to go past a Fire TV Stick.

Access to all the major streaming apps and control of your smart home for under $100? It's hard to argue with that.

This year, Amazon has made some significant changes to the device; some great... some slightly confounding.

But in terms of sheer value for money, you've come to the right place.

The 2026 Fire TV Stick HD is so small, it's hardly there at all.

It's slimmer, it's lighter and most importantly, it no longer requires its own wall-charger and cable with the hopelessly outdated microUSB connecter on the end.

The benefit of all this is it's likely to fit just about any modern TV out there - even if you've mounted it flush against the wall. Accordingly. unlike some previous designs, there's now no HDMI adapter cable in the box - the reasoning being you should be now able to plug in directly, without blocking any adjacent HDMI ports. The new USB-C charging slot also means you can charge directly from that random USB port on the back of your TV you never really knew what to do with. No wall charger means one less power socket required. 

I don't know about you, but I've got a lot of stuff plugged in back there. Any less plugs and cables floating around is always a win as far as I'm concerned.

The remote is a familiar shape and size, although it too has shrunk a bit and is extraordinarily light, even once you've inserted the included pair of AAA batteries. There are now four shortcut buttons on the remote, for Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube. Given I only subscribe to one of those services, I wish these buttons were customisable - at least some previous remotes had an "Apps" button which would bypass the home screen and just take you straight to your personalised library of streamers.

Ah yes, the home screen. And more generally, the new operating system; Vega.

Until now, Fire TV Sticks were Android-based. This meant you basically had access to over 40,000 apps right from your TV. How useful the vast majority of those would be is a moot point - but at least they were there if you really wanted them.

Another advantage of the previous, Android-based OS was the ability to sideload (install apps from other sources than the official app store).

Now, because of the move to Amazon's proprietary system, Vega, you only have your pick of apps in the Amazon Appstore, end of story. To be fair, at this point that means around 3,000 apps, but there are some rather glaring exceptions.

For example, want a web browser? Amazon's own Silk Browser seems to be your only option and while it works okay, building browsers has never been Amazon's specialist area. You know what I mean?

Jellyfin is a popular self-hosting media streaming app, that lets you access your own videos stored on your private network. That's nowhere to be seen on this year's Fire TV Stick HD. Thankfully, the alternative I use, Plex, is. More on that in a moment.

Casting from a phone, tablet or laptop to this Fire TV Stick has got a lot harder too. Although you can still mirror your screen from an Android device, iPhones have been left out in the cold. There are apps you can download to both the Stick and the source device to make casting work... except with Vega, they no longer do. So for someone like me who likes to stream live sport from the SkyGo app, I simply can't anymore because while it supports casting, SkyGo doesn't work over a mere mirrored screen. I've also tried logging into SkyGo via the Silk Browser - sometimes that works, sometimes not.

Amazon claims the 2026 HD Stick is more than 30% faster than the previous HD version from two years ago and from my testing, that appears to be the case, particularly when it comes to powering on and apps loading. However, as you'll see me demonstrate in the video below, once an app is up and running, there's no guarantee things will continue to speed along.

So back to my favourite app, Plex, which, if you're not familiar, essentially lets you access your own files in a format that looks and feels similar to any other streaming service. When I first fired up Plex on the Fire TV Stick HD, I could immediately see the Vega-version of the app had a slightly different look to what I was used to but didn't seem to be dramtically different in the way it worked - until I actually tried to play something. Then, after a very long wait for my file to start playing, I encountered regular buffering stutters - something I haven't had to deal with for a long time.

This surprised me, because the new HD stick connects to your local network via WiFi-6. Not 6e or 7, unfortunately, but even WiFi-6 should be ample to decode and stream a 1080p file through a private router. Alas, apparently not. So I got frustrated enough to connect an ethernet dongle to the stick, hardwiring it into my router instead. Interestingly, this did indeed cure my buffering problems, although my Plex files still take almost a minute to start once I hit Play.

There are a few other bits of weirdness - I've had both Netflix and Apple TV episodes fail to save their progress when I stopped them partway through. Is there anything more frustrating than having to restart an episode of something from the beginning, then fast-forwarding through to the last scene you remember watching? Arrrgh!

If I were a suspicious man, I might start to wonder if the only thing Amazon is really wanting you to watch on this device is Prime Video. You know? AMAZON Prime Video?

That I can't confirm - I don't have a Prime subscription so I don't know if the native Prime Video app works any more smoothly or consistently than the others I've been using.

I guess it's also possible the various app developers are still coming to terms with the new Vega platform and future updates will streamline things dramatically.

What I do know is - and this is nothing new for Fire TV devices - although Amazon claims the redesigned Vega-based experience learns about your preferred viewing habits the more you use it, I'm still being recommended an awful lot of content I can't watch because I'm not subscribed to it. Rows and rows and rows of it on a home screen that can only be customised in a very limited way, shuffling the order of downloaded apps in the third row, below a row of unhelpful recommendation tiles, that row itself below a preview of recommended content I'm generally not interested in or have already watched.

This kind of brand-specific internal on-screen marketing isn't unique to Amazon - I just wish there was a way to turn it off, or at least jump straight back into the last-used app whenever you turn the TV on.

Despite all of that, there's one thing the Fire TV Stick HD does really well, that almost makes up for all those other niggles; what you're watching looks and sounds fantastic.

Admittedly, I've got it plugged into a very nice, 75-inch TV that does a pretty decent job of upscaling HD content to 4K, but the HDR10+ video feed really pops and any Dolby-encoded content passes through to my home theatre system in all its surround sound glory.

And remember, this thing retails for just NZ$89. At that price, I think I can put up with a slightly more restrictive app store, some pushy Prime Video marketing and some content taking a little while to load.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Amazon Fire TV STick HD (2026).

Laser 14" Portable Monitor - Work from Anywhere

So we all worked from home.

We really got into it. Set up an office with all the toys... Proper desk. Decent camera and mic. Dual monitors of course.

But then we went back to work.

And for some of us, that meant we were out on the road again, suddenly squashed back into working on a laptop.

Man, I missed that extra screen though.

Turns out, I didn't have to.

The Laser 14" USB-C Full HD Portable Monitor solved all my out-and-about FOMO issues - and a few other problems I didn't even know I had.

The first thing that struck me about this Laser display was how light it is - just 560 grams. In fact, it's so light, when my review unit arrived at the office I assumed it was something else. Surely a 14-inch monitor couldn't be in a package as compact and as light as this.

But I opened the box and sure enough, there was my 1920 x 1200 Full HD IPS panel, complete with USB-C to USB-C cable and an HDMI-to-miniHDMI lead as well. Like all the other Laser products I've reviewed, the included cables are very high quality. This is important, because you can't just connect with any old cord to get the best out of this device - but I'll get to that shortly.

There's no denying there's a very plasticky feel to this particular screen - there's no mistaking it for some kind of steel and glass gaming monitor or even a small TV - but I see that as a plus, not a drawback. Plastic is light. What's more, the Laser monitor is also very slim, so it certainly lives up to its "portable" designation. I've just been sliding it easily into my laptop case, right in with my notebook. I don't even notice I'm carrying it around with me.

It certainly helps that most things you plug it into will power it as well, so you'll only need that single USB-C to USB-C cable. Now, this is where I need to point out - again - that not all USB cords are created equal. Only certain types are capable of delivering both power and video data at the same time. Obviously, the cable included here does just that, powering on the display the instant I plug it into my laptop or more surprisingly, my iPhone.

There are two USB-C slots on the side of the monitor, and when I got the idea to use it to display my daily Apple Fitness workouts, I was expecting to have to power it with a standard USB-C wall charger, while my iPhone would use the other USB-C port for the video feed. Instead, being able to power the screen from my phone simultaneously was a pleasant surprise.

As robust and high-spec as that USB-C cable is, there is one modification I wish Laser had made. When I have the monitor set up next to my laptop, I like to have both screens as close to each other as possible, so I can scroll my mouse from one to the other as seamlessly as I can. Unfortunately, because the USB-C plug and cable has to stick out several centimetres from the left-hand side, it means a bigger gap than I would like if I set it up to the right of my computer, or a lot of cable going in the wrong direction if I have the screen sitting to the left.

Laser could solve this easily with a cable with a right-angled or even a U-shaped plug on one end - then I could tuck the lead tidily behind the screen, out of sight. No matter; I've already ordered a USB 4.0 U-shaped adapter to solve this issue myself.

Then there's the HDMI option - or more specifically, HDMI to miniHDMI. Not only is this a great choice if your laptop has an HDMI slot, leaving any USB-C ports free for other accessories, gaming consoles and streaming sticks are easily connected this way too.

Obviously, you'll still need to power the screen via USB but now you literally have a smart TV you can carry around in a backpack.

To this end, I've been suprised at the picture quality. Frustratingly, the monitor brightness setting always seems to default back to 30% when not connected, but it's easy enough to bump that up using the controls on the left side and I've found the colour, brightness and contrast match the ISP display on my laptop very well. I wasn't expecting particularly great viewing angles from a screen like this either - but it performs much better in this department too, which again, is handy during my workouts where some exercises are standing up, while others are down on the floor.

There are even built-in speakers. Not good ones - but better than nothing at all, in a pinch. Luckily, there's also a 3.5mm AUX-out socket on the left side too, so it's easy enough to plug in some headphones or external speakers if you feel the need to boost the audio.

The pull-out kickstand on the back of the device folds completely flat into the rear panel when not in use. And if you love the Laser monitor so much you want to connect it more permanently, there are a couple of screwholes for universal VESA mounting as well.

But for me, that kind of defeats the purpose of this very simple, yet very well thought-out device. It's super slim, ultra light and will run off most laptops with a single cable. This means that multi-screen setup you got so used to in your WFH office can now be replicated easily when you're out and about. Dual screen productivity no longer has to be sacrificed for portability and best of all, you get a very handy second screen for a pretty tidy price.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Laser 14" USB-C Full HD Portable Monitor.

Tineco CARPET ONE Cruiser - Never Hire Again

Have you ever tried to clean your own carpets?

Here's the process.

First, you have to figure out who hires out carpet cleaning machines.

Then you have to see if they have any available.

Then you have to book one.

Then you have to go and pick it up.

Then you have to buy a bottle of carpet cleaning solution.

Then you have to pay a bond as well as the hire fee.

Then you have to figure out how to use it.

Then the whole time you're using it, you have to worry about how long it's taking you to use it, in case you don't get it back in time.

Then you have to take it to bits and clean it.

Then you have to return it.

Then you have to convince someone you've cleaned it enough to get your bond back.

Then you have to spend the next day or so squelching around on wet carpets that may or may not be much cleaner than when you started.

Fun times.

Or, you gould just get your own Tineco.

The CARPET ONE Cruiser, compared with one of those supermarket/hardware store hire machines, is like it's from another dimension.

It's light, compact and is easy to assemble - it took me about five minutes, straight out of the box.

You can connect to the Tineco Life app, although I'm not exactly sure how much benefit there is to that - other than being able to change the language of your voice prompts, keeping an eye on any maintenance issues and selecting what kind of carpet you're about to clean.

Given that it has yet to actually record and log any of my cleaning or drying sessions yet, I can't say I've paid Tineco Life too much attention.

But none of that matters, because the CARPET ONE Cruiser itself is so easy to use.

The hybrid clean/dirty water tank unclips with the push of a button and snaps back in with a satsifying click.

The maximum water level is clearly indicated and you only need to add two capsful of cleaning solution to each tank. That solution is included in the box, along with a spray bottle of Pre-Treat Formula to apply to more problematic stains and messes, loosening things up a bit before you clean.

The CARPET ONE Cruiser boasts 3-level SmoothPower Tech that automatically senses whether you're pushing or pulling and helps drive the wheels in the right direction, already making using this device exponentially less cumbersome than the much bulkier cleaners I've hired before.

Although I simply leave the device on Automatic, there's a MAX button within easy reach on the comfy handle if you want to apply extra water where you're cleaning at any given moment.

I've found the machine surprisingly easy to manoeuvre - probably thanks in no small part to the design of the water tank sitting above the wheels, rather than built into the handle as it is on some other cleaners. I was pleased how close I could get to my skirting boards, thereby extending my clean to the very edges of the room.

Whether it's the potency of the concentrated cleaning solution, the 130w of pure suction, the long, sturdy bristles of the brush roller or the fact it's rotating at 3000rpm, the result has been quite startling. 

As you'll see in the video below, one room I cleaned was literally where a cat went to die. You can only imagine what that ended up smelling like and how ineffective my various attempts heve been to remediate it.

One clean with the CARPET ONE Cruiser and that lingering reminder smell has all but vanished! I believe the key here is Tineco's High-temp PowerDry system.

Not only is the water heated to 75°C for a more effective, sterile clean, the air used to dry the carpet is heated to 75°C as well. I've never been able to walk on freshly-cleaned carpets until hours - if not days - have passed, even when "professionally cleaned." Using the CARPET ONE Cruiser, this basically becomes a non-issue. You dry the carpet as soon as is clean. And I mean dry-to-walk-on, sit-on, play-on dry. 

Another very user-focussed feature is the combination of coloured LED lighting underneath the CARPET ONE Cruiser and the colour LCD screen embedded into the handle itself. Both of these are used to indicate your progress - either when you're cleaning or drying, taking the guesswork out of the whole operation.

But its not these more techie tricks that make the CARPET ONE Cruiser so fun to use, it's the simplicity and efficacy of the design.

Take the upholstery cleaning hose and brush attachment for example; this simply clicks into place when you open the flap at the front of the brush roller housing - again, just so user-friendly. There's even a storage bag you can hang it up in when you're not using it.

Speaking of storing, once you're all done and you've emptied and rinsed out the dirty water tank, you can then sit the CARPET ONE Cleaner in its compact storage tray and activate the FlashDry Self-cleaning System with a single push of a button. 

This sets off an eyebrow-raising high-pressure wash and rinse of all the hard-to-access bits and pieces, including the brush roller, its cover and the suction inlet. Most importantly though, it also spends several minutes drying it all out at - you guessed it - 75°C. This prevents any slimy build-up or icky odours.

This thing is just so damn easy to use - in fact, as Tineco itself suggests, because it's not much more bother than normal vacuuming, you're far more likely to use it regularly, instead of just waiting to call in the carpet cleaning professionals the week before you finally move out altogether.

When people ask me how much a miracle machine like this costs, they're always pleasantly surprised when I tell them the RRP is only NZ$1,199.00 - Then I really blow their minds by mentioning the fact it's on special right now for $300 off.

I now consider MYSELF to be a carpet cleaning professional - and thanks to Tineco, I'm now a carpet DRYING professional too. No more wet socks. Ever.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Tineco CARPET ONE Cruiser.