Laser 7 Inch Portable CarPlay Android Auto Touchscreen - Instantly Upgrade Your Car's Console

When you think about it, other than the move to hybrid and electric, cars haven't really changed that much over the years.

Obviously, there have been many constant improvements along the way, enhancing things like passenger comfort, levelling up performance and economy with what's under the hood and changing the aesthetics, both inside and out, to suit whatever look is trending at the time.

But at the end of the day, I reckon you could take a driver from the 1950s, put them in a modern car, and they'd figure out how to make it go without too much difficulty.

One thing that's definitely new, though, is the advent of the car infotainment system.

These days, you can access almost everything on your connected smartphone from your dashboard, via CarPlay or Android Auto - from maps and weather information, to streaming services and even your virtual assistant.

That's assuming your car HAS Android Auto or CarPlay.

If not, have I got the device for you...

The Laser 7-inch Portable CarPlay / Android Auto Touchscreen brings all that functionality to your car - and all your car needs is a charging port and a radio.

The idea is simple, really; just because your car didn't come with a fancy touchscreen doesn't mean you can't add one.

What can be even more frustrating is if your car DOES have a fancy touchscreen, but doesn't have CarPlay or Android Auto - or if it does, you have to connect using a cable every time.

Domestic Manager drives a 2019 Toyota Rav 4 - quite a late-model automobile, but apparently not quite late enough to have the latest connectivity options. Yes, it has a large touchscreen infotainment system, but it's only of limited use because the GPS map option hasn't been updated for six years - so we often find ourselves driving in the middle of nowhere on roads that didn't exist in 2019.

That's where the Laser 7-inch Touchscreen comes in. Apart from the screen itself, there's a car charger cable, a 3.5mm AUX cable and a high-quality, versatile mounting arm all in the box. The jointed and extendable mount attaches with a suction cup for the windscreen, and I've found this extremely stable.

The cables are both a decent length, so you can probably find a way to run them over or through your console so you don't end up with too much of a visible tangle.

Setup is as easy as pairing your phone's Bluetooth - the device will then figure out if it's an iPhone (for CarPlay) or an Android (for Android Auto) and fire up the appropriate homescreen.

Before it does, there is a generic home screen with a few icons and a clock, but you're not likely to spend much time looking at this so I wouldn't bother setting that clock - especially since it resets every time you turn your car off.

However, there are a few settings that might come in handy via that initial screen during setup. There's a fairly well-appointed EQ app - probably unnecessary given your car stereo is likely to have its own EQ. If you're playing music from an SD card (which I've never actually heard of anyone doing) you can search that card from here too. The most useful thing is the radio transmitter function - which is one way you can connect to your car's stereo.

The simple interface shows a selection of pre-set frequencies, or you can choose your own manually in order to find one that isn't already in use by an actual radio station. This works surprisingly well and is obviously a great option if your car doesn't have an AUX in port. The only downsides are you might have to change frequencies on long trips to avoid any region-specific interference and your car stereo will blast static at you for a few seconds when you first start up while the screen is booting.

The best option is to connect via the aforementioned AUX cable. In just a few seconds, the screen boots up, connects to your phone, flicks straight into CarPlay or Android Auto (depending what kind of phone you're using) and will start playing your music or podcasts right where you left off.

At this point, you now have enabled complete smart-screen capability in your vehicle, with touch-screen access to navigation apps like Waze, Google Maps or Apple Maps, not to mention streaming apps such as Spotify, Apple Music or Tidal. 

Enjoy the safety and convenience of hands-free messaging via WhatsApp, SMS or Messenger, or just ask Siri or Gemini to make a call.

There's even a slightly less-safe option; you can stream content from your phone via AirPlay or Miracast, which is definitely not a feature you'll find in factory-fitted smart screens. Obviously, this is for passengers' use only and you should definitely not be watching the cricket while you drive.

Believe it or not, you don't even need a stereo at all. The screen has its own built-in speakers and they're not terrible - which is just as well because although I assumed they would be muted when the AUX cable is plugged in, not so, as you'll see me demonstrate in the video below. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, my motto has always been the more speakers, the better. Besides, your car stereo speakers are much more powerful and you probably won't even notice if you have the volume on the screen set to about half.

That one minor anomaly aside, I've been pretty impressed with this device. Setup is easy. The power and AUX leads are long enough to ensure a tidy installation and the windscreen mount is probably the best I've ever seen.

For around NZ$200.00, this might just be the most cost-effective upgrade your car ever had.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Laser 7 Inch Portable CarPlay Android Auto Touchscreen.

HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 and HP Omen Max 16 - Lose Yourself In a World of Gaming

I'm constantly confounded by people who game. How do they find the time?

Don't get me wrong, I love gaming. But it's not really something you can do for half-an-hour during your lunch break. For most games, if you're going to make it past the first training level, you'll need to invest hours, not minutes.

So it stands to reason you should be prepared to invest in the best gear to play the game with too.

Given we still haven't achieved the Tron-like ability to literally become part of the game, what are the tools currently available to get us as close to that as possible?

Pairing the HP Omen Max 16 with the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 might be a good place to start.

If you've ever wondered what eight or nine-thousand dollars buys you in terms of a gaming laptop, you could do a lot worse than the HP Omen Max 16. Obviously, there are few different configurations around but my review unit features an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 dedicated GPU, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD hard drive.

If you know anything about the latest standards of PC tech, you'll know all that sounds like a pretty solid base to build something fairly special around, and that's certainly what HP has done here.

This is perhaps the most specced-out laptop I've ever reviewed. Yes, it's big and yes, it's fairly heavy but it's actually not as brutishly ugly as I was expecting. The large, 16-inch display is set into a surprisingly slim lid, which closes to a stylishly tapered front edge, giving the impression of a much thinner device - from the user's end anyway.

Around the back, things are a bit chunkier - plenty of ventilation and some useful ports; 10/100/1000/2500 GbE LAN for ultra-fast, hardwired connectivity, an HDMI socket for an external display and a USB Type-A port. There's another USB-A on the right side and two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C options on the left.

The power supply IS a brute; a 330W brick that might even be heavier than an actual brick. You'll need to lug it around with you if you're planning on taking the Omen Max 16 anywhere - nothing else is really going to keep it charged when you start gaming, despite HP's rather optimistic claims of extended battery life.

I'm sure you'll manage many hours on battery alone if all you're doing is browsing and checking a few emails - but if that's what you're planning, this is not the computer you require.

Fire this puppy up and as usual for an HP device, you'll be confronted with the standard double-up (or even triple-up) of configuration and settings apps. Between HP Support Assistant, HP Hardware Diagnostics and HP Smart, there's no excuse for not keeping any of your drivers up to date. In fact, because this is an Omen, you have the even more comprehensive Omen Gaming Hub pre-installed, which essentially blows all those other apps out of the water.

This is where you can customise absolutely everything, from the keyboard backlighting to the speed of the fans. You can even get those fans to clean themselves by running them backwards. If you're an experienced gaming uber-nerd, you can literally tweak every component. If, like me, you just want the games to look good and keep running with no drop in performance, you can click a button labelled "Unleashed Mode."

At that point, you'll definitely start to hear those fans but your game will load nice and fast and that immersive experience we were dreaming of in the intro kicks into high gear.

The illusion of being inside the game is enhanced by that big, 2.5K OLED display - complete with 240Hz refresh rate, which I didn't even realise was a thing. My one criticism of the screen is it's very glossy - so reflections can be an issue. That clever anti-reflection tech everyone's using on TVs and monitors these days seems to be taking a while to make it onto laptop screens.

The keyboard is rewardingly tactile, with RGB backlighting you can control with the Omen Gaming Hub app. The keys are nicely spaced out - for the most part - and as nice as it is to have a full number pad on the right-hand side, that's where things get a bit cramped and I keep pushing NumberLock instead of BackSpace as I type.

The HyperX dual speaker setup is powerful enough, although I might have expected a quad-system on a device in this price bracket. The Windows Hello camera does a nice job too, as you'll see me demonstrate in the video below.

Speaking of HyperX, let's plug in the Cloud Alpha 2 headset and see how that stacks up.

Wait, did I say, "Plug in?" Why would I plug in a wireless headset? Because this one comes with its own RGB base station, with a big, friendly dial for easy, no-look access to volume controls and six big, reprogrammable buttons.

Essentially, the base station replaces the 2.4GHz dongle other headsets use and saves you the bother of having to memorise exactly which controls do what on the earcups themselves. The buttons can be set to act as media controls, they can swap what the dial controls between mic, headphone and chat levels and there are several totally new features on the way.

That's right; Cloud Alpha 2 is so new, HyperX hasn't finished yet. To adjust the settings, you'll need to download the new NGENUITY Beta app. There you'll see functions like app launches and programmable macros are still "Works In Progress." Ultimately, what that means is you should be able to create your own macros of certain key combinations you use all the time and add those to the buttons on the base station.

To be honest, I'm not sure I really need yet another console on my desk - especially one that doesn't yet have all the functionality it was designed for. But I get how convenient it is to have those controls sitting right there in front of you, rather than having to fiddle about with buttons on the headset you can't actually see while you're playing.

As I expected, from my previous experience with HyperX headsets, the Cloud Alpha 2 is extremely well built - both durable and comfortable.

And its performance when gaming has been stellar so far - accurate reproduction of music, effects and dialogue, with plenty of space for each element. Indeed, although Spatial Audio is another feature still in development, the surround sound effects are already top notch. I've found this multi-directional soundscape to be very useful when it comes to avoiding attacks from behind and finding contacts lurking down dark alleyways.

The mic quality is exceptional - definitely up to podcast standard. What's more, if you find the boom mic too intrusive, you can simply unplug it and rely on the built-in mics instead. One other interesting feature is the Cloud Alpha 2 can pair to a bluetooth source, even while connected via the 2.4GHz base station. This means you can turn off the music on your game and listen to your preferred playlist from your phone instead. Not a bad option when you consider some of the rubbish game designers like to assault you with - especially in racing games.

I'm starting to regret my decision to combine these two excellent devices into one review - I could go on and on about either of them. But the fact is, they truly are the ideal combination to bring your gaming library to life. Between the comfort, desktop control and 3D soundscape of the Cloud Alpha2 and the fantastic 16-inch display of the Omen Max - not to mention the raw power of its high-spec chip and GPU - you could be well on the way to that fully immersive gaming experience you know you deserve.

    

   

Click here for more information and pricing on the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2. 

Click here for more information and pricing on the HP Omen Max 16.

Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Track S - Now This Is Technology

If you ever needed an example of how far we've evolved as a species, look no further than the robot vacuum.

Of all the gadgets I've reviewed over the years, I honestly believe the robot vacuum is one of the most significant. And I've reviewed electric cars. Sure, cars are clever - but I've never seen one automatically detect what kind of road it's driving on so it can clean that road accordingly. Oh... and then clean ITSELF when it gets back to its garage.

So I admit, up until now, I've given robot vacs a bit of leeway. Given they haven't even been able to come up with a reliable self-driving car yet, I was prepared to ignore a few minor shortcomings, vacuum-wise, as long as the job got done in the end.

Well, today there are no holds barred. Going easy, just because it's complex technology, is no longer acceptable. That's because I've found a robot vacuum that gets almost everything right.

Almost. The Aqua10 Ultra Track S from Dreame (pronounced, "Dree-Mee") is an extremely solid piece of kit. I'm not meaning it's well-built and reliable - although that certainly seems to be the case. No, I mean the device itself is fairly large and relatively heavy. There's a good reason; there's an awful lot going on under the hood, which we'll come to soon enough.

By comparison, the PowerDock (base station) is really quite compact and better still, it got the aesthetic thumbs-up from Domestic Manager. She approved of its subtle, elegant style - including the marble-like front panel. Definitely preferable to being able to see a couple of water tanks - one dirty - or a half-full bin of hair and dust. It may seem superficial but in my house, the most logical place to position the PowerDock is right in the middle of our open-plan living area, so it needs to look at least a bit nice.

Below that stylish upper facade, is an oddly removable access panel. I say, odd because it comes off completely - it's not hinged and it doesn't slide out like a drawer. Behind it, you'll find the dust bag the Aqua10 Ultra Track S empties itself into and a compartment containing tanks for cleaning solution and pet odour solution.

This is my least favourite thing about robot vacuums and it's no exception this time; there are a lot of consumables involved. While it's true traditional vacuums might still require replacement dust bags and perhaps a filter clean every now and then, not many of us would be happy if we had to regularly change out brushes and rollers. You also don't usually add cleaning solution or deodorisers to your vacuum - but that's not quite the same thing, because when you hand-mop a floor, you generally do add some kind of household cleaner to the bucket.

I'm uncertain how long it will take to fill the 3.2-litre dust bag - I've only been using the Aqua10 Ultra Track S for a few weeks - and at least there's a second bag included in the box. Perhaps the next generation will feature a bagless dustbin?

As for the brushes, I think I've got a lot less to worry about in terms of replacement. This is the first Dreame device I've tried so I'm not sure if some of the technology on offer here is completely new, or just new to me. In saying that, the detangling DuoBrush beats any other system I've ever seen, certainly on a robot vacuum, because guess what? It actually does what it claims; it stays tangle-free.

I know that sounds silly but I've seen a lot of hype about being able to suck up hair etc. and before now, few if any lived up to that hype. Dreame includes a fantastic multi-tool/cleaning brush in the box with a bladed hook on one end. I assumed this was going to come in handy as I struggled to free the brushes from the usual wads of long hair every other vacuum gets clogged up with at my house, thanks to its other long-haired inhabitants. But no. After several full runs, not one single hair has managed to wrap itself around either of the two counter-spinning brush rollers. That's incredible.

While we're taking a look underneath the Aqua10 Ultra Track S, let's check out the mop. The TrackSync system is also revolutionary to me. I'm used to either two rotating discs or a roller, much like a paint roller. Both options usually do a pretty good job, unless there's something particularly sticky or greasy on the floor. The TrackSync mopping system works more like a belt-sander, with the mop pad running over two smaller rollers, meaning much more surface area in constant contact with your hard floors. This also seems to result in more even water distribution, with hardly any drips or wet patches left behind, so floors are dry enough to walk on almost immediately.

In fact, Dreame has put an awful lot of thought into how much water is used and how hot it should be. The mop pad is constantly being sprayed through 24 nozzles by water heated to 45° - this, combined with the automatically measured cleaning solution, breaks down those greasy marks in no time and the Aqua10 Ultra Track S is smart enough to detect the more stubborn messes and will go back for a re-mop if necessary.

The water temperature goes all the way up to 100° back at the PowerDock, when it's time to clean the mopping pad itself. After which, 50° heated air dries everything out, ensuring no lingering, post-clean smells. As you'll see in the video below, this is very effective.

Stains aren't the only things this robot can detect, of course. Dreame's OmniSight system uses not one, but two HD AI cameras to first create an extremely accurate map of your home before setting about cleaning it, without getting tangled up in loose cords, curtains or just about anything else. That binocular vision seems to give the Aqua10 Ultra Track S a better sense of depth perception - apparently it won't even run over a piece of paper lying on the floor.

And yes, you can (if you want to) order the Aqua10 Ultra Track S around with voice commands, although I prefer to schedule it to clean when I'm not home.

But you know what I always ask before considering a robot vacuum? Will it take pictures of my pets while it cleans? Yes, this one can.

The innovations just keep coming - for example, the LDS sensor on top of the vacuum? That can retract down into the chassis if you're wanting to get under something 10cm or more off the ground.

Of course, the headline feature of this device is probably its legs. There, I said it. This is the first robot vacuum with legs as well as wheels. The wheels themselves already raise and lower and can clear things like the edges of mats and carpets with ease. If the going gets really tough, that's when the legs extend out and the Aqua10 Ultra Track S will literally climb over obstructions up to 6cm in height.

While that's not enough to go up and down stairs, it'll easily conquer folded-over rugs and the backs of U-shaped chairs.

Speaking of stairs, the first few times I used it, I was surprised when the robot stranded itself at the top of mine, precariously hanging over the edge, and complaining I needed to clean the cliff (drop) sensors. I'd do this, only for it happen again straight away. This was quite a letdown. The very least I want from my robot vacuum is for it to successfully avoid stairs. Oh well - thankfully the Dreamehome app is very user-friendly and it took a matter of seconds to create a no-go area on the map along the edge of my stairs and I haven't had any issues since.

Other than that, my only criticisms are battery life and noise levels. I have a fairly large home and the Aqua10 Ultra Track S struggles to get through a full clean on a single charge - not a major considering you can set it to continue cleaning as soon as it's charged itself back up. Similarly, the noise of the vacuum doesn't bother me because I'm not usually around. However, I find it interesting the Dreame website wants you to, "Unlock Powerful Yet Low-Noise Vacuuming." I've definitely heard quieter. Have I experienced more powerful? At 30,000Pa, I don't think so.

Between the incredible HyperStream detangling DuoBrush and the innovative TrackSync mopping system, I probably couldn't get my floors this clean if I did it manually. Both the mopping pad and side brush extend out when cleaning next to walls, so I can't even claim human superiority there. Meanwhile, the cleaning and drying process back at the base station is flawless and more importantly, odourless.

I'm not going to try and convince you the Aqua10 Ultra Track S is perfect - I'm over over-hyping robot vacuums that way. But I'm finally prepared to offer the same level of honest criticism in this product category as with any other because this robot is so very good. The below-par stair-detection, mediocre battery life and requirement for replacement dust bags keep this device from scoring a perfect ten. Just. Fix those three complaints and I'll even let it drive me to work.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Track S.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 - Does it Get Better Than This?

I may have misled you slightly last time I was talking Apple Watches.

I think I claimed something like the Series 11 Apple Watch was pretty much the best smartwatch money could buy.

As far as I was concerned, at that specific time, that was essentially true. Improved display, new chip, great battery life, upgraded durability - what more could you ask?

Sure, I knew I still had one Apple Watch to come to complete my trio of 2025 offerings - but because I never reviewed the Watch Ultra 2, it had been a while since I'd worn the big daddy of the range.

In short, I needed reminding how incredible the Ultra truly is.

In my defence, from everything I read and watched last year, the Ultra 2 really wasn't all that different to the original - it featured a brighter display and a new chip that made it possible to interact with Siri, on-device and that was about it.

No excuse though, because the original Ultra was one of the most complete "first-generation" devices I've ever encountered. Enhanced GPS connectivity, extended battery life, the most durable case and display Apple had ever produced... Not to mention entirely new features like the Depth app - also measuring water temperature - and navigation tools like Backtrack.

So after a year off, I put the Apple Watch Ultra 3 on and was immediately shocked by how good it is.

Although the Ultra 3 uses the same chip as Watch Series 11 and the entry-level Watch SE 3, somehow, it just seems to work even faster and more fluidly.

This may be in part due to the significantly upgraded display technology.

The very large (for a watch) display is now comprised of wide-angle OLEDs, which means you can read it clearly from almost any angle - perfect for sneaky checking of incoming notifications. It also uses the latest LTPO3 technology which allows variable refresh rates, right down to 1Hz (or once a second). This means big savings on battery life - even when the Watch Ultra is in Always On Display mode.

That, in turn, means the possibility of some fun new watch faces, like Exactograph, which has a second hand on AOD mode then expands the seconds display down to fifths-of-seconds when you raise your wrist.

Did you hear me mention battery life? Indeed you did. Another significant bump to the already outstanding battery life of the Ultra 2, which was rated for up to 36 hours of general use. Not only does the Watch Ultra 3 give you up to 42 hours "normal" use on a full charge, I can confirm it charges faster than ever too. I like to wear mine to bed for its sleep-tracking features so I pop it on the charger while I'm getting ready. By the time I've brushed my teeth and read a couple of chapters of the latest Dan Brown, the Watch Ultra 3 always seems to be back to at least 95%. Fantastic.

Speaking of sleep-tracking, obviously Watch Ultra 3 has all the new (and comprehensive) features we've seen in the other 2025 Apple Watches, courtesy of the very "glassy" WatchOS 26. Ultra has always been a fabulous choice for fitness and health tracking and that's even more true now, thanks to Custom Workouts, Workout Buddy, updated sleep stats, the new hypertension alerts and the introduction of Vitals - kind of an aggregate of everything, so you can keep an eye on your overall wellbeing at a glance.

Although the Watch Ultra has always led the way when it comes to satellite connectivity, the 3rd gen version now offers emergency communication via satellite, even when you're out of cellular contact. This could be potentially lifesaving in a country like New Zealand, where for some reason, people like to go off grid. For fun. Not only does the new satellite tech mean you can send an SOS if something goes wrong, Find My now also works via satellite so your location can be shared, no matter how remote it is.

This is all dependent on you activating the standalone cellular abilities of the Watch Ultra 3 via an addon plan. Unfortunately, only OneNZ and Spark offer these plans for Apple Watch right now, although it's my understanding 2degrees isn't far off.

Starting at NZ$1,599.00, the Watch Ultra 3 is quite an investment - but an investment is exactly what it is. There is simply no other smartwatch out there that delivers quite like this one does - and if you're already an Apple user then the choice is even more obvious. The fact that the original Ultra still measures up and I'm not sure I'd encourage those early adopters to upgrade just yet, doesn't mean there haven't been meaningful enhancements over the last two years.

The improvements in battery life, display quality and satellite connectivity are all significant. It's just that testing the new model over the last few weeks has reminded me how amazing the original Ultra was in the first place. Two generations on, still the Watch to beat.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Logitech MX Creative Console - More Shortcuts to Productivity

Here's my attitude to work; I'm against it.

So everything I do in life is designed to get my work done so I can spend as much time as possible not working.

That doesn't mean I'm not a hard worker. In fact, sometimes it means quite the opposite. If I've got a lot of work to do, I'll work as hard as possible to get rid of it so I can go back to doing nothing.

Is that what people mean by "Being Productive?"

My point is, if there's anything that can help get me to not-working sooner - even something small - I'll use it. Seconds add up to minutes and even hours... eventually.

So how could I resist something that helps me automate tasks I perform over and over again every single day?

The Logitech MX Creative Console is not really a single console at all. Rather, it's two separate devices - the MX Creative Dialpad and the MX Creative Keypad. These are connected to your source device via the supplied USB-C cable, plugged into the back of the Keypad.

The Keypad and Dialpad connect to each other wirelessly - the Keypad powered by its USB-C connection, the Dialpad by two AAA batteries. I'm not sure how long these batteries are likely to last - there's an on/off switch on the top edge of the Dialpad but I assume (based on no evidence, just a hunch) that like most mice, it probably sleeps automatically when not in use.

The MX Creative Keypad also comes with a simple stand, which displays it at a more eyeline-friendly angle than when it is just resting flat on its two rubber runners.

Meanwhile, I suppose there's nothing stopping you using the stand for the Dialpad instead - except that would make for extremely bad ergonomics, forcing you to arch your whole hand back to turn the dial. The overall physical setup is very customisable - a hint of what's to come. With each device able to be placed anywhere on your desktop, there's no restriction. Use them side by side, perhaps one on either side of your keyboard - and unlike most mice, it shouldn't make any difference whether you're left or right-handed.

The MX Creative Dialpad works very much like a mouse, in fact. Logitech describes its controls as Back and Forward buttons in the top left corner, the Fluid Roller top right. The Contextual Dial is the star of the show, of course, with Left and Right buttons at the bottom corners. But bear in mind, thanks to the Logi Options+ app, each of these controls can be tailor-made to suit your needs. 

And the MX Creative Console is designed to suit those needs, even when they change from one app to another.

For example, for my default use-case, I have the Dial set to adjust my computer's volume up and down, while the Fluid Roller essentially becomes a vertical scroll wheel, just like on a mouse. But when I'm using Adobe Audition to edit podcasts and other audio for Newstalk ZB, the roller then zooms me in and out, while the dial skips forward or back to the headers of the audio files in my multitrack session.

In many ways, the MX Creative Keypad is even more malleable. It has 9 keys, each capable of displaying its own unique, backlit icon and description. As we've seen with other MX Creative devices from Logitech, again, using Logi Options+, you can use any of these keys to do just about anything; launch certain apps, play sounds, control media and yes, my favourite, start a screen recording.

If there's a series of things you do routinely all the time, Logi Options+ let's you create a macro - complete with pauses if required - which you can then drag onto one of those keys. Oh, and if 9 keys isn't quite enough, how does 135 sound? Actually, that's just for starters. You can add up to 15 pages of keys for any profile you create - there are two page-turn buttons at the base of the Keypad.

Any of the buttons I've mentioned can also fire off the Actions Ring of course - an on-screen display of eight more virtual buttons; maybe a selection of brush sizes or a choice of alternate signatures for your emails.

If you're a bit daunted by all the options, not to worry. There are default setups for many apps, especially Adobe editing tools like Photoshop, Premiere Pro and Lightroom - but also other big ones like DaVinci resolve and Final Cut Pro.

I love being able to do things like automate the Save Project As function in Adobe Audition - because there's no hotkey already set up for it.

If you want to add some extra production elements to your live feed or even just your meetings, that's totally doable too. MX Creative Console has plugins for Twitch, Zoom, Discord and Teams so you can have video clips, pics, graphics and sound effects all cued up and ready to play live.

And with plugins for Philips Hue and streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify, you can control your lighting and music - essentially creating your own smart home hub.

So if, in the course of your day, you've ever thought to yourself, "I wish I didn't have to do this every single time..." Now you probably don't. Just take whatever that thing is and assign it to a button, roller or dial. It really is that easy to buy yourself a few extra seconds and streamline your workflow. 

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Logitech MX Creative Console.

Logitech G POWERPLAY 2 and PRO X SUPERLIGHT 2c - This Mouse Never Stops

In case you were wondering, no, I'm not a professional gamer.

You weren't?

What was it that gave me away? The fact that I'm a really uncool, 51 year-old dad? Or the way I constantly complain about not even having time to get enough sleep, let alone play computer games?

Regardless, I don't have to be a pro to figure out how annoying it would be to have your mouse die on you, mid battle, mid-race or mid-match.

It's one of the reasons many serious gamers prefer a wired mouse; they never go flat.

Although, that's not a perfect solution either, because that very wire can also be a bit inhibiting when it comes to unrestricted movement of your mouse.

What to do? What to do?

Trust Logitech G to come up with a solution.

The POWERPLAY 2 is one of my favourite types of gadget; a simple idea elegantly executed. What if you could charge your mouse wirelessly, while you're using it? Sounds easy, right? After all, wireless charging pads have been around for years. Why not a mouse pad that charges too?

Well, it must be harder than it sounds, because while there are various desk pads out there with a specific area to charge devices like phones and earbuds, Logitech G seems to be the only brand that teams its wireless mice with a charging surface.

Before you even get to the charging part, the POWERPLAY 2 is a very nice mouse pad in its own right. At 344 x 284mm, it's large without being inconveniently unwieldy. It's less than 4mm thick and the rubberised underside will never slip once in place.

A large mouse pad is essential if you have a multi-display or wide-screen monitor set-up - it means you can instantly manoeuvre around the screen without having to lift and re-centre your mouse all the time.

As far as the charging side of things goes, it's an incredibly simple, two-step process. The POWERPLAY 2 comes with its own wireless charging coin in the box. Assuming you're using a compatible Logitech G mouse, you simply flip its base coin off and replace it with the POWERPLAY 2 version, which is magnetically held in place.

Then it's just a matter of plugging in, via the 1.8m USB cable. This doesn't have to connect to your laptop or PC - there's nothing "smart" about it, it's literally just a power supply. The good news is, that cable should be plenty long enough to reach just about anywhere you need it to. The less-good news is that the plug is USB-A - not USB-C. I thought everything was supposed to be USB-C these days - especially in the world of charging. Oh well, hopefully you can find somewhere to slot it into.

You'll know its working because there's a tiny LED on the front edge of the control module that lights up white to tell you. And that's it.

All you need now is a mouse.

That's where the PRO X SUPERLIGHT 2c comes in, just one of at least ten different Logitech G options that all feature that swappable coin in the base.

This is probably the only one that weighs in at just 51 grams though. That's practically nothing. When I first unboxed it, I thought I'd been sent some kind of dummy or mock-up. The PRO X SUPERLIGHT 2c honestly feels like they forgot to put anything inside it. Ironically, that couldn't be further from the truth.

Not only is there a hybrid system of optical and physical switching in there, you can even store the LIGHTSPEED USB wireless dongle under the charging coin for safekeeping. That dongle is the also larger USB-A size - which again, seems weird to me when many laptops these days only have USB-C ports, but at least Logitech G puts an adapter in the box so you can use the included charging cable as a USB-C extension.

Apart from charge anxiety, other issues gamers have with wireless mice are lag and interference. These simply don't seem to be a problem with Logitech G's LIGHTSPEED connection - the 8kHz polling rate may as well be instantaneous and they've gone to great lengths to test their wireless protocols in tournament settings to ensure there's no risk of interference.

Take it from me, I have a lot of wireless gadgets on and around my desk but the PRO X SUPERLIGHT 2c hasn't missed a beat yet.

You'll also find a set of customised grip tape pads to stick on for extra performance in hot and sweaty situations, although I've found the matte surface of the PRO X SUPERLIGHT 2c to be pretty grippy anyway.

As opposed to the silky smooth PTFE feet or "skates" that take up a large percentage of the base of the mouse. Combined with the almost frictionless surface of the POWERPLAY 2 mouse pad, you'll be flying around faster than ever.

Especially since the HERO 2 sensor can be wound up so high, you'd need the reflexes of a young cobra to control it.

Speaking of which, if you've come to like the sensitivity settings of the mouse you're currently using - perhaps you're only upgrading for the wireless charging or the overall physical design of the PRO X SUPERLIGHT 2c - the Logitech G HUB app let's you port those settings across to your new mouse, as I've demonstrated in the video below.

And of course, like all Logitech G-series mice, there's no end of shortcuts, actions and macros you can assign to each button through G-Hub - from launching your screen recorder, to a more complicated sequence of commands that might be unique to certain games.

These settings can be saved as separate profiles within the app, or to one of five available slots on the mouse itself - which could be handy if you're planning on using it with different devices.

I'll finish up by saying how surprised I was by this mouse. To look at, it doesn't appear to be that different to most other mice. But once I started using it, it wasn't long before I discovered the benefits of Logitech's hundreds of hours working with some of the world's top esports athletes, to hone the design and come up with one of the most comfortable, compact - and certainly the lightest - mice I've ever used.

This is one of those devices you eventually become unaware of as you use it, almost as though it's an extension of your own hand. An extension you never have to charge either.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Logitech G POWERPLAY 2 wireless charging system.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT 2c wireless gaming mouse.