Only thirty years ago, it took a room-sized machine to generate reasonable compute power. Today, at least one in two Indians carries a device that is just as powerful. A smart phone or a tablet can do a lot of things. With a few key smartessories -- smart accessories -- it can do a lot more. Here are four must- haves for those who are all set to lead a digital lifestyle this summer:
UE Roll: Bluetooth speaker for roughin' it
We have reviewed many wireless speakers on this page -- none quite like the UE Roll, from Ultimate Ears, a New Jersey audio specialist and now a Logitech subsidiary. It's not a compact or a sedan. It's the SUV of Bluetooth speakers. From its disk-shaped, textured, fabric -covered exterior to its waterproof combo of twin 19-mm tweeters and a 5-mm woofer, it shouts 'jawani deewani' at its target audience of young people who prefer to do their music listening in the rough outdoors.
The recessed controls are minimal: One power button, another for Bluetooth pairing plus ports for micro UAB charging and a 35mm socket for wired connection. That's it: no play/pause button. No speaker-phone. This is not for people who want the real world of phone calls to interrupt their fun. It weighs just under 340g and comes with an innovative bungee cord that lets you latch on the speaker in a variety of waves to anything from your bike, to your belt. Installing the UE Roll app lets you remotely operate the speaker or pair it with another UE unit.
You may find other wireless speakers for less than the UE Roll's asking price of Rs 8,495 -- but none that makes such an in-your-face style statement. And the sound is no slouch either.
Intex FitRist: Affordable health band
With so many health wearables on offer today, buyers have a problem of plenty. But most of them flaunt their pedigree and seem to say: 'We're the cool brand, so pay more to wear us!' But seriously, we're not talking about something recognizable like Rolex. Health tracker bands look pretty much the same and I for one would balk at paying more just to sport a name no one can see anyway. Which is why, the Intex FitRist will also seem like purse-fit for many of us whose dad is not our ATM.
Working with any version of OS that is Android 4.3 or iOS 7 -- or later and at least Bluetooth 4.0, FitRist offers all the standard fitness features -- step monitoring, distance log, calorie counter, sleep monitoring -- as well as syncing with your phone to alert you to incoming calls/SMS and accessing the music you have in store. If you have misplaced your phone, you can locate it with FitRist. Within effective Bluetooth distance, the phone will ring at regular intervals till you find it.
One neat feature is the ability to click photos on your mobile camera from your band: Long-press the camera icon to click the image. . The battery claims to last for 12 days. The OLED display is visible even in bright ambient light. At Rs 999, this is one of the most affordable health bands with this feature set.
Mi Power bank 20,000 mAh: 'Parallel processing'
The smarter our hand phones get, the more juice they demand. There is a price to pay for all that studio quality sound and theatre-like movie viewing -- phones dying on you when needed most. Which why power banks have become must- have accessories. If your phone is more like a phablet, you need substantial recharging power. MI, the Xiaomi brand, has just brought a jumbo sized 20,000 mAh power bank to India. This offers two USB charging slots, effectively doing parallel processing of your charging demands -- you can charge two devices at the same time. And while the output voltage is standard -- 5V-the current is a hefty 3.6A. This means most phones will charge in a half to a third of the time that other power banks take. The capacity is also good to charge most notebooks or tablets including the Macbook (though you may need an extra Type C cable for that one).
For its raw charging power, this is a surprisingly light device -- at 338g. The MRP is Rs 1,699; but surprisingly it is selling on many online sites at a premium for around Rs 2,500—possibly because these are imported units, prior to MI's India launch.
Kingston HyperX Cloud Drone headphones: aimed at gamers
A brand better known for storage and memory solutions, Kingston has forayed into audio with the HyperX range of headsets. The latest to reach India, is the HyperX Cloud Drone which is a mite cheaper than earlier models in the series, sacrificing somewhat on the driver but offering the same combo of comfort and good audio range. It works with games platforms like XBox One, PS4, WiiU as well as PC and Mac.
The volume control is conveniently placed on the ear cup and you don't have to search for it on the cable. The mike has a useful feature, if you swivel it away from your face, it mutes. The Cloud Drone has an MRP of Rs 3,999. But search well on the Web and you could knock off at least a thousand rupees.
