Five Pieces of Tech You Need to Blow All Your Money On
Wireless for AudioPhiles
The days of lossy Bluetooth audio transmission may be coming to a close for Android users at least (sorry Apple) as more devices begin to support Qualcomm’s aptX Lossless codec, which delivers 44.1 kHz, CD quality audio over Bluetooth at a data rate of 1,200Kbps. The stars have to align in terms of hardware and streaming provider if you don’t have your own files, but it’s getting just a little bit easier with the release of the NuraTrue Pro wireless earbuds, which can handle this audio format. Crystal clear listening is backed up by improved active noise cancelling with the help of four microphones on each earbud.
The NuraTrue Pro is also backwards-compatible with older versions of Qualcomm aptX Adaptive/Classic, including 24-bit/96kHz lossy audio support at 880Kbps (~80% of lossless).
They also have a 32 hour battery life, wireless charging and spatial audio.
If you’re hoping to blast beautiful audio out of more than just the latest cutting edge phones you can do it via their USB-C Bluetooth 5.3 Audio Transmitter.
All the early bird Kickstarter slots have been filled so we’re looking at a standard RRP of US$329
kickstarter.com/projects/nura/
Full Control
Based in Hong Kong, GPD has already delivered a collection of bizarre and dinky devices and the GPD WIN Max 2 is no exception. This is a mini gaming laptop with a built-in controller. Being a flip top, it feels more like a Gameboy Advance SP with a QWERTY board than a Nintendo Switch competitor. It’s actually shorter than the Steam Deck by 71mm at 227mm. Its screen is a 10.1” bezel-less touchscreen display with a max resolution of 2560×1600. Inside it runs a AMD Radeon 680M RDNA2 GPU, AMD Ryzen 7 6800U CPU, 3gb of RAM and a 2tb M.2 for storage. On the back corners not pictured are also trigger buttons so it really is a full featured controller+laptop combo. Total weight is 1,005g, if you’re wondering how much damage this thing is going to do to your wrists long term.
Preorders are open now and shipping may have already begun by the time you’re reading this.
Gpd.hk | RRP$1299
Bulb Going off
Live in fear that at any moment magnetism will somehow fail entirely and a levitating light bulb will come crashing down on your desk. The Evaro Lightbulb Lamp is a perfect minimalist desk lamp for people who want an uncovered bulb floating at eye level at all times. If anything, it’s a fun use example of magnetic induction to transfer power.
Available in walnut and black.
Gingkodesign.com RRP$179
A Leather Brick
Finally a portable wireless charger with some bloody leather on it. I love it when my wireless chargers look like disapproving father-in-laws at awkward family dinners, or alternatively a leatherbound journal you’ve only written in once because you got intimidated by the entire thing. Designed in Sydney the NOA Daytripper uses premium materials such as leather, aluminium and ABS. It charges up to 15W with Qi enabled devices or USB-C input and output. Capacity-wise you’re looking at a 5000 mAh lithium cell with enough juice for up to 9 hours of video streaming.
RRP AU$180 daytripper.noathebrand.com
On the Move
The NOMVDIC X300 Smart Portable Speaker & Projector harkens back to simpler times, while itself creating a new simpler, cordless time. It can beam a 100” Full HD projection and has just enough battery life to get you through one Lord of the Rings movie if you don’t pause for breaks. It has H/V keystone and four corner adjustments, which means it doesn’t need to be centrally positioned for movies, canting it off to the side or even closer than normal to the wall.
Streaming can either be achieved via its 5Ghz fast speed Wi-Fi connectivity or USB Type-C cable straight into your Nintendo Switch or PC. Native streaming of Netflix, etc, isn’t available via Airplay or screen mirroring, so if you want to run those you’ll need to buy a streaming dongle of some kind to plug into the X300.
nomvdic.io RRP$1,099