Tech tools

Galaxy Samsung Note II Free on contract, €599 on prepay

Galaxy Samsung Note II Free on contract, €599 on prepay

Samsung may have had a hit with the Galaxy SIII, but it isn’t resting on its laurels. The Note II is the next version of its phablet – not just a phone, not quite a tablet – and it’s improved on more than a few things. First up is the S Pen, which now gives you a sneak preview when you hover over emails or video galleries. It’s also borrowed a few innovations from the aforementioned SIII; SMartStay, which uses eyetracking to keep the 5.5” screen active and Best Picture, to make sure you get the best photos. Its all powered by a 1.6ghz quad core processor too.

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Boomball

€22

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When it comes to carrying around portable speakers – the smaller they are; the better. But this doesnt always mean good sound.

So the mighty Boomball has found a clever way around this. It uses other objects to amplify its sound.

When you need to crank up the sound, you simply stick it to another object – a can, a cardboard box, a window – and it will amplify the vibrations, giving you a pretty decent sound, considering its size.

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Otterbox Commuter Case

From €35

If you have made the leap and bought an iPhone 5, its highly likely that youve also been searching for a case to protect it.

Whether its avoiding unsightly scratches on that aluminium casing or just protecting it from the odd high velocity impact, you need something that you can have confidence in. The Otterbox, as usual, delivers. Its commuter cases are made for this: yes, the silicon and polycarbonate adds some extra bulk to the sleek phone, but it will also protect your phone from almost anything you can throw at it. Including an over-enthusiastic toddler.

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Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien is an Irish Times business and technology journalist