Garmin Fenix GPS Watch, AnimalAlarmand Philips Shoqbox
Garmin Fenix GPS Watch
Garmin is one the best brands at preventing us from getting lost. Or at least, to be able to confirm to ourselves that we are lost. Yet this is their first watch with GPS navigation built-in. And they’ve pulled it together beautifully in a great-looking watch. If you like that sort thing, which I do.
It does everything you’d expect: full ABC (altimeter, barometer, compass), plus full GPS. So you can set waypoints, map trails and upload the data to your computer – or even, to a suitable smartphone if you’re a fully fledged über geek. It’s waterproof to 50m and will give you six weeks of watch-only functions (you know, for the time thing) on a full charge or about 50 hours in GPS mode.
Garmin Fenix GPS Watch Around $400 – available soon; see garmin.com
AnimalAlarm
With the summer we’ve had, you mightn’t think this is an issue, but apparently the problem of dogs overheating in parked cars is remarkably common and, too often, upsettingly fatal. AnimalAlarm is a niche product, but it deals with this head-on by sending an alert to your phone if the interior of your car exceeds a threshold temperature you set (recommended around 25C).
Dogs are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illness, only being able to withstand raised body temperatures for a short time – and a car can crank up very quickly. The AnimalAlarm itself needs a SIM card to text you, so there is a small ongoing cost, but at least you can have the peace of mind on the occasions you have to park your four-legged friend. Of course, the advice always is not to.
AnimalAlert, £108 from animalarm.co.uk
Philips Shoqbox
There are few different models in the Shoqbox range: this one’s the rugged, designer- stubbled one, the SB7200. It’s one of several wireless speakers which are jostling for position with Jawbone’s Jambox – and the Shoqbox gives a robust account of itself. It’s easily portable, syncs up with all the usual Bluetooth suspects and delivers plenty of punch with a pair of neodymium drivers. It’s not waterproof, but the rubbery casing can take a light sprinkling and bit of roughage.
Interesting detailing includes a no-touch swipe control for track management and to pair it with another Shoqbox to create stereo speakers. And there’s a built-in mic for phone hands-free if someone is so unthinking as to call mid-party.
In a range of colours. Philips Shoqbox, €180 from apple.ieand good electronics stores