As geeks trying out gadgets all the time, we are often asked what’s the best smartwatch or camera to buy. What do we really wish for ourselves, as Christmas draws near again this year?
Well, from a smartwatch made by a mechanical watch maker (Tag Heuer) to a flat OLED TV from LG, the wishlist really varies.
Here’s a list of what the Techgoondu team dreams of as 2015 comes to a close. Surprise, it’s not as crazy as years before!
Tag Heuer Connected (US$1,500)
The first Android Wear smartwatch by a luxury watch maker screams coolness with its 1.5-inch display and Grade II titanium, the same kind of metal found on Tag Heuer’s mechanical watches.
Despite looking bigger than most circular smartwatches, it’s lightweight at 81 grams, including the weight of the strap. The IP67 certified smartwatch can also withstand splashes and showers.
Perhaps the best part about the Connected is its array of Tag Heuer Carrera watch faces: a traditional three-hand face, a chronograph and a GMT, available in blue, black and white.
There’s also an Intel Atom processor clocked at 1.6Ghz, along with 1GB of RAM, making this smartwatch the most powerful in the market. The US$1,500 Tag Heuer Connected won’t be shipping to Singapore till later next year, but it’s never too early to wish for it! – Aaron Tan
Microsoft Surface Book (~S$3,000 in desired configuration)
Last year, I wanted a Surface Pro 3 for its versatility in being both a tablet and notebook at once. The Surface Pros, however, do not balance very well on a lap due to its need for a kickstand. This year, Microsoft has reinvented the hybrid category (again) with the Surface Book.
For one, it comes with a keyboard that has actual keys, making typing on the move so much easier. Its redesigned stylus also attaches to the sides of the device magnetically, solving two of the pain points that road warriors had with the Surface Pro 3.
The Surface Book comes with a 12.3-inch screen that has the dimensions of a piece of A4-sized paper, which definitely feels more natural with its 3:2 screen ratio. It even has enough firepower to run more than a simple game – a first in a ultrabook equivalent notebook – thanks to its custom Nvidia graphics solution.
Of course, as a first generation device, the Surface Book is not perfect. Its unique hinge prevents it from closing completely, and Microsoft’s choice to distribute the battery 75:25 between the base and the detachable screen prevents it from serving as a tablet for too long, one of the draws of their detachable hybrid notebook-tablets.
While I would not mind getting the Surface Book if money was not an issue, I am definitely looking forward to the next iteration. – Desmond
Beats Solo (S$310)
Beats has a bad rep for building expensive cans that don’t sound very good. Of late, I’ve been trying out a lot of headphones, looking for a set of bassy headphones (yeah, I’m all about that bass), and I just can’t get past the Beats Solo 2 headphones. And I’ve tried the other Beats headphones as well, and don’t dispute the general consensus. But the Solo 2 is a whole other story.
Well-built and comfy, the Solo 2 actually features punchy bass that’s high-quality, rich, and doesn’t drown out everything else. I listened to music from different genres, from Ne-Yo’s One in a Million to movie scores like Hans Zimmer’s Batman soundtracks to Stan Getz, and got a satisfying experience from the Solo 2.
They’re still not meant for audiophiles who prefer their sound “clean”, whatever that means, but if you like a pair of cans that provides a lively, exciting experience, the Solo 2 is a good bet.
On Apple’s online store, the Solo 2 is now available (only) in the “Luxe” (as in deluxe) Edition for S$310 in choice of colours: red, blue, silver, and black. – Alvin Lai
DJI Osmo (from S$980)
What would a digital filmmaker want? Besides better videos, the tools to make them. The DJI Osmo is an incredibly powerful tool for the solo filmmaker, and it’s giving GoPro a run for its money.
Sporting a 4k camera integrated into a three-axis stabiliser, the Osmo delivers cinematic-quality moving shots in one small handheld form capable of being operated by a single person. Previously, to achieve such shots, you would have to attach large pro video cameras onto even larger and heavier stabilisation systems, and this would probably require a larger crew as well.
It also comes with many handy features, such as shooting timelapse, hyperlapse and automatically snapping panoramas to get that perfectly levelled shot.
Controlled easily by the on-board joystick or through a smartphone app, the Osmo has a low learning curve, making it an ideal gift for friends and relatives who are budding filmmakers. Priced at a decent S$980, this is a tool I am eager to add to my video production arsenal – Jonathan Tan
PS4 Nyko Data Bank (US$38.91)
As I just got the latest Sony Playstation 4, one sore point is always the use of the 2.5 inch laptop hard disk that is not as robust as the bigger, faster and cheaper 3.5-inch hard drives. If you have the cheaper 500GB version, the storage space will be filled up quickly too with downloaded games, music and video files. So getting a higher capacity 3.5 inch 2TB hard disk drive is the way forward.
The Nyko Data Bank lets you do just that. Plus, it matches the sleek look of the PS4 chassis and is really easy to install. The Amazon price is US$38.91 and ships free on total orders over US$125.00. It’s a must-have for folks looking to expand their PS4 storage. – Wilson Wong
LG 65EF9500 OLED 4K TV (US$4,999.99)
There’s no TV like an OLED TV today. Yes, those gorgeous displays from LG that feature the blackest black, the deepest contrasts and virtually no artificial motion problems common on regular LED TVs. Plus, they are slim too.
The 65-inch 65EF9500 is LG’s first flat OLED TV featuring 4K resolution. You get the sharpest detail plus a great picture that the best LED TVs will struggle to beat. Why flat, you’d ask, when TV makers are pushing out those curved models?
Try mounting a curved TV against a light-coloured wall, for example, and see if the shadow behind distracts you (see other issues with curved TVs). A flat screen not only feels larger and easier to view, it’s avoiding the latest fad. Remember 3D?
Sadly, the EF9500 range isn’t in Singapore yet. We can always wish, of course. It’s going for US$4,999.99 in the United States for now. We’d like to see it in a living room, of course! – Alfred Siew
Origin PC EON17-SLX gaming laptop (2015 build)
What does a PC gamer always long for? A portable machine on the go that packs enough firepower to handle the most demanding titles!
Origin PC’s latest gaming notebook, the 2015 variant of the EON17-SLX, features a 17.3-inch widescreen with true 1080p, 6GB Nvidia GTX 970M graphics card (upgradeable to dual 8GB 980M), Intel Core i5 6400 CPU (upgradeable to Intel Core i7 6700K) and 8GB DDR4 2133MHz (upgradeable to – get this – 32GB DDR4 at 2133MHz). It even has a multicolour backlit keyboard for the bling effect that we gamers love so much.
Although rather hefty at 4.7kg, it’s still lighter than a minigun or your desktop killer rig. And it gives you enough firepower to blast away virtual enemies in full HD. You probably won’t lug it along to accompany your afternoon caffeine fix at a hipster joint but it will definitely be something you’d want for a marathon gaming party.
You can order the Origin notebook online at Origin PC Asia, and even configure it according to your needs, but be prepared to pay the price. Prices start at S$4,069, and if you throw in some the top-of-the-line kit, it’ll set you back over S$7,000. – Yap Hui Bin
Need last-minute gift ideas for that favorite geek in your life? Check out our guides for the gamer, music lover, photographer and mobile warrior.
UPDATED 23/12/2015 at 5:18pm with Yap Hui Bin’s entry.
