IQ-Magazine-Issue-12

IQ gadget update
Gadget Update
David Donnan and Paul Avory, of Igentics, offer their verdicts on this month’s gadgets
The Selfie Phone Finder
I have to admit that I was somewhat sceptical of this
gadget. The premise is a Bluetooth-enabled key fob which
allows the user to connect it to a smartphone, and then it
acts as a proximity detector and a remote
switch.
When first presented with the
fob, I thought it looked rather
like it might be used to unlock
a 1987 Vauxhall Astra. Once
the app had been identified and
installed, the initial connection
was very simple. And it really does
£29.99. Available from www.iwantoneofthose.com
work as it claims.
The proximity detector is where the device could really be
useful. With a 10m range, it is very easy to
use the fob to find your smartphone
and vice versa, or to get an alert
when the fob moves out of range.
This is especially handy in our
house, as we can never find the keys,
but is also a benefit when there are
several items you want to keep an eye on. So
the applications for this gadget could range from
childcare to taking valuables on holiday. by Paul Avory
Wacom Intuos Pen and Touch
Prices range from £84.99 - £169.99. Available from Wacom.com
First impressions are of a welldesigned
slate, with the aim of
recreating an A4 notepad in
electronic form.
A great benefit of this pen is that it
doesn’t require the batteries which
hamper a wireless mouse. Having
previously only ever used a mouse, my
first inclination was to place the slate
to the right of my keyboard, leaving
the keyboard clear and enabling my
left hand to occupy the crucial key
command space. This proved to be
slightly problematic, as using two
screens resulted in the cursor wanting
to drift across the screen of the slate
in a peculiar fashion. As soon as
the slate was placed in front of the
screen, the issue was resolved.
If you’ve ever tried to sketch a picture
or paint a curve in a CS package,
you’ll understand why a mouse is a
flawed device, and why a pen offers
greater flexibility. With the Intros pen
you can draw in the traditional sense
on the slate’s electronic paper with
your movements reproduced on the
screen.
Whether you will like the Wacom
Intuos or not isn’t down to how well
the product is designed and built; it’s
about how familiar and proficient
you’ve become with your mouse.
by David Donnan
more information
www.igentics.com
issue 12 | page 39