Something on the Side: A wristband to keep you on your toes

In this week’s round-up of Something on the Side, SEAN BACHER highlights the FitBit Flex wristband, the mini GoPro Hero 3 camera, a dual-band Wi-Fi range extender from Belkin, the Epson L110 printer and a pair of wireless headphones from Jabra.

FitBit Flex

The FitBit Flex bracelet is a pedometer, sleep pattern logger and calorie counter in one. It is simple to set up, requiring the user merely to charge the bit that fits in the bracelet, set up a profile, set goals and then strap on the bracelet. Every step is logged and synched with either a desktop, Android or Apple device. Users can check on how close they are to their set goals by tapping the band to reveal a strip of LEDs (each one that is illuminated represents 20% of the pre-set goal.) Unlike other fitness bracelets, the FitBit is designed to be removed only when it needs a charge every five days or so. This means that users can get it wet without having to dry it off afterwards. At night, a double tap of the bracelet sends it into sleep mode, at which stage the FitBit Flex monitors and logs a user’s sleep pattern.

Expect to pay: R1 299

Stockists: iStores across South Africa.

GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition

At a little bigger than a matchbox, the GoPro could quite possibly be one of the smallest cameras in the world. Its diminutive size does not mean it has limited functions though, as the camera boasts12MP high-definition stills as well as video. It is designed for active users, whether they are cycling, running, skiing or even doing a little water sports. The casing is dust and water proof, meaning it can be submerged in water, although not for long periods of time.

Expect to pay: R5 600

Stockists: Visit: www.omnico.co.za

Belkin N300 dual band Wi-Fi range extender

This Wi-Fi range extender plugs into a wall socket for electricity near the edge of a router’s Wi-Fi range. Pair it with that router and it will eliminate most of the ‚”dead-spots‚” in a home or small office. The Wi-Fi range extender’s settings can be accessed from any browser on most mobile devices. It operates on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency and offers 256 bit WPA2 encryption as well as 64 or 128 it WEP encryption.

Expect to pay: R1 200

Stockists: All major electronics retail outlets across South Africa.

Epson L110 single function printer

This single function printer uses an integrated ink system, making it ideal for home offices wanting to cut their printing costs down, as it allows them to refill the cartirdges easily with Epson-genuine ink bottles. The printer features Epson’s Micro Piezo printhead technology, which allows for precisely controlled ink droplets of up to five different sizes to be ejected from the print head – resulting in sharper, grain-free photo prints with smoother tonal transitions. According to Epson, a full cartridge will print up to 4 000 pages in black and white and 6 500 pages in colour.

Expect to pay: R2 800

Stockists: Incredible Connection.

Jabra Revo Wireless

The Jabra Revo Wireless headphones connect to a phone, tablet or computer via Bluetooth, meaning the user gets maximum freedom of movement without getting caught up in a web of wires. A turntable touch control on the side of the headphones allows users to play, skip or pause music and even manage calls easily. The headphones incorporate Dolby technology, ensuring the lowest base and highest treble tones are produced with minimal distortion. The Sound App, which can be downloaded to a smartphone, allows a user to fine tune the headphones to their exact liking.

Expect to pay: R4 000

Stockists: All major electronics retail outlets across South Africa.