Awesome Gadgets

Massdrop and OKLB present the latest version of the Planck keyboard kit. The Planck is a compact mechanical keyboard where all of they keys are within two units of your fingers on the home row. This version has a more compact base and hot-swappable key switches.

Solaborate’s Hello 2 is a webcam that shines when plugged into a TV. It has a 4K HDR camera that can automatically tilt and pan, as well as four powerful microphones. It has lots of communication apps built-in, and supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

If you sometimes imagine yourself starring in a sci-fi flick, being a villain of a high-tech fortress, or just love looking at buttons, knobs, dials and displays, Control Panel is for you. It’s a crowdsourced blog that highlights its namesake through photos, animated gifs and videos.

Ice cream lovers rejoice. You can now enjoy perfectly round scoops of ice cream without the struggle. SVANKi (“swanky”) is an ice cream scoop with an electrically heated scooper. It stays at the perfect temperature – 140ºF-150ºF – for up to 30 minutes per charge.

This set from digital instrument maker Roli includes everything you need to play drums and other rhythmic sounds with your fingers. The kit includes a touch-sensitive Lightpad Block, a Loop Block, synth apps, over 300 sounds, and a 6-month subscription to Melodics.

Tiny spy cameras have been found in hotel rooms, AirBnBs, public restrooms and dressing rooms. Take control of your privacy with this pocket-sized device that can detect hidden cameras by locating the reflections off even the smallest camera lenses in an instant.

The TYPI mechanical keyboard’s square design moves the numpad, volume and function keys above the rest of the keys to reduce strain. It also has white LED backlighting, two backspace keys, dedicated shortcut keys for returning to the desktop, locking your PC and more.

The Razer Phone 2 still has the one-of-a-kind 120Hz display from the original, as well as stereo speakers. But it now has dual Sony cameras at the back – one wide, one telephoto – dust and water resistance, wireless charging, and customizable RGB LEDs on the logo.

Aside from the expected AC outlet, USB-C port and USB-A charging ports, Omnicharge’s Omni Ultimate power bank has a DC output port with adjustable amperage and voltage – perfect for drone and RC batteries. Its battery is interchangeable so you can carry a spare.

Google’s big tablet features a 12.3″ 3000×2000 LCD display, stereo speakers, and runs Chrome OS, so you can enjoy a desktop environment right out of the box. It has two USB-C ports that support 4K output, and an optional keyboard cover. It comes in 4 CPU configs, up to a Core i7.

Devialet’s one-of-a-kind Phantom speakers are as huge as they are pricey. But the entry-level Phantom Reactor is at least within a mortal’s reach. The speaker packs the same room-filling, distortion-free sound as its bigger brothers, but in a smaller and less costly package.

Google’s latest smartphones have a new 12MP sensor and new software features for its historically excellent camera system. It also has an AI-powered call screening feature that will answer calls for you. The Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL also now have wireless charging.

Will de Brett’s concept reinvents the electrical plug. Designed for low power devices such as smartphones, the Mi Plug uses wireless charging instead of pins to connect to its outlet. This not only makes it safer, but allows for multiple Mi Plugs to be stacked.

Facebook’s Portal and Portal+ are tablets specialized for video chat. They use AI to determine when to zoom, and in the case of the Portal+, to pan as well. They also feature music sharing via iHeart Radio, Pandora and Spotify, and have Amazon Alexa built-in.

Amazon upgrades its casting and streaming device with support for up to 4K 60fps streaming and Alexa integration. The Fire TV Stick 4K is compatible with Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos. It also lets you control other smart devices via Alexa.

Similar to the EverCam, VAVA promises that its Home Cam wireless security camera can last up to a year per charge. It captures 1080p footage, has night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, and SD card backup. It can be mounted to walls or put on its stand.

Kobo’s new Forma eReader has a spacious 8″ screen, perfect for reading large type or comic books, particularly manga. Its page-turn buttons can be used with one hand in portrait mode, or you can switch to landscape mode for greater viewing width. Available 10/16/18.

Caavo’s Control Center is perfect for folks who have lots of streaming hardware, streaming subscriptions, or both. Plug them all in to the Control Center and you’ll be able to search through them as if they were one device. It also supports Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

The LG V40 ThinQ improves on the G7 with a new 6.4″ 3120×1440 OLED display, and most significantly, five cameras. At the back there’s a standard camera, a wide angle camera, and a telephoto camera. On the front there’s a standard camera and a wide angle camera.

Tile’s new Pro Bluetooth tracker makes it even tougher to lose your valuables. It’s three times louder than the standard Tile and has a range of 300 ft. It also has a replaceable coin cell battery that lasts up to a year.

ThinkGeek’s officially-licensed Marvel Thanos Infinity Gauntlet mood lamp will put a smile on any geek’s face. It measures 10″ tall and projects light through the replica Infinity Stones. It can be powered via USB or with three AA batteries.

Microsoft’s powerful and beautiful Surface Laptop has been upgraded with 8th gen Intel CPUs, twice as much RAM – now 8GB – on the base model and improved cooling. Its unique alcantara cover now comes has a slick matte black option.

With the Spectre Folio, HP aims at people who want to own an elegant and stylish computer. The laptop and tablet hybrid is clad in full grain leather that extends to the touchpad. It has a Core i5 or Core i7 CPU, up to 16GB RAM, up to 2TB SSD, and a nano SIM slot.