Yessir, the season is about to get as silly as possible down under with the beginning of Summer wonderfully colliding with the Christmas and New Years holiday season, which means you’re going to be out and about a heck of a lot. Whether you’re hitting the beach, hitting the couch or hitting the front of your various screens like a tech-savvy madman, we’ve got the hot tips for tech you need this Australian summer.
Panasonic Action Cam HX-A1
Forget holding your smartphone at that awkward vertical perspective to capture the sights and sounds of the great outdoors this season and free up your digits for other things with Panasonic’s brand new HX-A1 action cam. Built for action and coming in at only 45 grams, the truly wearable (and tough!) cylindrical camera can even shoot at night with an IR lens filter which brings full night vision capabilities.
Waterproof, shockproof and with built in Wi-Fi, the HX-A1 is perfect for literally any and all outdoor exploits you’re planning these holidays.
The HZ-A1 recommended retail price is $299, you can find a store here and check out the full specs of the bad boy on the Panasonic website.
Google Chromecast 2
With the increasingly insane amount of ways of accessing TV shows, movies and other video online, bridging the gap between your laptop or smartphone and the actual big shiny TV sitting unused in your lounge room is pretty damn important. Originally one of the simplest and comparatively cheap options of getting your Netflixes and your YouTubes onto the big screen, Googles Chromecast this year relaunched an updated product which is the current front-runner for easy streaming.
With a the plug-and-play installation your Grandma could figure out and an updated, faster model, the Chromcast is a must have for gathering the family around the Teev for some Christmas viewing.
Chromecast is $49 and available from Google’s store here.
UE Boom 2
If you’re still blasting music during social events or beach outings through your tinny mobile phone speakers, you’re a bit of a dummy. When it comes to pumping your fresh new summer playlist to your pals, the UE Boom 2 is the go to for carefree beat blasting.
Apparently waterproof to one meter, a great feature for the amphibians amongst us, the UE Boom 2 lives up to its name with a maxim volume of 90db. Turn it up and get the summer started right.
UE Boom 2 is $249 and you can buy one here.
Fitbit Flex
The perfect combo for when you’re out using your brand new Panasonic HX-A1 Action Cam, the Fitbit Flex ensures you not only capture all the action in sweet 1080p, but that you also record all the calories burned by said action.
“Making fitness fashionable” the Fitbit Flex also tracks total steps, active minutes and distance travelled in addition to tracking calories burned, syncing wirelessly with your devices so you can view the info. With a 5 day battery life (take that Apple Watch) and fully water resistant, the Fitbit Flex is like a sleek rubbery extension of your body, with the only display to grab your attention being the LED progress display that lights up as you pass daily goals.
Fitbit Flex retails at $129.95 and is available online here.
Samsung Gear S2
If you wanted something with a bit more functionality, though, you can always try out the new Apple Watch killer, the Samsung Gear S2.
Ditching the contentious square faced designed of Apple’s product for a more watch-like circular model, the Gear S2 has also ditched the touchscreen interface with users using the bezel on the watch face to navigate through menus and conversations. Coming with all the standard features you’d expect from a smartwatch, it will count your steps, check your heart rate and tell you if you’ve achieved your daily fitness goals. But most importantly it’s as stylish as Don Draper, looking like a sci fi version of the kind of timepiece the booze addled ad man and symbol of debonair masculinity would sport.
Starts at $499, grab more details and retail options here.
