FIVE GOLD GIFTS… Lumie Bodyclock luxe 750DAB

This alarm clock is not cheap, but looks good, tells the time and has a great radio

lumieThe alarm clock has changed over the past 20 years and instead of being woken by a monstrosity of bells and an unwieldy device, it’s generally our mobile phones that awaken us.

These ringtones from our phone have also changed. No longer are we woken abruptly as if we have to go down the pit, the very nature of our jobs, especially knowledge workers, is to be awoken by something more benign and chilled; something that makes us love the morning, not despise its very meaning.

So welcome to the Lumie Bodyclock luxe 750DAB, a sexy little piece of kit that looks like it comes from the future, but with a functionality that belongs to the past (in a good way).

Like all tech devices nowadays, it takes time to set it up, the four frontal buttons are a little difficult to control, but once the basics have been done, the Bodyclock really does seem as onomatopoeic as it sounds.

It’s so much nicer listening to the radio when trying to nod off to sleep, knowing that you will be in the clouds with the sheep before the radio turns itself off, it makes insomnia a stranger and that’s a very good thing.

The alarms are also wondrous. There are swatches to choose from and if you prefer falling rain and natural birdsong to bells and whistles, then your (recently awoken) dreams have all come true with a duration from 15 to 90 minutes. One tap to send to snooze.

The Lumie also uses fully dimmable bedroom lighting using mixed LEDs to mimic the colours of a real sunrise/sunset. It also has hiigh quality Bluetooth speakers, DAB radio and more than sleep and wake sounds with a seven-day alarm setting. It also claims to treat SAD and those winter blues.

It’s not cheap at £199.99, but it will last a lifetime and that will be a lifetime of dreams that are not shattered, but filled with a longing for the morning, brought alive by sounds that almost replicate Circadian rhythms. Sleep well!

REVIEW: Mini: Advanced BT5.0 Earbuds

Mini: Advanced BT5.0 Earbuds are crowdsourcing now. As the people of the world retreat into their respective shells to listen to music and podcasts, they may as well do so with awesome earbuds.

BT5.0BT5.0 Earbuds make listening on the move easier as a swathe of products are hitting the market in response to Apple’s very strange-looking earphones that look like Star Trek mismatches.

Consequently, many prefer large headphones to cancel out external cacophony and I am one of them, especially when it comes to flying. I’ve been loyal to Bose and Sennheiser for more than a decade, but recent earbud products are turning me around.

So step forward Surge Mini Wireless Earbuds that apparently support Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), and ‘provide an amazing audio experience like no other’.

For once the hype rings true. These earbuds really are exceptional, not only for noise cancellation on a flight or other noisy transporation, but also provide a very, very good mode for listening to music of all descriptions… via Bluetooth, of course.

The latest Bluetooth 5.0 technology ensures a broader signal range and an ultra-stable connectivity and the accompanying charging pod can charge the earbuds for 100 hours of total play time.

The pad can also function as a power bank for users’ phones. The cosy design produces excellent noise cancellation and keeps it securely in place for even the most vigorous exercise routine, which is a feature that is unlikely to bother me, but will please those who run, cycle and go to the gym.

BT5.0

The company’s second product, Surge Lite is the 400mAh charging pod version, which is smaller and lighter and provides 20 hours total play time.,

Finally, Surge Pro is the IP67 waterproof and dustproof version, protected from one-metre water immersion for up to 30 mins. The earbuds provide six hours playtime at one charge, perfect if for those who like to swim or snorkel while listening to music.

My ageing Sennheiser headphones are still with me, but the BT.50 earbuds are now also in my hand luggage. It won’t be long before they replace them. Who needs something heavy and large, when BT.50 earbuds are easy-to-carry and light?

This is a highly recommended product and that retails less than $80, somewhat cheaper thany anything Sennheiser or Bose offer.

Nokia doesn’t just beat a tattoo… it also wants you to call one

I have been on holiday for a week in the north of Tenerife with my wife and little boy. I’ve been swimming in the pool, playing tennis, driving in search of an English newspaper and enjoying peace before the inevitable return to the world of stress and anger.

Such early summers feel dream-like at times so when I saw a nib* in The Times this evening it was hard to know whether the newspaper was in my dream or whether my dream was in the newspaper. It wasn’t a case of you couldn’t make it up, more a case of something that I thought that I’d made up. Continue reading

Nokia doesn't just beat a tattoo… it also wants you to call one

I have been on holiday for a week in the north of Tenerife with my wife and little boy. I’ve been swimming in the pool, playing tennis, driving in search of an English newspaper and enjoying peace before the inevitable return to the world of stress and anger.

Such early summers feel dream-like at times so when I saw a nib* in The Times this evening it was hard to know whether the newspaper was in my dream or whether my dream was in the newspaper. It wasn’t a case of you couldn’t make it up, more a case of something that I thought that I’d made up. Continue reading