Tech’s the word, and who are we to complain?
Technology has totally transformed our lives, in more ways than one. From bringing people all over the world closer together, to putting industries into production hyperdrive, to rapidly influencing how humans communicate with each other. Its unprecedented embedding into everyday life has seen us reach new heights of what humans are capable of. Who knew, for example, that one day we would be almost reliant upon our smartphones, devices with over twice the computing power of the systems that put humans on the moon? An entirely different celestial body 384,400 kilometres away?
From the very, very, very big – right back down to the small. Smartphones aren’t the only tech accessories that we have our eyes on nowadays, and many of these smaller pieces of technology are practically necessary for us to keep enjoying the lives we have. Plus, they tend to look pretty great, too.
Here are 8 of the cutest tech accessories that we’re obsessed with!
Not the most graceful of names for a smart device like this – though the name does have a cute/ugly charm to it.
The HP Sprocket is a portable printer perfect for when you need it most. Out and about, having fun with your friends – and wanting that extra cool Insta shot of a photo you’ve just printed out?
Easy for the Sprocket. Connect your phone via Bluetooth and the Sprocket will print out whatever you ask it to, in a 2×3 ratio – so it’s not too tiny, either. The Sprocket comes in a variety of colours, and the minimal pattern makes it a cute buy. It’s very expensive, at £99, but ultimately it’s incredibly worth it!
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Getting an indoor plant is a trend that has rocketed skywards in recent years, particularly for students and young people, who are becoming more aware of the positive effects of having plants in your daily life.
Actually looking after plants, though, can be a bit tricky – particularly if you’ve chosen a more temperamental type. But don’t fear, because technology is on your side.
The Ollivan Plant Monitor uses Bluetooth to accurately measure all you need to know about your plants: temperature, sunlight, nutrients and soil moisture. Connect via the app, and you’ll access a database of more than 900 different plants – so you don’t even have to have the information about your leafy friend beforehand. Just turn up with the plant and you’re ready to go!
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These are revolutionising how we hold and interact with our phones. Instead of relying on two thumbs to securely hold your smartphone and allow you to do what you need, PopSockets are swappable accessories that stick onto the back of your phone. They give your dominant hand a sturdy base with which to wrap your fingers around, freeing one of your hands, so you can text, take photos and record videos in a much simpler way.
PopSockets have really taken off recently, and one of their advantages is that they’re customisable. Plenty of different types of PopSockets also saturate accessory markets, as they now come in almost an infinite amount of designs. The rest is simply up to you!
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It’s true that a lot social gatherings demand music nowadays; we’re so used to listening to music all of the time that it becomes second nature. If you’re wanting to get somewhere, then, or don’t have as much space in your pockets or bags as you’d anticipated, then bringing music to wherever you’re going may become a problem. The best speakers can be really bulky.
Enter the EWA A106 mini speaker. This thing really is tiny – which is what makes it so cute! But don’t be fooled by its size: it’s still got a formidable battery life, and an impressive sound for something so incredibly diddy. Its size also expands its capability – it’s perfect not just for casual gatherings, but for showers and hiking and camping trips too. Like with other wireless speakers, you have to connect via Bluetooth – and restore peace to your gathering once again.
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Of course, if it is a big, bulky speaker that you’re looking for, then you’ve got an array of choice presented by the tech market currently. With all of them boasting a superior sound, it’s hard to discern which one is actually the best of them all.
We’re here to be your friendly neighbourhood middle man – and cut out the endless pondering over big tech speakers that essentially look the same. There’s simply no other company that does music speakers quite like JBL, and they’ve proven time and time again how to get it right. Their sound really is superior, with incredible bass and a very reliable Bluetooth connection. Plus, they come in a range of colours that suit your aesthetic. All you need to bring to the party is the phone – the Megaboom 3 will do the rest.
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Is there anything better than having a cute night in with your friends? Yes – having a cute night in with your friends with an amazing projector!
Getting the group round to watch a TV show or Netflix flim together often means plugging a TV’s HDMI cable into your laptop and hoping that your main accessory for work and life won’t fall off the sofa. With the Smartphone projector, this doesn’t need to be a problem.
All you need is your phone, a blank wall, and a programme, and you’re good to go. With up to 8x the projection of your smartphone screen, you’ve bagged for £30 the opportunity for an amazing night in – and without any necessity for waiting between charges, as the projector accommodates for that too. Genius.
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If you’re the sort of person who likes to play music to go to sleep, then you’ll know the frustration of having to deal with headphones in bed. They’re an absolute nightmare: the music’s fine, but you move even a little bit and the earbud can fall out. Even worse, when you turn to rest on your side, then the earbud will make its presence very known inside your ear, and wake you all over again. It’s a nightmare.
Luckily, the Thumbs Up Music Sleep Mask kills two birds with one stone. A cutely minimalist-looking, multi-function accessory, the sleep mask part blocks out any light so you can relax in complete darkness. Secondly, the headphones are built-in, so your earphones are much more protected and comfortable, and you’re spared of the spiky frustrations from sleepless nights past. Say hello to restfulness!
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They’re much more useful than they sound, I promise!
With the trend being modern, sleek design for just about… everything when it comes to tech, all of our charging cables for our various different devices tend to look the same. It’s very easy to mistake one for another, and end up trying to plug something in that just won’t work properly. Trust me – we’ve all done it.
Cable chompers are an adorably delightful way to avoid that problem. Attach tiny little animals onto your cables, and voila! The problem disappears. While personalising cable chargers is nothing new, getting ‘cable biters’ spices up what would be just another boring white cable, and gives you a chuckle as you consider the possibility of any tiny animal endeavouring to take a bite out of your smartphone. Truly, they are good, innocent little things, and for that alone they’re worth the £5-£10 you spend on them.
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