New products (week of Dec 24)

TABLET

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active

$698 (LTE version); $598 (Wi-Fi version)

Samsung touts the Galaxy Tab Active as the first tablet built specifically for business. With its rugged cover, the device is supposed to be able to withstand being dropped from a height of up to 1.2m.

It is also water- and dust-resistant, having 1P67 certification. A C-Pen stylus is included with the Galaxy Tab Active, giving users an alternative input method should they be wearing gloves.

Battery life is rated at 10 hours and can be extended by activating the Ultra Power Saving Mode. This turns the screen black and white, and keeps only messaging, Web surfing and other essential services on.

CAMCORDER

Toshiba Camileo X-Sports Action Camera

$429

Need a way to show off that exhilarating bike ride or downhill ski session? Toshiba's Camileo X-Sports Action Camera lets you do that. Equipped with a 2-inch LCD screen and a built-in image stabiliser, it can shoot stills and record video from a first-person perspective.

A plethora of accessories - remote control, waterproof casing and several mounts and clips for your bike, surfboard and helmet - let you put it to work right out of the box.

DJ MEDIA PLAYER

Pioneer XDJ-1000 Multiplayer

$1,349

This media player is the same size and has the same layout as the brand's professional series. The difference here is that the XDJ-1000 features a 7-inch, full-colour, high-resolution touchscreen instead of the physical buttons more commonly seen on similar devices.

The touchscreen has a multitude of features, including Keyword Search, for locating a specific track quickly, and a Browse function for detailed information on a particular track, including its genre, album art, tempo and performer's name.

It also offers Wi-Fi connectivity, a Jog Wheel to shuttle through media quickly, a Pro DJ Link function to connect multiple DJ media players and compatibility with rekordbox, a software for a DJ to prepare tracks and manage music files before performing a set.

HEADPHONES

B&O Play Beoplay H2

$299

Weighing in at a mere 155g and with earcups of lambskin, the B&O Play Beoplay H2 headphones promise portability and a comfortable listening experience.

The on-ear headphones feature an adaptive headband that adjusts automatically to fit your head. The headphones also have 40mm drivers which promise rich music performance with an emphasis on clarity.

A microphone and three-button remote nestles at your cheek so you can answer calls, change tracks and turn the volume up or down easily.

CAMERA

Sony a7 II

$2,149 (body only); $2,549 (with SEL2870 lens)

The latest model in Sony's a7 line of full-frame cameras is also its first to feature five-axis image stabilisation for photos and videos.

The a7 II can detect and correct camera shake along five axes, unlike standard image stabilisation, which corrects only panning and tilting.

Even when hand-held, it can deliver sharp images and videos that once might have been possible only with the aid of a tripod.

The camera has a 24.3-megapixel, 35mm full-frame Exmor CMOS image sensor, as well as Wi-Fi and NFC capabilities for transferring images conveniently.

AUTOMATIC COFFEE BREWER

Wilfa Precision Coffee Brewer

$399 (black); $499 (aluminium)

Designed in collaboration with World Barista Champion Tim Wendelboe, the Wilfa Precision Coffee Brewer aims to deliver great coffee while avoiding the hassle of having to brew a cup each time.

Simplicity is its selling point. A single button starts the brewing after you fill the appropriate containers with water and ground coffee.

It promises consistency through a patented heating system, which is supposed to heat the water to the right temperature every time you make a cup. The double-walled filter holder ensures that the temperature is maintained during brewing.

This article was first published on Dec 24, 2014.
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