What I Found After Splurging: 2022 Gadgets That Dramatically Changed My Life (2/6)
Hi, I’m Hide, tech journalist and part-time house-husband. Picking up where I left off last time. **Previous article: What I Found After Splurging: 2022 Gadgets That Dramatically Changed My Life (1/6)
Insta360 ONE RS
The new model in the Insta360 ONE series, which you can reconfigure for both 360 camera and action camera use. It doesn’t look much different from the ONE R, but the core specs are up. Personally, I like using it in the vertical configuration. That said, this model change might not be enough to make you want to buy.
HSA 26
The sister model of the handheld chainsaw that got buzz for “looking totally like Evangelion.” Besides trimming, it can cut grass with an attachment, so it’s super useful for houses with a small yard. It comes with one battery, but you’ll want to keep about two spares on hand. And the batteries are a great value at just ¥2,000-something each. The tool itself is under ¥20,000 — just over ¥10,000. You can only buy it from your nearest STIHL dealer, which handles farm equipment and such, so that’s inconvenient, but it’s worth it. Both are powerful in a way that doesn’t match their futuristic looks, and their practicality is maxed out. Way better than MAKITA!
Hasselblad CFV II 50C
The back unit of the 907X I already introduced also works as a digital back. Attach it to the back of an old Hasselblad and you can bring it back to life as a digital camera. With the Hasselblad 500C/M in the photo, the view through the finder is just sublime. Simply raising it and looking through gets me excited. I alternate between the 907X and this. With old cameras, lenses and parts are fairly reasonable too, so I recommend it.
VANMOOF PowerBank
An external battery that extends the range of e-bikes from VANMOOF, the Dutch maker. They already go pretty far, but what’s exciting is that this lets you charge even if you live in an apartment. Unfortunately, the version for this X series has been discontinued and is no longer available. If you’re buying the new A series (the bike alone is pricey, though), it might be good to get the PowerBank with it.
Scentee Machina Quattro
One of the few products that lets you set four scents to switch by time of day from your phone. The benefit is using your sense of smell as a hook to structure your day, like changing the scent when it’s time to work. Personally, I really like this product, but the price and running costs are on the high side, so I gave up on getting one. In exchange, the scent quality is high, so it’s great for offices or salons.
DJI Mavic 3 Cine
A drone I still use and love — probably the best image quality available right now. It shoots 4K Log, so color grading afterward is easy, and the footage is just stunning. You’ll want to buy ND filters as an option, but other than that, I have nothing to complain about. The Cine is expensive, but it has a 1 TB SSD built in and records in Apple ProRes. That lets you edit smoothly even on a low-powered laptop — handy.
Philips Indoor Air Sterilizer
A product Philips released after findings that UV sterilization is effective against the coronavirus. Normally UV-C sterilization is harmful to people, so the room has to be empty. That’s surprisingly inconvenient, and sterilizing at night or after everyone leaves tends to fall by the wayside. This product, though, pulls air inside and sterilizes it internally, so you can leave it on all day — handy. It’s effective against the flu and other viruses too, so it’s a great product for families with kids.
RF 5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE Lens
An unusual dual lens from Canon. It shoots video and photos you can view in 3D on trendy VR headsets. It works with the EOS R5 and R5 C and records in 8K. At 4K per eye, the resolution isn’t the absolute best, but the sensor is big, so the tonal gradation is on another level. The all-important software finally got M1 support recently, so Mac users can make full use of it now. However, the handy Adobe Premiere plugin isn’t M1-compatible yet, so you might want to wait for that before considering a purchase.
New Philips Hue Bulbs
The updated new bulbs are brighter. Some of you might be thinking, “I won’t really use the color-changing…” — but combinations like “a hint of pink” or “a hint of blue” actually create a perfect mood at night. In the article, I share some ideas for how to actually make use of full-color bulbs.
SORANO HOTEL
A fantastic hotel that opened in Tachikawa. With Showa Kinen Park right in front, the view from the infinity pool is one of a kind. It’s in Tokyo, yet you can look out over nature — I really liked it. That said, the staff didn’t show much hospitality, which left me feeling a bit off (wry smile). Maybe that’s unavoidable for a new hotel, but in that respect it loses to Hoshino Resorts, the Imperial Hotel, or the Okura. On the other hand, the location is the best: directly connected to Tachikawa Station, with GREEN SPRINGS, a stylish shopping complex, and a national government park right in front — a family can relax and enjoy three whole days. I don’t think there’s anywhere else in Tokyo where you can have this experience.
2022 was a year when I covered a lot of things I wanted to recommend beyond gadgets — cars, hotels… Continued next time…
Here’s the previous article!
What I Found After Splurging: 2022 Gadgets That Dramatically Changed My Life (1/6)
Here’s the next article!
What I Found After Splurging: 2022 Gadgets That Dramatically Changed My Life (3/6)
Also check out BEST HOUSETECH OF THE YEAR 2022, where I rank my top five gadgets of 2022!
What Gadgets Will Trend in 2023? BEST HOUSETECH OF THE YEAR 2022
Questions, comments, or “please review this!” requests — send me a DM on Twitter. Author’s social media:** Instagram: Hide – Everyday life of a part-time house-husband @hidenori.kimura Twitter: Hide – Just a part-time house-husband @hidenorikimura YouTube: Shin Kimura Ke @rekimuras
This story was originally published (in Japanese) on Yahoo! News Japan Expert.
