What I Found After Splurging: 2022 Gadgets That Dramatically Changed My Life (4/6)
Hi, I’m Hide, tech journalist and part-time house-husband. In the second half of 2022, I reviewed things beyond gadgets — power, cars, and more. **Previous article: What I Found After Splurging: 2022 Gadgets That Dramatically Changed My Life (3/6)
EcoFlow Power Kit
EcoFlow made a portable power system with specs you can use for a home. Its DC system, designed in-house for higher efficiency, fits both camper vans and houses. Combined with the Smart Home Panel, it switches to battery in 0.02 seconds when the power goes out in a disaster, so your appliances don’t stop. It’s relatively cheap compared to the big Japanese makers, and the app is great. If practicality is what you’re after, EcoFlow is worth a look.
Pinostudio Background Sheets
We live in a world where you need photogenic photos for all sorts of things. Backdrop paper used to be just for pro photographers, but if it’s this easy to use and makes your photos this much better, maybe every home should have one. Just shoot on this sheet with a window to the side, and your sales on Mercari or minne are sure to go up.
MAZDA MX-30 EV Model
Japan feels like it’s lagging behind on EVs, but this one from Mazda was beautifully done. The way the driver assistance, the punchy electric power, and the quietness all come together is outstanding. I’ve driven a Tesla too, but it can’t match how smooth this drives. The small battery is a shame, but they recently announced a new model with a rotary engine as a generator. A car I’m excited about going forward.
JANOME Smart Sewing Machine IJ521
Did you know a game-changing smart sewing machine that does embroidery controlled from your phone came out in 2018? I didn’t (lol). And at just under ¥30,000, it’s really affordable. Embroidery machines usually cost over ¥100,000 even at the cheap end. The phone features were pretty serious too, which surprised me. In the article, I also show a way to embroider socks, which normally isn’t possible.
HassyPB
With this, you can turn the camera you dreamed of years ago into an instant camera. Hasselblad, once the pros’ go-to, is now affordable used. But the quality is guaranteed. Wouldn’t it be fun to use one as an instant camera? Lenses start at ¥20,000–30,000, and there are lots of used ones out there. I’ve been buying and trying all kinds of lens filters too. A photo exhibition of instant prints shot with this could be fun.
SwitchBot Lock & Keypad Touch
I should’ve switched sooner… I’d been using Qrio, and it was seriously stressful. It failed about one in four times, which was a real problem. The unlock-when-you-stand-at-the-door feature also lagged, so honestly it was inconvenient in our setup. Switching to the SwitchBot Lock solved all of that! Fingerprint unlocking opens instantly — hard to believe it’s wireless. It’s cheap too, so for a smart lock, this is the only choice.
Gemstone Polishing Kit
If you heard you could make your ideal gem, wouldn’t you want to try? With a few simple tools, you can cut one in about 30 minutes. This kit even includes the rough stones, which are hard to choose yourself. The beginner type uses soft stones, so they grind down easily. Guys will be captivated by the sparkling gems too.
Kalimba GO
Who knew even this instrument had gone smart. The kalimba is popular for its music-box-like sound. You play it just by plucking the tines with your thumbs, so it’s perfect for a little hobby. The Kalimba GO is brilliant: you just play along with lights falling from the top like a rhythm game, so you can play even if you can’t read music. I think it’s the fastest real instrument to pick up.
Insta360 Link
With this small webcam, eye contact in remote meetings is spot on. It can shoot your desk from overhead, so it’s handy for showing documents or shooting videos too. It’s a new experience made possible by sharp 4K video.
Artistic Digitizer
Excellent embroidery-data software with a good balance of price and features. With it, you can turn an image into embroidery data in one go. It’s a JANOME product, but it can convert to other formats like Brother’s too. It’s pricey, but one copy lasts a lifetime, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants to design their own clothes, make cosplay, or customize kids’ clothes.
In the second half of 2022, I branched out beyond gadgets into sewing and cars. There are still so many things that make life richer. I’m taking sewing even further in 2023, so stay tuned.
Here’s the previous 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.
