Gadgets

We have to applaud the Jiizer Design engineers for capturing our attention – albeit not at first for the tool they've created. But if you're after a handy unit that can solder, heat-cut and, yes, blow, it's time to pull the Jiizer out and get to work.

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought, "These ol' human faces just aren't expressive enough?" Perhaps you need the Qudi Mask 2, a gadget that lets you wear all your emotions on your robot-screen head, in the least subtle way we can imagine.

If you wished your lightsaber could tell you the time, Urwerk has now got your back. For around $60,000, the limited edition SpaceTime Blade clock uses good old Nixie tubes to display a quirky collection of time and astronomical measurements.

Technology has been very kind to bird lovers, with apps such as Merlin Bird ID allowing enthusiasts of all levels to easily identify their local feathered friends. Now, the BirdWeather PUC ups the ante to turn anyone into a global bird citizen scientist.

Smart shades have not had the best run (sorry, not sorry, Google Glass), but there have been aspects of the tech that have shown potential when the focus has been on functionality over fad. It's what the creators of Minimis Glass have made a priority.

Scooters have become one of the most popular gadgets for watersport enthusiasts, and the latest out to do the paddling for you is a compact pocket rocket from Japanese makers Surando Tech. Despite its size, it punches above its weight in the water.

While there’s a lot of debate over how much AI will impact different industries, perhaps one job you won’t mind it taking is note-taking and transcribing. Enter the Plaud Note, which records phone calls and employs ChatGPT as a PA for your audio.

If you thought that putting a rifle on a robotic dog was daft enough, what about one with an actual flamethrower on its back? Not just a concept, Throwflame is taking preorders for its Thermonator flamethrower-wielding quadruped robot.

One of the more difficult shots to master in photography is capturing lightning manually, even if your reaction time is exceptional. It also involves a fair bit of luck, even for professional snappers. That’s where this lightning trigger comes in.

Over the last year or so, Sam Battle has been gathering together interesting tech and gadgetry from the past and musical curiosities of his own design for a collection known as This Museum Is (Not) Obsolete, which is now open for business.

If you're looking for some robotic help when it comes to keeping your home clean and tidy, Roborock is one of the biggest names in the business, and the S7 is the newest model from the brand – a robovac that we've been extensively testing in recent weeks.

Robot vacuums continue to get better at both cleaning and operating autonomously, and the Roborock S6 MaxV is evidence of improving trends in both areas. It's worth shortlisting if you want one of the best robovacs on the market.