GADGETS

From smart home upgrades to new smartphones to a compact phone charger, we find and share some of the most clever, cool and hi-tech products that you can gift or keep for yourself

If you’re an audiophile, you can also listen to music without relying on the grid. Introducing the Solgaard Solar Boom Box, a mighty multi-tasking portable Bluetooth speaker, produces deeply immersive sound, incredible 80+ hours of playback, a high-performing power bank, and solar charging to extend your adventures on the go. Never deal with a dead device again, plug-in any compatible device to one of the USB ports for fast-charging power delivery (1 x USB-A and 2 x USB-C). With 20W charging, keep your phone topped up and play DJ at the same time. With an IPX 7 water resistance rating, you won’t…

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCym5Vo6cLw Roads are crowded, fuel is expensive. Squad Mobility’s tiny solar-powered electric vehicle comes to the rescue with its unbelievably small but comfortable Solar City car, which almost looks like a toy! Squad offers a secure, quick and sustainable solution for your daily mobility needs. Doing groceries and shopping, commuting to work, taking the children to and from school, sports club, social visits, doctor etc., while taking up minimal parking space. In sunny environments, the 6.6-foot-long car can go about 20 kilometres just on solar charge from its 250-watts-peak rooftop panel; it can also be plugged in like a regular E.V…

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If you’re a wireless keyboard user, charging it just became eco-friendly. Ultra-slim and stunning, you can use this ARTECH full-sized Wireless Solar Keyboard for a desktop or laptop. Even better, it takes in light from both indoor and outdoor sources — even from your desk lamp — and will work up to 33 feet or 10 metres. Solar ChargingNo need to change batteries or charge the keyboard via the USB any more. When you type on the keyboard or the keyboard is idle, the keyboard will be always charged via sunlight or LED lamp light. Rechargeable BatteryThe built-in industry-high rechargeable Li-polymer battery…

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Avoid the unnecessary inconvenience of replacing batteries every few months by using solar to power your at-home security cameras. The Stick Up Cam Solar provides peace of mind no matter the weather, and can be placed almost anywhere around your home. The HD camera is powered by a connected solar panel that needs a few hours of direct sunlight every day to remain charged, and includes a backup battery pack for day or night, rain or shine functionality. This item includes: A free trial of Ring Home2 Price: $139.98 Rating: 4.6/ 5 ⭐ The Gadget column is written by Contributing Editor-at-Large, David Agbakoba, who…

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With frequent power outages combined with the heat, many people are looking for cost-effective ways to stay cool and perhaps charge their phones at the same time! Stand-alone rechargeable fans may be an option, but they still need power from the grid to keep them charged for and going for hours. The Dowilldo Portable Solar Fan is a great solution. It lets you use the sun as its main source of power, while keeping you cool with a choice of four wind speeds to choose from — natural, low, mid, and high. With a full battery and at natural wind…

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Sunshine is inexpensive, clean, renewable, and abundant, and consumers are increasingly realising that solar power is a brilliant resource. Welcome to the dawn of a new era with Urbanista Los Angeles, the world’s first self-charging wireless headphones powered by Powerfoyle™ solar cell material. Inspired by the iconic city (Los Angeles) in the heart of sunny California (USA), Urbanista’s noise-canceling Los Angeles headphones feature a layer of Powerfoyle solar cells on the headband to continuously soak up sunshine whether you’re indooors or out. Using advanced green technology, Los Angeles converts all light, outdoor and indoor, into energy to deliver virtually infinite…

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The CTORCH LED light bulb is an impressive piece of technology. It is energy saving, great for keeping the lights on during power cuts, and environmentally friendly. When those dreaded power outages strike, the CTORCH does not miss a beat. It buys you an extra 2.5 to 4 hours of high lumen output depending on the level of charge prior to the power cut. This means your generators or inverters (or both) can have a breather when power outages occur. This lightbulb can be purchased through reputable online retailers such as Jumia starting at about N9,900.00. PREVIOUS POSTS: GADGETS 38-piece…

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The Supersonic 12-volt ACDC LED HDTV is an excellent small TV with DVD player. Using the 12-volt cigarette lighter jack/ adapter that we highlighted in previous posts (see below), all you need to do is plug the Supersonic into the adapter, and then connect the other end (red and black clamps) to a small 12-volt battery. 12-volt cigarette lighter jack/ adapter This compact ‘plug-and-play’ 12-volt TV reliably eliminates any anxieties when grid electricity is unavailable or your inverter and/ or generator is out of commission. Also great for small spaces, it delivers full HD picture quality in stunning detail that brings your favourite…

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After a hard day’s work, you’d probably like to rustle up and enjoy a hot savoury meal. What happens if you run out of cooking gas or find yourself in the midst of a fuel shortage and unable to use your generator, in addition to dealing with a grid black-out (which means your electric cooker is of no use)? A 12-volt powered cooking saucepan can save the day, and can become your perfect back-up. Remember the 12-volt cigarette lighter jack/ adapter we highlighted last week? Yes, that one (see above). All you need to do is plug and play -…

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If you happen find yourself in a blackout-prone or off-grid environment while desperately needing power for your laptop or 12-volt portable appliance, this article might be right for you. The 12V Adapter Plug with Battery Clamps connects directly to your battery (car battery, motorcycle battery or deep cycle battery) with integrated battery clamps. Directly from your battery terminal, easily power your favourite, portable 12-volt devices (such as tyre inflator, vacuum, cooler, oven food warmer, fan, coffee maker and more). Water resistant cap to protect the female plug socket from the elements. Built-in fused connection for protection against short circuit. Molded…

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