Cup Winner: Technology teas up with the Lify Smart Herbal Brewer

Ever since Shen Hung, a rightly-esteemed Chinese emperor, accidentally brewed the world’s first cup of tea some 4,000 years ago, this wholesome beverage has become internationally-renowned as the perfect liquid pick-me-up when starting the day or pottering off to bed.

Amid the chaos of contemporary life, however, the tea-drinking ritual has, thankfully, been somewhat enhanced, ensuring a cuppa comes easily to hand at pretty much every minute of the day if so required. Indeed, one particularly well-thought-out kitchen appliance – the Lify Smart Herbal Brewer (think Nespresso machine, but with tea leaves replacing coffee beans) – has even done away with the need to check water temperature or to verify whether your tea has reached that ideal steeping point.

Instead, the machine – developed by the brainy brew boffins at Hong Kong’s very own Lify Wellness – just requires you to add water and a specially designed tea sachet and you can be sipping truly top tea in less than a minute. What’s more, the top-flight tea technicians behind this HK$2,999 device have even developed customised herbal remedies that supposedly cater to all your wellness needs. Now if only they’d turn their attention to toasters, the digital breakfast revolution would be complete…

Eliminate bacteria and allergens with high-performance Laurastar ironing systems

With the rampant rage of Covid-19 continuing unchecked, it’s more important than ever to ensure your home is spotless and devoid of any unwanted pollutants and allergens, particularly within the sartorial sphere. To combat this garment-related issue, though, Swiss luxury steam iron brand Laurastar has produced a plethora of cutting-edge, user-friendly ironing solutions to not only ensure you look your best, but that your apparel remain entirely allergen and bacteria-free.

First launched in Switzerland in 1980, the sleek, innovative designs spawned by Laurastar has seen it expand across the globe, latterly arriving in Hong Kong last year. Across the decades, it has focused on eliminating harmful materials that coat our clothes – an important battle as our garments are intimately in contact with our skin.

Among its latest creations is the LIFT PLUS Pinky Pop (HK$7,980), a precision-engineered mchine boasting Dry Microfine Steam (DFS) technology that’s been proven to kill 99.999% of bacteria, 100% of mites and 99.9% of the harmful pathogen candida albican. In layman’s terms, this means that it naturally and effectively purifies textiles without the need for any chemicals.

Another top draw is the HK$35,800 Smart U ironing system. Fitted with the latest in home appliance technology, it offers a plethora of features to optimise your ironing, ranging from the Sensteam technology, which senses the movements of the iron and deploys steam automatically, to the companion mobile app, where the Smart U proffers step-by-step guidelines to handle any type of fabric.

Laurastar brand ambassador and haute couture designer Dorian Ho

Speaking of the many benefits served up by the luxury ironing solutions company, brand ambassador and renowned haute couture designer Dorian Ho said: “Both the Laurastar Smart U and the Laurastar Lift series feature user-friendly designs and an extensive suite of functions,” adding that “Laurastar’s vision of beauty speaks very closely to my own taste and sensibility, and that’s what led to our collaborations.”

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip phone gets the Thom Browne treatment

In the weeks since the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip phone was launched, this innovative foldable mobile device has charmed tech heads and everyday users alike. Lauded as being innovative to the max, the Galaxy Z Flip utilises a first-of-its-kind foldable glass that allows the entire gadget to fold up into roughly the size of a powder compact.

Launched on Valentine’s Day and available in Mirror Purple or Mirror Black, Samsung has crammed countless smart features into this tiny package. Take, for instance, its Flex Mode, which automatically splits the phone’s display into two four-inch screens when free-standing to allow greater flexibility and efficiency when consuming media. Its self-standing ability also comes in handy when it comes to taking photos – particularly when taking group shots – or videos, hand-free and tripod-free.

Despite barely being on the market for a few weeks, though, the South Korean electronics giant has already pulled back the curtain on a very special limited-edition release of the phone to be distributed exclusively via Hong Kong’s Lane Crawford stores – the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Thom Browne Edition.

Designed in partnership with New York-based fashion brand Thom Browne, this limited-release design features the sartorial label’s signature colours on a pebble-gray exterior, and even comes with custom-designed Galaxy Buds+ and Galaxy Watch Active2.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is available for HK$11,998, while the limited-edition Thom Browne version is priced at HK$20,998.

Introducing: The groundbreaking Dyson Pure Cryptomic purifying fan heater

The electronic experts at Dyson are no strangers to crafting cutting-edge gadgets that address such varying issue as tangled tresses, dust mites and climate control, all to ensure your life is as seamless as possible. Now, in a bid to burnish its reputation further, it has just unveiled its all-new Dyson Pure Cryptomic.

Built as an all-in-one purifying fan heater, the Dyson Pure Cryptomic is fitted with three automatic sensors that measure the indoor air quality in real time. First, there are the lasers that detect ultrafine pollutant particles. Then, there’s a sensor that records relative humidity and temperature in its vicinity. But the most impressive of all is the VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) sensor that can track toxic particles like benzene, nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde.

In today’s age of inside living, indoor pollutants are a serious cause for concern. Not only are outdoor toxins introduced when doors and windows are opened, but harmful VOCs can be produced by such innocuous everyday items as plants, domestic heating units and cleaning products. In particular, the Dyson Pure Cryptomic is looking to target one particularly harmful substance found in our daily lives – formaldehyde, a potential carcinogenic commonly found in homes and schoolrooms across the city.

To cleanse these pollutants, the cutting-edge device comes equipped with 9m of condensed and sealed borosilicate microfibres that can capture almost all ultrafine toxins such as bacteria, pollen and mould. It also features a unique catalytic coating that traps and eradicates formaldehyde, chemically transforming it into harmless water and carbon dioxide.

David Hill, Dyson’s Design Lead for Environmental Control, expounded: “Harnessing Dyson’s expertise in chemistry, sensing filtration and fluid dynamics, Dyson Pure Cryptomic machines are engineered to be the total air purification solution for your home – removing ultra-fine particles, odours, gases and destroying formaldehyde, continuously.”

The new HK$6,880 Dyson Pure Cryptomic is available in Hong Kong from 3 October. For more information, please visit: https://shop.dyson.hk

Gold Calling: Customisable gold-plated iPhone 11 Pros from Gold Infinity

Luxury brand Gold Infinity has created quite a reputation for taking everyday accessories like watches and phones and transforming them into sparkling statement pieces, thanks to its much-lauded 24K gold-plating craftsmanship skills.

The latest luxury products to get this gold-toned treatment are Apple’s newly-launched iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. Unlike more plebian offerings that are accented with gold-coloured paint, Gold Infinity’s unique designs see the high-end phones entirely encased in a layer of pure 24K gold.

What’s more, lucky buyers can even opt to customise these eye-catching designs to match with their own personalities. Those looking for a more outré accentuation can opt to have their chosen phone set with diamonds or other precious gemstones, while tech fans in search of a little emotional personalisation can opt for their choice of engraved images or wordings on the back case. If you’re in search of a more subtle approach, there’s even a more muted black iPhone 11 Pro fitted with elegant crocodile leather.

If you have a particular design in mind – be it these beautiful iPhone 11 Pro creations or other luxury accessories – talk to the experts at Gold Infinity by visiting http://www.goldinfinity-luxury.com now.

Sennheiser’s AMBEO Soundbar offers a seriously immersive sound experience

German audio solutions expert Sennheiser is already world-renowned for its expertise in crafting state-of-the-art headphones and cutting-edge microphones. Now, the high-end brand is delving into the world of home entertainment audio devices with its new AMBEO Soundbar.

Standing as an undeniably impressive debut, the AMBEO Soundbar comes packed to the brim with the latest sound technologies such as Dolby Atmos, MPEG-H and DTS:X, in addition to its own proprietary Upmix Technology, which upscales your audio for what is billed as a truly stunning 3D experience. What’s more, the 13 drivers fitted into Sennheiser’s latest offering also delivers immersive 5.1.4 sound and a powerful bass, all without the need for a subwoofer.

Ramping things up further to ensure you get perfect audio regardless of the occasion – be it catching the latest action-packed Hollywood movie or taking in a musical concerto – it boasts an automated room calibration system that scans your room dimensions and seating positions, then adjusts its levels accordingly.

In a knowing nod to the smart-home requirements of its discerning customers, Sennheiser has further equipped the AMBEO Soundbar with Wi-Fi connectivity functions via the Google Home app, allowing you to adjust your settings remotely, change between channels or even stream your own music. Add to that its sleek exteriors – all lacquered and brushed aluminium-toned – and what you get is a truly lean, mean audio machine.

Introducing: Bose Frames Rondo Audio Sunglasses 2-in-1 headphone/sunglasses

Blending summer chic with a seamless on-the-go audio experience, the new Bose Frames Rondo Audio Sunglasses are the perfect accessories for the summer season. Boasting an innovative two-in-one design, its sleek sunglass frames feature an in-built miniature speaker system that sits comfortably above your ears, enabling you to enjoy your audio experience while still being able to hear ambient noises around you.

Boasting an easy-to-use design, the mini speakers of the Bose Frames Rondo Audio Sunglasses are controlled with just one button. Whether you want to turn the sound on or off, accept or reject calls or play or pause your music, all that’s required is a single click. What’s more, the spectacles are even Siri- or Google Assistant-enabled, allowing users even greater control over their mobile devices.

The frames, meanwhile, are equally intelligently designed. Not only are the rims scratch-resistant, the lenses are also shatter-proof and coated with UV protection to preserve the health of your eyes under even the strongest rays. So whether you’re relaxing by the pool or undertaking a strenuous hike in the mountains, the US$199.95 Bose Frames Rondo Audio Sunglasses will ensure you’re suitably musically entertained and protected from the sun.

To purchase your own pair of Bose sunglasses, visit the Bose website today.

Wrist in Peace: Quell 2.0, handy back-pain-begone bracelet

Whether looking to soothe sundry sore bits or to instantly anaesthise an annoying ache, an instantly poppable pill is almost certainly your first port of call. Such a day-to-day partiality to pharmaceuticals, however, may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to Quell 2.0, which its makers assure is a truly wearable pain relief device.

Nattily knocked up by NeuroMetrix, a Massachusetts-based biomedical business, this high-tech bit of wrist-mounted relief from anything likely to wrack you is marketed as 100-percent drug-free, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Instead of cunning chemical agents, it is said to use gentle prescription-strength nerve-stimulation technology to target and block areas of chronic discomfort, most notably when it comes to the arms, legs or feet.

Boasting a slim design that’s apparently 50 percent less chunky than its predecessor, the Quell 2.0 delivers wearers from discomfort 24 X 7, with NeuroMetrix’s professors of pain dispellation considering three therapy sessions a day for a month as likely to ensure optimal succour, while also not doing harm to their financials. If you remain a tad sceptical, fear not, for the company offers a 60-day money back should any twinge remain uncountered. That’s pain-free, non-narcotic bliss or your US$299 back, no questions asked. Probably.

www.quellrelief.com

Mui Smart Display: Show your digital devices who’s in charge

In the age of the Digital Dwelling, it’s not uncommon for residences to be, arguably, smarter and better connected than their residents. Indeed, the humble homeowner could only too easily feel wholly outnumbered and outclassed by the legion of genius-level gadgets they have to contend with, with everything from lighting and temperature systems to audio players and TVs seemingly chipped, chippy and constantly in conversation with one another through the miracle that is the Internet of Things (IoT). Thankfully, though, the high-tech tide may be about to turn, and it’s all down to one apparently innocuous device devised by a particularly wily Japanese start-up.

Known as the Mui Smart Display, the device – on first glance at least – looks disconcertingly similar to a plank of wood. First impressions, however, can be deceptive as the unit – the debut design by Kyoto-based Mui Lab – is actually a touchscreen-enabled smart display that puts you back in control of your high-tech home, allowing you to tweak every connected device using just one highly-convenient control panel.

Its built-in Google Assistant feature can even detect voice commands and respond verbally or on screen. The first commercially-available Mui Smart Display units are expected to roll off the production line in September this year, so there’s still time to be among the first to be able to truly put your digital house in order. mui.jp

Philips’ Somneo Sleep and Wake-Up Light for a more soothing sleep

According to the latest research, nearly 40 percent of the world’s adults claim to get less than seven hours of sleep per night. This falls quite short of the recommended 7-9 hours for a healthy lifestyle. If you’re among these millions of people around the globe who suffer from sleep issues, perhaps a gander at electronics giant Philips’ latest wake-up light might not go amiss. Dubbed the Somneo Sleep and Wake-Up Light, this bedside gadget aims to improve your bedtime experience by putting you in the right ‘light’ frame of mind.

Based on the proven theory that sleep habits are hugely affected by light, the Somneo Sleep and Wake-Up Light works to ensure your sleep cycle is well-adjusted at both ends of your day. In the early hours, the lamp simulates the growing light of dawn – from a deep red to orange and then yellow – not enough light to disturb your sleep, but enough that your body subconsciously prepares for the day so you wake up refreshed and ungroggy when your alarm finally rings.

At the end of the day, the lamp works in reverse, much like a sunset. The light’s intensity decreases gradually to allow yourself to prepare for bedtime. Or, if you so prefer, there’s an alternative guided breathing system that uses light and sound pulses to measure your breathing, much like a meditative experience to unwind your mind.

As a handy addition, the Somneo Sleep and Wake-Up Light comes with a companion mobile app that allow for the customisation of light intensity, alarm settings and music selection. It also lets users monitor their sleep times, while offering suggestions on improving any areas that are lacking. To find out more about this US$200 innovative sleep aid, visit their website.