20 hours Ago By [email protected] (Adam Cailler)
We at the Daily Star get sent a lot of products to review like . . .
all the time. So with that in mind, we've put together some of the best ones send to us over the last few months – and by us, we mean to Adam Cailler, the Daily Star's resident product collector. From smart pillows to projectors, and ice cream machines thrown in for good measure, here's are most recommended products you can buy right now.
Yes, smart pillows are now a thing, yet not quite how you might expect. While this offering from FBC doesn't contain a screen, an Alexa or any electronic technology in that form, what it does contain is the ability to stay cool no matter what the temperature of your room . .
. or head. And I can vouch for the fact that this really does work, and you have a permanent cool side of the pillow at all times, which is wild considering it costs just £30.
I actually liked it so much that my I bought one for my daughter who also loves it. But what makes it works so well? Well, they explain: “On the casing of the sustainably sourced, 200TC cotton pillow is a dynamic bio-based cooling system, designed to help you feel cool and comfortable throughout the night. “The intelligent thermoregulation two-step system works by firstly offering a cooling sensation before the first sign of moisture.
It can also sense an increase in body temperature which then activates a unique cooling effect allowing moisture to evaporate, mimicking the body’s natural cooling mechanism. “When the body has reached its ideal temperature, the reduced body heat will guide the cooling effect to ease back so that you won’t feel a chill. This technology works through all types of linens.
” A rare 10/10 for me – this does what it promises and it does it well. Straight off the bat, this is a beast for £1,299.99 (on Amazon), BUT if you're looking for a different way of viewing that isn't a standard TV screen and want to showcase the latest blockbuster on a bigger scale then this is the device for that.
I was shocked at how something relatively small can produce such fantastic quality, and it also comes complete with Google TV and other Android apps, such as in 4K. It has something called HybridBeam technology which combines LED and laser light to give you a ridiculously crystal clear image and 1.07billion colours.
I genuinely felt like I was watching a film in a cinema while using this, and would happily invest in one to watch other things like football – image that on a projector which can give you screen sizes you would only normally dream of. And best of all, it's portable and can sit on a table which is a massive win. It is pricey though, so I can only give it an 8/10 because of that.
Another projector, but this one comes in at a much-more reasonable £339, directly form makers XGIMI. It has a unique design that I can't quite describe but you could actually leave this out and it would look like a piece of art. The Elfin is another Netflix-licensed projector, and can give you a screen size of around 150inches, with a powerful 3w dual speaker system – all encased in just 2.
5inches. It's unique rotation system means you can project at all angles, and it auto-aligns for perfect viewing. For me, the price coupled with the really well-thought out design makes this a must have for anyone in the projector market who doesn't want to shell out a ridiculous amount of money for one.
I would even say to get this over a standard TV – the cost of 150inch compared to this makes it a no-brainer. Ice cream. For one.
Made in about 25 minutes. Need I say more? Well, yes, because otherwise that would be a terrible review. For £40, this is a must-have device for any ice cream fan – or a parent with a child who loves ice cream.
I had a lot of fun making the mixtures and watching it turn into ice cream alongside my daughter. She was mesmerised at being able to literally see ice cream come together in front of our eyes, especially when you consider the recipes it comes with are so short and require hard any ingredients. It's also super easy to wash, and simple to make it work.
It does lose a point for being quite loud, however it's not on long enough for that to be a massive issue. A winner, and a 9/10 for me. SodaStream has been around for decades (as my mother keeps telling me), but the latest iteration of it has breathed some new life into the brand.
Dubbed “art,” it has a unique soft-press carbonation lever, meaning you're not fearing for your life every time you pub some bubbles into your drinks. It very much does what it says on the tin, yet takes up very little counter top space – something which surprised me. Although the UK's SodaStream flavour market is limited, if you're a fan of Diet Pepsi, it does work out a solid cost-saving long-term investment to to grab one of these.
For the machine plus one cannister of CO2, it's around £139.99, and you'll be saving on the cost of a 24-can pack of drink within a few months if you're a regular drinker. 10/10 – another device that does what it promises, and does it well.
PC gaming is a huge market, and it's been a long time since someone made a controller worthy of hardcore PC gaming. I put the Cyclone 2 through its paces while playing the newly-launched Spiderman 2 game – and it held up well. I love the see-through look of it, and the built-in LED lights.
It feels very much like a quality XBOX controller, and responds well to intense gaming. I wasn't too keen on the extra buttons on the back, as they confused me far too often, but it has far more positives than negatives – especially for the price. It also comes with a sleek-looking charging dock, which sits nicely on most gaming desks without intruding.
Well worth the current price of £55.99 on Amazon. A solid 8/10.
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