Guide to the best gadgets

TDK Life On Record In-ear Stereo Headphones

When you first see these dinky things they appear to be pretty unremarkable. But then you notice the braided cable as opposed to the usual tangle-prone wire and think maybe, just maybe, TDK has solved a long-running hunk of annoyance that personal stereo users have had to contend with from day one. You know when you put socks in the laundry and one always goes missing? A similar thing happens with headphone cables, right? Put them in your bag or pocket for a few minutes and they'll come out looking like a bowl of spaghetti. Thankfully, these passed the pocket test with ease, having avoided forming themselves into even the loosest of knots. Cable aside, they have great sound — crisp, clear and packing some serious bass. The foam tips do a good job at blocking ambient noise, though they do have a tendency to slip out of the ear after prolonged use.
At all electronics stores, Dh257

NIKE Mercurial Vapor Superfly III

Once upon a time football boots came in any colour you liked — so long as they were black. But today's footballer is as flashy on the pitch as off it. He's not just an athlete, he's a strutting, hair-gelled peacock and he needs boots that reflect his colourful personality (that counts Michael Owen out then). Nike's latest soccer boot, the Mercurial Vapor Superfly III (sounds a bit like an insect repellent to us) comes in shocking pink and yellow and has an array of cutting edge features that claim to enhance performance. There is also a custom fit service at selected Niketown outlets.
Available at select Nike outlets. Dh1,995

Asus VX7

The Asus-Automobili Lamborghini VX7 could be the world's most conspicuous laptop. While it's not the kind of thing you want to take into a serious business meeting (unless that meeting is with a Formula One bigwig) it's certainly no slouch when it comes to specs. Asus is hailing it as one of the most capable notebooks it has ever produced. Why? Because it has dedicated graphics for hardcore gaming and multimedia, an unprecedented 3GB of video memory, 16GB of main memory and USB 3.0 as standard — up to ten times the data transfer speed of USB 2.0. Aesthetically it has been designed to reflect the sporty look of the Lamborghini itself, with cooling vents, a power button styled as an engine start key and a top-lid redolent of a bonnet. Just don't make silly "brrm-brrm" car noises as you tap away on the keyboard.
At all electronics stores. Price TBC

MICROMAX 4

Dubbed Gamolution by Micromax, this phone is capable of wireless motion gaming à la Nintendo Wii — and sorry to say, this is probably its only attraction. Apart from the gaming aspect and the affordable price tag (which you would expect from a Micromax device), it performs poorly, if not average, in terms of functionality. It comes equipped with the usual array of features like Bluetooth, media player, FM radio, camera, web browser, e-book reader, pre-installed games, alarm clock, calendar, currency converter, and a decent battery life. The camera takes poor quality images, as expected for a VGA snapper, and video quality is horrific. The FM radio though, does work well, and it also does voice recording. Design wise, the G4 looks nice. The chrome finish makes it look luxurious and the interface is user-friendly. If you're looking for a mobile gaming phone and on a budget, give it a try. But there are better options out there.
At all electronics stores. Price TBC