Gadget Girl- Wrappz

My iPad and I are pretty much surgically attatched these days. It took me a while to warm to it, really I didn’t have much need for it until I started spending weekends at Ben- it came in to it’s own there, allowing me to keep up with social media (yes, I’m a twitter addict and constant instagrammer) whilst Ben was watching football or playing guitar. Our bond deepend when I was put on sick leave in November due to my back, and again since I had the operation, sitting down is pretty painful when you’ve had your lower spine messed with so being propped up on bed yet still able to interact with people really made a difference and helped me feel a bit less isolated.
It’s only fitting, given how much I use it that my iPad has a snazzy home right? I have a few folding cases and a sleeve for it but for some time had been thinking about getting a hard case as well. It was oppurtune timing when Wrappz got in touch asking me if I’d like a custom case and of course I said yes!
Who or what better to have on a case than my little minx, Mae? I do try and feature her on the blog when I can, but getting her to stay still or cooperate with anything is near impossible so here she is in iPad case form! I was so impressed with the quality of my case from Wrappz, the photo has come out brilliantly and when you design your product there is a handy guide on the website to give you a good idea of what the real thing will look like. Delivery was so quick too, within three days I had this through the door and ready to roll!
The website is super easy to use, with the option of uploading your own photographs/images or selecting from pre-existing ones. The instructions are step by step and there are cases available for a vast number of different electronic devices (you know, except my phone- there never is for a reason- my phone is so rubbish it shouldn’t even exist- er, sorry for that rant!). If you want to test Wrappz out for yourself they have kindly given me a code for you to use to claim a free phone skin (not solid like a case, more like a sticker that can be removed and re-used easily.)
To claim your free phone skin you just need to pop on to the website and hover over the “skins” tab to select your phone model. All you need to do is get creating then enter the code freeskin at the checkout, you’ll need to pay for the p&p but that’s it! Enjoy and let me know what you create!

end

Gadget Girl- Little Black Box

My trusty old laptop is becoming a little less trusty. Age is catching up with it and every so often it throws a fit and crashes for no reason. It worries me as one day it won’t turn back on and I’ll have once again lost everything (you’d think I would have learnt from the demise of my previous laptop several years ago). Even if I manage to afford a new blogging buddy before this one goes to the scrapheap in the sky I’ll be hard pushed to recover everything off it, thankfully Tesco Compare came to my rescue by providing me with an external hard drive to back up everything that’s important to me.
There are many benefits to be had from an external hard drive that I had never really considered before. It was always something I was meaning to get but never quite got around to. I have to say it’s a worthy investment though- backing up my photos, blog files, music and downloads was really quick and easy. Did you know that home insurance will often cover the loss of digital downloads and music should anything happen to it? I didn’t and I’m glad now that I do.
Hard drives often have a very large capacity, my model is 3TB (or 3000GB). This is much bigger than my laptop’s storage space so I had no worries about being able to get everything on there and it’s also a secure storing space for photos or videos that you don’t have space for on your computer (vloggers and bloggers take note!)
It also means all of your information is portable so if you moved house and say, your computer got lost in the move you would still have everything in one (fairly) light weight space. Brilliant.
I’m no longer so worried about my laptop’s days being numbered, everything is backed up and ready to be transferred to it’s successor and I never need fear about losing precious photos my music library again.

Gadget Girl: Loud and Proud with UE MINI BOOM

I’m still working on getting properly back in to music. Since being with Ben I’ve rediscovered the joys of it and also become a fan of many new artists. Most days you’ll find me with Spotify open and yet another new album playing, mostly on my iPad, so when I was offered a trial of a UE MINI BOOM portable Bluetooth speaker I was totally up for it.
The speaker itself looks quite unassuming due to it’s small size, but don’t be fooled. This can really pack a punch with the clearest sound I’ve ever heard from a bluetooth speaker. The design is great, so minimal and bold with it’s colour combinations (there are five to choose from). The compact design and easy to use controls makes this the perfect travel buddy, whether you’re taking it to a party of much, much further afield. I think it’d make the perfect festival friend myself. It boasts a ten hour battery life and a 50ft wireless radius, as well as being able to be paired with two devices at any one time. Genius. Speakers can be stacked together for more of an impact and there is a handy App available for more cool features.
Overall this is hands down the best bluetooth speaker I have tried (at least three others spring to mind) and at £79 it’s an affordable investment. Music lovers, give your sound some style! (Did I mention it also provides a crystal clear speakerphone too?!)

end

Gadget Girl- my bag buddy from Breo

I’m not one who’s blessed with the skill mult-tasking. I’m also obsessive about being on time for things. This can prove problematic, I’ve lost count of how many things I’ve tripped over or walked in to whilst trying to dig my phone out my bag to check the time (of course, I never remember to leave the house wearing a watch). When Breo announced their Bag Buddy watch range and I was offered one to review my problems were finally solved and I’ve not been late, or damaged myself/anything else since the day it arrived.
At £15 (and free delivery) I see this as a sound investment. My bag buddy has been sitting happily on my bag strap for weeks now…I haven’t been out much, obviously, but the times I have it’s been invaluable. I don’t really notice it’s there to be honest, it doesn’t annoy me when I walk or anything like that. But I have the time, right there ready to be checked. I can really see this coming in to it’s own when I’m back to travelling through town to visit Ben and have to co-ordinate bus times…that’s when the most of my mishaps occur. This is quite simply a brilliant innovation. Lately I’ve been getting in to all sorts of gadgety bits and bobs and this is so far my favourite. I’d love to see it in more colours- one for every bag, obviously. For anyone who fails to multi-task, or travels a lot/makes a daily commute this gets a 10/10 from me. My new best buddy!
Fellow clumsy people, regale me with tales of your best accidents, make me feel less alone in this.

end

Gadget Girl- Win an iPad mini case with Logitech.

Hands up anyone who barely trusts themselves with an expensive gadget? I have both hands raised, I am an accident waiting to happen- just last night I tipped a cup of boiling tea all over my leg narrowly missing my iPad, ouch. For this reason I am a big fan of protective gadget cases. A while ago I was sent a fabulous one from the folks at Logitech and now they are kindly giving five (yes five!) readers of my blog a chance to win their own too.
The Prize: One of five Logitech Folio Protective Cases for iPad Mini worth £39.99. There are 3 Fantasy Pink cases available and 2 in Acid Yellow.
How to Win:  to win you need to leave a comment on this blog post with your answer to the question “Tell us why your iPad Mini need the most protection?”
Basically we want to hear how many near-misses you’ve had with your iPad mini and what the worst/best/funniest one was. Along with this answer I’ll also need a way to contact you, e-mail or twitter is fine.
The giveaway will run for two weeks, closing on Wednesday 12th March at 6pm. After that five winners will be randomly selected from all elidgible entries and contacted by me. Prizes will be sent direct from the lovely folks at Logitech.
Open to UK entrants only, to qualify you MUST answer the question and leave me a means of getting in touch.
Good Luck! I’m looking forward to reading your answers.

end