Hardware

Published on March 23rd, 2022 | by Adrian Gunning

Long Weekend Vibes – tech to take care of your home, your pets and your sanity before hitting the road

With Easter just around the corner, many Australians are looking at the long weekend as an opportunity to hit the road unencumbered by restrictions for the first time in years. While technology plays an important role in keeping the kids entertained in the car, smart home technology also means that you can use smart assistants to take care of your home while you’re away.

From smart home security cameras, and cleaning your home remotely with the latest robotic vacuums, to keeping your lawn watered and pets fed (for only short trips of course!), smart technology is more accessible and effective than ever before and provides peace of mind that your home is in good shape while you aren’t there. And of course from portable powerbanks to tablets, we’ve included a range of products perfect for parents and kids alike to stay entertained and in control no matter where you are on your journey.

Below are our top 10 long weekend gadgets to get you prepped for the upcoming holiday!

ECOVACS DEEBOT N8 PRO | RRP $799 | Godfreys, JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks and The Good Guys

Meet your new handyman, the DEEBOT N8 PRO. Jampacked with the latest tech from ECOVACS such as the TrueDetect 3D, TrueMapping Technology and OZMO Mopping System. This soon-to-launch robot vacuum has a powerful cleaning performance with ultra-high 2600Pa suction power with a surprisingly low noise level. The TrueDetect 3D Technology gives precise object avoidance for undisrupted cleaning alongside the OZMO™️ Mopping System which can efficiently clean the whole house without the need for repeated stops to top up the water tank. Compatible with your favourite smart speaker, experience convenient, hands-off controls by simply asking your robot to clean or use the smartphone app for personalised cleaning and scheduled control.

+ Auto Emptying Station sold separately for $399

Tech 4 Pets 7L Smart Pet Feeder with Camera | RRP $299.99 | Available at PETStock & Laser Co

The Tech4Pets Smart Pet Feeder with Full 1080P HD Camera (7L) gives your pet a full meal each day even if you are not home. The food bucket has a capacity of 7L enough to provide up to 10 meal portions every day. With the Laser SmartHome App on your mobile phone, you can automatically set up your pet’s mealtime and do them remotely. You can also send push notifications, record footage, and send live video feed to your phone, and listen and speak to your our attention.

Tech 4 Pets 4G Smart Pet Tracker | RRP $199.99 | Available at PETStock & Laser Co

Small and powerful, the Tech4Pets 4G Smart Pet Tracker allows you to keep an eye on your pet anytime, wherever you are. With the SeTracker2 App, you can use geo-fence to send an alert to you if your pet leaves a preset safety area. In case of an emergency, press and hold the SOS button to immediately call you and if you do not answer, the pendant tracker will circularly call 3 preset emergency numbers. The GPS and historical route tracks your pet’s exact location anytime. To save on battery, the power saving mode pauses the tracker if your pet is not active or resting.

Laser SmartHome Wireless Pan & Tilt Smart Security Camera | RRP $49.95 | Stockist: Big WLaserco.com.au

Discrete and compact the Laser Smarthome Full HD Pan/Tilt Camera is the perfect security solution to keep an eye on kids & pets at home, or as an indoor surveillance camera for a small business. Rest assured with the advanced motion detection and night vision capabilities of the Laser Smarthome Full HD Pan/Tilt Camera. Unexpected movement day or night the camera will send you an alert via the app. If something is happening in your home, you’ll be the first to know about it. With Pan/Tilt functionality you can control the camera to show exactly what you want.

CONNECT Water Controller | RRP $179.95 | Stockist: JB Hi-FiHarvey Norman

Maintain your lawn or garden intelligently with the CONNECT Smart Water Controller. Simply install the CONNECT SmartHome app and you can ensure your plants receive the right amount of water from anywhere and anytime at the touch of a button. Set smart schedules and timers to not only keep your plants healthy, but also minimize water wastage. The CONNECT SmartHome app also allows you to automate watering based on your local weather conditions, allowing you to sit back and enjoy the results.

Tech That’s Got You Covered No Matter Where You Are

Belkin SoundForm Mini On Ear Wireless Headphones for Kids | RRP $39.95 from Big W in BlackBlueor White

Perfect for when your kids are watching videos or listening to music from the back seat, these premium kids headphones are designed especially for them. They feature easy pairing and intuitive controls, a volume cap of 85dB* keeps them safe during longer listening sessions, and a battery life of up to 30 hours.

Belkin Magnetic Car Vent Mount | RRP $54.95 | JB Hi Fi, belkin.com.auand other leading retailers across Australia and New Zealand

For those looking to keep their eye on the road for the long drive this Easter, the Magnetic Car Vent Mount safely keeps iPhone 12 models conveniently and securely on display through all the road’s bumps and bends. The sturdy base and vent clip keeps users mounts safely in place while a powerful magnetic module provides easy one-handed mounting. Users can start their playlist in portrait and flip to landscape with the twist of your wrist for navigation. When the trip gets long, plugging in is easy with intuitive cable management that keeps the charging cable out of the way while still within reach.

Belkin BOOSTCHARGE Powerbank 10K Multiport | RRP $59.95 | Available at Belkin.com/au, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and other major retailers

The Belkin BOOSTCHARGE Powerbank 10K Multiport comes equipped with a 10,000 mAh battery to give up to an additional 36 hours of battery life to your smartphone, and can charge multiple devices at once. The 10,000 mAh battery delivers 15W across one USB-C and two USB-A ports to keep you linked in and powered up; together.

Laser Portable DVD Player 10” Screen | Big W | RRP $119

If a packed backseat is always a recipe for sibling arguments, Laser’s Portable DVD Player is sure to be a hit. Able to play movies from DVD discs or a USB drive, the options are endless for hours of entertainment. With large 7-10 inch LCD screens, the DVD Player can be recharged via a wall or car power adaptor and complete with earphones in the box, you can enjoy peace and quiet in the car while the kids quietly watch their favourite show in the backseat.

TCL TAB 10S 2022 | $399 AUD | Stockists: Big W, Bing Leeand Mobileciti

Featuring a powerful chipset for great performance, 64GB of internal memory that can be expanded, intelligent eye protection and the stunning NXTVISION Display that TCL Mobile is known for, the 10-inch TCL TAB 10S offers a portable entertainment alternative no matter where you are. Standard inclusions of a Stylus Pen and Flip Protective Case means it’s ready to go straight out of the box!


About the Author

agun@impulsegamer.com'

Adrian lives in Melbourne Australia and has a huge passion for gaming, technology and pop culture. He recently finished his a Bachelor of Journalism and is currently focusing on games journalism. When not writing and playing video games, Adrian can be found in Comics 'R' Us debating the pros of the DC Universe and cons of the Marvel Universe.



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