10 handy gadgets & accessories for travellers

[nextpage title="Next"] So, a trip's on the cards. You might think that going travelling is about switching off your gadgets and switching into relaxation mode, but even the most minimalistic of travellers can benefit from these electronic essentials. We've put together a list of some of the handiest travel gadgets around today. From waterproof cases…

8 ingenious ways of making a small space seem bigger

This time last year, a quarter of 20- to 34-year-olds in the UK still lived with their parents. It's easy to see why: if you live in the capital, you'll know all too well that London rent prices are literally going through the roof, with pint-sized studios going for mind-boggling prices. But even if you…

Crisp sandwich café opens in Belfast

A café in Belfast has embraced a tantalising food theme to lure in customers: crisp sandwiches. Possibly the first of its kind in the world, the 'Simply Crispy' café emerged from the embers of an ordinary food venue on Belfast's Bedford Street after owners decided on a radical rebrand. Satirical website the Ulster Fry first…

Minnesota brothers build huge and incredible snow sculptures

Post by Bartz Snow Sculptures. We may be pretty snow-less here in the UK, but across the pond, three brothers are hard at work building some massive sculptures. As the Huffington Post writes, Bartz brothers Austin, Trevor and Connor have just completed a 12-foot-high sea turtle sculpture in their backyard. The trio has been working…

CES 2015: Parrot’s self-watering devices monitor your plant’s needs

Not all of us are blessed with green fingers, so it might be interesting to know that Parrot, the company better known for drones and headphones, has unveiled a self-watering plant device and a watering stick at CES this week. Named 'Pot' and 'H2O', the new products send information to your smartphone via an app…

CES 2015: Intel announces diversity programme for women & minorities

Computer chip corporation Intel has announced a diversity programme to encourage more women and minorities into careers in technology. In its much-praised keynote speech at CES, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich championed diversity, pledging $300 million in a serious effort to support better representation in technology and gaming. 'I'm announcing our intention to lead by example.…

CES 2015: Nest’s new partnerships mean smarter homes are on the way

Interconnected homes seem to be a theme at this year's CES, and smart thermostat company Nest has taken it to another level by announcing new partnerships with more than a dozen brands. Google-owned Nest made its name selling a web-enabled thermostat and smoke detector, reports The Next Web. The 15 new partners, including LG and…

CES 2015: mamaRoo self-rocking baby seat now app-controlled

Over at CES where the ShinyShiny team are hard at work sourcing the latest gadgets, an upgraded form of the popular mamaRoo infant seat is being showcased to demonstrate its new function: app control. Designed by company 4Moms, the popular infant seat was first introduced back in 2010, so will be well-known to many. It's…

CES 2015: Nikon introduces entry-level D5500 DSLR with touchscreen

With use of DSLR cameras on the decline, we are beginning to see more 'accessible', mid-range cameras enter the market. Over at CES, camera giant Nikon has unveiled its first touchscreen DSLR, the D5500, which represents a small leap forward from its predecessor, the D5300. The 3.2 inch vari-angle touchscreen is the biggest improvement on…

CES 2015: Google Chromecast opens up for streaming music to connected speakers

This week at CES 2015, Google has announced that its streaming dongle, Chromecast, will now be available for streaming to speakers and soundbars. The Chromecast, which can be purchased for as little as £30 in the UK, simply plugs into a television via HDMI and offers a wireless gateway to video, music, photos and apps…