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G A D G E T S & M O R E With technology writer Jonathan Margolis

H E A D M A S T E R S GUIDE

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READY, STEADY, GO The travel tech you need to pack to stay charged, connected and stress-free PLUG IN

The latest on-ear headphones will delight music connoisseurs, featuring wireless noise-cancelling technology to transform a listening experience M usic lovers, whether casual fans, demanding audiophiles or serious hi-fi enthusiasts, look for seven key qualities in a Bluetooth headphone. Sound quality comes first, and in a wireless headset the standard of the Bluetooth connection is part of that. The sweetest sound is spoiled by constant disconnections. Lightness is important, comfort more so; if you end up with sore, sweaty ears, the best sound quality will be lost on you. Battery life, which used to be a major restriction, has

INSIDER

If you’re travelling with a powerful device, you’ll need an adaptor with welly. This one has up to 1,575W of available energy, enough to keep your laptop and hairdryer from failing. Skross World Travel Adaptor, £39, page 106

The art of sound Meet the designer behind Bang & Olufsen’s latest speaker and discover how she marries objects of desire with unparalleled sound quality

any people assume a designer simply tosses a rough napkin sketch on the table and leaves the room, later to arrive at the

a pebble on the beach is striking. “Much like a pebble, the appearance of P2 is rounded and desirable and it fits perfectly in the palm of your hand,” Manz says of the curvaceous piece of portable tech that emerged from her highly collaborative work with B&O’s electronics and sound engineering teams. In linewith that beach-pebble aesthetic, the P2 has no switches or buttons. To make using it a simple, near-magical experience, just a double tap or shake will set it to play, pause, skip tracks and more. The epitome of Danish design, style and technical prowess, the P2 is small enough to pop in a pocket or handbag. Perfection in a pebble, indeed. Find NEW B&O Beoplay P2, opposite;

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improved hugely of late – many good models will keep going for an entire long-haul flight. Then there’s noise-cancelling, which didn’t even exist on wireless headphones in their infancy and is now offered on many models. Lastly, the more you can do to control volume, mute the sound and change tracks by touching the outside of the ear cups, the

POWER ON Don’t leave anything to chance on your travels. This multi-head 3-in-1 charger can plug in to a power outlet or you can charge devices via the built-in powerbank. Manniska Super Charger, £55, page 106

launch party and drink Champagne,” says Cecilie Manz (above), the celebrated Copenhagen-based creator of Bang & Olufsen’s Bluetooth wireless speaker, the smooth-contoured Beoplay P2. But Manz explains that the process with Denmark’s iconic B&O is quite different from that. “Working with sound is quite a demanding task, with many complex details to keep track of, so you really need to focus and stay in the ‘nerdy’ zone. With the P2, the key point was its small size in combination with best possible sound. We wanted

NEW BANG & OLUFSEN Beoplay P2 Personal Bluetooth Speaker

better the wireless experience will be. Our two selections, Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay H9 3.0 (left) and JBL’s Tune (below), tick all of the above boxes. In the H9 every requirement is

A truly personal and fully portable Bluetooth speaker with rich, full-bodied sound. Designed for a great personal experience, wherever you go, the P2 slips easily into a bag or pocket. Shake or tap it to access smart features via the Beoplay app and enjoy up to 10 hours of Bang & Olufsen signature sound on one battery charge. Designed by Cecilie Manz (see interview opposite), with its pearl-blasted, anodised aluminium grille and leather strap, the P2 is a stylish piece of high-quality tech.

fulfilled with timeless B&O style and quality – and with noise-cancelling and Bluetooth on, it keeps up its audio magic for 25 hours on a charge, while cosseting your ears in memory foam-covered lambskin. The JBL Tune, too, has a fantastic specification for the price and is also perfect for in-flight use. Find NEW Beoplay H9 3.0, £430, page 103; and JBL Tune, £99, page 106

LINK UP This handy

piece of kit is the new travel must-have – a multi-adaptor cable

and B&O designs by Manz, such as the Beolit 17 Speaker, left, on pages 102-103

to make it smooth and pocket-friendly, so the shape came before the components.” The result is a tiny player

made of indestructible Kevlar. No more worn or broken wires. Swipe Pro Cable, £20, page 105

Long-Haul Flights £140 SAVE £10 (RRP £150) EL934

with a mighty sound, whose resemblance to

C A R D S H A R P

EXPERT

F E A T U R E S :

Magic is having a moment and Marvin Berglas, one of the world’s most innovative magicians and founder of Marvin’s Magic, has inspired millions. Magic often begins with one trick, so with your Marvin’s Magic Playing Cards at the ready, search for Berglas on YouTube and learn how to perform a simple trick in minutes. £10, page 109

T H E P O C K E T G Y M

• 10-hour play time • Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity • 2-hour charging • Product size: 140 x 80 x 28mm • Android, iPhone and Apple watch compatible

Let the Activ5 portable smart device coach you through a series of personalised high-impact workouts, wherever you are. Choose from a variety of isometric workouts, and set goals to aim for – whether you focus on one area via, say, the Butt Burner or Awesome Abs, or take the Activ5 challenge, a six-week full-body

programme. There are special routines for times when you’re watching TV, in a car, on a train, or even on a plane. Simply put pressure on the device and try to follow the display’s indicator line. The concentration required to follow the display helps you stay on track with the routine. Very clever coaching! Activ5, £99, page 108

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