To celebrate their functionality, here are some amazing air fryer recipes that are sure to bring smiles to your dining table. Keep in mind that all air fryers are different, so some recipes may need to be slightly altered to work properly.

Air fryer mini banana pancake dippers

Pancakes are almost always a crowd pleaser for the whole family. While they probably aren’t the healthiest breakfast option, they are a nice treat every once in a while. What’s great about pancakes is that you can top them with anything you want.

This banana pancake recipe opts for a ‘stuffed pancake dipper’, which can be dipped in melted chocolate, Nutella or maple syrup. To make the recipe easier, you can use a pre-made pancake mix instead of making batter from scratch. Just make sure to mix yours to a thicker consistency than normal pancake batter.

Air fryer personal pizzas

If you’re in a pinch and need a definite crowd pleaser, you can’t go wrong with pizza. What’s great about this recipe is that it makes perfect, personal-sized pizzas. That means that every member of your family can top their pizza to their own liking.

While assembling your pizza in the air fryer can be a bit tricky, the reward of crispy dough and oozing cheese is incomparable to oven-baked pizza, which can be finnicky, unless you have a dedicated pizza oven. Just make sure to cook the dough on its own in the air fryer first, and you’ll be amazed by the final result.

Air fryer pork belly bites

Pork belly is one of the most delicious pieces of meat you can get your hands on. It’s made from the same part of the pig as bacon, but it’s thicker. It’s best served as crispy as you can get it, so air fryers are naturally one of the best ways to cook it. Also, because pork belly has so much natural fat, you arguably don’t have to use any oil.

While this pork belly bite recipe includes oil, I’ve seen other recipes that omit oil. With the calorie savings from less oil, you can afford to make yourself a sauce for the bites once they’re done. There are many sauces that would complement pork belly, but a few of the best options would be chipotle sauce, ponzu sauce and honey garlic sauce.

Air fryer tahini black bean fritters

Swinging the pendulum back over to the healthy side, why not try some vegan fritters that are packed with protein and veggie goodness? Not only are they healthy, they’re also delicious, with flavours like miso, garlic, tahini and white wine vinegar.

What’s great about these tahini black bean fritters is that they can be served in a bun like a burger, in a pita, or on their own with sauce drizzled overtop. Have these for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and enjoy the healthy invigoration.

Air fryer steak and chips

Getting your steak cooked just the way you like it every time can be a bit tricky, especially for less confident cooks. Air fryers can help you take the guesswork out of cooking steak. This recipe can help you with a good starting point, and with the rest of the steps along the way. Once you figure out which temperature and time works best for your air fryer, you can simply use the same setting every time.

If you have a dual-tray air fryer, you can also fry some chips to go with your steak. This recipe can take around 35 minutes. Start before you cook your steak, perhaps while your steak is warming up to room temperature. Just remember to check and shake the chips regularly to ensure that all of them get nice and crispy.

Air fryer potato kievs

While many people have tried chicken kievs before, don’t underestimate potato kievs. They pack delicate, buttery, and cheesy goodness into every bite, and your family will love you for it. However, because they’re packed with butter and cheese, you probably shouldn’t have them every night – though you will want to.

While this recipe calls for garlic butter as the stuffing, there are endless combinations you could try. One enticing option is stuffing your kiev with basil pesto.

Air fryer salmon

Salmon is packed with, protein, vitamins and minerals, as well as omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty fish, like salmon, are part of a balanced diet. But many people prefer the taste of chicken or red meat to salmon, so sadly most people don’t get enough of the nutrients that salmon provides.

However, this maple soy salmon recipe is here to change your mind about salmon. Get ready for a taste-bud adventure, and enjoy it in under 10 minutes of cooking time. With just four ingredients, it’s hard to imagine a meal that’s easier and healthier. You can also use any excess maple soy glaze as a sauce to cook your side vegetables in.

Air fryer beef and broccoli

Who said Chinese takeaway needs to come from a Chinese restaurant? With this recipe, you can emulate the perfect beef and broccoli in the comfort of your own home. The sauce is really the star of the show. Make sure you get all of the ingredients and follow the instructions carefully.

This recipe uses an air fryer, a pot (or instant pot), and a pan, so there is a bit of washing up to do afterwards. But don’t let the ingredient list or washing up stop you – this meal will be a hit with your family.

Air fryer doughnuts

After eating all of those amazing air fryer meals, you might be craving some dessert. But instead of reaching for store-bought sweets, you could try out this air fryer doughnut recipe!

What’s great about homemade doughnuts is that you know exactly what is in them. This means you can adjust the sweetness level to your liking. You can top your doughnuts with whatever you like, but this recipe uses a vanilla glaze – a certified classic.

The possibilities with air fryers are endless, and with these recipes, you can treat your friends and family to a number of flavourful feasts.

The post Best air fryer recipes you need to try today appeared first on Checklists.

Do check in on the kids

Kids will happily while away an entire day if left to their own (ahem) devices. But overdoing screen time can lead to physical problems such as eye strain, neck pain, and sleep disruption, while potentially causing developmental delays in language, creativity, and social skills. For small children, the World Health Organisation recommends no screen time for kids under two and no more than one hour per day for two- to four-year-olds. Setting parental controls on your children’s devices will also help protect older kids from harmful content and encourage a gentle digital detox.

Don’t sleep with your phone

If you’ve ever left your phone charging on your bed at night, you are not alone. 74% of Brits charge devices in their bedrooms, say HR Fire and Safety, who warn that leaving gadgets with lithium-ion batteries charging for long periods can not only reduce your device’s lifespan, but it can also present a major fire hazard. Caused when the heat from your phone is trapped under flammable materials such as pillows and duvets, the London Fire Brigade reports an average of 24 fires each week resulting from overcharging. Save on scares by vowing to charge your phone on a hard, non-flammable surface instead — and always unplug when you’ve reached 100%.

Do stick to the 20-20-20 rule

The nation’s daily average for consuming screen-based media is now almost 7.5 hours, according to the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising, so it is no surprise that many of us complain of having sore peepers. The remedy? Optometrists recommend resetting your vision by taking a break from your screen every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Obviously keeping a timer and tape measures to hand is a little extreme, but simply looking away from your screen regularly to focus on something far away should do the trick.

Don’t shun software updates

Some devices seem to demand software updates more often than Madonna demands a new wardrobe — but remember these annoying notifications are there for good reason. Offering new features, fixes for viruses, and performance improvements, software updates also include new security features which will protect your data and solve known flaws that attackers can use to compromise your technology. The easiest way to stay up to date is to enable automatic updates on all your software and always install promptly when notified. The National Cyber Security Centre is also a great place to start for those needing a quick crash course on software how-tos.

Do look after your battery

Finally, if you suspect that your battery is draining too quickly, it may be time for a little check-up. Small changes like lowering your screen brightness and disabling push notifications can save oodles of energy, as can turning off Wi-Fi when it isn’t needed to stop your phone from constantly searching for a connection. Still at a loss? Try checking your daily usage summary in the battery section of your phone’s settings. You may discover that app you installed two years ago — and haven’t looked at since — is an energy vampire.

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But with the positives that come with cool features, there are some negatives as well. Now, there’s no reason to worry about your smart home overpowering you with sentient artificial intelligence, yet. But, there are some things to consider, positive and negative, before you convert your home to a smart home.

Pros

Energy efficiency

With smart climate-control systems, you can change your home’s temperature with the help of an app, whether you’re in bed or on the go. This allows you to keep your home cooler while you’re away, and some of the new systems allow the smart climate-control systems to introduce even more efficiency with smart technologies. These systems can change your home temperature based on the weather forecast and other sensory technology.

Other smart technologies like smart bulbs can help increase your home’s efficiency as well. You can control lighting from an app and even dim lights and change their colour temperature to enhance certain activities.

Convenience for the elderly, young, or those with limited mobility

For most people, the reason to make their home a smart home is convenience. Smart homes can help take care of some of the more monotonous task in life.

But for some people, smart homes offer an opportunity to stay in their home, or more easily complete tasks that may otherwise be challenging. For example, for those with limited mobility, smart homes allow them to control their homes with the touch of an app or with voice control.

For kids, smart home features can provide a source of entertainment, or help restrict their screen time. They can also help you keep your family safer, with front-door cameras and the option to unlock the door when the babysitter comes by.

Ease of access

In general, smart home features make your household devices more accessible. You can control them with your voice while you’re home, or with your phone while at home or out-and-about. This can make your life much easier and save you plenty of time in the long run.

The benefits of this central control go beyond simply turning lights on and off from your phone. With the newest smart home technologies, you can schedule a cup of coffee each morning, check your fridge contents while you’re at the shop and adjust the temperatures in specific rooms – bring on the easy life!

Customisation

Your home should feel like it’s yours, and smart home features help make your house a home. With increased control of your devices, you can do much more with each of them.

Something as simple as changing the warmth or colour of your lights to help you wind down before bed or to help enhance your movies can better align your home with your personal preferences. Programming certain things to happen at certain times helps as well. For example, you could schedule your blinds to go down at night and up in the morning. You could also let the automated systems learn your habits and adjust accordingly. These examples are really what smart homes are meant for.

One of the newer, yet less technical trends populating homes lately are smart lighting panels. These can add a pop of colour to your bedroom, display images with the help of an app, and even react to the music playing from your speakers.

Minimise risks

Some smart home technologies aim to prevent damage to your home and health. These offer enhanced peace of mind for you, your loved ones, and your wallet.

Water pressure sensors and leak sensors can save you a big headache when it comes to water leaks and frozen pipes. They can send you a notification that something is wrong and adjust water pressure accordingly. It’s easy to see a future in which they could call the highest-rated plumber in your area and you could let them in while you’re away.

Monetary incentives

With increased energy efficiency and home safety features, smart homes end up being a win-win for a number of entities.

Government bodies like to promote green initiatives and sustainability. There are probably programmes or incentives from your local and national governments to help fund your smart home conversion. Many countries and counties are trying to limit their usage of water, electricity, and gas.

Insurance companies are also interested in smart homes, and will likely offer lower insurance premiums for specific features. They are most interested in enhanced security features like cameras and smart locks. They are also interested in damage-mitigation technologies like water leakage sensors.

Increased home value

With the pull to make life easier and save time and money, smart homes are becoming more and more valuable. Homes with integrated smart features can attract a pretty penny.

The main features that can increase a home’s value are energy savers like smart thermostats, home safety features like smart leak sensors and smart smoke sensors and other valuable technologies like premium smart appliances.

New features

One of the biggest benefits of smart homes is the range of gadgets and appliances you can get, and what they can – and will be able to – accomplish. Smart gadgets have the power to utilise wifi to communicate with apps or each other. Some can also automate tasks and use AI integration to make changes to automation schedules.

Some of the newer technologies include robot vacuums that can identify your pet’s waste, smart doorbells that can identify your friends and family, smart fridges that can tell you when your food expires, and smart ovens that can adjust cooking temperature if your food is overcooking, to name a few. It’s easy to see how these products could make your life easier.

The benefits of automation and AI-driven automation are also exciting and helpful. Walking around your home without touching any of the lights is pretty cool. Sprinkler systems that can adjust to the weather forecast to avoid overwatering are useful as well. The limits of machine learning have not been reached yet, and the practical applications are slowly being integrated.

Security

The ability to have cameras and motion sensors inside and outside of your home, as well as connecting to and receiving security alerts through an app on your phone can bring a hefty amount of peace to your worries, especially if you have kids or pets. One of the best luxuries is the ability to check up on your kids or make sure your door is locked after you leave. These features undeniably make your house more secure.

But the fact that smart homes are, by nature, connected to the internet and interconnected means that they could be hacked or monitored.

Cons

Security and privacy concerns

So, you want to furnish your home with the latest smart tech, and you want it to collect all the information possible so it can adjust itself to your habits and preferences?

Well, with all that information, there will be people looking to capitalise. The first concern would be if someone hacked into your main interface to control your key security systems like your doors, windows and alarm. If someone was able to control these systems, they could easily break in to your home.

On the other hand, privacy concerns in regards to big corporate entities and governments have been a hot-button issue since Edward Snowden blew the whistle on widespread monitoring programs. Basically everyone is vulnerable to these concerns due to the fact that smartphones exist. But, the level of tracking and amount of cameras and sensors in smart homes takes these concerns to another level. If you don’t want to be tracked, many smart home features won’t interest you.

Costs

While cost savings and energy efficiency are at the heart of smart home systems, the costs associated with installing these systems can be quite pricey. So, while they might save you money in the long run, the initial cost can be daunting.

One way to minimise the cost of installation is to focus on smart home technologies one step at a time. For example, you could begin with a smart camera system or a smart thermostat, and then work your way towards smart lighting, smart appliances and smart locks.

Another way to help minimise costs is to do the installation and configuration yourself. While some smart devices are easy to set up, some are quite complicated and may not work easily.

Internet issues

Because all of your smart devices, and your smart hub, need to be connected to the internet to do the ‘smart’ things that they do, wifi accessibility and strength throughout your home is essential. It’s definitely worth investing in a top-of-the-line wifi system. Another option is to buy a mesh router system to ensure that all of your devices have a strong connection.

But with heavy reliance on wifi, if any connection issues arise, it could cause some of your devices to lose their abilities. If everything in your home is smart, a power failure or network issue could leave you in a pickle.

However, many smart devices have backup control options. So, if there is an extended wifi outage, you can still complete tasks.

Compatibility issues

There are now a handful of brands in the smart device game. They all seem to want you to get their entire range of smart devices, or the ones that are compatible with their hubs. But this can get tricky if you prefer a specific product, even if it’s not compatible with your smart hub. For example, you might like some of the features of a certain TV, but if it’s not compatible with your Amazon hub, its smart features are rendered useless.

Now, there is a movement in the industry to alleviate this divide. Matter is shaping up to be the industry standard that allows all of the big players to play nicely. The goal is to allow your assistant or hub of choice to control any Matter-compatible device – and to eliminate hubs as a whole.

Matter is supposed to make smart devices easier to use and purchase. As long as you see ‘Matter’ on the product or in the description, it will be compatible with your system. But so far, Matter hasn’t covered all of the bases. Individual manufacturers can still set their own boundaries on how much you can control with their competitor’s assistant. This means you might not be able to tell Alexa to change very specific settings for your Apple product. Also, Matter doesn’t cover every type of product yet, as of October 2023, video cameras have not been integrated into Matter.

Complicated interfaces

Matter alleviates some of the complications surrounding device compatibility. But for less tech-savvy consumers, it could still be daunting and confusing to set up and manage your smart devices. Many people seek smart technology to help them automate the more mundane tasks in their life, like turning lights on and off, but some may find it challenging to make everything work in the way that they envision.

Furthermore, smart devices update their software regularly, which can sometimes cause your devices to get a bit buggy. Smart home systems are supposed to make life easier rather than harder; and this could frustrate some people.

With all of the options available and all of the benefits and drawbacks, it can be hard to decide whether a smart home is for you or not. However, the development of smart homes into the new norm will leave many behind if they don’t take the plunge. Smart homes seem to be a linear advance in the tech and housing industries, similar to the boom of AI and electric vehicles.

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging, please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

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For example, light therapy tools have been touted to help promote skin elasticity and encourage the natural production of collagen. They are also designed as a way to contribute to reducing the appearance of acne while easing redness.

So, if you have been considering exploring light therapy at home and aren’t sure where to begin, there are a couple of things to consider when choosing the right therapy for you.

‘Engage the skin ecosystem’

Through his vast professional experience and full dedication to the skin’s support system, celebrity skin specialist Pietro Simone wanted to provide the masses with a tool that was able to effectively enhance the everyday skincare routine.

His Pietro Simone Fierce Stimulator is a unique device with four skin-loving technologies and over 15 years of skin science packed into an easy-to-use handheld tool. Here, tiny electrical pulses, therapy light, radio waves and soothing massage work together to give your skin the ultimate refresh.

A deeply personal experience

Just prep your skin and choose red or blue and your intensity level of low, medium or high for a personalised facial massage and enhanced treatment session. The deep stimulation has been designed to help promote blood flow to the surface. This can help support natural collagen production while giving your facial muscles a little workout. So when the muscles tone up, they can lift the skin above them.

The goal is to encourage the look of firmer and fresher-looking skin with regular use. The Pietro Simone Fierce Stimulator is safe for all skin types and can tone for four to six minutes per area on each mode.

Perfect when used alongside his FIERCE skincare range, you can achieve a smoother and fresher-looking appearance whatever your skin type.

The FIERCE Skin Stimulator is available at currentbody.com

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email laura@hurstmediacompany.co.uk or editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post The futuristic 4-in-1 light therapy beauty device you can use at home appeared first on Checklists.

Biofuel Burners

It’s hard to not see the appeal of having a real fire in your front room. Cosy, inviting, warming; a log fire is full of atavistic charm. Bioethanol fuel can be an efficient and cheap way to heat your home and can make for the ideal choice for those atmospheric nights around a real flame-experience fire.

Not only that they are fuss-free, with no waste needing to be removed and cleaned out afterward, what’s more, bioethanol fuels are virtually aroma-free too, and can even be scented, with aromas, such as ‘light pine’ being available from some manufacturers.

Another plus-point on the list for biofuel burners is that there’s no chimney required, no flue to install, no cables to connect and no mains power needed. Many burners are even portable and semi-portable, so can be moved from room to room, or from outside to inside as your mood (and the weather) takes you.

This lovely Ledbury bioethanol fireplace features a ceramic ‘log set’ built into the design, for that authentic-looking, homely feel.

Visit imaginfires.co.uk

Globus Biofuel Heater

This cool-looking Globus heater would make for a great focal point in any room. Its functional simplicity means that it can be easily moved from room to room or positioned for best effect in moments. Its contemporary curves house a centre section shielded by two sections of 6mm tempered stay-clear safety glass and its smokeless burn means there are no connections, flues, or chimneys required.

Its one-litre fuel capacity means it can burn for up to three and a half hours and deliver a heat output of approximately 2kw – a bit less than an electric heater on a medium setting.

Visit imaginfires.co.uk

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats allow you to connect your central heating to your smart devices, such as mobile phones, tablets and computers, so the temperature can be controlled from anywhere you might be. Smart thermostats can help reduce your heating costs by programming in exactly when you might be home or away, and at what times, so that you only use the energy you need.

The top-line smart thermostats also use AI to adjust your heating and cooling schedule based on how long it takes your home to heat up or cool down, further adding to the energy you’re saving. Some of the most hi-tech even have ‘open window detection’ – so you don’t waste energy by heating your home if a window is left open by accident.

Nest Learning Thermostat

One of the most futuristic thermostats on the market at the moment, this hi-tech gadget learns from your behaviours, preferences and surroundings through a combination of algorithms, sensors, machine learning, and cloud computing to precisely keep your home perfectly comfortable and to conserve energy while you’re away.

It automatically programs itself to learn your preferred settings, temperatures and schedule over time, so there’s no need to fiddle around adjusting the thermostat settings when you are away or at home with an irregular schedule, or the seasons change.

Super simple to use, this gadget saves you money, saves energy and looks pretty cool too.

Visit cityplumbing.co.uk

Honeywell evohome

evohome is a sophisticated heating system that allows you to create and individually control the heating in up to 12 rooms in your home.

evohome’s ‘zoning’ ability means that programs can be designed for even the simplest of property layouts, and is suitable for controlling individual room temperatures in larger properties such as luxury apartments and large family homes.

With multiple temperature sensing devices and touchscreen control, the user can quickly gain control of exactly where and when the property should be heated, with remote access available via a tablet or smart phone, and each rooms’ individual temperatures, cleanly and simply displayed.

Visit honeywellhome.com

Smart Fans and Circulators

Air purifiers and air cleaners are more important than ever before, especially in urban environments. Factor in hot and cold weather and you are looking for a very specific piece of kit to fulfil your needs.

Heating or cooling a room while simultaneously removing contaminants from the air to improve indoor air quality means you can benefit from the comfort of a temperature-controlled environment. All while reducing allergens, pollutants, eliminating second-hand tobacco smoke and even the household chemicals that can be found in textiles and upholstery.

DYSON Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 Smart Air Purifier

A bit of a mouthful its name might be, but when you do it all, you need to let people know! This top-of-the-range bit of kit from renowned maker, Dyson, is a space-age-looking gadget that captures dust, allergens and bacteria. It has been designed to remove 99.95% of ultrafine particles from the air, purifing the whole room to a HEPA H13 standard.

This Dyson purifier automatically senses and removes contaminants and pollutants with its three sensors constantly analysing the air – its unique algorithm cross-checks data every second to precisely monitor, display and reacts to your air quality.

Suitable for room size up to 27m², it even creates air quality reports that you can view in real-time on the LCD screen, or have them sent directly to your phone or tablet using the Dyson Link app.

Visit currys.co.uk

Meaco Air Circulator

At the budget end of the range is this super-effective air circulator from meaco. This great looking gadget works by displacing all the air in the entire room – circulating a huge 1,056 cubic metres of air per hour – to keep warm stagnant air moving and to keep you cool.

Even though it boasts such a high volume of air movement, it’s 12-speed settings are virtually silent, so there’s no harsh fan sound or strong fan ‘blast’ that can leave you feeling chilly after long periods.

Its almost 360-degrees of air circulation mean that you can place it out of the way against a wall or other flat surface and its vertical and horizontal oscillation means it will still function as it should to ensure the whole room feels fresh and clear.

Visit meaco.com

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email laura@hurstmediacompany.co.uk or editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

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1. iRobot® Roomba® s9+

When it comes to robo-vacs, the Roomba s9+ represents the sci-fi future we’ve all dreamt of, because it empties itself! Freedom from cleaning? Hooray!

This Wi-Fi connected robot vacuum features automatic dirt disposal, emptying its bin into a disposable bag that holds up to 30 loads of dirt and dust, so you don’t have to think about vacuuming for weeks at a time. Dreamy.

Its ‘Maximised-Edge Design’ and specially angled brush reach deep into corners, while its three-stage cleaning system pulls in embedded dirt and pet hair from wherever it hides.

Using advanced vSLAM® navigation technology, the robot gathers over 230,400 data points each second that it uses to create a map of your home.

Find out more at irobot.co.uk

2. Dyson 360 Heurist

This futuristic unit combines the 78,000rpm Dyson digital motor V2 with patented Radial Root Cyclone technology, for powerful suction.

Featuring a powerful quad-core processor, this robot creates a map of your home and updates each clean in case you’ve re-arranged the living room recently.

Its whole-machine filtration captures particles as small as 0.3 microns, and the Dyson app allows you to define zones and create a cleaning schedule.

Find out more at dyson.co.uk

3. AEG RX9-2-4ANM

Although it looks like a giant camera, the unique ‘trinity’ shape of the RX9 gives it excellent reach into your home’s corners and allows it to manoeuvre easily around furniture. It also boasts ‘off-road’ capabilities, as it can negotiate height differences of up to 2.4cm.

The RX9’s huge camera-based vision system uses lasers to scan, map and remember your rooms – you can also set and monitor the robot’s cleaning schedule using the AEG RX9 app to make the whole process effortless.

Find out more at aeg.co.uk

4. Neato Botvac D7

The Neato Botvac has a host of options and comes in at the middleweight price point. Its multiple cleaning modes mean you can opt for the ‘Eco’ option, which gives you a longer, quieter energy-saving clean, whilst its ‘Turbo’ option operates at full-power for deeper cleaning.

The Neato’s exclusive D-Shape design mimics corners of the home for a precise clean that round-shaped robotic vacuums simply can’t do. Use the app to start, stop, find, schedule and receive notifications from the Botvac while you’re out-and-about. It can also take advantage of a second charging station anywhere in your home, meaning larger homes can be cleaned more effectively and efficiently as the Botvac returns to the nearest base.

Find out more at neatorobotics.com

5. Lenovo T1-S-L-VCL0L1

Featuring a sweep mode, mop mode and a run time of two and a half hours, the Lenovo T1-S-L-VCL0L1 robovac has more than enough charge to take care of your vacuuming chores. It’s also designed to climb over door ledges, so it can move effortlessly from room to room.

Featuring a path tracking sensor and smart navigation, it returns automatically to recharge. You can control its cleaning tasks through the app or a voice assistant – setting its 2-in-1 function to clean how you like: it can both vacuum and wipe the floor for you with the integrated mop, making your dwelling clean and fragrant.

Find out more at amazon.co.uk

6. Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max

With an impressive battery life of 180 minutes and a 600ml bin capacity, the Roborock rocks on, vacuuming and mopping your floors like there’s no tomorrow.

The Roborock has no issues with rugs, carpets and floors of heights up to 15 millimetres and can easily dodge pitfalls such as stairs.

The internal air filter and mopping pad are removable and washable, as is the dust tray. The device’s app allows you to see a map of each room and change your preferences for each room. An excellent range of options at this price point.

Find out more at amazon.co.uk

7. Miele Scout RX2

A powerful cleaning bot, the Scout RX2 features a ‘Quattro Cleaning Power’ suction system consisting of four elements – swing-out side brushes for getting into corners to brush the dirt into the path of the appliance, a suction opening and roller brush for coarse soiling, and a rear suction opening to tackle fine soiling.

Thanks to its high speed, the motor ensures strong suction power and is particularly energy-efficient, meaning you get more cleaning time between charges.

A unique feature of the RX2 is its camera, transmitting live footage to your mobile so you can monitor what’s going on in your house, wherever you are.

Find out more at miele.co.uk

8. Medion MD18871

With smart navigation and a two-hour charge, this unit gives higher-priced robotics a run for their money. Designed to be compatible with most carpets and hard floors, its smart sensor technology allows easy navigation around rooms.

You can control this robovac via the phone app or simply ask Alexa to start the cleaning for you. This little unit requires minimal input as it returns automatically to its station to recharge.

Find out more at amazon.co.uk

9. eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 15C MAX

The first in the ‘budget’ range of our selection still comes with a host of decent features. Cleaning hard floors and medium-pile carpets with ease, this robovac boasts high suction, self-charging intelligence, and a super-slim 2.85-inch design, allowing it to slide under furniture effortlessly.

The eufyHome app, along with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control-services, means you can operate your BoostIQ with minimal effort. This unit features technology that automatically adjusts the suction power within two seconds, ensuring your floors get the best clean.

Find out more at amazon.co.uk

10. Proscenic 850T

Despite being at the lower end of the market, this Proscenic 850T boasts an array of impressive features. It has both vacuum and mop functions, and can be controlled with either its app or home smart devices.

Its ‘Vboost carpet detection’ system automatically recognises carpet and switches to maximum-suction to provide a thorough scrubbing. Its infrared sensors help it to detect edges, so it can easily avoid falling downstairs.

Find out more at amazon.co.uk

To see your company in any upcoming features we are arranging please email editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

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Whether we like it or not, technology is, little by little, taking over the smooth-running of our homes. Our devices can switch our lights on and off, give us the news headlines over our morning coffee, answer probing questions from the internet, sing us songs, or bark like dogs should we so ask them to. Alexa’s dulcet tones chime from smart speakers in around 78% of UK homes, while 36% of Brits prefer Google Assistant, and sales of smart speakers tend to spike around Black Friday, when retail giants slash their prices and the home assistant technology becomes immediately more attractive.

Home assistant technology is only going to become more intelligent and more omnipresent in 2022, and it may not only improve your household organisation but save you money on your energy bills. Apps such as Nest and Hive thermostats study your household energy usage and adapt it to suit your needs, allowing you to save energy and lower costs. You can configure heat and light settings from these apps, controlling your energy usage far more accurately than turning a dial or flicking a switch on a boiler. It also helps on cold nights when heading back from work, or if you are caught unexpectedly in the rain – you can have your house toasty and warm for your return by remotely adjusting your heating from your phone. Also, if you are prone to accidentally leaving the heating on when you leave the house, smart thermostats allow you to correct the error of your forgetfulness when you’re on the go.

Ai is also making strides in home security, and sales of networked cameras, video doorbells, and smart speakers are expected to boom in 2022. Apps such as Ringo and Eufy allow you to answer your doorbell remotely when it rings, meaning that no matter where you are in the world you can see who’s standing on your front doorstep and speak to them directly. This should bypass any ‘sorry we missed you’ Royal Mail or delivery cards, but also fend off any unwanted guests you’d rather not answer the door.

Linking smart devices will be huge in 2022, thanks in small part to the arrival of Matter. The big AI home assistant players such as Amazon, Google and Apple have agreed that Matter will be a connectivity standard that allows all smart home devices to communicate with each other. In layman’s terms, that means your Siri and Alexa can be friends, and your TV remote can talk to your thermostat. This groundbreaking development is a huge move towards the technological utopia of ‘The Internet of Things’ which will see homes have an interrelated system of objects – from the app that tracks the location of your cat to your bedside lamp – which share data and learn from your surroundings without the need for human intervention. And if that sounds like the robots are planning to overthrow us in 2022, it’s probably because they are.

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Tech can help make life a little bit easier, from charging your laptop on the go to making sure your pets are safe; so have a look at these 10 of the best gadgets for the whole family.

1. Planet Buddies Headphones

Looking for a sustainable company that will help educate and entertain your children? Look no further than Planet Buddies.

Their range of wireless headphones, speakers and gadgets are perfectly suited for the younger members of the family to keep up with their technological needs and keep them learning about the environment. Each of their products comes with a character designed to inform your kids about endangered species.

Find out more at planetbuddies.com

2. Juice Wireless Chargers

Say hello to the Juice Grip-It Wireless Universal Charging Cable. The Grip-It is a super simple way to Wireless Charge your devices – plug the USB port into a charger or computer, then just attach the suction pad to the central area on the back of your phone, and away you go.

Remember when everyone needed a different phone charger? The 3-in-1 cables were handy, but this is the new 3-in-1 – leave the Grip-It on the kitchen worktop, desk or any table really, and allow all phone users to wirelessly charge.

Find out more at juice.co.uk

3. The Apple Watch Action Sleeve

Know someone that loves their exercise but can’t get their fitness tracker to keep up with their workout?

ActionSleeve is a fabric armband that allows an Apple Watch to be worn on the upper arm or bicep. It’s ideal for sports like kickboxing, weightlifting and crossfit training where protective sports gear and full wrist mobility is often needed, ruling out the use of the Apple Watch on the wrist. 

Whether cycling, playing golf, doing yoga or weights, users will be able to move more naturally without the Apple Watch getting in the way of their workout.

Find out more at twelvesouth.com

4. Stealth Gaming Station for Xbox and Playstation

Declutter the little gamer’s room and give them a gift they’ll use all the time with Stealth’s Gaming Stations.

They are perfect gifts for gamers of all ages, providing a one-box solution to keep their gaming space neat and tidy. This includes a premium headset, headset stand and charging base; everything you need to complement your setup.

Find out more at smythstoys.com

5. PitPat pet activity monitor

It wouldn’t be fair to be handing out gifts to the whole family without getting something for our four-legged family too. PitPat is an activity monitor designed to keep an eye on your dog’s exercise, heart rate, calorie intake and weight.

It’s more important than ever to maintain awareness of your pet’s health in order to predict and detect any health problems as early as possible for their safety and your vet bills.

The app also recommends tailored exercise goals and feeding recommendations based on your dog’s breed, age, weight, and activity levels. The tiny, waterproof, and robust device is made to withstand all your dog’s adventures.

Find out more at pitpat.com

6. Nintendo Switch Travel kit

Perfect for the Nintendo gamer in the family and to keep them from a shocking outburst when they drop their precious device, comes the protective and convenient Switch travel kit.

This travel kit includes everything gamers need for playing Nintendo Switch on the go. This bundle includes a protective Switch case with game cartridge slots in Switch’s classic red, blue and black colour scheme, matching headset with comfortable ear cups and integrated mic and a charging cable. 

Find out more at argos.co.uk

7. PictoScanner

PictoScanner is a simple, smart and user-friendly way to scan and share your old film negatives and 35mmslides using your smartphone and the PictoScanner app. All it takes is knowing how to take a photo on your smartphone.

To scan a photo, place your film negative in the slider, open the app, shoot the negative. The scanned photo opens on your smartphone screen as a positive. You can edit it as you wish.

Manufactured in a high grade cardboard box, easy to set up, PictoScanner uses an LED back light and the eye of your camera to get the scanning job done.

Find out more at pictoscanner.com

8. Airpod Pro Stand Case

Personalise your family’s sound systems with Atom Studios eco-friendly Airpods cases. The flat base also means this case can stand upright on your desk or night stand. 

This silicone back allows you to wirelessly charge your AirPods Pro without removing them from the case. Just place your AirPods Pro, inside their case, on top of a wireless charger.  The charge indicator light is clearly visible when in use so you can easily check that it’s charging.

Find out more at atomstudios.com

9. Crosley Bluetooth Turntable

Vinyl is making a massive comeback in recent years. There’s bound to be an audiophile in the house, whether it’s the younger generation discovering the joy of vinyl or adults looking for a blast from the past.

The Crosley is perfect for those looking to get into vinyl, as an affordable and compact record player. It also has Bluetooth capability so you can stream albums in case you haven’t built up your record collection as quickly as you would like. Perfect for throwing on some tunes as a group with the family or with friends over.

Find out more at hmv.com

10. PowerPic Wireless Charger

The convenience of wireless chargers and tablet stands is hard to argue with. But, often they stand out against the rest of your home decor. Twelve South have found a way to sneakily slip in a functional decoration that will wow your guests.

Meet PowerPic, the picture frame that wirelessly charges your phone. Just set any compatible phone inside the frame to begin charging. It can even serve as a stand for sneaky selfies or video calls from home.

Find out more at twelvesouth.com

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With so many gadgets, modifications and upgrades available, it can be hard to decide on what you need – or didn’t know you needed – to buy for your car.

Here we’ve rounded up a collection of 10 of the most useful and innovative products. Enjoy!

1. YOSH Magnetic Phone Holder

This simple and clever magnetic phone holder easily clips directly to the air vents on your car, allowing you to position your device perfectly, time and time again.

The four N50 magnets provide a strong attachment, so you can securely place your phone or GPS device on the holder, with no fear of road vibrations or speed bumps bouncing it off.

Covered in anti-scratch silicon, both your phone and the air vents are protected from damage and also its heat resistant properties mean that it will not deform or warp if left on a hot air vent for long.

Visit amazon.co.uk

2. Carfume Purifier

The PURE is Carfume’s new car air purifier, designed to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment in your car. It is small and lightweight, made to fit perfectly into your car’s cupholders, and features a USB charging port.

The 3-layer HEPA and activated carbon filters remove impurities, pollutants, pollen, allergens, formaldehyde, bacteria and unpleasant odours from the air, keeping it fresh and pure, even when sat in heavy traffic.

Visit carfume.co.uk

3. iTrack GPS Tracker

The iTrack Wireless Long-life Tracker is perfect for monitoring the position and driver behaviour of your vehicle. The GPS108 tracker allows either a single vehicle or a large fleet of motors to be tracked using an easy-to-use iTrack Live GPS tracking platform and free iOS/Android App, or it can be set to send instant on-demand Google Maps location reports via SMS.

In its ‘schedule’ mode, the battery will last over three years, which makes this tracker ideal for applications where hard-wiring is not an option.

Sturdy and robust, the device is IP67 waterproof rated.

Visit halfords.com

4. Nextbase 522GW Dash Cam

The award-winning Nextbase 522GW dash cam features 1440p Quad HD recording, a 140-degree viewing angle and a built-in polarising filter to greatly reduce windscreen glare and reflection, giving you crystal clear footage.

Connectivity comes Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi, over which it will automatically send crash footage to your smart device, and a high accuracy, 10 GPS module, for speed and location.

This smart cam even features Amazon’s Alexa, so you can command all your devices, at home or in the car, while out and on the go.

Visit nextbase.com

5. Ring RTG4 tyre pressure guage

This RTG4 digital tyre gauge from Ring sits easily on your keys – great to have with you in case your tyres need checking in bad weather. This little award-winner has an accurate gauge that gives readings in PSI, kPA, BAR and kg/cm2.

Its clear, backlit digital screen makes readings easy to see, along with an integrated LED light to help you find the tyre valve in the dark. As properly inflated tyres are more fuel efficient, having yours at optimum pressure means that your fuel consumption will decrease, while your safety increases.

Visit demon-tweeks.com

6. Streamline Plus Roof Tent

Transform your vehicle into a mobile bedroom in under 30 seconds, with a Roof Cabin pop-up roof tent and integrated memory foam mattress. The streamlined ABS plastic shell, which the tent folds down into, is suitable for any vehicle and fits directly onto the crossbars of the roof rack.

Roof Cabin manufacture UK specification hard and soft-top roof tents using high-quality ripstop, UV protective fabric as well as reinforced ABS composite plastic. All their roof tents are engineered to withstand severe weather & road conditions and will fit on almost any vehicle, from small family saloons to vans and pick-ups.

Visit roofcabin.co.uk

7. HoMedics Max Shiatsu Massaging Chair

This massaging car chair features 14 massage programmes and has an adjustable height, width and heating options.

With a full-function remote control, it has multiple massage nodes for the deepest, most intense shiatsu massage for your back and shoulders, perfect for those long drives!

Complete with a washable cover, this piece of ultimate car-comfort kit comes with a manufacturer’s two-year guarantee.

Visit argos.co.uk

8. Echo Auto

Now you can have Alexa in your car! Echo Auto connects through your phone’s Alexa app and plays through your car’s speakers via auxiliary input or your smartphone’s Bluetooth connection. Echo Auto can also turn your phone into a smart, driver-friendly display optimised for use in the vehicle, with large ‘glanceable’ text, easy-touch controls and shortcuts for your favourite destinations, contacts and media.

Use your voice to play music, check the news, make calls, add to your to-do list, set reminders, check petrol prices and more.

Alexa and Echo devices are built with multiple layers of privacy protection. For example, Echo has a Microphone Off button that electronically disconnects the microphones. You also have control over your voice recordings. You can view, hear or delete them at any time.

Visit amazon.co.uk

9. OCUBE Handheld Vacuum

The OCUBE Handheld Vacuum is a two-speed, mini cordless vacuum cleaner with 6200PA of suction, and a powerful 7500mah rechargeable battery.

About the size of a wine bottle, this powerful little vacuum has multiple attachments to reach into all your car’s nooks and crannies. It also features a long, extendable handle so that you can save your back from all that bending and leaning over, should you so wish. The OCUBE is also equipped with HEPA standard dust filters, so is perfect for cleaning up after pets too!

Visit amazon.co.uk

10. Sonic Scrubbers cleaning tool

People have been raving about this bit of kit online and we can see why. Its powerful, fast oscillating brushes provide effective cleaning, getting all your car’s hard to reach parts cleaner car than ever before!

What’s more, the scrubber comes with the batteries already supplied so you can get cracking right away. The complete set includes four different brushes for cleaning around all areas of your car – you can use it around windows, bodywork joins, chrome, crevices, interior panels, meshing, spokes, and anything else you can think of.

Visit amazon.co.uk

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Chat to Edith to find out how you make simple switches to be more sustainable in the home…

Renewable electricity provider, E.ON has launched an interactive skill on Amazon Alexa to help us learn how to be more sustainable at home.

Topics related to sustainable living include:

• Why it’s important to be sustainable in the home
• How to make your home more sustainable
• How to be sustainable at different times throughout the year
• How to be sustainable in different rooms of your home
• What the best sustainable solutions are for your home.

‘Alexa, open E.ON’s Sustainable Home’

So many of us have incorporated more sustainable habits into their routine during lockdown. By saying ‘Alexa, open E.ON’s Sustainable Home’, Alexa customers can access free tips and advice voiced by radio DJ, TV presenter and sustainability advocate Edith Bowman.

Did you know?

• Almost half of Brits admit they don’t have time to research how they can achieve a more sustainable lifestyle
• Six in then (59%) admitted they want to educate themselves of how to live more sustainability
• Two thirds (66%) of Brits are concerned the sustainable habits they’ve implemented over lockdown may become less of a priority

As a keen advocate of sustainable living, Radio DJ and TV presenter Edith Bowman said: “I am delighted to be working with E.ON to help bring advice on sustainability directly into people’s homes.

“It is so important that we take responsibility to care for the environment we live in and as we all start leaving our homes more, it is crucial we maintain the positive sustainability habits we have developed over the past 12 months.  

“Working with E.ON on this campaign has been a great way to learn more about sustainable solutions in the home such as energy-efficient boilers, smart meters and heat pumps, which are all great steps towards living a more sustainable life.”

The UK set to hit Net-Zero by 2050

The launch coincides with the release of E.ON’s Carbon Countdown Road to 2030 report to help inform us all on how to meet the UK’s net-zero goals. Around a third say switching lights off when not in the room (39%) and turning the heating off during the day when they are not at home (35%).

Michael Lewis, E.ON UK CEO, said: “We understand that as the world slowly returns to normal and people start getting out and about more, being sustainable at home might become less of a priority for some. But we need to ensure that sustainability remains on everyone’s list of priorities and all of the good habits and intentions many of us have adopted over this last year continue.@

To find out more about 100% renewable electricity from E.ON Next visit eonnext.com and for more about how to be sustainable at home and other sustainable solutions, visit eonenergy.com

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