HK Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) 2018: Cool, strange and wonderful gadgets aplenty

• Hong Kong Electronics Fair is back with more cool gadgets
• Wide variety of gadgets ranging from gaming to medical tech

THE Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) attracted over 3,500 exhibitors and 60,000 visitors. It is here that one can observe all manner of interesting consumer technology that may end up in your local electronics store in the near future.

While there were plenty of original equipment manufacturers (OEM) selling all sorts of generic products from Bluetooth speakers and power banks to accessories and drones; we managed to find a few diamonds in the rough that were genuinely interesting.

Without further ado, let’s run through our top picks for best, and sometimes strange, list of gadgets from the Hong Kong Electronics Fair.

FeiyuTech Vimble 2

With mobile videography growing in popularity, companies like China’s FeiyuTech have been quick to catch on to the trend. They are mainly known for making gyro-stabilised gimbals to steady the footage shot with drones, action cameras and professional DSLR cameras.

The latest addition to their line of gimbals is the Vimble 2 (pic, right). The featherweight gimbal weighs just 428g thanks to its mainly plastic construct. Underneath the hood, the 3-axis gimbal has tailor-made brushless motors that stabilise videos without producing any noise.

Available in three colours, Space Gray, Sakura Pink and Snow White, the Vimble 2 adopts an ergonomic design with a grip that is modelled in the shape of a hand. Just like FeiyuTech’s other gimbals, users can shoot with their smartphones horizontally or vertically.

But the Vimble 2’s unique feature and claim to fame is its new retractable pole that extends up to 18cm in length, making this great for snapping selfies or for recording vlogs.

Other than that the Vimble 2 also features face tracking which FeiyuTech claims can automatically follow the face of the operator. A screw hole on the bottom enables the Vimble 2 to be mounted on a tripod or extension bar, opening even more possibilities.

The Vimble 2 is currently on sale on FeiyuTech’s website for US$99.

GameSir X1 BattleDock & Z1 Gaming Keypad

If you are a gamer then you probably have heard of the sensation that is PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s BattleGround). The survival game puts you among 100 players dropped on a deserted island with the objective being the last one standing.

Over the past few months, many PUBG-like games have flooded App Store and Google Play, with players waging virtual war against one another. However, the experience can be frustrating due to clunky touchscreen controls.

The folk at GameSir have been paying close attention to this and developed not one but two special controllers for PUBG fanatics.

The X1 Battledock (main pic) is a docking station that has a built-in holder that accepts any modern smartphone or tablet; elevating the mobile gaming experience to the level of a gaming PC.

As crazy as it may sound, you can actually hook up any non-Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, which is then connected to your device via Bluetooth 4.0 technology. Players can then map the on-screen buttons with their keyboard for unparalleled control in the battlefield.

For ultra-long gaming marathons, GameSir has even included a large 3,000mAh battery within so it won’t give out in the middle of a battle.

The Z1 Gaming Keypad (pic, above) builds upon the same base as the X1 Battledock but comes with a one-handed keyboard. Adding to that, the 29 keys have dynamic RGB lightning underneath and are of the Cherry MX red switch variety, which is on par with a dedicated gaming keyboard.

Ideal for first person shooter (FPS) games like PUBG Mobile, Fortnite Mobile and any other competitive shooter, the Z1 has all you need to dominate the game.

With fully programmable hotkeys and macros, the Z1 is not limited to playing iOS and Android games but is a decent weapon for PC gamers too.

With a built-in 2,000mAh battery, the Z1 can hold its own for long gaming sessions.

The GameSir X1 Battledock retails for US$49.99 while the Z1 Gaming Keypad goes for US$95.99 on GameSir’s website.

UonMap CarDroid

Some of the more interesting devices didn’t come from the thousands of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) from the Startup Zone where 110 startups from around the world gathered.

Among them was the CarDroid (pic, above) by Canadian startup UonMap Information Technologies Ltd. It is said to be a car-monitoring device that can make any car “smart”. The company said any car manufactured after 1996 with an OBD-II connector will work with the device.

Not much bigger than a box of matches, the CarDroid runs on Android and has Bluetooth 4.0 that detect the temperature, humidity and movement of the vehicle. It also has a built-in GPS module to track its position.

Functioning like a tiny black box for your car, it not only records vehicle diagnostics but also helps in the event of a car accident by sending a push notification and SMS to an emergency contact.

What is most interesting about the CarDroid is that using data gathered, such ase the movement of the car, the accident can be reconstructed as a visual 3D model so users can see why and what went wrong.

The device can also be used to remotely monitor a vehicle’s location. Don't worry if a car is parked underground where there is no GPS signal as CarDroid uses WiFi and Bluetooth to get an approximate location of the car.

According to UonMap the CarDroid will be priced at US$145 and is expected to ship in June 2018.

T3D 3D Printer

You would think that 3D printers are massive things that are reserved only for true enthusiasts. But you would be wrong because Taiwanese startup Taiwan 3D Tech has developed the T3D printer (pic, above), a mobile 3D printer that allows users to print directly from their smartphone or tablet.

Unlike conventional 3D printers that create objects by laying down successive layers of material, the T3D uses a special method that utilises the lights from a smart device to harden a special resin.

Not much taller than a standard 500ml bottle of water, the T3D is a mobile printer with flexible power options be it drawing from a plug point, car charger or power bank.

It is said to be able to print highly detailed 3D objects that measure 106 x 76 x 85mm using a smartphone and 180 x 76 x 85mm with a tablet.

With the T3D app, users can take control of their creative 3D designs and print it via an application for iOS and Android. There is even a wide selection of pre-tested 3D design models to choose from.

Taiwan 3D Tech said the printer has a modular design and they plan to develop different functional kits that enable it to print multiple objects, different colours and also double up as a 3D scanner.

The T3D printer is scheduled to ship in May 2018 and will be sold at US$400 while a 1-litre bottle of resin is set to cost US$130.

Snore Circle Eye Mask

If you have ever been bothered by the sound of someone snoring at night, the Snore Circle Eye Mask (pic, above) may be the answer to your problems. Developed by Shenzen based VVFLY Electronics Ltd, this anti snoring wearable device is meant to worn over the user’s eyes.

Ultra-compact and lightweight at just 32g, the eye mask is made of a high-density sponge for extra comfort. Using it is as simple as placing the Snore Circle over your eyes, turning on the power and going to sleep.

It works by using bone conduction and sound recognition technology to precisely identify snoring sounds. It then emits a sonic wave and vibrations that the company says will stop snoring or reduce the sound.

Paired with the Snore Circle app for iOS and Android, users can see the quality of their sleep based on data collected by the device. Even without owning the Snore Circle, users can use the app to record and analyse their snoring problem for free.

The Snore Circle is expected to retail for US$149 and ship sometime in 2018.

Marvoto Fetus Camera M1

Finally, here comes a gadget that will definitely pique the interest of parents-to-be.  Chinese startup Marvoto Technology has developed the M1 Fetus Camera (pic, above), a small hand-held device that lets parents see their unborn baby from the comfort of their own home.

The device utilises 4D ultrasound technology and shrinks down and puts the ultrasound equipment from the hospital in the palm of your hand. Paired with an app for your smartphone, users need only apply ultrasound gel on the tummy of the expectant mother and place the M1 over it.

Users would be able to see in real-time, the baby in the womb, capture images and even record a short 10-second video of the baby. Naturally, excited parents would be able to share captured media over social media.

The convenience of performing an ultrasound at home, however, comes with a hefty price tag of US$2,000. Marvoto justifies this by saying that the device is targeted ata niche market. The Fetus Camera M1 is expected to have a 2018 release date.

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