Stuff - UK (2020-01)

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Only thing that looks good...

BANDLY

If modern tech makes you feel

disconnected from the natural

world, Bandly puts some nature

right on your wrist. This Apple

Watch strap turns lumber

offcuts into a water-resistant,

durable material backed by

vegan leather. You also get

matching backgrounds so

the strap appears to continue

through the screen.

$39 / bandlybands.com

Run to you

MARTY THE

ROBOT V2

To stand out in a market awash

with programmable robots

for kids, you need to have legs.

Marty takes this literally, with

powerful and dextrous blue pins

that enable him to walk, turn,

kick and dance. An array of

sensors and modular extension

options allow for more

advanced interactivity.

£125 / robotical.io

Summer of swishy time

SWITCHBOT

CURTAIN

Window glare is annoying – but

then, so is getting up to close

the curtains. So have this robot

do it for you. It’s controlled by

app or voice; and if even that

feels like too much effort, you

can set schedules to open your

curtains at sunrise – or keep

burglars at bay by closing them

every night while you’re away.

$69 / switch-bot.com

Kids don’t wanna rock

SB01

This analogue synth is inspired

by the Roland SH–101, but that

classic never looked this cool.

Like something designed by

Jony Ive in Dark Mode, the

SB01 is machined from a single

block of aluminium, is 1in thin

and has a 16hr rechargeable

battery. The 3340 VCO and

four-pole OTA filter ensure

it sounds as mean as it looks.

$949 / playsuperlative.com

Cuts like a knife

PHONOCUT

Cassettes, the worst audio

medium in history, had one

redeeming feature: the mixtape.

It was easy and fun to make

your own compilations before

streaming obliterated such

creativity. The Phonocut brings

mixtape thinking to vinyl by freeing

record production from the need

for pressing plants that demand

you order by the hundred. Instead,

plonk a 10in blank on the machine,

connect your audio source, press a

button, and it starts cutting those

soundwaves into grooves – all in

real time. A few minutes later, you’ll

have a beautiful black disc housing

your favourites – or a super-rare

white label of yourself singing in

the shower.

€1499 / phonocut.com

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