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PICTEK WIRELESS
CONTROLLER / £24.99 inc VAT
SUPPLIERamazon.co.uk
The Pictek Wireless Controller not only works wirelessly over Bluetooth
with Android phones and the Nintendo Switch, but also works with
Windows 10 PCs using a USB connection. The USB connection is
preferred on a PC, as it doesn’t work properly using Bluetooth.
That’s annoying, but the pad itself is lightweight,solidand
rechargeable, with its controls in an Xbox pattern.It hasvibration
functions, as well as movement sensors for Switchgames,and
although some of the ancillarybuttonsaren’t
laid out the same wayasonanXbox
pad, therearenosurprises
withthedesign.The
ABXYbuttons
area little
lower-profile
thanusual
fora pad –
when pressed,
they’re almost flush to the surface. It’s not bad, but it’s an odd
feeling, and it takes a while to get used to it.
The D-pad is also an inverted dish shape design by default,
although an alternate standard button is included. Meanwhile, the
trigger buttons stand out by virtue of having an extremely light
touch, making them easy to control precisely. If it’s being used for a
phone, the Pictek also includes a bracket that can be swapped onto
a rear mount to hold your phone while you play. The Pictek isn’t
revolutionary, but it tweaks the formula for a budget pad and does
well with it, as long as you’re aware of its quirks.Light FantasticZEEKERMETALWALLET/ £17.99inc VAT
SUPPLIER amazon.co.uk
Sometimes a product is such a departure from the norm that it’s
hard to imagine how it came into being, and the Zeeker wallet fits
into this category. This wallet carries credit cards and folding money,
but it doesn’t have the usual collection of pockets that folds in the
middle. Instead, the Zeeker is made from two metal plates, which
are laced together and secured at the front, with a metal lip to hold
the lace loop. Your cards go between the two metal plates, and
folding money goes into a clip on one side.
Meanwhile, two RFID blocking panels are supplied, which can
be slotted alongside your cards for protection from the rare (but
still technically possible) risk of your cards getting nefariously
scanned. Using it doesn’t feel that practical at first, though it’s fine
when you get used to it, and it looks great. A metal wallet sounds
uncomfortable to have in your pocket, but the thick string around it
mitigates this problem, and it keeps its contents flat too.
The money clip isn’t ideal, due to the small size of the wallet –
British or EU money is way too big, and even US dollars need to be
foldeddowntoa third.TheweirdnessoftheZeekergivesit plenty
ofcharm, but be aware that it has a few practical shortcomings.
Searching low and high The Zeeker