Three Family Gadget Essentials

I'm always on the look out for gadgets that help us be more productive or make the most of leisure time. Over the past few months my family has been testing a variety of new tech and gadgets. While some products don't seem to click, others have become part of our everyday life.

The grown-ups in the house seem to give most things a good few days before deciding on how successful a particular gadget is. However it's interesting to see the kids being much more instinctive, with some tech discarded after a few hours - tough crowd.

Here's our run down of what we're using at the moment.

Tivoli Model Three Clock Radio

This compact clock radio has found its home in a few different locations for us. First I had it as a bedside alarm clock to get me up in the morning. Then more recently my daughter discovered the Bluetooth option and started using it to listen to music in her room.

While some of the design is a little wasted on her, the quality of the sound, nice easy to use analogue tuner and built in clock all tick the right boxes. She mainly uses it to stream her music from her iPod Touch.

While it's not the cheapest clock radio on the market, the versatility and build quality make the Tivoli a product you should definitely consider.

Brydge Keyboards

If you've read my column for a while you will know I'm always on the look out for a good keyboard for my iPad. Having tried a wide range I'd actually reverted to using the touch screen.

Recently though I've been really impressed with the slick design and robust offering of the Brydge keyboard. In fact it looks so good that my kids thought that I had purchased a new laptop when they first saw it.

RHA MA450i Black Headphones

There are a few different versions depending on the functionality and color you require. Each are built around the same keyboard design. For me this works because of the full size keys and the sensible center of gravity that doesn't tip over if I'm not holding it.

Finally I've been enjoying these noise isolating headphones around the home and while out running. Not only do they offer a great sound but also fit my ears perfectly. There's the feel of quality about them that comes from the aircraft grade aluminum construction.

The cable is braided fabric so doesn't tangle and has a 3-button remote and microphone for iPhone devices. They come with a selection of dual density and double flange silicone ear tips, which for me worked a treat (and I often struggle to find a good size match). They have become a must have item in my pocket pretty much everywhere I go these days.