Naomi MacKay is a freelance journalist who has worked on technology magazines for more years than she cares to mention. Just to even out the score, she also writes for the garden market and was previously assistant editor of Garden Answers magazine. She started writing for LatestGadgets in 2009 and loves getting her hands on the latest techie goodies – but only if she can wrestle them out of the hands of her three-year-old, who is one of the smallest Apple fanboys she knows. Her iPhone has more kids apps on than ones for adults – something she is determined to put right sooner rather than later. She hopes that technological advances this year will include Mac software prices coming into line with the price of PC software and the development of an on/off/mute remote control for small boys. She’s not holding her breath.

Magnum IP: Remote surveillance with Y-Cam Bullet and TP-Link TL-SC3130

I was really excited about testing the Y-Cam Bullet IP Security Camera. All that spying I could do, I thought, checking up on my husband, son, maybe the cat and even the guinea pigs, while I sat at a desk in London (I know, I really need to get out more). I was even more excited when it arrived. It’s a really solid piece of kit, with a long tubular…

Get a new angle from the Canon EOS 60D DSLR

The Canon 60D is the third similar camera that Canon has released in the past year, so what makes it worth the £1,099 price tag? Well, probably one of the most obvious new features is the articulated screen, which makes it easier for the photographer to be more creative with their angles, and which is also a bonus for filming video or when you’re waiting for that perfect shot when…

What to do with unwanted gadgets: Weeebuy.co.uk, freecycling and charity

A study has revealed that Brits throw away an unbelievable £6 billion a year in unwanted gadgets. With just 20% of electrical devices recycled, the report, from www.weeebuy.co.uk, reckons each of us is around £90 out of pocket thanks to our wasteful habits. As we know our readers love their gadgets (well, you wouldn’t be reading this otherwise would you?) we don’t like to think of you throwing good money…

Olympus LS-5 Linear PCM digital recorder: Mobile mini sound studio

Listen up journalists, musicians and podcasters! Olympus is launching a new digital recorder this month, which it claims allows you to record and edit your work while you’re on the move. At a tad under the 200 quid mark, the Olympus LS-5 Linear PCM Digital Recorder records 24but/96kHz PCM audio files, which can be edited in the device at the touch of a button. It comes with 2GB of memory…

Blackberry 6 and Blackberry Torch 9800 review roundup

While BlackBerrys are still the device of choice for plenty of business users and email fans, it’s long been the opinion of those that make a living out of commentating on such matters that the BlackBerry OS could do with being brought up to speed. So there’s been plenty of interest in the latest OS, called simply Blackberry 6. Released with the new OS is a new device, the BlackBerry…

Keeping your smartphone data safe: Blackberry protect, Mobile Me, Windows Phone Live

Find your missing phone – and protect your data should the worst happen Okay, hands up everyone who’s put their phone down somewhere, then cursed the fact they’ve left it on silent as they make futile attempts to phone it and locate it. Right, that’s most of us then. But run around like a headless chicken no more, gentle readers, for BlackBerry has the answer to your prayers. BlackBerry makers…

Sanyo takes the plunge into high-def, 14mp underwater shooting with the Xacti CA100

Whether you’re snorkelling, on the beach, or just plain stuck in your average Great British summer scenario (ie. wet), the latest offering from Sanyo will let you take high-def video and 14mp still shots at depths of up to 3m (that’s about 10ft). The Sanyo Xacti CA100 has come out just in time for the school holidays, ready to be taken on holidays both abroad and in the great British…

Girls get the chance to shake their groove thing – the Samsung Tic Toc mp3 player

Here’s one for the girls – a cute little MP3 player with an unusual control system. Samsung’s Tic Toc has only one button, which can be clicked to change the volume, and clicked three times to skip to the next album. A nifty motion control features allows other controls to be undertaken by shaking this palm-sized gadget (rather like the shake to shuffle feature on the iPod nano and Shuffle)….

Kitchen gadgets roundup

Listen to music while you make room in your freezer for that big leg of elk “No gimmicky offering to get tongues wagging,” assures the latest press release from Slovenian brand Gorenje (and with England actually managing to win against them we don’t need to hold that against them). World Cup victory aside, just wait a cotton-darn pickin’ moment. It’s a fridge-freezer with an iPod dock on the front –…

All set for a summer of fun – and a few ideas for Santa … yes we said Santa

The sun was blazing down, we’d had small children splashing about in our paddling pool all day (and a few grown-ups too it has to be said), so it was a bit of a shock when my first Christmas press release of 2010 landed in my inbox. However, as said missive was from Hamlety, that Mecca of childhood delight, I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt. And,…