In an inter-connected world of inter-operable tech and inter-national communication, some people remain more inter-ested (See what we did there?) in tech that just works. Gadgets and gizmos and devices that you shove batteries in or charge up, and are yours to do with as you please, no accounts required: Standalone technology.
Sometimes standalone tech removes the need for an app, sometimes it cuts out needing a whole other device entirely, while other times tech is standalone because it can power itself through solar or hand crank power.
Whatever the design philosophy, standalone tech is as strong as ever and provides accessible solutions to people who don't have (or want) a "Smart home".
As it happens, one of my favourite pieces of technology is the humble letter opener. I was around 14 when I first discovered them, and cursed that I had ever gone without. I may be substantially older now, but my appreciation for simple, practical technology has only grown in the face of, well, the opposite...
1. Off The Grid Radio
Radio is one of the most reliable "old" bits of tech around, even considering DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) is the newer iteration of the traditional FM radio system.
Radio is one of the few forms of entertainment and news that truly anyone can access. Radio signals aren't encoded, and aren't only sent to certain households or receivers. Radio signals permeate the air all around the nation, and all you need is an aerial to pick them up and get listening!
No account set up, subscription costs or apps needed!
To really make your radio tech the most self-sufficient standalone bit of kit it can be, the MB290 features a hand crank and solar charging. So not only are you accessing radio waves in the air for free, you're also living off the grid with electricity generated by the device itself.
When I looked into standalone tech that just works, I didn't expect it to be so standalone that it's an off the grid electricity solution!
2. Wireless TV Aerial Transmitter and Receiver
Following on from radio, how about TV?
How can TV become more standalone, require less components?
Ultimately, if you want to watch TV you need reception, but I believe there are two ways to minimise the prerequisites:
- ⚬ Use a Portable TV Unit
- ⚬ Use a wireless TV aerial relay
Of course one option is to use a portable TV set, as these contain the TV tuner, screen and speakers all in one unit. However, you do still need an aerial connection to scan.
The second option is to make the most of your current tech, reducing how much else you need to add in.
If you already have a smartphone, you can use the August DVB-T405 to both receive and transmit Freeview TV signals to it.
This means no TV unit or set top box needed, and no physical connection to your phone.
It's not as "standalone" as the other solutions on this list, but between a self-contained TV unit or a portable wireless aerial for mobiles these are the closest to creating a "use anywhere" TV setup.
3. Let Your Little Light Shine
You can control lights through your phone and your voice and just walking into a room nowadays and that's all very impressive, but don't tell me it's easier than a big button to press.
Like the engineering notes on one of our products says, from the manufacturer themselves; "You can't go wrong with a big button".
It's not just the satisfying simplicity of wireless lights like the ULT300 that make them such awesome gadgets, though!
As well as doing what it says on the tin, the ULT300 can either be powered by USB cable or by batteries. This added level of detachment from cables and requirements is fantastic for off-the-grid use. Carry some spare batteries and this clip on lamp will see you through many winters!
Clipping onto a tent pole and whacking up to level 3 brightness is a level of immediate practicality that more complicated tech only dreams of.
4. White Noise Machine for Sleep and Sensory
White noise isn't a niche you'd have thought would be partial to overcomplicated gadgetry, but you'd be wrong. Just like with lighting and the rest of it, white noise machines often demand an app! Others have up to 50 different settings, sleep times, loop counters and more.
These features are great, but they come at the cost of increased size, power draw, and...well, cost!
SE160 drags the niche back to its roots. A small, portable speaker with a simple volume dial and timer button. SE160 has 13 sounds to choose from, providing the variety you need but with no paralysis of choice.
The battery is rechargeable, and since the unit is on for short periods at a time the unit lasts multiple nights without charging. For camping, trips away, road trips and more this noise machine really does cut through the mud and provide what you need in as simple a package as possible.
How did we ever forget those little volume dials you flick up and down!?
5. Watching and Recording VHS to HDMI
As a species we've accumulated all sorts of different ways to store and watch media. There's VHS, DVD and digital files, but within those categories there's video standards, encoding and file types that all change how we watch!
Usually, to watch a VHS on a modern HDMI TV you need a converter. If you want to record that footage, you need a PC with software which can read and record the footage, separate to the conversion itself.
Simplifying this whole process is the VGB400. Similar to DVB-T405, the VGB400 can't be entirely standalone as then it wouldn't be able to serve its purpose, but I thought it cut enough of the hassle out that it was worth mentioning.
For one, you don't need a PC.
That's a £300 - £5,000 requirement gone.
Not only that, but the VGB400 records in real-time. This means you can watch your VHS on a HDMI TV while also recording that footage to a USB or SD card for future storage.
Without software downloads, driver updates or formatting to worry about the VGB400 is the best standalone gadget for digitisation.
Find Awesome Gadgets for Gifts This Year
Whether it's birthdays or the ever-approaching Christmas season, a standalone gadget that just works is always worth having around as a gift. Cut out the stress of setting up accounts and family groups and "smart homes" and let people simply enjoy using tech that works!
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