All posts by Matt Porter

Why a Printer is Still Relevant in 2026

You might think that in 2026, printers are relics of the past like floppy disks or dial up Internet, but the truth is that a printer still holds an important place in homes and offices, especially when paired with a reliable HP ink or other quality supplies. We definitely do live in more of a digital world these days where emails, PDFs, and cloud storage dominate, but sometimes nothing beats having a physical copy in your hand.

There are moments when a digital version of anything just doesn’t cut it.Think last minute forms, boarding passes, or important contracts that need a signature. Printers can be a convenience here, so instead of scrambling for any coffee shop or hunting for Wi-Fi, a home or office printer can save the day. Printing at home is faster, easier, and is much less stressful than running errands in rush hour traffic.

Image source: Pexels

Printers also remain essential for education and creative projects. Students still need hard copies for essays, artwork and science projects. Parents and hobbyists use printers for scrapbooking, DIY gifts or personalized decorations. There is something undeniably satisfying about holding a colourful poster, a photo collage, or a neatly printed schedule. These are some things that just don’t translate the same on a screen. Even in an eco conscious era, printers have adapted many modern models that are energy efficient, duplex capable, and use recycled or refillable cartridges. High quality inks like HP Ink ensures longevity and reduces waste by producing vibrant prints at last. So contrary to what some might think, printing isn’t about waste, but about making the most of physical media where it truly matters.

Is another factor. Digital documents are convenient, but they can be hacked, lost, or misfiled. Printing sensitive documents like tax forms, legal papers, or medical information adds an extra layer of security. A hard copy is a tangible thing, and it can’t be accidentally deleted and ensures that you always have access, even if your devices fail or the Internet goes down. Also do play a role in professional settings, even in a highly digital industry, presentations proposals have asking materials often benefit from printed copies.

Sometimes physical copies can feel more polished, professional and impactful in meetings or conferences. Vibrant brochures or crisp reports can make an impression that screen just can’t replicate. And then let’s not forget the fun. Printing photos from your latest adventures or crafting personalized cards for your birthdays and holidays brings a tactile joy that screens just can’t match. We are dominated by digital everything, so printers give us a little analogue magic that feels refreshing and personal.

Finally, printers have evolved with technology. Modern printers can connect to your phone, tablet, or cloud storage seamlessly. These days, in 2026, the printer isn’t dead. It’s still adaptable, relevant, and surprisingly handy. Screens are great, but nothing beats the satisfaction of holding your work in your hands and seeing something physical rather than just on a screen.

Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life

There is something rather special about great audio gear. Whether it is a cherished pair of bookshelf speakers from the seventies or a hefty amplifier that once powered many late nights, older kit carries a charm that refuses to fade. The trouble is that modern streaming rarely considers this history. We juggle apps, fight with compatibility issues, and often end up restricted to one manufacturer’s ecosystem.

Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life
Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life

Atonemo, a young company based in Stockholm, has stepped in with a refreshingly simple answer. Their new device, the Streamplayer, aims to bring every speaker you own into the streaming age. It works with speakers of any brand, size, or era and gives older equipment a modern purpose again.

Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life
Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life

Listening to music used to be an uncomplicated affair. You pressed play, and the sound travelled through a cable without any fuss. Today, we navigate multiple services that do not always get along. Streamplayer strips away that complexity by giving you a single, universal way to stream music across your home.

Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life
Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life

The concept is brilliantly straightforward. Streamplayer is a compact wireless audio streamer that connects to any speaker or amplifier. Once it joins your Wi Fi network, you can play music through AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, or Tidal Connect. Your vintage hi fi becomes wireless. Your modern speakers can work side by side with your older favourites. You can even synchronise completely different speakers into one unified system.

Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life
Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life

For fans of classic audio equipment, this is especially exciting. Many older speakers sound superb but lack the streaming features that modern life expects. Atonemo’s mission is to bring them back into everyday use, turning beautiful old gear into fully capable modern systems.

Atonemo’s Approach

The company was founded by two childhood friends, one a mathematician and the other a designer. Their shared passion for music and frustration with over engineered audio systems inspired them to create products that feel human, simple, and purposeful. Their philosophy focuses on clear communication and design that does exactly what it needs to do without clutter.

Key Features

Streamplayer is small, but the specification is impressive:

  • 24 bit 192 kHz audio
  • Gapless playback
  • AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect
  • Analogue line out and optical S PDIF out
  • Wi Fi 6 with WPA2 and WPA3 security
  • USB C power
  • Works with active speakers, amplifiers, hi fi systems, and vintage audio gear
Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life
Streamplayer: The Little Box That Brings Every Speaker Back to Life

Everything about it is built around compatibility and convenience. It arrives with a USB C power cable, an AUX cable, and a simple quick start guide, making setup as painless as possible.

A Simple Idea with Real Impact

The launch of Streamplayer feels like a moment for anyone who loves audio but dislikes unnecessary complication. It brings your favourite speakers back into daily use, unifies the systems you already have, and avoids locking you into any single brand.

For anyone with a cupboard full of forgotten gear or a cherished pair of speakers that deserve to be heard again, this little box might be one of the most appealing products of the season.

More information is available at atonemo.com.

Duran Duran teams up with We Are Rewind for a gorgeous new cassette player

Every so often a product lands on my desk that pulls me straight back to the excitement of discovering music on a physical format. This week it is the WE-001 Duran Duran Special Edition from We Are Rewind, a modern portable cassette player created with the band’s full blessing and visual flair.

Duran Duran teams up with We Are Rewind for a gorgeous new cassette player
Duran Duran teams up with We Are Rewind for a gorgeous new cassette player

If you grew up with cassettes, you will remember the thrill of flipping an album over, hearing the clunk of the keys, and watching the spools spin. This special edition brings all of that back with a welcome dose of modern engineering. Even better, it arrives with a fresh cassette reissue of Pop Trash, complete with those familiar metallic and neon touches that have always followed Duran Duran through their career.

Duran Duran teams up with We Are Rewind for a gorgeous new cassette player
Duran Duran teams up with We Are Rewind for a gorgeous new cassette player

A cassette player built for the present day

The WE-001 looks and feels like something from the band’s own design board. The aluminium shell has a satisfyingly weighty feel, the buttons have a smooth mechanical action, and the audio side of things has been taken very seriously. A dedicated headphone amplifier gives the tapes far more presence and clarity than the portable players many of us owned the first time round.

It connects to wireless headphones and speakers thanks to Bluetooth and charges by USB C, giving around twelve hours of playback. It even records. Plug in a powered mic or use the line input and you can capture your own mixtapes in proper analogue fashion.

For anyone who wants the full nostalgic experience, a pencil is included in the box. You know exactly what that is for.

Duran Duran teams up with We Are Rewind for a gorgeous new cassette player
Duran Duran teams up with We Are Rewind for a gorgeous new cassette player

A collaboration with real heart

The band’s creative art director Andrew Day summed up the project perfectly. When Pop Trash came out, streaming barely existed. Two and a half decades later, celebrating the album with a beautifully designed cassette player feels surprisingly right. He described the finished product as “more Pop and less Trash”, which is a very neat way of putting it.

We Are Rewind founder Romain Boudruche added that Duran Duran’s long history with physical media made the project a natural fit. At a time when music discovery is often reduced to an endless scroll of digital tracks, it is refreshing to see an artist celebrate the value of something you can actually hold.

Interestingly, UK cassette sales rose by more than two hundred percent in the first quarter of this year, so the timing could not be better.

Duran Duran teams up with We Are Rewind for a gorgeous new cassette player
Duran Duran teams up with We Are Rewind for a gorgeous new cassette player

Price and availability

The WE-001 Duran Duran Special Edition is priced at £149 and is available directly from We Are Rewind. If you are a fan of the band, a lover of physical media, or simply someone who enjoys a beautifully built gadget, this is well worth a look.

We Are Rewind Curtis GB001: The Cassette Boombox Renaissance We’ve Been Waiting For

The cassette tape’s resurgence has been one of the most joyful twists in personal audio. After years of streaming convenience running roughshod over the tactile pleasure of physical playback, along comes something that finally bridges the gap without losing the charm that made tapes brilliant in the first place.

The Curtis GB001 from We Are Rewind is a premium cassette boombox built for the modern era. Designed in France, it carries the unmistakable spirit of the classic ghetto blaster, but with a refined materials palette and contemporary engineering that make it feel purposeful, not kitsch.

We Are Rewind Curtis GB001: The Cassette Boombox Renaissance We’ve Been Waiting For
We Are Rewind Curtis GB001: The Cassette Boombox Renaissance We’ve Been Waiting For

It has presence in the way only proper hardware can. A hefty aluminium frame meets real walnut panelling. There’s a solidity to the unit that suggests it belongs on a shelf, in a studio, or under a Christmas tree without ever feeling incongruous or overdesigned. This is a product that’s been considered, prototyped and built with genuine affection for the medium.


Big, Bold Sound from a Single Cassette Deck

Curtis is built around one high quality cassette deck. No double deck accoutrements or tape dubbing circus here, just a single drive that plays tapes with real fidelity. That’s not a compromise, it’s a statement: great sound comes from focus.

We Are Rewind Curtis GB001: The Cassette Boombox Renaissance We’ve Been Waiting For

The playback is warm, dimensional and immersive, the sort of audio experience that makes you forget how sterile compressed streams can sound. Bluetooth 5.1 is onboard for those odd occasions you don’t have a tape handy, but the headline act is the tape mechanism itself, delivered through a stereo driver architecture that extracts every bit of depth your recordings have to give.

Controls are gloriously physical. Buttons push with reassuring resistance. Dials turn. The unit is rechargeable and portable, but it doesn’t lean on portability as its personality. The GB001 earns affection by being good at what it is.


In and Out Options for Every Listener

The input choices are refreshingly sensible and fully modern where they need to be: USB C for power delivery, RCA input for proper audio gear, and 3.5mm line in for plugging in almost anything with a headphone jack.

We Are Rewind Curtis GB001: The Cassette Boombox Renaissance We’ve Been Waiting For

It’s a ghetto blaster that doesn’t discriminate on age or audio source. If you grew up making mixtapes, you’ll love it. If you’re new to tapes but want a boombox that looks as good as it sounds, you’ll love it. And if you just want a premium Bluetooth speaker that happens to play cassettes, you’ll love it too.


A Christmas Gift with Longevity

There are only a handful of tech gifts that genuinely transcend trends. The Curtis GB001 belongs in that rare group. It doesn’t chase a fashion cycle. It nods to an era and elevates it.

If 2025 is truly the year of the cassette boombox revival, this is one of the few units that feels ready to lead the charge. It’s distinctive, memorable, supremely listenable and built with an exacting eye for design and sound quality.


Final Thoughts

The Curtis GB001 from We Are Rewind is an honest, confident cassette boombox debut for 2025. One deck. Big sound. Proper materials. Bluetooth onboard. Inputs present and correct. And most importantly, it rekindles a love for a format that never should have been sidelined in the first place.

Premium? Yes. Unnecessarily so? Not a chance. This one has earned its space.

Fire Safety In The Workshop: Why A Simple precaution Makes All The Difference

There is a moment in every workshop when the familiar hum of a machine reminds you how much heat is being generated just out of sight. Whether you are shaping a design with a laser cutter or pushing a long print through the night, both processes rely on concentrated heat and electronics working in perfect harmony. Most of the time everything behaves exactly as expected, but all it takes is a small fault, a stray ember or a damaged cable to turn that hum into something altogether more worrying.

Fire safety is rarely the glamorous side of making, yet it is one of the most important. Over the years I have seen how quickly a small flare can take hold and how easily it can damage tools, materials and the room around them. The risks are low, but they are real, and a little preparation can make an extraordinary difference.

The usual advice stands. Keep machines clean, check wiring regularly, make sure ventilation is clear and never leave cutting material that contains adhesives or unknown coatings unattended. Smoke and heat detectors are essential, as is good airflow and sensible layout. These form the invisible foundation of a safe workshop. They work quietly in the background and never ask for attention.

Then there is the final line of defence. The moment when you see something beginning to smoke or flame and you know you have only seconds to stop it becoming anything serious. Traditionally this has meant reaching for a dry powder extinguisher or a CO2 cylinder. Both will deal with a fire effectively, but both have their drawbacks in a small workshop. Powder settles everywhere and can ruin equipment long after the flames are out. CO2 works well but tends to be large, heavy and not always convenient if you need something you can grab in an instant.

This is where the Fire Safety Stick becomes so valuable. I keep one mounted on the wall near my machines for one simple reason. It allows me to deal with a developing fire without coating the entire workspace in a layer of residue that could permanently damage the very equipment I am trying to save. It produces no settling dust and no lingering film. Once the flame is out there is no clean up and no lasting harm to delicate components, optics or electronics.

The Fire Safety Stick answers many of the concerns that makers often raise. It is compact, straightforward to operate and requires no servicing. It can be used on the types of fires likely to occur around 3D printers and laser cutters, and because the discharge is clean, it allows you to act quickly without wondering how much collateral damage you are about to create. In a space filled with tools, materials and sensitive hardware, that freedom matters.

Fire Safety In The Workshop: Why A Simple precaution Makes All The Difference
Fire Safety In The Workshop: Why A Simple precaution Makes All The Difference

This does not replace sensible precautions. It simply adds a layer of protection that fits naturally into the rhythm of a workshop. You can strike it, place it near the source of the problem and step back, letting it continue to suppress the fire while you stay safe. It buys time, and in an environment where heat and electronics are always working together, time is the most valuable thing you have.

I encourage anyone who spends hours printing, engraving or cutting to think seriously about fire safety. It is easy to assume that nothing will ever go wrong, but experience has taught me that peace of mind is something you only appreciate after the moment you wish you had it. A clear workspace, a basic understanding of your equipment and a Fire Safety Stick within reach is a simple combination that gives you that reassurance.

In a world filled with clever tools and creative possibilities, sometimes the most important equipment is the one you hope you never need to use.

Fire Safety Stick is available in 50 second and 100 second discharge rates and are available from Amazon  at https://amzn.to/48fRCob

Bambu Lab to Reveal the H2C at Formnext – and I’ll Be There to See It First-Hand

Bambu Lab have officially announced the launch of their new multi-material 3D printer, the Bambu Lab H2C, taking place on 18 November 2025 at 3:00 PM CET—and I’ll be there at Formnext in Frankfurt to witness the reveal in person.

This is shaping up to be one of the most significant announcements in desktop 3D printing for years.

For the past three years, Bambu Lab have been working on a cleaner, more efficient approach to multi-colour and multi-material printing. Their teaser hints at something genuinely ground-breaking: the end of purge waste.

Back in 2022, the X1 series opened the door to accessible multi-colour printing, but the trade-off was always the same—purging. Endless little strings of wasted filament, time lost, and the compromises that every multi-colour printer still struggles with today.

Bambu’s engineers zeroed in on the real culprit: contamination within the hotend. Their solution? Don’t purge—swap the hotend.

Image and Video Credit: Bambulab

Introducing the Vortec Hotend Change System

The H2C is expected to showcase a brand-new technology called Vortec, described as one of the first induction-heated, fully automated hotend-swap systems.

The innovations highlighted in the teaser include:

• Dedicated hotends instead of purging

Like using a fresh paintbrush for each colour. No cleaning required, no cross-contamination, and no filament waste.

• Induction heating in just 8 seconds

Rapid heating without the slowdown of bulky toolheads or complex gantries.

• Wireless data and power sync

Each hotend contains its own chip that communicates temperature, filament data and status to the printer—without cables or pogo pins to wear out.

• No sacrifice in speed, volume or reliability

Rather than adding multiple nozzles or loading a heavy toolhead, Bambu Lab have focused on keeping things fast, compact and robust.

According to Bambu Lab, Vortec represents “the epilogue to the imperfections of X1” and marks their first major step toward eliminating purge altogether.

I’ll Be Reporting Live from Formnext

As The Gadget Man, I’ll be on the ground at Formnext in Frankfurt when the H2C is unveiled. Expect hands-on impressions, photos, early thoughts and—as always—my honest take on whether this could be the next revolution in multi-material 3D printing.

Stay tuned. This could be the moment multi-colour printing finally becomes clean, fast and… uncompromising.

Anycubic Black Friday Deals Arrive Early – Huge Savings on 3D Printers, Resins and Accessories

Black Friday has begun early this year, and Anycubic have already launched a wide range of offers running from 10th November to 4th December. If you have been waiting for the right moment to start 3D printing, upgrade your setup, or stock up on consumables, these prices are well worth a look.

Anycubic Exclusive Black Friday Deals


Featured Printer Deals

Here are some of the standout savings on popular FDM and resin printers:

Model Black Friday Price Saving
Kobra S1 Combo £429 Save £120
Kobra 3 V2 Combo £299 Save £70
Kobra 3 Max Combo £519 Save £130
Photon Mono M7 Max £599 Save £110
Photon Mono M7 Pro £429 Save £70
Photon Mono 4 £149 Save £10

Full details and models here!

These are advertised as the lowest prices of the year and are likely to be limited by stock availability.


New Release: Kobra S1 Max Combo – Early Bird Discount

Kobra S1 Max Combo
Kobra S1 Max Combo

The Kobra S1 Max Combo is the latest addition to the Anycubic line-up. Designed for high-speed and large-format printing, it is suitable for those needing room for bigger parts, prototypes, cosplay elements or batch production.

Early Bird Offer (until 24th November):
Pay a £50 deposit to secure £100 off.

Pricing Schedule:

Dates Price Extra Perks Included
25 Nov – 1 Dec £749 Includes perks worth £400
2 Dec – 25 Dec £799 Includes perks worth £350
26 Dec – 31 Jan £849 Includes perks worth £300
From 1 Feb £949 Includes perks worth £200

Filament and Resin Sale

Filaments and resins are currently available from £8.49/kg, making this a very cost-effective time to stock up.

Browse materials here


Accessories – 20% Off

A range of accessories are on sale, including:

  • Replacement FEP films

  • Resin vats

  • Build plates

  • Hardened steel nozzles and hot ends

  • Spare LCD screens

Accessory savings can be found here


Extra Discount Codes (Valid until 4th December)

Code Saving Minimum Spend
ACBFCM30 £30 off £400+
ACBFCM25 £25 off £300+
ACBFCM20 £20 off £200+
ACBFCM15 £15 off £150+
ACBFCM10 £10 off £100+
ACBFCM5 £5 off £50+
ACBFCM3 £3 off £30+

Final Thoughts

This is one of the broadest and most substantial Black Friday collections Anycubic has offered in recent years, covering everything from first-time starter machines to large-format high-speed systems and precision resin printers.

If you are planning a winter project, expanding your workspace, or simply looking to get the best value for your materials, the timing here is ideal.

If you would like help comparing models or working out which machine is right for your requirements, feel free to ask.

Best regards,
Matt Porter – The Gadget Man

Formnext Turns 10! And It’s Bigger, Bolder, and Brilliantly Additive Than Ever

Frankfurt’s iconic tech mecca is lighting up the entire AM world with an expanded programme, more gadgets and gear than ever, and enough buzz to make even the most jaded engineer’s pulse quicken. Here’s everything you need to know if you’re heading to Formnext 2025 — or watching from afar.


Three Stages, One Purpose: Exploring AM’s Bright Future

Formnext 2025 isn’t just about rows of 3D printers humming away like digital sewing machines — though, let’s be honest, we do love that too. It’s about conversations that shape the future.

  • Application Stage (Hall 11.1): From rocket engines to robot arms and even orthopaedic orthoses (try saying that after a few Glühweins), this is where AM meets real-world problems. Focused firmly on cost-effective innovation, this stage is a must for SMEs looking to dip their toes into the world of 3D production.

  • Industry Stage (Hall 11.0): Topics like sustainability, Design for AM, and even AI-designed consumer goods take centre stage here. Highlights include a keynote retrospective on the last decade of AM and forward-looking discussions on decentralised production – a very big deal as global supply chains continue to shift.

  • Technology Stage (Hall 12.1): This is where the nerds (my people!) gather to go deep. Think DED tech, large-format plastic printing, and data-driven design. Pack a notebook.


New This Year: Tours, Livestreams &… a Quiz Show?

Formnext 2025 is not content with “business as usual”. The organisers have added a host of interactive new formats that are both educational and entertaining.

  • Guided AM Tours: Focusing on post-processing (a criminally underappreciated stage in AM), these 90-minute guided walks will be led by experts. Wednesday tours are in German, Thursday in English. No sign-ups, just first-come, first-served — so set an alarm.

  • Show and Telling LIVE: YouTube’s own 3D Printing Nerd will be broadcasting live on Tuesday. If you’ve ever wanted to geek out in real time with a global AM celeb, now’s your chance.

  • Ultimate Additive Quiz Show: Because why not have a game show for engineers? Expect equal parts trivia, tension, and titanium.


From Mechanical Marvels to Mushroom Mycelium: The Special Showcases

Here’s where Formnext really flexes its muscles. The 2025 edition will showcase AM in every industry you can imagine:

  • Additive4Industry (Hall 12.0): Mechanical engineering applications, brought to you by the VDMA.

  • BE-AM Symposium: Construction gets the AM treatment — and yes, that means 3D printed buildings.

  • AM Art Space: SUTOSUTO are back to blur the line between technology and art.

  • AM Innovation & Standards Summit (17 Nov): Standards, compliance, and certification may not be sexy — but they’re essential.

And let’s not forget the Start-up Area and Young Innovators Booth, where tomorrow’s biggest ideas take their first steps. If you’re an investor or just love spotting the next big thing, bring business cards.


Democratising 3D Printing

A real theme running through this year’s show is accessibility. Whether it’s via desktop 3D printers popping up in more industrial contexts or the Discover3DPrinting seminars for curious newcomers, Formnext is making AM approachable for businesses of all sizes.

There’s even a Career Area with job walls, professional headshots, and career advice — because nothing says “ready for your next move” like a headshot next to a 3D printed turbine blade.


The Formnext Awards – AM’s Red Carpet Moment

Awards aren’t just for Hollywood. The Formnext Awards shine a spotlight on groundbreaking technologies, bold young companies, and sustainable solutions — across six hotly contested categories. The twist? You get to help choose the winners via online voting. Cue the drama.


Partner Country 2025: Spain Steps Into the Spotlight

This year’s partner country is Spain, and it’s not just bringing paella and passion. With around 30 companies showcasing breakthroughs in AM systems, materials, and R&D, Spain is strutting its stuff on the global AM stage — and rightly so.


When, Where, and Why You Should Be There

Frankfurt am Main
18–21 November 2025
www.formnext.com/visitors

Whether you’re a long-time Formnext fanatic or a first-time visitor still figuring out what “DED” stands for, this year promises to be unforgettable. Ten years in, and Formnext shows no sign of slowing down — in fact, it’s evolving just as quickly as the technology it celebrates.

So dust off your best trade fair shoes, charge your phone (you’ll need it), and get ready to celebrate a decade of additive excellence.


Have you been to Formnext before? What are you most looking forward to this year? Drop your thoughts

The Unique Gift Guide 2025

Discover gifts that break the mould, a curated collection of inspired finds that mix innovation, nostalgia and pure fun. From character-led collectables to next-gen tech and design-driven home essentials, each product brings something special to the table, making it easy to find a thoughtful, memorable gift for every personality on your list.

Arlo Penguin Bestie Water Bottle – £29.99 Available from Suck UK

A penguin shaped bottle with a yellow beak

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Add character to your routine! This adorable, insulated 450ml water bottle features a removable, collectable silicone character head, making hydration fun and playful. With double-wall vacuum insulation to keep drinks cold for 24 hours, it’s the perfect companion for any adventure.

Cable Guys Five Nights At Freddy’s, Freddy Controller Holder & Phone Stand £29.99

Five Nights at Freddy's Freddy Fazbear Cable Guy

Welcome Freddy Fazbear into your world with this chillingly cool Cable Guy. Straight from the dark and thrilling world of Five Nights at Freddy’s, Freddy is here to guard your devices in true villainous style. With incredible detail and a mischievous vibe, this Cable Guy adds a touch of frightful fun to any space. Freddy holds remote controls, smartphones and gaming controllers,

Mindful Bath – £24.99 from Suck UK

A tray with a pen and a notebook on it

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Mello waterproof A5 notebook & incense. Put pencil to paper and let your thoughts and ideas flow in the steamy comfort of your own bathtub. Includes a 100% waterproof A5 notebook (no crinkled pages or slippery fingered accidents here!) and scented incense sticks and holder to get you in the perfect headspace

Plant With Willow Starter Pack – £34.99 Available from PlantWithWillow.co.uk

Willow Starter Pack

The Plant With Willow Starter Pack gives your houseplants a voice, quite literally. A discreet soil sensor tracks moisture, light, temperature and nutrients, sending real-time updates to your phone via a beautifully intuitive app. You’ll know when to water, when to feed, and when your monstera simply needs a moment in the sun.

Photo Creator Video Projector Camera – £69.99 from Smyths

A close-up of a video projector

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

With the 3-in-1 Video Projector Camera from Photo Creator, you can snap photos, shoot crisp HD video, project your creations in colour, and connect to cast your favourite content onto any surface! This exciting all-in-one device projects photos and videos from up to 4 metres, creating a big screen projection display up to 200 x 112cm, with adjustable focus to capture the perfect picture. Take 48MP photos and films crisp HD video on the 2.4 screen, with 27 fun effects, including digital frames and filters to personalise your work! With simple projection in bright, bold colour, this video projector camera offers endless creative fun, with a 16GB MicroSD card that lets you capture, save and share with friends and family. Connect devices wirelessly to cast your favourite content onto any surface for an even bigger viewing experience and home-projector fun

 

Care Bears Digital Pet – £20 from ThumbsUp.com

Care Bears Digital Pet Collection - Cyber Pet with Care Features, 1.4” Inch  Screen, Handheld Interactive Virtual Pets for Kids, Collectible Electronic  ...

The Care Bears Digital Pet brings a nostalgic twist for kidults who grew up loving the bears. Relive the magic of the ‘80s with a pocket-sized digital companion. it’s a retro revival with a modern digital edge.

Krafted Couch Wireless Charger – £39.99 available from Kraftedtech.com

Couch - Matcha – Krafted

Meet the home essential you never knew you needed. Draping elegantly over the arm of your sofa, the Krafted Couch Charger brings effortless power to your favourite spot. Its sleek silicone finish grips gently in place while your phone recharges. A rare piece of tech that feels as good as it looks, and every bit as considered as a well-placed throw.

Warmies Gromit £29.99 from Warmies

A stuffed animal dog with brown ears

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

From Wallace & Gromit, Warmies Gromit is a fully heatable soft toy that can be heated in a microwave to provide hours of soothing warmth and comfort. This luxuriously soft plush design is gently scented with relaxing lavender and can be reheated time and time again. Warmies® are weighted, warming, scented and super cuddly, making it an ideal gift for all ages!

Star Wars Cable Guys Darth Vader Controller Holder & Phone Stand £29.99 from EXGPro.com

Star Wars: Darth Vader A New Hope Cable Guys R.E.S.T Collectable Figur

Welcome the Dark Side into your home with our Darth Vader A New Hope Cable Guy Based on one of the evilest and most beloved characters from the Star Wars franchise, our Darth Vader: A New Hope Cable Guy is armed with his lightsabre and ready to attack anyone from the Rebel Alliance who may want to get their hands on your most treasured items – from your phone to your controller, and even your lightsabre. Just remember not to “underestimate the power of the Force”.

Krafted Connex – £29.99 available from Kraftedtech.com

Connex - Jade – Krafted

If tangled cables and missing adaptors are your personal nemesis, meet your new best friend. The Krafted Connex hub tidily houses multiple connectors for phones, tablets, watches and beyond – offering fast charging, data transfer, and peace of mind in one compact design. Sleek, simple, and ideal for anyone who travels, works remotely, or just hates rummaging in drawers.

Pad Creator Instant Print Tablet – £129.99 Available from SmythsToys.com

A tablet with a stick and a pen

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

For the next generation of digital dreamers, the Pad Creator is part tablet, part instant printer, and entirely brilliant. With six creative modes, kids can shoot photos, film mini movies, sketch, add filters and print their masterpieces instantly from the 8-inch touchscreen. There’s even a child-friendly browser for inspiration hunting – making it as safe as it is inspiring. The kind of gift that turns rainy afternoons into studio time.

Majority Pulse 1 Bluetooth Party Speaker – £99.99 Available from Currys

MAJORITY Pulse 1 Bluetooth Party Speaker - Black image number 0

The Majority Pulse 1 is made for parties and spontaneous kitchen discos. The 80W speaker packs a punch with crisp highs and bass that means business, complete with a synchronised light show that pulses to the beat. It even comes with a wireless mic for karaoke mode, because someone’s always going to want to sing. Portable, powerful and fun.

Anycubic Teases the Kobra S1 Max Combo – A New Chapter for Multi-Colour Printing (and I’ll Be Seeing More at Formnext!)

Well, this is exciting. The lovely folks at Anycubic have been in touch again, and this time they’ve got something rather special lined up for the 3D-printing world. If you’ve been following my recent adventures in the workshop — shelves of resin bottles, spools of filament, and printers humming away like a busy beehive — you’ll know I’ve been especially taken with Anycubic’s approach to innovation lately.

And now, they’ve gone and done it again.

Introducing the Kobra S1 Max Combo

A brand-new machine built to push desktop 3D-printing further — louder, brighter, more colourful, and more capable of serious engineering-grade work.

This is not just a quiet upgrade. This is one of those big leaps.

Kobra S1 Max Combo
Kobra S1 Max Combo
Kobra S1 Max
Kobra S1 Max

What Makes It Stand Out?

The expanded spec list from the official campaign page reveals some key details:

  • Up to 16-colour printing: Start with one ACE 2 Pro module for 4 colours; combine up to four for the full 16-colour capacity.

  • Huge build volume: 350 × 350 × 350 mm.

  • Enclosed, actively-heated chamber up to 65 °C. Hotbed up to 120 °C, hotend up to 350 °C.

  • Hardened-steel hotend (0.4 mm standard with extra 0.6 mm included), optional 0.25 mm brass / 0.8 mm hardened steel nozzles.

  • CoreXY motion system, active carbon-filter air purification, WiFi6/Ethernet support, 720p monitoring, spaghetti-recognition AI, U-disk/app control.

  • Materials covered: from PLA/PETG/TPU right up to engineering-grades like ABS, ASA, PC, PA, PA6-CF, PC-CF/GF, PET-CF.

  • Multi-language interface (English, Chinese, German, Russian, Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, Portuguese).

Put simply: whoever said “desktop printers are only for PLA” is going to have a rethink when this lands.


Early Bird Deal (This One’s Actually Worth It)

Anycubic are running a clever early-bird scheme:

  • Pay £50 now → receive £100 discount off the launch price (5th November to 24th November)

  • After that, the pricing rolls through phased levels — each with perks (as previously noted).

    • £749 (25 Nov-1 Dec) with £400 worth of perks

    • £799 (2 Dec-25 Dec) with £350 perks

    • £849 (26 Dec-31 Jan) with £300 perks

    • £949 (from 1 Feb) with £200 perks

So yes — if you’re thinking about it, the earlier the better.


And Here’s the Extra Bit I’m Excited About…

I’ll be in Frankfurt on the 18th November attending formnext — the global additive-manufacturing expo. It’s basically the Glastonbury of 3D printing: people everywhere talking filament, lasers, printheads, sintering furnaces — heavenly stuff.

I’m absolutely planning to track down Anycubic while I’m there and get a closer look at the Kobra S1 Max Combo in the flesh. Expect photos, impressions, maybe even first-hand print samples — all coming your way.

If you’ve got questions you’d like me to ask the Anycubic team directly, let me know in the comments.


Final Thoughts

This is shaping up to be a very compelling machine:

✔ Larger build volume
✔ Multi-colour support baked in
✔ Enclosed, CoreXY, heated chamber = better reliability
✔ Designed for real materials, not just for show

If it delivers what the specs promise, this could be one of the stand-out printers of 2025 — especially for makers and small business production.

I’ll bring back everything I learn at Formnext — stay tuned.

Matt Porter – The Gadget Man
Currently surrounded by printers. Not sorry.