Work hard, play safe!

The relentless  pressure to succeed  that  employees face in big name  Internet-era companies has  given birth to a new lifestyle where it is impossible to set aside separate  time for work and play. Recent  revelations leaked from within Amazon, highlighted a culture where emails  are routinely received by workers  past midnight, followed by text messages asking why they were not answered. Staffers take rare holidays - then head for the nearest  coffee shop and use the free WiFi to get some work done.  Lakhs of Indians too are now leading similar lives. This has given rise to a new buzzword; weisure:  a seamless morphing of work and leisure.

To make this happen; to enable Cyberians to be  productive on the hoof and also  get their daily fix of entertainment --a whole new generation of gadgets and devices are on offer. Here are some affordable options, which will set you firmly on the road to  a new  work-n-play way of life.

Penta T-Pad Model WS704DX tablet

For some days now, we have been trying out an unpretentious tablet that lets you play the double role that many are forced to adopt.  It does it simply:  by including two SIM slots - a rarity on most tablets, even the priciest ones.  Both are 3G enabled:  So you can 'declare' one SIM  to your employers and use it to  address  all those business chores. The other SIM you keep private- for your time-pass activities:  movie watching, music downloads or whatever. Yes, you can lead a double life with the Penta T-Pad Model WS704DX  and no one will know! Of course  you can latch on  to free  WiFi hotspots too for your personal downloads.

  Lead a double life with this dual-SIM tablet

The other specs are fairly standard  for a 7 inch tab: A 1024 by 600 pixel screen; 1 GB RAM, 8 GB  DDR3 memory expandable to 32 GB;  Dual cameras (a wee under powered  with  2 MP rear with flash and 0.3 MP front); a dual core processor with a graphics co-processor. For a 2015 release   we would have thought the makers should have loaded a later version of Android than 4.4 Kitkat.  We liked the  clean basic user interface, uncluttered by a lot of free ware ( except Qikr)  and at just  over half a kg, this is a truly portable  computer-phone device . If you don't want to look ridiculous, clapping a  7 inch  slab to your ear, you may like to invest in a earphone  At Rs 4999 this is  good  value . BSNL partners with Penta tablets   for their data SIMS.

Casio G-Shock GBA-400 watch

2015 has been the year of the health band and the smart watch. There are smart watches today that measure heart rate, calculate how many calories you burn and how soundly you sleep. The line between health bands and smart watches is blurring, with most new generation watches going for minimalistic design, usually just a band which is primary meant to monitor your health vital. Incidentally, they display time as well. Then there are traditional watch manufacturers who stick to their customary chic design, leave the health aspects behind, and create tough watches that connect with your smart phone. The Casio G-Shock GBA-400 is one of the newest in this league, a  watch uses Bluetooth to let you  remotely change music tracks and alter the volume of your smart phone. As with the other watches in the G-Shock range, the GBA-400 offers shock resistance and is waterproof down to a depth of 200 metres.

Bluetooth power on your wrist

The watch uses a mobile app called G-Shock+ to sync with your phone and retrieve data from your phone memory. You can choose to play music from your phone’s native app, or even download Casio’s own music playlist app called G’Mix for smooth track transitions and equalizer settings. The app is compliant with Android and iOS devices. An interesting feature of G’ Mix is its ability to ‘listen’ to sounds or music played in the vicinity, and identify them using SoundHound, a third-party music recognition software.

The GBA-400 has all the usual watch features, such as an alarm, stopwatch and timer, and also a 300 city world clock, allowing your smart phone to choose the time zone and sync the watch accordingly. Priced at Rs. 9495, the GBA-400 is a good buy if you are a watch connoisseur with a good playlist on your smart phone.

Evo Gamepad Pro Mobile gaming device

You can now dock your smart phone to a gaming controller and simulate your own console. Amkette has recently launched the Evo Gamepad Pro, which claims to be the country’s first Android smart phone gaming device. Connecting via Bluetooth with a range of 5 meters, the Evo features a clip and a shell that allows you to dock your smart phone in landscape position and use the Evo’s controller to play the game of your choice. The Evo is currently compatible with more than 350 Android games, both free and paid. The fact that the Evo uses Bluetooth to connect the gaming screen, also allows you to use a larger screen, say a tablet or an Android smart TV for better gaming experience. The device comes with a physical trigger, bumper buttons, D-pad and dual analog sticks.

Plug /n’ play redefined

Design wise, the Evo will strike a chord with users of Xbox 360. The device is lightweight, and the rubber grip makes for a comfortable gaming experience for extended periods of time. The buttons are rugged but smooth, for faster response. Of course, certain functionalities fit certain games but overall,  experience is consistent across most Android games. At its asking price of Rs. 2799, this device is unique and gives new life to the games on your smart phone.

Kaspersky Internet Security multidevice: Net security

In the traditional wisdom of Kerala-based ayurveda, Ottamooli or  "single ingredient" is a cure based on a single dose -- something  only seasoned practitioners  dare  to prescribe.   The latest  editions of Kaspersky's Internet security solutions  include a  product  that seems similarly inspired:  Since most of us switch seamlessly from  surfing the Internet from phone, PC, notebook or tablet , the company has come out  with a  product that  takes  on  malware and Net baddies across  multiple desktop and mobile platforms --PC, Mac and Android-- instead of making us buy separate  products for each class of device.

"Kaspersky Internet  Security -- multidevice 2016"  protects privacy, money transactions, your identity and valuable photos against Net threats  with one licence, one product,  for  up to five of your devices --PCs, Android phones and tablets.  The software addresses many new threats: blocking intrusive banner advertisements,   putting online buying through its own  secure filter;  prevent tracking of your webcam, blocking inappropriate  content from reaching your kids. The one year subscription for 5 devices is Rs  2399. 

Almost 99% of mobile malware is directed at the Android platform -- so it is wise to protect your mobile internet activity, not just your desktop surfing.