Dependent on Gadgets

21st century children have access to things that were only possible with magical imagination when their parents were kids. The online world is compelling for children of all ages, but as a parent, you'll want to be there to protect them, just as you do in the physical world. Thankfully, there are apps that can help you be a good virtual parent. Dive in to see what's possible.

A £50 tablet? That's Christmas present money. But will you get any thanks if you hand over an Amazon Fire?

Despite being an internet savvy, security awarenetizen, I got hacked. Here's what happened, what I did and what I learned.

As 3DTV fades into memory another old technology comes back for another go. Virtual Reality, or VR, is an exciting concept, but has the technology improved enough over previous attempts. More to the point, do enough people want it?

Keyboard and mouse? Ancient. Touchscreen? Passe. No, the future is gesture recognition and the Leap Motion can bring it to your computer today. But is it any good? Click on for the answer.

There's a world of choice out there, whether you're making a Christmas wish list or a Christmas gift list. That doesn't actually make it any easier though, so to help with either list, I've picked out five highlights from my gadget blogging year that I think would make great gifts. Happy Christmas all!

It's easy to slate Apple for their swagger, it's also easy to wax lyrical about their kit - here, I'm afraid I've done both

Laptops may have gotten sleeker and lighter, but the fundamental design is unchanged and it's all gotten a bit boring. Dare we leave it to big business supplier to come up with something innovative? Well, we should, because they've come up with a way to squeeze a big laptop into a small one!

A spot of heavy smartphone usage can see its battery dipping by lunchtime. You could carry a heavy powerbank around, remembering to keep that charged up, or you could 'borrow' a spot of phone juice from a friend, with this clever little invention currently seeking funding on Indiegogo from Waferlabs.

Virtual reality has been teasing us for years. Whilst we wait for Oculus Rift and other dedicated headsets to arrive, there is a cheap way any smartphone user can experience virtual rollercoasters right now, courtesy of Google. This reviewer eschews the seasickness tablets and jumps into Google Cardboard's other worlds.

Another exciting year in gadgets draws to a close - Dependent on Gadgets looks back at some blogging highlights and wonders what to expect in 2015.

This blogger is hoping for a gadget or two for Christmas, but December has already brought with it the coolest present! Votes from readers, friends and family have secured a place in the UK Blog Awards 2015 shortlist!

You've got the smartphone and the tablet, so maybe the laptop doesn't need to be quite so small. In fact, maybe the laptop should now be BIG! If this sounds reasonable, take a look at the Dell Inspiron 17.

This blogger has sadly gained a few pounds despite an excellent FitBit pedometer record and mean badminton smash. An exercise bike can help conveniently shake a few pounds, but the wrong one could easily just end up drying clothes. Perhaps the UltraSport F-Bike folding Exercise Bike can help?

Apple has finally played its wearable tech card and announced the Apple Watch. Here's Dependent on Gadgets' first impressions following the launch event.

Having recently passed a year old, this blogger got tempted away from WordPress by the promise of a beautiful website built and run without the need for complex technical skills. 'Better websites for all' is their moto. Find out if it's the case. 

The rise of the smartphone has brought with it some interesting fringe benefits. Cheap but powerful components that with a little imagination can help bring science fiction to reality. We take a look at five examples.

Sometimes being a gadget fan means reading up on endless flows of new smartphones and tablets, but every now and then something genuinely different and potentially game-changing comes along.

My Kindle Keyboard died after only 2 years. Is the upgrade to a Paperwhite an annoying expense, or a leap forward in e-book reading technology?

Sabri's Studio is an art and design studio based in Surrey, founded by Sabrina Loder. I spent an afternoon learning about the gadgets that a self-made artist can use to turn their talent into a business.

The Beats guys have made enough money - let's go buy something better now?

Riding a bike is fantastic. Learning to ride a bike can be a quick way to collect bruises to show off in the playground. The Jyrobike claims to change the pain to fun and potentially have your child learning to ride a bike in just a single afternoon!

Is it just me, or is buying a new smartphone not such an exciting event anymore?

The Google ChromeCast makes it easy for you to send videos to your television. It's a cheap way to enjoy Netflix, Youtube and more on the big TV and it's easy to setup. But is it any good? DoG investigates.

Pedometers are cheap and promise big health improvements for modest effort. Does the science back up the claims and does it actually work out in real life?

Apple may reel at an accessory that makes an ipad a little more like a laptop, but anyone who wants to do some serious writing should consider a keyboard folio. Question is, do Zagg make the best in a crowded market?

It's 6 months since Jp successfully beat the bulge with a little help from apps and gadgets. So did they also help keep it off?

Some high profile account hackings of Twitter prompt DoG to investigate how we can better secure our Google, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The iPad is encroaching on the office. Trouble is, you still need your laptop. Dell's Latitude 10 attempts to replace both.

There are so many boxes you can connect to your TV these days for movies, music and more delivered via the internet. Jp puts one of the best known against one you've maybe never heard of, but could do twice as much for half the price.