With COVID-19 restrictions limiting social gatherings and unique visitors per household to five persons per day in Singapore, the celebrations for this Chinese New Year (CNY) will likely be as muted as last year's. But it's more important to stay safe and healthy — some folks may even secretly love the excuse to skip house visits. In any case, you can liven up your CNY gathering with some loud music, CNY variety shows and red RGB lights — the better to scare the Nian away — with the following five gadgets.
Apple TV 4K
It's pretty common to share photos and videos among friends and family members at a gathering. Instead of huddling around a phone, why not beam them on your big-screen television via an Apple TV 4K box? Or stream some tunes from Apple Music to cover any awkward conversational lulls. And for those who can't make it to your home due to COVID restrictions, you can also watch TV shows and movies together on the Apple TV via its SharePlay feature.
Xbox Series S
A game console like the Xbox Series S is great at keeping the young ones entertained while the adults chit-chat. It doesn't even matter if you don't know what your guests like. Simply get an Xbox Game Pass subscription (S$1 for the first month) for access to over 100 games. There's probably a game or two that will suit their fancy, whether it's an Xbox classic or the latest Xbox Series X|S optimised title. And if your TV isn't the smartest, the console doubles up as a media streamer, too.
BenQ GV30 Projector
Distract the kids with Disney+ or YouTube with the BenQ GV30 Projector. It's easy to move this projector around with its leather strap and just as simple to adjust its viewing angles using its cool magnetic stand. Of course, you can also make the BenQ the star of your living room. After all, it can display a screen of up to 100 inches, though it works best if the surroundings are on the dimmer side.
Nanoleaf Lines
Set the right mood for your CNY gathering with the Nanoleaf Lines. These modular light bars are highly customisable — arrange them in an auspicious symbol for example. They also throw up a gentle glow that's comfortable on the eyes. You can also sync them with music or with other devices supporting Razer's Chroma lighting system. If you find the Nanoleaf Lines a tad expensive, check out the more affordable TP-Link Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Light Strip instead.
MToy Electric Lifting Hot Pot
What's a CNY gathering without food? If you're planning a steamboat feast, consider the MToy Electric Lifting Hot Pot. Its automatic sieving tray helps you separate your food from the soup base, so you don't have to dig around in the soup. It's also pretty cool to see it in action.
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