What is it?
A robust self-photography aid.
How will it change my life? I don't recall exactly when selfies took hold of the general population but it has somehow managed to spread like a pandemic. What was once taboo or kept behind closed doors (slobbing out on the sofa, what you ate for dinner, all manner of bizarre hobbies) is now unashamedly on show for all the world to see - no matter how ridiculous or mundane.
From the woman trying on jeans in a changing room to the guy posing beside the funny place name sign, the main gripe I have is that people don't seem to care what the image looks like as long as they can be seen. What happened to simply taking a photo of the object? Why do we have to be in every picture? Even group shots are now taken in a ridiculous selfie form. Asking a friendly stranger to take the picture is a thing of the past.
For those who insist on sharing every cough and splutter of their lives, there are some inventions that can enhance the improvised self portrait. Unfortunately the likes of Photoshop or a photography course can prove expensive options. Step forward California-based Looq System, which has devised various apparatuses to help the amateur photographer become that little bit more professional. This includes the Looq Super Selfie, which is essentially an extendable arm mount for your smartphone.
Good points? The Super Selfie is easy to use: you just place your phone into the mount holder, extend the arm and press the picture button located on the handle. It collapses neatly to the size of a smartphone so can be concealed in a pocket or a handbag but deployed within seconds should you feel the need to take a snap in a hurry.
The design is simple in comparison to some of the other brands on the market which require the stick to be connected to the phone via either WiFi or Bluetooth, thus also needing the selfie stick to hold a power charge. The Super Selfie needs no power and works in any conditions to help prevent the dreaded arm of the picture taker showing up in the final image.
Bad points? The Super Selfie lacks versatility in the mounting angles of some other brands but it's not a deal breaker.
Best for … Regular Instagram and Facebook up-loaders. The extendable pole would also be ideal for anyone with shorter arms.
Avoid if … That last picture was the embarrassing wake-up call you needed to stop this madness.
Score: 7/10.
l Looq Super Selfie, £22 (Looqsystem.com)
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