Drones, trains and gadgets galore at Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair
Electronics feature - including drones for aerial photography and trains with tablet add-ons
Toy companies are expecting a good year ahead as they launch hot products ranging from drone helicopters to toy trains at the Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair next week.
The second biggest toy fair in the world, it will run from January 12 to 15 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. When two other fairs running at the same time - the Baby Products Fair and the International Stationery Fair - are included, there will be over 2,600 exhibitors, up 1.2 per cent from last year.
And visitors can expect plenty of electronic gadgets.
Drones for aerial photography, which have become big hits among both flying fanatics and snappers, are now manipulated not by remote control but by tapping on a tablet.
Market leader DJI from Shenzhen has just launched Inspire 1, which boasts higher video quality and easier control through a tablet. Both the camera mounted on the drone and the flight system can be controlled with an app.
"Using an iPad, you can access real-time flying data, locate the drone on a map and control specifics like shutter speed," said Lou Tsz-ming of local distributor Windrider.
At a cost of HK$22,000, users could achieve the same results as those by professional model helicopters, which cost at least four times as much, he added.