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Fitbit Charge 4 VR headsets do battle Streets of Rage returns and make better podcasts
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Subscriptions hotline Call Centre: 0873531291 WhatsApp: 0873531292 Advertising Business director Sally Hudson sally@stuff.co.za Senior account manager Thalia Pallotta 083 375 2418 thalia@stuff.co.za Management Stuff South Africa is published by the Stuff Group (Pty) Ltd. Directors: Toby Shapshak, Sally Hudson
It doesn’t take much to change the world. Folks who are into tech are more aware of this than people who are not. After all, we’ve seen it happen on several occasions. Microsoft changed the world. The internet changed the world. Blackberry changed the world. Apple changed the world, as recently as 2007. And now something far less pleasant than these developments is busy doing the same. It’s impossible to ignore the fact that the planet is set to be a different place when we all re-emerge from our homes and start interacting again. Masks? Yeah, those are sticking around and not just in Asia. The concept of personal space? That’s also set to be heavily altered. The handshake may have finally met its match as well. Health? That’s something that’ll be foremost on people’s minds, along with the disastrous potential of viral transmission in a population. Hand sanitiser will feature in our lives for a long time to come, mass gatherings will take a while to bounce back and we’re staring down a digital future that… was going to arrive eventually. It’s just been given a mighty shove by COVID-19. It’s change on a global scale – something we’re all used to. And the tech world has responded the way it always has: by adapting. We might be stuck inside but you don’t have to lament that fact. We’ve got fourteen pages full of reasons why staying home is more bearable than you’d think (p34). If you’re concerned about what you’re breathing in right now, this issue has a rundown of your best, most affordable air purifiers (p48). If you want to reach out to other, isolated souls we’ve got a guide to getting your podcast on (p82) and if you just want to see the world again, check out the DJI Mavic Air 2 (p76). Because while the world has changed, you’ll do what you’ve always done. You’ll get used to it, then you’ll thrive.
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PO Box 74, Melrose Arch, 2096 Kelsey Publishing UK Stuff UK content is published with the permission of copyright holder Kelsey Publishing Ltd, Cudham Tithe Barn, Berry’s Hill, Cudham, Kent TN16 3AG ... and a word about prices Generally, we show the manufacturer’s recommended price. Occasionally we (or suppliers) can make mistakes. Please remember that prices listed in Stuff are intended as a guide only. We make every effort to confirm that all information is correct (and triple checked) when we go to print.
Take a deep breath, Mr Venter
Huff’n and puff’n won’t get this air purifier on our list. Ever.
p48
Brett Venter, Editor brett@stuff.co.za @DrakonisZA
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Stuff competition terms and conditions: Apple is not a sponsor, nor is it involved in any way with any Stuff Magazine contests or sweepstakes. Stuff Magazine does not offer Apple products as contest or sweepstake prizes. 1 Promotions, giveaways and competitions are entered through Stuff Group’s website www.stuff.co.za and are opened for Issue 106, 2020 on 6 July 2020 and close on 23 August 2020. 2 The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into. 3 Employees of Stuff Group and their families are not allowed to enter. Advertising and public relations representatives may not enter competitions in the issue in which their promotions, giveaways or competitions are carried. 4 Prizes are not exchangeable for cash and/or other products. Prizes are available while stocks last. It is at the discretion of Stuff Group and the custodian of the prizes to ensure that, should there be a problem with the stipulated prize won, a reasonable replacement of the same value will be offered. 5 Stuff Group carries promotions, giveaways and competitions in good faith and cannot be held responsible for any misrepresentation on the part of the custodian of the promotions, giveaways and competitions. 6 Winners will be notified telephonically and by mail. It is the responsibility of the winner to ensure that the correct address and contact details are given. It is the responsibility of the custodian of the promotion, giveaway and competition to ensure that prizes are sent out correctly and within the specified time. 7 Prize delivery will take four to six weeks from the time the winner has been notified. 8 Promotions, giveaways and competitions are open to South African residents only. 9 All prize-winners will be published on www.stuff.co.za the following month, once the competition lines have closed. 10 Readers may not claim for more than one prize at a time, and once announced as a winner in any Stuff promotions, giveaways or competitions, will not be eligible for another prize for three (3) months thereafter. 11 By entering any promotions, giveaways or competitions, or by accepting any prize, entrants agree that their personal details may be retained by the promoter and/or Stuff magazine and used for the purpose of sending them information about future promotions, events and news, as well as for internal administration and analysis. 12 Unclaimed prizes will be kept for three months and will not be resent. 13 Participation in any promotion, giveaway or competition and/or acceptance of any prize implies full knowledge and acceptance of all rules.
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EMUI 10.1 (Based on Android 10*)
Zoom in for greater detail
he HUAWEI P40 Series is nothing short of revolutionary. Boasting Huawei’s most sophisticated camera system to date, as well as advanced AI functionality, it finds itself at the cutting edge of mobile technology.
Want that stunning shot of the moon or the gorgeous city skyline to go perfectly with your social media post? With the HUAWEI P40 Pro’s zoom features it is as easy as point, zoom and click. Simply get the subject you want to capture in frame and zoom in, while the smartphone’s cameras, zoom features and stabilisation technology will take care of the rest.
But an exceptional smartphone isn’t just about the elegance of its design, the quality of its hardware, or the photographic results it produces. It’s also about an operating system that is smart and intuitive, and that fuses exquisite aesthetics with essential functionality in a way that suits your lifestyle. With the HUAWEI P40 Pro smartphone you can record moments with family in photographs and video before effortlessly sharing on social media.
Perfect each picture with AI Golden Snap
Stylish Design HUAWEI P40 Pro
new level and the great thing is that you do not have to be a professional photographer to capture the best images. The camera setup comes with 50MP Ultra Vision Wide Camera, a 40MP Ultra-Wide Cine Camera, a 12MP 5x Optical Telephoto Camera and a ToF Camera, along with the HUAWEI Ultra vision sensor, Huawei’s largest sensor to date. On the front, you get a 32MP Selfie Camera and a Depth Camera.
HUAWEI P40 Pro in Black and White colour
Thanks to an advanced camera setup, the HUAWEI P40 Pro gives users the ability to take great pictures with ease through its powerful AI features. Let’s delve a little deeper into some of the key features of the new handset.
Stunning videos at the press of a button The HUAWEI P40 Pro’s Ultra-Vision Leica Quad Camera setup takes photography to a whole
In other words, the smartphone does the heavy lifting for you, so you always get the best possible images. Instead of dragging around complicated camera hardware and having to figure things out, simply whip out your HUAWEI P40 Pro and take that perfect shot. You don’t even have to worry about the low-light, for both photos and even videos. The quality of the photo is so good that even when you crop out some of the image it will still retain its full quality. You can even switch to the front camera to record video in stunning 4K.
Get imaginative with Audio Zoom This amazing feature allows users to get creative so social media posts become much more fun. With Audio Zoom, simply focus on an individual to record audio. This means you can use your HUAWEI P40 Pro to zoom into individual people in a group shot and get them to record a brief message, song or anything else that comes to mind onto one video. It does not get cooler than that.
Let’s face it, sometimes getting that perfect shot is not easy. Thanks to AI Golden Snap, the HUAWEI P40 Pro’s AI will pick out the best shot with the right posture and expressions, giving you the perfect shot to post online. To top it off, if someone comes in the way of the shot, for example if a passerby or a pet makes gets captured in your photo by mistake, you can easily edit them out with a tap of AI Remove Passerby, while AI Remove Reflection will remove any reflections from nearby windows. Not only is the HUAWEI P40 Pro a flagship new smartphone, but it’s packed with advanced features that help users do more. Powerful camera technology is combined with smart AI to allow users of all abilities to take photos and videos more easily and at a higher quality than ever before. In other words, the HUAWEI P40 Pro takes the guesswork out of photography, giving users more time to have fun and do what they enjoy most. The Huawei P40 Pro is priced at R20,999 and the HUAWEI P40 retails at just R16,999. They are available from all mobile operators and www.huaweistore.co.za.
CON S P12
ON THE COVER
p34 Watch TV!
p44 Write a poem!
HOT STUFF 8
16 18 20 22
24 26
4
The Hot Four ● Apple iPhone SE Dinky phone for bargain freaks ● Polar Grit X Rugged watch for outdoor geeks ● Canon EOS R5 Full-frame beast for photo tweaks ● PlayStation 5 Towering console that’ll occupy you for weeks Vital stats Huawei P40 Pro The new flagship… but will they make peace with Trump before we run out of Huawei puns? Icon Vollebak Full Metal Jacket A disease-killing coat to hide inside until this whole corona thing has blown over Apps The most visceral lawnmowing simulator yet Games Including a first look at Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, in which some Scandinavian tourists get a bit over-boisterous Start menu Invest – but not in a vest, in a freaky multi-bot Stream In which Rick and Morty stay at home watching a documentary about basketball
P29
TESTS p66 Escape it all!
p69 Sweat like a horse!
29 First test Apple MacBook Air (2020) Because scissors are better than butterflies 50 Tested Beats Powerbeats 51 Tested Tag Heuer Connected 2020 58 Tested Samsung 75Q950 60 Tested SoundMagic TWS50 Budget buds with Bluetooth brilliance 61 Versus Suunto vs Skagen Scrap of the sexy Scandi smartwatches 62 Tested Nurvv Run A not very impressive technological feet 63 Versus Sennheiser vs Samsung Battle of the better Bluetooth buds 64 Tested B&O Beosound Stage Another sexy Scandi takes centre stage 66 Versus HTC Vive Cosmos Elite vs Valve Index In reality, there’s always a winner 68 Tested Huawei P40 Lite 69 Tested Fitbit Charge 4 74 Tested Samsung Galaxy S20 Non-flashy flagship takes on the very best 76 Long-term test DJI Mavic Air 2 Half a kilogram of eye-in-the-sky 78 Long-term test Nikon D780 DSLR and mirrorless got married 84 Games Final Fantasy VII Remake, Streets of Rage 4, Animal Crossing
07/08.20 P52
P100
FEATURES 33 Mini meme Housebound holidays How to see the world in your stinky pyjamas… 34 Cover feature The great indoors It’s turning into a great year for agoraphobics, so here’s the smartest tech and tips for living your best lockdown life 48 Upvoted Air purifiers …and how to make sure what you’re breathing is fresher than what you’re wearing 52 Stuff picks Lego Yes, it still counts as self-isolation if you’re only socialising with minifigures 70 Feature Smart cities Where will the Internet of things take us? 80 Instant upgrades Samsung Galaxy S20 Android add-ons, apps and artfulness 98 Random access memories Virtual Boy (1995) The VR headset you didn’t set on your head
TOP TENS 90 Smartphones What’s the handiest, handsomest handset? 91 Phablets As above, just for bigger hands (or egos) 92 Tablets, streamers Slick slates and ways to stream everything 93 TVs All you need for a lazy night/day/year in 94 Laptops Porta-powerhouses to warm your knees 95 Wearables, smartwatches Strapping smart tracking tickers 98 VR headsets and VR games This reality sucks. Try these new ones 100 Headphones In-ears and on-ears, hear hear! 103 Games 10 ways to avoid adult responsibilities
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p15 5
I SPOKE TO THE HAND. WELL, WRIST
eSIM cards are finally in SA. Vodacom have introduced eSIMs as part of their OneNumber offering and have started with an extra accessory: the smartwatch. Last year, they launched the service with Samsung (who now have a partnership with Under Armour and its running-chipped HOVR Machina shoes) and they’ve now launched the Apple Watch Series 5 Cellular. It’s a delightful upgrade to an already solid smartwatch, which now functions as a standalone device. I went out walking and shopping with only the Watch and Bluetooth AirPods to test its usefulness. People called me and I called others, all using “my number”. It’s very Dick Tracy. And it’s very cool. Toby Shapshak, Publisher and Editor-in-chief
I SAT QUIETLY IN THE DARKNESS
Rather than indulging in the joys of all tech, all the time, the lockdown period has sparked a need for space away from all the gadgets that make life interesting. I’ve taken to blocking out a short period of the day where I’m not involved in anything concerning the internet, a computer, or a games console. But, since this is Stuff, tech is making the experience easier. Sitting in stillness means you can’t watch a clock to know when the break is done. Happily, among the many features the Fitbit Charge 4 has, setting on-wrist countdowns are among them. Now if I could just sit alone with my thoughts for more than fifteen minutes… Brett Venter, Editor
Making Stuff up Publisher and Editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak toby@stuff.co.za Editor Brett Venter brett@stuff.co.za Deputy Editor Marcé Bester marce@stuff.co.za Art Director Brandon van Rensburg art@stuff.co.za Digital Publisher Nic Boerma nic@stuff.co.za Staff Writer Brad Lang brad@stuff.co.za Selling Stuff Business Director Sally Hudson, sally@stuff.co.za Senior Account Manager Thalia Pallotta 083 375 2418 thalia@stuff.co.za
OUR MONTH
What this issue has brought us by way of geekery I TRIED TO BECOME AN E-GIRL
Living in the strange, strange world of digital media and social platforms means that you may wind up thinking about becoming a streamer at some point. Most don’t do it, because they don’t have the equipment or the personality. Like me. I’ve always put the thought at the back of my to-do list, because ain’t nobody got time for that. Then the opportunity arose, as Stuff decided to establish StuffPlays, its gaming-only brand that aims to bring schweet game streams to the geeks of SA. Even though I don’t like showing my face on the internet, starting this initiative taught me more tech skills than I ever thought it would. Git gud, friends. Marcé Bester, Deputy Editor
I DISCOVERED THE JOYS OF ONLINE BIRDING
I learned that you don’t have to leave to house to go bird hunting. More specifically the kitten I adopted this month, Nemesis, has discovered hours of amusement in the form of trying to catch avian prey seen during lengthy compilations on YouTube. I have to imagine it’s scratching some kind of bloodlust itch in her feline brain as she’s slowly grown to stop hissing at me whenever I get close to her. Which is how actual kids and YouTube work, right? I’ll probably never meet the person who uploads those birding compilations but the abundance of slowly healing scratches on my hand salute you with sincerity. Brad Lang, Staff Writer
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6
STU FF PRO MOTIO N
#StayConnected It’s time for a little home improvement. No, not shelves and cupboards. That’s Marie Kondo’s territory. Boost your home by switching to Vodacom Home Internet, the easiest way to add speedy plug and play internet access to your house.
No matter what your usage case is, Vodacom’s got a deal – and a speed – that’ll suit you and suit your bank account. If you’re in for a little light streaming and operating system updates, then the 10Mbps/200GBpm option is for you. If you’re more of a power user, streaming in 4K and downloading Red Dead Redemption every other week, then the 20Mbps/800GB/pm package will suit you just fine.
classes. There’s nothing more important than education, which means there’s nothing more important than a reliable, fast, internet connection.
THE PERFECT PLUG AND PLAY SOLUTION FOR YOU
Pricing starts from R579 and includes, with each and every deal, a superfast Huawei’s B535-932 CPE 4G wireless router for your convenience. Connect up to 64 devices at once, sharing that lovely data package with everyone in range (who has your secure password, obvs.). You’re far more likely to use less than half that number of slots but you’ll be surprised by just how many
Vodacom offers several packages. The first two operate at speeds of 10Mbps with data caps of 200GB/ pm or 400GB/pm respectively. If you’re a little more data hungry, there’s the option of 20Mbps speeds with data limits of 600GB/ pm or 800GB/pm. The available data packages are evenly broken down into Anytime data (which works whenever you like) and Night Owl data (valid from 12AM to 5AM daily). If you’re smart, you’ll set your PCs, consoles, smartphones and all that other lovely tech that makes being at home so much fun to update and download during the Night Owl stretch – when you’re (probably) not using it anyway.
10Mps
10Mps
20Mps
20Mps
200GB
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R579
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R1 179
100GB Anytime + 100GB Night Owl
200GB Anytime + 200GB Night Owl
300GB Anytime + 300GB Night Owl
400GB Anytime + 400GB Night Owl
R204
Once-off SIM & connection
FASTER DOWNLOAD
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LEVELLED-UP LEARNING
Speedy internet isn’t just a nice-tohave any more. Vodacom’s service works even in places where there’s no fiber and handles everything you can throw at it, from chilling in front of a popular streaming service to getting good and competitive with friends and strangers online in your favourite game. It’s also ideal for getting the kids to school, whether they’re studying remotely, doing homework, or augmenting their teacher’s sage advice with a little extra input from online communities, tutors or
devices in your home can connect to a network. Happily Vodacom, along with Huawei’s B535 4G wireless router, make it easier than you’re expecting. Best of all, the router is available whether you opt for a 12-month, 24-month or 36-month contract.
PLUG AND PLAY
FLEXIBLE PLANS
Come home to Vodacom Home Internet, the easiest, most affordable way to get connected and stay online.
#StayConnected
Standard terms and conditions apply. Offer valid from 8 June – 6 July 2020. Contract deal is subject to signing a 36-month Vodacom Contract and a once-off SIM and connection fee of R204 on all new Contracts. VAT inclusive. Subscription fee valid for 36 months only, thereafter the consumer will be billed via debit/credit card or their monthly Vodacom Bill. Visit voda.com/v-home for more information. For full terms and conditions, visit vodacom.co.za
7
HOT FOUR #1
SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED Apple iPhone SE
History is full of diminutive figures conquering larger foes. From David toppling Goliath with his sling, to Diego Maradona ‘outjumping’ Peter Shilton in Mexico City and Donald Trump’s intellect (and hands) tricking the USA into electing him, there’s ample proof that small doesn’t have to mean weak. Now you can add the new iPhone SE to the list. For starters, it’s powered by exactly the same A13 Bionic chip that makes the iPhone 11 Pro such a hugely fantastic smartphone, which should mean flagship performance despite only having a 4.7in display – and for mid-range money too. That screen has all the same tech as the one on the standard iPhone 11, so while it’s only 1334x750 pixels, you still get True Tone, P3 colour and 625-nit brightness. The single 12MP snapper might not seem like much from a specs perspective, but all the nifty camera stuff on iPhones is the result of computational cleverness, so you’ll still get Portrait mode, Smart HDR and 4K video. Handy for capturing people’s expressions when they find out just how powerful your dinky new phone is. As hot as… Maradona’s second goal from R10 000 / myistore.co.za 8
Let’s talk about whorls The new SE has a Touch ID fingerprint sensor rather than face-unlocking skills… but with so many people now wearing a mask to go outside, maybe that’s a good thing.
ALL THE BIGGEST STORIES FROM PLANET TECH
Teenage quicks When the A13 chip debuted last year it was streets ahead of anything in an Android, and in most benchmarks it still edges the Snapdragon 865. Not bad for a mid-ranger.
Drooly ocean Just because you paid less for it, doesn’t mean your new SE is disposable. So it’s waterresistant to 1 metre for 30 minutes and won’t splutter when offered coffee, tea or juice.
9
Here comes the sum The 64GB SE will set you back R10 000, but an extra R2 500 nets you the 128GB version. Check the panel below to see how it compares to some handy Androids in the same bracket.
FOR ABOUT THE SAME CASH...
HUAWEI P30 When it launched last year the P30 would’ve set you back nearly twice its current price, which goes to show the calibre of phone we’re dealing with here. Its all-screen design gives it a very 2020 look too. R11 000 / huaweistore.co.za 10
XIAOMI MI NOTE 10 Want a 108MP camera sensor but don’t want to pay Samsung’s prices? Xiaomi was the first to get the tech and they stuck it in this – a phone less than half the price of an S20 Ultra. R9 000 / takealot.com
SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 10 LITE Going big often means taking a hit to the wallet. Not so with the Galaxy Note 10 Lite, which gives users a generous screen, an S-Pen, and some money left over for lockdown alcohol. R11 300 / takealot.com
When’s day weak? Apple won’t say how big the SE’s battery is but reckons it can manage 13hrs of video. That should mean a full day of normal use before you have to look for a Lightning cable.
iPerfect cousin Design-wise the SE is the spitting image of an iPhone 8, so you still get slightly retro bezels above and below the screen. The back of the phone comes in black, white or red.
When flatter day comes You might expect the SE to lose some of the clever stuff to keep the price down, but it’ll charge wirelessly and with an 18W wired fast-charger‌ although neither is included.
11
Anyone’s game The Polar Grit X uses low-energy Bluetooth, so it’ll work with heart-rate monitors and external movement sensors more accurately, whether you’re on two feet or two wheels.
HOT FOUR #2 CARBLESS WHISPER Polar Grit X
Most fitness tech nags you to do boring stuff: stand up, go for a walk, check your heart rate. So when you see Polar’s new Grit X displaying an instruction to drink and take 10g of carbs (approximately ten jelly beans), you might think you’ve finally found a wearable to suit a more couch-bound existence. Ofcourse,therealityisverydifferent.Even with its built-in GPS, heart-rate tracking, barometer, compass and altimeter in full flow, the Grit X’s battery lasts a whopping 40 hours, so you’d need the stamina of a pill-popping Energizer bunny to beat it. It can even give breakdowns of how you performed on the uphill and downhill parts of your route, plus there’s turn-by-turn route guidance. None of that is any use if it can’t withstand the great outdoors, so the 1.2in 240x240 colour display is covered by Gorilla Glass and housed in a stainless steel case that’s water-resistant down to 100m. It’s even passed the US military’s MIL-STD-810G tests against temperature, humidity and drops. And if the Grit X can survive that, chances are it’ll cope with life aboard your cookie-loving flesh chassis. Ashotas…ano-holds-barredEnergizer vsDuracellpinkbunnywrestlingmatch Rtba/ polar.com/za
12
Biscuit game That ‘Take 10g of carbs’ instruction is part of Polar’s FuelWise feature, which reminds you when to refuel on longer runs. It even breaks down your energy usage into fat, carbs and protein.
Long game If 40 hours isn’t long enough for you, the Grit X’s power-saving modes (which still allow you to use GPS) extend the use of its training features to 100 hours. And all in a package that weighs just 64g.
HOT FOUR #3 ALL YOU CAN EIGHT Canon EOS R5
Canon’s latest full-frame mirrorless camera can do something that’s probably never been done before: film a lockdown braai in 8K at 120fps. Just imagine how badly burned your boeries will look when they’re rendered in 7680x4320 pixels. Of course, you’ll need an equally pricey 8K screen to show that footage at full resolution, but details, details… Anyway, the EOS R5 is a serious all-round camera, with support for dual-pixel AF in all modes and frame rates, a 20fps electronic shutter, a 12fps mechanical shutter and in-body image stabilisation. And while the fastest-moving thing you’re likely to encounter at the moment is the rush of hungry family members to the coals when you announce the chops are ready, those frame rates are up there with anything a pro sports-focused DSLR will offer – so combined with Canon’s RF lenses, you can expect shake-free, super-sharp footage of steaks, ribs and post-lockdown beer. It’s even got Wi-Fi on board so you won’t need to venture inside to transfer your images. No word on a price yet, but like what you’re drinking, expect it to be reassuringly expensive. As hot as… the sosatie you’ve just cremated Rtba / canon.co.za
13
HOT FOUR #4 BEAM ME UP SONY
Sony PlayStation 5 The next next-gen console war is underway, with both Sony and Microsoft’s consoles revealed and ready to launch by the end of 2020. Sony’s shown off the PlayStation 5, dazzling the world with its alien-like design. We don’t know who needs to hear this – but the PS5 will tie any room together, so go out and buy one. That is, if you can afford the $500 price tag… It’s also not just about looks here (Sony isn’t that shallow, luckily). The PS5 features a custom GPU based on the Radeon Navi and a CPU based on AMD’s third-gen Ryzen line which will all be used to output ray-tracing tech at a hardware level. It also features visual output up to 8K (if you’re lucky enough to have an 8K display). But this is probably just for the sake of future-proofing a console that has to last quite a few years. Also? It’ll boast framerates up to 120FPS, which may just allow you to see into the future and get that headshot in. The biggest upgrade from current-gen consoles, however, is the addition of only SSDs inside that pretty box. No HDDs here, folks. SSD inclusion greatly improves load times and game performance. That’s what you get when you take out all those moving parts in favour of something altogether… quicker. Ashotas…DarthVader’sface fromR8500(expected) / playstation.com/
14
Giving you a DualSense The updated DualSense controller supportsUSB-C h i d i 35
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R346.50 / per year Times are strange right now – you can’t leave your house and nor can our delivery folk. If you prefer real paper, you can head to bit.ly/39TZU5T
5 Alternate Mirror
If you’re rocking an Android or iOS device and want to save those trees, there’s always the option of an app-based digital subscription. It doesn’t get much easier than a single or annual payment which sends a fresh (tree hugging) copy of Stuff to your mobile. Get it on our Android or iOS app via Zinio. ● Get Stuff: zinio.com
to fill in a subscription form. Hit the QR code (via SnapScan) to pay for it. Once normal service resumes, your copy will automagically be on its way to your home. 15
V I
T A L S T A T S
MY WAY OR THE HUAWEI Huawei P40 Pro
R21 000 / huaweistore.co.za
Forget the trade war with Trump, forget the lack of Google apps, forget the impact of Covid-19: Huawei is carrying on like nothing’s happened, and in the P40 Pro it’s delivered a powerhouse phone that ploughs its own path. ● Working glass hero Wrapped in glass and metal, the P40 Pro has a 90Hz 6.58in Quad HD+ OLED display. It’s edge-to-edge, includes an in-display fingerprint sensor and has a 32MP punch-hole selfie-cam. Round the back there’s a rectangular camera unit that protrudes a bit but should sit flush with a case. ● All of the light Leica is back on lens duty, but Huawei has turned its focus from zooming to low light: the 1/1.28in 50MP unit matches many ‘real’ cameras and is designed for maximum light intake, higher dynamic range and lower noise. You also get a 12MP 5x telephoto, a 40MP ultra-wide and a ToF sensor for depth. Everything is supported by a high-definition engine with oodles of AI and neural processing to assist with image stacking and sharpness. ● If you Celia, say hello The Pro packs the most powerful phone processor on the planet: the Kirin 990 5G. You also get Wi-Fi 6 for lightning-fast internet speeds, a 3800mAh battery with 40W fast charging, and Huawei’s EMUI 10.1 user interface with Celia, its answer to Google Assistant. ● Computer love Huawei has placed a big emphasis on video calling with MeeTime, its version of FaceTime. Also handy for remote workers, multi-screen collaboration allows you to answer calls on your PC without touching your phone, plus you’ll be able to open all mobile content on that bigger external display, much like Samsung’s DeX. 16
Vloggers and other narcissists can shoot 4K at 60fps in supersteady telephoto.
Centathlon, anyone?
HUAWEI GT 2E
GOING SOLO Determined to get around the lack of Google apps, Huawei has been inking deals across the planey to find alternative solutions for its AppGallery app store, even teaching developers how to make apps for them At the current count, Huawei has more than 45,000 apps on offer – pitiful in comparison to Google’s 3m – and while some of them are familiar you’ll find that many of your favourites are missing. But if you’re keen on your entertainment, gaming, or social media, there are options for you. Major game devs seem to be on board, while adding your Twitters and Facebooks are possible – even if they require a few extra steps.
You can’t do too many sports at the moment. Certainly not as many as 100, but when all this is over that’s how many activity types Huawei’s Watch GT 2e will be capable of tracking. From more traditional exercise disciplines like running and cycling to skateboarding, climbing and parkour, it’s definitely a versatile wrist coach. This wearable also features advanced heart-rate monitoring, sleep and stress tracking and, for the first time on a Huawei watch, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring. All of this info is viewable on a 1.39in AMOLED display with the same 454x454 resolution as last year’s Watch GT 2, with water-resistance down to 50m and two-week battery life. Rtba / huaweistore.co.za
Turn up for the Book S
SAMSUNG GALAXY BOOK S
MULTI-SCREEN TECH LETS YOU ANSWER CALLS ON YOUR COMPUTER
Working from home has meant a mad scramble to upgrade laptops; and in case your broadband goes down, Samsung’s Galaxy Book S is packed with LTE connectivity and nano-SIM support. For gruelling commutes between bed, kitchen and bed again, it doesn’t even require a cumbersome charger, instead using a standard USB-C lead. Do away with wires altogether and the Book S stays awake for up to 23 hours. This 13in Windows 10 machine is powered by a Snapdragon 8cx processor with 256GB of storage, and security is handled by a fingerprint sensor on the power button. Best of all, it’s light enough to hold onto during Google Hangouts dance parties. Rtba / samsung.com/za 17
I C O N
VOLLEBAK FULL METAL JACKET R18 650 / vollebak.com I know Liverpool are the team of the moment, but are shellsuits really back in fashion? Calm down, calm down. You’re more likely to see this on the streets of east London than Merseyside – but it’s not just a questionable item of clothing. Embedded in the three-layer fabric of Vollebak’s Full Metal Jacket, you’ll find 11km of woven copper that could hold the key to the future of disease-resistant clothing.
So this has nothing to do with Kubrick’s Vietnam War classic? No, and strictly speaking it’s not even ‘full metal’, considering it only comprises 65% copper; but the metal’s ability to conduct heat and power is also perfect for killing bacteria and viruses. It’s the perfect jacket then? Can I wear it year-round? Not quite. The jacket is breathable, but this is designed to keep you
warm during winter. In South Africa’s sweltering summers, you’ll need something a bit less… insulated.
astronauts, thanks to a partnership with a US/Chilean company called Copper 3D.
Is there some science behind this? Copper is an underrated material: early civilisations like the Egyptians used it to make medical instruments and sterilise water way before we used it to wire speakers. And now NASA has wised up to the genius of this wonder-metal and is using it to create medical devices for
So this jacket can kill Covid-19? Well, its antimicrobial properties mean bacteria and viruses die when they make contact with it, wiping out their DNA so they can’t develop future resistance. That means it could kill coronavirus in theory… but to be clear, this hasn’t been tested. Yet.
COPPER’S PROPERTIES MAKE IT PERFECT FOR KILLING BACTERIA AND VIRUSES
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WTF IS STUFF PLAYS? Bright like the… moon?
SONOS MOVE
We know, we know. The Sonos Move has been here before. We’ve reviewed it, it sits comfortably atop the Top Ten list for speakers, and everyone’s happy. But that was before Sonos announced that our fave Bluetooth speakers now come in a brand new colour. This one’ll really tie a room together if you don’t like the base Sonos black scheme. The Move now comes in Lunar White, which, while less ethereal than it sounds, will look perfect in just about any yoga studio. It features an ultra-light grey exterior “designed to blend naturally with both indoor and outdoor environments” according to Sonos. We think we see it… R9 000 / sonos.co.za
You’re never too old to try something new and since Stuff is a little over ten years old, it’s bound to be thinking about streaming an inordinate amount. Just like every other tween out there, the call of the camera lens has turned into a siren’s song, lulling the Stuff team into a blissful, dreamy state. Unlike sailors of old, however, we’re not about to wreck ourselves on some rocks on account of ye olden days Spotify.
What are Earth are you on about?
StuffPlays, dear boy (or girl), StuffPlays. Stuff Magazine’s website has a new sibling – that is far more visually inclined than our usual snarky text and testing. We’ve got a studio (of sorts) populated by all manner of gaming goodies harvested from the vaults of the Stuff team (including an OG Nintendo PowerGlove – yah-huh) and we’re going to use it to make magic. Gaming magic, because that’s how the world’s going to communicate soon. Turns out Ernest Cline was (kinda) right.
Nobody’s in feedback suits and hooked into a large gaming world, though?
For the love of nod
WITHINGS SLEEP ANALYZER Withings has been snoozing on the job. How else do you explain the handy upgrades given to its under-mattress slumber tracker? Replacing the Withings Sleep, the Sleep Analyzer looks near-identical but increases the ability to detect sleep apnoea, which gives breathing problems to up to a billion people around the world. A daily score out of 100 is calculated by how deep, long and restful your night’s sleep was, and sharing that data with a doctor could help with diagnosis and ongoing monitoring. It’s no gimmick: the sleep apnoea element has been validated by separate clinical studies that, Withings says, come close to matching the results from specialist clinics. Rtba / withings.com
Aren’t they, though? Video games have eclipsed Hollywood as the most profitable entertainment medium on the planet. Esports command massive paydays and feature dedicated teams, as well as all the trappings of ‘real’ sports. You know, drama, scandal, overpaid athletes, large amounts of TV time… and then there’s streaming, a career that was unheard of a few years ago. The very best streamers are rockstars, multi-millionaires with huge fan-bases and endorsement deals. And most of this activity takes place online. You might not be wearing a special suit to do this stuff but the day can’t be far off.
Right, so StuffPlays has to do with game streaming, then?
Correct. And we’re a bit of a special case in that our streams (check out stuff.co.za for schedules) are basically how the Stuff office functions. The main difference is we’re adding controllers but the snark, sarcasm, and biting wit (plus a few bloopers) will all be present online, every week. Go and check it out.
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This month’s mobile must-downloads 1
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1 Speed Dating for Ghosts
2 Socratic
3 Powercut, Inc.
R50 / iOS If dating ever makes you wish you were dead, imagine how people who are actually dead feel. In this game, you get the chance to find out by chatting with ghouls.
Free / Android, iOS Want help with something the kids are studying? Socratic points you towards examples that can teach them about relevant concepts. No more copying Wikipedia and getting found out!
4 Summer Catchers
5 Our Galaxy
6 Orc Heist
7 iOrnament Pro
8 It’s Literally Just Mowing
9 Muviz Edge
R50 / Android ● R60 / iOS This endless runner dispenses with tap-to-leap larks. Instead, you kit out a ramshackle cart and trigger power-ups at optimum moments, aiming to reach sunnier climes – and avoid death by monster.
R110 / iPad Remember the Spirograph? This app is a digital take, but with layers, sparkly bits, and the means to wrap your creation around a globe like a bonkers handcrafted Day-Glo planet. Look at all the shiny! 20
R50 / iOS We’re not sure if holding the galaxy in your mitts makes you feel like a god or an ant. Either way, this app gives you an interactive 3D view for understanding the vastness of our galactic neighbourhood.
Free / Android, iOS Actually, this one’s not literally just mowing – there’s a load of IAP too. A pity, since the zone-out mowing is nice. This is considerably less sweaty than mowing your actual lawn.
R46 / Android Power consumption in offices is a problem. This game’s solution is a tad extreme, as you manually toggle power to each room. Staff can’t work or even go for a coffee without you flicking a switch.
Free / Android, iOS If you ask us, lowering a beloved pet on a rope to nab treasure that an orc has carefully balanced on its lip is just asking for trouble. Your thumb becomes the difference between riches and carnage.
Free (IAPs) / Android Music visualisers might seem old hat, but Muviz dispenses with bouncing level meters or glowing 1990s abstract nonsense – it’s a stylish slash of animated colour at the edges of your display.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
TOT POCKET
R300 / iOS A tonic to the countless doc editors and note-taking apps, Tot Pocket is an elegant way to gather copied text and links in one place. It has a simple single-window design and uses a colour-coded dot system to keep your notes organised. Helpfully, it also syncs seamlessly across iOS and macOS… but why is it free on Mac and R300 on iPhones and iPads? Greedy developers? In truth, no. App stores have trained users to expect endless updates for nothing, but it’s just not realistic. Sustainable pricing is the only option if we want nice things to stick around… and that includes Tot Pocket.
Lenswear
SHIFTCAM Anyone armed with an iPhone 11 Pro now has a phone with three cameras… but for some smartphone photographers, that’s not nearly enough. The ShiftCam is a phone case touting a bunch of additional lenses on its sliding rear section. These enable you to get up close and personal with 10x and 20x macros, zoom in with the 4x telephoto, cut out glare and increase ultra-wide contrast with the polariser, and just make snaps look flat-out weird with the fisheye. Narcissist? There’s a selfie lens adapter for use with ShiftCam’s high-end ProLens series. Lip wobbling because you don’t have an 11 Pro? Check out the range anyway, because a whole host of iPhones get the treatment. Rtba / pclinkshop.com
DROP EVERYTHING & DOWNLOAD Sky: Children of the Light Free ⁄ iOS, Android Brimming with patience and empathy? Neither’s likely to be at the forefront of your mind when going PEW-PEW-PEW. But with Sky: Children of the Light you’ll need them both in spades. In this free-roaming adventure with a smattering of puzzling and a dollop of social multiplayer, you’re one of the titular children, locating spirits and returning them to the stars. There’s a lot of poking around caves, sliding down hills, crashing unceremoniously into hillsides like a drunk sparrow… and staring slack-jawed at how something this achingly gorgeous exists on a phone.
Space time continue ’em
G-SHOCK NASA
Another month, another G-Shock. Not really a ‘shock’, then, but we can’t criticise Casio’s conveyor belt of cool retro releases, and its latest collaboration is out of this world – by which we mean it’s a NASA special edition. The all-white DW5600NASA20-7CR features the famous worm-like logo on the front, as well as ‘National Aeronautics and Space Administration’ and an American flag on the band; then flip it over and you’ll find an engraving of the Moon on the stainless steel case plate. For its after-dark party piece, the digital watch face is also backlit with an image of the Moon. Even the packaging is special, with a tin to remind you of the Saturn V rocket that powered the Apollo missions. R2 200 / gshock.com
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G A M E S OUT LATE 2020
FIRST LOOK ASSASSIN’S CREED VALHALLA PC, XB1, XBX, PS4, PS5, Stadia More than ever, videogames in 2020 have been a way for us to escape to other, exotic places. But after being transported to ancient Egypt and Greece, the latest Assassin’s Creed brings us somewhere a little less exotic – in a manner of speaking. Set in Anglo-Saxon England, Valhalla has you playing as Vikings who leave behind the harsh climes of Scandinavia with their sights on conquering a whole new country. Expect plenty of raiding and pillaging, then, as you come into ruthless visceral combat that will leave Saxon soldiers in a 22
bloody mess. However, there’s also an emphasis on the Norse warriors as settlers. This means your clan will also have a home that gradually grows with new structures and features, giving you reasons to return to your community instead of always exploring ahead. That said, there’ll be a huge map to help you discover the English countryside and its majestic castles as well as Norway, where the story begins. Valhalla looks set to build on Odyssey’s achievement as one of the pinnacles of open-world
sandbox gaming, with advanced RPG mechanics, deep narrative choices and romances all returning. But we’re most looking forward to new elements such as the ability to take part in the great Norse tradition of flyting – essentially Viking rap battles. No, really! It’s due out around Christmas, just in time for the launch of the next-gen consoles. The good news for existing Xbox owners is the game supports Smart Delivery, so if you buy it on Xbox One you can get it free when you upgrade to the Series X later.
FIRST LOOK HE WAS A SKATER BOY…
TONY HAWK’S PRO SKATER 1 + 2 REMASTERED PS4, XB1, PC
Few games have had such a cultural impact as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, a title that got people into both skateboarding and punk rock. Now, a little over two decades later, Activision is
bringing back the game and its sequel for modern players. To be clear, this is not just a remake. Everything is based on original developer Neversoft’s code, ensuring the action feels like it did back then. There are nonetheless some welcome tweaks, such as the ability to revert – a move added in later games in the series that unlocks combo chaining
potential – plus analogue controls and, of course, online multiplayer. Also important is the return of its influential soundtrack, including Police Truck by the Dead Kennedys and Superman by Goldfinger, though licensing issues mean a few songs have been omitted. The biggest changes are obviously in the gorgeous
new photorealistic graphics, which are faithfully based on the original levels. What’s rather fascinating is that all the original skaters, including Hawk himself, are drawn from their latest scans without any de-aging, which may give the roster a slight “How do you do, fellow kids?” vibe. THPS1+2 Remastered is out in September.
GAMENEWSSURPRISEANNOUNCEMENTS
PAPER MARIO: THE ORIGAMI KING
Switch Leading the 35th anniversary celebrations for Nintendo’s furry-faced mascot is a brand new Paper Mario. Set in a beautiful paper-crafted world, here’s hoping it can return the comical RPG series to its heyday. The new quest will be unfolding very soon when it releases in July.
YAKUZA: LIKE A DRAGON
PC, XB1, XBX, PS4 Sega’s crime epic begins a new saga with a brand new protagonist and city, while drastically switching from brawler to JRPG turn-based battles. Despite its history as a PlayStation exclusive until only recently, it’s also confirmed as an Xbox Series X launch title.
THE MEDIUM
PC, XBX As far as next-gen game announcements go, psychological horror The Medium has a strong spooky pedigree: it comes from the makers of Blair Witch and Layers of Fear, while the eerie score has been created by the composer of the Silent Hill series.
INCOMING JULY ● IRON MAN VR ● GHOST OF TSUSHIMA ● F1 2020 ● DEATH STRANDING (PC) AUGUST ● INSURGENCY: SANDSTORM ● NEW WORLD WASTELAND 3 ● SERIOUS SAM 4
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ST KIC AR K TE R
The latest startups, crowdfunded projects and plain crazy ideas
40 bots in 40 nights
CLICBOT
Finding it tough to decide which adorable programmable robot to buy? Then go modular, and potentially fashion thousands of creations from what you find in the Clicbot box. Components slot together like Lego, letting you build everything from a worm-like face-tracker to a robot that can climb walls like Spider-Man (if Spider-Man’s limbs ended in huge suction cups). There are wheels for racing, and a grasping claw for your plastic pal to hand you your tea when you can’t be bothered getting it yourself. You’ll need the full-priced kit for the full experience, but even the entry-level package nets you 10 official setups – and countless custom options. $299 / bit.ly/clicbotkickstarter BACK IT STACK IT
ST KIC AR K TE R
I GONDI GOE-
Daddy fuel
Vinyl fantasy
What grows around…
Little rad hiding HUD
Fed up of losing things and seeing your devices run out of juice? You need Orbitkey Nest, the lovechild of a Qi charger and desk tidy. Its leather tray surface offers wireless charging; open the lid to get at a space with movable dividers. On the move it flips open like a book, but stays shut when dropped. $89 / orbitkey.com
You might love your vinyl, but where can you actually play it? Just in one room? The CT-01 wants to free records from the home: this is a dinky player you can sling in a bag. It’s made from premium materials and is smart too – there’s Bluetooth support and a headphone jack hidden at the rear, well out of headbanging harm’s way. €299 / coturn.de
This kitchen gadget is ideal if you have a green mind but lack green fingers. Within minutes, you can plant seed pods, top up the water and nutrients and watch the Rotofarm slowly spin, giving your herbs and veggies net-zero gravitational pressure and loads of light – while your other plants in traditional pots look on, sobbing gently. £368 / bace.co/rotofarm
Fans of terrible ’80s TV rejoice: Street Hawk’s HUD is (sort of) coming to a bike helmet near you – in fact, the one you own already. With the EyeRide, a combo of fingerprint-sized display, clever projection and mic/speaker integration makes your helmet smart, giving you instant access to maps, music and contacts as you ride. €259 / eye-lights.com
ORBITKEY NEST
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ST KIC AR K TE R
ST KIC AR K TE R
SACK IT
COTURN CT–01
ROTOFARM
EYERIDE
Strings attached
NACON WIRED COMPACT CONTROLLER Contrary to popular belief, going back to a wired controller not only increases versatility but brings about a sense of early 2000’s game sessions with siblings. Nacon’s Wired Compact Controller is a 3rd-party PlayStation controller featuring a cable long enough to let you cause online destruction from the opposite room. Not that we’d suggest that. It features a USB-A connector and is easily used on a PS3, PS4 and even a PC. All of the standard buttons you’d find on the DualShock 4 is also here. It’s not that compact at all, however, sizing in a bit larger than a standard Dualshock. It’s a proper comfy fit for any hand size though and won’t ever run out of battery, which is a plus. R700 / koodoo.co.za
DROP EVERYTHING & DOWNLOAD
Drop Wizard
R50 / iOS ● R60 / Android Wizards think they’re all smart with their pointy hats, magic sticks and abracadabra. But Teo’s fallen foul of an evil warlock who’s turned his friend to stone! Horrors! Your aim in Drop Wizard is to blast through cute but evil critters and rescue your mate. This game rocked up on iOS years ago, but has just arrived on Android — nearly three years after its sequel. Weird? Yep. To be avoided, then? Nope, because it’s superb. The game reimagines classic fixed-screen platformers like Bubble Bobble and Snow Bros for widescreen and touch controls. So instead of mashing a virtual D-pad, you just prod the left or right of the display to redirect your auto-running wizard.
Angular miracle
ASTELL&KERN SR25 Do not adjust your magazine. For reasons unknown, Astell & Kern’s new entry-level portable music player has an extra-wonky 3.6in touchscreen display. At R11 700, you could try to use it as leverage for discount, but dive into the specs and you realise where the money is going. An upgrade of the award-winning (and almost as wonky) SR15 model, it supports native playback of DSD256 and 32-bit/384KHz high-res audio. There’s newly designed circuitry to improve sound quality and, in a first for A&K, LDAC Bluetooth support lets you wirelessly stream 24-bit audio to compatible speakers and headphones, while battery life is boosted to 20+ hours. R11 750 (import) / astellnkern.com
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S T R E A M Exploding cars! Space heroes! Some people being a bit grumpy in Canada! Why would you ever turn the TV off and go outside anyway?
Detective Pikachu
Schitt’s Creek
Rick & Morty
Therolethatnobodysawcoming forthefilmthatnobodysaw coming,RyanReynoldsisDetective Pikachu–afully-voicedPokemon outtosolvethemysteryofhis owner’sapparentdemise.It’salittle unnervingtohearDeadpoolvoicing asurprisinglyearnestcharacterin thisengagingfilm.Nintendofans, besuretocheckthisoneout. Film / Showmax
Brace yourself for the final batch of episodes of this beloved Canadian sitcom, which stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara as a formerly wealthy couple now bankrupt and forced to slum it in a tiny town they’d bought as a joke. Managing to be both acerbic and full of heart, Schitt’s Creek might be the perfect stuck-at-homebingewatchseries. S6 / Netflix
Yes, the latest batch of the cult not-for-kids sci-fi animation has finally landed on both Netflix and Showmax. If you haven’t yet accompanied misanthropic inventor Rick and his awkward teenage grandson on their adventures through time and space,youcancatchupwiththe first three seasons on Netflix. S4 final episodes / Netflix,Showmax
Hobbs & Shaw
Homecoming
Space Force
Sometimesthingslikeplot,themes, nuanceandrealismareimportant… andsometimesyoujustwantto watchcarsblowingup,carsjumping overbiggapsandcarsbeingdriven rathertooquickly,plusheavily muscledmentradingquipsand punches.That’sjustwhatyouget withthislatestadditiontotheFast &Furiousfranchise. Film / Showmax
Amazon’s tense psychological thriller about PTSD and identity startedlifeasapodcastdrama,but the first TV series clearly attracted enough eyeballs to warrant a follow-up. Janelle Monae joins the cast as a woman suffering total memory loss and seeking answers at the sinister Geist Group’s Homecoming Initiative. S2 / Amazon Prime Video
Steve Carell makes a long-awaited return to the small screen in this timely sitcom from Greg Daniels. Carell plays the general in charge of America’s newest branch of the armed forces, tasked with bringing US hegemony to the moon, the stars and beyond… butdon’texpectthingstogooff with military precision. S1 / Netflix
DO M N TH ISS ’T IS
The Last Dance S1 final episodes / Netflix
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So you know more about basket-weaving than basketball and think ‘nothing but net’ is some kind of angling technique. Who cares? This doc series about the Chicago Bulls’ 1997/98 season, rich in Shakespearean themes like jealousy, revenge, love, hate, glorious victory and crushing defeat, will get its hooks into you regardless. Looming largest in its cast of literal giants is Michael Jordan, at that time the world’s biggest sports star. Will off-court egos bring about the end of the team’s dominance?
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Tuffer than your father
ASUS TUF GAMING A15 It’s taken a while for gaming laptops to become more affordable. We get it, the components are expensive. But who has R50k for a gaming machine that generally can’t be upgraded? That’s exactly why Asus brought the Tuf brand into existence. The new Tuf Gaming A15 brings all the horses to the yard, and can be customised according to your gaming needs. Our review unit features the latest AMD Ryzen 4000 Series CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 GPU. This combo is hard to beat, even by top-of-the-range standards. It’s even fitted with a 144Hz display. This is easily one of the most accessible ways to dive into PC gaming. from R19 000 / asus.com/za
A bird of prey
STEALTH WIRELESS NIGHTHAWK HEADSET Gaming headphones don’t necessarily need to empty that banking app. The Stealth Wireless Nighthawk Headset boasts all the features we love about toprange headsets but at a lower price. It’s clear that concessions were made – with the earcups not sitting over-ear properly and a few clunky wire issues. Besides that, the drivers push out brilliant sound from games, music and voice chat, and they also feature a removable microphone boom (that comes in handy when you need to yell at noobs). Battery life is proper, coming in at around 10 hours on a charge, and they can be used on pretty much any platform your affinity lies with. R800 / koodoo.co.za
The best stream
CORSAIR ELGATO 4K60 PRO MK.2 Everyone’s a streamer. But once you start, you’ll get to a point where your R2 000 laptop and on-board video recording just doesn’t cut it anymore. Your four fans need moar. So what do you do? You go out and splash all of the savings, from the three ads you ran (and your birthday money), on an Elgato 4K60. This bad boy will give you the ability to output 4K streams at 60FPS with no lag whatsoever. This is pretty much the best of the best on the market, so your streams will be lit. 1080p at 120 Hz? Easy. 1440p at 144 Hz or 1080p at 240 Hz? Go ahead. Now you just need to save up for a PC that makes the most of it. from R4 500 / evetech.co.za
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FIRST TEST APPLE MACBOOK AIR (2020)
Tapper’s delight Apple’s smallest and lightest MacBook bounces into the future with a keyboard your fingers will love… plus a lower price and the promise of all-day battery life from R22 000 / myistore.co.za
I
f you follow Apple, you’ll know about the controversy over the keyboards on its laptops. From the moment the company introduced a butterfly mechanism to help keep things slinky, reports of sore fingers and stuck keys began to mount. Apple caved, putting improved butterfly keyboards in a couple of
MacBooks (including the previous Air) before returning to a scissorswitch mechanism in the latest 16in Pro. That same excellent keyboard is here on the new Air… and it might just help this laptop re-affirm itself as the all-round machine we have no hesitation in recommending. The world’s most popular Mac has been given a sizeable spec
bump, with the 2020 model delivering up to two times faster CPU performance and up to 80% faster graphics courtesy of Intel’s Iris Plus hardware. The R22 000 base model now comes with 256GB of storage, double that of its predecessor, which means even more movies and photos to stare at on its lovely Retina display. And this laptop is a looker
alright – a lovely wedge of brushed aluminium with a large glass trackpad. Mind you, if you’re open to using Windows, you’ll find slimmer bezels and a better use of space on the Dell XPS 13. The Air also has a rubbish 720p webcam, which matters if video calling is going to be the new norm… but how does the rest stack up?
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FIRST TEST APPLE MACBOOK AIR
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Glowing large
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The Air’s 13.3in Retina display is pin-sharp, plenty bright and well balanced. It’s an LCD with 2560x1600 resolution and up to 400-nit brightness, but creative nerds note: it doesn’t have the P3 wide colour gamut of the MacBook Pro.
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Writing wrongs
5
Battery life is good a full eight-hour d to Apple’s own app to any combo of C Slack or Zoom and you’ll be plugging hours. That’s a lot advertised 11 hour
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We can’t emphasise enough how much better the keyboard is on the new Air, and we love that there’s no Touch Bar to distract us. This is a machine for getting writing done – compared to the Pro, which tends to be geared to video and music producers.
Zooming
Padding u
Catalina is as smo come to expect fr looks great in dark Siri feels more sea an iPad or iPhone be useful. A great is Sidecar, which le iPad as a wireless
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Core-ing Apples
Our 1.1GHz 10th-gen Intel Core i3 model allows Apple to get the price down to R22 000. It’s perfectly adequate for casual use, but you can bump the base model to a Core i5 for an extra R7 000. Both come with 8GB RAM as standard, and few people will need more.
Good Meh Evil
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24 hours with the 2020 Apple MacBookAir
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RST TEST APPLE MACBOOK AIR (2020)
Techspecs Screen 13.3in 2560x1600 Retina True Tone Processor 1.1GHz Intel Core i3/i5 RAM 8GB/16GB Storage 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB SSD OS macOS Catalina Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, 2x Thunderbolt 3 USB-C, 3.5mm headphone port Battery life Up to 11hrs Dimensions 304x212x16cm, 1.29kg
Key skills The new MacBook Air’s scissor-switch keyboard is the tippy-tappy solution your fingers were praying for
Get tappy
And so to that sumptuous keyboard. Using it has made us realise even the pre-2018 Air’s keyboard wasn’t all that good. Apple hasn’t just reverted back to old tech – it’s made it significantly better.
Get ready to crumble
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With some previous butterfly-switch ’boards you really had to hammer on the keys – and unless you had the later version with a silicone barrier, a few crumbs could render keys useless. Not any more!
Get even
You don’t get the clickity clack of the pre-2018 Air’s keys, but they were quite wobbly. These are very well balanced in their travel and register your presses no matter where your fingers land.
Get back on track
The trackpad is huge and has Force Touch haptics. Apple’s trackpads are still the best in the laptop world for responsiveness, and flying around macOS with finger gestures here is supremely satisfying.
The MacBook Air moves forward to affirm its status as the best Apple laptop for ‘most people’. The refined scissor-switch keyboard is the star of the show, making it more comfortable to type for hours on end, but that’s far from the only thing that’s improved. If you’re after a simple all-round machine, this one will keep you going for years.
STUFF SAYS ★★★★★
With better pricing and a better keyboard, the new Air cements its place as our go-to MacBook 31
FIRST TEST APPLE MACBOOK AIR (2020)
The alternatives: 3 more workhorse laptops Choose an operating system an
ductive
BEST FOR AN APPLE UPGRADE
BEST FOR CHROME LOVERS BEST FOR WINDOWS LOYALISTS
HP Pro C640 Chromebook Enterprise
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Apple MacBook Pro 13in
Microsoft Surface Book 3
R11 000 (import) / hp.com
from R29 000 / myistore.co.za
Rtba / microsoft.com
This is pitched as ‘the world’s thinnest 14in business Chromebook’, which sounds like a brand clutching at marketing straws. Really, this is a Chromebook for folks who don’t know when to shut the laptop lid: an ultraportable for workaholics. The slimline device supports the latest 10th-gen Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and Wi-Fi 6 to handle the multitude of tasks that city types will throw at it. That aluminium chassis also houses a water-resistant backlit keyboard to counter the inevitable cappuccino spills, along with a fast-charging battery that’s capable of lasting a respectable 12 hours between Bikram Yoga breaks. You also get a generous mix of USB-A and USB-C ports, 3.5mm audio and a full-size HDMI connection for blowing up those thrilling pencil-case designs.
The launch of Apple’s 16in MacBook Pro last year was a revelation in terms of keyboard and audio, leaving prospective owners of the 13in models a bit miffed. No longer, because 2020’s revamped 13in Pro brings across many of its big brother’s goodies. You don’t get a bigger screen (hence it still being the MacBook Pro 13in), but there is a physical escape key, a keyboard that’s much better for typing on and a much-improved speaker system. Apple’s also doubled storage space across the board. For the top-spec model, plenty more is also new, including 10th-gen Intel Core i5/i7 processors and Intel Iris Plus graphics, which are capable of running one of Apple’s Pro Display XDR monitors at full 6K resolution. One thing that hasn’t changed is the price, with that properly ‘pro’ version starting at R45 000.
Billed as Microsoft’s most powerful laptop to date – and given the two-year-plus gap since the last version, we should think so – the Surface Book 3 is quite a bit pricier than the rest of the Surface laptop line, but that’s down to the increase in grunt and claimed battery life. Microsoft says these new models, available in 13.5in and 15in touchscreen renditions, offer up to 50% faster performance than before, along with battery life of up to 17.5 hours. Like most laptop stamina promises, you can take that latter point with a grain of salt. Still, add in the option of GeForce GTX and Quadro RTX graphic cards, with the former capable of playing all of the top games on Xbox Game Pass at 60fps, and these are portable powerhouses primed for play as much as work.
KEY SPECS Screen 14in 1920x1080 touchscreen Processor 10th-gen Core i7 Dimensions 325x205x16.5mm, 1.5kg
KEY SPECS Screen 13in 2560x1600 Retina True Tone Processor 8th-gen/10th-gen Core i5/i7 Dimensions 304x212x15.6mm, 1.4kg
KEY SPECS Screen 13.5in 3000x2000 / 15in 3240x2160 touchscreen Processor 10th-gen Core i5/i7 Dimensions 312x232x23mm, 1.5kg (13.5in) / 343x251x23mm, 1.9kg (15in)
APPS
Mini meme
● Webcams
Let’s start with the simple stuff. If you just want to veg out and pretend you’re somewhere else, fool your eyes with Webcams. This app — as its name suggests — lets you select from a huge range of cameras that you can peer at on your phone or stream to your TV. There’s a small selection of free views, featuring everything from leading tourist spots to curious wildlife, while IAP unlocks the rest. Free (IAPs) / Android, iOS
● Expeditions
Fancy going on a self-isolating safari? Want to see dinosaurs, but inconveniently don’t own a time machine? Then try this app’s many VR tours and AR objects. Essentially it’s a bunch of 360° photos to thumb around; but glue your phone to your face with Google Cardboard (or similar) and you can gawp at all manner of immersive marvels, from gorgeous remote islands to the inside of a space station. Free / Android, iOS
DREAD LOCKED HOLIDAY
Pining for sunny beaches, exotic culture and maybe the occasional ear-smashing rock gig? There are some apps that can help with that…
● Civilisations AR
British museums are littered with wonderful objects thanks to the country’s colonial/klepto past (and there’s the odd home-grown marvel too). But that’s no good if you can’t get to one — hence this AR gem. Thanks to the BBC, you can project into your bedroom everything from Rodin’s Kiss to an Egyptian mummy, making for a memorable fusion of history, education and tech. Free / Android, iOS
● Shepard Fairey
AR – Damaged
This digital take on an exhibition by the bloke behind the famous Obama ‘Hope’ poster is far more than static images on a screen: the entire warehouse-sized project is squeezed into your phone. There’s a huge sense of space, and you can even walk around everything in 1:1 style if yo have the room. If not, tap to zip up to artworks, while Shep himself narrates. Free / Android, iOS
● Google Maps
Most people use Google Maps to avoid getting horribly lost, but with Street View you can instead lose yourself in virtual ambles. You’re not limited to roads either — with varying degrees of success, you can hoof around major landmarks like the Pyramids of Giza and the Taj Mahal, peer inside famous museums such as the Guggenheim, and check out the view from Tokyo Tower. Free / Android, iOS
● MelodyVR
If not being able to get out of the house has left you pining for gigs, playing bootleg footage on your iPad at the end of the garden and charging yourself R60 for a warm beer just won’t cut it. So try MelodyVR instead. It offers a bunch of concerts to experience in 360° form — and multiple viewpoints, for when you want to be right up on the stage rather than staring at it from a distance. Free (IAPs) / Android, iOS 33
THE GREAT INDOORS
Got the couch on lockdown In a perfect world (pah!) we’d be in an outdoor pub, but one thing the isolated life has taught us is to appreciate what we have at home‌ or highlight the need to upgrade it 34
Behind closed roars
There are six speakers enclosed in the split base, conferring native 7.1 audio powers on your home. By the Danish masters, of course.
Showing its colours
THE GREAT INDOORS
If you’re planning on matching up, it’s available in both an oak wood/ aluminium or a grey mélange fabric/ aluminium finish.
WATCH LOADS OF TV THE PREMIUM OPTION
● B&O Beovision Harmony It’s one thing to sit in front of the TV every now and again but when it’s basically a responsibility, you might want to shell out a little extra for your experience. The Beovision Harmony combines two brands into once excellent product – A 65in or 77in OLED C9 from LG paired up with Bang and Olufson’s butterfly-wing speaker system is an absolute unit of a television set. It’s also a soundbar if you’re feeling
non-visual, capable of streaming from your favourite service without opening up like a Lamborghini door to reveal the inky blackness of the best OLED screen in town. The only drawback is the price – you can score yourself five 65in LG OLED C9 screens for the cost of just one Harmony. Maybe just buy one of those instead. from R255 000 / bang-olufson.com
●● Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector 150
●●● Sennheiser Ambeo
The challenge with this laser 4K projector is finding a wall big enough to accommodate the 150in display. The good news is you only need to place it 20in away. R40 000 / audicoonline.co.za
Still the ultimate Atmos soundbar, Senny’s madly large Ambeo has a 13-driver array that negates the need for a sub and replicates surround-sound. R52 300 / mitechdirect.com 35
Quantum peep
Samsung’s Quantum processor optimises the picture and even offers TV suggestions based on what you’ve been watching.
WATCH LOADS OF TV THE BARGAIN OPTION
● Samsung Q80R As well as enjoying normal social lives, this time last year we were readying a Stuff five-star rating for this R40 000 QLED from Samsung… and now you can pick one up for under R35k if you shop around. The sweet spot between value and top tech at the time of launch, the Q80R is a 55in 4K TV covering most of the coveted HDR codecs. It’s a shame there’s no Dolby Vision, but then seven grand off the price tag 36
makes that easier to stomach. The Ultra Viewing Angle system brings remarkable off-axis gawping, and then there’s Samsung’s clean and stable Smart Things control app, plus Alexa and Google Assistant voice support. An efficient upscaler from Full HD, the Q80R also gives gamers a sub-20ms response time, and there’s half-decent audio to boot. R33 000 / digitalexperience.co.za
●● ViewSonic M2
●●● Vizio 2.0
It’s only Full HD, but the M2 can be carried anywhere inthe house for wireless screen mirroring and twilight cinema sessions. It also has Harman Kardon speakers. R23 700 / pclinkshop.com
Baby brother to one of our fave surround-sound systems, this soundbar with DTS Virtual:X gives it some multidimensional beef, and built-in Bluetooth. R2 620 / pclinkshop.com
THE GREAT INDOORS
STREAMING STARS
Hidden Netflix Blank expression
Giving it a rest? Ambient mode allows you to replace the black ‘off’ screen with something to match your room’s decor.
In danger of ‘finishing Netflix’? There are thousands of genre codes to unearth hidden shows that don’t come up on your highlighted list. Google ‘Netflix codes’ to learn how to dip into everything from ‘cult horror movies’ to ‘French films’. You’ll need to input the codes into Netflix through a web browser.
● Showmax
● AppleTV+
We’re still on the waiting list for the most soughtafter streaming service since… well, streaming (yes Disney, we’ll give you money) but while we wait, a little homegrown goes a long way. The fact that it’s the legitimate local source for HBO content in this country has a little something to do with that. And, since there are no sports left anywhere, we’ve got to do something. Showmax is also trying its hand at creation, with a growing number of locallyconceived and produced content joining its stable. Local can indeed be lekker but they’ll still have to fight Disney soon. R99/m / showmax.com
Apple’s even more affordable streaming service has been a mixed bag since launching last year, but exclusives like Beastie Boys Story and Mythic Quest (see below) suggest a promising future. As with Disney the free trial period is just seven days, but buying a new iPad, iPhone (including the new SE), iPod Touch, Apple TV or MacBook bags you a whole year entirely free, giving you the chance to get acquainted over time. Don’t have an Apple device? The Apple TV+ app is available on a growing list of smart TVs and rival devices, or through a web browser. R110/pm / tv.apple.com
THE GIRL FROM ST. AGNES
THE KILLER SHOW Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet
Set in a South African boarding school, a popular student’s murder is quickly ruled an accident by the school. Drama teacher Kate Ballard isn’t quite so convinced, picking away at the incident and eventually revealing far more than she expected. The Girl From St Agnes set Showmax’s record for most-watched series when it launched in early 2019. Back when life was still fun and cool.
On the surface of it, a sitcom about videogame development has a lazy feel about it, but this Apple Original is genuinely great. Following the antics of a games studio and its titular MMORPG, the reassuring thing is that if you’re a gamer, Mythic Quest gets it – and if you’re not, it’s an amusing opportunity to understand the culture without wasting your life.
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We will Ruark you
Sound advice
The linear Class AB amp delivers a 90W nominal output through two 75mm full-range drivers and an active subwoofer.
Wireless speakers and headphones are only as good as your music source. If you fancy a streaming service,check the bitrates on offer and aim for 320kbps. Check the specs of your playing device too – look out for hi-res audio support, aptX codecs and Bluetooth 5.
Let there be Ruark
The R5’s high-contrast OLED display is controlled by Ruark’s RotoDial remote control, or through the Ruark Link app for iOS or Android.
LISTEN TO MUSIC THE WIRELESS OPTION
● Ruark R5 If you’ve ever clapped eyes on the Ruark R7 Radiogram, you’ll be fully aware it’s a thing of unbridled beauty. However, not everyone has room for a high-fidelity music system masquerading as a side cabinet, let alone a cool R52 000 to lay down. So the British brand has shrunk it into an R5 tabletop version, and gone all Rick Moranis on the price too. For the R21 000 outlay you get a 2.1 speaker/subwoofer array outputting
●● Audio Pro A26 90W, multiroom capabilities, a DAB radio, a CD player, Bluetooth aptX HD connectivity, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Deezer and Amazon Music support, plus analogue, digital and optical inputs, not to mention an actual headphone socket. Everything is finished with acoustic fabric from that there Yorkshire, and wrapped in either handcrafted walnut or grey lacquer. R21 700 (import) / ruarkaudio.com
With virtual surround-sound claiming to be broader than most soundbars, these wireless multiroom speakers include Amazon Alexa voice smarts. R11 000 (import) / audiopro.com
●●● Grado Labs GW100 The world’s first open-back Bluetooth 5 headphones are primed for home listening sessions – and 40hr ones, thanks to their epic battery life. R5 300 / audiocoonline.com
Ensemble Cast
The Cyrus One Cast plays nicely with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri, and any smart speaker on the same Wi-Fi network.
Sound advice Calculating budgets for the various components of a hi-fi system can be a ballache; but as a rule,spend more on the amp than the speakers. Don’t scrimp on speaker cable either – no need to go crazy,just a sensibly priced upgrade from basic bell wire.
All-star Cast
It’s got its own app, but you don’t need it to stream directly from Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer or Primephonic.
LISTEN TO MUSIC THE OLD-MEETS-NEW OPTION ●●● Bowers & Wilkins 606
●● Denon AH-D9200
These standing speakers use the same cone tech as B&W’s flagship 800 Series Diamond models and are good for use with amps up to 120W. R14 000 / bowerswilkins.com
Denon’s finest over-ears are lauded for their warm sound. For maximum enjoyment, wear them while sitting in an equally sillyexpensive chair. R30 300 / denon.com
● Cyrus One Cast The leap into ‘proper’ audio – with amps, wires and the arrogance that you’re better than everyone else – can be an intimidating and bulky business, but the single-box Cyrus One Cast bridges the gap in many welcoming ways. This compact 2x100W Class D amp streams wirelessly with aptX Bluetooth, Google Chromecast or Apple AirPlay 2. You can add it to a multiroom setup and combine it with smart speakers and
voice assistants. Your CD player and turntable are welcome here, and there’s an HDMI ARC input for a TV. It’s also one of the best headphone amps around, so whoever you’re isolating with doesn’t have to suffer your excitement at Genesis reforming. Little bit too costly? The Cyrus One standalone amp costs less than R15 150 and retains aptX Bluetooth. R20 100 / cyrusaudio.com 39
THE GREAT INDOORS
STUFF SUGGESTS
Our podcast picks, plus other things to keep your ears busy
● Gossipmongers Last Podcast on the Left The world might seem dark right now but this podcast proves you can always go darker. Cults, serial killers, war crimes, ghouls and ghosts are all fair game in this show hosted by Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks and Henry Zebrowski. Proof that being stuck at home isn’t the worst thing that could happen.
The Echo Chamber with Mike D Anyone listening to online station Beats 1 may already be familiar with Beastie Boy Mike D’s deliciously diverse radio show. You’ll find all episodes to download on Apple Music, with guests including Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Young Fathers and many more.
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In a world dominated by unfounded rumour and fake news, what we all need right now is a podcast built entirely on those pillars. Gossipmongers takes casual, sometimes innocent but often harrowing playground conversation emailed in by members of the public and releases it into the wild, with side-splitting effect. Joe Wilkinson and co proceed to read out a piece of gossip to listeners, aided
The Missing Crypto Queen Unsure what blockchain is or how it could revolutionise finance? You’re not alone: thousands invested in the OneCoin cryptocurrency only for it to be unmasked as a scam. This BBC podcast tells the story of OneCoin and its founder, Ruja Ignatova.
Films to be Buried With In this product of Scroobius Pip’s Distraction Pieces Network, a celebrity selects a number of films they’d like to take to the grave with them. Thankfully, it’s nowhere near as morbid as that sounds. Guests so far include Romesh Ranganathan, Nish Kumar and Maisie Adam.
Supers spreaders
Celebrity cameos sharing their scandalous gossip on the podcast have included Ricky Gervais, Richard Osman and Ross Noble.
by some genius synthesised musical interludes, before shouting said gossip out of the nearest window to the public below, thus spreading the rumour even further. Seriously – and we can’t say this emphatically enough – do not listen to Gossipmongers while exercising or handling hot food or drink, because the inevitable belly laughs guarantee it won’t end well.
THE GREAT INDOORS
AWESOME AUDIO BOOKS
New music sources
This Game Changed My Life
Sonos Radio
If you’ve ever cried at a video game (Ecco the Dolphin, guilty), this BBC podcast presented by the undeniably awesome Aoife Wilson and Julia Hardy should appeal. Episodes are diverse enough to include a man who escaped the horrors of the Gulf War through Castlevania, and Charlie Brooker talking us through his gaming history.
In a remarkable feat of timing to catch a captive audience, Sonos has picked now to start its own streaming service. Hosted shows, 60,000 stations, guest playlists and mixes are all on offer. It’s free for Sonos owners updating to version 11.1 or later of its app. sonos.com
My Brother, My Brother and Me
The Ricky Gervais Podcast
It’s a complicated time and we all need a little help sometimes. Hosts Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy, literal brothers, get together to give advice to those who ask for it. If you’re in search of direction, advice, or just a kind word about your situation, you’ll find it here.
Not content with making a mint from Netflix, Gervais landed a lucrative show with US radio station SiriusXM not so long back. Five highlights episodes from ‘Ricky Gervais is Deadly Sirius’ can be downloaded on demand. Oh go on then, get him an even bigger house.
● The Science of Storytelling Will Storr In pursuit of the perfect novel, Will Storr turns to science for answers. This starts out as a self-help book for aspiring authors, but soon descends down dramatic rabbit-holes.
● ● Beastie Boys Book Michael Diamond & Adam Horowitz This autobiography fills in 90% of the gaps missed by the Apple TV+ doc mentioned on p35. Chapters are narrated by the likes of Jarvis Cocker and Steve Buscemi.
● ● ● The Nix Nathan Hill Hill follows the travails of a directionless US college professor in a sprawling tragicomic tale set over 40 or so years, and taking in topics such as Norwegian folklore and unhealthily addictive MMORPGs.
WHO PAYS THE PIPER PROPERLY? It’s not fair. Musicians make money for record labels, then streaming services take a cut too. How much does your favourite band actually pocket? Not much… Using the least number of streams it takes to earn R20, Primephonic tops the pile with 25, but it’s an anomaly – a platform dedicated to classical music. Surprisingly, Amazon fares pretty well at 111 plays to reach R20. Tidal claims to pay the highest rate but scores 143. Apple Music at 185, Deezer at 222 and Google Play Music at 272 make up the middle ground, with Spotify dragging its heels at 357. Pandora (625) and Google-owned YouTube (833) are rock bottom. Source: thetrichordist.com 1000 plays
750 plays
Bandcamp
Ko-fi
Promoting direct-to-artist record sales, Bandcamp helps musicians get more money for the music they make. Whether buying physical or digital, or snagging some merch, up to 85% of your cash goes where it should. The site also forgoes its share of sales on several special offer days. bandcamp.com
Platforms like Patreon, BuyMeACoffee and Ko-fi help artists and DJs get paid during lockdown by performing live on social media and asking for a donation. How much you pay is up to you. Think of it like paying for a concert in your own home without having to deal with rip-off ticket agencies. ko-fi.com
500 plays
250 plays
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Twist your ARM
Apple’s A12Z Bionic ARM-based chip features eight-core graphics and task-crunching capabilities to rival most laptops.
Palm you off
The Huawei’s screen has a skinny 16:10 aspect ratio, with ‘palm rejection’ tech to stop accidental presses owing to those teeny bezels.
THE GREAT INDOORS
SHIRK FROM HOME The best new tablets mean you don’t need an office to pretend to work in anyway – but which is the tab to grab?
● Apple iPad Pro (2020)
● Huawei MatePad Pro
In case 2020’s absurdity needed further underlining, Apple’s most exciting new product is an iPad. Of course, the Pro isn’t just any iPad. It’s the big one with a huge, super-slick 120Hz Liquid Retina screen, ludicrously speedy internals and a double-lens camera like the one in the iPhone 11. And since Apple added cursor support, it’s also the best tablet to replace your laptop.
Meet the MatePad Pro: a thin tab with teeny bezels and a barrel of party tricks up its vegan leather sleeve. This iPad Pro tribute act is an Android without Google services, but it does offer a 5G version and should come in well below the competition. Kitted out with reverse wireless charging, pen input support, desktop-style features, Huawei phone integration and more, it’s a tempting way to undercut the Apple machine.
Is it any good? The new Pro is like Joaquin Phoenix or a box of Lego: it contains multitudes. Get a MacBook Air and there’s an established manner in which you use it. Get an iPad Pro and you may be content to doodle without hooking up a mouse or keyboard. Whatever your plans, it’s up to the challenge, and that’s what makes it so compelling. Even more so than the old model, this is a device you
probably don’t need but that any self-respecting gadget obsessive should really, really want. The sheer amount of stuff you can do with the Pro already positioned it in a class of its own, and that status has only been underlined with the 2020 version’s camera and cursor support. It’s a fun thing to own that just gets better the more you learn to make use of it. As a glimpse into the future of computing, the new iPad Pro is almost faultless. And as something for the here and now? It’s one capable device to rule them all when you’re working, and not really working, from home.
Price from R17 800 / myistore.co.za Key specs 11in 2388x1668 or 12.9in 2732x2048 LED ● A12Z Bionic ● 128/256/ 512GB/1TB ● 248x179x 5.9mm, 471g (11in); 281x215x 5.9mm, 641g (12.9in)
Stuff says ★★★★★ Apple’s mega-tablet evolves into an outstanding piece of kit
Is it any good? Until Huawei sorts its Google nightmare, how great its Android phones and tablets are in the real world is going to come down to each user’s needs. But the tablets can get away with it better than phones, given that web apps are altogether bigger, better experiences on them. Thespecsandfunctionality of this slate are top-tier; the
camera is decent by tablet standards, and we actually used the wireless charging daily in our time with it. The optional keyboard cover and pen are also handy, although integration isn’t quite as slick as that of Apple’s iPad accessories. Yes, there are still some gremlins that require workarounds, and if the bulk of your work relies on Google apps then obviously you’ll want to steer clear. Ultimately, you could do a lot worse than the MatePad Pro. It undercuts Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S6 by a lot, the iPad Pro by a lot more, and offers competitive features paired with a whole lot of premium design.
Price Rtba / huaweistore.co.za Key specs 10.8in 2560x 1600 LCD ● Kirin 990 ● 128/256/ 512GB ● 246x159x7.2mm, 460g
Stuff says ★★★★ Good specs and a fair price make up for Huawei’s software limitations ● Microsoft Surface Go
The hybrid option
This affordable Microsoft tablet comes equipped with decent enough media prowess, excellent sound, facial recognition, a frontfacing 5MP camera for video calls, and a Type Pad accessory to transform it into the laptop you never knew you needed. A solid all-rounder for work and play, Microsoft’s hybrid has a 10in Full HD panel with 8GB of RAM and a 64GB or 128GB SSD,
alongside a fanless Intel Pentium Gold processor for speedy performance. Kudos too to Microsoft for including a microSDCX card reader, giving you a handy way to add extra storage for games, music and whatever else you’ve been bored enough to download. Battery life comes in at a respectable 9 hours, while other neat touches include Dolby stereo speakers. Rtba / microsoft.com
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Laptop tips RAM it home Storing data you commonly use for rapid access, a decent chunk of RAM is key for speed. Open Windows Pick a laptop running 10S and you’ll have to pony up extra cash to unlock the full version. Don’t over-spec Decide what your laptop is for and work upwards. If it’s mostly browsing,you simply don’t need big specs.
Best of Stealth
Depending how you spec it, the GS66 Stealth can accommodate up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage.
● MSI GS66 Stealth Lockdown life has presented the perfect opportunity to justify the purchase of a new laptop for work that conveniently also meets the system requirements to run PlayerUnknown’s Battle Grounds. The coloured keys of MSI’s GS66 might be a giveaway of its gaming heart, but it’s restrained enough to make people think you’re sending very important emails. And that’s the whole point of this 15.6in Windows PC: to give you the best balance 44
of everything, whether it’s the thrill of a tricky tussle over a chicken dinner on the 1900x1080, 300Hz, near-100% sRGB colour display, or decamping to the decking to meet a deadline safe in the knowledge that its 99.9Wh battery is the biggest you can get in something that’ll function both as an powerful office workhorse and play machine… okay, so it’s mostly a play machine. Rtba / evetech.co.za
●● Acer Education Spin 2-in-1
●●● Asus VivoBook S14 S431FA
Need a machine for web browsing, binge watching and occasional word processing? This 11.6in slate runs Windows 10 and folds like it knows Yoga. R7 000 / takealot.com
The best bit about this 14-incher is the 128GB SSD for storing work alongside all your movie downloads. You also get an Intel i3 CPU and 4GB of RAM. from R13 000 / takealot.com
THE GREAT INDOORS
Video assistant revelry
The best platforms for video meetings, parties and mooning at your in-laws
THE OBVIOUS ONE Skype Still one of the best options for cross-platform comms, Skype works on smartphones, tablets, PCs and Macs, as well as pretty much anything with a web browser. More than that, it offers a raft of free features for both work and play: group video calls for up to 50 participants, screen-sharing for easy desktop demos and even the option to blur your background in case your Ed Sheeran calendar is behind you. Free / iOS, Android, PC, web
THE GOOGLE ONE Google Duo
THE SIMPLE ONE WhatsApp
Heard of Hangouts? Duo is also made by Google, but it ditches the messaging element in favour of a focus on quality video calls. Built simple for all sorts of devices, Duo is designed to stream easily on mobile, web and Google Nest kit. Up to eight faces can join at once and all calls are end-to-end encrypted, so no baddies can spy on your plans for a virtual picnic. Free / iOS, Android, Chrome
WhatsApp keeps video features to a minimum, ditching filters and advanced settings in favour of a reliable connection that works even when your signal is poor. You can mute your mic, switch to the back camera or drop video altogether to make it a voice call. Tap the video camera icon in a chat for a one-on-one call, or do the same in a group for convos with up to eight buddies. Free / iOS, Android, PC, web
HOW TO HOST A ‘PUB QUIZ’
● Create your quiz
Download the free Kahoot! app to create a pro-looking quiz with no PowerPoint. Save it; you’ll share the PIN with your players later.
●● Invite your players
Using the Zoom desktop app (the only version with screen-sharing), invite guests by sending them the meeting ID and password.
●●● Let the games begin
THE SOCIABLE ONE Houseparty
THE WORKY ONE Zoom
THE FACEBOOK ONE Messenger Rooms
THE MICROSOFT ONE Teams
A video calling app with a difference, Houseparty alerts you when your friends are online and lets you strike up a chat. So far so simple, but the twist is your mates (and their mates) can drop in on your calls as they please – and you can do the same to them. Up to eight people can join at any one time, with the option to start games if the talk dries up, and you can lock your chat to keep drop-ins out. Free (IAPs) / iOS, Android, PC, Chrome
Need a conference call? Zoom’s a boon for quarantined teams. There are several paid plans, but the basic one is free and bags your gang a whole host of features. A whopping 100 people can dial into the same call, with tools including simultaneous screen-sharing and virtual backgrounds. Video quality is limited to 720p on the free tier, which might be a blessing in disguise judging by your data bill. Free / iOS, Android, web
Facebook’s answer to Zoom, Messenger Rooms isn’t a separate app but a service launched within the existing platform. It supports up to 50 participants and offers virtual backgrounds. Facebook says it’ll also be adding Messenger Rooms to Instagram, so you can practise pretending to be in Machu Picchu while plugging your friend’s grooming products like a true influencer. Free / iOS, Android, web
Subject of a cheesy advertising campaign taking advantage of the lockdown (we can’t really blame them), Teams is geared towards Office 365 users. The freemium version can host a terrifying 300 members, while other tiers offer an even scarier call-recording facility along with an incriminating transcript of how you insulted the boss while she was making a coffee. from Free / iOS, Android, PC, web
Once your players have installed Kahoot!, display the quiz PIN for them to enter. Have the quiz ready on your device and hit ‘screen share’ on Zoom.
●●●● Keep it moving
Inputting quickfire answers on the app gives players little chance to cheat and keeps the score ticking over in real time.
●●●●● Avoid eavesdropping
Mute callers conferring over answers – one will always forget to do it themselves. Go to ‘manage participants’ and ‘mute all’. 45
THE GREAT
Which kind? Freshly ground Takes time, noise and effort, but the beans taste and smell better. You’ll need a grinder. Pre-ground Easier to buy off the shelf, or ask your local coffee house to grind a blend for you. Pods Some machines require dedicated pods. Manual machines mostly take ESE ones.
Steamy flow-mance
The hot water blaster turns espressos into a longer drink, and doubles as a milk frother for your cappuccinos and lattes.
Button your sip
The three buttons on the front allow you to deep-dive into settings to adjust your drink’s size, strength and temperature.
HAVE A LIE-IN THE BREAKFAST BRINGER
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● Smeg Espresso Coffee Machine
●● Millo
There are two kinds of people when it comes to coffee. There are those who know exactly what good coffee is and why it’s worth the effort to attain it and there are those who think you can get coffee out of a Nescafe bottle. But you don’t need to remain an uneducated heathen all your life. Smeg’s manual machine is as much an educational tool as it is a means to get your quality morning roast without
This smart take on a smoothie blender is cordless and portable, and works by placing a beaker on the touch-control base. Sensors then monitor consistency. R7 800 / getmillo.com
leaving the house. The operation involves ground beans (or pods if you’re a heathen), filtering, tamping, and the optional steaming and frothing of milk. You have to work for your hit and you’ll feel good going about it. Basically, once you’ve worked out what the hell is going on it becomes second nature – soon you’ll be making lattes and macchiatos blindfolded. R6 300 / loot.co.za
●●● Omega Cube300S This slow-juicing cube keeps the nutrients locked in when grinding your vegetables into something drinkable, and can even be used for making nut milks. R7 600 / omegajuicers.com
THE GREAT INDOORS
Desktop delivery
Turn your home office into a home from, er, home
AND FINALLY, LOOK AFTER YOURSELF…
B
Revo SuperConnect Keeping up with local radio like 5FM, Talk Radio 702 or CliffCentral has never been so important – plus a desktop DAB does a neat job of keeping you away from smartphone news alerts. Revo’s Mad Men-style radio delivers 15W of digital audio to
keep your ears in check, and decent functionality from the OLED display. And when you’ve had enough of contemporary rural drama, it’ll act as an aptX Bluetooth speaker. See also the little SuperSignal for R2 000 less. R13 350 / pclinkshop.com
Wear this wellness tracker on your wrist, neck or clothes and the clip will holistically monitor stress levels, offering breathing exercises and guided meditations to stop you swearing at Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma every evening. from R2 900 / pclinkshop.com
Punkt AC01
Flare Sleeep Pro
Dreamlight Zen
Philips Somneo
This tidy ticker cuts your screen time by stopping you checking your phone every five seconds. Move it from desktop to bedside at night andswitchthemobile off. Dare you. R2 500 / punkt.ch
Vestaboard If you’re in the camp that thinks smart displays are simply glorified tablets and yet another screen to distract you, the Vestaboard could be the antidote. Based on the old split-flap boards found in continental train stations, it’ll display mobile messages and notifications above your desk. Compatible with iOS and Android, it’ll even sync with apps including Slack, Google Calendar, Twitter and IFTTT. And appropriately, it costs about the same as a round-the-world train fare. R45 000 / vestaboard.com
Drown out the noisy neighbours or your homeschooling kids with a pair of Flares. The memory-foam tips are designed to block out all frequencies evenly. R1 600 / pclinkshop.com
Netgear Nighthawk Mesh Wifi 6 System Weak Wi-Fi has to be among the most frustrating battles to contend with when working from home. Luckily, mesh networks do a decent job of draping bandwidth more evenly over your property and can prioritise broadband for chosen devices. Netgear’s Nighthawk system includes next-gen Wi-Fi 6 for faster, more reliable connectivity, and increases the chance of stable video calls, gaming and 4K streaming across spaces of up to 3000 square feet. from R4 500 / netgear.com
A therapy mask you wrap around your head, the Dreamlight Zen uses ambient audio effects and 3D face-mapping to aid relaxation and help you breathe better. R3 500 / dreamlight.tech
Behold the glowing doughnut of enlightenment. Whatever your working hours, this sunlight simulator can be synced to your sleep schedule. R7500 / pclinkshop.com 47
MID-SIZE MARVELS
CONSIDERABLE CLEANERS
PERSONAL PURIFIERS
UPVOTED
The ionising ingester
LightAir CellFlow Mini This portable purifier is discreet enough to pop on a shelf next to your ‘Batman on the toilet’ themed action figure collection… and, while it won’t bring poor Brucie’s parents back, it uses ionisation to suck the tiniest pollutants out of the air with near-silent efficiency. R2 800 / lightair.com
Blueair Blue Pure 411 Good for spaces up to 15m², the 411 activates every 12 minutes and a 360° air intake means you can stick it wherever you please. The option to switch its fabric wrapper – also a pre-filter – means there’s a hue to suit every room, and at just 17dB it’s whisper-quiet. R4 260 / importitall.co.za
The soothing snoozer
Levoit Vista When is a purifier not a purifier? When it’s also a nightlight. Tap the top of Levoit’s cleansing tube and it glows a soothing shade to help you nod off. Naturally it takes care of purification too, with assorted filters, fan speed settings and timers to deliver clean air on demand. R2 000 (import) / levolt.com
AIR PURIFIERS The house hooverer
Vax Pure Air 300 Capable of filtering spaces up to 120m², this tower is fit for a wannabe fresh prince of swell air. Installed in your palatial pad, the cylinder can process up to 428m³ of air per hour (translation: a lot), while its 360° filter claims to remove up to 99% of airborne allergens. R6 000 (import) / vax.co.uk
The sniffing sentry
Philips Series 800 Protecting you from unexpected pollution, this filter has an auto-purification sensor to detect even the smallest changes in air quality, cranking things up to tackle fresh dust you’d otherwise inhale. It claims to remove 99% of bacteria, 99.5% of nano-sized particles and 99.9% of viruses. R3 200 / philips.com
HOW TO DECIDE 48
The whiff whisperer
Solitary social distancing sometimes smells. Stuff swapped out its collection of Glade air fresheners for a filtration system to cleanse the particles floating around its new home offices
The humid hero
Boneco H300 It’s not quite Alpine air, but Boneco’s box is packed with Swiss-designed smarts to purify and humidify the air in your home. Set your ideal levels in the app, and the H300 senses relative moisture before automatically adjusting its evaporator to maintain your chosen level. R7 200 / boneco.com
1 Get a HEPA grinder In the world of air purification, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) is the benchmark. A true HEPA filter removes at least 99.95% of tiny particles from the air.
The bug blaster
Dyson Pure Advanced Purifier Blowing hot and cold isn’t traditionally a positive trait, but Dyson’s bladeless blower changes that. No indecisive oscillator, it projects 290 litres of purified air per second at your chosen temperature, while activated carbon filters aim to eliminate 99.95% of pollutants. Rtba / dyson.com
The eggy eradicator
Bionaire Designer BAP600-060 An actual egg is unlikely to improve the air quality in your home, but Bionaire’s ovoid purifier claims to remove 99% of airborne particles – including smoke, pollen, dust and mould spores – from rooms up to 30m². It uses a long-life HEPA filter and features a built-in blue nightlight. R2 150 / bionaire.com
2 Filter your options All purifiers have an activated carbon filter to tackle bad smells and gassy pollutants. These need to be switched periodically, so check the cost of swaps.
UPVOTED
The pollution police
Solenco CF8500 Air Purifier When you want to clean all the air in a room, with a special focus on viruses (and we’ve all got that right now) then Solenco’s budget cleaner is the one to beat. Easy setup, noticeable differences in air quality and intuitive touch controls are the most notable features. R3 000 / solencosa.co.za
3 Rest in peace Clean breathing might be the dream, but your fantasies will vanish into thin air if your purifier sounds like a vacuum cleaner. For a sweet night’s sleep, pick a model that runs at 40dB or less.
4 Pick your spot Purifier placement is important. Most filter in full 360°, so you can stick them in the centre of the room, but others work best by a wall. Consider your preferred positioning before buying.
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T E S T E D B E AT S P O W E R B E AT S
Still the Beats hang A cable between each bud means you can dangle Dr Dre’s latest Powerbeats just about anywhere… and they’re a whole lot cheaper than the Pro version Rtba / myistore.co.za Swap the charging case for a carry pouch, stick a cable between each bud, and what you’re looking at here is a pair of Powerbeats Pro for for cheaper. The (just) Powerbeats retain the familiar over-ear hook design, soft-touch feel, IPX4 water-resistance and, crucially, Apple’s awesome H1 chip. There’s no USB-C, so charging requires the bundled Lightning lead, and the bud-to-bud cable won’t be to all tastes; but being able to hang them around your neck (or anywhere else) during workouts arguably makes these more practical than the Pros, and could stop them going AWOL. The hook design allows a snug fit, even if passive isolation isn’t the best.
Forgot about drain? You’ll get up to 15hrs of music on a charge, and the Fast Fuel feature means a 5min top-up will give you an hour’s play time. Nice.
There’s a volume rocker on the right bud, while pressing the Beats logo acts as the play/pause control; the left bud has a power button that also initiates pairing. Inside are dual mics for voice calls, a motion-detecting accelerometer and a speech-detecting sensor for Siri commands. Beats have traditionally favoured bass-heavy music, but things changed with the Powerbeats Pro and it’s the same here: the low end theory remains but it’s not as dominating as before, meaning mids and highs never feel suffocated. Yep, Beats is all grown up, awww. Apple’s aforementioned H1 chip doesn’t just mean always-on Siri. It means strong connectivity that reduces dropouts, better Bluetooth data transfer and longer battery life.
Tech specs Connectivity Apple H1 Bluetooth, Siri, Lightning charging Battery life Up to 15hrs Weight 26.3g
Pad intentions
Connecting to an iOS device is a breeze. Switch on, wait for a prompt to appear on your screen and hit connect. Done. You’ll also get an on-screen notification of how much charge is left every time you start up.
I need a docker
The Android experience is, as you might expect, a slightly less slick affair, requiring a full Bluetooth pairing procedure. Android users do, however, get a dedicated app to unlock features and check the battery status.
STUFF SAYS A Beats bargain that doesn’t mean sacrificing on the key specs ★★★★★
The next episode in the Beats story proves you don’t have to go Pro 50
The basic Powerbeats strike a happy medium. The hook-and-cable design won’t please everyone, but it makes them more practical than the Pros as well as cheaper. All-day wear might be pushing it from a comfort perspective, but the snug and stable fit does makes them everyday earphones for any activity, whether it’s a walk to the shops or a park run. The most important part? They sound fantastic.
T E S T E D TA G H E U E R C O N N E C T E D 2 0 2 0
Hefty price, Tag Just because Tag Heuer crafts luxury Swiss timepieces, that doesn’t qualify it as a top-notch smartwatch maker Rtba / tagheuer.com Tag Heuer’s third-gen Wear OS watch is ultra-premium in specs, with GPS, 5ATM water-resistance, heart-rate monitoring and all-day battery life. Strong, sturdy and heavy, the 45mm metal casing takes inspiration from Tag’s Carrera chronographs. Ours came with the rubber strap; but there’s a stainless steel option as well. The 1.39in OLED touchscreen goes well with the Connected 2020’s analogue look. Protected by a lovely sapphire glass, the display’s colours are vibrant and strong, with great contrast; and its responsiveness to touch commands is among the best we’ve seen on a Wear OS device.
From Heuer to eternity Activity can be synced to Tag’s phone app and shared with services like Strava, Apple Health, Google Fit and more.
Tag’s delivery of Wear OS feels a little too jolly for a device this serious, but it makes good use of all the standard functions, while a greater focus on health tracking makes it much better than its predecessors for fitness… even if it’s a bit heavy for workouts. A Snapdragon 3100 backed by 1GB of RAM and 8GB storage brings smooth transitions between apps, and generally there’s zero lag between loads. Our Connected 2020 would stay juiced for about a day before requiring a recharge. That might include one 30-minute activitytracking session with GPS, a few Google Pay transactions and some general pootling around.
Get me out of Heuer
Tag has added a physical button to the side of the case. This extra control works alongside the Wear OS touchscreen to help make the Connected 2020 much easier to navigate, especially for hopping back to the main menu.
Heuer’s looking at you
This watch has Tag’s own app for activity-tracking so you don’t have to use the Google equivalent, and it’s an impressive design. It supports a wide range of sports including running, cycling, swimming and golf.
Tech specs Display 1.39in 454x454 OLED Sensors GPS, NFC, accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate, compass Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Water-resistance 5ATM Battery life Up to 20hrs Weight 86g titanium, 108g steel
STUFF SAYS Sleek, smart, expensive – a top performer that brings nothing new ★★★
A smartwatch that’s just too classy for its own operating system
The Connected 2020 is a well-made smartwatch let down by the rather tacky-looking Wear OS. The analogue faces are classy and performance is great, but it doesn’t unleash anything new into the world of Android watches – and working out with something so heavy doesn’t feel right. On the other hand, if spending around fifty grand on a gadget doesn’t make a dent for you, this is a smartwatch made from materials built to last. 51
STUFF PICKS
JURASSIC SPARK The gate features jungle leaves and flame elements, as part of an accessory list that also includes John Hammond’s hat and cane.
JURASSIC BARK The dino stands at 22cm; so although she has snapping jaws plus a posable head, arms, legs and tail, you won’t need a litter tray the size of a swimming pool. 52
STUFF PICKS
Breaking the boredom with a big-ass Lego kit could actually boost your cognitive development… or it could keep you up until 3am attempting to assemble Hogwarts like David Beckham ALTERNATIVELY…
BEYOND LEGO
Jurassic Park: T.Rex Rampage R4 500 / 3120 pieces
This girl has got teeth. You’ll recognise her as the T.Rex from Jurassic Park – and in case you’ve got a Zoom quiz or two coming up, a bit of trivia for you: her real name is Roberta. Not so ferocious now, eh? That said, we’d still think twice about giving a real-life Roberta flak. The set includes not only he beast herself, but also the conic entrance gates to the original ill-fated attempt at a wildlife park of de-extinct dinosaurs, from way before oe Exotic proposed bringing back the sabre-toothed
tiger. The trigger-activated gate is framed by a wall incorporating seven detailed scenes inspired by the film, such as John Hammond’s dining room, Ray Arnold’s control room and a bunker for Ian Malcolm. You also get minifigures of six characters: Hammond, Malcolm (complete with Jeff Goldblum’s black shirt and hairy chest combo), Arnold, Ellie Sattler, Alan Grant and Dennis Nedry, plus a baby dinosaur. But mostly it’s just an excuse to build a massive T-Rex.
The Upside Down
This set from Stranger Things is a flippable model set in two worlds. Bundled in the box are eight minifigures including Eleven, Chief Jim Hopper and a Demogorgon that’s not to be confused with Joyce Byers on the warpath. R3 600 (2287 pieces)
Teenage Engineering Rick And Morty PO-137
For a break from assembling brick kits, why not assemble some sequenced beats? This Teenage special edition lets you mash up voice samples from Rick and Morty themselves. R1 520 / teenage. engineering
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STUFF PICKS
NEILLY THERE The detailed interior includes room for two astronauts (shafted again, Michael Collins), who are included as minifigures in NASA spacesuits.
ALTERNATIVELY…
BEYOND LEGO
NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander R1 600 / 1087 pieces
If you think Houston had a problem with a crippled space module, wait until you misplace one of the bricks in this replica of the Eagle, the craft that safely landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Moon/a TV studio in 1969. Yes, alright space geeks, we know the ‘Houston’ line is from Apollo 13 and not entirely accurate anyway, so here’s some Apollo 11 trivia for you: nobody knows where the Eagle is now, so forget buying the original on eBay. This giant leap for
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Lego-kind (finally, a proper Apollo 11 reference!) is the closest you’re going to get to the real thing. Commemorating last year’s 50th anniversary of the landings, the set comes from Lego’s Creator series and was developed in partnership with NASA to ensure authenticity. So as well as detachable stages, gold-coloured landing pads and the famous ladder, there’s a depiction of the Moon’s surface complete with crater, footprints and a non-flapping flag.
Liebherr R 9800 Excavator
This Technic kit is a monster. With seven motors, you get control over a range of functions, and can spend hours clearing up the pile of Lego rocks supplied — or any old bricks you’ve left strewn over the floor. R8 000 (4108 pieces)
Meccano MAX
Couldn’t feature a Lego Technic set without mentioning Meccano, could we? From the wonderfully titled Erector series, the MAX combines AI with coding and can be controlled using voice commands: “Erector, stand to attention!” R3 900 / manicaa.com
CKS
HIP the ship n’s cabin, bedroom ly there’s uty-free de for s.
Pirates of Barracuda Bay R3 300 / 2545 pieces
Everything changed for Lego in 1978 when the minifigure rocked up. Sets were suddenly built to house them, rather than merely echo real-world buildings. And with larger sets come more ambitious locations. This one recalls the classic Lego Pirates theme, but with a two-build set – an intact ship, plus an island and shipwreck – that would have had any 1990s Lego collector’s eyes out on stalks. This treasure chest of a set includes a firing cannon,
a full crew of eight scurvy minifigures, three crabs, two parrots, two frogs, two skeletons, and the option to row a boat in shark-infested seas – ironically, an ocean made of plastic as opposed to being full of it. For a truly authentic experience you could try building this one while drunk on rum, draped in costume jewelry, wearing a hanky on your head and flaunting the questionable facial hair you’ve been forced to cultivate for the past two months.
Roller Coaster The Roller Coaster brings stomachflipping larks to Lego’s fairground theme for the first time. With or without power functions, you can send your minifigs for the ride of their lives without queuing for five hours and finding a pool of vomit at the end. R4 700 (4124 pieces)
Robomaster S1 by DJI
Instead of building a tangible object, you could do your construction in a digital space using DJI’s educationfocused robot. Learn Scratch and Python while mucking around with an awesome robo-tank. Because learning sometimes is fun. R10 500 / takealot.com
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STUFF PICKS
BARNEY REBEL As well as huge engine exhausts and intricate surface detailing, there’s a buildable scale version of the Rebels’ Tantive IV starship to capture. You evil bastard.
ALTERNATIVELY…
BEYOND LEGO
Imperial Star Destroyer R12 000 / 4784 pieces
It’s going to set you back plenty of galactic credits (if you’ve still got time to kill after building this, look up ‘Star Wars: The Economics of the Galactic Empire’), but the Imperial Star Destroyer is a frankly ludicrous 111cm build for unleashing your inner Sith. A giant replica of the starship as it appears in the opening scenes of A New Hope, it’s authentically designed with twin deflector shields and a tilting tractor beam antenna. If you were in any doubt as to the size
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and scale of this project, note it comes with just two minifigures – an Imperial Officer and Imperial Crewmember – reflecting not just how knee-deep in bricks you’ll be, but how much more Lego and Disney would like you to spend on additional character packs. You do, however, get two blaster pistol weapons and a display stand for showing off on Instagram. If you require an even bigger challenge, mix up all the bags of grey pieces before you begin. (Don’t do that.)
Millennium Falcon
See yourself on the light side of the Force? Get your righteous hands on the Millennium Falcon set instead. At 83cm long it too is a beast, but it comes with a generous minifigure crew including two Han Solos. R14 000 (7541 pieces)
LittleBits Droid Inventor Kit
LittleBits was part of Disney’s tech accelerator scheme before being bought by Sphero, which had already been playing with droid replicas, so this R2-D2 coding kit with wireless phone control makes sense. R1 200 / takealot.com
STUFF PICKS
MUSTANG SILLY Want insane levels of detail? Open the doors or lift the roof to check out an interior with handsome seats, radio, working steering and a mid-console gearshift.
ALTERNATIVELY…
BEYOND LEGO
Ford Mustang R2 300 / 1471 pieces
Forget those tanking petrol prices: your chances of ever owning an original 1960s muscle-car are evaporating faster than water in the Karoo during a heatwave. And anyway, this Mustang replica is marginally better for the environment. Regarded by some as the finest Lego set ever made, it can even be customised with a supercharger, ducktail spoiler and beefy exhaust. It doesn’t end there, because the officially licensed kit also features a raise-up rear axle, aggressive air-scoop
and five-spoke rims with high-grip tyres that will get any Hi-Q fitter hot under the bonnet. Hardcore Ford geeks can revel in the Mustang grille badge, GT emblems and selection of number plates, while Speed and Sound subscribers are likely to be more aroused by the front chin spoiler and nitrous oxide tank, or by lifting the lid to expose the big-block 390 V8 engine with battery, hoses and air filter detailing. Grrr, we feel manly just writing about it.
1989 Batmobile
Taking brick-built cars in a rather more fantastical direction, this is a lush rendition of the ‘Burtonmobile’ — still, in our opinion, the best Batmobile of them all. You also get minifigs, although they’re a bit small for the 60cm-long car. R4 500 (3306 pieces)
Haynes Build Your Own V8 Engine
The great thing about building an engine while homeschooling the kids is that it’s useless technology for the modern world, and therefore has no tangible benefits. Which is just how we like our fun. R1 300 / ubuy.za.com
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TESTED SAMSUNG 75Q950TS
8K breaky heart It’ll empty your wallet and fill up your wall, but prepare to fall hard for Samsung’s ultra-sharp TV Rtba / samsung/com/za As reasons to splurge on a new TV go, staying away from all the other humans telling us to stay indoors is a pretty compelling one. But coming up with an excuse to spend huge sums of money on said TV is a little trickier… unless, of course, the set in question turns out to be somewhat futureproofed and sounds incredible. Samsung has been one of the major pushers of 8K for a couple of years now, yet its 2020 range seems – at first glance – no more compellingthanlastyear’s.They’re still expensive, there’s almost no native content around (Japanese broadcaster NHK had planned to broadcast the Tokyo Olympics in 8K), and it’s not like every home has even taken up 4K yet. But taken on its own terms, and with all the obvious excuses made, the 75Q950TS is one of the finest TVs we’ve seen. If you have to stay at home watching TV for the next who knows how long, you couldn’t do it in any more style.
Ain’t nothing like the real thin With a massive screen and minimal bezel (1), this is close to TV design nirvana. And while Samsung’s QLED tech requires backlighting, at 15mm deep it’s hardly overweight. Connectivity is also removed from the screen and put in a separate box, so only a single lead cascades down.
GOOD MEH EVIL
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Brilliantly minimal design
2
1
Only the zonally With over 33 million pixels, compared to 2m for Full HD, this thing has an awful lot of upscaling to do. So there are 480 separate lighting/dimming zones, all individually controllable to keep blacks deep and detailed even when sharing the screen with brightly lit areas.
Superb upscaling of 4K
Bloody well bright Playing the 4K HDR Blu-ray of Le Mans ’66, this thing is fundamentally making up 75% of the information on the screen… yet it looks dazzling. The colour palette is wide-ranging (2), it’s capable of enough brightness to attract moths, and it tackles movement with aplomb.
Sound is big and open… …but also hard and thin
There’s no Dolby Vision
Price point is dizzying
TESTED SAMSUNG 75Q950TS Rangers in the night Samsung still refuses to play nicely with Dolby Vision, but this TV covers every other HDR standard.
Tech specs Screen 75in 7860x4320 QLED OS Tizen Connectivity 4x HDMI, 3x USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, RF & satellite, digital optical Dimensions 1650x940x15mm, 36kg
Tiz me, Tiz me, Tiz me baby Allow us to guide you through the oh-so-smooth operation of Samsung’s Tizen TV operating system
It’s raining menus
Samsung’s Tizen-based operating system is the best – it’s straightforward, simple in the right way, and responsive. Setup menus are comprehensive but not intimidating, and there’s loads of adjustability.
Disney matter
The OS incorporates all the main streaming services as well as plenty of lesser ones. Note that Netflix, YouTube and the rest are operating at reduced resolution while their services are subject to unprecedented demand.
3 Something about a scaler The 75Q950TS looks better with 4K content than most native 4K sets. That’s down to Samsung’s AI – this TV has access to a vast database of images against which it can cross-reference the content it’s being asked to scale up. Even with Full HD stuff, the picture remains deeply impressive.
Grilles ain’t nothing but treble Samsung has made a big effort with audio performance. ‘Object Tracking Sound+’ involves eight speakers (3) delivering a bigger overall sound while tracking the on-screen action. There’s no doubt it sounds bigger, but its tonal characteristics are thin and actually quite harsh.
Zapper’s delight
Control is via a small remote that manages to feel as good as it looks – even the action of the buttons somehow feels expensive. Or there’s Alexa built-in for voice control, and Google Assistant on the way.
Despite everything – the price, the lack of 8K content, the price again – the Samsung 75Q950TS is an absolute stormer in the picture stakes. If you positively must have the best images you can buy, along with as much future-proofing as possible, then this is currently the TV for you.
Tell me Wi-Fi
Keeping everything ticking over is dual-band Wi-Fi, plus the One Connect box that’s home to four HDMI inputs, three USB sockets, Ethernet, RF and satellite tuner connections, a digital optical output and your mains power.
STUFF SAYS ★★★★★ Hmm, 8K with no native content and questionable sound… but no other 75in TV looks quite so elegant 59
TESTED SOUNDMAGIC TWS50
Buddy murder SoundMagic’s first true wireless in-ears sound, well, magic – and for all the rivals they’re undercutting, that’s got to hurt R1 800 / sound-magic.co.za Bud from a stone The round charging case features a rotating top that moves to reveal the buds – they’re a tiny bit tricky to extract.
We were wondering when SoundMagic might get around to crashing the true wireless party. If anyone knows about combining ‘great-sounding’ with ‘affordable’, it’s these chaps, and we’ve never met a pair of theirs we didn’t like. So while other brands try to make R3 500 the true wireless norm, SoundMagic has removed the rug from beneath them. Whoever sketched the TWS50s was kept on a tight leash: these earbuds are compact, light and consequently easy to position comfortably. The selection of silicone tips also helps. A rudimentary digital display indicates how much juice is left in the charging case. The buds hold six hours, while the case is good for another 24; charging is via microUSB. There’s no denying these earphones feel built down to a price, but they’re in no way badly made – it’s just that the plastics feel hard, shiny and thin. Once snugly placed, wirelessly paired and playing a Tidal Masters stream, they reminds us how SoundMagic built its reputation. They’re not the loudest buds ever, nor the most dynamic, but this is R1 800 extremely well spent.
Bud diamonds
Nothing in the feature set of these buds suggests cost-cutting: they use Bluetooth 5.0 and can handle hi-res audio files. And despite the modest dimensions, there’s space in there for 6mm full-range neodymium drivers.
Bud on your hands
The touch-controls handle the most basic skip and play/pause commands. They’re also handy for handling calls or summoning a voice assistant. A light in each bud, glowing either red or blue, tells you what they’re up to.
These are the kind of buds you’ll probably be pairing with nothing more fancy than a smartphone; and while some phones sound better than others, any will gladly have its rough edges smoothed by the TWS50s’ overall attitude.
Tech specs Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0, microUSB, touch and voice control Water-resistance IPX7 Battery life 6hrs, 30 with charging case Weight 4g each, case 45g
STUFF SAYS Not for the first time, the SoundMagic cat is among the pigeons ★★★★★
If you’re out for bud, these could well be your new prime target 60
The TWS50s aren’t short of competition, but that’s only because SoundMagic was uncharacteristically late to this particular party. But it’s here now and, thanks to a combination of expertly judged performance, a slightly weird charging case and a very eye-catching price, it could well become the life and soul of it. Your shortlist of realistically priced true wireless buds is suddenly a little bit longer.
V E R S U S S M A R T WAT C H E S
Sharp Finn soup When you’ve finished deep diving into the menus, the Suunto 7 is water-resistant to 50m for real diving.
T TES ER NN I W
Down the Dane Don’t worry if you plan to take a dip: the Skagen’s casing and speaker are water-resistant to 30m.
Big swinging Nordics Skagen Falster 3 This stainless steel Danish beauty has the sort of sleek look you’d expect from a traditional watch… and it works well with a digital screen, creating a classic-meets-modern style. It feels super-robust, albeit a little heavy on the wrist. Skagen knows how to make attractive digital watch faces. They’re simple yet customisable, with lots of options, and on a colourful AMOLED panel they really pop. It’s just a shame the display dims during exercise to save energy. Wear OS runs all your standard functions, from heart-rate monitoring and GPS to NFC payments via Google Pay. It’s a stripped-back OS but sport tracking works well, a speaker allows for calls from the wrist, and there’s Google Assistant.
Display 390x390 AMOLED Watch face 42mm Connectivity Bluetooth, NFC, GPS Water-resistance 3ATM Battery life Up to 24hrs Weight 58g
VS
1. DESIGN
Finland’s Suunto 7 is one of the priciest Wear OS watches but also one of the prettiest, balancing brute ruggedness with slinky style. Buttons give it the air of a trad sports watch, while the raised edges hint at the directions you can swipe.
2. IN USE
Razor-sharp text, true blacks and punchy colours: this AMOLED screen is up there with the best of them and goes as bright as an iPhone 11 Pro. The buttons take some getting used to but, once mastered, offer smart shortcuts.
3. SMARTS
This one’s packing when it comes to sports support, thanks to a built-in app offering detailed insights for 70+ activities. GPS works well and there’s Google Assistant plus NFC for payments, but you don’t get a speaker for hands-free calls.
1 2 3
● Price R6 000 / takealot.com
★★★★
Suunto 7
Display 454x454 AMOLED Watch face 50mm Connectivity Bluetooth, NFC, GPS Water-resistance 5ATM Battery life Up to 48hrs Weight 70g
● Price from R8 000 / incredible.co.za
STUFF SAYS
★★★★
In the battle between two Scandinavian smartwatches, the Danes come out on top 61
TESTED NURVV RUN
Complete our soles Nurvv’s smart insoles promise to help you run better and stay injury-free. But are they really the track stars your feet need, or should they just jog on? R5 300 / nurvv.com Nurvv’s system combines smart insoles – each with 16 pressure sensors – with a GPS tracking unit that clips to the side of your shoe and an app offering real-time coaching insights. It’s all designed to help you fine-tune your running form, improve your efficiency and ward off preventable injury. For every run, Nurvv captures the basics – pace, distance and route – but it also tracks details that affect your technique. This includes cadence, stride length, balance, foot strike and pronation. Post-run, you get feedback and advice on your weaknesses.
Soler eclipse There’s no heart monitoring, so Nurvv’s training-load estimates are based on mileage alone. It has no idea how hard you ran those miles.
The two core features are Pace Optimiser, using real-time guidance on stride length and cadence to help you hit a target pace; and Running Health, combining training load, pronation, balance and cadence data into one overall score. There’s no running power data, no heart-rate monitoring, no training plans, and no Zwift or Strava syncing. The IPX7-rated tracking units are tough enough to withstand rain, puddles and even mud, while the soles are much more robust than others we’ve seen. Nurvv says they should last between 1 400 and 2 400km of running. The tracker’s battery provides just five hours of run time. By contrast, Stryd’s footpod clocks 20hrs and UA’s HOVR Machina shoes never need charging. There is an auto-power-off feature for absent-minded runners, but it’s frustratingly unreliable.
Tech specs Sizes 5.5-14 (men), 2.5-12 (women) Water-resistance (trackers) IPX7 Battery life 5hrs Weight 2x 70g
Soled short
Nurvv claims to provide the very best accuracy for distance and pace; but in our 21km test, on an official half-marathon course, it clocked just 17.12km – while a Garmin Fenix 6 gave us 20.87km and a Stryd nailed it at 21.01km.
Sole searching
The real-time coaching falls into a familiar trap for form-tracking tech: it’s incredibly hard to hit the sweet spot, and that leads to a robocoach voice barking at you every 20 seconds to increase or decrease something.
STUFF SAYS Short on features, confusing and impractical, and really expensive ★★
A neat idea, but it’ll end up just getting on your Nurvvs 62
This is a product with good intentions; but with very limited features and a confused approach, it rapidly runs out of steam. There’s not enough here to satisfy serious athletes, while it’s too complicated and too pricey for beginners and goal-chasing amateurs. It feels like an expensive work in progress. If you want to run better, save your money for a real-life coach.
VERSUS TRUE WIRELESS IN-EARS
New Senn-sation Sennheiser’s second true wireless in-ears add ANC to what was already a Stuff five-star product.
Watt you need The Samsungs are also a sequel, and the big news here is better drivers than the original (also five-star) Buds.
T TES R NE N I W
It’s getting hot in-ear Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 Despite being smaller than their predecessors, Senny’s new true wireless buds share the same shape and look, right down to the textured touch-surface – and build quality is, as is usual with Sennheiser, impeccable. It’s no surprise to find the sonic signature unchanged. There’s a kind of casual fidelity to the sound from the 7mm full-range dynamic drivers that makes them a pleasure to listen to, no matter what sort of stuff you want to hear. Active noise-cancellation has been added, but we didn’t miss it last time around because passive isolation was so strong – and it’s the same here. The touch controls remain the best in the business, and there’s an app for EQ tweaks.
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C Battery life 7hrs, 28hrs with case Water-resistance IPX4 Weight 2x 6g, 58g case
VS
1. DESIGN
It’s hard to tell the Buds+ apart from last year’s svelte effort, and that’s not a criticism. Noise isolation is great – important as there’s no ANC – although an IPX2 rating means running in anything more than light drizzle could be a bad idea.
2. SOUND
Samsung has doubled up on drivers, with each bud housing a dedicated tweeter and woofer tuned by AKG. Audio quality is a step up, with real separation between instruments and vocals. Everything feels balanced, neutral and clean.
3. SMARTS
Touch-sensitive controls let you tap either bud to play and pause, skip tracks and answer calls. Long presses are customisable through the app – and unlike the original Buds, these support both Android and Apple devices.
1 2 3
● Price Rtba / mitechdirect.com
★★★★★
Samsung Galaxy Buds+
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C Battery life 11hrs, 22hrs with case Water-resistance IPX2 Weight 2x 6.3g, 40g case
● Price R3 500 / samsung/com/za
STUFF SAYS
★★★★★
In the battle of the sequels, Senny just edges it on sound and touch-control finesse 63
Hold my Beo… B&O finally wades into the soundbar scrap with the Beosound Stage – predictably expensive and predictably stylish, which is just how we like it from R34 000 / incredible.co.za You can’t rush the Danes – they do things in their own time. This, the Beosound Stage, is Bang & Olufsen’s attempt to bring some of its Scandinavian stylishness to the soundbar… but, like Axl Rose performing live, it’s arrived hideously late. So does the Stage represent Axl solo (rubbish), or Axl with Guns N’ Roses (epic, but possibly not worth the money)? B&O reckons this is a complete audio system, not just a speaker for your TV, and it will be just as happy streaming music as it is putting a rocket up your favourite Dolby Atmos soundtrack. In terms of specs, there’s just one model… but it’s available in four finishes, from this R34 000 aluminium/black sample to the R52 000 oak/grey version. Function dictates form with soundbars, though, so there’s not much scope for B&O’s design magic here. This one is going to have to justify its price almost entirely on how it performs.
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Beo belly At 110cm wide and 17cm tall (1), the Stage is a pretty imposing speaker – it’s going to look too big sitting under a TV of less than 55in or so. And though there are cutaways to aid wall-mounting at either end of the back of the unit, it weighs 8kg – so make sure your plastering is up to it.
GOOD MEH EVIL
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Typically elegant design
Beo taps The frame is formed of a single piece of very lightly brushed aluminium, and at its top left there are touch-sensitive controls (2) for volume, source selection, power on/off and Bluetooth pairing. And, unlike a lot of touch controls, they actually are sensitive.
Chromecast and AirPlay 2 on board
Just the one HDMI input
Beo goggles Physical connections include only one HDMI input, plus a 3.5mm analogue input and an Ethernet socket. The app is predictably good-looking, making setup and multiroom integration easy. It also has listening modes, internet radio access, DLNA support and direct Deezer access.
Bluetooth 4.2 is hardly cutting-edge
Supports Dolby Atmos and Vision Choose ‘pricey’ or ‘very pricey’
T E S T E D B & O B E O S O U N D S TA G E
Tech specs Output 11x 50W Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, DLNA, Chromecast, BeoLink Multiroom, HDMI, 3.5mm input, Ethernet Dimensions 1100x170x80mm, 8kg
Only here for the Beo We lift up the Kvadrat grille for a poke around inside the Beosound Stage’s engine compartment… Ginger Beo Prefer warmer hues in your luxury log cabin? The bronze and taupe version is the same price as our monochrome sample.
Threely given
The driver array consists of three 19mm tweeters, four 38mm mid-range drivers and four 101mm woofers. B&O reckons this line-up allows the Stage to deliver a true three-channel (left, centre and right) presentation.
Get the Beos in Any music service other than Deezer will have to be streamed via Chromecast, AirPlay 2 or Bluetooth – and the Stage only uses Bluetooth 4.2, which is a pity. Is this not your first bit of B&O kit? Firstly, someone’s doing alrighty… and secondly, there’s BeoLink Multiroom on board.
Craft Beo B&O’s accomplished digital processing and judicious layout of drivers produce a sound that’s way wider and taller than the bar itself. Bold, detailed, well organised and decently punchy, the Stage offers more than enough power and dexterity to bring films and music to life.
Highly rated
A tweeter and mid-range driver at either end of the bar are angled to fire upwards – along with some fearsome B&O digital processing tech, these allow Dolby Atmos soundtracks to enjoy unexpected height.
Understated yet opulent, the Beosound Stage has the performance to back up its svelte appearance and premium price. The scale and weight of its sound are at odds with its looks, and this soundbar is just as capable with music as it is with a full-on Dolby Atmos movie soundtrack.
Totally amped
There are 11 power amps inside, one for each driver and each turning out 50W of power. 550W from an enclosure as compact as this is more than enough for movie soundtracks to have all the depth and dynamism they need.
Lightly grilled
The utterly consistent 2mm gap between frame and Kvadrat fabric grille is deliberate, and is intended to add a ‘floating’ element to the Stage’s appearance. The grille can be removed for a more purposeful, less elegant appearance.
STUFF SAYS ★★★★★ Big performance, big price and big cachet from the masters of luxurious good taste in hi-fi 65
VERSUS VR HEADSETS
VR your friends Need a virtual social circle to stave off lockdown boredom? One of these new-gen headsets should ensure you’ll never be alone again…
HTC Vive Cosmos Elite What’s the story?
Effectively succeeding the HTC Vive, the Cosmos Elite uses a lot of the same hardware but gains an upgraded headset for better visuals, and swaps the inside-out tracking of the Vive Cosmos (see panel) for the pinpoint precision of base stations. Eventually you’ll be able to pick bits of the package, like an external tracking faceplate, but right now it’s a full house: headset, faceplate, base units and controllers.
What’s the story?
The people behind Steam and the Half-Life games have had a few previous dalliances with hardware, but none really stuck. The Steam Controller? Interesting, but awkward. The console-inspired Steam Machine PCs? Didn’t sell. Given all of that, the prospect of a high-end VR headset priced north of R20 000 seems like a tough sell – but if you can swing it, the Valve Index might just be a real gem.
Is it any good?
Is it any good?
Price Rtba / evetech.co.za Tech 2880x1700 LCD with 110° FoV, 90Hz refresh rate ● Valve Sense 6DoF sensors ● Cosmos Wands ● 702g
Price from R20 500 / valvesoftware.com Tech 2880x1600 LCD with 130° FoV, 144Hz refresh rate ● SteamVR 2.0 sensors ● Index controllers ● 809g
Stuff says ★★★
Stuff says ★★★★
Unfortunately, instead of feeling like a complete upgrade from the original Vive, the Cosmos Elite is two steps forward and one step back. It has superior motion tracking but less capable controllers than the basic Cosmos, because it forces you to use the same Wands that came with the Vive (as they play nicely with the base stations). The Cosmos controllers might have their flaws but they’re so much better for gaming, and quite why HTC didn’t create a version for the Elite headset is a mystery. The potential for future upgrades might make this the most forward-thinking VR headset on sale, and we’re sure HTC has a lot more hardware planned for the future, including new controllers; but for now, this doesn’t feel like a very tempting package.
Modular VR is a neat idea, but without upgrades this is just an OK headset
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Valve Index
While not revolutionary, the Index carries enough subtle upgrades to put it atop the PC-based headset pack. Even if it doesn’t solve some of the familiar hang-ups seen with rivals, at its best the Index experience can be mesmerising. Half-Life: Alyx looks fabulous, and actually, so does everything else. Meanwhile, the off-ear speakers deliver superbly immersive sound. On most VR headsets, the controllers wouldn’t warrant much attention. That’s not true with the Valve Index. Its bespoke controllers – affectionately nicknamed the ‘knuckles’ – deliver the most fluid-feeling VR interactions to date. This is a high-priced product in an already niche category; but if you’re out for the best of the best in VR gaming and can handle a hefty spend, it’s the device of dreams.
Amazing hardware makes this the best of the performance-PC VR options
OR, FOR A BIT LESS… HTC Vive Cosmos from R25 000 / evetech.co.za
With its simple setup and mostly accurate tracking, anyone getting their first taste of VR will be rightly impressed with the Cosmos. The potential for upgrades sounds tempting too, but at R25 000 it’s hardly entry-level. In fact, if you don’t plan on buying any upgrades in the near future, the Oculus Rift S offers a similar experience with only slightly inferior visuals for R9 000 less. And anyone wanting the very best VR right now needs to bite the bullet on the Valve Index. So as a onebox system, the Cosmos is tough to recommend.
Stuff says ★★★
VERSUS VR HEADSETS
1 Flips like sugar
You can flip the Cosmos Elite’s visor up in mid-shootout for a peek of the outside world without having to pull the whole headset off.
2 Halo, I love you
The halo-like fixed headband, with integrated cables and headphones, is a major upgrade over the old Vive’s underpanty elastic straps.
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TEST WINNE
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3 Down with the bases
The Index doesn’t have tracking cameras. Instead, you set up two (or more) chunky external sensors to enable room-scale experiences.
4 Close to view
Adjusting the closeness of your eyes to the screen is a must for comfort. A physical slider adjusts the distance between your eyes for focus.
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T E S T E D H U AW E I P 4 0 L I T E
The not-so Lite Huawei’s facing some Google challenges. That said, the hardware is extremely capable, and the camera is absolutely outstanding. from R6 500 / huaweistore.co.za Huawei’s not even slightly phased by the worldwide lockdown. Before we knew it, the company had announced a new range of P40 devices. The baby brother of which turns out to be a real mid-range contender called the P40 Lite. Remarkably, there’s not much Lite about it. The P40 Lite has a lot in common with its two, more expensive siblings. It features a 4 200mAh battery, the big 6.4in display (this time LCD, though) with a cutout selfie cam and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Powering the device is the midrange HiSilicon Kirin 810 chip (there’s no 5G option), with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Those numbers, and the R6 500 price tag make it a serious option for budget-seekers willing to sacrifice the Google ecosystem. A nice change is finding a midranger with USB-C fast-charging. It’s a welcome addition to a sector that has been slow to adopt the new format. You’ll get a USB-C charging cable in the box, along with a 40W Super-Charge block that’ll juice up your unicorn pink-to-purple gradientcoloured-phone to full in about an hour. It really works, and this is the type of tech we’d like to see in future affordable devices. The camera array on the Lite can play up there with the big boys. It really surprised us with its camera flex, especially in well-lit conditions. Huawei says it’s one of the best cameras on a sub-R10k phone, and we’ve seen proof.
Tech specs Screen 6.4in LCD Processor HiSilicon Kirin 810 RAM 6GB Cameras Rear 48MP main + 8MP wide + 2MP depth of field + 2MP macro Front 20MP Battery 4 200mAh OS Android (no GMS) Storage 128GB Charging USB-C 40W Super-Charge
Sans Google
If you cannot live without your Google apps, the P40 Lite is a nightmare to operate. If you’re willing to make a few sacrifices, small workarounds make it run just as smoothly as any Googlebearing Android device.
Macro (not the store)
Oh, the super macro mode is just so good. We managed to capture beautiful, well-balanced shots of insects using this mode. What surprised us the most is how natural colour reproduction is. Also, bugs are rather amazing.
STUFF SAYS Life without the Google ecosystem is mighty colourful ★★★★★
Can we just stop obsessing over Google? 68
Until Huawei figures out how to give its users a fully capable AppGallery and other Google replacements, it’s going to be a hard sell. The hardware is impressive, and we’ve yet to see a smartphone camera live up to this one in this price range. Without Google support, however, the experience may seem a bit off for someone who is invested in the Google ecosystem. Look past those niggles though, and you’ve got some impressive tech for just R6 500 a pop.
TESTED FITBIT CHARGE 4
Band (still) on the run The Fitbit Charge 4 wants to do everything a sports watch can do, but in a more discreet step-tracker form factor from R3 000 / fitbit.co.za With good fitness-focused smartwatches getting ever more affordable, you might think the humble band has lost its place. But with built-in GPS, continuous heart-rate monitoring, NFC and an entirely new motivational metric, Active Zone Minutes, the Charge 4 is out to prove there’s still a place on our wrists for something simple.
Carry that date App additions include Agenda, a planner that syncs to your Apple or Google calendar, and a weather checker.
The Charge 4 is light and comfy enough for 24/7 wear, but can slip during sweatier workouts. The controls comprise a single button and a responsive touchscreen, and it’s waterproof for tracking swims. The greyscale OLED screen is bright indoors but suffers in direct sunlight. It also has an aggressive auto-hibernate feature with no override option. In terms of the data displayed, prioritise what’s most important, because to dig deeper you’ll need the partner app. Active Zone Minutes (AZM) is Fitbit’s attempt to use heart data to motivate us to move: earn AZM when your rate hits the fat-burn zone, and get double credit for minutes in the higher zones. This isn’t a new concept, but Fitbit’s skill for presentation shines through.
Pay tripper
The Charge 4 packs some smartwatch-esque features, including Fitbit Pay contactless payments. You get Spotify but there’s no offline mode, you’ll need your phone, and you can’t control it while tracking a workout.
I’m not only sleeping
Fitbit has a great record for sleep tracking and the Charge 4 keeps up this legacy. You can dig deep into night-time patterns, while tracking drop-off and wake-up times plus sleep stages as part of a nightly sleep score.
We tested the heart monitoring against the gold-standard Polar H10 chest strap. While the Fitbit coped well at lower intensities, when we upped the workrate it read much higher in real time. It also took longer to drop at rest, earning AZMs we didn’t deserve. GPS was hit-and-miss too.
Tech specs Display 1in 160x100 touchscreen Sensors GPS, heart rate Connectivity NFC, Bluetooth Battery life Up to 7 days (5hrs GPS) Waterproofing 50m Weight 28g
STUFF SAYS Almost the complete tracker, let down by its screen and accuracy ★★★
The band plays on… but this one doesn’t quite come together
The Charge 4 is a clever, compact motivational fitness tool – and if you don’t want a watch, it’s among the best fitness trackers you can buy. It offers a big range of insights and paints a digestible picture of your overall health and fitness, and the Active Zone Minutes concept is hugely addictive. However, it’s let down badly by a few own-goals that undermine what is otherwise a decent device. 69
SMART CITIES FEATURE
ON THE ROAD TOWARDS SMART CITIES We find ourselves approaching science fiction at ever-higher speeds, as cities grow ever more intelligent. There will be doomsayers but there are also serious, tangible benefits to living in connected cities magine a highway that knows you’re travelling on it or a street that knows where you’re going. Imagine shopping in a store without human staff. Imagine never having to own a car because you can just get into an autonomous vehicle at any time and be taken to your destination. Imagine emergency services able to respond to your location because your vital signs have dipped – all without human intervention. That’s the promise of the so-called ‘smart’ city, an interconnected environment designed to change that way that people live, work and interact. Self-driving cars have their place here, as do the wholly contactless Amazon Go stores that dispense with human staff and use cameras to tell what you’re buying. Apple’s newest Watch, with its ECG and ability to alert emergency services in the States? Or Huawei’s Kirin-based NPUs (neural processing units) currently being turned towards the field of medical diagnostics? Those are also a part of the burgeoning smart city. It’s a bit like a smart home, except those can be constructed by anyone with a set square. A city needs a little more planning, smart cities require considerably more of a runup.
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Where to, buddy?
There’s an end-goal in mind for connected cities – they’d be able to account for citizens’ needs, alter themselves in response to 70
weather or natural disaster and confer the most benefit on most of the population in order to succeed. But that sort of technical achievement doesn’t just fall out of the sky – it’s the result of buy-in from all sectors of society, from tech-makers to governments to industry to the average person in the street. And these cities have the potential to make life much simpler.
Living in reality
This futuristic vision is closer than you’d expect. Projects are in full swing in Dubai, London, San Francisco, Seoul, Shenzhen and Tokyo, hoping to be the first to develop fully self-driving cars. The reality is that LIDAR and cameras, while multifunctional, can only do so much. A connection to a fully integrated city would make self-driving cars a tangible reality a whole lot faster. But that means we need to change how we design cities. Which is on the go in several parts of the world. Google was involved in a recently-shuttered project called Quayside in Toronto, Canada, that serves as an example of how not to build a smart city. Tokyo, Singapore and Dubai are experimenting with robotic assistants. Oslo, Norway, now features intelligent public lighting and eases traffic congestion via smart license plate readers. New York is in on the action via initiatives driven by the city’s Office of Technology Innovation. Barcelona, the home
of Mobile World Congress and a mecca for smartphone users, features heavy Internet of Things integration, wide-spread (and free) internet access and also has buy-in by the city’s administration to keep the public informed using a series of hyper-local apps. All of which are ideal candidates for actions to be carried out here in South Africa, most likely starting in Cape Town. It sounds like something they would do. But it’s only the tip of the iceberg, which might make some folks uncertain.
Rightfully nervous
It’s quite normal to be hesitant about connected cities. They call for a level of intrusion into private lives that has never been seen before – though the likes of Mark Zuckerberg reckon that personal privacy is a thing of the past. You might already be carrying around a tracking device (you call it a cellular phone) but offering up biometric data and bank account data in order to facilitate convenience can quite easily backfire. It’s a question of power and who is wielding it. A fully integrated city, reporting to a single authoritarian government, is a dystopian nightmare. Every citizen’s location and activities are constantly known and any dissent from the ruling norms can easily be met with overwhelming force. Once that sort of power has been given away, it’s not very easy to get back. Entire genres of popular
SMART CITIES FEATURE
fiction are built on that fact and… well, they’ve got a point. Any government, around the world, would battle to demonstrate that it can be trusted with this unprecedented view of its citizens’ movements, preferences and thoughts. There are several ways around putting this control into too few hands – a form of digital communism, or a quite literal robot revolution.
Rise of the machines
Either systems that control smart cities are open to as many people as possible, both facilitating improved services while also guarding against abuse by ensuring that this literal power isn’t hoarded, or… we give most of the control over smart cities to AI. While artificial intelligence systems are known to have bias, this can be accounted for and worked out of the system. And, without a human behind the wheel, a properly instructed AI could go about making life better for citizens without prejudice.
To boldly go…
This sort of overreaching control is far in the future, no matter how close it might seem right now. There are issues looming in the distance that we haven’t even considered, spurred on by the adoption of an always-connected planet and increasing use of artificial intelligence in everyday life. There are bound to be mistakes and missteps along the way and the only truly incorrect way to approach the adoption of smart cities is to refuse to learn from those faults. Correctly done, intelligent cities will facilitate a more comfortable life for residents while also reducing the resource cost of maintaining that population. The so-called fourth industrial revolution, being touted by South Africa’s government, leads down this road and it’s an exciting one to travel. But it’s also a long road. Every aspect of connected life must function as an integrated whole for a city to be classed as
Correctly done, intelligent cities will facilitate a more comfortable life for residents while also reducing the resource cost of maintaining that population. ‘intelligent’. WiFi access? Speedy, universal and free for everyone. Power utilities have to speak to your mobile devices. Cars? Universally self-driving, or humandriven vehicles need to be confined to specific areas. Your banking provider and your favourite store need to get along and, most importantly, the people living in this city need to trust that the massive amounts of data being generated and analysed to provide a never-before-seen standard of living won’t be used against them. And that’s perhaps the largest hurdle to clear. 71
SMART CITIES FEATURE
1
No place like home
Your apartment building could be ready to receive you, no matter what time of day or night you arrive. Climate control sets itself to your preferred configuration, lighting is just so, and the geyser activates in time for a hot shower.
2
A light in the darkness
Intelligent lighting may be used to selectively illuminate, reducing draw on power utilities when there aren’t any human eyes to need the light. Detecting vehicles or pedestrians, lighting brightens to visually acceptable levels. There’s also potential use for disaster management.
The building of a smart city Intelligent cities don’t just organically spring from the ground, like mushrooms. They must be cultivated, like expensive mushrooms.
Starting point
Experts agree that there is no single starting point for a connected city. You just begin, somewhere – eventually all the systems should integrate into a greater whole able to respond to the needs of a population.
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Trust exercise
One of the largest roadblocks on the road to the city of the future is its residents. They need to trust that expanded monitoring will be wholly used to their benefit and not to their detriment – a tough ask in 2020.
Pilot’s license
You can’t plop any old system into a city and call it good. Prospective projects must be vetted and tested in a smaller scale before being sent out to serve humanity. You only get one chance at doing it right.
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In case of emergency…
In the event of an emergency, emergency services can be intelligently dispatched. Best of all, continued monitoring by interconnected systems could let the paramedics know how serious the situation is before they arrive, without needing human intervention.
SMART CITIES FEATURE
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Enhanced security practises could greatly speed up transit, getting you cleared through airport security quicker and without needing to be extensively groped on the way through the metal detector. Greater tracking accuracy means always being on time (or knowing why not).
Droning on and on
The next phase of transportation, after autonomous vehicles, is autonomous flying taxis. Smart cities have the potential to selfdirect air traffic without tasking a human with watching the whole system. Amazon’s drone army will be able to drop packages at last.
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Can you take me higher
Facial recognition systems in highrise buildings, be they commercial or residential, lead to a situation where elevators know where everyone is going as soon as they enter. The result? You’re off to your floor with a minimum of waiting.
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Going public
In a truly smart city, you’re using contactless payment. Public transportation is a dream – just hop on a train, a taxi or a bus, and your fare is deducted as you enter or exit. Since services are autonomous, trips are quicker and safer.
[ Graphics upklyak/freepik.com]
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Air traffic
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TESTED SAMSUNG GALAXY S2
A Galaxy (that looks) far, far away Samsung’s flagship phones remain a class apart for sheer quality, but they’re big and expensive… which is where the slightly smaller S20 comes in R17 600 / samsung.com/za Remember when a new Samsung Galaxy flagship was guaranteed to be the centre of attention in the world of smartphones? Heck, it was only a couple of years ago… Now, the Galaxy S20 finds itself the mere starting point of Samsung’s three-stage assault on the Android world. Anyone wanting the best will be skipping straight to the no-compromise S20 Ultra, right? Well, smaller can sometimes be better. This, the most compact S20, gets almost all the goodies you’ll find in the larger, pricier ones, including a high-refresh-rate screen and multiple capable cameras. And despite costing a lot less than the Ultra or even the S20+, it looks and feels like any other modern Samsung – which is to say, built to an incredibly high standard. The design team really hit its stride a year or two ago, with only tiny tweaks needed now to stay fresh. The curved screen isn’t quite so curved this time around, the colour choices (grey, pink or blue) are more conservative and the metal frame is a little less blingy; but when folding stunners like the Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Flip are there to grab attention, you can afford a little restraint in your mainstream models. By focusing on the things we really want from our phones, Samsung has made this every bit the modern flagship.
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Growing up
As the bezels surrounding them have got skinnier, Samsung’s excellent screens have continued to expand. We’re now up to 6.2in, giving the Galaxy S20 an 89.5% screen-to-body ratio. Try the S20+ if you need to go bigger, but most people will be happy here.
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Speeding up
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All three S20 models get the same 3200x1440 resolution, and all can crank up the refresh rate to 120Hz. This makes a huge difference to how animations flow over the screen, and you should absolutely turn it on as soon as you get the phone out of its box.
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Sharpening up
Multitasking is a dream thanks to a huge 12GB of RAM, which lets you pin three apps to memory so they’re never forced to reload while you look at something else. This is very handy if you have a mild Fortnite addiction. Gaming is, of course, buttery-smooth.
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The rear camera’s main 12MP sensor has been redesigned for better image quality. It’s joined by a 64MP telephoto good for 3x optical zoom and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle. Whichever one you use, image quality is a real step forward from the S10.
Stacking up
Going big
There’s a 5G version of this phone available if you know where to look (that is, overseas) but it’s not quite ready for South Africa. First, we’ll get 5G. Then we can have the 5G phones. You can do it the other way around if you wanna but… what’s the point.
Good Meh Evil
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24 hours with the Samsung Galaxy S20
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TESTED SAMSUNG GALAXY S20
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Techspecs Screen 6.2in 3200x1440 AMOLED Processor Exynos 990 octa-core RAM 12GB OS Android 10 with One UI Cameras 12MP + 64MP + 12MP rear, 10MP front Battery 4000mAh Storage 128GB (plus microSD) Dimensions 152x69x7.9mm, 163g
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T m he 4 et 0 hr 00 ou m gh A th h b e d att T ay ery no his ,e h t e Ex ve as xp yn n a ea er os t 1 sil ien 99 20 y g ce 0 Hz ot d a CP . …a U n ple nd y l is ag zip nt 12 y o 8G or py st . W fr B ut e oo of te ’ve m bu r… i f or ltSa ga in ne m m sto at su es ra bu ng an ge t c ’s O d m lea an n be e U ed ves ia. al IA itt nd Th l r e ev e S an oid er 2 no sk yt 0 d yi in hin o ng lo g. es . ok W af s i ha ne t m jo or b o ed fp o y ret ou ty ne mu ed ch ?
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A few software foibles aside, the Galaxy S20 feels like the Goldilocks of flagship phones right now: not too big and clever, not too small and basic, just right. It delivers excellent battery life, a phenomenal display, blistering performance and superb image quality. Until someone else does it better, this is the Android handset to beat.
STUFF SAYS ★★★★★ With all the features you’d want in a flagship, plus a few more, this is the best Android of 2020 so far 75
TWO WEEKS WITH THE DJI MAVIC AIR 2
Air 2 the throne With the promise of pro-grade video, ultra-crisp photos and a non-intimidating flying experience, Stuff finds out if DJI has made the perfect compact drone from R18 800 / dji.com The Air 2 can withstand winds of up to 5 (‘fresh breeze’) on the Beaufort Scale.
Unboxing time… and we re struggling to get our heads around how DJI’s engineers have crammed so many exciting new features into something only a bit larger than the device it replaces – our favourite little mid-range drone, the Mavic Air. At just 570g, the Mavic Air 2 still fits in the palm of a biggish hand, but DJI has seen fit to build on the basic platform of a simple entry-level drone and throw in a
heap of pro-grade features. So those dipping a tentative toe into the waters of aerial photography or videography no longer have to put up with mediocre content. With that in mind, you can think of this drone as a Mavic 2 Pro on a diet. Its external dimensions look as if they’ve been following a Zoom workout for several months and its overall heft is almost half that of its Pro big brother. A new ergonomically
There’s loads of advanced tech to keep drone fans busy, but it’s simply packaged so as not to overwhelm newcomers 76
designed controller, new motors and improved battery life – plus loads of advanced flying tech, onboard obstacle avoidance systems and built-in video modes – ensure there’s a lot to keep drone fans busy; but it’s simply packaged so as not to overwhelm newcomers. First things first, though: it’s time to charge everything. That fancy new controller requires plugging in via a USB-C cable (it runs for four hours when fully charged), while the Fly More Combo we’re testing (R23 300) features two additional Intelligent Flight Batteries and a clever
three-battery charging unit that plugs into the wall. It takes a while to juice everything up, leaving plenty of time to digest the myriad YouTube tutorials that DJI offers in lieu of a handbook. DJI’s updated Fly app will guide you through the setup process, but it pays to watch some of the instructional videos first. Mother Nature seems bent on blowing a gale tomorrow, so we’re going to find our air-legs by launching (with permission) the Mavic Air 2 in an abandoned car park. Bedtime viewing complete, an alarm is set for first light to embark on our maiden flight.
LO N G -T E R M T E S T
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Donut of Truth™
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Tech specs Sensor 1/2in Photos 48MP Video 4K @ 60fps Battery life 34 minutes Max speed (Sport mode) 68km/h Dimensions (folded) 180x97x84mm, 570g
After checking for flight restrictions, take-off is merely a case of holding a button on a smartphone, which now docks at the top of the controller for easier glances between phone and drone. The powerful new motors and revised blades are surprisingly quiet and the drone remains brilliantly stable despite the gusty wind. The updated obstacle avoidance system uses advanced depth perception to carve out alternative routes. We don’t boast the cojones to fly a near-R20 000 drone directly at a building, but it does a great job of manoeuvring over rooftops when it detects that we might have missed something.
DAY 04 Despite the uninspiring scenery of the first flight, the results are quite dramatic. The new 1/2in sensor and 48MP resolution produce very sharp imagery, although it pays to play with the manual shutter speed and ISO settings. The ability to shoot in RAW format gives plenty of post-production options, while the DJI Fly app allows for fast image filters, movie edits and social media uploads. Today’s outing requires heading to a nearby forest. The obstacle
01 A tiny drone but crammed with features 02 QuickShot modes make it easy to bag cool footage 03 Blends pro features with novice-friendly flying modes
04 Stable in flight and good at obstacle-dodging 05 Sensor can’t match the best for image quality 06 Drones above 250g get additional regulation red tape
avoidance systems come in handy here – never trust a tree – and it’s possible to get some stunning shots without worrying about crashing. That said, the short landing arms can make getting the bird back to earth quite tricky, and an even surface is required.
DAY 08 A generous battery life of 34 minutes is a boon, because it’s easy to get carried away with so many features – like OcuSync 2.0 for 1080p/30fps video transmission from up to 10km away. So far, the only hiccups have been the controller losing its connection in that forest and the live video feed being too slow to catch up when adjusting the gimbal. Otherwise this setup inspires plenty of confidence, with the return-to-home function reliably bringing the drone back to its take-off spot.
DAY 14 Even two weeks in, the Mavic Air 2 keeps throwing up surprises. The numerous flypath shooting modes are easy to use and offer a simple way to capture cool shots. What starts off as a bit of fun can soon escalate into a serious bout of artistic content creation.
STUFF SAYS A great drone for noobs and ace snappers alike – DJI’s best sub-R20K flyer yet ★★★★★ 77
TWO WEEKS WITH THE NIKON D780
Diamond geyser
Despite the meteoric rise of the mirrorless, Nikon is still developing super-hard DSLRs – so Stuff (pre-COVID) went to Iceland to test its latest in extreme conditions from R39 000 (body only) / ormsdirect.co.za
Eye-Detection AF letsyou select which eye to focus on… but it can be confused by lashes.
DAY 01 Dragging a DSLR into the new decade is a bit like trying to convince everyone to start buying CDs again instead of streaming music. There are some advantages, sure, but when convenience is king you may as well be extolling the virtues of 44kHz quality to a flock of puffins. However, there remains a place in our hearts for this still extremely capable format, and
there are some areas in which even a full-frame mirrorless camera might not fit the bill. For those times when you need serious grunt in the battery department, weather-beating ruggedness, dual card slots and (the clincher for some) an optical viewfinder, a DSLR will always do its duty. Nikon’s D780 mixes a modern imaging approach with traditional DSLR form and function. Armed
This is a marriage of mirrorless tech and DSLR substance, which means a camera with zero compromises 78
with trusty Nikon ergonomics and a vast selection of Nikkor F lenses, it borrows a few tricks from Nikon’s mirrorless Z series, offering high-performance live-view AF and 4K video. It’s a marriage of mirrorless technology and DSLR substance, which means a camera with zero compromises. It has a big battery and two UHS-II card slots, and is fully guarded against extreme weather – which is why we tested it in Iceland. Because if it works there, it’ll handle almost anything Mzansi can throw at it. Coming to this Nikon from a mirrorless camera, it feels
enormous – and it isn’t light at 840g. But being big has some perks, like room to twiddle dials and press buttons without the risk of clumsy errors. Most shooting controls are positioned on the right, as well as the ‘i’ button for accessing the quick menu. There’s even room for a top plate so you can see things like ISO, shutter speed and remaining shots on your card. We’re expecting to find ourselves using this a lot in a place like Iceland, where conditions can change in an instant, we’re bound to be a little rushed and we’re hoping to reduce that as much as possible.
LO N G -T E R M T E S T
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01 It’s got the video chops to match its stills prowess, which is a welcome surprise 02 Having two card slots saves stress in the heat of the moment
Tech specs
03 It’s built to take a battering in extreme environments 04 It simply can’t match a mirrorless on portability… 05 …and it simply can’t match a mirrorless on price
Landscape tips
Sensor 24.5MP full-frame CMOS Autofocus 51pt phase-detect, 273pt hybrid phase-detect ISO range 100-51200 Video 4K @ 30fps, Full HD @ 120fps Displays Optical pentaprism, 3.2in 2359k-dot tilting LCD touchscreen Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Dimensions 144x 116x76mm, 840g
Instead of bemoaning other people getting in the way, make them part of the shot to get a sense of scale, and turn them into ants in the process.
DAY 02 Snowboots on the ground, we’ve noticed the rear screen doesn’t fully articulate – a shame given its 4K creds, but the tilting mechanism works well for getting up close or shooting from the hip. This works great in live view, but when using the OVF we’ve found our frozen nose causing unwanted activity, so we’ve decided to disable the touchscreen.
DAY 05 The D780 has a back-illuminated 24.5MP sensor paired with the latest Expeed 6 image processor. For continuous shooting it hits 12fps in live view and 7fps in viewfinder shooting. We love the satisfying ‘kerrr-chonk’ of the mechanical shutter, but Q and Qc are quieter. What really makes the D780 a step up from the D750 is that it’s as great for video as it is for stills. It’ll shoot 4K at up to 30fps and 1080p HD at up to 120fps . There’s no Eye AF in video mode, but you can shoot 4K timelapses.
DAY 08 Today it’s -6°C, with an unrelenting spray from the waterfalls. Keeping a clear head is tough – and we have
to remember to switch to live view manually, as we’re used to mirrorless cameras doing it automatically. The ISO range is 100-51 200 and there’s an extended shutter speed range from 1/8000 to 900s, so if you like long exposures you’ll have a ball… and we’re in a landscape that’s crying out for them. Nikon claims an impressive 2260-shot battery life, but in this cold that drops to just under 2000.
DAY 10 We should be using an ND grad filter for these landscapes, but we’re too lazy to trek back to the car for it. Luckily, the camera handles bright skies superbly – and shooting in RAW means overexposed areas can be fixed later. Colours are true to life and well balanced, with no aggressive sharpening or saturation. White balance is also well managed using Nikon’s natural mode.
DAY 14 There’s nothing headline-grabbing about the D780, but boy does it have some desirable qualities. The video specs are excellent, as is the advanced AF system. The asking price is a big hike from the Z6… but with its DSLR resilience, this might be the last of the dinosaurs.
Of course there are thousands of identical photos of most famous beauty spots, so go abstract by zooming in on shapes and textures.
Get a sturdy tripod, because that’s the only way you’ll be able to take otherworldly long-exposure photos of swirling rivers and falls.
STUFF SAYS An all-round DSLR that’s super-tough and borrows a few mirrorless camera tricks ★★★★★ 79
FI R TH ST ES AD E… D
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ONE SAMSUNG LED VIEW COVER One of the very best things about the Galaxy S20 is its screen – so be smart and keep it safe. The S20 LED View Cover is fancy armour shielding all sides that flips open when you want to fire the phone up. It also packs a set of punch-holes on the front, so the time displays in a retro dot-matrix pattern when closed. R690 / incredible.co.za
TWO ANKER 15W FAST WIRELESS CHARGING PAD The S20 fuels up cord-free with nippy 15W wireless charging. To take advantage of those speeds, though, you’ll need a charging pad that’s up to the task. If you don’t fancy spending R1 300 for a Samsung pad or stand, Anker makes an affordable alternative that does the job beautifully. R1 600 / pclinkshop.co.za
THREE SONY WF-1000XM3 Wireless noise-cancelling earphones don’t come better than the 1000XM3s. Shipping with plenty of tip sizes, they fit snugly, keep background noise at bay and pack touch controls. With six hours of battery life on one charge – which you can extend to 24 hours when combined with the charging case – they’re the buds to get. R4 300 / takealot.com
NO TH W T IS RY …
TH TH EN ES GE E… T
INSTANT UPGRADES INS
LIGHTROOM
1 GET YOUR DAILY FIX
2 SMOOTH THINGS OVER
3 LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE
To the left of the S20’s main homescreen is Samsung Daily. It’s a list of seemingly random things – starting with the weather, then an automatically curated list of suggestions including news, podcasts, music and TikTok videos. But what makes it worth your time is that its recommendations are based on your phone use and Netflix and Spotify activity. It’s also easy to customise, or zap altogether.
Most phones refresh at 60Hz (that is, 60 times in a second). Like the iPad Pro, the S20 doubles that, so everything looks and feels lightning-fast. But 120Hz isn’t fired up out of the box, probably because it affects battery life. To engage maximum smoothness, swipe down from the top of the screen and press the cog in the top right, followed by ‘Display’. Then select ‘Motion smoothness’.
Samsung’s bringing back Edge Panels on the S20. These are handy shortcuts that can be swiped in from the side of the screen for quick access to apps, tools, favourite contacts, your clipboard and more. Activate the feature by swiping in from the upper-right side of the screen. Next, hit the cog in the bottom right and choose which panels you want, or download more from the Galaxy Store.
The worst thing about the S20’s camera is how unnaturally it boosts colours. So fire up Pro Mode, flick on ‘Save RAW copies’ in settings and edit pix in Lightroom. Free (IAPs)
MARVEL UNLIMITED
That AMOLED screen is a perfect canvas for comics on the Marvel Unlimited app, which has all your favourite heroes and villains under one lovely roof. Free (IAPs)
4 DO CAMERA TRICKS
5 TOGGLE OFF
6 STAY SWITCHED ON
Here’s a quick tour of three killer photo and video features. The first, Single Take mode, captures a handful of highlight videos and photos in one take, leaving you with a suite of Instagram fodder. Video fans will love Super Steady mode, which shoots stabilised footage at 1080p. And finally, 8K video has arrived: in video mode, tap the aspect-ratio icon above Super Steady mode and select ‘8K’. You’re future-proofed!
If you pull down from the top of the screen, then swipe down again, there are no less than 16 toggles in view. Swipe left on them, and there’s a second screen with another 13. It’s ridiculous – but the S20 is also very easy to customise, so you can get rid of any you won’t use. Hit the three dots in the top right of the expanded quick toggle view, tap ‘Button order’, and drag off any unwanted options.
When the S20’s screen is off, it can showcase handy bits of information like the time or weather. But unless you tap the screen to activate it, this always-on display isn’t really always on – so if you want to check the time on the sly, you’re out of luck. But you can flip it to actually be always on by jumping into the settings, selecting ‘Lock screen’, then ‘Always On Display’, then ‘Show always’.
QUIBI
This Netflix rival is all about high budgets and short attention spans. Its seven-minute episodes will look stunning on that screen, showcasing Quibi’s A-list casts beautifully. Try it free for 90 days. Free (IAPs)
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BETA YOURSELF
PODCASTING Got time on your soapy hands and something to say? In this feature of two halves, Stuff details how to create a podcast… and also how to make the most of other people’s get every contributor to record clean audio at their end then combine it all in the edit.
MAKE YOUR OWN Do some research
Find out what’s already out there. If you’re keen on a particular subject, check out what people are already doing in that space. A great way to build a following is to cover something interesting and different; failing that, you’ll at least need a unique angle. Me-too podcasts tend to vanish without a trace.
Build a structure
You’re doing this for fun, so you don’t want to be hemmed in. We get it. But recorded chaos isn’t nearly as entertaining to listen to as it might be to make – so figure out a basic structure for your podcast. It needn’t be too rigid, nor fully scripted, but you should define key beats to hit, and invent a few
Learn to cut
People don’t want to waste time, so be ruthless. Got an hour-long edit? Cut it down by half and focus on the really good bits. Be mindful of rights as well: only add music and sound effects that won’t later result in a lawyer punching you in the bank account. sections that you can repeat across multiple episodes.
Record everyone
One error that’s surprisingly common among hobbyist podcasts (and even some professional ones) is terrible audio quality. In some cases, the host will have a flashy studio setup but record other people over Skype or the phone. Wherever possible,
Set it free
Assuming you want others to hear your music/wittering, you’ll need some hosting. Buzzsprout, Podbean and Podomatic all offer free tiers to get you started (you’ll need to pay when you get serious). Once you have a feed set up, submitting your podcast to the likes of iTunes and Google Play is just a matter of filling in some forms.
GET MORE FROM PODCAST APPS
TRY THE BIG NAMES
Ferrite it out
On iPhone/iPad, Ferrite is superb for creating podcasts with its full-featured multitrack smarts. On Android? Try Spreaker Studio.
Go all-in-one
Although known for music, Spotify is getting serious about podcasts. Its player is a bit basic but works well, and in-app discovery is solid.
Eat some Apple
The word ‘podcast’ is a fusion of iPod and broadcast, so it shouldn’t be a big surprise that Apple’s first-party app is popular. Even if you don’t use it as your primary player, it’s good for discovering and trialling new shows.
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HANDY HARDWARE
SONY WH-1000XM3
We keep harping on about these cans — and for good reason. They’re comfy and sound superb, and they’ll work wired if you need to plug into an interface. There are lots of other fine options; just don’t use the buds your phone came with. R6 000 / takealot.com
BLUE YETI SAVE A BIT OF TIME Customise skips
SOUND IT OUT Overhaul Overcast
In Overcast (iOS), you can swipe artwork right in the playback screen to access tools that shorten silences, boost voices in talky shows and intelligently speed up playback. Settings can be defined globally or by podcast.
Put a rocket up Pocket
Although Overcast pioneered such adjustments, they’ve since spread. In Pocket Casts (Android, iOS), tap the effects button to access options to adjust speed, trim silences and boost volume. In this app, effects are applied globally until disabled.
Want to blaze past boring bits? Then use skip buttons. These will jump a podcast forwards and backwards by set amounts that can usually be customised. Set your back-skip to five seconds to fine-tune your position if you overshoot.
Download shows
Most podcast players stream by default — great when you have a decent signal, buffering hell when you haven’t. But these are small files, so have your player download them.
Create playlists
Explore your player’s tools for queuing shows. Pocket Casts lets you quickly add items to a list, Overcast has smart playlists that can prioritise favourite shows, and Castro (iOS) has you pick the best and discard the rest.
SPREAD OUT
This chunky mic has a stand that could brain an ox, and build quality that could survive an explosion. But also you get multiple recording modes and zero latency. It’s suited to everything from multi-person recordings to breathily intimate vocals. R3 550 / pclinkshop.com
Import and export
If you hop between apps or platforms, check whether your podcast app is capable of OPML export before you get too invested. If it does, you’ll be able to send your subscriptions list to another app or service rather than starting from scratch.
Play your own files
Pocket Casts lets you listen to your own files, so you can take advantage of its effects and playlists. In profile, tap Files and ‘+’ to import from the file system or cloud services. Castro in its pro form has similar functionality.
POP FILTER
When you make a ‘p’ or ‘b’ sound, you’re firing a blast of air at your mic, resulting in a loud thump. The solution used to be an old pair of tights stretched over a bent coat-hanger; now it’s a pop shield. R250 / takealot.com
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TESTED GAMES
PS4 / ffvii-remake.square-enix-games.com
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Where Hollywood continues to fail with its pointless reboots, the 2020 version of FF VII is a timely triumph for the art of faithfully retelling a beloved story… well, at least part of it
eleased in 1997, the original Final Fantasy VII put Japanese RPGs on the global map and was responsible for awakening audiences to emotional storytelling in video games. Now, as the series runs into the double digits, it’s VII that resonates most – and we’ve been dying for a remake. The wait’s been worth it. Square Enix has spared no expense in reimagining FF VII on a grand scale. Technology has come such a long way in the intervening years that,
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when the game switches from its sumptuous cinematic cutscenes to in-engine graphics, you barely see the difference. The dystopian metropolis of Midgar is impeccably realised even though its setting is broken up into chapters. Well, there’s still a story to funnel you through, and a timely one as eco-terror group Avalanche tries to bring down unsustainably greedy megacorp Shinra. A more important update is ditching the random turn-based combat for real-time action. You
might think this is sacrificing depth for button-mashing, but it’s key to charging up gauges that let you use more powerful abilities, spells and items. There’s plenty of tactical play between party members, and it gets mighty challenging when you’re outnumbered as the game ratchets up boss battles to insane levels; but if you’re overwhelmed you can reset to change your tactics, even adjusting the difficulty level at any time – including to a ‘classic’ mode that handles tricks
automatically so you can treat it almost as if it were turn-based. There’s also no shortage of fun mini-games to enjoy. This is, of course, just the first part of FF VII, and essentially the first five hours of the original game. Yet, at about 35 hours to beat, it’s a surprise how much the first episode feels like a standalone title in its own right. There’s enough in this game to keep fans feverishly discussing its implications right until the next chapter arrives. Hopefully that isn’t too far away.
STUFF SAYS The greatest remake of one of the all-time greatest video games ★★★★★ 84
TESTED GAMES
Here comes the remix
“Hi, my name’s Rude and my final fantasy is to have some hair.”
“Hi, my name’s Cloud Strife and my final fantasy is to work in a bank.”
Final Fantasy soundtracks can carry as much gravitas as the games, enlisting the services of world-renowned musicians and world-famous recording studios – Final Fantasy XV saw a 120-strong orchestra converge on Abbey Road, no less. Composed by Nobuo Uematsu – the ‘Beethoven of videogame music’ – the score to the original FF VII was recorded at Sound City in Tokyo and spanned 85 tracks with a combined duration of over four hours. Uematsu forms part of a trio of composers, with Masashi Hamauzu and Mitsuto Suzuki, lavishing similar attention on the soundtrack for the remake, which gets a physical release spanning no fewer than seven CDs (the original only had a measly four!). From what we’ve heard so far, it goes beyond simply giving the nostalgic score an orchestral oomph. The battle music alone has dozens of variations, while among the more interesting collectibles are vinyl records playable on jukeboxes, which include jazzy reworkings and clubby remixes of recognisable tunes.
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TESTED GAMES
PS4, XB1, PC, Switch / streets4rage.com
Streets of Rage 4
With a fresh coat of paint to complement its pixellated past, the festival of fightiness is back to open up a new world of teenage kicks crolling beat-’em-ups were all the rage in the ’90s, and Streets of Rage ruled the roost. But short-burst arcade thrills are apparently passé, so it’s taken a collaboration betweenfansand indie developers to give the Sega series its long-awaited revival. Streets of Rage 4 has a new hand-drawn art style, a storyline set a decade on from the last game, original characters reimagined and new blood introduced. The tweaks are subtle, but if it feels too fresh there are plenty of options to step back into the series’ past – including three-button gamepad controls. With 12 dynamic levels, this is the largest entry yet; and while you can finish it in a couple of hours using the new combo system, high scores require you to hunker down for longer. Additional modes unlock once you’ve completed the story, including an arcade mode to do the whole thing in one sitting, as well as a boss rush and battle mode. The lifetime score you accrue over repeat plays unlocks every single character and variant from past games – in all their pixellated
S
glory. Mixing the old visuals with the new might seem jarring – and the characters from the first game have a very basic move set – but it’s a terrific addition that highlights how much they’ve evolved. This is also the first time in the series you can have up to four players brawling on screen for multiplayer mayhem, although that’s limited to local multiplayer. You can still play online with one other person. The plot revolves around the soundtrack–andoriginalcomposer Yuzo Koshiro’s new score doesn’t disappoint. If you disagree, you can replace it with the retro soundtrack right from the start, while further nostalgic features include the ability to change the food you pick up as health from the classic apple and roast chicken to a whole menu, including veggie options. Streets of Rage 4 delivers a KO of arcade-style brawling that rewards you for returning to play it again and again. The new story, overhauled visuals and modern tweaks ensure it’s a true sequel – just one that’s firmly rooted in its nearly thirty-year-long history.
We’re not sure exactly what’s going on here, but our money’s on the chicken.
It’s just like any other bar brawl, only with more number plates. And tables that fight back.
STUFF SAYS The return of an old-school brawler at its blazingly belligerent best ★★★★★ 86
TESTED GAMES
Switch / animal-crossing.com
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Escaping to a virtual island paradise with your anthropomorphic pals has never sounded so appealing… but does the game match the hype? here couldn’t be a game better suited to easing self-isolation anxiety than Animal Crossing: New Horizons. What could be more relaxing than frolicking on a desert island with a bunch of talking animals? In this first Switch entry in the laid-back life-sim series, you volunteer to be part of an island relocation led by property tycoon (and raccoon) Tom Nook. While previous instalments saw your human character moving into a small town already occupied by eccentric beasts, the first few days here will be spent living out of a tent, as Nook cheerfully asks you to create a paradise with little more than a handful of twigs. Luckily, laying the foundations for a functioning economy isn’t difficult. Forage for materials, catch a few bugs, do some fishing, and soon you’ll have a proper home, a shop, even a museum. From then on, it’s up to you. There’s always a loose objective to pursue, but New Horizons is a lifelike slow burn. Shops have normal opening hours, and if Nook says the bridge
T
Here’s an animal.
And here’s a crossing.
you just installed won’t be ready until tomorrow, you’ll just have to wait until tomorrow. That might sound frustrating, but the gentle pacing and lack of urgent demands is what makes Animal Crossing so appealing. That said, there’s a lot to get stuck into. Collecting DIY recipes for the new crafting system is key to getting the best furniture to fill your home with, and in time you’ll be able to build roads, relocate your house and even terraform the island itself. Then there’s Nook Miles, a new sub-currency that you earn by doing different activities in the game and can redeem for rewards. Online multiplayer is also a big part of New Horizons, as you’re able to visit friends’ islands, where you can swap fruit and fetch a better price for your haul of turnips on the Stalk Market. It’s a whole thing. And really we’ve only scratched the surface. The coming months will bring seasonal events and plenty more surprises, some of which could take years to turn up.
STUFF SAYS A life-sim with enough personality to keep you coming back for years ★★★★ 87
GADGET DOCTOR
ALWAYS ON CALL
facebook.com/stuffsa ● @StuffSA stuff@stuff.co.za
MAIL OF THE MONTH Q
EAGLE-EYED JOSH
Hi. My name is Joshua and I am twelve years old. I am a big fan of your magazine and have been reading it for over a year now. I absolutely love it, but I especially love the 24-hour reviews. I am also a huge GoPro fan and I have a question or two. But first I would just like to point out that, on page 34 of your Load Shedding Survival Guide, when you listed two alternative cameras being the DJI Osmo Action and the GoPro Hero 8, you put a picture of the GoPro Hero 7 instead. I just wanted to know why. I also wanted to know if it is worth getting the GoPro Media Mod instead of the GoPro mic adapter. I would also like you to test some cheaper alternative
action cameras (R1 000-R2 000) since there are so many on the market at the moment.e than 256GB storage cheaper. Joshua
A
To answer the first question, we used the Hero 7 because...pobody’s nerfect! As for the Media Mod, we’d say it’s worth it. You pay more but the extra features you get out of it, both during filming and in post, justify the cost. The mic adapter is just that, but the Media Mod features a built-in mic and a spot for an external mic. You pay a little more and turn the GoPro into a betterequipped production set-up. Go for the Media Mod. As far as the cheaper cameras go, we’ll see what we can do.
Speak your brains to Stuff and you could win! This letter wins a Google Home Mini worth R1 000.
Q
AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM
I have been trying to find a lowbudget gaming PC that is low budget but has 1080p and 60fps and 8GB RAM. Could you guys please help me! Chocolate Biscuits
A
We’d recommend buying the components over a few months and building one yourself. Pre-built PCs are
notoriously unreliable. If you’re looking for something you can just pick up and use immediately, we’d recommend a gaming laptop like the Lenovo Legion Y520. It’ll be pricier but that’s the drawback of portability.
Q
LOOKING OUT FOR THE KIDS
I am too young to say my name, but I do need some help. I would like a new phone that is around
R5 000 to R7 000 with a great camera, good battery life, a lot of storage. I have my eye on the OnePlus 6T which I will have to import from America, but I don’t know if it works in South Africa with our Wi-Fi. I see that it is better than the iPhone 6s but I don’t know if that is true. I am in need of desperate assistance. Anon.
A
The OnePlus. 6T will definitely work in SA, it’s not going to suffer due to local Wi-Fi or even cellular services. As for a comparison between it and the iPhone 6s, the OnePlus is more powerful in nearly every way, includes a better camera and offers more opportunities to customise. We’d say go for the OnePlus 6T.
Q
DRIVING ME NUTS
I was wondering why someone would want to upgrade to a 256GB SSD on a MacBook for R2 000 extra when you could buy a 4TB HDD Seagate hard drive for the same price? I understand that the SSD is a lot faster, but you could still get an SSD drive with more than 256GB storage cheaper. Christopher
A
Well, you’ve kinda answered your own question here. The SSD is more expensive because speed is such a commodity in computing and... well, it’s Apple. Most items
produced by the MacBook makers tend to be pricy because it’s a ‘premium’ product. That’s just one of the cruel realities of hardware: If you go the Apple route, you have a slick and smooth system, but you wind up paying way more for it. You could go and purchase your very own SSD upgrade but then… then you have to convince Apple to install it for you.
Q
THE RAND SHOW
My name is Azad. I am thirteen years old and I have been reading Stuff for a while. I wanted to ask if you had a comparison of wireless earbuds for teens in the R2 000 to R4 000 price range. I was looking for one and the only ones I enjoyed are the AirPods Pro. At R4 000 I considered them and saved up the money but when the rand value dropped, they went up to R5 500, making them too expensive. Azad
A
There are a few options you could go for without spending Apple-level cash. The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ will set you back around R3500 and offer excellent battery life and sound quality. Our other recommendation would be the Sony WF-1000XM3 which you can find for just over R4 000. If you’re willing to go a touch over budget, the Sonys are well worth it.
TO IN E RITND W WA US
Next month’s mail of the month wins a
VIVO Y12 worth R3 999
88
SuperWide-Angle expands your view to 120° 8MP front camera 5 000mAh battery
OP EN
This gadget leapt straig outta testin and into ou rankings.
OF EVERYTHING
NEW
Time changes everything, including Stuff Top Ten placings.
HOT BUY BARGAIN BUY UPDATE Searing with techy genius, a product that’s set our hearts aflame.
A solid gold bargain. Worth owning, regardless of cashflow.
Smartphones Phablets Tablets & streamers TVs Laptops Smartwatches & fitness trackers Budget buys
90 9 1 92 93 94 95 96
Drones, action cams & compact cameras VR headsets & games System cameras Headphones Wireless speakers Consoles Games
97 98 99 100 101 102 1 03
HOW TO USE THEM
TOP TENS SMARTPHONES
90
1
T Y NEW
Samsung Galaxy S20 The bigger and flashier S20+ and S20 Ultra models are the headline-grabbers, but the ‘basic’ Galaxy S20 feels like the Goldilocks of flagship phones right now: not too big and clever, not too small and basic, just right. It delivers excellent battery life, a phenomenal display, blistering performance and superb photo quality. Until someone else does it better, this is the Android handset to beat. Odds are, it’ll stay here at least until Apple takes a shot at it.
TIPS & TRICKS Slide your thumb in from the edge and back for one-handed mode, which adjusts the screen layout.
Stuff says ★★★★★ All the features you’d want in a flagship smartphone, plus a few more
Screen recording is great for capturing Instagram live sessions. You’ll find it in system settings.
● NOW ADD THIS SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive This USB-C drive will double your S20’s 128GB storage to 256GB for a lot less than you might expect. from R120 / takealot.com
Single-take mode uses all the lenses to snap various stills and video clips to cherrypick from.
2
3
4
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
5
Apple iPhone XS
6
Samsung Galaxy S10
7
Apple iPhone XR
8
Huawei P30 Lite
9
LG G8S ThinQ
UPDATE
UPDATE
UPDATE
UPDATE
UPDATE
Apple iPhone 11
Huawei P30
You’re getting a neat package here, and it’s not silly-expensive. The Bionic A13 chip packs serious power, the cameras are almost faultless and the battery will last all day. If you don’t mind the lack of an OLED display, it could be time to say hello to the everyman iPhone.
There’s a gap between the stock P30 and the P30 Pro. They’re both amazing phones, even if you’re giving up some features to get a significantly cheaper smartphone. Much of the camera tech remains intact, though, and Huawei’s kept the power and style in place as well.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Wow – an affordable Apple handset that doesn’t scrimp on specs
Stuff says ★★★★★ The P30 is priced the way we wish all flagships were – worth every cent
R17 700 / myistore.co.za
UPDATE
R10 000 / huaweistore.co.za
UPDATE
NEW
10
★★★★★ from R26 500 / myistore.co.za It’s only down here because of the price. Brilliant phone, gorgeous colours, but a bit expensive.
★★★★★ from R20 000 / myistore.co.za Apple’s range is spreading, meaning it occupies the lower slots as well as the top one.
★★★★★ R15 000 / samsung.com/za A well-rounded Android with a versatile camera and ace performance. Still a brilliant device.
★★★★★ from R16 000 / myistore.co.za This ‘budget’ iPhone still packs a punch, including killer battery life and the best LCD money can buy.
★★★★★ R6 500 / huaweistore.co.za Though it’s harder to recomend of late, Huawei’s budget entry is lifting eyebrows and dropping jaws.
★★★★ from R8 700 / lg.com/za LGs best-looking handset last year. Add a powerful processor, great camera and display, and you’re set.
Nokia 7.2
★★★★ from R6 000 / hmdglobal.com Dual-SIM handsets are hard to come by in SA – this Nokia won’t bust your budget for primo features.
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS VISIT STUFF.CO.ZA OR STUFFSA ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM
● Prices quoted are for handset only unless otherwise stated
R17 600 / samsung.com/za
PHABLETS TOP TENS UPDATE
TIPS & TRICKS
uawei P30 Pro
Go dark – sa battery (why your eyes (ok by hitting Se Battery > Dar interface colo
000 / huaweistore.co.za
know, we know, Huawei’s shiny new devices ed in SA. But it was lockdown and we’ve only ten to reviewing them now. Which means this Huawei still sits the throne for another e. It was the first techslab to feature the t generation of camera tech. Following this, er smartphone brands have tried to top its -light photography chops, and even the y zoom capabilities. Many have also failed. one still reigns for another month.
Manage thos minutes. Pop to Settings > Balance > Tu screen time managemen Dangerously – Open the c then Settings top-right. Se Audio Contro then say ‘che to take photo
ff says ★★★★★ l the best bigboi out there, let’s see at Samsung can do to top it ● NOW ADD THIS Huawei Supercharge 10 000 mAh The P30 Pro’s huge battery is no reason not to get it a high-speed power bank of its very own. R800 / huaweistore.co.za
UPDATE
Huawei Mate 20 Pro
★★★★★ R11 500 / huaweistore.co.za While it still supports Google Mobile Services, this is one of the most boss devices out there.
NEW
5
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
6
Apple iPhone XS Max
UPDATE
UPDATE
Samsung Galaxy S20+
The iPhone 11 Pro Max signifies Apple’s best tech of 2019 in its largest chassis. It’s got the triplethreat camera setup which includes a telephoto lens, a wide-angle and a main sensor. Is it basically a bigger iPhone 11 Pro? Yes. Same insides, different size. Bigger is better, right?
Another year, and another Samsung S-range. The Newly released Samsung S20+ looks better than all the others on this page on paper, but that doesn’t mean squat if it doesn’t work well in real life. 64MP? 100x zoom? We don’t see the appeal.
Stuff says ★★★★★ It’s worth maxing out your credit card for this iPhone
Stuff says ★★★★★ Look past the giant camera module and it’s a beauty
from R26 500 / myistore.co.za
from R19 800 / samsung.com/za
★★★★ from R23 000 / myistore.co.za Apple must do something big to claw its way back. The XS Max proves they’re capable of that.
7
Samsung Galaxy A51
8
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
NEW
Apple iPhone Pro Max
★★★★ from R21 900 / samsung.com/za Samsung has pumped up the specs on its excellent phablet, including more S-Pen features.
UPDATE
HOT BUY
9
10
★★★★ from R6 000 / samsung.com/za This one’s a sleek, powerful, elegant phone and costs less than all your cents combined.
★★★★ from R16 000 / samsung.com/za Still an excellent purchase if you must have a stylus, even if it’s slipped down the ranks a tad.
Apple iPhone 8 Plus
★★★★ from R12 500 / myistore.co.za Short stay on the podium notwithstanding, the iPhone 8 Plus is looking cheap vs the XS Max.
Honor 8x
★★★★ from R4 500 / hi-online.co.za Our fave budget handset right now holds its own against far pricier ones, and looks the part, too.
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS VISIT STUFF.CO.ZA OR STUFFSA ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM
TOP TENS TABLETS & STREAMERS
92 HOT BUY
HOT BUY
Apple iPad Pro
Xiaomi Mi Box
from R15 000 / myistore.co.za
R1 500 / cellucity.co.za
The iPad Pro isn’t cheap, but it’s a mobile powerhouse like no other, with a diverse and rich app ecosystem, tons of power, a gorgeous screen, and the kind of focus on creativity that just doesn’t exist on other tablets. If you just want to faff on Facebook or Netflix it’s massive overkill, so we’d recommend going for the iPad Air instead; but even if you don’t actually need the Pro, you’re going to want one if you try it for five minutes. And this is just the old model – watch this space for the even better 2020 version.
Buying a TV box in SA is a hit or miss, as most of them are massproduced and run on iffy software. Your best bet is opting for a certified Android box, like the Xiaomi Mi Box S. It’s the second of its kind, and can stream content in 4K from a variety of services on the market. Already have a smart TV? Just add the Mi Box S to up its streaming game. It’s also got Chromecast built-in, with some Assistant chops to improve its desirability. The Play Store offers a variety of apps that should impress any content snob.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Apple remains way ahead of the pack with a stylish, powerful tablet that’s full of creative potential
Stuff says ★★★★★ Ready to join the Mi too movement? This is by far the best Android box on the market in SA right now
UPDATE
2
UPDATE
Apple iPad Air (2019)
UPDATE
Apple iPad 7 (2019)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
R1 000 / takealot.com Amazon’s latest streaming stick offers 4K plus a faster processor than its predecessor and comes with an Alexa Voice Remote. It doesn’t have Showmax, but the selection of third-party apps is excellent. Stuff says ★★★★★ This is the best stick you can buy
4
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
UPDATE
5
Apple iPad Mini (2019)
UPDATE
UPDATE
★★★★★ R17 000 / samsung.com/za This is the Android tablet to get if you like doodling or gaming on tablets.
★★★★★ from R8 700 / myistore.co.za Apple’s finally updated the mini iPad, with the A12 Bionic chip and a general upgrade.
oogle Chromecast 3.0
00 / takealot.com e Chromecast is a cheaper option to smart your TV, and it works seamlessly. Plug-in, y and cast from your mobile device thout hassle. Pair it to a Google Nest and n more control using Google Assistant. ff says ★★★★★ st your dreams to the TV
from R11 000 / myistore.co.za Admit it, you’ve been waiting for a new iPad Air. An A12 Bionic procesor, improved specs across the board and an option of 64GB or 256GB of storage. It’s a very good time to be an Apple fan. Stuff says ★★★★★ Still the best all-purpose iPad for most
from R7 000 / myistore.co.za This is a minor upgrade from its predecessor, but we love the larger 10.2in retina display and, as always, the Pencil support. It’s the perfect entry-level iPad for big screen Apple Arcade gaming and streaming sessions. Stuff says ★★★★★ Our favourite gigantic digital doodling pad
UPDATE
UPDATE
4
Apple TV 4K
5
Ematic 4K Android TV
★★★★ R4 600 / myistore.co.za f you’re in the Apple ecosystem, might as well cough up for this one. It works. Well.
★★★★ R1 900 / takealot.co.za The Ematic Box can turn just about any display into a smart TV hub.
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS VISIT STUFF.CO.ZA OR STUFFSA ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM
93
TVs TOP TENS
HOT BUY
LG OLED 65C9PUA R50 000 / lg.com/za
Replacing its memorable predecessor, last year’s C-class OLED gives you LG’s most advanced picture and processing tech. It’s got the snappy as heck Alpha9 processor. Along with being faster than we can handle, the set looks beautiful in any setting. Even at its thickest point, the 65in C9 measures just 4.7cm. Joining four HDMI 2.1 sockets, the C9 has three USB ports, ethernet, optical and headphone outputs, and aerial and satellite connections. Oh, and it’s got 4K output.
Stuff says ★★★★★ As expected, the updated C9 is the closest you’ll get to a tiny home cinema TIPS & TRICKS
The C9 offers assistant-smarts — choose between LG’s own ThinQ, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
2
● NOW ADD THIS Sony PlayStation 4 Pro You’re going to want to use your 4K screen to display 4K bits and the PS4 Pro is going to help you to do that. Best when paired with Sony’s PlayStation VR headset (R4 800). R7 000 / playstation.com/za
It’ll recommend content based on what you’ve previously watched at certain times throughout the day.
3
4 HOT BUY
Samsung 55Q8C
R18 000 / hirschs.co.za
LG 65SK9500
★★★★★ from R30 000 / lg.com/za 4K UHD but there’s no OLED here. Nano Cell, HDR, and webOS make up for it.
5
Hisense 65U8A
6
Samsung 55Q7F
7
LG OLED 65E8
UPDATE
★★★★★ R10 000 / hisense.co.za A huge UHD panel, enough ports to make you feel like a sailor and a price that’s kind to the wallet.
★★★★★ R18 000 / samsung.com/za Samsung’s 4K TV supports HDR and has a price that means you’ll still able to eat at month end.
★★★★ R120 200 / lg.com/za LG’s heavy hitter is amazeballs, but the price hits your wallet harder than the pixels pummel pupils.
LG 65SM9500PUA R26 000 / takealot.com
Okay, it’s still curved and we’re kind of past that but Samsung’s big screen hits your eyes with a 4K panel toting their neato Quantum Dot tech. It also looks the part, with no bezels and minimalist styling, making sure that this one fades into the background… until you turn it on, that is. Samsung’s Q HDR 1500 also helps in that regard.
LG can succeed even without OLED. Just look at LG’s NanoCell-backed panel for the SM9500PUA, LG could bore you to death with NanoCell marketing fluff, but it really looks beautiful with deep blacks and solid, vivid colours. Get one in 65in and use LG’s digital assistant voice control to get lost in a mediocre Netflix series. It’s just that good.
Stuff says ★★★★★ If you can look past the curve, there’s a lot to love here
Stuff says ★★★★★ You don’t need OLED when you look this good
8 HOT BUY
UPDAT
9
UPDATE
1
Hisense 75N9700UWG
★★★★ R47 000 / hisense.co.za Hisense lobs Quantum Dot colour tech and a humongous 75in 4K ULED screen at you.
Skyworth 55G7200
★★★★ R7 300 / skyworth.com A 55in 4K display for under R10k? For that combo, we’ll forgive the user interface missteps.
LG 49UK6300PVB
★★★★ R6 000 / lg.com/za UDH and HDR combined in a package designed to make you feel like you spent far more money.
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS VISIT STUFF.CO.ZA OR STUFFSA ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM
TOP TENS LAPTOPS TIPS & TRICKS
Who needs a Touch Bar? You can log into your Mac with your iPhone’s Touch ID using the MacID app.
94
1
The universal clipboard lets you copy text on your iPhone and paste it directly to your Mac.
HOT BUY
UPDATE
Apple MacBook Pro 2019
from R25 000 (13in) / myistore.co.za
The entry-level MacBook Pro received a noteworthy spec bump last year, and the base 13in variation won’t necessarily break the bank. What this also means, is the previous-gen Pro’s have received a price cut. Which makes them even more desirable. But the 2019 Pro’s now run 8th- and 9th-gen Intel Core processors, and the 15in model packs up to 8-cores. It retains the Touch Bar, Retina Display, Touch ID, some nifty SSDs and the trusty Apple T2 Security Chip. Now if we could just get these a little cheaper, that’d be grand.
Stuff says ★★★★★ A bump in spec is exactly what the best MacBook needed to dominate ● NOW ADD THIS Satechi Type-C USB 3 Combo Hub Two ports not enough? This hub adds loads more and sits snugly against the MacBook Pro’s side. R800 / amazon.com
UPDATE
3
4
UPDATE
UPDATE
UPDAT
Apple MacBook Air 13in
★★★★★ from R17 000 / myistore.co.za As stylish as it ever was, Apple’s Air is due for a refresh locally after an international update.
MSI GT76 Titan
★★★★★ from R71 000 / evetech.co.za It packs a punch with at least an RTX 2070 GPU and up to an Intel Core i9 in a weighty chassis.
Asus ZenBook Pro Duo
★★★★★ from R56 000 / evetech.co.za Two is definitely better than one, and this dual-display beast is worth every cent.
MSI PS63 Modern
★★★★★ from R14 000 / evetech.co.za Does MSI’s multimedia editing-slayer still play games? Yes. Yes, it bloody well does.
Dell XPS 13 (2019)
Asus Zenbook UX331UA
The Dell XPS 13 is one of the best, most consistent Windows laptops in the world. There are no gimmicks, no flimsy parts: every element is top-quality. You get style, portability, performance and great battery life. And every part of it just feels, well, good.
Asus’ new 1.12kg Zenbook 13 might look less like a MacBook than its predecessors did but that’s okay. It’s not like a Mac inside either, with a Core i7-8550U, 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD and other metrics that make Apple’s machines look slow.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Royalty among Windows laptops: everything about this is top-notch
Stuff says ★★★★★ Something this fast shouldn’t be this light
from R28 000 / dell.co.za
Huawei MateBook X Pro
★★★★★ from R25 000 / huawei.com/za A stylish Windows laptop with some clever ideas to get the maximum display for your rand.
from R21 000 / asus.com/za
9 UPDATE
Asus ZenBook Pro 14
★★★★★ R31 500 / asus.com/za A sizable second screen makes the ZenBook Pro 14 a very unusual proposition indeed.
Acer Swift 5
★★★★ R16 500 / acer.co.za Lacks gaming chops but it’s light, portable, and powerful enough to make office life lovely.
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS VISIT STUFF.CO.ZA OR STUFFSA ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM
95
SMARTWATCHES, FITNESS TRACKERS TOP TENS HOT
HOT
UPDATE
Apple Watch Series 5
Garmin Fenix 5
You want to pay attention, because the new-gen Apple Watch looks pretty much identical to our previous leader. The Watch Series 5 may look familiar, but brings a bunch of cool new features and updated specs to the irrewristable companion. It’s now got an always-on display, WatchOS 6 and a speedier processor. It may not sound like much — but we love this watch. Improved health features make the Series 5 brilliant for both healthy and unhealthy folks.
So you’re the kind of sporty that makes the seriously fit look at you kinda strange and wonder if you’re ever going to slow down, you need the sportiest sportswatch. You’re going to need something that tracks all the things. Our fitness champ does everything from swimming to sprinting to… skydiving? Really? Yeah, really. The Fenix 5 is the ultimate sportswatch, so much so that you’ll feel you need a degree in sports fitness to understand all the stats. But that’s why we love this one.
Stuff says ★★★★★ It’s more expensive, but we’re betting it’s totally worth it if you’re in it for the health and fitness features
Stuff says ★★★★★ If you’re going to be the sportiest of your pentathlonbeating mates, you’re going to want the Fenix 5
from R9 700 / myistore.co.za
NEW
Samsung Galaxy Active 2
from R11 000 / garmin.co.za
UPDAT
R6 000 / samsung.com/za A sturdy and stylish smartwatch with plenty of power and a truly lovely user interface. Those with an iPhone are still likely to get a better experience and more functionality from an Apple Watch, though. Stuff says ★★★★★ The best smartwatch for Android users
Fitbit Charge 3
R2 200 / fitbit.com For a broad range of tracking without making your wallet sad, Fitbit’s versatile Charge 3 offers up all of the basics, a whack of actual sports smarts, and more than a few bits cribbed from its smartwatch brethren. Stuff says ★★★★★ The Jonty Rhodes of fitness trackers
Garmin Forerunner 945
Fitbit Inspire HR
4
Garmin Fenix 6
4
Fitbit Alta HR
5
Suunto 7
5
Garmin Vivosmart HR+
from R11 100 / garmin.co.za It’s definitely one of the most comprehensive, smartwatches out there. The FR945 goes beyond basic tracking, music playback and NFC payments. It’s got temperature and altitude acclimation and improved tracking. tuff says ★★★★★ Lifting the bar(ometer) for fitness freaks UPDATE
NEW
DATE
★★★★★ R11 000 / garmin.co.za The best fitness-orientated smartwatch, offering incredible levels of detail.
★★★★ R8 000 / ultimo.co.za/suunto This high-priced Wear OS watch balances brute ruggedness with slinky style.
R2 000 / fitbit.com Fitbit’s latest is a great little tracker. As well as step-counting, it’s surprisingly capable for proper run-tracking if you go out with a phone. Add notifications and that’s just about everything we want in a low-key band. Stuff says ★★★★★ All the tracking skills that most people need
★★★★★ R2 000 / fitbit.com The slim design, HR monitor, and notifications make this the best discreet wristable.
★★★★ R2 500 / garmin.co.za A superb tracker packed with features; it’s just a little bulky for wearing 24/7.
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TOP TENS BUDGET BUYS
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1
R1 400 / game4u.co.za
TIPS & TRICKS
There’ll be playground spats and online feuds over whether Nintendo’s or Sega’s games are better, but the Mega Drive Mini wins the miniature retro console war in terms of the faithful recreation of both hardware and software – especially as there are 42 games included. It’s taken a long time to get here, but as the saying goes, to be this good takes ages – and the Sega is going to be the must-buy console this year.
Dip into the display settings to switch from the standard 4:3 aspect ratio to fit your widescreen TV. Switch the language settings to Japanese and you can play vastly different versions of games.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Sega’s back – and this really is the ultimate mini gaming machine
Struggling with the old-school difficulty? Hold down the start button to use one of four save slots.
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● NOW ADD THIS Retro-Bit Official 6-Button Controller A must for fans of fighting games, this six-button USB pad is also compatible with PCs, Macs and even the Switch. R700 / raru.co.za
3
SNES Classic Mini
Raspberry Pi Zero W
Why splash out over R6 000 on a games console when you can get the SNES Classic Mini for so much less? You get 21 titles pre-installed on this nostalgia-inducing little machine, including the likes of Super Metroid, A Link to the Past and Super Mario World.
It might be nearly twice the price of the original Pi Zero, but when you’re still getting change from R300 the wireless Pi is fantastic value. Simplicity is key, with no need to mess about with dongles or hubs. This also means your Pi projects can be squeezed into smaller places.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Retro-minded Nintendo fans won’t find better value anywhere
Stuff says ★★★★★ The Pi Zero was already brilliant; wireless add-ons make it better
R2 900 / nintendo.co.za
Sega Mega Drive Mini
R250 / pishop.co.za
4
UE Wonderboom 2
5
Moov Now
6
Amazon Kindle
7
SoundMagic E10C
8
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9
UPDATE
9
10
UPDATE
★★★★★ R1 500 / takealot.com A rugged little wonder that’ll bring a sonic boost to any occasion.
★★★★★ R1 600 / pclinkshop.co.za The best budget tracker you can buy – gives most Fitbits a run for their money.
★★★★★ from R1 600 / circuitcity.co.za Top of our holiday packing list, the basic Kindle is thinner and lighter than its predecessor.
★★★★★ R600 /sound-magic.co.za SoundMagic is royalty when it comes to budget buds. For only R600, these are stupendous.
★★★★★ R1 100 / fujifilm.co.za The new Mini 9 keeps the point-and-print charm of its predecessors... and the same film.
Ryze Tello
★★★★ R1 300 / takealot.com Rule the skies without breaking the bank with this affordable toy drone.
Google Home Mini
★★★★ R655 / takealot.com Google knows all, even in this garage pie-sized smart speaker. Tell it all your other secrets.
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DRONES, ACTION CAMS & COMPACTS TOP TENS
1
HOT BUY
DJI Mavic Mini
Sony DSC-RX100 V A
The Mavic Mini definitely won’t be for everyone. If you want maximum control over your footage, have no qualms about registering your drone, need 4K capture at 60fps, are OK with spending the best part of R20k and consider object-tracking a must-have, you’ll want to look elsewhere. If, however, you just want to get a fantastic balance of user experience, features, convenience and quality at a stomachable price, the Mavic Mini is the most accessible premium drone we’ve used to date.
We wouldn’t recommend buying this camera if you already own the old IV model, but a few improvements have ensured Sony remains the top dog in our compacts list – and we’re keeping this model above the new RX100 VI simply because of the price difference. It remains one of the finest point-and-shoots we’ve ever seen, with a flexibility that few pocket cameras can muster. While it’s still not exactly cheap, we reckon this is the cam to buy if you want fantastic-looking snaps from your holidays.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Dinky drones don’t come more feature-packed, and bigger drones than this need to be registered. Win!
Stuff says ★★★★★ A small improvement over the RX100 IV, but this Sony is close to premium point-and-shoot perfection
R8 900 / myistore.co.za
GoPro Hero8 Black
R8 000 / capeunionmart.co.za GoPro fends off the DJI challenge by giving its latest flagship action cam even better stabilisation skills plus 4K 60fps video, a range of wide angles, waterproofing and fast/slow timelapse capture. Stuff says ★★★★★ The most stable action cam we’ve ever used UPDAT
HOT
UPDATE
3
DJI Osmo Action
R4 000 / myistore.co.za The image stabilisation is sensational and the face-optimised metering makes DJI’s action cam an ideal choice for vloggers. It has some idiosyncrasies, but this is a smart shooter that captures great footage without faff. Stuff says ★★★★★ Despite a few quirks, this is a stellar cam
4
DJI Mavic 2 Pro
5
DJI Mavic Air
★★★★★ R31 600 / myistore.co.za Superbly responsive in the air, this is the gold standard in portable flyers.
★★★★★ R15 560 / myistore.co.za A stellar gadget that combines the best bits from the Spark and the Mavic Pro.
R20 000 / premiumbrands.co.za
2 3
Panasonic Lumix TZ220
R16 700 / panasonic.com/za This Panasonic compact is a significant upgrade from the TZ110, offering extra reach with the zoom lens, better colour reproduction, and an improved experience when using the electronic viewfinder. Stuff says ★★★★★ Small, neat and not dramatically overpriced
Sony DSC-RX100 VI
R23 700 / premiumbrands.co.za A true all-rounder that shoots 24fps at full resolution and has stunningly fast autofocus, topped off with a whopping 8x zoom lens that’s quite spectacular for such a tiny camera. Stuff says ★★★★★ A dinky yet luxurious point-and-shoot
4
Panasonic Lumix LX100 II
5
Fujifilm X100F
★★★★★ R19 000 / panasonic.com/za One of the most capable compacts on the market, with superb stills and HD video.
★★★★★ R17 600 / myfujifilm.co.za The best street shooter around if you don’t need the flexibility of interchangeable lenses.
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TOP TENS VR HEADSETS & VR GAMES
1
HOT BUY
Oculus Quest
Beat Saber
The Quest offers all manner of fully interactive, roamable virtual worlds that you can throw in your backpack without a single wire. That’s a mindblowing technical feat. Yes, the battery life is average, but the inside-out tracking and total absence of any cables make this the best all-round VR headset to date. It also ships with the Oculus Touch motion controllers included, which means you can play fully fledged Oculus Rift titles without being anywhere near a PC.
Most VR games equip you for immersive combat, but Beat Saber’s dual laser swords aren’t meant for slicing and dicing foes. Instead, you’ll gleefully swing them to chop blocks that are flung your way to the thumping beat of a song. This game has reinvented the rhythm genre for VR and it is glorious indeed, turning the power fantasy of dual-wielding lightsabers into an exhilarating modern music experience. And add-on packs keep the beat going for longer.
Stuff says ★★★★★ If you’ve been waiting to board the VR bandwagon, the Quest might be the best reason yet to go for it
Stuff says ★★★★★ A mesmerising musical melee that’s at its absolute best when played on the cable-free Oculus Quest
from R15 000 / 1 80by2.co.za
HTC Vive
UPDATE
2 3
Farpoint
Oculus Go
4
Moss
PlayStation VR
5
HTC Vive Pro
R14 000 (headset only) / evetech.co.za This high-end headset offers the best virtual reality experience by a long way, but its sky-high price means you should only really buy it if you’re a VR obsessive with a super-powerful gaming PC. Stuff says ★★★★ This hardcore headset is overkill for most UPDATE
★★★★ R7 500 / takealot.co.za Go-godance with the Goonthe go. It’s cheaper than the Quest, and a standalone headset.
5
from R450 / Oculus Quest/Rift, Vive, PSVR
Superhot VR
R12 000 / makro.co.za Now that prices have levelled out, there isn’t much difference between the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift in all honesty. But if you’re thinking of upgrading to the Vive Pro in the future, this is a great gateway headset. Stuff says ★★★★ A solid choice for immersive virtual reality
UPDATE
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★★★ from R4 500 / playstation.com/za It can deliver incredible experiences, but the PSVR is held back by teething issues.
R400 / Oculus Rift, Vive, PSVR There’s something really cool about hiding behind a desk before blitzing your opponents with streams of bullets as if you were starring in your very own Matrix movie. A wonderfully action-packed title. Stuff says ★★★★★ A superb 2-in-1 VR puzzler and shooter
R330 (R1 000 with Aim Controller) / PSVR If it weren’t in VR, Farpoint would be a distinctly average space-based FPS. But the PSVR headset and Aim Controller lift it above the pack and make it a must-play, not just for VR fans but also for FPS addicts. Stuff says ★★★★★ Simply a thrilling VR experience
★★★★ R470 / PSVR This platform puzzler offers a one-of-akind fable that’s perfect for VR.
Star Wars: Vader Immortal
★★★★ from R154 / Oculus Quest/Rift Step into a galaxy far, far away… and yes, swinging a lightsaber is as cool as it sounds.
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SYSTEM CAMERAS TOP TENS HOT BUY
UPDATE
Fujifilm X-T3
R23 000 (body) / myfujifilm.co.za It’s really hard to find anything bad to say about the X-T3 – it’s just consistently great in so many ways. Fuji has looked at virtually every feature on the X-T2 and upgraded it. With substantial tweaks made to the pro-level video options, the high-res EVF, the super-fast autofocus and the burst shooting, what you’re left with is an all-round beast of a camera in a small, beautiful form. As APS-C shooters go, it’s the best there is.
TIPS & TRICKS Pre-shot ES mode starts taking photos and adding them to the buffer as soon as you half-press.
Stuff says ★★★★★ An incredible stills shooter with video smarts to match
Sports Finder mode’s display enables you to see what’s about to come into frame for moving shots.
● NOW ADD THIS Manfrotto 190 Go! Carbon Fibre Tripod You no longer have an excuse for wobbly photos with this carbon-fibre tripod. It weighs just 1.65kg. R4 350 / ormsdirect.co.za
Tapping an area on the 3in touchscreen will let you set the focus point or take an instant shot.
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UPDATE
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Panasonic GH5S
The A7 III manages to pack in a lot of technology and desirability for less than R40k. It’s a fantastic all-rounder that’s well suited to a bunch of shooting scenarios, coping well with landscapes, portraits, and even a little bit of high-speed sport shooting. As a camera design it’s admitedly not the prettiest thing we’ve ever seen, but it handles well for its compact size.
The G9 is the best Lumix camera to date and a cracking choice for wildlife or action photography. This diminutive cam’s images aren’t up with the best, particularly in low light, but the plus sides are lightning shooting speeds and a great system of small, light lenses. With 4K video and handy shooting modes also on board, it’s one of most versatile high-end mirrorless cameras you can buy.
Stuff says ★★★★★ A fantastic all-rounder that excels in low-light conditions
Stuff says ★★★★★ The perfect companion for the travelling wildlife photographer
R37 500 / premiumbrands.co.za
★★★★★ R17 700 (body) / myfujifilm.co.za You get the X-T3’s sensor in a cheaper, smaller body with more spare change for buying lenses.
★★★★★ R41 000 (body) / panasonic.com/za A compact system camera that’s a pro at video, if slightly disappointing for stills.
7
Canon EOS 80D
8
Nikon Z6
9
Nikon D850
BARGAIN UPDATE BUY
Panasonic Lumix G9
★★★★★ R20 700 (body) / premiumbrands.co.za A cracking system cam for action photography, but stick with the A6300 if your budget is tight.
Fujifilm X-T30
UPDATE
Sony A7 III
Sony A6500
R22 200 / panasonic.com/za
UPDATE
10
UPDATE
★★★★★ R15 700 / canon.co.za The 80D is so easy to use that even a toddler would get some great shots with it.
★★★★★ R41 000 (body) / nikon.co.za A top-notch and reasonably sized mirrorless camera from the optical experts.
★★★★★ R75 000 (body) / nikon.co.za This super-cam has enough fantastic features to excel in pretty much any situation.
Fujifilm GFX 50S
★★★★★ R120 000 / myfujifilm.co.za It’s not cheap, but no camera we’ve tested takes better photos than this.
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TOP TENS HEADPHONES OT
100
1
UPDATE
Sony WH-1000XM3
Sony WF-1000XM3
Sony’s WH-1000 series was already a top performer, and the WH-1000XM3s make for an even more compelling package. With Bluetooth wireless and great noise-cancellation, they’re the ultimate public transport stress killer… well, aside from a chauffeur or a lottery win that lets you retire. The leather pads make them incredibly easy to wear, not unlike sitting in one of those ultra-comfy leather chairs, and most importantly of all the sound quality is fantastic.
The original WF-1000XMs had an easy job in the early days of noise-cancelling in-ears, because there simply wasn’t much in the way of competition. That’s all changed now – yet the way the XM3s serve up sound quality as spectacular as this while being truly wireless, while effectively cancelling background noise and while remaining comfortable in the ears, is quite something. So, just as it was with the original XMs, it’s job done for Sony.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Great wireless headphones with effective ANC and a sound that nails just about everything
Stuff says ★★★★★ Outright winners on design, build, specifications and, most importantly of all, performance
R5 700 / takealot.com
Bowers & Wilkins PX7
UPDATE
R4 000 / takealot.com
Samsung Galaxy Buds+
NEW
R5 600 / takealot.com B&W’s second ANC headphones place greater emphasis on comfort and are all the better for it, while the noise-killing is as effective as you’ll find anywhere. Oh, and they sound flipping good too. Stuff says ★★★★★ B&W takes on the best with top-class cans UPDATE
UPDATE
3
Bose NCH 700
4
B&O H9i
5
Sennheiser HD 4.50BTNC
BARGAIN BUY
HOT BUY
R11 000 / takealot.com You won’t find a better voice pickup system than Bose’s, while the company’s already exceptional noise-cancelling tech is now even better. Other features, such as the slick touch controls, are also winners. Stuff says ★★★★★ As all-rounders these are hard to beat
★★★★★ R9 100 / takealot.com Frequent flyers and long-range commuters: these are the headphones for you.
★★★★★ R1 900 / mitechdirect.co.za Priced right, wireless, and with noise cancelling. The catch? No, there’s no catch at all.
R3 500 / samsung.com/za Samsung’s latest in-ears bring a step up in audio quality from the original Galaxy Buds thanks to separate woofers and tweeters tuned by AKG – and they now support Apple devices as well as Android. Stuff says ★★★★★ A solid upgrade for these true wireless in-ears
3
Jabra Elite Sport
4
Apple Airpods Pro
5
Samsung Galaxy Buds
R3 400 / circuitcity.co.za For serious in-ear fitness tech, you have to get Jabra’s Elite Sport wireless buds. In-ear heart monitoring, up to nine hours of battery life, and a gnarly (and detailed) fitness-focussed app are the highlights here. Stuff says ★★★★★ The smartest fitness partner you’ll ever have
★★★★★ from R4 200 / myistore.co.za Not really ’Pro’, but still excellent wireless in-ears for iPhone users.
★★★★★ R2 300 / samsung.com/za Android’s answer to AirPods, the Buds sound great, look subtler, and offer more fit options.
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101 TIPS & TRICKS
You can control your Move with the touch controls on top, the Sonos app, Google Assistant or Alexa.
WIRELESS SPEAKERS TOP TENS
1
Auto Trueplay adapts the Move’s sound to different rooms, while the app offers additional EQ tweaks.
HOT BUY
Sonos Move R7 000 / sonos.co.za
The Sonos range of wireless speakers had been crying out for a battery-powered portable model for ages – and finally our favourite multiroom audio specialist caved in. Luckily, the Move was worth the wait. Its adaptability and sound quality mean it’s fine value for money, and a no-brainer for anyone who’s already a fan of the brand. Not only is this the speaker Sonos should have launched years ago – it’s one of the best products of its type and price that we’ve heard.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Sonos finally gets up to speed with the portable speaker craze, and in style ● NOW ADD THIS Spotify Premium Sick of playing your iTunes library on repeat? Sign up to Spotify for more new music than you could ever possibly listen to. R60/month / spotify.com
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HOT BUY
3
HOT BUY
UPDATE
UE Megaboom 3
★★★★★ R3 700 / takealot.com You’ll struggle to find a better, longer-lasting or more feature-laden portable Bluetooth speaker.
5
JBL Xtreme 2
★★★★★ R3 300 / takealot.com The updated Xtreme offers all the bass for 15-odd hours.
JBL Pulse 3
★★★★★ R3 500 / kloppers.co.za Pretty pricey, but potent for its size, and the LED light show is utterly mesmerising.
UE WonderBoom 2
DreamWave Tremor
This tiny speaker is a delight. It’s ideal for the park, or even if you’re looking to use one (or two) to supercharge your bedroom setup. Audio quality is ramped up from its predecessor, giving you better bass and more detail, but not at the expense of dinky portability.
With 50W of thumping audio output, a humongous 20800mAh rechargeable battery that provides up to 18 hours at medium volume (or eight at full tilt), and the most rugged body we’ve ever seen in a speaker, the Tremor is a real beast of a portable noise maker.
Stuff says ★★★★★ A rugged little wonder that’ll bring a sonic boost to any occasion
Stuff says ★★★★★ It’ll last all day: come rain, snow, sand or being rolled down a hill
from R1 500 / takealot.com
from R3 000 / takealot.com
7
Braven 705
8
JBL Clip 3
UPDATE
9
1
★★★★★ R1 800 / pclinkshop.com A massive price drop makes the 705 such a bargain it’s worth getting two to pair up.
★★★★★ R850 / takealot.com A pocket-sized party package that delivers pounding performance while being pound-proof.
Fender Newport
★★★★★ from R3 100 / takealot.com Great battery life, incredible sound and good looks make this amp imitator utterly irresistible.
Marshall Kilburn II
★★★★ R5 000 / makro.co.za The Kilburn II is a speaker with rock-god cred and a 20-hour battery. Weighs 3kg, though.
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TOP TENS CONSOLES
102
HOT BUY
UPDATE
GOT EARS? THEN CHECK OUT…
PlayStation 4 Pro from R8 500 / playstation.com/za
As a gaming platform, PlayStation 4 is the best around – which makes the PS4 Pro the best of the best. Games optimised for the new console look stunning on a 4K HDR TV, and are substantially improved by the extra grunt inside this slightly bigger machine. Sure, it can’t match the Xbox One X for sheer power or resolution, but it makes up for that with an impressive line-up of games – including Uncharted 4, Horizon Zero Dawn and Bloodborne – and virtual reality support.
Stuff says ★★★★★ The system for console gamers who have a 4K TV and want the best gaming experience possible Nintendo Switch
from R7 000 / store.nintendo.co.za Nintendo’s console earned a promotion in our list after it impressed us with a growing list of fantastic games. Plus, no other device here offers the joy of portable gaming. Long journeys will never be boring again. Stuff says ★★★★★ This 2-in-1 console is the real deal
YOUR ESSENTIAL AUDIO GUIDE TO WHAT’S HOT IN GADGETS
Microsoft Xbox One X
● BITING COMMENTARY ● BRILLIANT INSIGHTS ● (BAD) JOKES! ● GADGET HANDS-ONS
4
Nintendo Switch Lite
FIND IT ON iTUNES, SOUNDCLOUD OR YOUR PODCAST PLAYER OF CHOICE SIMPLY SEARCH FOR “STUFFED”
5
PlayStation 4 Slim
from R6 000 / xbox.com/za There’s no doubt the Xbox One X is the most powerful console here, capable of producing stunning 4K visuals… but it simply doesn’t have the line-up of games to usurp the PS4 Pro from top spot. Stuff says ★★★★★ A 4K monster held back by its game catalogue
★★★★★ from R4 000 / store.nintendo.co.za Yeah, it’s a tiny bit smaller. But it’s also cheaper and just as powerful as its big bro.
★★★★ from R6 000 / playstation.com/za Haven’t got a 4K TV? This is the best way to enjoy PlayStation’s brilliant exclusives.
www.stuff.co.za/hubs/podcasts-videos/
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103
GAMES TOP TENS
HOT BUY
Red Dead Redemption 2 from R600 / PS4, Xbox One
Believable characters, a world to lose yourself in, top-class voice acting and a story that intrigues all the way through. Warts and all, with improvements from other games ignored, this is Rockstar at its most arrogant but also its most powerful. Red Dead Redemption 2 trusts you to explore, to grow, and to let its world seep into your consciousness. This is a special game and one that was entirely worth the wait.
TIPS & TRICKS Make sure you talk to strangers more than once – you never know what they’ll reveal.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Ultra-addictive gameplay in one of the greatest open worlds ever created
Regularly brushing and feeding Arthur’s horse will increase their bond. It’s what all good cowboys should do anyway.
2
● OR PLAY THIS Zelda: Breath of the Wild If you’re after a different kind of open-world experience that’s just as expansive and has a lot of heart, this is the one for you. R1 140 / Switch
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4
UPDATE
5
6
Forza Horizon 4
You’ll die more than twice guaranteed. This From Software title is still one of the most demanding and exhilarating games of the era. Beautiful graphics paired with a dynamic character makes this one we’ll keep in the library.
It’s no exaggeration to say this is hands-down the best Smash game yet. There’s just so much going on, with a huge array of fighters – it’s a fantastic way to enter into the world of Smash, and long-time fans of the series will not be disappointed.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Your screen may eat a controller from frustration, but it’s worth it.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Smash is well and truly back, and it’s bigger and better than ever before
from R900 / PS4, Xbox One, PC
R1 140 / Switch
★★★★★ from R350 / PS4, Xbox One, PC Highly polished and much more than just a remake, this is the series’ best entry yet.
★★★★★ from R400 / Xbox One, PC This is a bar-raising sandbox-racing game experience that’s worth buckling up for.
7
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
8
Luigi’s Mansion 3
9
Gears 5
UPDATE
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
★★★★★ from R600 / PS4 The epic return of Kratos is yet another phenomenal PS4 offering.
Resident Evil 2
UPDATE
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
God of War
10
★★★★★ R850 / Switch Crammed with tactical and social depth, this is the best Fire Emblem game so far.
★★★★★ R1 000 / Switch Luigi finally gets a blockbuster hit that would make his brother proud.
★★★★★ from R850 / Xbox One, PC Huge, thrilling and luxurious at every turn – this is absolutely essential.
Astral Chain
★★★★★ R950 / Switch The most stylish and innovative action game you’ll play this year.
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Two little Boys An expansion port was designed to link two Virtual Boys… but the cable was never released. Homebrew nutters have since crafted their own — and all of three games to support it.
RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES 1995
Virtual Boy eah, VR! I love VR! Wait… what’s this hellish contraption? Hellish is right. Everything about Virtual Boy, Nintendo’s first foray into ‘proper 3D’, seems designed to cause abject horror. The ad spot featured a bipedal Virtual Boy marching across a dystopian landscape, snaring a terrified human, while a voiceover growled it “needs your eyes”. And then there’s the problem of actually playing the thing. Because Nintendo didn’t want you impaling yourself on a fork when blindly stumbling around, you couldn’t strap the thing to your face like modern VR… so it had a stand.
Y
So you had to sit perfectly still while you immersed yourself in virtual reality? Well, it’s not like you were strapped in or anything. But yes, the console sat on a table, robbing Virtual Boy of portability as you craned your neck towards its eyeholes. While the red and black display got to work on your eyes, that terrible posture would play merry havoc with your back. Meanwhile, your hands — attempting through all this to grapple with a traditional game controller that you couldn’t actually see — would presumably be making plans to throttle you should you ever decide to play on this abomination again.
Still, it was Nintendo! So beyond the pain, at least the games were good, right? Nintendo thought so, breathlessly referring to Virtual Boy as the “first three-dimensional immersive 32-bit game system”. But whatever VR was around in 1995 got lost in translation. Mario was consigned to a poor revamp of 1983’s Mario Bros with two levels of screen depth, and the best game was a wireframe Star Fox-alike, Red Alarm. So the next time you get huffy with a modern VR headset that’s a bit weighty, exploring virtual worlds that aren’t quite pin-sharp, think yourself lucky VR has moved on in the past 25 years.
DON’T MISS THE NEXT ISSUE! ON SALE 24 AUG
Aliens, from space? Seriously? This hideous abomination of pixels was once the most feared invader from space. Destroying them required a pocket of change, or a black and white TV (those were a thing), directional dexterity, nerves of steel and the ability to make your own sound effects.
Gaming has evolved. At its pulse is the StuffPlays team with the latest (and retro-est) in all things gaming. Expect weekly reviews, new releases, esports updates, with the latest gaming tech, live game play, strategies, tips and tricks, in real-time and played on every console imaginable.
Let’s play Streaming on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook Gaming and Mixer, all week, every week.
