90
9001
AMSUNG GALAXY WATCH: TIME TO UPGRADE?
4K
TODAY’S TOP BUYS
Get Ultra HD quality and Dolby Atmos in any room Summer 2019
SAMSUNG NOTE 9
BEST BIG PHONE?
NEW MACBOOK PRO: RATED Apple’s most powerful ever
BEST TECH
• Turntables • OLED TV • Techy toys • Fitness gear • Top tablets
54 ace innovations,, from killer audio to smooth shaves
STED So go ood they neve er need charging!
NEW! SPORTY WIRELESS EARBUDS Solid fit, zero cable hassle
GAMING HEADSETS
GAMECHANGER The tech that’s so cutting edge, \RXèUH ULVNLQJ \RXU ĆQJHUV just turning this page
COMPLETE CONTROL Leave the AI powered Ovis suitcase to drive itself, or grab it by the handle to cut power and engage manual mode, at which point all four wheels become omnidirectional for a smoother ride
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 3
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Future Publishing Australia, PO Box 1077 Mount Street, North Sydney, NSW 2059 Tel: 02 9955 2677 Fax: 02 9955 2688 Email: ben.mansill@futurenet.com Web: www.t3.com | www.techradar.com Editorial Editor: Ben Mansill ben.mansill@futurenet.com Creative Director: Troy Coleman troy.coleman@futurenet.com Designer: Sharnee Swinnerton sharnee.brisbourne@futurenet.com Contributors Matt Bolton, Nick Odantzis, Claire Davies, Paul Dimery, Craig Stewart, Chris Barnes, James Jarvis, Warren Brown, Duncan Bell, Joe Branston, Alex Cox, Olly Curtis, Ian Evenden, Neil Godwin, Steve May, Steve Jarratt, Danny Phillips, Sam Taylor, Chris Barnes, Becca Caddy, Spencer Hart, Russell Lewin, Joby Sessions, Jordan Erica Webber, Michelle McLaren Photography All copyrights and trademarks are recognised and respected Advertising Group Advertising Manager: Cameron Ferris cameron.ferris@futurenet.com Management Managing Director: Neville Daniels Sales Director: Paul Marttila Printed by Bluestar Distributed in Australia and NZ by Gordon and Gotch www.gordongotch.com ISSN 1445-2901 About the magazine T3 is published by Future Publishing Australia. All articles in this magazine are copyright of Future Plc group company, UK 2018. All rights reserved. Distributed in Australia and NZ by Gordon and Gotch www.gordongotch.com.au. Printed by Webstar www.bluestargroup. com.au. All contents copyright Future Publishing (Overseas) Ltd, trading as Future Publishing Australia copyright 2018. We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from responsibly PDQDJHG FHUWLĆHG IRUHVWU\ DQG FKORULQH IUHH PDQXIDFWXUH 7KH SDSHU LQ WKLV PDJD]LQH was sourced and produced from sustainable managed forests, conforming to strict environmental and socioeconomic standards. The manufacturing paper mill holds full FSC )RUHVW 6WHZDUGVKLS &RXQFLO RU 3()& FHUWLĆFDWLRQ DQG DFFUHGLWDWLRQ All contents Š 2018 Future Publishing Australia or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited FRPSDQ\ QXPEHU LV UHJLVWHUHG LQ (QJODQG DQG :DOHV 5HJLVWHUHG RIĆFH 4XD\ House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any RWKHU FKDQJHV RU XSGDWHV WR WKHP 7KLV PDJD]LQH LV IXOO\ LQGHSHQGHQW DQG QRW DIĆOLDWHG LQ any way with the companies mentioned herein. If you submit material to us, you warrant that you own the material and/or have the necessary rights/permissions to supply the material and you automatically grant Future and its licensees a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in any/all issues and/ or editions of publications, in any format published worldwide and on associated websites, social media channels and associated products. Any material you submit is sent at your own risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents, subcontractors or licensees shall be liable for loss or damage. We assume all unsolicited material is for publication unless otherwise stated, and reserve the right to edit, amend, adapt all submissions. Privacy statement If you provide information about yourself this will be used to provide you with products or services you have requested. We may supply your information to contractors to enable us to do this. Future Publishing Australia will also use your information to inform you of other publications, products, services and events. Future Publishing Australia may also give your information to organisations that are providing special prizes or offers and are clearly associated with the Reader Offer. Unless you tell us not to, Future Publishing Australia may give your information to other organisations that may use it to inform you of other products, services or events. If you would like to gain access to the information Future Publishing Australia holds about you, please contact us.
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Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne Non-executive chairman Peter Allen &KLHI ĆQDQFLDO RIĆFHU Penny Ladkin-Brand Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244
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Welcome
Editor’s letter Welcome to summer, T3-style. Our mission is to serve you up not just a dazzling array of the techy gear we know you love to hear about, but test it KDUG DQG ĆQG WKH ZD\V \RX FDQ LPSURYH \RXU ORW by owning something we’ve reviewed. It starts with our humbly-named Best Tech for Everything feature story. There’s not a single part of your life where tech can’t step in and improve things a little. Sure, there’s the obvious stuff like which new TV is the best and what soundbar should I pair it with, but here at T3 we like to get up from the couch once every so often, go outside and perhaps cook a JULOO RQ D QHZ SRUWDEOH ĆUH SLW ZKLOH ĆQGLQJ RXU ZD\ around with a high intensity torch. If we miss the TV too much while stumbling around the bush then no SUREOHP MXVW ĆUH XS D SRUWDEOH SURMHFWRU IRU RXU phone and drown out the howling dingoes somewhere out there in the darkness with a few episodes of Friends. We need the biggest bloke in our group to stand still while we use his back as a screen, but apart from that it’s all about successfully embracing tech, and bringing it into your life. We hope you enjoy yet another gear-packed issue of T3!
Ben Mansill, Editor ben.mansill@futurenet.com
T3’S MISSION T3èV PLVVLRQ LV WR KHOS \RX ĆQG WKH EHVW SURGXFWV IRU HYHU\ area of your tech lifestyle. From traditional gadget buys like phones and TVs to connected home security and sports sensors, if it can make your life better, we’re here to make sure you get the right one for you. The products we feature are chosen by our expert writers, with years of experience in their key areas. We wouldn’t recommend something we wouldn’t be happy to live with RXUVHOYHV å WKH WDW LV ĆOWHUHG RXW ORQJ EHIRUH ZH SULQW D SDJH
This goes for reviews too – you won’t us wasting your time with products you don’t need to know about. More than that, our aim is to make sure you get the most out of the things you buy, with in-depth guides to complex tech areas, tips on making better use of products, and recommendations for add-ons that make your favourite gadgets even better. :HèUH KHUH WR KHOS \RX ĆQG WKLQJV \RXèOO UHDOO\ ORYH DQG that make your life easier. Because we can all do with that.
OUR AWARDS
PLATINUM AWARD
THE DESIGN AWARD
BEST FOR BATTERY LIFE
BEST ON TEST
2QO\ D ĆYH VWDU UHYLHZ HDUQ a product our prestigious Platinum Award
We give this only to tech WKDW VWDQGV RXW IRU VWXQQLQJ aesthetics or a clever build
This award, and others like it, are given for exceptional performance in a key feature
The winners of our group tests earn this accolade, showing them to be top tier
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 5
Contents
Contents HORIZON
024
008
TOP 10
THE BEST TECH FOR EVERYTHING
The latest drop of the world’s hottest new tech is right here. Feast your eyes on Samsung’s stylish new smartwatch, an AI-powered drone that’s big on cinematic shots, and a slightly weird yet innovative full body scanner to monitor your health from the inside out (yikes!)
Calm down. Unwind. Entertain. Have fun. Get ĆWWHU ([SORUH other (VR) worlds. Yes, these are the gadgets to help you win at life
020
STYLE The best jeans for autumn style. Oh, and we show you how to dress like Jeff Goldblum. You’re welcome
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AUTO Rain and snow? Pah! These all-weather rides will keep you on track
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LIVING Fresh new ways to light your home for autumn, plus B&O’s rockable speaker
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MAN VS TECH
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GEAR FOR YOUR CONNECTED HOME
Think you can clean your toilet better than tech can? Grab your marigolds, we’ll bring WKH FOHDQLQJ JDGJHWV DQG OHWèV ĆQG RXW
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STATE OF THE ART
085
PREPARE YOUR SMART HOME FOR SUMMER
Meet the new breed of compact commuting ebikes, a marriage of speed and sheer convenience
15
FITNESS & OUTDOORS Want to give rock climbing a go? Here’s the essential kit to get you started
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GADGET GURU Will more pixels make you more productive? Our tech expert knows WKH VHFUHWV RI D VXSHU VFUHHQ VHWXS
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TALKING TECH Duncan Bell muses on the provocative role of packaging in tech
Ready to set up a proper 4k home entertainment room? 6 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
From overhauling your cooling to clearing out gutters, here’s what you need to do
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Contents
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078
HOME 058
THE SETUP How to get started with the Amazon Echo Spot and customise it to suit your particular smart home’s needs
052
UPGRADE /RYH VPRRWKLHV" )ROORZLQJ D VSHFLĆF diet? Find out how much fat and sugar is in your smoothie with the world’s ĆUVW %OXHWRRWK EOHQGHU
058
DESIRE Furnish your pad with the ultimate in modern living accessories
071
SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE9 Samsung has relied heavily on the PRWWR ç%LJJHU LV EHWWHUè %XW LV WKDW really enough this time around?
075
SMACKDOWN ,WèV DOO NLFNLQJ RII GRZQ WKH J\P DV ZH pit two sporty earphones against one DQRWKHU -DEUD DQG %RVHð )LJKW
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TICWATCH PRO
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%HHI XS WKH VHFXULW\ DURXQG \RXU KRPH ZLWK WKH EHVW ZLUHOHVV DOO weather outdoor security cameras
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HOME TEST
BEST OF THE BEST
BEST GAMING HEADSETS ,I \RXèUH D GHGLFDWHG JDPHU \RXU KHDGVHW LV SUREDEO\ WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW SHULSKHUDO LQ \RXU DUVHQDO Here are six to elevate your game
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YOUR IN-DEPTH BUYER’S GUIDE :DQW WR NQRZ ZKDW WKH EHVW WRS HQG WHOO\ LV" 2U WKH EHVW ĆUVW WLPH '6/5" 2U WKH EHVW ZLUHOHVV KHDGSKRQHV" 2XU JLDQW EX\HUèV JXLGH KHOSV \RX ĆQG WKH ZRUOGèV EHVW DQG only WKH EHVW
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APPLE MACBOOK PRO Six cores of processing power in a FP ERG\ 'DQJ $SSOH ,W VHQW XV WKH KLJK HQG YHUVLRQ IRU WHVWLQJ DQG we discovered some pretty interesting things during the review
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SMART HOME SURGERY
076
071
Our resident experts dish out the answers to your smart home queries
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LIVING SMARTER Sync your smart home’s lights with the weather outside
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 7
Horizon
The best new tech heading your way Edited by Claire Davies
SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH From $499, samsung.com Smartwatches are like Vegemite: some see the appeal, and some don’t. Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch, a surprisingly attractive successor to the Gear S3, is hoping to convert non-believers and bolster the faith of the smartwatch loyal. The Galaxy Watch arrives in two sizes (42mm and 46mm), and is infused with a plethora of features that aim to make your daily life better. It’s clear that Samsung has designed the Galaxy Watch to look more like a regular timepiece rather than a big chunk of tech squatting on your wrist. In either its Black or Rose Gold persuasion, you’d be as happy pairing it with a crisp shirt as you would your gym clobber. And yes, the new Samsung wants in on your gym time… In addition to displaying notifications, and enabling you to make and take calls on the wrist, the Galaxy Watch tracks 39 workouts and offers guided indoor exercises (via Samsung Health), as well as monitoring sleep. It also wants to help organise your smart home, connecting with SmartThings-enabled devices for wrist-based control. We also like the sound of the My Day watch face, providing an at-a-glance peek at your schedule for the next 10 hours. Could there be a smartwatch hit for Android at last?
TECH-O-METER
Samsung reckons the 46mm Galaxy Watch’s battery should last up to seven days if you don’t hammer it with heavy use, with the 42mm version lasting for up to four days with light use
A good-looking smartwatch that’s fit for parties or the gym Matt Bolton, Editor
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Top 10
POCKET SIZED PA The Galaxy Watch acts as a digital assistant, keeping track of your schedule and nudging you about upcoming events. The watch uses the Bixby virtual assistant, so you can set reminders and alarms using your voice
PERFECT PARTNERS Samsung’s newcomer is compatible with smartphones running Android 5.0+ or iOS 9+. SmartThings and Samsung Pay are also here, boosting control over your compatible smart home gear and your contactless shopping
DOCTOR’S ORDERS Cycling, swimming (it’s waterproof to 50 meters) and running (it has built-in GPS) are among the 39 workouts tracked, and there are 29 indoor exercises for you to explore, too
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 9
Horizon
SONY MASTER SERIES AF9 $5,799, sony.com.au When it comes to TVs, it’s easy to get befuddled by all the alphanumeric names. But there’s nothing confusing about the sheer awesomeness of Sony’s new Master series of 4K HDR TVs. The tech giant’s aim with the AF9 OLED (available in 55- and 65-inch sets) was to create “a picture approaching the quality of a professional-grade monitor in a motion-picture studio”. Plus, with the help of its own next-gen picture processor, X1 Ultimate, Sony has achieved the kind of supreme accuracy and detail that you’d expect to find from the master. Sony has also teamed up with Netflix to offer Netflix Calibrated Mode. What’s that? Switch it on in the menu bar and your fave Netflix shows will come alive in exactly the way their creators intended. Prepare to fall in love with Stranger Things all over again. T3 SAYS: Packed with pro-grade smarts, Sony’s new panels are made for TV connoisseurs.
TECH-O-METER
AIRLANGO MYSTIC USD$599, airlango.com In case you’ve forgotten, drones aren’t only useful for assassination attempts and smuggling contraband into prisons. They’re also very good at aerial photography – and this Kickstarter project, due in November, is especially good at it. The Mystic, like many modern drones, uses 3D tracking to follow you around autonomously. But what makes this drone stand out is that it’s AI-powered. As it soars above you, it will identify points of interest and focus on them for photos or 4K video. The Mystic is also pre-programmed with a number of ‘cinematic’ flight patterns, meaning you can recreate the chopper scene from Apocalypse Now as it divebombs your garden. Best of all, you can get it to take a selfie just by striking a few poses thanks to gesture control. T3 SAYS: It’s no longer about whether you need a drone, it’s whether a drone needs you.
TECH-O-METER
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Top 10
KOZMOPHONE USD$349, kickstarter.com Much like vinyl records, fashions tend to go round in circles – and aesthetically, this turntable harks back to a time when men smoked pipes and women wore petticoats. Happily, though, the Kozmophone boasts some e smarts. For a start, it’s modular, so you can remove the horn and connect it, via Bluetooth, to your laptop or smart device as a portable speaker. If you keep the horn on the turntable, you can rotate it 360 degrees to direct sound around the room. But the feature that probably y got most of its Kickstarter funders excited (it’s due for launch in December) is its holographic display. Choose from a range of icons, download it, then have it rotating inside the turntable’s perspex pyramid. Magic. T3 SAYS: Some might consider it gimmicky, but as a conversation starter, the Kozmophone e ticks all the boxes.
TECH-O-METER
LG 34WK95U-W USD$1,499, lg.com If Vincent van Gogh was alive today, he’d probably give his right ear for one of these. Destined to become the go-to monitor for digital artists, the 34WK95U-W is a borderless wonder that boasts the world’s first 5K2K (5120x2160 resolution) 21:9 display. The luxuriant DCI-P3 colour gamut – a film-industry standard – and certified HDR600 compatibility will bring breathtaking exuberance to any project, whether that be Photoshopping your holiday snaps or editing a wedding video. And if you want to multi-task, you can – the monitor’s Split Screen function, combined with a Thunderbolt 3 port that provides super-fast, 40Gbps data transfer, means two separate video streams can be viewed side by side. T3 SAYS: Even for creatives this is arguably OTT, but there’s no denying that it’s immense when it comes to multi-tasking and crisp colours.
TECH-O-METER
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Horizon
NAKED LABS NAKED USD$1,395, nakedlabs.com The big drawback of dieting is that you end up spending twice as long in front of the mirror, trying to work out whether or not your handles have shrunk. Well, say goodbye to guesswork, slimmers, because Naked Labs has launched “the world’s first home body scanner”. Step onto the included set of rotating scales and this body-length ‘mirror’ will use its infrared light sensors to map your entire body in 3D. Your scan – along with details including body fat, fat mass, lean mass and weight – will then be beamed to the Naked Labs app, giving you a clear-cut appraisal of your calorie-burning endeavours, with detailed measurements. You can even view scans side by side, to check if you’ve developed an extra chin since last week’s bucket meal. T3 SAYS: Weight Watchers meets Minority Report in this futuristic body-mapping tech.
TECH-O-METER
NIKON COOLPIX P1000 $1,499, nikon.com.au Ever wanted to know what an ant’s earlobe looks like? Or what that microdot on the moon is? Now you can (maybe). The latest snapper in Nikon’s long-running CoolPix range is a wonder of science: it boasts the world’s longest optical zoom (125x, with a focal-length range of 24-3000mm!) for this size of camera – and yet, at a piffling 1.4kg, it’s a fraction of the weight of your average chunky DSLR. Nikon’s proprietary vibration reduction tech will help you capture eye-popping detail even when your hand is shaking. And that telephoto lens can be called into action while filming glorious 4K video, too, so you can shoot Blue Planetstyle close-ups of sea anenomes to your heart’s content. T3 SAYS: Whether you’re a wildlife snapper or a super-spy, that mega-zoom will make a big difference to your work.
TECH-O-METER
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Top 10
GARMIN VIVOSMART 4 $199, garmin.com When fitness trackers first appeared, many wrote them off as a fad – flimsy rubber step-counters that held about as much long-term appeal as calculator watches. But those cynics clearly underestimated the boffins that build these things, as sports bands have advanced beyond recognition. Garmin’s Vivosmart 3 was a massive hit with fitness freaks thanks to features like all-day stress tracking and a ‘rep counter’ for monitoring bench presses. The US company has upped the ante yet further with the tracker’s fourth edition, adding a blood-oxygen
sensor, energy-reserve calculator, a seven-day battery life and water resistance. It’s also slimmer than it used to be, which is handy for comfort, but is also a good omen for its wearers, right? T3 SAYS: This feature-packed fitness tracker may end up knowing more about your body than you do.
TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES
PHILIPS 65OLED903 $TBA, philips.com.au An OLED TV isn’t just for Christmas, but there’s bound to be some cracking telly, so you might want to buy a new panel to make the most of it. If you can’t afford the Samsung 8Ker that heads up this section then your next best option is the latest 4K launch. The ultra-slim 65OLED903/12 has a lot going for it: P5 Perfect Picture Engine technology serves up crisp detail, authentic skin colouring and super-smooth motion; Google Assistant lets you navigate the telly’s Android smarts with your voice, and Philips’ tried-and-trusted Ambilight feature adds some psychedelic
pizzazz. Best of all, the TV boasts an integrated soundbar by audio experts Bowers & Wilkins, which we’ve heard in the flesh, and is a seriously impressive bit of kit for built-in TV speaker. T3 SAYS: How to stand out in the TV market? Team up with one of the world’s best audio companies!
TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES
NETATMO SMART SMOKE ALARM USD$99, netatmo.com How are you supposed to relax on your hols when you’re constantly worrying that you’ve left the iron on at home and your house is going to catch fire at any minute? Easy! Install Netatmo’s latest smart device to your ceiling. Using optical sensors, this stylishly understated gadget will detect the first signs of smoke, and immediately start pinging alerts to your and your partner’s smartphone so that you can call the fire brigade. If you accidentally set it off when you’re at home (damn that cheap toaster), you can use your phone to silence it via Bluetooth. And as for
those annoying beeps you usually get when smoke alarms run out of juice? No bother – this one will calculate when its 10-year battery is on its way out, and keep you posted via a notification. T3 SAYS: Smart and reliable, this smoke detector has got your back while you’re at home and away.
TECH-O-METER COOLNESS INNOVATION FEATURES
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 1 3
Horizon
CAR RACKS AND BOXES
HOLLYWOOD EXPRESS 3-BIKE CAR RACK Why hire bikes when you can take your own? his rack attaches to your car via six fastening straps for impressive stability, while rubber separators stop your bikes from getting scratched. $124, 99bikes.com.au
THULE WAVE SURF RACK/WINGBAR 963 No self-respecting surf dude (yes, we’re cool) wants their board to get damaged in transit. Featuring four rubber cradles and taut straps, the Wave Surf Rack provides optimum protection – and the WingBar it attaches to packs drag-reducing tech for improved fuel economy. $179, thule.com.au
SEASON PASS
THE BEST ALL-WEATHER RIDES Give inclement weather the cold shoulder with an SUV that’ll keep you rock solid on the road in any season
KAMEI 330 ROOF BOX With room for six skis (although feel free to cram it with pants, socks, booze… whatever), a secure locking system and a chiselled, impact-resistant build, the Kamei 330 will keep anything you store up there safe and sound. $329, kamei.de 1 4 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
Unless you want to recreate Torvill and Dean’s Bolero on the slippery roads this autumn and winter, you need to think about buying a motor that can cope with adverse conditions. Of course, Land Rover has been building all-weather vehicles for donkey’s years, so you’d expect its latest Discovery Sport (from $62,762, landrover.com.au) to take this kind of stuff in its stride. And it does, boasting dedicated ‘Mud’ and ‘Snow’ modes that apply exactly the right amount of power to maximise traction on unforgiving surfaces, as well as tyres that are wider and grippier than a bouncer’s arms. Subaru may not be the first marque that springs to mind when you think about
no-nonsense vehicles, but the 2018 Outback (from $35,740, subaru.com.au) laughs in the face of chilly climes, with all-wheel drive and impressive ground clearance, not to mention heated front seats as standard. Toasty. Volvo’s new V90 Cross Country all-wheel drive (from $99,900, volvocars.com/au) takes no prisoners in cold weather, drawing upon a turbocharger and a supercharger to pummel its way out of trouble. And the latest iteration of Volkswagen’s T-Roc (price TBC) combines a raft of smart safety features (emergency braking, accident avoidance and optional 4MOTION traction control) to boost your confidence when the frost bites.
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Top 10
MERINO WOOL BASE LAYERS
ROCK AND ROLL Original Wild founder and adventure expert Kyle Moran picks his top rock climbing kit
SMARTWOOL MERINO 150 SHORT SLEEVE Core Spun un technology (merino wool wrapped d around a nylon corre) combines comfort with durability. But where this tee really impresses is temperature regulation. Perfect for an early autumn hike when the wind could be feisty at the top of the climb. $176, smartwool.com
ICEBREAKER COOLLITE MOMENTUM LONG SLEEVE ZIP
BLACK DIAMOND VAPOR HELMET This helmet is so ultra-light you forget you’re wearing it. Extremely breathable too, so you can climb harder. $143, q p blackdiamondequipment.com
ARCTERYX AR 395A HARNESS If you want a lightweight harness that feels like it was made for you, this is it. We use it at Original Wild, and it’s one of the best I’ve owned. $220, arcteryx.com
Cool-Lite fabric aids comfort, nylon aids durability, and Lycra makes the top pleasingly stretchy. A zipper chin guard d and d storm t flap prevent chafing, offset shoulder seams stop pack rub, and the odour resistance is unbeatable. $260, au.icebreaker.com
DMM PIVOT BELAY DEVICE A bombproof guide b belay device used at inal Wild. Enab es you to secure a cllimbing partner in n ferent modes, with ngle or double ropes. $64, dmmclimbing.com
MONTANE PRISM JACKET When securing your climbing partner, things can get chilly. A quality synthetic jacke jacket that fits over your harness and gear is essential for exposed e moments. $160, montane.co.uk $160
B BOLDRINI APACHE 5 These climbing shoes aren’t the cheapest, but they last. Com mfortable, and a greatlook king shoe that slides on and off a treat. $20 00, coldmountainkit.com
RUNNING SHOES FACE-OFF Ultra-grip trainers for staying steady on your feet
DHB MERINO SLEEVELESS BASE LAYER Here, the lightweight, super-fine material wicks away sweat and resists body odours, with h excellent thermal regulation keeping you cool. his soft vest is a good choice for a base layer, or as the first layer of your base system. $45, wiggle.com.au
HEAD-TO -HEAD WINNER
INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 260 $218, inov-8.com
British brand inov-8 already has an excellent reputation for its running shoe grip, and by using graphene, it’s now durable too. The upper is no less rugged, infused with Kevlar. A wide toebox makes the shoes breathable, while zero drop aids natural running form. At just 260g, the shoe is also insanely light.
ALTRA MEN’S LONE PEAK 3.5 $180, altrarunning.com
Altra, huge in US trail-running and new here, offers a wide toebox, zero drop and ample cushioning. The shoes are comfortable and rugged. Grip is good, but less sticky than the Terraultra’s. The cushioning will feel luxurious to some but excessive to others, and the size and weight negates dexterity.
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 1 5
Gadget guru
GADGET GURU
Our adviser makes the tech world even clearer than a 5K display
ANDY M, MELBOURNE
Which monitor should I get? The progressive ease at which Korea, Japan, and China can manufacture LCD panels means great things for the desktop market, and good news for fans of odd aspect ratios and absurd pixel density. Though selecting the right one boils down to a personal cost/benefit analysis. You could plump for a 16:9 screen, which suits most applications, most online video formats, and most games, or you could go mad with a more exotic oblong: the Cinemascope-shaped 21:9 is making big inroads, while Samsung and others are pushing a rather silly 32:9 ultrawide ratio.
ILLUSTRATIONS: STEPHEN KELLY
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When things start getting that complex, and you start dealing with that many pixels, you need extra hardware to drive it; 1080p has you wrangling two million pixels, while a 4K screen pushes that over eight million. Not that GaGu would recommend going for anything less than QHD (2560x1440), because it really does make a difference.
ABOVE The bigger your monitor, the bigger your joy. Isn’t that how the saying goes?
When things start getting that complex and you start dealing with that many pixels, you need extra hardware to drive it
There’s the question of curves (that’s really an each to their own sort of thing) and HDR (you don’t need it, but it’s nice to have, if what the manufacturer claims is HDR actually is). There’s the question of refresh rates (don’t trust science –you’ll notice the difference between 60Hz and 144Hz) and sync (look for something in conjunction with your graphics card for tear-free images). GaGu cop-out answer time, then: buy the best thing you can afford, and what works with your desk. Don’t get something gigantic if you’re going to be a foot away from it; don’t spend on gaming features if you’re never going to use them.
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 1 7
Horizon
FRANKIE D, SYDNEY
Is my smart speaker really spying on me all the time? GaGu’s been asked this question before, and nothing has changed: they’re just not built to do that. And that remains true: until its trigger phrase kicks it into action, an Alexa or Google Assistant-infused device is only listening on a tiny loop (one-second in the Echo’s case) that’s constantly recording over itself. You’re limited to a specific list of potential triggers because the small hardware circuit that splits the wait mode from the active mode is not advanced enough to accept anything more, and (for your security) it’s designed to stay exactly as it is, to prevent hacking. That said! That said. Guru has learned that while your smart speaker is not listening at all times (we’ll sidestep a few sinister patents from Facebook – you can write your own conspiracy theories about those) it is certainly remembering. Google Assistant, for instance, literally stores a record of
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everything it’s heard you say once activated, along with everything else you’ve done with your Google account. Some of these entries (you can find them in the My Activity section of your Google account) even include audio recordings. Ostensibly this is a way to ensure the service Google offers you is personal; cynically, Guru also suspects Google is holding on to them to improve its voicerecognition algorithms. Amazon does the same thing – you can find your voice recording history through the Alexa app, and see just how miraculous it is that your Echo device can determine through the muffled hiss of your room just what it is you’re trying to say. Both services helpfully allow you to delete these recordings, but here’s the rub: if you want to use a voice assistant, you’re going to be recorded. Uncomfortable as the idea may be, that’s how these services work.
ABOVE If there’s a tiny spy living in your smart speaker, do they get tiny pay cheques?
LARRY R, PERTH
my humidor tippity top? Guru (and, he is assured, the rest of the agonisingly clean-cut T3 team) cannot condone the idea of you smoking, dear reader. You shouldn’t do it. It’s really bad for you. But if you do, and if your predilections lean towards cigars through which you can really taste the sumptuous surfaces it was promised to have been rolled on, you’re not going to be able to pull off that fantastic Hannibal Smith impersonation with a soggy stoagie. So, if you must, the best way to keep tabs on your death-box is with a Bluetooth sensor that can sit in there and beam the conditions out to you. GaGu especially likes the SensorPush HT1 ($50), which monitors both humidity and temperature in one tiny package (so you can relocate the box if it’s looking like your storage space is the problem), but he’s more inclined towards putting it to work in his suspiciously damp, warm fridge. Just what is in there? We may be better off not knowing.
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T warm The winter led w GaGu to G in place himself h of the front o que, turning barbeq more lobstery ever-m under the burning urns out (or at sun. Tu his is the least th y he story h told Mrs Guru) that the grill was definitely broken. While the price of getting a Lynx Smart Grill express-shipped from the States didn’t quite match up to the immense value of its Wi-Fi connectivity, rotisserie features and app-directed meat-placement advice, Guru did at least get a Big Green Egg. Inside, a Meater beams the meat’s internal goings-on directly to GaGu’s phone. Guru is a little alarmed at the ability of his youngest child to wiggle his little brain into any tech put in front of him – particularly if that tech is protected by parental controls. More severe sanctions have been made
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necessary – router-level parental controls, specifically the Disney-fied variety found in the Netgear Orbi mesh system ($499 for two nodes) are doing the trick at keeping him on the straight and narrow for now. Technology couldn’t fix GaGu’s cat’s recent predilection for what the vet calls ‘middening’ – even the mighty Feliway face-hormone diffusers ($30-ish, or a lot more if you get it from the vet) didn’t stop the agoraphobic tyke from leaving presents throughout Guru Towers. GaGu can, however, heartily recommend both cat litter tray liners, which simplify an otherwise disgusting process, and the microchipdetecting SureFlap cat flap ($169), which (as long as batteries are live) does a strong job at keeping out unwanted intruders.
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Gadget guru
NEW MEDIA
NOW PLAYING he greatest media you need on your various screens
HAL W, ST LEONARDS
Can tech help me gain muscle? Look away from the infomercials, Mr Flex, because there’s nothing for you there. GaGu can’t legally say that (unnamed) vibrating standoplates or torturous ab-zappers don’t work, but use a little common sense – you know you can’t cheat your way to a six pack. The trick is to dodge the other kind of six pack, get your diet right, and work the right things at the right time. Tech, or at least apps, can help with that; Fitness Point (iOS/Android, free) offers a basic selection of mass-building routines, with animations to help you find the right form, while Jefit (iOS/Android, free) does the same with photos, and lets you track your lifts as well.
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BETTER CALL SAUL One of the greatest TV tricksters returns to Netflix in the new season of Better Call Saul. We can’t wait to see what Jimmy gets up to as it creeps toward the start of Breaking Bad.
EVAN P, TOOWOOMBA
ABOVE We want to look great on the outside, but we also really want to just lie in bed watching Netflix
Are dash cams worth it? GIDEON FALLS Echoes of Twin Peaks haunt this new comic from the creative team behind Old Man Logan, which sees a young man and Catholic priest drawn to the dark town of Gideon Falls.
DONUT COUNTY In this quirky, colourful game for PC/Mac/PS4/iOS, you play a hole that must get bigger and eat everything in its path. It sounds daft, but suspend all scepticism and jump in.
What price do you put on security, safety, or the possibility of capturing footage of a crazy meteor strike while you’re trundling along the M2? Of course it’s worth it. Decent dash cams are leaving China by the containerload, so while we think you should plump for Garmin’s Dash Cam 55 ($238) you could get good results with the Yi Smart Dash Camera ($54). Your insurance will get cheaper and, as long as you install the cam properly, you’ll not even notice it’s there. One caveat, though: GaGu’s experiences attempting to run the cabling for a rear-facing camera were so negative he was inclined to dash the thing onto the pavement.
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KERRY C, LIVERPOOL
good mobile recordings? You would be surprised at what that tiny mic on your phone is capable of. Guru listens to podcasts recorded using nothing but a Android handset, and while the content’s excruciating, the audio quality generally isn’t. To do it better, Zoom’s compact $169 H1n (a replacement for the H1, a long-standing favourite) produces remarkable audio at a decent price, using a crossed-pair microphone array to deliver a good stereo image. Consider also the Tascam DR-05, similarly specced and coming in at $158.
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With a dash cam in your car you have the possibility of capturing footage of a crazy meteor strike as you trundle along the M2.
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 1 9
Horizon
RINSE, WASH, REPEAT Jeans are the workhorse of any person’s wardrobe... Sam Squire picks five of the best cuts and colours to be seen in this summer
ZARA RAW EDGE SKINNY JEANS Distressed jeans are one of 2018’s hottest denim trends, and this raw hem creation can be partnered with every sneaker you own. $91, zara.com HUGO BOSS REGULAR FIT JEANS For those occasions when you need to create a smarter look, slip into Hugo Boss’ popular Regular Fit Jeans, pairing them with brogues and a crisp shirt. $160, hugoboss.com AMIRI TRACK STACK SKINNYFIT STRIPED DISTRESSED STRETCH-JEANS
Side stripes were a big summer hit and aren’t going away any time soon. These designer jeans will bring the look into autumn. $2,287, mrporter.com LEVIS 512 SLIM TAPER FIT
We’ve chosen the versatile 512 Slim Taper Fit because of its perfect fit and sheer range of colours you can buy ’em in. From $89, levi.com PULL & BEAR CARROT FIT JEANS Looser at the crotch yet tapered at the calves, these jeans are ideal for those with larger thighs. They’re also great for wearing with boots. $32 pullandbear.com
WHICH WATCH
THE HOTTEST TIMEPIECES RIGHT NOW CERTINA DS PH200M As part of its Heritage Collection, Certina resurrected a dive watch from the 1970s. Inspired by the depths of the ocean, it combines timeless design with a modern automatic movement.
OMEGA SEAMASTER 1948 SMALL SECONDS
CHRISTOPHER WARD C65 TRIDEN W NT BRONZE SH21 B
Released to celebrate the 70th anniversary of o the Seamaster, Omega a’s latest watch is full of retro touches, from the e opaline silvery domed dial to the embossed vintage Omega.
This classic 1960s dive watch is underpinned w by Christopher Ward’ss horoughly modern th n-house movement. in The bronze edition is mited to 150 pieces. lim
$1,020, certina.com
$9,000, omega.com
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$3,333, hristopherward.com ch
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Style
DRESS LIKE
JEFF GOLDBLUM Turns out the king of cool’s playful black ensemble is easy to pull off… THE JACKET Bomber jackets are a timeless classic, integrating beautifully with a wide range of looks. Jeff’s Saint Laurent Sequin Bomber ($9,200, farfetch.com) is so strong it elevates his entire outfit in one swift move. THE TROUSERS Jeff often tones down his bold shirts and jackets with simple trousers. ASOS’ Design Slim Fit Black Trousers ($52, asos.com) give you a similar look without the movie star price. THE SHOES A simple black boot is a great way to lend an edge to your outfit. The Office Heron Chelsea Boots ($64, asos.com) provide a similar vibe to Jeff and can be worn with black jeans and trousers.
MONEY NO OBJECT Louboutin Greggo Flat Calf
There are Oxford shoes and then there’s the Louboutin Greggo Calf. A true sartorial icon, this dapper calfskin shoe is more versatile than it first appears, lending itself smartly to suits (pair the Tan with blue suits, the Black with grey) as well as darker rinse jeans. A flash of red from the soles introduces a racy element to an otherwise refined choice of footwear. $1,200, asia.christianlouboutin.com Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
FOR ALL SEASONS
HOW TO CREATE A TRANSITIONAL WARDROBE Stylist Ellis Ranson explains how to transition from winter to summer. Late winter through early summer is an odd time for clothes. We’re not quite ready to embrace the tees and lightweight chinos of summer, but it’s still too cool to abandon the heavier knits of autumn. So, how can we shift into the new season both comfortably and stylishly? Ellis Ranson, stylist to the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Peter Andre, suggests running an inventory on your existing wardrobe, then carefully adding in new pieces, rather than splurging on a total fad closet overhaul… “Men can get away with spending more on fewer pieces, avoiding too much throw-away fashion,” says Ellis. Take a look at your jeans and how these could be paired with a new sweatshirt, or give your favourite summer tees a new lease of life beneath a tailored blazer. Adopting a tonal approach to colour is another key starting point, says Ellis: “I love using different shades of the same colour. Grey is a great example, as different shades of grey creates a clean, effortless look.” For choosing a look on cooler autumn days, Ellis suggests layering up – but stylishly. “Layering is a key style hack for all men. If you’re wearing a plain jumper, try a longer-line t-shirt underneath, styled with a pair of skinny jeans for a more casual look.” When it comes to comfortable layering, Ellis advises her clients to follow one golden rule: “Gym clothes belong in the gym. We all love a tracksuit, but if you’re looking for comfort try a twinset. These are hugely popular and offer a casual look while still helping you look as though you’ve made an effort.” S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 2 1
Horizon Living
LUXURY FEATURE SPEAKERS
BANG & OLUFSEN BEOSOUND EDGE B&O has reinvented the wheel for its new multi-room speaker, out this November. Using proximity sensors, the Edge will detect when you’re approaching and switch itself on. You can then adjust the volume by rocking the speaker back and forth. $TBC, bang-olufsen.com
BRIGHT IDEA
FRESH NEW WAYS TO LIGHT YOUR HOME THIS AUTUMN Illuminate your house with the brightest lighting trends for summer,
O NENDO CO BUNAC KER SPEAK oration A collabo between Bunaco and stylee studio Nendo, this soun ndbox relies upon the echo-red ducing propertie es of its coiled beeechwo w od d build to produce omnidirectional acoustics that are as soothing as a Shiatsu massage. $2,400, bunaco.co.jp
from the latest smart lighting kits to showstopper pendants Lighting is one of the easiest ways to create a specific mood at home, and smart lighting helps you achieve the right colour and intensity for any space. Throwing a party? Deck your walls in the new Nanoleaf Canvas ($TBC, nanoleaf.me), a modular lighting system comprising app-controlled LED panels. Cover your entire ceiling in them if you want to go totally disco. Looking a bit grey? Let the new Philips Hue Adore Bathroom Ceiling Light ($TBC, meethue.com) cast a flattering glow on you, throwing out either a relaxing or energising
shade of light depending on whether you’re bathing or showering. Keep it cosy in bedrooms and living rooms with lanterns filled with LED string lights, arranged in clusters on mantelpieces or tables, or make a statement with a neon wall sign or a giant, showstopper pendant. In the kitchen, why not embrace the industrial look with exposed bulbs, such as the Plumen 001 ($59, plumen.com)? Hang a series of them above your table for a statement light fixture that’s bright enough to cook by, no matter how dark it is outside.
WI-FI WONDER
SUPER-FAST SMARTS Hi fi meets Wi Fi with Netgear’s groundbreaking mesh system and smart speaker combo PEOPLE PEOPLE TRANSPARENT SPEAKER Bringing a new meaning to the phrase ‘crystal-clear audio’, this speaker enables you to observe its inner machinations while it pumps out your favurite tunes. here’s also a mini version. €800, eu.transparentspeaker.com 2 2 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
Like Simon Cowell throwing together his latest boyband, Netgear has taken a bunch of brilliant individual components and merged them into one world-beating smart-home kit. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the Orbi Mesh Wi-Fi System with Orbi Voice ($TBC, netgear. com), a genuinely exciting innovation that boasts a Harman Kardon-built Bluetooth speaker, a voiceenabled Alexa personal assistant and a trailblazing tri-band mesh Wi-Fi router. What does it mean? You can conduct all of your IoT shenanigans at lightning-fast speed from literally anywhere in the home. Now, that’s what we call the X factor. Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
Opinion
Duncan Bell is wrapped in plastic Opening a new bit of tech is like weird sex involving lots of film. Is this sustainable? pening a new gadg t is a very 21st centur expression of sexua desire. As millennial turn their backs on bonking, to spend more time with their avocados, inducting a new bit tech is filling the hole that leav s. You don’t agree? Consider th ... When you buy a new bit of , the box is swaddled in shrink ap, stretched taut across its body. Everything is visible, yet prophylactically covered. With fumbling hands you must ease your way through, then tear it off. Inked text and logos hint at the excitement within, like the neon signs on disreputable bars of yore. Prise off the lid and what you desire is finally visible. The next layer of plastique is not transparent but translucent – sometimes near opaque. Rather than being sealed tightly like the outer layers, this is suggestively loose, held together by easily found tabs. This must be carefully, lovingly peeled back. Beneath, the soft plastic, the vulnerable glass and the hard, unyielding metal of the gadget’s construction seem to yearn for your touch. Finally, on the most sensitive area, the screen, there is one final sheet of plastic. You peel it back. Now, at last, you can gaze upon its true face, and let your fingers work their magic, bringing it to life. You get the subtle subtext of what I’m getting at here, right? Come on, we all know why people love unboxing videos…
O
I need a shower after that Not surprisingly, it was an Apple product that recently made me have all these rather feverish thoughts about plastic. The Series 3 Apple Watch, which I bought as
esent, s rhaps th st w apped device all time. First up, the watc mes in a shrink-wrappe x that even the shop assistant at e Apple Store described as ver-sized”. Honestly, it’s about t ze of one of those massive pac cigarettes you can buy duty-free shops, h s or luggage r a rabbit. Then the inner packaging is plastic on top of card on top of plastic. Even the straps, which are entirely made of plastic, come wrapped in individual bits of more diaphanous plastic. I’ve played up the sexy element of unwrapping tech here because that’s the way my mind works, but it is, of course, much more complex than that.
“here are aspects of fetishism, but there is also inhuman precision and spiritual devotion” There are aspects of fetishism but there is also inhuman precision, spiritual devotion and, more prosaically, protection and preservation of the new tech as it moves up the supply chain from factory to the clammy embrace of your sweaty hands. With the Apple Watch, for instance, the vacuum-formed inner tray is like a perfect tech bento box, fussed and thought over to the nth degree by Jony Ive and his monkish
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olytes. e way Apple h t k n some of e of luxury watch packaging, but applied them to a more explicitly ‘tech’ product, is also clever if you’re in the know. However, how long can this level of packaging excess continue? Given how upset people now get about plastic drinking straws and single-use shopping bags, it seems inevitable that there will be a backlash against this school of packaging. It’s so beautiful, so OTT, so perfectly plastic and... So absolutely destined to be immediately sent to landfill. I’m not picking on Apple in particular here. I’m aware that, in recent years, the company has worked hard to reduce the amount of plastic it uses in its packaging, and that much of what it uses is actually recycled (though this is problematic in itself as recycled plastic has usually reached the last of its nine lives) or is recyclable. Probably other brands have too. Even so, realistically, our precious tech must surely all start coming to us in corrugated cardboard and ugly pseudoplastics based on starch. That’s probably great for the planet, but I admit I will miss this era of perfect icons of glass and steel, impeccably dressed in sexy, sexy plastic. S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 2 3
Best Tech for Everything
BEST TECH FOR EVERYTHING Find out how tech can upgrade every part of your life, from art appreciation and top TVs to the best shave ever Words: Becca Caddy, Matt Bolton Photography: Neil Godwin
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Best Tech for Everything
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 2 5
Best Tech for Everything
THE BEST TECH FOR…
audiovisual supremacy 1
Sonos Beam
Sonos’ new soundbar packs a stunning amount of audio into your bedroom or living room, OLIWLQJ WKH ćDW VRXQG \RX JHW IURP PRVW 79V But it’s also a great addition to a smart home setup, thanks to built-in Alexa voice control, DQG LWèV SDUW RI D 6RQRV RU $SSOH $LU3OD\ PXOWL URRP PXVLF V\VWHP $QG WKDW 6RQRV support means you could add a couple of Sonos satellite speakers or its subwoofer to extend it LQWR D PRUH FRPSUHKHQVLYH VXUURXQG V\VWHP 7KHUHèV UHDOO\ QR EHWWHU YDOXH ZD\ WR ERRVW \RXU KRPHèV VRXQG DQG VPDUWV $599, sonos.com
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Sony AF8
Our favourite telly on the market right now starts with a gorgeous OLED 4K panel that produces perfect HDR visuals, and then continues with best-in-class image processing for making HD content look great at Ultra HD, DQG PDNLQJ PRWLRQ SHUIHFWO\ VPRRWK LQ VSRUWV It also comes with ‘Acoustic Surface’ speaker tech: the whole screen itself is a speaker (with a woofer at the back for added oomph), creating D PRUH HQJURVVLQJ VRXQGVWDJH WKDQ RWKHU 79V From $3,499, sony.com.au
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Sony WH-1000XM2
Get rid of the outside world and focus solely on your music with Sony’s advanced noiseFDQFHOOLQJ KHDGSKRQHV 7KH\èUH FRPIRUWDEOH to wear for long periods of time, and do an amazing job of cutting down on exterior noise (and even have special tuning for pressureFKDQJH HQYLURQPHQWV VXFK DV SODQHV 0RVW LPSRUWDQWO\ WKH\ VRXQG IDQWDVWLF :LWK OLYHO\ detail and rich bass, it all sounds perfectly EDODQFHG $GG VPDUWV OLNH EHLQJ DEOH WR SODFH one hand over a cup to let in noise from the RXWVLGH WHPSRUDULO\ DQG \RXèYH JRW D ZLQQHU $498, sony.com.au
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Optoma UHZ65
:KHQ LW FRPHV WR SURMHFWRUV \RX QHHG WR JR ODVHU LI \RX ZDQW WKH EHVW SLFWXUH SRVVLEOH But buying this kind of cinema-quality tech has always been the reserve of the really ULFKð XQWLObWKH 8+= DUULYHG 7KLV SURMHFWRU blows the mind with its HDR pictures, the laser system creating deep blacks and vibrant FRORXUV 7KH . LPDJH LV DOVR SDFNHG ZLWK GHWDLO ,WèV QRW WRR ODUJH HLWKHU VR \RX ZRQèW need to create a whole home cinema space MXVWbWRbDFFRPPRGDWH LW $8,999, optoma.com
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Audiovisual supremacy
Pro-Ject RPM 9 Carbon
Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 2
Rectangular turntables? Forget it. Half the fun of getting back to vinyl is how everything looks on display in your home, so you want to buy a player that’s as much objet d’art as practical tool. Say hello to the RPM 9 Carbon. The main plinth, with platter and tone arm, is shaped like a guitar SLFN DQG ĆQLVKHG LQ GUDPDWLF FDUERQ ĆEUH 7KH PRWRU LV LQ D VHSDUDWH section of the base, ensuring that it doesn’t interfere with the smooth motion of the platter, so your records always sound impeccable. $4,199 project-audio.com
Continuing our ‘audio as art’ theme is B&O’s 360-degree wireless speaker. The gorgeous aluminium design comes in silver, gold and ,QIDQWU\ *UHHQ ĆQLVKHV DQG LV HDV\ to play music to, thanks to wireless support for Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Chromecast and DLNA. The sound spreads around the room beautifully thanks to that striking ‘Acoustic Lens’ design at the top: the tweeter ĆUHV GRZQZDUGV RQWR D WHDUGURS VKDSHG VWUXFWXUH ZKLFK UHćHFWV LW out in all directions. $TBC, bang-olufsen.com
TOP TV ACCESSORIES
XOLORspace SMARTOOO 23051
gitech Harmony Log y Elite
Chromecast Ultra
Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve now got a range of 4K HDR streamers, games consoles, Blu-ray playersâ&#x20AC;¦ but a lot of TVs only have a couple of 4K-capable ports. <RX QHHG DbKLJK VSHHG +'0, VZLWFK DQG WKLV LVbLW )LYH LQSXWV RQH RXWSXW DOO VRUWHG $46, amazon.com
Control your telly and smart home from one WRXFKVFUHHQ SURJUDPPDEOH UHPRWH $ VLQJOH press can turn on the TV and the Blu-ray player, VHW WKH LQSXW DQG GLP WKH VPDUW OLJKWV <RX FDQ DOVR FRQWURO LW IURP \RXU SKRQH RU XVLQJ $OH[D $449, logitech.com
7KLV WLQ\ VWUHDPLQJ ER[ GDQJOHV EHKLQG \RXU 79 DGGLQJ DQ HDV\ ZD\ WR EHDP . YLGHR RYHU WR LW IURP DQ\ &KURPHFDVW HQDEOHG DSS RQ $QGURLG RU L26 LQFOXGLQJ 1HWÄ&#x2021;L[ DQG <RX7XEH %URZVH on your phone, watch on your TV. Easy, $95, store.google.com
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 2 7
Best Tech for Everything
THE BEST TECH FORâ&#x20AC;Ś
finer tastes
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Cozzia Qi CZ-730 Smart Massaging Chair
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A hand-held body tension sensor built in to this smart chair evaluates the stiffness in your back. You can then tell the app where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re experiencing problems and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll use that info along with your biometric data to create a personalised massage programme specially designed to ease up your problem areas. Using heated rollers that move in all directions, the chair is designed to feel like a real life human massage, not a fancy robot. Think of it as your own personal chair doctor. USD$12,999.99, cozziausa.com
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Coravin Model 2 Elite
For the ultimate in luxury-meets-technology, may we introduce you to Coravin. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a wine preservation system that lets you taste that crisp white or rich red without pulling out the cork. It comes with a needle that pierces corks gently to extract the wine, then the Coravin Capsule uses argon gas to prevent oxidisation of the vino thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left, keeping it as delicious as the day you started it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a must-have for VDPSOLQJ Ä&#x2020;QH ZLQHV ZLWKRXW FRPPLWWLQJ WR Ä&#x2020;QLVKLQJ WKH ZKROH ERWWOH DQG ZRXOG EH ULJKW DWbKRPH LQ DQ\ ZDQQDEH VRPPHOLHUèV NLWFKHQ $549, whiteredbubbles.com.au
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3 Orion SkyQuest XT8g Computerised GoTo Dobsonian Telescope See the stars like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never seen them before with this high-end telescope from Orion. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fully motorised and comes with objectlocation tech, which means it can automatically track more than 42,000 celestial objects, and makes stargazing a breeze. Its eight-inch DSHUWXUH UHÄ&#x2021;HFWRU RSWLFV FDQ VKRZ \RX GHWDLOHG views of our solar system, including planets and the moon, but you can also view some deep sky objects as well, like star clusters and nebulae. USD$1,049, telescope.com
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Leica M10 Edition Zagato
This beautiful camera combines the high-end German craftsmanship Leica is famous for with the luxury Italian touch of car-design legend Dr Andrea Zagato. It has a Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH lens and as the Zagato design house is known for its innovative use of aluminium, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no surprise to see thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what the cameraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s casing is made from. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s limited edition, so if you want to take exceptional photos on an exceptional device, act fast. $33,700, leicastore-store.com.au 2 8 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
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Optik Horizon 001 Flagship This distinctive and stylish watch presents time in a totally different way by putting the whole 24 hours of the day on its face. Not only is it an unusual concept, but so is its design. Its face features a yellow and grey rotating dial, which turns only once throughout the day, and is housed in a stainless steel casing. The device has a 100m water resistance rating, a 20mm black silicone strap and comes in a number of different androgynous styles. $639, optikinstruments.com Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
Finer tastes
Meural Leonora Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to make your art smart. The Leonora may look like a regular frame, but you can control the art thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s displayed on it via the Meural app, Alexa voice control, or just by waving your hand in front of it. You have instant access to more than 100 images and works of art, or you can sign up for a membership to the Meural gallery, which will give you lots more to choose from. From $595, amazon.com
DELUXE GLAMPING GADGETS
Nebula Capsule
Heininger 5995 Portable Fire Pit
Olight X7R Marauder
Watch movies, TV shows and anything else from your phone in the middle of nowhere with this portable projector. It delivers a great picture up to 100 inches, and the 100 ANSI lumens brightness looks fab in dimmer light. $599, anker.com
,I \RX OLNH VLWWLQJ DURXQG Ä&#x2020;UHV EXW QRW WKH way your hair and clothes smell of smoke DIWHUZDUGV WKLV SRUWDEOH Ä&#x2020;UH SLW LV IRU \RX ,W burns smokeless and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to carry, making LWbLGHDO IRU WKH FDPSVLWH RU \RXU SDWLR $193, amazon.com
You want to see in the dark? The X7R Marauder has a maximum output of 12,000 lumens, ZKLFK PHDQV LWèV RQH RI WKH EULJKWHVW Ä&#x2021;DVKOLJKWV you can get. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also dust-proof and waterproof, so can survive a rainy walk back from the pub. $369, olightstore.com.au
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Best Tech for Everything
THE BEST TECH FORâ&#x20AC;Ś
having fun 1
Expressive E TouchĂŠ Synth Controller If your idea of a good time involves listening to music or creating your own, then youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to love the E TouchĂŠ. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an expressive instrument that lets you control electronic sounds using touch. Soft and hard gestures will LQÄ&#x2021;XHQFH WKH LQWHQVLW\ RI WKH VRXQG \RX KHDU and even the slightest pressure will have an effect, which means thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lots of scope to be creative. The E TouchĂŠ is USB-powered and also has built-in MIDI and CV ports for direct connection to your favourite synth. $445, expressivee.com
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Z Scooter
7KH Ä&#x2020;UVW VHOI EDODQFLQJ VFRRWHU WKLV VKLQ\ vehicle may have been designed with vintage styling, but with zero emissions, its own app and a Tesla Model S long-lasting battery, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a modern take on the classic mode of transport. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s made of solid, high-quality materials and comes in a range of different colours. Everything about the scooter is intuitive, with a touch-activated light and a driving style that follows your bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movements, making it easy to learn to use in a matter of minutes. $9635, z-scooter.com
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Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System Retro gaming is having a real moment right now and what better way to relive your youth than with a SNES Classic? This version of the iconic console has the original look and feel of the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;90s console, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s smaller and more portable. It also bakes in a new feature, which enables \RX WR UHZLQG XS WR Ä&#x2020;YH PLQXWHV RI JDPHSOD\ It comes fully loaded with 21 games, many of which are multiplayer (it comes with two controllers in the box), including Super Mario Kart and Donkey Kong Country. $120, nintendo.com.au
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Lego Star Wars Y-Wing StarďŹ ghter Ultimate Collectors Series Part of Legoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elite-level Star Wars sets, this < :LQJ 6WDUÄ&#x2020;JKWHU NLW IHDWXUHV DQ LQFUHGLEOH level of detail, including wheel-activated ion cannons, space for the R2 astromech droid, and it even has an opening cockpit with a Gold /HDGHU PLQLÄ&#x2020;JXUH SHUFKHG LQVLGH ,WèV D JUHDW WR\ WR RZQ EXW LWèV GHÄ&#x2020;QLWHO\ EHHQ GHVLJQHG with Star Wars fans and collectors in mind, as it comes with both a display stand and a fact plaque. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than two feet long and 11 inches wide, so make some space. $299, shop.lego.com 3 0 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
MenKind FPV Rock Crawler This remote-controlled buggy is built for off-road adventures, with a sturdy waterproof frame and big tyres. A camera sits over the front, so you can use the remote to take photos or video, or watch a live stream from the rock crawler on your phone in real time. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, if you have a VR headset that can be powered by your phone, you can have an even more immersive experience by viewing what the rock crawler sees as if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re there. $144, menkind.co.uk Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
Having fun
Parrot Bebop 2 FPV )RU WKH PRVW LPPHUVLYH Ä&#x2021;\LQJ H[SHULHQFH \RXèUH OLNHO\ WR JHW ZLWKRXW D SLORWèV OLFHQVH \RX QHHG WKH 3DUURW %HERS )39 GURQH )RU WKRVH QRW LQ WKH NQRZ )39 VWDQGV IRU )LUVW 3HUVRQ 9LHZ DQG WKDWèV H[DFWO\ ZKDW \RX JHW ZKHQ \RX VHQG WKH 3DUURW %HERS GURQH XS LQWR WKH VN\ ,W FDQ WDNH H[FHSWLRQDO SKRWRV EXW LWèV DOVR DEOH WR FDSWXUH 3 )XOO +' ZKLFK \RX FDQ ZDWFK LQ UHDO WLPH YLD WKH )39 *RJJOHV Ã¥ MXVW OLNH EHLQJ LQ WKH FRFNSLW $576, parrot.com
VIRTUAL REALITY
Oculus Go
o Fusion 360 Camera GoPro
Lenovo Star Wars: Jedi Challenges
The latest VR headset from Oculus works all on its own, without added devices or an expensive computer. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lightweight design with a clear lens, and has surround sound audio and access to more than 1,000 VR games and apps. $359, oculus.com
A GoPro especially for capturing 360-degree videos and photos in all kinds of conditions. It has an 18MP camera with built-in stabilisation for a super-smooth shot, and you can create fully immersive VR experiences in 5.2K video. $884, shop.gopro.com
If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always dreamed of becoming a Jedi, then now is your chance. This augmented reality game arms you with a headset and a lightsaber controller so you can battle Darth Vader and Kylo Ren as you use the Force. $199, lenovo.com/au
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Best Tech for Everything
THE BEST TECH FORâ&#x20AC;¦
3
personal improvement 1
2
5
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DrinKup Bottle
Stay hydrated with this smart water bottle, which recommends how much you need each day based on your height, weight and GDLO\ DFWLYLWLHV ,WèOO DOVR show you your hydration OHYHO RQ WKH OLG WKURXJKRXW WKH GD\ DQG YLEUDWH ZKHQ \RX QHHG WR GULQN PRUH ,W comes with an app, which bugs you to hydrate, keeps tabs on how often you GULQN VR \RX GRQèW KDYH to and lets you know how well your hydration habit LVbFRPLQJ DORQJ USD$69, drinkupbottle. com 3 2 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
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Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer One of the best hair dryers on the planet, the Supersonic has 1,600W of SRZHU ZLWK DPSOLÄ&#x2020;FDWLRQ tech tripling the amount RI DLU LW SXVKHV RXW There are three different speed settings, as well as KHDW FRQWURO VPDUWV 7KDW means it might be super quick and easy to use, but LW ZRQèW IUD]]OH \RXU KDLU The hair dryer also comes with a number of different magnetic attachments, like a smoothing nozzle for DGGHG VOHHNQHVV DQG VKLQH $499, dyson.com.au
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Garmin Forerunner 645 Music Runners need a dedicated sports watch for pounding WKH SDYHPHQW DQG ZLWK GPS and music storage, WKLV LV SHUIHFW 'RZQORDG 500 songs and connect Bluetooth headphones for KDVVOH IUHH OLVWHQLQJ ,W KDV HYHU\WKLQJ \RXèG H[SHFW from a high-end running watch, including heart-rate tracking and lots of data DERXW KRZ \RX PRYH å DQG WKHUHèV HYHQ PRUH GHWDLOHG tracking if you add the *DUPLQ )RRW 3RG VHQVRU $599, buy.garmin.com
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O i Ovie Smarterware For a food storage system thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s smart yet simple, FKHFN RXW 2YLH $WWDFK LWV SmartTags to anything in \RXU IULGJH IURP DQ 2YLH FRQWDLQHU WR D EDJ RI YHJ The light on the tag will then show you the status of your food and how TXLFNO\ \RX VKRXOG HDW LW Green is fresh, yellow is good (but eat it soon), and UHG LV WKURZ LW DZD\ ,WèV D great idea for meal prep and reducing food waste if you often forget when you SXW WKLQJV LQ \RXU IULGJH USD$100, ovie.life
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WattBike W Bik A Atom
A super-smart indoor bike trainer that enables \RX WR JHW Ä&#x2020;W DQG LPSURYH your cycling performance from the comfort of your OLYLQJ URRP $ &OLPE 0RGH with automatic resistance, means you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to NHHS FKDQJLQJ VHWWLQJV It also keeps your cycling quiet, so you can get up at the crack of dawn for a spinning session without ZDNLQJ HYHU\RQH XS <RX can access training plans, track your performance and analyse data from the :DWW%LNH +XE YLD DQ DSS $TBC, wattbike.com
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Personal improvement
Philips Series 9000 Prestige Electric Shaver The latest shaver from Philips, the Series 9000 Prestige, gives you a shave as close as a straight razor. It’s equipped with blades that pull hair closer to the foil before cutting, for ultimate closeness even when tackling days-old stubble, and anti-friction rings ensure it won’t irritate the skin as it goes. You can easily tweak its power to suit the sensitivity of your skin, too. It also comes with a Qi charging pad for keeping it juiced up without any hassle (handy for your phone, too). $699, philips.com.au
LEARN ANOTHER LANGUAGE Duolingo A popular app for learning languages, Duolingo teaches you through different levels, badges and topics in a range of ways that’ll keep you on your toes. With more than 30 languages to choose from, you’ll be like a local in no time. It also has social features, for practicing with others. Free, iOS; Free, Android
Rosetta Stone If you’re serious about learning a new language, buy a subscription for Rosetta Stone. You’ll then get access to the service’s fantastic app, which is full of lessons and has speech-recognition technology built-in to improve your pronunciation. Lessons can be downloaded for RIćLQH OHDUQLQJ Free, iOS; Free, Android
Memrise If you’re having fun, you’re likely to develop lasting skills faster. That’s why Memrise mixes real-life content with language learning. There are lots of languages to choose from and a handy RIćLQH PRGH PHDQV you can learn any time. There’s even a chatbot to practice talking to. Free, iOS; Free, Android Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 3 3
Best Tech for Everything
THE BEST TECH FORâ&#x20AC;Ś
getting things done 1 1
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Samsung Galaxy Note9
Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest phone yet is ideal for working on the go, because it has a bunch of features that make the most of its 6.4-inch 2960x1440 AMOLED display. The S Pen is now Bluetooth-connected, with 4,096 levels of pressure detection and a button you can use to control the phone. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also got clever split-screen controls, which let you pair apps to launch side-by-side, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to bring up your calendar and email together, for example. Plus, you can get it with 512GB of storage, and then at another 512GB SD card for a whopping 1TB. $1,579, samsung.com
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BeyerDynamic Fox Professional USB Studio Microphone This professional microphone is the ideal choice for podcasters, gamers, YouTubers, content creators, musicians, singers, songwriters and anyone else who relies on recording topquality audio for a job or side project without any hassle. With 24-bit and 96kHz support, it delivers a high-resolution audio quality that could compete with the result youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d probably get from a professional recording studio. It comes with a USB cable, but can also connect to smartphone via an adapter. $229, beyerdynamic.com
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Anker Powercore II Slim
We all know thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing quite as heartbreaking as watching your phone battery slowly ebb away when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve forgotten your charger. Make sure that never happens again with a portable charger that can go with you everywhere. We like the Powercore II Slim from Anker because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compact enough to Ä&#x2020;W LQ DQ\ EDJ LWèV KLJK FDSDFLW\ SURPLVLQJ whole charges for an iPhone 8, and it plays nice with a range of other devices. $93, anker.com
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Microsoft Surface Go
Microsoftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest Surface is a tablet on the, uh, surface, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got the full power of Windows underneath, which makes it really Ä&#x2021;H[LEOH IRU ZRUNLQJ RQ WKH JR $W NJ LWèV the lightest Surface ever made, and with 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage it delivers great performance. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specially designed for mobile work with a compact design and touchscreen, but you can also connect it up to a Surface Dock and view your work from an external PRQLWRU ZKHQ \RX JHW EDFN WR WKH RIÄ&#x2020;FH From $599, microsoft.com 3 4 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
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Getting things done
Moleskine Pen+ Ellipse and Moleskine Paper Tablet The Pen+ Ellipse may look like a stylish, regular pen but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s super smart and can transfer everything you GR RIÄ&#x2021;LQH RQWR \RXU GLJLWDO devices. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need one of the Moleskine Paper Tablet notebooks for it to work, which contain special paper that tracks everything you do with the pen and makes it available digitally in real time. That means whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re taking notes, doodling, creating graphs or even using the diary planner, you can easily turn your analogue scribbles into shareable digital ones. $179, moleskine.com
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch Packing more power than ever, the new 13-inch Pro from Apple is ideal for getting things done. It has a great-looking 13.3-inch LED-backlit Retina display and latest-generation Intel quad-core processors, while still weighing just 1.3kg. With 10 hours of battery life, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good for working while on the move, with even pro apps handled comfortably by the power of that processor. The integrated Touch Bar and Touch ID security also make for quicker, more HIÄ&#x2020;FLHQW ZRUNLQJ From $1,899, apple.com/au
ESSENTIALS FOR WORKING ON THE GO
hule Vea BackPack 25L
Satechi Type-C Pro Hub Adapter
Western Digital My Passport
Thule creates tough bags and cases that keep your gear and your tech safe. This backpack is designed to keep a 15-inch MacBook/15.6-inch PC protected with padded pockets, padded straps and compartments for everything else. $229, thule.com
If you get the MacBook Pro recommended above, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll notice it only has USB-C connections. This small adapter gives you every SRUW \RX FRXOG QHHG (WKHUQHW +'0, [b86% 3, microSD card, and power. $139, satechi.net
A good-looking and reliable portable storage system that you can take with you wherever you go. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideal for those who rely on smaller laptops that lack space and need a simple, secure way to back up their work. From $106, wdc.com
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Best Tech for Everything
THE BEST TECH FORâ&#x20AC;Ś
relaxing and recharging 1
2
5 3 4
1
Kindle Oasis
The newest ereader from Amazon is also the best of the bunch. For starters, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waterproof, which makes it ideal for holidays or indulging in some restorative reading in the bath. It has a seven-inch high-resolution display at 300ppi, so it reads just like printed paper without glare from any lights like other ereaders. It also has builtin Audible support with 200,000 titles to choose from, so you could read a book then seamlessly switch to listening to it. $479, amazon.com.au 3 6 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
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Moodo
Smell is a really strong trigger for evoking feelings RU PHPRULHV VR WDNH Ä&#x2020;QH control of how your house smells with this smart scent diffuser. You can load four capsules of various aromas into it, then use the app to program what balance of each you want, giving you a personalised air for every mood. You can control it using Alexa or Google Home too. Push something LQYLJRUDWLQJ Ä&#x2020;UVW WKLQJ LQ the morning, or chilled out in the evening, and anything in between. USD$139, moodo.co
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Spire Health T Tag g
To monitor your stress levels, sleep and activity throughout the day and night, attach one of these to your clothes and you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to worry about it again. All of the data goes to the Spire app where you can take a look at how your activity levels, heart rate, sleep, breathing patterns and stress levels affect how you feel and perform throughout the day. You can put more than one tag on your clothes. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re waterproof, as well as washer and dryer safe. From USD$49, spire.io
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Oura Ring g
You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need a wristband WR Ä&#x2020;QG RXW PRUH DERXW how you move and sleep. The Oura ring tracks all your activity, like exercise and steps, and helps you get a better nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rest. It helps you to visualise and understand your sleep patterns by analysing your sleep stages, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, body temperature and more. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also durable, water resistant up to 100 metres, and as a bonus, looks minimal and stylish. From USD$299, ouraring. com
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Hyperice yp Viper 2.0 Foam rollers are great for easing out knots and relieving aches on your own after youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been working out. Luckily, like everything else, the boring old foam roller has had a high-tech makeover and this one from Hyperice vibrates. This means youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re getting a deeper, and more effective massage. Use the smart roller regularly for better circulation, relaxing your muscles, warming them up before exercise and recovering from injury. $299, hyperice.com.au
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Relaxing and recharging
Foreo UFO Smart Face Mask Treatment This combines dermal technology with effective Korean face mask formulas. The result is an indulgent treatment for your face that only lasts a few seconds, but improves the look of your skin the way a long mask treatment would. The UFO uses a mixture of warm and cold therapies, LED light therapy and a pulsating message to give you a safe, painless, UVfree facial that can help you look miles better after a night out, even when you have no time to spare. $316, foreo.com
CALMING APPS Oak
Hexologic
Whether you’re after a quick and simple breathing exercise or a guided meditation that’ll last half an hour, Oak has all your relaxation needs covered. It also plays soothing sounds and white noise for those who have trouble going to sleep. If you can’t get out of your own head enough to relax, this might be just what you need. Free, iOS
Some people like to switch off to calm down, others like to distract themselves. If you’re in the second group, Hexologic is for you. It’s a refreshing spin on Sudoku that also serenades you with relaxing music while you play. It’s chilled out, without time pressure, so is ideal for winding down gently. $1.49, iOS; $1.29, Android
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Sway Mindfulness in Motion Practicing mindfulness doesn’t have to mean sitting in silence with nothing but your own thoughts. Sway is designed to keep you in the moment by playing with colour, sound and movement on your phone. The idea is that it helps \RX ĆQG IRFXV LQ everyday life. USD$2.99, iOS S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 3 7
Feel more secure
2
1
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Feel more secure
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6XPPHU EULQJV PRUH SHRSOH RXW DQG DERXW VR JHW WKH VPDUWHVW H\HV RQ \RXU KRXVH ZLWK RXU SLFN RI WKH EHVW FRQQHFWHG KRPH security tech egardless of the size of your home, and whether you live alone or with others, it will beneďŹ t from a boost in security. An indoor security camera is a great choice for this, but we recommend taking it a step further with an all-inone device. Our pick is the Cocoon, an AI-powered multi-room security system complete with a built-in camera and an array of genuinely smart features. Using Subsound tech, this system senses unusual activity throughout your entire house, regardless of where itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s positioned. he Cocoon quickly learns the unique â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sound signatureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of your home so that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mistake your pet for an intruder. When it does pick up on activity, it alerts you to whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening and where. Night Vision keeps watch when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asleep, viewing your home through a 120-degree wide-angle lens. You can reinforce the security of your house further by attaching Hive Window or Door Sensors to your most
R
exposed entry points, monitoring them 24/7. A video doorbell provides extra peace of mind too, saving you from answering the door to unexpected visitors, or enabling you to speak to couriers before they run oďŹ&#x20AC; again with your parcel. he Ring Video Doorbell 2 is an excellent choice for this, alerting you (via the app) when someone is at the door. You can then watch and speak to your visitor remotely, even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lounging in bed. Speaking of visitors, installing the Yale Conexis Smart Lock gives you maximum control over who enters and when, as you can send virtual door keys to your guests.
Reinforce security with an AI system that learns your homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sound signature
ESSENTIAL KIT COCOON If something unusual is detected in your home, Cocoon alerts you. You can then tap to sound its 90+dB siren. $366, cocoon.life HIVE WINDOW OR DOOR SENSORS *HW LQVWDQW DOHUWV RI XQH[SHFWHG DFWLYLW\ QHDU VSHFLÄ&#x2020;F GRRUV DQG ZLQGRZV RU LQ FDVH \RXèYH DFFLGHQWDOO\ OHIW RQH RSHQ $29, hivehome.com 3 RING VIDEO DOORBELL 2 /HW 5LQJ Ä&#x2020;QG RXW ZKRèV RXWVLGH Ä&#x2020;UVW WKHQ \RX FDQ FKDW WR \RXU GRRUVWHS YLVLWRU YLDbWKH GRRUEHOOèV WZR ZD\ DXGLR $307, ring.com 4 YALE CONEXIS SMART LOCK 7KH &RQH[LV V\QFV ZLWK WKH <DOH DSS HQDEOLQJ \RX WRbXQORFN \RXU IURQW GRRU ZLWK \RXU VPDUWSKRQH DQG OHW RWKHUV LQ UHPRWHO\ HYHQ LI \RXèUH DW ZRUN $515, yalelock.com.au 1
2
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Feel more secure
2
1
3
Feel more secure
4
6XPPHU EULQJV PRUH SHRSOH RXW DQG DERXW VR JHW WKH VPDUWHVW H\HV RQ \RXU KRXVH ZLWK RXU SLFN RI WKH EHVW FRQQHFWHG KRPH security tech egardless of the size of your home, and whether you live alone or with others, it will beneďŹ t from a boost in security. An indoor security camera is a great choice for this, but we recommend taking it a step further with an all-inone device. Our pick is the Cocoon, an AI-powered multi-room security system complete with a built-in camera and an array of genuinely smart features. Using Subsound tech, this system senses unusual activity throughout your entire house, regardless of where itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s positioned. he Cocoon quickly learns the unique â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sound signatureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of your home so that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mistake your pet for an intruder. When it does pick up on activity, it alerts you to whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening and where. Night Vision keeps watch when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asleep, viewing your home through a 120-degree wide-angle lens. You can reinforce the security of your house further by attaching Hive Window or Door Sensors to your most
R
exposed entry points, monitoring them 24/7. A video doorbell provides extra peace of mind too, saving you from answering the door to unexpected visitors, or enabling you to speak to couriers before they run oďŹ&#x20AC; again with your parcel. he Ring Video Doorbell 2 is an excellent choice for this, alerting you (via the app) when someone is at the door. You can then watch and speak to your visitor remotely, even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lounging in bed. Speaking of visitors, installing the Yale Conexis Smart Lock gives you maximum control over who enters and when, as you can send virtual door keys to your guests.
Reinforce security with an AI system that learns your homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sound signature
ESSENTIAL KIT COCOON If something unusual is detected in your home, Cocoon alerts you. You can then tap to sound its 90+dB siren. $366, cocoon.life HIVE WINDOW OR DOOR SENSORS *HW LQVWDQW DOHUWV RI XQH[SHFWHG DFWLYLW\ QHDU VSHFLÄ&#x2020;F GRRUV DQG ZLQGRZV RU LQ FDVH \RXèYH DFFLGHQWDOO\ OHIW RQH RSHQ $29, hivehome.com 3 RING VIDEO DOORBELL 2 /HW 5LQJ Ä&#x2020;QG RXW ZKRèV RXWVLGH Ä&#x2020;UVW WKHQ \RX FDQ FKDW WR \RXU GRRUVWHS YLVLWRU YLDbWKH GRRUEHOOèV WZR ZD\ DXGLR $307, ring.com 4 YALE CONEXIS SMART LOCK 7KH &RQH[LV V\QFV ZLWK WKH <DOH DSS HQDEOLQJ \RX WRbXQORFN \RXU IURQW GRRU ZLWK \RXU VPDUWSKRQH DQG OHW RWKHUV LQ UHPRWHO\ HYHQ LI \RXèUH DW ZRUN $515, yalelock.com.au 1
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Prepare your smart home
Better smart home health Giving your home a wellness overhaul and reap rewards for your health, and that of your family and pets too f you don’t clear out your gutters after the seasonal onslaught of rain and colder temperatures, you risk creating drainage problems come summer. Gutters laden with water could expand, leading to cracked guttering. Head it off at the pass with the iRobot Looj 330 Gutter Cleaning Robot. Fitted with a series of rotating brushes,
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Damp is an issue for many homes, so use a dehumdifier to reduce condensation and spores 1 this remote controlled robot moves swiftly through guttering, dislodging debris as it pushes onwards. Next, safeguard your water pipes with the Grohe Sense Guard smart water monitoring system. Fit it to your main water pipe and it’ll monitor your supply and usage 24/7. If it detects a leak or worse, it’ll shut off your water supply and instantly alert you. Damp is another wellness issue for many homes. Using a dehumidifier helps by reducing mold spores and condensation, and for this we recommend Meaco’s DD8L. It’s ideal for small- to medium-sized houses, extracting up to eight litres of moisture daily. We know that the air inside our homes is up to four times more polluted than the outside, and in the colder months, when we’re indoors more, our exposure is amped. Why not invest in an air quality monitor to track levels of indoor pollutants? he Awair 2nd Edition is our top pick, thanks to its ability to track invisible fine dust and chemicals in the air, then give you personalised recommendations on how to improve it. Speaking of air, do you have a smart smoke alarm? If not, Nest Protect is perfect for monitoring for smoke and carbon monoxide. It’s designed to last a decade, giving you maximum protection for your money. he warm season starts as early as October for some, so get a headstart on embracing it by outfitting your bedroom with LIFX’s Mini Colour, a smart bulb that can be programmed to wake you up with a sunrise glow. Finally, make relaxing a deeper experience with SmarTap, a smart bathing system that creates custom bath and shower experiences for everyone in your home. 4 0 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
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Better home health
DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T FORGET THE GARDEN!
EGO POWER+ BLOWER Your garden will soon begin its summer transformation, dropping leaves and general debris onto the lawn and path. Blast it all into a neat pile, ready for composting, with EGOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s powerful leaf blower. It runs on a 56V li-ion battery, equipping you with the clout of a petrol blower but without the noise. $249, egopowerplus.com
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PHILIPS HUE TUAR 287'225b3('(67$/ Connect the app-controlled Tuar to your existing Hue bridge and take advantage of its geofencing and scheduling smarts, so that it switches on when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re returning home in the darker evenings. Place one along your driveway to bathe you in light as you potter around outside. $160, meethue.com
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ESSENTIAL KIT Create lighting schedules to help combat the winter blues with this voice-controlled bulb. $69.99 lifx.com.au 2 MEACO DD8L DEHUMIDIFIER Reduce stinky mold spores and condensation. $347, meaco.com 3 AWAIR 2ND EDITION Track levels of Ä&#x2020;QH GXVW D FDXVH RI UHVSLUDWRU\ LOOQHVV $295, getawair.com 4 SMARTAP Warm up with a voice-activated shower or bath. $1,200, smartap-tech.com 5 GROHE SENSE GUARD Monitor water pipes and appliances for leaks 24/7. From $659, grohe.com 6 NEST PROTECT Let this intelligent alarm monitor your home for smoke and CO. $185, nest.com/au 7 iROBOT LOOJ 330 GUTTER CLEANING ROBOT Dislodge gutter debris via remote control. $766, irobot.com 1
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BOSCH EASYCUT 12 Use this mini chainsaw to pare back overgrown hedges and remove garden tree branches in danger of breaking oďŹ&#x20AC; in harsher weather. he EasyCut 12â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design enables you to get closer to the trunk for a clean cut, with cutting speed controlled via the responsive trigger switch. $199, bosch-do-it.com S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 41
Man vs Tech
THE MISSION Household chores are an ever-present misery, sucking time, energy and joy from our already busy lives, but it neednâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be this way. From robot vacs to self-cleaning juicers, there are plenty of helpful gadgets designed to keep your home clean without the need for back-breaking, timeconsuming effort on your part during our spare time. Our writer is ready to get his hands dirty to ďŹ nd out whether cleaning tech can actually clean house better than he can. Dusters at the ready! 42
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he daily grime
MAN TECH CLEAN UP YOUR ACT
The daily grime Can tech clean house better than we can? Our man dons his PDULJROGV WR ĆQG RXW ZKHWKHU LWèV DQ\ PDWFK IRU HOERZ JUHDVH Words: Chris Barnes Photography: Olly Curtis
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Man vs Tech
’ve been so committed to enjoying every minute of the glorious weather that I haven’t cleaned my house in weeks. Yet with summer just around the corner, it’s time to get cleaning. That’s all well and good, but my toilet is a toxic hazard and my floors are oddly sticky. I’d rather not waste hours cleaning, so I’ve been researching gadgets that promise to tackle my household chores and save me time. Before I spend hundreds of dollars, does cleaning tech actually do the job better than me? Or would I be pouring money down the drain?
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WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY The balmy summer has meant more dust in the air, so the windows of my flat are caked in grime. I’d like to be able to see out of them again, but even the thought of washing them by hand is making my arms ache. I’m intrigued by Vorwerk’s Kobold VG100 window cleaner. The handheld device is designed to wet your windows, remove the dirt, and extract the remaining water in one swift movement. Is it too good to be true, though? More importantly, could I do it better with some Windolene and a cloth, and for a fraction of the Vorwerk’s $450 price tag? I grab my Windolene and start washing. The results are passable, but the filthy cloth quickly starts leaving ugly streaks and my arms are aching. With the Kobold VG100 fully charged, I attach one of the supplied microfibre cleaning pads and fill the tank with 80ml of water and 5ml of Vorwerk’s Cleaning Concentrate. Positioning the device in the top left
corner of the filthiest window, I switch on the 30-watt motor. Applying a little pressure, I drag the vibrating VG100 to the bottom of the frame. Miraculously, the grime has disappeared and there’s not a streak in sight. Two more speedy swipes finish the pane. 10 minutes later (with lots of battery power remaining) my windows are gleaming. The VG100 costs more than a cloth and spray, but the spotless results and time saved make it a clear winner. If you have kids or pets, hoovering is a daily job. On paper, robot vacs are ultimate time-savers, but are they as capable as a manual hoover? Neato’s Botvac D7 Connected uses sensors to map your floors and calculate efficient ways to clean. Schedule cleaning sessions using the Neato app and even set no-go lines to stop the Botvac chewing cables or terrifying the cat. In practice, the D7 does exactly what
digital motor and crud-sucking Cyclone technology ensure a spotless clean. Interchangeable heads make light work of stairs, window sills, cobwebbed ceilings and even my car – areas the Botvac simply can’t access. We love the ‘set up and forget’ approach of the Botvac, but at almost half the price and for sheer versatility, the Dyson takes the crown here. PULP FRICTION I like to start my day by drinking a healthy juice, but I don’t like the horrible mess juicing creates. So when I learned that Philips makes a juicer that cleans itself, I had to get it. The powerful 1,200W motor inside Philips’ Avance Centrifugal juicer reduces my pile of whole oranges, carrots and apples to a delicious hit of fruity goodness. But now the clean-up… I needn’t have worried. The Avance’s
THE VG100 COSTS MORE THAN A CLOTH AND SPRAY, BUT THE SPOTLESS RESULTS AND TIME SAVED MAKE IT A CLEAR WINNER it promises. It gets stuck into deeprooted dirt, and the level of control and convenience, plus additional features like the full bin sensor, make it ideal for time-poor people with big, open spaces to clean. In the interests of fairness, for this test I’m also getting to grips with Dyson’s Cyclone V10 Absolute cordless stick vacuum. While it’s more hands-on than the Botvac, the V10’s
QuickClean function definitely helps with cleaning. Simply pour tap water into the feeding tube and give the juicer an extra whizz. Within seconds the worst of the pulp is blasted from the main components, including the fruit-mashing sieve, which usually requires a deep scrub. With the worst of the mess dealt with, the parts take no time to rinse clean in the sink. Some pulp has ended up on my hard
RIGHT T3’s resident George Formby gives his elbows a good workout FAR RIGHT Chris sits for a bit of quality time with the latest household pet
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he daily grime
All together now: “I want to break freeee”
GOOD CLEAN FUN DOMINATE THE DIRT WITH SOME HIGH-TECH HOME CLEANING ESSENTIALS
VORWERK KOBOLD VG100 Achieve gleaming, streakfree windows in seconds. The VG100’s microfibre pad applies cleaning solution to the glass, before removing the grime and sucking away dirty water. $450, kobold.vorwerk.co.uk
NEATO BOTVAC CONNECTED D7 The Wi-Fi-enabled Botvac maps your floors for autonomous hoovering. Use the Neato app to plan a thorough cleaning schedule. $1,250 neatorobotics.com
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PHILIPS AVANCE CENTRIFUGAL JUICER A 1,200-watt motor, centrifugal extraction system and a FibreBoost setting ensure you get the maximum goodness from your fruit and veg. $398, philips.com.au
VORWERK KOBOLD SP600 This upright mop/hoover hybrid takes no prisoners when it comes to cleaning hard floors. The SP600 uses 50 times less water and cleaning product than a mop and bucket. $1,999, kobold.vorwerk.com.au
UV-C LIGHT PRODUCTS PORTABLE WAND Give surfaces a blast of short-wave UV radiation from this magic wand and you’ll neutralise 99.9 per cent of nasty bugs. $103, uvc-lightproducts.com
KÄRCHER K7 PREMIUM FULL CONTROL PLUS HOME The K7 cleans everything, from your car to garden furniture. You can also adjust water pressure and detergent levels via the LED display panel. $965, kaercher.com S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 4 5
Man vs Tech
LEFT You’re not living in the future until you’ve cleaned the lav with a glowing wand RIGHT Our man does science for your benefit. Grim, dirty science…
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he daily grime
porcelain using a germ kit produces some seriously sinister results. This needs attention. For this test, I’m cleaning one half of the bowl with Toilet Duck and treating the other half to a 20-second blast with UV-C Light Products’ Portable Wand. The wand is designed for use on most household surfaces and fires out short-wave UV radiation to kill 99.9 per cent of viruses and bacteria. To be honest, I’m not entirely convinced it’s going to work. But I was wrong, as the second swab test reveals that both the Toilet Duck and UV-C Wand have neutralised the grime – take that, germs! Considering the wand can be used in other areas of the house and doesn’t involve pouring chemicals down the drain, it’s a potent weapon in the battle against household bugs.
THE WAND FIRES OUT SHORT-WAVE UV RADIATION TO KILL 99.9 PER CENT OF VIRUSES AND BACTERIA kitchen floor – the perfect excuse for another test! I quickly grab a mop and bucket. It gets the job done, but leaves the floor slick and I now have litres of dirty water to dispose of. The hefty Vorwerk Kobold SP600 hard floor cleaner, on the other hand, mops and hoovers at the same time. On the base is a large cleaning pad complete with an 260ml tank filled with cleaning solution. It’s easy to control how much water is released into the cloth and the rate at which the pad buffs, so you can tackle anything from spillages to ground-in stains. The SP600 glides over the floor, manoeuvring nimbly into tight corners and leaving a quick-drying trail and clean floor in its wake. The only drawback is the price. Considering a mop and bucket costs a few dollars, is a $2,000 outlay truly justifiable? GAME OF THRONES Keeping the house looking clean is a challenge in itself, but eradicating invisible bacteria is a different ball game altogether, particularly when it comes to the toilet. Swab testing my Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
AT THE CAR WASH Having had my head stuck down the toilet, I think I’m in need of some fresh air, which brings me to the final test: cleaning the car. Kärcher has always been at the forefront of household cleaning gadgets, and the K7 Premium Full Control Plus Home pressure washer is the daddy. From sprucing up filthy patio tiles and blasting muck off garden tools, to scrubbing the family car, the K7 promises to do it all. But can it do the job better than the good old application of hard graft? Grabbing a bucket of soapy water and a sponge, I attack the rear of my car. Like the windows, the results are passable, but getting the really caked-on stuff of is making me tired already. Now it’s the Kärcher’s turn… Different jobs require different water pressures, and the K7’s pressure can be controlled, along with detergent concentration, via the digital display on the Full Control Trigger Gun. Elsewhere, the 3-in-1 multi-jet spray lance can switch between a flat stream, a mud-blasting rotary stream and a detergent stream. In the battle between the sponge and the Kärcher, there is only one contender. A quick high-pressure burst and that crusty bird poo on the bonnet is gone. The spray is better at getting in the fiddly gaps, too. I’m not shy of manual labour, but I believe most people would prefer to spend their free time doing something more enjoyable than chores. While the best cleaning tech is pricey, anything that keeps the grime at bay and saves you time is surely worth exploring?
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The home of technology techradar.com
HOME Get the complete smart home lifestyle Edited by Claire Davies
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THE SETUP How to get started with the Amazon Echo Spot and customise it to suit your smart home needs
UPGRADE Do you know how much fat and sugar is in your smoothie? Nutribulletâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Bluetooth blender can tell you
HOME TEST Beef up the security around your home with the best wireless, all-weather outdoor security cameras
SMART HOME SURGERY Got some smart questions that need smart answers? Our home gadget experts can help
LIVING SMARTER Bring the outdoors in by getting your weather forecast app talking to your smart lighting â&#x20AC;&#x201C; purple means rain!
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Home
THE SETUP
Each issue, we show you how to set up a key piece of connected-home tech. This month… Amazon Echo Spot
WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Nestled discretely above the Spot’s screen is a tiny camera. If your pals have the Alexa app on their device or an Echo Spot or Echo Show at home, you can make video calls hands-free (or voice calls to any Echo device). The Drop In feature is ideal for quick communication with other Echo devices in your home, like if you want to ask what’s for dinner or check the baby is still snoozing in the nursery.
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he setup
TAKE CONTROL :,7+b$0$=21è6 0,1, 6&5((1(' $66,67$17 Run your smart home, make video calls and play music with Echo Spot
HEREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LOOKING AT YOU The Spotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s circular 2.5-inch, 480x480 pixel screen might be small, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capable of displaying a world of information based on your voice commands: watch news, sport and weather reports, check out trailers before booking your next cinema trip, view todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work schedule and keep tabs on your smart security camera feed. Our favourite? Line up your favourite tunes YLD $PD]RQ 0XVLF DQG WKH 6SRW can display on-screen lyrics WR KHOS \RX VLQJ DORQJ
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Home he setup
SCREEN-READY $/7(51$7,9(6 72 7+( (&+2 6327 Not sure about the Spotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s small screen? Try theseâ&#x20AC;Ś
FIND THE SWEET SPOT It takes no time to set up your Amazon Echo Spot. Customising it is where things really get good
AMAZON ECHO SHOW The Echo Show ($349, amazon. com.au) delivers the same smarts DVbWKH 6SRW EXW RQ D PXFK ELJJHU seven-inch screen. A pair of two-inch speakers add extra, 'ROE\ SRZHUHG DXGLR SXQFK
LENOVO SMART DISPLAY :LWK *RRJOH $VVLVWDQW EXLOW LQ DQG generous eight- and 10-inch display RSWLRQV DYDLODEOH /HQRYRèV 6PDUW Display (from $340, lenovo.com) is DOZD\V RQ KDQG $b ZDWW IXOO UDQJH VSHDNHU WDNHVbFDUH RI audio.
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GRAB THE APP
BEGIN SETUP
CUSTOMISE
2QFH \RXèYH GHFLGHG ZKLFK room to position your Echo Spot in, plug the device into WKHbPDLQV :KLOH \RXU 6SRW LVbRSWLPLVLQJ LWVHOI IRU VHWXS GRZQORDG WKH $OH[D DSS L26 Android) to your smartphone RU WDEOHW ,I \RX GRQèW KDYH DQ Amazon account already, QRZbZRXOG EH D JRRG WLPH WRbUHJLVWHU DW amazon.com.au.
$W WKLV SRLQW \RXèOO QHHG WR KHDG WR WKH 6SRWèV WRXFKVFUHHQ WR FRQWLQXH VHWXS <RXèOO EH asked to connect to your home Wi-Fi and log-in to your $PD]RQ DFFRXQW 2QFH \RXèUH in, your Spot will play you a short video highlighting what LWbFDQ GR ,WèV D XVHIXO LQWUR DQG a great way to experience WKHbVFUHHQ LQ DOO LWV JORU\
Time to make the Spot your own. Within Settings you can choose a home screen clock face, or select a more personal home screen image. Here, you can also adjust audio settings, to link your calendar and choose which services you wish to include in your daily )ODVK %ULHÄ&#x2020;QJV IURP $%& News to Sky Sports.
LISTEN TO MUSIC
MAKE A CALL
GET SKILLS
Navigate to Music & Media within the Alexa app Settings menu and select which music service you want. Now you can start requesting tunes. Ask for D VRQJ DOEXP RU SOD\OLVW RU PDNH D PRUH OHIWÄ&#x2020;HOG UHTXHVW like, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alexa, play the song with the lyrics â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mama Mia let me JRèÍ ,I \RX XVH $PD]RQ 0XVLF O\ULFV FDQ DOVR EH GLVSOD\HG
Head to the Communications WDE LQ WKH $OH[D DSS ç(QDEOH &RPPXQLFDWLRQVè DQG VHW 'URS ,Q WR ç2Qè 1RZ \RX FDQ YLGHR call anyone in your contacts ERRN ZKR KDV DQ (FKR 6SRW RU 6KRZ RU YRLFH FDOO SHRSOH with a non-video Echo device. :KDWèV PRUH \RX FDQ 'URS ,Q on other Spots in your home: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alexa, drop in on the ORXQJH ĂŤ
Skills add extra functionality, particularly when it comes to controlling your smart home JHDU +HDG WR WKH 6NLOOV WDE LQ the Alexa app and search for DbVSHFLÄ&#x2020;F 6NLOO VXFK DV ç1HVW &DPHUDè +LW (QDEOH WR YLHZ \RXU FDPHUDèV IHHG XVLQJ D YRLFH FRPPDQG (QDEOH PRUH Skills to control your lighting, WKHUPRVWDWVĂ° HYHQ \RXU 79
LG WK9 THINQ The retro-looking WK9 ThinQ 7%& OJ FRP PLJKW UHVHPEOH DQ ROG KDQGKHOG WHOO\ EXWbWKLV LV /*èV Ä&#x2020;UVW IRUD\ LQWR WKH VFUHHQ WRWLQJ smart assistant world. Behind that eight-inch touchscreen is Google Assistant and Chromecast.
SAYSâ&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x153;Echo Spot makes a great smart alarm clock, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s handy all around the house. I keep mine in the hallway, so I check whether Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need a coat before I head out for the day.â&#x20AC;? MATT BOLTON
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Home Upgrade
+20( 83*5$'(
Smarten up your smoothies You may enjoy a daily smoothie, but do you know how many kilojoules are LQ WKHP" )LQG RXW ZLWK WKH ZRUOGèV FOHYHUHVW %OXHWRRWK EOHQGHU
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Fresh smoothies do wonders for your health, but some of these meal drinks have a naturally high kilojoule and sugar yield â&#x20AC;&#x201C; higher than youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re perhaps aware of. While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fun creating your own smoothies and experimenting with different combinations of fruit and veg, Ä&#x2020;JXULQJ RXW WKH H[DFW EDODQFH RI QXWULHQWV can be taxing, especially if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re IROORZLQJ D VSHFLÄ&#x2020;F GLHW 7KH 1XWUL%XOOHW %DODQFH WKH ZRUOGèV Ä&#x2020;UVW %OXHWRRWK blender with app functionality, could KHOS \RX Ä&#x2020;JXUH DOO RI WKDW RXW TXLFNO\ 1XWUL%XOOHWèV ODWHVW VTXHH]H KDV LWV RZQ FRPSDQLRQ DSS %DODQFH IRU L26 DQG Android), via which you can track the nutritional content of any ingredient you
he Bluetooth Balance oï¬&#x20AC;ers real-time tracking of the fat, kilojoule, sugar and vitamin content place inside the blender. You do this by Ä&#x2020;UVW SODFLQJ WKH %DODQFH FXS RQ WKH blenderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s base, within which sits a sensor. 2QFH WKH FXSèV EDVH LV LQ FRQWDFW ZLWK WKH sensor, you can then work with the app to build your own smoothie or to create one
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from the hundreds of in-app recipes that are available. From there itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fun process of GURSSLQJ LQJUHGLHQWV LQWR WKH %DODQFH FXS and watching data getting pinged to the app, giving you a real-time picture of how healthy (or not) your smoothie is going to be. You can name and save your own custom blends via the app, as well as saving favourites youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve discovered ZLWKLQ WKH 1XWUL%XOOHW OLEUDU\ 1XWUL%XOOHW SURPLVHV WKDW LW ZLOO EH really easy to clean as well, which is important if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to become a regular part of your day. For health nuts, this sounds like it could be one of the best purchases theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make all year. S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 5 3
Home
HOME TEST
SMALL AND AFFORDABLE
Wireless outdoor security cams Super security needn’t mean drilling holes through walls, as we GLVFRYHU ZLWK WKUHH RI WKH ĆQHVW battery-powered eyes in the sky
HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR WIRELESS OUTDOOR SECURITY CAMERAS… PLACE IT WELL All of these cams cope well with light level changes, but to get the best footage possible you’ll want to avoid placing the sensor facing direct sunlight which might dazzle it – stick to the shadows if possible. his might mean installing beneath the eaves of your house, or high inside a window opening. he higher you go, the more difficult the process of recharging becomes, but better a good picture than a blown-out image that does you no good.
PROTECT IT Some security cameras come with theft protection, so if a sneaky intruder happens to abscond with your outdoor cam – these cameras are all easy to detach from their brackets – you’ll be able to claim a replacement. Make sure the rest of your cams are either covered or insured, and (conversely) use the deterrent stickers included with each to draw attention to the fact that you’re filming.
HEAD TO THE CLOUD Your investment in outdoor security cameras is not the end of the expense: while you’ll usually get short-term storage included for free, it’s imperative that you sign up for the cloud storage service your chosen camera offers, both to extend the length of time your footage stays available and to keep a backup should you need to review old footage for a claim or to prevent evidence of something happening on or near your property.
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SWANN SMART SECURITY CAMERA $129, swann.com/au First impressions make all the difference… but not when it comes to Swann’s accomplished little outdoor security cam. Pull it out of the box and it defaults to the lowest quality streaming mode, offering up a painfully glitchy and rough picture. Up the quality in-app and, if your Wi-Fi network can handle it, things get a lot better. Swann’s motion capture is decent. 20-second clips loop through the on-board memory – it could potentially store a week’s worth – and in the cloud for a couple of days if you sign up for the cloud plan. Push message reporting is a little slow, though. Design-wise, it’s pleasingly small – half the size of the Ring Spotlight Cam – and pulling it off the wall to recharge its internal battery is a case of scaling a ladder, disconnecting the magnetic dish-mount from the bracket and plugging it into a USB port. Easy.
VERDICT T3 SAYS Compact and capable in all conditions, and priced very modestly. Make sure you find the right settings for you so that you don’t miss any vital details.
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Wireless security cameras
HIGH-END AND HARDCORE
ALL THAT AND MORE
BEST ON TEST
ARLO PRO 2
RING SPOTLIGHT CAM BATTERY
$659 (two cameras and base station), arlo.com/au
$299, ring.com
The price of getting started with the Arlo 2 might make you ZLQFH D OLWWOH Ã¥ \RX QHHG WKH VLUHQ HTXLSSHG EDVH VWDWLRQ DQG WKLV WZR SDFN LVQèW D FKHDS RSWLRQ %XW SHUIRUPDQFH LV DV VOLFN DV LW JHWV FHUWDLQO\ EH\RQG :L )L RQO\ FDPV :H ZHUH UHDOO\ WDNHQ ZLWK WKH Ä&#x2021;H[LELOLW\ RI WKLV RQH LWèV DQRWKHU PDJ PRXQW FDP VR LWèV HDV\ ERWK WR SRVLWLRQ DQG WR UHPRYH IRU FKDUJLQJ EXW VLQFH HDFK FDPHUD DOVR IHDWXUHV D UHSODFHDEOH EDWWHU\ \RX FDQ SRWHQWLDOO\ EH EDFN XS DQG UXQQLQJ LQ VHFRQGV UDWKHU WKDQ SXOOLQJ WKH FDP RIÄ&#x2021;LQH ZKLOH LW SRZHUV XS DJDLQ 7KH SLFWXUH LV VSRW RQ RIIHULQJ D GHJUHH OHQV ZKLFK FDSWXUHV PRUH RI WKH DFWLRQ WKDQ VRPH RI LWV ULYDOV DQG WKH $FWLYLW\ =RQH IHDWXUH HQDEOHV \RX WR EH VHOHFWLYH DERXW \RXU PRWLRQ FDSWXUH Ã¥ EXW RQO\ ZKHQ SOXJJHG LQ DQG XVHG LQGRRUV
5LQJ EHVW NQRZQ IRU LWV VPDUW GRRUEHOOV ZDV UHFHQWO\ DFTXLUHG E\ $PD]RQ IRU D FRRO EQ ,WèV QRW KDUG WR VHH ZK\ WKH UHWDLO JLDQW ZRXOG EH LQWHUHVWHG <HV LWèV D IRRWKROG LQ WKH VHFXULW\ PDUNHW EXW WKH 5LQJ 6SRWOLJKW &DP %DWWHU\ JLDQW DV LW LV LV D WHFKQLFDO PDVWHUSLHFH 7KH VHQVRU LV IDQWDVWLF WKH DSS HTXDOO\ VR DQG WKH WKRXJKW JLYHQ WR HQJLQHHULQJ LV WRS RI WKH OLQH WKH FRUUHFW GULOO ELW DQG VFUHZGULYHU WR Ä&#x2020;W LW DUH HYHQ LQFOXGHG LQ WKH ER[ 8QOLNH RWKHUV RQ WHVW WKLV RXWGRRU VHFXULW\ FDPHUD LV PHDQW WR VWD\ H[DFWO\ ZKHUH LW LV RQ \RXU ZDOO 6LPSO\ RSHQ XS WKH 3,5 VHQVRU ZKLFK KHOSV LW DFW DV DQ /(' VSRWOLJKW DQG \RX FDQ UHPRYH WKH 86% FKDUJHDEOH EDWWHU\ DQG SRS LQ D QHZ RQH RU WZR LI \RX ZDQW DGGLWLRQDO EDWWHU\ OLIH 7KHUHèV WZR ZD\ WDON IRU VSRRNLQJ WUHVSDVVHUV DQG D WHUULI\LQJ G% VLUHQ WR UHDOO\ JHW WKH PHVVDJH DFURVV
VERDICT T3 SAYS Spectacular picture and a host of neat features, but this is one expensive system if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to cover a whole home perimeter.
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VERDICT T3 SAYS Motion sensing can be a little hit or miss at times, but this camera captures solid footage, has a great collection of extras, and an impeccable design.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 5 5
Home
SMART HOME SURGERY Your connected-home queries answered by T3â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experts
CARL H, PERTH
Q Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve moved house and ďŹ nally have a room (though small)
for a dedicated home cinema. What kit should I buy for it? STEVE MAY REPLIES: As it happens, Carl, small rooms can make perfect home cinemas! This is because 4K TVs are designed to be viewed closer than standard HD models. A 65-inch UHD panel is enjoyed from 1.5m-2m, the optimum distance to VHH Ä&#x2020;QH GHWDLO 'HSHQGLQJ RQ EXGJHW JR for a 65-inch Hisense U7A ULED LCD ($1,999 hisense.com.au), or an OLED like the 65in Sony AF8 ($5,299, sony.com.au).
A
If you want to supersize your movies, opt for an Ultra Short Throw 1080p projector rather than a TV. The Optoma GT5500+ ($1,800, optoma.com) casts 100-inch images from just 30cm. Small rooms are also a doddle for audio. Polkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Command Bar ($619, polkaudio.com) is a gutsy stereo soundbar with integrated Amazon Alexa functionality. If you want to go multi-channel, audition Q Acousticsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 7000i system
($999. qacoustics.co.uk). The speakers are compact and integrate beautifully with the Q Acoustics 7000si subwoofer giving cinematic sound. Power them with a Sony STR-DN1080 Dolby Atmos AV receiver ($1,199, sony.com.au). Amazonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD ($145, amazon.com.au), Panasonicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DMP-UB300 UHD Blu-ray player ($259, panasonic.com.au ERWK PDNH Ä&#x2020;QH . sources.
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: inbox@t3.com or www.facebook.com/T3mag 5 6 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
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Smart home surgery
KATIE BASSETT, EMAIL
Q Which robot vacuum cleaner
is the most intelligent? BECCA CADDY REPLIES: Although thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still a way to go before robot vacuums make regular vacuums obsolete, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re getting smarter with every update. If we were to get the best of the bunch to take an IQ test, we imagine Neatoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Botvac D7 Connected ($1,299, amazon.com.au) would come out on top. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just been given additional smarts, including Multiple Floor Plan Mapping, VR LW FDQ UHPHPEHU WKH OD\RXW IRU FOHDQLQJ XSVWDLUV DV ZHOO DV LWV XVXDO Ä&#x2021;RRU You can also set no-go areas, which is KDQG\ LI WKHUHèV D SLHFH RI IXUQLWXUH youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re particularly precious about.
A
PAUL P, BALMAIN
Q Is there a
The iRobot Roomba 980 ($1,199, shop.irobot.com.au LV DOVR D Ä&#x2020;UP favourite. It may not provide a clean that rivals the Neato range, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great at handling navigation. For something different, try the Vorwerk Kobold VR200 ($1,499, kobold.vorwerk.com.au). Although its cleaning and navigation smarts donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite rival the others, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the most stylish. Remember that as smart as these robot vacs are, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still learning. So move cables and shoelaces out of the ZD\ FUHDWH VSHFLÄ&#x2020;F Ä&#x2021;RRU PDSV DQG WDNH the time to program your new robot servant to best suit your home.
sleep lamp that can wake me up? CLAIRE DAVIES REPLIES: The best smart sleep lamps are just as equipped to wake you up feeling refreshed as they are to help you drift off feeling soothed and sleepy. In IDFW WKHUHèV EHHQ DQ LQÄ&#x2021;X[ RI QHZ products in this space, just in time for WKHbGDUNHU PRUQLQJV RI DXWXPQĂ° 2QH ODPS ZHèUH H[FLWHG DERXW LV WKH Terraillon Homni (sold with Dot Sensor, $510, amazon.com.au). The lamp simulates sunset and sunrise, bathing your bedroom in red hues at night to help you drift off and blue tones in the morning to wake you. The Homniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sensors analyses temperature, humidity, luminosity and noise levels in your bedroom, so you can adjust your environment to get a better nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rest, while the Dot sleep sensor analyses your nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep. Alternatively, Lumie has a great range of lamps designed for sending you to sleep and waking you up, and its latest Bodyclock Glow 250 ($135, lumie.com) might be the best yet. The lamp has customisable sunrise duration and light-intensity settings, as well as a suite RI UHOD[LQJ VRXQGV VR \RX FDQ WDLORU \RXU wake-up call. Finally, for a sleep lamp that makes a style statement, try the Philips Somneo ($499, philips.com.au), designed with a guided breathing feature to help you UHOD[ HQRXJK WR GULIW RII 7KH EHVW SDUW LV the lampâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slow and steady sunrise, changing from soft red to bright yellow each morning.
A
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SMART WEATHER STATIONS Get local climate reports. Like, really, really localâ&#x20AC;Ś Smart weather stations keep tabs on what the weather is like where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re e ORFDWHG LQ UHDO WLPH 7KH\èUH Ä&#x2020;WWHG with sensors to give you more information about humidity, air quality, rainfall and more. You can then use these readings to automatically trigger your lights, thermostat or other smart home devices. The Netatmo Smart Home Weather Station ($279, shop. netatmo.com), for example, has indoor and outdoor modules and keeps tabs on the temperature, humidity, barometric pressure and weather forecast outside, which it serves up to your phone. Powered by
p , the Bloomsky y Sky2 y a solar panel, ($658, instrumentchoice.com.au) tracks rainfall, humidity, temperature and pressure, with an added HD camera on top for real-time snaps of the sky throughout the day.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 5 7
Home
DESIRE Furnish your pad with the ultimate in modern living accessories
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Desire
COPPER WOODEN ARMCHAIR
04
Autumn is made for devouring books in a comfy armchair, so why not introduce a slice of slow living into your life with Cult Livingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relaxing faux leather armchair? Available in black and brown, this modern mid-century design chair was made to bolster comfort as soon as you sit down. FXOWIXUQLWXUH FRP
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TUSCAN STOOL
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A hot new interiors trend for autumn, lavastone is lighter than concrete but still has the same moody, industrial vibe. That smooth stone seat looks handsome offset against the stained and sealed acacia trapeze legs. Buy one before the world and its wife does. VZRRQHGLWLRQV FRP
GEOMETRIC AVIARY WALLPAPER
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PLATE BY CLAUDIA RANKIN
Claudia Rankin brings her ceramic art to the masses with the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;affordableâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and handmade Plate. Combining Rankinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love of colour and nature, this quirky display plate adds warmth to dour kitchens. $407, WKHVKRSÄ&#x2021;RRUSURMHFW FRP
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GREY HURRICANE LANTERN
Lanterns introduce a soft glow into your living space, and the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;new neutralsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; palette of this Scandinavian style offering will suit most decors. At 32cm tall, the lantern is also large enough for pillar candles. EHDXPRQGH FR XN
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GOOD MORNING MUG
Audenzaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Good Mug, made in Blue, Green and Pink, is the perfect vessel for drinking tea. Buy one of each colour and stack â&#x20AC;&#x2122;em charmingly across your kitchen worktop. DXGHQ]D FRP Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
Just because weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re heading into autumn doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean we need to part ways with funky interiors. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re feeling this Divine Savages wallpaper, an ode to tropical IDXQD DQG Ä&#x2021;RUD 7KH ZLSHDEOH easy-to-hang wallpaper is ideal for a statement wall or transforming smaller spaces. GLYLQHVDYDJHV FRP
TEFAL JAMIE OLIVER CERAMIC SHALLOW PAN
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Part of the Jamie Oliver series for Tefal, this gleaming pan will inject style into your kitchen while giving you the perfect tool for sautéing and frying YHJJLHV PHDWV DQG Ä&#x2020;VK The pan itself is made from scratch-resistant anodised aluminium and ceramic. WHIDO FRP DX
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XMERCER NESTING TABLES
Crafted from solid wood, each WDEOH LV Ä&#x2020;QLVKHG ZLWK LQGXVWULDO style black metal legs, or brass if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d prefer a warmer vibe. The tables slot neatly under one another, and tuck into corners when not in use. FXOWIXUQLWXUH FRP S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 5 9
Home Living smarter
HOME LIVING SMARTER
Match moods indoors and out
LINK YOUR LIGHTS TO WEATHER UNDERGROUND ç7KLVè LV WKH IRUHFDVW çWKDWè is your smart bulbs
Bring the outdoors in with a clever lighting tweak
Want to know what the weatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like without looking outside? Use a smart bulb
GET THE WEATHER Head over to IFTTT.com and log LQ 0DNH VXUH \RXèYH SUHYLRXVO\ registered your bulbs with the VHUYLFH Ã¥ LWèV KDSS\ ZLWK PRVW PDNHV &OLFN ç0\ $SSOHWVè ç1HZ DSSOHWè ç WKLVè DQG Ä&#x2020;QG ç:HDWKHU Undergroundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the list.
PICK A CONDITION Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing worse than starting your day in a warm and fuzzy mood and then meeting a great outdoors that hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had the same idea. Creating equilibrium between a smart home and the dumb outdoors isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t impossible, even if it would be easy to take this too far. Linking your thermostat to the temperature outside would be a little crazy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; though, perhaps, tweaking your homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s temperature within a certain range might work without freezing you solid in your bed. But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a project for another day. Rather than dealing with the physical â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ä&#x2020;ULQJ XS D VPDUW SOXJ FRQQHFWHG IDQ when your home hits a certain heat level, for example, is a trivial task â&#x20AC;&#x201C; letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s look instead at the mental aspect of the daily departure. Getting a morning weather report delivered is straightforward enough, given that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s baked into the $OH[D )ODVK %ULHÄ&#x2020;QJ DOWKRXJK \RX FDQ GR slightly better if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on an Amazon device: try using the Big Sky skill to pull in a hyperlocal and, most importantly, polite 6 0 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
weather forecast. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re often angry in the morning, the phone app WTForecast will be more your slice of toast, given that it delivers the bad news with a liberal dose of vitriol and wanton cursing. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not talk to anyone, though. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not even look at a screen with bleary eyes.
:HèOO XVH :8èV çFXUUHQW FRQGLWLRQè WULJJHU ZKLFK Ä&#x2020;UHV RQ RQH RI IRXU VSHFLÄ&#x2020;F ZHDWKHU W\SHV <RX FRXOG JHW PRUH VSHFLÄ&#x2020;F LI \RX ZDQWHG WR &OLFN LW VHOHFW ç5DLQè LQ WKH GURS GRZQ ER[ WKHQ ç&UHDWH WULJJHUè 1RZ FOLFN ç WKDWè
Use smart bulbs to link the conditions outside to a certain colour Using IFTTT and a smart bulb or three, you can link the conditions outside to a certain colour light â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a miserable purple for rain and a cold blue for cloud. The key to making this work is the crowdsourced DQG GDWD IULHQGO\ :HDWKHU 8QGHUJURXQG service, though you could also use the outdoor portion of the Netatmo Weather Station if you were so inclined.
COLOUR IT UP Find your smart bulbs (using the search box makes this much quicker) and set an action to change WKH FRORXU Ã¥ DYRLG WKH çVZLWFK RQè option, so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not woken up by a blazing bulb if the skyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear. Then repeat for each other condition.
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EXCLUSIVE PREVIEWS, INTERVIEWS AND FEATURES ON THE WORLDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BIGGEST GAMES GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY!
ON SALE NOW
State of the Art
Folding fast Want the convenience of a folding bike but need to get where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going quickly? Meet the perfect compact commuting ebikes Words: Nick Odantzis Photography: Neil Godwin
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WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON TESTâ&#x20AC;¦
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Tern Vektron S10 The biggest folding bike here, EXW WKHUHèV ORDGV RI URRP WR FDUU\ luggage, or even kids, with added comfort, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s equipped with D FDSDEOH %RVFK PRWRU From $5,900 ternbicycles.com
6 2 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
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%URPSWRQ (OHFWULF %URPSWRQ KDV WDNHQ WKH FODVVLF folding bike formula, synonymous with city slickers, and added a dollop of extra speed to LWV SHUIHFWO\ IRUPHG SDFNDJH From $1,999 brompton.com
3
9HOOR %LNH %RDVWLQJ UHJHQHUDWLYH FKDUJLQJ DV you ride, an all in one hub, and a sleek folding frame, the Vello looks HYHU\ ELW WKH SDUW $ WLWDQLXP IUDPH RSWLRQ RIIHUV HYHQ PRUH EOLQJ $4,640, vellobike.com
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Electric folding bikes
olding bikes have been around for ages - as far back as the ’60s, in fact, and if you live in a busy city it’s highly likely you’ll spot one on your commute, unless you’re asleep. Folding bikes are ideal transport in a variety of scenarios - if you’re commuting by train, they’re great for covering those extra miles at either end without worrying about trying to find bike space on board; if you want something for getting about, but don’t live in a bike-friendly home, they’re easy to store
F
indoors and out of sight, ready when you need them; and then there’s leisure types - a folding bike is perfect on your travels because you can simply chuck it in a car for when you get to your chosen destination. If you’ve ever been on a folder, you’ll know that the actual riding part feels like an afterthought - with tiny wheels and ergonomics suited only to the shortest of rides. But the latest breed of folding bikes is better than ever, packing modern comforts such as electric assistance, mighty brakes and
featherweight frames, making them as easy to ride as a a full-size bike. On show for this issue’s super-test, we give you three of the most capable electric folding bikes you can buy today. Each one has its own unique approach to the folding theme, from its intended purpose, to the way it actually goes about folding, as well as the type of electric system it uses. Each of these bikes couldn’t be more different, so which one is the best, and which one should you choose? Read on to find out.
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 6 3
State of the Art TEST 01:
TERN VEKTRON S10
DESIGN 7KH\èUH PDGH WR IROG Ä&#x2020;UVW DQG IRUHPRVW VR MXVW KRZ ZHOO GR WKH\ GR LW" ith its award-winning frame, Velloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bike+ adopts a unique design that eschews the normal fold in the main tubes. his means itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quite long when folded, but looks neater when riding, and aids rigidity. he folding process is simple - a single magnetic point connects the rear to the main frame, while the front forks have a turn key connector, with an, admittedly ďŹ ddly, pin lock. Swing the wheel around and magnetic points on forks and frame allow them to connect together securely. he stem can be lowered quickly thanks to a quick-release collar; ditto for the bar ends which, removed, give the Bike+ a long, but narrow stance. A lack of proper stand makes it clumsy to unfold, but it gains points for being super light (13.9kg!), so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to carry around. With its chunky looks, the Tern Vektron looks a beast to handle, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very friendly to operate thanks to huge levers at each break, which are quick to undo. he Vektron has a stand built into the bottom of the frame, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to fold without fear of the bike toppling, while magnetic points on the frame and fork allow you to secure the bike together
W
here are lots of nice touches on the Brompton, like wheels on the stand in seconds. A bungee on the rack neatly tethers the handlebars. At a mighty 21.8kg, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need some muscle to carry it around, though. Folded, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a whopper too. Brompton has been making folding bikes for a long time now, and it shows. he Electric acts like a regular Brompton, which of course means it folds beautifully to a super compact shape, though its not the quickest to break down because you have to unscrew each section. Still, there are lots of nice touches, like a hook on the rear section and connector on the front forks, which make the bike feel super solid when folded, and the addition of rubber wheels on the stand makes it easy to move around. Cleverly, the Brompton has a pad underneath the saddle, allowing you to carry it comfortably - even when you take into consideration its slightly portly weight of 14.5kg (17.5kg with battery attached). 6 4 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
The Vektron offers a luxorious riding feel when unfolded, but the downside is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the biggest and heaviest bike to lug around when folded
SPECS FRAME Hydroformed 7005 aluminium WHEELS 20-inch TYRES Schwalbe Big Apple 55x406 BRAKES Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc GEARS Shimano Deore 10-speed (11-34T), chain driven MOTOR Bosch Active PLUS 250W MOTOR LOCATION Bottom bracket BATTERY 400Wh DISPLAY Bosch Purion RANGE 31-62 miles (depending on mode and environmental factors) WEIGHT 21.8kg
TEST 01: WINNER
BROMPTON ELECTRIC Not surprisingly, the Brompton wins this by a country mile. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a cinch to fold, small enough to ďŹ t just about anywhere and dead easy to carry, despite its weight.
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Electric folding bikes
BROMPTON ELECTRIC
The Brompton hides its electrics well â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even the battery bag looks inconspicuous. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the smallest and easiest to carry when folded
VELLO BIKE+
A magnetic connector at the chain stays makes it really easy to fold the %LNH EXW \RXèUH OHIW ZLWK DQ XQXVXDOO\ ORQJ RYHUDOO VKDSH
SPECS
SPECS
FRAME Steel WHEELS 16-inch TYRES Schwalbe Marathon Racer 35-349 BRAKES Rim-mounted calipers GEARS 6-speed BWR (Brompton Wide Range) hub, chain driven MOTOR Brushless DC 250W MOTOR LOCATION Front hub BATTERY 300Wh DISPLAY Battery mounted LED RANGE 25-50 miles (depending on mode and environmental factors) WEIGHT 17.5kg
FRAME Steel WHEELS 20-inch TYRES Schwalbe Kojak 406x35 BRAKES Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc GEARS Single speed, belt driven MOTOR All-in-one 250W MOTOR LOCATION Rear hub BATTERY 160Wh DISPLAY ZEHUS smartphone app RANGE 18-unlimited miles (depending on mode and environmental factors) WEIGHT 13.9kg
DOES IT HAVE 72 %( 60$//" NOT ALL FOLDING EBIKES ARE EQUAL, AND MONTAGUEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FULL SIZE FOLDER IS IDEAL FOR A BIGGER, MORE REASSURED RIDE
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Though the Tern Vektron is relatively big among its folding compadres, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still a weeny machine compared to a typical road bike, with a smaller frame and smaller wheels. The knock-on effect of this style is that the ride isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as gracious as a full size bike. But if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the market for an electric folder, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to go small. Montague (montaguebikes.com) makes
Ä&#x2020;QH IXOO VL]H IROGHUV LWV 863 D SDWHQWHG F.I.T. folding system, in which the frame uses a tube within a tube design, offering the strength of a non-folding bike (if not its looks) with the ability to fold on demand. The Montague Boston ZE marries the Ä&#x2020;UPèV IROGLQJ SURZHVV ZLWK D =HKXV %LNH all-in-one hub with regen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the same type IRXQG LQ WKH 9HOOR %LNH RQ WHVW KHUH
S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 6 5
State of the Art TEST 02:
ELECTRIC
TERN VEKTRON S10
7KUHH GLIIHUHQW VW\OHV EXW ZKDW DUHbWKH\bUHDOO\ FDSDEOH RI" ll three ebikes have a unique electric setup. he Vektron uses the slick Bosch Active Plus motor, mounted at the cranks for optimum eďŹ&#x192;ciency and smoothness. Unlike previous generation Bosch systems, the latest line now has the chainring on the outside of the motor, so you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;brick wallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; eďŹ&#x20AC;ect when the motor isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spinning. With a more traditional, externally mounted battery, the Vektron looks very much like an ebike the plus point is you can remove the battery to charge it, or you can just plug in at the source. he 400Wh battery is rated for about 31 miles in its most powerful mode, or 62 miles in eco mode, which is nifty. At a glance ,youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be hard pushed to tell the Brompton Electric apart from a regular one, aside from the battery strapped to it. he motor is housed in the front wheel hub, giving you instant power as you pedal. Developed in conjuction with Williams Advanced Engineering (yes, the F1 guys), the motor uses a smart sensor to adjust the power as you ride. With its â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;battery-in-a-bagâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; setup, mounted to the handlebar stem, you can easily remove it for charging. he electric
A
BROMPTON ELECTRIC
VELLO BIKE+
he Velloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s party piece is its F1-like Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) controls are mounted on the top of the battery, for accessibility. You get three power modes to play with and niceties such as auto lights and a USB port for charging your phone. he Bromptonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 300Wh battery oďŹ&#x20AC;ers 25-50 miles of range, depending on mode. he Vello Bike+ has a clever all-in-one motor and battery housed in a hub at the rear wheel. It weighs just 3kg and is mounted nice and low, to aid handling. he Velloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s party piece is its F1-like Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). In full regenerative mode you can travel indeďŹ nitely without having to charge the battery, which is a big deal. hat said, it only really works on a ďŹ&#x201A;at, and as it only oďŹ&#x20AC;ers minimal power assistance to get you going, it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t handle hills. If you have a need for speed, Turbo mode will propel you at a rate of knots, bursting through the battery to give you a mere 29km of range. 6 6 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
TEST 02: WINNER
VELLO BIKE+ Under the right conditions, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never have to charge the Vello Bike+. hat and its â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hiddenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lightweight all-inone electric setup are a gamechanging innovation.
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Electric folding bikes
TERN VEKTRON S10
TEST 03:
THE RIDE Which will get you from A to B in the quickest and most comfortable way? hile the Tern Vektron suffers at luggability, it comes into its own when it gets rolling, offering a luxurious, ‘big bike’ ride. he big volume tyres eat potholes for breakfast and it’s seriously quick, too, with 10 generous gears working in perfect harmony with the smooth Bosch motor to give you a perfectly balanced power delivery over any terrain. Unlike some ebikes, which run out of puff at the 15.5mph electric-assist limit, the Vektron just sails on. Even without the aid of the motor, it cruises along the flat at 20mph, which is astonishing really. he Vektron is perfect for mile-munching. Whereas the Vektron feels like a tank, the Vello Bike+ is a racing car in comparison. Its relatively low weight allows it to zip off the line with gusto, and it’s able to take corners as fast as you like. You might find yourself wanting for more, though, as the single speed gear setup – while effortless to get you off the line, the motor eagerly spinning up with a mighty dollop of electric boost – doesn’t have the legs of a multi-gear setup and you’ll be spinning like a lunatic at about 15mph. Which is fine in an inner city, but slightly tedious on
W
BROMPTON ELECTRIC
VELLO BIKE+
he Vektron’s big volume tyres eat potholes for breakfast and it’s quick
TEST 03: WINNER
TERN VEKTRON For long, leisurely rides, this is the bike you want to have underneath you. It’s comfortable, fast over any terrain and even has a luggage rack to carry all your belongings.
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straights. Surprisingly, the single speed is well augmented by the electric assistance. As long as you’re in Turbo mode, hills are a doddle. Sure, you won’t be going up them quickly, but you won’t break a sweat either. As the smallest bike on test, the Brompton feels almost comical to ride, especially for taller folk, but there’s loads of adjustments and it’s heaps more comfortable than it looks. Sure, the small wheels, high handlebars and weighty battery make it a little nervous on turns, especially with the brick of a battery and motor at the front, but you soon get used to it, and it’s a lot of fun. he six-speed rear hub gives a decent amount of range (it’ll top out at a handy 17.5mph), though we found we were constantly cycling through power modes mid-ride to compensate for changes in terrain. Due to the battery’s position, behind the handlebars, it’s quite fiddly. S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 6 7
State of the Art VERDICT:
1st
THE OVERALL WINNER ISâ&#x20AC;¦ BROMPTON ELECTRIC From $1,999, brompton.com WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE IMPRESSED By far the smallest package once folded, making it the go-to bike for commuting on packed trains; easy to fold; lively ride with usable gearing (six-speed version); good handling; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s JRWbWKH YLVXDO NXGRV RQO\ matched by another Brompton. WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D IMPROVE Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re constantly adjusting the power
modes as you go; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little ELWbRQ WKH KHDY\ VLGH THE FINAL WORD A great all-round package that rides as nicely as it folds - it still feels like a classic Brompton. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also got DbÄ&#x2020;W DQG Ä&#x2020;QLVK XQOLNH DQ\WKLQJ weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen before, adding to the feeling of premium ownership.
TERN VEKTRON S10
VELLO BIKE +
$5,900, ternbicycles.com
$4,640, vellobike.com
2nd
WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE IMPRESSED An enjoyable ride â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideal for long journeys; Bosch electric system is smooth and fast with no motor resistance; folds really nicely. WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D IMPROVE Big and heavy, so less ideal for commuting. THE FINAL WORD Easily as good as the Brompton, but for D GLIIHUHQW IROGLQJ DXGLHQFH
WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE IMPRESSED Gamechanging no-charge tech; super-light; single speed for HDVH RI XVH LGHDO IRU FLW\ ULGLQJ WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D IMPROVE Long shape once folded wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t suit all; VOLJKWO\ Ä&#x2020;GGO\ WR IROG THE FINAL WORD The Vello Bike+ is a fun, fast and funky alternative to the Brompton.
3rd
SIX WAYS TO GET MORE FROM YOUR BROMPTON ELECTRIC 01 CHARGE <285b'(9,&(6 The Brompton Electric comes with a USB connector in the top of the battery pack, meaning you can charge your phone on the go, as long as you have a cable thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long enough and a handlebar mount â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which will be handy when you get a load of WKH QH[WbWKLQJ LQ WKLV OLVWð
02 GET THE APP Though it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t available at the time of writing, Brompton has promised to release an app this 6 8 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
year that allows owners of the Brompton Electric to connect WRbWKH ELNH RYHU %OXHWRRWK DQG check your speed and mileage, as well as adjust individual ULGLQJbPRGHV RQ WKH Ä&#x2021;\
03 SPEED UP CHARGING TIMES The standard charger included with the Brompton Electric is Db $ XQLW ZKLFK PHDQV LWèOO WDNHbDERXW KRXUV WR JHW DbIXOObFKDUJH ZKHQ \RX SOXJ LW LQ b,I \RX ZDQW WR FXW GRZQ WKHbFKDUJH WLPH WR D PRUH
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04 GET MORE RANGE Brompton recommends you pump up the tyres to 100psi to minimise the amount of rolling UHVLVWDQFH ,Q GRLQJ WKLV \RXèOO give the motor, and yourself, DbELW OHVV ZRUN WR GR DV \RX ULGH
05 PREP FOR A COLD WINTER Bike batteries donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the cold, so when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re parking your
Brompton, remember to take the battery off and store it LQGRRUV $OVR NHHS WKH EDWWHU\ fully charged if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not using LW IRU D ZKLOH
06 CHECK IT BEFORE YOU TRAIN WRECK IT Obviously, the Brompton Electric is an ideal commuter aid, which makes it perfect for FDWFKLQJ WUDLQV :KLOH \RX FRXOG happily jump on one without DbSUREOHP VRPH RSHUDWRUV require you to carry it in a EDJ bVR FKHFN EHIRUH \RX ULGH
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Electric folding bikes
5
ESSENTIAL ADD-ONS With a few custom touches, the Brompton can EHbPDGH WR SHUIHFWO\ VXLW \RXU F\FOLQJ QHHGV
1
LARGE CITY BAG
7KH VWDQGDUG EDJ PRXQWHG WR WKH IURQW RI WKH %URPSWRQ (OHFWULF KDV DbPHUH OLWUHV RI FDSDFLW\ å JRRG IRU D WRRWKEUXVK DQG D VDQGZLFK SHUKDSV )RU PRUH FDUU\LQJ FDSDFLW\ å OLWUHV LQ IDFW å %URPSWRQèV ELJJHU XQLW LV D GLUHFW UHSODFHPHQW IRU WKH H[LVWLQJ RQH $230, brompton.com
01
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TELESCOPIC SEAT POST
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SCHWALBE KOJAK TAN WALL TYRE
,I \RX KDSSHQ WR EH RI D ORIW\ KHLJKW %URPSWRQèV 7HOHVFRSLF VHDWbSRVW LV WKH WLFNHW JLYLQJ \RX ORDGV PRUH VHDW OHQJWK WKDQ WKH VWDQGDUG SRVW ZLWKRXW WKH GUDZEDFN RI D ORQJHU Ä&#x2020;[HG SRVW MXWWLQJ RXW RI WKH IUDPH ZKHQ WKH ELNH LV LQ WKH IXOO\ IROGHG SRVLWLRQ $75, brompton.com
02 03
7KH VWDQGDUG %URPSWRQ W\UHV DUH SHUIHFWO\ JRRG IRU DOO URXQG ULGLQJ EXW LI \RX ZDQW DQ H[WUD OLFN RI VSHHG DQG VW\OH 6FKZDOEHèV .RMDN W\UHV ZLOO GR LW :LWK D PP ZLGWK DQG VOLFN W\UH SURÄ&#x2020;OH \RXèOO JHW OHVV UROOLQJ UHVLVWDQFH DV ZHOO DV DGGHG JULS IRU IDVW ULGHV $62 (per tyre), brompton.com
4
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04
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&KRRVH IURP D 7 7 RU 7 FUDQNVHW DQG \RX FDQ FXVWRPLVH WKH JHDULQJ RQ \RXU %URPSWRQ :K\" ,I \RX ZDQW PRUH KHOS RQ KLOOV D VPDOOHU FUDQNVHW ZLOO PDNH LW HDVLHU $ ELJJHU RQH ZLOO PDNH LW KDUGHU RQ WKRVH XSKLOOV EXW DOORZ \RX WRbKLW KLJKHU VSHHGV LQ HDFK JHDU $140, brompton.com
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FOLDING FLIGHT CASE
$ %URPSWRQ LV DV KDQG\ WR KDYH RQ KROLGD\V DV LW LV IRU JHWWLQJ IURP $ WRb% RQ D FRPPXWH VR LI \RX ZDQW WR WDNH \RXUV RQ D Ä&#x2021;LJKW \RXèOO ZDQW WKLV VWXUG\ FDUU\LQJ FDVH WR SURWHFW LW 7KH ZKHHOV OHW \RX PRYH LW DURXQG ZLWK HDVH DQG LW IROGV GRZQ ZKHQ QRW LQ XVH WR VDYH VSDFH $305, brompton.com
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 6 9
THE VERY LATEST GAMES, THE MOST CUTTING-EDGE PC HARDWARE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, ALL IN AUSTRALIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OLDEST PC GAMING MAGAZINE!
ON SALE NOW
TESTED Expert reviews and recommendations WR KHOS \RX EX\ ZLWK FRQÄ&#x2020;GHQFH
Edited by Claire Davies
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SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE9
TICWATCH PRO
THE BEST GAMING HEADSETS
APPLE MACBOOK PRO 15-INCH
JABRA ELITE ACTIVE 65T VS. BOSE SOUNDSPORT FREE
HOW WE TEST In T3, we feature only the ďŹ nest gadgets out there, and we believe that you â&#x20AC;&#x201C; our loyal reader â&#x20AC;&#x201C; deserve only the best tech in your life. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want you to waste time, and money, on inferior products, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly why our Tested section exists. In here youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd only the latest and hottest tech. Each product has been handpicked and tested by T3â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experts.
We only choose people with specialist knowledge for each test, so you know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to get an outcome based on many years of experience in their respective ďŹ eld. As well as our traditional ďŹ ve-star rating system (right), we also give out awards to particularly exceptional gadgets, using the line-up below - so when you spot one of these, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re onto a good thing.
THE SCORES EXPLAINED Forget it Below average Good for the price Very good all round An exceptional, best-in-class product
OUR AWARDS Only the best products ĂĽ WKRVH WKDW VFRUH Ä&#x2020;YH PLATINUM stars â&#x20AC;&#x201C; receive our AWARD Platinum Award
This is given to winners BEST ON of our group tests, so TEST you can see which is the best at a glance
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BEST FOR BATTERY LIFE
This accolade, and others like it, show you which gear is best for VSHFLÄ&#x2020;F IHDWXUHV
THE DESIGN AWARD
For kit with exceptional industrial design and UHÄ&#x2020;QHPHQW LQ DGGLWLRQ to being a great buy
S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 7 1
Tested
Screen 6.4-inch 1440x2960 AMOLED Processor Octo-core Exynos 9810 Memory 6GB/8GB Storage 128GB/512GB Cameras 12MP telephoto/12MP dualaperture wide-angle rear, 8MP front Battery 4,000mAh Dimensions 76.4x161.9x8.8mm Weight 201g
CLOUD9
Samsung Galaxy Note9 You’d think that smartphones with styluses would have died off by now, but Samsung keeps them alive by making them excellent 7 2 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
From $1,499 samsung.com.au amsung has always gone big with its Note handsets, and we don’t just mean the 6.4-inch screen on offer in this year’s model. hey’ve always pushed ahead on features and premium build, and the result is a phone that comes close to the iPhone X’s high price. So, is it worth it?
S
Built better he Note9 feels dense and classy in the hand, without the plasticky feel some flagships have had this year. Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
Samsung Galaxy Note9
ON THE BIG SCREEN At 6.4 inches, it’s only a tad bigger than the S9+’s 6.2-inch display, but that extra space is excellent for its split-screen app pairing shortcuts
It’s no surprise that it feels solid, considering just how much is packed into a thin 8.8mm frame and more substantial 201g weight. hat’s no doubt thanks in part to its new 4,000mAh battery, which is a big increase over the 3,300mAh unit in the previous model, though we can’t blame Samsung for having been cautious there, given the Note’s colourful battery history… It looks nearly identical to the Galaxy S9, meaning it’s one of the few high-end handsets you can have without a notch. Of course, you get the added bonus of the S Pen here, which hides completely within the handset when not in use, popping out from the bottom-right corner. he S Pen has had a nice upgrade this year: it’s Bluetooth connected for the first time, meaning it can do more than simply tap and draw. here’s a button on the stylus, which acts as a handy remote to play or pause music, for example, or to launch the camera app and take photos remotely. he S Pen works really well, making it an ideal addition on top of the drawing
PEN PAL The S Pen’s square shape is surprisingly comfortable to hold. This is great, since the intuitive software makes it much more tempting to XVH WKDQ \RXèG WKLQN
prowess of the S Pen, which includes 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. It feels natural in the hand during use, is totally accurate, and its ability to take notes, annotate screengrabs and photos, translate foreign text (you select the words with the S Pen on the screen), and send Live Messages, are genuinely useful.
Infinity phwoar Of course, all that note-taking and drawing prowess wouldn’t feel as nice if the screen wasn’t any good. But the 1440x2960 Infinity Display is (just) Samsung’s best ever, with images that are just as vibrant as the ones on the S9 Plus, but in a slightly taller form. From streaming HDR movies from Netflix, to enjoying a couple of rounds of combat in Dragon Ball Legends, to reading the fine content on T3.com, this phone’s screen makes it all an absolute pleasure. Everything you’ll do on it feels utterly smooth too, which is just as important. he new entry-level Note9 comes with an Exynos 9810 processor, 128GB of storage space (a 512GB
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Some might say Samsung design has found its groove. Some might say its in a rut. We expect big changes next year…
version costs more), and 6GB of RAM (this is increased to 8GB on the 512GB storage model). his is just about as high-end as phones get, especially the storage, which is colossal on that 512GB model. Bear in mind that it has a microSD card slot that can take another 512GB, meaning we’ve got a 1TB phone here. You really won’t have to worry about running out of space for photos and videos. Aside from all that extra space, it basically matches the best of what else is currently out there for speed. his means that using the Note9 is a rapid, fluid experience: we met zero slow-down or lag while opening and using apps, playing games, switching usage modes (such as when using the S Pen), downloading content and browsing the internet. It’s what you’d expect for $1,499, though. It helps that Android 8.1 is nice and mature now, running like a bug-free dream here. he Samsung Experience software, which replaced the crude and unpopular Samsung TouchWiz from earlier Galaxy devices, has also reached an incredibly refined level on S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 7 3
Tested
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t e No N with t l me mess th h use l s in h w you c n a often complex operating system. he software partnering the Note9â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s S Pen digital stylus also syncs seamlessly with Oreo. Extracting the S Pen when the phone is unlocked causes an overlay to appear with a customisable app wheel, enabling you to quickly make a note, or run an app. We have to confess that we added Football Manager Mobile 2018 to this almost immediately (the S Pen is perfect for conďŹ guring your false 9 formation). And, talking of gaming,
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youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;lll be delighted to kno ow that a Forn rnite runs smoothly on n th t e No ote9, and looks g glorious on the big b ig ghtt g br screen too. You have to install using the awkward route outside of the Google Play store, but then you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t argue with the end results.
ArtiďŹ cial idiocy here is one area of software where the Note9 stumbles, and inevitably itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bixby smart assistant, which returns to the Note9 with its own dedicated, physical button, located on the left side underneath the volume keys. A single press opens
t e A asssisttantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home screen, where y u an e t r your text commands, conďŹ on ure re settings, and run through its tutorials. A long press takes you directly to voice command input. Providing you enable the option, Bixby can also be raised with a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hi, Bixbyâ&#x20AC;? voice command, which worked for us most of the time. Samsung says Bixby is smarter and better than ever, and it does feature extra smarts such as learning to tailor its responses and suggestions for you better (like which eateries to suggest based on your past preferences). hat said, we still found it as patchy as ever
THE COMPETITION
SAMSUNG S9+ G GALAXY GAL GA L
APPLE iPHONE X
HUAWEI P20 PRO
6DPVXQJèV VHFRQG ELJJHVW VHFRQG Ä&#x2021;DVKLHVW SKRQH RI KDV DQ HTXDOO\ JRRG GLVSOD\ LV HTXDOO\ IDVW DQG KDV HVVHQWLDOO\ WKH VDPH FDPHUD V\VWHP <RX GRQèW JHW WKH 6 3HQ EXW \RX FDQ Ä&#x2020;QG WKH 6 IRU FORVH WR RQOLQH $1,199, samsung.com.au
,WèV QRW DV ELJ DV WKH 1RWH DQG WKHUHèV QR VW\OXV RU VSOLW VFUHHQ DSSV EXW WKLV LV WKH RQO\ SKRQH WKDW KDV LW EHDW IRU SUHPLXP IHHO DQG VSHHG WKDQNV WR WKH VWDLQOHVV VWHHO DQG JODVV ERG\ SOXV $SSOHèV EOLVWHULQJ $ SURFHVVRU $1,629, apple.com/au
$JDLQ QRW DV ELJ DV WKH 1RWH DQG QRW DV IRFXVHG RQ SURGXFWLYLW\ EXW LI \RX ZDQW WKH EHVW $QGURLG FDPHUD V\VWHP ZHèYH WHVWHG \HW \RX QHHG WKLV WULSOH OHQV V\VWHP 7KH UHVW RI WKH SKRQH LV DOVR H[FHOOHQW RI FRXUVH 050, consumer.huawei.com
74 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
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Samsung Galaxy Note9
TELE ADDICT The twin rear cameras include a telephoto lens (for portraits) and a wide-angle. You can add arty bokeh effects to blur the background, of course
DONE IN 40 SECONDS The S Pen charges when you place it back in the phone. Fancy fast-charge tech means it can take 30 minutes worth of juice in only 40 seconds
when on test. Many requests that we felt it would be able to handle didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t register, or if it did register them, sometimes it would do random things that werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t useful. Asking, for example, â&#x20AC;&#x153;How long will it take me to get home today?â&#x20AC;? saw Bixby open he Weather Channel, stating, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ďŹ nd the speciďŹ c weather condition you asked for, hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the overall weather insteadâ&#x20AC;?. Ask Google Assistant, which is also available on the Note9, the exact same question and within a second a Google Maps box has opened with a time estimate to your house and a recommended route. Alas, Samsung doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let you change the Bixby button to Google Assistant insteadâ&#x20AC;Ś
Always focused One area Samsung always gets right is the camera. he Note9 inherits the dual-lens, dual-aperture system from the S9+, meaning it can let in diďŹ&#x20AC;erent levels of light for diďŹ&#x20AC;erent types of shot, more like a proper camera than its phone rivals (only on the wideangle lens, though). Both 12MP rear lenses are image stabilised too, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to get crisp and clear shots. Moving round to the front of the Note9, the 8MP front camera now
comes loaded with a ďŹ rst for the Note series: a front-facing camera with autofocus, which is perfect for using the remote trigger in the S Pen. All the cameras take excellent bright pictures, helped with new intelligent scene optimisation, which adjust contrast and colours depending on what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re shooting.
One day at a time he boosted battery is another success story. he Note8â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s battery was ďŹ ne, but no more, really. he Note9 now delivers a battery that can meet the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;all-dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience being touted by Samsung, and with medium mixed usage too. But youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll still need to only be using it lightly if you want to get a full two days of use out of it. hatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no problem â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standard among smartphones â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but for a phone that prides itself on going big in everything, and being a productivity powerhouse, ideally weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d want an even larger battery to be slotted in here. Other phones already meet (or are set to exceed) the 4,000mAh size used here. You do get both Fast Charging and Fast Wireless Charging capabilities in the Note9, though, so at least reďŹ lling the phoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tank is a rapid experience.
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he Note9â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ nal trick is its audio credentials, including AKG-tuned speakers (which are noticeably better than the Note8â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s), plus an Adapt Sound system and Dolby Atmos support. Using these with headphones provides much richer audio quality than normal. All of this adds up to the Galaxy Note9 being our newly crowned king of the Android phones, and Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best device yet.
VERDICT WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D IMPRESSED Glorious, huge screen; excellent cameras; new S Pen is very handy; ORWVbRI SRZHU DQG VSHHG WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D IMPROVE %DWWHU\ OLIH LV VWLOO MXVW DYHUDJH %L[E\ VLPSO\ LVQèW D FRQWHQGHU \HW THE LAST WORD $QRWKHU WRS SKRQH IURP 6DPVXQJ ,WèV H[SHQVLYH EXW HDUQV WKDW SULFH E\ RR]LQJ TXDOLW\ IURP DOPRVW HYHU\ IHDWXUH
S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 7 5
Tested
OS Wear OS Display dual, AMOLED (400x400) and FSTN Size 45mm Battery two-30 days (depending on usage) Water and dust resistance IP68 Heart rate Yes Connectivity Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Works with iOS, Android
TIME FOR MORE
TicWatch Pro Is affordability and increased battery life a better swap for quality?
$334.90 mobvoi.com hen a company moves from making entry-level smartwatches to top-end wrist real estate, it can be quite a risk, but that’s exactly what Chinese AI company Mobvoi is doing. A new entrant on the wearable space, Mobvoi’s been making waves with its wrist innovations and now it has
W
76 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
unleashed the TicWatch Pro. Aimed at being the affordable top-end to its current Wear OS (née Android Wear) offerings, the Pro’s main selling points are price and big battery life. he Pro’s quoted battery life is five days (mixed use) to 30 days (Essential Mode), thanks to dual display tech that extends usage. Battery life drops to two days if you use the watch exclusively in Smart Mode. Basically, there are two 1.39-inch screens layered on top of one another. here’s the 400x400 OLED display, with ace resolution for the size that ensures
The Pro’s dial is available in silver or matte black, with a strap to match
text is legible and the pixels are barely visible. But it doesn’t fare well in bright sunlight, washing out colours and making the time harder to read.
Screen time here is, however, the inclusion of that second screen. It lies in wait above the other – a transparent LCD layer – and comes to life whenever the other screen is off. his secondary, low-powered display still shows the time, date, your step count, the watch’s current battery level, and even your heart rate, with one touch Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
TicWatch Pro
of a button. It’s a simple version of the Pro aesthetic, but it does mean you’re getting more out of the battery than you would on the Apple Watch. In reality, the smart screen lasts around two days, but it can limp on using that LCD display for another week or so - just without most of the actual smartwatch functionality and the pretty watch faces. Plus, that low-power screen just doesn’t look attractive, making the TicWatch Pro feel cheaper than it should, especially considering its aesthetics elsewhere.
Style matters You see, despite the price tag, this feels like a premium product. It’s a blend of matte black plastic and a brushed metal bezel, paired with a hybrid strap that wraps a heavily textured silicone underlay with a fine layer of leather. Comfortable, flexible and remarkably light, the Pro looks and feels expensive. It’s just a shame that the size of the body won’t appeal to all. Some of us love a big watch, but the TicWatch Pro is massive, thick and definitely not subtle. he majority of people we showed it to weren’t a fan of its size, and for slimmer wrists
it looks almost ridiculous. It doesn’t help that there are two sizeable metal hardware buttons on the right-handside, which you use to navigate the watch in between swipes and prods of the touchscreen. All that heft packs in a lot of features, thanks to the fact it runs on Wear OS. It’s incredibly easy to set up, the software is easy to use and there are plenty of apps available. here’s a plethora of highly customisable faces to choose from too, and it supports Google Pay. You can even programme the lower of the two buttons, which we assigned to toggle Google Pay. Unlike the Samsung Gear Sport, for example, the TicWatch Pro doesn’t take advantage of the Wear OS support for a bezel or buttons, so this button is fairly handy. It’s just a shame that the software on the watch can often stutter and lag as you move between notifications or apps—it’s never quite as smooth as you’d hope. It’s also frustrating that you need to use a combination of the Wear OS and Mobvoi apps on your phone to make the most of everything the TicWatch has to offer. Mobvoi doesn’t add much to the Wear OS experience,
The strap’s design means it’s business on the front and totally sweatproof on the back
SLIMLINE ALTERNATIVES LG LG WATCH STYLE
APPLE WATCH 3
e clue is in the name for t is one, as while the LG W tch style isn’t be the bestt QHVV WUDFNHU RQ WKH :HDU OS lineup, it’s sleek, slim and d d sirable. It also offers a nea al rro otating crown for additiona f nctionality. $249, lg.com
lthough all Wear OS devices work with an iPhone, you can’t get past the fact the Apple Watch is still the most complete smartwatch package, and it won’t attract the wrong kind of style a attention, either. F om $399, apple.com/au Fr
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and the app is particularly limited, but its activity tracking provides useful data. he Mobvoi app (iOS, Android) shows your progression across steps, exercise and active hours in a series of rings, with the aim of closing all three by the end of the day. It’s not designed specifically as a fitness tracker, so the software isn’t going to provide highly detailed exercise breakdowns, but it’s enough for those who aren’t fitness freaks. We used it at the gym several times and found it more than substantial in terms of recording our workouts, especially in the accuracy of its heart rate tracker. hough if you’re looking for advanced tracking, you’ll need to be looking at a Garmin.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Excellent longevity; premium build quality; affordable price tag. WE’D IMPROVE Unsightly CD display; overly chunky design; software performance isn’t smooth. THE FINAL WORD Despite its thick-set size and a few software issues, the innovative display and lengthy battery life turn this into the best smartwatch you haven’t heard of.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 7 7
Tested
Best headsets for gaming +HDU LW DOO KHDU LW ORXG å DQG PDNH \RXUVHOI KHDUG ZKLOH \RXèUH JHWWLQJ LQWR WKH JDPH :RUGV $OH[ &R[ 3KRWRJUDSK\ 2OO\ &XUWLV
BEST FOR AUDIO
A HEAD-FILLING SOUNDSTAGE
AWESOME AUDIO, AT A PRICE
GAMER-FRIENDLY, BUT LAGGING
SENNHEISER GSP 600
V-MODA CROSSFADE WIRELESS II ROSE GOLD
PLANTRONICS RIG 800HS
$299, sennheiser.com
$218, plantronics.com
$419, v-moda.com ,I ERXQF\ VRXQG LV \RXU WKLQJ 6HQQKHLVHUèV ERPEDVWLF ZLUHG FDQV VKRXOG EH WRS RI \RXU OLVW 7KH\èUH ORXG EUDVK DQG WKH FORVHG EDFN HDU FXSV DEVROXWHO\ VZDGGOH \RXU HDUV LQ DXGLR 7KH\èUH OLJKWHU WKDQ WKH\ ORRN DOWKRXJK WKH VWURQJ KHDGEDQG PHDQV WKH\ TXLFNO\ VWDUW WR IHHO WLJKW QR PDWWHU KRZ PXFK \RXèYH DGMXVWHG WKH SUHVVXUH VHWWLQJV RQ WRS (YHQ WKH PLF LV VWURQJ LW DXWR PXWHV ZKHQ \RX VZLQJ LW XS VHHPV WR FDQFHO QRLVH ZHOO DQG ZKLOH LWèV QRW DV VWURQJ DV VD\ WKDW RI WKH $UFWLV 3UR LWèV SHUIHFWO\ GHFHQW
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Gaming headsets
f youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a dedicated gamer, your headset is probably the most important peripheral in your arsenal. Forget that pinpoint mouse and clacky mechanical keyboard, as neither of those things is
I
strapped to your head for hours, and neither is interacting with you quite as intimately. So it pays to get it right. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not just talking great sound, although thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big plus: the perfect headset needs to be light to save neckache, and
contain your ears without crushing them. It also needs a quality mic tol ensure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re heard clearly when admonishing rubbish teammates. And, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it, style is important, especially if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to be on the business end of a webcam.
BEST FOR BUDGET
A TREAT FOR YOUR EARS
COMFORTABLE AND CHEAP
SIMPLE BUT SUMPTUOUS
STEELSERIES ARCTIS 352 :,5(/(66
SOUND BLASTERX H7 TOURNAMENT EDITION
CORSAIR HS70 SE
$449, steelseries.com
$120, soundblaster.com
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Despite being near the bottom for price, this does a huge number of things that some higher-end headsets canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get right. The audio, with a convincing 7.1 effect, is decent Ã¥ SHUKDSV ODFNLQJ PLGV DQG SXVKLQJ WKH WUHEOH EXW QRW GLVWUDFWLQJO\ VR Ã¥ DQG WKH PLF LV ULFK DQG VHQVLWLYH ,WèV DOVR FRPIRUWDEOH DQG \RX KDYH RSWLRQV ZLWK 86% RU PP FRQQHFWRUV HTXDOO\ YLDEOH 5HDOO\ WKH + LV D ELW RI D MHZHO 'RQèW PLVV WKLV RQH LI \RXèUH on a tighter budget.
$192, corsair.com +HDGVHWV XVXDOO\ FRPH LQ EODFN RU EODFN VR ZH DSSUHFLDWH &RUVDLUèV EHLJH OHDWKHU )RUJRLQJ IDQF\ GHVLJQV RU HODERUDWHO\ KLQJHG HDUSLHFHV KDV ZRUNHG ZHOO DV WKLV LV RQH RI WKH PRUH VHFXUH IHHOLQJ KHDGVHWV RQ WHVW DQG WKH VRIWZDUH WZHDNDEOH DXGLR ZKLOH EUDVK RQ WKH ORZ HQG LV H[FLWLQJ ,WV *+] ZLUHOHVV UHFHLYHU LV WKH VPDOOHVW GHGLFDWHG 86% GRQJOH KHUH \HW PDQDJHV VXUURXQG HPXODWLRQ å RQO\ WKH PLF FOHDU EXW OLPLWHG LQ WHUPV RI IUHTXHQFLHV SXOOVbWKHb+6 6( GRZQ D IHZ SHJV
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Tested
SIX APPEAL
Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch :LWK VL[ FRUHV RI SURFHVVLQJ power in a 1.5cm body, this LVbD SRFNHW LVK URFNHW From $3,499 ($7,139 as tested) apple.com/au pple’s high-end laptop finally gets a big leap forward in power this year, putting six-core processors in as standard (the 13-inch model gets a tidy quad-core processor). he basic $3,499 model (2.2GHz Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, 256GB of ultra-fast flash storage) is pretty handy itself, and compares well to the T3-favourite 15-inch Surface Book 2: for the same price, you get the same storage (but faster), the same RAM, two extra processor cores, but a weaker GPU. We got the XXXTREME version to test the MacBook Pro, a machine that comes in at tear-inducing $7,139, kitted out with a 2.9GHz Core i9 chip, 32GB of RAM, AMD Radeon Pro 560X 4GB graphics card and 2TB storage.
A
Small change Outside of a big boost in processor power, the only other changes of note in the new MacBook Pros from last year’s model are a new keyboard that Apple promises is quieter (but others say should be more reliable too, as several people had issues with the previous generation) and a 8 0 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
True Tone screen, which changes its colour temperature to match the ambient light in the room, making it more comfortable to use. his is one of our favourite features on iPad and iPhone, and once you try it, every computer without it will feel horrible to use. he good news, then, is that the beastly processor proves to be as much of a bonus as expected – compared to last year’s model (which had a similar processor to the Surface Book 2), hardcore video encoding was nearly 30 per cent faster in our tests. For pro stuff that taxes the processor, this is the performance machine, even at the more basic end. However, gaming performance doesn’t compare to the likes of Nvidia 1060 in the Surface Book 2 (especially since macOS isn’t good at it). he MacBook Pro still has other advantages, including being thinner and lighter than anything else in its power range. he screen is also sharp and really vibrant, with wide-colour support. Keep in mind that there are four hunderbolt 3 ports here, a headphone jack, and nothing else. No regular USB, no SD card reader, no HDMI – it lacks flexibility. It’s also strictly a laptop, so no touchscreen or 2-in-1 shenanigans. hat troublesome keyboard is also divisive: it’s very low-travel, and feels ‘clicky’. We really like it, but some detest it. You’ve been warned.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED So much processing power; True Tone is brilliant; highly portable. WE’D IMPROVE Some won’t like the lack of touchscreen; graphics aren’t great; limited port options. THE LAST WORD You can’t argue with the sheer processor grunt here – and in that thin, light SDFNDJH å EXW LWèV QRW DV ćH[LEOH DV some Windows-based rivals.
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GoPro Hero7 Black
ACTION PACKED
GoPro Hero7 Black The action camera market has long been dominated by GoPro, but has it done enough with this new cam to hold onto the crown? $570 gopro.com ooking to extend its lead in the action camera market, GoPro’s new Hero7 Black brings a host of updates to the already ace Hero6. Focusing on making videos less shaky, GoPro has given us new tech called HyperSmooth. his built-in electronic stabilisation enables you to ditch the gimbal and still capture judder-free footage. Audio is better, and there’s a new TimeWarp function, gesture-based UI, and live streaming. Impressively, these new features have been crammed into a case the exact same size and shape as its predecessor. he Hero7 is waterproof down to 10 metres, and you can expand that to an impressive 30 metres with an optional GoPro waterproof housing. Plus, there’s the massive selection of compatible mounts and extras that already work with the Hero7. One of our favourite new features is the ability to record TimeWarp videos, which use GoPro’s image stabilisation to create moving timelapses (like you might see in a Casey Neistat vlog). hey’re ideal to set the scene, convey time passing, or to add variety to an edited video.
L
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he real star of the show is HyperSmooth stabilisation, which now works on all video up to 4K at 60fps. HyperSmooth does its job incredibly well, and doesn’t present any of the traditional warping or artifacts found on older GoPro cameras. Audio recording capabilities have also been enhanced here, with built-in microphones able to capture more dynamic range (deeper lows, higher highs). here’s also software targeting and eliminating sound from vibrations. A touchscreen sits on the rear of the Hero7, but the user interface has been redesigned. As a result the menus, modes and settings are far more simple to use, with intuitive gestures that can be easily picked up. You also get voice control, which is handy when you can’t reach the display or if you’re wearing gloves. When you connect to the GoPro smartphone app, you’ll get live streaming. At launch you’ll be able to send video directly to Facebook Live (via your smartphone’s internet connection), with YouTube coming shortly after. he GoPro Hero7 Black is undoubtedly the most powerful action camera the company has created. his year’s updates have made getting professional shots easier, rather than bumping specs. As a result, we reckon GoPro has done enough to retain the coveted action cam crown.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Stabilisation really works; vastly improved UI; great TimeWarp function. WE’D IMPROVE Only Facebook live-steaming at launch; no improvement to battery life. THE LAST WORD GoPro has again proven itself the undisputed king of action cams. The Hero7 Black is expertly built, featurestacked, and essential gear for thrill-seekers and adventurers.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 8 1
Tested
Sizes 55- or 65-inch Panel OLED 3840x2160 Speaker output 80W Connections 4x HDMI 4K, 3x USB, Ethernet, SD card, CI slot, WiFi, optical audio, headphone jack Dimensions 1228x785x330mm (55-inch) Weight 29kg (55-inch)
From $2,420 panasonic.com
MOVIE MAGIC
Panasonic FZ950 Panasonic leads the way when it comes to truly cinematic telly, though it’s lacking a couple of features 8 2 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
anasonic rightly makes a big deal of its Hollywood connections. Not only does it have an R&D lab that’s a stone’s throw from the Walk of Fame, but all the OLED screens you buy at home have been finely tuned by Tinsel Town creatives, resulting in huge appeal for movie lovers. In fact, it’s probably the best OLED TV ever made. But not all of it…
P
Star appeal Well, Hollywood is nothing if not nice to look at, and build quality on the FZ950 is exceptional, with a slimline bezel and the best finishing this side of Harry Kane. It also comes with a dedicated soundbar, tuned by Technics audio engineers, which is similarly sleek. he TV is available in
55-inch (tested here) and 65-inch models. Size aside, the screens are essentially identical. Before we go into detail about high-end video, there’s extra good news: the set does a great job with upscaling HD channels. here’s no sense that you’re slumming it with sub-2160p fare, as long as the quality of the original is good. Of course, 4K HDR is better, and if you’re watching a disc or stream at this quality there’s a depth to the FZ950’s colour that’s nothing short of mesmerising. However, with SDR content the cinematic viewing modes dramatically reduce panel luminance (down to as little as 30 per cent), and shouldn’t be used in anything other than fully dark room conditions. hat’s an important point to consider about this TV. As soon as you pop on a film, it looks the business… provided you choose the right image preset. he Normal mode is the best option for watching in rooms with average
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Panasonic FZ952B
ambient light. Using Dynamic can oversaturate colour, but some content (animation, for example) can look divine. When displaying 4K HDR content, all the setâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s image presets lock to full panel luminance and contrast. he True Cinema mode beautifully replicates the image characteristics of a Hollywood mastering monitor, but requires near-dark viewing conditions to really impress.
Lack of Vision HDR support covers HDR10, HLG and HDR10+, the new open standard developed to challenge Dolby Vision for the most advanced HDR image. Dolby Vision itself isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t supported, which isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a deal breaker, but with HDR10+ not really having any support yet, it does mean you miss out on the best possible viewing option. Fortunately, you probably wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind, because with amazingly rich, dark images from its OLED screen, and impressive brightness when needed, it looks stunning. Motion handling is also decent, so with 4K HDR sports becoming more widely available, this will do nicely. he
FZ950 also makes for a superb gaming display, provided you use the Gaming mode to cut lag. Sound quality is excellent for a ďŹ&#x201A;atpanel TV. he speaker bar uses four woofers, a quartet of mid-range drivers, two tweeters and a quad passive radiator for deeper bass. Its stereo presentation is ďŹ rst class. hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no Dolby Atmos, but outside of that it really cuts the need to buy a dedicated soundbar. Speaking of Dolby Atmos, support for it is lacking entirely from this TV. hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no decoder, so you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t route Dolby Atmos from either a connected set top box or the internal NetďŹ&#x201A;ix client out to an Atmos sound system. his maybe the single biggest issue we have here: Atmos is incredible, and although there are ways around not having it, this is not ideal.
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Plugged in
VERDICT
You get four HDMI inputs, but while all are 4K HDCP enabled, only two are full bandwidth. hat means you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t run the highest-end 2160p 10-bit source into HDMIs 3 or 4. he built-in operating system works well, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got streaming from NetďŹ&#x201A;ix,
THE RIVALS SONY MASTER SERIES AF9 6RQ\èV QHZ WRS HQG WHOO\ FRPLQJ VRRQ LV EXLOW WR PLPLF PDVWHULQJ PRQLWRUV VXFK DV WKH )= LV DQG KDV D FDOLEUDWLRQ PRGH WKDW PDWFKHV WKH ZD\ 1HWÄ&#x2021;L[ VKRZV DUH PDVWHUHG $TBC, sony.com.au Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
Amazon Prime Video, ITVHub, All4 and loads more. In many ways, the FZ950 is the best performing OLED screen weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen this year. Its colour performance is extraordinary, while detail and HDR really shine. It also boasts a superior sound solution out of the box, and has a great smart platform. However, the lack of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support means itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a slam dunk against rival OLED panels, such as LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OLED C8 and the jaw-dropping Sony AF8. But if you want a 4K TV to suck the ďŹ nest possible detail out of movies from Casablanca to Ragnarok, the Panasonic FZ950 is like having your own personal screening room.
LG C8 ([FHOOHQW 2/(' LPDJHV IRU DOO VRXUFHV DQG WKH & KDV WKH 'ROE\ 9LVLRQ DQG $WPRV IHDWXUHV WKH 3DQDVRQLF LV ODFNLQJ 7KH VSHDNHUV DUH ZHDNHU EXW /*èV PRUH H[SHQVLYH 79V FRPH ZLWK WKHLU RZQ VRXQGEDUV From $2,795, lg.com.au
WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE IMPRESSED Fabulous GHWDLO DQG FRORXU Ä&#x2020;QHVVH QXDQFHGb+'5 SHUIRUPDQFH JUHDW soundbar included. WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D IMPROVE 1R 'ROE\ 9LVLRQ +'5 VXSSRUW VDGO\ QRW FRPSDWLEOH ZLWK 'ROE\ $WPRV THE LAST WORD 0D\ EH WKH EHVW 2/(' SLFWXUH \HW WKDQNV WR FDUHIXO WXQLQJ DQG WHFKQLFDO EULOOLDQFH 7KH PLVVLQJ IHDWXUHV DUH IUXVWUDWLQJ EXW WKLV 79 LV WHPSWLQJ IRU WUXH PRYLH ORYHUV
S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 8 3
Tested
Stylish laptop bags Lug your lavish tech about in comfort, and look good while doing so Words: Nick Odantzis Photography: Phil Barker
BEST FOR STYLE
SWISH AND MINIMALIST CARRYING
BOMBPROOF, BUT LACKS COMFORT
SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE
TED BAKER STARK
BROOKS RIVINGTON
HERSCHEL HERITAGE
$488, tedbaker.com
$315, brooksengland.com
$69, herschels.com.au
If you must have a briefcase for carrying your stuff, you could do a lot worse than this gorgeous offering from Ted Baker, decorated in a slick micro-perfortated leather outer. The lining is classic TB, with a funky print, and you get lots of pockets within which to stash your belongings. There’s a padded laptop sleeve, which, though designed for a 13-incher, sadly won’t accomodate thicker, older laptops. The chunky handles are great to grasp, and there’s a shoulder strap for added comfort.
Brooks designs gear primarily for cycling, so rest assured this bag is tough and weatherproof, with a water-resistant fabric that looks and feels nice to the touch. There’s a huge amount of space inside, plenty of pockets, and a padded sleeve for a 15-inch laptop. All good, then? Oddly, for a bag that’s designed to be carried while riding – where comfort is key – the unpadded nylon straps hurt after a few minutes. And though the back is padded, we felt our laptop digging into our lower back.
A simple bag for simple pleasures, the Herschel Heritage gives you that back-toschool feel with a retro vibe. Inside you get a single yet generous laptop sleeve. It isn’t padded, though, so be careful what you place against it. There’s also a neat lower pocket for storing your phone, and a headphone port located higher up for listening to music without a cable getting in your way. The Heritage is capacious, comfy and cool, and you can buy it in a frankly ludicrous 45 unique colour options.
8 4 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
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Stylish laptop bags
etâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s be honest, shall we? A good laptop bag is essential in this day and age. Whether you need to carry your tech, your lunch or missioncritical documents, we all rely upon being able to move around
/
our stuďŹ&#x20AC; day-to-day without it getting lost or damaged en route. So choosing a bag should be at the top of your purchasing list. hat bag needs to look good, too. hatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve tested six of the most stylish laptop bags to help you ďŹ nd the ideal one. Each
of these bags does its job a little diďŹ&#x20AC;erently to the next, but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a few things they all must do: carry your tech around in relative safety (bonus points if the bag oďŹ&#x20AC;ers more than a laptop sleeve), and make you look good when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on the move.
BEST FOR MISSIONS
A GOOD ALL-ROUNDER
RAT RACE-SURVIVING ABILITIES
LOTS OF HIDDEN CHARM
PATAGONIA ARBOR CLASSIC 25L
MISSION WORKSHOP RHAKE
EASTPAK FLOID
$129, patagonia.com.au
From $289, missionworkshop.com
$79, eastpak.com
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$V ZHOO DV ORRNLQJ UDWKHU IHWFKLQJ ü PRUH VR LQ WKLV &RUODQJH 6SLFH FRORXU ü WKH )ORLG KDV SOHQW\ WR RIIHU RQ WKH LQVLGH 7KHUHèV D SDGGHG ODSWRS VOHHYH DQG WKRXJK WKH PDLQ FRPSDUWPHQW LVQèW KXJH LWèV MXVW / LQ FDSDFLW\ \RX JHW WZR JRRG VL]HG SRFNHWV RQ WKH IURQW D KLGGHQ H[SDQGDEOH ERWWOH KROGHU DQG DQRWKHU SRFNHW DW WKH UHDU KLGGHQ IURP YLHZ 7KH ODWWHU LV SHUIHFW IRU VWRULQJ YDOXDEOHV WKRXJK DQQR\LQJO\ WKH ODFN RI SDGGLQJ PHDQV LI LWèV D SKRQH \RXèUH VWDVKLQJ \RXèOO IHHO LW DJDLQVW \RXU EDFN
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 8 5
Tested
WORK, RESTâ&#x20AC;Ś
Honor Play ,W PD\ EH EXLOW IRU JDPLQJ EXW WKH ELJ VFUHHQ VOHHN design and piles of speed VKRXOG DSSHDO WR DQ\RQH wanting a bargain phone $439 hihonor.com o far, the T3 hivemind isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really sold on the need for gaming-focused phones. he Razer Phone is a great handset, but not because its 120Hz screen and Dolby Atmos speakers are good for games. heyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just nice features generally. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the same story with the Honor Play: its huge 6.3-inch screen and high-end processor might be pitched with gaming in mind, but a fast phone with a gorgeous screen is something we can all appreciate. Especially at this price.
S
Game on he Honor Play does have other gaming features beyond those: the GPU Turbo tech aims to keep intensive games running silky smooth by boosting graphics power while playing, while Game Suite mode makes it easy to record what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re playing and to lock keys from accidental presses. Both work well, but arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly pushing our Start button. No, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s go back to the basics. he phoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s display resolution of 1080x2340 looks lovely and sharp, and the screen is impressively bright. 8 6 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
he ratio of screen to body is insanely high here, and coupled with great build quality and fun colours, the Play is a bit of a looker. he Kirin 970 processor is ďŹ&#x201A;agship level, matching the likes of the Samsung S9 for speed, yet itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in a phone under $450. Everything we did on the phone was super quick â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no sign of it having been watered down. 64GB of storage is okay (a higher-tier option would have been welcome) but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a microSD slot. he ďŹ ngerprint sensor can be found dead centre on the back of the phone, and worked perfectly for us. Above it, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd the 16MP+2MP dual-camera system, which uses Honorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s AI tech to recognise what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re shooting and adjust settings accordingly. For example, switching to bokeh-tastic Portrait mode when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re snapping a person. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve also got a front 16MP camera, which has impressively fast facial recognition (though itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not as secure as Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Face ID system). Add strong battery life on top of that, and you get a phone thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a fantastic package. Yes, the addition of GPU Turbo and Game Suite are nice for those playing Fortnite on the go, but to focus on this phone being for gamers wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do it justice: it looks, feels and runs like a quality Android phone, with high-end power for around half the price. We love it.
VERDICT WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE IMPRESSED Amazing performance for the price; great 6.3-inch screen; GPU Turbo feature works well. WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D IMPROVE An option with more storage would be nice. THE LAST WORD Our new king of the cheaper phones. :LWK Ä&#x2021;DJVKLS OHYHOV RI SRZHU DQ LQYLWLQJ VFUHHQ DQG QR FXW FRUQHUV LQ WKH Ä&#x2020;QLVK WKLV LV D VWHDO IRU HYHU\RQH QRW MXVW JDPHUV
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Tested Smackdown BEST ON TEST
BEST FOR AUDIO
BEST FOR SPORT
SPORTY TRUE WIRELESS ’PHONES
Jabra Elite Active 65t $265.99, jabra.com.au FIT & COMFORT hese are seemingly unshakeable without being uncomfortable, which is no small feat. Stick them in and do whatever you want – running, weights, spin, Greco-Roman wrestling – and they’ll still be there, feeling like you’re wearing nothing at all.
$279.99, bose.com.au FIT & COMFORT hese are perfectly comfortable for use in the gym or at home, but aren’t so good for running or cycling – they’re noticeably less stable than the Jabras in the ear. he way they protrude catches on hoods far too often, and looks a bit cyborg-y.
FEATURES Five hours battery life, plus 10 hours with the charging case. Wind-reduction tech boosts sound for runners, and IP55 rating means they can a bit of a beating from lousy weather if you’re exercising outside. Voice assistant support is here too.
FEATURES Like the Jabras, you get five hours of battery, plus 10 hours from the case – though a quick-charge feature gives 45 mins of juice from a 15-minute charge. IPX4 rating makes them sweat- and rain-resistant. Voice control is also here.
CONNECTIVITY he connection on the Jabras was good, but we had a couple of moments where it broke down, which is always more confusing with true wireless. he app enables you to customise the EQ to get more out of their sound, which is useful, as you’ll see…
CONNECTIVITY We found the connectivity on the Bose totally unbreakable in normal sport use – quick to connect, solid through a session, and always super clear. If you lose a bud, the app makes it easy to find where you last had it. Very nice.
SOUND QUALITY For workout purposes, the 65t are fine, even though they’re not the most musical of headphones. hey’re more like a very good Bluetooth headset than a hi-fi product, but with the volume up, they’re perfectly okay for workouts.
SOUND QUALITY You get notably better audio from the Bose headphones than the Jabra – good enough to be your everyday headphones too. However, the protruding design catches a lot of wind noise, so they aren’t ideal for outdoor activity at times.
VERDICT
2nd
Bose SoundSport Free
WE’RE IMPRESSED 8QEHDWDEOH FRPIRUW DQG ĆW IRU any physical activity; great wind reduction tech for outdoors use; good battery life. WE’D IMPROVE Sound is weaker than the Bose.
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VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Good audio quality; comfortable; top connectivity and app. WE’D IMPROVE Sticky-out design looks a little odd, catches, and is less stable for running or cycling.
1st
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BEST OF THE BEST The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best tech, all in one place
If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for the very best tech available today, you have GHÄ&#x2020;QLWHO\ FRPH WR WKH ULJKW SODFH %HVW RI WKH %HVW LV WKH PRVW useful gadget-buying guide you ZLOO HYHU HQFRXQWHU 7R FUHDWH LW ZHèYH UXWKOHVVO\ Ä&#x2020;OWHUHG GRZQ WR WKH ELJJHVW JURXSV WR EULQJ \RX URFN VROLG UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV IRU \RXU KRPH OLIH GDLO\ FRPPXWH DQG WKH WHFK \RX XVH DOO WKH WLPH :LWKLQ HDFK RI WKRVH JURXSV weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a dozen categories for NH\ WHFK EX\V :HèYH SLFNHG RQH SURGXFW IRU HYHU\ FDWHJRU\ WKDW we think is the best you can get on balance, taking into account SULFH TXDOLW\ DQG IHDWXUHV VR LWèV easy to know what you need in \RXU OLIH You should also check out T3.com ZKHUH \RXèOO Ä&#x2020;QG HYHQ PRUH FDWHJRULHV LI \RXèUH ORRNLQJ IRU VRPHWKLQJ WKDW LVQèW KHUH )URP ELJ EXGJHW EX\V WR WKH little (but essential) accessories, ZHèYH JRW \RX FRYHUHG
INSIDE 90
ENTERTAINMENT
91
AUDIO
92
LIFESTYLE
93
AUTO
94
SMART HOME & LIVING
96
COMPUTING
97
TRAVEL & OUTDOORS
S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 8 9
Best of the best BEST OFâ&#x20AC;¦
ENTERTAINMENT
However serious you are about your TV, movies and gaming setups, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got the perfect buys for a tricked-out living room OLED 4K TV
VALUE 4K TV SONY A8F SERIES Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next-gen 4K HDR TV looks fantastic thanks to its OLED display and advanced image processing. Because of ingenious tech that uses the screen itself as a speaker, it also sounds superb. From $3,999, sony.com.au
TOP-END 4K TV
HISENSE M7000 Looking for a next-gen TV but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to pay more than $1,500? Then step this way - the M7000 boasts a beautiful 4K HDR picture and comes with the essential . VWUHDPLQJ DSS 1HWÄ&#x2021;L[ From $1,098, hisense.com.au
4K HDR PROJECTOR OPTOMA UHD65 This projector brings 4K projection to the home for an affordable price, meaning giant-screen Ultra HD detail with the richness of HDR. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unbeatable for home movie magic., and ace in small rooms too. $5,299, ambertech.com.au
LG SIGNATURE W7 This is the most amazing-looking 4K HDR TV weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever seen at just 2.57mm thick (it attaches to the wall using magnets!), and the image quality is simply fantastic too. A shape of whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to come. $13,499 lg.com/au
VALUE 4K BLU-RAY PLAYER
TOP-END 4K BLU-RAY PLAYER
XBOX ONE S Yes, this is primarily a games console, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a damn good UHD Blu-ray player too. Why pay more for something that just plays discs when you could be getting your game on with the money left over? $329, microsoft.com
4K STREAMER
PANASONIC DMP-UB900 Clean lines, great software design and the processing power to create simply the best 4K picture youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get from a UHD disc. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re building a serious collection, this is the serious player for you. $899, panasonic.com
UNIVERSAL REMOTE LOGITECH HARMONY ELITE A dual-purpose remote, as at home in your hands as it is sat in the corner of your living room, controlling everything from your TV to your lighting. You can even control it from a phone app! $449.95, logitech.com
GOOGLE CHROMECAST ULTRA The new super-small Chromecast Ultra offers Ultra HD movies with HDR support for a seriously cinematic experience from a tiny box. Plus, you can stream your phone or laptop to your big screen. $99, play.google.com
TV SOUNDBAR
AV RECEIVER SONOS BEAM Not only is this a superb-sounding TV speaker, with an excellent mode for enhancing dialogue, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s multi-room ready with Sonosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; other products, supports Apple AirPlay, and has Alexa built-in. $599, sonos.com
PORTABLE GAMES CONSOLE NINTENDO SWITCH Not the most powerful current-gen console, but with Nintendoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legendary JDPHV OLQH XS DQG WKH Ä&#x2021;H[LELOLW\ WR SOD\ LQ VWDFNV RI GLIIHUHQW FRQWURO FRQÄ&#x2020;JXUDWLRQV itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best portable machine you can buy. $469, nintendo.com.au 9 0 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
MARANTZ NR1608 Small enough for any set-up but packing in features, this receiver offers 7.2-channel surround, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D audio, eight 4K 60Hz HDMI ports, Wi-Fi music playback and smart 4K upscaling. $1,299, marantz.com
4K GAMES CONSOLE XBOX ONE X The most powerful console ever is a true technical marvel, capable of astonishing graphics in native 4K and HDR, and Dolby Atmos 3D sound. It even includes highquality 4K Blu-ray playback. $649, xbox.com/en-au Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
Best of the best BEST OFâ&#x20AC;¦
AUDIO
From wireless convenience to audiophile heaven, this is the gear you need to make the most of your favourite music MULTI-ROOM SPEAKERS
WI-FI SPEAKER NAIM MU-SO Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expensive, but there just isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a better sounding or looking wireless speaker for the price. The sound is monumentally excellent, and it supports a solid range RI VWUHDPLQJ RSWLRQV $1,899, naimaudio.com
SONOS ONE Pound for pound, this is a hell of a lot RI VSHDNHU IRU \RXU PRQH\ HDVLO\ Ä&#x2020;OOLQJ a room, and expandable through the versatile Sonos speaker range. Built-in Alexa support clinches it for Sonos. $299, sonos.com
PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER
WIRELESS OVER-EAR HEADPHONES
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO YOYO M These portable speakers are made for wireless stereo sound and come as a pair (though you can use one on its own). They offer punchy audio in an impressively wide VRXQG Ä&#x2020;HOG DQG ORRN JUHDW WRR $599, cambridgeaudio.com
WIRELESS IN-EAR HEADPHONES
BOWERS & WILKINS PX These stylish headphones are also technical marvels, boasting adjustable noise cancellation via an app. They pause automatically when you take them off, last ages, and sound absolutely fantastic. $549, bowers-wilkins.com
WIRED OVER-EAR HEADPHONES
FLARES PRO These headphones plug into a mini-DAC you need to clip about your person, but the result is truly amazing sound for the size. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s audiophile stuff, with beautiful stereo channel separation. Ä&#x2021;DUHDXGLR FRP
WIRED IN-EAR HEADPHONES
SENNHEISER MOMENTUM 2.0 The around-ear version of Sennheiserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brilliant range offers supreme comfort, good portability thanks to a folding design, and â&#x20AC;&#x201C; most importantly â&#x20AC;&#x201C; fantastic sound quality in all situations. $499.95, en-au.sennheiser.com
PORTABLE HI-RES PLAYER
SENNHEISER MOMENTUM M2IE The M2IE boast fantastically detailed sound, plenty of bass and dedicated versions for both iOS and Android. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re comfortable too, and impossible to beat for the price. $169.95, en-au.sennheiser.com
HI-FI STREAMER
ASTELL & KERN KANN A substantial audio device at nearly 300g, but one that does incredible things. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a DAC in its own right, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an astonishing high-res player, and its massive battery will keep you rocking for days on end. $1,349, astellnkern.com
BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 220 These are great value, yet offer up 13cm Kevlar mid/bass drivers, deep-dish tweeters and outstandingly punchy sound. Place them next to a wall for the strongest output from the rear-set bass port. $549 (pair), wharfedale.co.uk
NAIM UNITI ATOM An immensely stylish streamer with a great screen, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compatible with a host of music streaming services. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll play anything on your network and via Chromecast, AirPlay and Bluetooth aptX. $3,150, naimaudio.com
HI-FI STEREO AMP CAMBRIDGE AUDIO AZUR 851A Nine easily selected inputs and Cambridge $XGLRèV RZQ SDWHQWHG &ODVV ;' DPSOLÄ&#x2020;HU design combine to make this a truly unique and special amp, one that can stand up to any musical test. $2,699, cambridgeaudio.com Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
TURNTABLE MARANTZ TT5005 Not a looker, but when it comes to practicality and sound, the TT5005â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s automatic tone arm and moving magnet cartridge are unparalleled. It even includes a pre-amp for amps without phono input. $450, marantz.com S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 9 1
Best of the best BEST OFâ&#x20AC;¦
LIFESTYLE
Kit yourself out with the ultimate in personal technology. This is the stuff you use every day, so make sure you get it spot on with our picks ANDROID PHONE
PREMIUM PHONE
SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s super-slick smartphone is the PRVW UHÄ&#x2020;QHG $QGURLG H[SHULHQFH WR GDWH $Q H[FHOOHQW FDPHUD JRUJHRXV ,QÄ&#x2020;QLW\ Display screen and some smart exclusive features make for a truly fantastic phone. From $1,199, samsung.com/au
MID-RANGE PHONE
APPLE iPHONE XS Proving that Apple truly has embraced large screens, the XS can be had in 5.8inch or 6.5-inch models. Stunning good looks and cutting edge perfromance and specs make this the premium pick. $1,629, apple.com/au
VALUE PHONE MOTOROLA MOTO G6 7KH * FRQWLQXHV 0RWRURODèV UXQ RI packing exactly the tech you need into a bargain package. There are no obvious compromises either, making this a really capable phone at a brilliant price. From $399, motorola.com.au
HUAWEI NOVA 3i &RPLQJ LQ DW KDOI WKH SULFH RI D Ä&#x2021;DJVKLS phone, this is truly a hidden gem. It looks great, with minimal bezels, and its cost completely belies its specs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; especially its excellent dual cameras, front and rear. $419, huawei.com
HYBRID WATCH
SMARTWATCH MARTWAT APPLE WATCH SERIES 3 Nothing in the smartwatch market does more than the Apple Watch, and this third generation can do it all without a tethered phone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; perfect for keeping your life in order whatever you happen to be doing. From $459, apple.com/au
ANALOGUE WATCH
MISFIT PHASE Smartwatch functionality without the screen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all the alerts, connectivity and activity tracking you desire, packed into a stunning and completely inconspicuous analogue watch with a six-month battery. )URP PLVÄ&#x2020;W FRP
FITNESS TRACKER GARMIN VIVOSPORT 7KLV Ä&#x2020;WQHVV EDQG IURP *DUPLQ LV absolutely packed with features, including *36 DQG KHDUW UDWH DQG LV IDQWDVWLF IRU the price. It tracks all sorts of activities accurately, and battery life is strong. $299, garmin.com
VICTORINOX INOX PARACORD With a strap woven out of 250kg-tension paracord and sporting a transparent compass-marked bumper, the INOX Paracord is a durable survival tool that happens to look super-cool on your wrist. $640, victorinox.com
BLUETOOTH TRACKER TILE SLIM A tiny keyring-sized square that helps your phone keep tabs on your wallet and vice versa, with a selection of ringtones, a yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s battery life, and the endurance to last a lifetime sitting in your back pocket. $44.95, thetileapp.com
ELECTRIC RAZOR BRAUN SERIES 9 9095CC Stubble is manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worst friend, but Braunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waterproof Series 9 can handle even a three-day beard without ripping out your face hair. When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re done, the charging station automatically cleans and dries. $699, braun.com 9 2 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
EREADER KINDLE OASIS 8OWUD WKLQ OLJKWHU WKDQ D Ä&#x2021;LPV\ SDSHUEDFN and weighted to be held in one hand, the Oasis takes digital reading to the next level. Clip on the leather charging cover and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re set for months of books. $389, amazon.com.au
ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH PHILIPS SONICARE DIAMONDCLEAN SONIC Whiten and polish with the vibrations from this versatile brush, which whips your toothpaste into a bubbly frenzy to get between your teeth more effectively. $439, philips.com.au Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
Best of the best BEST OFâ&#x20AC;Ś
AUTO
Get the best driving experience possible. No matter whether you tend to go for two wheels or four â&#x20AC;&#x201C; these are the top vehicles and accessories around FAMILY CAR
FUN CAR VOLVO XC60 Well-appointed and exquisitely designed, this mid-size hybrid SUV has all the entertainment options you need, the poise to make those long journeys smooth and enjoyable, and is safe as houses. From $62,990, volvocars.com/au
CITY ELECTRIC CAR
JAGUAR F-TYPE In coupĂŠ or convertible form, the latest F-Type rules the road. Fine lines, amazing agility and a two-litre, four-cylinder turbo engine that kicks hard without costing the earth. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be grinning behind the wheel. From $107,017, jaguar.com.au
LONG-RANGE ELECTRIC CAR TESLA MODEL S 100D Safe, super-smart and speedy, Teslaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all-electric saloon has everything youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d expect and more. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a true technological marvel, with a range of over 500km, so even long journeys are no problem. From $159,903, tesla.com
BMW i3 The i3 is a responsive, highly practical electric runabout packed with connectivity options and enough power in its 125kw motor to hit 100km/h in just 7.3 seconds. Perfect for a daily commute. From $63,900, bmw.com.au
CAR DISPLAY
SAT NAV NAVDY An innovation that takes the concept of the car heads-up display to the next level, with translucent mapping in your eyeline and gesture control so you can answer calls or dismiss alerts with a wave. $799, navdy.com
DASH CAM
TOMTOM GO 6200 Sat-nav brought bang up to date, with pinperfect mapping joined by on-board Wi-Fi, a data SIM to keep you up to date with WKH WUDIÄ&#x2020;F DQG IXOO KDQGV IUHH IDFLOLWLHV IRU your phone, including narrated alerts. $449, tomtom.com
IN-CAR CHARGING STK HUB Five ports in two parts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a pair plugged into the 12V socket, and three in the back via an extension module â&#x20AC;&#x201C; means everyone in the car can share the Hubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10.8A of charging power at one time. $35.99, stk-life.com
GARMIN DASH CAM 55 Constantly watching the road, the Dash Cam 55 does more than record footage and save it in case of an incident. Driverawareness warnings will tell you if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re too close or veering out of your lane. $249, garmin.com
ELECTRIC BIKE
ELECTRIC FOLDING BIKE VELLO BIKE+ Under the right conditions you will never have to charge the Vello Bike+. That and its â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hiddenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lightweight all-in-one electric setup are a game changing innovation in personal transport. $1,795, velectrix.com.au
SCOTT ESUB TOUR You still need to pedal, but Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s battery assist makes a huge difference in acceleration and torque, meaning youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll handle hills with ease and leave other road users standing at the lights. $4,399, bicyclesuperstore.com.au
SMART HELMET
BIKE NAV LIVALL 2017 SMART HELMET A connected helmet with turn signals, speakers for safe Bluetooth calling, ridetracking facilities to keep you pushing harder, and an SOS alert which detects impacts and shares your location. $229.99, livall.com
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BEELINE BIKE COMPASS More of a traditional navigation device than a modern one, the backlit E-Ink display of the Beeline constantly points to your destination and tells you how far precisely you have left to ride. $169, beeline.com S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 9 3
Best of the best BEST OFâ&#x20AC;¦
SMART HOME & LIVING Upgrade your house with the best tech for monitoring security and saving energy, plus lifestyle luxuries to make life easier VOICE ASSISTANT GOOGLE HOME Googleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home assistant is being woven into more and more devices, but the original Home tower is still one of the best to get. An attractive design and pleasing sound make it a modern must-have. $79, store.google.com
SMART DOORBELL RING VIDEO DOORBELL 2 Part motion-detecting security camera, part ring-anywhere doorbell, the Video Doorbell 2 alerts you via your smartphone when you have a visitor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and you can two-way talk even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not home. $329, ring.com
LIFESTYLE WI-FI CAMERA NEST CAM This indoor cam streams sharp HD video to your phone or computer, and can alert you when it senses motion or sound, so \RX FDQ WXQH LQ Ã¥ ZLWK DQ [ ]RRP DQG 130-degree view, you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss a thing. $319, nest.com/au
KETTLE
PHILIPS HUE Philips is the big name in smart lighting, WKDQNV WR D Ä&#x2021;H[LEOH H[SDQGDEOH V\VWHP Great app control, clever lighting options and integrations with other smart home devices make it the brightest of the bunch. From $144, meethue.com/en-au
ROBOT VACCUUM iROBOT ROOMBA 980 6WURQJ VXFWLRQ EUXVKOHVV H[WUDFWRUV and clever navigation mean this Wi-Ficonnected vac can take care of just about any cleaning need. You can control it via $OH[D RU *RRJOH $VVLVWDQW WRR $1,199, irobot.com.au
SMART SECURITY CAMERA NETGEAR ARLO PRO With a battery lasting months inside each camera, the Arlo system does away with the painful process of wiring your security cameras, and you get seven-day cloud storage of motion-detected recordings. $799 (two cameras), arlo.com/au
COFFEE MACHINE BREVILLE SMART KETTLE The perfect cup of tea requires careful temperature control. The Breville kettle RIIHUV Ä&#x2020;YH RSWLRQV GHSHQGLQJ RQ \RXU desired brew, and can keep itself nicely warm for 20 minutes. $169.95, breville.com.au
SMART PLUG
GAGGIA NAVIGLIO Everything you need to create a delicious bean-to-cup brew at an entry-level price. Gaggiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pedigree is all poured into this quality espresso maker, and proves you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to spend a cent more. $990, gaggia.com
WEATHER STATION BELKIN WEMO INSIGHT SWITCH This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just a way to switch your devices on and off (though it does do that); the WeMo also keeps close tabs on your energy usage, so you can see just how much that tumble dryer is costing you. $69.95, belkin.com/au
MANUAL VACCUUM DYSON CINETIC BIG BALL ANIMAL UPRIGHT Heavy, yes, but the suction the Cinetic Big Ball generates is beyond compare, particularly considering its unique skill at dealing with pet hair. $799, dyson.com.au 9 4 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
SMART LIGHTING SYSTEM
NETATMO WEATHER STATION Netatmoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outdoor sensor pulls in metrics about temperature, humidity and more, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the indoor sensor, which keeps tabs on the air quality and CO2 levels in your home, completes the package. $299.99, netatmo.com
PRESSURE WASHER KAERCHER K7 By using multiple pressure layers and an adjustable spray lance, Kaercherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SUHPLXP ZDWHU EODVWHU FOHDQV HIÄ&#x2020;FLHQWO\ and quickly, with enough options available to scrub just about any surface or vehicle. $994, kaercher.com Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
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Best of the best BEST OFâ&#x20AC;¦
COMPUTING
From gaming paradise to mobile workhorses to tablets with laptop power, these computer and accessory picks will increase your productivity ULTRAPORTABLE LAPTOP
PRO LAPTOP MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2 15 7KLV VXSHU Ä&#x2021; H[LEOH ODSWRS EULQJV KXJH Intel quad-core power and Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics to a thin frame, but also the ability to detach the screen and use it as a generously sized 15-inch tablet. From $3,649, microsoft.com
HP SPECTRE 13 An incredibly thin, light and beautiful laptop, with a dense, high-end HD panel. Despite being 1cm thick, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t skimp on the power either, thanks to an Intel Core i7 processor. From $2,999, hp.com/au
GAMING LAPTOP
GAMING PC ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS GX501 This is an amazing piece of engineering. Despite being incredibly thin and light (2.2kg), it packs insanely powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 graphics, a quad-core processor, and a 120Hz 1080p display.. $4,999, asus.com
ALIENWARE AURORA R6 Compact, cool and nowhere near as ostentatious as many larger gaming PCs tend to be, the Aurora R6 (particularly in LWV ZDWHU FRROHG FRQÄ&#x2020;JXUDWLRQ LV D JUHDW way to get VR-gaming ready. From $3,499, dell.com/au
4K MONITOR
ALL-IN-ONE APPLE iMAC WITH 5K RETINA DISPLAY Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been a screen like this. Big enough for every task, detailed, bright, colourful, and it happens to have a Mac stuffed in the back of it as well. From $2,699, apple.com/au
GAMING HEADSET
SAMSUNG U28E590D Everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s getting in on the 4K game, but Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 28-inch panel is yet to be bested. A 1ms response time means itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perfect for even twitchy games, and 60Hz 4K action is just a DisplayPort away. $598, samsung.com/au
MECHANICAL KEYBOARD COUGAR 700K Made for serious gaming with every possible mod con â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from the FPS wrist UHVW WR UHSHDW UDWHV DGMXVWDEOH RQ WKH Ä&#x2021;\ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with your choice of Cherry MX switches to get the exact experience youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re after. $155, cougargaming.com
ASTRO A40 + MIXAMP PRO Not only supremely comfortable and with clear and accurate audio that is equal with the best, Astro also include the magical MixAmp box for adjusting game and voice balance in real time. $420, astrogaming.com
GAMING MOUSE
PREMIUM TABLET APPLE iPAD PRO The iPad Pro is more than a tablet. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a creative toolkit, a processing powerhouse, and an essential addition to any mobile ZRUNÄ&#x2021;RZ ZKHWKHU \RX RSW IRU WKH 10.5-inch or 12.9-inch model. From $979, apple.com/au
RAZER DEATHADDER ELITE Razerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chroma-lit mouse is ultraergonomic for even the most awkward hands, and its Omron switches (good for 50 million clicks, apparently) are only bested by the 16,000 CPI optical sensor. $119.95, razerzone.com
MID-RANGE TABLET APPLE iPAD 9.7 Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cheaper iPad has a super-fast A10 processor, a vibrant 9.7-inch 2048x1536 GLVSOD\ DQG D ZHDOWK RI WDEOHW VSHFLÄ&#x2020;F apps and games that run great. It also supports the excellent Apple Pencil stylus. From $469, apple.com/au 9 6 T3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9
VALUE TABLET SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB A 8.0 While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a budget device, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect budget performance. The Galaxy Tab A 8.0 offers up everything you need for a smooth experience, and enough muscle to deal with anything you can throw at it. From $299, samsung.com/au Discover m ore a t techradar.co m/au
Best of the best BEST OFâ&#x20AC;¦
TRAVEL & OUTDOORS Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re off for a holiday or just hitting the running trail, get the most from your trips with these amazing tech buys ENTRY-LEVEL DSLR
FULL-FRAME DSLR
CANON EOS 800D 0DNH QR PLVWDNH WKH (26 'èV WHFK trickled down from higher models in the OLQH LV UHPDUNDEOH ,W RIIHUV XS SRLQW DXWRIRFXV D WRXFK VHQVLWLYH VFUHHQ DQG awesome image quality. $1,199, canon.com
MIRRORLESS CAMERA
NIKON D850 7KLV PHJDSL[HO FDPHUD WDNHV IXOO DGYDQWDJH RI LWV ELJ IXOO IUDPH VHQVRU WR produce truly astounding images. On top of that, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s packed with great features, and is easy to handle. Pretty much perfect. $5,299, nikon.com
COMPACT CAMERA SONY RX100 V 6SHHG UXQV LQ WKH 6RQ\ IDPLO\ DQG LI youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pointing and shooting, you want your pocket camera to perform. The RX100 V really does, with 4K video, 0.05 second autofocus and a Bionz X processor. $1,699, sony.com.au
FUJIFILM X-T20 )XMLÄ&#x2020;OP KDV GRQH ZRQGHUV ZLWK WKH ; 7 E\ SDFNLQJ DQ H[FHOOHQW 03 VHQVRU and an advanced autofocus system into an affordable and compact package that is a delight to shoot with. IXMLÄ&#x2020;OP FRP
ACTION CAMERA GOPRO HERO7 BLACK :KLOH LW PD\ VKDUH PXFK RI WKH VDPH headline video specs as the Hero6 Black that it replaces, the Hero7 Black offers a number of big improvements, most VLJQLÄ&#x2020;FDQWO\ QHZ VWDELOLVDWLRQ WHFK $599.95, gopro.com
RUNNING WATCH GARMIN FORERUNNER 935 The Forerunner 935 measures every aspect of your workout, from heart rate to complex running metrics like ground contact time. It helps you to improve posture and upgrade your pace. $699, garmin.com
BATTERY PACK
CAMERA DRONE DJI MAVIC AIR This premier foldable drone can capture VWHDG\ . YLGHR DW ISV \HW Ä&#x2020;W LQWR D backpack or even a jacket pocket to take anywhere. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s small, fast and can do a lot of neat tricks. From $1,299, dji.com
WATERPROOF PORTABLE SPEAKER UE WONDERBOOM $V DW KRPH RQ WKH EHDFK RU Ä&#x2021;RDWLQJ LQ WKH pool than it would be in your kitchen, the 8( :RQGHUERRP JHQHUDWHV D GHJUHH VRXQG IURP LWV WLQ\ ,3; UDWHG VKHOO 8S WR ten hours of battery life is great, too. $99, ultimateears.com
CHARGING CABLE ANKER POWERCORE 20100 Being away from a power socket doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re away from power. Ankerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s battery pack can charge an iPhone 7 seven times, determine the best way to charge your devices, and weighs only 350g. $89, anker.com
BACK-UP PHONE
STK BINARY 3 Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no universal charging port on modern gadgets, but there is a universal cable â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this has adapters for compatibility ZLWK PLFUR 86% 86% & DQG /LJKWQLQJ with brilliant braiding so it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fray. $52, stklife.com
UNIVERSAL CHARGER NOKIA 3310 The 3310 will win no awards for its tech, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true. But for a bargain price like this, with a battery that goes on and on, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the perfect second phone to chuck in a bag when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hitting the great outdoors. $89, nokia.com
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MU WORLDWIDE TRAVELLER DUO Two ports for a pair of devices that can charge at once, a range of foldable plug pin connectors for different countries, and the thinnest design weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen for Db86% ZDOO FKDUJHU $25, amazon.com S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 T3 97
VICES
Guilty pleasures to seriously spoil yourself
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n nothiing hits the e sp pot quite like a There are times when Mars bar, but th here arre time es when wick kedly decadent chocolate, so ta antalissing it could have e be een harvested d by the gods, is the t on nly way y to go. To’ak’s sed ductively smooth 73 per ccent cacao chocolate is a culin nary work k of art. Source ed from m orga anic cacao gro owers in the valley of Piedra de Plata, Ecuador, th hen n matured for two years in an Islay y whisk ky cask, ev verythin ng about this slab is purpo osefully slow w – and tha at’ss how w it should be enjoyed d: slow wly. Do o so to savo ourr note es of caramelised frruit, ho oney, sea grass and peatt smoke. $501 (50g), toak kchoco olate.com
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