Editorial Editor-in-Chief Obaid Humaid Al Tayer Managing Partner & Group Editor Ian Fairservice Editorial Director Gina Johnson Group Editor Mark Evans Editor Mike Priest Art Director Clarkwin Cruz Advertising Chief Commercial Officer Anthony Milne Publisher David Burke Senior Sales Manager Omran Naseem Production General Manager - Production S. Sunil Kumar Production Manager R.Murali Krishnan Assistant Production Manager Binu Purandaran Haymarket Publishing Global Editor-In-Chief Guy Cocker International Director Alastair Lewis Head of Partner Development, Europe & ROW Ian Porter Head of Partner Development, Asia Lisa Vernall Partner Account Manager Giuseppe Messina
Head Office Media One Tower, PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE Tel +971 4 427 3000 Fax +971 4 428 2270 Dubai Media City Office 508, 5th Floor Building 8, Dubai, UAE Tel +971 4 390 3550 Fax +971 4 390 4845 Abu Dhabi PO Box 43072, UAE Tel +971 2 677 2005 Fax +971 2 677 0124 London Acre House, 11/15 William Road London NW1 3ER, UK E-mail: motivateuk@motivate.ae
Welcome Video games are the perfect antidote to a sweltering Middle East summer. And while normally we’d spend a good portion of this issue telling you about what games you should be spending your time cloistered away indoors indulging on, we’ve instead decided to take a trip down memory lane and give you a history lesson on the greatest video game consoles of all time. Flip to p28 to find out which pocket portable was the first game system to be played in space and what happened to 10,000 copies of the ET game for the Atari 2600. Oh, and it’s not all just about looking backwards, either. We spent some quality time this month with Microsoft’s hotly anticipated Xbox One X (you probably noticed it looking all sleek and awesome on the cover) and can confirm that the future of video gaming looks very bright indeed. Elsewhere in the mag, we have a roundup of all the latest and greatest music-adjacent gadgets that 2017 has to offer (p45). We’re talking speakers, headphones, and even a build-it-yourself turntable - if you’re looking to level up your listening, then we’ve got you covered. And of course, September brings the return of Samsung’s ill-fated Galaxy Note line. You can have a peek at a full spec rundown on p6, but it doesn’t take a genius to recognise that Samsung’s Note 8 is a bit special. Marry a huge Galaxy S8 with a stylus and dual cameras, and you’ve got a real Phone of the Year contender. Provided the battery doesn’t decided to go all hand grenade-y in your pocket, of course. Enjoy the mag. Mike Priest, Editor / mike@motivate.ae / @MikePriest
© All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers. Liability: while every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any consequence arising from it. In the case of all product reviews, judgements have been made in the context of the equipment available to Stuff at the time of review, and value-for-money comments are based on US$ prices at the time of review, which are subject to fluctuation. Printed by Emirates Printing Press, Dubai
THIS MONTH IN STUFF’S DIGITAL EDITION
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World’s first Super slow motion video in a smartphone*.
*Xperia™ XZ Premium features a memory stacked image sensor for slow motion video capture. Verified by Strategy Analytics' SpecTRAX Service. Correct as of 22nd May 2017. See https://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/legal/testresults/
09.17
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ON THE COVER
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06 The Hot Four ● Samsung Galaxy Note 8 ● ACW The Terminator T-800 ● Rolls-Royce Phantom ● Nokia 8 16 Gigapixel Slooh Netflix for stargazers 18 Apps Invent an emoji to rival the aubergine 20 Games He’s blue, he’s spiky, and he’s in 3D again 23 Stuff builds... LEGO Technic Ocean Explorer Map the vastness of the bricked blue sea 24 Icon B&O BeoLab 50 A flaky all-in-one speaker for the audio elite
26 Stuff recommends... Looking to add to you tech arsenal? These are our gadget picks of what’s hot right now 28 The hall of game From humble Atari beginnings, to the 4K prowess of the latest Xbox, we run down the very best consoles to ever exercise human thumbkind 45 Music Special It’s time for a tune-up Looking for an upgrade to your speakers? Or a new pair of cans? Listen closely, we can help... 54 Beta Yourself Philips Hue Light up your world with these smart tips 74 Next big thing? Solar-powered card The power of the sun will give power to your ride
p06 Explodeme-not
p28 Gaming greats
p56 Happy snapper
42 Tested LG OLED55C7V The 4K TV price crash starts here 52 Tested Asus ROG Zephyrus A light and loaded laptop that loves games 56 Tested Sony A99 II A professional cam with a professional price 58 Tested Mighty In case you’re missing your old iPod Shuffle 60 Tested Games A Drake-less return to the Uncharted series
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62 The Stuff Top Ten of everything Your essential gadget-buying guide: Smartphones, tablets, headphones, TVs, smartwatches, fitness trackers, laptops, consoles, games, hi-fi, DSLRs, smart home 64 How to buy… a tablet Pick the right slate for bedbound browsing 71 5-minute hacks How to block spoilers from social media
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HOT FOUR #1 BACK WITH A BANG
SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 8 Remember the time Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 was Stuff’s cover star? We do. It was not a fun month, but time forgives all sins and here we are one year later with a new Note to contend with. Having been burnt before by a very similar-looking mega-phone, we weren’t initially sure what to make of this phoenix-like rise from the ashes. Then we picked up the Note 8’s S Pen stylus, conjured up a juvenile stick-man drawing and remembered what it was that we loved about these phones in the first place: they’re built to do absolutely anything. In practice, this means everything the Galaxy S8 is capable of and a little bit more. An added dual-lens camera serves up far superior zoom capabilities and hands you the chance to take fancy portrait shots with artfully blurred backgrounds. Aside from that camera-and-stylus combo, there isn’t all that much to distinguish this new Note from the S8. But do you know what? We loved that phone, and it didn’t explode at random. Here’s hoping Samsung has learnt its oh-so-explosive lesson this time around. As hot as… a phone that literally caught fire (minus the flammable bit) US$tba / samsung.com 6
TECH SPECS
● SCREEN 6.3in 2960x1440 QHD+ ● OS Android 7.1.1 with TouchWiz UI ● PROCESSOR Exynos 8895 octa-core ● RAM 6GB ● CAMERA 12MP + 12MP rear, 8MP front ● STORAGE 64GB, expandable via microSD ● BATTERY 3300mAh ● DIMENSIONS 163x75x8.6mm, 195g
Business class With its more angular edges, you can easily tell the Note 8 apart from Samsung’s other current smartphones. The Galaxy S8 is smooth, soft and almost pebble-like, but this one feels as though it really means business.
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16 PAGES OF THE BIGGEST STORIES FROM PLANET TECH
No scan do A lot of features have been ported across from the Galaxy S8, including the digital home button – with the 6.3in screen taking up so much space, there’s no room for a fingerprint sensor up front, so you’ll find it on the rear.
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Dual in the crown The Note 8’s dual-lens cam feels quick and responsive, but how it compares to the rest of the dual-camera world will boil down to image quality. There’s not much here that’s different from the iPhone 7 Plus.
Room to doodle The Galaxy Note 8’s extra screen space isn’t wasted with cutesy curves. Its sides still bend around the edge of the phone, but at a much sharper angle, leaving you more space to doodle with the S Pen.
Jacked to the max Just like the S8, the Note 8 is water-resistant, has a 3.5mm headphone jack, and offers USB-C charging. There’s also a button for the voice assistant Bixby – only he still hasn’t found his voice here yet.
THE RIVALS iPhone 7 Plus Apple’s big phone is due an imminent refresh, but if you can’t wait for the 7s Plus then this remains a fine phablet with a brilliant duallens camera.
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Pixel XL No need to hold out for Google’s preChristmas upgrade: as it’s first in line for Android updates, the original remains a great choice.
Galaxy S8+ Sorry to break it to you, but the Note 8 ain’t going to come cheap. If you’ll struggle to cook up around $900, then you could go for the still sizeable S8+.
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HANDS-ON WITH THE SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 8
Handle with care With a whopping 6.3in AMOLED panel this isn’t a phone you want colliding with a concrete floor. Thankfully, a skinny 18:9 aspect ratio screen means you don’t need the hands of a giant to grip it.
The write stuff All your favourite S Pen apps have returned with the Note 8, but new for 2017 are Live Message, a cute way to draw doodles or annotate images; and live translation of whole sentences, instead of just single words.
If someone sets fire to your trousers once, are you ever really going to trust them with a box of matches again? If you can forgive and forget, the Galaxy Note 8 is shaping up to be every bit the kick-ass flagship phablet you’d expect. Seen a Galaxy S8 or S8+ in the wild? You’ll know exactly what to expect here: the Note 8 has an absolute stunner of a screen. The AMOLED panel has the same super-high 2960x1440 resolution, only here it’s stretched over 6.3in. A far bigger deal is the Note 8’s dual 12MP snappers, since this is the first phone to give ’em both optical image stabilisation for clearer, more detailed shots. This also means you can toggle between 1x and 2x ‘optical
THE NOTE 8 HAS AN ABSOLUTE STUNNER OF A SCREEN zoom’, to get closer to your subjects without moving, only without any digital noise or compression. Combined with an S Pen that’s just as delightful as ever, a slick stripped-back take on Android and all the power you need for zipping between apps, the Galaxy Note 8 feels like a proper superphone. We can’t wait to test one fully and see if those dual lenses deliver.
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Phantom tech Rolls-Royce claims the Phantom is home to the highest-res head-up display available. If you’re not that bothered about pixels when it comes to cars, you might like its 360° and night vision cameras instead.
HOT FOUR #2
HOT FOUR #3
“ALEXA, I’LL BE BACK”
LIFE IS A ROLLER COASTER
Smart security cameras are normally anonymous little chunks of plastic designed to blend into your home furnishings, not stand out like a killer robot in a nursing home. But what’s scarier for a burglar to see on a shelf as they crawl through your kitchen window: a small white square with a lens on it, or an 18in metal skull with glowing red eyes? AC Worldwide’s T-800 wireless speaker has full Alexa support, plus a camera built into the left eye, so you can see who’s wandering around your home in real time via the accompanying app, with a year of cloud backup included for recordings. Hasta la vista, uncertainty. As hot as… the fires of Judgment Day from US$360 / acworldwide.com
The name Rolls-Royce conjures images of chauffeurs, toffs and top hats. And while anyone who can afford a new Phantom has probably got enough cash to pay someone to drive it for them, why would they want to? With a 563hp V12 engine that’s almost as silent as an actual phantom, it’s packed with sensors, including a camera that analyses the road ahead to warn the air suspension about any champers-spilling bumps to come. And let’s not forget the satellite-assisted transmission that means the gearbox is always prepared for any steep hills. If you can’t even be bothered to drive a car like that, it’s probably time you got a bicycle. As hot as… a swan vindaloo £400,000 / rollsroyce.com
AC Worldwide The Terminator T-800
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Rolls-Royce Phantom
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Ozo you didn’t! The Nokia 8 comes with something called Ozo Audio, essentially a 3D recording algorithm that uses multiple mics to create surround sound. This should add an extra dimension to videos.
HOT FOUR #4
HANDS-ON WITH THE NOKIA 8
ZEISS AS NICE Nokia 8
Nokia is finally stepping up to the plate to take on the big boys – and it’s brought long-time collaborator Zeiss on board to help out with the camera tech. The Nokia 8 has all the kit you’d expect, like a Snapdragon 835 CPU, 2K screen and virtually stock version of Android, but it’s the twin 13MP cameras on the back that stand out: use one for colour and the other for black & white photos, or pair ’em up for higher quality. Or combine with the 13MP cam on the front for split-screen front-and-back photos and live videos, aka ‘bothies’. It all comes wrapped up in the best-looking Nokia phone to date. As hot as… a thousand burning 3310s US$tba / nokia.com 12
If the Nokia 6 was a chunky slab of metal, the 8 is a svelte slice, with smooth curves that fit perfectly in your hand. The copper version is easily the best-looking phone in the line-up, with the stealthy antenna lines leaving the back free from distractions. The 5.3in display is LCD but everything looks so rich and colourful on it we thought it was OLED
at first. Contrast is excellent, with good viewing angles and brightness. Opening apps and swiping through home screens seemed speedy too, probably thanks to the nearpristine version of Android that Nokia’s loaded it with. Of those two cameras, only the colour sensor comes with optical image stabilisation; but test shots showed some promise, even if we’re
not sold on the idea of using both front and back cameras simultaneously to snap ‘bothies’. It might have a similar look, but the 8 feels a world apart from Nokia’s three other smartphones. The leap in build quality, hardware and design is huge… but will that be enough to tempt Nokia fans back from their Samsungs?
LOVE FOOTBALL? SO DO WE
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S T A R T M E N U
ST KIC AR K TE R
The latest startups, crowdfunded projects and plain crazy ideas
Snoozeflash
SANDMAN DOPPLER We’ve all woken up bleary-eyed, messy-haired and entirely unsure where we are or what we’re supposed to be doing. “What day is it?” you mumble to nobody in particular, and your stupid old alarm clock blinks back at you silently. Not so with Sandman’s Alexa-infused Doppler slumberbuster. As well as asking it the time, you can use pretty much all the usual Alexa skills, including turning off the lights as soon as you’re tucked up in bed so you don’t have to risk a bump in the night. And with six USB ports built in, it’ll also charge your phone, your smartwatch and anything else you’ve got laying about. US$119 / paloaltoinnovation.com BACK IT STACK IT
I GONDI GOE-
ST KIC AR K TE R
ST KIC AR K TE R
I GONDI GOE-
SACK IT
Bean ’n’ gone
Sovereign state
Tooth fast, tooth furious
Key difference
Forget that cardboard coffee cup with somebody else’s name scrawled on it – Huskee’s chic vessels are made from recycled coffee husks, with fins along the outside that keep your drink hotter for longer without searing your hand. Interior contours also help the milk to blend, and they come in three sizes. from $39 for four / huskee.co
Take a tumble while wearing an Orii smart ring and you can use its built-in microphone to take calls or talk to Siri just by touching your ear. It uses bone conduction tech to channel the sound directly to your brain, so eavesdroppers won’t hear a thing – and you’ll look a bit like a secret agent while you do it. Expensive suit not included. from $129 / orii.io
No, Jony Ive hasn’t started designing BDSM gear; this is the Amabrush – a toothbrush that uses a combination of specially made toothpaste foam and bristles that vibrate at an amplitude of 9.5G to clean all your gnashers in just 10 seconds. Just think of all the extra bites of toast you’ll be able to have in the time saved. €79 / amabrush.com
With clicky keys reminiscent of an old-timey shop till, three different finishes and a choice of either USB or Bluetooth connection, every time you use one of Azio’s mechanical QWERTYs you’ll feel like Hemingway typing up his memoirs, not Gareth writing a complaint to Tesco. from $120 / aziocorp.com
HUSKEECUP
ORII
AMABRUSH
AZIO RETRO CLASSIC
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The bigger picture in tech
STARGAZE FROM YOUR SOFA Run out of stuff to watch on Netflix? Do you know what’s infinite and will never have you reaching for the remote? Outer space. Online stargazing site Slooh.com used to charge a fee to watch its live streams of the cosmos, filmed using its six telescopes in Chile and the Canary Islands, but now you can log in for free. Want to pick where to point one? You’ll need to pay for that, but free users get up to 20 hours of streaming a day, which will be enough time to see one quattuornonagintillionth of what the universe has to offer. That’s what we call value for money. 16
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NEWS FEED
SKY SPORTS GOES ATMOS-PHERIC
Got one of those AV receivers that bounces sound off the ceiling? Got a 2TB Sky Q box? Now you can stick the two together and add Dolby Atmos to your 4K Premier League viewing, with other sports expected to join the Atmos party soon afterwards.
ALEXA GOES TO IKEA
Ikea’s bargain-tastic Tradfri smart lightbulbs will finally get Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit support by the end of autumn. Be warned, it might not work too well if you try to issue your voice commands with a mouth full of deliciously cheap meatballs.
LOVEFILM GOES POST-POST
You know that slot halfway down your front door? It’s for post, and Lovefilm used to send you DVDs through it. As of the end of October, Amazon, which owns Lovefilm, won’t be doing that any more, seeing as everyone now prefers to stream their films instead. 17
A P P S
This month’s mobile must-downloads
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3 OF THE BEST
ONETHUMB GAMES LEAP ON!
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US$free / Android, iOS Leap around a star of death that you’re attached to by a strand of elastic. Go high, grab bonuses, and wonder why you didn’t bring scissors.
RUN JUMP DIE
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US$2.99 / iOS Tap and hold to guide a heroic bunny through platforming hell. It’s Super Mario Run with long ears and a cotton-ball tail, as designed by a sadist.
SPIN ADDICT
1 Kaspar
2 Motion Stills
3 WorkOutDoors
4 Songbirds
5 Teleport
6 Today Weather
7 Emojily
8 Plotagraph+
9 Layton’s Mystery Journey
US$19.99 / iPad One synth not enough to express your songwriting genius? How about eight – playing at the same time? That’s Kaspar, an iPad noisemaker where hitting one key is enough to make a chart-topper.
US$1.99 / iOS This one’s for scratching that Electroplankton itch – using your iPhone. It has three environments in which minimal winged creatures flit about, creating melodies. It’s all very zen.
US$free (IAPs) / Android, iOS If your main beef with emoji is that there aren’t enough of them, this app heroically helps you create your own. Backgrounds, eyes, hats and, um, poop are all there for the taking. (Don’t take the poop.) 18
US$free / Android On iOS, Motion Stills made Live Photos useful. On Android, there are no Live Photos… so the app requires you shoot using its camera. But it’s fab for turning animated snaps into mini-movies.
US$free / Android, iOS Take a selfie and this app will effectively cut out your beautiful face. You can then ‘teleport’ yourself by adding a background or, for some reason, change your hair colour. But not both.
US$4.99 / iOS Pictures aren’t any cop these days unless they’re moving. We blame Apple. And Harry Potter. Plotagraph+ brings movement to stills by way of arrows, masking, anchor points and a bit of magic.
US$2.99 / Apple Watch Exercise is all very well until you take a wrong turn and end up in a canal. Unlike other Apple Watch fare, WorkOutDoors sensibly displays an auto-rotating map alongside your workout statistics.
US$free / Android, iOS Yet another weather app, which despite its name fortunately covers more than ‘today’. In fact, it’s packed full of lovely data and icons. And also huge pointless photos, but they can be turned off.
US$17.99 / Android For anyone moaning that phones don’t have ‘real games’, here’s a fab Layton effort seemingly hurled across from a Nintendo DS – with a price tag to match.
US$free / iOS Swipe to set a chunk of metal spinning, and then have it survive in an abstract industrial world that’s presumably the metal’s own fever dream.
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DECIPHER ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN…
The fur Pavilions
HP PAVILION 24 & 27 Felts and fabrics used to be the preserve of tailors and upholsterers, but if you want anyone to take your tech seriously these days you need to swathe it in some sort of fuzz. The strokable panel under the 4K touchscreen on HP’s latest 24in and 27in all-in-ones covers speakers that have been tuned by B&O. Meanwhile up to 16GB of RAM and Intel’s 7th-gen processors should ensure it purrs like a cat locked in a dairy. Its webcam is retractable, so if you’ve been listening to Edward Snowden and you don’t want any spies seeing you stroking your new PC, make sure it’s tucked away when you’re not using it, eh? US$tba / hp.com
See CCTV
FRONTROW We’ve all got that one mate who Snapchats everything – from gourmet burgers to oddly-shaped clouds. Annoying, isn’t it? Buy the offender one of these FrontRow wearable cameras and, while it’s unlikely to stop them recording everything they see, from now on they’ll be doing it all with the 8MP 1080p main camera, so at least you won’t get a smartphone shoved in your face every other minute. Using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, it can piggyback your phone’s 4G connection to stream live video, or you can send photos and clips over afterwards to be set free into the outside world. Are you ready for your close-up? US$399 / frontrow.com
#26 BLUETOOTH MESH Bluetooth’s come a long way since we ‘Bluejacked’ rude messages to people on in traffic and pompous businessmen used it to shout things into their Jawbone headsets. But it’s still very much a one-to-one deal: your phone to your Fitbit, your mouse to your laptop, your iPad to your headphones. There’s power in numbers, though, and Bluetooth devices will soon be teaming up to do far more than you ever thought possible. It’s called Bluetooth Mesh and it works by connecting multiple gadgets together, like the way a Sonos system or Google WiFi works but over Bluetooth rather than Wi-Fi. That means the data speeds are significantly slower – a relatively snail-like 1Mbps – but the uses of this tech are somewhat different. Imagine every appliance in your home is part of a Bluetooth Mesh network. As soon as you walk in the front door, the light in the hall detects the presence of the phone in your pocket and switches itself on, while 10 metres away the kettle
DATA SPEEDS ARE MUCH SLOWER THAN A WI-FI NETWORK, BUT THE USES OF THIS TECH ARE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT has clocked that you’re home and started to boil. In fact, range is no longer an issue with a mesh network, because each gadget within it acts as a stepping stone to carry the signal over much longer distances. The real benefit of using Bluetooth is that it’s standardised, so once you’ve got a network set up, anything with Bluetooth can take advantage of it, even if it’s in an office or public building.
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G A M E S
DATE TBC
FIRST PLAY SONIC FORCES PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Sonic die-hards are a lot like Liverpool fans: always harking back to the old days, praying that a new year will bring a return to those glory days. “This time it’ll be different,” they say. “This time Sega will get it right.” So guess what happened with the new Sonic Mania? The rodent actually did it – the 2D platformer is a riotous revival of his Mega Drive triumphs. We love it to bits, even if it is basically those same old games with a fresh lick of paint and a couple of new levels. But something else is needed to cement Sonic’s 20
grand comeback: an added dimension. Enter Sonic Forces, Sega’s umpteenth attempt to drag its mascot into 3D. Forces flits between vintage side-scrolling and bombastic action at a rate of knots. One level saw us zoom through a fire-filled city in the midst of a robot invasion; another boss battle pitted us against Dr Eggman (yep, him again) in a Green Hill Zone throwback. You needn’t take on these stages as Sonic himself, though. For the first time ever, Forces
gives you the chance to create your own avatar to speed through the game with… and this we’re not so sure about. If the diabolical Shadow the Hedgehog taught us anything, it’s that there’s only one star of this franchise. Sorry, Tails. Right now, we’re tentatively excited about Sonic Forces. After decades of trial and error, it looks as though Sega might just have figured out how to get the best out of the spiky blue fella. And let’s face it, he’s got more chance of doing the double this year than Liverpool.
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FIRST LOOK BE YOUR OWN WORST ENEMY
ECHO PS4, PC
Echo is one of those games you have to play to truly understand. That’s going to be difficult here, so we’ll have a go at explaining it. Ready? You play as En, who finds herself in a sentient environment called the Palace, populated with enemy clones of her called Echoes. At first they’re blank canvases, but as you progress through the Palace they’ll learn from your behaviour and start to mimic your approach. Go in all guns blazing and you’ll be met with equal force; go in all stealthy and they’ll try to catch you off guard. Change your approach and after a while the Palace will reset everything in order to deploy its newly learned behaviour. Each reset causes a blackout, during which you can act without the Palace seeing, so that’s your chance to do anything you don’t want the Echoes picking up on. It’s this mind-bending premise that makes Echo such an intriguing game, plus its ornate mansion setting is a welcome change from the usual grimy dystopias of sci-fi games. It also means that the only person you need to outsmart is yourself. And that can’t be too hard, can it?
OUT 19 SEP
COMING SOON TO SWITCH INDIE HITS
THE FLAME IN THE FLOOD
Most survival games make you stick to one place. Build a base. Fortify it. See how long you can last. The Flame In the Flood, though, is a trip down a procedurally generated river that you’ll need to plunder to have any hope of surviving. The PC version was a bit buggy, but perhaps the Switch will iron those niggles out.
RIME
Jonesing for more Zelda? Rime’s story of a boy shipwrecked on an island certainly has its similarities to Link’s Awakening, but with only your voice as a weapon it’s also reminiscent of Ico and Journey. If nothing else, it’s an absolutely beautiful world to wander around with a bloody lovely soundtrack to match.
ROCKET LEAGUE
It might be over two years old now but the popularity of Rocket League shows no sign of waning. The Switch’s voice chat is a bit of a mess, so you’ll struggle to taunt your mates after they score a horrendous own goal, but we’re still excited to be able to play Rocket League on the go. Nothing can stop our road rage now.
INCOMING OCTOBER ● THE EVIL WITHIN 2 ● GRAN TURISMO SPORT ● WOLFENSTEIN II: THE NEW COLOSSUS ● SOUTH PARK: THE FRACTURED BUT WHOLE ● ASSASSIN’S CREED: ORIGINS NOVEMBER ● STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT 2 ● CALL OF DUTY: WWII ● NEED FOR SPEED: PAYBACK
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Walking lessons
NINETY7 VAUX Once you get used to having Alexa in your life, it’s easy to get into the habit of asking her everything – even when you’re nowhere near your Echo. Alexa, would I like fries with that? Do I need a bag? Would you please call me an ambulance? The problem: Echos need plugging in. Instead of hauling a generator around, Ninety7’s Vaux is a battery-powered vessel for your Echo Dot. Just pop the little puck in the top and connect the wires – you’ve got a portable Alexa speaker with six hours of use, plus a boost to the Dot’s tinny audio. US$50 / ninety7life.com
VS
Singing lessons
KITSOUND VOICE ONE
Amazon’s full-size Echo sounds OK as a music speaker, but it’s not exactly tech’s answer to Beyonce – so British brand KitSound has stepped in to give Alexa an upgrade in the sound quality department. With a pair of 2.5in 10-Watt drivers, the Voice One claims to be a more audiophile-friendly smart speaker. It has a pair of mics that listen out for your commands, plus the ability to wirelessly link up to eight units together. Plus, it actually works out cheaper than the Echo, so we’ll wait to hear it with our own ears before passing judgement. US$165 / kitsound.co.uk
STUFF BUILDS...
LEGO Technic Ocean Explorer US$200 / lego.com
Technic sets are often revered for their complexity and authenticity to the source material - in this case a massive ocean barge - but what we love the most about this Ocean Explorer set is its high playability factor. Yes, LEGO is a toy and we’re not afraid to admit it. Clocking in at an impressive 1327 pieces, not only do you get the delight of putting together a fantastically detailed ship, there are also two separate vehicles a helicopter and a submersible craft - to build as well. The ship itself has a number of tricky building techniques that tripped us up more than once when we didn’t pay close enough attention to the instructions, but
the sense of accomplishment when you’re presented with the enormous finished product (and trust us, it’s big) is well worth any backtracking. The set comes with a boatload (if you’ll pardon the pun) of stickers, which we would have preferred to be marked on the pieces themselves, but nevertheless they go a long way to providing a sense of proper authenticity to the build, adding the kinds of markings you’d expect to find on an actual ship of this class and size. LEGO has been knocking it out of the park this year with its Technic offerings, and this beaut of a set is no different.
STATS Set number: 42064 Pieces: 1327 Difficulty: Tough 23
I C O N
B&0 BEOLAB 50 US$20,000 / bang-olufsen.com I hope that doesn’t sound as flaky as it looks. Very good. But those brown fins are actually called lamellas, from the Latin for flake. So what you mean is, “I hope that doesn’t sound as lamella-y as it looks.” Which doesn’t quite work. Anyway, do you know what else is Latin? The word ‘audio’, which means ‘I hear’. And once you’ve audio’d a pair of BeoLab 50s, you won’t doubt the sturdiness of their sound. A pair? Where’s the other one? These are active speakers, which means they don’t need external amplification to make any noise – all the tech is packed inside one speaker, while the other completes the stereo picture. All you need to do is add power (and music). They call it a ‘master and slave’ setup in the hi-fi world, but we’d rather think of it as a dynamic duo, like Ant & Dec. Do Ant & Dec have a Latin name? Er, maybe… Antus et Deccus? What they definitely don’t have are ‘acoustic lenses’ that pop up out of their heads. These allow you to change how the speakers disperse the 2100 Watts of sound created by the seven built-in amplifiers. However, you can only choose between two settings: a full 180º panorama or a narrower sweet spot for sitting and stroking your beard in. Just remember, barba non facit philosophum. What does that mean? A beard doesn’t make you a philosopher. A pair of these won’t make you an audiophile either, although USB and coaxial inputs that support files up to 24-bit/ 192kHz are a step in the right direction. There’s WiSA wireless too, but that’s for connecting your BeoVision TV, not streaming Spotify from your phone.
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THE POP-UP ‘ACOUSTIC LENSES’ ALLOW YOU TO CHANGE THE SOUND DISPERSION
PRESENTS
DJ SET AND MUCH MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW platinumlist.net
partyinthepark.ae
Every month we bring you the must-buy tech products available now in the region. Level up your gadget arsenal with one of these, you know you want to.
LEGO Brickheadz Looking for the perfect desk ornament to make you the envy of the office? LEGO’s Brickheadz line are like bobbleheads minus the bobble but better, because you get to build them yourself. They’re quick and easy to construct and look frankly awesome. This first wave includes characters from Marvel, DC and Pirates of the Caribbean, with more to come soon. US$20 / lego.com
HTC U11 The only thing we love more than HTC’s all-glass U11 flagship is the solar red version of HTC’s allglass U11 flagship. Hold it in your hands and you’ll see how it shimmers between red and gold like a thing of beauty. Which is why we’re super stoked that it’s finally here in the Middle East, and this new version is packing 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage so you know it’s got the horsepower to go with its good looks. US$710 / htc.com
Samsung Frame TV Stick Samsung’s Frame TV into ‘Art Mode’ and, rather than seeing a plain old black screen when it’s off, you’ll get a wonderful work of art. There are over 100 works of art to choose from via an online store, and it’s 4K and HDR compatible, which means it will also make your Netflix binge-watching sessions look equally as stunning. From US$1900 / samsung.com
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STUFF RECOMMENDS...
Asus Designo Curve MX34VQ Spend a lot of time in front of the computer? Then you should consider upgrading your monitor to this gorgeous 34in curved wonder from Asus. Its 178-degree viewing angle makes it fully immersive and the QI wireless charging pad built into the base is a nice add for those that can use it. Plus, the built-in Harman Kardon speakers pack a proper punch for gaming. US$799 / asus.com
Huawei Nova Plus 2 Huawei’s latest mid-priced marvel might look a little like a certain Cupertino handset, but it packs a couple of its own tricks. Namely, its dual 12MP and 8MP rear-camera setup gives you 2x zoom and photo capabilities similar to the flagship P10. It’s also rocking Huawei’s new Kirin 659 processor and 4GB of RAM which should help it sing in use. US$380 / huawei.com
*Prices are based on official RRP converted from AED and are correct at time of publishing.
Sol Republic Shadow Wireless A minimalist, sleek design is what sets these earbuds apart from the competition. Attached to a durable biomorphic neckband, they wirelessly connect to your smartphone and boast up to 8-hours of battery life, which should comfortably see you through as much Ed Sheeran music as you can manage. There’s even a built-in mic and remote for answering calls on-the-go. US$110 / solrepublic.com 27
BEST GAMES EVER
E G A N E D GOL
games were s y a s o h w ll a t-i ere? The knoaw t just be right… h th ig ’t n m is y , e e h n o T s t? y a There’s alw in their day. Well, guess wh better back
THE RIVAL Commodore 64 have Kids these days ey th – sy ea it too to don’t even have fore type out code be e! gam they can play a
5 ATARI 2600 FACTS YOU DIDN’T KNOW
r ● Accounting fo ari inflation, the At st 2600 would co y. about $600 toda ng, Po ● More so than aders it was Space Inv m ste sy e th s wa at th . 00 26 e th r fo seller , Atari ● After it tanked of pies buried 1000 co New a in e m ga ET its ill. df lan Mexico s ● The 2600 wa ing uc capable of reprod , e US th in rs lou co 8 12 the UK. but only 104 in n er od ● Unlike m 00 consoles, the 26 led nd bu e m ca y all actu llers. with two contro
THE CONSOLE
30
7 Atari 2600 197
console at first thrust The machine th ainstream almost put m e gaming into th business industry out of crash the very same e m ga oeat vide thanks to the gr say that about the t n’ ca of 1983. You t yet n you? Well, no Oculus Rift, ca hy, three decades w anyway. That’s the Atari 2600 for ive on, we can forg ports and wildly de its shoddy arca tie-ins. This thing ie ov m d ge ud misj e’s iPod, al, just like Appl reman is a true origin Fo ge d the Geor Windows 95 an r a plastic fo CV e th ite Grill. That’s qu your PS4 buy one now – box. Just don’t r. is a lot, lot bette
GAME CHANGE RS BEST GAMES EVER
Most consoles are but these pionjuest a superior rip-off of wha ers paved the w t ay for a wavecaome before, f imitators
THE RIVAL Nintendo Wii “Forget about sn azzy graphics,” said Nintendo. “Our console has mot ion controlled bowl ing.”
5 XBOX 360 FACTS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ● Th
THE CONSOLE
Microsoft Xbox 360 2005 Wha
t is it about ge Yep, it’s imposs nius consoles with fatal char ible to chat abou ac mentioning th t the Xbox 360 ter flaws? ew w easy to forget hole ‘red ring of death’ palav ithout er. Still, it’s that the first HD games console trailblazer – no t le was a total and the way Xb ast for its revolutionary onlin ox Live Arcade e brought indie ga multiplayer masses like ne ver mes to the a colossal hard before. And of course, after making such ware balls-up, we make the sam e mistake again knew Microsoft wouldn’t with the Xbox One. Oh, wait…
e 360 was first codenamed Trini ty, in a reference to The Matrix ● It’s been estim . ated that the 360’s de fect rate was 33%. ● Microsoft sp over a billion do ent llars in shipping and re pairing broken console s over the 360’s lifespa n. ● Its processor was partly based on a Sony-funded ch ip for the PlayStation ● The Kinect m 3. otion camera sold 8 m illion units in its first 60 days on sale. RI P.
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S C I S S A CULT CL BEST GAMES EVER
the console s a w is th – d n ou will undeorsmtaplimentary ‘nerd’ tattoo y t s g n o m a re o The hardc well have come with a c that may as
5 DREAMCAST FACTS YOU DIDN’T KNOW
OM ● Sega’s GD-R rietary, discs were prop rning wa a t ge u’d yo d an ck stu u yo if ge messa yer. one in a CD pla an e ● Microsoft mad r m fo ste sy ing at er op es. Dreamcast gam ● The combined y capacity of ever is 1TB. ld so st ca m Drea Sega’s a en op k ● Crac rd ca y or VMU mem tato’ and the word ‘po chip. is written on its mcast ● The last Drea ver, Fe game, Puyo Pop ree was released th nsole years after the co . ed inu nt was disco
THE CONSOLE
32
st 1998 Sega Dreamca
us failure, ition of a glorio The very defin hand at its d ie tr e ol ns Sega’s final co ing… and online gam home, portable hard as the North as and still tanked real kicker? Nintendo’s e Korean army. Th es the same stuff y do all sic ba h itc Sw Yep, the huge success. as this and is a real crime was that ly Dreamcast’s on fore its time that r be it arrived so fa up to med Sega was everyone assu enanigans. Still, if y sh its usual barm to lay eyes lucky enough you were ever ms as Shenmue, Skies ge on such hidden em is z then this syst of Arcadia or Re ing. ish well worth cher
THE RIVAL PlayStation 2 ed to No one contribut e mor Sega’s demise , but than Sega itself 2 ion at St ay Pl ’s ny So help. certainly didn’t
SEGA VS NINTE NDO
BEST GAMES EVER
Look, Nintendo w to be a certain aSs best and there’s no debati ng it. Unless you tuff staffer who needs it spellin g out to himhaagpapen in...
THE CONSOLE
Nintendo SNES 1990
Arguably Ninten do system was tre ’s crowning achievement, th ated to a near-c is during its six-y onstant stream 16-bit ea of of the park eith r lifespan. It wasn’t just Ninty classics er: from Super hitting it out Star Wars to Ch and Mega Man rono Trigger X, for the SNES th there was just so much good at it’s no wonde st r fans are froth uff released for the Classic ing editi office have pre- on. Such is the demand that at the mouth or ha one thing: a fig dered theirs already, and that lf the Stuff ht to the death for the early re can only mean view unit.
THE RIVAL Sega Mega Drive It may have lost the battle, and the war afterwards, but the Mega Drive had a number of class ics.
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S R E Y A L PORTA-P
BEST GAMES EVER
re outdoors… tu n e v u o y n e h w use om walls simply hit pats ro to d t e n b a r rt u o o p e id im o Gaming is to pro gave us an extra life ou this portable
THE RIVAL Apple iPhone the Apple changed humble mobile ple phone from a sim e fid texter to a bona e. gaming machin
5 GAME BOY FACTS YOU DIDN’T KNOW was
y ● The Game Bo m ste the first game sy e. spac in d ye pla be to t, ● Believe it or no display that little green ran at 60fps. once ● A Game Boy ar W lf Gu a d survive ll explosion and sti y. da functions to this on illi m 118 ith W ● wide, units sold world e th the Game Boy is ing third-highest-sell er. ev m ste sy e m ga y is ● The Game Bo than more powerful used any of the tech ong str m Ar il Ne t to ge n. oo M on the
THE CONSOLE
34
9 Game Boy 198
al ays been the re Nintendo has alw based innovation, em maestro of ga owning achievement cr but perhaps its game a whole videowas squashing able device. Sure, rt po a le system into ted such portab we take for gran ckets are home to po magic now our hones, but ashing smartp computer-sm as more t ch a concep w back in 1990 su s are to us today. ar rc alien than hove mily e going on a fa Can you imagin ght without some fli ng lo a holiday or to keep le game system sort of portab t’s not even consider Le you company? ld. or such a hellish w
THE GREATEST BEST GAMES EVER
Yep, the original and let us recou PlayStation is officially th e best console e nt you all the m any reasons w hy that happevnesr… now sit back to be the case
5 PLAYSTATION FACTS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ●
The PlayStat was originally m ion ade be a CD-ROM ad to d-on for Nintendo’s SN ES. ● 2418 games were officially release d for the PS ● The standard 1. PS1 memory card co uld only hold 1MB. ● You’d need 23 6 original PlayStat ion consoles combin ed to achieve simila r processing powe r to the PS Vita. ● Sony didn’t sto p production of PS 1 games until 20 06.
THE CONSOLE
Sony PlayStatio n 1994
It didn’t take lo ng fo king of consoles r the Stuff staff to settle on the all-time . We flirted with tempted by the the Xbox 360 an SN victorious – an ES, but in the end it was Sony d were d with its very first console at that emerged PlayStation sm tem as just for pixel-c hed the taboo of gaming, pr pt. The oving it’s not razy geeks bu t for everyone home console . Being the first to sell 100 million units is testam households did ent to this – fe n’t w under the telly have that stylish grey box pe at some point. eking out from
THE RIVAL Nintendo 64 Turns out 3D M ar and Zelda adve io ntur weren’t quite en es ough for the N64 to topple the debut PlaySt ation.
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E C A R R E T S A M C THE P BEST GAMES EVER
red. With fas?ter u d n e e v a h s C P e and gone, busst mods, why look elsewhere m o c e v a h s le o s Many con better graphics and limitle processors,
5 PC GAMING FACTS YOU DIDN’T KNOW
TI-83 ● The famous ) was 96 (19 or lat calcu an th l rfu we more po e 64 the Commodor PC (1982). w as ● There are no in ers many Steam us e are the world as ther people in Japan. e first ● Dota 2 was th on illi m a ve ha game to yers. simultaneous pla hed nc ● Steam was lau ter af 02 20 in lve by Va d Microsoft rejecte the idea. st PC ● One of the fir the all d ce pla re mods in fs ur Sm Nazis with in. Castle Wolfenste
THE GAMING PC
THE RIVAL Alienware Steam Machine at to a It’s no real thre PC, proper gaming r fe of es do it t bu . access to Steam
36
o 2017 StormForce Ge
e about having th PC gaming is all me experience. o-ga optimum vide graphics, ling for shoddy There’s no sett sors and tiny es snail-slow proc especially true with at’s Th s. ad ep m ga sing the e Geo, showca the StormForc venth-generation se power of Intel’s e second most th chips as well as card available, the cs powerful graphi Think we’re talking Ti. Nvidia GTX 1080 matter, as in a year ? No solete gobbledygook ecs will all be ob or two these sp be ogling even more e’ll anyway and w the tech – such is heart-throbbing PC gaming. of re tu ruthless na
BEST GAMES EVER
LAPTOPS aider MSI GE63VR R
ic sports cars, cues from exot Taking design an Nvida s ck VR Raider pa the 15in GE63 card for highs hic ap gr 70 GeForce GTX 10 s, as the name would d ye more to the end gaming. An es VR. There’s imply that includ e, though, with a st siz screen than ju we love the tible panel. Plus ble right pa m co z0H 12 isa om st cu , rd yboa RGB backlit ke ividual key. ind down to to the m co US$2450 / msi.
CLASSIC PC G
AMES
Half-Life 2
00 Asus ROG GX8
at’s for a laptop th If you’re looking even PC gaming ow designed to bl en the buck of the water, th one, but desktops out t no s ha e GX800 SLI stops here. Th 1080 cards in X GT e rc Fo an a vi two Nvidia Ge ol co to keep them and manages its Hyrdro of n io rs ve ed advanc Oh, and an 18in System dock. Overclocking heck not? e cause why th 4K screen, be m us.co US$6550 / as
An astonishing game on every level, from the combat to the puzzles, the writing to the sound, to the original and convincing design of its game world. But best of all was the genre-busting Gravity Gun.
Civilization II
We’ve no doubt that Drake was playing Civ 2 shortly before thinking up the lyrics “Started from the bottom now we’re here”. Starting from the Bronze Age you build up your empire until Space.
The Sims 2
elios 300 Acer Predator H and
One of the few games that put no restraints on your twisted imagination. Want to trap your Sim in a burning building and watch him squeem? Go for it, but you’ll feel that nagging pang of remorse after.
een price eet spot betw Hitting that sw y, but Acer might have ick power can be tr edator Helios 300. It’s e Pr nailed it with th l Core i7 CPU, dedicated Inte got the latest and custom GTX graphics Nvidia GeForce tech that should keep it ing AeroBlade cool e busy blasting aliens. u’r all cool while yo m .co er ac / 0 36 US$1
Alienware 15
original sleek tops were the Alienware’s lap 2017 update to is Th beasts. and slick gaming all the mod cons you’d has the 15in model ax out of your games. m e th t ge to hope ad-core Intel e very latest qu That includes th and an Nvidia GTX 1080 r, Core i7 processo a whopping 8GB of RAM. ith w rd ca s hic ap gr ll.com US$3000 / de
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge
A point-and-click adventure with puzzles so tough they’d make your brain burst and a Hollywood-rivalling storyline to boot. This is one title that will never suffer the erosion of time.
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MODERN GEN BEST GAMES EVER
We could the present dsapyend all day reminiscing about that offers the u the past, but it’s ltimate gamin g experiences
THE RIVALS Xbox One S Home to the M aster Chief and a 4K Blu-ray player, the Xbox One S is a worthy competit or.
THE RIVALS Nintendo Switc h With its portabl e magic and Nint endo gems, the Switc h provides oodles of fun for any gam er.
Sony PlayStatio n4
Pro 2016
Think of all the features that ep ito the PS4 Pro ha s them. 4K visu mise modern gaming, and als? Check. VR Yup. Fantastic compatibility? exclusives and a so Absolutely. No t only is it curre lid online infrastructure? ntly the most in stores – until powerful cons the Xbox One ole X offers a sneak peek into the fu arrives at least – but it also ture of gaming PS4 claiming th . And with the e UK’s title of fa stest-selling co launch, it’s frigh ns te 4K tellies beco ning to think of the Pro’s pote ole at me truly afford ntial once able.
THE CONSOLE
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G N I K E R U THE FUT
BEST GAMES EVER
ages, they p s u io v re p e th e machines fraot’m th f o r the horizon... e w n o o p s e th th ll t a s a d e e b in If you combable to hold a candle to the wouldn’t be is The Xbox One X e that the only consol HD can achieve Ultra ng ali sc up t withou ke and at 60fps. Ta that, Sony.
NSE X WILL RESHAPE 8 RY TEHAE XSBO OX ON ING WH LE GAM O S N O C F O E THE FUTUR
1
It’s powerful X The Xbox One of is a real beast hine: a a gaming mac 3GHz 2. t gh ei of total s pair processor core p lo with a six-teraf r, so es oc pr cs hi ap gr GB 12 ith w er th toge . of GDDR5 RAM All that power ns essentially mea X e On ox Xb e th that ly will be blistering n quick, able to ru 7 ort Forza Motorsp d still at native 4K an 30% an th e or have m g of its processin power to spare.
40
2
It’ll have 4K games With all that Xbox er pow , the new to le ab be ill w One X content deliver full 4K es. - including gam D UH 4K a s e’ er Th Blu-ray player t it’s bu on-board, too, e rv the option to se ’s at th R HD 4K up ing. The properly excit few a ns ru PS4 Pro e 4K, games in nativ and y but uses tricker e ev hi ac to ng ali upsc e case it. That’s not th X, e for the Xbox On than e or m ve ha ll it’ for enough power native 4K.
3
Legacy Xbox One games will look spectacular top re Whe Sony’s s half console switche hen fw of its power of mes, running older ga all es us X e On Xbox en on of its power ev ox Xb Xbox One and 360 titles. That e m should mean fra lter r fa rates that neve um, im from their max s in op and dynamic dr n’t ld ou sh n tio lu reso ary. ever be necess bonus That’ll be a big s even for gamer en. re sc 4K a t ou with
4
It’ll load more, faster The Xbox One B hard pa X will ck a 1T , rd drive as standa in ost with a 50% bo ch bandwidth, whi er st fa at th e sid along CPU RAM and huge power increase es tim ad lo e se ill w hile w , ct fa In . ed slash will es ur xt te 4K game space sap a lot more and bandwidth es tim generally, load er w should be no slo rd anda than on the st Xbox One.
5
It’ll work with all your old stuff X is The Xbox One me sa still part of the ecosystem as rrent Microsoft’s cu means at Th . es consol ur it’ll take all of yo , llers various contro arcade sticks, headsets, and r whatever othe u’ve peripherals yo the for stocked up on ox Xb or e On Xbox One S.
BEST GAMES EVER
A six-terraflops graphics chip is home unheard-of in a until is at Th e. ol cons it to wa n’t ca now, we see what kind of rths. visuals that unea
XBOX ONE X:
THE GAMES
THIS YEAR Forza Motorsport 7
With the way weather effects sweep through tracks and how supercars are pended in pristine fashion, Forza is looking to be one drop-dead gorgeous reason to pick up this console.
Star Wars Battlefront II
EA’s first Star Wars Battlefront was pretty stellar, and this autumn’s Battlefront II looks like it could be downright fantastic - and it won’t look better on any other console than the Xbox One X.
NEXT YEAR Anthem
6
It’s small than you think More power more physical ls ua eq t with heft, right? No X. While the Xbox One ox One the original Xb er, rk po a of bit a s wa S the Xbox One s down trimmed thing onable to a more reas And and stylish size. ill w X e On ox the Xb er. It’s go even slimm allest Microsoft’s sm , te da to e ol ns co ing ck pa ite desp in the most y. processing abilit
7
It’s going to sound great Worried about One X th how e Xbox n’t be: Do d? will soun up it’s set to serve d un rro su ial ac sp via Dolby Atmos and Microsoft’s TF proprietary HR ill st format. HRTF is y, ec cr se in ed ud shro os is all but Dolby Atm ight to about adding he d d an surround soun ment in pin-point place Plus . pe ca ds un a 3D so with it will also work h is hic headphones, w s. nu bo a eg am
8
It’ll run super cool All of those als hardcore intern bit of will take a fair is cooling - which the es us o pi or Sc hy w water closest thing to ll u’ yo at cooling th er see on a consum e lly th ua Us e. ol ns co ing reserve of gam ts PCs, Scorpio pu ork to w ionised water order in a vacuum in at he se er sp to di nents from its compo via a heatsink.
A third-person Destiny-like affair, Anthem could prove to be an incredibly impressive showcase for the Xbox One X’s graphical heft. The trailer had us pretty excited for what’s in store.
Sea of Thieves
Rare’s barmy co-operative pirate-fest is shaping up nicely. Really, any game where you get to have a cannon fight, plunder for treasure and get wasted on grog is fine by us.
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T E S T E D LG O L E D 5 5 C 7 V
From C to shining C More stunning than ever in its 2017 evolution, the C7 model offers the best-value route into LG’s flagship OLED TV range. Is this the screen your eyes have been waiting for? 1 US$4100 / lg.com If you’re looking for the cheapest way to own a 2017 LG OLED television, this 55in version of the C7 (known to its friends as the OLED55C7V) is it. Actually, it’s one of two ways because, on paper at least, the 55in B7 is the same TV with a slightly different stand. Whichever of the two you buy, you should get the same performance. In fact, you should get the same picture no matter which 2017 LG OLED you opt for, from the cheap-ish B7 and C7 right up to the ‘Wallpaper’ W7. The further down the range you go, the less advanced the sound is; but if you’re planning to partner your new telly with a surround setup or soundbar anyway, you should get everything you need from the C7. And when you consider that the C7 is one of the best-looking TVs of this year’s LG OLED family (thanks mostly to the unobtrusive speakers), then you have yet another reason to empty your wallet over this set ahead of its even pricier siblings. 1 My pretty one Viewed face-on the speakers are invisible, leaving you a glossy 55in screen outlined by a super-thin bezel, all lifted off your surface by an elegant stand. And if you move round to the side you’ll see that, chunkier section at the bottom aside, this is a strikingly slim TV.
Good Meh Evil
F LG inal OL ly, ED a m ra ore ng a e. ffo 4K rd I co act , h ab m ua er le pa lly e I te re pr co lly d t ef m in o er e. th th th e at e Th of C7 sp e ’ 5 its s d ot 5 . F in ol es its sc de ig rs n in ree m n ib lin y si ro ze Ev gs o sc en . hi m ts re a n en lo ice th lo go ly e s ok ap . w ee s i pe nc a t r r i e n T di g bl on Ne he e tfl Do on a b ix lby th lac or V is k ig is OL in io als n t ED . lo ech Th o k dr e st ma am lan k u nn es at ter ic ns ing m in lo . ost M o ar k co so Po dy lo na . m ic an W d i th th is a is ll f a f ou ut r H ur D ep R ro for of m I’m TV at fro n . s su o m t pp th a f or e b an te ac of d, k o th ft ea he ud TV io c … pl the se om ug n t… in in ag g a m in y ,I ow w n s as ou alw nd ay ba s g r a oi ny ng w to ay .
24 hours with the LG OLED55C7V
1min 42
5mins 20mins 40mins 55mins
2hrs
4hrs
5hrs
6hrs
T E S T E D LG O L E D 5 5 C 7 V
Tech specs Screen 55in 3840x2160 OLED with HDR OS LG webOS 3.5 Connectivity HDMI (x4), optical out, Ethernet, Wi-Fi Dimensions 1230x750x217mm, 19.2kg (with stand)
3
2 Living Dol While the likes of the Sony A1 have to wait for Dolby Vision to be added at a later date, LG’s 2017 OLED range has it out of the box. Essentially, all of those Netflix Originals that appear in standard HDR to most TVs will be streamed in the Dolby version to the C7. 3 Travellin’ light Everyone knows the core advantage of OLED now (that each pixel emits its own light, allowing pitch blacks to sit right next to pure whites and colours), but that does nothing to diminish the thrill of seeing one of these TVs in action for the first time. 4 Wired for sound The C7 has a spacious sound with pretty decent dynamics, which means explosions and other big special effects stand out with extra volume and punch. The only issue is that the speakers are on the back of the TV, which means the audio is a bit indirect. 5 Thumber holiday The C7 comes with LG’s own webOS 3.5 at its core. It’s a bright and friendly system, with sources, smart services and features all presented as colourful cards that can be rearranged, added and deleted as you see fit – and navigation is snappy too.
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I’ se ve h tt ad ing t s t o fi o dd ge le ti w t l it I lo oo h t lik ve ki he et t ng p h o e its ict tu L G be ure rn M st of a . f t gi W he c R us eb e er OS m m ot o ex 3 io te pe .5 ns ,b rie pro en ut nc vid so I’d e. e r. sa Th bu is ra th t t is a e hi f rl nk an ov th tas el y e S ti c on T y V, b Sa A1 u w yi is t I c ha ng ab a t i th et n’t to a te he ffe t, t r d lp h rs is ea . is l. st ill ab ar ga in fo r
4
19hrs
20hrs 21hrs
23hrs
24hrs
The LG family LG’s OLEDs all share the same panel (in 55in, 65in and 77in versions), but there are some subtle differences
■ B is for bargain
■ E is for ears
■ G is for gigantic
■ W is for wow
The B7 is pretty much the same telly as the C7, except for a stand that gives it extra elevation. Oh, and the price. For some reason, the B7 is currently retailing for $1100 less.
The G7 has a foldable soundbar stand that offers even better audio than its E sibling. It’s also the cheapest set of the family to offer a 77in screen, but sadly it’s not available in the Middle East.
As the LG family moves up the alphabet, the audio improves. The E7 is the cheapest option to have a soundbar built into the set. We still recommend buying a separate soundbar, though.
The W7 is quite simply a design masterclass. Yes, it has the same panel as any other TV here, but its bendy 2.57mm-thick form will amaze your friends when you mount it on the wall.
The C7 is the pick of LG’s 2017 OLED range. Other than the B7 it’s the most affordable. And while it does have the weakest sound, we’d recommend an audio upgrade regardless of which model you buy. Since the picture is the same, you might as well get one of the cheaper models. You even get a more minimalist chassis to boot.
STUFF SAYS ★★★★★ It’s at the affordable end of LG’s 2017 OLED range, but this will be the best option for most 43
P L X- 5 0 0
DM-40
V E R S AT I L E D I R E CT D R I V E T U R NTA B L E
C O M PA C T D E S K T O P M O N I T O R S P E A K E R S
– High quality, analogue sound
– Soft dome tweeters with convex diffusers for a 3D stereo sound
– Professional layout inherited from the PLX-1000 turntable
– Front-loaded bass reflex system
– Line output to connect direct to speakers
– Class AB amps deliver perfect clarity across the frequencies
– USB output to record to digital files
– Multiple inputs and headphone output
– Cartridge, stylus and slip mat included
– Available in black or white
– Available in black or white
SRP £299 / €369
S R P £ 1 2 9 / € 1 6 9 ( PA I R )
PIONEERDJ.COM
MUSIC SPECIAL
YAMAHA HPH-M82 A stylish pair of cans designed to make you stand out, these headphones from Yamaha will make you the envy of your hipster mates. Their open and spacious sound has bags of detail, and their lightweight build means they won’t cramp your noggin after extended use. They come in a variety of colours to suit your steez. US$106 / mea.yamaha.com
Whether you make music or simply love it, here’s all the kit you need to upgrade your listening [ Words Mike Priest Photography Masam Ali Art Direction Clarkwin Cruz Make-up Artist Keva Chita Model Karolina Tarkovskyte]
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M MU AK S ER IC S SPINBOX
JAMMY
PHONOTONIC
POPULELE U1
If Ikea made turntables, we reckon they might look a lot like this DIY deck from Spinbox. While you don’t technically make music on it, you do have to assemble it yourself, and it takes all of 18 minutes. Plus it comes loaded with an amp and speakers so it’s a totally selfcontained setup. US$99 / spinbox.cc
A telescopic strum stick that connects to your smartphone, Jammy offers real-time chord guidance via LED-fitted frets, while on-board audio output means you don’t need to lug an amp along for the ride. At 19.6 inches extended, its neck is full-scale so feels just like playing a proper guitar. US$tba / playjammy.com
Less of an instrument that you play, instead, the Phonotonic turns your body into an instrument. Internal sensors measure movements, while a dedicated app converts the data gathered by the sensors into music in real time. You can even share the results to social media. US$95 / phonotonic.net
The Populele offers you a way to learn how to play Adele covers on a tiny guitar without sacrificing the experience of playing on a real ukulele. The fretboard lights up to show you where to stick your fingers, and a companion app lets you pick from a vast library of available songs to learn. US$179 / popuband.com
Unless you live inside a clock, you don’t use your ears to tell the time - but that hasn’t stopped M&D from teaming up with Bamford Watch Department for these special wireless cans. With these aqua blue beauties you won’t care what time it is anyway. US$549/masterdynamic.com 46
SOL REPUBLIC AMPS AIR
LIBRATONE Q ADAPT
AKG N60 NC WIRELESS
Freedom is a marvellous thing and these totally wireless Bluetooth earphones from Sol Republic let you swing your arms about with no fear catching on a cable. Their tiny size affects battery life, but the carry case is able to charge them up to 15 times so you always have enough juice. US$190 / solrepublic.com
Perfect for iOS users, these are one of only a small set of in-ear cans to come with a lightning connector. That means they can hook directly into iPhones and iPads to carry not only sound but all the power they need to run their CityMix active noise-cancelling tech. Good stuff, we say. US$210 / libratone.com
If there’s one thing guaranteed to ruin your commute, it’s other people. Luckily the AKG N60 NC Wireless headphones are here to help. They offer 15 hours of wire-free noise cancelling from a single charge, so you can enjoy music without nary a hint of interruption. US$300 / akg.com
HEADPHONES
MASTER AND DYNAMIC MW60 LIMITED EDITION
MUSIC SPECIAL
SONY XPERIA XZ PREMIUM Aside from its brilliant 4K screen and super slow-mo camera, Sony’s flagship Xperia also has some bonus audio smarts baked in. Namely, its LDAC compatibility gets you better-quality Bluetooth streaming when used with one of Sony’s higher-end wireless headphones, and there’s upscaling that will tart-up your lower quality audio files.
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MUSIC SPECIAL
LG PH4 This puny Bluetooth powerhouse from LG is the perfect beach speaker thanks to its rugged water resistant housing. 360 degree sound means it will sound good wherever you plonk it down and it even has a handy handle to make it easier to cart around. 10 hour of battery life should sort you out for any marathon listening sesh, as well. US$110 / lg.com
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MUSIC SPECIAL
The sleekest soundbar offering we’ve seen yet from Yamaha. The YAS-107 combines DTS Virtual:X tech with Clear Voice to give you clear as crystal dialogue and audio that sounds like it’s bouncing off your walls and ceiling. Plus, it totally looks the business happily nestled ‘neath your TV. US$217 / mea.yamaha,com
ASTELL & KERN A&ULTIMA If you’re the sort who can pick out a suspended fourth at half a mile, then you deserve to treat your burgeoning FLAC collection to an appropriately lavish (and expensive) home. Thankfully, A&K has provided the ideal location. Your new address? This lovely A&Ultima. US$3500 / astellnkern.com
PIONEER PLX-500
ELBOW
Looking to kickstart your DJ career? Or maybe you just want to dig out the ol’ vinyl collection? Pioneer’s PLX-500 is the perfect plug and play turntable for both, as it comes fitted with a cartridge, stylus and slip matt to get you going. There's also a USB output for recording your records to MP3 using the free Rekordbox software. US$410 / pioneer.com
Meet Elbow: a clever clip-on concept for your cassette collection, it has a single swivelling arm which slots into one of the winding holes and drives the tape like it’s 1995. You can switch directions on the fly, and there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack so you can plug in and listen on-the-go. US$tba / elbow.co.nf
HI-FI
YAMAHA YAS-107
SONOS PLAYBASE The Songs PlayBase is a solid slab of TV sound engineering, upon which sits your TV. Within the PlayBase are ten speaker drivers for expansive, immersive sound, plus all the wireless Sonos trickery used for its app-driven multiroom speaker systems. Top tip: this thing is awesome. US$800 / sonos.com
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SP
EA
KE
RS
MUSIC SPECIAL
BEOPLAY M5
JBL PULSE 3
The Danish style masters have done it again. This large cylindrical sound-tub has all manner of wireless wonderfulness on board: Airplay, Spotify Connect, Chromecast Audio and plain old-fashioned Bluetooth. Plus B&O’s own Beolink Multiroom system means you can connect up a bunch of ‘em. US$600 / beoplay.com
This clever speaker from JBL is comprised of two separate sections: the upper LED glow show sits atop a sound base fitted with three drivers and dual passive radiators, to deliver 360-degree sound. Bring this to a party and we promise you’ll be hipper than Zach Efron doing things on a beach. Maybe. US$200 / jbl.com
GPO BROOKLYN A suitably retro ghetto blaster that’ll sit on your shoulder and pump out Run DMC for up to four hours from various sources: cassette (obvz), CD, DAB or FM radio, or via your phone if you connect it over Bluetooth. Chuck in proper retro backlight and analogue VU meters and..wait, what year is it? US$260 / gporetro.com
BOSSA MOONRAKER Options are limited for speakers that are kind to the eyes and the ears. Buy this wireless Moonraker orb from Bossa, though, and you’ll get the double. Designed as a thick polymer sphere for better audio quality, it wouldn’t look out of place in a Bond villain’s listening room. US$2400 / bossasound.com
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BOSE SOUNDLINK REVOLVE+ The larger of two excellent Soundlink Revolve speakers, this Plus model has better bass response and overall sound for its compact size. It boasts up to 16 hours of battery life and is water resistant so it can survive a splash or two. We also love the built-in handle which makes it easy to carry about or hang around the house. US$325 / bose.com
TESTED ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS
Silent but deadly Space rocket-inspired cooling helps Asus squeeze a GeForce GTX 1080 where no GPU has gone before
The Zephyrus includes plenty of connectivity: multiple USB ports, 3.5mm headphone jack and HDMI video out.
US$2720 / asus.com ■ Space rockets, you say? Indeed, the Zephyrus is the first laptop we’ve seen built according to Nvidia’s Max-Q design. In fancypants science talk, this is the point where aerodynamic stress on a rocket is at its maximum, so you can dial down thrust and still break out of the atmosphere. ■ Basically, it means that the GeForce GTX 1080 inside the Zephyrus uses half the power of an identical chip in other gaming laptops, but manages 90% of the performance. Without sounding like a hairdryer. ■ That’s right, this puppy is only 17mm thick and weighs less than 2.2kg, meaning it’s designed for actual portability, unlike most gaming laptops that promise as much but end up anchored to a desk. ■ It wasn’t just a case of adding more air vents, though. Asus has shifted the keyboard to the front edge of the laptop, leaving the top section to focus on cooling. It takes a bit of getting used to, but wasn’t as annoying as we expected it to be. ■ The 15.6in screen is gaminggrade, too. Asus has gone for an IPA panel and kept the resolution down to a sensible 1080p, so the GPU won’t be working overtime just to render Windows. Of course, you can plug it in to a 4K telly if you want more pixels thanks to that beasty GTX 1080. And its 7th gen Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor and up to 24GB of RAM make it sing.
Tech specs Screen 15.6in Full HD CPU 2.8GHz Intel Core i7-7700HQ Memory 16GB DDR4 GPU Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Dimensions 376x262x17mm, 2.2kg
■ A right knee-jerker
Boasting a G-Sync panel with a 120Hz refresh rate makes the Zephyrus perfect for games that rely on quick reflexes. You’ll have no issues playing either long-time eSports king Counter Strike, or current Blizzard darling Overwatch.
■ Choose your colour
While the marmite positioning of the keyboard takes some adjustment, the whole thing is fully backlit with customisable RGB lighting, no less. We also love that the trackpad can morph into a handy number pad as needed.
STUFF SAYS Immensely powerful, but still manages to play it cool and quiet ★★★★★ A light and loaded laptop fully worthy of the hype
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Gaming laptops that you could comfortably carry away from a desk have been a long time coming. The Zephyrus is the closest we’ve come yet, thanks to an industry-wide partnership with Nvidia. It’s immensely powerful, but manages to stay cool and quiet thanks to a clever combination of hardware and software. A mighty impressive feat indeed.
TEST APPS
Mini meme
● Encode
If massive programming tomes make you freeze, try Encode instead. Its bite-sized approach is ideal mobile fodder, enabling you to squeeze the odd bit of JavaScript, HTML or CSS into spare moments. Get something wrong, and the app corrects your course. Brimming with confidence? Buy the one-off IAP to unlock extra challenges. Stuff says ★★★★★ from US$free / Android, iOS
● Py
There’s more than a whiff of Duolingo about this cartoonish programming app. Pick a course and friendly exercises lead you through the basics, which involves creating all manner of tiny pseudo-apps. Py has a tendency to blaze through, rather than correcting errors, but exercises can be reviewed and replayed. And it’s fun. Stuff says ★★★★✩ US$free (IAPs) / Android, iOS
DON’T BE LEFT OUT IN THE CODE
French? Spanish? Cantonese? Get with it, Gramps – the languages you need to learn now are the ones for talking to computers
● Swift Playgrounds
We’re some way yet from an iPad version of Xcode, but Swift Playgrounds is a step towards being able to make iPad apps on an actual iPad. The lessons guide you through the basics of Swift, and – being that this is an Apple app – it’s not all dry numbers. Instead, you run your code and get an interactive 3D world to fiddle about with. Stuff says ★★★★✩ US$free / iPad
● Textastic
Textastic is very much of the opinion that a coding app should get out of the way and let you code. It offers a streamlined experience, with great syntax highlighting, cloud drive support, and a custom keyboard for quickly entering characters even on an iPhone. Ever wanted to make a website while sitting on a train? Now’s your chance. Stuff says ★★★★★ US$9.99 / iOS
● DroidEdit Pro
DroidEdit enables you to code pretty much anywhere. There’s Git and cloud drive support, custom keys, Emmet for rapidly expanding expressions into html, and the ability to open and mod anything on a rooted Android device. If you’re serious about coding, avoid the limited free version and spend a couple of quid on Pro instead. Stuff says ★★★★✩ US$1.99 / Android
● Human Resource
Machine
A game about programming? Madness! And yet, because this is by the World of Goo folks, it’s brilliant. You use logic and loops to ‘programme’ an office drone’s workplace tedium. It’s both meta and poignant, and you’ll learn a thing or two as well, not least when a surly manager demands you “optimise”. Stuff says ★★★★★ US$4.99 / Android, iOS 53
NOW ADD THESE
FLIC BUTTONS
Stick these teeny Bluetooth buttons wherever you like, then use the app to assign different functions for a tap, double tap and long press. These can be simple controls like a ‘reading’ mode for your bedroom lights or a kid’s favourite Hue scene. from US$30 / flic.io
PHILIPS HUE MOTION SENSOR
IFTTT YOUR SPIRITS ■ Your Uber has landed
SCREEN SCENES ■ Get super-Ambilight
The applet at bit.ly/HueUber will blink your Hue lights when the Uber driver has arrived. That visual notification might catch your eye in time to stop your driver waking the street with a blaring horn-honk.
Got a Philips Ambilight TV? Get your Hue lights to change in sync with its colourful tune. Download the Ambilight+Hue app (US$free / iOS, Android) and enter your TV’s IP address from its network settings menu. Then choose which lights you want to link, and enjoy your personal Odeon.
■ Ready for kick-off
■ Monitor the colours
If you have a Fitbit that you wear to bed, you can link your Fitbit account to your Hue bulbs via the IFTTT applet at bit.ly/HueFitbit – and the bulbs will turn on as soon as the band detects that you’ve woken up.
If your computer’s feeling left out of the Ambilight party, the free download ScreenBloom (screenbloom.com) can pair it with your Hue bulbs and lightstrips to recreate a similar effect to Philips’ glowing TVs.
Another IFTTT applet at bit.ly/HueESPN can make your bulbs flash a certain colour any time your team begins a match, giving you the signal to turn on the TV before you miss a goal.
■ Hue knows when you are sleeping
BETA BONUSES
This sensor can detect movement from up to five metres away, and will automatically turn your lights off after a set period. You can also set it to only work at certain times, such as evenings, so the cat doesn’t keep setting it off in daylight. US$40 / philips.com
■ Baffle the burglars
HueLabs’ ‘presence mimicking’ recipe engages lights so that it appears you’re at home when you’re not. You can custom-set which lights come on when, and they’ll still turn on at your usual times for coming home, getting ready for bed and so on.
■ Don’t get overcooked
Banish those clanging timer alarms from your life and set a visual trigger instead using the HueLabs cooking timer recipe. It lets you set quick alarms within the Hue app and then get a flashing light when your meal is ready.
LOGITECH HARMONY HUB
Logitech’s Hub makes all your smart kit work in unison. You could set up a ‘gaming’ activity that turns on your TV, boots up your console and dims the lights. With Alexa and IFTTT support too, the possibilities are endless. US$100 / logitech.com
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TESTED SONY A99 II
Alpha snapper Small form, big feature set, even bigger price: Sony takes a shot at photographic perfection with version two of its A-mount flagship, the A99 US$3130 (body) / sony.com A giant sensor, turbocharged autofocus, 4K video… cameras don’t come much better-equipped than the A99 II. While it’s not quite the most expensive snapper made by Sony (that honour falls to the new E-mount A9), this is the flagship model in the A-mount range – the company’s DSLR equivalents. With a translucent mirror and a viewfinder that’s electronic rather than optical, the newer A-mount cameras can’t strictly be called DSLRs, but to all intents and purposes this is Sony’s answer to the top full-frame models from Canon, Nikon and Pentax. Hence its $3000 asking price. The good news is, the lack of a traditional mirror-and-pentaprism setup makes the A99 II more compact than an equivalent DSLR. For an interchangeable-lens camera with a full-frame sensor, it’s impressively bijou – and even 8% smaller than the old A99. More importantly, it offers both great all-round performance and some features you won’t find on any rival model.
1 Unbreakable Like most high-end DSLRs, the body is built on a magnesium alloy frame for toughness, and the controls, dials and ports are weather-sealed. A large grip on the right and a rubbery material wrapped around most of the body will keep it locked in your hands.
3
2 1
2 Untouchable There’s a 3in LCD on the back that tilts out and twists, allowing you to view it from almost any angle. It’s a good-quality screen in terms of detail and brightness, but it’s not a touchscreen, which means the A99 II misses out on touch-to-focus capabilities.
3 Unfathomable We miss having a quick way to toggle between auto and manual focus. For this, and a lot of other settings, you must venture into the vast, labyrinthine menu system. Thankfully, you can assign custom controls to certain buttons from within those menus.
Good Meh Evil
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24 hours with the Sony A99 II
5mins 10mins 30mins 35mins 50mins 56
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4hrs
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TESTED SONY A99 II
4 Un-uncontrollable You might not really miss the touchscreen given the number of controls Sony’s placed at your fingertips. The A99 II is bristling with buttons and dials so you shouldn’t have any trouble swiftly adjusting your settings.
5 Unshakeable The 5-axis image stabilisation works in-body rather than requiring lenses to have it built in, while the hybrid autofocus combines the speed of phase detection with the accuracy of contrast detection.
Tech specs Sensor 42.4MP full-frame Exmor R CMOS ISO range 50-102,400 (inc. expanded) Autofocus 79-point hybrid Max shooting speed 12fps Video 4K @ 30fps, 1080p @ 120fps Displays 3in LCD screen, XGA OLED viewfinder Battery life 390 shots Dimensions 143x104x76.1mm, 849g
4
Sony delight We might have A99 problems, but a picture ain’t one. Here’s how the Sony’s images shape up…
■ Still got it
■ The XL files
■ Murk believe
■ Lift the vid
The 42.4MP sensor offers superb image quality for both stills and video. There’s no low-pass filter, which increases the sheer amount of detail the A99 II can resolve, and the hybrid autofocus works brilliantly.
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18hrs
20hrs 21hrs
23hrs
24hrs
As you’d expect from a full-frame camera with a maximum ISO of 102,400, low-light work is top-class. With a fast lens attached, you can snap away in a dimly lit room and go home with some ace images.
You’re welcome to shoot in uncompressed 14-bit RAW and manually process the resulting images later. Prepare to wrangle some huge file sizes, though: this camera’s RAWs are about 85MB each.
Video footage exhibits natural-looking colours with strong dynamic range and crisp, clean detail. The 5-axis IS helps a lot with handheld video, negating some of the effects of the wielder’s unsteady mitts.
The A99 II isn’t for everyone – but for those willing to invest in a new system or already using A-mount glass, this is a hugely powerful flagship that can tackle any photography or video task with aplomb. In fact, it’s probably the only camera you’ll ever need – which it might well have to be considering that price tag.
STUFF SAYS ★★★★★ It’s too expensive for mass appeal, but the A99 II is packed with ability and clever features 57
TESTED MIGHTY
Get off of your cloud This next-gen offline Spotify player offers phone-free music on the go, but it has some old-school issues
The Mighty isn’t graceful or stylish, but its blue symbol buttons give it a deliberate look – and it’s radically smaller than a phone.
US$86 / bemighty.com ■ The iPod Shuffle was the perfect runner’s music player. The trouble is, it’s no longer 2006 and most of us don’t download music – we use streaming services like Spotify. So here’s the Mighty: an mp3 player that plays Spotify Premium tracks without a phone. ■ Install the Mighty app on your mobile and it teaches the player your home Wi-Fi network login and gives it access to your Spotify account. Then choose the playlists you want to have beamed over via the little guy’s own Wi-Fi link. ■ Plug in your headphones (or pair up your Bluetooth cans), press the little three-pip button, and a robot lady reads out the name of your playlist before starting to play. Press this button again and it cycles to the next playlist. It’s just like an old mp3 player… except it can’t shuffle. We’re told this feature is coming. ■ You can’t even fast-forward or rewind, only skip to the next or previous tune, and there’s no way to get that robot to tell you what you’re listening to mid-song. More importantly, you’re stuck with Spotify – no other streaming services, no podcasts. ■ Compared directly to a few recent Android phones, the Mighty’s audio doesn’t come off well. There’s a drop in dynamic range, the bass loses power and the mids are less smooth – all the signs of a cheap DAC. At least you can choose between Spotify’s usual Normal, High and Extreme standards.
Tech specs Storage 4GB File format mp3 (requires Premium Spotify account) Connectivity Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Dimensions 38x38x18mm, 17g
■ Wi can’t this be love?
The Mighty’s Wi-Fi connection is flakier than a fresh croissant. The first time we used it to transfer tunes with the app, it worked perfectly; after that, we spent hours trying to get the thing to connect.
■ Squareless whisper
Battery life is claimed at up to five hours, but after no more than 90 minutes of music our Mighty only had 57% charge left. If you use wireless headphones, the player’s battery lasts 90 minutes max.
STUFF SAYS An iPod for the streaming age, but performance is far from mighty ★★★✩✩ This snack-sized music machine is slightly undercooked
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Mighty Audio is a plucky company doing something new, but this feels like a beta product – it’s buggy, restrictive and low on features. Much as we like the idea of listening to Spotify without a phone, it’s hard to get enthused about the Mighty, particularly with the risk of extra customs charges when shipping from the US. You might want to hold off until something better comes along.
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TESTED GAMES
PS4 / stuff.tv/LostLegacy
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Nathan Drake is nowhere to be seen, but PlayStation’s most bombastic franchise remains a blast in this blockbuster follow-up to Uncharted 4
ou should know how the Uncharted games work by now. Take a whip-smart lead with more one-liners than the entire Edinburgh Fringe, add a lot of crumbling scenery and an ill-defined baddie, and you’ve got yourself a whole lotta fun. In these terms, and many others, The Lost Legacy doesn’t disappoint. After Nathan Drake’s awesome last hurrah in Uncharted 4, this may be the series’ first instalment not to star the eternally boyish hero, but little has changed in
Y
almost every other respect. Crucially, that includes a central pairing that you’ll root for until the end credits. Replacing Nate and Sully are Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross: an odd coupling where one member rattles out wisecracks to mask her vulnerabilities and the other relies on experience. They share some hairy moments and find a common bond through them. All this might make The Lost Legacy out to be a cookie-cutter spin-off, but it’s in the low-key
moments that this adventure really endears itself. While the tricksy Chloe will happily lockpick her way through a door, Nadine prefers to take a shortcut and smash its glass window. In other words, they’re proper characters rather than a couple of B-list archetypes who’ve been shoved centre stage – even if they do still need a little more time to establish themselves in their own right. Once you’re done running and gunning your way through a thrilling cavalcade of gorgeous set pieces,
it’s this stuff that’ll have you yearning for more Uncharted – not The Lost Legacy’s flirtation with open-world exploration, or an overly insistent photo mode that similarly detracts from the game’s rat-a-tat charm. Still, these dalliances never go so far as to derail what is an otherwise joyously gurn-inducing affair. It’s one that can’t match the climactic drama of its predecessor, but promises more of that in the not-too-distant future.
STUFF SAYS A gorgeous adventure that lacks the emotional punch of its predecessor ★★★★✩ 60
TESTED GAMES
3 of 2017’s best PS4 exclusives
Nier: Automata
Already played Horizon Zero Dawn? You need to get your hands on Sony’s other epic post-apocalyptic title. Stuffed with more existential guff than a Terrence Malick flick, this open-world action-RPG is as barmy as it is beguiling. And it’s got robots, so that’s a boon.
Persona 5
The new photo mode has Chloe Frazer taking all manner of beautiful snaps.
Nadine Ross is a great protagonist – more than just a paramilitary badass.
This game is so huge you can spend five hours on it without even finishing the tutorial. As much as Persona 5 isn’t an RPG for commitment-phobes, anyone who sticks with its high-school melodrama and turn-based thrills will be richly rewarded.
WipEout Omega Collection
If Crash’s recent revival taught us anything, it’s that the bandicoot hasn’t aged all that well over the last 21 years. WipEout, meanwhile, is still a riot – especially now the futuristic racing series has been remade in 1080p.
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TOP TENS SMARTPHONES
1
62 HOT BUY
Samsung Galaxy S8
US$760 / samsung.com
Stuff says ★★★★★ The OnePlus is still a bargain, but it’s no match for the Galaxy S8
2
HTC U11
3
★★★★★ from US$615 / htc.com This glass-backed beauty aims to please with a squeeze - and it takes a mean photo too.
Huawei P10 Plus
4
★★★★★ US$760 / huawei.com A true flagship phone that gives you plenty of power, a great screen and one of the best cameras going.
LG G6
5 BARGAIN BUY
★★★★★ US$710 / lg.com One of the most visually unique phones out there, and it holds its own against strong competition.
OnePlus 3T
6
sol.pdf
★★★★★ US$460 / oneplus.net Looking for the best handset bargain from last year? Then you’re looking at the right phone. 1
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7 8 9 10
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
from US$770 / apple.com The camera upgrade makes the 7 Plus a nobrainer for iOSloving photographers. Waterproofing is a welcome touch, and it’s a performance powerhouse when it comes to gaming. Add the bigger battery and you’ve got a clear winner over the basic iPhone 7. Stuff says ★★★★★ The ultimate iPhone when it comes to camera, screen and battery
Apple iPhone 7
★★★★★ from US$650 / apple.com Forget the headphone furore; the iPhone 7 is a slick update packed with worthwhile new features.
Huawei Mate 9
★★★★★ US$625 / huawei.com A 5.9in display in a body no bigger than an iPhone 7 Plus? Yes please! The dual-snapper is ace, too.
Sony Xperia XZ Premium
★★★★✩ US$735 / sonymobile.com Sony’s back with a flagship to rival the best of ‘em. A 4K screen, with a 960fps slow-mo camera to boot.
HTC U Ultra
★★★★✩ from US$625 / htc.com HTC’s glass smartphone is a stunner to look at and almost as lovely to live with.
● Prices quoted are for handset only unless otherwise stated
You don’t need us to tell you that the Galaxy S8 is a bezel-less thing of wonder. Just look at it: glorious! And beneath that gorgeous facade lies an equally sumptuous blend of power and performance. With enough oomph to run any app you please, and a point-and-shoot camera to rival both the iPhone 7 Plus and the Google Pixel, this really is an astoundingly good comeback after Samsung’s Note 7 woes. We’d have accepted nothing less.
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TABLETS, FITNESS TRACKERS TOP TENS
1
HOT BUY
Apple iPad Pro 9.7
Garmin Vivoactive HR
The iPad Pro 9.7 takes everything we loved about Apple’s original 12.9in Pro tablet, makes it a lot more portable, and then even adds in a few cool extras of its own. The True Tone display, for example – which changes intensity and colour balance automatically based on ambient conditions – is an absolute marvel, while the 12MP shooter is frankly overkill for those brave enough to use it out and about. It’s expensive, yes, but quality comes at a price.
Garmin has a frankly bewildering array of fitness trackers and outdoorsy GPS watches, but the Vivoactive HR is the one you really want. It’s packed to the gills with long-lasting, easy-to-use and rewarding fitness cleverness. That means it contains the daily step and sleep tracking that you can get in other bands costing under a ton, but also the optical heart-rate monitor, touchscreen display and smartphone notifications that you’d normally pay more for.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Incredible power, superb features and flawless design: the iPad Pro 9.7 is pure tablet perfection
Stuff says ★★★★★ Not super-stylish, perhaps, but crammed with sensors, sports and stamina: a fab all-round fitness tracker
from US$599 / apple.com
HOT BUY
2
Apple iPad Mini 4
3
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0
4
Google Pixel C
5
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7
speck.pdf
HOT BUY
1
★★★★★ from US$399 / apple.com Just the right size for a portable entertainment hub, plus it’ll last three days.
★★★★★ US$300 / samsung.com A top 8in Android tablet that packs loads of fab features into a small, lightweight design.
★★★★★ from US$500 / store.google.com Turns out the future of laptops looks a lot like Google’s Android hybrid tablet.
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★★★★★ US$500 / samsung.com With a brilliant screen and serious stamina, PM this is our favourite full-size Android tablet.
US$250 / garmin.com
2
Fitbit Flex
3
Apple Watch Series 2
4
Moov Now
5
Misfit Shine
BARGAIN BUY
★★★★★ US$80 / fitbit.com Fitbit’s cheapest wrist strap pack a lot of tech into a comfy band. Worst best on iPhone, though.
★★★★✩ from US$369 / apple.com Apple’s addtion of GPS and waterproofing make the Watch well worth it as a fitness tracker.
★★★★✩ US$60 / moov.cc Not just a tracker but a trainer, offering guided workouts with voice coaching.
★★★★✩ US$99 / misfit.com The Shine is a $99 tracker that feels anything but cheap. Its app isn’t great, however.
TOP TENS HOW TO BUY
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HOW TO BUY A TABLET
Smartphone too small for streaming and laptop too bulky to carry around? A tablet will fill that role just right – but which one should you get? E Ink
Hybrid
A paper-like display that’s usually found on e-readers. It’s good for contrast – and for not draining a device’s battery.
A term used to describe a superpowerful tablet with laptop-like processing speeds and a keyboard option.
JARGON BUSTER
Retina
Apple’s marketing term to describe a display that has a pixel density so high that you no longer see individual dots.
KEEP TABS ON SPECS 1
Systems of mercy
The Android vs iOS war rages on even in the tablet world. Which OS you side with really comes down to taste, but it’s nice to have all your gadgets get along, so if you have an iPhone it might be best to stick with Apple. Don’t forget about Microsoft, though – the Surface Pro runs full Windows 10 to make your tablet feel like a proper PC. ● Get this: Microsoft Surface Pro microsoft.com
NOW ADD THESE
2 The bigger picture
Whether you’re streaming TV, putting your arty cap on or just ogling Instagram, you’re going to want a sexy, bright screen. The iPad Pro 12.9in has a 2732x2048 display, which is one of the best you can hope for on a tablet. You’ll also want to make sure your tablet’s screen has an anti-reflective coating if you plan on using it outside. ● Get this: Apple iPad Pro 12.9in apple.com
DEALS AT THEIR PRIME 3 Hybrid theory
The line between tablets and laptops is getting more and more blurred… and that means, instead of buying both, you can now invest in one device to do it all. A hybrid typically has a beefier processor than a normal tab, so you’ll need to be working it hard to get your money’s worth. It’s a good option to get Photoshop running smoothly. ● Get this: Dell XPS 13 2in1 dell.com
4 Settle your tab
You only want to use your tablet for social media and reading the news? Well, there’s little point buying a $500-plus powerhouse, then. The Amazon Fire 7 is fiercely ‘budget’, with a screen that even a mother could barely love. But it gets the job done for a fraction of the price of other tablets, and it’s so small that you’ll have few issues lugging it about on holiday. ● Get this: Amazon Fire 7 amazon.com
● A KEYBOARD
Rather than spending extra on a 2-in-1 laptop, you could just buy an official keyboard or type cover for your chosen tablet. They’re ideal for students and writers, but sometimes absurdly expensive.
5 Book in advance
Maybe you don’t even need to access the web? If you just want to read books then we suggest an e-reader. They’re easier to read due to their natural-toned E Ink displays. ● Get this: Kindle E-Reader 6in amazon.com
● A STYLUS
Some tablets have their own optional stylus so you can get painting without your nubby fingers turning everything splodgy. Apple’s and Microsoft’s pencils both retail at around $100.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO BUY ONLY THE BEST GADGETS BY VISITING: STUFFMIDEAST.COM
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HI-FI TOP TENS
Sonos multiroom system from US$199 / sonos.com
If you want to pretend your favourite band are playing in your living room, there’s no better option than a Sonos wireless speaker. They look great, work with your smartphone and, most importantly, boom out your tunes with dazzling finesse – from the compact Play:1 ($199) to the flagship Play:5 ($499), a speaker redesigned from the ground up last year.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Infinite music in every room without the need for custom installers? Sign us up!
KEF Muo
3
★★★★★ US$299 / kef.com The KEF Muo may be the size of a soda can but it creates a room-filling sound, which is nice indeed.
Naim Mu-so Qb
4
★★★★★ US$1000 / naimaudio.com Complements its big brother’s more refined character with a confident presentation.
Google Chromecast Audio
HOT BUY
5
★★★★★ US$35 / google.com/chromecast Stream Spotify to your old hi-fi with this smart and highly affordable dongle.
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless
6 Monster strip.pdf
★★★★★ US$6999 / bowers-wilkins.com This is the ultimate wireless speaker for the streaming-savvy audiophile. 1
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2
Naim Mu-so
7
Bowers & Wilkins T7
8 9 10
US$1400 / naimaudio.com How much for a wireless speaker?! Well, yes, but what a wireless speaker it is. Naim has ploughed all of its high-end hi-fi experience into delivering a beautifully made, greatsounding device with AirPlay, Spotify Connect and aptX Bluetooth all on board. Stuff says ★★★★★ A wireless speaker that can make a valid claim to be genuine hi-fi
★★★★★ US$349 / bowers-wilkins.com There are a million portable Bluetooth speakers in the world, but few better than the B&W T7.
Monitor Audio Airstream S200
★★★★★ US$299 / monitoraudio.co.uk It may look like a floppy skyscraper, but this takes up little space and makes lovely noise.
Cambridge Audio Go
★★★★★ US$180 / cambridgeaudio.com It sounds awesome, it’s really well built and its battery lasts a massive 18 hours.
Yamaha MusicCast
★★★★★ from US$199 / ae.yamaha.com Yamaha’s multiroom system offers a range of options from soundbars to clock speakers.
TOP T TO P TE T TENS ENS TVs ENS TV
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1
HOT BUY
SONY KD-65A1 US$5450 / sony.com
LG has been sitting pretty on top of our TV charts for yonks now - its decision to go OLED proved to be a mighty successful one. But LG’s dominence is finally over, as Sony blasts away the competition with its very first attempt at an OLED telly. With an outstanding picture and design, packaged with a clever speaker system that vibrates the whole screen, the A1 comes out on top in almost every single category. This is the TV to beat in 2017.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Sony’s first crack at OLED turns out to be the greatest TV we’ve ever seen
3 4 5 6
Sony KD-55X90E
★★★★★ US$1500 / sony.com What it lacks in OLED, this set more than makes up for it in superb 4K HDR skills.
Samsung QA55Q7F
★★★★★ US$2000 / samsung.com The Q7C proves that QLED is more than just marketing for old telly technology.
LG OLEDW7
★★★★★ US$16,300 / lg.com The new benchmark in TV design and picture quality, but ridiculously pricey.
LG OLED55C6V
★★★★★ US$2360 / lg.com Packed full of tech, with jaw-dropping performance to send you into TV reverie.
2
LG OLED55C7V
7
Samsung UA55KS9500
8
Sony KD-55X93D
9
Panasonic TX-65DX900
10
US$4100 / lg.com
Each of LG’s brilliant OLED TVs this year actually sport the same eye-blistering panel. SO if you’re looking for top-class quality without breaking the bank, the C7 is your best bet. And if you’re going to use a soundbar anyway, there’s no reason to snub. Stuff says ★★★★★ LG’s best-value 2017 OLED came close to topping our list
★★★★✩ US$2100 / samsung.com Stunning performance for the money, proving there’s plenty of life left in LCD yet.
★★★★★ US$1630 / sony.com Sony ticks every box for a thoroughly modern 4K HDR TV.
★★★★✩ US$3500 / panasonic.com A good option if you’re looking for a large-scale 4K telly, but the HDR isn’t as great as others.
Philips 55PUT6102
★★★★✩ US$1000 / philips.com A decent performer that’s elevated by that sweet, sweet Ambilight technology.
S E R I E S
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TOP TENS LAPTOPS
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1
HOT BUY
Apple MacBook Pro from US$1400 / apple.com
It can be easy to focus on what this entry-level version of the MacBook Pro doesn’t have: it’s missing the new Touch Bar for a start, and is down on ports and power compared to the next model up. But it’s also cheaper, and has the same diminuative form and truly gorgeous screen. It also has the brilliant second-gen butterfly keyboard. In fact, you’re better off sparing your wallet and forgetting about the Touch Bar. It’s just not worth the extra cash.
Stuff says ★★★★★ The standard 13in Pro is beautiful, compact and apleasure to work on HOT BUY
Asus Zenbook UX390UA
3
★★★★★ from US$1820 / asus.com Asus has made potential MacBook Air buyers think twice. There’s little else out there that’s better.
Asus ROG GX800
4
★★★★★ from US$6550 / asus.com 4K-ready with an 18in screen to match. A gaming beast with all the bells and whistles.
Apple MacBook
5
★★★★★ from US$1400 / apple.com Aside from an extra hour’s battery life, the current MacBook isn’t that different to the previous one.
HP Spectre 13
6 knomo.pdf
★★★★✩ from US$1250 / hp.com One of the world’s thinnest laptops - but this machine still has serious power to spare. 1
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2
Dell XPS 13 (2016)
7
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
8
Apple MacBook Pro 15in with Touch Bar
9
Microsoft Surface Book
10
BARGAIN BUY
from US$800 / dell.com The original XPS 13 was already a great lightweight laptop, but now Dell has given it a Windows 10 refresh. If the last one was the thinking person’s Ultrabook, this is that and a whole lot more. With improved battery life and performance, it’s hard to beat. Stuff says ★★★★★ An excellent Windows 10 Ultrabook, small in size and great in stature
★★★★✩ from US$1100 / dell.com Our favourite Ultrabook gets a hybrid hinge...but this isn’t as good a deal as the standard laptop.
★★★★✩ from US$2600 / apple.com A flawed masterpiece, but one that’s packed with power and is fantastic to use.
★★★★✩ from US$1600 / microsoft.com Shorn of its initial bugs, the Surface Book is a lustrous Windows hybrid with luxe appeal.
Lenovo Yoga Book (Android)
★★★★✩ US$570 / lenovo.com A gorgeous hybrid packed with ideas, including a keyboard that doubles as a drawing pad.
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SMARTWATCHES, HEADPHONES TOP TENS
1
HOT BUY
Apple Watch Series 2
SoundMagic E10C
Last year’s Apple Watch was already the best smartwatch to date; now it’s found its focus. The Series 2 devices come with an array of upgrades – more power, a brighter screen – along with a greater emphasis on fitness functions without a phone in tow. Both GPS and waterproofing make this a far more compelling gadget for exercise obsessives. No alternative is as fast or as well made, or has the same quality and quantity of bespoke apps.
With the SoundMagic E10Cs you get fantastic sound for the money, a quality cable and plenty of ear tips – and unlike the E10Ss, you don’t need to tell these buds whether you’re plugging into an (old) iPhone or an Android phone. In truth, there’s still nothing out there that can topple SoundMagic as the king of cheap headphones, but the E10Cs prove that it is still possible to improve on something good without hammering up the price at the same time.
Stuff says ★★★★★ Apple’s small tweaks and renewed sports focus add up to make the Series 2 a watershed wearable
Stuff says ★★★★★ A phenomenally good pair of headphones for the price, plus the remote now works with every phone
from US$369 / apple.com
★★★★ US$160 / pebble.com ★★★★✩ With a battery life of up to a week, the Time Steel is the best Pebble you can buy.
Fitbit Blaze
3
★★★★ US$200 / fitbit.com ★★★★✩ As much a fitness tracker as it is a smartwatch, the Blaze delivers accurate tracking and stats.
4
★★★★ US$150 / garmin.com ★★★★✩ Free up a space on your wrist – this is everything you need from a fitness watch.
5
★★★ ★★★✩✩ US$300 / samsung.com The rotating 7/26/17 4:58 PMbezel is a genius bit of design. Needs more apps, though.
Monster strip.pdf
US$50 / soundmagicheadphones.com
Pebble Time Steel
2 HOT BUY
HOT BUY
Garmin Vivomove
Samsung Gear S2
2
HOT BUY
2
B&O Beoplay H9
3
AKG Y50BT
4
Sony MDR-1000X
5
Bose QuietComfort 35
★★★★★ US$570 / beoplay.com Uber-stylish design and noise-cancelling smarts make the wireless cans top drawer.
★★★★★ US$150 / akg.com AKG have yet again that good wireless sound doesn’t have to cost the Earth.
★★★★★ US$410 / sony.com These cans are superb on both sound quality and noise-killing efficacy. Nice work, Sony.
★★★★★ US$350 / bose.com These wireless QCs are high on clarity and spaciousness: perfect for a long-haul journey.
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CONSOLES, 5-MINUTE HACKS TOP TENS
HOT BUY
BLOCK SPOILERS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA It’s a pain when you have to go cold turkey on social media to avoid spoilers from your favourite shows. Fortunately, we have some solutions that don’t involve locking yourself in a room without Wi-Fi:
PlayStation 4 Pro US$400 / playstation.com
● Get Unspoiler We begin with the nuclear option. Unspoiler (unspoiler.tv) is a Chrome extension that will censor all headlines and social media posts that mention any of the key terms or words that you’ve chosen to blacklist.
● Filter Facebook Since Unspoiler works on any site you access via your Chrome browser, those red sensor boxes can feel obtrusive. But the FB Purity extension (fbpurity.com) only targets Facebook, and lets you hide any post that mentions your chosen show. ● Silence Twitter Twitter is the easiest site to censor. Simply dig into the settings, click ‘mute’ and you can filter out any word or phrase you desire.
As a gaming platform, PlayStation 4 is the best around – which makes the PS4 Pro the best of the best. Games optimised for the new console look stunning on a 4K HDR TV, and are substantially improved by the extra grunt inside this slightly bigger machine. If you’ve already splashed out for a 4K HDR screen and you enjoy video games at all, it’s well worth the upgrade. The missing 4K Blu-ray drive means it isn’t a perfect entertainment system, but streaming converts won’t care.
Stuff says ★★★★★ The system for console gamers who have a 4K TV and want the best gaming experience possible
2 HOT BUY
3
Xbox One S
from US$400 / xbox.com Microsoft dumps Kinect, the $400+ asking price and the fugly power brick to create a supremely enticing console that also has a 4K Blu-ray player. It remains a serious alternative to the PS4 Pro. Stuff says ★★★★★ A fine console with some big exclusive titles
PlayStation 4 Slim
US$300 / playstation.com This is the old PS4 squeezed into a 20% smaller package, and it still delivers an awesome console gaming experience. But if you see a 4K TV in your future, you’re better off saving for the PS4 Pro. Stuff says ★★★★★ Better than the old PS4 in almost every way
4
Nintendo Switch
5
HTC Vive
★★★★★ US$300 / nintendo.com Nintendo’s genius console can also be used as a handheld device.
★★★★✩ US$800 / vive.com Our VR headset of choice offers a completely new way to experience gaming.
TURN YOUR OLD PHONE INTO A SECURITY CAM It’s likely that you still have an old smartphone lying about your house. Why not do some upcycling by turning it into a security camera for free? Download Snoop Install the free Snoop app (iOS and Android) on both phones – the spare one you want to use as a cam, and the one you want to watch the footage on. Pick your spot Now it’s time to position your DIY security camera where you’d like it to film. Perhaps you want it as a baby monitor, or to face your front door? Then enter the app and simply hit the ‘cast’ button.
Sit back and watch Finally, open the Snoop app on your other phone and click ‘watch’. You’ll be prompted to enter the PIN that can be seen on your casting device. Now you’re all set to spy on the dog.
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW CONSOLES, VISIT STUFFMIDEAST.COM
TOP TENS DSLRs, COMPACT CAMERAS
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HOT BUY
1
HOT BUY
Fujifilm X-T2
Sony DSC-RX100 IV
The X-T2 is an excellent lesson in how to upgrade an already great gadget. The X-T1 was itself a brilliant camera, so Fuji gave it superb video and autofocus skills to go with the already top weatherproof build. Sure, it’s pricey, but it’s also worth every penny. What you’re getting here is a camera that approaches high-end DSLRs for speed and rivals pretty much any camera for image quality, so it’s a truly superb all-rounder.
Yes, admittedly it’s rather expensive for a compact, but then the high frame rate, fast burst mode and 4K video recording aren’t to be sniffed at. You probably won’t be using them every day, but they’re great options to have at your fingertips. The RX100 IV is also a premium point-and-shoot that offers all the flexibility and all-round performance you could ever need. If it’s a compact camera you’re after, and your budget’s big enough, then this is the one to go for.
Stuff says ★★★★★ A dream of a camera that barely strays from perfection from start to finish – and has brilliant 4K video skills
Stuff says ★★★★★ A pocket rocket compact with almost no compromises: the perfect companion for your system camera
US$1599 / fujifilm.com
2
Sony A7R II
3
Canon EOS 80D
4
Fujifilm X-T10
5
Canon EOS 5DS
BARGAIN BUY
US$3199 / sony.com The A7R II combines impeccable build quality with a class-leading full-frame sensor, 5-axis image stabilisation, a huge ISO range, super-fast autofocus, an excellent viewfinder and 4K video recording. Stuff says ★★★★★ The finest camera Sony has ever made
US$1199 / canon.com Even a child would get great results with the 80D – it’s the photographic equivalent of playing FIFA 17 as Barcelona, on full auto mode, against Burnley. This takes the hard work out of getting fantastic photos. Stuff says ★★★★★ If you want simplicity, you won’t get much better
★★★★★ US$799 / fujifilm.com The X-T10 beats most other choices at any price. It also handles beautifully.
★★★★★ US$3699 / canon.com A fantastic piece of kit that any pixel-peeping SLR fan will get heaps of enjoyment out of.
US$949 / sony.com
2
Panasonic Lumix LX100
3
Sony RX10 III
4
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000
5
Fujifilm X70
US$799 / panasonic.com This is one of the most capable premium compacts on the market. It can capture 4K footage, but its superb stills and HD video performance are what make the Panasonic stand out. Stuff says ★★★★★ A star performer when it comes to the basics
★★★★★ US$1499 / sony.com One of the best all-rounders we’ve ever seen, capable of handling everything you could ask of it with aplomb. If you’re looking for a high-performance camera without the hassle of interchangeable lenses, this is it. Stuff says ★★★★★ The best bridge camera you can get
★★★★★ US$899 / panasonic.com Incredibly versatile – a fixed-lens camera capable of shooting fantastic stills and video.
★★★★★ US$699 / fujifilm.com A very nice little camera with a big sensor delivering excellent image quality.
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW CAMERAS, VISIT STUFFMIDEAST.COM
Gadgets. Gear. Apps. And all that good…
Read it, like it, share it
/StuffMidEast
NEXT BIG THING?
So r-Powered C s ere’s some fuel for thought… Imagine a world where you never have to stop for petrol. Or electricity. You could just keep driving, only ever stopping to refuel yourself with coffee and pasties. Until someone invents a vehicle that’ll feed off your macchiato dregs, Sono Motors’ Sion is our best hope of such a utopia coming into existence. It uses the sun to transport you wherever you please, like some kind of super-villainous scheme for world domination...only the Sion is great for the planet and could save you a fortune on fuel.
H
And no one’s thought of this before? Not on this scale, nope. Ford cooked up a solar C-Max concept a couple of years ago, but Sono Motors is the first manufacturer to bring the same idea to mass production. So from 2019 onwards you’ll be able to purchase this city slicker for an entirely reasonable €16,000 and whizz around your local vicinity via the power of renewable energy alone. Of course, it doesn’t just generate this stuff out of thin air. The Sion has been plastered with 330 solar cells on itsroof, bonnet and doors so that it can generate enough juice to cover 30km per day.
Sounds nice. But what about stormier climes? Fear not, the Sion isn’t about to leave you stranded just outside of Bakewell with only the mini golf course for entertainment. It can also be charged by a traditional plug-in, just as you might a Tesla or Toyota Prius. And in truth, you’ll have to do this on the regular to enjoy its full 250km range. The greater issue is that you’ve got to travel to Europe if you want a test drive: for now, the Sion can only be taken for a free spin in locations across France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands.
CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ISSUE? VISIT STUFFMIDEAST.COM