Nxt3

g a d g e t • g e a r • t e c h n o l o g y GA D G E T • G E A R • T E C H NO LO GY

MAY/JUNE 2016

Canon RAYO mini projector X-Mini Evoke Headphones TomTom Spark fitness watch Premiere tickets to X-Men: Apocalypse

Personal Hi-Fi Ultimate High-Res Audio Gear

Kingsman media pte ltd

Samsung Galaxy S7 goes VR Citizen’s ultrathin Eco-Drive Triumph's new cafe racer

EXCLUSIVE TESTS Jays U-Jays Loewe Reference 85 NXT GURU Which mirrorless camera suits you?

MAY/JUNE 2016 KINGSMAN MEDIA

MAY / JUNE 2016

Exclusive test Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

WIN

S$7.00

E D I T O R ‘S

G

reetings from the gadget side!

Welcome to the third issue of NXT Magazine and boy is it just jammed with great gadgets and gear.

Speaking about ‘jams’ - we were the official media at CanJam Singapore in late February and managed to check out tons of premium personal audio gear, chat with countless audio enthusiasts and met an endless stream of exhibitors who had flown in specially for the event, including the CEO of Fischer Audio Valentin Kazanzhi, who shared his story with us in an interview in NXT News.

Another person with a passion for personal audio is the lady on our cover, Jade Rasif. Jade does regular DJ gigs and loved the fact that she was going to be featured with a number of premium headphones. We ended up having a great photoshoot and you can see the awesome results in our main feature on High-Res audio, which we seriously reckon will become a mainstream trend pretty soon.

In other news. Smartwatches. They’ve crossed the Rubicon with Swiss watchmakers.

A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Tissot CEO Francois Thiebaud and we both agreed that the main limiting factor for smartwatches was battery life, so mechanical movement watches wouldn’t be

N O T E

challenged. Now Tissot is leading the Swatch Group charge with their very first smartwatch - the solar powered Tissot Smart-Touch. Read more about it, and other Swiss smartwatches that appeared at Baselworld 2016, in our Watch section.

We also had a huge number of new products to review in this issue. From smartwatches to a massive 85-inch luxury TV, laptops to a car! NXT feels like it’s really starting to hit its stride, and we’ve got a lot of great readers who’ve given us positive feedback. So before I close off this note I’d like to thank you for purchasing NXT and reading this. Please enter our contests to reward yourself with our cool giveaways!

Shawn Chung Editor-in-chief | NXT Magazine

Editor’s Choice

EXCLUSIVE

GROUP TEST WINNER

In NXT issue 2 in our review of the 78-inch Samsung 4K SUHD JS9500 we listed an outdated price. The correct price is S$14,999.

PUBLISHER Lawrence Leong

EDITORIAL

CHIEF EDITOR Shawn Chung CONTRIBUTING CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jeslyn Sim

Kingsman Media Pte Ltd

261 Waterloo Street, #03-32 Waterloo Centre, Singapore 180261 www.kingsmanmedia.com Email: info.nxt@kingsmedia.com Tel: 65 65837241

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Justin Choo CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chester Tan, Daniel Loo, James Tan, Win Lee DESIGNER Vivian Ong Photographer Raymond Toh, Vineyard Production FASHION STYLIST Verna Tan ADVERTISING ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Candice Woo

CIRCULATION & PRODUCTION SENIOR MANAGER P.Siva Subscriptions info.nxt@kingsmanmedia.com MANAGEMENT MANAGING DIRECTOR Er Yen Lam HEAD OF OPERATION P.Pravin SENIOR MANAGER ADMIN & FINANCE Yvonne Lim

NXT Magazine is published in Singapore @ Kingsman Media Pte Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, whole or in part, without the written permission of the Publisher.

Liability: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, the Publisher cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any consequences arising from it. In the case of all product reviews, judgments have been made in the context of the product tested, based on Singapore prices at the time of review, which are subject to fluctuation and only applicable to the Singapore market.

NXT Magazine MCI (P) 103/11/2015 is published Bi-Monthly By Kingsman Media Pte Ltd Printed By Image Printer Pte Ltd Distributed By Singapore Press Holdings Limited NXT is available at all OCBC Bank branches and SAFRA Clubhouses.

5

C O N T E N T S In this issue 12 The new Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge are the keys to Samsung’s VR dreams 68 Citizen celebrates 40 years of Eco-Drive 72 Triumph launch the ultimate cafe racer - the Thruxton R 84 Do premium headphones and expensive DACs sound good?

112 The brand new Thinkpad Carbon X1 gets tested 114 Find out what we think of the Jays U-Jays 126 Loewe’s big screen luxury TV gets reviewed 141 Looking for your perfect mirrorless camera? Ask our Guru 44 Here’s where you can win a Canon RAYO i8 mini projector 53 We’re giving away ten pairs of tickets to the X-Men: Apocalypse Movie Premiere!

62 Over here to win one of three X-Mini Evolve wireless headphone speakers 110 Right here we’re giving away three TomTom Spark GPS Fitness watches

ON THE COVER Jade Rasif wears Outfit & accessories, Forever21. Heels, Pedro Photographer Raymond Toh Stylist Verna Tan Makeup artist Gigi Sng using YSL cosmetics Hair stylist Kenneth Ong using Kelvin Murphy hair products Product Astell & Kern AK380, Sennheiser HD630vb 7

C O N T E N T S

NXT NEWS 10

NXT GEAR The best Galaxy S devices from Samsung, Bugatti’s ultimate supercar, Canon’s fastest full-frame, uber gaming mini-PC & Nike’s really made self adjusting shoelaces

61 NXT CHOICE Nikon’s new D500 may be the DSLR you’ve been dreaming of 66

NXT ANGEL Two gorgeous NXT Angels grace us with their presence this issue, find out their thoughts on the Lenovo Yoga 900 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

68 GAMING Five page special on Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End 72 MOVIES Read up on X-Men: Apocalypse (spoiler free) and win tickets to see the movie premire!

76 NXT ICON A luxury watch that will take you to the moon and back 84

NXT WATCH The Swiss unleash their smartwatches, Oris shows off new divers and Citizen celebrates 40 years of Eco-Drive watches

84

NXT LUXURY A diamond encrusted Samsung smartwatch, a smartwatch for pilots, a wireless self-playing luxury piano, an astronomically beautiful watch, a revival of classic penmanship

115 NXT TEST 16 gadgets and gear tested. From iPads and iPhones to Yogas and ThinkPads.

Fujifilm’s X-Pro2 and the Parrot Zik 3, plus a Jeep Wrangler test driven 166 NXT BIG THING Augmented reality gets a big boost with Microsoft’s HoloLens

149 NXT PRIME 16 product categories to help you choose the best gear.

9

L E T T E R

You featured that expensive Vertu phone quite a bit in the last two issues and I was wondering what’s your personal take on that? How many people are going to buy a S$14,500 handphone? Wouldn’t it be obsolete in a couple of years?

O F

T H E

MO N T H

Any classes conducted to teach users on how to use Samsung Galaxy S7 effectively? - Angeline That’s a great question! Samsung actually runs free workshops at the Samsung Smart Academy in their Samsung Experience Stores.

You can register for a tutorial at a store near you by visiting: sg.campaign.samsung.com/smartacademy

Wilson

LETTER OF THE MONTH

Vertu gave us a very rare opportunity to review the Vertu Constellation Touch and we took it. How rare? In over a decade reviewing mobiles that’s the first time I’ve reviewed a Vertu! The best analogy I can think of is that you wear a cheap digital watch for years, then someone gifts you a hand built luxury watch, and you feel the solidity of the materials,the care and detail that goes into a luxury hand-built product.

As for product obsolescence, I’m sure Vertu have plans.

Issue One Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the contests we ran in our launch issue! We hope they enjoy the gadgets that they won!

Canon PowerShot G7 X SG50 Limited Edition Mr. G. Yeo

Archt One speakers Mr. D. Tan Mr. Lim B.H

Every Letter of the Month winner will receive three issues of NXT free.

G A D G E T • G E A R • T E C H N O L O G Y GADGE T • GEA R • TEC HNOLOGY

MAR/APR 2016

GLOBAL EXCLUSIVE

WORLD FIRST REVIEW

GO LUXE! LUXURY GADGETS & GEAR

WIN

MUVI K2 Camera Veho Z8 Headphones

EXCLUSIVE TESTS Sennheiser HD 800 S Vertu Signature Touch B&O BeoPlay A6

Lenovo Vibe S1 smartphones Mr. Chan Y. W. Mr. Teo T.K

Mr. Bai X.F.

NXT GURU How to choose the right bicycle

KINGSMAN MEDIA PTE LTD

Hottest gear from CES 2016

Fujifilm unleashes the X-Pro2

Nikon's all-around action camera

NXT-Cover-iPhoneNEW2.indd 2

MAR/APR 2016

S$7.00

KINGSMAN MEDIA

MAR / APR 2016

XMINI EVOLVE

28/1/16 12:36 AM

Prizes kindly sponsored by ARCHT Audio, Canon Singapore and Lenovo Singapore

11

N EWS

G E

R 1 #

A new Galaxy Awaits Without doubt the Samsung Galaxy S7 devices are Samsung’s best ever mobiles.

I

by Shawn Chung

t’s taken Samsung a few years more than we actually predicted, but it looks like the Korean chaebol has finally perfected their flagship smartphone recipe with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. The recipe seems to be to pay equal attention to performance, design and usability. The last two generations of Galaxy S devices seem to have had these proportions wrong - the Galaxy S5 was a mild design refresh of its predecessor while in the Galaxy S6 series Samsung came up with a gorgeous new glass-metal sandwich design but then strangely limited maximum internal storage to 64GB and left out the microSD card!

With the new Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge these key features are all there. Performance is Samsung’s forte and theses new smartphones come with top spec Snapdragon 820 or Samsung’s own Exynos 8890 multi-core chipsets with liquid cooling and 4GB of RAM for plenty of grunt for multimedia and VR performance, especially with the new Vulkan API ensuring smoother game and graphics performance on the Super-AMOLED displays of both mobiles. The main camera now uses a 12-megapixel sensor with superfast phase-detect autofocus that can keep a moving subject in focus when you capture a video.

12

For design Samsung have done two things - first streamlining the Galaxy S7 family to two devices (the Galaxy S6 family had four main devices) and updating the glass-metal design so that the 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 now has the same type of curved back glass panel as the 5.5-inch Galaxy S7 edge.

Usability-wise the devices have a number improvements that are not apparent at first glance. The new Galaxy S7 smartphones are Samsung’s first flagship devices that are water-resistant to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes, and have a double hybrid card caddy that adds an external microSD/MicroSIM card slot to the Galaxy S series and will come in very handy as currently only the 32GB version of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are available in Singapore.

Samsung Galaxy S7 S$998 Samsung Galaxy S7 edge S$1098 www.samsung.com/sg

N EWS

13

N EWS

G E

R 1 #

Going 360 with the Samsung Gear 360 A

nnounced together with the new Galaxy S7 devices and available in the second quarter of this year, the Samsung Gear 360 is a 360-degree camera with two 15-megapixel cameras mounted front and back that can record 360-degree videos and stills. Synced to either the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge, you can not only watch a video but swipe the screen to change the angle of view. Mount the Gear 360 on say a head mount, and you can video record your walk through Mandai Zoo so you can then playback on a Galaxy S7 device, changing the view as you go to ‘see’ what you missed on your walk.

by Shawn Chung

TBC Q2 2016

14

N EWS

A true VR experience E

very Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge comes bundled with Samsung’s Gear VR headset. While the Gear VR headset can accommodate a range of Samsung mobile devices to act as a display, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, with their updated processors, high DPI SuperAMOLED displays and Vulkan multi-threading API are currently the strongest smartphone-based Virtual Reality system available. If you’re willing to spring for the data rates, you can even Live stream the video of your walk through the zoo from your Gear 360/Galaxy S7 to a Galaxy S7/Gear VR equipped friend, so that they can enjoy a 360 degree walk with you!

Samsung adds Concierge for your phone Samsung Concierge is an value-added service that’s currently only available in Singapore for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge device owners. For S$38 a year the service has range of features and benefits, including on-site servicing and repair of your device, discounts for out-of-warranty repair and free data switching assistance. You can even enjoy a free yearly device upgrade after twelve months of ownership with the early upgrade fee (about S$350) waived.

www.samsung.com/sg/samsungconcierge

15

N EWS

G E

R 2 #

The quick get quicker

I

by Shawn Chung

t’s been eleven years since the legendary Bugatti Veyron smashed the speed record as the world’s fastest production car, and while Bugatti reestablished a new time in 2010 with the Veyron Super Sports, the carmaker has spent the last few years looking over its shoulder at a number of new challengers, ranging from the small American firm Hennesy to uber-fast Swedes Koenigsegg. The Veyron’s title as the world’s ultimate luxury supercar has also been challenged by the likes of McLaren, Porsche and Ferrari, so it’s no surprise that after a year of rumors, Bugatti unveiled their response at the Geneva International Motor Show.

16

With the Bugatti Chiron the luxury French carmaker (and parent Volkswagen) will ensure that the title of World’s Ultimate Supercar stays firmly in their grasp. A stunning technological masterpiece, the Chiron not only resembles the Veyron, but also legendary Bugattis of old. Yet every swooping line and grill has a practical function. The deep overhang just before the rear wheels will direct huge quantities of air to a twin turbocharged W18 powerplant able to pump out a record 1,500bhp, while active suspension and active aerodynamic aids ensure high speed stability. The cabin of course, is luxuriously appointed and

N EWS

the driver has an instrument panel that adapts to the car’s speed by presenting only essential information as you drive faster.

Limited to just 500 examples, over 150 of which have already been presold, the Bugatti Chiron will cost you a whopping €2.4 million, and that’s before COE and road-tax (assuming they make a right-hand drive variant that’s street legal in Singapore).

€2.4 million Q32016 www.bugatti.com

17

N EWS

G E

R 3 #

Canon’s Full Frame Speed King

T

by JUSTIN CHOO

he Canon EOS-1D X Mark II is the brand’s new outdoor master, a 20.2-megapixel full-frame professional DSLR camera for wildlife and action photography and 4K videos. Within its tough weatherresistant magnesium alloy body, the EOS-1D X MkII is crammed with the technology to enable photographers to capture that special split second moment. There’s a large 61-point autofocus field, Dual Pixel CMOS AF with improved AF servos and auto-exposure tracking, plus the ability to shoot at up to 16fps RAW. For videography there’s not only 4k@60p recording, but also 1080@120p for slow motion video playback. All these features are processed by Dual DIGIC 6+ processors, which even handle in-camera RAW processing and optimization.

18

$8,199 (body only) Due May 2016 www.canon.com.sg

N EWS

G E

R 4 #

Much game in a small box

by Shawn Chung

I

ntel has been merrily making NUC (Next Unit of Computing) mini-PC kits for a number of years, and they’re not only small and affordable, but versatile as well - coming with different processors and components.

You can get a low power NUC to run your home’s security cameras, while a more powerful version acts as the node to your home entertainment network.

Skull Canyon (actually NUC6i7KYK) is Intel’s latest NUC and one that’s a bit more focused, and if you guessed from the etched skull on the case that the focus is gaming, you’re absolutely right. Just 211mm long and 28mm tall, this mini-PC is packed with the latest PC technology including a six-generation Core i7 processor, Iris Pro Graphics, up to 32GB RAM, two internal slots for SSD, four USB 3.0 ports,

Mini DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 port, HDMI 2 port, Bluetooth 4.2 and Dual Band Wireless AC. That’s all very decent, especially as Skull Canyon is capable of supporting three 4K monitors at the same time, and for extreme gaming graphics the Thunderbolt 3 port can even be connect to an external graphics unit like the Razor Core. In the US the Skull Canyon NUC will be available in May for USD $650 without RAM, SDDs and OS via Newegg’s US store, and may be available in Singapore at a later date.

TBC Due May www.intel.sg

19

N EWS

G E

R 5 #

Self-lacing Nikes are coming!

W

by Shawn Chung

ait a minute, didn’t Nike launch self-lacing shoes with the Nike Mag? Well yes, but both versions of the Air Mag were created to not only commemorate the Back to the Future movies but also to raise charitable funds for Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. They weren’t made for actual sports wear.

It’s a totally different story with the Nike HyperAdapt 1.0, which has what Nike calls adaptive lacing. As any marathon runner will assert, your feet will change volume while you run, swelling or shrinking due to a number of factors such as dehydration and ambient temperature.

With the HyperAdapt 1.0, just putting on the shoe triggers a sensor that immediately tightens the laces to an optimum tension, which can then be adjusted manually via two buttons simply and quickly, so runners will spend less time stopping to adjust their shoes. The HyperAdapt 1.0 will only be available to Nike+ members in the last quarter of 2016.

20

TBC Q4 2016 www.nike.com

N EWS

A Modular Life with Friends LG’s innovative G5 smartphone is a fresh concept in the smartphone world, a flagship device with a modular docking system that lets you use different modules for specific functions to suit your needs.

L

G has made a bold and quite innovative move with its new G5 smartphone. Not only is this sleek 5.3-inch device a totally new design, with only the position of the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor carried over from the G4, but it also comes with a swappable module system that enables modules to dock directly to the G5 to enhance specific features.

The G5 by itself has excellent specifications for a flagship device, from the 5.3-inch Quad HD IPS Quantum Display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB RAM to the 16MP main camera, but pop out the base from the anodized aluminium uni-body and you can remove the battery and replace it with a fresh battery.

And that’s not all. The G5 was launched with two modules that you can plug into the smartphone - a camera module that adds a dedicated shutter button and handgrip, and a music module that provides DAC (Digital Audio Conversion); plus VR goggles, a 360 camera and a rolling robot! In time we expect to see LG and even third party companies adding more modules into the mix, which could turn the G5 into your perfectly customised mobile device - just by plugging in the enhanced features that you want.

by Shawn chung

S998 Available now Battery Kit S$168 (with spare battery and charger) www.lg.com/sg

22

N EWS

23

N EWS

LG’s Friendly Playground

The LG G5 not only has a modular system, but can also be seamlessly synced to accessories that LG calls ‘Friends’.

LG Rolling Bot The LG Rolling Bot is a rolling robot equipped with an 8-MP camera and when synced to your home WiFi network allows you to remotely control it via your G5, say when you’re in your office. You can use it to monitor your home via video streaming and even turn on or off WiFi enabled home appliances and lights.

LG CAM Plus The LG CAM Plus module attaches through the battery slot and adds dedicated camera features, like a larger grip to provide a steadier handhold. It adds physical camera controls such as power, shutter, record video and zoom, and additionally enhances the smartphone’s autofocus and exposure lock. It comes with a 1,200mAh battery.

24

N EWS

LG 360 VR The LG 360 VR goggles connect directly to the G5 via cable to simulate a 130-inch TV viewed from two metres away. At just 134g, it’s foldable so you can carry it with you and is compatible with the LG 360 CAM and Google Cardboard content.

LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O PLAY Clip on the LG Hi-fi Plus with B&O PLAY and experience an enhanced Hi-Fi DAC audio experience thanks to this Bang & Olufsen codeveloped module, which supports 32-bit 384KHz high-definition audio playback and 32-bit DAC upsampling. The Hi-Fi Plus module can even be used as a portable DAC by itself, just by connecting it to any PC or smartphone.

LG 360 CAM The LG 360 CAM is a compact 360-degree angle camera equipped with two 13MP 200-degree wide angle cameras, 1,200mAh battery and 4GB internal memory and microSD slot.

Apart from capturing 360-degree content in 2K video, three microphones record 5.1 surround sound.

Pricing and Availability ● Module Bundle (CAM Plus & HiFi Plus) S$274 (till end May 2016) ● 360 Bundle (360 CAM & 360 VR) S$590 ( May 1 - May 31, 2016) ● LG Rolling Bot S$398 Due June From May 1 to May 31, 2016, purchase the “360 Bundle” comprising the LG 360 VR and LG 360 CAM at a promotional price of S$590 (Usual Price S$946). Get ready to be whisked away to fictitious and faraway worlds.

25

CHOICE

Artistic photography from Lomography

by Shawn Chung

L

26

omography can be considered the impressionists of modern photography, with their focus less on taking picture perfect photos and more on the feelings and emotions a photo communicates. What was once an Austrian student art movement in the early nineties soon grew into an international society with it’s own galleries, exhibitions and products.

The latest lens created by the Lomographic Society takes photography back to its roots. The Daguerreotype Achromat 2.9/64 Art Lens is a revival of the first ever optical lens used in a practical camera, the Daguerreotype of 1839. This new art lens, with a focal length of 64m, has a maximum aperture of f/2.9 and offers the freedom to control depth of field with multiple

bokeh effects. Art effects are achieved via the insertion of different aperture plates into a slot in the lens to cause various optical effects, and apart from classic Waterhouse plates, Lomography created two more sets, the Lumiere aperture plates create a radiant soft glow while the Aquarelle plates create a rate textured, painted effect.

Each lens is handbuilt in either black or brass finish and there’s an option for Canon EF or Nikon F mounts, plus the lens is compatible with a range of camera brands using mount adaptors. The lens will be available from August 2016 via Lomography’s Kickstarter account.

https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/lomography

Pebble Time Round THE WORLD’S THINNEST AND LIGHTEST Always on design | Always on display | Color e-display Quick charging | Custom watchfaces

STEEL

ALSO AVAILABLE

FIND US AT:

http://facebook.com/pebblesingapore

N EWS

Higher Range 4K Bravias Sony was the first to launch the latest High Dynamic Range (HDR) TVs in Singapore with their 2016 Bravia 4K HDR TV Range. HDR has of course been present as a smartphone camera function for a number of years, and what it does is to expand the visual colour range for higher brightness, higher contrast and more vibrant colours. With 4K HDR content now coming on to the market, the three new Sony 4K HDR TV series - the X93D, the X85D and the S85D, might be a tempting proposition for home movie viewing. www.sony.com.sg

X93D series 4K HDR TV (55-inch and 65-inch screen size) The X93D is the range topper for 2016 and is the only series that has Sony’s Slim Backlight Drive, which uses a grid-array in the backlight design to distribute backlighting accurately while enabling a slim form factor that looks great when you wall mount this TV. This Android smart TV also has 4K Processor X1 for clarity, colour accuracy and contrast, X-tended Dynamic Range PRO, Triluminos Display and 4K X-Reality PRO.

by SHAWN CHUNG

TBC (55-inch) S$8,999 (65-inch)

28

N EWS

X85D Series 4K HDR TV (55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch screen size) The mid-tier series in Sony’s 2016 4K HDR TV line up, The X85D lacks the new backlight technology of the X93D but other than that has exactly the same specs, and still looks pretty slim and neat. It’s also the only series that has a 75-inch screen model.

S$3,299 (55-inch) S$5,999 (65-inch) TBC (75-inch)

S85D Series 4K HDR TV R TV (55-inch and 65-inch screen size) While the curved LCD screen trend seems to be cooling off, most TV makers still have new models available, like Sony’s S85D. Apart from this the TV’s features are exactly the same as the X85D - oh and there’s no mention of 3D features in any of these TVs.

S$3,499 (55-inch) S$56,299 (65-inch)

29

N EWS

The EOS 80D is here Canon has replaced the popular but dated EOS 70D mid-tier enthusiasts DSLR camera with the EOS 80D, which gets a new 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, 45-cross-type autofocus and the latest Dual Pixel CMOS AF which should, according to Canon, make the EOS 80D much better than the EOS 70D autofocusing in low light conditions. There’s also a new DIGIC 6 processor and ISO sensitivity has been improved to 25,600. The updates should also make the EOS 80D a pretty good DSLR for shooting 1080p@60fps videos, especially with a new HDR feature added to the mix.

S$1,849 (body with EF S18-55 IS STM lens) www.canon.com.sg

Compact High Zoomer The 20.3-megapixel PowerShot SX720 HS is the latest high zoom camera in Canon’s portfolio and boasts an improved 40x optical zoom system as well as the latest DIGIC 6 processor. With such a long shooting range Canon have added a number of helpful features to ensure that your long range shots aren’t ruined by shaky hands. Zoom Framing Assist aids in zoom stability and coupled with Image Stabilisation should help remove much of the unsteadiness from your images.

S$449 www.canon.com.sg

The new compact king Another popular Canon compact camera recently received an update as well. The PowerShot G7 X Mark II maintains the 20.1-megapixel 1”-type sensor CMOS sensor and 24-100mm equivalent f/1.8-2.8 lens of it’s predecessor, but rocks a new DIGIC 7 processor that makes it a lot faster at autofocusing and better low light performance.

by shawn chung

TBC Due Q2 2016 www.canon.com.sg

30

A N G E L

Jessica Lim with the

Lenovo Yoga 900 When not event modelling or working on her accounts and finance degree, NXT Angel Jessica Lim can be found uploading selfies to her Instagram account.

While she does dream of one day travelling the world to explore the world’s best cafes, Her more practical, tech-savvy side emerges when she got her hands on Lenovo’s Yoga 900, a slick two-in-one convertible laptop with a 13” touchscreen.

I actually find this Lenovo to be lighter than the laptop I use at home.

I think I can bring it everywhere, like travel or bring to school and it actually won’t add to my burden because I have a lot of lecture notes to carry with me! With my old laptop I usually have to go home first to drop it off before I can go with my friends, with this one I can carry it with me.

I like the touchscreen, who wouldn’t like it? I know not every laptop supports touchscreens and it’s very user friendly - just like using a smartphone or tablet - you can just tap the screen instead of using the touchpad.

I like to watch Korean dramas and American TV shows so it’s cool that you can flip the the screen 180 degrees and and use it as a ‘tent’ on a table to watch shows. I mean, you can watch videos in normal laptop mode of course, but I somehow prefer the tent mode.

The design is quite appealing - sleek and clean with some nice little design touches like the silver trim around the touchpad. The silver ‘watchband’ is quite cool, really different from the usual hinges on normal laptops, It’s not as noticeable from the outside, but adds a nice bright visual touch against the black screen and black interior trim.

- Jessica Lim

Photography Raymond Toh Stylist Verna Tan

Lenovo Yoga 900 From S$1,999 www.lenovo.com/sg

Makeup Gigi Sng using by shawn chung

YSL cosmetics

32

Hair Kenneth Ong using Kelvin Murphy hair products NXT Girl Jessica Lim

■ Outfit from The Closet Lover ■ Accessories from Forever21 ■ Heels from Pazzion

A N G E L

33

N EWS

by Justin Choo

Superslim Technicolour Stunner OLED has become LG’s signature, and with the LG SIGNATURE OLED TV, LG showcases the best that the technology has to offer. The stunning 2.57mm OLED panel – four credit cards thick – bears LG’s unique Picture-on-Glass concept, embodying their direction to strip all unnecessary features in pursuit of the best picture and sound quality possible. The SIGNATURE’s unbelievable range of colour and black levels ensure that it meets the UHD’s stringent requirements to earn the Ultra HD Premium badge (covers HDR10) and Dolby Vision certification, ensuring compatibility with the two main industry standards. But of course, this remarkable picture quality –– and it is quite stunning – comes at a price.

65-inch: S$12,999, 77-inch: S$41,999, www.lg.com/lg

A boost for viewqwest How do you incentivise a 10Gbps premium consumer fibre broadband service when your average consumer is pretty happy with 1Gbps? Give them something that can handle 10Gbps upstream and downstream speeds. So Viewqwest is offering their 10Gbps service with the Aftershock Boost, a customised PC by local gaming PC company Aftershock custom built to handle this kind of data stream. Neither the Boost PC (S$3,000) nor the 10Gbps broadband plan ($218/month for 24 months) are cheap, but at least you get a S$200 discount on the PC.

by shawn chug

www.viewqwest.com

34

269g

2hrs

20,000

Stereo 0.7 W x 2

A N G E L

Tini Wong tries the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and Gear S2 classic Born and bred in Singapore. Tini Wong has been modeling for photo shoots and events for almost 8 years now, and you may recognise her as she’s currently featured on an island-wide advertising campaign! The self avowed Android OS fan is also a beauty junkie who likes nothing better than shopping at Sephora or just chilling out while listening to her music. Tini claims to have a Resting Bitch Face, but when we asked her to try out the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and Gear S2 classic her face lit up in a huge grin!

by shawn chung

I’m with Team Android! I’ve been using Samsung mobiles since the first Galaxy Note and I currently use a Galaxy S6 edge. Compared to my smartphone, the Galaxy S7 edge is a bit bigger and heavier as it’s now only available with a 5.5-inch screen. There’s actually not much difference in the way the interface works though it is faster and smoother.

I’m actually surprised about the Galaxy S7 edge being waterproof. I’ve used a waterproof Sony mobile before and it sounds like the Galaxy S7 edge is actually more water resistant. Since I’ve got the Galaxy S6 edge I’m quite familiar with the edge design and and I like People Edge because it lets you know who calls you just from the different lights on the side, and making calls is also pretty convenient.

Rose-gold is my favourite colour so I’m quite attracted to this new version of the Gear S2 classic (plated with 18K rose gold). This is the first time I’ve tried the Gear S2 classic and I’m quite intrigued with it! The rotating dial is pretty cool and the overall design looks classic and trendy.

I’d probably get it and get additional watch straps, so that with the leather band I can wear it with evening wear, then put on a rubber strap to use it for workouts!

36

- Tini Wong

■ Outfit from Love & Bravery ■ Accessories from Forever21 ■ Heels from Pazzion

Photography Raymond Toh Stylist Verna Tan Makeup Gigi Sng using YSL cosmetics Hair Kenneth Ong using Kelvin Murphy hair products NXT Girl TINI WONG

A N G E L

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge S$1,098 Samsung Gear S2 Classic S$698 (18K Rose Gold Plated) www.samsung.com.sg

37

P R O F I L E

Bringing a craft approach to high-end audio

V

alentin Kazanzhi is the founder and CEO of Fischer Audio and Kennerton Audio Equipment. Hands-on by nature, he also has a very down-to-earth approach towards the craft of building headphones. NXT met Kazanzhi when he came to town recently to participate in the recent CanJam festival and to spread awareness about his boutique-y headphone line, Kennerton.

Why do you make headphones exclusively?

I never had any idea in my mind to do headphones, But it’s what I do now. I like music. It was my main hobby from a very young age and in any case, it’s still my hobby today. But when I became a husband and father, I understood that I could no longer listen to music the way I like it, how I like it, where I like it. Among my favourites was music like Pink Floyd. And my wife hates this music because like most of her peers she likes pop music. Therefore I need headphones, so I can listen to what I like, and where I like. If you turn on your amplifier and your speakers in the living room and your daughter is sleeping... well, you know.

So how did Fischer Audio came about?

Around 14 years ago, I worked in a company developing MP3 players.

It was very interesting as music had become portable without the need for CDs and cassettes. But earphones were not so good back then, and I had the idea to change that – because I can listen to music, but I can’t enjoy it. At the time in-ear options were limited, and not cheap. So we started Fischer Audio about 10 years ago with only in-ears models in our domestic market. Within one year we were in a good and stable position, because a lot of people, as especially the young people, picked up on what we were offering – not crazy expensive, but really good.

Three years later we started to produce headphones. Not high-end like our Kennertons, but I was proud, because I liked all the models, regardless of price. If I have to sum my business up in a few words, it would be: I like what I do, and I do what I like.

What is Kennerton’s story then?

After five years of activity, Fischer Audio was well-known not only in Russia, but some models gained a good reputation outside of Russia.

After we became a brand that was talked about in forums like Head-Fi, I knew needed to do something. In 2008-9, a famous reviewer put a Fischer Audio in-ear in his list of top 20 best headphones in the world, but in the price range of $50-$80. We also had one in a lower price range, as well as a balanced armature model that was well-liked and was ranked number 10 in the $200-290 range. We then realised we didn’t have any in the higher ranges. It’s more a matter of pride, like a car – you can do a very good car in the mid-range, like a Volkswagen Polo, but everyone wants to make a Lamborghini-class car in their lifetime. To do the best you can. For Fischer Audio, the idea was to give maximum value – if you pay $10, you get at least $10 worth. For Kennerton, the idea was to strive for every product to be the best.

38

The right Vibe for VR

L

enovo has announced that its Virtual Reality system, the TheaterMax is now available on the upcoming A7010 phablet and the new Lenovo Vibe X3. TheaterMax allows the Vibe X3, which comes bundled with Lenovo’s VR headset, to convert any media content into a VR experience.

The Vibe X3 is a multimedia performer with two front stereo speakers and a 5.5-inch Full HD display. The device boast improved audio performance via the incorporation of Dolby ATMOS and a 32-bit DAC. There’s also three microphones and a Wolfson noise filter audio codec for clear audio recording, which enables users to receive crisp clear stereo sound when they capture 4K videos from the device’s 21-megapixel main camera.

S$649 www.lenovo.com/sg

N EWS

NXT at CanJam Global Singapore!

I

f you were one of the 1,400 visitors who attended CanJam Singapore in late February, you’ll have seen our NXT display amongst the 80 exhibiting brands. Over the two day event we met many great people and tried out a number of truly fantastic headphones, amplifiers and DACs. The highlight for us was the rare chance to put on the original and legendary Sennheiser Orpheus headphone system.

We’d like to congratulate the CanJam Global team for a successful event - their biggest global event for 2016, and hope to see them soon for next year’s CanJam Singapore 2017!

1

40

2

3

N EWS

4

5

6

7

8

9

1 Our Angels pose with Valentin, the CEO of Fischer Audio 2 NXT Angel Calista tunes in to a HiFiMAN HE1000 3 Our own NXT Angels try out Sennheiser’s latest headphones 4 HiFiMAN showed up with its prototype electrostatic headphone, the Shangri-La 5 Canjam was a good opportunity to try out the Kennerton range of headphones and earphones 6 The new Sennheiser HD 800 S got plenty of AirPlay from an enthusiastic crowd 7 Not only smartphones are in gold you know – Questyle shows off the Golden version of its CMAseries 8 A fan gets serenaded by the timeless charms of the original Sennheiser Orpheus 9 Astell & Kern is a mainstay at any personal audio showcase

41

N EWS

iCON A lunar time affair

R

by shawn chung

omain Jerome simply fascinates us for their imaginative and iconic watches, from the unique shapes of their Horological Icons, the use of rare materials such as volcanic lava and moon dust to spice up the narrative of a watch and the ability to take the iconography from 1980s pop culture and turn them into delightfully nostalgic timepieces like the Super Mario Watch.

The watchmaker has now released a new edition of their Moon Orbiter GMT timepiece for their Moon-DNA collection.

The new watch features a number of refinements over the old, specifically a redesigned automatic flying tourbillon calibre. GMT is indicated by a complication at the 12 o’clock of the watch, a unique jumping hour retrograde GMT feature that is accompanied by a day & night function indicated by a disc engraved with the sun and stars. Artistic touches include red tips on the hands as a subtle reminder of a ‘red moon’, a stellar motif engraved onto the plate and dial and the contemporary architecture of the bridges for the flying tourbillon.

And of course, the Moon Orbiter can be linked to space flight and the moon via it’s round 48mm stainless steel case, which contains fragments from the Apollo 11 rocket, and the use of Moon SilverRJ, an alloy of silver and moon dust, that is used as inertia-blocks on the oscillating weight that can bee seen through the sapphire crystal case back.

The RJ Moon Orbiter GMT is a limited edition of just 25 pieces.

S$157,000 www.thehourglass.com

42 42

C O N T E S T

Canon RAYO i8 mini projector contest

W

ith the Canon RAYO i8 mini projector, you can now take the

come with built-in stereo speakers, it also has an internal 1700mAh

show with you wherever you go. Featuring easy plug and

rechargeable battery that will let you enjoy up to two hours of

play function as well as wireless projection capabilities, the

operation on a single charge.

Thanks to Canon Singapore, NXT Magazine has one RAYO i8 mini

compact RAYO i8 pairs easily with your smart device, letting you project

projector worth S$749 to give away. Answer the following question,

an images up to 158-inch with a brightness of 100 lumens!

then email info.nxt@kingsmanmedia.com with the subject header

With Miracast and DLNA compatibility, the RAYO i8 is easily synced

“NXT Canon RAYO i8 contest�.

to a smart device to enable you to stream content directly from your smartphone to a big screen, and not only does this mini projector

The RAYO i8 mini projector is able to project an image up to 158-inches large on virtually any surface.

For verification purposes please provide your: 1. Name 2. NRIC number 3. Email

TRUE or FALSE?

44

4. Telephone number

Contest terms and conditions

1. This contest will run from 15/04/2016 to 15/06/2016 and is

4. The winning contestants must be a Singaporean citizen or

current resident. Submissions from outside Singapore will not

2. All details submitted must be true and accurate. Personal

be accepted. Employees of Canon Singapore and Kingsman

Media are disqualified from entering this contest.

by email only. information of all contestants will be kept private and

bring their NRIC for verification during prize collection.

confidential.

5. The winning contestants will be announced in a forthcoming

3. A single winner will be selected randomly from the correct

entries, and the selection will be final and binding. The winner

6. Kingsman Media reserves the rights to modify the terms and

will receive one Canon RAYO i8 mini projector and will be

notified via email and telephone call. Winners are required to

issue of NXT magazine. conditions of this contest.

G AM E

After a five-year hiatus, the award winning Uncharted franchise returns to the PlayStation platform with the much anticipated Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. Play Nathan Drake in what could be his very last adventure.

The return of Uncharted It’s been almost five years since the last Uncharted game was released, but for fans of this award winning franchise, the wait is almost over as Sony Interactive Entertainment confirming Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End will be released on the 10th of May 2016.

The hype surrounding Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is understandable, because there are very few console game franchises that have consistently delivered award-winning gameplay and storylines with each new edition, and the exclusive to PlayStation Uncharted series is one of them. Each Uncharted game has delivered state-of-the-art graphics, visual environments and immersive gameplay for their time, all interwoven within a plot akin to a Hollywood blockbuster movie.

What happens next is perhaps Nathan’s final adventure, as the two Drake brothers begin a hunt for the fabled pirate treasure of Libertalia, a legendary pirate nation founded somewhere deep in the jungles of Madagascar in the 17th Century.

But as Nathan & Sam and their friends continue their hunt, travelling the world from the deserted islands to urban cities, they will push their skills, courage and endurance to their limits.

The beginning of the end Set three years after the events of the previous game, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, sees Nathan Drake finally enjoying a normal life, until one day his brother Sam, long thought dead, walks through his office door.

45

G A M E Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End - Exclusive to the PS4

You’ll never play alone Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End shares a key gameplay component with The Last of Us, in that companion characters now play a more interactive role. Where before your ‘buddy’ would just follow you around sporting wisecracks, in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Nathan is often accompanied by his brother Sam Drake or his old friend Victor “Scully” Sullivan, who will often help out during fights and battles, and even drive vehicles.

Revitalising the gameplay One of the hallmarks of the Uncharted series is the use of cutting-edge technology in producing each game and for Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End developers Naughty Dog utilised an updated version of the engine and motion capture system developed for The Last of Us to create a game with stunningly detailed environments and naturally portrayed character movements.

Drake now interacts more seamlessly with his environment, including NPC characters that he bumps into in a crowded market, and environmental damage is more realistic - you can actually see machinegun fire ripping apart a wooden hut and destroying the cover you were hiding behind. Like many third-person adventure/shooters, Drake can run, jump, climb, crouch behind cover, sneak in concealment and shoot, but there’s now a more natural smoothness to his actions and the game’s controls have been updated to match.

The game developers have also ensured that while the story campaign is essentially linear, the large environment of each mission’s map means that there’s a few more paths for players to choose when getting from each mission’s start to end.

46

G AM E

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009) Relive how the story begins While Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is the first game in the Uncharted series made for the PlayStation 4, gamers who have never experienced the charm and sheer action of the three original PS3 games can do so with Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection (S$74.90 for standard edition), which remasters the original three games to not only make them compatible with the PS4 but also enhances the graphics and gameplay. Play the original three games and you get a sense of not only the backstory to Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, but also a real feel of how the franchise evolved from ‘just another third-person adventure shooter’ to its current status as an interactive, immersive and highly entertaining game franchise.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves sees the introduction of the popular character Chloe Frazer (ably voiced by actress Claudia Black) who merrily joins Drake and friends on a quest to follow Marco Polo’s footsteps to the legendary Shangri-la, where the secret to eternal life may be discovered. One of the first games to use motion capture acting and require 100% of the Cell processors in the PS3, Uncharted 3: Among Thieves won multiple Game of the Year Awards.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (2011) Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (2007) The first Uncharted game saw treasure hunter Nathan Drake on a quest to rediscover the lost city of El Dorado using the diary of his ancestor, the legendary privateer and explorer Sir Francis Drake. Along with his friend Scully and journalist Elena Fischer, Drake travels first into the Amazon, then to a tropical Pacific island to find Sir Francis Drake’s hidden fortune.

In Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception we discover more of the history of Nathan Drake and his involvement in treasure hunting, as our hero and friends once again follow in the footsteps of Sir Francis Drake - this time to Africa and the deep Arabian Desert.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception not only featured an enhanced multiplayer experience, but also pushed the processors of the PS3 to its graphic processing limits, with a whopping (for it’s (its) time) 50GB of game data.

47

G A M E Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End - Exclusive to the PS4

In multiplayer mode, players amass credits from kills and finding treasure, and these credits can then be immediately used to purchase weapons and NPC buddies to help them out, as well as items such as Mythicals, which are ‘magical’ items drawn from the series. Using Mythicals players can revive fallen teammates, slow time in a specific area or even accelerate their speed to attack enemy players, adding an unpredictable zest to the gameplay.

For more information on Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, visit asia. playstation.com

A fun multiplayer for all Multiplayer mode has been available in the Uncharted franchise since Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, but it was only in the third edition, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, that the multiplayer gameplay truly came into its own.

With Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, the multiplayer mode is again seen as a key ingredient to the game’s success, with Sony running a number of server stress tests prior to the official launch of the game to iron out any remaining bugs. But unlike more serious multiplayer shooters, developers Naughty Dog took great pains to ensure that much of the core game’s fun and wit are present in multiplayer, and players can select from one of six types, from close range to tactical, as well as which character they want to be - drawn from the key characters from the Uncharted franchise, with each character having their own unique voice, quotes, movements and mannerism.

48

G AM E

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Game Editions

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Limited Edition PlayStation 4 Bundle S$599

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Standard Edition S$74.90

This limited edition bundle comprises of a 500GB PlayStation 4 in Grey Blue featuring the image of Nathan Blake, alongside a matching Dualshock 4 wireless controller and a copy of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End on Blu-ray disc.

Unique to this edition, the PlayStation logo, Uncharted logo and the phase “Sic Pravis Magna”, which is engraved on Nathan Drake’s ring and means “Greatness from small things” is embossed in gold.

Game disc Available on PS Store: Digital Standard Edition S$74.90 Digital Deluxe Edition S$94.90 Trip Pack S$25.90

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Special Edition S$94.90 Game disc • Collectable Steel Case designed by Alexander Iaccarino • 48-page hardcover art book by Dark Horse • Naughty Dog & Pirate Sigil sticker sheet • Naughty Dog points: Pack of in-game currency to unlock various multiplayer content

Limited edition accessories Grey Blue Dualshock wireless controller S$67.90

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Libertalia Collector’s Edition S$159.90

Limited Edition Gold Wireless Headset in Grey Blue S$140

Game disc • Collectable Steel Case designed by Alexander Iaccarino • 48-page hardcover art book by Dark Horse • Naughty Dog & Pirate Sigil sticker sheet • 12” premium Nathan Drake statue by Gentle Giant • Two Exclusive instant multiplayer unlocks (Madagascar Sidekick Outfits & Henry Avery Sigil Ball Cap) • Five additional instant multiplayer unlocks (Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune outfit, Heist Drake Outfit, Desert Drake Outfit, Golden Weapon Skin, Desert Weapons Skin) • Uncharted Points to unlock more multiplayer content

This limited edition headset features the PS logo and “SIC PARVIS MAGNA” in gold.

49

G AM E

Quantum Break

Q

uantum Break is an adventure third-person shooter with a unique difference, in that thanks to an experiment gone wrong, the protagonist Jack Joyce can use time manipulation powers. Well, kind of. Because the accident that granted Joyce his powers literally shattered the fabric of time around the city of Riverport, so time isn’t behaving properly, and you, as Joyce has to master his time manipulation powers and discover a way to correct the problem. At the end of each game act, a live action episode is played with the plot based on the player’s actions.

S$69.90 Xbox One

Doom

T

by Shawn Chung

he game that kicked off the first person shooter genre is back! Doom returns under the guidance of the original developer id Software and will literally takes you to Hell and back. The entire game has been revamped with modern graphics, but still stays true to the original campaign storyline, as you fight your way through the demon hordes with not only the iconic weapons of the original game, but new upgraded gear as well. Multiplayer Doom Deathmatch also returns, faster, nastier and more frantic than before.

50

PC, PS4, Xbox One Due 13 May 2016

MU S I C

NXT in Music Human Performance Parquet Courts, released 8 April iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music Imagine a band playing through and entire set with resting bitch faces then you pretty much get the gist of Parquet Courts. But hey, they make drudgery and mundane mighty entertaining. “Dust is everywhere, sweet,” Andrew Savage mutters in Dust, for over three glorious minutes. Genius.

The album weaves disaffection seamlessly with tender contemplation, but singer Andrew Savage sounds like he doesn’t seem to give a crap, which makes it all the more poignant. “Feels so effortless to be a stranger / But feeling foreign is such a lonely habit / You can’t crop yourself out of the picture / Out of focus but still framed inside,” he sings in Berlin Got Blurry. Scathing and nonchalant in equal measure, while wave after wave of restless musings unwittingly draw your attention away from the catchy riffs that embed themselves in your memory, leaving you none the wiser why you want more.

The Electric Warlock Acid witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser

by JUSTIN CHOO

Rob Zombie, released 29 April

52

iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music Rob Zombie has probably gotten more plaudits as a B-movie auteur (somewhat) than his music in recent years, but the fact remains that this is one guy who knows how to assault your senses, be it visually or sonically. It’s just a matter of taste. And so it is with The Electric Warlock Acid witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser, which promises more outlandish visuals and Tenacious D-esque song names like In The Age Of The Consecrated Vampire We All Get High, except it’s not a joke. The album hints at a welcome return to the age of Hellbilly Deluxe, but ultimately it’s a guilty pleasure for spaced out moments.

Asphalt to Eden

Santana IV

iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music Dälek’s music must be a nightmare to tag, such is the expansive and wide nature of their work. Most know them as the pioneers of experimental noise hip-hip, with a canvas that emcompasses diverse elements of industrial, dark ambient and shoegaze, but y’all haz to put a label on everythin’? The Asphalt to Eden EP is the group’s first release since Gutter Tactics in 2009 and features a new lineup led

by MC dälek, but lead single Masked Laughter (Nothing’s Left) is just testimony that they’ve still got it.

iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music For the first time since 1971, the band that first married Afro-Cuban rhythms with Jazz and Rock n’ Roll have reformed once again in the studio. Forty-five long years, and the chemistry has not diminished one bit. The music on IV is energetic, loose, but never meandering; not too much anyway. This is classic Santana, highlighting the lack of that magic dust that was missing in his more contemporary works – I believe it’s called nostalgia. The lead single Anywhere You Want to Go is definitive Santana, and proves definitively that they are the true masters of the genre.

Dälek, released 22 April

Santana, released 15 April

MO V I E S

NXT in Movies

X-Men: Apocalypse In cinemas 19 May Set ten years after the events of X-Men: Days of Future Past in the 1980s, X-Men: Apocalypse sees the cinematic appearance of the one of Marvel comics most implacable bad guys, the immortal Apocalypse. Awakened after thousands of years in his tomb. Apocalypse decides the world is not to his liking and wants to destroy all humanity and create a whole new order with himself as a living god. To do so Apocalypse recruits four powerful mutants to act as his Four Horseman, Storm (Alexandra Shipp), Angel (Ben Hardy), Psylocke (Oliver Munn) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender).

Only a group of young X-Men can stop them, with Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) and Professor Xavier (James McAvoy) gathering a team from Xavier’s school of gifted students, including a young Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) and Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) to stop the complete annihilation of mankind.

TICKET GIVEAWAY In conjunction with 20th Century Fox, NXT Magazine has 10 pairs of tickets to the Premiere of X-Men: Apocalypse at The Cathay! (date and time to be confirmed). All you have to do is email info.nxt@kingsmanmedia.com with the subject header “X-Men Apocalypse Contest” and answer this question:

Who are the four mutants who become Horsemen?

For verification purposes please provide your: 1. Name 2. NRIC number 3. Email 4. Telephone Number Ten correct entries will be selected at random.

This contest ends 10/05/2016.

Terms and Conditions: This contest will run from 15/04/2016 to 10/05/2016 and is by email only. All details submitted must be true and accurate. Personal information of all contestants will be kept private and confidential. Winners will be notified via email and telephone call and are required to bring their NRIC for verification during prize collection. The winning contestants must be a Singaporean citizen or current resident. Submissions from outside Singapore will not be accepted. Employees of 20th Century Fox and Kingsman Media are disqualified from entering this contest.

by Shawn Chung

Star Wars The Force Awakens Blu-ray, iTunes, Google Play Star Wars The Force Awakens was everything we wanted from a new Star Wars movie directed by J.J. Abrams, and if you missed it or want to watch it again you can now do so in Full-HD from the Blu-ray release or from iTunes Movie and Google Play Movies. The Blu-ray version comes with a number of scenes cut from the movie, including a snowspeeder chase sequence where Finn and Rey are pursued by Imperial Snowtroopers.

53

MA K A N

A Great place to chill Multiconcept Hive brings the laid back feel of Holland Village to Havelock Road

by Shawn Chung

S

54

ituated in what was once a KTV paradise, Hive by Wala Wala is a new multi-concept venue by Stanley Yeo, the owner of Wala Wala - one of the signature pubs in Holland Village. Opened in late January the venue is sparkling new, yet with the laid back atmosphere that makes Wala such a cool chill-out joint, especially when the house bands are on a role with two different bands performing every night.

Covering an area of 13,700 square feet, Hive is a massive venue that can accommodate up to 600 people on a busy night, and keep them well fed and totally entertained. The venue houses a retail wine shop, cigar room, deli counter, ice cream counter, cake counter and a merchandise

shop. Hive’s main kitchen kicks out three types of cuisine and there’s a huge selection of drinks, including Suntory Kakubin Whisky Highball on draft, all of which you can order from your table via an iPad. For light snacks and munchies there’s a proper yakitori grill, while local cuisine like wanton noodles is available, with the in-house roasted duck, roast chicken, roast pork and bbq char siew a must try. For the western cuisine Hive’s chef has taken advantage of the venue’s close collaboration with Beam Suntory Singapore to create some really interesting dishes with liquors. The Chargrilled Honey-Glazed Pork Ribs flambeed with Maker’s Mark Bourbon is a tangy taste sensation with a bourbon kicker, the meat so

tender you can suck it off the bones, while the Charcoal-Barbequed Chicken Wings had an added zing when you dipped them with Courvoisier XO sauce!

Hive by Wala Wala 407 Havelock Road #01-01 Furama RiverFront Singapore 169634 Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday: 12:00pm to 01:00am Friday to Saturday: 12:00pm to 02:00am Reservations: 8876 1109 www.walawala.sg

A D V E R T O R I A L

A D V E R T O R I A L

Wireless Everything

S$599

G

et the smartest pair of headphones to enhance your smart connected life, the Parrot Zik 3 has everything a pair of headphones can offer.

SMART-TOUCH CONTROL

AUTOMATIC ADAPTIVE NOISE CANCELLING With multiple active microphones, the Parrot Zik 3’s noise cancelling technology will automatically adapt to your noise environment, whether in an airplane cabin or a quiet office.

Simply slide your finger on the right ear pad to control audio volume or skip forward or back. To pause, simply take off the headphones!

WIRELESS FREEDOM

Designed by famous French product designer Phillipe Starck, the Parrot Zik 3 is a modern masterpiece that is meant to be worn, with highly comfortable earpads and a well padded headband.

Integrated NFC ensures one touch Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity with not only Android and iOS devices, but to Android Wear smartwatches and the Apple Watch! Download a companion Parrot Zik App on your smartphone or smartwatch to personalise your aural experience.

Wirelessly charge the Parrot Zik 3 and enjoy up to 18 hours of playback.

BUILT FOR SUPERIOR SOUND

COLOUR OPTIONS

With an integrated 32-bit processor and proprietary DSP, the

Black, Brown, Red

BEAUTIFULLY ENGINEERED FROM SUPERIOR MATERIALS

124

Parrot Zik 3 is capable of 192kHz Digital to Analog and Analog to Digital conversion.

Available at: AV ONE The Adelphi, 1 Coleman Street, #01-10 • Tel: 6337 0080 www.av1group.com.sg • www.facebook.com/av1group

A P P S

Mailtime

Let’s face it. E-mail may still be the formal medium for business communication, but its form is hardly the most cultured. Email threads become a nightmare to traverse after a string of replies, which does not help productivity much. MailTime, which debuted on iOS, is now available on Android. This app reformats your email into clean chat bubbles,

by Justin CHoo

How Many Saturdays?

56

Fear and desire is what motivates us, and sometimes we need a reminder that our time is short. How many Saturdays is a sobering, or perhaps liberating way to put the concept of time in perspective. How Many Saturdays? will help you get a measure of time in very different units, which may help you understand or realise its true value.

iOS FREE

Hub Keyboard

Bumble

iOS, and Android (Preview) FREE

iOS, Android FREE

If you’re heavily invested in OneDrive and Office365, get ready for some epic integration.

If you aren’t, you might want to consider after seeing what Hub can do: paste from a clipboard of previously copied text, search OneDrive and SharePoint documents, copy and paste contacts from your address book, and even translate your text to other languages on the fly.

significantly streamlining your conversations so you can easily keep track or get up to speed in a manner of seconds like you would in any text conversation. Adding people to the email thread is basically like adding people into a group chat too.

iOS, Android FREE

It’s kind of like Tinder, and in any case, it’s created by one of the co-founders. In a bid to reduce the creepers jeepers, the woman has to say something first within 24 hours, or the connection disappears forever. The app also has a BFF mode, where you can look for same sex connections or friends, in which case either person can start a conversation within 24 hours.

Younity

If you don’t need to go to extent of setting up network storage at home, but at the same time you need some sort of remote access to your files on your home computer or tablet, Younity is a simple app that, works simply. It supports wake-on-LAN, meaning you leave your computer to sleep, and it will wake up to stream the files as and when you need it.

iOS, Android FREE

A P P S

LEGO Jurassic World There’s very little to dislike about LEGO’s movie tie-in games, especially when the game features the voice acting of the movie cast like Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and Jeff Goldblum. If you could level one criticism that would be that it’s essentially like any other LEGO game they’ve churned out in the past – puzzle solving adventure game. Yet, they’ll continue to thrive on the basis of their ageless charm and self-awareness that it’s all about goofing off. That and being able to create your own dinosaurs and play the game as them. For the true fans of the movie franchise, it represents an entertaining and refreshing way to revisit all four films.

iOS S$6.98 Android S$6.74

EvilBane: Rise of Ravens

It’s not always about clever creative games. Sometimes you just want something simple that’s traditional and meaty, like a nice juicy steak.

EvilBane here is a nice chunk of ribeye. It’s a simple action RPG that boasts top notch graphics and good ol’ hack and slash shenanigans.

But why settle for just mindless slashing action when you can have up to 1,200 types of gear for the three main characters to hoard? Make no mistake here, this is a fully-featured RPG for mobile.

iOS, Android Free/In-app Purchases

by Justin CHoo

KleptoCats They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Neko Atsume’s successful idea about making virtual cats rule our every moment has has been picked up on and given a variation of the theme. In Kleptocats them furry felines will steal stuff for you to decorate your apartment while you do the necessary actions that all cats demand from their servants.

Screw game mechanics, just give us our cats.

iOS, Android Free/In-app Purchases

Gunbird II

You can always trust the Poles to come up with something so totally out of whack that it’s cool to behold. For a surrealist take on the classic endless running game set in the future but conceived in the past (i.e. retro futuristic game) to the backdrop of 80s chiptune, weird is perhaps an understatement. It’s a refreshing take on a genre that’s been done to death, although I suspect indie-artsy retro-futuristic minimalist surrealism might be a tad too much for some (also an understatement).

A classic STG (shooting game) from 1998, this category of game needs no introduction – bullet hell! It has to be said though that Gunbird II features six characters available to play, of which five have to be unlocked. Each character has its own moveset and unique ending, not that you need another excuse to replay it.

You can also recreate a twoplayer style game by purchasing a partner with the in-game currency.

iOS S$2.98 Android S$2.53

Android Free/In-app Purchases

No Thing

57

N EWS

Samsung’s new pro tablet Say hello to Samsung’s slim Galaxy TabPro S. This 12-inch tablet stunner is the company’s entry into the 2-in-1 tablet market. The Galaxy TabPro S comes with Samsung’s standard Super AMOLED screen, but more importantly, it has a Core M processor to maximise battery life, 4GB of RAM, WiFi, optional LTE Cat 6 connectivity, USB 3.1 Type-C port, runs Windows 10 and it comes bundled with a keyboard/cover. Plus there’s an optional TabPro Pen (S$98) if you need one.

S$1,698 www.samsung.com.sg

Bag it with you The CabinZero Vintage 44L is a bag that will fit right in. Literally.

Sized to match the carry-on guidelines of all major airlines, it enables you to carry on all your kit without having to worry about bullets appearing in your checked-in luggage. Built so tough that it’s backed with a ten year warranty, the bag itself weighs in at just 760g, so you throw in more than 9kg of kit to make the weight limit.

There’s even Okoban Global Tracker built in just in case your bag ends up lost in transit at Heathrow, again.

S$89 www.boiatrade.com

A Tracker for golfers

by Justin Choo

Nono, the TomTom Golfer 2 watch is not a fitness tracker. What this GPS watch does when you activate its golf function is figure out exactly which course and hole you’re playing and then provide you with information and advice, such as the distance to the green and the lay of the ground and automatically update your golf score, so every swing counts!

58

TBC Due May 2016 www.tomtom.com

Muvi™ K-Series K2NPNG Wi-Fi Handsfree Camera - Capture full HD 1080p @ 60fps or 720p @120fps video Ͳ ^ŚŽŽƚ ϭϲDW ƐŝŶŐůĞ ƉŚŽƚŽƐ͕ Ɵ ŵĞ ůĂƉƐĞ Žƌ ĨĂƐƚ ďƵƌƐƚ ŽĨ ƵƉ ƚŽ ϭϬ ƉŚŽƚŽƐ ƉĞƌ ƐĞĐŽŶĚ Ͳ >ĂƌŐĞ ϭϱϬϬŵ Ś ŝŶƚĞƌĐŚĂŶŐĞĂďůĞ ůŝƚŚͲŝŽŶ ƐŵĂƌƚ ďĂƩ ĞƌLJ ĨŽƌ ƵƉ ƚŽ ϰ ŚŽƵƌƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚ Ɵ ŵĞ Ͳ ZĞĐŽƌĚ͕ ůŝǀĞ ǀŝĞǁ ĂŶĚ ƐŚĂƌĞ LJŽƵƌ ĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĨƌĞĞ ƐŵĂƌƚƉŚŽŶĞ ĂƉƉ Ͳ /ŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ǁĂƚĞƌƉƌŽŽĨ ϭϬϬŵ ĐĂƐĞ͕ ĚĞƚĂĐŚĂďůĞ > ƐĐƌĞĞŶ͕ ƉƌŽƚĞĐƟ ǀĞ ƌƵŐŐĞĚ ĐĂƌƌLJ ĐĂƐĞ͕ ϴ' ŵĞŵŽƌLJ Θ ĂĚĚŝƟ ŽŶĂů ŵŽƵŶƟ ŶŐ ŽƉƟ ŽŶƐ

Available from Tangs Orchard and Black Tactical @ Funan

^ŝůŝĐŽŶĞ ĂƐĞ Ͳ ŽƉƟ ŽŶĂů ĂĐĐĞƐƐŽƌLJ

VehoSingapore

veho-world.com

N EWS

A Bigger Pill Beats Electronics has plussed up it’s pill shaped bluetooth speaker. The new Beats Pill+ is just a little bigger than its predecessor, but that’s so that it can pump out big sound from its stereo active 2-way crossover system. A single full charge will keep the Pill+ thump-thumping for up to 12-hours, and it syncs to iOS or Android for additional features and functionality.

S$348 sg.beatsbydre.com

A handy pocket blanket Outdoor wear company Matador have a love for the great outdoors as much as they have for equipping customers with innovative gear to enjoy their outdoor experiences and the Matador pocket blanket is a perfect example. When packed it is easily carried in your pocket, but unfolded easily accommodates two. The blanket is made from tough super lightweight material that’s water resistant and puncture proof, and even has guide lines to show you how to fold it up properly.

S$55 www.boiatrade.com

All action camera Sony has been making very handy action cameras for the last few years, and the affordable new Sony HDR-AS50 adds a number of useful new features to the family. Able to record Full-HD videos, the AS50 has an 11-megapixel imaging system with enhanced image-stabilization and the ability to change the camera’s zoom and field of view. It can also connect to an external battery via USB for longer battery life, sync to Sony’s Live View remotes and comes with a Underwater Housing that’s waterproof to 60 metres.

S$299 www.sony.com.sg

60

N EWS

CHOICE

The Successor Arrives

by Shawn Chung

B

ack in January at CES 2016, Nikon announced the Nikon D500 APS-C DSLR, the long awaited successor to the D300. The D500 is is finally on its way to Singapore and will go on sale at the end of April.

Why makes the D500 so highly anticipated by enthusiast DSLR fans is because it will be the best APS-C DSLR camera when it becomes available. That’s because the D500 shares a number of the pro-level features Nikon developed for its sibling, the D5 full frame professional DSLR. While the D500 has a newly developed 20.9-megapixel APS-C sensor, it uses the same EXPEED 5 image processor and 153-point autofocus module as

the D5, which enables a high ISO sensitivity of 512,000, fast autofocus lock and a high speed continuous shooting rate of 10fps. Videography has been tremendously improved, with the D500 capable of capturing 4K videos at 30fps with 3-axis electronic vibration reduction. There’s also two memory card slots, Nikon’s SnapBridge wireless system with NFC pairing and a tilting 3.2-inch touchscreen.

TBC Due End April 2016 www.nikon.com.sg

61

C O N T E S T

Win an X-mini Evolve Hybrid Headphone Speaker

W

ith the new X-mini EVOLVE, audio makers X-Mini have once again pioneered a new audio experience. The inventors of the pocket speakers has now created a new headphone

category with the EVOLVE hybrid headphone speakers, allowing users to enjoy both personal audio and shared audio in one package.

The EVOLVE contains two pairs of X-mini’s signature 40mm drivers for clear and clean mid and high frequencies, with one pair dedicated to the headphone and the other pair to the speakers. A simple switch enables you to go instantly from headphone mode to speakers, so you can listen to your music out loud. With integrated Bluetooth, a built-in microphone for taking calls and a rechargeable battery able to provide up to 30 hours of Bluetooth connectivity, the EVOLVE will change the way you listen and share you music.

Thanks to X-mini, NXT Magazine has three of these evolutionary EVOLVE hybrid headphone speakers, each worth approximately S$130, to give away. Just answer the following question, then email info.nxt@kingsmanmedia.com with the subject header “NXT X-mini EVOLVE contest”.

The EVOLVE has two pairs of X-mini’s signature 40mm audio drivers.

TRUE or FALSE? For verification purposes please provide your: 1. Name 2. NRIC number 3. Email 4. Telephone number

Contest terms and conditions 1. This contest will run from 15/04/2016 to 15/06/2016 and is by

4. The winning contestants must be a Singaporean citizen or

email only.

2. All details submitted must be true and accurate. Personal

current resident. Submissions from outside Singapore will

information of all contestants will be kept private and confidential.

not be accepted. Employees of X-mini Singapore and

3. Three winners will be selected randomly from the correct entries,

Kingsman Media are disqualified from entering this contest.

and the selection will be final and binding. Each winner will receive

5. The winning contestants will be announced in a forthcoming

one X-mini EVOLVE hybrid headphone speakers and will be notified

via email and telephone call. Winners are required to bring their

6. Kingsman Media reserves the rights to modify the terms and

NRIC 62

for verification during prize collection.

issue of NXT magazine. conditions of this contest.

WA T C H

Watchmaking gets Smart S

martwatches were the trending topic at Baselworld 2016, as traditional watchmaking companies unveiled their own smartwatches. Here’s our pick of the most interesting new smartwatch developments from the world’s greatest timepiece event.

Tissot Smart-Touch There’s one Swiss watchmaker with a history of making ‘touchscreen’ devices, and it’s Tissot with their T-Touch watches, where tapping on the side of the sapphire crystal dial accesses information. Tissot is also the first brand under the powerhouse Swatch Group to release an actual smartwatch, embedding connected technologies into the T-Touch Solar to create the Tissot Smart-Touch.

The watchmaker is keeping the full details of this watch confidential for now, but we do know that like the T-Touch Solar it has a solar cell for power and will provide altimeter readings at a touch. The Smart-Touch will also connect to a smartphone for turn-by-turn navigation.

by Shawn Chung

Approximately USD $1,200 Q4 2016 www.tissot.ch

63

WA T C H

Movado Bold Motion The Movado Bold Motion was actually launched in November 2015 in collaboration with HP, with Swiss Movado providing stylish watch design while HP provided the smarts and hardware - and it’s compatible with both Android and iOS smart devices. So why do we think this watch’s appearance at Baselworld 2016 was significant? That’s because Movado’s holding company, the Movado Group, announced at Basel that they were expanding their partnership with HP to launch smartwatches for it’s entire brand portfolio. That includes a host of fashion watch brands such as Coach, HUGO BOSS, Lacoste, Juicy Couture, Tommy Hilfiger and Scuderia Ferrari. Expect 25 new fashion smartwatch models, for both males and females, to launch this year!

www.movadogroupinc.com

Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch The second edition of the Horological Smartwatch sees a Worldtimer feature added to the new timepiece, so that the watch will automatically update to the local time when you sync it to your smartphone as soon as your flight lands in San Francisco. The most unique aspect of the Horological Smartwatch is that it is a traditional mechanical watch with a unique MMT-285 calibre that incorporates MotionX technology, and has a battery life of two and a half years before replacement. The timepiece syncs to both Android and iOS devices and provides 24/7 activity tracking including sleep patterns.

Approximately CHF 1,440 Due April 2016 frederiqueconstant.com

64

WA T C H

Nixon The Mission American watch company Nixon’s partnership with Qualcomm has produced an uber Android Wear sports watch that’s the first smartwatch to be water resistant to 100 metres. The Mission has Qualcomm’s latest smartwatch processor with a circular AMOLED display protected by Gorilla Glass. Built with a stainless steel bezel and polycarbonates for hard outdoor use, specifically surfing and skiing, The Mission is packed with sensors including GPS, altimeter, barometer, thermometer, compass, gyrometer, accelerometer and humidity sensors, and the accompanying Nixon The Mission App will deliver real time snow and surf reports!

Approximately USD $400 Due October 2016 www.nixon.com/sg

Michael Kors Access This Android smartwatch is pretty much for the fashionistas, and comes in male and female versions - with the ladies getting a blinged out gold watch featuring jewels on the watch strap. Apart from the standard Android Wear features such as apps, notifications and fitness tracking, the Access comes with exclusive Michael Kors display faces and interchangeable leather and silicon wristbands.

Approximately USD $395 Due Q3 2016 www.michaelkors.com

65

WA T C H

Dive into the deep blue with ORIS Proudly independent, Swiss watchmaker ORIS recently unveiled three tasty diving watches at Baselworld 2016.

H

istory can be quite ironic. In the midst of the ‘Quartz crisis’ in the 1970s, when watches using cheap but reliable quartz movements flooded the global market, Oris watches was acquired a big watch conglomerate and tasked with making cheap Swiss quartz watches. Rescued by a management buyout, Oris then returned to profit by creating full mechanical watches, with Japan as one of their strongest markets! The watchmaker has grown from strength to strength, and at Baselworld this year announced three interesting diving watches.

Divers Sixty-Five The Divers Sixty-Five is a revival of an iconic diver’s watch from 1965, just over 50 years ago and shares the retro styling of the original, but updated with modern material and watchmaking techniques. The stainless steel 40mm case is water-resistant to 100 metres, just like the original, but has a unidirectional black aluminium inlay bezel. Matched to a rubber strap with stainless steel buckle, the Divers Sixty-Five is completed with its stainless steel case back sporting an engraving of the logo Oris used back in 1965.

by Shawn Chung

S$2,600 (Rubber Strap) S$2,900 (Stainless steel bracelet)

66

WA T C H

Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition II Created to mark the 50th anniversary of the Australian Marine Conservation Society, proceeds of this limited edition watch of 2,000 pieces will be donated to the charity to help fund the critical work of preserving and protecting the Great Barrier Reef, the greatest wonder of the natural world. Based on the popular Aquis diver’s watch, the standout feature of this timepiece is the day display, with the sea-blue dial and coral yellow detailing creating a vibrant and legible contrast. The watch’s stainless steel case is water-resistant to 500 metres, while the rotating bezel inlay is made from black polished ceramic.

S$3,000 (Rubber Strap) S$3,300 (stainless steel bracelet) Due May 2016

Carl Brashear Limited Edition Carl Brashear’s name may not be known to the general public, but he’s a legend in military diving circles. The first African-American to become a U.S. Navy Diver, Brashear not only faced years of racial discrimination courageously, he also famously lost his lower left leg in an accident during the underwater recovery of a lost nuclear bomb. Yet he persevered and became the first amputee to be recertified as a Navy diver, eventually retiring after 31 years of service as a Master Diver.

To commemorate such a unique individual, Oris created the Carl Brashear Limited Edition. Based on the Oris Divers Sixty-Five, this limited edition of 2,000 pieces is utterly unique as it is the first watch

by Oris to be made with a bronze case, crown and unidirectional revolving ring, in homage to the iconic ‘standard’ bronze diving helmets that was used for more than a 100 years. On the stainless steel case back shows Brashear’s helmet and his personal claim “It’s not a sin to get knocked down, it’s a sin to stay down.”

S$3,900 Due June 2016

www.oris.cn

67

WA T C H

The Light Fantastic

Citizen celebrates the 40th anniversary of its Eco-Drive movement with a lightweight sensation

4

0 years ago Citizen of Japan launched the world’s first analogue quartz watch powered by light, creating a proprietary technology that enabled their watches to recharge from any light source, even artificial light.

Over the years the company has continuously improved the Eco-Drive to make watches that were not only thinner and lighter, but used less energy. At Baselworld this year the watchmaker celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Eco-Drive with three new watches.

PROMASTER Satellite Wave-GPS Citizen was the first watchmaker to incorporate GPS satellite time synchronization into a watch with the original Eco-Drive Satellite Wave, and the latest addition to the series was announced at Baselworld 2016 - the Promaster Satellite Wave-GPS. This world-time watch features an ultratough case created from Super Titanium that’s further surface-hardened for superior durability in the harshest conditions. Powered by Citizen’s unique Calibre F900, which with a single charge can power the watch for up to five years in power saving mode!

by Shawn Chung

S$2953

68

WA T C H

Eco-Drive One Limited Edition An absolute sensation, the Eco-Drive Limited Edition is the watchmaker’s new flagship watch and is a masterpiece of watchmaking technology and design and is the slimmest analogue light-powered watch in the world.

How slim? The case is just 2.98mm thick, with an amazing movement just 1.00mm thin, is assembled from 85 pieces and can maintain power for up to 10 months on a full charge.

The Eco-Drive One looks ethereal, as if it could easily be snapped in half between your hands, but it’s far tougher than it looks, as the watch case is actually ceramic metal, beautifully polished to a luster like fine china yet hard and resistant to scratches, while the bezel is created from cemented tungsten carbide, a material usually found on the edges of industrial cutting tools. Only 800 pieces of this watch will be available from the fourth quarter of the year.

Approx. USD 6,000 Due Q4 2016.

L Ambiluna Limited Edition A portmanteau of “Ambient” and “Lunar”, Citizen’s new Ambiluna luxury women’s watch collection brings a fresh, simple style to ladies watches, and yet it is a watch that embraces sustainability, high technology and traditional craftsmanship.

Designed to express the gentle glow of moonlight, the L Ambiluna Limited Edition features a frosted sapphire glass crystal that gently reflects light from its surface, while the use of Super Titanium 2 with the watchmaker’s own surface hardening technology creates a lightweight case that’s five times harder than stainless steel!

At heart is an Eco-Drive movement that will run for eight months on a single charge. Finally, in homage of traditional craftsmanship, the watch is paired to a Nishijn textile watchband - the same textile used for making Kimonos.

Approximately USD 2,000 Due Q4 2016

www.citizenwatch-global.com

69

L U X U R Y

The Bejewelled Smartwatch Samsung wowed the watch crowd at Basel with this gem encrusted Gear S2 smartwatch

I

f you thought the Apple Watch Edition with solid gold case was opulent, feast your eyes on this beauty. At Baselworld 2016 Samsung announced a collaborative project with noted jewelry and watchmaker de GRISOGONO. Their objective, to create a limited edition jewelry smartwatch in gold and precious jewels - the Samsung Gear S2 by de GRISOGONO. While the electronics of this limited edition smartwatch are identical to the standard Gear S2, everything else has undergone a luxury timepiece transformation. The 41mm case is now black DLC-coated stainless steel set with 71 black diamonds, matched to a rose gold bezel with 56 white diamonds.

The smartwatch is finished with a black Galuchat strap with a black DLC-coated stainless steel triple folding clasp. Finally, two de GRISOGONO virtual watch faces are available for the display, a dual-timer and a moon phase.

by Shawn Chung

TBC Due Q3 2016 www.samsung.com

70

L U X U R Y

71

by Shawn Chung

L U X U R Y

72

L U X U R Y

The Legendary Café Racer returns The new Triumph Thruxton R returns cafe racer styling to its roots, but with modern power and performance

C

afe racers were originally conceived in the mid-1960s by British motorcycling fans as minimalist, stripped down lightweight motorbikes that could be taken out for quick weekend rides, often with pub and cafe stops in between. In recent years this retro styling has once again become popular (parking your sweet ride in front of a cafe for all to admire is a trend that will never die), especially with Triumph’s revival of the model that started it all, the Thruxton.

For 2016 both the Triumph Thruxton & Triumph Thruxton R boast design aesthetics drawn from the classic Thruxtons of the 1960s, including a unique ‘flip top’ Monza style cap on the fuel tank. Yet they are thoroughly modern motorbikes, equipped with an all-new 1,200cc 8 valve, parallel twin Bonneville engine and instant throttle response via a next generation ride-by-wire fuel injection system, dedicated chassis with fully uprated suspension.

But where Triumph kept the styling of the Thruxton as authentic as possible, with the Thurxton R the British motorcycle company has built a truly wonderful modern sports classic, improving the R’s performance and handling by adding twin floating Brembo brakes, Brembo monobloc calipers, Showa big piston front forks, Öhlins rear suspension and Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa Tyres.

SGD $27,000 (Machine Price with ARF) www.mah.com.sg

73

L U X U R Y

Breitling

GETS Connected The first Swiss smartwatch available in Singapore, the Breitling Exospace B55 Connected is a true aviation watch.

B

ack in late February Breitling became the first Swiss watch brand to launch a smartwatch in Singapore, which was also the first country in Asia to have this watch available. But you won’t see many people sporting the Exospace B55 Connected on their wrists, unless they’re pilots that is.

True to the brand’s aviation legacy, Breitling created the Exospace B55 Connected as the ultimate instrument for aviation professionals, and within the watch’s sturdy titanium case the timepiece has a host of analog and digital displays, an electronic tachymeter and a chronograph capable of recording 50 split times. The watch can also record flight times, remember and display arrival and departure dates and time, and as it’s chronometer-certified by COSC, is a highly accurate timepiece.

Sync the Exospace B55 Connected to a smart device, and the watch will also display notifications, but more importantly, users can program their flight parameters into the watch as well as access the watch’s recorded data from a smartphone to update their flight logs.

by Shawn Chung

S$11,800 www.breitling.com

74

L U X U R Y

75

L U X U R Y

Bags of luxury T

ired of carrying your slick new laptop in a ratty laptop bag you bought ten years ago? Treat yourself and your devices with these stylish, supple new leather men bags from Coach.

singapore.coach.com

Campus Backpack in sport calf leather Lightweight, durable and in a supple Calf leather, the Campus backpack has wide padded straps for comfort and multifunction pockets that can accommodate a laptop or tablet.

by JUSTIN CHOO

S$1,120

76

L U X U R Y

Manhattan Backpack in sport calf leather The Manhattan Backpack updates an iconic silhouette with a distinctly urban attitude. It combining form, function and craftsmanship in a design that’s suitable for both work and play. The unlined interior is spacious and easily stores not only your notebook but your gym kit as well.

S$1,190

Metropolitan Brief in signature sport calf leather A modern silhouette combined with the signature embossing of Coach, the Metropolitan Brief has soft leather handles and a detachable canvas shoulder strap for added versatility.

S$1,120

Saddle bag messenger 38 in glove tanned leather A revival of a classic 1970s Coach messenger bag, this minimalist design honours the simple functionality and look of the original, yet has a full complement of interior pockets to carry your gear.

S$1,375

Modern Varsity campus backpack in pebble leather With baseball inspired stitching to emphasis its sporty look, this backpack won’t look out of place on a university campus or start-up office.

S$1,190

77

L U X U R Y

The self-playing piano reinvented

by Steinway

Steinway’s first new piano model in seventy years can play piano concerts, by itself

S

teinway build wonderful grand pianos, each a complicated instrument of hundreds of parts painstakingly assembled and tuned to perfection. They are meant to be played and their melodies enjoyed. Yet most Steinway pianos bought by affluent consumers will never be played to their full potential, spending much of their time as furniture, a statement piece of wealth.

But what if your piano was capable of playing itself? And not just any tune but one where the pianist’s every nuance and style is faithfully captured and reproduced?

At first glance, the Steinway Spirio piano seems like any other Steinway & Sons grand piano, yet it’s the first new Steinway piano model in seventy years, and incorporates electronics that enables the piano to sync wirelessly to an iPad and access a library of more than 1,700 pianists each with their own distinct playing style, such as Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang. Simply select the piece you want and the Spirio will bring the pianist to your very living room, playing your Steinway Spirio.

by Shawn Chung

S$218,000 Model B-211 (Music Room Grand) S$183,000 Model O-180 (Living Room Grand) www.steinway-gallery.com.sg

78

L U X U R Y

79

L U X U R Y

A watch of great complexity

Jacob & Co’s latest edition to the famed Astronomia collection is a truly stellar timepiece

I

n the world of luxury watchmaking, the term haute horlogerie is used to denote the highest form of fine watchmaking - the perfection of all forms of the watchmaking art in one timepiece, from the technical aspects of creating new complications to the development of new decorative techniques. In recent years Jacob & Co have created some of the most magnificent timepieces within the brand’s Astronomia collection, miniaturising planetary and stellar movements into a watch.

For Baselworld 2016 the watchmaker unveiled the Astronomia Sky Triple Axis Gravitational Tourbillon, a truly stunning timepiece that just mesmerizes a viewer. A brand new complication has been incorporated into this watch, a three dimensional sidereal display combined with an oval sky indicator and a 24 hour day and night display.

Additionally, on one of the four satellite arms is a triple axis gravitational tourbillon, where one axis rotates in 60 seconds, the second axis every five minutes and the third axis goes around the dial every twenty minutes. Less than twenty five versions of this incredible timepiece will be made each year.

by Shawn Chung

Approximately USD $540,000 to USD $800,000. www.jacobandco.com

80

L U X U R Y

81

L U X U R Y

Rewriting history Montblanc marks the brand’s 110th anniversary by recreating its very first pen collection

M

ontblanc recently celebrated the luxury brand’s 110th anniversary by recreating the company’s first fountain pen series, the “Rouge et Noir” of 1909. While the new Montblanc Heritage Collection Rouge & Noir evokes the pioneering spirit of Montblanc with a vintage look and feel, the design incorporates modern piston technology for even ink flow.

The new collection of fountain, rollerball and ballpoint pens are available in a number of editions, such as the Special Edition, Limited Edition 1906 and with either black resin or red coral resin bodies. A prominent feature throughout this pen collection is the art deco serpent motif, which circles around the pen cap before turning into the clip. On fountain pens, the serpent also appears engraved on rhodium-plated gold pen nib. And of course, every pen features the company’s signature white snowcap.

by Shawn Chung

TBC www.montblanc.com

82

S T O R Y

by JUSTIN CHOO

C O V E R

■ Outfit from Love & Bravery ■ Accessories from Forever21 ■ Heels from Pedro

84

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Personal Audio of the Highest Order

In the Groove with Jade Rasif

Join us on the High-Res Audio bandwagon, but we’ll also take you through what’s important and what’s not.

H

igh-Res Audio is slowly but surely becoming a thing. But it can be rather confusing and how do you tell what is snake oil and what isn’t? In the pages that follow, we’ll guide you through what matters, as well as the best and most recent releases that are really and good; many of which featured heavily at the recent CanJam Global event, held in Singapore for the first time.

When not modelling or appearing as Sheila Oh on the Channel 5 TV show Tanglin, model Jade Rasif has established herself as a DJ, playing at Velvet Dance (Zouk) every Saturday. With DJing gigs planned in China, Hong Kong and Myanmar, Jade was the perfect model for this headphone feature!

“I have a huge collection of headphones but I rotate between using the Sennheiser HD25 Mark II or the AKG Tiestos for my gig - it depends on which matches my outfit. For everyday use I have a pair of DJE 1500 from Pioneer which are my favourite IEMs. I’m very comfortable with the ones I have, but if I could afford to buy anything, the JH Audio JH13 Pro IEMs are my one weakness!

They are stunning! So elegant and sleek. I tested them out once and the audio is excellent.

I got into Djing as my boyfriend was an instructor at The Big House DJ Academy. So for a while, I hung out at the academy - It’s like a 4 storey DJ wonderland with everything - pimped out with the best speakers, DDJs, the latest club mixer/CDJ setups, turntables and other equipment. I lived and breathed music there. My best performance so far was probably on It’s The Ship alongside Showtek, Soda, Kaskade and Headhunterz among others. Coolest weekend in the world!

What’s my one tip to aspiring DJs? Invest in having great equipment. Use only reliable brands, back everything up (twice), bring backup gear and always have a Plan B incase something fails on you.”

Photography Raymond Toh Stylist VERNA TAN Makeup Gigi Sng using YSL cosmetics Hair Kenneth Ong using Kelvin Murphy hair products Covergirl Jade Rasif

85

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Demystifying High-Res Audio

T

here’s plenty of information about High-Resolution Audio (HRA) on the web. You can even read up on endless debates. Despite this, it’s very easy to misunderstand the point of HRA. Here’s our Cliff notes version of what you should care about, and what you shouldn’t, to better enjoy your musical experience. If you are a fan of headphones and music, it’s never a better time to be one.

High-Res Audio? Did I miss the memo?

You’ll start to find the HRA logo on a lot of boxes and product pages. But note that not everyone will use the logo – it’s a criteria set by the Japan Audio Society (JAS) and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), but generally it’s a safe guideline.

What does it mean?

Simply put, 24-bit, 96kHz – this is the minimum standard for audio files. Hardware must be able to support this as well, so it must be able playback and support 40kHz and above (check the frequency response spec for this).

What do bits and kHz do?

Digital audio as we know it utilises Pulse Code Modulation (PCM). Bit depth defines how finely the audio wave can be ‘stepped’, and allows for more dynamism in the music – loud and soft passages. 16-bit gives you about 96dB range (65,536 steps), while 24-bit gives you about 144dB range (16,777,216 steps). It improves the range between quietest and loudest sounds it can capture and reproduce. Sample rates (the kHz) denote how many times your audio is sampled in a second – this affects the frequency range. The higher the sampling frequency, the closer it can get to replicating the original analog sound waves.

Sony is an active proponent of HRA, and you’ll see this on many Sony products.

Err, should I care?

Not as the be all and end all, but HRA in general is ‘happening’ anyway – it’s just better marketed. If rumours about the next Apple smartphone are to be believed, it will eschew the traditional headphone jack and pave the way for headphones with external DACs to be the standard. The tech is becoming cheaper, the quality is discernible, so it’s here to stay.

Sampling and quantisation of signal in 4-bit PCM.

The future of all mobile audio?

86

C O V E R

So what makes a higher resolution file better?

On paper, the file has more data. In practice, it’s basically law of diminishing returns, especially when it takes up far more storage space – a little bit like cameras. A 24-bit, 96kHz file is about three times as large as a 16-bit, 44.kHz file, which in turn is about 15 times bigger than a simple 128k MP3 file. In theory, the more data stored the better, but...

Is ‘more’ better?

Yes and no. What matters most is whether or not the files have been mastered properly (think of it as transferring from the original source tape). Even before HRA, popular albums tend to be re-mastered so that they sound clearer on the newest players. But newer doesn’t always mean better as well, so do check samples to see if they’re up to expectations before buying.

All things being equal, good recordings and mastering will be shown in their best light with a higher resolution file. At the same time, even if you don’t believe in HRA don’t dismiss the new remasters entirely, as they might be significantly better made than the previous version.

So more data means more detail that I can hear?

If you’re talking about 320kbps MP3s versus 128kbps MP3s then yes, it is quite apparent. Between 320kbps versus lossless 16-bit files it gets harder, and the difficulty increases as the resolution gets higher.

It’s easier with the right equipment, so the trick is to find the maximum benefit with the minimum spend. Also, you don’t always have to have an extreme level of detail to enjoy music. Sometimes technically average gear can be more pleasant. End of the day, it’s personal preference.

S T O R Y

research has only started to scratch the surface, so it’s rather sketchy at this point. Ultimately you have to trust what your ears hear, and whether it helps you enjoy the music better.

Marketing ploy or a real advancement?

Like all things, the truth lies somewhere in the middle, so don’t miss out on a better listening experience if you dismiss it as hogwash on the outset.

OK, let’s say I’m interested. Where do I find HRA tracks?

HDTracks, 2L, Onkyo Music, Naxos, Linn Records, Sony, just to name a few, carry 24-bit and DSD files, and it’s growing. Don’t ignore non-HRA 16-bit lossless files though. What you can do is to try out sample tracks to see what works best for your purposes.

TL;DR? HRA hasn’t been scientifically proven to be absolutely beneficial, but there are benefits along the way. Spending money on headphones and amplifiers helps the experience but note the law of diminishing returns.

Numbers are only part of the story, and what happens in the production of the audio file matters more. Most importantly, always trust your own ears when deciding, reviews are just guidelines.

About headphones and the frequency range. What gives?

As mentioned, HRA compatible earphones have an expanded range that goes beyond the usual 20Hz-20kHz range; usually topping at 40kHz or so. Again, it’s just numbers, your ears know the score better. Not all high-end headphones and players operate at this spec: e.g. HiFiMAN’s flagship player outputs at 20Hz-20kHz.

I thought the human ear can only pick up sound in the frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz? As for sound in the inaudible human frequency range, research has shown that inaudible frequency components do have an impact on human brain activity without you being consciously aware. Scientific

Music legend Neil Young brought high resolution audio into the limelight via his Pono DAP and service.

87

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Ultimate performers

T

he pinnacle of the audiophile world, these are amongst the best that money can buy. For best results, you’ll need to pair them well, and that usually involves some money too. Buying a pair of headphones is effectively a deposit to purchase a ‘matched’ amplifier, and vice versa. But if money’s no object, and the ultimate experience is all that matters, this is the way to go.

HiFiMAN HE1000 Bringing old school back HiFiMAN are known for their work on planar magnetic headphones, which is fairly old technology. The HE1000 is the pinnacle of this effort, and amongst its innovations, features a ‘nanometer-thick’ diaphragm for an exceptional response. It’s one of the best reference headphones you can buy, and it’s also chock-full of old school design elements as well as a lush, slightly laid-back and rich sound.

S$4,500, wwww.av1group.com.sg

88

C O V E R

S T O R Y

HiFiMAN HM901s HiFi in your hand The HM901s may be as unwieldy as they come, but it’s because HiFiMAN has other ideas in mind when designing this series of DAPs – with emphasis on fitting in the best DAC modules (dual Sabre ESS9018) as well as op amps to accommodate a variety of headphones and in-ears, including balanced cables; it even uses conventional SD cards for expanded storage capacity. An optional dock system for the HM901s effectively turns it into a media player that can be rigged up to home speakers, even.

S$2,199, www.av1group.com.sg

She Drives Me Crazy Audiophile-level headphones tend to use either planar magnetic driver (e.g. HiFiMAN, Audeze) or electrostatic tech (e.g. STAX). There are exceptions like Sennheiser’s HD800S, which uses dynamic drivers. Electrostatic is regarded as the best but impractical as it requires a special, dedicated amplifier while planar magnetic is regarded as the best compromise as it uses conventional amplification.

For the earphone category, the audiophile end of things is dominated by balanced armature drivers, commonly found in in-ear monitors (IEMs). Balanced armatures are strong in detail, but weak in bass; many get around the problem by creating multiple-armature solutions (e.g. JH Audio, Noble), but it adds complexity to the circuit.

Dynamic drivers give a developed, all-round sound, but is lacking in detail. Some have created hybrid, dynamic and balanced armature solutions (e.g. AKG K3003).

■ Outfit from forever21 ■ Heels from Pedro

89

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Audeze LCD-4 Pushing boundaries of tech and price Audeze’s latest flagship is also priced rather audaciously. It is the most expensive of the headphones listed here, and Audeze claims that it is their most advanced planar magnetic tech to date, with new ‘nano-grade’ diaphragms and a new powerful magnet array with flux density of 1.5 Tesla (i.e. its powerful). There’s lots of detail and lots of presence when you pair it with an adequately powerful amplifier, and you can see (or hear) why it commands that price tag.

S$6,200, www.av1group.com.sg

Sennheiser HD800s An updated classic The original Sennheiser HD800 was an instant hit when it was first released, although it wasn’t without its detractors who thought its sound was unforgivingly harsh.

Sennheiser’s ultimate studio headphone has now been tweaked with an enhanced bass response as well as more refined, controlled highs, to make it more listenable than ever. The most affordable amongst the giants, but not in the least bit the weakest.

S$2,539, www.sennheiser.com.sg

90

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Kennerton Odin A Russian take on a classic Odin is Kennerton’s ambitious take on planar magnetic technology, which they developed from scratch with the intention of doing things differently as well as addressing the weaknesses of the tech. In doing so they’ve developed several patent-pending designs as well as a tough-as-nails construction for the ultimate in reliability. Despite the functional undertones, it’s actually made from top notch aerospace-grade metals, military-grade cables, as well as fine leather and exotic woods.

Needless to say the audio quality is top-notch too.

USD$2,250, Old Wood: USD$2,450, local pricing TBC www.kennerton.com

Shure KSE1500 Electrostatic tech is mobile at last Electrostatic headphones, though stellar, had very specific requirements – very high voltage to work. Which is why Shure’s effort in making it into portable in-ears is such a mind-blowing feat. The portable DAC/amp combo may not be the most portable system, you can buy, but the trade-off is well worth the asking price – a very high level of detail and response not unlike full-sized electrostatic headphones.

S$4,499, www.shureasia.com

91

C O V E R

S T O R Y

EnigmAcoustics Dharma D1000 Electrostatic goodness without the price tag This enigmatic headphone slipped into the world under the radar, and unfairly so.

It’s the world’s first electrostatic-dynamic hybrid headphone, and it doesn’t require a specialised amplifier. That means you can use them like you would any ordinary headphones, and yet enjoy its benefits. The electrostatic elements helps its performance in the high frequencies, while the dynamic drivers take care of the low to mid bass to get the best of both worlds.

S$2,288, www.jaben.net

Noble Audio Kaiser 10U The King of 10 driver IEMs Dr. John Noble’s IEMs are highly regarded in the industry, and the Kaiser 10 is culmination of 10 years of experience revitalising an old concept and bringing it to fruition. The 10-driver configuration covers a wide spectrum of frequencies from bass to super high frequencies, and can work with smartphones and portable amps alike. Also available in custom moulds, which is strongly encouraged as they can work with many mind-blowingly cool materials.

S$2,299, www.stereo.com.sg

92

C O V E R

S T O R Y

JH Audio Rosie Whole Lotta IEM Created by the man who started the in-ear monitor trend, Jerry Harvey, the Rosie is also named for AC/DC’s “Whole Lotta Rosie” and is part of an expanding line up of IEMs named after women featured in legendary songs. Effectively it is JH13 Pro re-imagined, retaining its famous mids and highs and gaining an adjustable bass dial like the groundbreaking Roxanne. Rosie is machined from a single block of aluminum, and also features Freqphase, a series of steel waveguides to ensure that every driver signal arrives within 0.01 seconds, for a more cohesive sound.

S$1,399, www.skmepl.com.sg

Dita The Answer Simplicity is the answer Dita is made by two local lads and The Answer has been raking in rave reviews ever since its introduction. There have since been many variations of The Answer, most recently the Truth Edition Balanced, designed for Astell & Kern players with 2.5mm balanced output. The Answer is much like Final Audio’s high end stuff: technically simple (usually just one driver) but elegantly designed to maximise its performance.

S$799, Truth Edition S$1,299, The Balanced S$1,699, The Balanced Gold S$1,899, www.ditaaudio.com

93

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Jomo Audio Jomo6R Homegrown reference quality A homegrown label, Jomo was started by a broadcast engineer and is known for its relatively flat signature, a boon for those who prefer a ‘transparent’ profile; best demonstrated by the Jomo6R, a reference monitoring style inear monitor with six balanced armature drivers.

They’re available in both custom and universal (when available) formats. If you prefer something a little more musical and fun, then shoot for the Jomo6 instead.

S$1,399, www.jomoaudio.com

STAX SR-L700 Jump onto the earspeaker train Electrostatic headphones are simply out of this world – they even call them earspeakers to differentiate. One problem: you need a specialised amplifier just for it, so it’s clearly not a cheap undertaking, and a ridiculously, unforgivingly, inflexible one. STAX’s newest L700 earspeakers are a relatively affordable way for you to experience a taste of what this category of headphones can do. Sure, there are cheaper alternatives, but this will put you right in the middle of the park and leave you wanting for more (hey that’s what this is all about).

S$1,600, www.stax.co.jp

94

C O V E R

S T O R Y

AKG N90Q High tech reference headphones Celebrity endorsed headphones are a dime a dozen, but what if he was THE Quincy Jones? The legendary producer has left his mark on possibly AKG’s most advanced headphone to date by contributing to its design. It’s a reference class headphone loaded with active noise cancelling, auto-calibration tech (TruNote), the ability to adjust bass and treble without distortion, as well as stage control ranging from standard to 5.1 surround sound. This is thanks in part to built-in DAC and other assorted wizardry. This is a showcase of AKG’s advanced technology as well as Quincy’s immaculate ears. And flashy taste.

USD$1,499, local price TBC, www.harman.com

Mr Speakers Ether C By enthusiasts for enthusiasts MrSpeakers made its name modding a classic Fostex T50RP, and pushing the limits of a very old design planar magnetic design. With that experience, the Ether and Ether C were developed, with the Ether C as the closed-back variant. General consensus dictates that closedback headphones tend to fare not as well as the open-back versions and exist by virtue of necessity to not disturb others in the room, the Ether C has been making waves for subjectively being better than its open-back cousin.

S$2,399, www.facebook.com/slttechnologies

95

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Players and amplifiers

O

ne third of the perfect listening experience lies in the competency of the DAPs or desktop rigs that you have. Here are an assortment of gear, mostly new releases, that will help you reach aural nirvana.

Audio-Technica ATH-A2000Z Turning articulate into an art The flagship model of the closed-back ART Monitor series, the A2000Z is an updated model of a successful range, sporting German Permendur magnets, pure-titanium housings and lightweight magnesium alloy baffles. As you would expect from a monitor-type headphone, the sound is tuned to be balanced, with airy highs and controlled, articulate lows.

S$788, sea.audio-technica.com

96

C O V E R

S T O R Y

SHURE SHA900 Hi-Fi made easy for smartphones Shure’s foray into portable amplification has been rather impressive if the SHA900 is anything to go by. It’s a relatively simple DAC and amplifier combo that has an onboard equaliser plus it’s made to pair easily with iOS and Android devices. It may not be the smallest device in the world but it fits behind your mobile phone like how you would carry a battery pack. It also doubles up as a DAC for your Mac or PC. The output and sound signature is fairly consistent regardless of what you use, which is quite cool.

S$1,449, www.shureasia.com

What the heck is DAC? For those who aren’t aware, there’s a distinction between a DAC and an amplifier. DAC stands for Digital to Analog Converter, which is the bit that takes your music files and converts them into analog signals that your headphones receive. Because DACs are essentially processors, so there is a difference between an average one and a good one. As an analogy, think of it as the more powerful the processor, the more data it can handle and calculate, and the more accurate the result it can generate.

Amplifiers, as the name suggests, amplify the signal so that your headphones can pick them up. Different headphones have different power requirements, and that’s why some headphones can’t really be powered by a smartphone – you could, but the results may be unsatisfactory. DACs and amplifiers can be standalone, or integrated units.

■ Outfit from The Closet Lover ■ Accessories from Forever21 ■ Heels from Pazzion

97

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Astell & Kern AK380 When money is no object The masters of the high-end digital audio player pulled out all the stops with this one.

It’s as good as it gets where hardware is concerned, with 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256 (native, no conversion to PCM) support, high precision clocks to reduce jitter and improve accuracy, and DLNA functionality to make it part of your connected home. With the AK380, Astell & Kern has built the be all and end all of portable DAPs. For the moment, of course.

S$4,999, www.skmepl.com

98

C O V E R

S T O R Y

The Bit Opus #1 More than just a bit of value One of the more interesting surprises at CanJam Singapore, the Opus #1 is a high performance DAP but without the serious price tag. The idea of a plastic body may be unsettling, but it looks presentable, and it delivers where it counts. With dual DACs and quad-core CPU, it has plenty of processing power to handle 24-bit files. It also has a built in 32GB storage, with support for another 100GB for each of its two storage slots.

S$899, www.facebook.com/E1PersonalAudioSg

Chord Dave Out of this world looks and performance There’re plenty of options available when money is no object. How then, about this outlandish-looking DAC made

by Chord? Raw power is what you get, if specs are what you are chasing, and Dave will wipe floor with its unbelievable numbers in noise control and timing response. To the ears, it’s as clean as it gets. Its quirky yet affable looks will be the talking point for visitors, that is, until your guests have had a listen to it.

S$18,000, www.av1group.com.sg

iFi Micro iDSD Compact desktop setups For those who like to listen to music off their computers, iFi’s range of stackable micro devices are a godsend.

They have a small footprint, they’re modular, and more importantly, they’re relatively affordable. You buy only the components that you need, and you stack them up. Here the micro iDSD player can play DSD512 files (not that you need to) and can output 4000mW to power a wide range of headphones and earphones.

S$699, www.stereo.com.sg

99

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Wired vs Wireless

W

ired or wireless? Convenience or sound quality? Why pay a premium for wireless when the sound quality won’t be as great? Likewise, why do you want to deal with clumsy and accident-prone wires when you are out? It’s getting much harder to pick out the difference these days as the gap narrows. But regardless of what you pick here, you’ll do fine.

Parrot Zik 3 The tech junkie’s dream headphone Pretty much the world’s most advanced wireless headphones with a bevy of features to match its unmistakeable Starck-designed profile. In addition, it now supports wireless charging, as well as digital wired connections. Throw in touch controls, noise cancelling and an app that can re-create room environments for your music, and this becomes the techie’s ultimate headphone wet dream.

S$599, www.av1group.com.sg

100

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Sony NW-A20 Making the serious casual and fun Good quality audio players need not be serious and expensive. Sony’s NW-A20 takes the middle ground, offering a striking, slim player that weighs a mere 66 grams and has the ability to play 24-bit files (no DSD support though) as well as provide active noise cancelling with the bundled earbuds. It’s also priced for mainstream audiences, and are great for those who are afraid to take the plunge and want to get their feet wet.

16GB: S$299, 32GB: S$399, www.sony.com.sg

What files should I get?

You may be inundated by countless file types that make no sense to you. Here’s a brief summary: WAV and AIFF are full-sized files without any compression. FLAC and ALAC are compressed without any data loss, but saves only a bit of space. MP3 and AAC are lossy compressed files, which means the sound is compromised to achieve smaller sizes. As a benchmark, 320kbps bitrate is the point where most people can’t tell if it’s a lossless file or not.

24-bit files can occur in full-size or lossless, it depends on what your source website offers. The most extreme is in the form of DXD, which may be offered even in 32-bit format. High resolution music is also available in DSD, which is a totally different concept. It is thought to be closest to analog, but processing power becomes a limitation, sometimes older computers can even struggle to process this.

■ Outfit and accessories from Forever21

101

C O V E R

S T O R Y

A case for wireless

A

s Bluetooth transmission improves, the gap in sound quality between wireless and wired headphone gets ever so much smaller. And as we all know, walking around in crowded Singapore with wires dangling off your head is a potential death trap for your gadgets.

Pendulumic Tach T1 Practical tech This homegrown product has a unique design, features, and sound. The vibrant and hard pounding signature is complemented by its pseudosteampunk look, complete with its clever, watch-dial style volume control. A touch of practical cleverness comes in the form of the option to use a AAA battery if the built-in lithium batteries are shot, a touch of out of the box thinking comes in the form of sharing music wirelessly with a friend who has a Tach T1 as well.

S$379, www.pendulumic.com

Master & Dynamic MW60 Pushing boundaries of luxury and tech Another who’s succeeded in implementing a retro design for the modern era, the Master & Dynamic MW60 is quite the experience. It sports less tech than Parrot’s ubiquitous number, and your money goes instead to its impeccable build and Bluetooth transmission. It offers sublime comfort and sound on the move, much like the offerings from B&W and B&O – and it certainly isn’t an inferior choice.

S$780, www.masterdynamic.com

Sennheiser MOMENTUM Wireless Gaining momentum in the wireless realm Sennheiser’s MOMENTUM series was a watershed moment for them, as the headphone offered looks and comfort in equal measure, while delivering that signature style they’ve been known for. The wireless version ups the stakes and offers additional perks like noise-cancelling and a foldable hinge for added portability.

S$589, en-sg.sennheiser.com

102

C O V E R

S T O R Y

A case for wired

I

f you are uncompromising about your listening experience, there really is no debate here. Wired still rules, and the extra money that goes into the Bluetooth module goes into other elements like better materials, better drivers, or both. These are some of the newest and best.

Sennheiser HD 630VB Bring audiophile quality to the streets The company’s first closed-back, audiophile-grade headphones is unlike anything you’ve seen them made. It’s also chockfull of features that will appeal to the masses, like its rotary bass dial that adjusts the bass response to taste. The dial also hosts the controls to adjusting volume and track selection. And it’s built like a brick s***house; solid construction and striking looks.

S$799, en-sg.sennheiser.com

Astell & Kern AK T1p by Beyerdynamic In all the right places The AK T1p is Beyerdynamic’s longstanding T1, adapted with upgraded drivers as well as a significantly lower impedance (600ohm to 32ohm) for Astell & Kern’s players and portable players in general. These semi-open headphones are known for their ability to place and separate instruments within its space, a great quality when you have right players and sources. For usage at home, there’s the regular T1.

AK T 1p: S$1,899, www.skmepl.com, T 1: S$1,799 www.peak-fusion.com.sg

Audeze Sine Smallest planar tech headphone Planar magnetic headphones tend to be huge, which is why the Audeze Sine is an interesting release. The Sine certainly does live up to expectations, and in a friendly, on-ear format. The simple, clean look puts it almost in the realm of fashion headphones. An optional Cipher cable makes it possible to bypass the DAC on your iPhone for 24-bit sound processing – and suitable for when the 3.5mm jack is dropped, if the rumor is true.

S$729, www.av1group.com.sg

103

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Trendy

N

ot everyone requires their music to have the finesse of Lionel Messi leaving defenders trailing in his wake. At least not on the move anyway.

Sometimes it’s about style, about freedom of movement, and at no cost to the listening experience. These quality headphones and earphones will definitely change the way you look at music on the go.

Sony h.ear on MDR-100AAP Clean lines, colours, sound Minimalist design, but hardly minimalist in outlook. They may be mainstream, but they’ve been specced to handle high-res audio with a 5-60,000Hz frequency range. But of course, specifications aren’t everything, and ultimately they offer a nice balanced sound that you can listen for hours on end without fatigue. Which is ultimately what this is all about when you want to provide quality for a not-sohardcore audience.

S$299, www.sony.com.sg

104

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Sony NW-ZX2 Pushing the limits of refinement Sony’s high-end player can easily be called ZX1: Ultimate edition, because that’s what it essentially is. Building on their earlier sleeper hit, Sony’s engineers spared no expense in souping up the guts of their promising ZX1, and the ZX2 was born. Not exactly a player that can support all sorts of headphones (slightly underpowered), but when you find a right match, you’ll find out why all that near-irrational obsession in tweaking was all about.

S$1,599, www.sony.com.sg

Trendy and Good?

You might be wondering how we can have trendy headphones in an article about higher quality music. The fact is that conventional headphones and players can be of a very high quality even if they don’t qualify under the High Res Audio moniker.

Even audiophiles are willing to accept something that’s not exactly a technical marvel if the overall experience is enjoyable – there are headphones you use to scrutinse, and headphones you use to have fun with. So while the numbers and specs do play a part, it does not necessarily tell the whole story. Especially so since these are meant to be used while commuting, other considerations like comfort, and styling will come into play.

■ Outfit from Love & Bravery ■ Heels from Pedro

105

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Meze 99 Classics Timeless Italian styling Simply classy. Maze’s 99 Classics is the perfect statement about how you should go about designing luxury headphones through the tasteful use of wood and metals without going over the top; anyone would gladly wear them without feeling self-conscious. But what’s more important is that not only do they look great, they sound great as well.

USD$309, www.mezeheadphones.com

JAYS u-JAYS Minimalists’ delight Simplicity is JAYS’ game. Minimalist looks, plenty of matte sheen, and a clear, punchy sound is what best describes their style, and with the u-JAYS, the company has taken a shot at bringing their DNA to the premium headphones segment. It’s hard to dislike them – the tasteful, simple design is appealing, while the sound is rather friendly too.

See our review on page 114.

S$368, www.jays.se

Jaybird Freedom Jaybird made beautiful Sporty and great-sounding is usually what you remember Jaybird by. That changes now with the new Jaybird Freedom, which can now boast elegance as a trait too. It is rather fetching, especially in white and gold. It’s made with a metal housing, and yet still retain its sweatproof properties. It now sports more power-efficient Bluetooth 4.0 tech. The smaller size also means that the battery is smaller, but it will come with a charging clip to keep it juiced up.

USD$200, local price TBC, www.jaybirdsport.com

106

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Echobox Finder X1 Style meets substance Initially funded via Indiegogo, the Echobox Finder X1 is now available for public sale. The aesthetics are one thing you can’t fault; tastefully and beautifully curved all-titanium shells. Definitely classy. It also features replaceable filters, which you can use to vary the levels of treble and bass to your taste, as well as German-made PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) dynamic drivers. Ah, the agony of choice.

S$299, www.facebook.com/slttechnologies

Atomic Floyd Superdarts Titanium Supercharged looks and sound With a name like Atomic Floyd (a Pink Floyd reference of course), you would not be surprised that the Superdarts Titanium is a rather supercharged pair of in-ears. Construction-wise you’ll easily see where your money goes: the cool titanium shell, and everything is generally well made. The hybrid design gives you plenty of bass and detailed treble but it will polarise many with its very bright sound, but I suppose there are people out there who like things turned up to eleven…

S$599, www.atomicfloyd.com

Ultrasone Edition M Luxury made portable Ultrasone’s Edition headphones are striking to look at as they exude luxury at every corner. This is thanks in part to the Ruthenium plated ear cups and sheep leather trimmings. It’s interesting as on-ears are not typically regarded as headphones that you make an over the top of the line for, but in this case Ultrasone has begged to differ. The result is a surprisingly good headphone that offers you both performance and aesthetics. At a price, of course. €899, www.ultrasone.audio

107

C O V E R

S T O R Y

DJ

E

ven if you are not an actual DJ, it doesn’t mean you won’t appreciate the traits that good DJ headphones have: a robust build, clarity with a tight bass response, noise isolation, comfort, and perhaps, rotatable cups for one-ear applications. If these traits are what you look for, then these might be up your alley.

Pioneer HDJ 2000 MK2 Pioneer’s classic gets revitalised If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But even so, a refresh is in order. So it is for one of the classics, the venerable HDJ-2000. In addition to an improved sound, the MK2 version has an updated facade in keeping with the times, newer guts as well as a noticeably better fit and sound isolation. The hinges are made of steel, swivel friendly, and can be used for one ear applications. Despite its club-smart looks, it’s built for hours upon hours of abuse; a real professional’s tool.

S$499, www.sweelee.com.sg

V-Moda Crossfade M-100 The new modern classic With looks like these, the Crossfade M-100 doesn’t seem like a serious headphone, but little did we know that they would prove to be popular with audiophiles and non-audiophiles alike thanks to their agreeable nature. Not only that, they’re built real solid from steel, and the STEELFLEX headband simply begs you to abuse it – a really useful trait for DJs who can’t be too gentle with them in the heat of the moment.

S$429, www.v-moda.com

Beyerdynamic DT1350 Old but gold standard No spring chicken, but its clever design will be hard to beat. The headband can be split for a more secure fit, the earpieces can be rotated 180 degrees for one-ear use, while the sound isolation is pretty darned good. Of course, not to mention that they sound good, and they are rather small and light too. The DT1350 is already somewhat of a classic in its class, DJ or otherwise.

S$248, www.jaben.net

108

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Gaming

U

nless you are religious about what you want in a headphone dedicated for music, it usually doesn’t make sense for gamers who play competitively to have two separate headphones at home for two different purposes (gaming and music) so the most sensible thing is to find a gaming headset that covers both areas with aplomb. Here are our picks for the job.

Plantronics RIG500E Only the essentials matter The RIG500E may feel flimsy but that can’t be further from the reality of why it’s good at what it does. This lightweight, well padded headset is good for hours of use without breaking a sweat.

It also comes with two sets of earpieces – one open and one closed. You can also swap between a standard 3.5mm input or a USB input that offers support for 24-bit audio and 7.1 surround. It delivers a great sound by focusing on the essentials.

S$249, www.plantronics.com/asia

Logitech G933 Artemis Spectrum Pushing the technology spectrum Everything here screams high-tech, from the Pro-G drivers made with hybrid mesh materials for improved audio performance, 7.1 surround or DTS Headphone X Surround sound, to the multi-platform compatibility allowing to switch between the TV or your consoles or desktop. You even can assign custom commands to three programmable buttons – this is one heck of a wireless headphone designed for the ultimate gaming audio experience.

S$299, www.logitech.com/en-sg

Sennheiser GAME ONE Quality by simplicity This multi-platform headset was designed for comfort as well as sound, sporting an open design that opens up the soundstage as well as ensuring that passes through to your ears to keep them cool. Sennheiser’s E.A.R. (Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement) technology channels audio optimally to your ears while the memory foam earpads add comfort for long hours of play.

The noise cancelling microphone improves clarity of speech, especially in the heat of the moment.

S$339, en-sg.sennheiser.com

109

C O N T E S T

Win a TomTom Spark GPS Fitness watch

K

eep fit with TomTom’s new Spark GPS fitness watch range, which now comes in four models. The basic TomTom Spark fitness watch now includes 24/7 activity tracking as well as

GPS Tracking and Multisport Mode, while the TomTom Spark Cardio adds a built-in heart rate monitor. The TomTom Spark Music adds a 3GB integrated music player that can be loaded via iTunes or Windows Mobile Player, while the TomTom Spark Cardio + Music combines all the features into one snazzy device.

With the TomTom Spark Music, you can now leave your mobile at home and still enjoy your tunes as the GPS fitness watch is compatible with many Bluetooth headphones, and even comes preloaded with a thirty minute Running Trax, curated by Ministry of Sound.

Thanks to TomTom Singapore, we have two TomTom Spark Music GPS fitness watches (each worth S$329) and one TomTom Spark Cardio + Music GPS fitness watch (worth S$399) to give away. All you have to do to win one of these fitness watches is to submit your entry for our two-part contest and email to info.nxt@kingsmanmedia.com with the subject header “NXT TomTom Spark contest”.

Part One To win one of the two TomTom Spark Music GPS Fitness watches, answer true or false: The onboard storage capacity of the TomTom Spark Music is 3GB. Part Two To win the TomTom Spark Cardio + Music GPS fitness watch, just write a short paragraph on why you need Music with your Cardio? The most entertaining entry will win!

110

For verification purposes please provide your: 1. Name 2. NRIC number 3. Email 4. Telephone number

Contest terms and conditions

winning selections will be final and binding. Each winner will be

1. This contest will run from 15/04/2016 to 15/06/2016 and is by

notified via email and telephone call. Winners are required to

bring their NRIC for verification during prize collection.

email only.

2. All details submitted must be true and accurate. Personal

4. The winning contestants must be a Singaporean citizen or

current resident. Submissions from outside Singapore will not

confidential.

be accepted. Employees of TomTom Singapore and Kingsman

3. Two winners will be selected randomly from the correct

Media are disqualified from entering this contest.

entries for part one and will each win one TomTom Spark

5. The winning contestants will be announced in a forthcoming

Music GPS fitness watch. As judged by the staff of NXT

magazine, the most entertaining entry to part two and will win

6. Kingsman Media reserves the rights to modify the terms and

the TomTom Spark Music + Cardio GPS fitness watch. The

information of all contestants will be kept private and

issue of NXT magazine. conditions of this contest.

P R I M E

Gadgets tested for your assessment

118

Apple 9.7-inch iPad Pro

120 Apple iPhone SE 137 Canon RAYO i8 135 Earin 122 Fujifilm X-Pro 2 114 Jays U-Jay 138 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 112 Lenovo Thinkpad Carbon X1 124 Lenovo Yoga Y900 126 Loewe Reference 85 136 Motorola Moto 360 128 Parrot Zik 3 134 ProLink 4 in 1 Hub 132 Shure KSE 1500 116 Samsung Galaxy S7 130 TomTom Spark Music + Cardio 115

T E S T

112

T E S T

EXCLUSIVE

Light and Durable Computing L

enovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon has been the dream machine for many travelling executives, a premium business laptop in discrete black, tough enough to shrug of the occasional knocks and bumps of business travelling, light enough to carry anywhere and slim enough to slide into a briefcase. Ah, and it’s also secure enough that your company’s rivals won’t be able to access your sensitive data should your notebook fall into enemy hands, so to speak.

For the newly launched 4th Gen ThinkPad X1 Carbon, Lenovo has pretty much kept to the ThinkPad X1 recipe. The iconic design is still very much present - with it’s squared off corners and flat black finishing, plus silver ThinkPad embossing with the red dot on the letter ‘i’. From the side you can see that the notebook has slimmed down a

bit, and with Lenovo using high-grade carbon fibre it’s fantastically light for a 14-inch notebook, just 1.2kg which Lenovo claims makes it the lightest in the world.

Popping open the ‘hood’ and a very familiar ThinkPad layout greets you - a full keyboard that’s great to type on, that iconic red TrackPoint and touchpad with red highlights. The standard screen offered is a bright 2K IPS display and Intel Core i7 processors, minimum 8GB RAM and 500GB SSDs come standard, though you can build your own configuration. Connectivity options are generous for a business orientated notebook, and there’s not only three USB 3.0 ports but also Lenovo’s OneLink+, a Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, WiGig for wireless syncing to monitors, dualband WiFi and LTE capability.

RATING ★★★★

Technical specifications:

The new ThinkPad X1 Carbon is an excellent upgrade from its predecessor, with great specifications, durability and performance.

From S$2752 www.lenovo.com/sg

Size/Weight 333 x 229 x 16.45mm / 1.17kg OS Windows 10 Pro Processor Intel Skylake Core i7 Graphics Intel HD Graphics 520 Memory 8GB (up to 16GB) DDR4 Storage 512GB SSD Display 14-inch WQHD (2,560 x 1440) IPS Connectivity Bluetooth 4.1, WiGig, OneLink+, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, 3 x USB 3.0, microSD, Dualband WiFi, LTE (option)

113

T E S T

Made for Everyday The JAYS u-JAY is a premium headphone made for daily abuse

by JUSTIN CHOO

J

AYS made a name for themselves designing minimalist, keenly priced earphones optimised for mobile phones. And they weren’t half bad either.

The JAYS u-JAYS may not be their first headphone, but it’s the first premium-level headphone in JAYS’ lineup. The u-JAYS features all the bells and whistles expected of a lifestyle headphone, right down to the packaging. It’s also a very well-thought out design; minimalist in nature and with no sloppy, exposed wires. The silicon rubber used on the headband, as well as the leatherette earcups, seem quality, and are as comfortable as can be. JAYS certainly know how to make synthetic materials look sexy and premium.

The only potential downsides for comfort would be that these earcups don’t rotate upwards and downwards, so limiting the flexibility of the fitting. The clamping force is also quite firm, which may or may not be good depending on the shape of your head.

Surprisingly, in a good way – the u-JAYS shares the same, slightly bright and resonant tonal character as its in-ear cousins. The soundstage is reasonable for a pair of closed backs, the presentation is pretty balanced, while the level of detail is pretty much in line with most fashion-centric headphones (actually it’s slightly better than the average). The even response ensures that it pretty much suits all genres, so don’t expect any bass monsters here.

So what exactly are you paying for given the slightly hefty price tag? For one, it’s very well-made, and seems made to last with no critical design flaws. It’s a very well engineered headphone that stands up well to everyday listening, and this brings to mind a little-talked about aspect of headphones. It’s one thing to like something, it’s quite another to live with it every day. The U-JAYS was made with the latter in mind.

RATING ★★★ ★

Technical specifications:

It’s easy to forget that good ergonomics and a clean design comes at extra expense. While the sound quality will not blow your mind given how stiff the competition is these days, as a package the u-JAYS is another good example of the company’s ability to churn out well-designed urban-style gear.

S$368 www.jays.se

114

Type On-ear, closed back headphones Driver 40mm dynamic Sensitivity 100dB SPL @ 1kHz Impedance 32Ohm @ 1kHz Frequency response 10-20000Hz Colors Black on black, Black on gold, White on Silver, White on gold Remote Type Full-feature, three-button remote with MEMS mic for iOS, Windows or Android Cable Type Removable TPE coated, Kevlar reinforced, 135cm Weight 224g

T E S T

115

by Shawn Chung

T E S T

116

T E S T

Editor’s Choice

The Best Galaxy Ever?

We heaped quite a bit of praise on the new Galaxy S7 devices in our NXT Gear, but now it is time to review the Samsung Galaxy S7 and see if it lives up to the hype we’ve given it!

S

amsung has been progressively evolving it’s flagship smartphone designs since the Galaxy S6 last year, adding the successful curve form factor of the Galaxy S6 edge progressively into its range through the large-screen Galaxy Note5 and the Galaxy S6 edge+. This design evolution is clear when you get your hands on the Galaxy S7. The glass back of the device curves upwards to meet the metallic sides of the device, while at the front there’s a subtle curve that’s barely noticeable. On the back the Samsung logo has been placed behind the glass panel, giving a nice visual depth.

The big negative about the glass-on-glass build is that it’s a real fingerprint magnet, but as Samsung have made the Galaxy S7 dust and water resistant you can actually give it a rinse under a tap, and surprisingly even when wet the glass doesn’t feel very slippery in the hand.

With one exception, the Galaxy S7’s updated technical specifications are as expected, with a 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display that’s customarily bright, sharp and colour accurate.

Processing comes from either Samsung’s own Exynos 8890 or Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chipsets, which when combined with the

4GB of RAM makes the user interface really fast and smooth and apps open speedily. Speaking of which, Samsung’s infamous bloatware has been significantly reduced to eight apps, including S Health and Samsung Pay, which will be available in Singapore later in the year.

You also get Microsoft’s Apps suite preloaded, which includes the three Office Apps, OneNote and OneDrive.

That’s great because only the 32GB storage version is available in Singapore (no visibility on if or when Singapore will get the 64GB version) so if you like loading Korean dramas into your smartphone you’ll run out of capacity on the S7 before you can load in an entire season. The solution is thankfully the hybrid card caddy, which has a main nanoSIM tray and a secondary hybrid tray that can be used for either a microSIM card or a microSD card up to 200GB. Oh, and the one exception to the specifications of the Galaxy S7?

The main camera, which has gone from 16-megapixels on the Galaxy S6 to 12-megapixels on the Galaxy S7. The new camera sensor does boast a dual-pixel sensor for faster focusing and better optics and is simply brilliant, especially in low-light where it actually captures more light that a human eye can see.

RATING ★★★★★

Technical specifications:

Overall the Samsung Galaxy S7 has been built on the positives (and mistakes) of its immediate predecessors and is pretty much everything you want in a class-leading flagship mobile.

S$998 www.samsung.com.sg

Size/Weight 142 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm/152g Storage Capacity 32GB ROM/4GB RAM. Hybrid microSD/ microSIM card Camera Main 12 MP, f/1.7, phase detection autofocus, OIS, LED flash Camera Front 5 MP, f/1.7, Auto HDR Platform Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) Connectivity 2G/3G UMTS/4G LTE/NFC/BT4.0/WiFi/GPS Display 5.1-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen, 1440 x 2560 pixel

117

T E S T

RATING ★★★★

by SHAWN CHUNG

With the 9.7-inch iPad Pro Apple has created another awesome multitasking tablet, but you do have to pay pretty big bucks for it. But if you need that power and portability it trumps even its big brother.

118

32GB (WiFi) S$898 128GB (WiFi) S$1,158 256GB (WiFi) S$1,418 32GB (WiFi + 4G) S$1,098 128GB (WiFi + 4G) S$1,358 256GB (WiFi + 4G) S$1,618 www.apple.com/sg

PRODUCT specifications: Size/Weight 240 x 169.5 x 6.1mm/ 437g CPU A9X chip with 64-bit, M9 motion coprocessor RAM 2GB Cameras 12MP iSight main camera, 5MP FaceTime HD front camera Platform iOS 9.1 Connectivity 2G/3G/4G/LTE/BT4.2/WiFi/GPS, embedded Apple SIM (WiFi + 4G version) Display 9.7-inch Retina display with True Tone Battery Up to 10 hours of web surfing

T E S T

A portable Pro tablet for pros F

ollowing up on our review of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in our last issue, this time around we have the smaller 9.7-inch iPad Pro. With the launch of this tablet Apple has made it clear that they’ve created two iPad tiers - the Pro series for professional use and the iPad Air and iPad mini for normal consumers.

While the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is a big tablet primarily for creative and design types to use in place of their MacBooks, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is much lighter and definitely more portable, even when you carry it around with its Smart Keyboard. Apple also added a few features to the 9.7-inch iPad Pro that make it eminently more suitable for mobility, specifically a brighter Retina Display with True Tone - a feature that uses 4 light sensors to adjust the white balance of the display to match ambient light conditions - this means that the screen will automatically adjust white balance whether you use the 9.7-inch iPad Pro in bright sunlight or in your office. Additionally, the main iSight camera for the

9.7-inch iPad Pro is the same 12-megapixel version you get on the iPhone 6S. Now I’ve done live updates using the 12.9-inch iPad Pro before and used its 8-megapixel main camera, which is nothing much to shout about. With the upgraded camera on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro I’m now able to not only capture good quality images, but record 4K video as well. Using iMovie to edit my videos is also a lot easier than you’d guess. The 9.7-inch iPad Pro has the same A9X processor as the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and with 2GB of RAM, 4K native video processing is amazingly fast considering I’m working on a tablet, much less a multimedia laptop!

119

T E S T

by SHAWN CHUNG

RATING ★★★★

120

For a big screen user like me, the iPhone SE feels smaller and lighter, more nimble and just easy to whip out of a pants pocket. Of course it can’t match the benefits a large screen provides users, but if you’re looking for a fast little smartphone with an excellent camera and an affordable price, this is for you.

From S$658 www.apple.com/sg

PRODUCT specifications: Size/Weight 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm/ 113g CPU A9 chip with 64-bit, M9 motion coprocessor RAM 2GB Cameras 12MP iSight main camera, 1.2MP front camera Platform iOS 9.3 Connectivity 2G/3G/4G/LTE/BT4.2/WiFi/GPS/NFC (Apple Pay) Display 4-inch Retina display Battery Up to 14 hours talk

T E S T

Speedy little iPhone The Apple iPhone SE fits the bill for people who prefer smaller smartphones

A

question I’ve been asked frequently when I showed colleagues the Apple iPhone SE was “What’s the point of the 4-inch screen?”

Ah, that has to do with smartphone replacement cycles. If you’ve used iPhones for a number of years you’d know that most iPhone users change their devices every two years. So while iPhone 5s users might choose to upgrade to to the iPhone 6s or the upcoming iPhone 7, quite a few prefer sticking to the 4-inch form factor. How few? Well, Apple says they sold 30 million 4-inch iPhones in 2015!

Thus the new iPhone SE. As someone who’s been using phablet devices for two years now downsizing to the 4-inch screen of the iPhone SE took a week to get used to, but I’m now enjoying the fact that I can actually have space in the pocket of my left jeans, where I usually carry my 6-inch phablet device.

With the iPhone SE, Apple have taken most of the features of the iPhone 6s and placed it into what is essentially a mildly redesigned

iPhone 5s body, with the main difference is in the colours, as the iPhone SE sporting more muted tones. For a small device it’s very speedy, though unlocking is a little slow by iPhone 6s standards as the iPhone SE still retains the Touch ID sensor from the iPhone 5s.

Once unlocked you’ll find the 4-inch Retina Display is very reactive to the touch. It’s bright and very sharp, making for easy reading of small fonts. The camera system is excellent, good in low light conditions and captures images with warm, natural tones and videos up to 4K in resolution.

Oh, and you can do all while holding the iPhone SE with one hand and using just your thumb to tap and swipe.

121

by Shawn Chung

T E S T

122

T E S T

The little pro-shooter Fujfilm’s X-Pro2 proves that good things do come in small packages.

I

initially found the Fujifilm X-Pro2 a bit frustrating to get used to, and I’m not just referring the offset hybrid viewfinder. The camera’s control layout is also non-standard, so I had to do quite a bit of manual reading to figure out all the settings.

Mastering the hybrid multi viewfinder also took a bit of trial and error, especially as it’s been some years since I reviewed the X-Pro1. In the X-Pro2 the system has been updated to offer three modes with the flick of a toggle - a simple optical viewfinder with a little digital view on the bottom left, a full electronic viewfinder taken straight from the 24 MP X-Trans CMOS III sensor, and an electronic rangefinder mode that displays a simple frame to help you compose an image.

Ah, and then I got it. The X-Pro2 is a retro-styled camera that encourages photographers to enjoy the basics of photography, to set

up and compose your image before you press the shutter button. It’s like a holdover from the days of film photography where you only had 32 shots in each roll, and every shot counted. So even though you now have two 32GB SDHC cards in the X-Pro2’s dual card slots, you’ll enjoy taking your time and enjoy the results.

And the results can be breathtaking. Apart from the huge improvements to the viewfinder, the X-Pro2 also has excellent autofocusing, improved ISO noise reduction and enhanced colour reproduction. There’s also Fujiflim’s Classic Chrome and Velvia film simulation modes and the new ACROS monochrome film simulation mode that has better contrast than standard black & white mode, enabling you to capture subtle shades of black and grey.

RATING ★★★★

Technical specifications:

S$2799 (body only) www.fujifilm.com.sg

Size & weight 141 x 83 x 56 mm / 495g Image sensor 24 megapixel X-Trans CMOS III APS-C Image processor EXR Processor III ISO 100 - 12,800 LCD 3-inch Viewfinder Hybrid electronic and optical Maximum video quality Full HD 1920 x 1080p Connectivity WiFi

Fujiflim’s X-Pro2 was never meant to be an ultimate digital camera or be compared to a full-frame DSLR. But what it does very well, however, to to make digital photography a little more involved, a bit more personal, and is the best camera Fujifilm have ever made. For now.

123

by Shawn Chung

T E S T

124

T E S T

Bend it like a Yoga Lenovo’s flagship Yoga 900 convertible adds much needed performance and a little bling

A

s the product name implies, the Lenovo Yoga 900 is a quite a bendy convertible notebook. Replacing the Yoga 3 Pro, the Yoga 900 is very much a blinged up and trendy laptop that’s available in three metallic colours of Clementine orange, Champagne gold and Platinum Silver. They also sport Lenovo’s Watchband Hinge, which is extremely eye-catching, yet allows the screen to flip 360 degrees so that the Yoga can be used in four different viewing modes.

In the hand it’s quite light, at 1.29kg, and Lenovo claims that at 14.9mm thick, the Yoga 900 is the world’s slimmest convertible notebook running Core i7. That’s a pretty important definition as the Core processor enables the Yoga 900 to handle reasonably processor

heavy tasks like gaming and Full-HD video playback. The slimness also makes the Yoga 900 easier to hold in the hand in tablet mode - especially with Windows 10 finally able to provide an adequate touchscreen experience. Still, as a tablet it’s still quite heavy, so that mode should be used only infrequently.

As a multimedia laptop there’s plenty of features to like. Apart from the excellent 13-inch QHD+ IPS touchscreen display, there’s two downward firing 1.5W JBL speakers that sound excellent when reflected off a table top, and they even sound pretty decent in tablet mode with the screen folded on top of them. For on the go usage, Lenovo also promises up to 10 hours of battery life, which is pretty decent.

RATING ★★★★★

Technical specifications:

There’s much to like about the Yoga 900 and a little that we disliked, specifically the keyboard which feels shallow- but this is of course coming from a key-mashing writer. Overall it’s a good upgrade over the Yoga 3 Pro.

From S$1,899 www.lenovo.com/sg

Size/Weight 324 x 225 x 14.9mm / 1.29kg OS Windows 10 Home Processor Intel Skylake Core i7 processor Graphics Integrated Intel HD Graphics Memory 8GB Storage 256GB SSD Display 13.3-inch QHD+ 3200 x 1800 resolution IPS touchscreen Connectivity Dualband WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, 2x USB 3.0 Type A, 1x USB 3.0 Type C with video out, 1x DC-in with USB 2.0 function.

4-in-1 card reader.

125

by Shawn Chung

T E S T

126

T E S T

EXCLUSIVE

Luxury Big Screen Viewing If you’re willing to pay for the best 4K TV in Singapore, you won’t go wrong with Loewe’s Reference 85 TV.

T

here are a few luxury television makers in the world who don’t have instantly recognisable brand names. German TV maker Loewe is one such company, and while they do make some of the most stylish flat panel TVs on the planet, they don’t really like to harp on about it.

That said, we somehow managed to land the huge Loewe Reference 85 4K UHD TV for an exclusive review just a short time after the new series was launched in Singapore. It’s an imposing 85-inch TV to check out up close, in a typically German modernist design with not only straight edges but gentle curves when viewed from the side, and the design is meant to be integrated with any luxury household decor, with a range of colour options for the television’s solid aluminium bezel that includes Aluminium Silver, Aluminium Black, Dark Gold and High-Gloss White. And if you want to change the viewing angle of the

TV on its stand, simply press a button on the remote and an electric motor will reposition the screen to your liking.

The UHD panel itself has been created to ensure rich colours and blacks, and indeed for our test we ran a number of 4K movie trailers off a thumb drive with really impressive results. Upscaling non-4K content was another matter, with some quite visible pixelation for Standard Definition. 1080p to 4K upscale was much better, though not as detailed as 4K. Where the Reference really blew us away was from its integrated soundbar, which has eight speakers that output to 120 watts. Not only does it sound brilliant for action movies, but you can sync the TV to a smart device and use it as a wireless speaker system to fill your living room full of music.

RATING ★★★★★

Technical specifications:

It’s a truly impressive panel to watch 4K UHD content on, and the integrated sound system simply spectacular. Strangely, while the TV has built-in wifi, and internet browser and 1GB storage, it’s not a Smart TV, so you need a IPTV set top box to access Netflix. from S$33,999 www.atlas-sv.com

Screen size 85-inch LCD TV with Direct LED Backlight Resolution 4K, 3,840x2,160 pixels Video processing Ultra HD Super Resolution Scaling / Image+ Active /24p motion picture display Audio Features Dolby Digital, DTS, Integrated 5.1 Receiver, Soundbar Connectivity WiFi, 2x Tuners, 4x HDMI, Ethernet, 3x USB 3.0, digital audio out Weight Approx. 96.7 kg (with stand)

127

T E S T

Third time’s the charm The Zik 3 goes full wireless, and it’s glorious

N

ow in its third iteration, the Parrot Zik 3 is completely wireless.

It now supports Qi wireless charging (wireless charger optional purchase) to make it undoubtedly the most elegant wireless headphone ever.

The jury’s out on the variety of exotic finishes that the Zik 3 is available in, but generally thanks to its excellent design, you can pick the nondescript colours if you feel self-conscious. But the highlights are of course its myriad of sensors and controls available.

It recognises when you take off your headphones and cuts the music, and the touch controls on the side of the ear cups are very responsive. Too responsive, actually, but you’ll get used to it with time.

In addition, the app (watch app as well) allows you a full range of effects and customisations, such as room simulation and speaker placement, as well as equalisation presets contributed by music artistes.

Implementation of noise cancellation is excellent, and can automatically switch intensity depending on what environment you are in. In terms of absolute cancellation it won’t beat a Bose, but it does okay.

Wireless performance was generally good, even though surprisingly, it operates on the older Bluetooth 3.0, which was a surprise. Sans enhancements, the Zik 3 sounds energetic and clean sounding. The sense of overall space, and spaciousness between instruments was surprisingly good. They’ve clearly stumbled on something that works and stuck to it. It shines even more when wired – you can use a 3.5mm cable or use the onboard DAC via USB – but that defeats the purpose.

The Zik 3’s charm lies in comprehensive nature of what it can do while looking like a work of art. It comes at a price, but it’s hard to argue with strength of the package.

RATING ★★★★★

Technical specifications:

You may not need all the features that it touts, but even so, the Zik 3 will be up there amongst the best headphones money can buy. Not all elements are top of the line (e.g. pleather, Bluetooth 3.0), but their congruence ensures that the Zik 3 will be hard to beat on its unique terms.

by JUSTIN CHOO

S$599 www.av1group.com.sg

128

Type Over-ear, closed back headphones Driver 40mm Neodynium dynamic DAC 32-bit, supports 24-bit/192kHz, USB audio at 16-bit/48kHz Frequency response 20-20,000Hz Additional wireless features NFC, Qi charging, hands-free Colors Black croc, black overstitched, black leather grain, ivory overstitched, red croc, emerald green croc, brown croc, camel leather grain Battery 830mAh (7hours), user replaceable Cable Type Micro-USB, 3.5mm Weight 270g

T E S T

129

by Shawn Chung

T E S T

130

T E S T

Spark your fitness with music TomTom’s latest Spark fitness watch adds music playing and activity tracking into the mix

A

s a user of TomTom’s previous Spark GPS fitness watch I was looking forward to this review of the new TomTom Spark Cardio + Music GPS Fitness watch. For a couple of years the previous version has been my running, swimming and occasional cycling tracker (when I forget to charge my GPS bike computer).

Overall it’s been a good relationship, though one major issue I had was that it wasn’t very accurate at logging swimming laps - and yes, both generations of Spark are waterproof to 50m.

The new Spark Cardio + Music is smaller in size than its predecessor and with a more ergonomic shape and wrist straps is a bit more comfortable to wear. Navigating the menu is still the same, via a four-way toggle located below the screen, but going through the menu is far faster, as is the time it takes for initial GPS lock-on at the start of your outdoor workout.

Internally, there’s been quite a few additional features added apart from the 3GB Bluetooth music player that will play your running tracks, so you can leave your phone and armband at home. There’s now a 24/7 fitness tracking feature, with not only step but heart rate tracking, this presents a much more accurate estimate of energy consumption - handy for weight-lost training. The new bluetooth features also lets you sync the watch to a smartphone to receive notification alerts.

Battery life is excellent - up to three weeks of activity tracking, 11 hours of GPS tracking and 5 hours if you have GPS, music and heart rate tracking all going at the same time - enough to run a full 42km marathon.

TomTom has its own proprietary fitness website MySports for Spark users to join, providing data collation to give you progress reports and even tips on improving your workouts. But you can also set the MySync program on your PC to upload your data directly to you favourite fitness sites, like MapMyFitness and Strava.

RATING ★★★★

Technical specifications:

Overall the TomTom Spark Cardio + Music is an excellent solution for regular multisport workout and beginner triathletes.

Where it lacks is that transferring music files from a PC could be more seamless.

S$399 www.tomtom.com/fitness

Thickness & weight 13.7 mm / 50g Display & Resolution 22 x 25mm / 144 x 168 Sports tracked Running, Treadmill, Cycling, Indoor Cycling, Swimming, Freestyle, Gym Activity tracking steps, active minutes, distance, calories burnt, sleep Sensors GPS + GLONASS, motion sensor, compass, optical heart rate monitor Music 3GB Storage, MP3 & AAC compatible, Bluetooth A2DP and AVRC support

131

T E S T

Electrifying performance Elusive electrostatic tech finally makes its way to in-ears

by JUSTIN CHOO

T

he Shure KSE1500 is the world’s first in-ear headphones that are based on electrostatic tech. In the headphones world, it is a big deal. Electrostatic tech boasts the fastest responding diaphragm to create the most vivid details possible.

The KSE1500 requires the KSA1500 DAC and amplifier to work.

The KSA1500 is similar to the well-reviewed SHA900 (featured in the last issue of NXT), with the exception that it was designed to work only with the KSE1500 due to the unique power requirements.

There can really only be one word for the KSE1500 – stunning.

This is the kind of setup that really shows up lower resolution, poorly mastered audio tracks. Why we should even bother with the extra hassle dealing with music files that take up too much space? This is why.

The KSE1500 is able to resolve detail at a level that you’re unlikely to ever have experienced with conventional portable rigs. It truly does

give you a healthy dose of clarity previously exclusive to desktop electrostatic headphones. Even the most troublesome of highs and lows are effortlessly tackled with plenty of finesse. The soundstage is fairly large and separation between instruments is excellent, even on heavily layered tracks. However it’s not the warmest sounding combo, and many may lament that it sounds somewhat sterile.

The KSA1500 supports up to 24-bit/96 kHz files (you can still play higher bitrate files nonetheless). While you’ll get more mileage by using a better source DAP or DAC, but that would mean adding yet another gadget to your person. The KSA1500 is competent as it is.

The excellent performance comes at a price – S$4,499. The build quality doesn’t reflect the price however, although that is the only legitimate complaint. For a hardcore audiophile, it’s not ridiculously expensive, and actually may feel like a bargain for those who tend to favour detail over other things.

RATING ★★★★

Technical specifications:

Breakthrough tech comes at a price, and it’s no different here.

The upside is that it’s priced within range of equivalent highend in-ears, which takes off the sting slightly – but only just. The build quality isn’t bling level, but thankfully they’ve put their money where it matters most.

S$4,499 www.shureasia.com

132

Transducer Type Electrostatic Frequency response 10 Hz to 50 kHz Maximum SPL 113 dB SPL (1 kHz at 3% THD) Cable length 140cm Bit Depth 16-bit / 24-bit Sampling Rate 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 kHz Signal-to-Noise Ratio up to 107 dB A-weighted Input USB Micro-B, 3.5mm Battery Life Line-in Input (BYPASS EQ mode) up to 10 hours USB Input (EQ mode) up to 7 hours

T E S T

133

T E S T

Editor’s Choice

The all-in-one charging hub

Prolink’s Probrick+ hub and charger lets you leave all your power adaptors at home

P

rolink’s PUH501-NB PROBRICK+ is a real revelation for people on the go. I usually hate packing for an overseas media event because of the amount of chargers and cables I need to carry - one each for my smartphone, digital camera, laptop and tablet. One method I tried in the past was to use an externally powered USB hub to sync them to my laptop and charge them, but that still entails carrying an additional power adaptor and as tablets need higher charging amp to smartphones they’ll take a lot longer to charge from a standard external USB dock.

The PROBRICK + really simplifies everything. It acts as a single power adaptor for all devices, including laptops (so I leave the heavy

laptop powerbrick at home). For notebooks there’s a dedicated port and a cable with 9 different notebook connecting tips to match the most popular brands, while for charging via the four USB 3.0 ports ProLink has integrated an IntelliSense technology that automatically adjusts the amperage to a connected device, so that both your smartphone and your tablet are charged at the correct power. When I tried simultaneously charging four smart devices (a smartwatch, two mobiles and a tablet) and using my laptop there wasn’t a single hiccup whatsoever.

Additionally while your devices charge you can use an additional USB 3.0 cable to connect the PROBRICK + to your notebook to enable fast data syncing to four devices at the same time.

RATING ★★★★★

Technical specifications:

by SHAWN CHUNG

There’s nothing I can fault with the Prolink PROBRICK+. It’s an excellent and affordable solution to replacing your device chargers and four-port USB hub if like me you tend to carry a few devices around.

134

S$158 www.prolink2u.com

Size & weight 119 x 61 x 27 mm / 169g Ports 4 x USB 3.0. 1 x PC power out, 1 x USB 3.0 B port Data transfer rate 5Gbps Max output power 5V/16A (80W)

T E S T

These Buds were Made for Hearin’ True wireless audio made classy

by SHAWN CHUNG

E

arin is amongst the pioneers of truly small, truly wireless (no wires connecting the earbuds) earbuds. Given its size, you’d be amazed yet at the same time be filled with trepidation that something will go wrong. Well the answer is yes and no.

If I’m honest, Earin won’t blow your mind. But you will definitely be amazed by what has been accomplished by its creators. What you have here is an elegant, lipstick-sized capsule that holds a pair of earbuds as well as a battery to keep it charged for about a day’s worth of listening.

But Earin is not without its caveats. One is that the earbuds themselves are able to give you about 2 to 3 hours of music in one sitting before requiring a charge in its capsule, which is rather short by most wireless earbuds standards; and that’s where the charger comes in to keep it charged when you’re not using it. It’s still good though, because the Earin is clearly designed for people who want an elegant solution for

their commutes. The other is that the signal drops off fairly easily and is sensitive to where you place your smartphone. Fortunately, it’s fleeting and not something that is overly annoying.

Earin has many clever design touches. Firstly there are no switches – if you remove them from the capsule, it stops charging, turns on automatically and pairs with your device. When used with Comply foam, the earbuds sit securely enough in your ears, although they do include a pair of stablisers for a more secure fit. It’s as fuss-free as it gets.

Soundwise, the Earin is above average, provided you use the comply foam earbuds. Not audiophile-grade, but not bad either. On the whole, it’s quite a brilliant package. The price may be a little intimidating though, because that price bracket gets you many a brilliant wired in-ears. But it scores highly in delivering a concept.

RATING ★★★★★

Technical specifications:

On sound quality alone Earin is just above average, and for the money you have way too many options. But as an elegant solution for easy-to-handle, commute-friendly earphones, Earin has set the bar for how these gizmos should be like.

S$349 truewireless.sg

Driver unit Balanced Armature Frequency Range 20-20,000Hz Sensitivity 105dB +- 2dB Impedance 25Ohm Supported codecs AAC, aptX, SBC Dimensions 14.5mm x 20mm (earbuds), 21mm x 95mm (capsule) Weight 3.5g (earbuds), 42g (capsule) Play time Up to 3 hours (stereo), up to 11 hours (mono) Battery 60mAh (earbuds), 600mAh (capsule) Wireless Bluetooth 3.0 and 4.0 compatible

135

T E S T

Motorola’s elegant Moto 360 returns The first ever Android Wear device gets a refresh, but how does it stand in today’s crowded smartwatch market?

A

s smartwatches go, the second generation Motorola Moto 360 is tastefully understated, and we like it like that. Our test version, the 46mm Men silver case with Cognac Leather band is quite minimalist, a simple polished silver watch case with chamfered bezel leading to the large 46mm touchscreen and just one pusher button located on the two o’clock of the watch case.

The OS is of course almost pure Android Wear, and utterly similar to every other Android Wear smartwatch once you get under the personalised watch face. That’s not necessary a bad thing, but it means that every Android wear smartwatch interacts in almost exactly the same way - swipe down for settings, swipe up for notifications and swipe right to access apps and functions.

Motorola have added their Moto Body apps and features which are great for general fitness and 24/7 activity tracking, and the watch’s built-in heart rate sensor is pretty accurate.

You can also set the 360 for ‘inactivity’ tracking, so that when you sit at your desk for more than an hour the watch can send you a prompt to get up and go. It’ll even send out cheery messages when you’re near your daily activity goals.

RATING ★★★★★

by JUSTIN CHOO

The Moto 360 v2 isn’t much of a stand-out in the crowded Android Wear watch market, and in over a normal day’s use will usually run out of power just before the end of the day.

136

S$549 (46mm Men Silver case with Cognac Leather band) S$479 (42mm Men Black case with Black Leather band) S$499 (42mm Woman Rose Gold case with Blush Leather band) motorola.com

Technical specifications: Diameter 42, or 46mm Display 42/46mm Backlit LCD with Gorilla Glass 3 Battery 300 or 400 mAh OS Android Wear CPU Snapdragon 400 Memory 4GB storage, 512MB RAM Sensors Heart Rate and Pedometer.

T E S T

Rayo light

We check out Canon’s multimedia streaming mini-projectors

C

anon’s latest mini projectors the RAYO i8(gold) and i5 (silver) were created to offer a complete wireless portable projecting solution for both business users and consumers, and thanks to their wireless DLNA and Miracast compatibility you can sync them to your smart device and present from that while leaving your laptop in the office.

At just 269g in weight the projector easily slips into a briefcase, and you can attach a simple stand to make adjusting the angle of the screen fast and simple. The LED projection system can cast images up to 158-inches, but as it’s 100 lumen bright we reckon 60-inches to be the ideal size for a moderately dark office to clearly make out small details like text. On a full charge you’ll get up to 120 minutes of video playback.

In testing the RAYO we found there were no issues playing videos from a laptop over MHL/HDMI cables, and syncing to a smartphone was also pretty easy - once Miracast mode is selected the RAYO displays your device’s homescreen and even orientates the image to how you hold your phone in landscape or portrait mode. While playing Full HD YouTube clips we did notice that the sound from the RAYO’s stereo speakers was out of sync, which may be due the our use of a mid-tier Android smartphone and the projector’s own projector having to downsize the Full HD video resolution and audio to its native 854 x 480 resolution.

RATING ★★★★★

Technical specifications:

by Shawn Chung

The RAYO i8 and i5 are quite handy little projectors with decent multimedia performance. Where it does lack is the display resolution, which is fine for business presentations but just won’t offer the detailed viewing experience for video that we’re so used to now.

RAYO i8 S$749 RAYO i5 S$699 www.canon.com.sg

Size & weight 111 x 111 x 17.2 mm / 269g Display & Resolution 0.2-inch WVGA / 854 x 480 Brightness 100 Ansi Lumens Contrast 900/1 Max screen size 158-inches Connectivity HDMI / MHL, Wireless Miracast / DLNA Battery life Max 3 hours in Eco Mode

137

T E S T

Jeep in the Urban Jungle How does a tough Jeep Wrangler survive in urban Singapore? We find out.

U

rbanised Singapore seems to be a strange habitat for a tough looking off-road vehicle like the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara Edition, where the majority of AWD vehicles you see on local road will hardly be driven onto a grass curb, much less a muddy trail. To these SUV owners, there’s not much point in purchasing the Jeep Wrangler when there’s the more well-appointed Jeep Cherokee sharing showroom space with the Wrangler, especially as the Wrangler’s cabin has been deliberately kept a bit austere and tough to take the knocks of carrying adventure gear.

The Wrangler is a bit difficult to drive in an urban environment as well. Firstly you sit high and forward in the driver’s seat, which may seem unnatural to if you’ve only ever driven sedans. Thankfully I actually do have SUV driving experience so adapted easily. On the road

by SHAWN CHUNG

RATING ★★★★★

138

the Wrangler can really hustle with its 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine, though there’s a noticeable throttle lag from the long pedal. Where I had great difficulty in this vehicle was executing U-turns and parking - the turning circle is quite large and the steering wheel’s lock-to-lock is wider than I’m used to. Parking the Wrangler is also quite a pain - it’s 1.8m tall so just squeaks into some of the older carparks in town, and there’s no reverse sensor, so you really need to rely on the thankfully large wing mirrors.

Where the Wrangler excels is of course off-road, and unfortunately my test drive was much too short to set up a road trip up to Mersing, via the fishing port of Tanjung Sedili. With sweeping country roads and some light offroad tracks and cut up asphalt, it’s a perfect habitat for the Wrangler, especially with roof racks to carry fishing rods and other gears.

While the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara Edition can just handle Singapore’s urban jungle, its real habitat should be across the causeway on adventure and off-road expeditions. Don’t purchase it for the iconic name and looks, get it for the thrill of the trail.

S$238,000 (with COE) www.jeep.com.sg

Technical specifications: Engine 3.6 litres V6 Petrol Max power 284 bhp @ 3,600-3,6500rpm Max torque 347Nm @ 1,600-4,300rpm Gearbox 5 speed automatic Dimensions 4.22m (length) x 1.87m (width) x 1.84m (height)

T E S T

139

Luxury, Modern, Provocative L u x u r y • M o d e r n • P r o v o c a t i v e

奢·潮·新

奢·潮·新

SeP/oct 2015 9/10月号

F1新加坡

大奖赛特辑，

要你好看！

2

2015年7/8月 创刊号 S$6.90 RM17.00 HK$40.00 NT$160.00

10 要你明 白”

大 中国最新 世外桃源 2015年9/10月 S$6.90 RM17.00 HK$40.00 NT$160.00 KINGSMAN MEDIA

吸酒吸 上瘾 ?

值得投资的包款 哪里找限量运动潮品?

KINGSMAN MEDIA

SG50

MAN 型男Mix & MaTch WINE&DINE 中菜配什么洋酒最好 WATCH 值得收藏10周年 超值新作

nov/dec 2015 11/12月号

送你爱的礼物 香港吃喝玩乐 最新热点

Janice Man

MAN

男士的近距离接触 ENTERPRISE

本地企业MOFO 的成功秘诀 WATCH

“表”露玫瑰金

不是弱者 KingsMan Media Pte Ltd

一起走过

KingSMan Media Pte Ltd

KinGSMan Media Pte Ltd

anGeLababy a G 我的人生没有计划 Lababy 白歆惠

FREE

价值S$300的 Forever FlawleSS护肤礼包 The MarTian首映戏票 价值S$107新款球衣

nov/dec 2015 11/12月号

SeP/oct 2015 9/10月号

JuL/auG 2015 创刊号

FREE 送Sephora礼包 订阅两年杂志半价 MAN muSt have潮品 GIZMO 最新gadgetS逐个玩 SPORT 瑜伽8招简单学

奢·潮·新

Life

LiFe

Life

JuL/auG 2015 创刊号

L u x u r y • M o d e r n • P r o v o c a t i v e

我的少女时代” 独家专访王大陆和宋芸桦

早春必买单品 美腿的鞋款

与甄子丹 面对面 2015年11/12月 S$6.90 RM17.00 HK$40.00 NT$160.00 KINGSMAN MEDIA

L u x u r y • M o d e r n • P r o v o c a t i v e

Find out the best life has to offer with our sister publication 尚族 , the leading Mandarin contemporary lifestyle magazine for local Chinese and Mandarin Speaking Expatriates residing in Singapore. 尚族 is available at all major bookstores.

Digital issues of 尚族 can be downloaded at Magzter.com

G U R U

Which Mirrorless Camera suits you?

When Panasonic created the first mirrorless camera in 2008, no one took it seriously. The image quality was miles apart from digital SLR. Fast forward to 2016, and mirrorless technology has caught up with DSLR. Even I have rescinded my DSLR system in favour of mirrorless, for one major reason: size.

In this issue of NXT Guru, we asked our photosnaping Guru to compare 3 pairs of popular mirrorless cameras, from the entry-level to the semi-pro. Apart from comparing design and looks, the functions, and more importantly, the expandability, which is a critical factor in investing a mirrorless system.

141

G U R U

Entry Level: Canon M10 v Nikon 1 J5 Nikon and Canon have been vying for the lead in the imaging market for decades. Let’s see how they fare among themselves in the entry-level mirrorless.

Canon M10

T

he Canon M10 offers a basic contemporary design with fun jacket covers to add to modern style. The touch display can be tilted 180-degrees upwards and 45-degrees downwards. The 18MP APS-C sensor can snap up to 4.6 fps and record fullHD video recording. There is no hotshoe mount for external flash. While there are limited EF-M lenses, you can mount a lens adapter and use all the EF-mount lenses.

by CHESTER TAN

From S$649 (with lens) www.canon.com

142

G U R U

Nikon 1 J5

T

he Nikon 1 J5 is a vast improvement over the J4. It’s even smaller than the Canon M10, but the provision of a hand grip makes it more comfortable to hold. There are more dedicated dials and buttons, and touch display that tilts more flexibly. More amazingly, the 21MP 1-inch sensor can capture 60fps and 4K video recording. Just like the Canon M10, there is no hotshoe mount. There are slightly more Nikon 1 lenses to choose from, and the number expands when using a Nikon adapter for Nikkor F-mount lenses. though only the newer G-lens can support autofocus and metering.

From S$709 (with lens) www.nikon.com.sg

Canon EOS M10 Nikon 1 J5 Ergonomics: 3 4 Build Quality: 3 4 Ease of Use 4 4 Image Quality: 4 3.5 Video Recording: 3 4.5 Extra Features 3 3

Verdict: While Canon’s larger sensor offers better image quality, Nikon is more compact, more responsive and better built.

143

G U R U

Enthusiasts: Olympus Pen-F v Panasonic GX8

You can say that we are putting ourselves in a tight spot. Both cameras are rather close in terms of specs.

Still, there are a few differences that may swing you to either one.

Olympus Pen-F

T

he new Pen-F is the most retro-looking mirrorless camera you can get. It is strongly similar to the original PEN-F, right down to the front-facing knob which is there, not for any ergonomic reason, but only because the original PEN-F has one. Its magnesium alloy body and metal dials complete the experience as a rangefinder camera. With a 5-axis image stabilisation on the 20MP Micro Four Thirds sensor, images remain sharp even when shutter speed drops. The Pen-F can capture up to 20fps and Full HD video recording. While there is no built-in flash, the hotshoe mount is available for external flash.

S$1,798 (body only) www.olympus.com.sg

144

G U R U

Panasonic Lumix GX8

T

he Lumix GX8 is bulkier with a deep hand grip, which also means it handles better in your hand. The EVF can be tilted, adding to the advantage. The camera supports dual image stabilisation, using both sensor and lens OIS to reduce image blur. The 20MP Micro Four Thirds sensor fires up to 10fps and supports 4K video recording.

S$1699 (with lens) www.panasonic.com/sg/

Ergonomics: Build Quality: Ease of Use: Image Quality: Video Recording: Extra Features:

Olympus Pen-F 4 4.5 4 4 4 4

Panasonic Lumix GX8 4.5 4 4 4 4.5 4

Verdict: The Lumix GX8 is a better choice if you do video recording, but if you are primarily shooting still images, I would go for Olympus PEN-F.

145

G U R U

Semi-pro: Sony a6300 v Fujifilm X-E2s Sony and Fujifilm are literally the new winners in the mirrorless race. They both started relatively late but went all out in their own stride. Sony excelled in developing the smallest camera bodies with APS-C sensor and eventually the smallest 35mm full-frame camera. Fujifilm focused on creating the most artcentric camera system, complete with film-like design and image quality.

Sony Îą6300

S

ony has outdone itself with this new mirrorless camera model. It increases sensor pixel count to 24.2MP, speeds up the auto-focus further to 0.05 seconds, adds more AF points (425 phase detection points) than any other camera, fires 11fps with continuous AF and exposure tracking. It can also shoot 4K video recording, and video content creators will appreciate that the A6300 supports external mics.

S$1699 (with lens) www.sony.com.sg

146

G U R U

Fujifilm X-E2s

A

n upgraded version to the X-E2 in 2013, the X-E2s may lag in some of the hardware technology compared to Sony A6300, like fewer AF points, Full-HD video recording, fewer pixels (16MP), but what I find it offers are better hardware buttons, formidable AF speed of 0.06 seconds, much faster maximum shutter speed of 1/32000 seconds, and a more pleasing image processing algorithm for serious photographers.

S$1699 (with lens) www.fujifilm.com.sg

Ergonomics: Build Quality: Ease of Use: Image Quality: Video Recording: Extra Features:

Sony A6300 4.5, 4.5 3.5 4 4.5 4.5

Fujifilm X-E2S 4 4.5 4 4.5 4 4.5

Verdict: It is a tie! Sony A6300 is a modern man’s best mirrorless camera with blazing shooting response while the X-E2s is the renaissance man’s dearest imaging companion.

147

G A D G E T • G E A R • T E C H N O L O G Y

Enjoy reading NXT on the move.

Download now! login in to www.magzter.com

P R I M E

by JUSTIN CHOO

The Hottest Gadgets, Gear and Tech!

150 SMARTPHONES 151 PHABLETS 152 TABLETS 153 notebooks 154 Televisions 155 media streamers 156 home audio systems 157 headphones 158 earphones 159 smartwatches 160 wearables 161 dslrs 162 mirrorless cameras 163

compact cameras

149

P R I M E

Smartphones Samsung Galaxy S7 NEW Overall the Samsung Galaxy S7 has been built on the positives (and mistakes) of its immediate predecessors and is pretty much everything you want in a classleading flagship mobile.

★★★★★

www.samsung.com.sg

1

Apple iPhone 6s Apple’s ‘S’ update of the iPhone 6 adds lots of cool new features, including enhanced 3D Touch, a tougher aluminium body and faster processor, making the new iPhone the new king of smartphones.

★★★★

2

www.apple.com/sg

Apple iPhone SE NEW iPhone SE can’t match the benefits a large screen provides users, but if you’re looking for a fast little 4-inch smartphone with an excellent camera and affordable price, this is for you.

★★★★

3

www.apple.com/sg

Sony Xperia Z5 Sony hasn’t really changed the Xperia design much, but on the inside the Z5 is a totally new beast, with that awesome 23-megapixel camera, Hi-Res audio playback and a cleverly placed fingerprint sensor on the power button.

★★★★

4

www.sony.com.sg

HTC One A9 A pretty decent mid-tier smartphone created more for stylish ‘iPhone-like’ looks then power and performance. Battery could have been bigger.

★★★★★

5

www.htc.com/sea

Accessories

150

LG Sound360

Olloclip for iPhone 6s/6s Plus

Looks perfectly at home at the breakfast table with its milk bottle look and pastel colours, disguising a monster performer with 360-degree sound and 20 hour battery life. www.lg.com/sg

A smartphone camera is an essential tool for almost everyone. Expand its usability with Olloclip’s clip on lenses to give you an even wider range of shots possible. olloclip.com

P R I M E

Phablets Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge NEW The new Galaxy S7 edge gets a 5.5-inch curved AMOLED screen with enhanced Edge features and is the sexiest phablet available, rocking a fast processor and new 12-MP camera system.

★★★★★

1

www.samsung.com.sg

Apple iPhone 6s Plus Apple’s popular phablet, now enhanced with 3D Touch, a potentially game changing way of interacting with your phone. Oh yes, there’s the usual plethora of hardware upgrades as well. King of the phablets, but only just because of 3D Touch.

2

★★★★

www.apple.com/sg

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Samsung’s fifth attempt at the phablet has brought it close to perfection, attaining a large screen size in the smallest body possible while the stylus is refined beyond belief. Also sports excellent video stabilisation that has to be seen to be believed.

3

★★★★

www.samsung.com.sg

Sony Xperia Z5 Premium Sony hasn’t really changed the Xperia design much, but on the inside the Z5 is a totally new beast, with that awesome 23-megapixel camera, Hi-Res audio playback and a 5.5-inch screen with 4K resolution, the first ever on a mobile!

★★★★

4

www.sony.com.sg

Lenovo Phab Plus With the Phab Plus Lenovo tried to create an affordable mid-tier phablet device that you can use to replace your smartphone and tablet, but the massive 8-inch screen makes it simply too big to fit into most pants pockets. On the other hand, if you’re looking for an affordable tablet that can make the occasional mobile call, this is for you.

5

★★★★★

www.lenovo.com/sg

Samsung Gear 360 Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 16,000mAh Phablet draining batteries quickly? Equip yourself with the affordable 16,000mAh power bank from Xiaomi and wave your battery woes goodbye. www.mi.com/sg

A no-fuss way to shoot 360-degree video, the Gear 360 has a removable tripod that doubles up as a handle, as well as a microSD slot for expanded storage. www.samsung.com/sg

151

P R I M E

Tablets Apple 9.7-inch iPad Pro NEW With the 9.7-inch iPad Pro Apple has created another awesome multitasking tablet, though it is a bit expensive. But if you need that power and portability it trumps even it’s big brother.

★★★★

www.apple.com/sg

1

Apple iPad Pro What Jobs hated, this has. 12.9 inches? Check. Stylus? Check. But times change, and people change. The Pro was designed for a specific purpose, with its Pencil stylus and Smart Keyboard, so it may not be for everyone.

★★★★

2

www.apple.com/sg

Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Microsoft’s best attempt at bridging the world between tablet and laptop. The Surface Pro 3 is a true laptop killer, and suffers no identity crisis in switching between both laptop and tablet modes. Everything at once, indeed.

★★★★

3

www.microsoft.com/surface

Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet Slim and powerful are the two buzzwords to think about when it comes to the Xperia Z4. Top of the line hardware is matched by an excellent display and the overall package is waterproof and dust-proof to boot.

★★★★

4

www.sony.com.sg

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 The world’s thinnest tablet has a great display resized for reading digital content and gets Samsung’s latest touch-enabled Fingerprint Scanner off the Galaxy S5. Sadly super-thin in this case also means a below-average battery life.

★★★★★

5

www.samsung.com.sg

Accessories

MicFlip Reversible microUSB Now Android users need not bother about which way they’re attaching their USB cables, thanks to this fully reversible microUSB cable. Look ma, no eyes. winnergear.com 152

Logitech Keys-to-Go Much like the Microsoft Surface keyboard, Logitech’s Keys-to-Go is extremely slim and portable. Plus it’s splash proof (and worry-free) as well. www.logitech.com/en-sg

P R I M E

Notebooks Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon NEW The new ThinkPad X1 Carbon is an excellent upgrade from its predecessor, with improved performance and of course there’s that lightweight and tough carbon fibre chassis.

★★★★

www.lenovo.com/sg

1

Dell XPS 13 The XPS 13 was always set up to chase the Macbook and it might just have done the job. Good design, excellent display, good performance paired with decent battery life and portability, and priced reasonably? Sign us up.

★★★★

2

www.dell.com/sg

Apple Macbook Pro Still the benchmark for laptops, the current Macbook Pro strikes a good balance between form factor, battery life, and performance power. It’s never a contender in the value buy department, but owners of a Macbook Pro never suffer buyers’ remorse, either.

3

★★★★

www.apple.com/sg

Lenovo Yoga 900 NEW The Yoga 900 replaces the Yoga 3 Pro and is quite a looker for a convertible, especially with Lenovo’s new hinge design. Overall it’s a decent multimedia touchscreen convertible.

★★★★★

4

www.lenovo.com/sg

Lenovo Ideapad Y700 Though it lacks a display and graphics processor for UHD games, Lenovo’s Ideapad Y700 is a pretty reasonable gaming notebook for beginner and amatuer gamers for on-the-go gaming.

★★★★★

5

www.lenovo.com/sg

Alienware Vindicator Backpack

Prolink PUH 303 USB 3.0 4- Port Smart Power Charge & Sync Super Speed Hub 5GPS This smart little hub has an integrated processor to sense what device is plugged into it and adjust the optimal charging load automatically while syncing all your devices. www.prolink2U.com

Sleek, elegant, and bendable.

Easy to stow away and yet able to arch itself into a comfortable shape for your hands, the Arc Touch Mouse is a great portable solution. www.dell.com

153

P R I M E

Televisions Samsung UE65JS9500 NEW Samsung’s curved Series 9 is a 4K wonder with a Nano Crystal Display for outstanding colours. This expensive TV is packed with everything you need for a life in 4K UHD, from HDR compatibility to Smart apps and software upgradability.

★★★★

www.samsung.com.sg

1

LG 55EG960T Once you go OLED black, you never go back is what they say these days. LG’s EG960T is a curved OLED TV that’s priced within reason – it’s still cheaper than a Leica mind you – and offers the benefit of the best screen black tech since plasma. Did we mention that it’s remarkably stylish as well?

2

★★★★

www.lg.com/sg

Sony KD-55X9000C Sony goes quite the distance for the ultimate 4K TV experience – well not quite, this model is still priced within reason. Measures 4.9mm at its thinnest, and has a tiny bezel as well. Coupled with its tried and tested Triluminos tech, this is a visual treat in more ways than one.

3

★★★★

www.sony.com.sg

Sony Bravia X80C Not the best performing screen in Sony’s current TV lineup, but this Android OS powered TV is pretty affordable and will still provide a decent 4K TV experience.

★★★★

4

www.sony.com.sg

Samsung UA55JU7500 The Series 7 is Samsung’s affordable 4K curved panel offering and lacks Samsung’s latest and greatest panel technology, but it’s still a very decent display with great blacks and good colour.

★★★★★

5

www.samsung.com.sg

Accessories

154

LG SH8

Samsung 3D Smart Blu-Ray Player

With Adaptive Sound Control (ASC) the LG SH8 will adjust its dynamically according to what is being played. For instance, if dialogue is played, the bass will be turn down to focus on voices. www.lg.com/sg

Samsung’s latest Blu-Ray Player has UHD upscaling and with multicode support it’ll play practically any media file from an external drive. www.samsung.com.sg

P R I M E

Media Streamers Viewqwest 4K Viewqwest’s latest set top box makes it brilliantly simple to access their Freedom VPN service from any ISP, so you can enjoy Hulu and Netflix with no worries.

★★★★

www.viewqwest.com

1

AC Ryan Veolo 4K Get the most of out your 4K TV with AC Ryan’s 4K Streaming Media Player. As it runs on Android, it does more than just video – ‘upsize’ your Android gaming too!

★★★★

www.acryan.com

Apple TV The latest Apple TV comes with a snazzy new controller with a touchpad and a mic so you can say “Siri, rewind 15 seconds”. Sadly iTunes Movie content is still limited to 1080p.

★★★★

2 3

www.apple.com/sg

Google Chromecast Just plug Chromecast directly to your TV’s HDMI port, and use your mobile device to access entertainment and apps. However, it’s restricted to 1080p video at the moment.

★★★★★

4

info.singtel.com/personal/chromecast

Starhub TV on Fibre Starhub collaborated with Samsung for this IPTV box, so you no longer need a cable connection to access Starhub TV’s 200 HD channels.

★★★★★

5

www.starhub.com

Asus RT-AC3200

Securifi Almond+

Not intending to take any chances with network speed? The RT-AC3200 is a tri-band behemoth designed to cope with homes where everyone’s fighting for a piece of bandwidth. www.asus.com/sg

A connected home can be annoyingly complicated. The Securifi Almond+ simplifies it by covering most if not all the major protocols you need. www.securifi.com 155

P R I M E

Home Audio Systems Bluesound Pulse Mini NEW Despite of the wealth of network speakers in the market, the Bluesound MINI easily stands out for the quality of its sound, as well as its carefully-thought out feature set and software.

★★★★

www.bluesound.com

1

Sonos Playbar The Sonos Playbar is a must have for users who have bought into the Sonos ecosystem. A soundbar for your television, it will declutter your living room and do away with plenty of messy speaker cables. And oh it looks great too...

★★★★

2

www.sonos.com

Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay A6 NEW While not perfect, the B&O A6 is a good attempt at a complete home network speaker that sounds good and is also elegantly simple to use.

★★★★★

www.bang-oulfsen.com

Harman/Kardon Sabre SB35 The Sabre SB35 is a gorgeously designed slim soundbar with a surprisingly powerful wireless subwoofer. It’s a decent audio performer until you pump up the volume, as that thin frame creates noticeable audio distortion.

★★★★★

3 4

www.harmankardon.com

Philips Fidelio B5 The novel Fidelio B5 is a soundbar with detachable satellite speakers that transforms it into a 4.1 speaker system for up to 10 hours of play between recharging, and you can even take the speakers into another room.

★★★★

5

www.philips.com.sg

Accessories

156

Amazon Echo Dot

Focal Universal Wireless Receiver

The Amazon Echo, distilled to its essence, and at a wallet-friendly price.

Plus you can attach it to any speaker you want. Voice control made even more affordable. www.amazon.com

Wired setups are unequivocally better, but sometimes practicality will prevail. This universal wireless receiver will minimise wire clutter while maintaining audio enjoyment. www.ongradio.com

P R I M E

Headphones Sennheiser HD800 S NEW It’s tempting to label the HD800 S as ‘the HD800, perfected’. While there are some improvements, it actually feels more like an alternative to the original. Ah, the agony of choice.

★★★★

en-sg.sennheiser.com

1

Sennheiser HD 630BV Sennheiser’s first foray into closed back design for outdoor and mobile use is simply awesome, with a surprisingly wide soundstage and fairly good details.

★★★★

eg-sg.sehhneiser.com

Sennheiser Momentum 2 Sennheiser went mainstream through the first Momentum with resounding success, and Momentum 2 is an evolution, incorporating a folding design as well as fine tuning its sound. While the Oppo above is about accuracy, the Momentum 2 is about fun.

2 3

★★★★

en-sg.sennheiser.com

Bose QuietComfort QC25 Still the best noise-cancelling headphones on the market, the QC25 folds into a small carrying case but has big comfortable cans that you can wear for hours and great noise cancelling technology.

★★★★

4

www.atlas-sv.com

X-Mini Evolve Although the Evolve is a little rough around the edges, it is nonetherless a pretty good first effort by X-Mini. Perhaps we don’t need mini Bluetooth speakers around any more since this can do the job and more. Utterly enjoyable, and certainly a guilty pleasure.

5

★★★★★

www.x-mini.com

Fiio K1

Oppo HA-2

A cheap, simple, portable DAC for your desktop and laptop to visibly improve sound quality. Good things do come in small packages. www.fiio.net

Portable headphone amps generally look clumsy, period. But the Oppo HA-2 won’t look out of place next to your smartly-dressed phone. www.oppodigital.com

157

P R I M E

Earphones Sennheiser IE800 There are many in-ears that ultimately will best the IE800, but they are mostly audiophile-centric gear. The IE800 was designed for the ‘mass market’ (albeit not mass market price) and precious few have come close to balancing style and substance with such aplomb.

★★★★

1

en-sg.sennheiser.com

RHA T10i RHA’s reputation for punching above its weight with its offerings is apparent here again in its T10i. In addition to stylish looks and excellent build, the T10i is also customisable and features a generous amounts of earbud tips and comes with changeable tuning filters too.

2

★★★★

www.rha-audio.com

Jaybird X2 Wireless The undisputed king of bluetooth earbuds. Ease of use coupled with good ergonomics and decent sound quality ensured that the BlueBuds X will remain a cult favourite for those who need wireless in-ears.

★★★★

3

www.jaybirdsport.com

Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear Sennheiser’s Momentum In-Ear is a well rounded performer that sounds as good as they look, with a sophisticated sporty design, flat cables and tuned drivers that delivers a warm and large sound with great bass.

★★★★

4

en-sg.sennheiser.com

Fischer Audio Omega Twin NEW Dual driver in-ears need not be expensive, and the Fischer Audio Omega Twin is able to deliver its benefits fairly well, and at a price that’s fairly swell.

★★★★★

5

omega.fischeraudio.com.sg

Accessories

158

Snugs

Dotz Earbud Case

A clever way to turn your earphones into ‘customs’. Snugs will make eartips for your earphones based on your ear impressions to enhance fit and sound quality. www.jaben.net

It might be easy to simply toss your earphones into the bag, but think about the tangles and god forbid, stripped wires that may result. And earbud case will keep your precious buds safe and organised. cordotz.com

P R I M E

SmartWatches Samsung Gear S2 Classic The Gear S2 is without a doubt an excellent smartwatch with a novel bezel control as well as a touchscreen and has three days of battery life. The snazzy Classic version is also compatible with NATO straps.

★★★★

www.samsung.com.sg

1

Apple Watch Lusciously available in a host of colours and materials, the Apple Watch is the choice of stylistas everywhere, but there’s also plenty of Watch apps and a Friends feature to stay connected to your buddies.

★★★★

2

www.apple.com/sg

TomTom Spark Cardio + Music NEW TomTom Spark Cardio + Music is an excellent solution for regular multisport workout and beginner triathletes, although transferring music files from a PC could be more seamless.

★★★★

3

www.tomtom.com

Pebble Steel Time NEW The Pebble Steel Time packs the essentials for everyday use, is well built with excellent design, has a long lasting battery, waterproof and has an always on e-ink display.

★★★★★

4

www.pebble.sg

Motorola Moto 360 v2 NEW Apart from its slick minimalist design and Moto Body apps, the Moto 360 v2 isn’t much of a stand-out in the crowded Android Wear watch market.

★★★★★

5

www.motorola.com

Milanese Loop Space Grey

wiWare wiTraveler

Ignored for a year, but no longer. Space Grey Apple Watch owners rejoice, you now have your own matching Milanese Loop strap. www.apple.com/sg

A portable all-in-one charger with built-in battery, so you can charge your watch on the move. Great for travel as well. www.wi-ware.com

159

P R I M E

Wearables Misfit Speedo Shine The versatile coin-like Misfit Shine can be worn in a multitude of ways, from pendant to ankle strap. It’s also waterproof, and with the Speedo Shine gets a more accurate lap counter for swimming.

★★★★

www.misfit.com

1

Sony Smart B-Trainer It’s a waterproof wireless music player with 16GB storage, syncs to your mobile for calls, and comes with B-Trainer that will track and map your workouts and even auto-select music to match your heart rate!

★★★★

2

www.sony.com/sg

Fitbit Charge With up to 10 days of battery life, the Charge will monitor your activities as you work, play and sleep. The comfortable band design and bright display makes this quite easy to wear.

★★★★

3

www.fitbit.com/sg

Jawbone Up3 Stylishly designed 24/7 activity tracker with a range of bio-sensors including passive heart rate monitoring, skin temperature and respiration tracking. Perfect for keeping a close watch of your health.

★★★★★

4

jawbone.com

Zepp Golf Get professional insight into your game by wearing a Zepp Golf sensor on your glove. It’ll not only record every aspect of your swing from angle to speed, but it’ll allow you to compare your swing to pro golfers’ as well!

★★★★★

5

www.zepp.com

Accessories

160

Tory Burch for Fitbit Flex

Omate Ungaro

Turn your fitness trackers into true fashion accessories. Tory Burch’s accessories range from sassy silicone printed affairs to stylish pendants and bracelets. www.toryburch.com

Inspired by the Emanuel Ungaro Diva, this connected ring helps you filter out the endless chatter of notifications by nudging you only when loved ones are involved. www.omate.com

P R I M E

DSLRs Nikon D500 NEW Nikon’s new flagship ASP-C sensor DSLR packs a big punch thanks to the features it inherited from the professional level D5. With blazing fast autofocus, enhanced ISO and fast processing thanks to it’s new EXPEED 5 processor.

★★★★

www.nikon.com.sg

1

Canon 5DSR Totally unnecessary if you’re not a pro, totally necessary if you are a die-hard pixel peeper. The 5DSR offers a whopping 50.6 megapixels, closing the gap between medium format cameras and DSLRs – the upside though, is that you don’t need to buy another set of lenses...

2

★★★★

www.canon.com.sg

Nikon D810 While still on the subject of pixel peepers, Nikon’s D800 used to hold that crown, but now the D810 has comfortably settled on evolving and tying up loose ends.

The result is a much more polished camera that’s also capable of considerable levels of detail as well.

3

★★★★

www.nikon.com.sg

Nikon D7200 Sitting on the top of Nikon’s DX-format camera family, the 24 megapixel D7200 is an excellent camera for DSLR enthusiasts. Autofocusing is fast and the buffer has been improved for continious shooting, but it’s at night where this camera really shines.

4

★★★★

www.nikon.com.sg

Canon 750D Canon 750D is one of the most solid cameras you can buy. A good 24.2 megapixel sensor produces clean images, while a nineteen point autofocus system helps you nail more shots than not. Warning: you can’t blame the camera for bad shots now.

★★★★

5

www.canon.com.sg

Petzval 58

SanDisk 64GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II

Lomography’s retro obsessions gone full retard, with recreations of timeless, old school lenses. The 58 emphasises on bokeh control – a crowd favourite – and is available in May. microsites.lomography.com

To maximise the performance of your UHS-II capable cameras, only the fastest cards will do. The SanDisk Extreme Pro will bring out your camera’s potential. www.sandisk.sg 161

P R I M E

Mirrorless Cameras Leica SL NEW The Leica SL is exceptionally well engineered with fast autofocus and exceptional image/video quality. Its weight, size and cost, however, makes it more comparable to a full-frame DSLR than an interchangable mirrorless.

★★★★

www.leica-store.sg

1

FujiFilm X-T10 FujiFilm has been leading the charge for the mirrorless field with its excellent X-series cameras, and the X-T10 is a relatively affordable number that shares most of the best features on its flagship X-T1. If lack of weatherproofing, and a ISO dial isn’t a deal breaker, you have yourself a deal.

2

★★★★

www.fujifilm.com.sg

Sony A7R II The Sony A7R II has been making waves in the industry and no wonder; it’s a technical achievement – serious 4K video and serious 42-megapixel camera in one compact package, with great performance all-round that will definitely have the DSLR big boys worried without doubt.

3

★★★★

www.sony.com.sg

Olympus EM10 II The EM10 II epitomes the first advanced mirrorless that you will own. Chock full of features, including Olympus’ excellent five-axis image stabilisation, the EM10 II has most features an enthusiast would want, short of weatherproofing. It lacks 4K video, however.

4

★★★★

www.olympus.com.sg

Panasonic GX8 Panasonic’s GX8 is a solidly built new camera with a 20 megapixel Four-Thirds sensor. Dust and weather proof, it sports an excellent viewfinder and a versatile tilting touchscreen.

★★★★

5

www.panasonic.com/sg

Accessories

162

Langly Paracord Strap

Peak Design The Everyday Messenger

As the name suggests, paracord was originally used in parachutes, but now have a new lease of life in the form of attractive and durable camera straps. www.langly.co

Designed primarily for photographers, but this is a messenger bag that adapts to any situation you throw at it. It even accommodates a small tripod. www.peakdesign.com

P R I M E

Compact cameras Canon PowerShot G9 X The PowerShot G9 X can be considered as an entry-level advanced compact camera and offers an excellent performance for its price.

★★★★

www.canon.com.sg

1

Sony RX100 Mk 4 The RX100 is the ultimate compact camera with its combination of size, features and performance. Mk4 adds 4K video, super slow motion video, as well as 1/32,000 super quick shutter speeds and 16fps continuous shooting mode. It’s still the one to beat, but for its price.

2

★★★★

www.sony.com.sg

Panasonic LX100 Enthusiast compacts are increasingly popular, and the LX100 is a stellar example of a compact camera bearing a large sensor. Coupled with a bright, Leica designed zoom lens, the LX100 is essentially a good mirrorless camera in a more streamlined form factor.

3

★★★★

www.panasonic.com/sg

FujiFilm X30 Gorgeous retro looks hide modern camera features including a digital lens control ring that’s part of a well though out control layout. Shoots excellent images especially if you like Fujiflim’s film simulation modes like Velvia and Astia.

★★★★

4

www.fujifilm.com.sg

Olympus TG-4 The tough TG-4 is built to take the knocks and shocks of sports photography and it’ll stand freezing temperatures and go 15 metres underwater, where its fast f2.0 lens makes shooting macro underwater a breeze.

★★★★

5

www.olympus.com.sg

Kelly Slater Action Cam Pro Pack by Incase For serious GoPro videographers, this rugged bag fits multiple GoPro cameras and accessories, and has a quick-access DSLR compartment as well. www.incase.com

Joby GPod Mini Magnetic Great for awkward positions and made even better with magnetic feet, the GPod Mini Magnetic works great with GoPros as well. joby.com

163

N EWS

Get Singapore's best consumer lifestyle magazine, delivered directly to your door!

G A D G E T • G E A R • T E C H N O L O G Y

GO BIG IN

2016

KINGSMAN MEDIA PTE LTD

Sony's revolutionary PlayStation VR

NXT LUXURY Huracán goes Topless NXT GURU Premium headphones for beginners NXT TEST Pretty compact Mirrorless cameras NXT PRIME The Best Gadgets Now Available!

Tag Heuer gets Connected

JAN/FEB2016

S$7.00

XMINI EVOLVE

GO LUXE! LUXURY GADGETS & GEAR

KINGSMAN MEDIA PTE LTD

The best headphone in the world

WORLD FIRST REVIEW

NXT GURU How to choose the right bicycle

Fujifilm unleashes the X-Pro2

Nikon's all-around action camera

Subscribe and win a CabinZero Mini 28L in Orange Chill*, worth S$79.00 *In the event the colour Orange Chill is unavailable at the time of

164

EXCLUSIVE TESTS Sennheiser HD 800 S Vertu Signature Touch B&O BeoPlay A6

Hottest gear from CES 2016

NXT-Cover-iPhoneNEW2.indd 2

redemption, another colour will be substituted.

WIN

MUVI K2 Camera Veho Z8 Headphones

MAR/APR 2016

S$7.00

KINGSMAN MEDIA

PHABLETS!

KINGSMAN MEDIA

HIP LITTLE SHOOTER

CANON'S EOS M10 IS PERFECT FOR URBANITES

MAR/APR 2016

GLOBAL EXCLUSIVE MAR / APR 2016

JAN / FEB 2016

WIN

Canon PowerShot G7 X camera!

ARCHT ONE speakers!

Lenovo VIBE S1 smartphones!

GA DGET • GEA R • TEC HN OLOGY

GADG ET • G EAR • TECHN O LO GY

JAN / FEB 2016

G A D G E T • G E A R • T E C H N O L O G Y

28/1/16 12:36 AM

N EWS

g a d g e t • g e a r • t e c h n o l o g y

Subscribe to a one year subscription for 6 issues of NXT, worth S$49 (inclusive of postage & handling) and you'll immediately enjoy a 10% discount. You pay S$42.

Subscribe to a two year subscription for 12 issues of NXT, worth S$98 (inclusive of postage

subscription ORDER FORM

& handling) and you'll instantly enjoy a 10% discount, so all you'll need to pay is $84.

1 year : 6 issues at S$42

The first five people to sign up for a two year subscription will receive a CabinZero Mini

2 years : 12 issues at S$84

28L travel backpack in Orange Chill (worth S$79.00). Perfect for brief flights or day trips, the Mini is comfortably padded, light and durable, comes with a ten year warranty and a built in global luggage tracker by Okoban.

To subscribe, fill in the order form, attach

YOUR DETAILS NAME ADDRESS

your cheque and mail it to: Circulation Department

NXT Magazine

TEL

Kingsman Media Pte Ltd

MOBILE

261 Waterloo Street #03-32 Waterloo Centre Singapore 180261

POSTAL CODE

AGE EMAIL

NXT Magazine is also available on Magzter!

For subscription inquiries, email: info.nxt@kingsmanmedia.com

PAYMENT BY CHEQUE Please make cheques in SIngapore Dollars payable to:

Kingsman Media Pte Ltd BANK CHEQUE NUMBER

* Mail this form and your cheque to: Circulation Department NXT Magazine

Kingsman Media Pte Ltd

261 Waterloo Street, #03-32 Waterloo Centre, Singapore 180261 Email: info.nxt@kingsmanmedia.com

Terms & Conditions * This subscription drive is valid from 15 April 2016 to 15 June 2016.

Terms & conditions : The offer is open to residents of Singapore only. For details on overseas subscriptions please email: info.nxt@kingsmanmedia.com. The publication of NXT, respect your privacy and we would like to contact you from time to time with special offers and information that we think will be of interest to you. Please tick here if you prefer not to receive these special offers. [ ] Occassionally we may pass your details to carefully selected partners whose products we think will be of interest to you. Please tick here if you prefer not to receive these offers. [ ]

165

B P RI GI M T E H I N G

A Holographic Dream

Are holograms real or was the whole concept actually created by over-caffeinated TV writers for Star Trek The Next Generation? Will we ever be able to read the morning newspaper ala The Minority Report, using hand gestures to flip pages and zoom in and out for more detail?

O

h sorry, it’s already happened.

The Microsoft HoloLens development kit recently shipped out

the holograms you see and interact with only exist within the headset’s

to holographic developers across the world. Introduced as a

narrow display. It is not Star Trek where holograms are ‘solid light’

prototype a year ago, the developer kit comprises of just the HoloLens

- that’s complete TV flim-flammery. But what it is the start of a new

headset, a charger and a couple of accessories. The HoloLens headset

future, the first solid step by developers to create a holographic

is in itself a full wearable computer, running Windows 10 Holographic.

augmented reality, where real world objects and virtual objects

According to Microsoft it’s more powerful than the average laptop, plus

interact seamlessly. Who knows, in a few years you might be web

it has a bespoke holographic co-processor, but utilises sensors such a

surfing wearing a pair of holographic glasses that look like normal

gyroscopes and magnetometers that you’ll find in most wearables these

sunglasses, synced to your smart device. It’s the next big thing.

days. Control is through gestures, the headsets sensors will track hand

blogs.windows.com/devices/category/microsoft-hololens/

gestures and movement, displaying the result on the stereoscopic head

by SHAWN CHUNG

mounted display.

166

HoloLens isn’t virtual reality, it’s a form of augmented reality, and