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Issue 117 June 2013 ISSN 1726–3358
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TechSmart Issue 117, June 2013
3D gunning it Would you print a 3D gun and go shooting? Well now you can, since the plans for the Liberator, a working 3D printable firearm, have been released on the internet (see The Big Issue on p 26). There are a few requirements before shooting one of these, first of which is access to a high quality 3D printer, costing upwards of R80 000. You also need a firm love of risk taking, since many believe that the Liberator is as much a danger to the person behind the barrel as it is to the one in front. Like most technologies, the price of 3D printers is set to drop (you can already pick one up for R10 000), while the quality of the guns will only improve, so it’s not surprising that the US government is concerned about this development. While the printing of 3D firearms is thought-provoking, I’m more interested in seeing what will come from laboratories working on bioprinted meat. Companies such as Modern Meadows are doing just that. Although finding your local Pick n Pay stocked with this type of product is still a long way off, I can’t wait to put a 3D printed steak on the braai. Enjoy the issue, Mike (michael@techsmart.co.za)
100 million. Instagram surpassed this daily active user milestone during Q1 2013.
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Contents 6
10
16
20
6 Top 4 Small Tablets 10" tablets are so last year. The rage now is tiny 7" (and slightly bigger) models. In the market for one of these? Check our top 4 selection first.
10 Lenovo ThinkPad Twist With a screen that doesn’t mind doing a bit of Twist, can the new ThinkPad blend the best from the world of tablets and ultrabooks?
16 Beats Executive The Beats Executive shows the more mature side of the Beats Audio range. We relax in aural bliss thanks to its active noise cancellation technology.
20 Top 5 Executive Saloons If you’ve just won a massive tender (all legally, of course) and don’t know what to do with the dosh, let us point you to our fine choice of the top 5 executive saloons.
Need your Tech fix faster? Join us now on Twitter: @techsmartmag Facebook: facebook.com/techsmartmag To receive our newsletter: http://techsmart.co.za/user_registration Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved. No material, text or photographs may be reproduced, copied or in any other way transmitted without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or of the editor. We recognise all trademarks and logos as the sole property of their respective owners. TechSmart shall not be liable for any errors or for any actions in reliance thereon. All prices were correct at time of going to print. Editor print & online Mike Joubert > 012-342-5141 michael@techsmart.co.za
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1
NEWS
PriceCheck bags top honour
Top Tech Titbits
Local mobile shopping application, PriceCheck, beat out more than 100 000 applications from around the globe to be crowned App of the Year at the recently held BlackBerry Achievement Awards in Orlando, Florida. PriceCheck is an online shopping and price comparison directory that has been specifically developed for South African users as it takes international exchange rates into account. The mobile app is available for free for BlackBerry 10operating devices and enables shoppers to scan product barcodes or search for specific items to find out where these can be bought and which outlet is selling these at the most affordable price.
Yahoo! acquirs Tumblr, updats Flickr
There can be only one
Android on most smart mobile devices Market research company, Canalys, has revealed that a grand total of 308.7 million smart mobile devices (notebooks, tablets and smartphones) were shipped globally during Q1 2013. Thanks to Android-powered smartphones accounting for 75.6% of all smartphone shipments, and a consumer shift from notebooks to tablets, Google’s Android powered a whopping 59.5% of all of smart mobile devices shipped in Q1. Apple’s iOS ran on 19.3% on them, and Microsoft’s operating systems (Windows 8 and Windows Phone) handled the workings on a further 18.1%.
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HP, Acer, Compaq, IBM, Dell, Fujitsu Siemens, Mecer, Sony, Asus, Toshiba, Packard Bell, LG, Lenovo, Proline, Gigabyte, Apple Mac, BenQ, Sahara, and many more…. 2
8000. Number of developers from more than 800 different companies who have contributed to the Linux kernel.
After months of rumours, Microsoft finally lifted the lid on its Xbox 360 successor and PlayStation 4 rival. The Xbox One is powered by an octa-core x86 CPU, and boasts 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, a 500 GB hard-drive, a Blu-ray player, USB 3.0 ports as well as HDMI input and output. Accompanying the console is a newly designed control pad, which features an integrated battery compartment, new D-pad, triggers with their own vibration feature, and Wi-Fi Direct to the mix. Although the console will not require a continuous connection to the web, it will need to connect to the internet at least once every 24 hours and is also not backwards compatible with Xbox 360 titles. Expect it in December.
How much will you pay for 108 million blogs and 50 billion posts? If you are Yahoo! a cool $1.1 billion it seems. That is what the company pulled out for blogging site Tumblr, apparently intended to bring some youthful dynamism back to Yahoo!, frequently perceived as out of touch with the new generation of internet users. Yahoo! also gave their photography social networking sight Flickr a much needed makeover, now offering a massive 1 TB of free storage for anyone joining the site.
NEWS
Hot New Products VW Design Vision GTI concept car Fans of the Golf GTI who find the 155 kW and 280 Nm from its turbocharged four-cylinder engine to be somewhat underwhelming, can start salivating over the prospects of Volkswagen’s Design Vision GTI concept car. This vehicle is powered by a twinturbocharged three litre V6 engine that churns out 370 kW at 6500 RPM and 560 Nm of torque at 4000 RPM. This GTI rockets from standstill to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds (compared to 7.3 seconds of the standard GTI) sans the slightest hint of torque steer due to power being sent to all four wheels.
HP’s newly announced tablet/notebook hybrid, the 10.1" SlateBook x2, aims to offer users an Android-based interface and notebook familiarity, complete with mouse control. It runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and sports Nvidia’s quad-core Tegra 4 processor clocked at 1.8 GHz. Enabling it to perform as an Android-based notebook is the included keyboard, which connects to the screen by means of a dock connector. This brings both a multitouch trackpad and mouse navigation to the party. It is expected to carry a $480 (R4 320) pricetag when it is released Stateside in August.
Archos ChefPad
BlackBerry Q5
If you want a tablet dedicated to cooking in the kitchen, then Archos’ 9.7" ChefPad may just be up your alley. The tablet boasts a dual-core 1.6 GHz processor, and offers a Chef Apps Selection where aspiring Chefs can discover a selection of the best culinary apps ranging from recipes to cooking tips and TV. It retails for $200 but local availability is still to be confirmed.
The third BlackBerry 10 running smartphone has been announced, this time in the form of the mid-range Q5. Just like the Q10, the Q5 continues with the physical QWERTY keyboard but also offers a 3.1" (328 ppi) touchscreen. The Q5 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core CPU running at 1.2 GHz per core, 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB storage. It will be available in selected markets including Africa by the start of July 2013. No local retail price is available yet.
Samsung 85" Ultra HD Smart TV
Gran Turismo 6
By the end of this month, South Africans should be able to put in an order for a new Samsung 85" ultra high definition Smart TV. This 4K telly offers a screen resolution (3840 x 2160) four times greater than full HD. The company is offering its latest Smart TV at the special introductory price of R385 000 or around R4 530 per inch, with this offer being valid until 24 July. 4
The good news is that the next instalment of arguably the most famous racing title in the world, Gran Turismo, has been announced. The bad news? We would have to wait for Xmas for the delight to get behind the wheel of GT6. There will be 1 200 vehicles in-game at launch and 33 different tracks, with more coming via downloadable content. Expect the new compact gaming engine to make the title even more gorgeous.
3x. Gain in performance promised from Intel for its next-gen (Silvermont) Atom SoCs along with 5x better energy efficiency.
HP SlateBook x2
FEATURE
THESE FOUR
KINGS The top small tablets available
iPad Mini Apple’s iPad Mini may not boast the Retina display that graces the 9.7" iPad, but it is nonetheless a worthy contender. While its specs may more closely resemble the ancient-in-Apple’s-terms iPad 2, with its 1024 x 768 resolution and A5 CPU, the 7.9" size makes it more travel friendly that the larger iPads. Furthermore, the screen has been made the focus of the device, thanks to a trimming of the side bezel. However, its real strength is the fact that it too is backed up by the same army of apps that account for the other iPads’ popularity, making it a formidable portable tablet in its own right. RRP: From R3 600.
While there is no shortage of 9.7" to 10.1" tablets from which to choose, with Apple’s vaunted iPad still reigning supreme, over the past year or so another tablet category has been quickly gaining prominence – the 7"-8" device. Indeed, this category has particularly become a force to be reckoned with, as the tablets offer the functionality and power of their larger bed and couch-dwelling 10.1" counterparts, while beating those tablets when it comes to portability. Here are our top four picks:
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Asus FonePad
Easily a budget darling, the Google’s Nexus 7 (manufactured by Asus) does not look, feel or perform as though it is a cheapie alternative. While it can be picked up for R3 000, Google’s effort is a fast and responsive masterpiece thanks to its Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor (at 1.3 GHz), 1 GB of memory and stock Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2. The latest version has not only bumped up its storage capacity to 32 GB, it has also received the 3G cellular treatment as well. The Nexus 7’s LED backlit IPS screen, which offers a resolution of 1280 x 800 (216 ppi), is still more than adequate for reading ebooks, playing games and webbrowsing, all encased in a solid product that feels closer to a premium device in the hand rather than a budget offering. RRP: R3 000
The largest tablet on this list and billed as the creative’s companion, at 8", the Galaxy Note 8 also packs something the others do not – a dedicated S Pen stylus, which makes drawing and writing on the device a pleasure. Factor in a spacious screen with a 1280 x 800 resolution (189 ppi), a 1.6 GHz A9 quad-core processor, 2 GB of memory powering superb performance, and a microSD card slot for expandable storage, and you have a real contender. Add to this some genuinely useful features, such as the ability to open two apps side by side, and Reading mode, which offers softer side lighting, and you have a tablet that should not be overlooked. It’s the most expensive going for R7 200.
The second seven-incher on this list, Asus’ FonePad similarly boasts superb quality build, Android Jelly Bean and an affordable R3 000 pricetag. It also differs in some important ways. Rather than a Tegra 3 processor, the device sports Intel’s Atom Z Series SoC and 1 GB of memory which left us with no complaints with regards to its performance. Also to its credit, a microSD card slot to expand its storage is onboard. Additionally, it is possible to use the device as a voice-supporting smartphone if that takes your fancy. Rounding it off was a glossy and contrasty screen with a familiar 1280 x 800 HD (216 ppi) resolution, while echoes of being a somewhat smaller version of the excellent Transformer Prime, secured it a place on our list. RRP: R3 000. [RN]
6
64%. Percentage of the 19.5 million tablets Apple sold during Q1 2013 that were iPad Minis.
Nexus 7
HARDWARE
ASUS VIVOTAB SMART At the moment, the pickings for a decent Windows 8 tablet aren’t as abundant as many may hope. Can Asus’ VivoTab Smart rectify that, and is this the tablet that Windows 8 users have been waiting for? Asus has a knack of producing high quality, solid devices, and on that front, the VivoTab Smart is no exception. The 10.1" tablet feels comfortable to hold and reassuringly well built in the hand, despite weighing in at a modest 580 g. In fact, it felt a bit like a larger Nexus 7 in some regards, at least on the surface, which certainly counted in the VivoTab Smart’s favour.
Beyond skin-deep Design wise, there is not too much to comment on, as the device is completely robed in black, broken only by the silver Asus logo. This, however, is not necessarily a bad thing. As Amazon’s Kindles have proven, there can be an advantage to a device feeling like it disappears in the hand, in deference to the content it is hosting.
For those holding out for a full Windows 8 tablet that’s capable of running regular Windows 8 programmes, the Asus VivoTab Smart is what you are looking for. To this end, and the one design choice we were happy to see implemented, is that the device offers a nice, spacious bezel, which made holding it in one’s hands, without inadvertently touching the screen, a breeze. In fact, while one handed, smaller tablets, such as 7" devices can get away with a thin, nearly non-existent bezel, the same does not hold true for devices of 9.7" and up, which one naturally tends to hold with both hands and thus needs space to rest one’s thumbs. Navigation is accomplished by a singular capacitive windows key, which returns users to the Metro-style home screen.
Beauty shines Another staple of Asus’ offerings has been – and on the VivoTab Smart, remains – sharp screens. Its screen resolution of 1366 x 768 fares quite a bit better than it does on a 15.6" or even 13.3" notebook or ultrabook, and we certainly had no complaints 8
about the contrast or clarity of fonts on offer. Worth noting though, is that like the Asus FonePad, the glossy screen is quite reflective. On the plus side though, it is also very bright and boasts some lovely colours. Suffice to say, this meant viewing pictures on it in particular was enjoyable.
No guts, no glory Moving on to the internal guts of the device, the VivoTab Smart opts for Intel’s Atom Z2760 dual-core processor, along with 2 GB of memory and 64 GB of storage. On this front, we found that Intel’s processor managed to cope quite ably for the most part with regards to general performance. Playing a game or browsing the web, for example was fine, until we ventured into playing videos from YouTube. Then, it seemed like the processor struggled a bit, eventually freezing and necessitating a restart. However, we discovered this seemed to be mostly due to the choice of browser used on the device. Surprisingly, Internet Explorer performed far better than Chrome, where scrolling through media-rich web pages wasn’t quite as smooth as we have enjoyed on other devices.
Speak up! Instead, the one unavoidable negative for us was the sound. While the audio quality was alright, we couldn’t help but feel the VivoTab Smart would have been better served with two speakers rather than just the one on its left side when held in landscape orientation. Also onboard was a micro HDMI and micro USB as well as a micro SD card reader, along with a two megapixel front snapper for teleconferencing and an eight megapixel back snapper.
To the point For those holding out for a full Windows 8 tablet that’s capable of running regular Windows 8 programmes, the Asus VivoTab Smart is what you are looking for. With an LTE version available as well (not tested here), as far as Windows 8 tablets go, the VivoTab Smart is a very decent offering. It comes in at a not too bad price of R7 000 plus R800 for the wireless keyboard. [RN]
HARDWARE
Lenovo ThinkPad Twist
At a recent press event held in New York, Acer presented a slew of new products, with most of the attention focusing on the unique look of the R7 notebook.
It’s not called the Twist for nothing, since if you turn this ultrabook’s screen, you can fold the device into four main positions. Obviously you have the normal notebook position (in which you’ll almost never use the touchscreen); Stand mode (good for watching movies); Tent mode (a slightly risky position with the notebook resting on the top of the screen and bottom of the keyboard); and Tablet mode.
Although manufacturers released a number of notebooks with touchscreen functionality to make use of Windows 8’s capabilities, we’ve found that we barely make use of touch unless the design makes it easy to do so (case in point, the great Lenovo Yoga). The Acer Aspire R7 looks set to do just that, featuring an ‘Ezel Hinge’ that moves the display forward and into different positions to help make touch more intuitive. This new hinge’s functionality is made possible by a repositioned mousepad, now found above the keyboard, and not below as per usual.
Just the four of us It does need to be seen to be believed, as it enables this 15.6" notebook to offer four modes of operation. Apart from the regular notebook mode, Ezel mode pulls the screen closer to the user to make it easier to touch. If you flip the screen over, you’ll find the R7 in Display mode, a good way to watch a movie (the sound over the speakers also switches), while the Pad mode allows the R7 to be used much like a tablet. As far as specs are concerned the R7 looks like a solid offering, boasting a 15.6" full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS touchscreen; an Intel Core i5 third-gen processor; up to 12 GB of memory; either up to a 1 TB hard drive or 256 GB SSD; and a full-size backlit keyboard. It also includes an HDMI port, SD card reader, audio jacks, three USB ports, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a converter port supporting VGA, RJ45 and USB. The sound quality should be solid, with four 8 Watt speakers and Dolby Home Theatre provided.
Lenovo’s ThinkPad Twist harks back to the olden days of ‘tablet computers’, only juicing it up with the latest tech.
The Twist provides the business-ready performance expected from it, with the added benefit of its twistable screen. Since the ultrabook twists around a hinge located at the bottom of the screen in the middle, in Tablet mode you end up with the screen covering the keyboard, and luckily not as is the case with the Lenovo Yoga, with the keyboard exposed at the bottom. The Tablet mode comes in handy when you want to read books on Kindle or just browse the web.
It’s a ThinkPad Being part of Lenovo’s business-focused ThinkPad range, you can be certain of two things: solid build quality and an excellent keyboard. As per usual Lenovo does not disappoint, even though the keyboard is not backlit and from an aesthetic point of view, they could have extended the matte finish around the keyboard to below the screen too. Talking of which, the 12.5" screen’s resolution stands at a so-so 1366 x 768; a touch of full HD goodness would not have gone amiss. As far as workload is concerned, the Twist can deal with a lot, since onboard is a very generous 8 GB RAM and the same Intel Core i7-3517U running at 1.9 GHz that also powers the Acer S7. Apart from 500 GB hard disk you also receive a not so common WLAN port, SD card reader, 2x USB 3.0 ports but only a mini HDMI port. Our model was 3G enabled.
To the point
To the point
Although this Ezel hinge design looks interesting and appears to enhance the touch-experience, how well the repositioned mousepad and lack of palm-rests will be received remains to be seen. The Acer Aspire R7 is set to arrive in South Africa in July, and customers will be able to buy a unit for R13 000.
As an ultrabook, the Twist will provide the business-ready performance expected from it, with the added benefit of its twistable screen. Just remember that at 1.58 kg, this unit is bulkier and heavier than regular tablets. If you don’t want the extra bulk, wait for the Lenovo Helix coming soon. With Windows 8 Pro installed the Twist retails for R12 000. [MJ]
10
Top 5. Microsoft entered the top 5 tablet vendor list for the first time in Q1 2013 by selling 900 000 Surface tablets for a 1.8% tablet market share.
On the hinge: Acer Aspire R7 launched
$34 billion/ R323 million. The record earnings recorded by Lenovo over the past year, despite a 2% drop in notebook sales.
TABLETS
Huawei MediaPad 7 Lite HP ElitePad 900 Huawei, in association with Google, have released a new 7" tablet with their MediaPad 7 Lite. Can it compete against the likes of the Nexus 7 or Asus FonePad? On the ‘good’ front, the MediaPad is certainly well built and a pleasure to hold, as its gently tapering corners and excellent construction materials, make it feel both ergonomic and substantial respectively. This, despite the fact that the tablet is a little heavier than the competition, at 370 g, and at 11 mm, is a bit thick.
The good and the beautiful The tablet is rather attractive though, as the black bezel surrounding the screen is framed with a touch of white, while the back is silver aluminium.
The MediaPad 7 is let down by less than optimal performance. The MediaPad 7 bests the Nexus 7 in one arena, as it offers a microSD card that can cater to expandable storage (up to 32 GB); notable particularly as the version we tested only had 8 GB of integrated storage. Indeed, the tablet has slots for both microSD storage and a SIM card for 3G connectivity, which places it at first place as a competitor to Asus’ FonePad as well. Our main problem, however, came from the tablet’s performance. We could not be certain whether this was due to only running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) as opposed to Android Jelly Bean, or the 1.2 GHz Cortex-A8 processor and 1 GB of RAM. Either way, we found the tablet to be less responsive than we would have liked and this translated into a slightly sluggish user experience when watching YouTube videos, browsing the web and playing games like Fruit Ninja, a pity, since the sound is quite good. Also disappointing was the battery, which seemed to drain quite quickly, going from 85% full to half of that in a few hours, with light use. Furthermore, the battery didn’t seem to hold a charge very well either.
There is no shortage of consumer orientated tablets on the market today, but HP’s ElitePad 900 takes a thoroughly different approach, aiming squarely at enterprise users, to laudable effect. To start, the first thing one notices about the tablet is its exceedingly solid construction. It feels like it is built to last and perform under pressure, and that it can be relied on for important, rather than frivolous tasks.
It is in the small, thoughtful details where the ElitePad shines. Additionally, its black and silver colour scheme lends it a modern, if somewhat conservative air. While its 630 g weight wasn’t as light as other tablets, we did not find it overly heavy to comfortably hold for long stretches either. Beyond surface considerations, the tablet’s 10.1" screen was actually quite impressive, offering a 1280 x 800 resolution. It proved to be both very bright, and nicely contrasty, which made viewing documents and web pages on it a pleasure.
Guts and Glory The device, which runs on Windows 8 Pro, sports a dual core Intel Atom CPU Z2760 clocked at 1.8 GHz. This seemed to be up for general tasks, such as productivity work, web browsing, checking email and the web, and the like. However, it is in the small, thoughtful details where the ElitePad shines. For example, the tablet boasts two cameras – an eight megapixel back snapper and a 1080p HD camera on the front. The latter, along with the digital dual-array microphones, and crisp, loud audio, is particularly intended to enable clearer videoconferencing. The tablet does come with a dongle which enables one to connect USB sticks and external hard drives as well, to complement the up to 64 GB of SSD onboard storage. Also worth mentioning, and essential to its business users, is HP’s own client security suite, which offers a host of tools aimed at ensuring the security of the data contained on the tablet.
To the point The MediaPad 7 is a bit of a mixed bag. While we appreciated the very good build, expandable storage and decent screen, it is let down by less than optimal performance, ultimately making it an average 7" at best. It is currently only available for R229 per month on a SmartData 2 GB Cell C deal. [RN]
To the point For its target market – businesses – the Elitepad certainly presented itself as being a tablet to reckon with, one we suspect would fit in very nicely in an enterprise or corporate setting. It has a RRP of R12 000 with a range of accessories, including an enterprise class docking station, available. [RN] 11
SMARTPHONES
Nokia Lumia 520
After releasing the best-selling Android smartphone of all time, Samsung now takes things full HD with the 5" Galaxy S4.
Nokia’s entry-level Windows Phone 8 smartphone, the Lumia 520, boasts some impressive spec bang, considering its affordable pricetag.
The Korean company opted not to reinvent the wheel with the design of the Galaxy S4, which is actually 3 g lighter and 0.7 mm thinner than its predecessor, packing an enhanced 5" (1080 x 1920; 441 ppi) screen that delivers exceptional picture quality. Samsung again ‘clothed’ its king in plastic robes, making this smartphone feel like the pauper to HTC’s princely One, which boasts an aluminium body.
In terms of design, the Nokia Lumia 520’s removable matte plastic back cover feels quite sturdy, but lacks the quality feel of the polycarbonate casing employed on the higher-end Lumia models. Beneath this cover resides both the microSIM slot and the non-hotswoppable microSD memory card slot that enables users to expand the phone’s 8 GB storage by as much as 64 GB.
The S4 currently has no equal when it comes to battery life, benchmarking performance and software features.
The power inside
Powering the Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) operating S4 is an Exynos 5 Octa 5410 chipset. This calls upon four Cortex-A15 cores (1.6 GHz each) for processing-intensive tasks, and four Cortex-A7 cores (1.2 GHz each) during lighter workloads. Samsung’s S4 humbled all other rival devices during benchmarking, but the real benefit of the Octa-core is the vast difference experienced in the speed between the S3 and new S4.
New software a must? Samsung is known for including numerous software features to enhance its devices and the S4 packs more than ever. In practice, we found them more gimmicky than useful, with the only exception being the universal remote control functionality. This allows users to control an array of compatible electronic devices via the IR blaster on the top of the smartphone and Samsung’s WatchON app. We had no trouble using our S4 as a remote control for an old school LG and Samsung full HD TV. Samsung upgraded the rear-facing camera from 8 MP to 13 megapixels, with this main shooter reinforced by a 2 MP front-facing snapper. It’s a great tool and users can employ both cameras simultaneously to remain in the picture even when you are taking photos or recording videos.
To the point Samsung’s Galaxy S4 currently has no equal when it comes to battery life, benchmarking performance and an extensive line-up of software features. The plastic design still bothers, which means alternatives such as the equally excellent HTC One deserve a look. S3 owners looking to upgrade and fans of value-added software features, no matter how useful they actually are, will definitely love the new Galaxy S4. RRP: R9 000. [HD]
Full Article bit.ly/reviewS4 12
Just like its bigger brother in the Lumia stable – the Lumia 620 – the 520 is powered by a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8227 CPU, running at 1 GHz per core, along with 512 MB of RAM. In general, performance does suffer a bit compared to the Lumia 820 and 920, as this budget CPU and RAM combo could not hinder noticeable lag, particularly when multitasking.
If you are willing to try something new in the form of the Windows Phone OS, the Lumia 520 makes for an excellent value offering. Also onboard is a 4" (480 x 800 pixels; 233 ppi pixel density) IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen. It sports the same super sensitive touch technology as found on the Lumia 920, so we could easily use the phone whilst wearing gloves – a handy feature to have in these cold winter mornings. Missing from the 520’s repertoire is Nokia’s ClearBlack technology, meaning the screen is highly reflective in direct sunlight. Found at the back of the 520 is a 5 MP autofocus camera (no frontfacing snapper offered) that can record HD-Ready (720p) videos at 30 fps. Performance of the camera was unimpressive overall, producing average looking photos outdoors and often grainy shots indoors, especially in the presence of poor lighting conditions. Video quality was better as the 720p videos were lag-free, although the colour appeared a bit faded.
To the point If you are willing to try something new in the form of the Windows Phone OS, the Lumia 520 makes for an excellent value offering, retailing for a good R1 900. Not only does the device look stylish, but it delivers the same specs, including a WVGA display and dual-core CPU, which one normally finds on Android-based rivals costing twice as much such, including the R4 000 Samsung S3 mini and HTC’s Desire X. [HD]
20 seconds. How long it could take to charge your phone in the future, thanks to a super capacitor developed by Californian teen Eesha Kare.
Samsung Galaxy S4
CAMERAS
Canon PowerShot G15 With each iteration of Canon’s powerful G-series compact camera range, there’s another reason to buy one, but also to adopt a wait and see attitude in anticipation of the next one. In the case of the G15 it is not only what Canon added, but also what they left out, that made us love this camera.
Solid improvements For those who don’t know, the G-series, along with Nikon’s P7xxx series, is the most powerful compact camera range you get, adding a host of semi-professional features, such as programmable custom buttons, to the mix. The latest G15 is a significant step up from the G12 (more about the G1 X later), bringing along some solid improvements, most notably a very quick f1.8 lens. This makes it easier to take portraits with a very shallow depth of field, while also combining well with the high ISO (12 800 max) settings for excellent low-light performance. There’s still no GPS or Wi-Fi included unfortunately.
Fold-out blessing It’s not often that we’re happy about something that is left out, but with the G15 its lack of fold-out LCD screen comes as a welcome surprise. We barely used it on the previous models (your usages might differ though) and it added a surprising amount of bulk to the camera. Without the screen, the new G15 is in the region of 10% lighter and 20% smaller – a difference you notice when carrying the G15 in your pants’ pockets while hiking up a mountain.
The fact that the G15 is so small made it our prefered tool when on the go. But what about the G1 X you might ask? The PowerShot G1 X comes with a larger sensor, better battery life and lower noise, but it’s also significantly larger and more expensive than the G15. For us, the G15 is much like Heinrich Brüssow – solid as a rock, quick off the mark and on hand to grab pictures where larger cameras find it difficult to operate.
Canon has finally confirmed the impending release of one of the most anticipated lenses for wildlife and sports photographers, their EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x. The lens, which is particularly aimed at professional sports and wildlife photographers, has several notable, distinguishing features. The primary one though, is the inclusion of an integrated 1.4x extender. This can be engaged, or disengaged by flicking a lever rather than by having to risk exposing one’s camera to dust by removing the lens. Additionally, it transforms the lens into a 280-560mm on full frame cameras like the EOS 5D Mark III or the EOS 1D X, for example, or into a 448-896mm on an APS-C body with a 1.6x crop factor. The lens further boasts a fixed f4 aperture, ideal for use in low light and for capturing pleasingly blurred backgrounds. Engaging the teleconverter does cost you a stop though, in this case rendering the lens into a still respectable f5.6.
Built to last As we have come to expect from Canon’s premium L lenses, the EF 200400mm has been built to handle life in the rough, boasting a magnesium alloy design, environmental protection and specialised lens coatings. According to Canon, the optical design includes both fluorite and Ultralow Dispersion (UD) lens elements, which help minimise chromatic aberration and eliminate colour blurring. Advanced anti-reflection SubWavelength Structure Coating (SWC) and Super Spectra Coating further reduce ghosting and flare. The final feature worth mentioning is the newly designed optical Image Stabiliser (IS), which provides users with a four stop advantage. Furthermore, an IS Mode 3 applies image stabilisation only at the time of exposure, which enables photographers to pan with fast-paced action without IS overcompensating for movement.
To the point To the point The fact that the G15 is so small made it our prefered tool when on the go, much more so than a bulky DSLR. With its fast f1.8 lens, we would not only recommend this for semi-pros looking for a compact second camera, but, also as an alternative for those who are considering the DSLR market for the first time. A good R4 600 asking price beats most of the entry-level DSLR and mirrorless offerings. [MJ]
Understandably, these features do come at a price, and the lens is expected to retail for about $10 000 (R90 000) if not more, when released Stateside, while local availability is expected by the beginning of this month. Although no official local pricing has been confirmed as yet, indications are that it will be in the region of R130 000. We suspect this is a lens that will separate the men from the boys so to speak, or at least compel a visit to the bank.
Taking a ‘Selfie’. The act of photographing often numerous self portraits using a smartphone and posting them to social media networks.
After recently spending some quality time with the G15 in the Maluti’s, our love affair with the Gseries is back on.
Long awaited Canon super telephoto emerges from the wild
AUDIO
Razer Electra gaming headset
Unlike your run-of-the-mill Beats headsets aimed at younger, flashier audiophiles, the Beats Executive headphones were designed with road warriors and frequent flyers in mind.
You get earphones for audiophiles and then there’s gaming headsets tasked with immersing players in their virtual worlds onscreen. Razer’s Electra headset tries to give you the best of both worlds.
Fitting its target audience, the Executive is thankfully more subdued than the regular, some might say bombastic, Beats headphones. Due to the incorporation of brushed aluminium within the frame, the Executive simply oozes quality and style, whilst its padded leather earcups keep your music listening experience comfortable, even during extended periods of use.
The Executive’s looks are more subdued than the regular Beats headphones. This headset is a bit more compact compared to your average Beats earphones, which is a plus for road warriors needing every bit of suitcase space. As always, Beats provides a branded travel case that delivers some degree of drop protection. You can fold the Executive up for convenient storage thanks to two hinges on either side of the headset.
Performance Adding to its appeal is the fantastic active noise cancellation technology. This works well and is also a treat within a noisy open office environment. This feature is powered by two AAA batteries with the unfortunate drawback that the headphones will not work without the battery power. As expected from a premium headset, the audio quality was excellent overall with the usual extra dollop of bass response normally associated with Beats headsets. You get two audio cables in the retail package, one of which sports an in-line remote control for controlling the music playback. Another inclusion we’re happy to see is an airline adapter (two pin jack) that allows you to leave the airplane’s paltry earphones unopened while listening to the in-flight entertainment through your Executive.
The sizeable and weighty (284 g) design of the Electra headset does not quite make for a portable experience, but for gamers the leatherette ear cushions allow for optimal comfort during long gaming stints. These also help with noise isolation so as to keep the focus on the action onscreen.
Audio quality Even more important than the styling is the audio performance, and during our gaming tests the Electra impressed with its crisp sounds, which helped pinpoint enemy locations within Far Cry 3 and Crysis 3. We also appreciated the clear engine harmonics within Forza Horizon and ambient sound effects whilst playing FIFA 13.
During our gaming tests the Electra impressed with its crisp sounds, which helped pinpoint enemy locations. When listening to music and watching movies, the Electra headset also fared well, but note that bass levels are not exactly up there with Beats units, and while audio quality is good overall, it is not a match for dedicated music earphones such as Nokia’s Purity HD by Monster. It must be said that the Purity earphones and Beats (any of them) costs around three to four times more than the Electra. The Electra comes with a second cable that incorporates an in-line mic for incoming calls, but unfortunately there are no in-line volume controls or a call/reject button on this cable.
To the point To the point Beats Executive headphones are stylish, comfortable, and offer some fantastic noise cancellation technology as well as excellent sound, especially in terms of bass. All of these features culminate in a pair of first class headphones, catering to all the auditory needs of business travellers, including the handy airline adaptor. It carries an RRP of R3 600. For more info contact Phoenix Distribution on 011-592-9200 or the company’s Cape Town office at 021-487-4640. [HD]
Razer’s Electra gaming and music headset make for an excellent, allround gaming headset, due to its crisp audio quality and comfortable design. One concern is the 1.3 m length of the cable, as it might be too short to comfortably reach your gaming rig if it’s placed underneath a desk. If you will be using your earphones to listen to music more than the sound of gunfire whilst playing an FPS, then the RRP of R600 will be better spent on a pair of Skullcandy Hesh 2s for instance. [HD]
100 hours. Number of hours of video footage uploaded every minute to YouTube in 2013, up from 72 hours in 2012.
Beats Executive headphones
ADVERTORIAL
Pinnacle Africa and Samsung – unique solutions for unique needs Pinnacle Africa and Samsung have partnered in South Africa to bring you a raft of cost-effective new packages to meet companies’ mobile needs. Over the last few years Pinnacle Africa, distributor of advanced ICT equipment and manufacturer of products such as the Proline PC range, has been focussing on the business sector in conjunction with all the major software and hardware providers within the IT and mobile environments. Likewise, Samsung has followed on its consumer strengths with a targeted focus on corporate customers. Now the two companies are joining forces by offering smartphones and tablets; valueadd services; and customised bundles, directly to the end-user. Many institutions can benefit from this, including those seeking to outfit their staff, along with educational institutions looking for cost-effective digital solutions for teachers and students, for example. The model essentially allows corporates to leverage existing IT budgets which have been dedicated for device capex spend, and to procure mobile devices via traditional IT channels. Pinnacle Africa fits nicely into this channel as they are a major distributor of mobile technology.
A new approach As this new business model has evolved, Pinnacle Africa has listened to what their clients need. “Initially, when we first tried this model,” says Gerhard Hartzenberg, divisional head of Samsung, Pinnacle Africa, “we noticed that, from a pricing perspective, the markets we were targeting were extremely price sensitive. A more innovative approach
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was needed, so we started offering lower memory variance devices and, most importantly, Wi-Fi only options too. This is most definitely a unique selling point from our perspective as it can be deployed to staff or students without any additional fees.” The idea has found traction within the education and corporate world because there is a significant price difference between Wi-Fi only and 3G models. The option to go with Wi-Fi only models is further enhanced by many big organisations having easy access to Wi-Fi infrastructure. Pinnacle Africa also saw that many of their customers needed to have mobile business apps or content loaded onto devices before sending it to the end-user. “It was impractical to order 1000 units and then have users physically install the required software on each unit themselves. We decided to offer a service whereby we would preinstall content that the client needed” Hartzenberg noted.
Personalisation is key The product customisation does not end here. Pinnacle Africa is able to put specific branding and covers onto smartphones and tablets. “Further, we can insert marketing collateral inside the device packaging, so that if the customer wants any particular communication around a specific offer, it is available. This allows for the product to become a clientspecific out-of-box experience which has been extremely popular as many of our clients want to personalise their offering going to the end user. We are, at our core, hardware movers
and our entire drive is to create value for people who are buying hardware from a capex perspective and need reliability, after-sales service and product flexibility, ‘’ Hartzenberg continued. Hartzenberg further believes that the success of Pinnacle Africa’s various packages is based around a trend where consumers realise that they can purchase a device of their choice, and then look for a separate voice and data bundle. ‘’What we have seen of late is consumers actually going out and buying devices and using them on a pay-as-you-go basis. You may want two or three different devices but don’t necessarily need a contract for each of them. Furthermore, customers may find a great deal and want to upgrade without having to take out a new contract. You can simply use your existing contract on your new device.”
Service is everything To complete their value-add offering, Hartzenberg says that Pinnacle Africa have launched an industry first. “For the first time in the mobile industry, we are offering a two-year on-site, next-business-day warranty on Samsung smartphones and tablets. This means that if customers have a problem with a device, they can phone one number and we will send out a technician who will offer postsales service and support. If the technician cannot fix it on the spot he will do a swap-out. This, we believe, will be of great benefit to the corporate world, since smartphones and tablets have evolved into critical business tools. It is simply not viable to wait 14 days to get a device back.” For more info on Pinnacle Africa’s mobile communications offerings, contact them on 011-265-3000 or go to www.pinnacle.co.za.
VEHICLES
TOP 5
large executive saloons
So you’ve finally been awarded a seat on the board of directors. How do you celebrate? By giving to charity? Don’t be silly. You opt for one of these Top 5 large executive saloons, of course.
Lexus LS460
Audi A8 3.0 TFSI
BMW 740i
The LS460 is powered by a 4.6 litre V8 that delivers 285 kW at 6400 RPM and 493 Nm of torque at 4100 RPM, enabling the driver to propel this five metre long vehicle to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, onto an electronically governed terminal velocity of 250 km/h. Fuel consumption figures are a claimed 10.7 litres per 100 km on a combined cycle. Parking the Lexus LS460 in your garage will set you back R1 236 700, with the sole consolation that this purchase adds every conceivable feature on the options list. This includes an upgraded Mark Levinson sound system featuring 19 speakers, a 15 channel amplifier, true 7.1 surround sound and connectivity for virtually every type of sound input the likes of Bluetooth audio streaming.
Ingolstadt’s biggest luxury sedan might sport the same massive frame as the rest of the large executive competition, but it cuts down on the weight thanks to its all-aluminium Audi Space Frame construction. The A8’s supercharged V6 generates 213 kW and peak torque tally of 420 Nm, with at least 90% of this total being available within a wide rev range between 2500 RPM and 4850 RPM. This sees the A8 accelerating to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, while consuming a frugal (for this category) 9.1 litres per 100 km on a combined cycle. Acquiring an A8 3.0 TFSI will leave your bank balance R943 500 in the red, but includes a plethora of features as standard, including a premium Bose sound system, 4zone climate control and front and rear park distance control with reverse camera.
Like Jaguar and Mercedes, BMW asserts that drivers do not necessarily need a big, honking V8 to get the best performance out of their über-sized luxury barge. The 740i is powered by a turbocharged 2979 cc V6 that delivers 235 kW at 5800 RPM and 450 Nm of torque between 1300 and 4500 RPM. This has the Beemer schnelling its way to 100 km/h in a quick 5.7 seconds onto a regulated and illegal topend of 250 km/h. BMW claims a 7.9 litres per 100 km average fuel usage figure. The recommended retail price of the standard 740i comes in at around R1 009 500, which seems like a bargain compared to the Lexus, but this considerable RRP still leaves the 740i with a rather lengthy options list. This includes paying another R8 800 for park assist and R27 400 for a night vision system.
Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueEfficiency
Mercedes-Benz’s S-class has always been the benchmark within this motoring segment, debuting tech that even James Bond does not have access to. The Stuttgart stallion gallops forward thanks to a 3498 cc V6 that provides 225 kW at 6500 RPM and 370 Nm of torque at 3500 RPM, which is enough to reach 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and limited top end of 250 km/h. The entry-level model in the current range is the S350 BlueEfficiency which goes for R1 047 000. This nets buyers features that you will also find 20
on some of the other vehicles in this comparison the likes of bi-xenon lights with LED daytime driving lights and reversing camera with parking guidance. Also standard are less common features such as attention assist that detects drowsiness and encourages the driver to pull over for a rest, and pre-safe, which warns drivers of an impending crash threat and activates the safety equipment in case. The only real threat to the S-class’ leader-of-the-pack status comes in the form of its newly unveiled successor, which only launches later this year internationally. [HD]
Top 3. The best-selling passenger cars in South Africa during April 2013 were the VW Polo Vivo (2231 units), VW Polo (1828), and the Toyota Etios (1581).
Jaguar XJ 3.0 V6 Like the XF, Jaguar’s sublimely styled XJ also sports an inherent ability to turn other executive saloon owners green with envy. This stylish cat sprints forward courtesy of its 2995 cc supercharged V6 that churns out 250 kW at 6500 RPM and 450 Nm of torque between 3500 and 5000 RPM. Drivers will bring up 100 km/h on the speedometer in under 6 seconds en route to an electronically limited top end of 250 km/h. Despite its Cheetah-like performance, the Jaguar is not such a thirsty cat, with a combined-cycle (town and highway driving) fuel usage figure of 9.6 litres per 100 km. The privilege of sliding into the driver’s seat costs around R1 018 100, which makes it one of the more affordable vehicles in this comparison.
VEHICLES
MercedesBenz debuts new GL-class SUV locally Mercedes-Benz is aiming to send prospective Range Rover buyers on a dealership detour via its newly launched, second-gen premium SUV – the GL-class. Apart from an exclusive pricetag, the GL-class now offers a whisper quiet ride thanks to its NVH qualities (noise, vibration, harshness) being on par with the S-Class, while also ironing out the impact of any speedbumps and potholes thanks to its fully load-bearing air suspension system, dubbed AIRMATIC. The bump-free ride can be enjoyed by up to seven passengers (2-3-2 seating arrangement).
that is rocketed forward by a 5461 cc twin-turbocharged V8 that generates 410 kW at 5750 RPM and 760 Nm of mountain-ascending torque between 2000 and 5000 RPM. The AMG gets you to 100 km/h in under 5 seconds, while its top speed is limited to 250 km/h. All this performance does mean that this powerplant is a little less frugal compared to the GL 500, at a wallet-emptying 12.3 litres per 100 km on a combined-cycle. Helping drivers stay in control when venturing far off the beaten track is a wealth of features, including Mercedes-Benz’s 4MATIC permanent fourwheel drive system. Additional driver aids include a driving-off assistant, Downhill Speed Regulation as well as a specialised program setting for off-road driving.
77 244. Number of Wi-Fi connections made on iPhone smartphones every minute, compared to 51 937 on Android.
Engines choices Diesel fans can opt for the GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC, which boasts a 2987 cc turbocharged V6 diesel engine churning out 190 kW at 3600 RPM and 620 Nm of torque between 1600 and 2400 RPM. This sees the mammoth frame of the SUV reaching 100 km/h in less than 8 seconds onto a terminal velocity of 220 km/h. This frugal diesel motor uses a claimed 7.48 litres per 100 km on a combined-cycle (highway and town driving). Petrolheads can slide into the driver’s seat of the mighty GL 63 AMG
To the point The premium pricing of the GL-class does mean that you will not see one in every driveway, as the cheapest model, namely the GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC comes in at R966 246, whilst our pick of the range – the GL 63 AMG – sports a pricetag that is even more exclusive at R1 669 636. Watch out for one the next time you’re overtaken by a blue light brigade on the highway.
New A3 Sportback takes to SA roads Audi is looking to provide some ‘schnell’ to its sales courtesy of the new, more spacious, A3 Sportback. After driving onto South African roads in 2005, Audi’s A3 Sportback went on to sell more than 15 000 units and land the South African Car of the Year title back in 2006. The new A3 Sportback now offers some extra head and legroom for rear seat passengers. Other practical enhancements include a larger luggage compartment featuring 380 litres of space in the basic configuration, and up to 1 220 litres of loading space with the seats folded down. The new A3 Sportback is not just more practical but also a bit more eyecatching thanks to exterior design changes including its single-frame grille with signature bevelled edges and large air intakes. Standard cabin equipment now includes Bluetooth with voice control and audio streaming.
Powerplants Under the bonnet resides a highly efficient 1.6 TDI engine that delivers a claimed combined-cycle fuel usage figure of just 3.9 litres per 100 km,
while also being capable of rocketing the car from 0-100 km/h in under 11 seconds on its way to a top speed of 194 km/h. Buyers can also opt for two TFSI petrol engines, namely a lighter new 1.4 TFSI and our pick of the two – the new 1.8 litre TFSI, which churns out 132 kW and 250 Nm of torque. With S tronic and frontwheel drive, the 1.8TFSI sprints to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and has a top speed of 232 km/h. Combined-cycle fuel consumption for this engine is 5.6 litres per 100 km.
To the point The Audi A3 Sportback is a tech savvy driver’s dream thanks to a plethora of tech, including the company’s excellent MMI (multimedia interface) infotainment system. Buyers with deep pockets are able to expand upon this courtesy of a laundry list of enticing options, the likes of a Bang and Olufsen sound system and radar-based detection system that incorporates park distance control. The pricing for the variants of the A3 Sportback that are currently locally available starts at R290 500 for the A3 1.4T FSI manual S and goes all the way up to R339 000 for the A3 1.8T FSI S tronic SE. 21
FEATURE
COMPETITIONS
Nikon brings Joe McNally to SA It’s not often that a truly world famous photographer visits South Africa, so it’s with great interest that we’re looking forward to Joe McNally’s upcoming workshops. If you’ve ever tried to master the off-camera flash, chances are that the name Joe McNally popped up during your web searches. McNally can be described as a master of light, having shot for numerous publications, most notably LIFE, Time, Sports Illustrated and National Geographic. In fact, he photographed the first all digital shoot for National Geographic not too long ago in 2003. Photography enthusiasts have a chance to
attend workshops McNally is presenting here in South Africa, courtesy of Nikon. On this one day lighting workshop, photographers of all levels can see the master at work, while also sharing in his extensive knowledge. The workshop will look at lighting problems, solutions, tactics and strategies, with the aim to get the best pictures requiring the least amount of gear. There are two workshops scheduled, one
A 4-in-1 printer With HP genuine ink cartridges “Whether you need to print the kids’ latest school project, that Board presentation in time for Monday morning or your wedding invitation, you are probably concerned about the high cost of printing, or the amount of trees killed or that you are running out of ink fast and the job is nowhere near done. For quality you can trust for less, original HP printers and ink supplies are the best choice, every time. With HP Combo Packs, you can save an average of 20% on the cost of buying two cartridges separately. So by saving, you get quality you can rely on, precision engineered for your printer no matter the size or importance of your printing job at home or the office. It helps you and your business to reduce wastage and use much less resources. Only HP original supplies deliver unmatched quality for the most professional looking prints in South Africa.” In order to celebrate HP ink getting the job done, we are giving away an HP Ink Advantage 4624 4-in-1 with original cartridges. The value of the prize is close to R3 000. To stand a chance to win, tell us about your worst printing disaster. Write your answer on TechSmart’s Facebook page (facebook.com/techsmartmag) during June 2013, and you might just be the winner.
Terms and Conditions apply.
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coming to the Cape Town International Convention Centre on the 25th of June, while Jo’burg gets its chance on the 27th. Tickets for McNally’s lighting workshops cost R2 000 and include a R1 000 discount voucher which may be used on products purchased in excess of R2 500 during the event. Go to www.webtickets.co.za to book, or visit McNally’s blog at www.joemcnally.com to check out his portfolio.
A Leitz Multicharger! If you’re part of a tech savvy family where a range of electronic devices needs constant charging, then the Leitz Multicharger is the gadget for you. With this charging station you’re able to recharge up to four devices simultaneously via USB. While three smartphones can easily lay side by side on the non-slip desk, a 10" tablet can be slotted into the back of the Leitz, making it possible to continue working on it. Three short cables are included, comprising one for Apple, a mini USB for compact cameras, and a micro USB cable for Android phones. To stand a chance to win, go to TechSmart’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ techsmartmag) and write “I want to win the Leitz Multicharger!” One lucky person will be selected to win the Leitz, valued at R3 200.
Competition runs until 30 June 2013.
TechSmart 2013
Reader Survey We need your help to make TechSmart better! Fill out our 2013 Reader Survey online and stand a chance to win these prizes worth over R14 000. Go to www.techsmart.co.za and enter before 30 June 2013.
1st prize Toshiba Excite 10 tablet worth R5 500 courtesy of Toshiba The Toshiba Excite 10 tablet features: • • • • • • • • •
10.1" screen with 1280 x 800 resolution Nvidia quad-core Tegra 3 processor Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich Stereo speakers 1 GB RAM 5 MP camera SD card expansion Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Durable aluminium surface
What TechSmart said in our Toshiba Excite 10 review:
“
Toshiba certainly knows how to make solid devices, and its Excite 10 tablet is ample testimony to this fact. The Excite 10 feels somewhat more compact than other 10.1" devices that have crossed our path, a factor which certainly counts in its favour when holding it in one hand. One considerable differentiating factor of the device, and something we appreciate in any tablet, is the presence of expandable storage via a full sized SD card slot, making this one tablet that can actually host up to 128 GB of storage.
Read our full review here: bit.ly/10toshiba
Other prizes worth R8 850 courtesy of Mantality 3x Mini DV 3x Mini Microscopes 3x Build Your Own Robot Arms Cameras worth for iPhone 4 worth R525 each worth R950 each R875 each
”
5x 80s Retro iPhone Cases and 3x Retro Phone Handsets worth R225 each
Winners will be selected randomly. Survey ends 30 June 2013. Terms and Conditions apply. 23
NEWS
Sci News
Green News Going for gold
Red alert Bulls apparently hate it, motorists stop when they see it and now a study says competitive sportsmen digg it. What’s up with red? According to a recent study in Psychological Science, male athletes’ choice of wearing red may be linked to their testosterone levels. A group of 73 men were asked to participate in a competitive task and they could choose either a red or a blue symbol to represent them on the chart. To determine testosterone levels, researchers collected a saliva sample from each participant before they knew about the nature of the task and another at the end. Results showed that the guys who chose red symbols had higher baseline testosterone levels. However, the colour choice made no difference in actual performance, which suggests that the ‘red advantage’ is based on the perception of the opponent.
Foam party A team of scientists are bursting their own bubbles. And doing the math to show how it works. According to their report in a recent issue of Science, the process can be modelled by solving a set of four differential equations. Each equation describes specific physical characteristics of bubbles, ranging from what happens on the surface of the thin membrane to how a cluster rearranges itself after one bubble has burst. After five days’ number crunching the team were able to put together real-time movies to show how the bubbles burst, one by one. The findings can be useful in bubble-conscious applications such as beer brewing or making foaming soaps. Unfortunately, it can’t explain what to do about the office big mouth. [LP] 24
Innovation Prize for Africa winner uses flies for feed
How can flies help with the production of a sustainable source of animal feed? The answer is provided by a South African-based company, AgriProtein Technologies, which has walked away with $100 000 as winner of the 2013 Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA). Selected from more than 900 applications from 45 countries, the AgriProtein solution collects biodegradable waste, feeds it to flies that in turn produce larvae that are ground into protein to provide a more ecologically friendly, naturally occurring type of animal feed. This approach improves the nutritional value of meat and lowers the cost of animal feed for African processors and farmers.
Panasonic celebrates centenary with solar lantern project Panasonic has launched its hundred thousand solar lantern project through which the firm will donate 100 000 solar LED lanterns to people living within electricity-deprived regions including Africa and Asia. The firm plans on completing this goal by the time it will celebrate its 100th anniversary during 2018. Panasonic has donated 3000 lanterns to non-profit organisations within Myanmar while another 5000 compact solar lights (CSLs) were delivered to non-governmental organisations in India. Kenya will also be receiving 2000 CSLs for use within a local refugee camp during the first half of this year.
GM signs Climate Declaration General Motors (GM) has become the first US automaker to sign a ‘Climate Declaration’, to which parties commit to address climate change by promoting clean energy and limiting their carbon emissions. GM stated that it remains committed to energy efficiency throughout all of its global operations, with the goal of reducing its energy consumption by 20% by 2020. The firm is also the top rated US automotive company making use of solar power Stateside, hosting two of the five largest rooftop solar arrays in the world, and producing one of the top selling hybrid cars in the Chevrolet Volt (pictured above).
21.8 km/hour. Speed at which a newly created robotic cheetah can run. Not too shabby, but still not as fast as the 112.6 km/hour attainable by a real cheetah.
Some world-changing scientific discoveries happened quite by accident. And we may have another on our hands. Scientists describe in the journal Nature Communications, how a seemingly failed chemistry experiment turned out to be an easy way to extract gold from other materials. They mixed two solutions, one containing ring-structured starch molecules and the other a gold salt, expecting to see 3D cubic molecules forming. Instead, bundles of ultrathin gold wires formed as needle-like structures – all in less than a minute. The scientists say that their discovery may lead to an environmentally friendly method for the industrial isolation of gold as starch can replace toxic cyanide salts used currently. What Rumpelstiltskin would not have given for this.
Picture by: Barcroft Media
ETC...
To watch With a number of blockbuster movies heading to local shores this month, there is no shortage of good movies to watch.
TechSmart’s top tweets Here are the tweets that struck our fancy last month.
Man of Steel
1 million+. Number of illegal downloads in two days for the first episode of season 3 of the Game of Thrones, setting a piracy record.
28 June 2013 After the poppycock that was Superman Returns, we did not hold our breath for the franchise, thinking that the 1978 Christopher Reeve portrayal might well have been the high watermark for KalEl. That was until we saw the new trailer. Man of Steel will be directed by Zack Snyder, who in our opinion did a sterling job on Watchmen, 300 and, yes even Sucker Punch. Henry Cavill (The Tudors, The Cold Light of Day) plays the title role; and the movie also features Kevin Costner and Russell Crowe, who had to promise he would not break out in song a la Les Misérables before he got the part.
After Earth 7 June 2013 After Earth should answer two questions – does Will Smith still have the pulling power to rake in the eyeballs, and can director M. Night Shyamalan redeem himself in the wake of such nonsense as The Last Airbender and The Happening? A thousand years after Earth was evacuated, a father and son (Smith and his son Jaden) make a crash landing on the now transformed planet. The two soon realise that due to some interesting evolution, humans are definitely not top of the food chain anymore.
To the Wonder 21 June 2013 Terence Malik-directed movies do not come along that often, so it’s good to see the auteur back so soon after 2011’s Tree of Life. As with all Malik’s films, it’s very difficult to précis the plot, but for your ticket price you receive Oscar winner Ben Affleck as love interest to Bond-girl Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace). Also starring is the excellent Javier Bardem (the Bond villain in Skyfall) as a man of the cloth who’s experiencing a lapse of faith. Expect the usual breathtaking cinematography and an otherworldly cinematic experience.
Star Trek Into Darkness 7 June 2013 Whether Star Trek Into Darkness stays true to the creator of the franchise Gene Roddenberry’s original vision can be debated, but at least it looks like a good sci-fi romp. The accomplished J.J. Abrams is again at the helm, with Into Darkness also starring two of our favourite British actors – Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead), returning as Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott and Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) playing main antagonist Khan. Khan is set to not only destroy the starship Enterprise, but, as a good bad guy should, also life as we know it. Can Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and his intrepid crew phase him out of existence?
TechSmart.co.za online poll results Which local ISP offers the best service? Web Africa Afrihost MWEB Telkom Internet Vodacom Business Other
28% 21% 17% 15% 6% 13%
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THE BIG ISSUE
INTERNET
The Big Issue
Web Time Wasters
3D PRINTED GUNS
DocumentaryHeaven http://documentaryheaven.com Sometimes you don’t want to kick off your shoes and relax with the latest dumb comedy. DocumentaryHeaven is right in calling itself “Food for your brain,” since it sports a myriad (more than 2100) of documentaries, sourced from various places around the net. You’ll find programmes relating to pretty much any topic available, from science to religion, technology, music, conspiracy and nature, amongst others. You’ll also find full movies which are hard to come by at your regular video rental, such as the excellent Exit Through the Gift Shop. Worth many visits.
White Whine www.whitewhine.com
For many, 3D printing is a revolution, using a special hardened plastic to print, layer by layer, actual physical objects. While there are many uses for this, for example the printing of spare parts for models or architects constructing 3D replicas of their projects, American Cody Wilson had other ideas. Starting last year in August he created the non-profit organisation Defense Distributed, with the aim of providing freely available plans for 3D printable firearms.
Shoot ‘em up In a relatively small amount of time, Wilson’s ideas came to fruition, since last month he managed to fire the first shot from a 3D printed gun. Called the Liberator, the gun is constructed out of 16 pieces, 15 of which were printed on an $8 000 3D printer. The final part is a simple nail that you can buy from a hardware store (the bullets are also shop bought). Wilson’s success led him to release the plans on his website, even though at this stage the Liberator cannot fire more than one shot at a time. This, while its ability to withstand the pressure associated with shooting more than a few rounds, is in doubt. In the two days before the American State Department ordered him to take it down, the blueprints for the gun were downloaded 100 000 times. And just because it is not available on his site any longer doesn’t mean they are gone – the plans quickly made their way to torrenting networks such as The Pirate Bay.
To the point The availability of 3D printed guns, and the US government’s attempt to regulate these, brings up numerous difficult questions. On the one side, the Liberator is crude, costs a lot to produce and seems to be as much of a danger to the person behind the gun as in front – for now at least. For the US government the problems are numerous: Is it at all possible to stop the distribution of these blueprints? Is banning the plans not a violation of freedom of speech? How do you enforce a ban on printing 3D guns? Do you regulate the sale of 3D printers at all? These questions will most probably be answered by US courts. [MJ] 26
If you like your humour sardonic with a dose of cutting, White Whine tracks and delivers a collection of first-world ‘problems’ upon which viewers have understandably heaped scorn. These are updated daily, and range from the character complaining they had to refrain from going shopping because their mother was buying them another car, to the person in a tizz because they couldn’t make a reservation for tea at the Ritz via the web. The best way to view them is to click for a random white whine and be prepared to shake your head in bemusement or dismay.
Inside search bit.ly/howsearch It’s likely something you use every day, if not every hour, but how much do you really know about how searching for some random fact, and receiving the multitude of results, actually works? Inside Search aims to enlighten. In the process, it dishes up some interesting facts and figures – such as the fact that there are presently 30 trillion pages on the net. Indeed, sorting through all these pages – which is done by ‘crawling’ through links – is a dazzlingly complex task that involves employing String Theory while avoiding the scourge of spam. Fascinating stuff.
150 petabytes or 150 000 terabytes. Amount of email data Microsoft had to migrate over six weeks, to move all of its Hotmail users over to Outlook.com.
Last month the first shots were fired from a 3D printed gun. As expected it sparked debate regarding the future of 3D printed firearms.
APPS
Apple iOS Apps of the month Fotopedia Reporter Fotopedia Reporter acts as a platform for its users to pick up the mantle of being a reporter, and thus generate and then share their own content. The app encourages users to submit their photo-focused stories (accompanied by some text) on topics of their choosing. The community of viewers can then comment on, rate and share the results. While unfortunately one needs a constant connection to fully take advantage of the app, there are some highly interesting stories, and spectacular photos, on offer.
40%. Percentage of people worldwide who are currently accessing the internet. The majority of this share unsurprisingly comes from developed nations.
Rockmelt If like us you are also a prolific content consumer, then Rockmelt is a worthy app to add to your news aggregator arsenal. It too gathers content from your Facebook and Twitter accounts, favourite websites, blogs and online magazines, as well as YouTube and RSS feeds, and presents them in a clean, ad-free interface. In essence, it makes surfing the web, and staying informed, considerably easier. Signing up for a free account also enables you to save stories for later reading.
Injustice: Gods Among Us Along with the full console experience of the same name, is this app, its mobile counterpart, which packs quite a punch in its own right. You start off with three fighters from the DC universe with their own unique moves and powers. Each of these can be swopped at any point to take on three random opponents across a myriad of arenas. Emerging victorious consistently enables you to buy more characters as cards for your private army. Graphics are superb and the swipe-to-hit controls work beautifully. Free, albeit with microtransactions.
Android Apps of the month Twilight Do you find it hard to sleep at night following an extended chat session on Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp? Recent research suggests that exposure to blue light from your mobile device display before sleep, might be distorting your body’s natural (circadian) rhythm and therefore, your ability to fall asleep. The Twilight app adjusts your device’s screen to the time of the day by filtering out the blue spectrum after sunset and protecting your eyes with a softer red filter to encourage a more restful night’s sleep.
BlackBerry Apps of the month WordPress If you’re a blogger making use of WordPress, then you might want to have a look at the official WordPress app. Besides allowing for blogging on the go, WordPress grants you the ability to view your current stats, manage comments and upload photos and videos. Other features include access to the dashboard and settings, while the latest version also offers support for BlackBerry 10 phones and the PlayBook. Just note that the app might not be as stable as we would have liked.
Wheels On Fire Theme Sometimes you get tired of the look of the BlackBerry OS, signifying time for a new theme. For all the car fanatics out there, Wheels On Fire is a free theme by AppsforBB.com. Besides an easy to use navigation, this theme also delivers new icons providing your device with a fresh look. Other features include a custom outbound and incoming call screen and a new background screen lock. Do note that this theme has a tendency of freezing on certain models.
Galaxy Wars Fans of Galaga will enjoy this free app by Avko Labs. Harking back to the old coin-operated games of the 80s, Galaxy Wars requires you to have quick trigger fingers since the extraterrestrial forces keeps up a relentless attack. To help you along the way you have access to different offensive and defensive power ups, while other features include four different difficulty levels along with decent sound effects and graphics. More game modes would have been welcomed. [IF]
Smartphone top tips Struggling to master your new smartphone? TechSmart is on hand to provide some helpful tips.
Apple iOS tip Want to add emoticons to your messages but not sure where to find them? Simply go to Settings, General, Keyboards. Under Keyboards you will find the option to Add a New Keyboard. Select that and choose Emoji. Once done, you will see a globe icon next to the spacebar, where you will be able to access the Emoji keyboard in future.
AVG Memory & Cache Cleaner The handy Memory & Cache Cleaner from antivirus and antispyware specialists, AVG, allows smartphone and tablet users to speed up their device’s performance by stopping unnecessary processes running in the background or RAM-hogging apps. You can also set the frequency (daily or weekly) by which the app should automatically clear your device cache. In addition, this app enables users to quickly delete their device’s browsing history, phone calls log and Google Play history.
Overkill 2 Can’t get enough bullet dodging shooter action on your PC and game console? Overkill 2 is an FPS title that will have the genre blasting its way onto your mobile device. This game does not only sport some decent graphics, but also enables players to customise virtually every aspect of their guns. There are more than 30 weapons which you can trick out with various clips, scopes and other attachments.
BlackBerry tip Instead of selecting the ‘copy’ feature rather hold down the ‘Shift’ key (the button may look like aA) and use your track pad to select the desired text. Once done press your track pad to copy and paste your text.
Android tip Within ICS and Jelly Bean operating mobile devices, app icons (shortcuts) are automatically added to your homescreen as soon as you have downloaded a new app. This is handy for users who want quick access to newly installed apps on their device, but irritating to users who perfectly arrange every homescreen to avoid clutter and irrelevant shortcuts or widgets. You can turn off this feature by opening Google Play and accessing its settings to deselect the Auto-add shortcuts (aka Auto-add widgets on some devices) toggle. 27
NEWS
Gear in the office We never have enough space to feature all the products that made an appearance in our office. Here are some quick thoughts on a few of them.
Razer League of Legends Naga gaming mouse Thanks to the hexagonal button arrangement of the six large mechanical thumb buttons, the Naga expert makes it easy for MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) and action-RPG players to rapidly actuate their six favourite spells, attacks, items or abilities during intense online battles. We did find the gaming mouse’s 5600 dpi Razer Precision 3.5G Laser Sensor to be a little overly sensitive, but this is easily remedied via Razer’s Synapse 2.0 software. RRP: R1 000.
Purchased a fancy new ultrabook only to find it limited in terms of USB ports? Solve this dilemma via Belkin’s 4-Port Mobile Powered Hub, which turns a singular USB connection into four available USB ports. Unfortunately, with this being a USB 2.0 device, data transfers occur at a terminal velocity of only 480 Mbits/s, compared to super-speed (USB 3.0) certified devices which offer transfer speeds of up to 5 Gb/s. RRP: R270.
Razer Carcharias professional PC gaming headset Razer’s Carcharias gaming headset delivers clear, distortion-free audio that is accompanied by a decent dollop of bass, whether you are playing games, listening to music or watching a movie. We appreciated being able to use the headset’s inline controls to mute the noise cancellation-boasting mic or to turn the volume up and down. RRP: R750
Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 Adobe’s Elements photo-enhancement package is basically a stripped down version of their much larger and comprehensive Photoshop. It contains everything the casual photographer needs to both sort and enhance photos, but for about R1 000 we’ll rather stick with Google’s free Picasa. 28
Space will not be an issue with this flash drive, as it sports a very handy 128 GB storage capacity (plus an additional 2 GB free online storage via YuuWaa) to accommodate a user’s documents, backups and a fair amount of multimedia content. We like the fact that users are able to create a password-protected folder for private data. RRP is an expensive R1 240 for a USB 2.0 drive.
Logitech K810 Bluetooth illuminated keyboard We often give notebook manufacturers a hard time for neglecting to include backlighting on their keyboards, but Logitech steps up the keyboard accessory game by doing just that. The external keyboard, intended for use with iOS and Android tablets, is also a pleasure to type on, boasting comfortable chiclet keys with better than average depth. It has a RRP of R1 200.
Norton Mobile Security Norton’s Mobile Security for securing iOS or Android devices shows its worth when your phone gets stolen, since you can remotely wipe your device, set off an alarm, take pics of the thief or remotely track it. It also protects against malware, good if you download weird apps from Google Play. We struggled with an unnecessarily complex installation process. R150 from Phoenix Distribution.
Sony BTV5 Bluetooth speaker Playing music through your smartphone can be a bore, and while portable wired speakers can do fine, going wireless is always better. Sony’s palm-sized BTV5 speaker pairs via Near Field Communication (NFC) and streams music via Bluetooth. This speaker can go quite loud, and if you don’t expect crystal clear audio will do just fine. You can also make and receive calls. R700.
10 million. Global sales tally of Samsung’s latest Galaxy S4 smartphone within the first month of its launch.
Belkin 4-Port Mobile Powered Hub
SanDisk Cruzer Glide 128 GB
Great Father’s Day Specials thegadgetshop.co.za
Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener Designed to sharpen every knife you own – straight bladed, curved, serrated, hunting and outdoor knives. Uses flexible abrasive belts and precision angle guides to sharpen; the same technology used by professionals! You will also be able to sharpen scissors, axes and almost any tool with a blade.
R1299 Was R1399
Toolpen
R109
Now the pen is not only mightier than a sword, but mightier than a multi-tool as well! Most multi-tools ignore the humble writing Was R129 instrument but not the Tech Tool Pen. Contained within its tiny form you’ll find not only a blue ball point pen, but a spirit level, ruler and two different screwdriver tips. This pen rules!
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80%. Amount of the internet-surfing population of Antarctica that makes use of Mozilla’s Firefox web browser.
JBL Charge The size of a beer can, sounds as big as a Keg! This speaker provides more than 12 hours of playback time on a single charge and can even recharge your mobile devices. Even more impressive Was R1899 is the Charge’s sheer volume of sound, which gets loud enough for the neighbours to start complaining — with no distortion along the way.
R1699
In&Out Mobile Power Pack
TheGaDGetShop.co.za Franchise enquiries, please email franchise@thegadgetshop.co.za @TheGadgetShopSA
Crosley Music Station
R699
The In&Out is a high capacity, sleek looking, Was R799 portable power pack with 2 output ports that provides hours of extra power for your gadgets and other electronic portable devices. It includes 8 connector tips which makes it suitable for most smartphones, MP3 players, as well as tablets.
Many music lovers have dreamed of a day when they could own an all-in-one entertainment centre. The Crosley Musician 5 in 1 Entertainment Centre is a little music aficionado that has the ability to play cassette tapes, CDs, MP3s, vinyl records, iPod, and AM/FM radio, all wrapped up in one vintage radio-style cabinet. An easy to use, everything-you-ever-looked-for music player.
CardSharp 2
Netatmo Personal Weather Station
R149
No bigger than a credit card, and with a supersharp stainless steel surgical blade, non-slip armour Was rubber coated body, unique safety lock, and ultra-lightweight, this handy knife will easily slip into your wallet for carrying. Just 3 ingenious folding operations metamorphosis the card into an elegant pocket utility tool.
R169
The first Personal Weather Station with Air Quality sensors, that wirelessly transmits all your data to your smart phone (iOS and Android). Sensors capture temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, CO2 concentration and noise pollution.
EZ-Robot Complete Kit
Smart Wallet Phone Pouch
The age of Personal Robotic is rapidly approaching, don’t get left behind! EZ-Robot has made building robots easy and fun by developing the world’s easiest and most powerful unified robot platform! The EZ-Robot Complete Kit includes everything you need to build your dream robot.
Turn your phone into a wallet and let it do the carrying for you! The Silicone Smart Wallet is a high tensile pouch that stays on your Phone via a special easy peel sticker. Save time – no more fumbling around in your pocket or handbag to find credit cards or parking tickets! Fits all smart phones including iPhone5, HTC and Samsung.
@TheGadgetShopSA
R2299 Was R2499
R2799 Was R2999
R2299 Was R2499
R79 Was R99
R999
R225
.00
.00
House of Marley Zion Mic Midn ight
Make the connection from a song to your soul using these comfortab le, high quality earbuds. For iPod and any other portable music player, the Zion is beautifully crafted, socially responsible with FSC-certified wood , and built for that intimate link between you and the music.
R399
.00
Flip Clock White
30
.00
Armour Watch
The armour style watch has no face. Concealed LED lights appear withi n the chinks of the bracelet to reveal the time.
Switch on the Page Turner Lamp for a uniquely retro desk light! You choose the design to best fit your mood with 6 different designs.
www.BuyMantality.co.za
R315
.00
90s StarTac iPhone Case o, this 90s retr The epitome of flip-top street cred iPhone case will give you ennium. straight from the last mill
Tel: 011-462-5482 NEXT DAY COURIER DELIVERY! E & OE | All prices include VAT
98%. Amount by which HTC’s Q1 2013 profits decreased year-on-year from $152 million to $2.85 million.
Letʼs face it, nothing is more suspenseful than waiting for the minute to change on a flip clock....Click!
R525
Page Turner Lamp
South Africaʼs only one-stop online shop for the urban man.
GAMES
Metro: Last Light Star Trek
6.8 billion. Number of cellular subscriptions worldwide, rapidly approaching the planet’s population of 7.1 billion.
Metro: Last Light takes us into the mutant infested, radioactive sewers of the Moscow underground. Can Mother Russia, and humanity, survive? Whether it be zombie outbreaks in Left 4 Dead or nuclear war in Fallout 3, gamers have recently grown quite accustomed to surviving on a ravaged planet. Last Light is the sequel to 2010’s Metro 2033, a game loosely based on the novel of the same name by author Dmitry Glukhovsky. Developed by Ukrainian company 4A Games, the title throws players into the grime covered tunnels of the Moscow underground as humanity seeks to eke out a living in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
As far as shooters go, Last Light has some of the most solid mechanics we’ve seen in years. Like its predecessor, Last Light focuses heavily on story and atmosphere, especially for a first-person shooter. With a richly imagined world, massive attention to detail and all-round good storytelling, you’ll feel like you’re wading through irradiated subway tunnels in no time.
Shoot to kill While Last Light borrows in no small part from RPG’s, the game is essentially a shooter. Players will need to manage more than just scant ammo in the metro though; as gas masks, electrical chargers and even simple lighters can often be the only thing between you and a shallow grave. Most of the time however, firearms will be your saving grace with players wielding custom weapons to fend off irradiated monstrosities and ideological maniacs alike. As far as shooters go, Last Light has some of the most solid mechanics we’ve seen in years, with combat flowing smoothly from station to station. Every situation doesn’t necessarily have to call for Rambo levels of violence though, as you also have the option of stealthily taking out enemies and sneaking between tunnels from time to time.
A blockbuster movie usually has a videogame closely following its warp trail, the latest being Star Trek. Will this title live long and prosper within the action adventure genre? The events within Star Trek take place after 2009’s Star Trek and before the forthcoming Into Darkness, sporting an original storyline penned by God of War writer, Marianne Krawczyk.
Unlike the guns in this title, the graphics are not out of the 23rd century. It sees you playing as two familiar characters – either Captain Kirk (voiced by Chris Pine, the same actor who brings Kirk to life on the silver screen) or Commander Spock (portrayed by Zachary Quinto). Kirk and Spock are up against the Gorn, an intelligent race of lizardmen who, probably due to the rising cost of labour and delays brought about by strikes, try to turn the galaxy’s species into an army of zombie slaves.
All co-op roads lead to sub-par gaming experience The entire game is a co-op experience that is best played with a friend, with one player stepping into the legendary boots of Kirk while the other controls the equally renowned Spock. If you are playing alone, you get to pick your favourite Starfleet hero whilst the A.I. assumes control of the other. It is disappointing that this choice between either Spock or Kirk does not lead to different campaigns, since both are identical, with some slight gameplay differences. Kirk favours a more direct course of action by dispatching foes using a phaser, whilst Spock is able to adopt a more stealthy approach thanks to his weapon being a lot quieter with the ability to freeze enemies. Unlike the guns in this title, the graphics are not out of the 23rd century, in fact it time travels back to 2010. We found that the graphics are more on par with Mass Effect 2 than 2012’s Mass Effect 3. On more than one occasion, there were also noticeable graphical glitches including a Gorn foe getting stuck in the nearby scenery.
To the point The atmosphere and graphical quality of Last Light is simply a joy to behold; whether you’re skulking underground or racing from building to building on the barren surface world. In addition, good sound and world enriching voice acting really helps set the stage for a world torn asunder. If you enjoy your first person shooting with a healthy dose of award-winning storytelling, then Metro: Last Light is among the cream of the crop. [JK]
To the point Star Trek had a Galaxy of factors counting in its favour to become a storyline-driven RPG rival to games like Mass Effect. Unfortunately that goal has been severely hampered by sub-par graphics; gameplay that is far too similar for either of the game’s protagonists; plus some annoying graphical glitches. It seems that trend of movie-to-gaming titles being bummers continues. [HD] 31
GAMES
Injustice: Gods Among Us DC’s superhero universe is ripe for portrayal, in both movies and videogames. The question is always, can the medium do the IP justice or does it betray it entirely?
Gods Among Us does the vast DC world a great justice. Complicating matters is the fact that in this parallel world, five years after the calamity, former superheroes have turned into dark versions of themselves, starting with an enraged Superman, who in the wake of Metropolis’ demise, and the death of his wife and son, killed The Joker. He then assumed control of an One Earth government, eventually becoming a seemingly invincible and intractable tyrant, the kind of menace he once would have protected mankind from. It falls to the alternate superheroes to confront him, return to their own time/space and set the world right.
We survived the zombies in the first Dead Island, but can we survive the second instalment of the franchise? The sequel to 2011’s Dead Island picks up right where the first game left off, with survivors being flown off the holiday island on a helicopter. As we finally land on a passing military vessel, our group is summarily arrested and sent for testing by an unscrupulous looking man in a suit (what’s with bad guys and suits anyway?). Luckily we don’t stay locked up for too long as the ship is overrun that very night by the undead we were so desperately trying to avoid. Melee a la Zombie The original Dead Island introduced the concept of fighting zombies using mainly melee weapons, and the sequel continues that trend. The melee combat is done quite nicely, with virtually all weapons doubling as projectiles, with kicks and well-aimed strikes being used to keep the biters at bay. It feels quite satisfying entering a room at a run, dispatching a zombie with an expertly thrown kitchen knife to the head, kicking another in the chest and bashing its skull with a wrench as it hits the ground.
All in all, however much we tried to enjoy the game, Riptide is hardly going to give veteran players a fresh experience.
The first rule of Fight Club This story premise sets the stage for some beautifully complex and engaging battles, as you step into the shoes of each of the superheroes – and a couple of villains – amid luscious graphics and brawl your way to victory. You also have a strong variety of attacks, from the normal to the exceptional including basic attacks, combo attacks, special moves and then your character’s unique power. Combining these in battle add up to some spectacular fights, which take place on a 2D plane but within beautifully rendered 3D environments. Also on offer is a multiplayer component, which further allows you to extend the game’s longevity by fighting against your friends or against online opponents.
Frankly, there really isn’t too much that sets Riptide apart from its predecessor. Players consume food and other amenities for health boosts; get to fight alongside AI companions from time to time; and can loot the world for new weapons and items that allow you to repair your arsenal. One thing that Riptide does do better than most FPS games is length. Like the original the game runs quite long, keeping players busy for 10 to 15 hours. This isn’t necessarily a good thing though, as many levels start feeling more like grinds than anything else.
To the point To the point Injustice: Gods Among Us could have been a mishmash and a mess, and perhaps in an alternate universe, it is. In this one though, the game does the vast DC world a great justice by proving to be a knockout. RRP: R600 [RN]. 32
All in all, however much we tried to enjoy the game we couldn’t shake the feeling that we were dealing with a somewhat hastily produced sequel. While the game still delivers enjoyable zombie combat, it’s hardly going to give veteran players a fresh experience and it couldn’t keep us immersed for more than an hour at a time. RRP: R400. [JK]
10 million. Global sales tally of Samsung’s latest Galaxy S4 smartphone within the first month of its launch.
With Injustice: Gods Among Us (IGAU) the short answer is that the game is a triumph, by offering up an engaging superhero Tour de Force that compels one to keep coming back to play it for ‘just a little longer’. Calamity has befallen Metropolis, with the sum of all fears realised, as the city has been reduced to ashes by a nuclear explosion. In a bid to stop the explosion before it happens, several of the superheroes, including Batman, Green Lantern, Nightwing, Green Arrow and Wonder Woman get sucked into a parallel earth, where they are considered the world’s villains.
Dead Island: Riptide