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SHOWSTOPPER Gadgets that showcase the very best that design and technology have to offer
WAVES AND SCALES According to Ruark’s website,, the Tempo’s distincctive, fragmented patttern y was inspired by “soundwaves an nd graphic scales of o 20thcentury artists� �. We reckon it looks a bit like ’70s wallpa aper – in a good way y!
RUA R K L IN L E Y TEM PO Such is the array of home-entertainment options you can get these days, it’s a wonder that anyone still bothers with radio. Or at least it was a wonder until we clapped eyes on the Tempo. A collaboration between audio expert Ruark and royal furniture maker Linley, this British-made tuner is a devastating FROOLVLRQ RI VRQLF VPDUWV DQG VDUWRULDO ćDLU :LWK VXSSRUW IRU '$% '$% DQG )0 UDGLR EDQGV D %OXHWRRWK UHFHLYHU DQG DQ DX[ LQSXW WKHUHèV D ZLGH YDULHW\ RI OLVWHQLQJ FKRLFHV ü DQG ZLWK D 5RWR'LDO RQ WKH WRS DQG D FOHDU 2/(' GLVSOD\ DW WKH IURQW QDYLJDWLQJ \RXU ZD\ DURXQG \RXU IDYRXULWH VWDWLRQV DQG VRQJV FRXOGQèW EH HDVLHU +RZHYHU DV VDWLVI\LQJ DV WKH WHFKQRORJ\ LV WKH 7HPSRèV ELJJHVW VHOOLQJ SRLQW LV PRVW GHĆQLWHO\ LWV looks. Hand-crafted with solid sycamore edges and a goatskin-clad front panel, and available in a range of VQDSS\ FRORXUZD\V 6XEPDULQH 0RQGD\ 1RUZHJLDQ RU %HUHW WKH UDGLR LV HIIRUWOHVVO\ H\H FDWFKLQJ without being gaudy. Right, who’s for an episode of The Archers? `TBA, ruarkaudio.com
4 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRURY 2020
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Welcome
Editor’s letter and packed with tech than before. For our cover
Executive Editor Kunal Gangar Consulting Editor Girish Mallya Correspondent Gautam Doshi Contributors Anshuman Ghosh, Rohinton Mehta Editor (UK) Matt Bolton Contributors (UK) Duncan Bell, Claire Davies, Alex Cox, Tamara Hinson, David Nield Publisher Girish Mallya Head Design & Production Ravi Parmar Senior Designer Prakash Gavnang Photography Mahesh Reddy Production Supervisor Dinesh Bhajnik Product Manager Perseus Master
story this month, take a look at some of the gadgets
General Manager North and East - Ellora Das Gupta
Get ready for our pro selection of 2020 gadgets The year has just started but it seems to be busier
you can use to get fitter, improve health or enjoy
General Manager South - Girish Shet Circulation Manager Circulation North and East - Kapil Kaushik
your free time.
BRANCH OFFICES
As for the launches this month, Samsung was busy launching their new smartphones, including the Galaxy S10 and the Note10 Lite whereas Audi unveiled its flagship SUV. Canon and Nikon also introduced their new offerings and so was Honor with their new phone and two wearables. Monthly reviews include DJI’s latest drone, Sony’s handy RX100 camera and a few more. However, the gadgets we liked the most were Amazon’s Echo Auto that brings Alexa functionality to the car and Asus ROG Mothership gaming laptop. That’s not all. Do read our special feature on Chromebooks and a tech-filled travel guide.
Kunal Gangar, Executive Editor k.gangar@nextgenpublishing.net
Views and opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd. Views expressed by external contributors are their own and not those of the organisations they work for. Next Gen Publishing does not take the responsibility for returning unsolicited material sent without adequate postal stamps for return postage. No part of the magazine may be reproduced in part or full without the prior express written permission of the publisher. All readers are recommended to make their own independent enquiries before sending money, incurring expenses or entering into commitments in relation to any advertisement appearing in the publication. T3 India does not vouch for any claims made by advertisers for their products and services. The editor, publisher, printer and employees of the publication shall not be held liable for any consequence in the events of such claims not being honoured by the advertisers. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Mumbai only.
OUR AWARDS PLATINUM AWARD
T3 is…
THE DESIGN AWARD
BEST FOR BATTERY LIFE
This award, and others We give this only to Only a five-star review like it, are given for tech that stands out for earn a product our prestigious Platinum stunning aesthetics or a exceptional performance in a key feature clever build Award
6 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
BEST ON TEST
The winners of our group tests earn this accolade, showing them to be top tier
Mumbai 105-106, Trade World, B Wing, 1st Floor, Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West, Mumbai-400013. Tel: +91 22 43525252 Ahmedabad Devendra Mehta - Mob No.- 09714913234 Bengaluru Unit No. 509, 5th Floor ‘B’ Wing, Mittal Towers, MG Road, Bangalore -560001, India Tel: +91 80 66110116/17 Fax: + 91 80 41472574 Chennai Salma Jabbar Cenetoph Elite,No.5,1st street, Teynampet, Chennai-6000018 Tel: + 91 044 421-08-421, 044 421-75-421 New Delhi Ellora Das Gupta 26-B, First Floor, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase-III, New Delhi - 110020 Tel: +91 11 4234 6600 / 6678 Fax: + 91 11 4234 6679 Pune S.No.261/G.L.R.No.5 East Street,Camp, Pune-411001 Tel : + 91 20 26830465 Hyderabad Srinivas Gangula -Territory Sales Incharge (Circulation) Mobile no. 09000555756 Kolkata Vidyasagar Gupta -Territory Sales Incharge (Circulation). Mobile no. 09804085683 Subscription Enquiries Tel: +91-22-43525220 Apple Newsstand & Magzter Queries: help@magzter.com All rights reserved. Published with the permission of Future plc. Reproduction in any manner in any language in whole or in part without prior written permission from Future plc & Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd. with regard to their respective content is prohibited. Printed by Girish Mallya. Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd., 105-106, Trade World, B Wing, 1st Floor, Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West, Mumbai-400013. Published by Girish Mallya on behalf of Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd., 105-106, Trade World, B Wing, 1st Floor, Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West, Mumbai-400013. Printed at Kalajyothi Process Pvt. Ltd, 1-1-60/5 RTCX Roads, Hyderabad - 20. Published at Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd., 105-106, Trade World, B Wing, 1st Floor, Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West, Mumbai-400013. Editor: Kunal Gangar
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Contents
Contents 028
YOUR BEST YEAR EVER
Supercharge your life on every level, from fitness and happiness to work and play, with the latest tech to make 2020 your best year so far!
060
ULTIMATE TV BUYING GUIDE Buy an epic new telly, starting with these, from budget sets to 8K wonders
038
T3’S TRAVEL GUIDE 2020
Our ultimate rundown of where to holiday this year, and the latest breed of travel tech to take with you
060
COMPLETE GUIDE TO CHROMEBOOKS It’s time to work smarter, not harder – and these leading Chromebooks will help you do just that
8 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
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Contents BEST OF THE BEST 089 INTRODUCING THE BEST BUYER’S GUIDE KNOWN TO MAN
HORIZON
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010
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HORIZON TOP LAUNCHES
DJI MAVIC MINI
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We hit the skies with DJI’s latest dinky drone to see if it’s worth the hype – and to see if it really can squeeze into a coat pocket
024 STYLE
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Classic blue is 2020’s ‘It’ colour. Here’s how to make it work for you
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Make your car infotainment system smart with this new gadget
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ASUS ROG MOTHERSHIP GZ700
Perfect toast and how to keep your wallet safe
Is this a laptop or a desktop? Our review of the ROG Mothership
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From phones to tablets, and camera to cars, our selection of the very best tells you what to buy
080 GAMES Keep your wallet ready. Here’s the list of the most anticipated games for 2020
THE MUSIC OF BARSAAT SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE BIG MONEY
097
Essentials 004
SHOWSTOPPER
097
SUBSCRIPTIONS
098
LUXURIES
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FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 9
Horizon
The best new tech heading your way
TESLA CYBERTRUCK `TBA, tesla.com Whether it’s making all-electric supercars or launching rockets into space, Tesla certainly knows how to grab our attention. Well, Elon Musk and co didn’t so much grab our attention with its new concept vehicle, the Cybertruck, as lift us up by the lapels and throw us squarely into the future. Looking like something imagined by a 1980s filmmaker (and no doubt some will hate its entire design aesthetic), this mean-looking four-wheeler is described by Tesla as having “better utility than a truck, with more performance than a sports car”. That’s quite some combination, and the spec sheet certainly seems to back up that lofty claim… The Cybertruck boasts the same protective stainless-steel skin as Tesla’s Starship space raider, as well as ultra-tough glass, up to 16 inches of ground clearance with adaptive air suspension, and a huge towing capacity of more than 14,000lbs. The top-end Tri Motor AWD model’s 0-100kmph figure of 2.9 seconds is enough to thrill sports car fans. Perhaps even more amusing is how Tesla suggests you could use this futuristic truck in an outdoors setting; in some promo shots the Cybertruck is pictured in a forest, complete with pop-up awning and tail-gate barbecue. Imagine the looks you’d get if you drove this onto a campsite in Cornwall. The Cybertruck is due to go into production this year, and no doubt there will be some adjustments to the design before it’s ready for public use. We also expect there to be a queue for this curious beast… unless Tesla conjures something even more futuristic by then.
TECH-O-METER
10 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2019
Despite having all that passenger room, the Cybertruck still manages to offer 100 cubic feet of storage. “Space for your toolbox, tyre and Cyberquad,” says Tesla, referring to the four-wheeler it’s launching to go with this mean machine
“The Cybertruck looks like it’s rolled right out of an ’80s sci-fi movie” W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Horizon Tesla Cybertruck
LONG RANGER Tesla’s cars are known for having a good range, but the Cybertruck goes the extra few miles. The top-end Tri Motor AWD can do a reported 800+ km off a single charge, the mid-range Dual Motor AWD can manage 480+, and even the base Single Motor RWD offers 400+ km
INSIDE STORY At the time of writing, there wasn’t much information on the car’s interior, but what we do know is that it’ll be fairly minimalist, seat six people comfortably and feature an all-new 17-inch user interface for all your ICE, navigation and driver customisation needs
BUILT TO OUTLAST The Cybertruck sports a tough exoskeleton made from Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless steel that, Tesla says, “eliminates dents, damage and long-term corrosion”. Tesla armor glass, a polymer-layered composite to absorb and redirect impact force, covers the windscreen and windows
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FEBRUARY 2019 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 11
Horizon SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE10 LITE From `38,999, samsung.com/in Samsung’s new Galaxy Note10 Lite allows users to enjoy premium features for a little above half the cost of the Note10. Designed to fulfill the needs of productivity-andentertainment-seeking millennials, the Galaxy Note10 Lite is equipped with Bluetooth-enabled S Pen that helps in personalising photos and videos through effects, drawings and animations along with easily navigating through presentations. With a 0.7mm tip, it conveniently converts handwritten notes to digital text. The Galaxy Note 10Lite comes with a triple camera pro-grade system and a 32MP f/2.2 front camera, which is great for portraits in all sorts of lighting conditions. The three cameras at the back consists of a 12MP wide camera, 12MP ultra-wide camera (123° field of view) and a 12MP Tele lens. The Note10 Lite features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Full HD 2400x1800 Infinity-O display, 64-bit octa-core processor, a 4500mAh battery, and with 128GB internal storage which is expandable up to 1TB. T3 SAYS: The 6GB and 8GB variants of the Galaxy Note 10 Lite are available in 3 colours: Aura Red, Aura Black and Aura Glow.
TECH-O-METER
TP-LINK TAPO C200 `2,999, tp-link.in TP-Link has refreshed its smart camera lineup and it’s definitely a step up compared to the previous model. With the refined dome-shaped design, the Tapo C200 camera keeps a tab, allowing you to remotely monitor and notify on your smart device. The device supports motion detection, Full HD resolution, two-way audio, infrared night vision for monitoring in a pitch-dark environment and microSD card support (up to 128GB), which is good enough to keep a record of up to 16 days. Users can even stop recording temporarily with the privacy mode. T3 SAYS: The Tapo C200 camera has a panning range of up to 360-degree and vertical tilt range of up to 114-degree.
TECH-O-METER
12 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
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Horizon
SONY NW-A105 WALKMAN `23,990, sony.co.in The iconic Walkman series did pack a punch when it came to delivering quality audio to music-lovers. Now, Sony’s latest NW-A105 Android Walkman, equipped with a 3.6-inch HD touchscreen display, strives to change the way people listen to music on-the-go. With 26-hour battery life, the NW-A105 runs on Android 9.0 and has a built-in 16GB memory, further expandable to up to 128GB. The NW-A105 features advanced audio technology that supports Hi-Res Audio like DSD and FLAC, in addition to the common MP3, WAV, WMA. Moreover, it supports Bluetooth, NFC and Wi-Fi to stream and download music. T3 SAYS: The new-age Walkman features the S-Master HX digital amplifier which enables users to enjoy the subtleties of studio-quality sound.
TECH-O-METER
AUDI A8 From `1.33cr, audi.in Audi has expanded its Q-series SUVs with the flagship Audi Q8. The blend of a four-door luxury coupé and a versatile SUV, the Audi Q8 is a mean machine packing a 3.0 TFSI engine under the hood that generates 340 horsepower and torque of 500Nm allowing the car to reach from zilch to hundred in mere 5.9 seconds. The Audi Q8’s cabin gadgetry will please tech aficionados with an audio system by Bang & Olufsen, two displays, wireless charging and lots more. There’s no compromise on the safety front as well, with the Audi Q8 featuring eight airbags and supports Audi Park Assist, Audi Pre-Sense basic and electronic stabilisation program. T3 SAYS: With Audi’s AR and VR initiatives, customers get endless choices to personalise the car and make the Q8 stand out in the crowd.
TECH-O-METER
14 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
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Horizon CANON EOS-1D X MARK III From `5,75,995, in.canon The EOS-1D X Mark III is Canon’s latest super-fast DSLR with a newly developed 20.1MP CMOS full-frame sensor which comprises of a 16-point lowpass filter. The EOS-1D X Mark III also comes equipped with a powerful, ultra-high res 191-point autofocus (AF) system which can flawlessly track subjects at a wide luminescence range of EV -4 to 21 which is from very low light to high intensity light. Additionally, the AF system also boasts of Eye, Face as well as a Head Detection mode. The EOS-1D X Mark III offers unmatched video performance as it’s equipped with the latest imaging processor – DIGIC X – which also enables 5.5K cinematic video recording at 60 fps with a 12-bit RAW output. Along with this, the camera also supports 4K recording at 60fps and Full HD recording at 120p, with both DCI (17:9) and UHD (16:9) 4K recording standards. . The high-res 2.1 million dot touchscreen works for both, focusing as well as capturing. Built using a highly durable magnesium alloy, the ultra-tough EOS 1D-X Mark III also comes with a shutter durability of 500,000 cycles. T3 SAYS: The EOS-1D X Mark III is blazing fast as it supports burst shooting speed of up to 16fps in the viewfinder and 20fps in live view mode, making it the fastest DSLR in the market.
TECH-O-METER
NIKON D780 From `1,98,995, nikon.co.in The Nikon D780 is a highly versatile successor to the D750, and uses elements borrowed from both the D5 and Z6 to deliver a power-packed camera body. With an improved autofocus (AF) accuracy using a 273-point hybrid AF, the D780 performs smoothly with an easy-toview optical viewfinder and high AF precision in low light situations. The D780 employs a 51-point AF module supported by a 180k-pixel RGB metering sensor. Equipped with a 24.5MP full-frame CMOS sensor, the D780 supports shooting at 7fps and goes upto 12 fps in the 12-bit electronic shutter mode. The D780 also proves handy for video recording needs as it supports 4K UHD at 30fps with full pixel readout along with Full HD/120p recording and a high sensitivity at ISO 51200 which is expandable to ISO 204800! T3 SAYS: Utilising an impressive touch-operable, high-res, tilting and 2359k-dot 3.2-inch monitor, the D780 enables detailed confirmation of the subject during playback zoom.
TECH-O-METER
16 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
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Horizon
ITEL A25 `3,999, itel.com itel have launched the new A25 which is India’s first smartphone priced at just `3,999. The entry-level A25 is the latest offering from itel that promises to deliver a good firstsmartphone experience. It has a 5-inch HD IPS screen, runs Android Pie 9.0 (Go Edition) OS, a 3020mAh powerful battery and a 100-day replacement warranty promise. It is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core processor with 1GB RAM and 16GB dedicated memory. Built for the masses, the A25 smartphone has an inbuilt package of 12 languages, in addition to English and Hindi. T3 SAYS: The itel A25 boasts several features that are rare-to-find for its price like faceunlock, Google Lens and even HDR support for the 5MP rear camera.
TECH-O-METER
VU CINEMA TV From `26,999, vutvs.com The brand new Vu Cinema TV strives to provide viewers with a captivating theatre-like experience without the need of a traditional surround-sound or home-theatre system installed. Owing to the impressive audio-visual system comprising of a 40W soundbar and tweeter along g with support for Dolby Vision HDR. Running Andro oid 9.0 Pie, the Vu Cinema TV features Pixelium Glass Technology that offers an incredible brightness of 500 n nits, which is about 40% more compared to other TVs in n a similar price range. Oh, and there’s an ActiVoice remote that conveniently mitigates the trouble of typing on sm mart TVs where users can use their voice. The Cinem ma TV also offers in-built tutorials, FAQs and a 24x7 customer service helpline. The Vu Cinema TV is available in 3 variants: the 43-inch, 50-inch and 55-inc ch. T3 SA AYS: The ActiVoice remote also comes with Netflix, Amaz zon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, and Hotstar hotke eys, making navigation easier for the viewers.
TECH-O-METER
18 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
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Horizon
HONOR MAGICWATCH 2 From `11,999, hihonor.in It seems the last few months to be all about smartwatches and the latest one to join the fray is Honor’s MagicWatch 2. Weighing just 41g, the MagicWatch 2 comes with an always-on 1.39-inch HD AMOLED display with a 454x454 resolution and lasts for up to 2 weeks on a single charge. The MagicWatch 2 strives to help users with their overall health, which is why it is equipped with Huawei’s TruSleep 3.5, TruRelax and TruSeen technologies. These technologies are capable of detecting six common sleeping disorders, monitoring heart-rate and stresslevels and provide suggestions for improving the health. As for modes, the MagicWatch 2 supports up to fifteen ranging from running, hiking, cycling, triathlons, to swimming, and rowing machines, along with courses which help you excel. The smartwatch also comes with a storage capacity of 4GB and is also water-resistant for up to 50 meters. T3 SAYS: MagicWatch 2 allows users to make or take calls through its built-in speakers and mic, even if the phone is 150m away.
TECH-O-METER
HONOR BAND 5I `1,999, hihonor.in The 5i comes with a 0.96-inch full touch colour display with a vivid HD resolution of 160x80 pixels. It enables users to customise the clock faces by providing various downloadable ones from the Honor Watch Face Store. Apart from the smart band’s stylish appearance, it also possesses a mix of impressive features designed to monitor overall health of the user along with tracking of fitness goals. Employing Huawei’s TruSleep and TruSeen tech, the band monitors user’s heart-rate 24x7 and also provides feedback on sleep quality by analyzing daily sleeping habits. Honor Band 5i is capable of recognising 9 different fitness modes including running, cycling, rowing and more. Proving to be an all-round fitness and health companion, the band also tracks and displays workout time, stride frequency, distance, speed, calories, and more in order to cater to a rigorous and highly analytical workout plan. T3 SAYS: The band has a battery life of up to 7 days and it can easily be charged via USB.
TECH-O-METER
20 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
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Horizon OPPO F15 `19,990, oppo.com/in Oppo continues to raise the bar by offering feature-rich smartphones. The latest 7.9mm OPPO F15 is a stylish and impressive addition to OPPO’s F-series smartphones. Featuring MediaTek’s P70 processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB of dedicated memory, the F15 comes with an FHD+AMOLED 2400x1800 Full HD screen. OPPO’s determination to enhance smartphone photography is what stands out as the F15 is equipped with a sharp 48MP ultra wide-angle macro quad-cam, where users can focus on subjects as close as 3cm away. The F15’s Electronic Image Stabilization and anti-shake video capabilities help capture sharp photos and videos in shaky conditions. Gaming has been given a lot of importance as the F15 comes with the ‘Frame Boost’ feature to beat lag and the ‘Touch Boost’ ability to give additional control. T3 SAYS: In addition to the 4 rear cameras, the F15 also has a 16MP f/2.0 selfie camera and is packed with different features that deliver sharp and crisp portraits in diverse lighting conditions.
TECH-O-METER
CARVAAN GX01 `1,599, saregama.com Carvaan, known for its retro-esque products is now branching out to appeal to the younger crowd. They have released the GX01 wired earphones that claim to be designed for an “augmented aural experience”. It comes with 14.2mm drivers that deliver Carvaan’s signature sound and enhanced bass. Moreover, the GX01 comes with an in-line mic and single-button to control calls, music or activate the digital assistant. T3 SAYS: Earphones sell in black or white along with earbuds in three different sizes.
TECH-O-METER
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FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 21
Style
MR BLUE SKY Pantone’s colour for 2020, classic blue, isn’t just for your sofa – here’s how to make it work for your everyday wardrobe too
OFFICINE GENERALE BENOIT SHIRT A shirt to go with everything – jeans in winter, chinos in spring, tailored shorts in summer. Looks ace worn open over a white tee. mrporter.com PRINGLE COLOUR BLOCK JUMPER Want just a splash of classic blue? Then colourblock is the way forward. Pringle’s lightweight jumper is made from luxurious silk cotton, with a flattering slim flit. farfetch.com POLO RALPH LAUREN JERSEY T SHIRT A slightly darker shade than classic blue, but still plenty vibrant. Wear this one on its own with jeans and trousers, or layer underneath a jumper for extra warmth. flannels.com APC MAURICE PLAIN HOODIE Use this royal blue hoodie to add a big colour pop against darker clothing. It’s soft and warm, taking you from winter to spring. farfetch.com FINISTERRE NIMBUS JACKET Throw on Finisterre’s lightweight and packable outdoors jacket when the showers start. It comes in 2020’s all-important shade of blue, plus black and orange. finisterre.com
MONEY NO OBJECT A Andreassen Henrick Men’s Slippers When you’re chilling out at home, sometimes you want to elevate your loungewear game far beyond the humble bed sock. Slippers are an obvious choice here, especially ones as elegant and timeless as the Henrick mule style slippers by A. Andreassen. Traditional shoe-making techniques come into play here, along with premium natural materials used to craft a slipper that will last through many relaxed meanderings around your home. The Henrick mule style slippers pictured above are made with supple, flexible and breathable 24 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
nubuck leather uppers and a leather lined in-sole, coupled with a natural crepe rubber sole delivering better grip on hard flooring and smooth surfaces. If you’d prefer a different material, try the durable Wool Felt version. The nubuck leather slippers come in a handsome Midnight Blue and an elegant Tobacco hue. If you’re the type who takes pristine care of their belongings, these slippers come with their own linen dust bag for storage. aandreaseen.com W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Style
WHICH WATCH
THE HOTTEST TIMEPIECES RIGHT NOW
OMEGA SEAMASTER DIVER 300M 007 EDITION
HUBLOT CLASSIC FUSION CRUZ-DIEZ
This stylish Seamaster timepiece, made from durable Grade 2 Titanium, will be strapped to 007’s wrist in No Time to Die. It’s strong, lightweight, and perfect for spies (real and fictitious).
Hublot’s clever fusion watch mirrors works created by the late artist Carlos Cruz-Diez. A supple and nice-to-wear calfskin leather strap extends the mesmerising optical experience.
omegawatches.com
hublot.com
CHRISTOPHER WARD C65 BLACK GOLD LTD EDITION
BELL & ROSS BR03-92 FULL LUM
Christopher Ward’s newcomer channels sexy 1970s glamour by the second. It’s powered by a Swiss-made mechanical movement and is limited to just 200 pieces, so move fast if you want one.
Instead of applying lume to the hands and hour markers only, Bell & Ross has covered the entire dial of the Full Lum with it, inverting the usual look of an illuminated watch. Striking.
christopherward.eu
bellross.com
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FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 25
Horizon Living
WI-FI BOOSTERS
TP-LINK DECO P9 Dealing with pesky Wi-Fi dead spots at home? Banish them with the Deco P9, a mesh WiFi system designed to deliver whole-home coverage. It can be used on its own or with your router. tp-link.com
NETGEAR NIGHTHAWK AX8 Netgear’s eight-stream mesh extender is built for speed and looks like something out of Star Wars. It delivers a similarly futuristic performance at home, supporting Wi-Fi 6, and is the ideal choice for larger homes with multiple occupants. netgearstore.in
HOUSE ARREST
SAFE AND SECURE Protect yourself year-round with the latest smart home security kit that keeps tabs on what’s happening inside and outside your home In the depths of winter, it’s difficult to see what’s happening outside, and it’s a little unnerving to step into pitch darkness to investigate a strange noise. That’s where smart home security cameras come in – they offer you a way to remotely see what’s happening inside or outside. And there’s some great newcomers to buddy up with… Arlo is a big name in home security and its latest offering is the Pro3 (arlo.com), a wireless security system capturing 2K video with HDR. Via the app you can zoom in on specific areas outside, and listen and speak
via two-way audio, with colour night vision also in use. If you don’t want to festoon your home with cameras, try Minut (minut.com). This device uses sensors to detect motion, noise levels and whenever other security alarms (like a CO2 alarm) sound. Ring’s Alarm Security Kit (ring.com), includes a base station and keypad, plus contact sensor, motion detector and alarm range extender. Add in extras to service a larger home, with an Open Window Sensor.
WINTER WARMER
BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE Add spot-heating to your home in winter, and enjoy the cooling effects of a fan in summer, with this budget two-in-one device PLUME SUPERPODS Adapative Wi-Fi for your house, with a host of features including real-time protection against cyber threats and customisable parental controls. Each SuperPod plugs into your wall socket to ensure solid Wi-Fi. plume.com
During the depths of winter, certain rooms or spaces in your home may benefit from an extra source of warmth. So how can you enjoy that without hiking the cost of your heating? Meaco reckons it has the answer with its MotionMove Eye Heater (meaco.com), a stand-alone unit designed for less frequently used or harder to heat rooms. The heater has a built-in motion detection sensor that’s activated as soon as you walk in. When you leave, the heater switches itself off. When summer arrives, use it in fan mode.
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Opinion
Duncan Bell is worn out
Fitness wearables are more advanced than ever but still barely do anything useful o you remember back at the start of January, all those days ago, when we resolved to get fit? I do, because I spent about half of it putting out stories called things like ‘Lose belly flab and get rock hard pectorals’ and the other half attempting to do exactly that. Alas, it was a vain attempt – in both senses – and do you know what? I blame the technology I was using to track my route to wellness. Or not so much the gadgets themselves as the information they were giving me. I’ve been using fitness wearables since around the time of the dawn of the word ‘wearable’, and they have always had two problems. One is the accuracy of the data they produce, which is fairly important of course. The other, which is far more important, to my mind, is just what the hell are you meant to do with that data? Brands have certainly worked hard to improve the accuracy of what they serve up, when it comes to key metrics such as steps taken, distance run or cycled, hours slept and your heart rate when walkin’, sleepin’ and workin’ out, bro. However, I still never feel like I get any really useful feedback beyond the raw numbers. For instance, last year I ended up in hospital when my heart nearly stopped. Did the expensive wearable I was testing at the time give any suggestion that might be about to happen? Nope. It didn’t even try to cheer me up by congratulating me on my excellent resting heart rate of 7. On the whole, fitness wearables are still stuck with telling you very clearly how you did today. You
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need to put in a bit of work to get even the most basic overview of how that compares to your performance yesterday. If what you want to do is always take more steps than you did yesterday, or run further or faster, they will do the job. If you want deeper insights, you need to crunch the numbers yourself. 10,000 steps to go This makes me think back to the very early days of wearables. I used to have to go to various ‘thought leadership’ type conferences where start-ups and established brands would have products on show and experts on hand. There were a lot of, perhaps slightly grandiose, claims made about how soon we would have our health monitored by our watch, which would be powered by energy harvested from our shoes. The
In the fitness world, wearables still refuse to give you any kind of actionable insights funny thing was, when you spoke to a lot of the attendees of these things ‘off duty’ after the events, the prevailing tone was more along the lines of, ‘it’s all bollocks’. Today, there are certain wearables – notably from Apple and Withings – that can monitor you for certain, specific health conditions, and are actually certified as medical devices. Yet in the fitness world, wearables still
largely refuse to give you any kind of actionable insights. The big brands do now offer coaching platforms alongside their tracking ones, but the two aren’t really tied together. For anyone whose fitness activities go beyond trying to take 10,000 (or more) steps, the help offered by wearables is still frustratingly minimal. The reason for that, I know, is that telling people what they should do in this area is fraught with danger. If you make a fitness watch that tells its owner to do the same run as yesterday, but faster, and they keel over and die of a heart attack, that is not going to be very good for your brand image. So advice is kept vague, and data remains raw and un-analysed. The problem with that is that while fitness smartwatches and bands have become a bit more sophisticated over the years, the useful advice they can give you has barely moved on. The coaching services they offer may well be useful, but they are not deeply linked to the wearables. They might as well be a completely separate business in many cases. And that, in summary, is why I am still an unfit fatty boom boom. Thanks a lot, tech brands.
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 27
Horizon Gadget Guru
T3’s tech chef thaws out your problems and cooks up solutions
AMAY VANI
Toast. Give me good toast, Guru Listen, reader. Guru is not your personal chef, alright? You cannot just come to GaGu’s kitchen and use his toaster. After all, Guru Towers is not a cafe. But as the famous phrase goes, give a man some toast and he’ll leave crumbs everywhere; give a man a toaster and he’ll finally get out of your kitchen. In other words, it’s toaster time. Now, when it comes to making good toast you have many options available. The Heston Blumenthalendorsed Sage Smart Toaster, with its mechanised slots and peek-atyour-in-progress-toast button, is also superb for crumpets.
ILLUSTRATIONS: STEPHEN KELLY
A
If you insist on eating annoyingly long artisan breads that look too big to toast anywhere other than under a grill, try a Graef Long Slot Toaster. And if you’re feeling fancy, buy a Magimix Vision. This slick two-slice toaster enables you to watch your bread brown as it toasts. Yes, GaGu sure knows how to thrill you. Post-toasting, do as you’ve seen
ABOVE Bread is evil and deserves to be given a good burning… then eaten with lashings of butter
IF YOU’RE FEELING FANCY, BUY A MAGIMIX VISION. THIS TWO-SLICE TOASTER ENABLES YOU WATCH YOUR BREAD BROWN AS IT TOASTS
28 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
Guru do when you were peering through his windows looking for toasting tips and use a toast rack – Kilo’s six-slice Glass Base Toast Rack looks great and catches crumbs, so that things don’t get soggy. Though why you would be leaving your fresh toast in there that long is pure madness. Finally, some secrets from Grandma Guru’s legendary breakfast book: toast thick bread hot and fast for a crunchy outer and soft inner. Butter generously, then season with a sprinkle of salt. Now go away, and leave Guru to toast in peace.
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Gadget Guru
NEW MEDIA
NOW PLAYING Guru finds the finest media you need on your various devices
HYPERSPACE Escape the horror of a new decade with the new album from a ’90s classic: Beck’s latest, half produced by Pharrell, is a dreamy return to form from an artist that never lost it.
PARESH SHAH
How can I trace my wallet? is a two-way fight A This between Tile, the current leader in thing-tracking tech, and Orbit, a plucky Australian competitor brand. They both do card-shaped products: the Tile Slim and the Orbit Card, both of which will set you back about `2500. Thing is, while they function in pretty much the same way, with a Bluetooth tracker your phone can sniff out, a ringer your phone can ring, and a network of users which can help you find your stuff, the Tile (thicker, no replaceable battery) lasts a couple of years, while the Orbit (super-thin, rechargeable) needs topping up every couple of months. Guru reckons you should go for Tile, with its bigger network.
AKASH SHINDE
GUERRILLA Super Furry Animals’ psycheout Welsh rock was the sound of Guru’s 2000s – this 20-year remaster is as bouncy and fun as it ever was, with a bunch of extras tacked on to boot.
I DISAGREE Just about the most 2010s thing possible, theatrically creepy YouTube star Poppy continues an orchestrated descent into darkness with a slice of oddly accessible metal. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
What does a mechanical keyboard cost? don’t have to spend A You much on a mechanical keyboard. The Logitech K120, for example, is a perfectly competent wired rubber-dome keyboard, and if you look hard you can have it delivered to your door for under `600. If you must go mechanical, the clone switches coming out of the Far East are pretty good, if a little inconsistent. Guru was kindly sent an Aukey KM-G6, which uses Outemu switches. It’s surprisingly likeable, despite the rainbow lighting being one colour per row and certain areas of the otherwise clicky keyboard leaning more towards the squashy. The key factor here, though, is the price: `8000 on Amazon.
ABOVE Thankfully, temperature tracking is much easier nowadays
R. SHIVA
How do I take my kid’s temperature? kids only A Realistically, want two things in their ears: the sound of ‘yes, you can have sweets’, and those tiny bits of Lego seemingly specifically designed to block juvenile ear canals. When they’re ill, neither of these things are appropriate, but neither is an ear thermometer. You could opt for Withings’ fancypants Thermo, which takes readings of the temporal artery in the forehead and feeds them into an excellent app. The Braun No Touch+Touch gives you the option of a silent reading from 2cm away, or a (more accurate) reading while touching the skin.
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 29
On-ďŹ eld mentoring by India’s most prominent nature and wildlife photographers and live judgements by eminent jury Powered by
Hospitality Partner
Welcome to Wilderlenses, A wildlife photography boot-camp where you train under industry experts, participate in a live photography contest and win attractive prizes. Join us for this thrilling adventure at Bandhavgarh National Park, this April. Register now to conďŹ rm your slot for a 4 day stay at Syna Tiger Resort, Bandhavgarh. The partricipation fees is inclusive of accommodation, mentor fees, taxes and permits, 5 safaris, all major meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and transportation to and from Jabalpur airport, Katni station or Umaria station. Jury Members : Mr. Rohinton Mehta, Technical Editor, Smart Photography, Mr. Jagdeep Rajput, Eminent Wildlife Photographer, Mr. Alankar Chandra, CEO, Wild Voyager So pick up your gear and get ready to let your creative juices ow.
VENUE AND DATE
Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh 8th to 11th April 2020
REGISTER NOW!!!
E-mail: wilderlenses@wildvoyager.com Website: wildvoyager.com/wilderlenses.html Mobile: +91 9910896665 / +91 9650333543
STAY
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Horizon Auto
Story: Sarmad Kadiri Photography: Sanjay Raikar
ELECTRIC CITY CAR Electric and sport utility vehicle (SUV). Tata Motors blend two of the hottest trends in the Nexon EV. Does this combination make for a perfect city car? We find out The build-up to buying a new car can be daunting, but it surely is the most exciting period, one of waiting and finally making that decision. Especially now when there are so many new car manufacturers, car types, and models in the market to choose from. But no matter which segment you’re looking at, today there are two things that are always part of the discussion: SUVs and electric cars. And Tata Motors have cashed in on these two trends by introducing the Nexon EV. The conventional Nexon has been smartly engineered to accommodate a battery pack and an electric motor, so you get all the
goodness of a compact crossover with the feel-good factor of driving a green car. The car comes with a seven-inch infotainment panel, equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can get a live feed of the navigation from your smartphone. The semi-digital driver’s information console gives plenty of useful information on the go, including battery charge, driving range, average Wh/km, the selected driving mode, and a live graph showing the power consumed and regeneration going to the battery. The liquid-cooled battery spins the 129-hp electric motor that
32 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
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Horizon Auto
powers the front wheels. Being electric, it’s free of the usual combustion engine clatter and the low-rolling resistance tyres also play a vital part in keeping the cabin insulated from the usual road noise. But it’s the spontaneous power delivery that makes the Nexon EV so zippy to drive. Compared to its ICE sibling, the Nexon EV’s suspension set-up feels more supple and plush. Obviously, the battery pack is heavy and makes this version over a 100 kilos heavier, but, thankfully, this doesn’t reflect proportionately on the ride quality: primarily because the weight or centre of gravity is very low and also because of some clever engineering such as the use of light-weight alloy wheels. Although the company presentation showed a range of 312
km on full charge, in the real-world driving conditions, it should be around the targeted 200 km, which is an acceptable number for city use. It takes about eight hours using the home charger to charge it 100 per cent while the fast charger can power up 80 per cent of the battery in just one hour. The government is yet to set up the required infrastructure to create an environment conducive to electric cars, yet Tata Motors have invested serious money, talent and time on EVs. This is truly commendable. Despite a few rough edges the Nexon EV is worth considering if you’re looking for an electric car within the range of `14-17 lakh. Not to forget the money you’ll save on fuel and maintenance as compared to a conventional car.
Despite a few rough edges the Nexon EV is worth considering if you’re looking for an electric car within the range of `14-17 lakh
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FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 33
Horizon Auto
JOY RIDE
THE NEED FOR SPEED
Wonder what it feels like to drive Porsche’s new electric rocket, the Taycan Turbo? Alastair Charlton takes the car for a spin to find out It would be easy to fill this page with how monstrously fast the Porsche Taycan Turbo is, digging deep into exactly how 0-60mph in 2.8 seconds – and 160mph on the Autobahn – feels. But there’s much more to Porsche’s first electric car than point-and-squirt performance. As Tesla repeatedly likes to prove, making an electric car astonishingly quick is child’s play. Instead, let’s focus on what makes the Taycan Turbo different. For starters, there’s the interior. Instead of a single huge touchscreen and not much else, Porsche’s EV cabin is sporty, luxurious and bristling with technology. Get greedy with the options list and there are five displays in here, with haptic
controls that are as forceful as a MacBook’s trackpad. Next is the two-speed gearbox. Unique among today’s electric cars, the way it shifts under hard acceleration gives the Taycan a character of its own. There’s no manual control of the gears, but when added to the Porsche Electric Sport Sound system, the Taycan feels surprisingly engaging and characterful for an electric car – and one weighing 2.3 tonnes at that. In short, it still drives like a Porsche despite the lack of internal combustion. Charging is also an event in the Taycan, which has an 800-volt electrical system, double the voltage of any
34 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
Tesla. This means a lower current, less heat and faster charging – up to 270kW, which took our battery from five to 80% in just over 20 minutes using a charger on the Ionity network. Total range is a claimed 280 miles. The few criticisms we have for the Taycan include less space for rear passengers than in a Model S, and how the even faster, carbon-clad Turbo S carries a huge premium over the regular Turbo. Despite its lesser performance and 250-mile range, we reckon the Taycan 4S makes most sense – and it does so without that incongruous Turbo badge on its bumper.
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MAGAZINE THE POWER OF READERSHIP MAGAZINES! up by 0.9 crores - IRS Q1 2019 AS THE SUPERHERO All media is growing, and Print continues to grow despite the general belief that Print is declining. Readership is largely influenced by two things - literacy level and your disposable income. If you have money, then only will you buy a newspaper. Luckily in India, both those things have moved upwards. Ashish Bhasin, CEO - Greater South and Chairman & CEO - India, Dentsu Aegis Network and Chairman, MRUC I am very happy that Print is growing across all languages, and that Print titles in Digital are doing well too. The Print industry in India is still robust and effective, unlike in the Western world. Shashi Sinha, CEO, IPG Mediabrands, India What is disappointing is the fact that niche publications that serve an important segment have consistently been ignored. A different methodology must be used to ensure correct findings for such publications, but sadly both Neilsen and the MRUC Technical Committee have so far not done this.� Hormusji Cama, CEO, Mumbai Samachar I am happy to see that Print numbers are growing because it also proves the point that everything is not wrong with Print, and Digital is not the only way to go forward. It justifies the argument that Print has an established sort of acceptance. Indranil Roy, CEO, Outlook Group
PRINT IS GROWING No. of additional readers added since IRS 2017 Dailies - 1.8 crores Magazines - 0.9 crores Total number of Print Readers - 42.5 crores
Magazine Advertising actually works! INCREASE WITH 38 MILLION NEW READERS.
Horizon Promotion
CEIF-2020
All India Photographic Trade and Industry Association (AIPTIA) organised and conducted its “Consumer Electronic Imaging Fair 2020” shortly known as CEIF-2020, from January 8-10, 2020 at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. This the 28th Photo Imaging Exhibition is rated to be one amongst the top Photographic and Imaging exhibitions in the world. More than 150 exhibitors from India and abroad including major manufacturers, importers, distributors and suppliers displayed their range of Photo Imaging and allied products. The major exhibitors were Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Hewlett Packard, Zeiss, Tamron, Epson, Samsung, Konica Minolta, IMS Mercantiles, Kodak Alaris, Manfrotto, Nikita Distributors, Noritsu, Technova, Sunlight Industries, Colo Color, Foto Centre, Red Moments etc., CEIF 2020 was spread across an area of 15,000 sqm and was open for three days. Over 35000 foot-falls were recorded. The expo attracted visitors from different states of the Country, as also from neighboring countries. One also got an opportunity to meet face to face with startup entrepreneurs,
36 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
imaging researchers and technological consultants to get a fair assessment of the imaging industry as a whole. In an interview, during the Fair, “Jayesh Mehta, President, AIPTIA, revealed that while the imaging industry is undergoing exponential changes and has in many ways seriously impacted CEIF also. Considering the fact that camera sales are plummeting, the positive aspect is the love of photography and sharing of pictures which continues to sky rocket, thanks to the growing digital Imaging Products. The growth is accentuated by the contribution of the younger generations’ fascination with mobile imaging and sharing pictures on social media platforms. This phenomenal growth in the number of pictures being captured truly means that for the success of the imaging industry, it is integral for the integration of mobile, motion and digital imaging as the new engine of growth moving towards delivering of services.” “Chandrakant Shah, Hon. Secretary, AIPTIA, stated that the unique mixture of product presentation, networking experience and understanding the imaging innovations surely makes CEIF 2020, a very special event which entertained one and all.”
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Your best year ever Y
YOUR BEST YEAR EVER
Get off to a roaring start with our pro selection of tech and tips to help you enjoy a better life at home, at work, and during every moment in between Words: Alex Cox, Claire Davies
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FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 37 FE
Your best year ever
GET FIT WITH EASE :KHQ LW FRPHV WR RYHUKDXOLQJ \RXU ĆWQHVV WKH EHVW DGYLFH LV WR VWDUW VPDOO DQG EH consistent. These gadgets can help you get there, one step or crunch at a time… 1
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GTECH EBIKE SPORT
Cycling is a fun way to boost your cardio levels and get ĆWWHU EXW ZKHQ VWDUWLQJ RXW \RX PD\ QHHG H[WUD SRZHU especially when tackling uphill climbs. Gtech’s electric bike is ideal for this and can handle a bit of offroad too. gtech.co.uk
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FITBIT INSPIRE HR
7KH ,QVSLUH +5 ĆWQHVV WUDFNHU PDNHV WUDFNLQJ \RXU H[HUFLVH DV EDVLF RU DV LQ GHSWK DV \RX ZDQW ,W WUDFNV \RXU ZHLJKW DQG SHUVRQDO ĆWQHVV JRDOV FDORULHV EXUQHG steps taken and your heart rate 24/7, and it’ll track your sleep. ĆWELW FRP LQ
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OCEAN BOTTLE
Buy one and you’ll stop the equivalent of 1,000 RFHDQ ERXQG SODVWLF ERWWOHV HQWHULQJ WKH VHD 7KLV stainless steel bottle uses double wall insulation to keep beverages hot or cold as needed. There’s a small RSHQLQJ IRU VLSSLQJ DQG D ODUJH RQH IRU UHĆOOLQJ WKHRFHDQERWWOH FRP
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FITBIT ARIA 2
Gaining a clearer picture of your body can help you set wellness goals, then see how you’re doing in terms of achieving them. The Aria 2 tracks weight, BMI, body fat percentage and lean mass for up to eight people. ĆWELW FRP LQ
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JAXJOX KETTLEBELL CONNECT
Strength training is an effective way to tone up, feel ĆWWHU DQG ERRVW \RXU FDUGLRYDVFXODU KHDOWK 7KLV VPDUW NHWWOHEHOO IHDWXUHV VL[ LQGLYLGXDO ZHLJKWV VHOHFW ZHLJKW in 6kg increments from 5.5kg to 19kg. Workouts are tracked via an app. MD[MR[ FRP 38 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
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Get ďŹ t with ease 6
ON RUNNING CLOUD HI
For complete beginners, walking is a JRRG ZD\ WR EXLOG ĆWQHVV 7KH &ORXG Hi walking shoes are especially good as they offer high levels of comfort, support and cushioning, absorb impact well, and have a ‘looplock’ system instead of traditional laces. RQ UXQQLQJ FRP
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ACTIV5
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HOKA ONE ONE CARBON X
An ideal shoe for runners with wide feet, as a spacious yet snug forefoot platform provides support and stability, holding your feet so that they don’t slide around inside the shoes. The upper mesh offers breathability, with signature Hoka cushioning on tap. KRNDRQHRQH HX
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NUTRIBULLET PRO 900
A balanced diet is a cornerstone of wellbeing. 'HSHQGLQJ RQ \RXU VSHFLĆF GLHWDU\ QHHGV increasing your intake of fresh vegetables and fruit is a good place to start. Don’t enjoy eating veggies? Try drinking them instead by blending them into a QXWULHQW ULFK VPRRWKLH DPD]RQ LQ
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JABRA ELITE 65T
Sometimes it’s hard to feel motivated to workout. ,I WKDWèV WKH FDVH SOD\ \RXU IDYRXULWH ĆWQHVV SOD\OLVW RQ WKHVH YRLFH FRQWUROOHG ZLUHOHVV %OXHWRRWK EXGV 7KH\ GHOLYHU XS WR ĆYH KRXUVè EDWWHU\ OLIH SHU FKDUJH DQG \RX FDQ FXVWRPLVH WKH VRXQG LQ DSS MDEUD LQ
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LOSE WEIGHT, KEEP IT OFF Slow and steady is the way to go, with back-up from these capable apps and gadgets W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
The best way to lose weight and trim fat depends on your starting point, end goal and lifestyle. Generally speaking, the best way to lose weight quickly, and to maintain that loss, is to follow a manageable plan. Achieving a consistent FDORULH GHĆFLW EXUQLQJ PRUH
calories than you consume) is a good way to lose weight. It is recommended that you lose no more than 1kg per week; any more and you risk burning out and giving up. There are apps to help you track your progress. Via them you can look up the
calorie content of different foods and see what your overall nutrient intake is from each meal. If you have a calorie target, they’ll let you know how close you are to it. MyFitnessPal is a good place to start, as well as Lose It! and Spoon Guru.
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 39
Your best year ever
GET BIG GAINS NOW
If you’re ready to move on from the beginner fitness stage, this is where you can start making big gains in your cardio, strength and overall physique Statistics show that the two most common New Year’s resolutions are: to get in shape and to lose weight, in that order. While resolve is a powerful thing, it’s far from a guarantee of success; the Journal of Clinical Psychology suggests that only 46% of resolutions bear any fruit. So how can you ensure you hit your new fitness goals this year? It’s a combination of dedication, continuing to show up for yourself, and drafting in some nifty pieces of tech to maximise your effort. As we pointed out in our beginnerfocused section, when starting out it’s beneficial to work on general fitness and weight loss before upping the intensity of your workouts – working so hard that you injure yourself does more harm than good. So, assuming you’re past that introductory phase now, let’s look at how you can start making big gains this year… Diet plays an important role, so make protein a priority, taking in at least 20g per day for each kilogram of your bodyweight. Creatine is a useful tool, giving your muscles a performance boost, and Peak Supps offers 500g of its quickly-absorbed micronised powder, and you only need a tiny amount each day. There’s a litany of bodyweight exercises and calisthenics routines to help transform
your body, and a number of apps to lead you through them. Bodyweight Warrior, founded by YouTube strength and fitness expert Tom Merrick, offers both online coaching and a tremendous app which, even without a membership, walks you through a number of high-intensity workouts designed to enhance strength, muscle and flexibility. Even focusing only on bodyweight, it won’t be long before you need to put at least some money in. Your initial investment should be on a solid multi-sport watch like Garmin’s stunningly capable Fenix 6 Pro (garmin.com), which throws up a host of cool body metrics as well as coaching you through a full training plan, be that at home, in the gym or when hitting the streets.
FASTER, FITTER, STRONGER
Next, look towards resistance equipment because this opens up new exercises and enables you to tweak existing movements to make them much tougher – WODFitters’ resistance bands are tough and versatile (wodfitters.com). Put the band around your upper back when performing pushups, over your upper thighs while squatting; use it for convenient pullup motions without a bar, or attach a resistance band to a high point for dip resistance. Installing a bar is the core of the modern
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calisthenic revolution, becoming commonly known as a ‘street workout’. This is where things get really hard and really effective: muscle ups, a combination of pull up and dip, work the biceps, triceps and back in one theoretically smooth movement; Korean dips, performed with the bar behind your back, will rip your triceps a new one; and there’s no more effective ab exercise than a hanging leg raise. Take a look at the Gravity Fitness Portable Bar and Pullup Rack (amazon.com) for starters. For a full-bore cardio workout in your home, step onto the Peloton Bike (onepeloton.com). It’s one of the world’s most popular and effective indoor cycling and spin class workouts, helping you to burn calories, blast fat and take your cardio to the next level. Join in over 14 live rides a day to get inspired to keep hitting your new fitness goals. And you can record your progress in the FitNotes app – it’ll cook up graphs and stats, serving as a reminder of what you can achieve when you put your mind to it. Finally, to boost your recovery, treat your muscles to a percussive massage courtesy of the Theragun Liv (theragun.com). This handheld massager dishes out deep muscle treatment to increase blood flow to support your body’s recovery and release tension.
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Top home gym tech
TOP HOME GYM TECH
Boost your cardio and increase your body strength and muscle mass with these brilliant home workout buys 1 1 2
BOW WFLEX SELECTTECH 560
%RZćH[èVV FRPSDFW GXPEEHOO VHW LV SHUIHFW IRU everythin ng from toning curls to serious lifts, and is suited to those of you with little space for workout gear. Each Bluetooth dumbbell in this adjusts from 2.3kg (5lbs) to 27.2kg (60lbs), with your sets, reps and weights recorded r into the companion app to help you track you ur progress. ERZćH[ FRP
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TEC CHNOGYM MYRUN
Running boosts cardio and melts body fat, but there DUH GD\V ZKHQ \RXèG UDWKHU GR LW DW KRPH 7KLV DSS Z connecte ed treadmill is ideal for such times, with a VXUIDFH WKDW FDQ EH H[WHQGHG XS WR D LQFOLQH WR push you. A Running Music feature chooses songs (from you ur playlists) best matched to the rhythm of your run. WHFKQRJ\ \P FRP
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If you’re building muscle, weight isn’t the right metric to be tracking. The Viva is a body composition monitor, so it sends you a comprehensive view of your current fat and mu muscle levels to your phone. Step on and ZDWFK WKRVH QXPEHUV JR XS RPURQ KH HDOWKFDUH FRP
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This bit of ďŹ tness kit can help you get bigger ‘everything’ – just add effort (and weights)
PR ROMIXX IX VORTEX MIXER
Chuck your protein or supplement blends into the 3URPL[[[èV YRUWH[ IRU D FRQVLVWHQW PL[ HYHU\ WLPH <RX FDQ GULQN VWUDLJKW IURP WKH 3URPL[[ DQG D EXLOW LQ EDWWHUU\ PHDQV \RX FDQ UH PL[ WKH FRQWHQWV LI \RX GLGQèW GRZQ WKH ORW Ä&#x2020;UVW WLPH SURP PL[[ FRP
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THE INDOOR TRAINER
NEX XUS
Are you m moving the right way and lifting with proper IRUP" VLJQHG IRU &URVVÄ&#x2020;W EXW SUHWW\ XQLYHUVDO WKH L26 RQO\ 1H[XV VWUDSV VHFXUHO\ WR \RXU ERG\ DQG gathers movement data that will tell you where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going rig ght or wrong. WUDLQZLWKQH[XV FRP
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W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
OMRON VIVA
Providing youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a corner to put it in, the Steelbody Power Tower and Bench ticks so many boxes. Depending on your workout goals, it could become the centrepiece of your home gym. There are high bars for pull ups and dips, with an angled
construction that enables you to reposition your wrists to target different muscles. Plus there are straight mid-level bars perfect for leg raises. Then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fold-up multi-position bench, and weight cradles that make it suitable for use as a bench
press or squat rack. The latter are all adjustable to suit your KHLJKW DQG VSHFLÄ&#x2020;F QHHGV All you need to add is a barbell set. Steelbodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own bar comes without weights, but you could add another of your choosing.
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 41
Your best year ever
NURTURE YOUR WELLBEING 7HQ NH\ VOHHS DQG UHOD[DWLRQ SURGXFWV WR ERRVW \RXU ZHOOEHLQJ DQG KHOS \RX IHHO FDOPHU KHDOWKLHU DQG LQVWDQWO\ UHOD[HG 1
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$W KRPH DURPDWKHUDS\ LV SHUIHFW IRU WKRVH moments when you need to regroup, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simple to do with this essential oil diffuser. &KDQJH WKH OLJKW WR FUHDWH D VSHFLÄ&#x2020;F DPELDQFH LQ \RXU URRP WKHQ XVH WKH EXLOW LQ VRRWKLQJ VRXQGV WR KHOS \RX UHOD[ IXUWKHU PDULVRWD FR XN
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HOMEDICS STRETCH BACK MAT T
If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re unable to practise yoga yet want WR UHDS VRPH RI LWV EHQHÄ&#x2020;WV WU\ WKH 6WUHWFK %DFN 0DW )RXU SUH SURJUDPPHG WUHDWPHQWV stretch and release tension from your back and supporting muscles. Just lie down and let the mat do all the work for you. KRPHGLFV FRP
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LIVESCRIBE AEGIR SMARTPEN
Journaling purges your mind of worries, helps you deal with stress, and encourages you to focus on more positive thoughts. Livescribeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s smartpen is ideal for digital journaling, as you JHW D PLQGIXO SHQ RQ SDSHU H[SHULHQFH EHIRUH your journal entries are automatically digitised. OLYHVFULEH FRP
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DYSON LIGHTCYCLE FLOOR LIGHT Dysonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s smart lamp automatically adjusts its light to the colour temperature and brightness of the daylight where you live, so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re more in tune with the rhythm of the day. Via the app \RX FDQ DGMXVW WKH OLJKW IRU VSHFLÄ&#x2020;F WDVNV G\VRQ LQ
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42 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Nurture your wellbeing
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LAY-Z-SPA PARIS AIRJET
$Q LQÄ&#x2021;DWDEOH KRW WXE LQ \RXU JDUGHQ LV WKH SHUIHFW RDVLV WR HVFDSH WR DIWHU D KHFWLF GD\ 7KH 3DULV XVHV DQ $LU-HW massage system to pummel tired muscles, effectively treating you to a hydrotherapy massage. The colour changing lighting is also a good mood booster. OD\ ] VSD FR XN
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DOPPEL LONDON
Doppelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unusual looking Bluetooth wearable creates a silent vibration on the side of your wrist, the rhythm of ZKLFK \RX FDQ FRQWURO FKRRVH D VORZHU UK\WKP WR UHOD[ DQG feel calm, or a faster rhythm to increase your focus and productivity. Happily, it looks pretty stylish too. IHHOGRSSHO FRP
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EMMA ORIGINAL MATTRESS
Our favourite mattress is available from single size through WR VXSHU NLQJ DQG VSRUWV D WKUHH OD\HU FRUH WKDW DGDSWV WR your body shape to support you better in bed. Advanced zoning delivers pressure relief, so you stay comfortably ensconced in dreamland for longer. HPPD PDWWUHVV LQ
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LUMIE ZEST
Unsure whether you need a wake up light or an SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) lamp? Lumieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compact device is both. Use the gradual sunrise setting to rouse you each morning in an energising way, and the bright SAD light to alleviate symptoms of winter blues or SAD. OXPLH FRP
8
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DREEM 2
When we sleep well, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re happier, more energised and productive, and our overall health gets a nourishing boost. The Dreem 2 wearable tracks your sleep and gives you insights into what might be affecting it, and ways in which you can improve it tonight. GUHHP FRP
10 AQUATRU COUNTERTOP WATER FILTER SYSTEM
9
TAKE A BREATH Use guided breathing to feel more in control and focused on the task in hand W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
%LQ VLQJOH XVH SODVWLF E\ WXUQLQJ WDS ZDWHU LQWR ERWWOHG water. AquaTruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s countertop reverse osmosis water SXULÄ&#x2020;FDWLRQ DQG GLVSHQVHU V\VWHP UHPRYHV WR[LQV hormones and microplastics from tap water, making it safer WR GULQN 3XULÄ&#x2020;HV RQH JDOORQ LQ XQGHU PLQXWHV DPD]RQ FRP
There are plenty of apps and wearables to help you practise guided breathing. Perhaps the most famous is +HDGVSDFH L26 $QGURLG designed to help you enjoy the fruits of mindfulness. Just ten minutes a day delivers enhanced clarity of
mind and a greater sense of inner peace. The app also has sleep tracks to help you drop off. &DOP L26 $QGURLG LV D more expansive wellness app, with a library of meditations, sleep tracks and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;classesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the perfect step up from
the more beginner-focused Headspace. The Apple Watch Series 5 DSSOH FRP LQ FDQ DOVR KHOS you breathe mindfully; the Breathe app on the Watch coaches you through a short and sweet deep breathing session.
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 43
Your best year ever
ENJOY YOUR FREE TIME 7DNH D EUHDWKHU DQG PDNH WKH \HDU \RX Ä&#x2020;QG D JUHDWHU EDODQFH between rewarding work and a happy life
Balancing work with daily life can feel a little overwhelming at times, especially if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re experiencing a more intense time with one of them. 33% of us bring home work over the weekends, and getting everything done around the home takes up a tremendous amount of time and energy. One antidote to all this is learning how to make the most of our free time. After all, the Mental Health Foundation says work related stress costs 10.4 million working days per year, and that spending long hours working can make us feel rather irritable, anxious or depressed. To start turning the tide, perhaps think about working smarter, not longer. How? By bucking the statistics that say only 23% of oďŹ&#x192;ce time is spent actively working â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one reason so many of us take work home. Next, draw a harder line between work and relaxation, and stick to it. Dedicate a space in your home to work if you need to, then shut the door on that when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to relax. Leisure time acts as an essential buffer between you and the oďŹ&#x192;ce. Keeping your mind busy in different ways (from reading and knitting to photography and making music) stops you worrying about work, but the way you actually spend that leisure time is just as important: you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need statistics to tell you that melting in front of the TV every night is
WACOM CINTIQ Q 22 A gigantic drawing area, 8,192 levels of pen pressure sensitivity and a screen featuring OLJKWO\ WH[WXUHG DQWL JODUH JODVVĂ° WKHUH may be no better device for digital drawing and painting. One to help you unwind and GHYHORSb\RXU DUWLVWLF VLGH ZDFRP FRP
less beneďŹ cial for the brain than something you take an active part in. Artistic pursuits have been shown to positively improve mental health, to the point where many doctors now prescribe art as therapy. So whether your free time is spent
NA NATIVE INSTRUMENTS KOMPLETE KONTROL NIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most compact portable keyboard is the SHUIHFW PXVLF PDNLQJ WRRO ,WèV GHOLFDWHO\ H[HFXWHG ZLWK JUHDW ORRNV DQG D EXQGOH RI software â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sounds.com compatible, so you get a big library of samples to play with. QDWLYH LQVWUXPHQWV FRP
44 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
gaming, playing, reading or being supercreative, make it count. Hopefully youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see your mood improve, your stress reduce, and every other aspect of your life feel a little easier. 2020 is your year, so make an effort to truly enjoy your free time.
CLOCKWORKPI GAMESHELL 7KLV EXLOG LW \RXUVHOI PDFKLQH LV D IXOO\ FDSDEOH FRPSXWHU LQ D *DPH%R\ HVTXH VKHOO UHDG\ made for tinkering, coding, or just settling GRZQbWR VRPH IXQ UHWUR JDPHV ,WèV PRGXODU too, meaning (in theory) youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be able to build in upgrades later on. FORFNZRUNSL FRP W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Enjoy your free time
1
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OCULUS QUEST
7HWKHU IUHH URRP VFDOH 95 IRU D EDUJDLQ SULFH the Quest transports you away into a virtual world, with all the hardware you need to play built into the headset. The Quest sports a full Android operating system, capable of streaming what you see to a phone or Chromecast, and includes a pair of handheld controllers. If you GR KDYH WKH SL[HO SXVKLQJ SRZHU \RX FRXOG connect to a PC by USB. RFXOXV FRP
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RAGLEY BLUE PIG
Imagine the fun youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to have careening down the muddiest, gnarliest dirt tracks and hills on this seriously kitted out (yet remarkably light) mountain bike. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tough and comfortable, giving you everything you need for some HQGRUSKLQH Ä&#x2020;OOHG RXWGRRU UHOHDVH UDJOH\ELNHV FRP
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KITCHENAID 4.8L ARTISAN STAND MIXER For some, preparing a tasty meal or making some baked goods is an ideal way to play and KDYH IXQ ,I WKDWèV \RX .LWFKHQ$LGèV VWDQG PL[HU is the perfect partner thanks to its variety of attachments and huge stainless steel bowl, plus a 300W motor that can batter any batter. NLWFKHQDLG LQ
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DGT CENTAUR
Take your eyes away from screens and embroil your brain in the sport of kings (and queens DQG OLWWOH MXPSLQJ KRUVHV ZLWK '*7èV DXWR DGMXVWLQJ VHQVRU SDFNHG FKHVV FRPSXWHU ,W PLJKW WKUDVK \RX DW Ä&#x2020;UVW EXW LWèOO VRRQ Ä&#x2020;QG \RXU level and offer up a more competitive game. GJW QO
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LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3
%XLOG DQG SURJUDP \RXU RZQ FOLFN WRJHWKHU robots with a coding language thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simple enough for kids to learn yet powerful enough for adults to savour. The ultimate combination RI WDFWLOH WR\ DQG EUDLQ EHQGLQJ SURJUDPPLQJ challenge, with motors and sensors galore. OHJ JR FRP
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DJI MAVIC MINI
DJJIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 249g drone skirts under the weight limit IRU UHJLVWUDWLRQ DQG OLQH RI VLJKW RSHUDWLRQ PH HDQLQJ \RX FDQ HQMR\ VWDELOLVHG Ä&#x2021;LJKW streamed straight to your phone, from some 4kkm away. Perfect for capturing creative 4K VKRWV RU MXVW HQMR\LQJ WKH WKULOO RI GURQH Ä&#x2021;LJKW GML FRP W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 45
Your best year ever
HAPPIER AT WORK We may all be working harder and longer now, but being better equipped can PDNH ZRUN HDVLHU ZKHWKHU \RXèUH LQ DQ RIÄ&#x2020;FH RU JUDIWLQJ UHPRWHO\
TH HE REMOTE WORKER 1
SAMSUNG GALAXY S10
When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re bouncing between coffee shops, train tables and hot desks, connectivity is key this variant of the S10 offers the chance. With a KXJH LQFK VFUHHQ DQG DQ HQRUPRXV EDWWHU\ LWèV WKH SHUIHFW TXLFN Ä&#x2020;UH ZRUN WRRO HYHQ LI \RXèUUH tethered to 4G. VDPVXQJ FRP LQ
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LOGITECH C930E
6RPH EXLOW LQ ZHEFDPV RIIHU OHVV WKDQ LGHDO levels of performance. Not that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re picking holes, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the one area where Apple really dropped the ball with its latest MacBook (see EHORZ ZKLFK LV SHUSOH[LQJ JLYHQ WKH FRPSDQ\èV mastery of miniaturised phone optics. Get a better one like Logitechâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1080p C930E, designed to deliver clear sound and video, even in low light conditions. ORJLWHFK FRP
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PLANTRONICS VOYAGER 6200 UC
$Q LQ HDU QHFNEDQG KHDGVHW ZLWK IRXU LQWHJUDWHG omnidirectional microphones, made for the professional end of the market. Boring? Not even. While this is massively useful for taking calls in noisy environments, with Plantronicsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; EXVLQHVV JUDGH $1& HIIHFWLYHO\ PDVNLQJ WKH IDFW that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re stuck working in an airport terminal, LWèV HTXDOO\ JUHDW IRU EODVWLQJ WKRVH NHHS ZRUNLQJ tunes. SODQWURQLFV FRP
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APPLE MACBOOK PRO 16-INCH
The laptop is central to any remote working VHWXS DQG ZHèG GHÄ&#x2020;QLWHO\ RSW IRU WKH ODUJHU RI WKH WZR 0DF%RRNV 7KDW H[WUD GLDJRQDO inch in the Proâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s screen doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really translate WR H[WUD EXON RYHU WKH SUHYLRXV JHQHUDWLRQ $QG while the MacBook Air is slimmer and smaller, WKH SRZHU RI D IXOO ERUH 0DF%RRN PHDQV \RX
BOOST YOUR WORK FOCUS Remember that higher productivity means better performance
wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be lacking muscle when it counts. O One ffor remote workers. DSSOH FRP LQ
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MOBISCRIBE
Get those sparkling ideas down on electronic paaper fast with the MobiScribe, a combined ereader DQG VNHWFKERRN ZLWK D EDJ IULHQGO\ FRPSDFW VL]H H Its pen is pressure sensitive, so you can make some pretty detailed sketches, but a choice of backgrounds gives you options for lined paper, RUW JUDSKV PHPRV DQG PRUH DQG \RX FDQ DOVR H[SR your work as a PDF. PRELVFULEH FRP
Concentration, as they so often say, is key. If you want to get the most out of your working day, maintaining focus is important. You could apply the Pomodoro WHFKQLTXH WU\ )RFXV %RRVWHU the free tier of which can track 20 sessions a month) to
46 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
5
ensure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interspersing bursts of hard work with satisfying breaks, or cut down on your social media LQWHUDFWLRQV WKH $QWL 6RFLDO plugin for web browsers lets you choose your hours) to ensure those productive hours are actually productive.
If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re wondering just how much time you spend on all those tedious RU GLVWUDFWLQJ WDVNV WKH 12-sided TimeFlip2 makes tracking straightforward; just turn the edge that represents what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing face up
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Happier at work
1
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THE OFFICE WORKER 1
CORSAIR MM1000
WLH \RX WR XVLQJ VSHFLÄ&#x2020;F 0ROHVNLQH QRWHERRNV with subtly dotted patterns, few people would see that as a big detriment, particularly as there are so many options available. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even a Creative Cloud Connected notebook, and an 3 SONY WH-1000XM3 There are days when you need to shut out your H[WUD ODUJH VNHWFKSDG WKDW FDQ DV ORQJ DV \RXèUH ZRUN EXGGLHV 'RQ 6RQ\èV DZDUG ZLQQLQJ QRLVH using macOS) pipe your scribbles directly to Adobe Illustrator. cancelling headphones and block out a good SRUWLRQ RI WKH VXUURXQGLQJ RIÄ&#x2020;FH QRLVH 7KLV ZLOO PROHVNLQH FRP help you focus and power through work. In fact, WKH\èUH LGHDO LI \RXèUH SODQQLQJ DQ DOO GD\ VHVVLRQ 5 EMBER MUG 2.0 of knuckling down, as they offer just the right 0HHWLQJV FDQ VWULNH DW DQ\ WLPH ZKR NQRZV headband tension for longer wear. ZKHQ \RXèOO QH[W JHW D VLS RI WHD" :LWK DQ (PEHU VRQ\ FR LQ 2.0 it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter because the mug will keep 2 FITBIT CHARGE 3 your coffee or tea at the perfect temperature 6LWWLQJ LQ DQ RIÄ&#x2020;FH FKDLU DOO GD\ LV QRW ZKDW for up to 90 minutes through its internal WKH GRFWRU RUGHUHG ZLWK WKDW KHDG\ PL[ RI 4 MOLESKINE PEN+ ELLIPSE battery. Leave it on the charging base at your VHGHQWDU\ KDELWV DQG JHQHUDO RIÄ&#x2020;FH VWUHVV The Pen+ Ellipse is a quality pen, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s far desk and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll stay perpetually hot, meaning Fitbitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charge 3 to the rescue, then. It more than that: writing or sketching with it \RXU FXSSD LV VWLOO SLSLQJ KRW ZKHQ \RXèUH QH[W intelligently monitors your heart rate and uses produces an instant digital backup on your dragged away from your work without warning. that data to take you through guided breathing SKRQH DQG JLYHV \RX DQ 69* Ä&#x2020;OH \RX FDQ WDNH H[HUFLVHV LQ RUGHU WR UHGXFH VWUHVV $QG LWèOO elsewhere for further editing. Although it does HPEHU FRP Offer your mouse a wonderful surface to glide over, and give your phone somewhere to sit at WKH VDPH WLPH &RUVDLUèV 00 FRPELQHV a subtle mouse mat with a Qi charger. While &RUVDLU ZRXOG SUREDEO\ OLNH \RX WR XVH WKH 4L compatible Dark Core mouse, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perhaps QRW WKH PRVW RIÄ&#x2020;FH IULHQGO\ SRLQWHU EXW WKHUHèV D 4L DGDSWHU LQ WKH ER[ PHDQLQJ \RX FDQ FKDUJH ZKDWHYHU \RX OLNH DV ORQJ DV LWèV RQ the hotspot. FRUVDLU FRP
â&#x20AC;&#x201C; be that drinking coffee, EURZVLQJ WKH ZHE Ä&#x2020;HOGLQJ phone calls, or drinking more coffee â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and your actions are automatically catalogued in its associated app. There are days, we know, ZKHUH HYHQ Ä&#x2020;GGOLQJ ZLWK D giant d12 is too much to ask. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
s show you the ugly truth about how few steps y youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been taking during the working day. Ä&#x2020;WELW FRP
Sometimes free will trumps responsibility, and nothing will drag you away from procrastination. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where Saent comes in. Whack the button and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll connect to your work computer, disable every distracting app, and lock you down to a brief work
session. It glows to let those around you know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re knuckling down, then offers you a generous break at the end. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the ideal: maximum work, minimal time, and plenty of head space left at the end of the day to relax.
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 47
Your best year ever
TIDY UP YOUR HOME
Become your own ‘cleanfluencer’ with the latest breed of cleaning gadgets for the home, from stain-blasting steam mops to streak-free window vacs If you believe what Marie Kondo and Mrs Hinch say, there is joy to be found in tidying up. But we’re the first to say that cleaning isn’t for everyone: after all, there are plenty of things we’d rather be doing on a Sunday than washing windows. Apparently not everyone feels that way, as there’s a growing number of people who find cleaning to be strangely therapeutic and beneficial to their general wellbeing. Why? Positive psychology has some answers… In 2014, Indiana University associate professor Nicole Keith studied a group of 998 people and found that those of them with cleaner homes were generally healthier than people with messy homes. Before that, in 2011, researchers at Princeton University found that clutter can make it more difficult to focus on a task, lending weight to the old adage of ‘tidy home, tidy mind’. Cleaning is a de-stresser for some and can provide a sense of accomplishment, especially if you’re into making your own cleaning products (try mixing ingredients in an Elements Glass Canister, dunelm.com, before decanting to a spray bottle). For those of you who do find cleaning to be therapeutic, get hands-on with Dyson’s latest cordless vac, the V11 Absolute (dyson. in). It has interchangeable ‘heads’ – one for
hard floors and one for carpeted surfaces – with smaller attachments for cleaning sofas and stairs, and vacuuming into cobwebby corners and cupboards. A steam mop is another good investment for your home’s wellbeing. How? The Shark Klik n’ Flip Pocket Steam Mop, for example, eliminates 99.9% of common bacteria from hard floors and lino.
SO FRESH AND SO CLEAN
For every one of us that enjoys cleaning, there’s another who loathes it, so let’s now take a look at some house cleaning tech that pretty much gets the job done for you… The fun starts with a brilliant robot vacuum cleaner, and right now one of our favourite smart vacuum cleaners is the iRobot Roomba s9+ (irobot.in). It’s designed to clean deep into corners and can follow a map of your home, so it won’t vacuum into a room or space you don’t want it too. Best of all, the s9+ even empties itself and automatically takes itself back to the charging base whenever it’s low on battery. Next up is tech to tackle everyone’s most-dreaded house chore: cleaning the windows. Let the Karcher WV6 (kaercher. com) take the sting out of it for you. This handheld water-fuelled vac for cleaning
48 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
windows, glass doors, mirrors and tiled floors and walls creates a streak-free finish with shine for days. A full charge delivers 100 minutes of power – just imagine the cleaning marathon you could have. Dirty dishes cluttering up worktops can make any kitchen seem overrun. Instead, stack them inside the Bosch Serie 6 Dishwasher (bosch.in), a smart freestanding dishwasher that’s big on energy saving; it uses AquaSensor III to automatically assess how much water is needed for what you’re washing. It does the same for your dishwasher detergent, helping it last longer, and thanks to an EcoSilence brushless motor it’s Quiet Mark accredited. That means you can clean up at night without disturbing anyone else at home. Finally, a high-quality air purifier is one of the greatest allies for maintaining a cleaner home, as they actively reduce indoor air pollution, which is especially important for those of us who spend a lot of time indoors. The Scandinavian-looking, ultra-quiet LightAir IonFlow Signature (lightair.com) air purifier not only removes harmful particles, it also eliminates viruses while they’re airborne. A must for winter germ management and for improving the air quality of your main living space. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
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T3’ss travel guide 2020 T3
T3’S
From luxury safari experiences to cultured city breaks, we round up the best places to visit this year, plus the latest travel tech to help you enjoy your holiday Words: Alex Cox, Tamara Hinson
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FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 51
Short break gems
SHORT BREAK GEMS Craving a holiday but short on time? Don’t panic, as we’ve found the best mini-break destinations for travellers seeking short haul sweetness Heading off on a short break is an easy way to see more of the world, without breaking your bank or eating too much into your annual holiday allowance. And there are some stunning places that lend themselves to a memorable mini break. Take Lausanne (pictured), at the foothills of the Swiss Alps, for example. This pretty Swiss city, a 40-minute train ride from Geneva, is also one of Switzerland’s artiest cities. That’s thanks largely to Plateforme 10, a new arts district in the shadow of the train station. October 2019 saw the opening of its first tenant, the Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts, and in 2021 the city’s Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts (the only museum in French-speaking Switzerland of its kind) and Musée de l’Elysée will relocate to the same area. Other Lausanne highlights include the Olympic Museum, with its display of original Olympic torches and collection of
outfits worn at opening ceremonies (particularly notable is the Moschino dress created for the Turin Olympics in 2006 – the garment features a replica of the city, complete with mini mountains and chalets). Travelling on a budget? Switzerland might be an expensive country but Lausanne is one of its most affordable cities, and became even more so in late 2019 with the opening of a Moxy hotel in the bar-filled Flon district. This Marriott-owned brand is known for low prices, compact (but never cramped) rooms and beautiful public areas. This lively city became more accessible in January 2020 thanks to the launch of Ryanair’s flights from both Milan Bergamo and Rome Ciampino. A once-gritty capital that has transformed into one of Europe’s coolest cities, Yerevan has always been a hit with architecture buffs who come to gawp at its Soviet-era monuments. No visit is complete without a wander around the State Museum of Armenian History, which
52 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
provides a brilliant insight into the country’s past. Equally unmissable is the Megerian Carpet Museum and, on Yerevan’s outskirts, the thirteenth-century Geghard Monastery. Sample the nightlife too, whether it’s the subterranean microbreweries or pounding nightclubs. One of our favourite venues is Kami Club, where you can feast on delicious cuisine while watching local rock bands. Finally, consider Tallinn, Estonia’s capital, where a flurry of new hotels are opening. These include the Hektor Container Hotel, opening in February (expect stylish rooms tucked into shipping containers) and Citybox Tallinn, opening soon. You’ll find it in the harbour district – a reminder that there’s more to Tallinn than its (admittedly stunning) UNESCOlisted old town.
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Sightseeing tech
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NIKON Z6 Nikon’s consumer-priced full-frame mirrorless camera packs hundreds of focus points, plenty of pixels and, most importantly, easy compatibility with F-mount optics. If you’re already weighed down by lenses and want a body upgrade, this is the one to get. nikon.co.in
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BOSE FRAMES ALTO
clear while you’re crossing ssing unfamiliar roads, and the Bose AR tech means they can act as a virtual tour guide when you are exploring a city on foot. boseindia.com
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MERRELL ZION GTX
Exploring town and trail? Proper footwear will save your holiday from being ruined by blisters. Protect your feet by wearing breathable hiking shoes. The Zion adapt Merrell’s trail running platform for a comfy fit. They run a little big in the fit, so perhaps size down.
Stylish sunglasses with a twist. These Bose Frames incorporate bone conduction audio to ensure your ears stay merrell.com W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
DJI OSMO MOBILE MOBIL 3 Filming while walking around is not, but partner your phone with the right mobile photography gear and you’ll be capturing judder-free footage easily. DJI’s 3-axis gimbal arm makes things mechanically smooth, and puts pan and tilt controls at your fingertips. dji.com
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HUAWEI P30 PRO
A beautifully designed and surprisingly powerful Android phone, sure, but that’s not why you should be carrying one on your travels. The P30 Pro’s
fast-snapping low-light camera is what really sets this apart from the rest. A true evening essential that will give you much pictorial pleasure. huawei.com
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PANASONIC LUMIX TZ200
Whether you’re snapping a family photo or picking the detail out of a monument way off in the distance, the pocketfriendly Lumix TX200 – with a ludicrous 15x optical zoom, a 1 inch sensor and 4K video capabilities – has you covered. panasonic.co.in
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 53
Hottest sun spots
HOTTEST SUN SPOTS We’ve got the perfect prescription for those of you in need of a big dose of vitamin D: a sun-drenched escape to one of these balmy paradises… Step aside Dubai and the Maldives, there’s a new underwater hotspot in town. December 2019 saw the opening of Reefsuites, next to Hardy Reef in the Whitsundays just off of Australia. You’ll find the two two-person suites four metres below sea level, offering up unbeatable views of the local marine life. Equally appealing to sun worshippers is Goa, India, although more visitors are now venturing beyond that blissful beach to discover Goa’s beautiful towns and temple-filled river islands. There’s also been a flurry of hotels opening inland, including the DoubleTree by Hilton Goa-Panaji, which opened in late 2018. Rooms here enjoy stunning views over the Mandovi River and Divar island, a bird-watchers paradise. It’s also one of many destinations which can
be explored on the tours offered by BLive, Goa’s first electric bike company. Saddle up for (assisted) pedal-powered explorations of areas including Divar and Panaji, Goa’s colourful and bustling capital. The Caribbean is hard to beat when it comes to post-winter heat, and a night or two on Virgin Gorda (pictured) in the British Virgin Islands is the next best thing to a stay on nearby Necker Island (Richard Branson’s humble holiday home). We recommend Rosewood Little Dix Bay, which reopened in January 2020 following a lengthy four-year refurbishment. It’s the perfect chill-out spot, with a hilltop yoga platform and a gorgeous spa. Bag one of the Tree House suites for mesmerising views over the island. It’s common knowledge that California has some of America’s best beaches, but to
54 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
avoid the crowds consider heading to Santa Barbara, two hours north of LA. Ample space to lay out your beach towel isn’t the only attraction. Why? The city is transforming into America’s culinary capital, thanks largely to its location - it’s surrounded by vineyards and has more than 30 tasting rooms, along with some of California’s best seafood restaurants. March also sees the launch of the Santa Barbara Culinary Experience, a three-day tribute to local food. Expect cookery classes, tasting events and top chefs. For a culture fix, visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, due to reveal a new wing in spring. One of the first major exhibitions there will be Through Vincent’s Eyes, in October. This tribute to Vincent Van Gogh focuses on the genres that inspired the artist, and there will be 15 Van Gogh masterpieces on display.
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Outdoors/beach tech
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ULTIMATE EARS WONDERBOOM 2
When it’s time to relax, use music to get you in the mood. The Bluetooth Wonderboom 2 clips on to any bag, withstands the elements like a champ and, er, packs a wonderfully boomy sound. The outdoor boost mode ensures your tunes will be heard on the beach. ultimateears.com
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FILSON DRY BACKPACK 28L
Just as adept at keeping out sand and dust as it is at repelling the rain, Filson’s all-weather carrier employs W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
PU-coated 840-denier nylon EDDIE BAUE ER to make it robust and fully RAINFOIL waterproof. So even if you fully When it rains, it pours, but that submerge the backpack, your needn’t spoil anything if you precious tech will remain dry. have one of these in your bag. Eddie Bauer’s Rainfoil is a slim filson.com packaway jacket with a hood for when it’s really drizzling, EASYACC SOLAR plus covered pockets. POWER BANK The massive battery capacity eddiebauer.com and rugged case design of EasyAcc’s bomb-proof power OLYMPUS TOUGH bank means it’ll be a reliable TG-6 CAMERA companion wherever you are. On the beach, in the pouring The bonus of a solar panel to rain, or perhaps both, the top things up when you’re Tough TG-6 is the rugged away from a power outlet is camera to carry, with a the icing on the cake. dustproof, waterproof and shockproof construction that easyacc.com
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means you can confidently throw it in your backpack for when you want to take 12MP snaps of your holiday antics, in and out of the pool or ocean. olympus.in
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CAMELBAK FORGE VACUUM 16OZ
If you’ve spent a hard day tossing a frisbee around on the hot sand, don’t settle for sun-warmed refreshments. Camelback’s well-insulated stainless steel mug keeps your drinks hot or cool as needed. The easy sip spout makes for a dignified drinking experience. camelbak.com
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 55
Ultimate getaways
ULTIMATE GETAWAYS Plan the ultimate trip of a lifetime with our expert selection of must-visit destinations, from epic mountain vistas to luxury safaris England’s Lake District is in the spotlight this year due to the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Wordsworth, whose poem Daffodils was inspired by Ullswater, close to his former Lake District home. Our advice? Head to the Chilean Lake District (pictured) instead. This volcano and forest-filled paradise has some of the country’s most spectacular national parks, including Parque Nacional Vicente Pérez Rosales, famous for its emerald-green Lago Todos Los Santos, and Volcán Osorno – hike to its 2,652-metre summit for breathtaking views. For something totally different, head to Hanoi in Vietnam. Not only Hanoi a brilliant base for explorations of South East Asia, it’s a superb destination in its own right. The city, which will host Vietnam’s first ever F1 in early April, has a rich
history, as well as unmissable sights including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Have time to kill? Then consider getting the overnight train north to Sa Pa, a stunning hill town near the Chinese border. This mountainous region is dominated by Mount Fansipan (Vietnam’s highest mountain) and visitors can sign up for treks led by members of the local Hmong community. Although homestays are the most popular accommodation option here, the town now has its first internationallyaccredited five-star hotel: the beautiful Hotel de la Couple, with its gorgeous Bill Bensley-designed interior. In India, wildlife fans are flocking to Panna National Park - more specifically Taj Safaris’ Pashan Garh - a luxe safari lodge where you can sign up for tiger-spotting safaris. India’s growing contribution to the
56 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
space race (its Chandrayaan-3 moon mission launches in late 2020) has led to increased interest in its night skies, and one of the best places to admire them is this remote chunk of Madhya Pradesh, on one of Taj Pashan Garh’s stargazing experiences. There are more big cats (along with countless other creatures, including rare African wild dogs) in Kafue National Park, the oldest and largest park in Zambia. You could base yourself at Green Safaris’ Ila Safari Lodge, with its fleet of electric jeeps. It’s also just a four-hour drive from Lusaka, minimising the need for air transfers. Finally, don’t forget that Virgin Atlantic will launch its first Latin America route in 2020. March will see flights from Heathrow to Sao Paulo, a vibrant metropolis packed with Instagram-worthy sights.
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Flight tech
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NEW BALANCE 574 CORE In flight, when you’re forced to sit still for hours on end in a pressurised tube, your feet tend to swell. Ensure you remain comfortable with this pair of super-comfortable trainers that’ll serve you well when you hit the tarmac too. newbalance.com
A AWAY THE CARRY ON This is everything luggage should be: small enough to be used as a carry-on, tough enough to protect everything you’ve packed inside, and smart enough to include a built-in charger to keep your gadgets topped up once you’re past security.
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SONY WH-1000XM3
There’s no better time to devour a book than when you’re trapped 35,000 feet up, and there’s no better way to do it than with Amazon’s supremely balanced and brilliantly lit one-handed ereader – particularly because its battery just doesn’t quit. amazon.in
It’s amazing what Sony has been able to do in the noise cancellation bracket, and these cans – which are also, frankly, some of the best over-ear headphones you can buy – are the pinnacle thus far. Block out noisy passengers and aircraft drone for a peaceful flight. sony.co.in
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IPAD 7TH GENERATION
12 hours won’t seem long enough if you have an iPad stuffed with everything you love doing and watching. The perfect gaming tablet, an ace way to enjoy films and music, and guaranteed to be better than whatever your airline is offering entertainment-wise. apple.com/in W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
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NINTENDO SWITCH LITE
The Switch Lite is home to some of the greatest games ever made, with more classics coming along all the time, and it’s also the finest portable gaming console you can buy. Buying one of these is like an upgrade to first class. nintendo.com
TWELVESOUTH AIRFLY PRO
While we’ve mostly moved to Bluetooth headphones, airlines aren’t quite up with the times. However, the AirFly Pro can convert any 3.5mm jack into a Bluetooth broadcaster and send that sound to a pair of devices. Enjoy the movie without the pesky wires. twelvesouth.com
HUZI INFINITY PILLOW
Forget those scratchy flockcoated inflatable travel pillows of yore; Huzi’s looping pillow can be configured infinite (well, at least eight) different ways to help you discover the most comfortable position to get you through that testing long-haul slog. infinitypillow.co
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 57
Ultimate TV buying guide
ULTIMATE TV BUYING GUIDE Looking for a TV upgrade to get you through the winter? Here are the best options Words: Matt Bolton Photography: Neil Godwin
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Ultimate TV buying guide
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FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 59
Ultimate TV buying guide
2/(' 0$67(56 The greatest OLED screens on the market OLED SWEET SPOT
LG OLED55C9 The LG C9 is a delicious deal: it has the same 4K panel as LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top-tier TVs that cost thousands more, and the same advanced image processingâ&#x20AC;¦ but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a mid-range price. There are seriously no downsides when it comes to image quality compared to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own higherup models â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they just have fancier designs and better speakers. If you just want the best OLED quality you can for the least money, here you go. Also available in a 65-inch model, both sizes have practically perfect images, delivering inky black levels and eye-bogglingly lifelike colours, with supreme levels of detail, too. LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s image processing is also impressive stuff, especially when it comes to upscaling â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from complex action scenes to quiet close ups, you could easily mistake it for real 4K when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s from a crisp, clean source. It struggles a little more with SD content, but we absolutely forgive it that.
lg.com
OLED VS LCD IN THE SCREEN WAR, WHICH IS THE PICK OF THE PIXELS? The pixels in an LCD panel donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t create the light that DFWXDOO\ UHDFKHVb\RXU H\HV E\ themselves â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they need another VRXUFH RI OLJKWb WKH EDFNOLJKW WR shine through them, which they FDQ Ä&#x2020;OWHU WR ORRN KRZ LW QHHGV WR The pixels in an OLED panel do create their own light: every single one is a microscopic ODPS RU UDWKHU HDFK SL[HO LV D mixture of red, green and blue PLFURVFRSLF ODPSV 7KLV KDV D distinct advantage for colour accuracy, because it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t QHHG DQ\ /&' OLNH Ä&#x2020;OWHULQJ that could effectively alter the KXH WKRXJK 4/(' DQG VLPLODU WHFKQRORJLHV GR Ä&#x2020;[ WKLV LVVXH but the main draw of OLED
is that it allows for incredible FRQWUDVW /&' SDQHOV PXVW EORFN the backlight to render dark scenes, which doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always ZRUN YHU\ ZHOO 2/(' 79V MXVWð well, they turn the right pixels RII RU GRZQ YHU\ ORZ $QG you can have bright and dark sections right next to each other ZLWK QR FURVVRYHU The downside? OLED canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go as bright as LCD, which means that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weaker to view in strong OLJKW VXFK DV EULJKW VXQOLJKW and LCDs like those on the previous page can rival OLEDs for darkness, and beat them for YLEUDQF\ 2/(' LV DOVR PXFK more expensive when you get LQWR WKH ELJJHU VFUHHQ VL]HV
60 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
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4K HDR under £1,000
48$/,7< /(' . +'5 Not as expensive as OLED TVs but don’t stint on quality BEST PICTURE QUALITY
SONY KD-55X9000F When it first launched, this was basically Sony’s top TV before you stumbled into its elite LCD and OLED rangee, which meant a big leap from its price at launch. There are tw wo key attractions: Sony’s high-quality, high-contrast LCD paanel, and the company’s brilliant image processing. The HD DR performance can’t match more expensive OLED sets, but is still absolutely engrossing. It’s bright (and good for sunlit rrooms), vibrant, capable of impressive deep blacks for the type of panel, and feels natural without seeming muted in any way y. The processing behind the panel does incredible work too: native 4K content is supremely detailed and sharp, but HD (and even SD) footage is upscaled brilliantly. Motion handling iis also near-impeccable, making this TV a ideal for sports faans – it makes everything easy to follow, and, as we alreaady y mentioned, its brightness fares well even in strongly sunlit rooms, so you can watch during the day without it getting too washed out. The smarts come from Android TV, which h is hard to fault in terms of capabilities and app availabilitty, but is a bit sluggish.
sony.co.in
CHEAPER LCD VS HIGH-END LCD THE DIFFERENCE THAT CASH GAP MAKES TO THE INNER TECH On the next page, we’re going to look at more expensive LCD panels than these, so what’s the technical difference between WKRVH DQG ZKDW \RXèYH MXVW VHHQ" The biggest change is often the backlight: LCD displays work E\ ĆULQJ D VWURQJ XQLIRUP OLJKW through a panel of pixels, and the SL[HOV FKDQJH FRORXU WR ĆOWHU WKH OLJKW LQWR WKH KXHV \RX VHH )RU dark areas, the LCD pixels try to EORFN WKH OLJKW FRPSOHWHO\ On most LCD TVs, the panels are lit from the edge, using a band of LED lights on all sides, which helps keep the TVs WKLQQHU 6RPH KLJK HQG /&' TVs have ‘direct’ backlighting, which means there’s a full panel W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
of LEDs behind the pixels, which makes the sets thicker, but they can go brighter, for more LPSUHVVLYH +'5 SHUIRUPDQFH Then there’s selective dimming: modern LCDs TVs can dim the brightness of the backlight LEDs in areas of the screen that need to go darker, JLYLQJ ULFKHU EODFN OHYHOV 0RUH expensive TVs will have more dimmable zones, meaning the part that gets darkened can be PRUH SUHFLVH Companies will also put higher-end image processing in more expensive TVs, of course, and there are differences in the LCD panels themselves – see the QH[W SDJH IRU PRUH RQ WKDW FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 61
Ultimate TV buying guide
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BETTER THAN OLED
SAMSUNG 65Q90RAK What you’re getting here, with a few small technical tw weaks, is a lot of Samsung’s most advanced tech from its 8K TVs, but with a 4K panel instead. The result is so go ood, it single-handedly broke the idea that the best TVs of o the future would be OLED: Samsung’s QLED tech is th he business. A direct backlight is applied here, and it’s incredibly powerful, pushing brightness levels way beyond anything a cheaper LCD can manage. But it’s also capable of incredibly precise dimming, producing allmost totally black blacks… the result is an unmatched contrast range, making HDR that looked good on other TV Vs look simply mind-blowing here. Detail is incredible, as is its handling of motion. We love the OneConnect box, too: the connections all go into a separate unit, which can be hidden, with a single cable leading into w the TV, making it look much tidier.
samsung.com/in
BANG-FOR-BUCK BEAUTY
SONY KD-65X9500G This has a full array of backlight LEDs behind the screen, as mentioned on the previous page, which is quite an amazing feat for the price, especially given that it’s also a generous 65 inches. You don’t get the same advanced dimming capabilities of the other TVs here, and it’s not quite as good when viewed at odd angles, but the brightness and vibrancy of the panel is just glorious, and for rich, accurate colours, it’s up there with the best of them. There’s so much 4K detail, and HDR is just excellent for the size and price – especially because there’s support for Dolby Vision advanced HDR. The image processor is the same as Sony’s most expensive TVs, and you can tell: Ultra HD images are crisp beyond belief, and motion blur in fast images is sharpened brilliantly without adding the dreaded ‘soap opera effect’. This is a small marvel for the money.
sony.co.in 62 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
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Elite 4K LCD
MOVIE MAESTRO
621< .' = ) 0$67(5b6(5,(6 Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Master Series TVs are the peak of its line-up, and are designed to bring into your living room an im mage closer to the original intent of the ďŹ lmmakersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tha an anything youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen before. Partly this comes fro om meticulous calibration of the panel so that it match hes Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own BVM-X300 pro monitor, which is used b by a huge number of movie studios for editing. But it also comes from special processing modes for NetďŹ&#x201A;ix and a Dolby Vision content, which overrides your normal TV settings so you can see things exactly the way th he creators did while working on them. Backing all this up (literally) is a full array backliight, for richer HDR images and incredibly accurate an nd engaging colours. The Samsung Q90R has it slighttly beaten on overall HDR range, though the Sony handles SDR content brilliantly, eking all the contrast it can from the image â&#x20AC;&#x201C; if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have that much 4K video to watch, this is perhaps the best choice on the mark ket. Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s processing prowess is also on full display ffor upscaling: it makes the most of its Ultra HD resoluttion and big size by adding in tons of detail to HD conteent. Motion smoothing is best in class, making sport lo ook fantastic.
sony.co.in
QLED, AND OTHER JARGON SO WHAT EXACTLY DOES â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;QLEDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; MEAN? 4/(' LV D W\SH RI GLVSOD\ SDQHO that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve thrown in with LCD displays here, because it works very similarly, but is a OLWWOH GLIIHUHQW $ VWDQGDUG /&' display has red, green and blue elements to each pixel, which are applied as needed, and light IURP WKH EDFNOLJKW LV Ä&#x2020;OWHUHG through them to create the FRORXUV \RX VHH IRU HDFK SL[HO 4/(' KDV D çTXDQWXP GRW Ä&#x2020;OWHUè LQ IURQW RI DQ /(' EDFNOLJKW 7KLV LV D Ä&#x2020;OP RI WLQ\ crystal semi-conductor particles that can be precisely controlled for their colour output, giving a much broader range of colours WKDQ ROGHU /&' Ä&#x2020;OWHU W\SHV and can maintain those colours W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
perfectly even at very high OHYHOV RI EULJKWQHVV There are similar variants on LCD tech from other manufacturers: LG has 1DQR&HOOb/(' 79V IRU H[DPSOH which use a light-absorbing Ä&#x2020;OWHU WR UHPRYH XQZDQWHG OLJKW wavelengths from pixels, so the colour reproductions can be KLJKO\ DFFXUDWH 6RQ\ KDV LWV 7ULOXPLQRV WHFK ZKLFK LVĂ° ZHOO LWèV TXDQWXP GRWV DJDLQ MXVW ZLWKbD GLIIHUHQW WUDGHPDUNDEOH QDPH 7KH H[DFW FRQVWUXFWLRQ will be different, but the SULQFLSOHbDQG UHVXOW LV WKH VDPH â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a much wider range of colours, WR PDWFK ZKDW +'5 YLGHR LV FDSDEOH RI VKRZLQJ FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 63
The complete guide to…
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Chromebooks
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO…
Chromebooks These lightweight, cloud-based computers are gaining in popularity – here’s why you might (or might not) want to buy a Chromebook in 2020, and what to choose if you do Words: David Nield Photography: Neil Godwin
he first Chromebooks turned up in the summer of 2011, and it’s fair to say they’ve come a long, long way since then – while the core of being a laptop that focuses on the web is intact, they’re now much more capable when Wi-Fi is limited or not available at all, and their ability to run Android apps adds a whole new dimension to what you can expect from a laptop running Chrome OS. Just about any app that runs on an Android phone will also now run on a Chromebook, straight from the Google Play Store. It’s just the latest in a series of leaps for what Chromebooks are capable of and how useful they can be. Sometimes that means access to apps you wouldn’t otherwise be able to get on a laptop (like Instagram or Snapchat), and sometimes that means extra features that aren’t available on Windows and macOS (like the option to sync Netflix downloads for offline viewing). At other times, app support just means having the option of using a
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web app or an Android app when you want to do something – whether it’s Twitter, Spotify, Google Docs, or whatever else. It’s made Chromebooks more versatile, and easier to use when they’re offline.
POWER UP AND UP
At the same time as Chromebooks have been becoming more powerful and versatile, web apps have been going from strength to strength too. Think about all the top-tier apps you can get at through a browser now: Spotify, Google Photos, Microsoft Word, Slack, Twitter, Skype, Plex, Netflix and many more. You may have noticed you’ve been spending more and more of your computing time inside a browser, and Chromebooks are perfectly placed to take advantage. You can do more than ever through a simple browser tab – both with and without an internet connection – and if you need alternative options then you’ve got all those Android apps to pick from. From the earliest days of the Chromebook, the question has been
why users would pick up a laptop that’s essentially a browser, when they can just run Chrome on Windows and macOS and do so much more too. In fact, it’s very much a case of less is more: if all you need is a browser plus Android app support, the security, simplicity and speed of a Chromebook leaves the Windows and macOS equivalents looking bloated and unnecessarily complex by comparison. With only Chrome installed, you don’t have to worry about installing an antivirus package or running regular updates on dozens of apps (Chrome OS updates itself in the background). It’s a lot harder to attack a computer where nothing ever gets installed and where all the apps are run from the web (though never take security for granted, no matter what your choice of laptop). Meanwhile, with everything saved to the cloud on a regular basis, there’s no need to remember to back up your work every five minutes, just in case there’s a power cut or you spill coffee all over your machine. And with only one main
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 65
The complete guide to… The top three…
...ANDROID APPS FOR CHROMEBOOKS Not all Android apps work well on a Chromebook form factor, but these are three you should install 01
NETFLIX You don’t need the Android app to get Netflix running on a Chromebook, but it does give you access to offline downloads – so you can queue up several seasons of your favourite show, or a Hollywood blockbuster or two, before taking your next trip.
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ADOBE PHOTOSHOP EXPRESS Image editing is one of the areas where Chromebooks don’t score all that highly out of the box, but get Adobe Photoshop Express and you’ll be tweaking colours and brightness, dropping in filters and layers, and fixing blemishes in no time at all.
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GMAIL Sure, you can use Gmail on the web, but the Android app brings a few different tricks along with it – like the ability to browse your message list and read emails at the same time, or to archive and delete emails with a swipe.
program on your computers, you don’t get the same bloat and system slowdown over time as you might with other laptops. These have always been the strengths of Chrome OS, and they’re becoming stronger and stronger with time – consider how much more web-based everything is (from storage to music) than it was in 2011, or how much easier it is to get a Wi-Fi connection at a coffee shop, train station, hotel lobby or fast food restaurant. At the same time, web apps have become more tolerant of dropped or missing Wi-Fi. The early Chrome OS laptops were pretty much useless paperweights without any precious internet connectivity. Nowadays, you can to a large extent just keep on working if the connection drops – on Google Drive, for example, you can create and edit files while offline, and Gmail lets you browse emails and compose new messages in offline mode too. Meanwhile Chromebooks have become increasingly popular with, and increasingly useful to, developers. Lightweight Linux distros and Linux apps can now be run on many Chromebooks, meaning they can even be used for programming. You can run Firefox on your Chromebook if you want, either Firefox for Android or Firefox on top of Linux. It’s a sign of how much more versatile these stripped-down laptops have become since the beginning. Chrome OS uses container technology to keep Android apps and Linux installs away from the core of the operating system, which means you’re well protected should something untoward want to try and take control of your system – a scenario which shouldn’t happen anyway, if you’re careful about what you install.
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Remote access tools come as standard on Chrome OS too, which means if you’ve got Chrome for Windows or macOS installed on one of your other computers, you can connect up to it from your Chromebook with a few clicks and inside a few seconds. Everything that Google started moving away from in 2011 with Chrome OS – local storage, desktop apps, offline features – has become less and less important since then. Consider the new Google Stadia or Microsoft xCloud gaming services, for example, which stream video games from the cloud in real time: first music switched to streaming, then movies and TV shows followed, and now it’s the turn of games. There are advantages to Chrome OS’ focus on using services that are based online too: no matter how powerful the program you’re running (even gaming on Google Stadia or Microsoft xCloud), you don’t need superpowerful components and lots of local storage in your Chromebook, because the server is handling the hard part. No needing high-end hardware in the laptops can mean lower prices – another area where Chromebooks are very competitive. For today’s modern computer users, who spend most of their time inside a browser anyway, the question is not why you would buy a laptop that only runs Chrome... but whether you really need a laptop that does anything else. Video calling, music streaming, document editing, online
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Chromebooks T3 recommends...
PICK YOUR PERFECT CHROMEBOOK The choice of Chromebooks is bigger than ever, but we’ll be your guide
PREMIUM WORKHORSE
ACER CHROMEBOOK SPIN 13 This folding hybrid has a pinsharp 2256x1504 display that turns all the way round, and feels ultra-premium thanks to an allaluminium finish. 16GB of RAM gives you plenty of memory for working hard, while an Intel Core
i5 processor powers it all – it’s a zippy thing. The 3:2 aspect ratio is unusual for laptops, but makes it absolutely ideal for working on documents or photos, thanks to the extra height.
acer.com
Picking a Chromebook is a little easier than picking a normal laptop because they all, essentially, do the same thing – run a web browser with a few Android apps on the side. You don’t have to pay the earth for masses of storage and RAM, though obviously having more always helps. Google’s partners in the Chromebook project are putting out plenty of interesting form factors and models right now, with plenty more expected during the course of 2020 – no matter what you need from a laptop, you should be able to find a Chromebook to suit. Here are four of our favourites from the current selection.
MOBILE WORK MACHINE
ASUS CHROMEBOOK FLIP C434T This delivers a 14-inch display in a 13-inch footprint thanks to super-thin bezels. The screen is Full HD (1920x1080), and folds back to turn it into a tablet. You can get up to an Intel Core i5 processor in there, though it’s a
fairly low-power unit. This gives it 10 hours of battery life, though, so it will be with you all day. It comes with up to 128GB of on-board storage, and is jam-packed with connectivity options.
asus.com
STAY VERSATILE
SUPER SMALL
HP CHROMEBOOK X360
DELL CHROMEBOOK 3100 2-IN-1
A lot of Chromebooks come in a 2-in-1 form factor, so you can fold the keyboard over and use them as makeshift tablets, or prop them up in a ‘tent’ shape for watching movies, and we reckon this HP model is one of the best of the W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
breed – a roomy 14-inch display, B&O enhanced audio, plenty of power under the hood, built-in virus protection, unlimited cloud photo storage, an HD webcam and much more besides.
hp.com
The Dell Chromebook 3100 has a titchy 11.6-inch screen, and thick plastic outsides, and yet… it really appeals to us. It’s small enough and rugged enough to go anywhere, letting you do your computing atop a brick wall, or on a bus, or down
a cave, and you won’t care about it getting bumped and scraped or having up to 354ml of liquid spilt on it. The battery life on this Chromebook goes on forever as well, which always helps.
dell.com
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The complete guide to… hardware drivers, giving third-party manufacturers easier access to the operating system, improving end security for users, and ensuring there’s at least a base level of performance when you buy a Chromebook. If you already do all your computing in your browser anyway, and spend a lot of time working with Google’s web apps as it is, then a Chromebook makes a lot of sense for your next laptop purchase in 2020. They’re good for kids too – fast, robust, secure – and if one should fall into a lake you can just sign in on another and
chatting... all this and more can be done inside a browser window these days. Chrome OS continues to get new features – virtual desktops were just added, for example, which means you can keep groups of windows and apps separate (one desktop for your personal interests and one for your work life, perhaps). Like Chrome, it’s not standing still, but is managing to add functions without increasing the bloat. A Chromebook is by no means for everyone though: for users needing advanced image or video editing tools, or wanting to use their laptop for gaming, or preferring the complexity of full and local Excel or Word, or having a massive local media library to sort through, the compromises that a Chromebook makes really are deal breakers. For everyone else though, Chromebooks
are a clever choice, and there is a lot of choice by the way – models shaped like traditional laptops, models built as tablets with optional keyboard attachments, models with fully rotating screen hinges that can be used in all kinds of configurations, and so on. The good news is you don’t need to worry too much about specs, because every Chromebook will run Chrome OS just fine. The more RAM and the faster the CPU you go for, the speedier everything will be of course, and the more tabs you’ll be able to have open at once without noticeable lag, but there’s not the vast performance difference you find between the high-end and the low-end on Windows and macOS laptops. Google even develops Chrome OS alongside reference motherboards and
Chromebooks make much more sense now than they did back in 2011 carry on where you left off. Bear in mind that if you’ve got Chrome installed in other places too – on your phone, or your desktop Windows PC, or your Mac, or your work computer – then Chrome OS will happily sync passwords and other data between your devices too, courtesy of your Google account. All you need to do is sign in. Chromebooks didn’t make a whole lot of sense back in 2011, but they make much more sense now. While users will continue to stick to what they know in Windows and macOS, Chromebooks are computers built for the web-based, cloud-focused way that we use our devices in 2020, and are likely to continue to go from strength to strength. Oh and did we mention they boot up in seconds too? Even the ones from 2011.
CHROMEBOOKS AND THE GOOGLE EFFECT If you’re buying a Chromebook, you’re going to have to go Google As with buying an Android phone in 2020, investing in a Chromebook is pretty much impossible to do without getting entangled up in the Google ecosystem. If you’re already busy and active with a lot of Google’s apps and products then great; if you’d rather give Google a wide berth, perhaps not so much. Your Google account acts as your user login on a Chromebook, and it of course controls your experiences in a variety of Google apps on the web – Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, Google Drive, Google Photos and all the rest, plus Chrome OS itself. Everything you do with your Google account can be used to serve up targeted ads
for your attention, though Google has got better at letting you clean up certain activities if you don’t want them on record. You can, for example, have your web activity erased on a rolling basis every three months, to stop the potential for anyone else finding out about anything older. Ultimately though you’re making a deal with Google – you get to use all of its productivity enhancing apps free of charge, and it gets to sell you some advertising based on what you’re doing inside those apps. For those who trust Google, the Google connection is another reason to buy a Chromebook – it means Chrome OS works
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very well with Chromecasts, Android phones, and so on, for example – but for those who don’t, it’s a reason to steer clear. These links to the other parts of the Google ecosystem continue to evolve and improve. You can use the presence of a trusted Android phone to unlock your Chromebook, for example, while Google now makes a version of its Android SMS and MMS app available on the web. If you own a Pixel phone, then your Chromebook can be configured to automatically get online via the phone’s data connection, if Wi-Fi is unavailable – another neat feature to make life a little bit easier when you’re out and about. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
TESTED Get the lowdown on the latest gadgets before you buy 70
DJI MAVIC MINI 72
SONY RX100 VII 74
AMAZON ECHO AUTO 75
ASUS ROG MOTHERSSHIP GZ700 78
HUAMI AMAZFIT GTR 81
HYPERX QUADCAST 82
GAMES
HOW WE TEST In T3, we feature only the finest gadgets out there, and we believe that you – our loyal reader – deserve only the best tech in your life. We don’t want you to waste time, and money, on inferior products, and that’s exactly why our Tested section exists. In here you’ll find only the latest and hottest tech. Each product has been handpicked and tested by T3’s experts.
We only choose people with special knowledge for each test, so you know you’re going to get an outcome based on many years of experience in their respective field. As well as our traditional five-star rating system (right), we also give out awards to particularly exceptional gadgets, using the line-up below - so when you spot one of these, you’ll know you’re onto a good thing.
THE SCORES EXPLAINED Forget it Below average Good for the price Very good all round An exceptional, best-in-class product
OUR AWARDS PLATINUM AWARD
BEST ON TEST
BEST FOR BATTERY LIFE
THE DESIGN AWARD
For kit with exceptional Only the best products – those This is given to winners of our This accolade, and others like industrial design and that score five stars – receive group tests, so you can see it, show you which gear is best refinement, in addition to for specific features our Platinum Award which is the best at a glance being a great buy
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Tested
Max speed 13m/s Max height 3000m above sea level Max flight time 30m Storage microSD card Camera 12MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS; up to 2.7K 30fps or 1080p 60fps video Gimbal Three-axis Dimensions Folded 140x82x57mm; Unfolded (with propellers) 245x290x55mm Weight 249g
LEARN TO FLY
DJI Mavic Mini
DJI turns the drone into a holiday essential with this ultra-small, ultra light, cheaper model
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From `40,000 dji.com JI’s latest addition to its fleet is aimed at bringing drones to the masses, thanks to a lower price and a tiny weight of 249g. That weight includes the battery and microSD card (32GB included). Like bigger Mavic drones, it’s foldable, so it becomes dinky enough to carry around with ease: it’s just 160mm long, 202mm wide and 55mm tall. When the arms are extended, the
D
drone’s footprint from arm to arm is roughly about the same as that of the DJI Mavic Air. The Mavic Mini’s tiny size and low weight should also help it survive most crashes and falls – it’s very light and those front arms are surprisingly flexible, so it should theoretically survive an accident better than any of its bigger and heavier stablemates. Given that the camera is arguably the most important part of a drone,
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DJI Mavic Mini
weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re happy to report that this one is a little cracker. Granted, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t support some of the picture and video proďŹ le choices of the larger Mavics, but even the standard picture setting is excellent straight out of the box. The Mavic Mini shoots 1080p video at up to 60 frames per second and super crisp 2.7K at up to 30fps. The fact that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shoot in full 4K is no real hindrance since this drone isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t aimed at pro video work â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what it takes looks fantastic on a tablet or phone. And anyway, at this price there had to be some trade-off. For those who are into aerial photography, the droneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camera shoots immaculate 12MP stills that really â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;popâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; when snapped in good lighting conditions. It isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too shabby in low light either. As to be expected, the droneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s little mechanical threeaxis gimbal ensures that all video remains absolutely rock solid, and stills are pin sharp no matter how jumpy the drone may look in ďŹ&#x201A;ight, even when battling a stiff breeze. Despite its diminutive dimensions, the Mavic Mini is extraordinarily stable in ďŹ&#x201A;ight and very fast and
nimble when switched to Sport mode, while a reliable GPS lock keeps it stationary when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not moving. On the automative ďŹ&#x201A;ight mode front it offers a small variety of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Quick Shotsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; including dronie, rocket, circle and helix, but no follow-me mode â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at least for the time being.
Video and stills both look fantastic, even if the drone is being buffered by the elements
Dodge this Given its size and weight, something had to give. What is that something? DJI hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ďŹ tted the Mini with any obstacle avoidance sensors. This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really a big deal, but just be aware if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re planning to ďŹ&#x201A;y in any woods. It will stay connected at over 4km, and can ďŹ&#x201A;y for up to 30 minutes per full charge. We strongly recommend the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fly More Comboâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bundle, which includes four batteries and a multicharger (plus a nice case) for around `9,000 extra â&#x20AC;&#x201C; given that a single battery is `4,500, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a no-brainer. The new DJI Fly app is tailor-made for the Mavic Mini. Its interface is easy to get a handle on and it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cluttered with too many submenus, such as advanced camera settings including shutter speed and ISO.
VERDICT
THE ALTERNATIVES DJI MAVIC AIR
RYZE TELLO
The Miniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bigger brother adds in some VPDUW Ä&#x2021;LJKW IHDWXUHV WKH 0LQL LV PLVVLQJ plus 4K HDR video. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still compact and portable, but somewhat less so (and it will need UHJLVWHULQJ RIÄ&#x2020;FLDOO\ GML FRP
DJI makes the Ä&#x2021;LJKW WHFK LQ WKLV drone, so if you want an even cheaper drone, buy this. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s much less fancy, of course: video is 720p (with QR JLPEDO DQG Ä&#x2021;LJKW WLPH LV MXVW PLQXWHV DPD]RQ LQ
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The basic package includes a simple controller equipped with a phone cradle (for live streaming), on/off and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;return to homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; buttons, a smooth gimbal wheel to control elevation of the camera, and shoulder buttons to take photos and videos. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always hankered after a top-quality camera drone but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fancy the idea of spending a small fortune, this dinky DJI is the drone for you. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fantastically small and portable, remarkably stable and reliable in ďŹ&#x201A;ight, an absolute doddle to control, and it shoots ravishingly good cinematic footage. The fact that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to register it with the CAA is a cherry on the cake. DJI has not only thrown the rule book away with the Mavic Mini, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s created one of the best drones ever.
WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE IMPRESSED Incredible YDOXH XOWUD FRPSDFW VL]H Ä&#x2021;LHV impeccably; shoots superb video; takes excellent images. WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D IMPROVE No obstacle avoidance; no follow-me mode. THE LAST WORD This is the loveliest, most desirable little camera-equipped drone ever to snap from the air, while costing no more than a decent compact camera. A must-buy for your next big adventureâ&#x20AC;Ś
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Tested
MINI MIGHTY
Sony RX100 MARK VII Sony’s seventh-generation compact camera series gets a performance boost `96,990, sony.co.in WORDS ROHINTON MEHTA he lightweight, shirt-pocketable 20.1MP advanced compact camera – RX100 Mark VII – was launched in India in October 2019. With a powerful Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200 mm equivalent zoom lens, backed by a newly designed 1-inch Type stacked CMOS imaging sensor and the latest BIONZ X imaging processor, the RX100 Mark VII is a formidable carry-around compact for day-to-day use. Let’s see how it performs on our test bench. Beautifully finished, the Sony RX100 VII is a delight to hold. Weighing under 300g with the battery and memory card, it is a great compact camera to lug around the whole day.
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The camera, with its tough metal exterior and the base made with engineering plastic, appears adequately strong. The RX100 VII is fun to use. Due to its light weight and compact size, it can stay comfortably in the pocket at all times, giving you the opportunity to capture that fleeting moment which you might have missed because you did not want to lug around your heavy D-SLR. The camera offers a high-quality 24-200mm equivalent f/2.8-4.5 Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* zoom lens with 15 elements in 12 groups that include eight aspherical elements (four are Advanced Aspherical lens elements) and two Extra LowW W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Sony RX100 MARK VII
Dispersion (ED) glass elements that help to maintain superb image quality throughout the frame. The lens can autofocus between 8 cm - infinity (W) and 100 cm - infinity (T). A knurled ring on the lens allows you to set the required aperture. A newly developed BIONZ X image processor works in conjunction with a 1-inch Type stacked CMOS sensor to offer speedy operations. The RX100 VII can shoot up to 20 frames per second with AF and AE tracking (black-out free shooting) even when the subject is moving erratically. The camera even offers a new Single Burst Shooting function in which the camera can take seven shots in quick succession with selectable speeds of 90/60/30 fps. The electronic viewfinder (2.35 million-dot XGA OLED True-Finder) is hidden; to use it, you have to press down the tiny switch marked FINDER on the left side of the camera. You won’t see the built-in flash either. It too is hidden and to use it, you need to slide the small flash switch to the right which will pop up the flash. Once the camera is put ‘on’, the lens can be set to W (wide) or T (telephoto) as required. The 3” display monitor has a resolution of 921,000 dots. It can be tilted upwards by 180° and downwards by around 90° to suit the shooting situation. It can be angled to face the subject in case of a selfie. The monitor cannot be swung sideways. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of its performance, let me tell you that in good light, using the Raw capture and ISO 100, it is possible to make excellent quality 16 x 24” prints at 300 ppi from the RX100 VII; you would be hardpressed to find faults. AF was very fast and accurate, with stills as well as video, even in less than perfect light. The RX100 VII provided sharp images with enough contrast and detail and pleasing colours throughout the zoom range. While some flare was visible in shots that included the sun, chromatic aberration was very well controlled. We had to search hard to notice a sliver of purple fringing. Darkening of corners (lens wide open at 24 mm equivalent) was very well controlled. For video, the RX100 Mark VII supports internal 4K video recording (3,840x2,160) with full pixel readout but without pixel binning. Using the Active mode in SteadyShot image stabilisation, you can record 4K movies even while walking. Movie editing is possible using the Image Edge Movie-Edit add-on app. The camera also supports S-Log 3 and S-Log 2 Picture Profiles. Time-lapse images can be viewed on the camera or assembled into a movie on your computer. In terms of HDR, the camera supports Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) that can be viewed on a compatible TV or a monitor.
For my kind of work, I am generally apprehensive about the performance of cameras with 1” Type sensors. However, I must mention here that the Sony RX100 VII satisfied my hunger for image quality, of course keeping in mind the limitations of smaller sensor size. Overall, the RX100 VII performed admirably well and with the 24-200 mm equivalent lens, the camera is capable of satisfying even the most demanding users.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Build quality, performance WE’D IMPROVE Price, battery life THE LAST WORD Don’t let the small size of the RX100 Mark VII fool you. The lightweight camera is easy to use and easy to carry along the whole day. Its Zeiss VarioSonnar T* 24-200mm equivalent zoom lens offers very good sharpness throughout the frame and takes care of most day-to-day photographic situations.
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Tested
ALEXA ON WHEELS
Amazon Echo Auto Make Alexa your carpool buddy ` 4,999, amazon.in WORDS KUNAL GANGAR f we were to take an estimate of the penetration of smart assistants in the Indian smart homes today, Alexa would top the list. Amazon’s recently launched Echo Auto breaks that norm and allows users to add Alexa functionality in the car. But is it worth it? We find out. So what exactly is Echo Auto? Put it simply, it’s a novel way to make your car’s infotainment smarter and interactive. The unobtrusive card-like device sits in the car and while you drive, you can ask Alexa to do things while you keep your eyes on the road. The simple and straightforward design makes the Echo Auto easy to setup and use. The small device is equipped with eight microphones on the top along with two physical buttons - one for muting the mic and another acts as an action button. The light bar is a status indicator whereas there’s a microUSB port for power for the aux port for a wired connection. Just power the device through the bundled car adapter, follow the instructions on the Amazon Alexa app on the phone and connect with the car’s speakers via Bluetooth or via the bundled aux-cable. The device also creates a constant connection to the smartphone since Echo Auto relies on the phone’s data connection to work. Amazon also bundles an air vent mount that makes it easy to dock on the AC vent. Once connected, using Echo Auto is a cinch. It works like any other Echo device where you can ask the device for weather, jokes, news but Echo Auto supports some
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extra features like navigation, calling and texting. Asking for directions opens up the default maps app and works well for pre-fed locations like Home or Work, however, asking for directions for a new place is a bit tricky as it depends on how accurate you pronounce the name. You can also ask the device for a nearby restaurant, petrol pump or any other point of interest and it blurts out as a numbered list, which is unintuitive. Calling requires you to upload your contacts list to Amazon’s server and works flawlessly whereas texting is limited to Android devices for now. Echo Auto’s eight microphones along with far-field technology picks up the voice well, irrespective of the device being used with windows completely closed or rolled down with the traffic noise. All said and done, the question is do you really need a smart assistant in a car? Many cars these days support Google’s Android Auto and Apple CarPlay that allows to do more. But if your car’s infotainment system is an old one, Echo Auto is a cheap and quick way to make it smart and hands-free.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Simple to use WE’D IMPROVE Navigation THE LAST WORD Echo Auto is simple to use and a quick way to make your car’s infotainment system smart.
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Tested
MOTHER OF ALL
Asus ROG Mothership GZ700 A powerful gaming laptop that thinks it’s a desktop approx. ` 4,71,000 ($6,660), asus.com/in WORDS KUNAL GANGAR
e have come across a variety of gaming laptops in the past few years here at T3 India but none of them comes close to the Asus ROG Mothership. Aptly named, this gaming laptop is not your average gaming laptop that you see. It’s huge and powerful. And this month we played enough on this mean machine to see if it fulfills our gaming needs. The ROG Mothership technically, qualifies as a laptop but one glance and you know, this is not something that you would want to lug around. It weighs a hefty 4.5kg and has a large form factor that makes it carrying around a little difficult. That said, it also becomes clear why you need this kind of heft and form factor. The Mothership packs in everything that you’d need from a full-fledged gaming PC. In fact, it resembles more like an AIO (all-in-one) PC due to all the hardware placed behind the screen instead of beneath the keyboard, which is generally the case for laptops. This change also affects how you place and use the device. The Mothership’s display rests on a kickstand and has a detachable keyboard that enables the user to use it while connected to the Mothership, wirelessly or via a USB connection. This design implementation is interesting because Asus claims it helps to improve airflow and cooling, which is why the Mothership sports two vents at the top of the display. But enough of the design, how does it perform? In one word - stellar. The ROG Mothership is powered by Intel’s Core i9 processor and boasts a whopping 64GB DDR4 RAM along with three M.2 NVMe SSDs totalling 1.5TB of storage and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2080. The result is a top notch gaming performance and high frame rate even at ultra settings when we played games like Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 or the recent Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. On the display side, Asus offers the Mothership in two variants - 4K and Full HD. However, our unit featured a 17.3-inch Full HD IPS-level panel that has a refreh rate of 144Hz, 3ms response time and Nvidia G-SYNC support. Complementing the visuals is aural support from ESS Sabre HiFi DAC, 7.1-channel virtual surround sound support and quad 4W speakers. Connectivity-wise, the Mothership is no slouch either. It supports the latest Wi-Fi
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6 protocol, 2.5G Ethernet, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C with Thunderbolt 3, and HDMI 2.0 ports. The Mothership is an interesting addition to Asus’ wide range of ROG portfolio. It’s unique in design and while you don’t get a battery life (40-odd minutes while gaming and up to 3 hours while using office apps), you get your worth of a powerful gaming machine in a compact footprint.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Performance WE’D IMPROVE Design THE LAST WORD Asus ROG Mothership is not available in India but if you can import, this is the gaming PC to get if you’re looking for an ultimate gaming experience.
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Tested
PROMISE OF A PRO
Eartrons PRO Eartron brings noise-cancellation at an affordable price `3,999, eartrons.com WORDS ANSHUMAN GHOSH
artrons has launched its proclaimed professional-grad de Eartrons PRO, wireless active noise cancellation headphones. The brand promises the latest technology y for a memorable musical experience and ear comfort to add. With the highlighted feature being that of active noise cancellation, the product aims at being a fatigue-free perfect companion for long hours of hassle-free usage and communication. The headphones support the Bluetooth 4.2 version and have a wireless working range of 10 meters. Available with an aux line-in, the headphones also give the option of listening to music from an external audio device. The headphones come with a microUSB charging port that has a tiny LED indicator to denote power/pairing/charging status of the device. The separate touch panel provides for easy accessibility with volume control, play/pause, next/previous track. Eartrons is marketed in India by HiTech Electronics Engineering. The build quality is nice, if not absolutely professional-grade with respectable features in all aspects. Comfortable to wear with soft well-padded ear cups, this pair quickly gets friendly as a compatible gadget for the modern-day active lifestyle. The PRO ANCs during our testing does its job of active noise cancelling quickly, bu ut it annoyingly accentuates the highs, adding sibilance to the delivery! Unexpected! And youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll wonder whether to really use the ANC feature att the cost of losing balanced sound that the headphones really offer. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re comfortable, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had no issues wearing this soft pair over long hours, have decent battery life for a Bluetooth headphone set, and quite versatile with all forms of music, even mobile games! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve played several genres of music using different devices and answered oďŹ&#x192;ce calls. Must emphasise, that I have actually enjoyed the set without the ANC activated! ANC does help to block out annoying ambient noise on train travels and morning walks, however, do not expect the set to make the world melt around you. The lows are masked and the vocals tend to get less bodied immediately. Though the touch controls and active noise cancelling buttons are well placed and do not need time to get accustomed, there is no app interface in the Eartrons and you cannot tailor the sound on any front, if you may so, please. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need to be okay with the default proďŹ le. At the stated MRP of just under Rs.10k, this is a balanced performer without the ANC. Good and able battery life performance even with ANC activated needs no frequent charging at all! In fact, a charging time of about 4-5 hours renders about 10 hours of headphone listening time. One is not hard-pressed to ďŹ nd better options, as the ANC category has just opened up to more and more price-competitive brands today offering in both earphones and headphones. Yep, the Eartrons PRO is one such offering in the headphones category!
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76 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
VERDICT WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE IMPRESSED Balanced versatile music handling, sturdy build quality, good battery life WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D IMPROVE $1& QR WDLORUHG VRXQG SURÄ&#x2020;OHV THE LAST WORD PRO at overall comfort and ergonomics, ANC usage may turn out to be a tad annoying, it moreover should stick to its important job of cutting out ambience only! Well-chosen battery, makes it a quick available ANC option below `10k!
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Tested
HONORABLE
Honor 9X Honor is back in town with its latest affordable device `13,999, hihonor.in
hile smartphone companies were on a launching spree in the sub-20k segment in n the last few months, Honor was silent. However, the Huawei sub-brand has kickstarted the new year with a new phone and two wearables. This month we take a look at the Honor 9X. Honor 9X adheres to the latest trend in phone design shiny back. However, the area where the Honor 9X diffe ers is that it shows off a cool-looking ‘X’ pattern when the light reflects on the rear surface. It’s a nice, distinct touc ch but considering the shiny surface, the back is prone to fingerprint smudges. As far as physical keys and port placements go, the volume and power buttons are on the side; USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack, loudspeaker at the bottom, SIM slot at the top; and fingerprint sensor along with the triple camera at the back. The phone features a pop-up front-facing camera that allows Hono or to integrate a FullView display on the front, which interestingly, you don’t find that many in this price rang ge. The 6.59-inch display has Full HD+ resolution support (2340x1080) and with no notch to hinder the viewing experience, it’s a treat to enjoy movies or play games on the big screen. The phone also allows users to adjust the colour temperature. Honor 9X is powered by Huawei’s Kirin 710F processor day along with 4GB or 6GB RAM that delivers decent everyd but performance. The phone feels snappy and apps are fast b is underwhelming when it comes to its gaming prowesss. Sure, it does support GPU Turbo 3.0 but the games supporting the standard is limited. The phone runs EMUI 9.1 based on Android 9. In terms of storage, there’s 128GB built-in and can be expanded further via a microSD card (up to 512GB). On the camera front, the triple camera setup at the back consists of a 48MP main camera that shoots images at 12MP by default and clicks some decent pictures in good lighting conditions. The images shot at full-resolution, however, are below par. The 8MP sensor handles wideangle shots whereas the last 2MP sensor takes care of the depth for portraits. For selfies, Honor 9X features 16MP pop-up camera that takes good selfies. The phone’s 4000mAh battery easily lasts for more than a day but Honor bundles a 10W charger that is slow by today’s fast-charging standards.
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VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Design WE’D IMPROVE Charging THE LAST WORD Honor 9X is aggressively priced and while there are good things about the phone, it also feels that Honor has fallen short in some areas.
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 77
Tested
AMAZING
Huami Amazfit GTR A normal-looking watch with all the smarts `10,999, en.amazfit.com
wo categories that made a big splash in the Indian market in the last few months were the truly wireless earphones and the wearables. This month we take a look at a product from the wearables category - Amazfit GTR. The thing that works for the Amazfit GTR is the design. Giving the best of both worlds - the Amazfit GTR resembles a classy mechanical watch but also comes with the smart features of a smartwatch. Adding to its design credentials is the leather-like strap that is soft and comfortable to wear. However, it’s not all about the looks with the Amazfit GTR. The watch is also rated with 5 ATM water resistance that allows you to wear while swimming as well. The Amazfit GTR features a 1.39-inch AMOLED display with resolution support of 454x454 pixels. The watch’s display density is 326 ppi that results in sharp-looking visuals and has a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to protect the screen from scratches. Amazfit GTR supports a bunch of watch faces that can be swapped with new ones from the app store and even supports always-on display. Expectedly, activating always-on feature will affect battery life. But speaking of battery, Amazfit GTR doesn’t have to worry like other smartwatches. Huami claims the watch is good enough to last up to 24 days with all the features turned on or up to 74 days in basic watch mode. During our use, in smartwatch mode, we managed to get close to the promised claim, which is seriously impressive. Huami has nailed smartwatch users biggest problem. The watch offers a variety of sports activities to track (12 to be precise) and is equipped with BioTracker PPG optical sensor to track the heart-rate. You can set the watch to monitor heart-rate continuously and even set the watch to alert when the heart rate goes out of range while exercising. There’s sleep tracking as well. On the smartwatch side of things, Amazfit GTR will show you app notifications on the screen, incoming calls, weather and other things like compass, countdown, timer and alarm. Amazfit GTR is a loaded smartwatch. Admittedly, the 47mm variant is big in size but that also allows Huami to fit in a larger-sized battery to get that mammoth battery life.
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78 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Battery life, features WE’D IMPROVE Size THE LAST WORD Amazfit GTR is a great looking smartwatch with lots of features and long battery life.
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Tested
QUAD FACTOR
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (7391) Dell refreshes the Inspiron 2-in1 lineup with the latest-gen processor, improved design From `73,190, dell.co.in ell’s current Inspiron 2-in-1 range consists of 5000 and 7000 series models. This month we got a chance to be up close with its new convertible notebook Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (7391). The Inspiron 7391 has a clean, efficient design. Made from aluminium, the notebook feels solid and reliable. One key improvement in the design department is the laptop’s storage for Dell’s Active Pen. This is a nifty solution allowing to carry the stylus pen wherever you go without worrying about losing the pen. Another interesting design element is the laptop lid, which when opened will raise the laptop slightly for better ergonomics and heat dissipation. The vents are placed at the bottom but the Dell laptop comes with what is called Adaptive Thermal technology. In simple words, the laptop adjust its performance profile based on how a customer is holding it. For instance, the laptop changes power profiles to generate less heat when you’re watching a movie versus working on a desk. In terms of I/O ports, it’s good to know Dell isn’t skimping on important ones but you won’t find in abundance as well. There’s just one regular-sized USB port, Type-C with Thunderbolt 3 and DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0, card reader and a 3.5mm jack for audio and mic. The Inspiron 7391 is powered by Intel’s 10th-Gen Core i5-10210U processor along with 8GB RAM and integrated Intel UHD graphics. The laptop is fast enough to do your everyday productivity tasks and while it runs games, just don’t expect it to run at high settings. There’s 512GB of M.2 PCIe NVMe storage. The backlit keyboard has well-spaced out keys and clubs the power key with the fingerprint sensor. Dell claims the power key is tested for 40,000 presses whereas the keys are good enough for 5 million clicks. The 13-inch Full HD touchscreen display quality is good and the laptop can be used in four modes - tent, stand, laptop and as a tablet. The laptop runs Windows 10 and supports features like Windows Hello, Dell Mobile Connect and Cortana. It also supports Dell technologies like CinemaColor, CinemaSound and CinemaStream that improves the video viewing experience. The 4-Cell, 45 WHr battery runs for about 5-6 hours on a busy day but the laptop supports ExpressCharge Boost that goes from 0% up to 35% in 20 mins and up to 80% in about an hour.
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VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Fast charge, performance WE’D IMPROVE N/A THE LAST WORD The Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 (7391) seems like a run-of-the-mill convertible device but it’s the sum of small things like a docking area for the stylus pen, adaptive thermal support and fast charge make it stand out from the competition.
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 79
Tested
GOING PRO
Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset Logitech’s latest gaming headset brings pro-quality audio at an affordable price `9,995, logitech.com
ogitech recently expanded its G-seriees with the introduction of two headsets. This mo onth we take a look at Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset but unlike the ‘X’ variant that comes with Blue VO!CE technology, the Logitech G Pro o headphone does not feature it. But is it worth spen nding? Let’s find out. Many headsets feature RGB and fancy colour schemes but Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset goes for a plaain look. Clad in black, the headset doesn’t win any awards for its design but we like headphones’ serious nature an nd build quality. Its reliability is enhanced with the use of aluminium fork and a steel headband. The foam-ccovered headbands are comfortable to wear and so are the e ear pads that offer passive noise-cancellation due to its large size. There are two slots on the left ear cup for the deta achable mic and PC cable. The thing we particularly liked d is markings on the outside of the headband for a perrfect fit. The Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset is equippeed with 50mm neodymium drivers and we are happy to report, the headsets deliver what they promise. Playing gam mes like the Battlefield and Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, you realise r G o along Pro headset’s superiority. With crystal clear audio with sound stage and bass, the headset makes it eeasy to pick up environmental cues, footsteps, giving thee spatial awareness a gamer requires while playing a gamee. However, if you don’t like the default signature, with a Logitech also allows tweaking audio EQ profiles w are enables downloadable PC app. Dubbed G Hub, the softwa users to adjust settings and save it on the bundled sound card. This means you don’t have to fiddle with audio settings every now and then. The sound card also improves on the audio quality, which is a big plus. The detachable 6mm mic is decent too. The voice is clear and while it could have been better, we don’t have much to nitpick at this price range. It also has an integrated pop filter to block out air and unwanted noise. Retailing at `9,995, the Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset may not be a head-turner compared to other gaming headsets but the headset is comfortable and does what it is intended for.
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80 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Performance WE’D IMPROVE Design, mic THE LAST WORD The Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset is a perfect example of function over form with its good performance under `10k price tag
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Tested
MIC CHECK
HyperX QuadCast Standalone microphone for a budding streamer or a podcaster `14,900, hyperxgaming.com WORDS KUNAL GANGAR ame streaming and podcasting has gained some steam in the last few years. Newcomers are trying their hand at it and while it is not feasible for them to invest in a dedicated setup right away, HyperX’s maiden standalone microphone looks to be a good first step for the budding game streamers and podcasters. HyperX QuadCast is a well-designed product. Clad in a combination of HyperX’s signature colours of black and red, the circular mic with a mesh grille looks good and professional. The top of the QuadCast features a touch-sensitive mute button whereas the bottom features a knob for the mic gain. There’s even a handy knob to adjust between four polar patterns and a 3.5mm headphone jack along with miniUSB port on the other side. While going with the miniUSB instead of microUSB or Type-C is a little disappointing, the cable is sturdy and long. It comes attached to a desktop stand and an anti-vibration shock mount but if you prefer to attach to mic stands and boom arms, HyperX also bundles mount adapter that fits both 3/8” and 5/8” thread sizes. The plug-and-play nature of the QuadCast is what we like. Just connect it to a compatible device like a PC, PS4 or a Mac and you’re set to use the mic right away. No drivers or software to install. The illuminated mic signifies mic’s mute status, which is a nice and clear to avoid embarrassment saying it live in front of viewers. However, we would have liked it more if HyperX allowed light customisation. In terms of performance, the QuadCast delivers what it promises to do. It does a good job at recording and doesn’t require any pop filter because the device comes integrated with it. Moreover, the four polar patterns support stereo, omnidirectional, cardioid and bidirectional, enabling the user to use QuadCast for single-person commentary, and multi-people conversations. The mic has even gained certification from Discord and TeamSpeak. QuadCast is priced at `14,900, it is easy-to-use which is perfect for someone who is fiddling with the concept of streaming or podcasting.
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VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Design, performance WE’D IMPROVE USB interface THE LAST WORD QuadCast is HyperX’s first microphone but it’s a very good attempt to cater to the growing streaming and podcasting market.
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 81
Game
Upcoming games in 2020 2020 promises to be a terrific year for the gaming industry. Sony’s next gen gaming console, PS5, has been confirmed and so is Microsoft’s Xbox Series X. Both consoles will bring 8K gaming in some capacity and while we wait in anticipation to see what’s in store for the next generation hardware, here are some games that you can look forward to this year that will be released on existing gaming platforms.
Marvel’s Avengers
4 September 2020; PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Google Stadia If you always wanted to play as your favourite Avengers in a video game, Crystal Dynamics has the perfect game for you. The studio behind all the impressive Tomb Raider games is working on Marvel’s Avengers and if the gameplay trailers are anything to go by, we are in for a real treat. The game can be played offline as a single-player experience or online with up to four people during certain aspects of the game.
Cyberpunk 2077
17 September 2020; PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Google Stadia By the looks of it, Cyberpunk 2077 has all the ingredients to become an instant bestseller. A massive open-world developed by the creators of The Witcher 3 with fast cars, cutting-edge 82 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
tech and Keanu Reeves in it. The game is set in Night City, a megapolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification. Originally slated for an April 2020 release, the developers are taking some more time for polishing. The game is now set to release in the second half of this year.
The Last of Us 2
29 May 2020; PlayStation 4 The sequel to The Last of Us was announced at PlayStation Experience in 2016 and it instantly created a hype globally. The original game sold approximately 20 million copies on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. The game is set five years after the events of The Last of Us and players will play as a 19-year old Ellie. Like most games on this list, the developers Naughty Dog pushed the game’s release by 3 months for further polishing. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Upcoming games in 2020 Doom Eternal 20 March 2020; PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia and Nintendo Switch Doom is one of the most popular video game franchises and its latest offering Doom Eternal is coming out this year. It looks faster, smoother and gorier than its 2016 predecessor. You play as Doom Slayer to protect Earth from monstrous hordes. The game also includes an Invasion Mode that will allow players to enter someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game as playable demons.
Ghost of Tsushima Q2/Q3 2020; PlayStation 4 The gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trailers are a visual delight. There is a massive open-world from the late 13th century to explore. You play as samurai warrior Jin Sakai. He is the only hope of a war-torn region of Tsushima. The game is developed by Sucker Punch Productions, known for the Infamous series. There is no release date yet but keep an eye on this one to fulďŹ l your fantasy of becoming a Samurai.
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Nioh 2 13 March 2020; PlayStation 4
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The original Nioh shipped over 2.5 million copies worldwide. Its sequel is set for a March 2020 release. Like its predecessor, players can create their own playable character. You can master the lethal arts of the samurai as a mysterious half-human, half-supernatural Yokai warrior. The game takes inspiration from Dark Souls, so expect plenty of hair-pulling and frustrating deaths in the game.
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Watch Dogs Legion Q4 2020; PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Google Stadia The third instalment in the Watch Dogs series will take players to nearfuture London. The iconic city is facing its downfall courtesy of state surveillance and organized crime. To build a resistance force, players can recruit and play as any NPC in the game world. You can also visit popular landmarks like Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Camden, Piccadilly Circus, or the London Eye. The game gives you the option of playing solo or co-op. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
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FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 83
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ISSUE 55/ FEBRUARY 2020
Retro
T3 India as a magazine/ezine rightly focuses on products that are new and under development. This, of course, does not suggest or imply that everything old is bad and outdated. The pace at which technology moves, demands that we cover all product developments for our readers. In few cases, this means going back to the
past. Look at the worldwide revival of turntables. Only 20 years ago, the turntable was consigned to the dustbin. Today, pressing plants are hard pressed to meet the demand. The area where retro is most in demand is music â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both Western and Indian, and T3 India seeks to address this gap. We hope you enjoy this section.
Inside 86
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Classic Artistes - Indian
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 85
THE MUSIC OF BARSAAT
THE MUSIC OF
BARSAAT Words: H. S. Billimoria
Raj Kapoor started R K Films with the launch of the Nargis – Raj Kapoor starrer AAG. The film had music by Ram Ganguly. Sadly, it did not fare well at the box office. For his next film, BARSAAT Raj Kapoor was on the lookout for a new music director when he met Shankar Raghuvanshi, a talented multi faceted musician working for Prithviraj Kapoor’s music camp. Raj Kapoor immediately spotted Shankar’s talent and wanted to sign him up for BARSAAT. Shankar insisted that his friend and colleague, Jaikishan Panchal should also join him as a partner and the music pair of ‘Shankar Jaikishan’ was born. In their very first film, SJ created history and broke all records. Directed by Raj Kapoor and written by Ramanand Sagar, BARSAAT starred Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Premnath and Nimmi. On release in 1949, it became a big box office hit. The Raj Kapoor – Nargis pair became very popular and Shankar Jaikishan’s music became a super duper success. Shankar Jaikishan took a big risk by taking a new rookie singer called Lata Mangeshkar to sing nine of the ten songs. Mukesh and Mohammed Rafi gave playback to the remaining songs. Newcomers Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri provided the lyrics. A full seventy years later, the music of BARSAAT has been rated the Best Album to come out of Bollywood ever ( Source: Planet Bollywood). T3 India had also rated it as the best ever Bollywood album. Praise indeed!
86 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
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THE MUSIC OF BARSAAT
Such was the power of the music of BARSAAT that several independent agencies have rated it as the best musical album to emanate from Bollywood. Planet Bollywood rated BARSAAT as the best musical album to emanate from Bollywood ever. T3 India rated BARSAAT number one in its rating of Bollywood music. The Guardian again rated the music of BARSAAT as the number one Bollywood soundtrack. Praise indeed!
In the background music of BARSAAT and for Raj Kapoor’s scenes with a violin, SJ have used Iosif Ivanovici’s ‘Waves of the Danube Waltz’ extensively. Raj Kapoor was a diehard romantic and wanted a signature tune for RK Films. He zeroed in on the ‘Waves of the Danube Waltz’ also known as ‘The ANNIVERSARY Song’. The Anniversary Song thereby became the ‘signature’ tune for RK Films and was used right upto ‘Mera Naam Joker’. We presume that at that time there were no copyright issues!
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FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 87
THE MUSIC OF BARSAAT â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Main zindagi mein har dam rota hi raha hoonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is the next song rendered E\ 0RKDPHG 5DÄ&#x2020; DQG VXUSULVH VXUSULVH SLFWXULVHG RQ D JULHYLQJ 5DM Kapoor. Obviously, Mukesh became Raj Kapoorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice much later. Next comes a Lata solo, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; Ab mera kaun saharaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; picturised on a sad and forlorn Nargis pining for the return of her â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Babujiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Mukesh joins Lata for the next number, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; Chhod gaye balamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; . Picturised separately on Nargis and Raj Kapoor, the number is full of pathos and tugs at the heart. The last song, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bichhde huye pardesiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is one more Lata solo picturised on Nargis. Even today, all the songs have the freshness, innocence and romance rarely found in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scores. :KHQ UHYLHZLQJ D Ä&#x2020;OP OLNH %$56$$7 RQH VKRXOG UHPHPEHU WKDW LW ZDV PDGH RYHU \HDUV DJR 7KRVH ZHUH WKH GD\V RI %ODFN :KLWH Ä&#x2020;OPV $OVR PRVW RI WKH Ä&#x2020;OP ZDV VKRW LQ VWXGLRV DQG LQ WRGD\èV FRQWH[W DSSHDUV a little amateurish. However, Nargisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; performance and the lyrical story make it worth a viewing. BARSAAT was a huge triumph for Shankar Jaikishan and Lata Mangeshkar. Never had any music director impressed so much with their Ä&#x2020;UVW HIIRUW 0HORG\ UK\WKP DQG EULOOLDQW XVH RI LQGLYLGXDO LQVWUXPHQWV were the hallmark of SJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s score. SJ also took a big risk by asking rookie Lata to render so many songs but the gambit paid off and handsomely. Lata owes a lot to SJ for her maiden triumph.
7KH Ä&#x2020;OP VWDUWV ZLWK WKH /DWD 0DQJHVKNDU VROR â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; Hawa mein udta jayeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; picturised in Kashmir on newcomer Nimmi. The song, a romantic number with a lot of melody, expresses the sentiments of a young village girl.
The music of BARSAAT is so good that it is relevant even today. At a WLPH ZKHQ PHORG\ LV YLUWXDOO\ DEVHQW IURP Ä&#x2020;OP PXVLF %$56$$7 LV D case study of how music should be composed. Sadly, Saregama have not EHHQ DEOH WR FOHDQ WKH PXVLF GLJLWDOO\ WR KLÄ&#x2020; OHYHOV $OVR WRGD\èV 5-V DUH blissfully ignorant of this gem showcasing Indian music at its best. What a pity!
The second song, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; Jiya beqarar haiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is again picturised on Nimmi. A Lata Mangeshkar solo, the song expresses the feelings of a young girl waiting IRU KHU Ä&#x2020;UVW ORYHU ç-L\D EHTDUDU KDLè LV YHU\ SRSXODU even today. The title song, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; Barsaat mein â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; follows. Sung by Lata with a chorus, the song has an infectious beat. Nimmi, Premnath and Raj Kapoor feature in this song. 7KH Ä&#x2020;UVW VRQJ IHDWXULQJ WKH 5DM .DSRRU 1DUJLV SDLU is Lataâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s solo, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mujhe kisise pyar ho gayaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. A plaintive voice is supported by some excellent work on the violin. Picturisation on the Dal Lake in Kashmir (and in the studio) is attractive. The next song, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; Meri ankhon mein bas gaya koi reâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is again a Lata solo picturised on Nargis and Raj Kapoor. A highly melodious number. Premnath and Cuckoo feature in the club number, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; Patli Kamar Haiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rendered by Mukesh with Lata. This number captures the ability of the SJ duo to compose according to the situation. Cuckoo incidentally was a distant relative of dancer Helen ZKR ZDV \HW WR HQWHU WKH Ä&#x2020;OP VFHQH
88 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
BEST OF THE BEST The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best tech, all in one place
INSIDE
,I \RXèUH ORRNLQJ IRU WKH YHU\ EHVW WHFK DYDLODEOH WRGD\ \RXèYH GHÄ&#x2020;QLWHO\ FRPH WR WKH right place. %HVW RI WKH %HVW LV WKH PRVW XVHIXO JDGJHW EX\LQJ JXLGH \RX ZLOO HYHU HQFRXQWHU To create it, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve extensively tested the best tech the world has to offer, to bring \RX URFN VROLG UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV IRU \RXU KRPH OLIH GDLO\ FRPPXWH DQG WKH WHFK \RX XVH DOO WKH WLPH In 21 different categories, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve chosen the top three products, so you can choose RQH WKDWèV MXVW WKH ULJKW PL[ RI IHDWXUHV DQG EXGJHW IRU ZKDW \RX QHHG 7KHVH UDQNLQJV FRPH IURP UHDO WHVWLQJ E\ RXU WHDP RI H[SHUWV Ã¥ WKH\èUH WKH SURGXFWV ZHèG FKRRVH IRU RXUVHOYHV DQG ZH FDQèW UHFRPPHQG DQ\ KLJKHU WKDQ WKDW
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Smartphones Mid-range Smartphones Value Smartphones Smartwatches Premium TVs Value TVs Streamers Game Consoles Truly Wireless Headphones Laptops Gaming Laptops Tablets DSLR Cameras Mirrorless Cameras Compact Cameras Action Cameras Drones Fitness Tracker Running Watch Smart Speakers Smart Bulbs
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FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 89
Best of the best
SMARTPHONES
MID RANGE SMARTPHONES
VALUE SMARTPHONES
APPLE IPHONE 11 PRO
ONEPLUS 6T
POCO F1
From `99,900, apple.com/in
From `37,999, oneplus.in
From Rs. 19,999, poco.net/in If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for an all-round performer, Poco F1 has practical design and brings in topnotch hardware with Snapdragon 845 chip, up to 8GB of RAM and 4000mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0.
The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; variant of the OnePlus 6 brings LQ VFUHHQ Ä&#x2020;QJHUSULQW sensor along with a fast Snapdragon 845 CPU, up to 10GB of RAM, high-resolution dual cameras, Optic AMOLED display and super fast Dash charging tech.
Packing the best screen and camera on any phone, plus the fastest processor and a beautiful highquality build, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a phone that earns its Pro name. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a totally polished package.
HUAWEI P30 PRO `69,500, huawei.com One of the best Android phones in the market right now, the P30 Pro comes with a new processor, quadcamera setup with zoom support a super fast charge support that tops up the battery in just around an hour.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S10+ From `69,900, samsung.com/in A premium build, LQFUHGLEOH ,QÄ&#x2020;QLW\ 2 screen with HDR10+, brilliant rear triple camera system and blazing performance in Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slick new One UI make this the Android king.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S10E From `47,900, samsung.com/in The modestly sized and pocket-friendly 5.8-inch screen on the S10e is a breath of fresh air. With Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impeccable levels of Ä&#x2020;W DQG Ä&#x2020;QLVK JUHDW software and top specs, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a deal.
HONOR VIEW20 From `37,999, hihonor.in Phoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s claim to fame is the 48MP sensor and an allview display that brings the new hole-punch camera implementation. The phone packs Huaweiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 7nm CPU, 8GB of RAM and a full day battery life.
XIAOMI REDMI NOTE 7 PRO From 13,999, mi.com/in Xiaomiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest Redmi Note packs a lot of features. It boasts a new glass design and is powered by the latest Snapdragon 675 chip along with up to 6GB RAM, and a whopping 48MP sensor and 4K video recording support.
ASUS ZENFONE MAX PRO M2 From Rs. 9,999, asus.com/in The Zenfone Max Pro series is due for an upgrade this year but this is still a decent buy. It comes with a large 6.26-inch display, premium 3D design, Snapdragon 600 CPU, dual cameras and a 5000mAh battery.
ONEPLUS 7 PRO
OPPO RENO 10X ZOOM
REALME 3 PRO
From `48,999, oneplus.in
From `39,990, oppo.com/in Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Edition hides an DQJXODU VKDUN Ä&#x2020;Q SRS up camera with an 11 degree inclination leading to maximum screen real estate. it is available in Ocean Green and Jet Black looking good on the rear glass panel.
From `13,999, realme.com/in/ Realme 3 Pro is a noticeable improvement over its predecessor with a better processor, camera and bigger 4045mAh battery paired with 20W VOOC 3.0 fast charging.
OnePlus 7 Pro brings in a 90Hz AMOLED curved display encompassing the entire front area thanks to the pop-up VHOÄ&#x2020;H FDPHUD 2Q WKH rear is a triple camera setup consisting of a 48MP primary sensor.
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SMARTWATCHES APPLE WATCH SERIES 5 From `36,900, apple.com/in This truly straddles the line between tech and fashion; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just the bestlooking smartwatch, but its health and Ä&#x2020;WQHVV IHDWXUHV always-on screen and good apps PDNH LW HVVHQWLDO
SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH From `23,990, samsung.com/in
PREMIUM TVS SONY A8F
From `19,990, samsung.com/in
XIAOMI MI LED TV 4X PRO
From `3,29,900, sony.co.in
Rs. 39,999, mi.com/in
Marrying a perfect OLED 4K screen with Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s picture processing prowess makes for a jawdropping HDR TV at 55 or 65 inches. Motion handling and upscaling of content are both brilliant.
The TV has gone pro with the all-new Android OS giving users the goodness of Android interface and PatchWall. The 4.9mm thin TV comes with a 55inch 4K HDR display and Dolby Audio.
LG OLED55C8PTA
SAMSUNG NU6100 UHD TV
From `2,24,990
From Rs. 41,990, samsung.com/in Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s answer to the intense competition. It comes in three different size options and brings UHD playback, Live Cast support, screen mirroring and support for video streaming apps.
LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OLED technology produces beautiful 4K HDR images, and makes HD videos look ace too. LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s webOS smart platform is one of the better systems around, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideal for gaming.
The best smartwatch for Android users brings a circular screen with great rotating bezel, and slick Tizen software thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to use. It looks good too, and the battery life of up to six days is ace. SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH ACTIVE
VALUE TVS
SAMSUNG Q8C
VU PIXELIGHT ULTRA HD LED SMART TV
From `2,05,600, samsung.com/in
From Rs. 30,999, vutvs.com
Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s QLED LCD tech is not only able to stand up to the quality of OLED, but even surpasses it in areas such as brightness. It means you get the full effect of HDR even in brighter rooms.
Sleek and powerful, this is the best smartwatch for Android users. The screen and design are on par with the Apple Watch, while a collection of new watch faces give it DbPRGHUQ HGJH
Vuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pixelight range brings 4K playback at an affordable price. It comes with its own version of Smart OS but supports access to widely watched video services like 1HWÄ&#x2021;L[ <RX7XEH DQG even Prime Video.
FOSSIL SPORT
TCL P8
SANYO XT-43S7300F
`14,396, fossil.com/in/en
`199,999, www.tcl.com/in/en The massive 85â&#x20AC;? monster looks stunning s in a sleek meta m frame and n narrow bezels surrounding s the vivid panel p that has HDR. It has h a wider brightness range and greater picture contrast.
`19,999, www.sanyoappliance.in/
Fossilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourth generation of smartwatches serves up whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably the best Wear OS smartwatch available to buy today. Capable and wearable, with good app support.
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The IPS LED panel outputs a crisp Full HD picture and comes equipped with 16W box speakers that are decently loud. Additionally, the TV comes with a 3.5mm output jack.
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Best of the best
STREAMERS
GAMES CONSOLES
CHROMECAST
MICROSOFT XBOX ONE X
`3,499, store.google.com/in
`44,990, microsoft.com
The Chromecast is a receiver for phones and laptops and depends on them for control and content – but it’s simple, versatile and compatible with iOS, Android, Windows and Mac.
AMAZON FIRE TV STICK 4K `5,999, amazon.in
With 4K, Dolby Atmos, Ultra HD Blu-ray and a fairly FRPSDFW SURĆOH this is the best Xbox ever. It’s even more powerful than the PS4 Pro and also a great home entertainment hub.
SONY PS4 PRO `38,710, sony.co.in
4K HDR for under `6,000 isn’t to be sniffed at. It’s best suited to Prime subscribers and Google apps are absent, but it’s a very capable and affordable streamer IRUb79 DQG PRYLHV
APPLE TV 4K
It’s still overkill if you don’t have a 4K TV, but with 2160p HDR gaming, the PS4 Pro delivers incredible visuals and is smoother and faster than its nonPro siblings.
`29,990, microsoft.com
iTunes has the biggest source of 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos movies, and lots of other services have DSSV KHUH WRR <RX can also easily stream to it from Macs and L26bGHYLFHV
RHA TRUECONNECT `14,999, headphonezone.in Even more comfy, though perhaps slightly less secure, than the Jabras, these also offer best-in-class audio. Aside from a slightly odd carry case, these are textbook true wireless buds.
APPLE AIRPODS `12,900, apple.com/in
MICROSOFT XBOX ONE S
`15,900, apple.com/in
TRUE WIRELESS HEADPHONES
The S is smaller, whiter and much cheaper than its big brother, and while you don’t get its sibling’s super-powered specs you still get Ultra HD %OX UD\ $ ĆQH KRPH entertainment hub.
Apple’s wireless ’phones may not sound as good as some of the newer rivals, but they still beat them all for battery life, ease of use and often comfort. They work best with iOS, of course.
SAMSUNG GALAXY BUDS `9,990, samsung.com/in Samsung’s latest truly wireless earbuds have been tuned by AKG to deliver improved audio, adaptive dual mic tech helps keep the background noise at bay and up to 6 hours of playback and wireless charging support.
AMAZON FIRE TV STICK
SONY PS4 SLIM
JABRA ELITE 65T
`3,999, www.amazon.in The cheaper Fire TV variant tops out at Full HD but should be perfect for TVs with the same resolution. It’s bundled with the new Alexa voice remote that accepts voice commands to navigate or browse through content.
`29,999, www.sony.co.in Boasting a great variety of exclusives, the PS4 silm is getting long in the tooth but still has enough power to play current gen titles without too many visual compromises even if it has been surpassed by the Pro.
`15,499, www.jabra.in Lasting upto 5 hours on a single charge, these IP55 rated earbuds get an additional 10 hours with the charging case. A companion app enables access to extra features to further customise the listening experience.
92 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
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Best of the best
LAPTOPS MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2 `1,37,999, microsoft.com Available in 13- or 15-inch sizes, with a 3:2 screen that gives you more height than other laptops, and plenty of power, this is a light and fast machine that’s DOVR UHDOO\ ćH[LEOH Perfect.
GAMING LAPTOPS
TABLETS
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS S
APPLE IPAD PRO 12.9
From `2,39,990, asus.com/in The ROG Zephyrus S offers serious gaming performance in an ultra-slim form factor. The 16.15mm notebook features a 15.6-inch display, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-8750H CPU, and a 144Hz display.
From `89,900, apple.com/in The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 is unbelievably owerful and slick, with w an excellent screen, thin and s compact design, c great battery life g and a support for the ew Apple Pencil. Pricey, but worth it.
DELL XPS 13
MSI GS65 STEALTH THIN 8RF
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S4
`84,390, dell.co.in
From `3,25,999, msi.com This gaming laptop manages to pack an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 GPU, Intel Core i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM into a very portable package. Its Full HD, wide-view 144Hz panel is top rate, too.
`57,900, samsung.com/in 7KH ĆQHVW $QGURLG tablet, this delivers DbV\VWHP ZLWK a sharp OLED screen, S Pen stylus, excellent audio credentials, powerful internals, and a neat laptopaping DeX mode.
The Dell XPS 13 is thinner and more powerful than ever. Up to 1TB of SSD storage, 16GB of RAM, and powerful Intel Core i7 processors help make it a high quality all-rounder.
HP SPECTRE X360 From Rs. 1,29,990, hpshopping.in The Spectre x360 packs in the looks and performance. It features a gem cut, all-aluminium design and brings in Intel’s Core i5 or i7 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, audio from Bang & Olufsen and more.
LENOVO THINKPAD X1 EXTREME `From 1,97,000, lenovo.com/in The 15.6” Thinkpad is slim yet packs in some powerful hardware for productivity. While v variants start from Intel Core i7, they g up to the top end go i7 chipsets paired with upto 1TB SSD storage and 64GB RAM.
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ASUS ROG STRIX SCAR II From `1,64,990, asus.com/in Built for FPS gamers, the 15.6inch ROG Strix Scar II has a refresh rate of 144Hz with 3ms response time. It has the latest GeForce RTX 2070 GPU, 8th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and more.
ALIENWARE AREA-51M `From 2,99,590, dell.co.in The Area-51m is not only one of the most powerful gaming laptops till date but also supports upgradeability with a removable processor and GPU. Although the Core i7/i9 and Geforce RTX GPU will not get outdated.
MICROSOFT SURFACE GO From `37,999, microsoft.com While Windows 10 in tablet mode remains a ‘mixed’ experience, its versatility is impressive and the ergonomics of Microsoft’s new tablet computer are second WRbQRQH
HP ENVY X360 `From 60,990, hp.com/in Sleek and lightweight, the Envy is highly versatile and can adapt to a number of situations given its transforming form factor. The battery life might not be amazing but the HP Active Pen is.
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 93
Best of the best
DSLR CAMERAS
MIRRORLESS CAMERAS
COMPACT CAMERAS
NIKON D850
NIKON Z 6
SONY RX100 VI
`2,34,950, nikon.co.in
`2,08,950, nikon.co.in
`96,990, sony.co.in
With a highresolution 45.4 megapixel sensor, 4K video capture, a 153-point AF system, and a sturdy body, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never be disappointed with what the D850 can create for you.
NIKON D500
With a full-frame 24.5 megapixel sensor, 12fps continuous shooting, phenomenal low-light performance and fantastic handling, this creates incredible images for a reasonable price.
SONY A7 III
`1,36,950, nikon.co.in
NIKON D5600
FUJIFILM X100F
From `1,58,490, sony.co.in The advanced 24.2 megapixel lightweight, full frame Sony A7 III mirrorless interchangeable lens camera boasts of a remarkable eyeautofocus feature that all users, especially wedding photographers, love.
This solidly built camera is the SHUIHFW FKRLFH IRU those who like to shoot a little bit of everything, thanks to a brilliant autofocus system and glorious image quality from its 20MP sensor.
SONY A7R IV
From `66,750, nikon.co.in Designed for beginners and midlevel photographers, Nikonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light-weight (465 g body with battery) APS-C sensor 24.78 megapixel D-SLR is a good choice to carry along the whole day.
The ultimate in pocket-sized image quality. A large oneinch sensor is joined by an ace 24-200mm lens, retractable YLHZÄ&#x2020;QGHU WLOWLQJ touchscreen and absolutely glorious picture quality. ` IXMLÄ&#x2020;OP LQ 7KH )XMLÄ&#x2020;OP ; ) is as beautiful as it is capable. If the retro ORRN Ä&#x2021;RDWV \RXU ERDW then the X100F is a thing to behold. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compact, but packs a large APS-C sensor and a lovely 35mm f/2.0 lens.
CANON G7X MARK II
From `2,99,990, sony.co.in Perfect for landscape photographers looking for the minutest detail in their large prints. In spite of its massive 61MP rating, it can shoot up to 10 frames per second with autofocus and auto exposure tracking in its Continuous Hi+ mode.
`40,395, canon.co.in Canonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compact cameras are a great alternative to your DSLR when travelling light. This is the sweet spot in the range, with a great balance between small size and a range of features.
CANON 5D MARK IV
FUJIFILM X-T3
PANASONIC TZ200
From `2,90,995, canon.co.in
` IXMLÄ&#x2020;OP LQ
`50,500 (approx.), panasonic.com
The 30.4 megapixel D-SLR from Canon is one of its most sought-after models. Using a full frame sensor and Dual-Pixel CMOS AF for video, the 5D IV is the bread-andbutter camera for most photographers today.
94 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty of things to like about the X-T3, including great autofocusing, fast frame rates, an impressive array of 4K video features and, this being )XMLÄ&#x2020;OP EHDXWLIXO retro looks.
This might be the ideal travel companion, with a versatile zoom lens up to 15x, and a fantastic one-inch sensor that captures bright, sharp images. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also stylish and pocket-friendly.
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Best of the best
ACTION CAMERAS GOPRO HERO7 BLACK `35,000, gopro.com
DRONES PARROT ANAFI approx. `57,000, parrot.com
The waterproof Hero7 Black makes capturing pro-looking shots easier, thanks to HyperSmooth electronic stabilisation. 4K image quality is excellent, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slick 60fps recording.
SONY RX0
`57,000, dji.com Packing a one-inch sensor, with a Zeiss lens bolstering the image quality further, in and out of the water. Other ace features include super-slow video and 15MP stills capture.
GOPRO HERO7 WHITE `19,000, gopro.com The wallet-friendly Hero7 White borrows premium features from the Hero7 Black. Ideal for part-time adrenaline junkies needing a simple HD camera WKDW VKRRWV <RX7XEH ready footage.
YI 4K ACTION CAMERA `9,999, www.yitechnology.com The affordable action camera is capable of 4K recording featuring a 12MP Sony IMX377 CMOS sensor with Exmor R. It can record 720p videos at 240fps but goes down to 24fps for 4K videos.
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FITBIT CHARGE 3 ` Ä&#x2020;WELW FRP
At just 320g, one of the lightest cameraequipped drones you can buy. Flight time is great, and the drone is near-silent in the air, which is appreciated. The camera and zoom are amazing.
DJI MAVIC AIR
`50,490, sony.co.in
FITNESS TRACKER
Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no GPS and the capacitive â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;buttonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a bit pants but this is otherwise a textbook tracker. Sleep, steps, swims, and serious cardio workouts are all handled with aplomb.
XIAOMI MI BAND 3 `1,999, mi.com/in
The Mavic Air is a super-portable 4K camera drone. Video quality from the camera mounted on a three-axis gimbal is excellent, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so simple to control that beginners grasp it fast.
DJI MAVIC 2 PRO
Still trying to get a IHHO RI ZKDW D Ä&#x2020;WQHVV band does? Mi Band 3 is the answer with its simple design that tracks daily steps, sleep and even QRWLÄ&#x2020;HV WKH XVHU RI an incoming call or a message.
GARMIN VIVOSPORT `16,990, garmin.co.in
`1,20,000, dji.com While this doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t offer the same size to power ratio as the Air, its 4K video and stills capture are sensational, thanks to an onboard Hasselblad camera and fantastic stabilisation.
DJI MAVIC 2 ZOOM
Garminâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rival to the Charge 2 boasts GPS for a similar price, but it also has a dodgy interface and some pointless extra features. The core functionality is good, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waterproof.
SAMSUNG GEAR FIT 2 PRO `13,990, samsung.com/in
`1,00,000, dji.com The alter ego of the Mavic 2 Pro, the cheaper Zoom comes with a different camera, with a 2x optical zoom lens. Along with the folding design and long battery life, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s UHDOO\ Ä&#x2021;H[LEOH
$ UDUH Ä&#x2020;WQHVV WUDFNHU with an AMOLED display that is big and bright enough to see all statistics at a glance. It can track Ä&#x2020;WQHVV DFWLYLWLHV OLNH swimming etc and accurately track your route via GPS.
FEBRUARY 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 95
Best of the best
RUNNING WATCH
SMART SPEAKERS
SMART BULBS
GARMIN FORERUNNER 645 MUSIC
AMAZON ECHO PLUS
PHILIPS HUE
`39,990, garmin.co.in
`14,999, amazon.in
From `2,900, meethue.com
This does everything: GPS for running and cycling, heart rate tracking, VO2 Max, intensity monitoring and even acting as an MP3 player. Expect four days of use between charges.
Thanks to its integrated Zigbeecompliant smart home hub, the Plus is a great smart home starter. Never pay the RRP, though: Amazon discounts Echos every time LW KDV D VDOH
Hue dominates the smart lighting sector for good reason: it’s a superb system with the widest range of bulbs and a simple, useful app. Rivals may be cheaper but they can’t compete with Hue’s variety.
GARMIN FORERUNNER 935
BOSE HOME SPEAKER 500
TP-LINK LB130
`44,990, garmin.co.in
`39,000, bose.co.in
`1,999, tp-link.in
Add Garmin’s extra sensors to this and you get incredible detail for how you run, swim, bike and more, as well as your VO2 Max, lactate threshold… it’s for the very, very serious.
This Bose speakers offer the widest soundstage available in a smart speaker with a wall-to-wall stereo sound. It supports Amazon Alexa, which means you can ask questions to Alexa or control the device via voice.
GARMIN FORERUNNER 235
GOOGLE HOME
`24,990, garmin.co.in
`9,999, store.google.com
7KH RIĆFLDO SULFH LV similar but thanks to discounting this is often much cheaper than the 645. There’s no heart-rate or music but you do get GPS, reliable tracking and ace running metrics.
Google Home is a nice addition if you use Google Assistant. It gives access to the Google ecosystem with personalised schedule, news, and even control smart home gadgets.
Known for its routers but TP-Link offers decent smart bulb solutions and LB130 is their latest solution that does not require a hub to operate, It can be controlled over Wi-Fi and supports multi-colour, circadian mode, voice control.
MI LED SMART BULB `1,299, mi.com/in The Mi LED Smart Bulb is the newest entrant in the smart bulb segment that works with both Alexa and Google Assistant without the need of a bridge and offers a colour space of up to 16 million colours.
FOSSIL SPORT
JBL PULSE 3
SYSKA SMART LIGHT
`17,995, www.fossil.com/in/en.html Fossil Sport runs on Snapdragon Wear 3100 giving an 2 days battery life and its 3 watch faces are fully integrated with Google Fit. in It comes in two case sizes of 41mm and 43mm with choices of six colourways.
`17,499, www.jbl.com The 360 degree lightshow produced by the JBL Pulse 3 adds a distinct party ćDYRXU ZKHQHYHU songs are played or a voice assistant like Siri or Google Assistant is summoned.
From `1,799, syska.com Syska’s main USP is that it uses a normal B22 cap and doesn’t require a hub to operate. After connecting, the bulb can be connected DQG PRGLĆHG IURP anywhere with the help of the app.
96 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRUARY 2020
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LUXURIES Exclusive gifts to seriously spoil yourself
BRONZE SPEC I A L EDITION If playing Monopoly has given you a taste for property-based megalomania, and you love exclusive editions of games, Skyline Chess’s Luxury Bronze London Special Edition could be your next investment. This extraordinary chess set comprises hand-cast solid bronze pieces shaped as some of the city’s most iconic buildings (the black pieces are coated with a patination oil), along with either a Corian stone or an Italian carrara marble playing board. Big Ben takes on the role of a regal rook, the London Eye plays the part of a knight, and the Shard lends itself as queen. As for the pawns? Terraced houses. There are other city editions available from Skyline Chess, including three other versions of the London set, plus New York, Dubai, San Francisco and Paris. You’ll to have to sign a hefty cheque to get this stunning Bronze London Special Edition collector’s set, but it’s GHĆQLWHO\ DQ KHLUORRP SLHFH approx. `2,80,500, skylinechess.com
98 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today FEBRURY 2020
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