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VOLUME 03 ISSUE 09 APRIL 2018
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GAMECHANGER
APRIL 2018 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 5 W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M
In the last couple of years, a bevy of modular devices has appeared on the tech scene. Admittedly, LG’s G5 phone – the most iconic of these, which had a hot-swappable section allowing you to add in tasty new modules, such as a DAC or EHHĆHUEDWWHU\åZDVQèWWKHELJJHVWVXFFHVVEXWWKHWKHRU\EHKLQGPRGXODULW\LQJDGJHWVLVVZHHWEX\WKHGHYLFHDQG upgrade it as and when you need to; as tech gets better, you can improve it without having to buy the next big thing. About
a year before the G5 came to fruition, Blocks introduced its modular smartwatch to Kickstarter, and over two years later LWèVĆQDOO\DYDLODEOHWREX\DQGZHWKLQNLWORRNVSUHWW\HSLF%X\WKH%/2&.6&RUHVWDQGDORQHZDWFKDQG\RXJHWQLFHWLHV OLNHDFULVS$02/('GLVSOD\ĆWQHVVWUDFNLQJDQG$OH[DYRLFHFRQWURODPRQJRWKHUV%XWDGGLQD%/2&.60RGXOHWRD spare slot on the strap to upgrade its capabilities with features like an environmental sensor or bone conduction speaker.
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B L O C K S C O R E
BUILD YOUR PERFECT
SMARTWATCH
With up to five slots for adding newT3 is…
Consulting Editor H. S. Billimoria Executive Editor Kunal Gangar Correspondent Ankush Mahajan Copy Editor Tania Tarafdar Contributors Lysander Fernandes
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Welcome
OUR AWARDS
The winners of our group tests earn this accolade, showing them
to be top tier This award, and others
like it, are given for exceptional performance
in a key feature We give this only to
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stunning aesthetics or a clever build
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earn a product our prestigious Platinum
Award
Here’s the ultimate gadget wishlist
for 2018
Just like that, a quarter of 2018 is over but we can’t really say the same for our never-ending gadget lust. Our cover story this month covers gadgets that are expected to come later this year.
There were a lot of gadget launches this month, including a new camera from Fujifilm, Mi TVs and even a new drone from DJI.
For our Man Vs Tech feature this month, my colleague got a chance to drive an actual Formula 1 car. Full story on pg 58.
As for the reviews, we take an in-depth look at Samsung’s latest Galaxy S flagship, Vu’s first Google-certified Android TV, a couple of 2-in-1 notebooks from Dell and Lenovo and lots more.
Contents
TOP LAUNCHES
Cutting-edge tech heading your way, featuring the new Hasselblad camera,
Asus laptop, new projectors from Optoma and Viewsonic and cameras
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030
STYLE
Boost your fashion credentials with some stylish products
032
TALKING TECH
Duncan Bell offers an alternative viewpoint on Appe’s new kid on theblock
036
GADGET GURU
T3’s tech sage dishes out the solutions to all of your life’s problems. Whether you actually want to go through with
them, though, is up to you...
2018’S GADGET WISHLIST
From VR exercise to next-gen laptops and even smarter voice assistants, this year is going to be a really big one for tech
HORIZON
041
058
MAN VS TECH
Can our man drive an actual F1 car – the fastest racing machine on the planet – and avoid putting it into the tyres? You’ll have to ĆQGRXWðTX 5 / Tit a n iu m
Available at all leading stores across I ndia
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the very best tells
you what to buy
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HASSELBLAD H6D-400C MS
`29,05,198 hasselblad.com
We’ve been searching for the right camera to document our vintage Star Wars toys in magnificent detail. Hasselblad has now provided the perfect tool, with its epic 400MP camera, available this spring. Okay, so a 400MP camera i overkill for us, but museum folk and nature photographers will love the H6D-400c MS for documenting antiquities, art and bugs. Hasselblad says the camera produces the highe resolution and most colour-accurate medium-format images on the market, utilising True Focu tech (precision-focus adjustment) and Multi-Sho capture, which merges six images into one supe high-res shot. The camera also offers 4K video capture. Hmm, maybe we should shoot a promo video for our radio-controlled Jawa Sandcrawle
T3 SAYS: Capture the world in unprecedented detail with this 400MP multi-shot monster.
JABRA ELITE 65T
`12,999, amazon.in
The upside to wearing wireless earbuds is that we can go hands-free and don’t have to deal with pesky wires. The downsides often include middling battery life and abnormally large buds. While we can’t speak for sizing, Jabra’s new Elite 65t wireless earbuds (also available in a sporty Active 65t model) have caught our eye by flaunting one-touch access to Amazon Alexa, Google Now and Siri, and a claimed five-hour battery life from a single charge with up to 15 hours via the included charging case. There’s even a customisable EQ feature for tailored sound. Jabra has wind noise covered too, with ample wind noise reduction tech to keep your music sweet, and a four-mic array for clearer voice calls.
T3 SAYS: With integrated Alexa, Siri and Google Now, Jabra’s new wireless earbuds could be a connected commuter’s dream.
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TECH-O-METER
DJI MAVIC AIR
`TBA, dji.comHow many times have you stacked a drone? These things look easy to fly but most take some getting used to, unless you’re a whizz. If you’re not, DJI has designed its new hobby drone with you in mind. The Mavic Air weighs less than a pound, folds down to fit in a (roomy) pocket and can fly itself without any help from you, thanks very much. The Mavic Air is infused with obstacle-avoidance tech and automated flight modes, including some that require only a controller tap from you before the drone whizzes off (up to a 2.4 mile flight range) to shoot 4K video, 12MP stills and 32MP spherical panoramas via the built-in camera. You can boss the drone around with hand gestures, too, making it take endless selfies of you prancing around in the park.
T3 SAYS: We love the folding design and automated flight modes, and that price is decent. Plenty of authors extol the virtues of handwriting
ideas and stories as a way to get the creative juices flowing. Typing up those notes and stories can be a real pain, which is why we always keep an eye out for new smart writing devices.
Royole hopes it has made such a device with the RoWrite Smart Writing Pad, designed to digitally reproduce, store and share handwritten or hand-drawn work. When sitting underneath a sheet of ordinary paper the RoWrite instantly reproduces and saves your work, ready for syncing with your other smart devices or the cloud, with no pesky
lag either.
We look forward to digitally preserving our doodlings when the RoWrite ships the product.
T3 SAYS: Royole’s smart writing pad could be ideal for students, writers and those who want to digitally preserve hand-drawn work.
ROWRITE SMART WRITING PAD
`TBA, royole.com
TECH-O-METER
A very classy and feature-packed single-box solution The new
SR8012 is about as feature-packed an AV receiver as you’re
likely to find, with every current format covered and a few
new features in the pipeline. As with all Marantz receivers,
the SR8012 is incredibly easy to setup thanks to their excellent
Setup Assistant, which takes you through the entire process step
by step. The SR8012 also handled two-channel music
extreme-ly well, with the new Water boys album ‘Out of All This Blue’
sounding superb.”
SR8012 THE FIRST MARANTZ
11.2 CHANNEL NETWORK AV AMPLIFIER
XIAOMI MI TV 4A
From `13,999, www.mi.com/in
Soon after making a debut in the television segment with Mi TV 4, Xiaomi is expanding their line up with TV 4A available in 32” and 43” sizes. Although both share the same base hardware, the key difference is with the 43” model sporting a full HD (1920x1080) panel while the smaller one is HD ready (1366x768). The display panel has a 60Hz refresh rate and a 178-degree viewing angle. The sound setup consists dual 10W speakers with support for DTS-HD audio. Like its elder sibling, the 4A series has an 11-button M Remote that can double up as controller for the set-t box via a separately sold Mi IR cable. It also runs on Xiaomi’s custom PatchWall UI which is based on dee learning AI. It will adapt to user’s viewing habits and accordingly suggest content. Multiple users need no fret as the company plans to add user profiles in the near future.
T3 Says: With three different TV sizes, Mi is catering to all budgets
TECH-O-METER
TECH-O-METER
XIAOMI REDMI 5
From `7,999, www.mi.com/in
Hot on the heels of the Redmi Note 5 comes the handier Redmi 5 adopting a bezel-less design that’s currently all the rage, leading to a larger 5.7” ‘full screen’ IPS display to be fit inside a smaller form factor. Internally, Xiaomi has gone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC based on a 14nm
manufacturing process as opposed to the 28nm processors used in the previous 2 models. Not only does it mean improved battery life but also better performance. Qualcomm claims up to 25% faster graphics rendering and 30% lower power
consumption in comparison to Snapdragon 435 that was used in Redmi 4 last year. The one thing that’s been reduced is the battery gone down from 4100mAh to 3300mAh. It is available in 3
RAM+storage variants: 2+16, 3+32 and 4+64. Further, they will come in a number of colours including black, gold, rose gold and blue.
T3 Says: Looks like the base model will be ignored. We recommend going for the 3+32GB model for the best experience
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W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M APRIL 2018 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 17
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TECH-O-METER
Fitbit Versa
`19,999, www.fitbit.com/in
Fitbit Versa is the lightest smartwatch from the company to date featuring a unisex design that looks good on any wrist. The female health tracking feature especially makes it more appealing to the ladies. They will be able to record their menstrual cycle data and see dynamic cycle predictions using company’s proprietary cycle algorithm that is said to get smarter over time with continuous logged user data. Other features include a 4-day battery life, personalised on-device health dashboard, quick reply for Android smartphones, real-time heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking and Fitbit coach with pre-prepared exercise modules. A variety of unique accessories to supplement the Versa will be sold at prices ranging from `2,499 and `8,999. It comes in three colour options: full black, gray with a silver aluminium case (pictured) and peach with a rose gold aluminium case. Users will have to shell out `2,000 extra for the special edition.
T3 Says: The lack of GPS should be considered before opting for the Versa but it is a unique proposition for women.
HP SPECTRE X360
From `1,15,290, www.hp.com/in
Like clockwork, HP has refreshed the Spectre x360 with the latest hardware including an 8th gen Intel core processor, upto 16GB RAM and more. The flagship model continues the tradition of being a super light and thin convertible laptop. As a result the design has become sleeker and angular further accentuated with the sculpted CNC machined aluminium body. On the inside, the 13.3” FHD display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass looks noticeably larger due to micro-edge bezels on both sides and the top. Security is taken very seriously as evidenced by the fingerprint reader on the side, Sure View integrated privacy screen and Wide Vision infrared camera for login and face recognition. The bundled Windows Ink Certified pen allows simultaneous pen and touch becoming pressure sensitive for precise inking when tilted. Just 15 seconds of charging provides approximately 198 minutes of usage.
T3 Says: The X360 ticks all the important 3 P’s: Power, Portability and Privacy
TECH-O-METER
ASUS STRIX GL702ZC
`1,34,990, www.asus.com/in/
ASUS ROG has beat everyone to the punch and brought forth the world’s first gaming laptop powered by the octa-core AMD Ryzen 1700
processor. The privilege goes to ROG Strix GL702ZC favouring AMD again for their GPU with the Radeon RX580. While it comes out of the box with 16GB DDR4 RAM, it can be expanded upto 32GB and for storage we get a 256GB SSD boot partition and 1TB HDD. The 17.3” FHD IPS screen supports FreeSync which minimises frame rate stutter and eliminates visual tearing. Four display modes namely Normal, Vivid, Eyecare and Manual have been implemented to suit the user’s current viewing requirement. Shifting to the keyboard, it has anti-ghosting technology
ensuring keys are correctly interpreted even with 30 simultaneous keys pressed. The ROG Gaming Center acts like a dashboard for launching ROG applications and accessing the settings menu. This includes ROG GameFirst IV, XSplit Gamecaster and ASUS Splendid.
T3 Says: AMD purists will find the laptop to be perfectly suited for FHD gaming
IBALL SLIDE BRACE-XJ
`9,999, www.iball.co.in
iBall’s flavour of the month is the Slide Brace-XJ which is a 10.1” IPS HD tablet with a pixel density of 150ppi. It is powered by a 1.3GHz octa-core MediaTek processor, Mali T720 GPU, 3GB RAM, 32GB inbuilt storage (expandable up to 64GB via microSD) and 7800mAh battery. Coming to the optics, we get a 5MP front camera and an 8MP autofocus sensor on the rear. The dual-chambered speakers deliver satisfactory audio. Resting in between them is a kickstand that is sturdy enough to hold it vertically when watching video content. An array of connectivity options include micro HDMI, USB OTG, Hotspot, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Cast Screen. Not to forget, a microSIM slot that enables 4G VoLTE and voice calling. A DC pin is present exclusively for charging which leaves the micro USB jack free for other purposes.
T3 Says: Running on Android Nougat 7.0 OS, Slide Brace-XJ supports 22 regional languages for reading and writing.
OPTOMA HD27E
`99,840, asia.optoma.com
Not content to settle down, Optoma HD27e is an upgraded version of the now outgoing HD27 projector. In comparison, it is said to deliver brighter images, longer lamp life of upto 12,000 hours and make less running noise at 25dB. The Full HD display has a native 16:9 aspect ratio, maximum image size of 301” and a throw ratio of 1.47:1-1.62:1. It weighs just 2.8kg and comes integrated with a single 10W speaker making it a good choice for those moving around frequently. Of course, there is a separate 3.5mm port for when users plugin an external audio system along with a pair of HDMI 1.4a sockets out of which one is MHL ready for
smartphone or tablet connectivity. Taken a step further, it can even be turned into a smart projector by connecting a dongle like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV or Google Chromecast.
T3 Says: Optoma is making a name for itself with its decent offerings and the HD27e is no exception
TECH-O-METER
TECH-O-METER
VIEWSONIC PX747-4K
`2,75,000, www.viewsonic.com/in/
Viewsonic boasts that the PX747-4K is the world’s brightest 4K UHD projector with an impressive feature set. The 3500 lumens brightness and high contrast ratio will project an excellent image regardless of lighting in the room. It makes itself future proof with HDR and Rec. 2020 producing images that should match the intended source accurately. The projector meets CTA standards for 4K UHD certification by displaying 8.3million pixels onto the display surface. Image degradation is virtually eliminated with Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) technology that has been built on all digital DLP. It is also energy conscious as the PX747-4K will automatically power off when no signal is detected thereby preserving lamp life. It is further extended to 15,000 hours on an average with SuperEco mode turning on when left on standby for 3 minutes. Perhaps, the backlit remote control is what interests us most making operation convenient in the dark.
CANON EOS 1500D
`TBA, www.canon.co.in
The entry-level EOS 1500D (seen here with the EF-S18-55 III Lens) finally replaces the 2-year-old Canon EOS 1300D. It shares the same 24MP sensor present in several other APS-C format cameras from the company which is about 19 times larger than the usual 1/3.2” standard sensor found in smartphones. So it’s perfect for novices wanting to move up from them, the feature guide and Scene Intelligent Auto mode with creative filters for social media ready snaps should help make the transition easier. These include effects like soft focus, toy camera, fisheye, miniature and black-and-white. Full HD videos can be captured at up to 30FPS. Media transfer is made simple with the Canon Camera Connect app available on both Android and iOS. It can also be used to adjust settings and even shoot images remotely.
T3 Says: EOS 1500D will serve as a good gateway product into the world of DSLRs.
TECH-O-METER
TECH-O-METER
FUJIFILM X-H1 MIRRORLESS
`1,49,999, www.fujifilm.in
The long awaited X-H1 from Fujifilm has finally arrived much to the delight of professional
photographers and videographers we imagine. It is the first mirrorless camera in the series to receive five-axis in-body image stabilisation, DCI 4K video shooting capability, and flicker reduction. Sporting a 24.3MP sensor and the company’s X-Processor Pro image processor, there is a 3” three direction tilting touchscreen display with a 1.04 million dot resolution and smaller 1.28” display panel on top. It can handle native ISO range of 200 to 12800 and maximum burst shooting of up to 14FPS. 4K capture is done with Rec.2020 colour gamut at a bit rate of
200Mbps while high frame rate recording of 120FPS is supported at Full HD. Physically, an overhaul has been done starting with more robust construction using thicker magnesium and a larger grip that should afford a secure handhold.
ASUS BRT-AC828
`20,000, www.asus.com/in/
The unassuming black and angular BRT-AC828 from Asus is a dual-band 802.11ac wireless router with a 4x4 antenna configuration. The business-focused device features dual Gigabit WAN able to handle up to 2Gbps aggregated bandwidth and automatic failover for uninterrupted flow of data. An array of LED indicators are located on the top side to display the status of connections. It houses 2 ports for the internet, 8x Ethernet, 1x USB 3.0, WPS, Reset and an On/Off butto Supporting both 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequencies, it c manage up to 250 simultaneous WiFi connections. ASUS AiProtection has been incorporated for protecti purposes using real-time network monitoring to detec malicious data and unwanted intrusions before reachi network devices. Management might seem like a headache but the ASUSWRT graphic menu system keeps things simple. Further, device grouping and built-in RADIUS server add more value.
T3 Says: Reliability is key for business routers and the Asus will not disappoint.
TECH-O-METER
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SPHERO MINI AND
SPHERO BB-8
From `5,000, www.sphero.com
The Sphero Mini is the world’s smallest app-controlled robotic ball that has a surprising amount crammed inside. An accelerometer, Bluetooth, gyroscope, LED light and a rechargeable battery are housed within 3-inches! Various colour options can be had using interchangeable shells. It is also bundled with 3 mini-traffic cones and 6 bowling pins. Controllable via voice commands, Sphero Mini has an adaptive personality that changes over time. The bigger and more expensive BB-8 (pictured) priced at `11,000 will probably make Star Wars paraphernalia collectors happy. The autonomous BB-8 moves around as it pleases and doesn’t sit still even while getting juiced from the induction charging station. The embedded holographic simulation lets users explore the Star Wars galaxy and help with training. Multiple BB-8 droids can also interact with each other like in the movies. The only thing missing is a speaker and all sound will come directly from the smartphone.
T3 Says: Both can be controlled using smartphones or tablets running on Android, iOS and Windows Phone.
CASIO G-SHOCK
RANGEMAN GPR-B-1000-1
approx. `72,000, g-central.com
We once led a hike and got everyone lost. We should have armed ourselves with a watch built for keeping tabs on location and route, but this was before the Casio G-Shock Rangeman. Now that it’s revamped for 2018 we might think about leading the charge again on a hike, and not worry about the weather either – this solar-powered (there’s wireless charging too) watch laughs in the face of rain, dust and mud. It also has a built-in GPS Navigator function. If you use this feature when out running or hiking, the watch should display a real-time compass bearing to your destination. The Rangeman even offers a Backtrack function, should you need to navigate back to your start point.
T3 SAYS: Explorers will love Casio’s solar-assisted, triple-sensor watch, which offers
POLK COMMAND BAR
$299 (`20,000), polkaudio.com
Amazon’s voice assistant is slowly infiltrating all aspects of the smart home. In fact, we’re pretty sure talking toasters are somewhere in our future… but not before chatty soundbars make an entrance. This spring, Polk Audio is releasing the Command Bar, a home theatre soundbar with integrated Amazon Alexa, plus HDMI throughput that supports 4K HDR. The Command Bar offers all Alexa skills, so you can control your connected home from your TV setup – you’ll never have to leave the sofa again. The soundbar has Echo-style hardware buttons on top and a remote control featuring an Alexa Action Button designed to lower the volume to ensure your commands are heard. If we get a Command Bar we’ll be using it to stream music too – and asking Alexa to DJ.
T3 SAYS: This soundbar could transform your TV setup into the hub of your connected home.
TECH-O-METER
W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M APRIL 2018 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 29
Special Feature
Audi R8 V10 Plus
A
udi’s R8 V10 plus, the quintessential German supercar, is also a technical marvel that comes loaded with a host of technologically superior features that make it a scintillating car. We recently travelled to Buddh International Circuit or BIC, to drive the R8 V10 plus and see how technology has helped the R8 become a fierce supercar.Power – Naturally Aspirated V10 Engine
In a world where manufacturers prefer slapping a turbocharger to the engine of their car, Audi have left that very breathing apparatus out of the equation. The 5.2-litre V10 of the R8 gives birth to 610 horses and also produces a ground-breaking 560 Nm of torque. All this power and torque is sent to all four wheels via the seven-speed S tronic, which uses two clutches to go through the cogs, making the shifts smooth and seamless.
Quattro – All Wheel Drive System
Audi are considered to be the pioneers of the modern-day four-wheel technology and it can be experienced in the R8 V10 plus as well. The system in the R8 is smart as it constantly monitors the driving conditions and varies the torque supply, giving you the optimum output at all times.
Audi Magnetic Ride – Brilliant Suspension
Audi are known for tuning their cars with the best suspension setup and on the R8 V10 plus you get the superb ‘Audi Magnetic Ride’ aluminium double
wishbone suspension. The smart setup adjusts the damping depending on the driver’s driving style and the terrain, making fine adjustments throughout the drive to provide superior handling and ride-quality.
Words: Ravi Chandnani Photography: Sanjay Raikar
Audi R8 V10 Plu
s
Horizon
Style
DRESS LIKE
RYAN REYNOLDS
The
Deadpool
star mixes prep with casual
for a stylish all-American look
THE JACKET
Denim jackets are a staple in Ryan Reynolds’s wardrobe, but you won’t find any weird washes here – the Deadpool star sticks to indigo hues and tailored fits. For a similar vibe try Edwin’s High Road Jacket in Mid Sleet Wash (edwin-europe.com).
THE CARDIGAN
Ryan’s off-duty look takes its cues from traditional American cool with a dash of preppy. To ape it, layer a white tee and linen shirt beneath a navy button-up, such as the Merino Wool Cardigan by John Lewis (johnlewis.com).
THE SHOES
Ryan’s box-fresh white Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Lean (converse.com) give his look a sporty boost.
Coffee, tea, red wine and other indulgences stain teeth over time, and the older you get the more the enamel on your teeth thins, leaving it prone to stains and showing the naturally yellowing dentin beneath. A number of at-home products claim to have the power to restore your pearly whites, with a slew of electric toothbrushes, such as the Philips DiamondClean Smart (amazon.in), offering dedicated whitening modes.
Style blogs exploded last year with reviews of activated charcoal toothpastes and oil-pulling mouthwashes, offering a gentler way to draw bacteria from teeth while whitening enamel. Polished London has a best-selling Charcoal Whitening Teeth Powder
(polishedwhitening.com), while Georganics’s Activated Charcoal Oil Pulling Mouthwash (amazon.com) claims to create a “glossier smile”.
Whitening strips are also popular and simple to use – apply them to your teeth, wait the recommended amount of time, then peel them off. Try Crest’s 3D White Whitestrips (amazon.in) or Polished London’s Whitening Stripes.
Whitening gels will get you closer to a professional whitening treatment and often come with a mouth tray, application syringes and gels with higher levels of hydrogen peroxide. The iWhite Instant Teeth Whitening Advanced Kit comes with pre-loaded trays and claims to whiten teeth up to eight shades lighter. You can also get non-peroxide gel kits, like the Diamond Whites Home Whitening Kit (amazon.com). Just don’t leave whitening strips or gels on longer than stated, or you’ll look like a piano got lost in there.
HOW TO BRIGHTEN
YOUR SMILE
Turn the tide on stubborn stains with
these at-home teeth whitening kits
STAR LIGHT
Shades that evoke vintage style will never go out of fashion, making these new season Stefano Ricci sunglasses a true investment piece for SS18. Testament to the luxury brand’s Italian
craftsmanship, these suave Embellished Square Sunglasses are adorned with polished gold-tone hardware and designed with an
acetate frame that will flatter a variety of face shapes.
`1,12,200, harrods.com
Digital Platform Partners
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wherever
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Opinion
hen Apple announced HomePod, the general reaction to it was positive, if not ecstatic. An Amazon Echo rival that sounds better but costs more, and you have to use Siri… You can see plusses and minuses, right?
But there’s one group of people whose reaction I reckon was very different. If they have any sense, anyone who makes wireless speakers would have had this response: “Oh no. No. No! Nooooo!” Then probably a bit of keening and wailing, and rending of garments, while shaking their fist at the sky.
Apple makes very pleasing products, but it is also a bit like that dragon lady from Game of Thrones. Apple moves into new tech areas, lays waste to them and feasts on the delicious tears of its fallen foes, the old monarchs of that realm.
Making sweet music
Apple is now positioning HomePod very much as a music device, rather than a Google Home/Amazon Echo home assistant (though yes, it does do all that stuff too).
That makes sense, because Amazon is entrenched as the world’s personal AI purveyor of choice, even if Alexa does at times seem to be as thick as a bag of mince, and deaf. It also makes sense because music is a realm that Apple once ruled. For many years, it practically was an audio company, thanks to iPods, the iTunes Store and to a lesser extent, iTunes the app, and AirPlay.
In that time, Apple scored the implausible feat of appealing both to the mass market and to those who consider themselves aficionados of music and ‘hi-fi’, albeit more
grudgingly. Then the iPhone arrived, Apple became The Biggest Brand In The WorldTM and music became just
one more plate it spun. Audio was simply another iCommodity, alongside mobiles, apps, a reinvigorated premium laptop line, watches, TV, movies and I dunno, shoes? Lots of stuff.
Actually, in the fallow period between Peak iPod and the Dawn of the HomePod, Apple launched an excellent music streaming service and snapped up the world’s biggest headphone brand, so I am not going to claim it completely took its eye off the audio ball.
Judging by their ubiquity in the earholes of the world’s big cities, I think AirPods may have been what persuaded Apple to make a swing for the wireless speaker market. AirPods don’t sound amazing by
And that is why all right-thinking makers of wireless speakers should be afraid. Very afraid. Because as AirPods demonstrated, Apple doesn’t even need to make an audio product sound great to conquer a market.
All wireless speakers are built on a foundation set down by Apple and, to a lesser extent, Android. The phones are where their music comes from. Up to now, third parties have had the market to themselves, apart from that weird
Star Wars ghetto blaster thing Apple tried back in 2006.
For now, Apple is going after the top end of the wireless speaker market and there are several limitations to the HomePod – no Bluetooth, no multi-room at launch.
But we all know how this plays out. Next there’ll be a more affordable one, then a battery-powered portable one, a cheap one. The quirks will get ironed out. Then there’ll be Bluetooth updates and cheap bundle deals with Apple Music subscriptions, and ones that match the colours of the iPhone XI, and one with a screen and…
And then everyone currently making money from wireless speakers of all kinds will look upon the smoking ruins of their empires and say, “Oh bugger.”
Apple doesn’t even
need
to make an audio
product sound great
to conquer a market
Duncan Bell…
is the music
W
any means, but they’re the first Apple music device (with AI extras) to truly capture imaginations since the iPod.
The HomePod does sound good. Everyone who went to its demo agreed that it sounded better than the Echo and the Sonos One – because of course it did; they’re much cheaper speakers – but also that it was a very fine-sounding thing in its own right.
smartphotography.in
smartphotography
spmagazine
I NDI A’S
#
1
I M AGI NG M AGAZI NE
th
-Anniversa
ry
Horizon
Gadget Guru
Horizon
Gadget Guru
Nobody gets more mileage from
your questions than T3’s expert
GADGET GURU
Your car’s odometer will generally suffice in performing basic kilometre tracking. Even the ricketiest old junkbucket should include a trip tracker that’ll mark off your travels from point A to point B, and your main odometer had better be accurate overall – it wasn’t the crumbling wheel wells or racing-slick tyres of his first motor that got a junior Guru into trouble, it was the highly suspicious 1350 kilometre on the clock.
That’s a short answer to what
GaGu suspects is a question you were hoping to nibble a little more meat from. So let’s say you’re the only one driving your car, or that you’re incapable of reading, operating, or logging odometer activity reliably. AutoTrip does a mysteriously-priced, business-leaning HMRC-compliant OBD-II module which plugs in, stays in, and records your movements to ensure accurate mileage claims.
Realistically though, if you’re just doing this for the fun of filling in spreadsheets, you may as well put your faith in a phone app
What’s the best way to track my car’s mileage?
ABHILASH MUKHERJEE
A
rather than a specific device. And there are absolutely loads of trip tracker apps available now, most of which won’t cost you a penny. Hit up your app store, pick one, remember to use it, and you’re away. MileIQ (on both Android and iOS) is great, though costs`1,660 per month.
IL
If you’re doing this for the fun of
filling in spreadsheets, you may
as well put your faith in a phone
app rather than a specific device
W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M APRIL 2018 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 37
GADGET GURU’S MAGIC BOX
What can I do with this smart
plug that I just bought?
USMAN KHAN
It’s 2018.
Where’s my
robot?
KETAN SYAL
It was one of GaGu’s three yearly birthdays this month and, as is tradition, he made out like a bandit with the presents. Rising to the top of Guru’s official friend ranking is the chap who bought him an Otamatone, the oh-so-Japanese musical instrument in the shape of a cutesy musical note. It consists of a touch-strip stem that makes various honking noises emerge from an internal speaker, and a squishy notehead that shapes the sounds as they
emerge. It’s silly and brilliant and Guru’s cats (and wife) absolutely hate it.
Second on the gift ranking, Mrs Guru’s begrudging contribution was a massive mouse mat – the Cmhoo XXL 90x40, `800 from Amazon – for GaGu’s desk. It has a classy monochrome world map on it, which is useful for planning one’s escape while professionally procrastinating, and a desk-wide pad makes a surprising
difference to the grippiness of Guru’s long-suffering keyboard. No longer does it try to flee from the heavyweight hammering of his fingers.
On the subject, Guru is eyeing up a new PC. He snuck into the office for a play with the outrageously pricey Razer Blade Pro (`3,04,339 plus your left arm and/or first
born), and it really is quite the machine. But ol’ GaGu fancies a go with the Big Boy Lego of building his own PC. There are plenty of problems with this idea, Guru’s Tesla coil-esque static buildup notwithstanding. Mainly, he hasn’t constructed a box by himself since the original Pentiums were a thing, and has no idea what to buy. So readers, over to you – does Guru go Ryzen or Core? GeForce or Vega? Red or white? Is there any way to make the process any less baffling? Let GaGu know at the usual email.
A
It was at CES. Where were you? This year’s Consumer Electronics Show was positively lousy with frivolous digital golems peddled by companies of varying levels of likeliness to actually be able to pull off making that kind of complex product. But if you ask GaGu, nobody’s got it right quite yet for something people want stomping around their homes. In the short term, the first home robots will be basically mobile Amazon Echos, using cameras to act as security bots, and following you from room to room on wheels. They will all be very cutesy. Consumer robots aren’t the clanking whirring automatons that you see in sci-fi movies. They’ve been redefined by the connectivity and ubiquity of digital assistants. You might be able to buy a thing with wheels and a happy face, but when you hold your phone in your hand, you become a de facto cyborg. Best start talking like one.A
Scrutinising one’s energy usage is, Guru is told, incredibly important and not in any way cripplingly dull. We will, for the sake of professionalism, ignore your author’s feelings towards his smart meter – they involve taking something very electrically inefficient to its stupid condescending screen – to state that smart plugs are great if you want to save a few pennies.Something like TP-Link’s HS100 can do real-time and historical monitoring of the juice you’re sucking – if you’re wondering specifically which device is causing the klaxon to sound on your meter and the angry chap with the clipboard to start banging on your door, a smart plug is a great way to find out. Switching things on and off, though, is their prime goal. Pretending you’re at home via a Kevin McAllister-style display of automated light-based shadow puppetry is certainly one
thing you could do. More realistically, automagically dropping the power from an entire multi-socket full of kit when you’re not using it makes an infuriating amount of energy-saving sense. Even better when it’s something that works with the Amazon Echo or Google Home, like the aforementioned hubless HS100 or Energenie’s hub-based range of plugs.
Problem is, this doesn’t always work well. Guru just shouted at Alexa to turn on his TV, and she complied, sort of: power might have been siphoned into it, but the thing starts in standby, which is useless. If GaGu didn’t have his feet up some way from the remote, he certainly wouldn’t have hollered at a cybernetic being. If you’re more concerned with automation than frugality, devices like lamps or old-school hi-fi equipment work particularly well in this context.
ABOVE
Horizon
Gadget Guru
ANANDA REDDY
Don’t leave your phone plugged in and active unless you need to;
don’t drop or stab it; and don’t use dodgy Chinese chargers
NOW PLAYING
How do I prevent
exploding
batteries?
How do I
drink whiskey
properly?
whiskey for the fancy glasses (please don’t tell anyone)SANJAY PODDAR
H A R D S U N
Luther’s Neil Cross returns for this pre-apocalyptic thriller about two police officers who uncover MI6 secrets that the sun is going to die. Cue mystery, paranoia and lots of explosions.
C E L E ST E
In this beautifully animated puzzle platformer, you play a girl called Madeline who must climb gigantic mountain Celeste while facing her inner demons (and collecting strawberries).
D O OM S DAY C LO C K Our minds were blown when we found out that Watchmen was coming to DC. If you’re a fan of comic books, seeing Rorschach and Batman on the same page is quite the thing.
NEW MEDIA
Guru finds the finest
media you need on
your screens
A
You cannot knock a Moleskine Classic, a timeless notebook that, Guru was alarmed to discover, has only been in production since 1997. The paper’s perfect for any kind of pen, the corners are fashionably rounded, and the signature bit of elastic means your private notes won’t get ruffled.If you lean towards something more exclusive, Choosing Keeping’s stapled A5 notebook (32 sheets) is red-edged, super-smooth, and looks like something that Grandad Guru would have kept in his best beige coat. Midori’s Spiral Notebook (spiral bound) offers a pocket on each page for creative note-stuffing.
A
Simple answer, you can’t. If your battery is going to go bad, then by golly it’s going to go bad, just like GaGu’s cousin, Prison Steve. But, like said jailbird, that ill behaviour can at least be mitigated by avoiding certain triggers.Don’t leave your phone plugged in and active unless you absolutely need to. Don’t drop it or stab it, dummy. Don’t use dodgy knock-off chargers. Don’t smother your phone in a cosy insulator when it’s
charging. Don’t wait to toss your phone if it starts to get
ridiculously hot: the bell has already tolled.
Gadget Guru
W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M APRIL 2018 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 39
How can I make
my laptop battery
last longer?
find any rules against it, so…”A
If you’re still pedalling around under your own steam, then you’re really much fitter than Guru, and we salute you for your persistence. For cycle fans of a lessenthusiastic nature, now might be the time to switch to e-power. But what if you can’t bear to part with your tried and tested steed? The good news is you can absolutely get that Raleigh Grifter running on battery power, though it’s not the cheapest thing to do. Ecotricity’s
kits start at approx. `27,500, but you’ll want to spend an extra `4,500 on a switchable 250W/1,000W motor to beat the government’s fun-limiting power restrictions.
Then you’ll need a battery: Ecotricity’s pannier rack battery, ugly as it is, is what you’ll want to provide that 1,000W wheel with enough go juice. But fitting properly, so your ride won’t fall to bits at 65kmh, will cost you. At which point you’re better off spending the cash on a full ebike.
A
Guru could answer this question in his sleep,because he often has to: the throngs of gadget fans do not stop to examine GaGu’s face or listen to his snores before they start burbling their queries in his direction. So imagine ol’ Guru laid on his side, padding his hands and feet like a dog running in a dream and reciting the following in a slightly worried, unclear and groggy voice.
Turn the brightness of the screen down. Turn the volume of the speakers down. Stop playing games, and turn off any pointless visual effects. Switch from the discrete graphics cards to your otherboard’s integrated solution, if that’s an option. Power down radios you’re not using. Make use of your Windows or macOS power saving options‚ drag the slider on the battery meter to the left to use less power and conserve more battery. In the battery settings, change the level that’s regarded as ‘critical battery’ to something a little lower. If you’re on a MacBook, install the latest updates and use the Energy Saver section of System Preferences to do the obvious things this menu does.
Horizon
Gadget Guru
We’re getting there, albeit in a haphazard way. The potential for seamless smart home TV control via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa is considerable. Both AI platforms (to flip your question on its head) support a level of TV interaction. Sony’s 2018 connected Android sets will offer voice control of basics like channel selection and volume via a connected assistant. LG is upping the smarts of its connected sets this year by including ThinQ AI, which will enable users to control their TV using Amazon Alexa. More intriguingly, ThinQ AI TVs promise to support wider device control (think lighting, heating and smart lighting).
Smart home control via the telly isn’t new. Philips first teased home automation through its Android TV platform back in
2015, using middleware developed by MyLiveGuard. Applications included smart doorbells, Nest thermostat control and security camera monitoring. Having smart control over security camera feeds through a TV screen makes sense. Perhaps your best solution is the NVIDIA Shield TV media streamer, used with a Samsung SmartThing Link dongle (shop. smartthings.com). This combo will enable you to manage connected SmartThings compliant devices via the NVIDIA Shield TV box. More TVs are getting Alexa and Google Assistant voice control, however.
Ultimately, home device control may be getting smarter, but that doesn’t mean the scene is any less confusing.
Is it possible to control my
smart home from my TV?
GOPAL AYYAR
2018’s gadget wishlist
W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M APRIL 2018 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 41
Meet the tech that’s exciting us most this year, from smarter
fitness gear to must-have mobile accessories, next-generation
laptops, and even the rise of home robots
2018’S
GADGET
WISHLIST
We give this award to products we’ve tried at shows and expos that
2018’s gadget wishlist
Heatworks Tetra
7KLVFRXQWHUWRSGLVKZDVKHUFDQĆWLQMXVWDERXWDQ\ kitchen, no matter how pokey. Instead of focusing on PHHWLQJWKHQHHGVRIDELJIDPLO\LWèVGHVLJQHGWRKROG the crockery of two full-place settings, including chunky VWXIIVXFKDVERZOV,WGRHVQèWSOXPELQå\RXMXVWSRXULQ half a gallon of water when you need to use it, pop on the see-through top, and run the 10-minute cycle. Heatworks UHFNRQVLWXVHVDERXWSHUFHQWRIWKHZDWHUWKDW handwashing the same stuff would. Precise temperature FRQWUROPHDQVLWFDQDOVREHXVHGIRUVDQLWLVLQJEDE\ SURGXFWV,WZLOOEHRXWLQODWH
approx. `19,530, myheatworks.com
DJI Osmo Mobile 2
6WHDGLFDPVW\OHJLPEDOVDUHGHĆQLWHO\ not something that only professional YLGHRPDNHUVVKRXOGEHXVLQJ:KHWKHU you’re recording a family holiday or your next vlog for your millions of YLHZHUVWKH2VPR0RELOHZLOOEH DQDPD]LQJO\XVHIXOEX\7KHSRLQWRI DJLPEDOLVWRNHHS\RXUSKRQHVWHDG\ and level when recording, no matter KRZPXFK\RXUKDQGZREEOHV6KDNLQJ RUVXGGHQPRYHPHQWVDUHDEVRUEHG so everything is super-smooth when \RXZDWFKLWEDFN%ULOOLDQWO\LI\RXèUH recording yourself, it tracks you and keeps you in frame automatically. And it has handy controls on the handle.
`TBA, dji.com
Black Box VR gym
Not everyone loves the idea of going to the gym to hang RXWDPRQJVZHDW\ERGLHVLQYDULRXVVWDWHVRIYLVLEOH urgency and push past your perceived limitations.” Which VRXQGVKRUULI\LQJDFWXDOO\EXWZHORYHWKHLGHD7KHĆUVW gym opens in San Francisco this year, rolling out to more locations in the future.
`TBA, blackbox-vr.com
Audio-Technica
ATH-DSR5BT
Audio-Technica puts a lot of gadget know-how into simple-looking headphones, and these are its most advanced in-ears yet. They use the company’s ‘Pure Digital Drive’ system, which allow the drivers that actually PDNHWKHVRXQGWREHFRQWUROOHG GLUHFWO\E\WKHGLJLWDODXGLRVLJQDOV instead of having to go through a FRQYHUVLRQWRDQDORJXHDXGLRĆUVW (which can spoil the sound if done EDGO\$QGZLWKDSW;+'IRUKLJKHU TXDOLW\VWUHDPLQJWKH\èUHSHUIHFWIRU getting every drop of crystal-clear audio piped directly to your ears.
`TBA, audio-technica.com
Sennheiser HD820
6HQQKHLVHUèV+'RSHQEDFNHG KHDGSKRQHVKDYHEHHQWKHEHQFKPDUN for audio performance for nearly QLQH\HDUVEXWEHLQJRSHQPHDQV sound leaks out and in. And so we QRZKDYHWKH+'ZKLFKDUH still designed around giving you the most transparent audio reproduction SRVVLEOH3DUWRIWKLVLVWKHJODVV exterior, which is literally transparent, so you can see the top-end driver WHFKEXWLVDOVRGHVLJQHGWRDEVRUE stray sound waves to keep what you hear totally pure, and clear of any interference.`TBA, sennheiser.com
Bosch HMI
:HèUHĆOOLQJRXUFDUVZLWKJHVWXUH FRQWUROVDQGWRXFKVFUHHQVEXW%RVFK thinks this is all too distracting. Its concept for an ‘uncluttered’ cockpit PRYHVDVPDQ\FRQWUROVDVSRVVLEOHWR DVHWRIWRXFKVFUHHQVEXWWKHDLPLV also to do away with menus you have to tap through. The HMI (human-PDFKLQHLQWHUIDFHZLOOSUHGLFWZKDW \RXPLJKWZDQWWRDGMXVWSURDFWLYHO\ and will put the correct control right DW\RXUĆQJHUWLSV,WèVDOVRHTXLSSHG with voice control, complete with natural language processing and an assistant that’s predictive, so it can UHVSRQGWRUHTXHVWVPXFKPRUH usefully.
Razer Project Linda
We’ve seen phones turned LQWRFRPSXWHUVEHIRUHEXW 3URMHFW/LQGDLVWKHVOLFNHVW implementation yet, for sure. 7KHODSWRSLVDGXPEFODPVKHOOå MXVWEDWWHULHV*%RIVWRUDJH a 13-inch QHD touchscreen and D5D]HU&KURPHPXOWLFRORXUHG NH\ERDUG6ORWWKH5D]HU3KRQH ZKLFKZHèUHELJIDQVRILQWRDJDS DWWKHERWWRPDQGLWSRZHUVWKH whole thing, providing Android with a desktop point-and-click interface to the screen at the top. 7KHSKRQHDFWVDVWUDFNSDGEXW the idea is that apps could have a special dual-screen interface, with the main view on the top screen, DQGVSHFLDOVKRUWFXWVYLVLEOHRQ WKHSKRQHDELWOLNHWKH7RXFK%DU RQWKH0DF%RRN3UR,WèVMXVWD FRQFHSWIRUQRZDQG5D]HUKDVD history of showing off prototypes WKDWQHYHUJRWDQ\ZKHUHEXWZHèG love to see this hit reality.`TBA, razerzone.com
2018’s gadget wishlist
Garmin Forerunner
to 500 songs to it, and then connect DVHWRI%OXHWRRWKKHDGSKRQHV,W will also sync songs from Deezer for RIćLQHOLVWHQLQJ7KDWèVRQWRSRIWKH XVXDOURVWHURI*36DQGELRPHWULF GDWDFUXQFKLQJ7KHUHèVDOVR*DUPLQ Pay for contactless payments, so KRSHIXOO\EDQNVXSSRUWIRUWKDWZLOO EHUROOHGRXWLQWKH,QGLD,WèVDQ intriguing smartwatch, with a growing selection of apps and faces.approx. `31,899, garmin.com
B&O Beo
gesture. They also pause automatically when you take WKHPRII/RWVRIKLJKHQGKHDGSKRQHVKDYHWKHVHNLQG RIIHDWXUHVEXW% 2èVLPSHFFDEOHVRXQGDQGEXLOG TXDOLW\HOHYDWHWKHVHWRDQHZOHYHO`TBA, beoplay.com
Byton Electric Concept
,WèVDORQJZD\RIIåH[SHFWWRVHHLW DJDLQLQDWWKHHDUOLHVWåEXW this is part ‘car of the future’ and part ‘smartphone on wheels’. It packs $,JHDUHGIRU/HYHODXWRQRPRXV RSHUDWLRQDVZHOODVELRPHWULF security, Alexa voice control and a huge touchscreen dash. The inside is PDGHWREHVXSHUOX[H%\WRQFDOOVLW in 30 minutes, or a 150-mile charge LQPLQXWHV
`TBA, byton.com
L’Oreal UV Sense
7KLVLVWKHĆUVWZHDUDEOHEDWWHU\ free electronic sensor for detecting 89OLJKWOHYHOVåVWLFNWKHWLQ\SDG RQWR\RXUĆQJHUQDLOEHIRUH\RX head out for a day in the sun, and it tells an accompanying app on your phone when your level of exposure to harmful rays is getting too high (and EHWWHUFRDFK\RXRQVXQEORFNLQJXS It was created with gadget-design PDHVWUR<YHV%«KDUDQGLVDFWLYDWHG E\89$DQG89%UD\V,WèVPPWKLFN DQG/è2UHDOFODLPVLWFRXOGEHZRUQIRU several weeks. Expect to see it launch XQGHUWKHFRPSDQ\èV/D5RFKH3RVD\ EUDQGLQWKH86WKLVVXPPHUDQG worldwide next year.
`TBC, loreal.com
Lenovo Mirage Solo
& Mirage Camera
7KLVLVWKHĆUVWVWDQGDORQH95KHDGVHWWKDW stereoscopic pictures and videos. The KHDGVHWZLOOEHRXWLQWKHVHFRQGTXDUWHU RIDQGFRVWVDERXW` with the
camera around `
From ` lenovo.com
2018’s gadget wishlist
W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M APRIL 2018 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 45
Optoma UHD51A
Alexa 4K projector
2SWRPDPDNHVVRPHGDPQĆQH SURMHFWRUVDQGWKLVQHZYHUVLRQLV RQERDUGZLWKWKHç6PDUWDVVLVWDQWV in everything’ trend. Amazon’s Alexa LVEXLOWLQKHUHVR\RXFDQWHOOWKH SURMHFWRUWRVHW\RXUVPDUWOLJKWVWR an appropriate movie-watching level. 7KHSURMHFWRULWVHOILVDJUHDW.+'5 XQLWSRZHUHGE\$QGURLGIRUSOD\LQJ media directly (along with a pair of +'0,SRUWVQDWXUDOO\,WèVDELWRID VKDPHLWèVQRWDODVHUSURMHFWRUEXW they cost a lot more, and it’s nice and EULJKWDW$16,OXPHQVZLWKD healthy 50,000:1 contrast ratio for GHHSEODFNV`TBA, optoma.com
Lenovo Smart Display
2K\RXWKRXJKWVPDUWYRLFHDVVLVWDQWVDUHWKHELJWKLQJ packs a 10-watt speaker, and comes in style-friendly grey RUEDPERRĆQLVKHV,WGHĆQLWHO\ORRNVDORWEHWWHUWKDQWKH EORFN\$PD]RQ(FKR6KRZDQGLVSULFHGFRPSHWLWLYHO\,WèV GXHIRUUHOHDVHEHIRUHWKHVXPPHULQWKH86DQGKRSHIXOO\ India as well.
From `199 (approx. `12955), lenovo.com
Magic Leap One
:HèYHEHHQKHDULQJDERXW0DJLF /HDSèVSRWHQWLDOO\UHYROXWLRQDU\ augmented/mixed reality tech for ĆYH\HDUVåRYHUOD\LQJJUDSKLFVRQWR the real world right in front of your H\HVåEXWZLWKWKHUHYHDORIWKLV ĆUVWXVDEOHYHUVLRQLWèVDJLDQWVWHS closer to reality. Initially, there will EHDç&UHDWRU(GLWLRQèEXWLWèVQRWMXVW that contains the processing power FDOOHG/LJKWSDFNDQGDFRQWUROOHUIRU interaction.
`TBA, magicleap.com
Segway Loomo
6HJZD\VèODWHVWPDFKLQHKRSVRQWRWKHURERWKHOSHU trend, while also keeping true to the company’s PRELOLW\URRWV<RXFDQVWHSRQWRWKH/RRPRDQGULGHLW DURXQGOLNHRWKHUVPDOOHU6HJZD\SURGXFWVEXWLWDOVR KDVVRPHDXWRQRP\EXLOWLQDORQJZLWKKDQG\DUPV for holding things. So, you could ride it to the shops, JUDEDIHZEDJVRIVXSSOLHVWKHQORDGXSWKH/RRPR with them and have it follow you as you walk home. 7HOOLWê/RRPRWUDQVIRUPëDQGDVFUHHQHTXLSSHG çKHDGèURWDWHVRXWWRWXUQLWLQWRDOLWWOHHPRWLYHURERW You can have it follow you around and take pictures, WULJJHUHGZLWKDJHVWXUH,WèVSURJUDPPDEOHWRRDQG FDQUHFRJQLVHREMHFWV
`TBA, indiegogo.com
HP Spectre x360 15
&RQYHUWLEOHODSWRSVFDQEHUHDOO\ handy, especially for creative work RURQWKHJREXWKDYHPRVWO\ restricted themselves to 13-inch models. The Spectre x360 15 gives XVDELJJHUVFUHHQWRSOD\ZLWK<RX can use it as a standard 15-inch laptop, or fold the screen all the ZD\DURXQGWRXVHDVDEHDXWLIXO .WRXFKVFUHHQ,WFRPHVZLWK DTXDGFRUH,QWHOSURFHVVRUIRU VRPHELJFRPSXWLQJSRZHUDQG WKHUHèVDQRSWLRQWKDWXVHVEXLOW in graphics, which should provide H[FHOOHQWEDWWHU\OLIH<RXDOVRJHW DĆQJHUSULQWUHDGHUDQGHYHQD SURSHUQXPEHUSDGFrom `1,15,290, hp.com
Peloton
Tread
'HVFULEHGE\3HORWRQDVê\RXURZQ SULYDWHĆWQHVVVWXGLRëWKH7UHDGLV designed to provide pro-level cardio and strength training at home. The ELJVFUHHQRQWKHWUHDGPLOOVKRZV videos from top instructors, giving \RXJ\PTXDOLW\SODQQHGZRUNRXWV you can follow. The training activities are social, so you’ll do them alongside other Peloton users, with things like OLYHOHDGHUERDUGVHQFRXUDJLQJ\RX to push harder. It launches in the US later this year. Peloton offers LQVWDOPHQWSODQVWREX\RQHEXW streaming the classes costs an extra DPRQWK
2018’s gadget wishlist
Sennheiser Ambeo
3D soundbar
Trust Sennheiser to enter a new audio market and instantly put the FRPSHWLWLRQRQQRWLFH7KLVVRXQGEDU packs in a whopping 15 drivers, with the aim of creating true virtual surround from a single device. This LQFOXGHV'ROE\$WPRVKHLJKWFKDQQHO support, and unlike most Atmos V\VWHPVZKLFKDGGWZRKHLJKWEDVHG speakers, this actually creates four height channels (the highest-end YHUVLRQRIWKH$WPRVVSHFDVZHOODV ĆYHYLUWXDOVXUURXQGFKDQQHOV,WèVMXVW DSURWRW\SHDWWKHPRPHQWEXWWKH UHVXOWVDUHDOUHDG\PLQGEORZLQJ
`TBA, sennheiser.com
Nvidia Big Format Gaming Display
7KHEHVW3&JDPLQJPRQLWRUVKDYHIHDWXUHV Nvidia’s new toy comes in. The 65-inch screen packs in D.UHVROXWLRQ3&WXQHG+'5D+]UHIUHVKUDWH DQG*6\QF1YLGLDKDVHYHQFUDPPHGLQDQ1YLGLD 6KLHOGXQLWVR\RXFDQVWUHDPWRLWIURP\RXU3&RU MXVWZDWFK1HWćL[([SHFW%)*'UHOHDVHVODWHULQ from Acer, Asus and HP.
`TBA, geforce.com
Polaroid Pop
The instant camera revival continues! People went 100 per cent digital with their photos for years, then UHPHPEHUHGWKDWKDYLQJSULQWHG SKRWRVWRVKDUHLVTXLWHQLFHDFWXDOO\ (plus, the hipsters who will revive DQ\WKLQJJRWLW3RODURLGèVEHHQWDNLQJ advantage of this with a few great instant-printing cameras, and the latest is the thoroughly retro Pop. It’s ELJFKXQN\VROLGDQG\RXFDQMXVW SRLQWDQGVKRRWZLWKLWVPHJDSL[HO camera. It stores digital photos on WKHGHYLFHEXW\RXFDQLQVWDQWO\SULQW WKHPRQ=,1.]HURLQNSDSHU<RX can print your phone photos on it via Wi-Fi, too.
approx. `15,910, polaroid.com
Pimax 8K VR headset
$OOWKH95XQLWVUHOHDVHGVRIDUKDYH VXIIHUHGIURPDELWRIçVFUHHQGRRUè effect, where the resolution isn’t high enough to appear totally clear. 7KH9LYH3URWXUQRYHUWKHSDJH WDNHVDVWHSWRZDUGVĆ[LQJWKLVEXW WKH3LPD[.KHDGVHWJRHVZD\ EH\RQGLW,WSDFNVDIXOO[ .VFUHHQSHUH\HVRHYHU\WKLQJLV crystal clear. To make the most of WKHUHVROXWLRQLWKDVDZLGHUĆHOGRI YLHZWKDQRWKHU95KHDGVHWVRQWKH market, so feels a lot more natural to get lost in. It’s still in the prototype VWDJHDQGZLOOUHTXLUHDQLQVDQH amount of power to use with games, EXWZHèOOEHUHDG\ZKHQLWLVð
`TBA, pimaxvr.com
LG 34WK95U
7KLVXOWUDZLGHPRQLWRUKDVDQDVSHFWUDWLRRIåPXFK ZLGHUWKDQWKHRIPRVWGLVSOD\V7KLVPDNHVLWWKH same shape as cinema screens, so you can play movies RQLWZLWKRXWWKHEDUVDWWKHWRSDQGERWWRPZKLFKORRNV glorious. What we’re most interested in, though, is its OXVFLRXV[.UHVROXWLRQ$FURVVWKHLQFK
`97,607, lg.com
LG’s 2018 ThinQ OLED TVs
ZDV2/('èV\HDULQ79VLQQR VPDOOSDUWWKDQNVWR/*èVFUDFNLQJ range. We now have details of the UDQJHZKLFKVWLOOSDFNVLQ excellent panels, starting from a VLPSOHUPRUHDIIRUGDEOHPRGHO right up to an update of its under-PPWKLFNç:DOOSDSHUè792QHRI Home, you can control the telly with your voice.
Dell XPS 13
'HOOèVPRVWUHĆQHGODSWRSKDVEHHQ EXIIHGDQGSROLVKHGWRLWVĆQHVWVKHHQ \HW7KH;36QRZIHDWXUHVD. ,QĆQLW\(GJHVFUHHQVXSSRUWHGE\QHZ ç'HOO&LQHPDèWHFKLQFOXGLQJWHFKIRU a superior dynamic range, clearer and SXQFKLHUVRXQGDQG.LOOHU:LUHOHVV support for super-fast connections. Add DODWHVWJHQ,QWHOTXDGFRUHSURFHVVRU DORQJZLWKFRROLQJWHFKĆOFKHGIURP NASA, and you get the most compact and powerful machine in its class. Plus, it now comes in new rose gold and white colours, and the silver model uses innovative packaging recycled from ocean plastic waste.
From `97,990, dell.co.in
Dell XPS 13
UBTECH
Walker
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JetsonsEXWWKLVLVGDQJHURXVO\FORVH to Doctor WhoWHUULWRU\LVNLQGRID walking Echo Show. The idea is that
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the past, so we might see it again
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also walk around as a security patrol,
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it may arrive with arms then, too. We’d at least like a shelf for sending snacks around the room at parties.
`TBA, ubtech.com
HTC Vive Pro & Vive Wireless Adapter
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has also announced a wireless adapter that works with
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`TBA, vive.com
Panasonic LUMIX GH5S
7KLVPLUURUOHVVFDPHUDSDFNVDELJ VHQVRUEXWZLWKDUHVROXWLRQRIMXVW PHJDSL[HOV:K\"%HFDXVHDORZHU QXPEHURISL[HOVPHDQVHDFKSL[HOLV ELJJHUZKLFKPHDQVWKH\OHWLQPRUHlight. This camera is pretty much unparalleled at this price for low-light shooting, and is heavily geared towards video (including serious pro
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the dimmest conditions, with almost
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check out the videos on Panasonic’s
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`1,84,990, panasonic.com
Samsung The Wall
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disadvantages such as ghosting. Samsung’s added another trick as well, though: The Wall is modular. You can make
LWDQ\VL]HDQGVKDSHE\DGGLQJPRUHEH]HOOHVVSDQHOV $OWKRXJKJLYHQWKDWLWèVLQFKHVDQ\ZD\PD\EH\RX ZRQèWQHHGWR,WèVDFRQFHSWULJKWQRZEXWKRSHIXOO\WKDW
will change soon.
`TBA, samsung.com
Sony LSPX-A1 4K Ultra
Short Throw Projector
What you’re looking for in the picture
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a few inches away from the wall.
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the unit too, including a dedicated
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and aluminium frame. Just make sure you don’t put a plant over the
SURMHFWLQJSDUW `TBA, sony.com
