t3 magazine - june 2015 uk

100 ALL-new / 4 greAt new sections / no.1 for gAdget Advice

ApplewAtch

the redesign issue

N e w k i t r at e d !

the gAdgets youLL need to survive A zombie ApocALypse

find out whAt its reALLy Like to use

pLus! sAmsung gALAxy s6 & htc one m9 tAke on iphone 6

for improving your Life, home, trAveL,commute, work & more!

must-have techupgrades

190pLus hot kit for 100

24 hours with the

NeptuNe SuIteWho says smartwatches are the way forward for wearables?

T3 thinks crowdfunded Canadian newbie Neptune's Android Lollipop-powered ecosystem is a potential mould breaker. Its brain is the Neptune Hub a quad-core-

powered wrist cuff with 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth. This controls a suite

comprising the 5-inch Pocket Screen; the tablet-like, 10-inch Tab Screen; a wireless

keyboard that can connect to the Tab Screen; earbuds and an HDMI dongle, enabling

you to take control of any compatible screen. In short, the Neptune Suite is a seamless

computing experience controlled from your wrist. It may just catch on, y'know Price: From 399 Out: February 2016

URL: www.getneptune.com

New tech with the power to dent the universe

p r e s e N t s

GameChanger

juNe 2015 T3 5 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com

6 T3 june 2015 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com

Rob Carney EditoRAlthough he sometimes wakes up in a cold sweat at the thought of his robo-mowers doing a Skynet, Rob always seems fresh enough to get hands-on with the latest golf gear and audio tech.

Claire davies AssistAnt EditoRThe newest addition to the T3 team is rapidly proving herself one of the most valuable, although camera tech does have a habit of going missing when our Welsh lass is in the vicinity.

Matt HansonpHonEs And tAblEts WRitERMatt specialises in everything mobile, but his other main passion is audio. Thankfully, his music taste doesnt extend to the similarly named boy band from the 90s, Hanson. Maybe.

nick odantzis REviEWs EditoRFrequently seen juggling the cutting-edge contents of T3s reviews cupboard, or finding excuses to test the latest motorbike tech, Nick ensures the mags reviews help you buy the best.

Gareth beavis pHonEs And tAblEts EditoRGareth has spent the past decade tinkering with all the best mobile tech, and still gives more than 15 answers when asked, Which phone should I get? We got just one from him on p60.

dan Read ContRibutoRDan has as much in common with Bear Grylls as a comfy chair, which hed rather sit on than take to the great outdoors. We sent him to the woods to escape a zombie apocalypse regardless (p72).

duncan belllifEstylE tECHnoloGy EditoRDuncan has been aggravated by tech for 30 years now, from the early days of making his thumb bleed with knock-off Pac-Man, to dropping expensive phones down the toilet.

Marc Chacksfield ContEnt tEAM lEAd A tech journalist for nearly a decade, Marc mostly writes about home entertainment, just so he can get paid to watch films for a living so much so that he even sits through the rubbish ones.

Angela nicholson ContRibutoRNobody knows their telephoto lenses from their titanium tripods better than the Head of Testing of T3s sister magazines Digital Camera, N-Photo and PhotoPlus. Read her travel advice on p26.

The global magazine T3 is currently licensed in 20 countries worldwide, from Italy to Indonesia. Here are just some of our international editions

Meet the teamISSue 243 / juNe 2015

Tomorrows Technology Today, to

give T3 its full name, was launched in

1996 and has been helping readers select

the right gadgets to improve their lives

for nearly 20 years as a magazine (print

and digital) and at T3.com. Weve been

at the heart of every shift in consumer

technology ever since from DVDs and

HD TVs to smartphones and virtual

reality but our mission has remained

the same throughout: to help you live

a better life through technology, and

to filter the latest gadgets to ensure

you only ever buy the best of the best.

Lifes better with t3...

How to license t3If youre interested in publishing a licensed version of T3 in your territory, wed like to hear from you. Please direct enquiries to T3s International Director, Regina erak ([email protected])

AustRAliA

MExiCo

slovEniA

CHinA

polAnd

tHAilAnd

june 2015 T3 7More great content at the all-new www.t3.com

To say Im excited to introduce the all-new T3 is an understatement. This is T3 renewed: the next generation of gadget magazine that gives you everything you need for better living in a world where everything connects to everything else.So, whats new? Well, everything, actually.

You have four brilliant new sections: T3 Hype, T3 Agenda, T3 Select and T3 elite. In T3 Hype (p12), we bring you all the hottest new gear. Then theres T3 Agenda (p37), where we serve up seven new adventures to have with tech every month. T3 Select (p93) gives you expert reviews and recommendations, helping you to buy only the best gadgets and kit. And T3 elite (p117) is simply the ultimate buyers guide. elsewhere this issue, I spent 24 hours with

the Apple Watch for our main feature. Did it live up to my expectations? Find out on page 46. And we attempt to find out which smartphone is the best choice for you right now (p60).All thats left to say is enjoy the issue

as you delve through the brilliant new sections, I hope youll see why we believe lifes better with T3. And do let me know what you think about our new look by using the contact details below.

Editors letter

ian Morris ReviewerSpiky-haired, to-the-point and a master of wit, Ian can also turn a mean hand to reviewing anything gadget-related; the bigger and more expensive, the better p94

Rami niemi illustratorNineties metal nut Rami turns scintillating concepts into magical works of art, and lives a pseudo-hippy lifestyle on a farm p32

Joe Minihane WriterLooking into the future doesnt always mean death, destruction and Kevin Costner in leather pants, as future-tech-gazer joe finds out this month p88

Key contributors

Discover more great ways to enjoy T3

Digital edition The iPad edition of

T3 features a raft of fresh

content, including video

reviews and interactive

articles. T3 is also available

on Android devices, and

your desktop via Zinio.com.

The all-new T3.com Weve also overhauled

T3.com the best site for

gadget news and reviews

now has a great new look and

is fully responsive, enabling

you to enjoy it on any device.

Rob Carney, [email protected]@robcarney

ISSue 243 / juNe 2015

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Bigger, better and the best for gadgets: welcome to the all-new T3, the mag that makes your life better through technology.

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issue 243 / june 2015

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032 GadGetGuru T3s very own teacher of tech fields your burning questions on everything from drones to connected lightbulbs

037 t3aGenda Get inspired with seven unique technology-based adventures you can get stuck into right now

060 todaystopsmartphoneApple, HTC and Samsung go head-to-head in the ultimate test as we select your next phone for you

072 manVstech Can off-grid gadgets get you through a zombie apocalypse? Our man stakes his life on it, quite literally

088 citiesofthefuture Step into the immediate future as we take a look at the innovations that will transform urban living

Features

To subscribe to T3, point your browser at myfavouritemagazines.co.uk, or turn to p58. The next issue of T3 goes on sale 11 june

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04624hourswiththeappLewatch

Discover what its like to spend a day with Apples new wearable in our exhaustive real-world report

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Your dream home music setup is within reach thanks to our in-depth primer

june 2015 T3 9


issue 243 / june 2015

Contents012

preView LGs incredible new phone,

Nikons new system camera and Recons new HUD star in our

roundup of hot new kit

022readerpreView

T3s readers road test the Oculus Rift virtual reality

headset and share their views

025peopLe

Lewis Hamilton cant stop winning races, but whats his

ideal suite of tech? We reveal all

026wecan

buiLdyou Everything you need to capture stunning photographs on your

travels this summer is here

028styLe

The top techie trainers chosen specially for you by T3s

in-house fashion experts

030taLkinGtech

The connected home is coming of age Duncan Bell delivers

the verdict so far

005 GamechanGer058 subscriptions078 t3awards111 nextissue116 competition130 moneynoobject

117introducinGthebestbuyersGuideknowntoman

From thermostats to tablets and camera to cars, our selection of the very best tells you what to buyPlus! T3s 100 Hot List

Win!One OF TWO ArcAm sOlO sOundbArs

p116

100

Essentials022

108

094samsunGjs9000 Find out what we thought of

this cutting-edge, curved 55-inch 4K telly

098smackdown

Which hybrid laptop will tempt you to discard your iPad and

your laptop?

100sixofthebest Want to get fit and rock the

latest tech on your wrist? Check our fitness tracker roundup

102ourGadGets

The T3 team puts their kit through a rigorous long-term

testing process

108Games

Well tell you exactly what you should be playing right now

113apps

Choice selections from the worlds of Android and iOS for

smartphones and tablets

114entertainment

Watch to watch at home and in the cinema in the month ahead


your guide to the hottest tech, PeoPle and styles right now

14 new sony BraVia15 recon Jet hud 16 Phantom 3 drone18 nikon 1 J5 csc 20 asus Vivowatch22 oculus rift25 lewis hamilton26 travel photography28 techy trainers30 opinion

this Monthissue 243 / June 15

tBc, lg.com/uk

Whats this all about, then?Its LGs brand-spanking-new smartphone, following the Quad HD G3.

Whats the display like? Any good?Its Quad HD again, 5.5 inches, and has pure whites and deep blacks. It also uses UV light to form a liquid-crystal alignment layer in the display, so theres a better contrast ratio.

Excellent. Is the camera top-spec?Its 16MP f/1.8 and has a highly tuned Optical Image Stabiliser that apparently produces 80 per cent brighter images. Theres also an Expert mode that enables you to control shutter speed, exposure, white balance and file type. Plus, itll shoot Ultra HD video at 60fps.

But what about battery life?The phone packs a 3,000mAh battery, reportedly offering 19.5 hours talk time (18.7 days standby).

Is the phone curved?Yes, it is. LG calls it a floating arc design that fits perfectly in your hand.

When can I get it?It should be available as you read this.

LG G4

FRont snAPPERselfie enthusiasts, rejoice! the 8MP, wide-angle front camera includes hDR, a light, and the ability to use gestures to take shots

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

A magnificent Quad HD screen is paired with an excellent cameranick oDAntzis, REviEws EDitoR

june 2015 T3 13 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com

LG G4 sMARtPhonE

One tOwatch!

Hypelg g4

connEctivitYthe G4 features

4G/wi-Fi connectivity and 32GB of internal

memory, with the ability to increase it to 200GB

using a microsD card

notiFicAtion stAtionLGs UX 4.0 brings a more personal experience, with the os analysing

your lifestyle habits and providing notifications based on this

Vital stats30 per centthe display is 30 per cent tougher than the g3s

3,000mahthe large battery should keep you going all day

5.5 inchesthe size of the g4s Quad hd iPs Quantum display

16 millionthe number of

pixels the lg g4 can capture

the G4 is a stunning device, and you have the option of adding a premium leather back cover

the camera features laser and closed-loop autofocus, helping you to take better shots

preview


Sony BRAVIA X93C2,599 (55-inch), sony.co.uk

Its a new BRAVIA! Whats so great about it?Well, its one of the first Sonys to run Android TV, Googles much-hyped home-entertainment (film, TV, music and games) platform.

OK. What can I watch with that?Loads of stuff. Android TV alone features many apps, including Netflix and yes, you can stream in 4K on this BRAVIA. But there are also the usual catch-up services built-in, including BBC iPlayer, 4oD, ITV Player and Demand 5.

What else can I do with it?Using the PlayStation Now service, you can play PlayStation 3 games directly on the TV theres no need for a console.

But whats it like as a TV?Very impressive. As well as being 4K, it features Sonys new X1 image processor, which analyses and upscales your source content to 4K. It can also play HDR content. Nice.

How big is it? Will it fit in my living room?The 55-incher (148.4 x 78.0 x 25.5cm) probably will, but the 65- and 75-inch models (170.6 x 91.1 x 29.2cm and 192.9 x 104.1 x 32.2cm respectively) will require a big lounge.

When can I get one?Its on sale now and available in 55- (2,599), 65- (3,999) and 75-inch (7,499) versions.

vital stats3480 x 2160 4K Ultra HD brings TV shows, films and games to life

178The recommended angle for optimum viewing enjoyment

360 degreesThe TV offers a

powerful surround sound experience

Four

The number of HDMI sockets, boosting your connectivity

HIGH-RES AUDIOAs with many of

Sonys high-end products, the X93C range features

high-res audio built in, so the TVs sound as good as they look

SLIMLINE SCREENThe 55-inch model measures just 25.5cm thick, with the 65-incher being 29.2cm. Even the (very expensive) 75-inch model is only 32.2cm

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10


Recon Jetvital stats

3D techA 3D accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer assure accurate readouts

1GHzTheres a dual-core processor on board

8GBThe size of the

Jets flash memory, for storing

video and more

16:9 wQvGAThe resolution of

the Jets HUD

bATTERy LIfEThe battery life is quoted at around four hours, but if you need longer you can swap in another battery en route they cost $60

CONNECTION SUITEThe glasses feature ANT+, bluetooth Smart and Wi-fi connectivity. Pair with your phone for caller ID and SMS notifications

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

$699, reconinstruments.com

These look like Google Glass!Yes, they do a bit, but the Recon Jet glasses

are aimed squarely at runners and cyclists wanting to view data thats relevant to their

activity, and capture what they see in an unobtrusive manner ie without

wearing an action cam in a mount.

So, what do they do?Theyre loaded with software thats tailored

to cyclists and runners. You can see your performance data, such as pace/

distance, duration, ascent/descent and heart rate. You can also get

smartphone notifications in your vision.

Can you talk to them?Theyve got a built-in speaker and

microphone, but you cant currently speak to them. There will probably be

some third-party app support soon.

So, you can get apps for them?They currently work with Recons own Engage app, and will soon connect to

apps such as IFTTT, Strava and Apple Health. The open SDK

means that developers can write apps for them,

so expect many more soon.

When can I get them?Right now. Go!

HypeSony BrAviA X93C / reCon Jet

One tOwAtCh!RECON JET SMART

EyEWEAR


DJI Phantom 3 Professional1,159, dji.com

Whats this, then?Its a top-of-the-range drone for capturing aerial footage.

What can it do?It can shoot stabilised 4K video and take 12-megapixel photos. It also features a Live HD view, which means you can see via an app what the drone is filming.

CAMERA CApAbilitythe phantom 3 professional features a proprietary camera that can capture 4K video. the less expensive phantom 3 Advanced (899) has a 1080p camera

controller optionsthe dedicated phantom controller

enables you to strap in your mobile device and take complete control of the drone. it has a 1.2-mile

range, enables you to start and stop recording, and will even take stills

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Where can I fly it?The CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) has rules on where you can and cant fly drones. Drones with cameras must always be flown at least 50 metres away from a person, vehicle, building or structure. Before you start, visit www.caa.co.uk/uas to read more.

How easy is it to fly?DJI tells us that the Phantom 3 is easy it has a dedicated controller and app, plus an autopilot function.

How long will the battery last?Youll get around 23 minutes of flight time from a single charge. It doesnt sound like much, but think of all the footage you can capture in that time. The Professional version comes with an upgraded charger for faster refuelling.

When can I get it?You can buy it right now.

preview

18 T3 june 2015

Today's best cameras revealed p123

CheCk This


Nikon 1 J5

TILTING SCREENThe touchscreen can be tilted

180 degrees, making it possible to take self-portraits and shots at angles that were previously hard to get at

IN CONTROLThe dedicated PSAM dial gives you full control of the 1 J5, whereas the Command dial makes it easy to navigate the menu system. You can also customise the Function button

430, nikon.co.uk

So, whats this? A small SLR?Nope, its a new Compact System Camera with retro styling and ultimate portability (it measures 98.3 x 59.7 x 31.5mm). It can take 20.8-megapixel stills and shoot video in 4K.

Impressive. Tell me more.Well, its the first Nikon 1 camera to feature a large, back-illuminated CX-format sensor, designed especially to capture a huge amount of light. Its got a wide ISO range of 160-12,800, and some excellent noise-reduction features.

Can I change the lens?You sure can. The 1 J5 can use any 1 NIKKOR lens and, for even more versatility, you can buy an FT-1 Mount Adapter that lets you use NIKKOR DX- and FX-format F-mount lenses.

What other features are there?It has fast continuous shooting you can shoot at 20fps with continuous autofocus, or up to 60fps with focus fixed at the first frame. Theres also the option to transfer photos to your device or computer using the built-in Wi-Fi or NFC. You can even control the camera remotely from your tablet or smartphone (and see what it sees).

Is it available in any other colours? And when is it out?It comes in black, silver/white, silver and black. Its available from Nikon and all good camera shops right now.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

preview

preview

ASUS VivoWatch


vital stats24-hourThe VivoWatch has a continuous heart-rate monitor

4.0The watch uses Bluetooth 4.0 Smart Ready tech

128 x 128The resolution of the display, protected by

Gorilla Glass 3

Ten daysThe average

battery life when in normal mode

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

face diSplayThe high-contrast, high-

resolution, fast-response 1.28-inch display has 1-bit memory embedded

in each pixel. it reads great outdoors, too.

120, asus.com/uk

Whats this, then?Its a beautiful smartwatch from the makers of ZenWatch, this time aimed at people with an interest in fitness.

OK, so what features does it have?Theres lots to get excited about here, including the Sleep Tracking function, which will help you catch better-quality zzzzs, and VivoPulse, which helps you exercise efficiently while offering data on calories burned. The vibrating alarm, activity reminders, heart-rate tracking and vibrating call notifications are also handy.

How will it improve my well-being?VivoWatch features a Happiness Index (HI), a score calculated using your sleep and exercise data. Its scored out of 100, and if you hit 75+ on the HI each day, youre on track for happiness and vitality!

What if I want to see data in detail?VivoWatch syncs easily with your smartphone or PC, so you can dig into your full exercise history, sleep data and more to build up an insightful picture of your wellness.

Is the watch stylish, though?ASUS launched its newbie at Milan Design Week so, yeah, its stylish. The stainless-steel chassis is polished and sleek, as is the thin steel bezel. That comfortable black fabric strap is fully adjustable for a secure fit.

How long will the battery last?A whopping average of ten days if used in normal mode. If you use it in fitness mode with active heart-rate tracking, average battery life is up to 24 hours.

When can I get it?VivoWatch is available to buy now.

WaTeR-ReSiSTaNTan ip67 water-resistance rating means that you can submerge the VivoWatch in up to one metre of water for 30 minutes ace for

showering, not for swimming

Don't hold your breath for the retail release of Oculus Rift. Once it was "coming in 2015"; the latest word is that we'll be lucky to see it this side of Christmas. Can't wait? Pick up the developer version for $350 at Oculus.com

OCulus RIftVirtual Reality is officially the next big thing so t3 asked readers for their views

ReadeR PReview

Nirave GondhiaAge: 28 OccupAtiOn: Freelance technology reporter and web developer

Liked: I dont get to plunge through burning hoops in my day job, and the ability to feel the thrill of doing a stunt without putting my life at risk was a big plus.disLiked: Speaking as a glasses-wearer, there is clearly an issue with Oculus its just not designed for us speccies. Verdict: Theres something truly thrilling about Oculus Rift; as soon as you use it, you want to keep using it. I can see uses for it from education to gaming and design to construction.

ReadeR one

Marcus BakerAge: 36 OccupAtiOn: IT project manager

Liked: Im actually "3D blind" I cant get on with 3D TVs and IMAX but Oculus Rift worked for me.

How realistic was it? Put it this way, the Fire Eater demo caused one tester to faceplant into the desk when "jumping".

disLiked: Even if I cant see them, my brain still knows I have hands, and it knows that if I put them out in front of me then I should be able to see themVerdict: If Oculus gets those full-body input peripherals, itll

revolutionise gaming.

ReadeR two

HandS-on wItH


e're in Londons fashionable Caledonian Road

area. The venue is Meltdown, Londons premier

gaming establishment and also a pleasingly

characterful old pub. T3 has come to show off

the Oculus Rift to a panel of our esteemed readers.

Oculus was the trigger for the second coming of Virtual

Reality, which is arguably the most exciting thing in tech

today. Since it emerged in 2012 off the back of a wildly

successful Kickstarter campaign, Oculus Rift has been

through two main iterations (DK1 and DK2) and two interim

ones, including the brand new Crescent Bay edition. Oh, and

its been bought by Facebook in a deal potentially worth

$2.3 billion, demonstrating that Oculus founder Palmer

Luckey is a man who lives up to his surname.

T3 brought two demos. On DK1, the game All Birds Must

Die, in which you must shoot birds with your eyes. They're

evil birds, apparently. And on the more sophisticated

DK2, Fire Eater. The latter was courtesy of INITION,

the UKs number one VR experience

provider, and involves you jumping off a

nausea-enduringly high platform,

through flaming hoops, to certain death.

So fun for the whole family, then. But

what did T3's readers make of it all?

phOt

OgrA

phy

WiL

L ir

eLAn

d

W

Hypeoculus Rift

Oculus isn't all one-way others can watch the action on a laptop

some people find the headset easier to use with hands apparently

In addition to being an immersive gaming tool, Oculus is also great for getting together with friends, but be prepared to be taken advantage of

A unique side-effect of the Oculus Rift, which can only really be witnessed in person, is the face the wearer pulls as he or she turns

The 3d works really well and makes you feel like you're right in the middle of the actionROss MACGIllIVRAy, t3 ReADeR

fabio VergiAge: 26 OccupAtiOn: Marketer and tech blogger

Liked: As a VR newbie, I was really taken aback by the immersive experience. It was so responsive

to my head movements, which made exploring the VR environment easy and smooth.disLiked: Why arent there headphones built in?Verdict: I cant wait for Oculus Rift to pick up mainstream momentum! If VR tech like this continues to improve the way it has, I think it could redefine both how we play games and how we consume video content.

ReadeR fIve

Zak RavatAge: 29 OccupAtiOn: Sales trainer

Liked: I was really impressed at how light the DK2 version is. The 3D graphics and sound meant you

were really immersed in the 3D environment, and best of all I didnt feel sick always a plus!disLiked: Having to have the device tightly fitted to my face in order to focus clearly.Verdict: Although VR movies could be amazing, I wasnt blown away by this. Do I want to be flapping my head around while playing COD? Im not quite sure yet

ReadeR SIx

Ross MacGillivrayAge: 38 OccupAtiOn: Student

Liked: The DK2 in particular is comfy and lightweight. The 3D works really well and makes

you feel right in the middle of the action, especially once you have your headphones on.disLiked: I was worried about getting tangled up in the wiring while moving around. Verdict: Loved it! If this is the development kit, I can only imagine how good the retail version will be. Itd be very interesting to play something like GTA V with the Rift.

ReadeR fouR

Alex PangAge: 42OccupAtiOn: Business analyst

Liked: It was great to look around and see 360 degrees of virtual world. This thing can really

take first-person shooters to the next level, because your head replaces the mouse for viewing and aiming.disLiked: You need to shift the headset about until you find the quite small sweet spot. And if you move about too much, you can lose that sweet spot, which is most irritating. Verdict: Ah, its so good. I loved the graphical quality, but really its all about the feeling of being in a virtual world.

ReadeR tHRee


T3 would lik

e to

give extra

special th

anks to

Kathy and Campbell a

t initio

n.co.uk and Rob and Duncan at m

eltd

own.bar/lo

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people

what a corker

01 Le Creuset Champagne OpenerDriving through the streets for hours in a turbo-powered oven, Lewiss hands are going to get sweaty, so if he wins he might end up popping a cork right into the Prince of Monacos eye. With the Le Creuset champagne opener, he can loosen and capture corks with ease, leaving him free to spray champagne into the faces of unsuspecting passers-by. 20, selfridges.com

appy days

02 FLOpsy DrOiD On anDrOiD WearHandily, Lewis has the best car, which means hell finish races sooner than most this season. So we think he should swap whatever bling watch hes sponsored by for an Android Wear one, such as LGs G Watch R (p125). That way, he can play addictive Flappy Bird clone Flopsy Droid while he waits in the pit lane. We can just see it: No, Nico, you cant have a go!Free, Google Play

music to his ears

03 DaB raDiOGetting garbled, static-laden messages from the garage probably gets stressful. Being told to ease up on the tyres when youre going down a hot road at 200mph with Vettel up your arse must rankle. So we suggest Lewis rips out the team radio and replaces it with the Pure Highway 300Di, enabling him to enjoy some ABBA (The winner takes it all!) while pretending to be the now-on-the-dole Stig.185, pure.com

rubbed up

04 haLFOrDs BaCk 12vYou only have to look at the drivers heart rates when they line up on the starting grid to know that F1 is a tense sport. With the Halfords Back 12v massage cushion, Lewis could work out all those shoulder knots while he loops the track. Hed be so chilled out, hed slither up to the podium like a jelly. Well, not that hed make the podium, as hed have done the whole race at 9mph while listening to whale sounds. 40, halfords.com

the truth is out there

05 suBtext transLatOrThis fictional, but entirely brilliant, gadget would be more for us, the viewers, than Lewis. Worn on his helmet, the translator would tell us what hes really thinking. So, Nico and I have chatted about it and were relaxed about the situation would be translated as, I shouted at him and we had to be pulled apart, while Im not sure what happened out there would reach us as I crashed into a wall because of my driving.il

lust

rati

on m

iss

led

Words: Rob Temple

more great content at the all-new www.t3.com june 2015 T3 25

LeWis hamiLtOnevery issue, t3 selects tech for people making the headlines. F1 ace Lewis hamiltons done a lot of that lately, but what do you give a man who seems to have it all?

01

02

03

we can build you

04

t h e r e a de r t h e e x pe rt


01OlyMpus OM-D E-M10 systEM caMEraThe E-M10 is small, but its packed with features and produces superb-quality 16MP images. Whats more, unlike some small compact system cameras, it has a viewfinder built in, so you dont have to squint at the screen in bright Italian sunlight. Speaking of the screen, its a tilting, touch-sensitive job, which is useful for changing settings quickly and shooting from high or low angles.

Further good news is that theres Wi-Fi connectivity built in, so you can quickly transfer images to your phone via the free Olympus Image Share app, then share them with friends. You can even control the camera remotely, and compose images on your phones screen.429 (body only), www.olympus.co.uk

02OlyMpus 14-42MM f/3.5-5.6 EZ lEnsThis lens complements the E-M10 perfectly because it collapses down to a super-small size, which is ideal for travellers, and extends automatically when the camera is powered up. 269, www.olympus.co.uk

03OlyMpus 40-150MM f/4.0-5.6 lEnsWhile the 14-42mm lens is a great general-purpose optic thats ideal for general use when youre pounding Rome's pavements, this longer Olympus lens will come in handy when youre photographing more distant subjects. 229, www.olympus.co.uk

T3's gadget concierge service recommends ideal solutions for your tech requirements

CiTy break phoTographer

04ManfrOttO BEfrEE travEl tripODThe Befree Travel Tripod will help you capture the sun setting over the Tiber or the floodlit Roman Forum because it's not too bulky to lug around. Weighing in at just 1.4kg (including the head) it comes with a handy padded bag. The maximum height of 144cm means its not the tallest tripod around, but it will hold your camera steady.149, www.manfrotto.co.uk

05pEak DEsign cuffThe E-M10 features comfortable grips and is light enough to be carried in your hand, but taking this wrist strap with you is still a good idea because it will offer you some security against pickpockets. The anchor link loops neatly onto the cameras strap lug, then clicks securely into the adjustable strap. When you put the camera on a tripod, the anchor link can be detached quickly and the cuff transformed into a bracelet to keep it out of the way.17.40, www.peakdesign.com

06DElkin DEvicEs 64gB Black sD carDFew memory cards offer the reassurance you get from Delkin Devices Black SD Card. Super-fast (Delkin claims it offers unparalleled speeds) and also tough, it comes with a 48-hour replacement guarantee. The downside is that it can only be bought in a camera store you wont find this one available online.99.99, www.delkin.com

iain spencer T3 reader Iain, 38, has

booked a romantic break in Rome. He wants to know what camera kit he should

pack to do the historic city justice and will shoot during the day and at night.

angela nicholson Head of Testing for

T3's sister titles Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, and N-Photo, what Angela

doesn't know about camera technology definitely isn't worth knowing.

HypeCiTy break phoTographer

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The best app for smartphone shooters

p40

CheCk This

The Olympus E-M10 may be small, but it produces images of the highest qualityangEla nichOlsOn

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Read more at www.t3.com 28 T3 june 2015

Vans LXVI authentIc LIte

The classic white Vans. The Authentic Lite has been re-engineered to improve fit. But most impressive is the UltraCush outsole and footbed, making the trainer super-light.www.vans.co.uk, 47

new BaLance FResh Foam Zante

Whether youre running or partying, the Fresh Foam Zante in lime green is a solid and striking choice. Its sleek, snug and built for speed or dancing!www.newbalance.co.uk, 95

cushe Getaway The chilled-out Cushe (its pronounced

cushy) Getaway boasts a soft, memory-foam sole and a collapsible back for those who cant be bothered to put their trainers on properly.www.cushe.com/uk, 45

nIke FRee tRaIneR 5.0

Ultra-light and ultra-trendy, the new Nike Free Trainer 5.0 combines

flexibility and support through multi-directional flex grooves,

while Flywire tech offers greater stability without the weight.

www.nike.com, 90

Puma aRIL Classic styling in a Puma

lightweight trainer thats equally at home in the gym or on the circuit as

it is in a bar. Inspired by the legendary Puma R698, the Aril

features a mesh upper with suede trims and a rather cool TPU saddle.

uk.puma.com, 60

summeR kIckshere at t3, we live for the cutting edge, and that includes fashion. and these trainers are as techy as they are trendy

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suPeR techy sunGLasses

on saLe thuRs 11 June

nExT MOnTh

talking tech

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eres the tech dream: your

home is almost a living

thing, learning your

personal habits, reacting to

you as you move around, making your

life as simple, and your energy use as

efficient, as possible. You are Man 2.0,

in your space-age bachelor pad.

Heres the tech reality, as it stands:

youve got a load of mundane or

gimmicky bits of kit that wont talk to

each other, and you have to reboot your

router to turn your lights on, and call

a help centre to heat your house.

In the past year, Ive been sent plenty

of these connectables, the new

wave of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled

home devices. They make everything

into a smartphone accessory, regardless

of whether it needs to be or not. Ive

tried plug sockets that I can switch

on with my phone, four different

types of smart bulb; then there was the

kettle, the football (oh yes, kids today

can no longer just go out and play

football, they have to charge it up first),

the security camera that doubled up

as an air-quality monitor, the sleep

sensor and the thermostat. Because

I no longer need to move from my

couch, Ive become obese but as every

one of these requires a different app,

at least my fingers have become lean

and toned from the constant tapping.

Groaning routersIts impossible to get a smart home up

and running without serious planning.

None of these rival devices talk to each

other or can be grouped. And really,

having to fish your phone out every

time you want to, say, turn the lighting

down a tad doesnt feel very futuristic

light switches and dimmers are, as it

turns out, a pretty convenient way to

control your lights. Who knew?

So how about adding a motion

sensor to turn your lights on as you

approach? Well, yeah, so long as its on

the same system as your bulb, and

you dont mind yet another thing

added to your router, which is

already groaning under the weight of

competing dongles and Wi-Fi signals.

Move past the mundane stuff

bulbs, plug sockets, IP cams that arent

sure if theyre baby monitors or just

a means of creepily watching

your family while youre out

and you soon hit another

problem. There are brands that make

great homewares kettles, for instance

and there are brands that know how

to get basic Wi-Fi switching sorted out.

Theres not a lot of overlap. So at present,

if you want to boil your kettle from your

bedroom, you have to settle for one

thats slow to heat up and has slightly

clunky looks for its premium price.

So at the moment, the connected

home is the preserve of a small number

of enthusiastic hobbyists. You have to

be prepared to get down and dirty with

mainstream. First, the number of

standards has to reduce. Everyone

making this stuff knows that, and they

all say, Yes, we need standardisation.

Thats why weve set up our own

standard, so everyone can join us on

our team. Sorry, chaps, it doesnt work

like that. Ideally, the market needs to

be like smartphones, where you have

a duopoly, with one rigidly policed

system and one slightly looser one. That

way, people can feel like they have a

choice, but there isnt confusion and

despondency over too much choice.

That could be Apple Home Kit

and (the Google-owned) Works with

Nest. Or it could be Microsoft and

Withings. Or it could be two completely

new companies.

The other, I think more important,

thing that needs to change is that

your smartphone/app/sensor/whatever

control needs to be fittable to anything,

without the need for knowledge of

circuit boards and soldering irons.

That will be the real sea change, when

a Bluetooth LE module is as standard

on electrical goods as a plug is.

Consumers outside of T3 Land

still need a lot of convincing that

they need everything in their home

connected to everything else, all

controlled via their mobile device or TV.

Connectables right now are like the

early days of aviation: theres plenty of

excitement but a lot of the products have

a charming primitiveness to them and,

my gosh, theres a lot of crashing.

They make everything into a smartphone accessory, whether it needs to be or not

H

your router, put in the time to set

everything up, become acquainted

with IFTTT, and feel a genuine buzz of

pleasure at knowing your Withings

sleep sensor can now tell your Nest

thermostat that youve woken up.

Oh, and ignore the fact that your old

thermostats timer used to give much

the same result, but more reliably and

with less requirement for rebooting

your network on a semi-regular basis.

Two things need to happen for

the world of connectables to go

Duncan Bell is home sickThe Internet of Things is nearly a thing of wonder, but it still needs some work

OPINION

let him take you on an inCReDiBle jouRney of teCh enlightenment

senD youR questions to: [email protected] or www.facebook.com/T3mag

above If you want a bit of kink in your life, get a curved Tv. but dont expect it to be immersive

PResentsIL

LUST

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AmI N

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Gadget Guru is going to be

a politician and say, Let

me put it to you this way:

I make no bones about it.

It depends. But mainly, no. Although

Gadget Guru or GaGu, as his close

friends call him can see no visual

benefit to curved TVs in terms of

whats on the screen, they do look nice

overall, and aesthetics rule his life.

The argument that you get a more

immersive experience because of

the way the screen wraps around you

seems a bit bogus to GaGu, because

the screens just arent big enough.

You also, by definition, get a slight

warping of the image, like the effects

when Johnny Depp is on LSD in Fear

And Loathing In Las Vegas.

TV manufacturers have interesting

attitudes to the tech. Whereas some

are gung-ho about the benefits, GaGu

has spoken to representatives of other

brands who have said, We dont think

P32 are curved Tvs worth the bother? P33 How can I best automate my home lighting? P33 Where shouldnt I fly my Quadcopter? P34 Do any gadgets test blood pressure?P34 Whats the ultimate camera phone?P34 Which robo-vac should I buy?

curved TVs are an amazing idea,

but there is demand there and the

customer is always right especially

when hes handing us 2K for a TV

with a kink in it. GaGu is paraphrasing.

Widescreen monsterThe benefits of curved screens are

more noticeable on PC monitors,

because you sit nearer to them

Dells 21:9 widescreen monster the

UltraSharp 34 is really good and on

the forthcoming IMAX Private Theatre,

where the screen curves both from

top to bottom and edge to edge. But

thats a projected screen of at least 3m

across. Oh, and it costs 1.8million.

What Gadget Guru would like to

see is tellies curved into a tube that

you have to be lowered into on a

swivel chair, so you can have The

Avengers or the cast of The One Show

everywhere around you, like VR without

the goggles. But if GaGu is being

honest, thats because hes drunk.

My front room is square. Tell me straight: are curved TVs worth the bother?

Dean McGarvey, SouTHaMpTon

you GeT a WarpInG oF THe IMaGe, LIKe THe eFFeCTS WHen joHnny Depp IS on LSD In Fear anD LoaTHInG In LaS veGaS

This issue

youR questions answeReD

june 2015 T3 33More great content at the all-new www.t3.com

GaDGeT GuruS MaGIC box

With Philips Hue having

forged the way, smart LED

bulbs are in right now. To my

mind, theres simply never

been a better time to shell out 50 on

a damn lightbulb! Happy days.

There are four options for

automation: movement sensors

that activate lights as you approach;

timer functions that switch them on

and off at set times; fine control from

your smartphone or tablet; or a

high-tech combination of all three.

Mind the dustIn GaGus opinion, based on painful

experience, timers are by far the best

option, because movement sensors

whack up the already-daunting cost

even further, and are prone to being

set off by minute specs of dust settling

nearby, yet are unable to recognise

your presence, even if you happen to

be an elephant.

All smart-bulb systems worth their

salt GaGu has tried Belkin WeMo,

Gadget Guru is in regular

contact with the police,

helping them with their

enquiries (about tech). His

friends in the fuzz tell him theres some

concern about drones at present, so

GaGu is happy to help them by spelling

out to you places it might not be wise

to fly a drone, in case youre an idiot.

One: near airports. Anyone whos

been in a plane during a bird strike and

had to limp to the nearest airport with

a destroyed engine and the smell of

burnt seagull permeating the cockpit

will be in a cold sweat about what a

drone could do if sucked into a turbine.

It also wont do your drone much good.

Two: near official buildings. You

know MI5s HQ in London, or the US

Embassy? Well, GaGu wouldnt fly a

drone with a camera on it near those.

He has it on good authority that the

Yanks shoot them down, and theres

always room left in Guantanamo Bay.

Ironically, flying near pylons is

comparatively safe, as your drone by

definition wont be earthed but GaGu

still wouldnt exactly recommend it.

Philips Hue and a few other, more

obscure brands will have timer

functionality in their attendant app.

Now, if you want to get truly

Jetsons on the ass of your home

illumination, you can use IFTTT, Works

With Nest and the like to synchronise

your lighting with other smart devices.

For instance, Withings bonkers Aura

sleep monitor can now inform Nest

when youve woken up, so it can turn

your heating up ready for you to climb

out of the sack and into the shower.

Nest can also, in turn, inform your

lights that its time to rise and shine. If

thats not like being Buck Rogers in the

21st century, Gadget Guru doesnt

know what is.

A word of warning, though: there

are a few issues with smart lighting,

and the main one is that your phone is

just not as good a way to turn on bulbs

as a light switch is, so you may find

yourself having to fall back on that

more old-fashioned method from

time to time. The truth hurts, Jason.

I want to live the connected-home dream. How can I best automate my home lighting?

jaSon eaveS, LeICeSTer

Where should I avoid flying my Phantom Quadcopter?

MeL FarLey, roCHeSTer

above engage in a drone battle with a real aeroplane and theres only going to be one winner

Have you ever wanted to stream CDs to

elsewhere in your home? Panasonics 2015 line of

AllPlay speakers includes the SC-ALL5CD, which can

do exactly that. Given that its small and portable,

maybe you might want to just pick it up and take it

with you, rather than buying a second box and

streaming to it. Who am I to say?

Are you an impatient man who likes barbecuing

and tech, but doesnt have many friends? The Lotus

MiniGrill (left) is just 240 x 225mm

and, thanks to a built-in fan that

raises the flames like a twisted

firestarter or, indeed, a punkin

instigator, its ready to brown your

meat in just four minutes.

You know when youre in an

unfamiliar location and really need a

qualified drone pilot? Well, thank the Lord, theres

finally a service for you. Air-Vid has a database of

over 3,000 pilots in 90 countries, searchable by

area. Its like Airbnb, but for drone pilots!

John Lewis has a couple of truly epic kitchen

products lined up as exclusives. KitchenAids

Magnetic Drive Torrent Blender

(right) is a salty 549 and can

rustle up juices, soups and

smoothies of silken smoothness at

the touch of a button, thanks to

the miracle of Adapti-Blend. Its

awesome. Joining it shortly will be

Tefals Cuisine Companion

robo-chef. Just chuck in your ingredients and watch

in awe as it chops, whips, mixes, blends and kneads

them, before baking, steaming and/or searing,

stirring all the while. Pricing will be around 800.

Winning the battle to be King of Gadget Gurus

Magic Box this month, however, is Netgears R8000

Nighthawk router (below). This offers Wi-Fi

connectivity tailored for each individual device,

allegedly, so the slower ones dont slow down the

faster ones thats a big deal if it works. It was easy

to set up and seems fast but,

more importantly, with its six

antennae, it resembles a

malevolent, upside-down

robot ant. Get in.

youR questions answeReD

KevIn norTon, brISToL

above vacuum cleaners get lonely too

Harry MICHaeL, WIMbLeDon

Max parISH, CorK


raTHer THan beInG a pHone WITH a CaMera In IT, THe LuMIx CM1 IS a CaMera WITH an anDroID pHone In IT

neeD To KnoW:

SeLF-DrIvInG veHICLeS

This is one of GaGus

hot-button issues, having

spent the past five years

trying to find the perfect

robo-vac after his cleaner ran away

with that bloke from Homebase.

iRobots range is great at cleaning

but has all the grace and carefulness

youd associate with a rampaging

Terminator. To date, the others have

all proved to be either impressively

clever but useless at sucking up stuff,

or vice versa.

All except the Vorwerk VK100, that

is. This is actually a Neato robo-vac,

but its been re-engineered ie made

better, stronger and suckinger for the

demanding German market. It costs

649, so not exactly peanuts, but

GaGu's has now been giving strong

vorsprung durch technik for three

joyous years, while contenders from

other brands have come and gone.

Gadget Guru has historically

found Nokia and Sony

phones to have the best

cameras. However, these

days, Apple, Samsung, HTC and the

rest all have perfectly decent options.

However, one device that crushes

all of those is the Panasonic LUMIX

CM1. Thats because, rather than

being a phone with a camera in it,

its a camera with an Android phone

in it. Theres a proper control ring,

a one-inch, 20-megapixel sensor,

proper manual and auto modes, and

everything. Mind you, it will set you

back about 800 quid, and battery

death is a constant and looming threat.

Speaking as someone

who once tested a smart

blood-pressure monitor

at its launch party and

was advised to seek medical help

immediately, Gadget Guru is reluctant

to recommend these things, but there

are fine offerings out there from Salter

the maestro of all things homely

and essential but unglamorous (the

MiBody at 60) as well as Withings,

Qardio and iHealth (all at 100).

GaGu is assuming youre talking

about blood-pressure monitors that

connect to an app on your phone or

tablet, given that this is T3 magazine.

If youre after something more olde

worlde, there are umpteen options.

What robot vacuum cleaner do you use, Guru?

With so many camera phones to choose from, which would you say is the best?

Is there a gadget that tests blood pressure?

HoW Do veHICLeS aCTuaLLy DrIve THeMSeLveS?In short, much like humans drive them: by receiving stimuli from their senses and processing them with a brain. Anyone whos been in a taxi will be aware that not a huge amount of brain power is required to drive a car [steady on, GaGu, some of my best friends are cabbies Ed], so the sensors are key.

WHaT KInD oF SenSorS?Theres a plethora of them, from long- and short-range radar to cameras, lasers and GPS. Take Volvos system, which works by comparing what it sees with its sensors to where its GPS tells it it is, to build a full picture of its position. The AI then needs to be able to distinguish between unexpected elements braking if a person or moose steps out in front of you, but keeping going if a plastic bag blows into the road.

ITS aS SIMpLe aS THaT?Erm, well, there are also numerous failsafe systems that need to be tested. Driverless cars, at least initially, need to be degrees safer than standard ones, because people get upset about the idea of robots accidentally killing them. To that end, Volvo is installing two braking systems, for instance, and talking about an approach more akin to the aircraft industry than the automotive one.

So WHen WILL My Car be abLe To DrIve ITSeLF?Technically, it would already be able to if it were fitted with the necessary sensors. Unfortunately, because people are a bit funny about road safety and the prospect of death by robot, fuddy-duddy health-and-safety bores insist that more testing, normalising and/or legislation is required before we get that far.

Can I Have a SIMpLer anSWer?Volvo will be testing its Drive Me system in Gothenburg from 2017. So if youre one of the 100 lucky punters on that scheme, thats when your car will drive itself.

Seven new adventureS with tech you can Start today!

issue 243 / June 15

Put A teslA Model s to the test

Go kite surfinG with A GoPro

Perfect Your iPhoneoGrAPhY with enliGht

wAtch dAredeVil in 4k on netfliX

sAVour A sMArt brew

bAG A Pb with A fitness trAcker

tAke to the skies for A drone bAttle


38 T3 june 2015

tech adventures


WALLET BASHERThe Tesla Model S will put a serious dent in your wallet, with the cheapest version starting at just under 50k. Itll cost you around 500 per month on a lease deal

BATTERY BENEATHThe Model S has a giant 85kWh battery that forms the entire floor of the car, its weight giving you a low centre of gravity for flatter cornering and better stability

june 2015 T3 39

AgENdAteslA test driVe


The notoriously petrol-dependent United States is fully embracing Teslas vision of a battery-powered

future, with Elon Musks vehicles achieving record sales. And, thanks to a growing network of dealers and chargers, theyre creeping onto the UKs roads, too.Theres still a certain reluctance and

suspicion of electric vehicles in the UK, though. Fortunately, Teslas test-drive experience is here to alleviate fears that owning one of these high-tech, 50k automobiles will turn you into a sandal-wearing tree hugger or, worse, the trendy CEO of a doomed internet start-up. While the thrill of driving an electric

car is pretty much instantaneous, its recommended that you test drive one over a period of a few days to see how it fits into your lifestyle. Take your time, says Dr Ben Lane of Next Green Car. We find that it takes at least three days to get what electric vehicles are all about. Request a weeks test drive to really understand if ones for you.

START YouR AdvENTuRE TodAY Book your test drive online at www.teslamotors.com, or visit one of the companys seven stores dotted around the country. Once youre up and running, try out the cars unique features. The Model S includes a 17-inch touchscreen that provides navigation and even lets you browse the Web, while driving-style options make it handle like a sleek sports car or a comfortable cruiser. Worried about battery life? With Next Green Cars Zap-Map (zap-map.com), you can find Tesla-compatible chargers and keep your test vehicle topped up.

Put a teSla model Sto the teSttempted to try out one of these electro-fuelled luxury cars? nows the perfect time to take advantage of the tesla experience

june 2015 T3 39

is the bMw c evo electric bike any good?

p102

check this

SuPERCHARgERIt can take up to 24 hours to charge a Model S using a uK

wall socket, but at one of the 21 superchargers across

the country you can get to 80 per cent in just 40 minutes

Your action cam is just screaming out for some aquatic adventures, and kite surfing is a perfect fit.

Its surfings more sophisticated older brother and, as youll spend most of your time on the board, you neednt worry about suffering the British Isles freezing waters.

Its also pretty simple to pull off some impressive moves to capture on your GoPro. The best beginner trick is going for some big air, says Tristan Cawte, co-owner of The Kitesurf Centre at Camber Sands in East Sussex. It looks impressive and its relatively easy to do.

Theres no shortage of options for mounting your GoPro, too the kite provides a tailor-made selfie platform. The best place to mount it is on a head cam or on the lines pointing back to the rider, says Cawte.

START YouR AdvENTuRE TodAY Its a good idea to check your weather app before you embark on a kite-surfing adventure. 20 to 30mph winds with big waves but flat water between the sets are perfect, recommends Cawte.

Unless you fancy dinging your board and breaking some bones, youll also need a rather large body of water. The Kitesurf Centre is just an hours drive from London, but most seaside resorts offer the sport. If youre new to the sport, training is essential. The British Kitesports Association (britishkitesports.org) includes details of registered instructors, as well as basic safety and etiquette information.

Perfect your iPhoneography with enlightQuickly edit your iPhone snaps with this awesome all-in-one image app

Image editors are ten-a-penny on the App Store, but youll often find that you need more than one. Before you know it, youve dragged your original image through a host of different filters just to be able to post it on Instagram.

enter enlight. it offers a range of image enhancements that will quickly enable anyone to get their iPhone images looking their best, explains Alistair Jennings, digital camera magazines imaging-lab manager. those new to iPhoneography should take a look at the vast selection of filters that enable artistic colour and b&w effects to be applied. the Analog Mimesis

goPro offers action cams ranging from

1080p/30fps (110) to 4K models costing 410.

Heres legendary kite surfer damien

Leroy showing us his goPro gurn

Go kite SurfinG with a GoProGet more from your GoPro whichever model you own with this easy-to-learn but hugely impressive watersport

filter is great for a retro effect, perfect for instagram.

Meanwhile, iPhoneographers will dig in-depth features such as curve tweaks, selective colour adjustments, perspective adjustments and smart crops. the comprehensive set of features and tools enable you to enhance, edit, apply creative effects and upload your images in a well-designed app that takes photo editing on mobile devices to another level, says Jennings.

40 T3 june 2015 Read more at www.t3.com

tech adventures

0203

mount your GoPro on your head for some serious extreme selfies

it takes mobile photo editing to a whole new level

gogogoPRothe hero4 black will capture your big air in glorious 4k at 30fps. 410, gopro.com

As a boy, Matt Murdock was blinded by a radioactive substance. At the same time, his other four senses

were heightened, equipping him with superhuman powers. After his father is killed by gangsters, he sets out to seek revenge in the form of Daredevil. Thats the premise for Netflixs new

series, now being streamed in stunning UHD to your TV. Youll need a compatible telly, and theres no better, or newer, than the Samsung JS9000 series. Available in 48-inch, 55-inch and 65-inch versions, its packed full of tech perfect for seeing Mr Murdock kick a gangsters ass.

Marvels four-sensed hero gets a 4k outing and you need to spec up to watch this gritty, groundbreaking series

So why bother with Daredevil in UHD? Netflixs first Marvel series boasts all the lavish production values youd expect from the House Of Cards maker, but with punch-ups to rival the very best of action cinema. Its an explosively violent and dark, character-driven drama, says Jordan Farley of leading sci-fi mag SFX. Make the most of Netflixs 4K streaming capabilities on a top telly for maximum visual wallop as the deep shadows of Hells Kitchen pop off the screen.

START YouR AdvENTuRE TodAY First, youll need a Netflix Premium account. This will cost you 8.99

per month (which is a bargain in our eyes). Check if your current TV is Netflix UHD-compatible by visiting help.netflix.com. Or just bin your old TV and opt for a brand-new model that supports Netflixs Ultra HD service. Youll be able to access Netflix on your smart TV by hitting the Home (or similar) button on your remote and entering your log-in details. A whole world of Ultra HD streaming now awaits.

june 2015 T3 41

AgENdAdAredeVil in 4k


what better way to see a blind man kick a gangsters ass?

see our exclusive review of this samsung tV

p94

check this

04watch daredevil in 4k on netfliX

4K SuPERHERoYoull need the right tV to stream netflix in 4k uhd. the new samsung Js9000 range, starting at 2,599 for a 48-inch, is ideal

Samsung uE55JS9000 A 55-inch curved suhd beauty with nano-crystal colour.3,999, samsung.com/uk

wake up and smell the coffee with a super-smart wi-fi grinding-and-brewing machine

check this

42 T3 june 2015

tech adventures


BaG a PB with a fitneSS tracker

FITNESS FANATICFitbit Charge HR this device tracks your steps, heartbeat, calories burned and more.120, fitbit.com/uk

Most people experience a sudden burst of enthusiasm for running when they first strap on a fitness tracker,

but a few months down the line this can turn into a miserable plod. Attempting to beat your personal best can reinvigorate even the most run-of-the-mill runs.

Signing up for Strava (strava.com) can help give you that competitive edge. The service enables you to challenge your mates and beat your own best times. But what else can you do to get re-motivated with your fitness band?

Take your training outside and off the treadmill, suggests DW Fitness

personal trainer Lee Pickering. Fresh air will help to boost your motivation, and you can explore new places. Challenge yourself with hills and interval running in order to get the most out of your exercise.

The best way to increase your overall time is to pay attention to your heart rate while youre doing the deed and fitness bands such as Fitbits Charge HR will give you an immediate readout. Steadily increase your effort levels until youre unable to hold a short conversation whilst running, Pickering says. This is the point where your body begins to use more glycogen than oxygen. Now try to keep your heart rate at this level.

START YouR AdvENTuRE TodAY To use Strava, youll need a GPS-based device, whether its your phone or a watch such as the Garmin Forerunner 620 (330, garmin.com/en-GB). Check out the Nike+ app for Apple Watch. It enables you to track routes, work out calories burned and cheer on friends. Shoes feeling a bit worn-out? Mino (8, runmino.com) slots under your insole and gives a readout on how much life is left in your shoes via an LED display.

Add a dash of excitement to your running routine, and improve your performance at the same time

ABovE Strava takes the data from your gPS device and enables you to compare times and challenge other athletes

The Smarter Wi-Fi coffee maker wont charge you extortionate amounts for a cup, or spell your name wrong

Savour a smart brew

The uK is in the grip of two revolutions: decent coffee and internet-connected things. Smarters

Wi-Fi coffee maker (150, available at firebox.com) combines both trends in one marvellous drinks buddy.

the machine will wake you up with your favourite brew, sending an alarm to your smartphone. but the question is, what beans are best for it?

06

05

lee bolam, director of extract coffee roasters, recommends Mexican terruno espresso for the morning. its well balanced by a big body and plenty of sweetness, he says.

whether youre after a caffeine kick or a gentle pick-me-up, the strength can be controlled via smarters app, and the machine can brew up to 12 cups at once if youre feeling particularly jaded. You can even set it to make you a brew as soon as you walk in the door.

wake up to your favourite brew without having to lift a finger

run, forrest, run! six fitness bands on test

p100

june 2015 T3 45

AgENdAduellinG drones


INdooR ACTIoNbattling drones indoors can be a terrifying experience. Models such as the dJi Phantom have sonar systems, enabling you to let them hover indoors without GPs

FLYINg SoLothe new 3d robotics

solo (3drobotics.com)is one smart drone, enabling you to accurately control camera movements via an

innovative smartphone app

SMART CoNTRoLSMost drones can be piloted via your phone, but for extra airborne agility consider getting hold of a dedicated controller, like the Parrot skycontroller for the bebop

youll need a large indoor area such as a squash court and netting

THE dRoNE To oWNParrot Bebop easy to fly and capable of capturing 1080p footage and 14MP images. 430, parrot.com/uk

If youve just dropped a few hundred quid (or more!) on a flying robot, the chances are you wont want to smash

it into another persons drone but there is an entire sub-section of enthusiasts who do just that. Game of Drones founder Marque Cornblatt has become a legend in this flying fight club.

His first step was to redesign the airborne combatants. Whilst you could use an off-the-shelf model such as the Parrot Bebop, it could get expensive. Pulling together parts is a much more sensible approach for drone warfare. We had to reinvent the drone so that it would

take to the SkieS for a drone Battletoughen up your quadcopter and brace yourself for some truly modern aerial warfare. the drones are taking off

thrive in this destructive environment, Cornblatt says. After building hundreds of experimental prototypes, we finally had an airframe that was literally bulletproof.

Once youve built your battle-ready drone, you can take it to the skies for an airborne battle and the last man flying is the winner. Cornblatt recommends that you get to know your drone and hardware intimately beforehand. All your props, batteries and components need to be easy to repair, he explains.

START YouR AdvENTuRE TodAY Game of Drones is yet to launch in the UK, but you could host your own event.

Youll need a large indoor area such as a squash court, hanging nets to protect spectators, and willing participants. Youll also need drones. Game of Drones bulletproof airframe is the perfect chassis, and the official website (gameofdrones.com) includes recommended components. Get feedback and advice on drone building by checking out the community at DIY Drones (diydrones.com).

07

the new dJi Phantom 3 drone has arrived!

p16

check this

46 T3 june 201546 T3 JUNE 2015

Model wears

Shirt: Philipp Plein

Jacket: Casely-Hayford

The Apple Watch. The most anticipated gadget of the year, or actually for as long as I can remember. Getting your hands on an Apple Watch is very much like purchasing any other Apple product well, in terms

of the unboxing and initial excitement, that is. And a matter of days before T3 went to press, I was finally able to strap the 38mm Sport version with white strap to my wrist and embark on a day-long test to see if it could live up to the hype.

A typical day for me is probably much the same

as yours: wake up, have a quick workout (if I can

muster up the energy), get the kids ready for

school, drive to work and then maybe squeeze in

a quick pint with colleagues before heading home

to cook and eat before bed. My iPhone 6 Plus is an

integral part of my life. Its never out of my hand

I cannot imagine not having it. Would the Apple

Watch fit into my life in the same indispensable

way? Thats what I intended to find out

DElivEry Day: Booting upPushing in the digital crown to boot up, I expected

the watch to be ready in an instant, but it seemed

to take an age. It was probably only a minute or so,

but it threw me a little. But I guess setting up any

device from scratch takes a while. One thing that

immediately struck me was the screen. The Apple

Watchs screen is nothing short of stunning: bright,

sharp and, well, just lovely.

The very first thing I did? Charge it. Even the

plug has been designed with portability in mind

its folded flat by default, but pull out the main

prong and all three snap out ready to use. You then

plug in the USB and simply attach the magnetic

circular charger to the back of the watch. Apple

quotes two-and-a-half hours for a full charge,

so thats what I did. Next, I needed to set up the

watch, and this is where the fun started.

The first thing the Apple Watch asks you to do is

choose a language. This was my first experience of

the digital crown and the touchscreen. The 38mm

model seems frightfully small, but the screen was

immediately responsive. After tapping English

Whats it really like to spend a day using the Apple Watch? We run it through its paces, but can its much talked-about battery life live up to the 18-hour promise?

ApplewAtch

24 hours with the

WORDS ROB CARNEY PHOTOGRAPHY JOBY SESSIONS, NEIL GODWIN

june 2015 T3 47

24 hoUrs wiTh ThE

Apple wAtch

The digital crown is, while perhaps not

as succulent as Jonathan Ives hyperbole,

a masterpiece in design. After using it for

minutes, you feel highly accustomed to it,

like youve been using this kind of device

your whole life. Tapping the digital crown

brings the watch to life, showing you the

standard face. Tapping it again takes you

to the circular interface. As you turn the

crown, the interface zooms in and out,

the app at the centre opening if you zoom

right in. By swiping the touchscreen,

you can move the app you want to open

(UK), I waited a while, before the watch

prompted me to open up the Apple Watch

app on my iPhone. Pairing was a typical

Apple affair, involving Bluetooth and a

beautiful QR code that you focus your

iPhones camera on. The watch paired

quickly, asking me to choose a wrist (if

you choose right, the digital crown will be

at the bottom of the watch), and approve

Location Services, Siri and Diagnostics.

Next, I was asked to set up a passcode.

After this, I chose to unlock my watch

with my phone. This basically means that

as long as your watch stays on your wrist,

it will stay unlocked. When you take it

off, youll have to use the passcode again.

Its a neat security feature. The final

option in set-up is choosing to pre-install

all compatible apps from your iPhone

onto your watch. I did this and after

a few minutes, the watch was ready,

laden with apps. By this time it was late,

so I set up an alarm for 7.15am the next

morning (using the dedicated watch app).

The real test would be tomorrow

TiME: 7.00Am. BaTTEry lifE: 100%I actually woke at seven, put the Apple

Watch on my wrist and headed downstairs

for breakfast. 15 minutes later, the silent

alarm kicked in, the taptic engine in the

watch subtly vibrating on my wrist. I can

see the point in this its great when you

dont want the alarm to disturb your

family but I could never sleep wearing a

watch. Even my Fitbit feels obtrusive and

uncomfortable. My alarm settings will

remain the same on my iPhone and its

guaranteed my kids will still wake me up

before it goes off. Also, come to think of it,

wont I be charging this thing each night?

My morning routine on my iPhone

involves checking any meetings for the

day, checking my Twitter feed and

replying to any urgent emails that have

come in. A trip to BBC News is also a must

over a cup of tea. But before all of this,

I wanted to play around with the Apple

Watch. How exactly did it work?

into view, and then either use the crown

to open it or use the crown to zoom in

a little and touch the app. Touching apps

takes a bit of getting used to on such

a small screen especially if you have

fingers of the more chubby variety.

I think the 42mm would better suit me

Hitting the digital crown again acts

as a back button. But I found this a little

confusing at first before realising that

tapping the crown once again on the

circular interface will take you back to

the middle, once again to the watch face.

More great content at the all-new www.t3.com48 T3 june 2015

Coffee machine

KitchenAid Artisan

Medallion Silver

Espresso Maker

629, kitchenaid.co.uk

Model wears

Roll-neck: Cos

Glasses: stylists own

The taptic engine in the watch begins to subtly vibrate on my wrist. I can see the point in this

as youd expect, from day one theres a huge

amount of apps available for the apple watch.

simply open up the apple watch app on your iPhone and

browse to featured to get apples recommendations, or

search if you know what youre looking for. its just like

using the regular app store on your iPhone or iPad.

THERE ARE ALREADY THOUSANDS OF APPS TO DISCOVER AND DOWNLOAD

app store for apple watch

24 hoUrs wiTh ThE

Apple wAtch

The device weve all been waiting for is finally here, but what are the main features and what do they do?

say hello to the apple watch

More great content at the all-new www.t3.com june 2015 T3 49

tAPtiC EnGinEthe taptic engine inside the Apple Watch enables discreet buzzing notifications. it also enables you to send your heartbeat or a rhythm to a friend or loved one

diGitAl CRoWnAs well as acting as a back button, the digital crown

enables you to zoom in and out of the home screen and various apps for instance, zooming

to locations in Maps and enlarging photos

bAnd And SizinGthere are many different strap and watch combinations, enabling you to customise the device to suit you. the watch comes in 38mm and 42mm models, too

bodY And FACEthe Sport model has an aluminium body and ion-X glass face. the Watch model has a stainless-steel body and a sapphire-glass face. And the Edition model is gold/rose gold

the button below the digital crown takes you to contacts

the Sport band is simple, lightweight and secure

Control the watchs interface using the digital crown

A built-in mic and speaker enable calling functionality

HEARt-RAtE SEnSoRthe Apple Watchs heart- rate sensor on the back of the face uses infrared and visible-light lEds and photodiodes to detect your heart rate during workouts

24 hoUrs wiTh ThE

Apple wAtch

The button below the digital crown takes

you to your friends, where you can

message or call them. If they have an

Apple Watch, you can even send your

heartbeat, a tap vibration or a sketch.

You can have 12 friends in this mini app

and you set them up using the Apple

Watch app on your iPhone. I set a few

up, including my wife and parents, and

made sure their contacts had a nice photo

(using the Phone app on my iPhone).

But back to my day. Heading towards

7.30am, I checked out my Twitter

timeline and browsed through my email.

I knew that you cant reply to emails on

the watch, so I flagged a few by pressing

harder on the screen, before using my

phone to reply.

Time for a very quick run around the

block mainly to test both the Activity

and Workout apps. Now, I only did a

couple of miles, but I immediately liked

the simplicity of Activity, which gave me

a calorie, step and distance count in a neat

interface. It breaks your activity down

into three sections: move, exercise and

stand. On each screen, by swiping up and

BMW i3 for a couple of hours. But using

the BMW Remote app Id already installed

on my iPhone, I was able to precondition

the car to a nice temperature, before

opening the doors with my watch. I also

had a glance at the charge state to make

sure I had enough juice to get to work. At

71 per cent, the BMW had plenty of miles.

This kind of convenience really appeals to

me. Sure, I could do these actions on my

iPhone, but theres something super-cool

about opening up your car using your

watch. I made sure that I added the BMW

Remote app to Glances.

Glances are a quick way of getting key

info. And you can add any app to the

functionality. To use it, you simply swipe

up from the main watch face. By swiping

left and right, you can view such apps as

Maps, Weather, Calendar and Heart Rate,

and check the battery life of the watch.

Talking of glancing, the watch screen is

pretty much off all the time, until you

raise your wrist (although this can be

turned off). Just lifting your wrist as

you would with any watch turns the

screen on. It hasnt worked a couple of

times for me, though, and I found myself

spinning my wrist to get it to switch on.

You can also just hit the digital crown.

After parking up, I checked The

Guardians Moments app a simple app

that gives you different content at

different times of the day. I got todays

top story and wanted to read more, but

I had to take out my phone to do so.

One of the most interesting things

about the Apple Watch is the different

levels of interactivity and customisation.

The first time you really experience this

is when you want to change the watch

face. Unlike Pebble, for instance, where

you swipe down to change the face,

with the Apple Watch you press harder

on the screen (a force press). This gives

you a quick buzz and enables you to then

swipe left and right to change the watch

face. I was impressed by the number

and quality of watch faces on offer.

To customise them, you simply hit the

Customise button below the face and,

using the digital crown and touchscreen,

you can remove or add details and change

colours. I chose the Simple face, and you

can also opt to remove numbers from the

dial which I did. Its simply a matter of

selecting what you want to change, then

tweaking the digital crown to make the

adjustments. I was nearly at the office

down, you can get a text-based readout.

The Workout app is equally good,

enabling you to choose a type of workout

(outdoor walk, run, indoor run and so on)

and set a goal (such as time or calories).

It really bothers me that I need to take my

iPhone with me for accurate readouts

having an iPhone 6 Plus with you out on

a run is just not feasible.

I had a look over my numbers before

getting ready for work. I didnt quite hit

my goals perhaps next time Ill just set it

as open. The watch came off for a shower:

although there are reports its waterproof,

there was no way I was risking it.

TiME: 8.30Am. BaTTEry lifE: 91%My next task, just before I left the house,

was to whizz to the shops to pick up some

lunch for my family. It was a warm day;

the sun had been beating down on the


how to track your run

There really is something super-cool about opening up your car using your watch

01 worKout App The workout app is pre-installed.

hit the digital crown to bring up

the home screen, then tap on the

workout app. youre presented

with a screen giving you different

workout types for a run, choose

outdoor run. once youve hit this,

you can choose your goals.

02 set Your goAls on the next screen, you can

choose a calorie goal. simply hit the

+ and - buttons to set a number of

calories to burn. swipe across to

add a time you want to run for in

the same way. swipe across again

and you can set a distance. after

hitting start, you get a countdown.

03 trAcK progress on your run, you can quickly see

your progress simply swipe across

the bottom of the screen to see your

heart rate, elapsed time, calories,

distance and pace. To end your

workout, force-press on the screen

and choose End. But dont forget

that you need your iPhone with you.

mEASURE YOUR WORkOUT WITH THE APPLE WATCH

24 hoUrs wiTh ThE

Apple wAtch

More great content at the all-new www.t3.com june 2015 T3 51

ApplewAtchSTYLEFITNESS

the Apple Watch is geared for fitness, with the Workout and Activity apps giving you readouts of calories, steps and distance. Water-resistant

and extremely light, the Sport model is great for

a run. bear in mind, though, for anything involving the

accuracy of GPS (such as exact distances), youll need your iPhone with you. You can also

sync music to the watch and listen wirelessly using

bluetooth headphones.

Model wears

trainers, running bottoms

and top: new balance


having to hold your wrist up all the time

its a bit like when youre screwing

something into the ceiling. It was now

time to do a bit of writing and planning,

so I turned to my headphones.

TiME: 11.30Am. BaTTEry lifE: 83%I had my phone with me and my

headphones plugged in. Hitting the digital

crown, I selected the Music app and chose

something to listen to. The Music app was

very familiar, being able to scroll through

albums, songs, artists, playlists and the

like. The album art even appears in the

list, which is nothing new in the world of

smartwatches, but useful nonetheless.

But there was another feature of the

Music app that intrigued me. Im a

Bluetooth headphone user (see my review

of the B&O H8s on page 102), and I can

pair these directly to the Apple Watch.

Why? Because you can store tunes or

playlists, to be precise directly on the

watch. This is more of an exercise-led

feature, making it possible to leave your

phone behind when you go out for a run.

So why didnt Apple include GPS so you

can get accurate stats as well? Odd.

Transferring music to your watch

is a simple affair. Hop into the Music app

section of the Apple Watch app and

choose Synced Playlist. Tap a playlist

and it will transfer via Bluetooth to your

watch. Next, force-press the Music app

on your watch and choose Source, then

Apple Watch. If you havent already

paired your Bluetooth headphones, youll

get a prompt to do it now. This feature is

nice for the gym or exercise when you

dont want accurate stat tracking.

At this point, something struck me:

battery life isnt as bad as Id thought. And

Id been using it pretty heavily. It was still

in the 80s as far as percentage goes, but

I would see how the rest of the day went.

TiME: 1.30pm. BaTTEry lifE: 74%Lunch break. Time for a walk. And time

to experiment with the Maps app. I know

where pretty much everything is in my

home city of Bath but, as an experiment,

I popped in a location and wondered if

I could navigate there using the turn-by-

turn directions feature. As with the

iPhone, you can quickly see where you are

by tapping the location button at the

bottom-right of the screen. Rewinding

a bit to search, you simply force-press

the screen and hit Search. Here, you can

either choose a recent search from your

iPhone or, using Siri, dictate an address.

I dictated a postcode and needed to

speak slowly (it took a couple of tries to

how to pair with your iphone

04 pAsscoDe set up a passcode and

choose whether to unlock

the watch with your phone.

a few more screens later

and your new apple watch

will be ready to wear.

03 Agree? The next step is a few

screens asking you to agree

to location services, siri

and Diagnostics. its just

a matter of choosing the

option you want.

02 new DeVice The next step is to set up

your watch as a new device.

youre then asked which

wrist youll be wearing the

watch on. This is important,

as the display will flip.

01 wAtch App open up the apple

watch app on your

iPhone. Then simply hold

your apple watch in

front of your iPhones

camera to pair.

ITS EASY TO GET STARTED WITH YOUR APPLE WATCH

now. At this point, a text message came

in from Paul Dimery, production editor

I replied to his question with a simple

default reply of OK (this can be edited

in the Apple Watch app on the iPhone).

TiME: 9.30Am. BaTTEry lifE: 88%By now I was in work and it was time for

a quick meeting so for fear of distraction

I slipped my iPhone in my pocket. The

Apple Watch proved both a help and a

hindrance here. I no longer needed to

extract my phone to get notifications. But

on the other hand, I found myself looking

at my wrist every few minutes as new

emails arrived. Of course though, smart

watches are all about notifications, and I

like the way Apple has handled this.

As I got a barrage of emails and the

odd

t3 magazine - june 2015 uk

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