Home//T3/December 2016/In This Issue
T3|December 2016GameChangerOAKLEY RADAR PACEMeet your new coach, the Oakley Radar Pace. Yep, not a person with an over-sized moustache and a stopwatch, but a pair of badass-looking sunglasses. But these aren’t ordinary sunnies, the Radar Pace are smart shades rocking voice control, fitness sensors and a virtual trainer. A collaboration between Oakley, Intel and design specialist Luxottica, the glasses offer real-time, voice-activated coaching during workouts.Integrated motion, humidity and proximity sensors are used to track movement, and you can pair the glasses with external devices to monitor metrics such as heart rate. The Radar Pace will adjust your training zones as you improve and automatically make up for missed workouts, helping you stay on track and hit your fitness goals. During a run you can ask, “OK Radar, how’s my pace?” and…1 min
T3|December 2016Apple MacBook ProFrom £1,499, store.apple.comLaptops? Haven’t they been replaced by tablets yet?Nope! In fact, we think 2016 has seen more interesting developments in traditional PCs than in tablet computing. There’s more space for innovation in the larger body, and both the new MacBook Pro and Surface Book are examples of this.What’s so special about this new MacBook Pro, then?What isn’t special about it? The new MacBook Pro matches the Surface Book for power, yet it’s somehow smaller than the MacBook Air. It features a larger trackpad which is better than the Surface Book’s. There are four USB-C ports… oh, and a Touch Bar replaces the function keys.But I’ll miss the function of keys!No you won’t – no one uses them any more, silly. The Touch Bar is an OLED multi-touch display that…2 min
T3|December 2016Aerix Duet£1,499, www.aerix.coLooks nice. What on earth is it?This is the Aerix Duet, a high-spec sound system with an integrated slot-loading CD player and DTS Play-Fi module. Basically, that means you can stream music from Spotify, Deezer and TIDAL. Oh, and there’s built-in Bluetooth, too.Are there two of them, or am I seeing double?As the name suggests, Duet incorporates a pair of minimalist cubes mounted on a matted chrome plate – a striking design that sets it apart from practically every other high-end streaming system.Ok, but what makes it stand out from other stereo systems?Inside each cube are two horns, one for high notes, one for bass, which team up with vertical-firing drivers and tweeters to create an immersive 360-degree ‘Atmosphere of Sound’. The drivers compress airwaves down towards an acoustically…1 min
T3|December 2016HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF T3 AND...This is your chance to tell us what you want to see in your favourite gadget magazine, and in the process win this smart security bundle worth £379!By answering the questions at the link below, you’ll be able to tell us what you like (and dislike) about T3 magazine, and we’ll listen – this is your chance to have your say. At the end of the survey, just fill in your details and you’ll be automatically entered into a draw to win this smart security bundle – consisting of a mydlink Smart Home Security Kit and a Ring stick-up outdoor security cam. It’s a bundle worth £379! Tell us what you think of T3 by visiting the link below. The closing date is 31 December 2016.To participate in our survey,…1 min
T3|December 2016THE SET-UPNOW WE’RE TALKING!You access Amazon Echo’s voice control by saying ‘Alexa…’ followed by your question. What happens if your partner/wife/child is called Alexa? You can change the command to either ‘Echo’ or ‘Amazon’ using the Amazon Alexa app. If you happen to have a family consisting of Alexa, Amazon and Echo, then this product is probably not for you.LET ALEXA TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SMART HOMEAMAZON ECHO’S VOICE SERVICE MAKES CONTROLLING YOUR SMART DEVICES A BREEZEUntil you try Amazon Echo, it’s difficult to fathom just how good this device is. Sitting discreetly on your table or worktop, it offers a whole new world of voice control, enabling you not only to ask it to play your favourite music (it integrates with Prime music, Spotify and TuneIn, among many more) but…2 min
T3|December 2016SMART SECURITYOf all the connected home kit out there, perhaps smart security is the most useful, giving you an ‘always-on’ way of monitoring your home — inside and out — wherever you are in the world.But what should you be looking for? There are a raft of security cameras out there; but some are much smarter than others. Possibly the smartest range of security cams are from Netatmo. Both have some pretty remarkable features for monitoring your home. What do we mean? Well, in the Netatmo Welcome (£199), the company’s indoor security cam, there’s facial recognition, so if it’s just your wife and kids wandering around the house you won’t get an alert sent to your smartphone. If it detects a stranger, it’ll notify you straight away. And in the excellent…2 min
T3|December 2016For MUM1 Smeg ECF01Nobody does retro-styled appliances better than Smeg, and this coffee maker is pro-level with 15 bars of pressure, a stop-flow function, a milk steamer and a handy removable drip tray. Put it under the Christmas tree and it can become the focal point of your mother’s kitchen.£280, www.smeguk.com2 Huawei MateBookOne minute it’s a laptop with a fully functioning keyboard, the next it’s a free-roving tablet with a multi-touch screen. The MateBook runs on Windows 10, has an Intel Core M processor under the bonnet, and even offers fingerprint security and a high-res 2K screen. What’s not to like?£750, www.pcworld.co.uk3 VQ Hepburn Mk IIVQ’s DAB radio/Bluetooth speaker not only looks beautiful, it sounds stunning too, thanks to its dual ultra-wide speakers. Mum can listen to DAB, DAB+ and FM…9 min
T3|December 2016Top 10DJI Mavic ProIf you’ve been waiting to take the drone plunge, now’s the time – a massive 7km range, an included 4K camera and a precision hover system make the DJI Mavic Pro an easy choice. You can even steer and view short-distance flights from your phone.$999 (£819), dji.comDyson 360 EyeHow do you make vacuuming fun? By letting an ultra-smart robot do it for you! The Dyson keeps, well, an eye on things by constantly taking images, so it always knows where to vacuum next. You can create cleaning schedules via the app, too.£800, dyson.co.ukLOEWE BILD 7With a retractable soundbar and glorious native UHD visuals on your choice of either a 55-inch or a 65-inch OLED screen, the Bild 7 comes with a 1TB hard drive and support for Dolby…3 min
T3|December 2016The overall winner is…1st Sony KD-65ZD9Price: £4,000 URL: sony.co.ukT3 RATES: This TV doesn’t just look slick, with its minimal design and rose gold trim. Sony’s Backlight Master Drive technology proves stunningly effective with 4K HDR content. 4K HDR Netflix and Amazon simply add to the fun.T3 SLATES: The Android smart TV platform is clunkier than most (although YouView brings catch-up relief), and the onboard sound isn’t as clear as rival soundbar systems.T3 SAYS: The best 4K HDR performance we’ve seen. The deep blacks, wide colour and sparkling highlights will enhance 4K Blu-ray, Sky Q 4K and HDR-capable consoles.2nd LG OLED65E6Price: £4,499 URL: lg.co.ukT3 RATES: Wonderful picture quality – both HD and 4K HDR. First-class usability and stunning design.T3 SLATES: That price! It’s the dearest telly on test.T3 SAYS: Stunning picture and first-rate usability…3 min
T3|December 2016Pixel perfectionSIZE MATTERSThe Pixel is a five-inch model, the XL a 5.5-inch phone. Both feel extremely compact in the hand and generally well builtAndroid is, of course, the world’s most popular mobile operating system, and spans hundreds of devices from numerous smartphone manufacturers. In the past, Google has partnered with the likes of Huawei and LG to produce its flagship Nexus smartphones, which offer a ‘pure-Android’ experience, free from manufacturer skins and (often unnecessary) add-ons.Now, Google is going it alone with its first ‘Made by Google’ phones, the Pixel and Pixel XL. There are minor differences between the two handsets, mainly in the screen size and resolution (the Pixel is five inches and 1080p; the Pixel XL 5.5 inches and Quad HD). The battery is also bigger on the XL (3,450mAh…8 min
T3|December 2016Eyes on the roadThe Russians popularised dash-cams on YouTube with Lada crash footage accompanied by bad techno. Now, they’re becoming widespread in the UK too; independent analysts recently reported a 918 per cent year-on-year rise in British dash-cam sales.Whether you’re targeted by a crash-for-cash scammer or involved in a smash at the traffic lights, dash-cams can help set the record straight. There are benefits even if you don’t have a crash, with some insurers reducing premiums by as much as 15 per cent if you agree to have your every move captured on camera.Whatever your reasons for buying a dash-cam, here are six of the best digital eye-witnesses...T3 BEST FOR DESIGN01 ONE FOR DISTRACTED DRIVERSGARMIN DRIVEASSIST 50£279.99, buy.garmin.comThe DriveAssist 50 is both a dash-cam and a sat-nav. The five-inch screen lets you check…4 min
T3|December 2016CoachGuitarFree, App Store (IAPs from £2.99)What puts most people off starting guitar is having to learn songs like Mary had a little lamb and Frère Jacques. That’s fine if you’re seven, but adults need grown-up tunes. CoachGuitar has the answer to keeping your attention with lessons based around classic rock tracks.Even better, you don’t need to learn to read music at all – its songs are taught through videos showing a guitarist playing along to a backing track, and there’s a fretboard underneath with a colour-coded system that shows you where to put your fingers and which strings to play. It’s almost idiot proof. You’ve got complete control over the video too, so you can slow it down, loop it or pause at any moment.We were genuinely impressed with how…2 min
T3|December 2016Introducing The Elite…Whether you’re a seasoned tech aficionado or this is the first gadget magazine you’ve purchased, The Elite is the best possible place to start your gadget-selection journey. Here we present the best gadgets available right now in 12 key categories, to save you the hard work of doing all the research yourself – in short, if you’re starting from scratch and want the very best there is, The Elite is your new shopping list.The Elite will only be updated when something new emerges that is capable of toppling an existing product from its perch; there may therefore be months when the 12 products featured here don’t change. But this is an exclusive club, and only tech that is capable of achieving a towering standard of excellence gets in.BEST SMARTPHONE01 SAMSUNG…4 min
T3|December 2016ZERO GRAVITYRELAX, DO IT!Following a decade of extensive biomechanical research, British inventor and furniture designer Dr David Wickett wrote an equation that defined posture and gravitational force. This equation forms the backbone of the Elysium, a carbon-fibre, milled aluminium and leather chair precisely engineered to simulate weightlessness as the user reclines. Built around an ingenious system of frictionless bearings, the gesture-controlled Elysium chair can help reduce pain from sciatica and induce states of relaxation.FLOATING IN AIRThe weightless sensation comes courtesy of patented frictionless balancing technology – an advanced system of electronic joints and custom bearings, ensuring the body is always balanced.NO STRAINThe lightweight carbon fibre skeleton at the chair’s core is fused with springs at precise pressure-point locations, enabling it to contour exactly to your back (and keep you super-comfy).WAVINGAn optical…1 min
T3|December 2016Meet the teamRob CarneyEDITORRob’s smart home has really come together this month, with Amazon Echo taking centre stage. He doesn’t need to move from his sofa to turn all of his lights on and change his heating.Nick OdantzisDEPUTY EDITORBack from his adventures in South America, Nick has being showing us all of his GoPro footage (trust us, all of it!). He’s also had to give back his beloved Golf GTE to Volkswagen (sob).Claire DaviesASSISTANT EDITOROur very own Santa has been compiling the best Christmas gift guide known to man for as long as she can remember now. Check it out starting on p59 and get your credit card ready…Luke O’NeillART EDITORLuke’s love of Christmas is only second to Ebenezer Scrooge, but we plied him with eggnog and got him through this issue…2 min
T3|December 2016Microsoft Surface BookFrom £1,599, microsoftstore.comAnother laptop? I can’t deal with the excitement here!Like buses, you wait for an exciting laptop all year, then two come along at once. The updated Surface Book is hotly anticipated, especially after winning a prestigious T3 Awardearlier in 2016.Does it have a Touch Bar?Nope, the Surface Book is innovative in a different way – it’s a hybrid. The entire 13.5-inch display is touch sensitive, and the keyboard can be removed for a full tablet experience.What’s the point of that?It’s more adaptable than a traditional laptop – business during the day, party (gaming, movie-watching) at night. It’s the mullet of computers, if you will. It equals the MacBook Pro in terms of power and has a (claimed) longer battery life. You can also doodle on the 13.5-inch display…2 min
T3|December 2016Microsoft Surface StudioFrom $2,999 (£2,396), microsoft.comMore Microsoft? What’s going on?Yes, the company is having a bumper month. Not content with releasing the best Surface Book yet, Microsoft has also unveiled the Surface Studio, a digital hub for creatives looking to get touchy-feely with their drawings and illustrations. You can also write on it, but that’s boring.Hey, it lies down flat!Isn’t that precious? It’s called Studio Mode. Hold either side of the screen and you can manipulate the Zero Gravity Hinge, flattening the screen from Desktop Mode (standing) to lying flat.Neat. What’s the screen like?It’s a 28-inch PixelSense Display rocking 13.5 million pixels. The 10-point multi-touch display means you can rest your hand on the screen while drawing, leaving your digital creations untouched by your palm.Can this machine handle pro software?Microsoft says the…2 min
T3|December 2016THE ULTIMATE VR SET-UPTHE READERJon WarrenJon has been saving up to buy his first VR kit and is now ready to splurge. He tried the HTC Vive and loved it, but doesn’t know where to start when looking for a suitable gaming PC.THE EXPERTLouise BlainLouise has tested all the new VR headsets in her work for GamesRadar and Official PlayStation Magazine. From VR horror to gentle deep-sea experiences, she’s seen it all.01 EYES ON THE PRIZEIt’s important to remember that even though your brain is fighting zombies, in reality you’re still in your living room. Thankfully, the Vive’s Chaperone system will fire up clear grid walls any time you get close to your own real ones – helping you to avoid walking straight into a wall. Ouch!02 PORT OF CALLUnlike the Oculus Rift’s…4 min
T3|December 2016GADGET GURU’S MAGIC BOXGuru is – or rather Guru’s family are – determined that he be first in line for Elon Musk’s one-way trip to Mars, so it’s time to stock up with spacefaring gimmicks. Of course it is. Stowed neatly in Guru’s carry-on baggage, weight limits be damned, will be Ozma Records’ impeccable repackage of Voyager’s golden record, successfully Kickstarted at press time. It comes with a lovely book, exquisite packaging, and three slabs of vinyl containing all the audio from the world’s most distant record, currently hurtling through interstellar space some 20 billion kilometres away. Sadly it is not made of real gold, so will be useless for barter in the new world society. GaGu may have to use his glistening false molars instead.At least one of Guru’s hounds deserves the…2 min
T3|December 2016“ALEXA, CONTROL MY HOME”1 ACTIVATE SKILLThe first thing to do is open the Amazon Alexa app and sign in. Hit the menu top-left and choose Skills from the list. Here you’ll see a shopfront of all the ‘skills’ Alexa can link to. There are loads here, from knowledge-based services (such as chemistry facts) to games, quizzes and much more. But we’re going to focus on smart home.2 LINK ACCOUNTWe’re going to be setting up our Hive devices, so search for Hive and choose the Hive skill. Hit the Enable Skill button and wait while it activates. Next you need to link your Hive account to authorise Amazon Echo to control your devices. Hit Link Account, add your Hive details and wait for the confirmation.3 ADD DEVICESNext you need to add your Hive devices.…3 min
T3|December 2016Desire01 PIVOT SWIVEL ARMCHAIRA statement piece for your home office or living room, this highbacked swivelling chair, with brushed steel base, has a real Bond feel to it. Run your fingers over its cool, faux leather while conjuring your plans for world domination. £399, dwell.co.uk02 LOGITECH POP HOME SWITCH STARTER PACKControl a range of smart products, such as locks and blinds, from brands like LIFX and Sonos, with this app controlled, Wi-Ficonnecting gizmo. Have fun creating Recipes via the Pop app (Android, iOS) to control a suite of smart tech via just one Pop Home Switch. £120, logitech.com03 KITCHENAID 1.9L STOVE-TOP KETTLEAdd an instant style update to your kitchen with this whistling, stove top beauty. We love its stain-resistant porcelain exterior, and thumbpress spout for easy pouring. Fancy a brew?…2 min
T3|December 2016For HER1 Dyson SupersonicEasily the most ‘engineered’ hairdryer ever created, the Dyson Supersonic looks more like Thor’s wife’s hammer than a barnet dryer. It’s up to eight times faster than the current top-selling hairdryer, and sports intelligent heat control to protect her hair during drying. £300, www.dyson.co.uk2 Leica SOFORT Instant CameraAlready a hot ticket for Christmas, Leica’s new instant camera combines fashion and photography in a glorious way. There are multi-shooting modes to explore, including Selfie, Bulb and Party, plus simple controls. A range of cool accessories are also available. £215, leica-storemayfair.co.uk3 Lenovo Yoga BookIdeal for commuters and those who want a versatile work/play setup, the Yoga Book can be used for writing and sketching; she can use a stylus or type on the Halo keyboard, which appears when needed and…10 min
T3|December 2016COMPETITIONWIN!OVER £11,000 WORTH OF FANTASTIC TECHChristmas comes early this year, with a competition that’s simply bursting with top tech treats. Thanks to Santa (or the generous companies mentioned here), T3 has over £11,000 worth of gear to give away.We’ll be hand-delivering the prizes to the sole lucky winner – and filming them opening their stash at home! We’ll share the footage via T3’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, showing the winner taking delivery of their haul.To learn more about the incredible prizes listed here, visit www.t3.com and look for our ‘Win over 11K worth of tech!’ article.How to enterTo be in with a chance of winning, visitWWW.T3.COM/WINand answer the following question:In which year did Slade first release Merry Xmas Everybody?A 1973 B 1976 C 1981Terms and conditions: By taking part…4 min
T3|December 2016THE CYBORG EVOLUTIONThe CyborgOnce a regular tech journalist and now half-man, half-NFC, Luke now needs to be extra careful when going through airport security.The missionCan our man make his life easier by being sliced open and a chip being put in his hand? And can he really do anything he couldn’t before?There are plenty of perfectly good wearables out there now, so why feel the need to have one implanted under the skin? It means being stabbed, potentially setting off shop alarms, risking infection, never being able to remove it and, of course, potentially getting hacked.PUNY FLEsh*t also means the ability to interact with machines by simply waving a hand. It’s not quite Jedi level controls but it’s as close as we can get right now. But this isn’t about practical applications…8 min
T3|December 2016The alternativesIPHONE 7/7 PLUSYes, they’re missing a headphone socket, but it’s not a huge issue and the rest of the package is waterproof, well designed, backed by a great software library… simply two great phones.£599, apple.comSAMSUNG GALAXY S7/S7 EDGEWe originally had the Note 7 in here, but probably best we don’t talk about that! The Galaxy S7 Edge may be pricey, but its 5.5-inch AMOLED screen is the best out there .£639, samsung.comHUAWEI P9 PLUSHuawei has been making some brilliant phones, and the P9 Plus is no exception. The dual cameras (made by Leica) are a bit different to the iPhone’s – one being dedicated to black and white shots.£629, consumer.huawei.com…1 min
T3|December 2016Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare£46.99; PC, PS4 (reviewed), Xbox OneInfinity Ward finally fixes its sights on space in an effort to deliver the ultimate theatre of war. It’s been a long time coming, and sees the series move fully into the realm of science fiction.Yes, there are epic space battles, killer robots and frickin’ laser beams, but at its core it’s still the fast, tight shooter that’s spawned a killer following over the past 13 years.The game kicks off with a surprise attack on a future Earth by the Martian Settlement Defence Front. Their tyrannical leader – portrayed by Kit Harrington of Game Of Thrones fame – leaves Earth’s forces decimated, and the remnants become both the underdogs and the planet’s last best hope.Positioned as a classic war story wrapped in a future premise,…4 min
T3|December 2016VIDEO ON THE GO01 QUIKIf you’re in a hurry, this app does everything for you, quick, including matching your clips to music.Free, App Store, Google Play02 MAGISTOThis app makes a great video from your clips in three steps. Some features require in-app purchases.Free, App Store, Google Play03 SPARK CAMERAPerfect for combining snippets of your holiday without having to edit them all together yourself.Free, App Store04 IMOVIEApple’s official video editor. Sadly a little buggy, but has nice features on offer for larger projects.£3.99, App Store05 PREMIERE CLIPFrom Adobe, one of the biggest names in the business, this simple app will make quick videos with ease.Free, App Store, Google Play06 CAMEOA nice app with slick themes from the people behind Vimeo, so you can upload straight to a Vimeo account.Free, App Store07 VIDEO SHOP EDITORA…1 min
T3|December 2016T3 SELECTS: iPHONE 7 HEADPHONESApple Lightning to 3.5mm-headphone-jack adapterApple’s own solution to the problem it created is simple and elegant: a little cable extension that converts your Lightning port to a headphone port. It’s really cheap, and it works a treat. £9, apple.com/ukBelkin Lightning Audio + Charge RockstarThis cable breaks the iPhone’s Lightning port into two, giving you one port for charging and another for audio. You’ll still need to use the adapter to convert Lightning audio to headphone output, mind. £34.99, belkin.comScosche StrikeLine MFiDirectly compared to Apple’s own converter, this device looks slightly more expensive (which it is, of course). The built-in controls mean it’ll replace any headphone controls that no longer work, as welll as adulterating headphones that don’t have any. £40, scosche.com…1 min
T3|December 2016THE KNOWHOW: CUTTING THE CORDDo I need scissors?As you might expect, the phrase is somewhat metaphorical. Cutting the cord is the practice of disconnecting yourself from traditional TV services in favour of getting the content you want from online sources instead. The more legitimate sources that pop up – and the more our viewing habits change because of them – the more popular it becomes.So I’ll save money?That depends on what you want to watch. If all you’re interested in is Netflix or Amazon Prime, one of those services will be significantly less expensive than a Virgin Media or Sky subscription – but bear in mind that an unbundled broadband connection may work out slightly more expensive than one that comes with TV. If you’re a voracious consumer of streaming services, it might still…1 min
T3|December 2016T3 TOP TIPS: LOW-LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHYRaise the ISOMost cameras, including those found in modern phones, will give you the opportunity to raise the ISO level, which increases the sensor’s sensitivity to light. Just what you’re looking for, right? Maybe. A higher ISO also means a more noisy shot, with more digital grain, so experiment with your camera before committing to a particular number.Open the apertureThis piece of advice is mainly for people with SLR cameras: making the aperture wider enables more light to reach the sensor. Your kit lens might not let you go beyond f/3.5; a wider lens with a maximum aperture closer to f/1.8 is more suitable for low-light conditions. Prices start around £50 and rise astronomically from there.Tweak the shutterThe shutter blocks all light coming into your camera’s sensor. Setting it to…1 min
T3|December 2016T3 SELECTS: HI-FI MEDIA PLAYERSDenon DNP-F109AirPlay and DLNA 1.5 support means the DNP can grab tunes seamlessly from your network and play them back through your stereo – although it requires an ethernet connection. Pick up the £379 DNP-730AE if you need Wi-Fi. £219, denon.co.ukSonos ConnectThe Connect offers supreme compatibility with online streaming services, and if your personal collection is DRM-free, it’ll handle that too. It’s easily expandable to a multi-room set-up and simple to install, but lacks a built-in display. £279, sonos.comSony HAP-S1Compatible with high-res audio, containing its own 500GB hard drive and screen, and able to stream (and upscale) audio from Wi-Fi sources, this could be the ultimate hi-fi upgrade. It even includes a built-in amp to hook up speakers. £799, sony.co.uk…1 min
T3|December 2016T3 SELECTS: SWIMMING TRACKERSGarmin VivoactiveSuitable for all activities but especially swimming, the Vivoactive adapts well to changes in your swim plan, buzzes on workout milestones to keep you motivated, and records a huge amount of data. If you rely on metrics to push through the metres, this is for you. £159.99, buy.garmin.comTomTom SparkA nice big screen with easily visible graphics means the Spark is ideal for a quick glance between strokes. Tell it your goals and the screen will display how close you are to beating them, rewarding you with extra buzzing should you do even better than expected. From £149, tomtom.comMisfit Speedo Shine 2If all you’re after is a record of your activity, this is fine, although the lack of a screen and the relative lightness of recorded statistics mean it’s probably…1 min
T3|December 2016T3 SELECTS: ELECTRIC VEHICLESBMW C EvolutionNewly updated for 2016, the C Evolution is BMW’s second stab at the electric-motorcycle market, and it’s better than ever, with more power, more range and a gorgeous Ionic Silver/Electric Green colour combo. From £13,500, bmw-motorrad.co.ukBoosted BoardIf you’ve got the style and the skills, the Boosted Board longboard could be the ultimate way to get from A to B, with a range of 14 miles and a terrifying top speed of 22mph. A handheld remote lets you control how fast or slow you go. From £800, boostedboards.comElectron WheelCrave an electric bicycle but already have a decent humanpowered pedal machine? No worries – simply upgrade it with the Electron Wheel, by taking out your front wheel and putting this on instead. Job done. $799 (£640), electronwheel.com…1 min
T3|December 2016Editor’s letter3 FOR £6!Amazing subs offer on p92The reality will probably be a nice pair of socks and some underpants, but we can all dream, can’t we! So that’s why we’ve put together what I reckon is the dream Christmas gift guide – you’ll find ideas for dad, mum, partner, the kids and of course, yourself (who would begrudge you buying a cool bit of tech as a present to yourself?). Check it out on p59 and you never know, Santa might just have read it as well…What’s more, we’ve put together a monstrous, massive, majestic tech competition. You can win over £11,000 of top tech. Turn to p90 to enter (and if you win, I’ll deliver the prizes personally. That’s a promise).Elsewhere, we’ve launched a brand new section called T3…2 min
T3|December 2016Misfit Phase£165, misfit.comHmm. A new Misfit, eh?Indeed. The company behind the Misfit Ray, Shine, Flash and other popular fitness trackers has unveiled its first smartwatch, the Misfit Phase. It’s handsome, with its classic timepiece looks, and has all the smarts you need to stay connected.Oh yeah? Tell me about the smarts.We’re not saying the Misfit Phase is here to push the boundaries of smartwatch technology, but if you’re shopping for a smartwatch that trades heavily on its looks whilst still keeping you up to date with notifications, all while tracking your sleep and daily activity 24/7, the Phase will see you right.What else can it do?Activate your phone, control your smart lighting or indeed any connected home device and play/pause music on your Bluetooth player – pop the watch into Smart…1 min
T3|December 2016Motorola Smart Nursery 7£300, motorola.co.ukT3, I’ve got some news. I’m pregnant. Well, my partner is…We know. T3knows everything, and we certainly know quality baby tech when we see it. Like Motorola’s Smart Nursery 7, a portable Wi-Fi baby monitor kit capable of sleep-monitoring, expression detection and night vision.Yuss! I wanna hi-tech nursery.Well, the Smart Nursery 7 is a great start. It comprises a Smart Nursery Camera and Smart Nursery Monitor, enabling you to eyeball baby’s bedroom, to monitor the temperature in there along with humidity, sound and movement.How do I control it?The Smart Nursery 7 works with the Motorola Hubble Connected app (iOS, Android), so you can control the camera and monitor from your smartphone or tablet – whether you’re at home or out (but don’t leave the baby alone!). The camera is…2 min
T3|December 2016AERWHAT’S THIS THEN?It’s a thing that you stuff with expensive electronics then hurl as high as you can in the sky.SOUNDS SENSIBLE.Indeed it does. The AER is an expanded polypropylene dart-type thing with a compartment in the front for your GoPro. When the mood for (limited) aerial shooting takes you, you can screw in the GoPro, lob this thing in the air, and it’ll sail majestically back to the ground capturing beautiful footage all the way.WOULDN’T YOU JUST GET A DRONE?If you wanted precise control of your shots and had enough money to fly and maintain one, probably. But AER has its advantages: it’s waterproof, cheap, isn’t forced to comply with super-harsh flying regulations, and since it’s impervious to most damage (if you do break it, parts will be available)…1 min
T3|December 2016SLEEP SMARTERGetting quality sleep is tricky in our ultra-connected society. Diet, stress and bedroom environment can all impact slumber. Now, a pioneering movement called sleep engineering is gearing up to help us ‘create’ quality shut-eye through a consultative approach and the use of high-tech sleep products, including designer ergonomic beds, temperature-regulating duvets and advanced mattresses.At the heart of the UK movement is Rested, a curator of products that promote enhanced comfort and airflow during sleep, transforming your bedroom into a haven of relaxation. Visit its London premises and you can take part in the Rested Experience, where you’ll learn how sleep engineering enhances your slumber, leading to increased wellbeing and productivity.During the Rested Experience, you’ll ‘test drive’ sleep-engineered beds from Hollandia International, Royal Auping and Grandsleep, placing your body in a…1 min
T3|December 2016SMART HOME SURGERYTHE EXPERTSThere’s nothing these lot don’t know about smart homesROB CARNEYEditor of T3 and an expert on all things smart home, Rob is particularly interested in connected lighting, and loves it when his HueNICK ODANTZISParanoia has taken hold of deputy editor Nick, and therefore he’s a smart home security expert. He currently has no less than eleven connected cameras around his homeCLAIRE DAVIESSleep expert Claire knows all about wellbeing tech and keeping yourself healthy around the house. She also knows more than is healthy about kitchen gadgets!DUNCAN BELLLifestyle editor Duncan is a connected home – and multi-room audio – expert, and can advise on everything from setting up your Sonos to getting Amazon Echo to order you a puppyCHRIS HASLAMIf there’s a man that knows about smart heating it’s Chris.…5 min
T3|December 2016£50 AND UNDER1 Creative Muvo 2CJust 3.7 inches wide the Muvo 2C will fit any Christmas stocking! It’s a waterproof Bluetooth speaker delivering hefty bass, which can play tracks from a microSD card and be paired with a second unit for stereo. Plug it in via USB to customise the sound with equaliser software.£40, uk.creative.com2 VW Camper Van ToasterThe perfect present for the V-Dub nut, this retro-styled appliance has all the charm of the classic ’70s VW campervan but – crucially – it can also make toast! It comes in the classic campervan colours of Carmine Red and Pacific Blue, and there are kettles to match.£50, www.thefowndry.com3 Sega Mega Drive Classic Game ConsoleLoop the loop with Sonic, face Baraka’s deadly blades once again in the original Mortal Kombat, or revisit The Ooze…6 min
T3|December 2016Superstars of HDRYOU CAN GET AWAY WITH SPENDING CHUMP CHANGE IF ALL YOU WANT IS A 4K TV, BUT TO SEE HOW PICTURE QUALITY HAS EVOLVED, YOU NEED TO LOOK TOWARD THE PREMIUM END OF THE MARKET. HDR TV TECH COUPLED TO THE RESOLUTION BOOST OFFERED BY 4K IS FINALLY REVEALING THE REAL PROMISE OF ULTRA HD.We’re not blue-sky gazing here. HDR is already available on 4K UHD Blu-ray (pretty much every 4K disc is being mastered in HDR), as well as streaming services from Netflix and Amazon Video (programmes are limited, but include the likes of Marco Polo and Daredevil), and increasingly Xbox One and PS4 games.HDR represents a gear change in picture quality. It enables a TV signal to include more colours and highlights, resulting in more dynamic and realistic…12 min
T3|December 2016How we test…OUR MISSION IS TO BRING YOU THE CLEAREST RECOMMENDATIONS WE CAN – AND THAT MEANS A GREAT DEAL OF HARD WORK HAPPENS BEFORE A PRODUCT EVEN REACHES OUR PAGES!PixelratedCan Google’s first handset knock the iPhone off its perch? p112Because we only feature products the T3 team would happily use ourselves, we end up discarding a significant number of options in each category before settling on a final shortlist to review. In this respect, T3 Select does exactly what it says on the tin, picking only the best of the best to test; the gear we know you’ll want to seriously consider purchasing. And that should mean an end to you having to undertake hours of painstaking research and product comparisons.You won’t see any duff products featured in our tests, but…1 min
T3|December 2016SMACKDOWNBLUETOOTH TRACKERSTile SlimSLIP THIS LITTLE SLAB INTO YOUR WALLET, AND MAKE IT CHIRP FROM YOUR PHONE IF YOU LOSE IT£29.99, WWW.THETILEAPP.COMDESIGNThe Tile Slim is about two inches square and the thickness of three credit cards, with a silver button in the middle. It links to an iOS or Android phone using Bluetooth LE. It’s light and attractive, but perhaps a touch bulky once in your wallet.FEATURESThe device itself is basic, but its app has clever features. If Tile Slim is in range, you can make it bleep; if it’s out of range, the app will show where it last connected on a map. If it’s lost or stolen, use the Tile community to help find it via the app.PERFORMANCEThe Tile Slim’s performance is constrained by Bluetooth LE. Testing it indoors…2 min
T3|December 2016NOVEMBER REIGNGEARS OF WAR 4The shooter franchise that helped to sell a bucketload of Xbox 360s is now current-gen only, and looking gorgeous on the Xbox One – just like Marcus here.£44.99; PC, Xbox OneBATTLEFIELD 1Biplanes, Zeppelins and trench warfare are about as opposite to COD as you can get. Playing both this year seems like a requirement rather than a choice.£44.99; PC, PS4, Xbox OneTITANFALL 2Respawn Games’ sequel is causing quite the stir, and rightly so considering its founding fathers launched the COD franchise. The campaign is a must.£44.99; PC, PS4, Xbox OneDISHONORED 2The graphical finesse looks set to surpass the original; here’s hoping the flexible gameplay remains intact, appeasing pacifists and sad*sts alike.£44.99; PC, PS4, Xbox One…1 min
T3|December 2016ELITEIF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR THE VERY BEST TECH AVAILABLE TODAY, YOU HAVE DEFINITELY COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE.T3 Elite is the best gadget-buying guide you will ever encounter. To create it, we’ve ruthlessly filtered all the categories that count, to bring you rock-solid recommendations.We’ve selected a Super Six of elite gear for each of the categories listed below. If something’s not included, we don’t rate it – it’s that simple. Each Super Six is ranked in order, and the number-one product makes it into The Elite (p128), which is our pick of the 12 best products you can buy today.To make your next purchase as straightforward as possible, we’ve also included useful buying advice, and highlighted the hottest gear you can get for £100 and under.Stay up to date with…1 min
T3|December 2016SMARTPHONES / TABLETSSmartphones01 SAMSUNG GALAXY S7/S7 EDGEwww.samsung.comPRICE From £569 TESTED T3 255The S7 duo are superbly designed phones with brilliant cameras, beautiful screens and some innovative additions.T3 SAYS These Galaxies are simply the best phones of the year, whichever you go for.02 iPHONE 7/7 PLUSwww.apple.com/ukPRICE From £719 TESTED T3 262Water resistance, great haptic feedback and an amazing camera set-up are just some of the features on Apple’s stunning new releases. Expensive but brilliant.T3 SAYS If you can get past the lack of a headphone socket, you have a winner here.03 HTC 10www.htc.comPRICE £570 TESTED T3 256HTC finally delivers with its new handset, with loads of power, a responsive interface, great battery life and incredible audio capabilities. The camera is terrific, too.T3 SAYS HTC’s flagship smartphone absolutely lives up to the hype.04 GOOGLE…3 min
T3|December 2016TVs / TV STREAMERSTVs01 PANASONIC TX-65DX902Bwww.panasonic.co.ukPRICE £3,299 TESTED T3 258This big 4K beast certainly has the wow factor, delivering stunning picture clarity, terrific sound and a range of features that include Netflix and Amazon streaming.T3 SAYS Getting the cinema experience on your home TV has never been closer.02 SONY KD-65ZD9www.sony.co.ukPRICE £4,000 TESTED T3 263An amazing panel, that not only looks incredible, but is equipped with Sony’s Backlight Master Drive technology, meaning 4K HDR content is jaw-droppingly good.T3 SAYS If you want to make the most of 4K HDR content - this is the screen for you.03 PHILIPS 55PUT6400www.philips.co.ukPRICE £629 TESTED T3 255Another 4K bargain – this Philips isn’t quite up there with the Panasonic at number one, but with loads of good features and stylish good looks, it isn’t far behind.T3 SAYS A…3 min
T3|December 2016LAPTOPS / CAMERASLaptops01 DELL XPS 13www.dell.comPRICE £1,060 TESTED N/AThe XPS 13 is brilliantly designed and outperforms its rivals under the hood. The infinity display gives you the expanse of a 13.3-inch screen on an 11.9-inch laptop.T3 SAYS With its fantastic performance and build, it’ll serve you well for years to come.02 HP SPECTRE X360www.hp.comPRICE £849 TESTED T3 244The X360 is powerful and has a massive 12.5-hour battery life. Its 360-degree rotating keyboard enables you to use it as a tablet or stood upright for hands-free video.T3 SAYS For a relatively modest price, you get a powerful and versatile machine.03 ASUS ZENBOOK NX500www.asus.comPRICE £1,699 TESTED T3 239The diminutive NX500 boasts a stunning design, impressive power and a bright, vibrant screen. The price is a turn-off, though, and battery life is disappointing.T3 SAYS Asus…3 min
T3|December 2016SMARTWATCHES / FITNESS TRACKERSSmartwatches01 APPLE WATCH SERIES 2www.apple.com/ukPRICE From £369 TESTED T3 262Apple’s wearable now packs GPS, water resistance for swim tracking, and even more styles – not to mention the ace watchOS 3, which keeps everything ticking over.T3 SAYS Apple has nailed it this time – the Series 2 is the best smartwatch around.02 MONDAINE HELVETICA 1www.mondaine.comPRICE £650 TESTED T3 259The Helvetica 1 is stunning on the wrist and packed with smarts, including fitness and sleep tracking contained within a sub-dial at the bottom – though further notifications can be found within the phone app.T3 SAYS A stunning and smart timepiece.03 PEBBLE TIME STEELwww.getpebble.comPRICE £229.99 TESTED T3 249The Pebble Time Steel brings with it ease of use, a devastatingly funky colour interface, Android support and great battery life. It’s good value for…3 min
T3|December 2016CONNECTED HOME / AUTOMOTIVEConnected tech01 CANARYwww.canary.isPRICE £160 TESTED T3 254Though a little on the hefty side, the Canary looks slick. It offers excellent 1080p video day or night, and motion-triggered events, while the app is feature-packed and intuitive.T3 SAYS The Canary is the best all-round connected security camera you can get.02 DJI PHANTOM 4www.dji.comPRICE £1,229 TESTED T3 259The most advanced drone T3 has ever tested, the Phantom 4 boasts a huge array of features, including obstaclesensing, giving just about anyone the ability to shoot professional-looking video.T3 SAYS Top dollar equals top aerial antics.03 SNOOPER DVR-4HDwww.snooper.co.ukPRICE £149.99 TESTED T3 263As well as a sharp 1080p image for recordings, Snooper’s dash-cam offers speed detection, forward-collision alerts and lane-departure warnings, and has a superb 2.7-inch touchscreen.T3 SAYS The king of the dash-cam.04 MAGIMIX LE BLENDERwww.magimix.uk.comPRICE £159…3 min
