Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 187 i T3 Australia

MAKE YOUR MOVE Fancy a round of chess on the go? Square Off’s rechargeable battery should be good for around 30 games. The board even comes with a neat stand for your smartphone, so you can easily keep an eye on the app SQUARE OFF The internet has revolutionised how we engage in our favourite board games, enabling us to play Scrabble, Carcassonne and so on with loved ones halfway across the globe, even while sat on the toilet. But online chess has never quite cut it, lacking the thrill that comes from brooding over a real-life chequerboard like Field Marshal Montgomery planning his next battle strategy. Recognising this, a company called InfiVention has developed a gadget called Square Off. Pairing with your smart device, it lets you lock horns…

1 NISSAN LEAF E+ 3.ZERO From $TBA, nissan.com.au While Tesla gets all the news, Nissan has been refining its Leaf EV for many years now. It’s been relatively popular overseas, and will be coming to Australia soon according to Nissan’s Australian office. While we’ll be getting the 2018 second-gen model initially, Europe is already looking at the new enhanced version, which we hope follows soon to Australia. There are two brand-new editions, the 3.ZERO and the e+ 3.ZERO. Okay, so the cheaper 3.ZERO doesn’t differ too much from last year’s car: the main developments include a larger, eight-inch infotainment screen that offers Tesla-esque door-to-door navigation, plus some new colour choices including two-tone options. The higher-end e+ 3.ZERO represents a sizeable upgrade, primarily because it contains a 62kWh battery, as opposed…

1 SALOMON ADVANCED SKIN 8 SET Built specifially for the female form, the Skin 8 boast all new hydration packs, new quick-release chest closure and a softer, more breathable construction material. Add half a dozen pockets and you’ve got everything packed for your next Ultra or weekend wander. $239.99, salomon.com 2 SUUNTO 9 BARO TITANIUM Lighter and more resistant then previously, this wrist multisport GPS wrist computer boasts over 80 sport modes, weather functions, heart rate and more. Strava compatible for activity analysis, and it also tells the time. $999.99, arcteryx.com 3 SALOMON SENSE RIDE 2 The classic Salomon single-pull closure, an 8mm heel drop and a flexible, comfortable upper means this 240g ultra-light trail running shoe is bombproof on even the toughest terrain. $239.99 salomon.com/en-au 4 BODYGUARDZ HARMONY CASE…

The fight against the flea menace in Guru Towers continues, and teaches GaGu a little something abou the perils of buying gadgets blind. Buoyed by Amazon reviews including phrases like ‘have caught many hundreds of fleas’ and ‘after 7 days there were a horrifying 135 stuck in there’ (nice counting) Guru picked up the seemingly magical Big Cheese Flea Killer ($20). It’s a super-sticky pad with a little light bulb above that convinces the fleas it’s the warmth of an animal, and it works really well. If only Gagu had read the other comments (‘Be careful an inquisitive cat doesn’t get stuck to it... There will be blood. Probably yours.’) he might have saved himself some wounds. On to Microsoft’s Windows 10 S Mode, then. Your favourite gadget uncle happens…

Smart plugs are great for making your older, dumb tech smart. They’re also a relatively cheap and simple option for adding security to your home. For example, you can use a Wi-Fi enabled plug with any lamp in order to fake that someone is home, even if you don’t have any other smart lights and even if you’re still out at work. We like the D-Link DSP-W215 ($49.95, dlink.com.au), a budget-friendly connected plug that works on any Wi-Fi network.…

SIEMENS IQ700 DISHWASHER Thanks to cleaning tech called varioSpeed, the iQ700 dishwasher aims to wash and dry your dishes three times faster than the average dishwasher. It works with the Siemens Home Connect app, giving you the means to control it remotely. The app also has an Easy Start feature, which asks questions about cleaning preferences and the types of dishes you want to clean, then selects the best programme. From $1,999, siemens-home.bsh-group.com.au BOSCH SERIE 8 SINGLE OVEN This smart oven syncs up to the Bosch Home Connect app, where you can browse different recipes. Select one and the app will communicate the ideal heat, temperature and cooking times directly to the oven. You can also use the Home Connect app to access your oven remotely, whether you want to…

Invented by American running enthusiast Josh Clark as a means to help motivate his 50-something mother into exercising, the Couch to 5K concept is increasingly being adopted by inactive types who want to get into shape. To meet this demand, new apps are popping up all the time, but you’d be hard-pushed to find one better than C25K (Free, Android/iOS). Simple and intuitive, it guides you through three 30-minute exercises a week, with the objective of having you race-ready in just eight weeks. If that sounds daunting, take inspiration from C25K’s thriving online community, a large percentage of whom have been there, done it and worn the sweaty t-shirt. If you want a good-value running watch to help track your progress, the Polar M200 ($199, polar.com) is our pick of…

Regardless of whether you’re looking to turn a profit when you sell, or you’re planning to live in your home forever, it’s worth learning the different types of improvements that can add value to your property. These range from cosmetic changes like converting the attic or redesigning your kitchen, through to structural repairs such as fixing rising damp. According to some property developers, one of the easiest ways to add value without draining your bank account is to ensure the central heating is in good working order. Updating your heating adds more value to your home than it costs, helping to improve the energy efficiency rating of your property. This type of work could include installing a new boiler, sealing drafts around doors and windows, insulating the attic, and replacing…

Poor quality sleep wreaks havoc on your mind and body. Sure, you can survive periods of broken sleep and insomnia, but the long-term effects on your physical health, mental performance, productivity and happiness are considerable. So if there’s one thing you should work on in 2019, it’s your quality of sleep. Why is good sleep important? When we’re asleep, our bodies get the chance to reboot and repair. Our brains are also at work consolidating memories and any new information we’ve learned that day. Poor sleep has been linked to weaker immune systems, depression, anxiety and weight gain – sleep deprivation is thought to cause higher levels of ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates appetite, and lower levels of leptin, your natural appetite suppressant. Sleep well and you’ll enjoy serious mind-body…

We’ve been making wine for thousands of years. Well, not us personally, but humankind. And it isn’t as complicated as you might think. A bit messy, perhaps, but not difficult if you plan your wine-making experience properly and gather up all the supplies you need before you start. On that note, there are specific tools you’ll need to arm yourself with before you crush a single grape. The first of these is a two-gallon crock pot or glass jar fitted with a lid that enables air flow to enter and escape the wine mix, but without providing an open home to opportunistic bugs. You’ll also need a one-gallon carboy (essentially a glass container with slender neck), an airlock, some thin plastic tubing for siphoning wine, a thermometer and a hydrometer,…

The EOS R may be the least expensive camera in our trio, but it certainly doesn’t feel it. The gun-metal-grey magnesium alloy body is reassuringly solid, and Canon’s deeply sculpted hand grip makes the EOS R feel the most comfortable camera here, especially if you’ve got larger paws. Canon’s intuitive DSLR control layout has been carried over, which, combined with the EOS R’s clear touchscreen interface, makes quick setting adjustments a breeze. There are also new tricks, like the touch-sensitive M-Fn Bar just right of the electronic viewfinder. This can be set to adjust things like ISO sensitivity or white balance and can be tapped or swiped. In addition to the usual zoom and focus rings, each RF-mount lens has a third customisable control ring around the lens barrel that…

In T3, we feature only the finest gadgets out there, and we believe that you – our loyal reader – deserve only the best tech in your life. We don’t want you to waste time, and money, on inferior products, and that’s exactly why our Tested section exists. In here you’ll find only the latest and hottest tech. Each product has been handpicked and tested by T3’s experts. We only choose people with specialist knowledge for each test, so you know you’re going to get an outcome based on many years of experience in their respective field. As well as our traditional five-star rating system (right), we also give out awards to particularly exceptional gadgets, using the line-up below - so when you spot one of these, you’ll know you’re…

From $839 expansys.com.au With its visually arresting and gorgeously bold Aurora nanotexture backplate, the big focus on gaming and consuming media, and an AI-packing camera system that seems geared towards recording and interacting with real-world experiences in an immediate way, the Honor View 20 feels like its pitching hard to the younger audience. Most impressive! The phone lacks some of the high-end features and refinements of the most expensive handsets, but it sheds these as superfluous for its intended user, instead focusing on what the younger generations want, and doing so while maintaining a flagship core spec at a far from flagship price. As such, whether or not the View 20 is the right phone for you depends on who you are and what you value in a handset. We…

From $1,499 google.com The Pixel Slate makes us feel all existential. What is this? Who is it for? It’s not a tool to revive the messy Android tablet market – it supports Android apps, but it’s a ChromeOS device, running an upgraded but very similar operating system to the Pixelbook which came before it, and toting Intel hardware inside. It’s not, at least as a whole, a hardware showcase – its screen is spectacular, and it carries a premium feel, but a glance at the internal specs raises eyebrows when they’re compared to the asking price at each level. Surface gloss What it is, or at least what it appears to be, is Google’s stab at joining the market niche that Microsoft has been busy carving out with the tablet…

$399 sony.com.au One of the best investments you can make for true peace of mind is seriously good noise-cancelling headphones… And Sony’s are more serious than a visit from a police offer who’s taken their hat off. In fact, we think these are the best headphones of their kind on the planet. Available in black or a grey putty colour, they’re not the prettiest headphones, and are certainly no style statement in the way the Bowers & Wilkins PX or the Beats Studio 3 are, but they don’t look bad either. They keep a profile fairly close to the head, so if you don’t like anything ostentatious, these will suit. More importantly, these Sony headphones are supremely comfortable. At 255g, they’re around 25 per cent lighter than the B&W PX…

From $1,529 apple.com/au The question of whether tablets are real computers or not is long dead. Even before companies started putting ‘pro’ on the end of product names, people were using tablets for business, creativity, gaming, personal admin… You know, things you would normally use computers for. The follow-up question is whether you might buy the new Apple iPad Pro instead of your next laptop, and that’s where it gets complicated. The new iPad Pro is the best tablet ever made, and is a marvel of engineering… but still might not be right for you. Cutting corners This year’s iPads feature the biggest change in Apple’s tablet design since their creation, dropping the Home button and pinching the curved corners from the iPhone X. This is a much bigger deal…

If you’re looking for the very best tech available today, you have definitely come to the right place. Best of the Best is the most useful gadget-buying guide you will ever encounter. To create it, we’ve ruthlessly filtered down to the biggest groups, to bring you rock-solid recommendations for your home life, daily commute and the tech you use all the time. Within each of those groups, we’ve got a dozen categories for key tech buys. We’ve picked one product for every category that we think is the best you can get on balance, taking into account price, quality and features, so it’s easy to know what you need in your life. You should also check out T3.com, where you’ll find even more categories, if you’re looking for something that…

My own smart home began with a small Google Home speaker. The little JBL Link 10 punches well above its weight for audio punch, and the first month we were together was quite a treat as the great Google algorithm in the sky learned all about my musical tastes and daily movements. Lil JBL has since been supplanted by a big’n’thumpy Google Home Max and that easily fills the lounge room with neighbour-jangling beats – which are now more precisely aligned with what I like to listen to now that Google has me all figured out. The JBL now sits in the bathroom so it can tell me the news headlines and weather report while I brush my teeth. It’s a noble task and the machine has never complained. It’s…

THE READER Olivia Aarens After a long break from cycling, Olivia is dusting off her drop-handlebar road bike for commuting and weekend rides, but she needs a little help to make the ride easier. THE EXPERT Nick Odantzis T3’s two wheeled know-it-all, Nick commutes by bike, is a regular club rider and is obsessive about the latest cycling gear. His mindset: there’s no bad ride, just a bad setup. 1 EXPOSURE LIGHTS The best way to keep yourself seen by other road users at night, and indeed in the day, is a smart set of front and rear lights. Exposure’s party piece in its lighting range is the Blaze Mk3 with ReAKT and Peleton rear light, which automatically adjusts its brightness according to its surroundings, flaring like a brake light…

The Venture 2 from The North Face ticks all the boxes. This unlined (40D DryVent nylon ripstop) jacket is weatherproof, 100% windproof and packs down to almost nothing inside its own pocket. There’s a helmet compatible hood, pit-venting to keep the steam out and covered secure-zip pockets on the outside as well as stowage on the inside for your delicates. It’s super light at only 330g, but if that’s too much you could always follow the “ultralight hiking” fad and pack a plastic bag instead... which is really dumb. Just get the jacket. $220.00, thenorthface.com.au…

NIGHTFLYERS Netflix science fiction space spooks based on a George RR Martin novella – less Game Of Thrones, moreGame Of Oh God What Is That Thing And What Does It Want. DREAM PLAZA Mélonade’s neat album imagines a world where we are all trapped in a mall. Thankfully, it’s a bouncy, glitchy mall with some of the smoothest muzak going. SLAY THE SPIRE Guru’s daily Steam game of choice: climb a tower, build a deck of deadly cards as you go, and use them to beat up monsters. Properly addictive, and brilliantly balanced.…

Although smart heating systems are growing in popularity, there are plenty of reasons why they might not be the right choice for you. Maybe you need a temporary heating fix before you move, or maybe your home doesn’t have central heating. Perhaps you rent a room in a shared house and therefore don’t need a whole home system. Whatever the reason, if a complete smart heating system isn’t the ideal option for you right now, electric heating might be your best way to ‘go smart’. The good news is that you don’t have to miss out on all of the benefits of a connected, home-wide heating system. By investing in smart electrical heating solutions, you can enjoy precise temperature control, set bespoke heating schedules for your space, and even track…

MEATER+ Whether you’re cooking meat on a grill, a rotisserie or in an oven or pan, the Meater+ thermometer enables you to measure your food’s internal temperature. You can then see the results on your smartphone for safer, tastier cooking. The Meater+ is designed with an ambient temperature sensor, so you’ll know you’re always cooking at the right heat on the BBQ. Goodbye, super-burnt burgers. $160, meater.com ANOVA PRECISION COOKER All you need is a cooking pot, a ziplock bag and your phone to get started with this smart sous vide machine. Once it’s attached to the pot, use the app to set the time and the temperature for whatever you’re cooking. Once you add your food, the Anova Precision Cooker will do the rest, ensuring it’s cooked exactly how…

Improve indoor air quality The air inside our homes is up to four times more polluted than outside. Monitor then cleanse it with the Clairy Natural Air Purifier. $325, clairy.com Reduce damp and mould Use a dehumidifier to reduce mould spores and condensation. The compact and quiet Meaco DD8L extracts eight litres of moisture daily. $366, meaco.com Keep it cool (or warm) Heating affects your wellbeing, comfort and energy levels. Maintain the ideal temperature at home with Tado’s Smart Thermostat Kit. $219, tado.com/au Protect against carbon dioxide Carbon monoxide poisoning is no joke. Use the Nest Protect to keep watch for CO levels, as well as acting as a smoke alarm. From $189, nest.com/au Convert waste into energy Turn food waste into clean energy with the HomeBiogas 2.0. Shovel in…

Nourish your skin Cleanse, tone and moisturise day and night, and exfoliate twice-weekly. Face masks are good too, and can work in minutes with Foreo’s UFO smart mask system ($395, foreo.com). Learn to shave properly Unless you’re growing your facial hair, shaving is an easy way to keep looking sharp. Let the Philips Series 7000 ($149, philips.com.au) coach you on how to shave for your skin type. Perfect your smile A whiter smile makes your skin look healthier. Brush for two minutes, twice-daily, with the Tao Clean Whitening Toothbrush ($88, amazon.com) and a whitening toothpaste. Stand up straight Want to look instantly slimmer? Stand up straight. The Upright Go ($199, uprightpose. com.au) smart posture tracker sits on your back and vibrates gently when you slouch. Find your scent The right…

ULTIMATE EARS MEGABLAST Get the party started at home, at the beach, in the pool, or even when wild swimming, with the unbeatable Megablast, a portable Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth speaker that delivers bass-rich, true 360° sound. There’s integrated Alexa Voice Service, so you can control playback hands-free, shouting orders from the pool or bath. Naturally you can also ask Alexa to give you a news or weather update. As well as being waterproof, it’s dust- and drop-proof, so perfectly capable of living life outdoors. $299, ultimateears.com APPLE WATCH SERIES 4 The best smartwatch on the planet is now more comfortable to wear, and rocks a bigger screen for easy reading of data and notifications. As we tested, it’s fully waterproof and fine for use in a range of fitness scenarios, in…

1 Ullo Wine Purifier The Ullo Purifier removes sulphites (a known allergen) from bottled wine before you drink. $105, ullowine.com 2 Coravin Model Eleven Help your bottles last longer with Coravin’s Bluetooth wine preservation system. $1,495, coravin. com.au 3 Master Vintner Small Batch Kit Make a tasting menu with this gallon wine-making kit, which includes grape concentrate. Around $350, amazon.com 4 Fisher & Paykel RF106RDWX1 House up to 50 bottles of vino, keeping them at a stable temperature and humidity. $1,928, fisherpaykel.com…

12 Tins of Botanicals and Spices Cinnamon, coriander seeds and rose petals are among the included blends, so have fun experimenting to find your ideal infusion. $40, amazon.com Bespoke Blend Gin Kit Turn an unwanted bottle of vodka into gin with this custom kit, which includes a glass bottle, juniper berries, funnel and mesh sieve. From $60, amazon.com Hayworth Copa Gin Balloon Glass Serve a refreshing, homemade gin and tonic in Ginsanity’s generous balloon glass, garnishing it with fresh orange slices or a sprig of mint. $25, amazon.com…

A larger digital image sensor means extra light-sensitive photosites (corresponding to pixels in your final image) can be crammed in to capture more detail. A greater sensor area also frees up space for each photosite to be bigger and more light-sensitive, in turn reducing the amount of unsightly image noise visible in low-light photos. Another advantage with a big sensor is at any given lens aperture you’ll get a shallower depth of field, making it easier to throw backgrounds out of focus for distinctive portrait shots. Full-frame sensors - so-called because they match the size of a 35mm film frame – are usually as big as digital image sensors get. Medium-format sensors are larger still, but are traditionally only found in niche cameras.…

ONEPLUS 6T The latest OnePlus has a smaller notch that’s almost as cool as the View 20’s pinhole. The phone is stuffed with great tech, including a 6.4-inch OLED screen, in-screen fingerprint reader and zippy Snapdragon 845 processor. $827, oneplus.com XIAOMI MI 8 PRO This is another tech powerhouse, with a 6.4-inch OLED screen again, plus an in-screen fingerprint reader as well as infrared face scanning similar to the iPhone’s. The rear even looks as though you can see inside the phone. $759, mi.com SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 A year on from its introduction, the S9 can now be had for half its original price (in the 5.8-inch 64GB version). Okay, it’s not brand-new parts, but it’s still fast and slick, feels polished and premium, and has a top camera. $809,…

$299 mobvoi.com Though your friendly neighbourhood T3 team loves smartwatches as much as the next person who owns a smartwatch, they’re still in the ‘nice to have’ category rather than ‘essential’. That means a lot of people are sceptical of dropping several hundred pounds on one, but the new watch from Mobvoi makes it more tempting to dive in. Cheap and chipful The C2 is a full smartwatch, featuring Google’s Wear OS and a Snapdragon Wear chip for its brains, but it starts at just $299. That’s about $100 less than the Samsung Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch Series 3, and a full $200 cheaper than the Series 4. The Huawei Watch GT is around the same price, but it has stripped-back software with no support for installing new apps.…

BRYDGE G-TYPE KEYBOARD Cheaper than the official Pixel Slate Keyboard, far sturdier, and able to operate wirelessly, Brydge’s typer is a superior option to Google’s board if you’re looking to run your Slate as a true hybrid device. $159, amazon.com REBOON PIXEL SLATE COVER If you’re using the Slate as a tablet, this is a case which holds on to it well, lets you prop it up when you need to, and doesn’t cost the Earth. We wouldn’t hang it from our fridge, but that is, at least technically, an option. $75, reboon.de KNOMO BARBICAN SLEEVE On the move often? Swaddle that Slate in this full grain leather sleeve, large enough to carry both the tablet and its keyboard cover, and lined with a padded faux fur concoction that will…

APPLE SMART FOLIO Attaches magnetically, with the front folding around to prop up the iPad. A microfibre lining gets rid of screen smudges when you close it. Available in Charcoal Grey or white, with a pink colourway for the 11-inch version ($119). $149, apple.com/au BRYDGE KEYBOARD Apple’s keyboard for the iPad Pro is… okay. The typing is great, but it’s so ugly, and the $299 price is madness. This keyboard looks more the part, and lets you choose any angle for the iPad. Available in early 2019. $229.99, brydge.com ONEPLUS TYPE-C BULLETS If you want wireless headphones, check out pages 90-91. If you want some cheap USB-C wired headphones for your iPad Pro that sound surprisingly good, grab these from OnePlus. They’re comfortable, and have a mic. $38, oneplus.com…

Unless you’re over 80, or have appeared on Bullseye, you’ve probably never owned a decanter. But you might want to break that habit for this little gem. Designed for fans of Rémy Martin’s luxury Louis XIII cognac, it’s the first such receptacle to boast smart connectivity. Once you’ve registered with private members’ club the Louis XIII Society, simply tap your NFC-enabled phone or tablet on the mouth-blown, crystal cork stopper and you’ll activate a range of swanky benefits: bespoke engraving services; notifications of limited-edition releases; access to a private advisor for arranging personal tastings; and an invitation to network with Louis XIII lovers all over the world. If ever there was a reason to develop an unhealthy drinking habit, this is it. $3.699, louisxiii-cognac.com NEXT ISSUE IS ON SALE MONDAY…

T3’s mission is to help you find the best products for every area of your tech lifestyle. From traditional gadget buys like phones and TVs to connected home security and sports sensors, if it can make your life better, we’re here to make sure you get the right one for you. The products we feature are chosen by our expert writers, with years of experience in their key areas. We wouldn’t recommend something we wouldn’t be happy to live with ourselves – the tat is filtered out long before we print a page. This goes for reviews too – you won’t us wasting your time with products you don’t need to know about. More than that, our aim is to make sure you get the most out of the things…

NUTRI NINJA BLENDER WITH AUTO-IQ Ensure you eat plenty of fruit and veg by blending them into a nutrient-packed smoothie. This blender from Ninja promises to extract all of the vitamins from your ingredients. A 1,000-watt motor and patented Pro Extractor Blades promise no more lumps, no more waste. $149, ninjakitchen.com PHILIPS SOMNEO SLEEP AND WAKE UP LIGHT For a better night’s sleep, upgrade your lighting. The Philips Somneo has a wind-down function that uses light, sound and breathing techniques to help you sleep. It gradually wakes you up by bathing your bedroom in warm light. $450, philips.com.au OZMO ACTIVE SMART BOTTLE Stay hydrated with the Ozmo Smart Bottle, which tracks your water and coffee consumption. LED lights show how hydrated you are, and vibrations remind you to drink up.…

There’s something ever so satisfying and yet oh-so aggravating when it comes to the – boringly consistently excellent – state of tech today. Nowhere is that more evident than in the world of television. Sweet, sweet 4K (or maybe 8K), HDR, motion-smoothed, thin-bezelled TV. We’ve just had CES and a few more TV showcases and I think it’s fair to say that this has been the best year ever for new TVs. This is great news for all of us in many ways, but on the other hand is it, really? If we’ve got $2,000-$5,000 to splash on a gogglebox, bountiful riches await… but which of the enticing lovelies do we opt for? This is a fantastic time to buy a TV because all the most important new technologies are…

ARLO PRO 2 Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, the Arlo Pro 2 security camera enables you to watch and record 1080p HD quality video throughout the day. It has sound and motion detection smarts, and you can set a 100+ decibel alarm capable of being controlled remotely and triggered by either. From $899, arlo.com/au NEST CAM IQ This small indoor security camera from Nest packs a punch with an 8MP 4K camera sensor and 12x digital zoom. Its Nest Aware technology recognises familiar faces – so there’ll be no false alarms – and it has Google Assistant baked in, as well as a powerful speaker to scare off intruders. From $450, nest.com/au NEST CAM IQ OUTDOOR Both weatherproof and tamper resistant, Nest’s outdoor security cam records video up…

DYSON CYCLONE V10 TOTAL CLEAN The Cyclone V10 has the suction power of a full size vacuum, wrapped up in a cordless stick design. It comes with interchangeable heads and various accessories to clean all areas of your home, from crevices to mattresses. It transforms into a handheld cleaner in one click. $899, dyson.com.au UV-C LIGHT PORTABLE WAND If you only have time for a light clean of the work surfaces or the toilet, yet you want to be sure you’ve killed any surface bugs, wave this wand around. It’ll produce a blast of short-wave UV radiation to neutralise 99.9 per cent of nasties. No chemicals, no fuss. $29, amazon.com VORWERK VK200 VACUUM This smart vacuum uses ultrasonic sensors to detect floor conditions, then adjusts its cleaning style accordingly. You…

1 HAPIFORK Wolfing your food down is a surefire way to get indigestion – and it hampers weight loss. This Bluetooth-enabled fork will vibrate when you eat too fast, before delivering a full analysis of your scoffing speed to an online dashboard. $99, hapi.com 2 TEFAL ACTIFRY GENIUS XL Fried food is yummy, but your arteries won’t thank you for it. Unless, that is, you invest in an air-fryer. Using a unique stirring paddle and minimal oil, Tefal’s ActiFry Genius XL can cook healthier chips, stir-fries, curries and even desserts at the touch of a button. $350, tefal.com 3 NUTRIBULLET BALANCE Ensure that you get your daily dose of nutrients with the Balance. Insert your ingredients into this smart blender and it’ll inform you – via an app – of…

1 EMBER TRAVEL MUG This clever receptacle’s digital display enables you to choose exactly how warm you want your coffee. Using its built-in heater, the mug will then keep your drink that temperature for up to two hours. $213, ember.com 2 BLAZEWEAR EXPLORER Spend a lot of time waiting on train platforms? With battery-powered heat technology, wind and splash resistance, deep pockets and even phone-charging capabilities, this jacket will keep your spirits up. From $367, blazewear.com 3 MICRO FALCON X3 Light, comfortable and easy to use, this 15mph electric scooter is handy for short commutes (you’ll get six miles off a single charge). There’s an integrated brake light for added safety. $1,499, micro-mobility. com 4 CHRIS Looking at your phone while driving is a bad idea. Activated by voice or…

If you’ve bought a smartphone or e-reader lately, in its spec you may have spotted an IP rating for waterproofing and debris protection. IP stands for ‘immersion’ or ‘ingress’ protection, and the higher the numbers the better the internals are sealed and protected from the elements. IP is usually followed by two digits: the first refers to the level of protection from foreign bodies like dust and dirt, and the second digit relates to waterproofing. Most modern gadgets carry a rating of 6 for dust protection, which means they are completely dust tight. A water rating of 7 equates to submersion survival down to one metre for 30 minutes, while an 8-rated gadget can handle 1.5 metres for 30 minutes. You may also see IPX ratings doing the rounds (for…

01 CANON RF LENSES The EOS R uses a completely new lens mount, not seen on any previous Canon camera. Currently there are four RF-mount lenses available, consisting of a 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro lens for close-up photography, a 50mm f/1.2 for general purpose and low-light shots, a 24-105mm f/4 zoom lens that can be purchased as a kit with the EOS R body, and finally there’s the RF 28-70mm f/2 lens that sacrifices image stabilisation for a large aperture and better low-light performance. 02 NIKON Z LENSES Like the EOS R, Nikon’s Z cameras also feature a brand new lens mount. You can choose from three Z-mount lenses, including 35mm and 50mm f/1.8 fixed focal length optics tuned to give the best possible image sharpness, while the Z 24-70mm…

HUAWEI MATEBOOK X PRO A 13.9-inch 3000x2080 screen is paired with a super-thin frame and up to quad-core power, plus great battery life. You don’t get as strong graphics options, but this is brilliantly ultra-portable. $2,600, huawei.com DELL XPS 13 Again, this is lighter on graphics power than the ZenBook Pro 14, but it’s extremely portable, fitting a super-sharp 4K 13-inch screen and a quad-core processor into a body closer to an 11-inch laptop. It’s a real looker, too. $1,899, dell.com…

HUAWEI WATCH GT Cutting back on the smarts (it has basic apps, fitness tracking and notifications only) means you get around 30 days of battery life per charge. It’s also got a lovely screen and premium design that make it worth the price. $285, consumer.huawei.com APPLE WATCH SERIES 3 Last year’s Apple Watch can be found for around $399 for the aluminium version. It’s fast, slick, has great health and fitness features, waterproofing, and around three days of battery. iPhone-only, though. $399, apple.com/au…