Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2015 i T3

SEE MORE WEARABLE TECH ON P127 LENOVO MAGIC VIEW Smartwatches are great, but those tiny screens are an issue. And if you give a watch a bigger face, it’ll look pretty silly unless you have an arm like Hulk Hogan. Lenovo’s solution to this is the Magic View concept: a smartwatch with a second screen that sits beneath the face and enables you to see things in greater detail. T3 thinks this could be a game changer – it might look tiny, and a tad silly, but if you bring the screen close to your eyes, it transforms it into a mini VR-style headset, making small look huge; an increase in image size of around 20 times, according to Lenovo. Just swipe down on the main screen to activate it.…

Nice set of cans, T3... We know! Bowers & Wilkins has some serious heritage as a maker of speakers and, in more recent years, headphones. This on-ear pair is the brand’s first wireless outing. We’re excited to get our mitts on them. Yeah? What makes them so good? A mix of ace audio quality, comfort and aesthetics. The P5 Wireless look classy and expensive without screaming, “Look at me, peasants! I’m a pricey pair of headphones!” Because no one wants that. How about the sound? We’ve not had long to play with the P5 Wireless, but what we’ve heard is great. Audio is transmitted via the same aptX Bluetooth module that’s in the Bowers & Wilkins T7 Bluetooth speaker, and has lashings of presence and detail, plus plenty of bottom…

iOS 9 SIX KILLER FEATURES OF APPLE’S NEW SOFTWARE FOR THE IPHONE AND IPAD SMARTER SEARCH The search tool has been massively improved on iOS 9. It can now display up-to-date sports scores, find videos online and even search within apps, before opening the app right to the result. REAL MULTI-TASKING We talk about this in greater detail as part of our iPhone feature on p78, but on the iPad Air 2 you can have two apps open side-by-side. Older iPads can use a feature called Slide Over, where you can pull a small app view in from the side. IMPROVED KEYBOARD The iOS 9 keyboard has new shortcuts for things like copy, paste and undo, and text styling. You can also put two fingers on the keyboard and move…

THE READER Simon Quibbly Simon, 38, is preparing to run his first marathon. He wants to know what tech he can get to help with his training, and make the 26.2 miles easier when race day comes around. THE EXPERT Kieran Alger Manvmiles.co.uk running-tech expert Kieran has run 16 marathons and six ultramarathons, including the world’s toughest footrace, the Marathon des Sables in Morocco. 01 X-BIONIC THE TRICK RUNNING SHIRT Believe it or not, breaking into a sweat sooner rather than later can help you preserve energy. The quicker your body’s natural cooling system kicks in, the less energy you expend. X-Bionic’s new Trick technology takes advantage of this by insulating your spine and tricking your brain into initiating your natural cooling system before you’ve hit calorie-sapping overheat. From £70,…

ULTIMATE EARS BOOM When the stages have died down and the fields are strewn with musos wanting to carry on dancing, you’re going to need a decent portable speaker to blast out some righteous summer tunes. But what good is a speaker if the battery dies after a couple of hours? Step forward the Boom. This petite speaker has 15 hours of run time, so you’ll be covered for a good few hours of partying each night at the festival. Be warned: the Boom pumps out sound at 360 degrees, so everyone in the vicinity will be able to hear, and judge, the music you play. In other words, more AC/DC, less Sister Sledge. Cool? £170, ultimateears.com ASUS ZENPAD S 8.0 Unless your idea of living it large at a…

Getting the look that works best with your home space is crucial. And, while our three hopefuls offer similar functionality, they’re worlds apart when it comes to design. The HEOS by Denon range is a Marmite proposition, but its tapered tabletop speakers are on the right side of striking. The diminutive HEOS 1 is the newest addition. Cutely compact, it can be partnered with the HEOS Go Pack for six hours of battery-powered music – ideal for barbecues. The larger HEOS 5 features four digital amps and a host of custom-designed drivers. The flagship HEOS 7 offers an additional channel of wallop, plus a headphone amp. Sonos’s PLAY range is rather more classic. The dumpy PLAY:1, with its wraparound metallic grille, is surprisingly hefty, while the larger PLAY:3 is not…

The iPhone changed mobile phones forever, and the handset itself is forever changing. The latter point may not be obvious, especially if you’re used to tracking seemingly slight iterative changes to technology; but in reality, every iPhone has offered something new, from major software features to hardware updates. We’re interested in what’s coming next. Through a combination of patents, rumours, deduction and speculation, we’ve got a handle on the iPhones you can expect from Apple this summer – and what you can look forward to over the next few years. LIGHTER, STRONGER Apple typically overhauls the iPhone’s design every other update, and so 2015’s handsets will look almost identical to their predecessors. However, there are rumours of a ‘Rose Gold’ colour, to match the Apple Watch Edition. Also, the devices…

01 EVERNOTE Make sure you don’t forget that great fortune-making idea with Evernote’s brilliant note-taking tools. You can even make audio notes, add images and sync it all over the Web to your other devices. Free, iOS/Android 02 XCOM: ENEMY WITHIN This is pretty much the console/PC version of the awesome strategy game, on your tabl›et. Control a team of elite soldiers battling invading aliens, customising and levelling up as you go. £7.99, iOS/Android 03 MICROSOFT EXCEL All of Microsoft Office is available for tablets, including an excellent Outlook client, but Excel is the killer app. Some advanced functions can’t be accessed without an Office 365 subscription. Free, iOS/Android 04 PIXELMATOR A Photoshop-style image editor offering pro-level layers and effects to turn your pics into something special. All files sync…

ON TEST THIS MONTH THE GADGETS WE’RE LIVING AND BREATHING PAUL DIMERY, GOCYCLE G2 I’ve always loved the idea of commuting to work on an electric bike. Over the next three months, I’m hoping the G2 and I will form a perfect partnership as I journey to and from the T3 office. ROB CARNEY, CAMBRIDGE AUDIO CXN This network player, matched with other Cambridge components, will have to be good to match my outgoing LINN Majik system. Over the next two months, I’ll find out. MARC CHACKSFIELD, SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 EDGE I’ve fallen out of love with Samsung’s phones but the Edge has been getting high praise, so over the next three months I’m going to give it a try. NICK ODANTZIS, BMW C EVOLUTION Now on the third and…

01 INVSTR Play the stock market, get tips and analyse future trends. invstr’s interface is easy to navigate, too. Free, iOS 02 EBAY One of the fastest ways to make a bit of cash is with eBay, and this app makes flogging old tech even quicker. Free, iOS and Android 03 TASKRABBIT Got a special talent? TaskRabbit enables you to loan your services to those in need, in exchange for cash. free, iOS and Android 04 VIGGLE Earn money (well, points) while watching TV or listening to music. Points can be turned into gift cards. Free, iOS, Android, Windows Phone 05 APPCASHER Earn credits for each app you try. Credits can be turned into gift cards or paid into your PayPal account. Free, iOS, Android 06 JSTOCK ANDROID Keep track…

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR THE VERY BEST TECH AVAILABLE TODAY, YOU’VE DEFINITELY COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE. T3 Elite is the best gadget-buying guide you’ll 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 (p118), 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.…

EnerPlex Jumpr Stack 3 power pack With 3,200mAh of power, the Stack 3 will enable you to fully recharge your phone twice. With both Lightning and microUSB connectors, you’ll be able to inject juice into other devices, too. £50, www.goenerplex.com Spigen GLAS.tR SLIM screen protector If you’re spending a fortune on a top phone, you’ll want the screen to last. The GLAS.tR SLIM provides slender, 0.4mm durable protection for your handset without reducing touch sensitivity. £14.99, www.spigen.com Samsung EVO 32GB microSD card Expanding your memory enables you to carry more music, movies and games. Some cards can suffer from slow read/write speed, but not the EVO, which is also water, temperature and even X-ray proof! £18, www.samsung.com…

Laptops 01 DELL XPS 13 www.dell.com PRICE £1,060 TESTED N/A Brilliantly designed and outperforms its competition under the hood. The infinity display gives you the expanse of a 13.3-inch screen on an 11.9-inch laptop. T3 SAYS Fantastic performance and build. It will serve you well for years to come. 02 MACBOOK PRO 13-INCH WITH RETINA DISPLAY www.apple.com/uk PRICE £749 TESTED T3 227 Lightweight, with improved performance and battery life – it will delight road warriors and coffee-shop loungers alike. T3 SAYS A reliable, powerful and practical MacBook, this is Apple’s best laptop. 03 ASUS ZENBOOK UX305 www.asus.com PRICE £650 TESTED N/A Thin, light and attractive, with excellent build quality, the Zenbook UX305 offers a great balance of components, a perfect 1080p screen and an alluring price tag. T3 SAYS One…

Denon Envaya Mini The Envaya Mini is so slim and light, you could almost carry it in your pocket. It’s water-resistant and you get a mighty ten hours of battery life. Bluetooth aptX offers high-quality streaming, and it’s great-sounding, belying its size. £90, www.denon.co.uk Sony SRS-X11 This palm-sized speaker cube comes in a plethora of colours, enabling you to choose one that suits your style. The bass is deep and resonant, and battery life is a fantastic 12 hours. Pair two together for powerful stereo sound. £69, www.sony.co.uk Minirig Bluetooth Designed in good ol’ Blighty, the Minirig Bluetooth offers surprisingly big sound for its size. You get 50 hours of music time, phone charging, and you can create a 2.1 system by combining two Minirigs and a subwoofer. £139.99, www.minirigs.co.uk…

Connected home 01 NEST LEARNING THERMOSTAT www.nest.com PRICE £180 TESTED T3 242 A stylish and sleek design that integrates with other smart gadgets around the home. Easy to use and learns your heating habits. T3 SAYS Nest is a great first step in creating a smarter home. 02 HUSQVARNA AUTOMOWER 330X www.husqvarna.com PRICE £2,575 TESTED T3 242 Looks incredible. Great, even cut. Packed full of teeth. Excellent for large gardens. Operates very quietly indeed. T3 SAYS Expensive but perfect for people with bigger lawns. 03 iROBOT ROOMBA 880 www.irobot.co.uk PRICE £599 TESTED T3 237 Impressive pet-hair performance and efficient carpet cleaning – you’ll be astonished by just how much it picks up. it’s simple to program, too. T3 SAYS You won’t find a better robot-vacuum performance anywhere. 04 NETGEAR R7000…

Rob Carney EDITOR This issue, Rob has been getting to grips with the new Cambridge Audio CXN digital music streamer. It undoubtedly sounds great, but sadly it can’t change his taste in music. Nick Odantzis DEPUTY EDITOR Nick says a sad farewell to some tech this month (see p105 for details), but there are always other cool gadgets to fill the void - it’s not a bad dilemma to be in, is it? Duncan Bell LIFESTYLE TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Duncan normally takes a lot of convincing on any matter, but this issue’s Opinion (p32) sees him quite clearly state that artificial intelligence is genuinely getting good. Claire Davies ASSISTANT EDITOR This month, Claire’s been knee-deep in travel tech, editing this issue’s T3 Squared. She’s also been indulging her inner fangirl with…

So, it’s an electric shaver, then? Listen, whippersnapper, this isn’t just any old shaver. Braun’s deluxe models (the 3, 5 and 7 Series) have a heritage that goes way back, and the Series 9 is the first major update to the Braun range this decade. Unlike the company’s previous luxe shavers, the 9040s Wet & Dry can be used in the shower, bath or jacuzzi (if that’s how you roll). Have they finally made electrics better than wet shaving? No! However, the gap has narrowed. Electric razors work a treat if you use them daily, but descend into painful ineffectiveness when faced with a few days of growth. We’ve been using the Series 9 for a month now, and can confirm that it keeps you as smooth as a eunuch’s…

It looks like an iPad mini 3. You think? This eight-inch Android tablet is 6.9mm thick and weighs 298g, making it thinner and lighter than the iPad mini 3. Want even more good news? It’s also cheaper. What’s the standout feature? The ZenPad S 8.0 is a stunner on all levels, but we love the optional stylus. It offers 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, turning the tablet into a digital canvas for arty types. Cool! How powerful is it? It packs an Intel CPU – an Atom Z2580. This 64-bit, quad-core processor looks to have as much power as some of 2014’s top-end tablets. The ZenPad S 8.0 also has 4GB of RAM. Does the screen stack up? With its 1,536 x 2,048-pixel display, it’s neck-and-neck with the Nexus 9…

01 SKATER CHIC EASTPAK WYOMING If you’re looking for something a bit more understated, check out this pack from the king of skater cool, Eastpak. A compact design and leather bottom make it comfortable, practical and stylish. £60, eastpak.com/uk-en/uk 02 THE BIG ONE BLUELOUNGE BACKPACK This gargantuan carrier is made from recycled plastic bottles, so you can feel good about doing your bit for the environment while carting around a load of tech! £145, bluelounge.com 03 TECH STYLE THE NORTH FACE SURGE II CHARGED With pockets aplenty, you can stash all of your outdoors gadgets, and an integrated Joey T55 battery means you can charge it all while you’re on the move. The Surge II is packed with tech to provide comfort for the carrier, too. £132, thenorthface.co.uk 04 THE…

Nest has updated its Protect smoke alarm(£89). It’s now better able to distinguish between steam and smoke, uses dual sensors for quicker detection of both slow- and fast-burning conflagrations, and looks even nicer than its predecessor. This might not be the last we hear from Nest in the near future. A spokesman at the launch told GaGu that 2015 will be “a busy year”, in a theatrical voice, while nudging him and winking in an exaggerated fashion. Devices that essentially magic up meals from fresh ingredients, with minimal intervention from you, are set to storm the UK this summer. Kitchenaid’s Artisan Cook Processor (£849) is able to (deep breath) “boil, fry, stew, steam, knead and prove dough, chop, mince, purée, emulsify, whip, flip and stir, at the touch of a…

4K UHD (ultra-high definition) content is becoming more and more mainstream – Netflix has already started streaming 4K content, and a host of broadcasters are promising to follow suit in the near future. The benefits of 4K UHD are clear: with a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160, your watching experience is brought vividly to life with pin-sharp imagery and amazing colour. Of course, to benefit from the 4K UHD revolution, you’ll need a top TV – and, contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend thousands to get one. Take Polaroid’s Series 6 UHD Smart 3D LED TV, for example. Available in 55-inch (just £699!) and 65-inch (£1,099), it offers a raft of features, including apps such as BBC iPlayer, Netflix and YouTube, built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and passive 3D…

FIVE WAYS TO GET MORE FROM YOUR MUSIC 01 INTERNET RADIO TuneIn, available on many multi-room systems, is the best service around for discovering global radio, from esoteric Japanese jazz to Finnish black metal. The world is your musical oyster. 02 MULTI-ROOM MAYHEM Take your house party to the next level by introducing themed music zones – one of the joys of multi-room is the ability to play different tracks in different areas. 03 DEEZER GOOD Multi-rooming is not just about music. Deezer offers over 20,000 podcasts and talk-radio shows, covering every area of interest, with titles like Monocle 24 and the Financial Times. 04 SUPER STREAMING Push the performance envelope. Even without 24-bit audio support, you can stream Tidal and Deezer Elite, and enjoy 16-bit FLAC files at 1,411kbps.…

01 TAKE A PHOTO Yes, you’ll look silly taking a photo on your tablet. But the best camera is the one you have with you, and there are loads of great apps for editing your pictures to improve them. And anyway, since when do you let anyone tell you what to do? 02 EDIT A MOVIE Movie editing used to be limited to desktop computers, but modern tablets are up to the task. Try iMovie on iOS or KineMaster Pro on Android for some slick production tools. You can add titles and music, and share your work on social media. 03 WRITE AN APP Both iOS and Android have apps for novices to make their own programs, and also ones for hardened coders to get stuck into. Codecademy: Hour Of…

01SET UP iCLOUD SYNCING When you first activate your iPad, you’ll be asked to set up your Apple ID, which enables most iCloud services to start. If you didn’t do this, go to Settings and tap iCloud. Enter your Apple ID and password, or create one if you haven’t. 02 CHOOSE WHAT TO SYNC You can now choose what you want to use iCloud for. In some cases, you just tap the switch to turn that option on or off. Other options take you to another menu if you tap them when they’re on, giving you finer control over them. 03 ENABLE iCLOUD BACK-UPS Tap the Back-Up option, then turn on iCloud Back-Up. This will back up your settings, Home-screen layout and app data to iCloud, so that if anything…

The moral of this first instalment is: always read the instructions. It doesn’t matter what the gadget is – failure to read the manual will lead to you not getting the most out of it. In the case of me and my first month with the Gocycle G2 electric bike, “not getting the most out of it” translated as me becoming stranded in the dark with no battery and facing a very hilly six-mile walk back to my house. You see, I thought I knew what electric bikes were all about. To my mind, it was simply a case of pressing a button and whizzing off down the road, overtaking those cyclists who chose to use pedal power. Healthy fools. And from what I’d read (or thought I’d read), you…

TVs 01 SAMSUNG UE55JS9000 www.samsung.com PRICE £3,099 TESTED T3 243 This beautifully designed TV is capable of an amazing picture and clear sound. It needs its settings tweaked to get the best picture, though, and standard def looks horrid. T3 SAYS This 55-inch is amazing in Ultra HD, but also brilliant in regular HD. 02 PANASONIC TX-50AX802 www.panasonic.com/uk PRICE £1,299 TESTED T3 236 Great looks, as well as superb picture quality and motion handling. Upscaling isn’t as spectacular as other budget 4K TVs. T3 SAYS If you want a 50-inch TV that has the wow factor – both in terms of looks and picture quality – this is a great choice. 03 SONY BRAVIA KDL50W829 www.sony.co.uk PRICE £579 TESTED T3 228 This 50-inch boasts superb HD image quality, fabulous motion…

01 Make a restore point Before attempting any of the tips below, make sure you create a restore point in Windows; that way, you can always go back in time if something goes wrong. 02 Find out what you need and don’t need Not every program on a new laptop is bloatware – we suggest you use Should I Remove It? (www.shouldiremoveit.com) to identify which you should keep and which you should uninstall. Programs safe to discard are indicated red. 03 Remove bloatware After identifying offending programs, install The PC Decrapifier (www.pcdecrapifier.com) and then CCleaner (www.piriform.com/ccleaner). These will help you to pick out (and trash) unwanted junk. 04 Clean up afterwards If The PC Decrapifier leaves any programs behind, the free version of Revo Uninstaller’s ‘leftover scanner’ (www.revouninstaller.com) will locate…

Smartwatches 01 APPLE WATCH www.apple.com/uk PRICE FROM £299 TESTED T3 242 Apple’s wearable is packed with features and offers a wide range of customisation options to give you some individuality. The only real downside is the limited battery life. T3 SAYS This is the one that will properly kickstart the smartwatch revolution. 02 PEBBLE STEEL www.getpebble.com PRICE £180 TESTED T3 240 The always-on, monochrome e-ink screen might not be for everyone, but it works great, and you get up to seven days’ battery. There are loads of apps, too. T3 SAYS The Steel is low on extras but has bags of charm and great ease of use. 03 LG G WATCH R www.lg.com PRICE £200 TESTED T3 240 All the style and feel of a normal watch, but with all…

DONATE HELP US GIVE TECH TO THE NEEDY (p39) As I write this, I’m 30,000 feet in the air, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. Sadly, I’m not going on my summer holidays just yet (although I am going to check out a rather cool new set of headphones), but it’s likely that you’re thinking of jetting off right about now. Before you pack the suncream and shades, check out your free magazine with this issue. T3 Squared goes in-depth on travel gadgets – meaning you can prepare for your trip with the latest tech. If you’re not going away, or if you’ve already been (I hope you had a nice time), check out our cover feature on p48, where we run you through all the best gadgets for summer –…

A home-branded TV from John Lewis? Yes, it is, but this isn’t some bodge job that John Lewis has knocked together in its basement. The JL9100 is a slick, Ultra HD smart TV capable of delivering super-high-resolution content. A department store is making tellies? Yep. John Lewis has smartly joined forces with LG Electronics to put together this new UHD television, utilising LG’s 4K heritage and design flair. The JL9100 is building on the success of last year’s JL9000. Just how smart is it? The 55-inch 55JL9100 looks like it’s based on LG’s 55UF776V, a model that hasn’t been released in the UK yet but features some of the best LG tech around. Specifically, it should be rocking the updated 2.0 version of LG’s webOS software, which still hasn’t seen…

Hey, I’ve heard of this! We’re not surprised. The Basis Peak is a comprehensive fitness tracker, and this new Titanium Edition has just taken it up a level in terms of design and function. Manly, durable and packing enough tech to help you stay connected, while also keeping an eye on your wellbeing, the Basis Peak Titanium Edition is a real ‘It’ watch this season. Tell me more about the tech... Activity, sleep and fitness tracking form the bedrock of its capabilities. There are four sensors keeping tabs on you, and you can sync data with Apple Health and Google Fit to get a more in-depth view of your sleep and activity patterns. Elsewhere, there’s 24-hour heart-rate tracking, notifications for text messages, phone calls and calendar events, and you can…

VIRTUAL ROCK STAR 01 OCULUS RIFT We’re all so used to seeing Liam in indoor sunnies, no one will suspect that the “madferrit” Manc is actually wearing VR goggles and living his life still in Oasis (albeit a virtual version). When he bends his knees and starts singing Live Forever into a postbox, everyone will just assume he’s had a few too many JD and cokes, not realising that he’s actually crooning to a 50,000-strong pixelated crowd. £TBC, www.oculus.com FAB FUN 02 THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND Until there’s a dedicated Oasis: Rock Band (or, surely launching soon, a Beady Eye: Rock Band), this is the next best thing for giving Liam band practice. After all, the Fab Four’s back catalogue has been homaged by the Gallaghers throughout their career. One…

Sometimes, big advances in technology come at us in unexpected ways. The first iPhone revolutionised the mobile-phone industry, but it didn’t become a huge smash because it invented new things; rather because it repackaged innovations from existing ‘smartphones’ of its era, then added the ability to zoom into photos by stretching the screen, causing people to go, “Ooh!” That brought the whole concept of mobiles as a platform for all sorts of things above and beyond calls and texts to the attention of a much wider audience than those using, say, Windows Mobile or the Nokia N95. This month, I had a similarly eye-opening experience via an IP cam. There are approximately five billion Web-connected cameras coming out every week at the moment. They allow you to creepily snoop on…

WHAT EXACTLY IS APPLE HOMEKIT, AND HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM APPLE HOME? HomeKit is a range of third-party, connected-home bits that work with Apple’s OS. Home is the app, coming on iOS 9, that will control them all. They’ve both been “pending” for what feels like an eternity, but there was an official announcement of HomeKit’s arrival at Apple’s big WWDC shindig in June. Though if you blinked, you might’ve missed it. AND WHY SHOULD I CARE? The connected-home market is in a mess at the moment, so having a standard from a popular brand such as Apple should be a good thing. In terms of the technical spec, the standout feature is that HomeKit products connect via Bluetooth 4.0 rather than Wi-Fi, which should be more reliable, and…

The Garden MAKE THE MOST OF YOU OUTSIDE SPACE BOSCH IXO CORDLESS SCREWDRIVER LOTUS GRILL SUPER-SOAKER FLOODFIRE BLASTER PHILIPS PPX2055 ALESS BOSTON SHAKER DENON ENVAYA MINI THE CHILLSNER GARDEN CRITTER PHILIPS HUE GO Sports whether you’re watching or taking part, there’s plenty of tech for sports fans GOLFBUDDY BB5 SONY X 94C GARMIN SWIM LEC DF50B WINE AND BEER FRIDGE ZEPP TENNIS SENSOR MICROSOFT BAND NIKE FREE 5 .0 FINIS SWIMP3 JABRA SPORT PULSE Festivals EVERYTHING YOU’LL NEED TO ROCK YOUR FESTIVAL (AND CAMPING) EXPERIENCE THIS SUMMER ULTIMATE EARS BOOM ASUS ZENPAD S 8.0 HEIMPLANET FISTRAL THERMAREST TREO MINIPRESSO JAWBONE UP2 GOAL Z ERO NOMAD 7 BERGHAUS HYPERTHERM HOODY MUC-OFF DRY SHOWER EE O SPREY 2 04 Beach toys DON’T JUST LAZE AROUND ON A TOWEL - GET ACTIVE AND…

BOSCH IXO CORDLESS SCREWDRIVER What’s so good about Bosch’s new IXO Cordless Screwdriver? This petite DIY powerhouse can be charged via Micro USB, so no more fishing around for the right adapter – just use your phone charger (it’ll take around three hours to fully charge). It’s a neat little power tool, sporting an integrated spotlight that means you can keep screwing in those fence panels after the sun has gone down. The Bosch IXO Cordless Screwdriver comes with the usual selection of screwdriver bits and bobs, and it’s light enough to save your arms and wrists from a world of pain. £40, bosch.co.uk LOTUS GRILL Your friends are gathered around, waiting expectantly for a juicy burger or a hotdog. Do you really want to stand there like a pillock,…

All three of our wireless systems trounce the audio available from standalone Bluetooth speakers, but there are still big differences between them. In a showdown between HEOS and Sonos, it’s Denon’s prodigy that edges it. While the PLAY:1 is a budget barnstormer, both articulate and ballsy, the step-up Sonos boxes lose on points to Team HEOS. The HEOS 7 positively thunders for attention. It’s startling just how much bass it can produce. In a larger room, this is immense fun. But this prodigious bass is tempered by a rich mid-range, which makes it a great choice for a wide variety of musical genres. The HEOS 5 is more restrained but has a smooth delivery that nudges it ahead of the Sonos PLAY:3. By way of comparison, the Sonos PLAY:1 is…

A big question surrounding the future of the iPhone is whether smaller devices have any future. For some time, Apple pushed back against so-called ‘phablets’, arguing that a thumb should be able to reach the entirety of a device’s screen. The iPhone 6 Plus was Apple throwing in the towel; the mediocre iPhone 5c was Apple setting fire to it. Rumours exist regarding some kind of four-inch iPhone in 2015, but these are scattergun at best. We’ve heard arguments that the 5s will stick around, until Apple eradicates small iPhones entirely. Elsewhere, there are claims the 5c will get a much-needed upgrade, swapping out its iPhone 5 guts for iPhone 6 innards. Ultimately, any smaller device’s existence will come down to the potential for Apple to make a profit. People…

01 APPLE iPAD SMART COVER This flappy front cover attaches to your iPad with magnets, adds barely any thickness and folds into a stand. Its microfibre lining cleans the screen, too. £29, apple.com/uk 02 SURFACE PRO 3 TYPE COVER This adds a proper mechanical keyboard into a simple folding cover, so you can be as productive as possible on the move. The keyboard is backlit, too. £109, microsoft.com 03 GOOGLE CHROMECAST This wireless videostreaming unit plugs into the HDMI port on your TV, and you can stream music, video and photos to it from compatible apps. £30, google.co.uk 04 WESTERN DIGITAL MY PASSPORT WIRELESS 2TB This portable hard drive can be accessed wirelessly, using compatible apps for iOS, Android and Windows. £172, wdc.com 05 WACOM INTUOS CREATIVE STYLUS 2 This…

BADLAND: GAME OF THE YEAR EDITION Ever dreamed of being a majestic creature flying through a forest? With this highly original game, you can do just that – just watch out for the traps. £6.99; PC, PS4, Xbox One HOHOKUM No other game quite captures the randomness of a dream than Hohokum. It’s like nothing you’ve played before, and it has a brilliant soundtrack, too. £9.99; PS4, PS3, PS Vita HOMESICK Explore a creepy abandoned building, solving various clues and puzzles to unravel the mystery and escape your nightmares – both real and imagined. Chilling yet strangely beautiful. £10.99; PC ALIEN: ISOLATION It’s a bit old now, but this remains one of the best games for living your worst nightmare: abandoned on a spaceship and being hunted by a Xenomorph.…

$4.99, iOS If you love Moleskine’s range of journals, you’ll adore the company’s new app, which brings the company’s eye for aesthetics to your iPhone. Moleskine Timepage is sleek and minimalist, but it doesn’t skimp on features; combining useful calendar tools and gorgeous design elements that enable you to keep up with all of the social events and work tasks you’ve got planned. Getting specific, you can dive in to each event for more information. If an event takes place in a certain location, for instance, the app will display a map along with information on how long it will take to get there, and what the weather is like. Is it raining where you’re going but you don’t have an umbrella? Don’t worry, as the app integrates with Uber…

Smartphones 01 SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 EDGE www.samsung.com PRICE FROM £760 TESTED T3 243 As well as that gorgeous ‘infinity pool’ build, the Edge packs a brilliant camera and a pin-sharp QHD display. It’s pricey, though. T3 SAYS We love the glass-and-metal body, stunning screen and fantastic camera. 02 APPLE iPHONE 6 www.apple.com/uk PRICE FROM £539 TESTED T3 238 Apple is at the top of its game right now. The iPhone looks better than ever, the battery life is improved and the camera still delivers the best smartphone photos. T3 SAYS The best iPhone ever made – it’ll make you consider giving up your Android. 03 LG G4 www.lg.com PRICE £480 TESTED T3 244 The G4 is a whole lot of features in a fairly compact space. It has a powerful…

Big actually is better A big-screen TV will genuinely make a difference to your viewing experience. It’s the best starting point, too - pick the screen size and work from there. In the average lounge set-up, 48 inches is minimum. 55 inches and above will make the most of your 4K panel. Future-proof with 4K Ultra HD is the future for both streaming and broadcast entertainment, so 4K is what you should be aiming for. And prices are steadily dropping, too – for example, a 48-inch Samsung 4K smart TV can be had for £1,400. Do I want to go curvy? Curved TVs can increase immersion and enhance the focus at the edges of the image... if you’re sat in the sweet spot. If you’re looking at an angle, images…

Home audio 01 HEOS BY DENON www.denon.co.uk PRICE From £199 TESTED T3 245 Uniquely designed, with great audio performance and top value for money, Denon’s HEOS is the system of choice for multi-room audio in the home. T3 SAYS Upgrade your home audio experience with great sound in any room. 02 YAMAHA YSP-2500 uk.yamaha.com PRICE £800 TESTED T3 242 Sixteen 2.8cm drivers deliver an astonishing soundstage, while there are three HDMI 2.0 inputs with 4K passthrough, and outstanding DSP processing options. T3 SAYS Futuristic sound-reflecting technology offers amazing cinema sound. 03 NOCS NS2 AIR MONITORS V2 www.nocs.se PRICE £299 TESTED T3 236 These offer rock-solid AirPlay streaming and a Spotify connection, plus they can go pretty loud without distorting. T3 SAYS The perfect blend of wireless convenience and great design.…

Adidas miCoach Smart Ball Sort out your football-striking skills with Adidas’s miCoach Smart Ball. It’s packed with sensors, and comes with a companion app that shows you where to strike it and how hard. You’ll go from Ronaldon’t to Ronaldo in hours. £145, www.adidas.co.uk Finis Tech Toc While there are those who are just happy to have their head above water, if you really want to become a better swimmer, this belt features a small ball-bearing that clicks when you twist your hips correctly, to improve your stroke. £35, www.finisinc.com Withings Smart Body Analyzer Who wants to write stuff down? These scales communicate with your phone and nearly every fitness app to track your weight. They’ll even give your body-fat percentage and tell you if it’s raining outside. £130, www.withings.com…

greenIQ Smart Garden Hub Around half of the water you use outdoors is wasted, but this smartphone-controlled device will help you to keep costs down by using weather forecasts to accurately gauge how much irrigation your garden needs. £180, www.greeniq.co Garden Groom Pro Electric Hedge Trimmer The worst thing about trimming hedges is having to gather up the debris afterwards. This lightweight, 50W machine puts an end to that, shredding your trimmings at a ratio of 10:1 and sucking them into a bag. £100, www.gardengroom.com NetAtmo Weather Station As stylish as a wireless speaker system, the NetAtmo not only gives you weather updates (via an app); it also provides an analysis of the temperature and air quality inside your home, helping you to live a more comfortable, healthier life. £142,…

You don’t always have to spend big money to get something you’ll love to bits. That’s why we’ve put together a list of our favourite products for £100 and under. Some of our chosen gadgets also happen to be the best things you can get in their particular category, others are great-value alternatives to bigger ticket purchases, but all are brilliant products we’d be happy to use ourselves. So next time you get paid and there’s spare cash burning a hole in your trouser pocket, make sure you consult T3’s £100 Hotlist! THE SUPER SIX 01 LG POCKET PRINTER 2.0 www.lg.com PRICE £99.99 The internet hasn’t totally killed the physical form - LG’s mobile printer lets you print Polaroid-style photos over Bluetooth or NFC. T3 SAYS Print photos from your…

DESIGN DONS Part of the reason for the expensive price is the combination of German and Swiss engineering. With an unfussy design that echoes the Leica M Rangefinder, the metal Q promises years of distinguished service, while the life-like image relayed by the electronic viewfinder and back screen further entice us to mouth “wow”. Set against that, perhaps the cost isn’t so prohibitive. At the time of writing, Leica had sold out of stock at its Mayfair HQ. ALUMINIUM & MAGNESIUM ALLOY BODY This feels solid in the palm. A thumb rest coupled with a diamond pattern exterior provide a firm hold 3.68 MILLION-DOT RESOLUTION EVF Insane resolution relays a life-like image - ideal when trying to focus using the electronic viewfinder 24.2 EFFECTIVE MEGAPIXEL FULL FRAME SENSOR A chip…