t3 magazine - june 2015 uk
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MagazinTRANSCRIPT
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100 ALL-new / 4 greAt new sections / no.1 for gAdget Advice
ApplewAtch
the redesign issue
N e w k i t r at e d !
the gAdgets youLL need to survive A zombie ApocALypse
find out whAt its reALLy Like to use
pLus! sAmsung gALAxy s6 & htc one m9 tAke on iphone 6
for improving your Life, home, trAveL,commute, work & more!
must-have techupgrades
190pLus hot kit for 100
24 hours with the
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NeptuNe SuIteWho says smartwatches are the way forward for wearables?
T3 thinks crowdfunded Canadian newbie Neptune's Android Lollipop-powered ecosystem is a potential mould breaker. Its brain is the Neptune Hub a quad-core-
powered wrist cuff with 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth. This controls a suite
comprising the 5-inch Pocket Screen; the tablet-like, 10-inch Tab Screen; a wireless
keyboard that can connect to the Tab Screen; earbuds and an HDMI dongle, enabling
you to take control of any compatible screen. In short, the Neptune Suite is a seamless
computing experience controlled from your wrist. It may just catch on, y'know Price: From 399 Out: February 2016
URL: www.getneptune.com
New tech with the power to dent the universe
p r e s e N t s
GameChanger
juNe 2015 T3 5 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
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6 T3 june 2015 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
Rob Carney EditoRAlthough he sometimes wakes up in a cold sweat at the thought of his robo-mowers doing a Skynet, Rob always seems fresh enough to get hands-on with the latest golf gear and audio tech.
Claire davies AssistAnt EditoRThe newest addition to the T3 team is rapidly proving herself one of the most valuable, although camera tech does have a habit of going missing when our Welsh lass is in the vicinity.
Matt HansonpHonEs And tAblEts WRitERMatt specialises in everything mobile, but his other main passion is audio. Thankfully, his music taste doesnt extend to the similarly named boy band from the 90s, Hanson. Maybe.
nick odantzis REviEWs EditoRFrequently seen juggling the cutting-edge contents of T3s reviews cupboard, or finding excuses to test the latest motorbike tech, Nick ensures the mags reviews help you buy the best.
Gareth beavis pHonEs And tAblEts EditoRGareth has spent the past decade tinkering with all the best mobile tech, and still gives more than 15 answers when asked, Which phone should I get? We got just one from him on p60.
dan Read ContRibutoRDan has as much in common with Bear Grylls as a comfy chair, which hed rather sit on than take to the great outdoors. We sent him to the woods to escape a zombie apocalypse regardless (p72).
duncan belllifEstylE tECHnoloGy EditoRDuncan has been aggravated by tech for 30 years now, from the early days of making his thumb bleed with knock-off Pac-Man, to dropping expensive phones down the toilet.
Marc Chacksfield ContEnt tEAM lEAd A tech journalist for nearly a decade, Marc mostly writes about home entertainment, just so he can get paid to watch films for a living so much so that he even sits through the rubbish ones.
Angela nicholson ContRibutoRNobody knows their telephoto lenses from their titanium tripods better than the Head of Testing of T3s sister magazines Digital Camera, N-Photo and PhotoPlus. Read her travel advice on p26.
The global magazine T3 is currently licensed in 20 countries worldwide, from Italy to Indonesia. Here are just some of our international editions
Meet the teamISSue 243 / juNe 2015
Tomorrows Technology Today, to
give T3 its full name, was launched in
1996 and has been helping readers select
the right gadgets to improve their lives
for nearly 20 years as a magazine (print
and digital) and at T3.com. Weve been
at the heart of every shift in consumer
technology ever since from DVDs and
HD TVs to smartphones and virtual
reality but our mission has remained
the same throughout: to help you live
a better life through technology, and
to filter the latest gadgets to ensure
you only ever buy the best of the best.
Lifes better with t3...
How to license t3If youre interested in publishing a licensed version of T3 in your territory, wed like to hear from you. Please direct enquiries to T3s International Director, Regina erak ([email protected])
AustRAliA
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slovEniA
CHinA
polAnd
tHAilAnd
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june 2015 T3 7More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
To say Im excited to introduce the all-new T3 is an understatement. This is T3 renewed: the next generation of gadget magazine that gives you everything you need for better living in a world where everything connects to everything else.So, whats new? Well, everything, actually.
You have four brilliant new sections: T3 Hype, T3 Agenda, T3 Select and T3 elite. In T3 Hype (p12), we bring you all the hottest new gear. Then theres T3 Agenda (p37), where we serve up seven new adventures to have with tech every month. T3 Select (p93) gives you expert reviews and recommendations, helping you to buy only the best gadgets and kit. And T3 elite (p117) is simply the ultimate buyers guide. elsewhere this issue, I spent 24 hours with
the Apple Watch for our main feature. Did it live up to my expectations? Find out on page 46. And we attempt to find out which smartphone is the best choice for you right now (p60).All thats left to say is enjoy the issue
as you delve through the brilliant new sections, I hope youll see why we believe lifes better with T3. And do let me know what you think about our new look by using the contact details below.
Editors letter
ian Morris ReviewerSpiky-haired, to-the-point and a master of wit, Ian can also turn a mean hand to reviewing anything gadget-related; the bigger and more expensive, the better p94
Rami niemi illustratorNineties metal nut Rami turns scintillating concepts into magical works of art, and lives a pseudo-hippy lifestyle on a farm p32
Joe Minihane WriterLooking into the future doesnt always mean death, destruction and Kevin Costner in leather pants, as future-tech-gazer joe finds out this month p88
Key contributors
Discover more great ways to enjoy T3
Digital edition The iPad edition of
T3 features a raft of fresh
content, including video
reviews and interactive
articles. T3 is also available
on Android devices, and
your desktop via Zinio.com.
The all-new T3.com Weve also overhauled
T3.com the best site for
gadget news and reviews
now has a great new look and
is fully responsive, enabling
you to enjoy it on any device.
Rob Carney, [email protected]@robcarney
ISSue 243 / juNe 2015
On a new T3subscription
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Bigger, better and the best for gadgets: welcome to the all-new T3, the mag that makes your life better through technology.
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More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
issue 243 / june 2015
032
060
088
072
exclusive T3 subscription offer p58
032 GadGetGuru T3s very own teacher of tech fields your burning questions on everything from drones to connected lightbulbs
037 t3aGenda Get inspired with seven unique technology-based adventures you can get stuck into right now
060 todaystopsmartphoneApple, HTC and Samsung go head-to-head in the ultimate test as we select your next phone for you
072 manVstech Can off-grid gadgets get you through a zombie apocalypse? Our man stakes his life on it, quite literally
088 citiesofthefuture Step into the immediate future as we take a look at the innovations that will transform urban living
Features
To subscribe to T3, point your browser at myfavouritemagazines.co.uk, or turn to p58. The next issue of T3 goes on sale 11 june
save 60%
04624hourswiththeappLewatch
Discover what its like to spend a day with Apples new wearable in our exhaustive real-world report
Contents
080thecompLeteGuidetomuLti-roomaudio
Your dream home music setup is within reach thanks to our in-depth primer
june 2015 T3 9
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10 T3 june 2015 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
issue 243 / june 2015
Contents012
preView LGs incredible new phone,
Nikons new system camera and Recons new HUD star in our
roundup of hot new kit
022readerpreView
T3s readers road test the Oculus Rift virtual reality
headset and share their views
025peopLe
Lewis Hamilton cant stop winning races, but whats his
ideal suite of tech? We reveal all
026wecan
buiLdyou Everything you need to capture stunning photographs on your
travels this summer is here
028styLe
The top techie trainers chosen specially for you by T3s
in-house fashion experts
030taLkinGtech
The connected home is coming of age Duncan Bell delivers
the verdict so far
005 GamechanGer058 subscriptions078 t3awards111 nextissue116 competition130 moneynoobject
117introducinGthebestbuyersGuideknowntoman
From thermostats to tablets and camera to cars, our selection of the very best tells you what to buyPlus! T3s 100 Hot List
Win!One OF TWO ArcAm sOlO sOundbArs
p116
100
Essentials022
108
094samsunGjs9000 Find out what we thought of
this cutting-edge, curved 55-inch 4K telly
098smackdown
Which hybrid laptop will tempt you to discard your iPad and
your laptop?
100sixofthebest Want to get fit and rock the
latest tech on your wrist? Check our fitness tracker roundup
102ourGadGets
The T3 team puts their kit through a rigorous long-term
testing process
108Games
Well tell you exactly what you should be playing right now
113apps
Choice selections from the worlds of Android and iOS for
smartphones and tablets
114entertainment
Watch to watch at home and in the cinema in the month ahead
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12 T3 june 2015 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
your guide to the hottest tech, PeoPle and styles right now
14 new sony BraVia15 recon Jet hud 16 Phantom 3 drone18 nikon 1 J5 csc 20 asus Vivowatch22 oculus rift25 lewis hamilton26 travel photography28 techy trainers30 opinion
this Monthissue 243 / June 15
tBc, lg.com/uk
Whats this all about, then?Its LGs brand-spanking-new smartphone, following the Quad HD G3.
Whats the display like? Any good?Its Quad HD again, 5.5 inches, and has pure whites and deep blacks. It also uses UV light to form a liquid-crystal alignment layer in the display, so theres a better contrast ratio.
Excellent. Is the camera top-spec?Its 16MP f/1.8 and has a highly tuned Optical Image Stabiliser that apparently produces 80 per cent brighter images. Theres also an Expert mode that enables you to control shutter speed, exposure, white balance and file type. Plus, itll shoot Ultra HD video at 60fps.
But what about battery life?The phone packs a 3,000mAh battery, reportedly offering 19.5 hours talk time (18.7 days standby).
Is the phone curved?Yes, it is. LG calls it a floating arc design that fits perfectly in your hand.
When can I get it?It should be available as you read this.
LG G4
FRont snAPPERselfie enthusiasts, rejoice! the 8MP, wide-angle front camera includes hDR, a light, and the ability to use gestures to take shots
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
A magnificent Quad HD screen is paired with an excellent cameranick oDAntzis, REviEws EDitoR
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june 2015 T3 13 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
LG G4 sMARtPhonE
One tOwatch!
Hypelg g4
connEctivitYthe G4 features
4G/wi-Fi connectivity and 32GB of internal
memory, with the ability to increase it to 200GB
using a microsD card
notiFicAtion stAtionLGs UX 4.0 brings a more personal experience, with the os analysing
your lifestyle habits and providing notifications based on this
Vital stats30 per centthe display is 30 per cent tougher than the g3s
3,000mahthe large battery should keep you going all day
5.5 inchesthe size of the g4s Quad hd iPs Quantum display
16 millionthe number of
pixels the lg g4 can capture
the G4 is a stunning device, and you have the option of adding a premium leather back cover
the camera features laser and closed-loop autofocus, helping you to take better shots
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preview
14 T3 june 2015 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
Sony BRAVIA X93C2,599 (55-inch), sony.co.uk
Its a new BRAVIA! Whats so great about it?Well, its one of the first Sonys to run Android TV, Googles much-hyped home-entertainment (film, TV, music and games) platform.
OK. What can I watch with that?Loads of stuff. Android TV alone features many apps, including Netflix and yes, you can stream in 4K on this BRAVIA. But there are also the usual catch-up services built-in, including BBC iPlayer, 4oD, ITV Player and Demand 5.
What else can I do with it?Using the PlayStation Now service, you can play PlayStation 3 games directly on the TV theres no need for a console.
But whats it like as a TV?Very impressive. As well as being 4K, it features Sonys new X1 image processor, which analyses and upscales your source content to 4K. It can also play HDR content. Nice.
How big is it? Will it fit in my living room?The 55-incher (148.4 x 78.0 x 25.5cm) probably will, but the 65- and 75-inch models (170.6 x 91.1 x 29.2cm and 192.9 x 104.1 x 32.2cm respectively) will require a big lounge.
When can I get one?Its on sale now and available in 55- (2,599), 65- (3,999) and 75-inch (7,499) versions.
vital stats3480 x 2160 4K Ultra HD brings TV shows, films and games to life
178The recommended angle for optimum viewing enjoyment
360 degreesThe TV offers a
powerful surround sound experience
Four
The number of HDMI sockets, boosting your connectivity
HIGH-RES AUDIOAs with many of
Sonys high-end products, the X93C range features
high-res audio built in, so the TVs sound as good as they look
SLIMLINE SCREENThe 55-inch model measures just 25.5cm thick, with the 65-incher being 29.2cm. Even the (very expensive) 75-inch model is only 32.2cm
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june 2015 T3 15 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
Recon Jetvital stats
3D techA 3D accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer assure accurate readouts
1GHzTheres a dual-core processor on board
8GBThe size of the
Jets flash memory, for storing
video and more
16:9 wQvGAThe resolution of
the Jets HUD
bATTERy LIfEThe battery life is quoted at around four hours, but if you need longer you can swap in another battery en route they cost $60
CONNECTION SUITEThe glasses feature ANT+, bluetooth Smart and Wi-fi connectivity. Pair with your phone for caller ID and SMS notifications
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
$699, reconinstruments.com
These look like Google Glass!Yes, they do a bit, but the Recon Jet glasses
are aimed squarely at runners and cyclists wanting to view data thats relevant to their
activity, and capture what they see in an unobtrusive manner ie without
wearing an action cam in a mount.
So, what do they do?Theyre loaded with software thats tailored
to cyclists and runners. You can see your performance data, such as pace/
distance, duration, ascent/descent and heart rate. You can also get
smartphone notifications in your vision.
Can you talk to them?Theyve got a built-in speaker and
microphone, but you cant currently speak to them. There will probably be
some third-party app support soon.
So, you can get apps for them?They currently work with Recons own Engage app, and will soon connect to
apps such as IFTTT, Strava and Apple Health. The open SDK
means that developers can write apps for them,
so expect many more soon.
When can I get them?Right now. Go!
HypeSony BrAviA X93C / reCon Jet
One tOwAtCh!RECON JET SMART
EyEWEAR
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16 T3 june 2015 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
DJI Phantom 3 Professional1,159, dji.com
Whats this, then?Its a top-of-the-range drone for capturing aerial footage.
What can it do?It can shoot stabilised 4K video and take 12-megapixel photos. It also features a Live HD view, which means you can see via an app what the drone is filming.
CAMERA CApAbilitythe phantom 3 professional features a proprietary camera that can capture 4K video. the less expensive phantom 3 Advanced (899) has a 1080p camera
controller optionsthe dedicated phantom controller
enables you to strap in your mobile device and take complete control of the drone. it has a 1.2-mile
range, enables you to start and stop recording, and will even take stills
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Where can I fly it?The CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) has rules on where you can and cant fly drones. Drones with cameras must always be flown at least 50 metres away from a person, vehicle, building or structure. Before you start, visit www.caa.co.uk/uas to read more.
How easy is it to fly?DJI tells us that the Phantom 3 is easy it has a dedicated controller and app, plus an autopilot function.
How long will the battery last?Youll get around 23 minutes of flight time from a single charge. It doesnt sound like much, but think of all the footage you can capture in that time. The Professional version comes with an upgraded charger for faster refuelling.
When can I get it?You can buy it right now.
preview
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18 T3 june 2015
Today's best cameras revealed p123
CheCk This
More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
Nikon 1 J5
TILTING SCREENThe touchscreen can be tilted
180 degrees, making it possible to take self-portraits and shots at angles that were previously hard to get at
IN CONTROLThe dedicated PSAM dial gives you full control of the 1 J5, whereas the Command dial makes it easy to navigate the menu system. You can also customise the Function button
430, nikon.co.uk
So, whats this? A small SLR?Nope, its a new Compact System Camera with retro styling and ultimate portability (it measures 98.3 x 59.7 x 31.5mm). It can take 20.8-megapixel stills and shoot video in 4K.
Impressive. Tell me more.Well, its the first Nikon 1 camera to feature a large, back-illuminated CX-format sensor, designed especially to capture a huge amount of light. Its got a wide ISO range of 160-12,800, and some excellent noise-reduction features.
Can I change the lens?You sure can. The 1 J5 can use any 1 NIKKOR lens and, for even more versatility, you can buy an FT-1 Mount Adapter that lets you use NIKKOR DX- and FX-format F-mount lenses.
What other features are there?It has fast continuous shooting you can shoot at 20fps with continuous autofocus, or up to 60fps with focus fixed at the first frame. Theres also the option to transfer photos to your device or computer using the built-in Wi-Fi or NFC. You can even control the camera remotely from your tablet or smartphone (and see what it sees).
Is it available in any other colours? And when is it out?It comes in black, silver/white, silver and black. Its available from Nikon and all good camera shops right now.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
preview
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preview
ASUS VivoWatch
20 T3 june 2015 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
vital stats24-hourThe VivoWatch has a continuous heart-rate monitor
4.0The watch uses Bluetooth 4.0 Smart Ready tech
128 x 128The resolution of the display, protected by
Gorilla Glass 3
Ten daysThe average
battery life when in normal mode
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
face diSplayThe high-contrast, high-
resolution, fast-response 1.28-inch display has 1-bit memory embedded
in each pixel. it reads great outdoors, too.
120, asus.com/uk
Whats this, then?Its a beautiful smartwatch from the makers of ZenWatch, this time aimed at people with an interest in fitness.
OK, so what features does it have?Theres lots to get excited about here, including the Sleep Tracking function, which will help you catch better-quality zzzzs, and VivoPulse, which helps you exercise efficiently while offering data on calories burned. The vibrating alarm, activity reminders, heart-rate tracking and vibrating call notifications are also handy.
How will it improve my well-being?VivoWatch features a Happiness Index (HI), a score calculated using your sleep and exercise data. Its scored out of 100, and if you hit 75+ on the HI each day, youre on track for happiness and vitality!
What if I want to see data in detail?VivoWatch syncs easily with your smartphone or PC, so you can dig into your full exercise history, sleep data and more to build up an insightful picture of your wellness.
Is the watch stylish, though?ASUS launched its newbie at Milan Design Week so, yeah, its stylish. The stainless-steel chassis is polished and sleek, as is the thin steel bezel. That comfortable black fabric strap is fully adjustable for a secure fit.
How long will the battery last?A whopping average of ten days if used in normal mode. If you use it in fitness mode with active heart-rate tracking, average battery life is up to 24 hours.
When can I get it?VivoWatch is available to buy now.
WaTeR-ReSiSTaNTan ip67 water-resistance rating means that you can submerge the VivoWatch in up to one metre of water for 30 minutes ace for
showering, not for swimming
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Don't hold your breath for the retail release of Oculus Rift. Once it was "coming in 2015"; the latest word is that we'll be lucky to see it this side of Christmas. Can't wait? Pick up the developer version for $350 at Oculus.com
OCulus RIftVirtual Reality is officially the next big thing so t3 asked readers for their views
ReadeR PReview
Nirave GondhiaAge: 28 OccupAtiOn: Freelance technology reporter and web developer
Liked: I dont get to plunge through burning hoops in my day job, and the ability to feel the thrill of doing a stunt without putting my life at risk was a big plus.disLiked: Speaking as a glasses-wearer, there is clearly an issue with Oculus its just not designed for us speccies. Verdict: Theres something truly thrilling about Oculus Rift; as soon as you use it, you want to keep using it. I can see uses for it from education to gaming and design to construction.
ReadeR one
Marcus BakerAge: 36 OccupAtiOn: IT project manager
Liked: Im actually "3D blind" I cant get on with 3D TVs and IMAX but Oculus Rift worked for me.
How realistic was it? Put it this way, the Fire Eater demo caused one tester to faceplant into the desk when "jumping".
disLiked: Even if I cant see them, my brain still knows I have hands, and it knows that if I put them out in front of me then I should be able to see themVerdict: If Oculus gets those full-body input peripherals, itll
revolutionise gaming.
ReadeR two
HandS-on wItH
22 T3 june 2015 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
e're in Londons fashionable Caledonian Road
area. The venue is Meltdown, Londons premier
gaming establishment and also a pleasingly
characterful old pub. T3 has come to show off
the Oculus Rift to a panel of our esteemed readers.
Oculus was the trigger for the second coming of Virtual
Reality, which is arguably the most exciting thing in tech
today. Since it emerged in 2012 off the back of a wildly
successful Kickstarter campaign, Oculus Rift has been
through two main iterations (DK1 and DK2) and two interim
ones, including the brand new Crescent Bay edition. Oh, and
its been bought by Facebook in a deal potentially worth
$2.3 billion, demonstrating that Oculus founder Palmer
Luckey is a man who lives up to his surname.
T3 brought two demos. On DK1, the game All Birds Must
Die, in which you must shoot birds with your eyes. They're
evil birds, apparently. And on the more sophisticated
DK2, Fire Eater. The latter was courtesy of INITION,
the UKs number one VR experience
provider, and involves you jumping off a
nausea-enduringly high platform,
through flaming hoops, to certain death.
So fun for the whole family, then. But
what did T3's readers make of it all?
phOt
OgrA
phy
WiL
L ir
eLAn
d
W
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Hypeoculus Rift
Oculus isn't all one-way others can watch the action on a laptop
some people find the headset easier to use with hands apparently
In addition to being an immersive gaming tool, Oculus is also great for getting together with friends, but be prepared to be taken advantage of
A unique side-effect of the Oculus Rift, which can only really be witnessed in person, is the face the wearer pulls as he or she turns
The 3d works really well and makes you feel like you're right in the middle of the actionROss MACGIllIVRAy, t3 ReADeR
fabio VergiAge: 26 OccupAtiOn: Marketer and tech blogger
Liked: As a VR newbie, I was really taken aback by the immersive experience. It was so responsive
to my head movements, which made exploring the VR environment easy and smooth.disLiked: Why arent there headphones built in?Verdict: I cant wait for Oculus Rift to pick up mainstream momentum! If VR tech like this continues to improve the way it has, I think it could redefine both how we play games and how we consume video content.
ReadeR fIve
Zak RavatAge: 29 OccupAtiOn: Sales trainer
Liked: I was really impressed at how light the DK2 version is. The 3D graphics and sound meant you
were really immersed in the 3D environment, and best of all I didnt feel sick always a plus!disLiked: Having to have the device tightly fitted to my face in order to focus clearly.Verdict: Although VR movies could be amazing, I wasnt blown away by this. Do I want to be flapping my head around while playing COD? Im not quite sure yet
ReadeR SIx
Ross MacGillivrayAge: 38 OccupAtiOn: Student
Liked: The DK2 in particular is comfy and lightweight. The 3D works really well and makes
you feel right in the middle of the action, especially once you have your headphones on.disLiked: I was worried about getting tangled up in the wiring while moving around. Verdict: Loved it! If this is the development kit, I can only imagine how good the retail version will be. Itd be very interesting to play something like GTA V with the Rift.
ReadeR fouR
Alex PangAge: 42OccupAtiOn: Business analyst
Liked: It was great to look around and see 360 degrees of virtual world. This thing can really
take first-person shooters to the next level, because your head replaces the mouse for viewing and aiming.disLiked: You need to shift the headset about until you find the quite small sweet spot. And if you move about too much, you can lose that sweet spot, which is most irritating. Verdict: Ah, its so good. I loved the graphical quality, but really its all about the feeling of being in a virtual world.
ReadeR tHRee
june 2015 T3 23 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
T3 would lik
e to
give extra
special th
anks to
Kathy and Campbell a
t initio
n.co.uk and Rob and Duncan at m
eltd
own.bar/lo
ndon
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people
what a corker
01 Le Creuset Champagne OpenerDriving through the streets for hours in a turbo-powered oven, Lewiss hands are going to get sweaty, so if he wins he might end up popping a cork right into the Prince of Monacos eye. With the Le Creuset champagne opener, he can loosen and capture corks with ease, leaving him free to spray champagne into the faces of unsuspecting passers-by. 20, selfridges.com
appy days
02 FLOpsy DrOiD On anDrOiD WearHandily, Lewis has the best car, which means hell finish races sooner than most this season. So we think he should swap whatever bling watch hes sponsored by for an Android Wear one, such as LGs G Watch R (p125). That way, he can play addictive Flappy Bird clone Flopsy Droid while he waits in the pit lane. We can just see it: No, Nico, you cant have a go!Free, Google Play
music to his ears
03 DaB raDiOGetting garbled, static-laden messages from the garage probably gets stressful. Being told to ease up on the tyres when youre going down a hot road at 200mph with Vettel up your arse must rankle. So we suggest Lewis rips out the team radio and replaces it with the Pure Highway 300Di, enabling him to enjoy some ABBA (The winner takes it all!) while pretending to be the now-on-the-dole Stig.185, pure.com
rubbed up
04 haLFOrDs BaCk 12vYou only have to look at the drivers heart rates when they line up on the starting grid to know that F1 is a tense sport. With the Halfords Back 12v massage cushion, Lewis could work out all those shoulder knots while he loops the track. Hed be so chilled out, hed slither up to the podium like a jelly. Well, not that hed make the podium, as hed have done the whole race at 9mph while listening to whale sounds. 40, halfords.com
the truth is out there
05 suBtext transLatOrThis fictional, but entirely brilliant, gadget would be more for us, the viewers, than Lewis. Worn on his helmet, the translator would tell us what hes really thinking. So, Nico and I have chatted about it and were relaxed about the situation would be translated as, I shouted at him and we had to be pulled apart, while Im not sure what happened out there would reach us as I crashed into a wall because of my driving.il
lust
rati
on m
iss
led
Words: Rob Temple
more great content at the all-new www.t3.com june 2015 T3 25
LeWis hamiLtOnevery issue, t3 selects tech for people making the headlines. F1 ace Lewis hamiltons done a lot of that lately, but what do you give a man who seems to have it all?
01
02
03
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we can build you
04
t h e r e a de r t h e e x pe rt
26 T3 june 2015 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
01OlyMpus OM-D E-M10 systEM caMEraThe E-M10 is small, but its packed with features and produces superb-quality 16MP images. Whats more, unlike some small compact system cameras, it has a viewfinder built in, so you dont have to squint at the screen in bright Italian sunlight. Speaking of the screen, its a tilting, touch-sensitive job, which is useful for changing settings quickly and shooting from high or low angles.
Further good news is that theres Wi-Fi connectivity built in, so you can quickly transfer images to your phone via the free Olympus Image Share app, then share them with friends. You can even control the camera remotely, and compose images on your phones screen.429 (body only), www.olympus.co.uk
02OlyMpus 14-42MM f/3.5-5.6 EZ lEnsThis lens complements the E-M10 perfectly because it collapses down to a super-small size, which is ideal for travellers, and extends automatically when the camera is powered up. 269, www.olympus.co.uk
03OlyMpus 40-150MM f/4.0-5.6 lEnsWhile the 14-42mm lens is a great general-purpose optic thats ideal for general use when youre pounding Rome's pavements, this longer Olympus lens will come in handy when youre photographing more distant subjects. 229, www.olympus.co.uk
T3's gadget concierge service recommends ideal solutions for your tech requirements
CiTy break phoTographer
04ManfrOttO BEfrEE travEl tripODThe Befree Travel Tripod will help you capture the sun setting over the Tiber or the floodlit Roman Forum because it's not too bulky to lug around. Weighing in at just 1.4kg (including the head) it comes with a handy padded bag. The maximum height of 144cm means its not the tallest tripod around, but it will hold your camera steady.149, www.manfrotto.co.uk
05pEak DEsign cuffThe E-M10 features comfortable grips and is light enough to be carried in your hand, but taking this wrist strap with you is still a good idea because it will offer you some security against pickpockets. The anchor link loops neatly onto the cameras strap lug, then clicks securely into the adjustable strap. When you put the camera on a tripod, the anchor link can be detached quickly and the cuff transformed into a bracelet to keep it out of the way.17.40, www.peakdesign.com
06DElkin DEvicEs 64gB Black sD carDFew memory cards offer the reassurance you get from Delkin Devices Black SD Card. Super-fast (Delkin claims it offers unparalleled speeds) and also tough, it comes with a 48-hour replacement guarantee. The downside is that it can only be bought in a camera store you wont find this one available online.99.99, www.delkin.com
iain spencer T3 reader Iain, 38, has
booked a romantic break in Rome. He wants to know what camera kit he should
pack to do the historic city justice and will shoot during the day and at night.
angela nicholson Head of Testing for
T3's sister titles Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, and N-Photo, what Angela
doesn't know about camera technology definitely isn't worth knowing.
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HypeCiTy break phoTographer
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june 2015 T3 27 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
The best app for smartphone shooters
p40
CheCk This
The Olympus E-M10 may be small, but it produces images of the highest qualityangEla nichOlsOn
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style
OLD-SKOOL
LOOK AT ME
SURFER
VERSATILE
RETRO
Phot
ogra
Phy
Neil
god
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Read more at www.t3.com 28 T3 june 2015
Vans LXVI authentIc LIte
The classic white Vans. The Authentic Lite has been re-engineered to improve fit. But most impressive is the UltraCush outsole and footbed, making the trainer super-light.www.vans.co.uk, 47
new BaLance FResh Foam Zante
Whether youre running or partying, the Fresh Foam Zante in lime green is a solid and striking choice. Its sleek, snug and built for speed or dancing!www.newbalance.co.uk, 95
cushe Getaway The chilled-out Cushe (its pronounced
cushy) Getaway boasts a soft, memory-foam sole and a collapsible back for those who cant be bothered to put their trainers on properly.www.cushe.com/uk, 45
nIke FRee tRaIneR 5.0
Ultra-light and ultra-trendy, the new Nike Free Trainer 5.0 combines
flexibility and support through multi-directional flex grooves,
while Flywire tech offers greater stability without the weight.
www.nike.com, 90
Puma aRIL Classic styling in a Puma
lightweight trainer thats equally at home in the gym or on the circuit as
it is in a bar. Inspired by the legendary Puma R698, the Aril
features a mesh upper with suede trims and a rather cool TPU saddle.
uk.puma.com, 60
summeR kIckshere at t3, we live for the cutting edge, and that includes fashion. and these trainers are as techy as they are trendy
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30 T3 june 2015 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
eres the tech dream: your
home is almost a living
thing, learning your
personal habits, reacting to
you as you move around, making your
life as simple, and your energy use as
efficient, as possible. You are Man 2.0,
in your space-age bachelor pad.
Heres the tech reality, as it stands:
youve got a load of mundane or
gimmicky bits of kit that wont talk to
each other, and you have to reboot your
router to turn your lights on, and call
a help centre to heat your house.
In the past year, Ive been sent plenty
of these connectables, the new
wave of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled
home devices. They make everything
into a smartphone accessory, regardless
of whether it needs to be or not. Ive
tried plug sockets that I can switch
on with my phone, four different
types of smart bulb; then there was the
kettle, the football (oh yes, kids today
can no longer just go out and play
football, they have to charge it up first),
the security camera that doubled up
as an air-quality monitor, the sleep
sensor and the thermostat. Because
I no longer need to move from my
couch, Ive become obese but as every
one of these requires a different app,
at least my fingers have become lean
and toned from the constant tapping.
Groaning routersIts impossible to get a smart home up
and running without serious planning.
None of these rival devices talk to each
other or can be grouped. And really,
having to fish your phone out every
time you want to, say, turn the lighting
down a tad doesnt feel very futuristic
light switches and dimmers are, as it
turns out, a pretty convenient way to
control your lights. Who knew?
So how about adding a motion
sensor to turn your lights on as you
approach? Well, yeah, so long as its on
the same system as your bulb, and
you dont mind yet another thing
added to your router, which is
already groaning under the weight of
competing dongles and Wi-Fi signals.
Move past the mundane stuff
bulbs, plug sockets, IP cams that arent
sure if theyre baby monitors or just
a means of creepily watching
your family while youre out
and you soon hit another
problem. There are brands that make
great homewares kettles, for instance
and there are brands that know how
to get basic Wi-Fi switching sorted out.
Theres not a lot of overlap. So at present,
if you want to boil your kettle from your
bedroom, you have to settle for one
thats slow to heat up and has slightly
clunky looks for its premium price.
So at the moment, the connected
home is the preserve of a small number
of enthusiastic hobbyists. You have to
be prepared to get down and dirty with
mainstream. First, the number of
standards has to reduce. Everyone
making this stuff knows that, and they
all say, Yes, we need standardisation.
Thats why weve set up our own
standard, so everyone can join us on
our team. Sorry, chaps, it doesnt work
like that. Ideally, the market needs to
be like smartphones, where you have
a duopoly, with one rigidly policed
system and one slightly looser one. That
way, people can feel like they have a
choice, but there isnt confusion and
despondency over too much choice.
That could be Apple Home Kit
and (the Google-owned) Works with
Nest. Or it could be Microsoft and
Withings. Or it could be two completely
new companies.
The other, I think more important,
thing that needs to change is that
your smartphone/app/sensor/whatever
control needs to be fittable to anything,
without the need for knowledge of
circuit boards and soldering irons.
That will be the real sea change, when
a Bluetooth LE module is as standard
on electrical goods as a plug is.
Consumers outside of T3 Land
still need a lot of convincing that
they need everything in their home
connected to everything else, all
controlled via their mobile device or TV.
Connectables right now are like the
early days of aviation: theres plenty of
excitement but a lot of the products have
a charming primitiveness to them and,
my gosh, theres a lot of crashing.
They make everything into a smartphone accessory, whether it needs to be or not
H
your router, put in the time to set
everything up, become acquainted
with IFTTT, and feel a genuine buzz of
pleasure at knowing your Withings
sleep sensor can now tell your Nest
thermostat that youve woken up.
Oh, and ignore the fact that your old
thermostats timer used to give much
the same result, but more reliably and
with less requirement for rebooting
your network on a semi-regular basis.
Two things need to happen for
the world of connectables to go
Duncan Bell is home sickThe Internet of Things is nearly a thing of wonder, but it still needs some work
OPINION
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let him take you on an inCReDiBle jouRney of teCh enlightenment
senD youR questions to: [email protected] or www.facebook.com/T3mag
above If you want a bit of kink in your life, get a curved Tv. but dont expect it to be immersive
PResentsIL
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32 T3 june 2015 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
Gadget Guru is going to be
a politician and say, Let
me put it to you this way:
I make no bones about it.
It depends. But mainly, no. Although
Gadget Guru or GaGu, as his close
friends call him can see no visual
benefit to curved TVs in terms of
whats on the screen, they do look nice
overall, and aesthetics rule his life.
The argument that you get a more
immersive experience because of
the way the screen wraps around you
seems a bit bogus to GaGu, because
the screens just arent big enough.
You also, by definition, get a slight
warping of the image, like the effects
when Johnny Depp is on LSD in Fear
And Loathing In Las Vegas.
TV manufacturers have interesting
attitudes to the tech. Whereas some
are gung-ho about the benefits, GaGu
has spoken to representatives of other
brands who have said, We dont think
P32 are curved Tvs worth the bother? P33 How can I best automate my home lighting? P33 Where shouldnt I fly my Quadcopter? P34 Do any gadgets test blood pressure?P34 Whats the ultimate camera phone?P34 Which robo-vac should I buy?
curved TVs are an amazing idea,
but there is demand there and the
customer is always right especially
when hes handing us 2K for a TV
with a kink in it. GaGu is paraphrasing.
Widescreen monsterThe benefits of curved screens are
more noticeable on PC monitors,
because you sit nearer to them
Dells 21:9 widescreen monster the
UltraSharp 34 is really good and on
the forthcoming IMAX Private Theatre,
where the screen curves both from
top to bottom and edge to edge. But
thats a projected screen of at least 3m
across. Oh, and it costs 1.8million.
What Gadget Guru would like to
see is tellies curved into a tube that
you have to be lowered into on a
swivel chair, so you can have The
Avengers or the cast of The One Show
everywhere around you, like VR without
the goggles. But if GaGu is being
honest, thats because hes drunk.
My front room is square. Tell me straight: are curved TVs worth the bother?
Dean McGarvey, SouTHaMpTon
you GeT a WarpInG oF THe IMaGe, LIKe THe eFFeCTS WHen joHnny Depp IS on LSD In Fear anD LoaTHInG In LaS veGaS
This issue
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youR questions answeReD
june 2015 T3 33More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
GaDGeT GuruS MaGIC box
With Philips Hue having
forged the way, smart LED
bulbs are in right now. To my
mind, theres simply never
been a better time to shell out 50 on
a damn lightbulb! Happy days.
There are four options for
automation: movement sensors
that activate lights as you approach;
timer functions that switch them on
and off at set times; fine control from
your smartphone or tablet; or a
high-tech combination of all three.
Mind the dustIn GaGus opinion, based on painful
experience, timers are by far the best
option, because movement sensors
whack up the already-daunting cost
even further, and are prone to being
set off by minute specs of dust settling
nearby, yet are unable to recognise
your presence, even if you happen to
be an elephant.
All smart-bulb systems worth their
salt GaGu has tried Belkin WeMo,
Gadget Guru is in regular
contact with the police,
helping them with their
enquiries (about tech). His
friends in the fuzz tell him theres some
concern about drones at present, so
GaGu is happy to help them by spelling
out to you places it might not be wise
to fly a drone, in case youre an idiot.
One: near airports. Anyone whos
been in a plane during a bird strike and
had to limp to the nearest airport with
a destroyed engine and the smell of
burnt seagull permeating the cockpit
will be in a cold sweat about what a
drone could do if sucked into a turbine.
It also wont do your drone much good.
Two: near official buildings. You
know MI5s HQ in London, or the US
Embassy? Well, GaGu wouldnt fly a
drone with a camera on it near those.
He has it on good authority that the
Yanks shoot them down, and theres
always room left in Guantanamo Bay.
Ironically, flying near pylons is
comparatively safe, as your drone by
definition wont be earthed but GaGu
still wouldnt exactly recommend it.
Philips Hue and a few other, more
obscure brands will have timer
functionality in their attendant app.
Now, if you want to get truly
Jetsons on the ass of your home
illumination, you can use IFTTT, Works
With Nest and the like to synchronise
your lighting with other smart devices.
For instance, Withings bonkers Aura
sleep monitor can now inform Nest
when youve woken up, so it can turn
your heating up ready for you to climb
out of the sack and into the shower.
Nest can also, in turn, inform your
lights that its time to rise and shine. If
thats not like being Buck Rogers in the
21st century, Gadget Guru doesnt
know what is.
A word of warning, though: there
are a few issues with smart lighting,
and the main one is that your phone is
just not as good a way to turn on bulbs
as a light switch is, so you may find
yourself having to fall back on that
more old-fashioned method from
time to time. The truth hurts, Jason.
I want to live the connected-home dream. How can I best automate my home lighting?
jaSon eaveS, LeICeSTer
Where should I avoid flying my Phantom Quadcopter?
MeL FarLey, roCHeSTer
above engage in a drone battle with a real aeroplane and theres only going to be one winner
Have you ever wanted to stream CDs to
elsewhere in your home? Panasonics 2015 line of
AllPlay speakers includes the SC-ALL5CD, which can
do exactly that. Given that its small and portable,
maybe you might want to just pick it up and take it
with you, rather than buying a second box and
streaming to it. Who am I to say?
Are you an impatient man who likes barbecuing
and tech, but doesnt have many friends? The Lotus
MiniGrill (left) is just 240 x 225mm
and, thanks to a built-in fan that
raises the flames like a twisted
firestarter or, indeed, a punkin
instigator, its ready to brown your
meat in just four minutes.
You know when youre in an
unfamiliar location and really need a
qualified drone pilot? Well, thank the Lord, theres
finally a service for you. Air-Vid has a database of
over 3,000 pilots in 90 countries, searchable by
area. Its like Airbnb, but for drone pilots!
John Lewis has a couple of truly epic kitchen
products lined up as exclusives. KitchenAids
Magnetic Drive Torrent Blender
(right) is a salty 549 and can
rustle up juices, soups and
smoothies of silken smoothness at
the touch of a button, thanks to
the miracle of Adapti-Blend. Its
awesome. Joining it shortly will be
Tefals Cuisine Companion
robo-chef. Just chuck in your ingredients and watch
in awe as it chops, whips, mixes, blends and kneads
them, before baking, steaming and/or searing,
stirring all the while. Pricing will be around 800.
Winning the battle to be King of Gadget Gurus
Magic Box this month, however, is Netgears R8000
Nighthawk router (below). This offers Wi-Fi
connectivity tailored for each individual device,
allegedly, so the slower ones dont slow down the
faster ones thats a big deal if it works. It was easy
to set up and seems fast but,
more importantly, with its six
antennae, it resembles a
malevolent, upside-down
robot ant. Get in.
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youR questions answeReD
KevIn norTon, brISToL
above vacuum cleaners get lonely too
Harry MICHaeL, WIMbLeDon
Max parISH, CorK
34 T3 june 2015 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
raTHer THan beInG a pHone WITH a CaMera In IT, THe LuMIx CM1 IS a CaMera WITH an anDroID pHone In IT
neeD To KnoW:
SeLF-DrIvInG veHICLeS
This is one of GaGus
hot-button issues, having
spent the past five years
trying to find the perfect
robo-vac after his cleaner ran away
with that bloke from Homebase.
iRobots range is great at cleaning
but has all the grace and carefulness
youd associate with a rampaging
Terminator. To date, the others have
all proved to be either impressively
clever but useless at sucking up stuff,
or vice versa.
All except the Vorwerk VK100, that
is. This is actually a Neato robo-vac,
but its been re-engineered ie made
better, stronger and suckinger for the
demanding German market. It costs
649, so not exactly peanuts, but
GaGu's has now been giving strong
vorsprung durch technik for three
joyous years, while contenders from
other brands have come and gone.
Gadget Guru has historically
found Nokia and Sony
phones to have the best
cameras. However, these
days, Apple, Samsung, HTC and the
rest all have perfectly decent options.
However, one device that crushes
all of those is the Panasonic LUMIX
CM1. Thats because, rather than
being a phone with a camera in it,
its a camera with an Android phone
in it. Theres a proper control ring,
a one-inch, 20-megapixel sensor,
proper manual and auto modes, and
everything. Mind you, it will set you
back about 800 quid, and battery
death is a constant and looming threat.
Speaking as someone
who once tested a smart
blood-pressure monitor
at its launch party and
was advised to seek medical help
immediately, Gadget Guru is reluctant
to recommend these things, but there
are fine offerings out there from Salter
the maestro of all things homely
and essential but unglamorous (the
MiBody at 60) as well as Withings,
Qardio and iHealth (all at 100).
GaGu is assuming youre talking
about blood-pressure monitors that
connect to an app on your phone or
tablet, given that this is T3 magazine.
If youre after something more olde
worlde, there are umpteen options.
What robot vacuum cleaner do you use, Guru?
With so many camera phones to choose from, which would you say is the best?
Is there a gadget that tests blood pressure?
HoW Do veHICLeS aCTuaLLy DrIve THeMSeLveS?In short, much like humans drive them: by receiving stimuli from their senses and processing them with a brain. Anyone whos been in a taxi will be aware that not a huge amount of brain power is required to drive a car [steady on, GaGu, some of my best friends are cabbies Ed], so the sensors are key.
WHaT KInD oF SenSorS?Theres a plethora of them, from long- and short-range radar to cameras, lasers and GPS. Take Volvos system, which works by comparing what it sees with its sensors to where its GPS tells it it is, to build a full picture of its position. The AI then needs to be able to distinguish between unexpected elements braking if a person or moose steps out in front of you, but keeping going if a plastic bag blows into the road.
ITS aS SIMpLe aS THaT?Erm, well, there are also numerous failsafe systems that need to be tested. Driverless cars, at least initially, need to be degrees safer than standard ones, because people get upset about the idea of robots accidentally killing them. To that end, Volvo is installing two braking systems, for instance, and talking about an approach more akin to the aircraft industry than the automotive one.
So WHen WILL My Car be abLe To DrIve ITSeLF?Technically, it would already be able to if it were fitted with the necessary sensors. Unfortunately, because people are a bit funny about road safety and the prospect of death by robot, fuddy-duddy health-and-safety bores insist that more testing, normalising and/or legislation is required before we get that far.
Can I Have a SIMpLer anSWer?Volvo will be testing its Drive Me system in Gothenburg from 2017. So if youre one of the 100 lucky punters on that scheme, thats when your car will drive itself.
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Seven new adventureS with tech you can Start today!
issue 243 / June 15
Put A teslA Model s to the test
Go kite surfinG with A GoPro
Perfect Your iPhoneoGrAPhY with enliGht
wAtch dAredeVil in 4k on netfliX
sAVour A sMArt brew
bAG A Pb with A fitness trAcker
tAke to the skies for A drone bAttle
june 2015 T3 37 More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
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38 T3 june 2015
tech adventures
More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
WALLET BASHERThe Tesla Model S will put a serious dent in your wallet, with the cheapest version starting at just under 50k. Itll cost you around 500 per month on a lease deal
BATTERY BENEATHThe Model S has a giant 85kWh battery that forms the entire floor of the car, its weight giving you a low centre of gravity for flatter cornering and better stability
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june 2015 T3 39
AgENdAteslA test driVe
More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
The notoriously petrol-dependent United States is fully embracing Teslas vision of a battery-powered
future, with Elon Musks vehicles achieving record sales. And, thanks to a growing network of dealers and chargers, theyre creeping onto the UKs roads, too.Theres still a certain reluctance and
suspicion of electric vehicles in the UK, though. Fortunately, Teslas test-drive experience is here to alleviate fears that owning one of these high-tech, 50k automobiles will turn you into a sandal-wearing tree hugger or, worse, the trendy CEO of a doomed internet start-up. While the thrill of driving an electric
car is pretty much instantaneous, its recommended that you test drive one over a period of a few days to see how it fits into your lifestyle. Take your time, says Dr Ben Lane of Next Green Car. We find that it takes at least three days to get what electric vehicles are all about. Request a weeks test drive to really understand if ones for you.
START YouR AdvENTuRE TodAY Book your test drive online at www.teslamotors.com, or visit one of the companys seven stores dotted around the country. Once youre up and running, try out the cars unique features. The Model S includes a 17-inch touchscreen that provides navigation and even lets you browse the Web, while driving-style options make it handle like a sleek sports car or a comfortable cruiser. Worried about battery life? With Next Green Cars Zap-Map (zap-map.com), you can find Tesla-compatible chargers and keep your test vehicle topped up.
Put a teSla model Sto the teSttempted to try out one of these electro-fuelled luxury cars? nows the perfect time to take advantage of the tesla experience
june 2015 T3 39
is the bMw c evo electric bike any good?
p102
check this
SuPERCHARgERIt can take up to 24 hours to charge a Model S using a uK
wall socket, but at one of the 21 superchargers across
the country you can get to 80 per cent in just 40 minutes
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Your action cam is just screaming out for some aquatic adventures, and kite surfing is a perfect fit.
Its surfings more sophisticated older brother and, as youll spend most of your time on the board, you neednt worry about suffering the British Isles freezing waters.
Its also pretty simple to pull off some impressive moves to capture on your GoPro. The best beginner trick is going for some big air, says Tristan Cawte, co-owner of The Kitesurf Centre at Camber Sands in East Sussex. It looks impressive and its relatively easy to do.
Theres no shortage of options for mounting your GoPro, too the kite provides a tailor-made selfie platform. The best place to mount it is on a head cam or on the lines pointing back to the rider, says Cawte.
START YouR AdvENTuRE TodAY Its a good idea to check your weather app before you embark on a kite-surfing adventure. 20 to 30mph winds with big waves but flat water between the sets are perfect, recommends Cawte.
Unless you fancy dinging your board and breaking some bones, youll also need a rather large body of water. The Kitesurf Centre is just an hours drive from London, but most seaside resorts offer the sport. If youre new to the sport, training is essential. The British Kitesports Association (britishkitesports.org) includes details of registered instructors, as well as basic safety and etiquette information.
Perfect your iPhoneography with enlightQuickly edit your iPhone snaps with this awesome all-in-one image app
Image editors are ten-a-penny on the App Store, but youll often find that you need more than one. Before you know it, youve dragged your original image through a host of different filters just to be able to post it on Instagram.
enter enlight. it offers a range of image enhancements that will quickly enable anyone to get their iPhone images looking their best, explains Alistair Jennings, digital camera magazines imaging-lab manager. those new to iPhoneography should take a look at the vast selection of filters that enable artistic colour and b&w effects to be applied. the Analog Mimesis
goPro offers action cams ranging from
1080p/30fps (110) to 4K models costing 410.
Heres legendary kite surfer damien
Leroy showing us his goPro gurn
Go kite SurfinG with a GoProGet more from your GoPro whichever model you own with this easy-to-learn but hugely impressive watersport
filter is great for a retro effect, perfect for instagram.
Meanwhile, iPhoneographers will dig in-depth features such as curve tweaks, selective colour adjustments, perspective adjustments and smart crops. the comprehensive set of features and tools enable you to enhance, edit, apply creative effects and upload your images in a well-designed app that takes photo editing on mobile devices to another level, says Jennings.
40 T3 june 2015 Read more at www.t3.com
tech adventures
0203
mount your GoPro on your head for some serious extreme selfies
it takes mobile photo editing to a whole new level
gogogoPRothe hero4 black will capture your big air in glorious 4k at 30fps. 410, gopro.com
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As a boy, Matt Murdock was blinded by a radioactive substance. At the same time, his other four senses
were heightened, equipping him with superhuman powers. After his father is killed by gangsters, he sets out to seek revenge in the form of Daredevil. Thats the premise for Netflixs new
series, now being streamed in stunning UHD to your TV. Youll need a compatible telly, and theres no better, or newer, than the Samsung JS9000 series. Available in 48-inch, 55-inch and 65-inch versions, its packed full of tech perfect for seeing Mr Murdock kick a gangsters ass.
Marvels four-sensed hero gets a 4k outing and you need to spec up to watch this gritty, groundbreaking series
So why bother with Daredevil in UHD? Netflixs first Marvel series boasts all the lavish production values youd expect from the House Of Cards maker, but with punch-ups to rival the very best of action cinema. Its an explosively violent and dark, character-driven drama, says Jordan Farley of leading sci-fi mag SFX. Make the most of Netflixs 4K streaming capabilities on a top telly for maximum visual wallop as the deep shadows of Hells Kitchen pop off the screen.
START YouR AdvENTuRE TodAY First, youll need a Netflix Premium account. This will cost you 8.99
per month (which is a bargain in our eyes). Check if your current TV is Netflix UHD-compatible by visiting help.netflix.com. Or just bin your old TV and opt for a brand-new model that supports Netflixs Ultra HD service. Youll be able to access Netflix on your smart TV by hitting the Home (or similar) button on your remote and entering your log-in details. A whole world of Ultra HD streaming now awaits.
june 2015 T3 41
AgENdAdAredeVil in 4k
More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
what better way to see a blind man kick a gangsters ass?
see our exclusive review of this samsung tV
p94
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04watch daredevil in 4k on netfliX
4K SuPERHERoYoull need the right tV to stream netflix in 4k uhd. the new samsung Js9000 range, starting at 2,599 for a 48-inch, is ideal
Samsung uE55JS9000 A 55-inch curved suhd beauty with nano-crystal colour.3,999, samsung.com/uk
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wake up and smell the coffee with a super-smart wi-fi grinding-and-brewing machine
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42 T3 june 2015
tech adventures
More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
BaG a PB with a fitneSS tracker
FITNESS FANATICFitbit Charge HR this device tracks your steps, heartbeat, calories burned and more.120, fitbit.com/uk
Most people experience a sudden burst of enthusiasm for running when they first strap on a fitness tracker,
but a few months down the line this can turn into a miserable plod. Attempting to beat your personal best can reinvigorate even the most run-of-the-mill runs.
Signing up for Strava (strava.com) can help give you that competitive edge. The service enables you to challenge your mates and beat your own best times. But what else can you do to get re-motivated with your fitness band?
Take your training outside and off the treadmill, suggests DW Fitness
personal trainer Lee Pickering. Fresh air will help to boost your motivation, and you can explore new places. Challenge yourself with hills and interval running in order to get the most out of your exercise.
The best way to increase your overall time is to pay attention to your heart rate while youre doing the deed and fitness bands such as Fitbits Charge HR will give you an immediate readout. Steadily increase your effort levels until youre unable to hold a short conversation whilst running, Pickering says. This is the point where your body begins to use more glycogen than oxygen. Now try to keep your heart rate at this level.
START YouR AdvENTuRE TodAY To use Strava, youll need a GPS-based device, whether its your phone or a watch such as the Garmin Forerunner 620 (330, garmin.com/en-GB). Check out the Nike+ app for Apple Watch. It enables you to track routes, work out calories burned and cheer on friends. Shoes feeling a bit worn-out? Mino (8, runmino.com) slots under your insole and gives a readout on how much life is left in your shoes via an LED display.
Add a dash of excitement to your running routine, and improve your performance at the same time
ABovE Strava takes the data from your gPS device and enables you to compare times and challenge other athletes
The Smarter Wi-Fi coffee maker wont charge you extortionate amounts for a cup, or spell your name wrong
Savour a smart brew
The uK is in the grip of two revolutions: decent coffee and internet-connected things. Smarters
Wi-Fi coffee maker (150, available at firebox.com) combines both trends in one marvellous drinks buddy.
the machine will wake you up with your favourite brew, sending an alarm to your smartphone. but the question is, what beans are best for it?
06
05
lee bolam, director of extract coffee roasters, recommends Mexican terruno espresso for the morning. its well balanced by a big body and plenty of sweetness, he says.
whether youre after a caffeine kick or a gentle pick-me-up, the strength can be controlled via smarters app, and the machine can brew up to 12 cups at once if youre feeling particularly jaded. You can even set it to make you a brew as soon as you walk in the door.
wake up to your favourite brew without having to lift a finger
run, forrest, run! six fitness bands on test
p100
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june 2015 T3 45
AgENdAduellinG drones
More great content at the all-new www.t3.com
INdooR ACTIoNbattling drones indoors can be a terrifying experience. Models such as the dJi Phantom have sonar systems, enabling you to let them hover indoors without GPs
FLYINg SoLothe new 3d robotics
solo (3drobotics.com)is one smart drone, enabling you to accurately control camera movements via an
innovative smartphone app
SMART CoNTRoLSMost drones can be piloted via your phone, but for extra airborne agility consider getting hold of a dedicated controller, like the Parrot skycontroller for the bebop
youll need a large indoor area such as a squash court and netting
THE dRoNE To oWNParrot Bebop easy to fly and capable of capturing 1080p footage and 14MP images. 430, parrot.com/uk
If youve just dropped a few hundred quid (or more!) on a flying robot, the chances are you wont want to smash
it into another persons drone but there is an entire sub-section of enthusiasts who do just that. Game of Drones founder Marque Cornblatt has become a legend in this flying fight club.
His first step was to redesign the airborne combatants. Whilst you could use an off-the-shelf model such as the Parrot Bebop, it could get expensive. Pulling together parts is a much more sensible approach for drone warfare. We had to reinvent the drone so that it would
take to the SkieS for a drone Battletoughen up your quadcopter and brace yourself for some truly modern aerial warfare. the drones are taking off
thrive in this destructive environment, Cornblatt says. After building hundreds of experimental prototypes, we finally had an airframe that was literally bulletproof.
Once youve built your battle-ready drone, you can take it to the skies for an airborne battle and the last man flying is the winner. Cornblatt recommends that you get to know your drone and hardware intimately beforehand. All your props, batteries and components need to be easy to repair, he explains.
START YouR AdvENTuRE TodAY Game of Drones is yet to launch in the UK, but you could host your own event.
Youll need a large indoor area such as a squash court, hanging nets to protect spectators, and willing participants. Youll also need drones. Game of Drones bulletproof airframe is the perfect chassis, and the official website (gameofdrones.com) includes recommended components. Get feedback and advice on drone building by checking out the community at DIY Drones (diydrones.com).
07
the new dJi Phantom 3 drone has arrived!
p16
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46 T3 june 201546 T3 JUNE 2015
Model wears
Shirt: Philipp Plein
Jacket: Casely-Hayford
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The Apple Watch. The most anticipated gadget of the year, or actually for as long as I can remember. Getting your hands on an Apple Watch is very much like purchasing any other Apple product well, in terms
of the unboxing and initial excitement, that is. And a matter of days before T3 went to press, I was finally able to strap the 38mm Sport version with white strap to my wrist and embark on a day-long test to see if it could live up to the hype.
A typical day for me is probably much the same
as yours: wake up, have a quick workout (if I can
muster up the energy), get the kids ready for
school, drive to work and then maybe squeeze in
a quick pint with colleagues before heading home
to cook and eat before bed. My iPhone 6 Plus is an
integral part of my life. Its never out of my hand
I cannot imagine not having it. Would the Apple
Watch fit into my life in the same indispensable
way? Thats what I intended to find out
DElivEry Day: Booting upPushing in the digital crown to boot up, I expected
the watch to be ready in an instant, but it seemed
to take an age. It was probably only a minute or so,
but it threw me a little. But I guess setting up any
device from scratch takes a while. One thing that
immediately struck me was the screen. The Apple
Watchs screen is nothing short of stunning: bright,
sharp and, well, just lovely.
The very first thing I did? Charge it. Even the
plug has been designed with portability in mind
its folded flat by default, but pull out the main
prong and all three snap out ready to use. You then
plug in the USB and simply attach the magnetic
circular charger to the back of the watch. Apple
quotes two-and-a-half hours for a full charge,
so thats what I did. Next, I needed to set up the
watch, and this is where the fun started.
The first thing the Apple Watch asks you to do is
choose a language. This was my first experience of
the digital crown and the touchscreen. The 38mm
model seems frightfully small, but the screen was
immediately responsive. After tapping English
Whats it really like to spend a day using the Apple Watch? We run it through its paces, but can its much talked-about battery life live up to the 18-hour promise?
ApplewAtch
24 hours with the
WORDS ROB CARNEY PHOTOGRAPHY JOBY SESSIONS, NEIL GODWIN
june 2015 T3 47
24 hoUrs wiTh ThE
Apple wAtch
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The digital crown is, while perhaps not
as succulent as Jonathan Ives hyperbole,
a masterpiece in design. After using it for
minutes, you feel highly accustomed to it,
like youve been using this kind of device
your whole life. Tapping the digital crown
brings the watch to life, showing you the
standard face. Tapping it again takes you
to the circular interface. As you turn the
crown, the interface zooms in and out,
the app at the centre opening if you zoom
right in. By swiping the touchscreen,
you can move the app you want to open
(UK), I waited a while, before the watch
prompted me to open up the Apple Watch
app on my iPhone. Pairing was a typical
Apple affair, involving Bluetooth and a
beautiful QR code that you focus your
iPhones camera on. The watch paired
quickly, asking me to choose a wrist (if
you choose right, the digital crown will be
at the bottom of the watch), and approve
Location Services, Siri and Diagnostics.
Next, I was asked to set up a passcode.
After this, I chose to unlock my watch
with my phone. This basically means that
as long as your watch stays on your wrist,
it will stay unlocked. When you take it
off, youll have to use the passcode again.
Its a neat security feature. The final
option in set-up is choosing to pre-install
all compatible apps from your iPhone
onto your watch. I did this and after
a few minutes, the watch was ready,
laden with apps. By this time it was late,
so I set up an alarm for 7.15am the next
morning (using the dedicated watch app).
The real test would be tomorrow
TiME: 7.00Am. BaTTEry lifE: 100%I actually woke at seven, put the Apple
Watch on my wrist and headed downstairs
for breakfast. 15 minutes later, the silent
alarm kicked in, the taptic engine in the
watch subtly vibrating on my wrist. I can
see the point in this its great when you
dont want the alarm to disturb your
family but I could never sleep wearing a
watch. Even my Fitbit feels obtrusive and
uncomfortable. My alarm settings will
remain the same on my iPhone and its
guaranteed my kids will still wake me up
before it goes off. Also, come to think of it,
wont I be charging this thing each night?
My morning routine on my iPhone
involves checking any meetings for the
day, checking my Twitter feed and
replying to any urgent emails that have
come in. A trip to BBC News is also a must
over a cup of tea. But before all of this,
I wanted to play around with the Apple
Watch. How exactly did it work?
into view, and then either use the crown
to open it or use the crown to zoom in
a little and touch the app. Touching apps
takes a bit of getting used to on such
a small screen especially if you have
fingers of the more chubby variety.
I think the 42mm would better suit me
Hitting the digital crown again acts
as a back button. But I found this a little
confusing at first before realising that
tapping the crown once again on the
circular interface will take you back to
the middle, once again to the watch face.
More great content at the all-new www.t3.com48 T3 june 2015
Coffee machine
KitchenAid Artisan
Medallion Silver
Espresso Maker
629, kitchenaid.co.uk
Model wears
Roll-neck: Cos
Glasses: stylists own
The taptic engine in the watch begins to subtly vibrate on my wrist. I can see the point in this
as youd expect, from day one theres a huge
amount of apps available for the apple watch.
simply open up the apple watch app on your iPhone and
browse to featured to get apples recommendations, or
search if you know what youre looking for. its just like
using the regular app store on your iPhone or iPad.
THERE ARE ALREADY THOUSANDS OF APPS TO DISCOVER AND DOWNLOAD
app store for apple watch
24 hoUrs wiTh ThE
Apple wAtch
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The device weve all been waiting for is finally here, but what are the main features and what do they do?
say hello to the apple watch
More great content at the all-new www.t3.com june 2015 T3 49
tAPtiC EnGinEthe taptic engine inside the Apple Watch enables discreet buzzing notifications. it also enables you to send your heartbeat or a rhythm to a friend or loved one
diGitAl CRoWnAs well as acting as a back button, the digital crown
enables you to zoom in and out of the home screen and various apps for instance, zooming
to locations in Maps and enlarging photos
bAnd And SizinGthere are many different strap and watch combinations, enabling you to customise the device to suit you. the watch comes in 38mm and 42mm models, too
bodY And FACEthe Sport model has an aluminium body and ion-X glass face. the Watch model has a stainless-steel body and a sapphire-glass face. And the Edition model is gold/rose gold
the button below the digital crown takes you to contacts
the Sport band is simple, lightweight and secure
Control the watchs interface using the digital crown
A built-in mic and speaker enable calling functionality
HEARt-RAtE SEnSoRthe Apple Watchs heart- rate sensor on the back of the face uses infrared and visible-light lEds and photodiodes to detect your heart rate during workouts
24 hoUrs wiTh ThE
Apple wAtch
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The button below the digital crown takes
you to your friends, where you can
message or call them. If they have an
Apple Watch, you can even send your
heartbeat, a tap vibration or a sketch.
You can have 12 friends in this mini app
and you set them up using the Apple
Watch app on your iPhone. I set a few
up, including my wife and parents, and
made sure their contacts had a nice photo
(using the Phone app on my iPhone).
But back to my day. Heading towards
7.30am, I checked out my Twitter
timeline and browsed through my email.
I knew that you cant reply to emails on
the watch, so I flagged a few by pressing
harder on the screen, before using my
phone to reply.
Time for a very quick run around the
block mainly to test both the Activity
and Workout apps. Now, I only did a
couple of miles, but I immediately liked
the simplicity of Activity, which gave me
a calorie, step and distance count in a neat
interface. It breaks your activity down
into three sections: move, exercise and
stand. On each screen, by swiping up and
BMW i3 for a couple of hours. But using
the BMW Remote app Id already installed
on my iPhone, I was able to precondition
the car to a nice temperature, before
opening the doors with my watch. I also
had a glance at the charge state to make
sure I had enough juice to get to work. At
71 per cent, the BMW had plenty of miles.
This kind of convenience really appeals to
me. Sure, I could do these actions on my
iPhone, but theres something super-cool
about opening up your car using your
watch. I made sure that I added the BMW
Remote app to Glances.
Glances are a quick way of getting key
info. And you can add any app to the
functionality. To use it, you simply swipe
up from the main watch face. By swiping
left and right, you can view such apps as
Maps, Weather, Calendar and Heart Rate,
and check the battery life of the watch.
Talking of glancing, the watch screen is
pretty much off all the time, until you
raise your wrist (although this can be
turned off). Just lifting your wrist as
you would with any watch turns the
screen on. It hasnt worked a couple of
times for me, though, and I found myself
spinning my wrist to get it to switch on.
You can also just hit the digital crown.
After parking up, I checked The
Guardians Moments app a simple app
that gives you different content at
different times of the day. I got todays
top story and wanted to read more, but
I had to take out my phone to do so.
One of the most interesting things
about the Apple Watch is the different
levels of interactivity and customisation.
The first time you really experience this
is when you want to change the watch
face. Unlike Pebble, for instance, where
you swipe down to change the face,
with the Apple Watch you press harder
on the screen (a force press). This gives
you a quick buzz and enables you to then
swipe left and right to change the watch
face. I was impressed by the number
and quality of watch faces on offer.
To customise them, you simply hit the
Customise button below the face and,
using the digital crown and touchscreen,
you can remove or add details and change
colours. I chose the Simple face, and you
can also opt to remove numbers from the
dial which I did. Its simply a matter of
selecting what you want to change, then
tweaking the digital crown to make the
adjustments. I was nearly at the office
down, you can get a text-based readout.
The Workout app is equally good,
enabling you to choose a type of workout
(outdoor walk, run, indoor run and so on)
and set a goal (such as time or calories).
It really bothers me that I need to take my
iPhone with me for accurate readouts
having an iPhone 6 Plus with you out on
a run is just not feasible.
I had a look over my numbers before
getting ready for work. I didnt quite hit
my goals perhaps next time Ill just set it
as open. The watch came off for a shower:
although there are reports its waterproof,
there was no way I was risking it.
TiME: 8.30Am. BaTTEry lifE: 91%My next task, just before I left the house,
was to whizz to the shops to pick up some
lunch for my family. It was a warm day;
the sun had been beating down on the
More great content at the all-new www.t3.com50 T3 june 2015
how to track your run
There really is something super-cool about opening up your car using your watch
01 worKout App The workout app is pre-installed.
hit the digital crown to bring up
the home screen, then tap on the
workout app. youre presented
with a screen giving you different
workout types for a run, choose
outdoor run. once youve hit this,
you can choose your goals.
02 set Your goAls on the next screen, you can
choose a calorie goal. simply hit the
+ and - buttons to set a number of
calories to burn. swipe across to
add a time you want to run for in
the same way. swipe across again
and you can set a distance. after
hitting start, you get a countdown.
03 trAcK progress on your run, you can quickly see
your progress simply swipe across
the bottom of the screen to see your
heart rate, elapsed time, calories,
distance and pace. To end your
workout, force-press on the screen
and choose End. But dont forget
that you need your iPhone with you.
mEASURE YOUR WORkOUT WITH THE APPLE WATCH
24 hoUrs wiTh ThE
Apple wAtch
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More great content at the all-new www.t3.com june 2015 T3 51
ApplewAtchSTYLEFITNESS
the Apple Watch is geared for fitness, with the Workout and Activity apps giving you readouts of calories, steps and distance. Water-resistant
and extremely light, the Sport model is great for
a run. bear in mind, though, for anything involving the
accuracy of GPS (such as exact distances), youll need your iPhone with you. You can also
sync music to the watch and listen wirelessly using
bluetooth headphones.
Model wears
trainers, running bottoms
and top: new balance
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More great content at the all-new www.t3.com52 T3 june 2015
having to hold your wrist up all the time
its a bit like when youre screwing
something into the ceiling. It was now
time to do a bit of writing and planning,
so I turned to my headphones.
TiME: 11.30Am. BaTTEry lifE: 83%I had my phone with me and my
headphones plugged in. Hitting the digital
crown, I selected the Music app and chose
something to listen to. The Music app was
very familiar, being able to scroll through
albums, songs, artists, playlists and the
like. The album art even appears in the
list, which is nothing new in the world of
smartwatches, but useful nonetheless.
But there was another feature of the
Music app that intrigued me. Im a
Bluetooth headphone user (see my review
of the B&O H8s on page 102), and I can
pair these directly to the Apple Watch.
Why? Because you can store tunes or
playlists, to be precise directly on the
watch. This is more of an exercise-led
feature, making it possible to leave your
phone behind when you go out for a run.
So why didnt Apple include GPS so you
can get accurate stats as well? Odd.
Transferring music to your watch
is a simple affair. Hop into the Music app
section of the Apple Watch app and
choose Synced Playlist. Tap a playlist
and it will transfer via Bluetooth to your
watch. Next, force-press the Music app
on your watch and choose Source, then
Apple Watch. If you havent already
paired your Bluetooth headphones, youll
get a prompt to do it now. This feature is
nice for the gym or exercise when you
dont want accurate stat tracking.
At this point, something struck me:
battery life isnt as bad as Id thought. And
Id been using it pretty heavily. It was still
in the 80s as far as percentage goes, but
I would see how the rest of the day went.
TiME: 1.30pm. BaTTEry lifE: 74%Lunch break. Time for a walk. And time
to experiment with the Maps app. I know
where pretty much everything is in my
home city of Bath but, as an experiment,
I popped in a location and wondered if
I could navigate there using the turn-by-
turn directions feature. As with the
iPhone, you can quickly see where you are
by tapping the location button at the
bottom-right of the screen. Rewinding
a bit to search, you simply force-press
the screen and hit Search. Here, you can
either choose a recent search from your
iPhone or, using Siri, dictate an address.
I dictated a postcode and needed to
speak slowly (it took a couple of tries to
how to pair with your iphone
04 pAsscoDe set up a passcode and
choose whether to unlock
the watch with your phone.
a few more screens later
and your new apple watch
will be ready to wear.
03 Agree? The next step is a few
screens asking you to agree
to location services, siri
and Diagnostics. its just
a matter of choosing the
option you want.
02 new DeVice The next step is to set up
your watch as a new device.
youre then asked which
wrist youll be wearing the
watch on. This is important,
as the display will flip.
01 wAtch App open up the apple
watch app on your
iPhone. Then simply hold
your apple watch in
front of your iPhones
camera to pair.
ITS EASY TO GET STARTED WITH YOUR APPLE WATCH
now. At this point, a text message came
in from Paul Dimery, production editor
I replied to his question with a simple
default reply of OK (this can be edited
in the Apple Watch app on the iPhone).
TiME: 9.30Am. BaTTEry lifE: 88%By now I was in work and it was time for
a quick meeting so for fear of distraction
I slipped my iPhone in my pocket. The
Apple Watch proved both a help and a
hindrance here. I no longer needed to
extract my phone to get notifications. But
on the other hand, I found myself looking
at my wrist every few minutes as new
emails arrived. Of course though, smart
watches are all about notifications, and I
like the way Apple has handled this.
As I got a barrage of emails and the
odd