S TA N D A C H A N C E T O W I N A H U A W E I P 1 0 P L U S !

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 contents
Features
12 Shaping the future
Matsi Modise on tech for
township entrepreneurs

22 Appetite for convenience

Some of the best apps to get dinner
to your door
24
24 4K dream set-ups
Top multimedia set-ups for
your lounge

30 Fear the VReaper

Heart-stopping VR game
experiences

38 Mobile movie magic

How to use HDR for peak
mobile video

40 Talk to the hand

Speak to your phone using
Google Assistant

44 Taxi technology
Sensors in taxis to report
overloading and bad driving

48 Chemistry life hacks

54
64
Household chemicals to solve
common problems

Swag
10 Two-box audio heaven
KEF LS50 wireless speakers

36 Clean up your act

Neato Botvac D7 vacuum cleaner
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: GALLO/GETTY IMAGES; THIS PAGE: COURTESY IMAGES

42 Mood lights
Smart bulbs that create ambience

Regulars

70
4 Ed’s letter
8 Benefits
17 Need to know
21 Life hacks
54 Game reviews
64 Smart buys
70 Buyer’s guide
74 Backspace
 TECH ed’s letter

AND THE GEEK GOD SAID: ‘LET THE FUTURE BE FORETOLD

THROUGH THE WRITING OF SCIENCE-FICTION STORIES AND
LET SOME OF THOSE STORIES BE MADE INTO MOVIES. LET THE
STORIES BE AVAILABLE IN ALL FORMS UNTO ALL PEOPLE, NOW
AND FOREVER MORE.’
Early Geek mythology – the tales of the proto-hackers and humanity’s ever-
conflicted relationship with science and technology – is contained in novels
that were written before PCs and the internet.
Today, electronic books are nearly outselling printed books, but you read
them holding a screen in your hand, and it needs to be recharged all the
time. And, anyway, reading time is a luxury far fewer of us seem to have
these days.
Audio books, where the book is read to you by an expert narrator, is a quick
way for the serious geek to catch up on the classics: Neuromancer, SnowCrash,
Dune, Foundation and a million others. Best of all, you can take your flight of
fantasy while you’re driving in traffic, sitting in a taxi, washing dishes or
mowing the lawn. Your audio book is with you all the time, on your phone.
Back in reality, VR is something that’s notoriously hard to describe to
someone who hasn’t been there. Read about our adventures inside today’s
creepiest VR games on page 30.
Voice, not buttons and not touch, is the new interface. So combine voice
control with artificial intelligence and you get Google Assistant, now available
on most Android phones. Find out how this could improve your life on page 40.
Ready for next-level multimedia in your lounge? Check out these home
theatre set-ups on page 24.
There’s lots to win in this issue, including Skullcandy Crusher headphones
(p27) a Huawei P10 Pus (p9) and the Astrum ET300 cordless earbuds (p67),
which are the perfect companion for audiobooks.

Share
TECH CHIEF
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TWO-BOX
audio heaven
ALL THE PERFORMANCE WITHOUT
THE CUMBERSOME COMPONENTS

K E F L S 5 0 W i re le s s
lo u d s p e a ke r s , R 3 2 3 0 0

Yes, these are pricey speakers (the

original LS50s were a lot cheaper)
but let’s put it this way – if you buy
these wireless versions, you don’t have
to buy an amp or streamer. There’s no
need to find a space in your lounge

Verdict
to house them either. That’s because
all the necessary hardware is neatly
integrated. The result? Two simple boxes
offering the sort of sound that makes
bigger, more complex systems blush. We’re impressed
The added hardware of an amp and Epic sound,
heat sink on each speaker has made with excellent
them a bit bigger than the originals at streaming options in
a space-saving system.
the back, but otherwise they still look
stunning with their curved front.
Playing your favourite tunes is also
uncomplicated – using the companion We’d improve
app, you can stream tunes from your Can’t change
local library or from a media server. sources in-app.
PHO T OGR A PH Y: COU R T ES Y I M AGE

You can also switch sources and use

Bluetooth. Either way, you will be
rewarded with scintillating sound.
The app’s clever room-correction The last word
Hugely powerful; sharp-
settings let you adjust the EQ of the sounding and perfectly
speakers to suit whatever space they’re balanced; the LS50
in. Bass performance is room-shaking Wireless speakers are
stuff, but nicely controlled, while other an exciting listen
tracks reveal perfectly balanced sound. every time.

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 TECH 1 1
MATSI MODISE
MANAGING DIRECTOR
OF SIMODISA
INSTAGRAM missmatsi 3 240+ followers
TWITTER @matsimodise 1 870+ followers
FACEBOOK SiMODiSA 670+ likes

Shaping the
future NOT CONTENT WITH CLIMBING
ANYONE ELSE’S LADDER, MATSI
MODISE IS MAKING HER OWN
WOR DS JOA N N E C A R E W @L I T T L EC A R E W
E
VEN AS A CHILD, MATSI
MODISE WANTED TO BE
A BUSINESSWOMAN.
Today, as the MD of entrepreneurship
association SiMODiSA, she’s doing just
that, and helping the next generation
achieve the same. In-between, she’s also
a business owner and a regular speaker
at business conferences. Tech chatted to
Matsi about the many hats she wears and
the role of tech in the local start-up space.
You started out founding
an entrepreneurship
hub in Soweto, right?
I was part of the Johannesburg Hub, but
was asked in 2014 to start the Soweto Hub.
The idea is to look at young people from
Soweto who show leadership qualities.
The Hub is a place to develop projects
that empower the community. I thought
we could show the people living there
that they don’t have to be from Sandton
to be successful. Leaders and people with
potential can be found anywhere.
What’s happening in
the local start-up space?
When we consider entrepreneurs coming
from disadvantaged backgrounds, we
often don’t think of them as real business
people, though we should. I come from a
township economy. My grandmother put
fully charged TECH
her six children through school by
starting a little township business. We
shouldn’t see them as survivalists; they
play a vital role in our country’s growth.
I really think this space is evolving.
10 years ago, we didn’t have anywhere
near as many accelerators or incubators
as we do today. There is this renewed
focus on innovation, which is creating
so many exciting new job opportunities.
How does tech help
or hinder new
entrepreneurs?
In South Africa, we still lack proper local
systems to connect young people with the
possibilities of technology. Many young
Venture
Central
SiMODiSA recently launched Venture
Central, a digital platform that connects
entrepreneurs to opportunities and
information. This portal gathers
together information about funding,
mentorship and market advice in one
place. It also offers digital tools and
business templates for entrepreneurs
to use for their ideas.
venturecentral.co.za
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 TECH 1 3
 TECH fully charged

Matsi’s tech
MUST-HAVES
She’s an Apple fan, and is armed
with a MacBook, iPhone and iPad.

Matsi’s most useful apps…

Notes
FREE, IOS
Capture your thoughts and
meeting notes.

Google Drive
FREE, ANDROID, IOS
Collaborate with team members.

Instagram
FREE, ANDROID, IOS
Share photos and videos
to promote your work.

people living in rural communities don’t

understand the whole innovation and tech
thing. It goes over their heads, because
they haven’t really been exposed to it.
With localised ecosystems, we go into
communities and create environments
where young South Africans can get
information, learn, and gain access to
these technologies.
Tech plays a critical role because it
offers business owners the opportunity
to scale. Something as simple as social
media allows a normal person to promote
their business to thousands of people
more affordably. I think technology is
the best thing since sliced cheese.

What makes a
great entrepreneur?
Great entrepreneurs have the grit to take
on any challenge. They see something
they want and go get it, no matter what
problems they encounter. I also think ‘NEVER SETTLE FOR CRUMBS.
that great entrepreneurs are personable
people and understand how to work and I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US
collaborate with others. I advise anyone TO DEFINE WHAT WE WANT AND
wanting to become an entrepreneur to
just get started. This means leaving your THEN GO OUT AND GET IT’
comfort zone and taking a leap without
knowing where you’ll end up. in Davos, Switzerland, which is kind of Do you consider
like the Oscars of the business world. You yourself a disruptor?
What was it like can meet anybody from Bill Gates to other Well, you only have one life, so you need
PHO T OGR A PH Y: M A RC SHOU L

working with the
World Economic Forum?
I was one of many Global Shapers
responsible for running innovation
hubs around the world. Each of us aimed
to empower our communities. I attended
many WEF events, including the big one
global leaders, which teaches you a lot
about networking and the business world.
As a young woman from the Free State,
this experience really opened my mind to
the rest of the world, as well as enhanced
my global network, which makes it easier
to do business anywhere.
to make it a good one. YOLO is actually one
of my mantras. Never settle for crumbs. I
think it’s important for us to define what
we want and then go out and get it. You
can have all the dreams in the world, but
if you aren’t willing to work for them, you’ll
never get what you want. T

1 4 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
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 need to know TECH

say what? Useful facts about the digital realm

Soundbar vs
surround sound
If you want genuine cinematic sound, and
high-quality audio, a full-blown surround-
sound system is definitely the way to go. A
soundbar is limited to a more confined stereo
soundstage and certainly won’t offer the same
kind of clarity or visceral slam. But, there are
a few caveats…
Big sound requires an audio-video receiver
plus a matching multi-channel speaker package
– and whether you want basic 5.1 or immersive
Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 (and beyond), which translates
to a lot of boxes and budget to match. Soundbars,
however, combine amplification and speakers,
and so are generally a lot easier to live with.
A third possibility is a soundbase, which
performs like a soundbar, but has a built-in
subwoofer, so there’s no need to sacrifice
additional floorspace and your choice boils
down to convenience versus high fidelity.

$39.5 billion
I S T H E E S T I M AT E D
R E V E N U E M A DE B Y
T H E S TA R WA R S
F R A NC H I S E , S O FA R

Internet vs The Web

The World Wide Web is a way of using the internet, not
the internet itself. The internet is a huge network of
networks that connects computers around the world.
The World Wide Web is an information system that
runs on the internet and allows access to web pages
through a browser. However, just like a road carries
different sorts of traffic, the internet carries different
sorts of data for other systems as well, such as email
and file transfers. So there is far more to the internet
than just the web.

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 TECH 1 7
 TECH need to know

GIF files
This stands for Graphics Interchange Format
(.gif). It was invented in 1987 for transferring
images over slow internet connections,
storing the data in compressed eight-bit
pixel format with up to 256 colours. Files
in this format also have the ability to store
changes to the image, and cycling through
these creates the infamous animated GIFs
that are so popular online.

2.6 million
I N D U S T R I A L ROB O T S
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T H E W OR L D R ECOR D
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PHO T OGR A PH Y: G A L LO/GE T T Y I M AGES, IST OC K PHO T O, COU R T ES Y I M AGE

Internet censorship
Internet filters use two main
mechanisms: blacklisting and keyword
blocking. Blacklisting bans access to
certain sites, while keyword blocking
searches pages for certain words and
prevents the sites appearing. Different
countries use different tactics. China uses
a firewall nicknamed ‘The Great Firewall
of China’, which checks and blocks sites.
While in Cuba, private internet access is
banned. In Myanmar, the government
allegedly monitors internet cafes by
taking screenshots as you browse. T

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Hack your life
Silent switch
PHO T OGR A PH Y: IST OC K PHO T O, COU R T ES Y I M AGE
It’s a common mistake to forget that your
phone is on silent mode after meetings.
A clever trick is to create a visible ‘switch’
that will remind you that your phone
is silenced.
Find a pair of broken headphones
and cut off the jack. By plugging it into
the phone, you can trick it into thinking
you are using headphones, and it will
divert all sounds to your non-existent
headphones. This way, the jack is always
visible, which reminds you to remove it
in order to take your phone off mute.
life hacks TECH
Use these tricks to get more from your tech
WORDS Z A I D K R I EL @Z A I DK R I EL
Marked plugs
Sick of jamming your charger cable into
your phone the wrong way round? Put
some nail polish on the top-facing plug
surface of the cable so you can see which
way around it goes. Alternatively, you
can also put a blob of superglue on the
top-facing plug surface so you can see
and feel which is the correct way.
Dead batteries
It’s easy to get used batteries mixed up
with new ones. You can tell them apart
by dropping them from a few centimetres
on to a tabletop. If they bounce, then they
are used up. Otherwise, they’re still good.
Spent batteries bounce when you drop
them, because the chemicals inside
change from gel to ceramic. T
Polystyrene cup lamp
In a previous hack, we explained how
placing a bottle of water on top of your
cellphone torch creates a less harsh
light, which is better for use inside
a tent or a small space. Here’s another
alternative that might be even easier.
Set your phone face down with the
camera flash activated as a torch in
the usual way. Now, place a polystyrene
cup over the torch. A soft diffused light
will shine through the walls of the cup.
This is even easier to set up and it also
makes the ‘lamp’ a bit more portable.
Browser notes
You already use your browser for research,
so wouldn’t it be really handy for making
notes too? With this trick, you can open a
blank page in the browser and jot down
text notes.
Type this into your address bar:
data:text/html, <html contenteditable>
A blank page will open for you to type
in your notes. Even better, if you press
CTRL-S while editing, you can save what
you’ve written as an HTML page, which
you can open later when you want to
continue working.
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 TECH 2 1
Appetite for
convenience
Don’t feel like cooking tonight? Can’t be
bothered to get out of your PJs? Let these
food-ordering apps do the work for you
WORDS RICHARD BROWN

Mr D Food
FREE, ANDROID, IOS
The OG of local food delivery services,
Mr Delivery – now Mr D Food – has been
at it for decades. Many will remember the
booklet stuck to the fridge with all the
items that Mr D could bring to your door,
as long as you had the cash on hand.
Now, it’s all at your finger tips with
a super simple app, which links to your
PHO T OGR A PH Y: G A L LO/GE T T Y I M AGES/ T H I N K ST OC K
credit card, so there are no more cash
payment hassles. We were disappointed
that, although being close to the Cape
Town city centre, a lot of the eateries in
our area were ‘self-collect only’, which
defeats the purpose.
We ordered a large Big Mac Meal from
McDonalds, which took 36 minutes to
arrive. The app experience is straight-
forward and user friendly, but the R15
delivery fee and questionably inflated
pricing leave a bad taste in the mouth,
and the restaurant list was quite limited.
Uber Eats
FREE, ANDROID, IOS
You’ll be familiar with the ride-hailing
service, Uber. Less well known is Uber’s
food delivery app: Uber Eats. Download
the app, register with your email address
(or via your Uber account if you’re an Uber
user), link your credit card, and you’re
ready to chow down.
Uber Eats’s list of eateries is vast and
the app is easy to use. It cleverly suggests
the most popular restaurants near you (if
you switch on your phone’s location setting),
and if you’re a regular user, it keeps a
record of your favourite grazing spots.
In our test, we ordered another large
Big Mac Meal. Uber Eats only charged
a R10 delivery fee and there were no
hidden inflated menu prices. The food
arrived within 29 minutes and, it must
be said, was warmer than the Mr D Food
delivery. Surprisingly, it also turned out
to be the cheapest option.
apptitude TECH
Order In
FREE, ANDROID, IOS
Founded in 2013, Order In actually kick-
started the rush of food delivery apps. It
took some time to get off the ground, but
has gained serious momentum, and is
the preferred app for many a couch potato.
Like the other apps on test, the ordering
system is very intuitive, possibly even
a bit too simple with limited functions,
and the list of restaurants is thin and
rather upmarket (at least in our area).
Getting started is simple. Register
with an email address, link your credit
card, and start ordering.
McDonald’s wasn’t available on the
Order In list, so we ordered a Steers
Classic Burger Combo instead. We
were pleased to note that Order In didn’t
artificially inflate the menu prices, and
only charged a minimal R10 delivery fee.
Our food arrived in 38 minutes and the
fries were still fairly warm too. T
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 TECH 2 3
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LG E7 65-inch OLED existing iTunes movie library with UHD

Offering stunning 4K resolution with
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webOS Smart Platform and Freeview
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R65 000
Apple 4K TV
The Apple 4K TV is the first media
streamer to support Dolby Vision HDR,
making it a great partner for the LG E7.
Apple has loaded iTunes with UHD
content, and will even upgrade your
versions. You may only stream 4K movies
(downloads are HD), but that shouldn’t
diminish this little puck’s appeal.
R3 000
LG SJ9 Dolby Atmos
With integrated Dolby Atmos up-firing
speakers, crisp mid-range drivers and
a room-buckling wireless subwoofer,
the SJ9 lays claim to the premium
end of the soundbar market. Potent
amplification ensures the sound stage
is as entertaining as it is big. The bar
boasts two HDMI inputs and is an ideal
match for the Atmos sound features in
those over-produced superhero movies.
R10 000

2 4 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
decider TECH

What is
Dolby Atmos?
Hailed as 3D for the
ears, Dolby Atmos has
quickly become the
de facto standard for
next-gen audio. It’s an
object-based (rather
than channel) system,
which means Atmos-
encoded content can
be precisely steered
any way a sound mixer
wants. Dolby Atmos
supports height
channels and rears,
which makes for truly
immersive listening.
You’ll hear Dolby
Atmos in select movie
theatres, and it can be
replicated in the home
using a Dolby Atmos
A/V receiver or
Atmos-enabled
soundbar. Dolby
Atmos soundtracks
aren’t only on Blu-
rays. This tech is
used by broadcasters
to enhance 4K sports
broadcasts, Netflix
has started to stream
Atmos and it’s gaining
traction on Xbox and
PC games.
 TECH decider

The top value TV buys

What to get when you don’t have as much cash to splash

Hisense N5700 49-inch Even better, it has the same 4K High

A UHD HDR big screen for how much?
This bargain 4K combines a tasty screen
size with vivid colour reproduction, HDR
compatibility and a punchy integrated
sound system. It’s also scheduled for a
firmware update, giving easy access to
catch-up TV. Its LED display can’t really
match OLED, but it’s utterly fantastic for
the price.
R8 300 (import)
Panasonic DMP-UB300
Just 320 mm wide, this miniature disc
player promises 4K Blu-ray playback
for a low cost. There’s no WiFi, but if
you have a wired router, that’s no biggie.
Precision Chroma Processor as the
brand’s up-market players. It’s also
a solid hi-res audio streamer. We
reckon it’s a bit of a steal, all-in-all.
R4 600 (import)
Philips Fidelio B1 Nano
Cinema speaker
Proving that you don’t need a lot of space
to create a big sound, Philips B1 Nano
bar is a mere 41 cm wide. Behind the
grille are four drivers, each with their
own amplifier. The arrangement creates
a wide sound stage, leaving a wireless
200W sub to detonate with explosive force.
R8 280 (import)

Best 4K Blu-ray DVDs

The Martian
From red-planet landscapes to highly
detailed NASA hardware, the film
bristles with detail and HDR drama.
Despicable Me
If you have a wide colour display,
make sure you buy this one. The
movie boasts Dolby Vision HDR
and superb colour fidelity.

The Revenant Planet Earth

For sheer ultra-fine detail, this is hard to This 4K documentary epic combines
beat. Its stunning cinematography takes fabulous Ultra HD photography with
UHD Blu-ray clarity to another level. jaw-dropping HDR detail.

2 6 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
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you can really feel!

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 TECH decider
The lounge gaming heaven
4K gaming to blow you away, right from the comfort of your sofa
THE TV
Philips 50PUS6262
For only a little more than the price of
the Xbox One X, you can net yourself
this gleaming 50-inch 4K HDR set from
Philips, and revel in its visual splendour.
Added to this is the Ambilight background
glow, which changes colour to suit the
action on screen.
R9 700 (import)
2 8 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
THE CONSOLE
Xbox One X
You can expect our full review of the
world’s most powerful console next issue,
but we can tell you now that it’s a gaming
wonder, thanks to performance most PC
owners would be jealous of. The result?
Native (rather than up-scaled) 4K HDR
gaming goodness at 60 fps.
R7 500
THE HEADSET
SteelSeries Siberia 840
A good headset is a vital component of
PHO T OGR A PH Y: COU R T ES Y I M AGES
console gaming. The Siberia 840 is the
pinnacle of headset tech, with lag-free
wireless audio, hot swappable batteries
to keep you juiced in-game, and the full
3D sound courtesy of Dolby virtual 7.1
surround sound.
R5 200 (import)
 TECH lower-case strap

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Fear the
V-AHHHHHHHHHHHH
VREaper
A
DMIT IT: YOU HAVE
ALWAYS HAD A GOOD
LAUGH AT THE VIDEOS
OF THAT PERSON ON YOUTUBE
STUPID ENOUGH TO DON A VR
HEADSET AND VENTURE INTO
HORROR GAMES.
‘Why would they do that to themselves?’
you ask as you gleefully watch them seize
up in genuine terror when something goes
bump in the digital night. And as someone
who loves horror movies and VR, I appear
to be at the top of someone’s list. Of course,
it seems great on paper. All I have to do
is wear a heart-rate tracker and head into
this year’s most terrifying VR experiences
so I can track my physical response to the
horror. What’s the worst that can happen?
Do I have something on my face?
HOW HEART-STOPPING CAN VR HORROR
REALLY GET? IT’S TIME TO FIND OUT
WOR DS L OU I SE BL A I N PHOTOG R A PH Y JOE BR A NST ON
Ghost Train:
Rise of the Demon
MAX HEART RATE: 141 BPM
The first trial for my poor ticker is the
newly revamped Derren Brown’s Ghost
Train: Rise of the Demon at Thorpe Park,
London. Taking note of my resting heart
rate – a rather average 79 bpm – I head
into the darkness. It very soon becomes
apparent to me that liking horror films
has given me absolutely no desire to be
inside one or meet the monsters in there.
MY FIVE MINUTES OF TERROR COUNTED
AS CARDIO. WHO NEEDS THE GYM WHEN
YOU HAVE DEMONIC PERIL?
We also find train delays terrifying
primer TECH
A holographic Derren Brown introduces
the experience, telling us that if we do not
like what is happening, we can just close
our eyes and it will all simply go away. Oh,
good. Next, we are herded inside a modern
London underground carriage full of HTC
Vive headsets.
I won’t spoil the experience; however,
the following 15 minutes of scares were
exhilarating. Once you have put on that
headset, you’re immediately transported
to a different train… Or is it the same one?
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 TECH 3 1
 TECH lower-case strap
It simulates the most horrifying
Tube experience imaginable:
The other passengers trying
to start a conversation
with you…
Scream of the crop
FitBit Alta HR
When it’s not being used
to measure your heart
rate, to check how
terrified you are, the
super-slim Alta HR
records steps and
calories consumed, and
there’s an excellent
sleep tracker to
measure just how
many nightmares
you’re having.
R2 500
3 2 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
The five horror tech accessories to die for
PlayStation Oculus PlayStation 4 HTC
VR Rift Pro Vive
Sony’s VR If you want the Want your horror It’s not being used
headset impresses best virtual-reality in even higher in the theme-park
with its exceptional controllers on the definition? The industry for nothing.
OLED display and market, nothing can supercharged HTC Vive delivers
PS4 compatibility. rival Oculus’ intuitive PS4 has twice the an exceptional VR
It’s comfortable tracking technology, processing power experience and room-
for even the most which makes you feel of the original. scale exploration if
terrifying games. horribly at home even Throw in HDR you’ve got the space.
A slightly updated when dropped into a support and 4K The HD screen means
new version is long-abandoned, gaming, and it’s you probably won’t
on the way. crumbling hospital. a perfect upgrade. like what you find.
R6 000 R17 000 R6 500 (1 TB) R13 300
 primer TECH

MY HEART RATE’S Total eclipse of the heart

NEW AVERAGE How much did Louise’s heart rate increase as she played in VR?
WAS 122 BPM AND
AT ONE POINT, IT
REACHED THE
LOFTY HIGHS
OF 141 BPM
Obviously that creature isn’t real, but the
screams in my carriage are and what just
grabbed my leg?
A break from the VR in the middle sees
the group heading screaming into the
depths of the London Underground where
live horror actors lurk, and personally, I’m
relieved when we return to the relative
safety of VR. Don’t Knock Twice
Escaping into the fresh air afterwards, This supernatural horror game throws in a few decent jump scares, but 97 bpm highs
I record my activity and it turns out that aren’t quite existential dread
horror makes for great exercise. During
the 35 minutes of queueing and scares,
my heart rate’s new average was 122 bpm
and at one point, it reached the lofty highs
of 141 bpm. The Fitbit app even proudly
tells me five minutes of my time inside
counted as cardio. Who needs the gym
when you have life-threatening demonic
peril? Thanks, Derren.

Paranormal Activity:
The Lost Soul
MAX HEART RATE: 105 BPM
Thankfully, my next challenge does not
involve other human beings hearing me
squeak. From the safety of my own living
room, I load up Paranormal Activity: The
Lost Soul on PlayStation VR feeling Derren Brown’s Ghost Train
somewhat apprehensive. The VR does a hell of a job keeping Louise scared at 122 bmp average, but that 141 bpm
As a lover of the franchise – well, at high is actually the bit with real actors
least the first one and, oddly, the third –
I know the demonic nasty that lurks in
the very normal-looking houses of the
series. The Lost Soul sees you arrive in
one of these and, spoiler, never wants
you to leave.
Even in the tutorial, I’m immediately,
horribly afraid. Despite a set of genuinely
counter-intuitive controls that expect you
to know where the face buttons are on the
PlayStation Move wands, the atmosphere
is foreboding and grim. The house creaks
and groans gently around you as you find
a torch and pop a battery inside, and that’s
before the randomised hauntings begin.
To try to deal with motion sickness,
the controls only allow you to turn in
45° increments, which makes traversal Wilson’s Heart
difficult and even more tense. This was The more sedate portions of this game allow a reasonable average, but you can see when
built solely for VR and even on Sony’s things take a nasty 106 bpm turn…
 TECH primer
relatively low-resolution headset,
the environments look horribly real.
It only takes the second rattle of a door
behind me before The Lost Soul wins
the accolade of being the first experience
to force me to do the age-old ‘make things
less scary in VR trick’ by taking off one
headphone. It doesn’t help in any way.
I enter a darkened living room only to
find the TV click on and I see the remote
control floating ominously over the sofa.
Every jump scare finds its mark and
I’m left trembling in the house of horrors
with an average heart rate of 90 bpm and
highs of 105 bpm.
Don’t Knock Twice
MAX HEART RATE: 97 BPM
Next on the list is YouTube bait Don’t
Knock Twice, also on PS VR. Just like
Paranormal Activity, the game shares
its ideas with a movie of the same name,
which is currently streaming on Netflix.
Honestly, I do not recommend either.
Despite tackling the control issue with
an easier teleportation mechanic via
the Move wands and a few effective
jump scares, Don’t Knock Twice is the
hokiest of horrors. Thunder crashes,
children laugh, and at one stage, I pull
a burning doll out of an oven.
3 4 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
THUNDER CRASHES, CHILDREN
LAUGH, AND I PULL A BURNING
DOLL OUT OF THE OVEN
While the quiet, quiet, quiet, LOUD
school of scares is understandably far
more effective in VR, and there are more
than a few moments where I find myself
cowering in my own living room, this
feels more like the kind of ghost train
you might laugh your way through at a
travelling funfair. The hand controls feel
off, the teleportation stutters occasionally
and the feeling of immersion is constantly
shattered by the sensation that I’m having
to try far too hard to have fun. It shows in
my heart-rate readings. A relatively calm
88 bpm is my new resting rate with highs
of 97 bpm at the jumps.
Wilson’s Heart
MAX HEART RATE: 106 BPM
And finally, fittingly, I load up Oculus
Rift exclusive Wilson’s Heart, where a
man, voiced by Peter Weller (RoboCop),
wakes up in a 1940s noir hospital with a
mechanical heart where his own should
be. By this stage, I’m hoping for one of
my own as I’m not sure how much more
horror mine can cope with. Thankfully,
Wilson’s Heart delivers a genuinely
intriguing, scary tale where jumps are
almost incidental. It’s instantly clear
that the Oculus Touch controllers are
terrifyingly intuitive. Looking down at
hairy arms and ultra-realistic hands,
I yank shackles off my wrists before
spending a little too long admiring the
visuals on offer.
‘Atmospheric’ just doesn’t cover this
beautiful, horrifying monochrome world
and the fixed teleportation points mean
that the developer, Twisted Pixel Games,
has made very sure you see everything
it wants you to. Flicking to silhouettes of
PHO T OGR A PH Y: COU R T ES Y I M AGES
Wilson with the press of a button makes
traversal the least of your worries and the
little nuances creep up your spine. I see a
silhouette of Wilson looking upwards and
do the same thing.
It’s not spoiling anything to say that
my heart-rate spike of 106 bpm is related
to what I saw through the ceiling. Time for
a cup of tea, I think. T
 Pays for itself in only
281 kilometres *

It makes sense

Turn your mileage into money

sales@li�lelogbook.co.za (011) 050 0999

* based on SARS Prescribed Reimbursement rate for 2017-2018 Tax Season - R3.55
CLEAN UP
your act
LEAVE THE VACUUMING TO THE ROBOT.
TIME TO PUT YOUR FEET UP

N e ato B o t v a c D 7 C o n n e c te d
Sm a r t Vac uu m C le a ne r, R 14 6 8 0
We’re so over vacuuming. It’s sweaty
work and there are far more exciting
things we could be doing instead of
sucking up dustballs from under the
sofa. If you’re of the same mindset,
Neato wants to end your house-labour
woes with its new robot vacuum, the
Botvac D7 Connected. It sounds ace,
but be warned: Initial pricing suggests
it could cost more than a Dyson 360.
To justify that price tag, Neato’s
marketing the Botvac D7 Connected
as ‘the most powerful, intuitive and
LASERSMART
TECH HELPS THE
BOTVAC TO MAP
AND NAVIGATE
ROOMS, WHILE
ROBUST SUCTION
PHO T OGR A PH Y: COU R T ES Y I M AGE
DELIVERS A
POWERFUL
CLEAN
swag TECH
connected robot vacuum you will ever
own’ (Which seems like an overly bold
claim. Ever ever?). It’s setting out to
achieve this with a range of smart
cleaning and mapping features,
plus a new and improved Neato
app that offers additional alerts
and a Cleaning Summary Map.
LaserSmart tech helps the new
Botvac to precisely map and navigate
rooms, so it’s not bumping around
all the time, while robust suction,
an ultra-performance filter, turbo
mode and an improved brush system
combine to deliver a powerful clean.
Use the Botvac D7 Connected in
Discovery Mode and it will create a
personalised MyFloorPlan (which
you can access via the app). To this
you can add virtual ‘No-Go’ lines,
blocking off any rooms you don’t
want cleaned at that point in time.
The vacuum is also launching with
IFTTT compatibility, enabling integration
with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple
Watch and Neato ChatBot for Facebook.
Check out neatorobotics.com for
more information. T
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 TECH 3 7
Mobile movie
magic
HOW TO GET SUPERIOR
VIDEO STREAMED ON
YOUR PHONE
WOR DS H A DL E E SI MONS @H A DL E ESI MONS

F
ROM GIANT TVS ALL
THE WAY DOWN TO YOUR
SMARTPHONE SCREEN,
THE LATEST BUZZWORD IN
SCREENS IS HIGH DYNAMIC
RANGE, OR HDR. How does it work
and how can you use it to improve your
smartphone experience? How does it
differ from the HDR feature you might
have spotted on your phone’s camera?
Here’s what you need to know about
HDR video.

Smartphones and HDR

You might have come across the term
HDR on your smartphone. Almost every
phone above the entry-level now has an
HDR function built into the camera app.
However, this technology is not exactly
the same as HDR video, so these two
technologies should not be confused.

HDR photography combines multiple
photos at different exposures to produce
a photo that features more detail in both
light and dark areas. HDR video is shot in
much the same way, but it’s a bit trickier.
The big difference? Photos shot using
HDR can be viewed on any screen, unlike
HDR video, which will only properly display
on screens that are HDR-compatible.
What is HDR video?
HDR video can deliver a far greater range
of contrast between light and dark areas
of a video, and also a far greater range of
colours. The user experiences a richer
and more dynamic video stream.
To watch videos in HDR, the video
must be filmed and produced using HDR
technology, and your screen also needs
to be able to display HDR content. How
this actually works is that the video data
stream includes a string of instructions
that tells your TV screen, at extremely
high speed, how to adjust itself for each
video frame.
So, as an analogy, if you watch a high-
definition DVD on an old box TV, it only
looks as good as the grainy old screen
can display. Likewise, if you watch an old
videotape on the latest HD TV, it still looks
BEFORE
PHO T OGR A PH Y: G A L LO/GE T T Y I M AGES, COU R T ES Y I M AGES
AFTER
terrible. You need to have both HD source
and HD display for things to look great.
HDR has been a feature on many
high-end TVs for a few years already,
but it’s also come to high-end smart-
phone screens in the past 18 months.
Because this technology is still very
immature, there exist many different
standards, and not all the phone makers
support all the HDR standards.
There are currently three main HDR
standards: Dolby Vision, HDR10 and
UHD/HDR Premium. Samsung sticks
to UHD/HDR Premium, LG offers Dolby
Vision and HDR10, Huawei uses HDR10,
and Sony supports HDR10. And latecomer
Apple has opted for Dolby Vision in their
latest iPhones.
What can I watch in HDR?
While there are half a dozen video
streaming services available in SA,
only a few deliver HDR content, and
they all support different standards.
YouTube only supported HDR10, Netflix
delivers in Dolby Vision and UHD/HDR
Premium, while Amazon Prime Video
supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision. You
get the picture. Or perhaps you don’t,
because matching up your top-end
how to TECH
HDR-capable
phones
The ill-fated Samsung Note 7
was the first major smartphone
to feature an HDR display, but
many others have followed in
its wake:
• Samsung Galaxy S8
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8
• LG G6
• LG V30+
• Sony Xperia XZ Premium
• Sony Xperia XZ1
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro
• Apple iPhone 8/8 Plus
• Apple iPhone X
phone with your favourite video service
seems to still be a bit of a moving target
at this point.
Here’s a rough list of what services
work on which phones (but you should
visit the official support pages for each
service to check for updates):
• Netflix (HDR only available on the
top-end subscription): Samsung Galaxy
Note 8, LG G6, LG V30, Sony Xperia XZ
Premium, Apple iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X.
• YouTube (unofficial listing, based on
research and tests): Samsung Galaxy
S8, S8+ and Note 8, LG G6, V30 and Sony
Xperia XZ Premium
• Amazon Prime Video (HDR available
on the basic service): Samsung Galaxy
S8, S8+, Note 8 and Sony Xperia XZ
Premium
Is HDR worth it?
While it’s true that the difference in
quality is not as great a technological
leap ahead as high definition was over
standard definition, the kind of video
content also makes a big difference. A
slow courtroom drama or movie filmed
10 years ago may not look as impressive
as the high production values of nature
documentaries such as the latest Blue
Planet II series.
The HDR-video star is definitely still
rising, so expect a broadening stream
of HDR content from both Amazon and
Netflix. Both companies are throwing
plenty of weight behind the format, as
they plan to film hundreds of hours of
HDR content over the next few years. And
look out, too, for HDR-capable screens on a
wider range of more affordable phones. T
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 TECH 3 9
Talk to the
HAND ON YOUR PHONE, GOOGLE ASSISTANT CAN
FOLLOW YOUR VOICE COMMANDS, AND
IT’S GETTING SMARTER ALL THE TIME
WOR DS M EG A N E L L I S @M EGG _ E L L I S
A
RTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE IS
A CONCEPT THAT’S
OFTEN DIFFICULT TO GRASP.
It refers to the ability of machines to
perform functions similar to those done
by the human brain, such as using lots of
different kinds of data, recognising things
or even making decisions.
But the most common use of AI today
is happening on our phones, and Google
Assistant is probably the most advanced
of these tools. It gives you a way to control
your phone, find information and perform
many tasks with voice commands. Google
Assistant can be used for everything from
sending simple texts to controlling your
smart-home devices.
Google Assistant either comes pre-
installed on the most recent Android
phones, or through an automatic update
of the operating system. It only works on
Android versions 6, 7 and 8 (also known
as Marshmallow, Nougat and Oreo).
iPHONE USERS need to download
the Google Assistant app
Google Now was the original AI on
Android, but will be replaced by Google
Assistant. Once Assistant is on the phone,
you can access it by holding in your Home
button or by saying, ‘Okay, Google.’ When
4 0 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
prompted, just give Google Assistant
permission and it’ll replace Google Now.
Here’s how to use some of its most
useful features:
Navigate to places
One of Google Assistant’s best features
is navigation. To start it up, you can say
‘Okay, Google, take me to…’ Whichever
location you mention, Google Maps will
launch with voice navigation. You can
either use the place’s name or its street
address, or you can use words such as
‘home’ or ‘work’ if you have saved these
locations in Google Maps.
Subscribe to
daily updates
Subscriptions allow you to receive daily
scheduled updates on certain topics
including weather forecasts, interesting
facts or lifestyle tips.
There are two ways to subscribe to
an update:
You can ask Google Assistant for a
weather report by saying ‘Okay, Google,
what is the weather for today?’ Once it
has supplied this information, you’ll see
a button labelled ‘send daily’. Once clicked,
Google will ask when you’d like to receive
your daily update, and will announce your
weather report at this time each day.
Alternatively, you can issue an all-in-
one instruction such as ‘Okay, Google,
send me weather updates daily.’
Other subscription options include
mindfulness tips, poems, quotes and
funny videos.
Listen to the news
It can be difficult to keep up with news
during a busy workday. Luckily, Assistant
can compile a news summary and play it
back to you while you’re eating breakfast
or sitting in traffic.
Simply ask Assistant to ‘Play the news’.
‘Listen to news’ or ‘Tell me the news’ also
work. Google Assistant will then play
through a list of very short audio news
reports. It uses a default group of (mostly
American) sources, but you can pick other
channels from the list provided.
To customise your daily news feed,
look under the ‘Play the News’ box for
‘News settings’. Not all news services
provide short audio updates, but there
is a lot to choose from, even for those
with niche interests.
Make a shopping list
There’s no need to write down your
shopping list any more, because
Assistant can create one for you
and add new items on the fly using
voice commands.
Start with, ‘Okay, Google, make a
shopping list.’ Then try, ‘Okay, Google,
add milk to my shopping list.’ When
you want to review the list, say, ‘Okay,
Google, show me my shopping list.’

This will load a separate window with a
checklist of items. You will be able to see
the items you’ve added, tick off ones you
have bought, and see previous items.
Use voice commands
PHO T OGR A PH Y: IST OC K PHO T O, COU R T ES Y I M AGE
There are a variety of voice commands
that save you the hassle of manually
doing tasks. These include changing
settings, launching apps, sending
messages, setting alarms, and
performing internet searches.
The best way to figure out exactly
what Assistant can do is to try out
different commands such as:
‘Okay, Google, wake me up at 6 am’
sets an alarm for 6 am.
‘Okay, Google, remind me to feed the
Google Now VS
Google Assistant?
Google Now was built into much
older versions of Android and, like
Google Assistant, also has the ability
to accept voice commands for navigation,
setting reminders and performing
searches. However, Google Assistant
is much more advanced with many more
commands available, and it can carry on
a conversation with you thanks to its AI.
how to TECH
cat at 7.30 am every morning’ sets a daily
reminder for 7.30 am.
‘Okay, Google, turn on WiFi’ turns on the
phone’s WiFi
‘Okay, Google, send Brad a message
on WhatsApp saying ‘What do you want
for dinner?’ opens a new text message,
confirms Brad’s particulars, spells out
the message and sends it via WhatsApp.
Google Assistant has many more
features besides these, and new skills
are being created all the time. The best
way to keep track of the new functions
is, unsurprisingly, to simply ask Google
Assistant by saying ‘Okay, Google, what
can you do?’ And if you are feeling self-
conscious, just pretend you’re speaking
on the phone and not to the phone. T
TECH swag
The best smart
MOOD LIGHTS
WANT TO IMPROVE THE AMBIENCE IN YOUR HOME?
WE HAVE HAND-PICKED THESE TOP SMART
PORTABLE LAMPS TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS
BRIGHT
Philips Hue Go
R1 800
Unlike the others, Philips’s offering
isn’t so much a lamp, but more of an
uplight. This directional lighting is
great for mood-boosting room corners,
but with a huge 300 lumen output, you
will have to lower the brightness if
you want it facing forward. Luckily,
this is easy to do – just unplug the
power and it’ll dim to 40 % brightness.
Alternatively, there are preset scenes
to choose from, such as warm white
light and cosy candle. Just tap the
button on the bottom to flick through
these, or double-tap and hold to cycle
through its myriad colour options –
release to choose one. Sadly, unless
you pair the Hue Go with a compatible
Philips Hue Bridge, you will not be able
to control this light through an app, so
colour choice is more limited. If you do,
you’ll be rewarded with remote control,
scheduling, and more. Hue Go isn’t
waterproof and battery life is a mere
three hours.
VERDICT
Super bright and a great mood
enhancer, though the need for
a Hue Bridge to access its smarts
will no doubt put off some people.
 BARGAIN

Mipow Playbulb Sphere

R600

Despite being the cheapest mood lamp here,

MIPOW’s offering is outstanding. Not only
do you get a great-looking, well-built light
constructed from glass, it also comes with
a wireless charging pad (which has grippy
rubber underneath) so you can easily recharge
it when it runs dry. But that won’t happen too
soon, what with its eight-hour battery life. It’s
also IP65 waterproof, meaning you can use it
in the rain, and a small carry handle on the
underside means it’s easily portable. At 230
lumens, it’s also plenty bright. So far, so great.
On the app side of things, there’s a wide range of
options, including five different lighting effects,
and a function enabling you to double-tap the top
of the light to change colours, plus you can shake
your phone to switch colours. You can even group
multiple lights to control them all at once.

VERDICT
The Playbulb Sphere does everything
remarkably well, making it the lamp of
choice for any situation, indoors or out.

PORTABLE

Witti Notti
R700 (import)

Small, oddly-shaped and – if we’re honest –

a little on the flimsy side, the Notti doesn’t
immediately appeal to the eye. But, cast
aside those initial impressions, and you’ll
be rewarded with a capable little smart light,
that’s easy to carry wherever you go and boasts
more than five hours of battery life. The basics
are all present and correct: Connecting over
Bluetooth is quick and painless; it’s really
rather bright (considering its size); and you
can adjust lighting easily via the somewhat
simple-looking, but feature-rich, app. Aside
from its mood-enhancing capabilities, there
is much more it can do. The Notti doubles
images.co.za

as a sort of beacon, notifying you when new

messages or emails arrive. It will even flash
AGES

neatly in time with your music, though you

I MM

won’t be able to stream your Spotify/Tidal

X XYX /H

tunes. Multiple Nottis can also be grouped

XTX ES

together and controlled in tandem.

XXR
COU
PHO T OGR A PH Y: X

VERDICT
The smallest, and possibly smartest, light
in this group. Great for taking places, and
dancing in time with it at parties.

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 TECH 4 3
Taxi TECHNOLOGY
UBER MAY BE A GLOBAL TAXI INDUSTRY DISRUPTOR, BUT ON THE LOCAL
SCENE, QUICKLOC8 IS USING SMART TECHNOLOGIES TO MAKE MINIBUS
TAXIS SAFER AND MORE ACCOUNTABLE
WOR DS JOA N N E C A R E W PHOTOG R A PH Y S A M A N T H A PI N T O

Y
OU KNOW YOU’RE
SITTING DOWN
WITH A GENUINE
ENTREPRENEUR WHEN THE QUICKLOC8
BUSINESS THEY’RE TELLING
YOU ABOUT ISN’T THEIR FIRST. EXPLAINED
Now Mbavhalelo Mabogo has moved
on from his original projects to develop 1. A monitoring device and sensors
are fitted to the taxi and linked
something that he believes will shake
up with the Quickloc8 app.
up the local taxi industry. Tech chatted
to him about Quickloc8, a monitoring 2. Notifications around driver
app that puts control back in the hands activity and taxi location are sent
of taxi owners. to owners.

How did the idea for 3. Owners are charged a monthly

Quickloc8 come about? subscription of R199. The full
I was on the road and I saw a taxi driving installation and activation of the
system is R500, which includes
irresponsibly. I wondered why the people
helping the taxi bosses to use
in the taxi didn’t complain. If I’m driving the app on their phones.
with other people and my phone rings, my
passengers will have something to say if 4. The app is only available on
I try to answer it. This gave me the idea to Android. Mabogo claims to have
create something that put the safety of the never met a taxi owner who
passengers back in the hands of the taxi uses Apple.
owners, not the drivers.
5. They aim to have the system
fitted into about 2 000 taxis
Why this approach? in 2018.
There are always competing voices in
a taxi. Some people want the driver to
go faster or do some ‘yellow-lane driving’
because they’re running late. The voices
that are often marginalised are those of
children, women and elderly passengers.
Instead of trying to solve the dynamics of
the people inside, I opted to just take the
responsibility out.

How do you do that?

With the Quickloc8 app, taxi owners
always have eyes on what’s happening,
which gives them more control.
With live tracking, they’ll know where
their vehicles are at all times. If a driver
starts the taxi, they get a notification. If
their drivers are speeding, they’ll get a

4 4 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
 movers and makers TECH

MBAVHALELO MABOGO
FOUNDER OF QUICKLOC8
QUICKLOC8.CO.ZA

NEXT MONTH Can you make a bar-beating beer with the latest home-brew tech? F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 TECH 4 5
 TECH movers and makers

notification. Sure, tracking devices

aren’t anything new. What’s new about
the best drivers and develop a reward
system for these drivers. MOV I NG
what we’re doing is how these devices
communicate with our algorithms and
present data to taxi owners in a way that
What are your plans
for the future?
TA RGE T
is understandable to people who may The first level of what we’re doing
have never used an app before. addresses tracking, measurement

Is the taxi industry

against these kinds
of innovation?
We have plans to develop a system that
incentivises good driving. Using our
system, you can analyse driving style
so it’s easy to see if someone is driving
irresponsibly. We have actually just
signed a partnership agreement with
an insurance company called Vulindlela
Underwriting Managers. We hope to work
with them to come up with a way to rank
and safety. The second level is about
revenue management. Previous attempts
to track revenue used cards or tags, but
25k+
M I N I B U S TA X I S
these approaches weren’t very effective. ON SA ROADS
We’re working to develop hardware that E V E R Y D AY
can be fitted to a taxi and will track how
many people get in and out of the vehicle
each day. Ultimately, we want to come
up with new ways to enable taxi owners
using smart technology.
15 million
COMMU TERS WHO
Our hope is that when a new taxi is U S E TA X I S D A I LY
sold in the future, our system will be
fitted as a standard feature. T

20k+
M I N I B U S TA X I
FLEET OWNERS

30–50%
E S T I M AT E D D A I LY
INCOME STOLEN
BY DRIVERS FROM
TA X I O W N E R S

WHO OWNS
PHO T OGR A PH Y: H M images.co.za, GA L LO/GE T T Y I M AGES

YOUR TAXI?
Rental model
A taxi owner rents the vehicle to the
driver. The driver has to pay the owner
the rental fee at the end of each day,
but they get to keep any surplus.

Profit-sharing model
Here, daily profits are divided between
the driver and the owner. Owners can be
defrauded if drivers are dishonest about
their trips and passenger numbers,
which is where Quickloc8 comes in.

4 6 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
Scope
NATURAL WORLD

Chemistry
LIFE HACKS A LITTLE SCIENCE GOES A LONG WAY
WHEN IT COMES TO SOLVING THESE
EVERYDAY PROBLEMS

A
COMMON COMPLAINT
IN CLASSROOMS IS
THAT NOTHING YOU
LEARN IN MOST OF YOUR
SCHOOL CLASSES WILL BE
USEFUL IN YOUR EVERYDAY
LIFE – BUT HERE ARE SOME
CHEMISTRY LIFE HACKS THAT
PROVE OTHERWISE. We’ll show
you how to clean your silver jewellery,
how to remove rust and a better way to
get red wine out of your carpet – using
simple chemical reactions.

Fix bitter coffee
1 It’s well known that salt makes
food taste good, but in 1997,
scientists found out why. In
a study published in the journal Nature,
they had volunteers drink a bitter urea
drink with added sucrose for sweetness,
or sodium acetate for saltiness. Sugar did
not improve the taste on its own, but salt
did, and when the two were combined, the
drink tasted even sweeter. It seems salt
blocks bitterness and boosts sugariness.
SALT’S ABILITY
scope TECH
2
Refresh
tarnished silver
Silver can lose its lustre over
time, becoming coated in a
layer of black silver sulphide, but there’s
a chemistry trick that’ll gently restore its
shine. The first thing to do is line a bowl
with aluminium foil and then add a spoon
of baking soda, a pinch of salt and some
hot water. The baking soda will react with
the foil, stripping away the surface layer of
aluminium oxide, and when you add your
silver object, the salt allows electrons to
move between the foil and the silver, which

TO SUPPRESS then creates a small electrical current. The

silver gains electrons and the aluminium
BITTER AND loses them and, in the process, the sulphur

BOOST SWEET transfers from your cutlery to the foil.

COULD BE JUST
WHAT YOU NEED
Coffee contains many different bitter-
tasting molecules that contribute to
its very distinctive flavour, but it takes
a careful balance of temperature, brew
time and coarseness to get the perfect
cup. It’s very easy to get this delicate
balance wrong, often with not-so-tasty
results, but salt’s ability to suppress
bitter tastes and boost sweetness could
be just the thing you need to fix your brew.
Coffee beans also naturally contain
chlorogenic acids, which break down into Iron reacts with oxygen in the
bitter quinolacetones, phenylindanes and presence of moisture, creating
melanoidins when the beans are roasted. red-toned iron oxide
These are responsible for the flavour.

Remove rust
3 with cola
Phosphoric acid is the sour
ingredient that balances
the sugary taste of the world’s favourite
fizzy drink, but it boasts another use –
it’s an industrial-strength rust remover
capable of transforming reddish iron
(III) oxide into ferric phosphate. To
repair a rusty object, simply cover it
in cola, and let the acid get to work.
Not only will it help to remove the rust,
the layer of iron phosphate will provide
some rust-proofing, protecting against
future corrosion.

NEXT MONTH Inventions that will change the world F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 TECH 4 9

 TECH scope

Ripen fruit
5 with fruit
Ripe fruits such as tomatoes
and bananas release ethylene,
or ethene. This natural chemical is also
known as ‘fruit-ripening gas’ and has been
used for centuries to artificially speed up
fruit ripening. The Egyptians made holes
in figs to let the gas out, people in ancient
China burnt incense to release ethylene,
Remove wine
4
and modern transport vehicles pump the
stains with vodka gas over unripe fruit on their way to the
The distinctive colour supermarket to ensure it’s ready to eat on
of red wine is created arrival. To use this trick at home, simply
by pigments called anthocyanins place an ethylene-producing fruit such as
and pyranoanthocyanins, which are a banana, fig, mango, nectarine or plum
formed when anthocyanins interact next to an unripe fruit, and it’ll be ready
to eat in no time.

VODKA, WHITE
RUM OR GIN WILL Descale your
DISSOLVE RED
WINE PIGMENT 6 kettle with
vinegar
Hard water contains dissolved
MOLECULES MORE calcium bicarbonate, which breaks down

EFFECTIVELY into insoluble calcium carbonate, also

known as limescale, when it’s heated. To
get rid of it, fill the kettle with one part
with molecules made by alcohol-producing vinegar or lemon juice and three parts
yeasts. Their chemical structure makes water, and boil. Let the hot mixture sit
them just a little bit hydrophobic (‘water overnight. The acid will react with the
hating’) and a little bit hydrophilic (‘water limescale, which will then form soluble
loving’), meaning that they dissolve in calcium salts that can be tipped away in
both organic solvents, like alcohol, and the morning. T
aqueous solvents, like water.
White wine is often used to remove
red wine stains, because it contains A scanning electron microscope
a mix of alcohol and water, helping to image showing crystals of
capture the pigment molecules and limescale inside a kettle
pull them out of the fabric, but a better
option to quickly remove a stain is to
use something stronger. Clear spirits
such as vodka, white rum or gin contain
a much higher percentage of alcohol,
dissolving the pigment molecules even
more effectively. Just keep dabbing at
the stain and adding more alcohol until
the colour begins to fade away.

5 0 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 NEXT MONTH Inventions that will change the world

TFG FRAUD ALERT

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ALWAYS.
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 TECH

Scope
NATURAL WORLD

Picky eating could be

in your genes
A study has uncovered two genes that could
be the cause of fussy eating. The University
of Illinois carried out a study of children
aged two to four years and uncovered DNA
variants thought to be related to bitter taste.
One, known as TAS2R38, causes them to be
more selective about foods, and the other,
called CA6, was linked with struggles for
control during mealtimes.

Intelligent bandages can heal your body

A new ‘smart’ bandage is capable of dispensing multiple
medications when triggered by a mobile device. Developed
by researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
Harvard Medical School and MIT, the bandage consists of
fibres coated in a gel that house anything from antibiotics
to painkillers. When a small amount of electricity is applied,
the fibre and its gel heat up, releasing the drugs. Further
testing is still needed, but it’s hoped that the bandage will
eventually treat chronic wounds and battlefield injuries.

Elon Musk plans to

colonise Mars by 2024
The ambitious founder of SpaceX has
announced plans for a new spacecraft
destined for Mars. By putting all of the
company’s resources into the new rocket,
Musk hopes to have the first launch by
2022 and send the first humans by 2024.

5 2 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 NEXT MONTH Inventions that will change the world

 scope TECH
We’re one step closer
to flying taxis
Airbus Helicopters has successfully completed
testing its CityAirbus – an autonomous flying
taxi that’s powered entirely by batteries. The
company is preparing for its first flight around
the end of 2018, before official lift-off in 2023.
CityAirbus will be designed to carry up to four
passengers along fixed routes, soaring across
the sky at a top speed of 120 kilometres per hour.

Barn owls never lose their hearing

Unlike mammals, birds are able to regenerate cells in their inner ears, so they suffer
minimal hearing loss as they get older. However, after testing the hearing ability of
young and elderly barn owls of up to 23 years old, scientists found no notable difference
at all. It’s hoped that by figuring out how this works, we may be able to create treatments
for people with hearing loss, or even nip it in the bud before it becomes a problem.
PHO T OGR A PH Y & I L LUST R AT ION: COU R T ES Y I M AGES

How giraffes stay cool

It’s assumed giraffes evolved long necks
to fight or reach high-up food, but there
could be another possible explanation: to
keep cool. Scientists argue that if a giraffe
faces the Sun – as they have been seen to
do during the day – their necks cast most
of their body in shadow. This gives them
a crucial advantage in their hot habitats.
 DEATH
NILE
THE FABLED START OF GAMING’S INFAMOUS
DEATH-CULT TITLE
WOR DS C L I N T O’SH E A @ZOM BI E _ DR E DD
Assassin’s Creed
Origins
PS4, XBOX ONE, PC
The new Assassin’s Creed
seems to have been well
worth the wait. While it’s only been three
years since Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
was released, it’s been a lot longer than
that since the franchise graced us with
a truly memorable game.
So what makes Origins such a great
return to form? Over the last few years,
this third-person action-adventure stealth
game has become bloated with too many
ON THE
ideas and half-baked additions. Origins
cuts back on these elements and focuses
on a great story, fantastic setting and
simpler game mechanic.
Dry town
You play the majority of the game as Bayek
– the people’s champion – who evolves to
become a fully fledged assassin, but there
are visits to his wife Aya’s parallel story.
After a tragedy strikes your family, you
begin your quest for vengeance, which
includes ridding ancient Egypt of The
Order of the Ancients, who are essentially
the Templars before they became known
as such. As the game’s title suggests, this
does hail back almost to the beginnings
of the creed known as the assassins.
It’s a story and adventure that will keep
you buried for many hours. The in-game
map is very big … no, huge, and it should
be explored carefully. Some regions have
enemies that will destroy Bayek when he
is still a low-level character.
Completed encounters and quests
award experience points, allowing for
levelling up and ability improvements.
It also means access to better weapons
and gear. With Origins, Assassin’s Creed
has completed its mission to become a
lightweight RPG more than anything else,
bringing a little bit of crafting, weapons
upgrades, plenty of side quests and a lot
of exploration.
Fighting styles
The series’ combat system and climbing
mechanic have been simplified since the
original games. In Origins, the combat
is possibly the most accessible yet, with
enough nuance to ensure a satisfying fist
pump after a successful engagement with
multiple enemies. The weapons feel more
relevant in combat than ever before, and
selecting the right weapon type for the
right enemy feels more critical than in
previous versions.
Of course, you could choose to rather
use the shadows and natural cover to
sneak up on your enemies and quietly
end them one by one. Or take them out
with a ranged weapon, such as your
bow and arrow. The game allows you to
really play as you please and thankfully
never punishes you for choosing a more
explosive approach over finesse.
 game reviews TECH

A review of any Assassin’s Creed game

would be meaningless without a critique
of its graphics. Frankly, it’s breathtaking
to behold. Egypt is vibrant and varied.
There are moments where you could be
caught off-guard simply because you’re
absorbed by the incredible sights, and
forgetting you’ve entered a wild animal’s
lair. Yes, there are animals and so much
more in the game, and certainly far more
than we can cover in this brief review.
This has got to be a serious contender
for game of the year, and every kind of
gamer would be doing themselves a huge
disservice by not playing it.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 TECH 5 5
Out of the shadows
Humble and humiliate your foes in this action RPG sequel
WOR DS JONAT H A N M E Y ER @JONAT H A NGM E Y ER
Middle-Earth:
Shadow of War
PS4, XBOX ONE, PC
Sometimes, game
developers just get it
right. This was the case with 2014’s
hugely successful Middle-Earth: Shadow
of Mordor, a game based loosely off JRR
Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings fictional
universe. No one really asked for that
game, but everyone ended up wanting
to play it.
Enter its somewhat rather confusingly
named sequel: Middle-Earth: Shadow of War.
Developers Monolith Productions stick
to a tried-and-tested formula in this
open-world action role-playing game.
They expand on popular aspects of its
predecessor, such as the fan-favourite
Nemesis combat system, whereby your
actions against various enemies have
long-term (and often hilarious) effects
on later interactions with and between
them. Defeat an orc captain, for example,
5 6 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
but spare his life and shame him among
his peers, and he’ll remember it when
next you meet.
Brain bond
As mentioned earlier, Shadow of War
plays fast and loose with Tolkien lore –
the giant spider Shelob’s appearance,
for example, has changed a bit from
what I can remember – but the game
is set between the events of The Hobbit
and The Lord of the Rings.
You play again as the ranger Talion,
whose soul becomes bonded to Elf Lord
Celebrimbor as the two set out to avenge
the deaths of their loved ones once more,
and reclaim one of the lost rings of power
(yes, one of those rings).
Shadow of War begins with a brief
recap of the events of the first game,
but doesn’t stand on ceremony or punish
gamers who may have missed that boat
WOR DS: X X X X
– it very quickly throws you right into the
action. Interrogation of foot soldiers once
again plays a pivotal role in the game.
game reviews TECH

You gather intel on the whereabouts and

weaknesses of larger targets, and develop
a legion of followers to use in coordinated
attacks against more powerful foes.

More of Mordor
Combat is quick and brutal, with slow-
motion effects occurring whenever you
execute one of the myriad orcs, uruks
and assorted Mordor wildlife who cross
your path. Indeed, button mashing will
progress you through the game, but
using a planned combination of Talion’s
melee and ranged attacks, peppered
with ethereal moves carried out by
Celebrimbor make for a much more
satisfying combat experience.
On the whole, I’d call Shadow of War
an improvement on its predecessor.
The game is bigger, looks better, and
offers way more moves and tricks, and
the Nemesis system is also fleshed out
a fair bit. The inclusion of the dreaded
micro-transactions and loot boxes leaves
a bad taste in the mouth, but is definitely
not game-breaking in this instance and
some of the best armour and weapons in
the game are free and easy to acquire.
It is the perfect game for a lazy week-
end afternoon, and if you fancy a bit of
orc-shaming.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TECH game reviews

Handling with care

The cultish racing game takes it up a gear

Project Cars 2
XBOX ONE, PS4, PC

If cars get your pulse

racing, then Project
CARS 2 could bring
on a heart attack. Two years after the
original game, Project CARS 2 adds
a dash of polish to a game that’s now
developing a cult following.
This year’s model (of the game) comes
packed with more than 180 cars from
around 38 manufacturers, and more
than 140 track variations. That’s plenty
of variety and depth, and should satisfy
the most demanding racing enthusiasts
across all vehicle classes. There is also
plenty of customisation options available
for those needing to get under the hood (or
detailing on the bodywork for that matter).

Take control
It’s important to note that Project CARS 2
is not an arcade race. It’s a serious game
that leans towards simulation realism
over casual cruising. The game is quick
to penalise you for bad driving habits
such as cutting corners or leaving the
track, but some of the many game set-
up options allow you turn all that off.
The in-game settings are some of
the most comprehensive available in
current-gen racing games, with the
customisation of your head-up display
being particularly useful. You can also
turn on all the driving assists until you
have mastered the game controls.
Driving using a racing wheel, rather
than a controller or keyboard, is also
strongly recommended to get the most out
of Project CARS 2. It’s totally playable with
a controller, but really came to life when
I used my Thrustmaster racing wheel.
The handling became more intuitive and
responsive, and made far more difference
than in other racing games.
The career mode in Project CARS 2 is a
better experience than in its predecessor,
but still feels lacking when compared to
the scale of some of the other franchises.
There are plenty of other mode options,
which include online races with a focus
on e-sports. This sees an online ranking
system and an online championship.
All this plays out with a new time- and
weather cycle, which includes dynamic
weather changes based on the season
you are competing in. This means being
prepared for some realistic and ever-
changing track conditions throughout
a race weekend.
The game uses a physics engine called
LiveTrack 3.0. Sadly, this seems to entail
some compromises that means the game
doesn’t look as great as its competitors.
Playing on Xbox One, the cars looked
fantastic, but the textures around the
track looked a little wanting. However, if
you play on PC, you can get 12K resolution
that would leave all rivals in the dust.
It’s clear, though, that the performance
of the cars is the main focus. They look
great, they sound great, and they handle
brilliantly. As with the original Project
CARS, there are a few bugs, and Project
CARS 2 will probably reach its best after
a few patches and tweaks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 TECH 5 9
 game reviews TECH

Broken play
A rugby game that gets mauled at the breakdown
WORDS RYA N V R EDE

Rugby 18
PS4, XBOX ONE & PC

This is a tough review to

write because, as a kid, I
spent hours upon hours
of playing earlier versions of this game.
Years later, it simply has not progressed
to the point it should have.
There are but a handful of redeeming
features, among them the licence for the
top European competitions. So, if you want
to tear defences to shreds with Dan Carter
in the colours of Racing Metro, you are
welcome to try. Only, you probably won’t,
because the controls are so complex, so
utterly baffling even to a seasoned gamer,
that you’re likely to get your cyber Carter
smoked by a hulking Polynesian.
And everyone looks like a hulking
Polynesian – either that or a juiced-up fluid gameplay is near impossible. hulking Polynesian or juiced-up boytjie
boytjie from the East Rand. It would be For example, ruck situations in rugby heads for the try line. Tactical kicking
unreasonable to expect all sports games are dynamic and physically intense, is a disaster because of the complicated
to compare favourably to FIFA, whose despite this being one of the sport’s combination of controls that require you
graphics are powered by the incredible most policed facets. Ruck situations to direct, power and choose between four
Frostbite engine. However, this game in this game are painfully slow and different types of kicks simultaneously.
looks like one developed a decade ago. demanding from a control perspective, Finally, the commentary, such a critical
The early versions of this game were requiring you to commit players, who element in a sports game, is boring and
fun to play because they didn’t try to be a only react to that command seconds often doesn’t fit with what is happening
realistic simulation of the real deal. This later, then to keep adding them if the on screen.
aims for realism, and that further dilutes opposition contest. And don’t even think Rugby has so much potential as a video
the experience. about contesting yourself – you’ll just game, but has yet to find a developer to do
concede a penalty. it justice. This is yet another in a string of
Handling errors Tackling is just a joke, and even after poor attempts to do just that.
Rugby’s rules are extremely complex,
and attempting to translate that into
days of trying, you’re still going to miss
standard hits and then watch as the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 TECH 6 1
 TECH game reviews

Animal Crossing:
Pocket Camp
FREE, ANDROID, IOS

Nintendo’s popular Animal Crossing

series makes its long-awaited mobile
debut as Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp.
Think of it as a heavily simplified version
of The Sims, but with anthropomorphic
animals, fishing, bug collecting and
furniture crafting.
You are the manager of a summer
camp, trying to entice animals to visit
your facility while interacting with them
and performing tasks such as collecting
fruit or fish to improve your relationships.
In the social aspect of the game, you’re
able to befriend other camp managers
and visit their camps, and even sell your
surplus items on a global marketplace.
It’s a free game, so expect some in-app
purchases, but it’s simple enough for
children, and fun enough for adults to
while away a few minutes at a time.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Words with
Friends 2
FREE, ANDROID, IOS

The sequel to one of mobile gaming’s

biggest hits, Words with Friends 2 does
not mess with the formula that earned
it success.
You’ve still got the usual one-on-one
word games to tackle, but we also see
Solo Challenges for players who’d rather
play alone. Another notable addition is
PHO T OGR A PH Y: COU R T ES Y I M AGES

a Lightning Round for cooperative play.

And getting into games is easy enough,
as you challenge either Facebook friends
or strangers from around the world.
This game won’t convert those who
don’t do word games, but any fans of the
original will enjoy the spiced-up modes.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6 2 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
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mobile
iPhone 8 Plus
Let’s be frank – the iPhone 8 Plus would
formerly have been known as an iPhone
7S Plus.
Apple’s Plus series has always had our
favoured models. It’s the screen size and
detail, the dual camera in the 7 Plus, the
beefier specs (again, the Plus-sized phone
features 3 GB of RAM, as opposed to 2 GB
in the standard model).
The A11 Bionic processor moves to
six cores rather than the four inside the
iPhone 7 Plus’s A10 Fusion. It is fast.
Faster than fast. According to our
benchmarks, this is easily the fastest
phone on the market today. Graphics,
too, have been given a boost.

More for less

The iPhone 8 with
256 GB storage
costs less than the
upcoming iPhone X
with 64 GB.

6 4 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 Subscribe to TECH for just R29.99! See p6

 smart buys TECH

The battery is smaller than last year’s

7 Plus: 2 691 mAh instead of 2 900 mAh.
We find that, generally, we can get it to
last 24 hours like the iPhone 7 Plus.
The 8 Plus, however, does look dated
compared to its rivals, and that is such a
shame. The large bezels look ridiculous
against the Galaxy Note 8 and S8 Plus.
The build quality is still excellent, of
course, and there are people happy about
keeping a Home button (and Touch ID).
Sadly, the 8 Plus doesn’t have an HDR
display like the Note 8 or the iPhone X.
While the 5.5” display is still bright, crisp
and looks fantastic with a wide colour
gamut, its 1080p resolution does lag
behind its rivals a bit.
The camera has received some love too,
with a bunch of upgrades including the
ability to record 60 fps 4K video (which
looks sweet). The results are stunning
thanks to a new larger sensor – the core
camera specs are the same as last year’s
model, meaning twin 12 MP sensors, with
one camera lens offering wide-angle
shots, and one offering a 2× telephoto
zoom. The bigger sensor lets in more
light, so colours are brighter, edges are
crisper, and low-light shots are
much improved.
Verdict
The main question is whether you
should buy this phone or get the
upcoming iPhone X. The iPhone 8 Plus
is super similar to the X – the same fast
processor, and the rear camera is
almost identical. You miss out on the
new design, edge-to-edge OLED screen,
Face ID and the better front camera,
but if you can resist the pull of having
the flashiest, newest design, you won’t
be disappointed at all with this as your
next iPhone.

Play it safe
Wireless charging
requires a new glass
back. It looks great,
and Apple says it’s
tough, but maybe
get a case, yeah?

Astrum DA710 Laptop

Docking Station
Thin-and-light ultrabook laptops never have
enough ports. Some of Apple’s MacBooks offer
just one USB-C port, and nothing more. By
plugging in to a single USB-C port, this light-
weight dock makes available a HDMI 2.0 port
for attaching a monitor (up to 4K), full-size USB,
USB-C, SD card reader, and Gigabit ethernet, so
you can attach all your important peripherals
and work in comfort.
Specifications R1 500
Storage 64 GB or 256 GB, Screen 5.5” LCD
Resolution 1 920 × 1 080, Rear cameras

Verdict
12 MP wide-angle, 12 MP 2× telephoto,
Front camera 7 MP, Processor Apple A11
Bionic, Dimensions 78.1 × 158.4 × 7.5 mm,
Weight 202 g
R15 500 (64 GB) A practical, affordable solution for the laptop
power user at the office.
TECH smart buys

Samsung DeX
phone dock Sound barrier
For some time, we have been referring Although your phone is
to smartphones as a computer in your automatically charged
pocket, and now we actually have a when plugged into the
chance to make that our reality. Drop DeX dock, the headphone
your Samsung S8 or Note 8 into this socket is inaccessible, so
coffee mug-sized dock, plug in a mouse, you’ll need to use your
keyboard and monitor, and you’ll be able Bluetooth headphones
to use it like a regular PC. You can plug when docked.
in other full-size USB devices too, and
a proper LAN cable if you’re struggling
with WiFi.
It’s not just some watered-down
mobile experience either. The interface
is slick and uncluttered, but intuitive,
and we quickly found our way around.
Not all apps work equally well, but in
no time at all, we were using Gmail, the
mobile Chrome browser and even the
Google Sheets spreadsheet app as though
they were the full PC version, even though,
technically, they were running on
the phone.

Verdict Specifications
HDMI, LAN, 2 × USB,
This is not the first phone dock of
this kind, but it’s the best yet, and it’s 1 × USB-C
a veiled promise of the integrated R2 000
single-device future still to come.

Hisense C30 Rock Lite

The original Hisense C30 was one of our
favourites, built extra tough, but looking
distinctly different and quite elegant to boot.
This Lite version scales back on some of the
original features: It has a smaller screen,
Specifications less RAM and processing power, and a less
Storage 16 GB, capable camera, but it’s still built to last,
Screen 5”, Front/rear and comes in at a bargain price.
cameras 5 MP/8 MP, This model has the same shock-absorbent
RAM 2 GB, 4G LTE, corners to handle drops, sturdy metal-
waterproof IP67, reinforced side panels and solid dust- and
Android 7 waterproofing. Battery life is extraordinary,
R2 500 and you can stretch it to nearly three days
if you make use of the built-in power-
saving tools.

Verdict
It feels great in hand, but it lacks the
standout looks of its bigger brother, and
looks a little drab by comparison.
 Astrum ET300 Wireless
Bluetooth Earphones
This is not the first pair of earphones we’ve Snug as a bud
seen using this completely cordless design. We were pleasantly
We’ve tested half a dozen of them over the surprised with the
past few months, all using the same basic sound quality of all the
system: one Bluetooth-enabled bud for each Astrum headsets we’ve
ear, paired with each other, and then paired tested, although the
with the phone. build quality seems
It’s quite a remarkable achievement, having to vary a lot.
a stereo music signal split into two cordless
Bluetooth channels to arrive in each earbud
at the exact same moment to keep the
music in sync.
These cordless earbuds were the
lightest we have used. The fit was extremely
comfortable and secure in the ear, and
they excelled where the others had failed
dismally at keeping the Bluetooth connected
no matter how much we moved around.
They sounded good, but the occasional
dropouts are still a very jarring experience
when you’re getting in the groove. Battery
Verdict
life was not great, but they come with a neat
battery-powered charging case, so you can For the price, you’ll certainly score
keep them juiced up while on the move. some tech bragging rights here.

Specifications
Weight 50 g, Bluetooth
4.1, charging case
R750

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 TECH smart buys
Remote snaps
The 200D has a pretty
full range of wireless
functionality. Using WiFi,
it can connect with your
smartphone, either directly
or through a router. Using
the free app, you can now
remotely control some
functions on the camera.
Using your phone as a
viewfinder, you can tap to
change the focal point and
snap the shot when you’re
ready. You can also copy
files from the camera to
the phone and upload
them to social media,
or to cloud storage.
Specifications
Sensor 24 MP Dual Pixel CMOS,
Processor DIGIC 7, Dimensions
122.4 × 92.6 × 69.8 mm, Weight
456 g, full HD video @ 60 fps,
nine-point autofocus, built-in
pop-up flash, Bluetooth/WiFi,
3” articulated LCD touch-
screen viewfinder
R6 000 (camera body only)
R7 400 (with 18-55 mm zoom lens)
6 8 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
Canon EOS 200D
DSLR camera
Even with the extraordinary advances in
smartphone cameras, you can’t beat the
consistent quality and control you get with
a proper digital SLR camera. This entry-
level model comes at a bargain price for
a surprisingly full feature set including
a 24 MP sensor, extremely fast nine-point
autofocus and a fully articulated flip-out
screen, which is rare on basic models,
but extremely handy for beginners.
Picture quality is superb, even when
compared to today’s top-end smart-
phones, and there are plenty of filters
and effects to experiment with.
Most importantly, it is one of the smallest
and lightest DSLRs on the market, which,
together with the on-camera tutorials and
simple button layout, makes it ideal as a
first camera for the aspiring visual artist.
Verdict
Keeping the body light and compact
means the beginner is more likely to
lug it around, so they’ll have it when
they need it, which makes it
a smart investment. T
PHO T OGR A PH Y: COU R T ES Y I M AGES
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 Five
BEST
BUYER’S
Phones
Nokia 8
This is the phone to challenge the
market leaders, but at a much better
price. It’s the build quality you expect
from Nokia, and we liked the brilliant
5.3” screen, the metal back cover, the
quality dual cameras and the zippy
Android installation with no bloatware.
R9 500
Hisense C30 Rock
Combine the invisibly reinforced
corners, waterproofing and metal
frame, and this phone will happily
absorb all of life’s little knocks – and
look stylish doing it. The 5.2” screen
is a delight and the 3 GB of RAM will
keep things slick.
R4 500
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4
An excellent feature set at an
unbeatable price, this phone just
delighted us at every turn. It’s got
a serious processor, generous 3 GB
of RAM and a superb 5.5” screen, all
powered by a large battery that just
keeps going.
R3 600
Nokia 5
This is a great all-rounder, with a
beautiful metal body and a generous
5.2” screen, all at a fantastic low price.
The cameras handle fairly well in low
light, and the fingerprint sensor is a
nice touch. Android installation with
no bloatware.
R3 200
LG K10 (2017)
It’s not the low-price champion it
once was, but this updated model
has a more stylish and premium
look. We think it is still a solid
performer that makes good on
LG’s reputation for tough and
dependable mid-range handsets.
R3 200
7 0 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
Headphones
Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
We were amazed by the great sound,
superior build quality and comfy fit
of these cans. Throw in the effective
noise-cancelling system and the
excellent on-ear controls, and they
are the complete package for lounge,
office and mobile audio enjoyment.
R5 300
Skullcandy Ink’d 2 wireless
The flexible plastic collar makes
these easy to wear and rolls up
into a pocketable size. The sound
punches well above its weight for
entry-level buds and the large
buttons have good tactile feedback.
R600
Sennheiser HD 202 II
What a pleasure! These boring-
looking cans are a sturdy build
and deliver an unexpectedly
powerful audio performance for
the price. They’re not easy to find ,
but well worth the hunt, and easily
our best budget buy on this list.
R630
Skullcandy Grind Wireless
This streetwear brand has matured,
swapping its crazy colours for better
build quality. This subtle design caught
us off guard and was as pleasing on
the eye as it was on the ear. The metal
headband is a winner and the battery
life is pretty good too.
R1 500
iFrogz Plugz Wireless
They’re extremely basic, but the
sound is much better than the price
suggests. We ended up enjoying the
big buttons on the in-line controls,
as well as the soft-touch magnetic
clip that attaches it to your shirt. Wrap
the cable around it for easy storage.
R500

GUIDE
Fitness gear
Garmin vívoactive HR
The upgrade to our previous chart-
topper, this model delivers GPS-driven
data for multiple sports, as well as
activity tracking and smartwatch-like
notifications, and now with heart-rate
monitoring. A little less elegant than its
predecessor, but far more practical.
R5 200
Fitbit Alta HR
NEW It’s thin and stylish, but it delivers
a lot of very useful data for its size,
including very reliable step count,
sleep monitoring and heart rate.
It’s ideal for basic gym workouts,
walking and yoga, but not for
serious sport.
R2 300
TomTom Adventurer
We like that even though it collects
tons of workout data, the display is
simple and easy to read, and that
it now supports activities such
as hiking and trail running. The
on-board music played to your
Bluetooth ’phones is handy too.
R5 500
Fitbit Blaze
It’s still a great fitness tracker with
a solid phone app, but now it tracks
your sports (in a fairly basic way) too.
Best of all, this is a properly stylish
watch you can wear every day, with
heart-rate monitoring and a five-day
battery rounding out the offering.
R4 000
PHO T OGR A PH Y: COU R T ES Y I M AGES
Garmin vívosmart 3
NEW This tracker does the basic step
count and heart-rate metrics very
well, but it has one or two extra
features too, such as rudimentary
VO2 and stress measurement.
It’s also fully waterproof, which
is rare.
R3 000
best buys TECH
THE TOP GEAR TESTED AND
COMPARED ON FEATURES,
PRICE AND BUILD QUALITY
BY THE EXPERTS AT TECH
Gaming gear
Logitech Lightspeed 703
This model proves it’s a myth that
cordless mouses can’t be as fast as
cabled. With a 1 ms response time,
rubberised side grips, a removable
10 g weight and the option of wired
or wireless, you’re getting the best
of both worlds – for work and play.
R1 800
Sony PS VR
This is an authentic, smooth VR
experience, supported by a proper
pipeline of games and entertain-
ment, at a reasonable price. And
we like that it’s still a really great
experience even on 4-year-old
PS4 hardware.
R6 800
Razer BlackWidow Chroma
V2 keyboard
Still our top gaming keyboard, the
new version keeps the Razer Green
mechanical switches and USB, and
audio pass-through, but adds on a
useful detachable palm rest and
programmable macro keys.
R3 200
Steelseries Arctis 3
The exceptionally comfortable fit
of these cans, paired with a great
mic and sturdy build, puts them
streets ahead in a very competitive
category. Music sounds great, too,
but the 7.1 surround sound is a bit
finicky for us.
R1 900
Zowie Camade
When all the cooldrink cans and
chip packets pile up around your
rig during an extended session, this
clever CAble MAnagement DEvice,
or camade, lifts your mouse cable
clear of the chaos for continued
smooth fragging.
R700
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 TECH backspace

Duncan Bell … is self-driving

A day in Milan gives insight into fashion, marketing and Volvo’s reinvention

C
ARS TODAY AREN’T
REALLY MARKETED
AS THINGS TO DRIVE,
AS SUCH. THEY’RE SEEN AS
EXTENSIONS OF LIFESTYLE,
SIMILAR TO YOUR PHONE,
OR PANTS, OR EVEN YOUR
CHOICE OF CRAFT ALE.
That’s why a growing number of
brands will now launch a car twice.
Once for the sub-Clarksons from mags
named things such as Total Car Bastard.
There, men in bomber jackets with the
sleeves pushed up will drive it around the
Nürburgring while yelling, ‘Good torque!’
and ‘I hate caravans!’ I expect. Then, later
in the day, they’ll launch it again for people
largely uninterested in actual driving.
Tech-lifestyle gits, let’s say. Like me.
I thought the Volvo XC40 was a very
sexy car. Who would have thought, in the
’80s, ’90s or even ’00s, that someone might
use the words ‘Volvo’ and ‘sexy’ together?
On that level, it’s a triumph. It’s not just a
youthful car for non-old people, who may
‘have sex in it’, as one attendee put it.
Now, how do you market a car like the
Volvo XC40? I’ll tell you: At Milan Fashion
Week, at a pop-up store that is open for
just 80 hours, selling 40 lovely, tasteful

VOLVO IS CERTAIN CARS WILL, TO SOME EXTENT,

DRIVE THEMSELVES AS EARLY AS 2020
Scandi-designed things, of which the
40th is the actual Volvo car. Then you
invite highly stylish people, like me, to
scoff canapés and interview your CEO,
Håkan Samuelsson, and the exquisitely
Watch?’ He asked this question while
revealing that he himself was wearing
mechanical watches on both his wrists.
Keen to do some journalism before
returning to the canapés, I managed to
I L LUST R AT ION: BR A M VA N H A E R E N, COU R T ES Y I M AGE

named head project designer, Ian Kettle.
It being Milan Fashion Week, there
were more than a few rather epic outfits
on show. In our hotel’s lobby, there was
a man with his hair teased out to either
side of his head in a way I had not seen
since I was last at a circus. His ensemble?
Couture sports, I’d call it. Tailored shorts;
matching football-esque shirt; platform
trainers; knee-high socks. He looked like
a fashion referee.
Turns out, he was editor of GQ Japan
and his first question to Mr Samuelsson
was: ‘Why are you wearing an Apple
ask Samuelsson about self-driving cars.
This is the interesting bit, so pay attention:
Volvo, like a lot of car brands, is certain cars
will, to some extent, drive themselves as
early as 2020. I feel as though most of us
still think, ‘Ooh, seems dicey … will laws,
custom and insurance allow it?’ Ask Volvo
Cars’ CEO, and he’ll fix you with a gaze
like Wallander and say, ‘Yes. By 2021.’ The Volvo XC40’s
‘So who is ahead in the race?’ asked world-first intersection
another panel member, sadly not dressed braking technology
as a couture umpire. ‘There are many brakes for you if
an oncoming car
brands involved,’ said Volvo Cars’ CEO. is detected
And a few beats later: ‘But it’s us.’ T

7 4 TECH F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
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