Table of contents for November 2017 in Stuff Magazine South Africa (2024)

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Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017WELCOMEAre you Team Apple or Team Samsung? That’s the debate raging in Stuff Towers these days, and the question we’re getting most from friends, neighbours, waiters, barmen, readers, delivery people, our veterinarian’s assistant… you get the picture. Our usual response, probably annoyingly, is a question of our own: “Which phone do you have now? And do you like it?” Because, once you’ve stopped comparing specifications, well, there’s not that much in it. Which is to say, all the top-end handsets are incredible. Do you adore Android and think a phone without a stylus is like a Rick without a Morty? Then the Galaxy Note 8 (p72) is the best phone you can buy. Do you dream in iOS-tinted hues and love the convenience of AirPlay? If so, an iPhone 8…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017LOOK DON’T TOUCH APPLE iPHONE XLight reliefApple’s gone all in on the iPhone X’s dual-lens camera. Its two 12MP rear sensors both have optical image stabilisation for better low-light snaps and a quad-LED flash that claims to tweak your portraits with studio-standard lighting.Turn and face the strangeRumour has it Apple initially wanted to embed a fingerprint scanner under the iPhone X’s screen. Instead it’s settled for a TrueDepth camera system that employs infrared and an ambient light sensor.The display is seriously pretty: HDR videos really do pop off the screen and True Tone helps keep everything looking accurateLift the vidWith its stunning 2436x1125 Super Retina screen, the iPhone X is an entertainment powerhouse. HDR10 and Dolby Vision are both on board, so just about every kind of mobile HDR video should work here.Cut the cableWireless…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017THE TRACKER EVOLVES Fitbit IonicBattle of the bandsSure, the classic band comes in three different colour combos, but it’s still a little… boring. Fortunately, you can also buy a colourfully sporty strap, or a stylish leather band for a more classy look.Bank on itThe new Fitbit Pay lets you link your American Express, Mastercard or Visa card to the Ionic and use it as you would a smartwatch with Apple or Android Pay. No South African banks have signed up so far, though. Expect a gradual rollout.Smartwatches have been ‘the Apple Watch show’ for too long, but things are finally about to get interesting – enter player Fitbit. We’ve long known that the king of fitness trackers was stepping up a weight class to take on the Apple Watch… and now it’s here in…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017ONE PEDAL TO RULE THEM ALL Nissan Leaf (2018)Eco warriorBy combining a low profile, an aerodynamic body and a diffuser-style rear bumper, the new Leaf cuts drag (the sworn enemy of everything that moves) drastically. This stops it wasting all those efficiencies it’s gained elsewhere.Rubbish at eco gear shifts? You’ve two options: abandon hope and buy a flappy paddle Ferrari, or go all-in on the new Nissan Leaf. Equipped with a nippy 110kW electric drivetrain (equivalent to 148bhp), its biggest trick is one-pedal driving. Lace up your shoe and let the e-Pedal do the work, using resistance from the car’s regenerative energy tech to do the slowing when you lift off. For everything except emergency braking the e-Pedal is your one-stop shop. It also maximises range, helping deliver 378km from a single charge. Parking will be a cinch…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017THE TRACKER EVOLVES Fitbit IonicBattle of the bands Sure, the classic band comes in three different colour combos, but it’s still a little… boring. Fortunately, you can also buy a colourfully sporty strap, or a stylish leather band for a more classy look. Bank on it The new Fitbit Pay lets you link your American Express, Mastercard or Visa card to the Ionic and use it as you would a smartwatch with Apple or Android Pay. No South African banks have signed up so far, though. Expect a gradual rollout. Smartwatches have been ‘the Apple Watch show’ for too long, but things are finally about to get interesting – enter player Fitbit. We’ve long known that the king of fitness trackers was stepping up a weight class to take on the Apple Watch… and…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017GIGA PIXELELECTRICITY THRILLAfter announcing its intention to electrify every range of car it sends out of the door from 2020 onwards, Jaguar has revealed the E-Type Zero – quite possibly the most beautiful electric car we’ve seen. Based on the iconic 1960s convertible, the E-Type Zero has a 220kW electric powertrain capable of 0 to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds. Cosmetically, the roadster is identical to its petrol-powered predecessor, but weighs 67kg less. The battery has an estimated range of 270km, with recharge time clocking in at six to seven hours. Will this modernised classic ever make it past concept? Jaguar isn’t giving much away.NEWS FEEDNETFLIX WELCOMES NEW HDR VIPsPlanning on getting the Galaxy Note 8? Make Netflix your first download, as Samsung’s phablet and the LG V30 are the latest devices…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017The future’s electric can I be electric too?Let me admit something up front: I’m a tree-hugger at heart. Which is why I have to wonder, why is it that hybrid cars seem to have gotten a bit of a bad rep from certain quarters? Even the word “Prius” seems to conjure up images of smug, out-of-touch Hollywood stars virtue-signalling their way to award ceremonies.Opiner-in-chief Mr Jezza Clarkson sold it thusly: a Prius’s batteries are mined in Canada, shipped around the world to be refined, shipped again to be manufactured, shipped to be installed, and then shipped again to be sold. By the time the finished car arrives on the showroom floor it’s already contributed more carbon emissions than a petrol car would in its whole lifespan. Or something like that.I don’t even know if that’s true (and…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017WE R2 EXCITED ABOUT AUGMENTED REALITY Sphero R2-D2R3 000 / myistore.co.za Sphero’s app-controlled R2-D2 is an upgrade on your current housemate ● Beepy buddy Perfect paintwork and fully functional LEDs mean this mini version of the galaxy’s favourite droid (sorry, C-3PO) looks the part, so Sphero made damned sure he sounds it too. Note-perfect audio effects from the Star Wars archive emerge from R2-D2’s speaker. ● Falcon fancier Augmented reality tech unleashed by the app allows you to explore a holographic simulation of the Millennium Falcon – accompanied, of course, by your new droid mate, who will respond to your movements. The app will throw you titbits of information as you move through the corridors of Solo’s ship, so you’re not going to walk past the AG-2G quad laser cannon without noticing. ● Room roamer When you’re…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017SNOOZE PER STROLLShapeshifter baby lifterBUGABOO CAMELEON 3If prams were ranked like smartphones, the Bugaboo Cameleon 3 would be the iPhone X. It’s the top-of-the-range model that has all the bells and whistles and exudes all the style of a gleaming, glass-backed wonder gadget. Coincidentally, it also costs the same as a new iPhone X is expected to. Two large, sturdy wheels on one end and two smaller, more manoeuvrable ones – complete with baby soothing suspension – on the other, along with a reversible seat, mean there’s a setup for any terrain: from tiled malls, to poorly maintained pavements, to beaches. Nonetheless, the whole thing still folds down flat enough to go into a car boot. The seat works with the BeSafe or Maxi-Cosi car seats and the Cameleon 3’s modular design…6 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Stale, mate?As a youngster, I played a lot of chess. I wasn’t very good, but I liked the game. The problem was my regular opponent was so much better than me. And in chess, by and large, the better player tends to win. Which gets tiresome really quickly if you’re just looking to pass the time and challenge the old grey matter. Which brings me to three games you can play to scratch the chess itch, but that you’ll enjoy even if you’re a poor player like me. First up is a game from 2001 called Hive. It’s a board game with no board. Each player has a set of hexagonal pieces that fit together to form the play area. The objective is to surround your opponent’s queen bee using your…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017The future’s electric can I be electric too?Let me admit something up front: I’m a tree-hugger at heart. Which is why I have to wonder, why is it that hybrid cars seem to have gotten a bit of a bad rep from certain quarters? Even the word “Prius” seems to conjure up images of smug, out-of-touch Hollywood stars virtue-signalling their way to award ceremonies. Opiner-in-chief Mr Jezza Clarkson sold it thusly: a Prius’s batteries are mined in Canada, shipped around the world to be refined, shipped again to be manufactured, shipped to be installed, and then shipped again to be sold. By the time the finished car arrives on the showroom floor it’s already contributed more carbon emissions than a petrol car would in its whole lifespan. Or something like that. I don’t even know if that’s…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017ELECTRIC AVENUEFree money, anyone?Part of Tesla’s proposed self-driving master plan will allow you to add your Model 3 to an autonomous taxi fleet, so it can earn cash while you sleep.THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME TESLAMODEL 3$35 000 / tesla.comFor the longest time, you could only talk about the Model 3 in terms of what it might be: the iPhone of electric cars.But now Tesla’s first affordable car is officially on the road in the US, and early reports indicate it’s every bit as amazing as we’d hoped. With a gorgeous design that’s every bit the equal of a Merc or Beemer, a range of up to 500km and of course a smorgasbord of self-driving smarts, it looks as though Elon Musk has actually delivered on his vision of a…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Do bigger thingsPERFORM AT YOUR PEAK With 6GB of RAM and an ultra-high performance 10nm processor, the Galaxy Note 8 will handle anything you can throw at it, from running two apps at a time in split-screen view, to gaming and video editing. And when it’s time to top-up the power, there’s wireless charging, too. SEE INFINITE POSSIBILITIES The Galaxy Note 8 keeps the 18.5:9 aspect ratio found on the Galaxy S8 and S8+, but boosts the screen size to 6.3in, which means more space with which to do more things. The Infinity Display has no bezel on the sides, and super-slim bezels top and bottom, making for the best edge-to-edge screen you’ve ever seen… or touched. And with symmetrical curves front and back, it feels great in the hand. EFFORTLESS EXPRESSION…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017TEN TECHIE TREATSNOKIA BODY+Getting on the scales is like confession. You arrive ready to acknowledge your sins, but leave knowing you’ll return next week with the same problems. But by measuring your weight, body fat and water percentages, BMI and bone mass, the Nokia Body+ scales make changing those scary numbers more achievable. You can set goals and track your results using Nokia’s Health Mate app, or even sign up to one of the wellness programmes. Just bear in mind they won’t help to cleanse your sinful soul. Not even a Diet Coke will help you out there.Rtba / health.nokia.comWEATHER OR NOTLooking for an excuse not to go for a run around the block? The Body+ gives you the daily weather forecast each morning.WEIGHT YOUR TURNUp to eight people can join you…5 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017DESK IMPROVERS1 Nanoleaf Ivy Smarter Kit The customisable Nanoleaf LED bulb is voice-controlled through your smartphone, so your fingers never have to leave the keyboard. R1 100 (import) / nanoleaf.me 2 MX Anywhere 2S This wireless mouse is kitted out with Logitech Flow, which lets you seamlessly control up to three computers with one device, and it’ll track on any surface. R1 500 / logitech.co.za 3 Satechi Smart Charging Stand This will dock and charge an Apple Watch, Fitbit Blaze or smartphone – which is much more impressive than your average pencil pot. R470 / satechi.net 4 Super Mario Bros Heat Change Mug A always on a desk, but you’ll enjoy it more in the knowledge you’ve given life to an 8-bit Mushroom Kingdom. R180…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Give it a wristR1 750 / za.shadestation.com On the surface the Timex IQ+ Move looks just like your average analogue watch, but it also offers step tracking, alarms and basic timer alerts. Sure, it doesn’t do much, but that’s kind of the whole point of this R1 750 watch. This wearable has the same tastefully minimalist style as other, normal Timex watches. Its casing is stainless steel, with slightly curved mineral glass on top. It’s a smart look, and it’s water-resistant down to 50 metres. Timex makes the IQ+ Move with either a leather or a silicone strap. Our leather one has a sort of corrugated finish across half of its length. Not a fan? You can always swap it out, as the IQ+ Move uses a standard strap fixture. Beneath that plain…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Cat with eight livesfrom R368 800 / ford.co.za Like the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 for Samsung, the last Kuga is a car the Ford Motor Company would rather forget. Which is why it’s put so much obvious effort into the new version. And why it’s later to market than expected. Ford used its initial stock of the new Kuga as courtesy cars for those affected by the previous models’ woes. In keeping with the rest of Ford’s line-up, the new Kuga has a new face with the revised trapezoidal grille that makes the company’s recent releases instantly identifiable. Updated front and rear lights and twin exhausts give it a more assertive look than its predecessor, though there’s no escaping it’s a family friendly SUV, meaning it screams pragmatism, not pizzazz. Buyers can choose…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Link to the pastRemember the pain of trying to get a NES Classic Mini last December?We do, acutely. That nightmare is back, but this time with the SNES Classic Mini – a nostalgia machine that you won’t forget about once the gammon’s gone cold and the crackers are pulled.From the very first Super Mario Kart to cult classics such as Secret of Mana and Street Fighter II Turbo, this tiny plastic box is stuffed full of 20 old games that are still frikkin’ brilliant all these years later. Oh, and the never-before-released Star Fox 2 has also been chucked into the already marvelous mix.All of this adds up to an embarrassment of retro gaming riches, especially since you get two controllers thrown in. And, at well under R1 500, it’s an undeniable bargain.The…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Next Finn?DAY 01The simple 3310 is Nokia’s most celebrated handset for a reason: this company has never made a great smartphone. The Nokia 8 is intending to change this, but our first thought? It’s fallen flat. While the Finns’ previous creations were often weird and wonderful, the Nokia 8 just looks like an iPhone – on lookers even mistook it for one. But it doesn’t have that iPhone quality. Even the iPhone-inspired dual-camera setup disappointed after a few snaps. Perhaps it’ll fare a little better tomorrow?DAY 02Nope, still rubbish. With its three 13MP sensors, phase-detection AF, IR rangefinder and f/2.0 apertures, this camera is amazing on paper. In reality, the Nokia 8 struggles to get its exposure levels right, meaning photos look either too bright or too dark. We’re also not…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017TEN TECHIE TREATSNOKIA BODY+ Getting on the scales is like confession. You arrive ready to acknowledge your sins, but leave knowing you’ll return next week with the same problems. But by measuring your weight, body fat and water percentages, BMI and bone mass, the Nokia Body+ scales make changing those scary numbers more achievable. You can set goals and track your results using Nokia’s Health Mate app, or even sign up to one of the wellness programmes. Just bear in mind they won’t help to cleanse your sinful soul. Not even a Diet Coke will help you out there. Rtba / health.nokia.com WEATHER OR NOT Looking for an excuse not to go for a run around the block? The Body+ gives you the daily weather forecast each morning. WEIGHT YOUR…5 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017MAIL OF THE MONTHBETTER TO BIN 'EM?Q I received a pair of headphones a year ago and now that they have weathered and the cushions have fallen off they are not very usable. Well, they are, but with the exception of some uncomfortable irritation and substantially less noise cancellation. As I am quite a curious person, I was wondering if there is any way to turn old beat-up headphones into speakers?TyronA It's definitely possible, but you'll have to decide whether it's worth the effort. We’ve sent you a few links to upcycling options for cans. You’ll have to decide whether you want to go to all that effort or just chuck ‘em in the bin.Speak your brains to Stuff and you could win! This letter wins Jabra Sports Pulse Wireless earbuds worth R2…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Give it a wristR1 750 / za.shadestation.com ■ On the surface the Timex IQ+ Move looks just like your average analogue watch, but it also offers step tracking, alarms and basic timer alerts. Sure, it doesn’t do much, but that’s kind of the whole point of this R1 750 watch. ■ This wearable has the same tastefully minimalist style as other, normal Timex watches. Its casing is stainless steel, with slightly curved mineral glass on top. It’s a smart look, and it’s water-resistant down to 50 metres. ■ Timex makes the IQ+ Move with either a leather or a silicone strap. Our leather one has a sort of corrugated finish across half of its length. Not a fan? You can always swap it out, as the IQ+ Move uses a standard strap fixture.…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017PHABLETSSamsung Galaxy Note 8R17 800 / samsung.com/zaWe’ve got to feel a little sorry for the Samsung’s Galaxy S8+. It was top of the phablet heap, but then the Note 8 arrived with its 6.3in display, dual cameras and updated S Pen and elbowed its sibling down to second spot. Impressively, despite its marginally larger screen, the Note 8 is roughly the same size as the S8+, so you might have to take out the S Pen to prove to people you’ve actually got the Note. With 6GB of RAM and that double camera setup, it’s the new phablet king. Long live the king.Stuff says ★★★★★Like an S8+ with an extra camera, more RAM and an S Pen. It’s brilliant!● NOW ADD THIS Convertible Wireless ChargerThe latest in phone wizardry deserves…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017THESE DOWNLOAD NOW …ATEXT Often type out the same lines over and over again? aText’s typing shortcuts let you automate words, phrases and even whole sentences. R75 /trankynam.com PIXELMATOR You don’t need an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription for the odd spot of photo-twiddling. Pixelmator has all the basic editing tricks you need. R525 /pixelmator.com F.LUX Stuck in front of a screen all day? Don’t make it worse by getting eyestrain. F.lux will adjust your iMac’s colour temperature according to the time of day. Free /justgetflux.com…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017TVsLG OLED65E6VR85 000 / lg.com/zaA truly stunning television. LG’s OLED panel can go blacker than most TVs and will dazzle your senses with its brightness; it offers sharply etched detail, excellent viewing angles and solid HD upscaling. It also boasts support for both HDR standards – HDR10 and Dolby Vision – so you’ll be able to watch compatible content from Amazon, Netflix and UHD Blu-rays regardless of which format wins out in the future. If you’ve got the money, this is the 4K TV to own.Stuff says ★★★★★Packed full of tech, with jaw-dropping performance to send you into TV reverie● NOW ADD THIS Microsoft Xbox One SA fine games console and a 4K Blu-ray player all in one. Grab yourself a copy of Forza Horizon 3 and you’ll see how…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017SMARTWATCHES, FITNESS TRACKERSApple Watch Series 2from R6 400 / myistore.co.zaThe original Apple Watch was the best smartwatch on the market when it launched, but it lacked focus. The Series 2 devices come with an array of upgrades – more power, a brighter screen – along with a greater emphasis on fitness functions without a phone in tow. Both GPS and waterproofing make this a far more compelling gadget for exercise fanatics. No alternative is as fast or as well made, or has the same quality and quantity of bespoke apps.Stuff says ★★★★★Apple’s small tweaks and renewed sports focus add up to make the Series 2 a watershed wearableSamsung Gear S3R6 500 / samsung.com/zaSamsung’s Tizen OS combined with the rotating bezel is the stuff smartwatch dreams are made of. It’s a real rival…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017MAIL OF THE MONTHBETTER TO BIN 'EM? Q I received a pair of headphones a year ago and now that they have weathered and the cushions have fallen off they are not very usable. Well, they are, but with the exception of some uncomfortable irritation and substantially less noise cancellation. As I am quite a curious person, I was wondering if there is any way to turn old beat-up headphones into speakers? Tyron A It's definitely possible, but you'll have to decide whether it's worth the effort. We’ve sent you a few links to upcycling options for cans. You’ll have to decide whether you want to go to all that effort or just chuck ‘em in the bin. Speak your brains to Stuff and you could win! This letter…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017SMARTPHONESSamsung Galaxy S8 R15 500 / samsung.com/za You don’t need us to tell you that the Galaxy S8 is a bezel-less thing of wonder. Just look at it: glorious! And beneath that gorgeous facade lies an equally sumptuous blend of power and performance. With enough oomph to run any app you please, and a point-and-shoot camera to rival both the iPhone 7 Plus and the Google Pixel, this really is an astoundingly good comeback after Samsung’s Note 7 woes. We’d have accepted nothing less. Stuff says ★★★★★ The other phones on this list, while nice, are no match for the Galaxy S8 ● NOW ADD THIS DeX Station Dock Hook up a monitor, keyboard and mouse to this puck-sized device for an almost complete computer experience via your…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017WIRELESS SPEAKERSJBL XtremeR4 700 / incredible.co.zaThe perfect portable speaker is good looking, rugged, offers great stamina, and plays nicely with others. Basically, the perfect speaker is Victor Matfield if he could sing opera. But wait, can Mattie charge two devices at the same time from a pair of USB ports, does he come with a shoulder strap, and can he survive being rinsed off under a tap? Sure, he ticks the last box, but the JBL ticks all three. Also, can he sing opera? ‘Cause the JBL can sing anything. Sorry Mattie.Stuff says ★★★★★Stellar sound, durability, and a low price tag make JBL’s Xtreme unbeatable● NOW ADD THIS TidalSick of playing your iTunes library on repeat? Sign up to Tidal for more new music than you could ever possibly listen to.…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017TVsLG OLED65E6V R85 000 / lg.com/za A truly stunning television. LG’s OLED panel can go blacker than most TVs and will dazzle your senses with its brightness; it offers sharply etched detail, excellent viewing angles and solid HD upscaling. It also boasts support for both HDR standards – HDR10 and Dolby Vision – so you’ll be able to watch compatible content from Amazon, Netflix and UHD Blu-rays regardless of which format wins out in the future. If you’ve got the money, this is the 4K TV to own. Stuff says ★★★★★ Packed full of tech, with jaw-dropping performance to send you into TV reverie ● NOW ADD THIS Microsoft Xbox One S A fine games console and a 4K Blu-ray player all in one. Grab yourself a copy…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017WELCOMEcraig@stuff.co.zaAre you Team Apple or Team Samsung? That’s the debate raging in Stuff Towers these days, and the question we’re getting most from friends, neighbours, waiters, barmen, readers, delivery people, our veterinarian’s assistant… you get the picture.Our usual response, probably annoyingly, is a question of our own: “Which phone do you have now? And do you like it?” Because, once you’ve stopped comparing specifications, well, there’s not that much in it. Which is to say, all the top-end handsets are incredible.Do you adore Android and think a phone without a stylus is like a Rick without a Morty? Then the Galaxy Note 8 (p72) is the best phone you can buy. Do you dream in iOS-tinted hues and love the convenience of AirPlay? If so, an iPhone 8 (p14) or…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017OUR MONTHI GOT TO KNOW KNOMO “A laptop bag is a laptop bag is a laptop bag”, you may sigh when evaluating the deluge of good options on the market today. But Knomo have always made superior bags, especially their all-in-one Harpsden backpack bag. There’s a handy sleeve close to my back for a laptop, a few pouches for glasses, hard drives and the like, and a voluminous interior to throw cables and other necessities into. It’s also the ultimate travelling carry-on bag thanks to its one main compartment and single, small outer pocket. Also, as a frequent traveller, I want a laptop bag that is hard to get into when it’s on my back. And one that’ll withstand the elements… and hide the dirt of planes and airports. Toby Shapshak,…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017LOOK DON’T TOUCH APPLE iPHONE XLight relief Apple’s gone all in on the iPhone X’s dual-lens camera. Its two 12MP rear sensors both have optical image stabilisation for better low-light snaps and a quad-LED flash that claims to tweak your portraits with studio-standard lighting. Turn and face the strange Rumour has it Apple initially wanted to embed a fingerprint scanner under the iPhone X’s screen. Instead it’s settled for a TrueDepth camera system that employs infrared and an ambient light sensor. The display is seriously pretty: HDR videos really do pop off the screen and True Tone helps keep everything looking accurate Lift the vid With its stunning 2436x1125 Super Retina screen, the iPhone X is an entertainment powerhouse. HDR10 and Dolby Vision are both on board, so just about every kind of mobile HDR…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017HEART OF GLASS APPLE iPHONE 8Plus ça change.. Besides that bigger screen, the iPhone 8 Plus’s advantage over its little brother is – just as with the 7 Plus over the 7 – its dual-lens camera. Portrait mode has been improved, which is good news for your Instagram. Bring the noise The iPhone 8’s built-in stereo speaker makes it 25% louder than its predecessor, delivering meatier bass. You’re still going to want headphones for anything other than a viral cat video, but it’s a welcome addition. Want an iPhone X? Ha! Not on your salary you don’t. The new iPhone 8 is more likely to be in your price range, and do you know what? It’s actually worth getting excited about. With an all-new glass design, faster A11 Bionic processor and updated 12MP rear camera,…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017START MENUPrint ’n’ playTOYBOX 3D PRINTERIn the olden days you’d count yourself lucky if you were given a brick on a string to play with. These days, kids have fidget spinners, iPads and Oculus Rifts to entertain themselves, and their bricks are used to make enormous Millennium Falcons. Now, thanks to the Toybox 3D printer, they essentially have their own toy factory too. Kids can use the app to pick the toy they want to print with just a single button press, or can even design their own. Then, if our experience with 3D printing is anything to go by, you just need to entertain them for three hours while it gets to work. from $249 / make.toysBottle your big airSHREDMATEThere’s nothing worse than nailing a mountain bike trail and having…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Stale, mate?As a youngster, I played a lot of chess. I wasn’t very good, but I liked the game. The problem was my regular opponent was so much better than me. And in chess, by and large, the better player tends to win. Which gets tiresome really quickly if you’re just looking to pass the time and challenge the old grey matter.Which brings me to three games you can play to scratch the chess itch, but that you’ll enjoy even if you’re a poor player like me.First up is a game from 2001 called Hive. It’s a board game with no board. Each player has a set of hexagonal pieces that fit together to form the play area. The objective is to surround your opponent’s queen bee using your pieces, with…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Intelligence has a lookOn-device means AI anywhereBy combining the power of the cloud with the speed and responsiveness of native AI processing, Huawei is bringing AI experiences to life and changing the way we interact with our devices. This sort of innovative functionality requires innovative hardware, and the Kirin 970 is just the first in a series of advances from Huawei that will enable powerful AI features.Intelligent cameraThe Kirin 970 is Huawei’s first mobile AI computing platform featuring the world’s first dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This allows it to perform complex, AI computing tasks quickly and efficiently. In a benchmark image recognition test, the Kirin 970 processed 2 000 images per minute, the closest flagship rival only managed just over 800 in the same time. The AI powered intelligent camera system will…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Do bigger thingsPERFORM AT YOUR PEAKWith 6GB of RAM and an ultra-high performance 10nm processor, the Galaxy Note 8 will handle anything you can throw at it, from running two apps at a time in split-screen view, to gaming and video editing. And when it’s time to top-up the power, there’s wireless charging, too.SEE INFINITE POSSIBILITIESThe Galaxy Note 8 keeps the 18.5:9 aspect ratio found on the Galaxy S8 and S8+, but boosts the screen size to 6.3in, which means more space with which to do more things. The Infinity Display has no bezel on the sides, and super-slim bezels top and bottom, making for the best edge-to-edge screen you’ve ever seen… or touched. And with symmetrical curves front and back, it feels great in the hand.EFFORTLESS EXPRESSION WITH THE S PENThe…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017GAMESFIRST PLAY SOUTH PARK: THE FRACTURED BUT WHOLEPC, PS4, Xbox OneWithin the first hour of our time with the marvellously-titled South Park: The Fractured But Whole , we were already fighting off paedophile priests, beating up busty waitresses and completing a mini game where the object is to squeeze out a turd. Controversy, as ever, is the order of the day.Cartman, inspired by the millions made by DC and Marvel movies, decides that creating his very own league of totally awesome superheroes (played by his motley crew of pals) is a route to untold riches. But the kids soon fall out, sparking their very own Civil War.South Park writers Matt Stone and Trey Parker have taken full advantage of their vibrant cast by giving them superpowers, and naturally the two…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017DESK IMPROVERS1 Nanoleaf Ivy Smarter KitThe customisable Nanoleaf LED bulb is voice-controlled through your smartphone, so your fingers never have to leave the keyboard.R1 100 (import) / nanoleaf.me2 MX Anywhere 2SThis wireless mouse is kitted out with Logitech Flow, which lets you seamlessly control up to three computers with one device, and it’ll track on any surface.R1 500 / logitech.co.za3 Satechi Smart Charging StandThis will dock and charge an Apple Watch, Fitbit Blaze or smartphone – which is much more impressive than your average pencil pot.R470 / satechi.net4 Super Mario Bros Heat Change MugA always on a desk, but you’ll enjoy it more in the knowledge you’ve given life to an 8-bit Mushroom Kingdom.R180 / firebox.com5 Samsung Dex StationIt looks like little more than a dinky hockey puck, but plug a…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Intelligence has a lookOn-device means AI anywhere By combining the power of the cloud with the speed and responsiveness of native AI processing, Huawei is bringing AI experiences to life and changing the way we interact with our devices. This sort of innovative functionality requires innovative hardware, and the Kirin 970 is just the first in a series of advances from Huawei that will enable powerful AI features. Intelligent camera The Kirin 970 is Huawei’s first mobile AI computing platform featuring the world’s first dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This allows it to perform complex, AI computing tasks quickly and efficiently. In a benchmark image recognition test, the Kirin 970 processed 2 000 images per minute, the closest flagship rival only managed just over 800 in the same time. The AI powered intelligent…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017APPLE WATCH SERIES 3Ah great, another watch… Can’t you take the hint? That grotty old ticker currently on your wrist smells sweatier than a stale wors roll. But this here isn’t just any watch. It’s an Apple Series 3 watch, and if this won’t persuade you to give your wrist a much-needed upgrade then nothing will. It’s the stuff of your childhood dreams, now allowing you to make calls to your friends without the help of your trusty iPhone. Wow! So many new opportunities to publicly embarrass myself! Just think of them all for a moment. You wish happy birthday to your dad while doing squats. Give a meter reading in the middle of a swim. Organise your laundry collection on the soccer field. All we need to do is hold thumbs SA…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017UPVOTED VACUUM CLEANERSThe tidy transformerDyson V8 Total CleanDirt lives in every nook of your home. Don’t ask us how the remains of a gardening mishap ended up on your bedroom wall, but they’re there. That’s not a problem for the Dyson V8, though, as it can do both handheld clean-ups and the heavy-duty work of a proper dust-destroyer thanks to its shape-shifting skills. Bonus: it’s completely cordless.Rtba / dyson.co.zaDEADLY DUSTERSThe smilerNumatic Henry HVR 200-11We all love Henry’s gormless smile, but underneath that happy exterior he’s actually plotting against you. One day, when Henry decides he’s snorted enough dust, he’ll spurt out all nine litres of muck on your expensive rug. That’ll teach you for forcing him to suck up that dead mouse.R2 500 / numatic.co.zaThe multitaskerVorwerk Kobold VK200Using a vacuum that’s designed…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017GAMESFIRST PLAY SOUTH PARK: THE FRACTURED BUT WHOLE PC, PS4, Xbox One Within the first hour of our time with the marvellously-titled South Park: The Fractured But Whole , we were already fighting off paedophile priests, beating up busty waitresses and completing a mini game where the object is to squeeze out a turd. Controversy, as ever, is the order of the day. Cartman, inspired by the millions made by DC and Marvel movies, decides that creating his very own league of totally awesome superheroes (played by his motley crew of pals) is a route to untold riches. But the kids soon fall out, sparking their very own Civil War. South Park writers Matt Stone and Trey Parker have taken full advantage of their vibrant cast by…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017A bang biggerSo here it is: the sequel to a smartphone that wouldn’t stop exploding. And yet Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 isn’t all that different to its pyromaniacal predecessor.A big, supercharged handset with a jaw-dropping display, it’s every bit the kick-ass flagship phablet you’d expect. The headline change for 2017? This Note shouldn’t go ‘boom’ any time soon. That’s what Samsung promises, and it’s thankfully proved true in our time with the phone so far.But let’s not get too hung up on its mere ability to not self-destruct, as this phone has many positive qualities. Essentially a slightly bigger Galaxy S8, it has an awesome 6.3in screen to work across and relax with, a dual-lens camera that takes a great photo even when zoomed in, and a built-in stylus that remains a…5 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Tailored Swiftfrom R12 000 / acer.co.za Add a few things to your laptop wish list and prices can soon spiral out of control. Metal frame? Core i-something processor? Not bad to look at? All that’ll cost you well over R15 000. Well, unless you buy the Acer Swift 3, which gives you the lot for an affordable price. The big change for the 2017 Swift 3 is a casing upgrade. Instead of a dated-looking border around the edge of the screen, there’s a giant pane of glass running edge to edge. Just about everything else is machined from aluminium. The 14in screen is sharp, with 1080p resolution, and its colours are only a little undersaturated. But maximum brightness could be higher, especially as the super-glossy screen will make reflections an issue…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 20173 OF THE BESTBEAT SNEAK BANDIT R50 / iOS Imagine a puzzle-infused stealth-based rhythm-action platformer. Actually, don’t bother – just buy this, because it’s great. ZEN BOUND 2 R50 / iOS Wrap rope around sculptures to colour them in. Sounds dull, but turns out to be hypnotic if you have any vestige of a soul. RECKLESS RACING HD R4 / iOS Or Redneck Racing, if your opponents are out of earshot. This racer is superb fun – it sees you powersliding around yards and car parks.…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017HYBRID SUPERTEST POWER PLAYERSHOW TO BUY 1 Choose your engine There are two types of hybrid motors: conventional and plug-in. Conventional models don’t need recharging. Plug-ins do, but also have bigger batteries. 2 Check out your local charging structure Plug-in hybrids are a hassle if you don’t have a charging spot nearby. Be sure to check your local options with the manufacturer. 3 It’s an investment! Hybrids often cost more than a petrol car. The trade-off? Far superior fuel efficiency, grateful polar bears, and a car that should better retain value. THE ONE AND ONLY? TOYOTA PRIUS from R462 200 / toyota.co.za DESIGN Marmite modelling There are some things you can’t admit to in Stuff HQ – such as having owned a Microsoft Zune, subscribing to Tidal, or appreciating the design of the…13 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Sam thing for nothingR25 000 / samsung.com/zaIn an industry where the very best often carries a price tag to depress all non-billionaires, ‘mid-range’ is word that stirs up ideas of compromise. And compromise scares people. But mid-range doesn’t have to be scary… and the Samsung UA55MU8000 is proof of that.Sitting one step down from Samsung’s premium QLED TV range, it delivers a lot of the same benefits as its flagship friends but at a much more reasonable cost. With the much sought-after 4K HDR specs, no slacking on design and a full roster of streaming services, it’s tough to see where Samsung has cut corners here. You won’t look at this picture and think ‘budget’.Sure, Dolby Vision and Samsung’s contrast-smashing QLED have had to be sacrificed to hammer down the price. But if…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017UPVOTED VACUUM CLEANERSThe tidy transformer Dyson V8 Total Clean Dirt lives in every nook of your home. Don’t ask us how the remains of a gardening mishap ended up on your bedroom wall, but they’re there. That’s not a problem for the Dyson V8, though, as it can do both handheld clean-ups and the heavy-duty work of a proper dust-destroyer thanks to its shape-shifting skills. Bonus: it’s completely cordless. Rtba / dyson.co.za DEADLY DUSTERS The smiler Numatic Henry HVR 200-11 We all love Henry’s gormless smile, but underneath that happy exterior he’s actually plotting against you. One day, when Henry decides he’s snorted enough dust, he’ll spurt out all nine litres of muck on your expensive rug. That’ll teach you for forcing him to suck up that dead mouse. R2…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Life is Strange: Before the StormThe problem with most prequels? You already know how they’re going to end before you’ve started.So by the time the final part of Before the Storm wraps up, we’d bet our pitiful life-savings on Chloe Price having a new blue haircut, Rachel Amber going missing and the time-travelling Max Caulfield making one final appearance. Because all those pieces were in place at the start of 2015’s role-playing soap opera Life Is Strange.And yet Before the Storm is shaping up to be every bit as winsome as the cult classic that inspired it. With a slew of memorable characters, painful teenage dialogue and intriguing moral quandaries, this first instalment in a three-episode arc follows broadly the same setup as the original game. Once again, you’ll spend most of your time wandering…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017A bang biggerSo here it is: the sequel to a smartphone that wouldn’t stop exploding. And yet Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 isn’t all that different to its pyromaniacal predecessor. A big, supercharged handset with a jaw-dropping display, it’s every bit the kick-ass flagship phablet you’d expect. The headline change for 2017? This Note shouldn’t go ‘boom’ any time soon. That’s what Samsung promises, and it’s thankfully proved true in our time with the phone so far. But let’s not get too hung up on its mere ability to not self-destruct, as this phone has many positive qualities. Essentially a slightly bigger Galaxy S8, it has an awesome 6.3in screen to work across and relax with, a dual-lens camera that takes a great photo even when zoomed in, and a built-in stylus that…5 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017PLAYLIST HORROR GAMESBEST BUY FOR HALLOWEEN SCARESThe Evil Within 2Ever since Resident Evil opened the door to its horror house in 1996, we’ve willingly taken on survival games that put our underpants at risk. The Evil Within’s sequel builds upon the genre, letting you decide how to advance: use your limited resources to kill the monsters, or just cower in the dark.PS4, Xbox One, PCAlien IsolationBy far the best Alien game so far, Isolation is basically just hide and seek. The only difference? Being found doesn’t mean you become the seeker; instead, you get a xenomorph’s tongue shoved down your throat. At least buy us a drink first, you creep.PS4, Xbox One, PCFriday the 13thWhile it’s true that this game has more bugs than Jason has corpses in his cabin, it’s still…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Link to the pastRemember the pain of trying to get a NES Classic Mini last December? We do, acutely. That nightmare is back, but this time with the SNES Classic Mini – a nostalgia machine that you won’t forget about once the gammon’s gone cold and the crackers are pulled. From the very first Super Mario Kart to cult classics such as Secret of Mana and Street Fighter II Turbo, this tiny plastic box is stuffed full of 20 old games that are still frikkin’ brilliant all these years later. Oh, and the never-before-released Star Fox 2 has also been chucked into the already marvelous mix. All of this adds up to an embarrassment of retro gaming riches, especially since you get two controllers thrown in. And, at well under R1 500, it’s…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Sam thing for nothingR25 000 / samsung.com/za In an industry where the very best often carries a price tag to depress all non-billionaires, ‘mid-range’ is word that stirs up ideas of compromise. And compromise scares people. But mid-range doesn’t have to be scary… and the Samsung UA55MU8000 is proof of that. Sitting one step down from Samsung’s premium QLED TV range, it delivers a lot of the same benefits as its flagship friends but at a much more reasonable cost. With the much sought-after 4K HDR specs, no slacking on design and a full roster of streaming services, it’s tough to see where Samsung has cut corners here. You won’t look at this picture and think ‘budget’. Sure, Dolby Vision and Samsung’s contrast-smashing QLED have had to be sacrificed to hammer down the…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Yakuza KiwamiYakuza first appeared in the West on the PlayStation 2, the subject of an extremely expensive localisation campaign with Hollywood stars doing the voice acting… and nobody bought it. The subtitled version though… That piece of work and its many sequels sold well enough that we’ve now got Yakuza Kiwami, a so-called “extreme” remake of the very first Yakuza. Players become Kiryu Kazuma, a promising young gangster who goes to jail for ten years in order to protect a friend. When he returns, the world is different. There are cellphones everywhere, the families are caught up in turmoil, and there’s still a place for people like him: Steady, loyal, and stubborn people who can punch their way out of any situation. That’s where we come in. Yakuza Kiwami is a…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017DELIVERY SERVICES1 Wine-of-the-month ClubWine connoisseurs will be in dreamland here. The number of bottles on offer is dizzying, and you can buy them separately or get regular, expert-selected packs sent to your door. from R530/pack / wineofthemonth.co.za2 The League of BeersIn the words of the inimitable Homer J Simpson, “Mmm, beer”. Get a curated half-dozen of the latest local craft beers, and the odd classic, each month without even leaving home. from R200/month /leagueofbeers.com3 The Gin BoxCrafty gins, paired with novel tonics, handpicked nibbles, seasonal surprises, distiller’s notes and cocktail recipes all delivered to your door, every month, bimonthly, or every quarter. Chin chin!R650/month / theginbox.co.za…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017DSLRs, COMPACT CAMERASFujifilm X-T20R20 000 (with 18-55mm lens) / fujifilm.co.zaComing with the same 24.3MP APS-C sensor and processor as the X-T2, plus a touchscreen (which its sibling lacks), the X-T20 will leave you with a lot more spare cash in your account. And for most people, the new model will deliver results that are just as good as its pricier big brother’s. With well laid-out controls, a huge viewfinder, excellent autofocus and access to superb lenses, the X-T20 is just one more fantastic mirrorless camera from Fujifilm.Stuff says ★★★★★The X-T20 nails the sweet spot between price and performanceFujifilm X-T2R25 000 (body only) / fujifilm.co.zaThe X-T2 is an excellent lesson in how to upgrade an already great gadget. The X-T1 was itself a brilliant camera, so Fuji gave it superb video and autofocus…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017HEADPHONESSennheiser PXC 550R8 500 / fitcorp.co.zaIt’s tough at the top. Tough to get there, and tough to stay there. Truth be told, there’s not much in it between these and the Bose QC 35s below… except cool factor. But that counts. As does two levels of active noise cancellation, touch controls, quality accessories and around 30 hours of life to a charge. Frequent flyers, these are your cans. You don’t have to be an airline afficionado to want to pop these over your ears but they certainly lend themselves to lengthy times in transit.Stuff says ★★★★★Good looks, superb build, top-notch comfort and stonking audio to boot. The PXC 550s set the bar.Bose QuietComfort 35R8 000 / dionwired.co.zaActive noise cancelling. Planes? No problem. People? Perish the thought. Just your tunes. Which…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017TABLETSApple iPad Pro 10.5in from R11 000 / myistore.co.za The 9.7in iPad Pro was already sitting comfortably as our favourite tablet, but that wasn’t good enough for Apple. Rather than giving its flagship tablet a few minor tweaks, Apple has introduced a bigger screen and an immensely potent processor. In fact, this device is so powerful and flashy that it’s even blurring the lines between tablet and laptop. If you only want to browse social media and watch Netflix, the 10.5in iPad Pro is overkill; this is for those more interested in creation than consumption. Stuff says ★★★★★ The iPad Pro puts all other tablets to shame – it’s unbeatable as a multimedia machine or creative tool Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 from R13 000 / samsung.com/za The Tab S3 is…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017OUR MONTHI GOT TO KNOW KNOMO“A laptop bag is a laptop bag is a laptop bag”, you may sigh when evaluating the deluge of good options on the market today. But Knomo have always made superior bags, especially their all-in-one Harpsden backpack bag. There’s a handy sleeve close to my back for a laptop, a few pouches for glasses, hard drives and the like, and a voluminous interior to throw cables and other necessities into. It’s also the ultimate travelling carry-on bag thanks to its one main compartment and single, small outer pocket. Also, as a frequent traveller, I want a laptop bag that is hard to get into when it’s on my back. And one that’ll withstand the elements… and hide the dirt of planes and airports.Toby Shapshak, Publisher and…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017HEART OF GLASS APPLE iPHONE 8Plus ça change..Besides that bigger screen, the iPhone 8 Plus’s advantage over its little brother is – just as with the 7 Plus over the 7 – its dual-lens camera. Portrait mode has been improved, which is good news for your Instagram.Bring the noiseThe iPhone 8’s built-in stereo speaker makes it 25% louder than its predecessor, delivering meatier bass. You’re still going to want headphones for anything other than a viral cat video, but it’s a welcome addition.Want an iPhone X? Ha! Not on your salary you don’t. The new iPhone 8 is more likely to be in your price range, and do you know what? It’s actually worth getting excited about. With an all-new glass design, faster A11 Bionic processor and updated 12MP rear camera, it’s the iPhone 7…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017SETUPPA YA FACE LENOVO EXPLORERIt was raining Windows Mixed Reality headsets at this year’s IFA trade show (we hope they didn’t land on anyone), with the pick of the bunch, we reckon, being Lenovo’s Explorer. The big selling point of this new wave of VR headsets is their simplicity. Dual front-facing cameras and sensors built into the device itself mean you can dive into virtual (mixed) reality without having to waste your time setting up external sensors. Inside-out tracking will also detect the bundled motion controllers, so it’s really a case of plugging the headset into your PC and you’re good to go. Microsoft expects us to use the lightweight Explorer for productivity as well as gaming, but it’ll partner up with your Xbox controller when the time comes to zap some alien scum.As…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017WE R2 EXCITED ABOUT AUGMENTED REALITY Sphero R2-D2R3 000 / myistore.co.zaSphero’s app-controlled R2-D2 is an upgrade on your current housemate● Beepy buddyPerfect paintwork and fully functional LEDs mean this mini version of the galaxy’s favourite droid (sorry, C-3PO) looks the part, so Sphero made damned sure he sounds it too. Note-perfect audio effects from the Star Wars archive emerge from R2-D2’s speaker.● Falcon fancierAugmented reality tech unleashed by the app allows you to explore a holographic simulation of the Millennium Falcon – accompanied, of course, by your new droid mate, who will respond to your movements. The app will throw you titbits of information as you move through the corridors of Solo’s ship, so you’re not going to walk past the AG-2G quad laser cannon without noticing.● Room roamerWhen you’re tired of exploring the Falcon, it’s time…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017SETUPPA YA FACE LENOVO EXPLORERIt was raining Windows Mixed Reality headsets at this year’s IFA trade show (we hope they didn’t land on anyone), with the pick of the bunch, we reckon, being Lenovo’s Explorer. The big selling point of this new wave of VR headsets is their simplicity. Dual front-facing cameras and sensors built into the device itself mean you can dive into virtual (mixed) reality without having to waste your time setting up external sensors. Inside-out tracking will also detect the bundled motion controllers, so it’s really a case of plugging the headset into your PC and you’re good to go. Microsoft expects us to use the lightweight Explorer for productivity as well as gaming, but it’ll partner up with your Xbox controller when the time comes to zap some alien scum.…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017ONE PEDAL TO RULE THEM ALL Nissan Leaf (2018)Eco warrior By combining a low profile, an aerodynamic body and a diffuser-style rear bumper, the new Leaf cuts drag (the sworn enemy of everything that moves) drastically. This stops it wasting all those efficiencies it’s gained elsewhere. Rubbish at eco gear shifts? You’ve two options: abandon hope and buy a flappy paddle Ferrari, or go all-in on the new Nissan Leaf. Equipped with a nippy 110kW electric drivetrain (equivalent to 148bhp), its biggest trick is one-pedal driving. Lace up your shoe and let the e-Pedal do the work, using resistance from the car’s regenerative energy tech to do the slowing when you lift off. For everything except emergency braking the e-Pedal is your one-stop shop. It also maximises range, helping deliver 378km from a single charge. Parking will be…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017APPLE WATCH SERIES 3Ah great, another watch…Can’t you take the hint? That grotty old ticker currently on your wrist smells sweatier than a stale wors roll. But this here isn’t just any watch. It’s an Apple Series 3 watch, and if this won’t persuade you to give your wrist a much-needed upgrade then nothing will. It’s the stuff of your childhood dreams, now allowing you to make calls to your friends without the help of your trusty iPhone.Wow! So many new opportunities to publicly embarrass myself!Just think of them all for a moment. You wish happy birthday to your dad while doing squats. Give a meter reading in the middle of a swim. Organise your laundry collection on the soccer field. All we need to do is hold thumbs SA mobile operators support…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017START MENUPrint ’n’ play TOYBOX 3D PRINTER In the olden days you’d count yourself lucky if you were given a brick on a string to play with. These days, kids have fidget spinners, iPads and Oculus Rifts to entertain themselves, and their bricks are used to make enormous Millennium Falcons. Now, thanks to the Toybox 3D printer, they essentially have their own toy factory too. Kids can use the app to pick the toy they want to print with just a single button press, or can even design their own. Then, if our experience with 3D printing is anything to go by, you just need to entertain them for three hours while it gets to work. from $249 / make.toys Bottle your big air SHREDMATE There’s nothing worse than nailing a…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017GIGA PIXELELECTRICITY THRILL After announcing its intention to electrify every range of car it sends out of the door from 2020 onwards, Jaguar has revealed the E-Type Zero – quite possibly the most beautiful electric car we’ve seen. Based on the iconic 1960s convertible, the E-Type Zero has a 220kW electric powertrain capable of 0 to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds. Cosmetically, the roadster is identical to its petrol-powered predecessor, but weighs 67kg less. The battery has an estimated range of 270km, with recharge time clocking in at six to seven hours. Will this modernised classic ever make it past concept? Jaguar isn’t giving much away. NEWS FEED NETFLIX WELCOMES NEW HDR VIPs Planning on getting the Galaxy Note 8? Make Netflix your first download, as Samsung’s phablet and the LG V30…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017APPS1 Amazon Prime VideoFree / iOS, AndroidFor ‘reasons’, this app used to require you to jump through hoops on Android, but now it’s on Google Play. Hurrah! Only, annoyingly, it doesn’t yet have Chromecast support. Boo. Still, it’s a start.2 Data WingFree / iOS, AndroidThis game begins as a minimal overhead racer with you seemingly controlling the ship from Asteroids. But then you’re embroiled in hacking and trading barbs with AIs. Odd. Brilliant. Entirely free.3 Trips by Lonely PlanetFree / iOSIf you’re not yet sick of other people’s photos of beautiful places, Trips is a great way to sightsee on your iPhone. It’s packed full of photography-rich stories, and you can easily add your own.4 Little Alchemy 2Free / iOS, AndroidCombine fire and sea to make salt. Or smoke and…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017HYBRID SUPERTEST POWER PLAYERSHOW TO BUY1 Choose your engineThere are two types of hybrid motors: conventional and plug-in. Conventional models don’t need recharging. Plug-ins do, but also have bigger batteries.2 Check out your local charging structurePlug-in hybrids are a hassle if you don’t have a charging spot nearby. Be sure to check your local options with the manufacturer.3 It’s an investment!Hybrids often cost more than a petrol car. The trade-off? Far superior fuel efficiency, grateful polar bears, and a car that should better retain value.THE ONE AND ONLY? TOYOTA PRIUSfrom R462 200 / toyota.co.zaDESIGNMarmite modellingThere are some things you can’t admit to in Stuff HQ – such as having owned a Microsoft Zune, subscribing to Tidal, or appreciating the design of the Prius. And yet, look at those striking proportions and sharp lines.…14 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Mini meme DOWNLOAD THE WRITE STUFF● Story Plot Genrator ProYou sit down to write your bestseller, but… ARGH – ideas have deserted you! Have no fear, because you can get inspiration from this app – triggers for situations, details, objectives – and hope the paragraphs then flow. It’s all a bit hackneyed, but at the very least it’s a spark to help get you started.Stuff says ★★★✩✩R31 / Android● GboardYou’re really not going to get through writing the next Booker Prize winner if you have to peck away at a tiny smartphone keyboard. So install Gboard. Instead of tapping, you can drag out words using Glide Typing, and if you’re online you can avoid typing entirely by dictating your latest slice of genius directly into whatever app you’re using.Stuff says ★★★★✩Free / Android, iOS● ScrivenerThis…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017SNOOZE PER STROLLShapeshifter baby lifter BUGABOO CAMELEON 3 If prams were ranked like smartphones, the Bugaboo Cameleon 3 would be the iPhone X. It’s the top-of-the-range model that has all the bells and whistles and exudes all the style of a gleaming, glass-backed wonder gadget. Coincidentally, it also costs the same as a new iPhone X is expected to. Two large, sturdy wheels on one end and two smaller, more manoeuvrable ones – complete with baby soothing suspension – on the other, along with a reversible seat, mean there’s a setup for any terrain: from tiled malls, to poorly maintained pavements, to beaches. Nonetheless, the whole thing still folds down flat enough to go into a car boot. The seat works with the BeSafe or Maxi-Cosi car seats and the Cameleon 3’s…5 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Another brick in the WALL-ER2 500 / creativeplay.co.zaWe’ve been joking for a long time about the impending robot uprising – but it seems we may have been looking for warning signs in the wrong places.After all those years thinking it would be one of Apple, Google or Facebook gunning for the role of Skynet, we forgot to keep an eye on Lego. No longer content with having us construct inanimate models, Lego has released the Boost Creative Toolbox – a kit that lets you build an interactive robot almost entirely from those famous plastic bricks.What’s more, rather than just pressing buttons on a remote to get your robot moving and firing projectiles, you can use simple coding to order it about. And if you get bored of the robot, you can rebuild it into…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Slow off the MarkR28 700 (body only) / canon.co.zaCanon’s kept us waiting almost five years for an upgrade to its entry-level full-framer, so we were craving a serious update to reward our patience.Sure enough, we get a range of new features, including a 26.2MP full-frame sensor – a boost from the 20.2MP of its predecessor. There’s also an upgraded AF system, a faster processor, a faster frame-rate, in-built Wi-Fi and an improved viewfinder.And while the build of the 6D Mark II remains more or less the same as the older model, there’s also the addition of an articulating touch-sensitive screen.There are a few things we don’t have, though – 4K video being the glaring omission. Maybe Canon is anxious to avoid taking any sales away from its more expensive 5D Mark IV.The 6D…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017APPS1 Amazon Prime Video Free / iOS, Android For ‘reasons’, this app used to require you to jump through hoops on Android, but now it’s on Google Play. Hurrah! Only, annoyingly, it doesn’t yet have Chromecast support. Boo. Still, it’s a start. 2 Data Wing Free / iOS, Android This game begins as a minimal overhead racer with you seemingly controlling the ship from Asteroids. But then you’re embroiled in hacking and trading barbs with AIs. Odd. Brilliant. Entirely free. 3 Trips by Lonely Planet Free / iOS If you’re not yet sick of other people’s photos of beautiful places, Trips is a great way to sightsee on your iPhone. It’s packed full of photography-rich stories, and you can easily add your own. 4 Little Alchemy 2 Free / iOS,…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017THESE DOWNLOAD NOW …ATEXTOften type out the same lines over and over again? aText’s typing shortcuts let you automate words, phrases and even whole sentences.R75 /trankynam.comPIXELMATORYou don’t need an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription for the odd spot of photo-twiddling. Pixelmator has all the basic editing tricks you need.R525 /pixelmator.comF.LUXStuck in front of a screen all day? Don’t make it worse by getting eyestrain. F.lux will adjust your iMac’s colour temperature according to the time of day.Free /justgetflux.com…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017ELECTRIC AVENUEFree money, anyone? Part of Tesla’s proposed self-driving master plan will allow you to add your Model 3 to an autonomous taxi fleet, so it can earn cash while you sleep. THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME TESLA MODEL 3 $35 000 / tesla.com For the longest time, you could only talk about the Model 3 in terms of what it might be: the iPhone of electric cars. But now Tesla’s first affordable car is officially on the road in the US, and early reports indicate it’s every bit as amazing as we’d hoped. With a gorgeous design that’s every bit the equal of a Merc or Beemer, a range of up to 500km and of course a smorgasbord of self-driving smarts, it looks as though Elon Musk has actually…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Mini meme DOWNLOAD THE WRITE STUFF● Story Plot Genrator Pro You sit down to write your bestseller, but… ARGH – ideas have deserted you! Have no fear, because you can get inspiration from this app – triggers for situations, details, objectives – and hope the paragraphs then flow. It’s all a bit hackneyed, but at the very least it’s a spark to help get you started. Stuff says ★★★✩✩ R31 / Android ● Gboard You’re really not going to get through writing the next Booker Prize winner if you have to peck away at a tiny smartphone keyboard. So install Gboard. Instead of tapping, you can drag out words using Glide Typing, and if you’re online you can avoid typing entirely by dictating your latest slice of genius directly into whatever app you’re using. Stuff…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Yakuza KiwamiYakuza first appeared in the West on the PlayStation 2, the subject of an extremely expensive localisation campaign with Hollywood stars doing the voice acting… and nobody bought it. The subtitled version though…That piece of work and its many sequels sold well enough that we’ve now got Yakuza Kiwami, a so-called “extreme” remake of the very first Yakuza. Players become Kiryu Kazuma, a promising young gangster who goes to jail for ten years in order to protect a friend.When he returns, the world is different. There are cellphones everywhere, the families are caught up in turmoil, and there’s still a place for people like him: Steady, loyal, and stubborn people who can punch their way out of any situation. That’s where we come in.Yakuza Kiwami is a loving recreation of…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Another brick in the WALL-ER2 500 / creativeplay.co.za We’ve been joking for a long time about the impending robot uprising – but it seems we may have been looking for warning signs in the wrong places. After all those years thinking it would be one of Apple, Google or Facebook gunning for the role of Skynet, we forgot to keep an eye on Lego. No longer content with having us construct inanimate models, Lego has released the Boost Creative Toolbox – a kit that lets you build an interactive robot almost entirely from those famous plastic bricks. What’s more, rather than just pressing buttons on a remote to get your robot moving and firing projectiles, you can use simple coding to order it about. And if you get bored of the robot, you can…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Slow off the MarkR28 700 (body only) / canon.co.za Canon’s kept us waiting almost five years for an upgrade to its entry-level full-framer, so we were craving a serious update to reward our patience. Sure enough, we get a range of new features, including a 26.2MP full-frame sensor – a boost from the 20.2MP of its predecessor. There’s also an upgraded AF system, a faster processor, a faster frame-rate, in-built Wi-Fi and an improved viewfinder. And while the build of the 6D Mark II remains more or less the same as the older model, there’s also the addition of an articulating touch-sensitive screen. There are a few things we don’t have, though – 4K video being the glaring omission. Maybe Canon is anxious to avoid taking any sales away from its more expensive…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Tailored Swiftfrom R12 000 / acer.co.za ■ Add a few things to your laptop wish list and prices can soon spiral out of control. Metal frame? Core i-something processor? Not bad to look at? All that’ll cost you well over R15 000. Well, unless you buy the Acer Swift 3, which gives you the lot for an affordable price. ■ The big change for the 2017 Swift 3 is a casing upgrade. Instead of a dated-looking border around the edge of the screen, there’s a giant pane of glass running edge to edge. Just about everything else is machined from aluminium. ■ The 14in screen is sharp, with 1080p resolution, and its colours are only a little undersaturated. But maximum brightness could be higher, especially as the super-glossy screen will make…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017TABLETSApple iPad Pro 10.5infrom R11 000 / myistore.co.zaThe 9.7in iPad Pro was already sitting comfortably as our favourite tablet, but that wasn’t good enough for Apple. Rather than giving its flagship tablet a few minor tweaks, Apple has introduced a bigger screen and an immensely potent processor. In fact, this device is so powerful and flashy that it’s even blurring the lines between tablet and laptop. If you only want to browse social media and watch Netflix, the 10.5in iPad Pro is overkill; this is for those more interested in creation than consumption.Stuff says ★★★★★The iPad Pro puts all other tablets to shame – it’s unbeatable as a multimedia machine or creative toolSamsung Galaxy Tab S3from R13 000 / samsung.com/zaThe Tab S3 is powerful and has a gorgeous screen, while…1 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Cat with eight livesfrom R368 800 / ford.co.za ■ Like the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 for Samsung, the last Kuga is a car the Ford Motor Company would rather forget. Which is why it’s put so much obvious effort into the new version. And why it’s later to market than expected. Ford used its initial stock of the new Kuga as courtesy cars for those affected by the previous models’ woes. ■ In keeping with the rest of Ford’s line-up, the new Kuga has a new face with the revised trapezoidal grille that makes the company’s recent releases instantly identifiable. Updated front and rear lights and twin exhausts give it a more assertive look than its predecessor, though there’s no escaping it’s a family friendly SUV, meaning it screams pragmatism, not pizzazz. ■…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017YOUR STREAMING ESSENTIALSNETFLIXStranger Things (S2)Those Stranger Things kids remind us of our own childhoods: playing video games, cycling around the neighbourhood, fleeing from monsters from parallel universes… nothing’s really changed since the ’80s.Mindhunter (S1)To catch a serial killer you need to think like a serial killer, according to the FBI agents in Mindhunter. Unfortunately, applying the same logic and dressing up in red and white doesn’t make a Where’s Wally? book any easier.WheelmanThere’s one big reason we can’t stop watching getaway driver films like Wheelman. It’s not the high-speed chases or the crazy car stunts; it’s so we can learn how to turn sharp corners without spilling a drop of coffee.AMAZON VIDEOArrivalAlien invasions are usually full of laser blasts and sci-fi shocks. But in Arrival we instead watch the aliens go through…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Next Finn?DAY 01 The simple 3310 is Nokia’s most celebrated handset for a reason: this company has never made a great smartphone. The Nokia 8 is intending to change this, but our first thought? It’s fallen flat. While the Finns’ previous creations were often weird and wonderful, the Nokia 8 just looks like an iPhone – on lookers even mistook it for one. But it doesn’t have that iPhone quality. Even the iPhone-inspired dual-camera setup disappointed after a few snaps. Perhaps it’ll fare a little better tomorrow? DAY 02 Nope, still rubbish. With its three 13MP sensors, phase-detection AF, IR rangefinder and f/2.0 apertures, this camera is amazing on paper. In reality, the Nokia 8 struggles to get its exposure levels right, meaning photos look either too bright or too dark.…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017Life is Strange: Before the StormThe problem with most prequels? You already know how they’re going to end before you’ve started. So by the time the final part of Before the Storm wraps up, we’d bet our pitiful life-savings on Chloe Price having a new blue haircut, Rachel Amber going missing and the time-travelling Max Caulfield making one final appearance. Because all those pieces were in place at the start of 2015’s role-playing soap opera Life Is Strange. And yet Before the Storm is shaping up to be every bit as winsome as the cult classic that inspired it. With a slew of memorable characters, painful teenage dialogue and intriguing moral quandaries, this first instalment in a three-episode arc follows broadly the same setup as the original game. Once again, you’ll spend most of your…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017PHABLETSSamsung Galaxy Note 8 R17 800 / samsung.com/za We’ve got to feel a little sorry for the Samsung’s Galaxy S8+. It was top of the phablet heap, but then the Note 8 arrived with its 6.3in display, dual cameras and updated S Pen and elbowed its sibling down to second spot. Impressively, despite its marginally larger screen, the Note 8 is roughly the same size as the S8+, so you might have to take out the S Pen to prove to people you’ve actually got the Note. With 6GB of RAM and that double camera setup, it’s the new phablet king. Long live the king. Stuff says ★★★★★ Like an S8+ with an extra camera, more RAM and an S Pen. It’s brilliant! ● NOW ADD THIS Convertible…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017HOW TO BUY A DRONEJARGON BUSTERSense and avoidThe capability of some drones to detect oncoming obstacles and automatically avoid them.GimbalA specialised mount that holds the camera for steady shooting no matter how shaky your flying skills.VLOSThe ‘visual line of sight’ drone code states you should always have your ’copter in view while flying.FLIGHTS OF FANCY1 to Learn flyDrones with four propellers are generally cheaper than those with six or eight, but if you want speed then the more the better. And the controller? Massive ones offer greater control, but they can also be overwhelming for beginners. Look out for drones that can be operated by your phone or even, in the case of the DJI Spark, with hand gestures.● Get this: DJI Spark R8 700 /navworld.co.za2 Eye in the skyFlying is fun in itself,…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 2017PLAYLIST HORROR GAMESBEST BUY FOR HALLOWEEN SCARES The Evil Within 2 Ever since Resident Evil opened the door to its horror house in 1996, we’ve willingly taken on survival games that put our underpants at risk. The Evil Within’s sequel builds upon the genre, letting you decide how to advance: use your limited resources to kill the monsters, or just cower in the dark. PS4, Xbox One, PC Alien Isolation By far the best Alien game so far, Isolation is basically just hide and seek. The only difference? Being found doesn’t mean you become the seeker; instead, you get a xenomorph’s tongue shoved down your throat. At least buy us a drink first, you creep. PS4, Xbox One, PC Friday the 13th While it’s true that this game has more bugs than…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|November 20178K TELEVISIONWait! I haven’t even made it to 4K yet!After all the time we’ve spent going on about Ultra High Definition TVs these past few years. For shame! And now you’re doubly behind the times with the launch of Sharp’s 70-inch LC-70X500. Also known as the world’s first 8K TV, this monster is due out later this year and boasts a frankly ludicrous resolution of 7680x4320. That’s 16 times the fidelity of the pathetic Full HD TV you’ve got sitting at home. Frankly, we’d just stick that thing in the back of your car right now and dump it in the nearest tip. It’s a disgrace.So what can I watch on it, then?Wait… you didn’t actually think this TV was for looking at, did you? Fool. Why bother with the latest…2 min
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