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Top tiny tablets explored
Contents
6 10 16
3D gunning it
Would you print a 3D gun and go shooting? Well now you can, since the plans for the Liberator, a working 3D printable firearm, have been released on the internet (see The Big Issue on p 26). There are a few requirements before shooting one of these, first of which is access to a high quality 3D printer, costing upwards of R80 000. You also need a firm love of risk taking, since many believe that the Liberator is as much a danger to the person behind the barrel as it is to the one in front. Like most technologies, the price of 3D printers is set to drop (you can already pick one up for R10 000), while the quality of the guns will only improve, so its not surprising that the US government is concerned about this development. While the printing of 3D firearms is thought-provoking, Im more interested in seeing what will come from laboratories working on bioprinted meat. Companies such as Modern Meadows are doing just that. Although finding your local Pick n Pay stocked with this type of product is still a long way off, I cant wait to put a 3D printed steak on the braai. Enjoy the issue, Mike (michael@techsmart.co.za)
20
16 Beats Executive
The Beats Executive shows the more mature side of the Beats Audio range. We relax in aural bliss thanks to its active noise cancellation technology.
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NEWS
8000. Number of developers from more than 800 different companies who have contributed to the Linux kernel.
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2
NEWS
3x. Gain in performance promised from Intel for its next-gen (Silvermont) Atom SoCs along with 5x better energy efficiency.
HP SlateBook x2
HPs newly announced tablet/notebook hybrid, the 10.1" SlateBook x2, aims to offer users an Android-based interface and notebook familiarity, complete with mouse control. It runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and sports Nvidias quad-core Tegra 4 processor clocked at 1.8 GHz. Enabling it to perform as an Android-based notebook is the included keyboard, which connects to the screen by means of a dock connector. This brings both a multitouch trackpad and mouse navigation to the party. It is expected to carry a $480 (R4 320) pricetag when it is released Stateside in August.
Archos ChefPad
If you want a tablet dedicated to cooking in the kitchen, then Archos 9.7" ChefPad may just be up your alley. The tablet boasts a dual-core 1.6 GHz processor, and offers a Chef Apps Selection where aspiring Chefs can discover a selection of the best culinary apps ranging from recipes to cooking tips and TV. It retails for $200 but local availability is still to be confirmed.
BlackBerry Q5
The third BlackBerry 10 running smartphone has been announced, this time in the form of the mid-range Q5. Just like the Q10, the Q5 continues with the physical QWERTY keyboard but also offers a 3.1" (328 ppi) touchscreen. The Q5 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core CPU running at 1.2 GHz per core, 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB storage. It will be available in selected markets including Africa by the start of July 2013. No local retail price is available yet.
Gran Turismo 6
The good news is that the next instalment of arguably the most famous racing title in the world, Gran Turismo, has been announced. The bad news? We would have to wait for Xmas for the delight to get behind the wheel of GT6. There will be 1 200 vehicles in-game at launch and 33 different tracks, with more coming via downloadable content. Expect the new compact gaming engine to make the title even more gorgeous.
FEATURE
THESE FOUR
KINGS
The top small tablets available
While there is no shortage of 9.7" to 10.1" tablets from which to choose, with Apples vaunted iPad still reigning supreme, over the past year or so another tablet category has been quickly gaining prominence the 7"-8" device.
Indeed, this category has particularly become a force to be reckoned with, as the tablets offer the functionality and power of their larger bed and couch-dwelling 10.1" counterparts, while beating those tablets when it comes to portability. Here are our top four picks:
iPad Mini
Apples iPad Mini may not boast the Retina display that graces the 9.7" iPad, but it is nonetheless a worthy contender. While its specs may more closely resemble the ancient-in-Apples-terms iPad 2, with its 1024 x 768 resolution and A5 CPU, the 7.9" size makes it more travel friendly that the larger iPads. Furthermore, the screen has been made the focus of the device, thanks to a trimming of the side bezel. However, its real strength is the fact that it too is backed up by the same army of apps that account for the other iPads popularity, making it a formidable portable tablet in its own right. RRP: From R3 600.
64%. Percentage of the 19.5 million tablets Apple sold during Q1 2013 that were iPad Minis.
Nexus 7
Easily a budget darling, the Googles Nexus 7 (manufactured by Asus) does not look, feel or perform as though it is a cheapie alternative. While it can be picked up for R3 000, Googles effort is a fast and responsive masterpiece thanks to its Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor (at 1.3 GHz), 1 GB of memory and stock Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2. The latest version has not only bumped up its storage capacity to 32 GB, it has also received the 3G cellular treatment as well. The Nexus 7s LED backlit IPS screen, which offers a resolution of 1280 x 800 (216 ppi), is still more than adequate for reading ebooks, playing games and webbrowsing, all encased in a solid product that feels closer to a premium device in the hand rather than a budget offering. RRP: R3 000 6
Asus FonePad
The second seven-incher on this list, Asus FonePad similarly boasts superb quality build, Android Jelly Bean and an affordable R3 000 pricetag. It also differs in some important ways. Rather than a Tegra 3 processor, the device sports Intels Atom Z Series SoC and 1 GB of memory which left us with no complaints with regards to its performance. Also to its credit, a microSD card slot to expand its storage is onboard. Additionally, it is possible to use the device as a voice-supporting smartphone if that takes your fancy. Rounding it off was a glossy and contrasty screen with a familiar 1280 x 800 HD (216 ppi) resolution, while echoes of being a somewhat smaller version of the excellent Transformer Prime, secured it a place on our list. RRP: R3 000. [RN]
HARDWARE
about the contrast or clarity of fonts on offer. Worth noting though, is that like the Asus FonePad, the glossy screen is quite reflective. On the plus side though, it is also very bright and boasts some lovely colours. Suffice to say, this meant viewing pictures on it in particular was enjoyable.
No guts, no glory
Moving on to the internal guts of the device, the VivoTab Smart opts for Intels Atom Z2760 dual-core processor, along with 2 GB of memory and 64 GB of storage. On this front, we found that Intels processor managed to cope quite ably for the most part with regards to general performance. Playing a game or browsing the web, for example was fine, until we ventured into playing videos from YouTube. Then, it seemed like the processor struggled a bit, eventually freezing and necessitating a restart. However, we discovered this seemed to be mostly due to the choice of browser used on the device. Surprisingly, Internet Explorer performed far better than Chrome, where scrolling through media-rich web pages wasnt quite as smooth as we have enjoyed on other devices.
Speak up!
Instead, the one unavoidable negative for us was the sound. While the audio quality was alright, we couldnt help but feel the VivoTab Smart would have been better served with two speakers rather than just the one on its left side when held in landscape orientation. Also onboard was a micro HDMI and micro USB as well as a micro SD card reader, along with a two megapixel front snapper for teleconferencing and an eight megapixel back snapper.
Beyond skin-deep
Design wise, there is not too much to comment on, as the device is completely robed in black, broken only by the silver Asus logo. This, however, is not necessarily a bad thing. As Amazons Kindles have proven, there can be an advantage to a device feeling like it disappears in the hand, in deference to the content it is hosting.
To the point
For those holding out for a full Windows 8 tablet thats capable of running regular Windows 8 programmes, the Asus VivoTab Smart is what you are looking for. With an LTE version available as well (not tested here), as far as Windows 8 tablets go, the VivoTab Smart is a very decent offering. It comes in at a not too bad price of R7 000 plus R800 for the wireless keyboard. [RN]
For those holding out for a full Windows 8 tablet thats capable of running regular Windows 8 programmes, the Asus VivoTab Smart is what you are looking for.
To this end, and the one design choice we were happy to see implemented, is that the device offers a nice, spacious bezel, which made holding it in ones hands, without inadvertently touching the screen, a breeze. In fact, while one handed, smaller tablets, such as 7" devices can get away with a thin, nearly non-existent bezel, the same does not hold true for devices of 9.7" and up, which one naturally tends to hold with both hands and thus needs space to rest ones thumbs. Navigation is accomplished by a singular capacitive windows key, which returns users to the Metro-style home screen.
Beauty shines
Another staple of Asus offerings has been and on the VivoTab Smart, remains sharp screens. Its screen resolution of 1366 x 768 fares quite a bit better than it does on a 15.6" or even 13.3" notebook or ultrabook, and we certainly had no complaints 8
HARDWARE
Top 5. Microsoft entered the top 5 tablet vendor list for the first time in Q1 2013 by selling 900 000 Surface tablets for a 1.8% tablet market share.
The Twist provides the business-ready performance expected from it, with the added benefit of its twistable screen.
Since the ultrabook twists around a hinge located at the bottom of the screen in the middle, in Tablet mode you end up with the screen covering the keyboard, and luckily not as is the case with the Lenovo Yoga, with the keyboard exposed at the bottom. The Tablet mode comes in handy when you want to read books on Kindle or just browse the web.
Its a ThinkPad
Being part of Lenovos business-focused ThinkPad range, you can be certain of two things: solid build quality and an excellent keyboard. As per usual Lenovo does not disappoint, even though the keyboard is not backlit and from an aesthetic point of view, they could have extended the matte finish around the keyboard to below the screen too. Talking of which, the 12.5" screens resolution stands at a so-so 1366 x 768; a touch of full HD goodness would not have gone amiss. As far as workload is concerned, the Twist can deal with a lot, since onboard is a very generous 8 GB RAM and the same Intel Core i7-3517U running at 1.9 GHz that also powers the Acer S7. Apart from 500 GB hard disk you also receive a not so common WLAN port, SD card reader, 2x USB 3.0 ports but only a mini HDMI port. Our model was 3G enabled.
To the point
Although this Ezel hinge design looks interesting and appears to enhance the touch-experience, how well the repositioned mousepad and lack of palm-rests will be received remains to be seen. The Acer Aspire R7 is set to arrive in South Africa in July, and customers will be able to buy a unit for R13 000. 10
To the point
As an ultrabook, the Twist will provide the business-ready performance expected from it, with the added benefit of its twistable screen. Just remember that at 1.58 kg, this unit is bulkier and heavier than regular tablets. If you dont want the extra bulk, wait for the Lenovo Helix coming soon. With Windows 8 Pro installed the Twist retails for R12 000. [MJ]
TABLETS
$34 billion/ R323 million. The record earnings recorded by Lenovo over the past year, despite a 2% drop in notebook sales.
There is no shortage of consumer orientated tablets on the market today, but HPs ElitePad 900 takes a thoroughly different approach, aiming squarely at enterprise users, to laudable effect.
To start, the first thing one notices about the tablet is its exceedingly solid construction. It feels like it is built to last and perform under pressure, and that it can be relied on for important, rather than frivolous tasks.
To the point
The MediaPad 7 is a bit of a mixed bag. While we appreciated the very good build, expandable storage and decent screen, it is let down by less than optimal performance, ultimately making it an average 7" at best. It is currently only available for R229 per month on a SmartData 2 GB Cell C deal. [RN]
To the point
For its target market businesses the Elitepad certainly presented itself as being a tablet to reckon with, one we suspect would fit in very nicely in an enterprise or corporate setting. It has a RRP of R12 000 with a range of accessories, including an enterprise class docking station, available. [RN] 11
SMARTPHONES
20 seconds. How long it could take to charge your phone in the future, thanks to a super capacitor developed by Californian teen Eesha Kare.
Samsung Galaxy S4
After releasing the best-selling Android smartphone of all time, Samsung now takes things full HD with the 5" Galaxy S4.
The Korean company opted not to reinvent the wheel with the design of the Galaxy S4, which is actually 3 g lighter and 0.7 mm thinner than its predecessor, packing an enhanced 5" (1080 x 1920; 441 ppi) screen that delivers exceptional picture quality. Samsung again clothed its king in plastic robes, making this smartphone feel like the pauper to HTCs princely One, which boasts an aluminium body.
The S4 currently has no equal when it comes to battery life, benchmarking performance and software features.
Powering the Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) operating S4 is an Exynos 5 Octa 5410 chipset. This calls upon four Cortex-A15 cores (1.6 GHz each) for processing-intensive tasks, and four Cortex-A7 cores (1.2 GHz each) during lighter workloads. Samsungs S4 humbled all other rival devices during benchmarking, but the real benefit of the Octa-core is the vast difference experienced in the speed between the S3 and new S4.
If you are willing to try something new in the form of the Windows Phone OS, the Lumia 520 makes for an excellent value offering.
Also onboard is a 4" (480 x 800 pixels; 233 ppi pixel density) IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen. It sports the same super sensitive touch technology as found on the Lumia 920, so we could easily use the phone whilst wearing gloves a handy feature to have in these cold winter mornings. Missing from the 520s repertoire is Nokias ClearBlack technology, meaning the screen is highly reflective in direct sunlight. Found at the back of the 520 is a 5 MP autofocus camera (no frontfacing snapper offered) that can record HD-Ready (720p) videos at 30 fps. Performance of the camera was unimpressive overall, producing average looking photos outdoors and often grainy shots indoors, especially in the presence of poor lighting conditions. Video quality was better as the 720p videos were lag-free, although the colour appeared a bit faded.
To the point
Samsungs Galaxy S4 currently has no equal when it comes to battery life, benchmarking performance and an extensive line-up of software features. The plastic design still bothers, which means alternatives such as the equally excellent HTC One deserve a look. S3 owners looking to upgrade and fans of value-added software features, no matter how useful they actually are, will definitely love the new Galaxy S4. RRP: R9 000. [HD]
To the point
If you are willing to try something new in the form of the Windows Phone OS, the Lumia 520 makes for an excellent value offering, retailing for a good R1 900. Not only does the device look stylish, but it delivers the same specs, including a WVGA display and dual-core CPU, which one normally finds on Android-based rivals costing twice as much such, including the R4 000 Samsung S3 mini and HTCs Desire X. [HD]
CAMERAS
Taking a Selfie. The act of photographing often numerous self portraits using a smartphone and posting them to social media networks.
Solid improvements
For those who dont know, the G-series, along with Nikons P7xxx series, is the most powerful compact camera range you get, adding a host of semi-professional features, such as programmable custom buttons, to the mix. The latest G15 is a significant step up from the G12 (more about the G1 X later), bringing along some solid improvements, most notably a very quick f1.8 lens. This makes it easier to take portraits with a very shallow depth of field, while also combining well with the high ISO (12 800 max) settings for excellent low-light performance. Theres still no GPS or Wi-Fi included unfortunately.
Fold-out blessing
Its not often that were happy about something that is left out, but with the G15 its lack of fold-out LCD screen comes as a welcome surprise. We barely used it on the previous models (your usages might differ though) and it added a surprising amount of bulk to the camera. Without the screen, the new G15 is in the region of 10% lighter and 20% smaller a difference you notice when carrying the G15 in your pants pockets while hiking up a mountain.
Built to last
As we have come to expect from Canons premium L lenses, the EF 200400mm has been built to handle life in the rough, boasting a magnesium alloy design, environmental protection and specialised lens coatings. According to Canon, the optical design includes both fluorite and Ultralow Dispersion (UD) lens elements, which help minimise chromatic aberration and eliminate colour blurring. Advanced anti-reflection SubWavelength Structure Coating (SWC) and Super Spectra Coating further reduce ghosting and flare. The final feature worth mentioning is the newly designed optical Image Stabiliser (IS), which provides users with a four stop advantage. Furthermore, an IS Mode 3 applies image stabilisation only at the time of exposure, which enables photographers to pan with fast-paced action without IS overcompensating for movement.
The fact that the G15 is so small made it our prefered tool when on the go.
But what about the G1 X you might ask? The PowerShot G1 X comes with a larger sensor, better battery life and lower noise, but its also significantly larger and more expensive than the G15. For us, the G15 is much like Heinrich Brssow solid as a rock, quick off the mark and on hand to grab pictures where larger cameras find it difficult to operate.
AUDIO
The Executives looks are more subdued than the regular Beats headphones.
This headset is a bit more compact compared to your average Beats earphones, which is a plus for road warriors needing every bit of suitcase space. As always, Beats provides a branded travel case that delivers some degree of drop protection. You can fold the Executive up for convenient storage thanks to two hinges on either side of the headset.
Audio quality
Even more important than the styling is the audio performance, and during our gaming tests the Electra impressed with its crisp sounds, which helped pinpoint enemy locations within Far Cry 3 and Crysis 3. We also appreciated the clear engine harmonics within Forza Horizon and ambient sound effects whilst playing FIFA 13.
Performance
Adding to its appeal is the fantastic active noise cancellation technology. This works well and is also a treat within a noisy open office environment. This feature is powered by two AAA batteries with the unfortunate drawback that the headphones will not work without the battery power. As expected from a premium headset, the audio quality was excellent overall with the usual extra dollop of bass response normally associated with Beats headsets. You get two audio cables in the retail package, one of which sports an in-line remote control for controlling the music playback. Another inclusion were happy to see is an airline adapter (two pin jack) that allows you to leave the airplanes paltry earphones unopened while listening to the in-flight entertainment through your Executive.
During our gaming tests the Electra impressed with its crisp sounds, which helped pinpoint enemy locations.
When listening to music and watching movies, the Electra headset also fared well, but note that bass levels are not exactly up there with Beats units, and while audio quality is good overall, it is not a match for dedicated music earphones such as Nokias Purity HD by Monster. It must be said that the Purity earphones and Beats (any of them) costs around three to four times more than the Electra. The Electra comes with a second cable that incorporates an in-line mic for incoming calls, but unfortunately there are no in-line volume controls or a call/reject button on this cable.
ADVERTORIAL
Service is everything
To complete their value-add offering, Hartzenberg says that Pinnacle Africa have launched an industry first. For the first time in the mobile industry, we are offering a two-year on-site, next-business-day warranty on Samsung smartphones and tablets. This means that if customers have a problem with a device, they can phone one number and we will send out a technician who will offer postsales service and support. If the technician cannot fix it on the spot he will do a swap-out. This, we believe, will be of great benefit to the corporate world, since smartphones and tablets have evolved into critical business tools. It is simply not viable to wait 14 days to get a device back. For more info on Pinnacle Africas mobile communications offerings, contact them on 011-265-3000 or go to www.pinnacle.co.za.
Personalisation is key
The product customisation does not end here. Pinnacle Africa is able to put specific branding and covers onto smartphones and tablets. Further, we can insert marketing collateral inside the device packaging, so that if the customer wants any particular communication around a specific offer, it is available. This allows for the product to become a clientspecific out-of-box experience which has been extremely popular as many of our clients want to personalise their offering going to the end user. We are, at our core, hardware movers
A new approach
As this new business model has evolved, Pinnacle Africa has listened to what their clients need. Initially, when we first tried this model, says Gerhard Hartzenberg, divisional head of Samsung, Pinnacle Africa, we noticed that, from a pricing perspective, the markets we were targeting were extremely price sensitive. A more innovative approach
18
VEHICLES
TOP 5
So youve finally been awarded a seat on the board of directors. How do you celebrate? By giving to charity? Dont be silly. You opt for one of these Top 5 large executive saloons, of course.
Top 3. The best-selling passenger cars in South Africa during April 2013 were the VW Polo Vivo (2231 units), VW Polo (1828), and the Toyota Etios (1581).
Jaguar XJ 3.0 V6
Like the XF, Jaguars sublimely styled XJ also sports an inherent ability to turn other executive saloon owners green with envy. This stylish cat sprints forward courtesy of its 2995 cc supercharged V6 that churns out 250 kW at 6500 RPM and 450 Nm of torque between 3500 and 5000 RPM. Drivers will bring up 100 km/h on the speedometer in under 6 seconds en route to an electronically limited top end of 250 km/h. Despite its Cheetah-like performance, the Jaguar is not such a thirsty cat, with a combined-cycle (town and highway driving) fuel usage figure of 9.6 litres per 100 km. The privilege of sliding into the drivers seat costs around R1 018 100, which makes it one of the more affordable vehicles in this comparison.
Lexus LS460
The LS460 is powered by a 4.6 litre V8 that delivers 285 kW at 6400 RPM and 493 Nm of torque at 4100 RPM, enabling the driver to propel this five metre long vehicle to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, onto an electronically governed terminal velocity of 250 km/h. Fuel consumption figures are a claimed 10.7 litres per 100 km on a combined cycle. Parking the Lexus LS460 in your garage will set you back R1 236 700, with the sole consolation that this purchase adds every conceivable feature on the options list. This includes an upgraded Mark Levinson sound system featuring 19 speakers, a 15 channel amplifier, true 7.1 surround sound and connectivity for virtually every type of sound input the likes of Bluetooth audio streaming.
BMW 740i
Like Jaguar and Mercedes, BMW asserts that drivers do not necessarily need a big, honking V8 to get the best performance out of their ber-sized luxury barge. The 740i is powered by a turbocharged 2979 cc V6 that delivers 235 kW at 5800 RPM and 450 Nm of torque between 1300 and 4500 RPM. This has the Beemer schnelling its way to 100 km/h in a quick 5.7 seconds onto a regulated and illegal topend of 250 km/h. BMW claims a 7.9 litres per 100 km average fuel usage figure. The recommended retail price of the standard 740i comes in at around R1 009 500, which seems like a bargain compared to the Lexus, but this considerable RRP still leaves the 740i with a rather lengthy options list. This includes paying another R8 800 for park assist and R27 400 for a night vision system.
Mercedes-Benzs S-class has always been the benchmark within this motoring segment, debuting tech that even James Bond does not have access to. The Stuttgart stallion gallops forward thanks to a 3498 cc V6 that provides 225 kW at 6500 RPM and 370 Nm of torque at 3500 RPM, which is enough to reach 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and limited top end of 250 km/h. The entry-level model in the current range is the S350 BlueEfficiency which goes for R1 047 000. This nets buyers features that you will also find 20
on some of the other vehicles in this comparison the likes of bi-xenon lights with LED daytime driving lights and reversing camera with parking guidance. Also standard are less common features such as attention assist that detects drowsiness and encourages the driver to pull over for a rest, and pre-safe, which warns drivers of an impending crash threat and activates the safety equipment in case. The only real threat to the S-class leader-of-the-pack status comes in the form of its newly unveiled successor, which only launches later this year internationally. [HD]
VEHICLES
Engines choices
77 244. Number of Wi-Fi connections made on iPhone smartphones every minute, compared to 51 937 on Android.
Diesel fans can opt for the GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC, which boasts a 2987 cc turbocharged V6 diesel engine churning out 190 kW at 3600 RPM and 620 Nm of torque between 1600 and 2400 RPM. This sees the mammoth frame of the SUV reaching 100 km/h in less than 8 seconds onto a terminal velocity of 220 km/h. This frugal diesel motor uses a claimed 7.48 litres per 100 km on a combined-cycle (highway and town driving). Petrolheads can slide into the drivers seat of the mighty GL 63 AMG
To the point
The premium pricing of the GL-class does mean that you will not see one in every driveway, as the cheapest model, namely the GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC comes in at R966 246, whilst our pick of the range the GL 63 AMG sports a pricetag that is even more exclusive at R1 669 636. Watch out for one the next time youre overtaken by a blue light brigade on the highway.
To the point
The Audi A3 Sportback is a tech savvy drivers dream thanks to a plethora of tech, including the companys excellent MMI (multimedia interface) infotainment system. Buyers with deep pockets are able to expand upon this courtesy of a laundry list of enticing options, the likes of a Bang and Olufsen sound system and radar-based detection system that incorporates park distance control. The pricing for the variants of the A3 Sportback that are currently locally available starts at R290 500 for the A3 1.4T FSI manual S and goes all the way up to R339 000 for the A3 1.8T FSI S tronic SE. 21
Powerplants
Under the bonnet resides a highly efficient 1.6 TDI engine that delivers a claimed combined-cycle fuel usage figure of just 3.9 litres per 100 km,
FEATURE
COMPETITIONS
A 4-in-1 printer
With HP genuine ink cartridges
Whether you need to print the kids latest school project, that Board presentation in time for Monday morning or your wedding invitation, you are probably concerned about the high cost of printing, or the amount of trees killed or that you are running out of ink fast and the job is nowhere near done. For quality you can trust for less, original HP printers and ink supplies are the best choice, every time. With HP Combo Packs, you can save an average of 20% on the cost of buying two cartridges separately. So by saving, you get quality you can rely on, precision engineered for your printer no matter the size or importance of your printing job at home or the office. It helps you and your business to reduce wastage and use much less resources. Only HP original supplies deliver unmatched quality for the most professional looking prints in South Africa.
In order to celebrate HP ink getting the job done, we are giving away an HP Ink Advantage 4624 4-in-1 with original cartridges. The value of the prize is close to R3 000. To stand a chance to win, tell us about your worst printing disaster. Write your answer on TechSmarts Facebook page (facebook.com/techsmartmag) during June 2013, and you might just be the winner.
A Leitz Multicharger!
If youre part of a tech savvy family where a range of electronic devices needs constant charging, then the Leitz Multicharger is the gadget for you. With this charging station youre able to recharge up to four devices simultaneously via USB. While three smartphones can easily lay side by side on the non-slip desk, a 10" tablet can be slotted into the back of the Leitz, making it possible to continue working on it. Three short cables are included, comprising one for Apple, a mini USB for compact cameras, and a micro USB cable for Android phones.
To stand a chance to win, go to TechSmarts Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ techsmartmag) and write I want to win the Leitz Multicharger! One lucky person will be selected to win the Leitz, valued at R3 200.
22
TechSmart 2013
Reader Survey
We need your help to make TechSmart better! Fill out our 2013 Reader Survey online and stand a chance to win these prizes worth over R14 000. Go to www.techsmart.co.za and enter before 30 June 2013.
Toshiba certainly knows how to make solid devices, and its Excite 10 tablet is ample testimony to this fact. The Excite 10 feels somewhat more compact than other 10.1" devices that have crossed our path, a factor which certainly counts in its favour when holding it in one hand. One considerable differentiating factor of the device, and something we appreciate in any tablet, is the presence of expandable storage via a full sized SD card slot, making this one tablet that can actually host up to 128 GB of storage.
5x 80s Retro iPhone Cases and 3x Retro Phone Handsets worth R225 each
Winners will be selected randomly. Survey ends 30 June 2013. Terms and Conditions apply. 23
NEWS
Sci News
Going for gold
Some world-changing scientific discoveries happened quite by accident. And we may have another on our hands. Scientists describe in the journal Nature Communications, how a seemingly failed chemistry experiment turned out to be an easy way to extract gold from other materials. They mixed two solutions, one containing ring-structured starch molecules and the other a gold salt, expecting to see 3D cubic molecules forming. Instead, bundles of ultrathin gold wires formed as needle-like structures all in less than a minute. The scientists say that their discovery may lead to an environmentally friendly method for the industrial isolation of gold as starch can replace toxic cyanide salts used currently. What Rumpelstiltskin would not have given for this.
Green News
Picture by: Barcroft Media
How can flies help with the production of a sustainable source of animal feed? The answer is provided by a South African-based company, AgriProtein Technologies, which has walked away with $100 000 as winner of the 2013 Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA). Selected from more than 900 applications from 45 countries, the AgriProtein solution collects biodegradable waste, feeds it to flies that in turn produce larvae that are ground into protein to provide a more ecologically friendly, naturally occurring type of animal feed. This approach improves the nutritional value of meat and lowers the cost of animal feed for African processors and farmers.
21.8 km/hour. Speed at which a newly created robotic cheetah can run. Not too shabby, but still not as fast as the 112.6 km/hour attainable by a real cheetah.
Red alert
Bulls apparently hate it, motorists stop when they see it and now a study says competitive sportsmen digg it. Whats up with red? According to a recent study in Psychological Science, male athletes choice of wearing red may be linked to their testosterone levels. A group of 73 men were asked to participate in a competitive task and they could choose either a red or a blue symbol to represent them on the chart. To determine testosterone levels, researchers collected a saliva sample from each participant before they knew about the nature of the task and another at the end. Results showed that the guys who chose red symbols had higher baseline testosterone levels. However, the colour choice made no difference in actual performance, which suggests that the red advantage is based on the perception of the opponent.
Foam party
A team of scientists are bursting their own bubbles. And doing the math to show how it works. According to their report in a recent issue of Science, the process can be modelled by solving a set of four differential equations. Each equation describes specific physical characteristics of bubbles, ranging from what happens on the surface of the thin membrane to how a cluster rearranges itself after one bubble has burst. After five days number crunching the team were able to put together real-time movies to show how the bubbles burst, one by one. The findings can be useful in bubble-conscious applications such as beer brewing or making foaming soaps. Unfortunately, it cant explain what to do about the office big mouth. [LP] 24
ETC...
To watch
With a number of blockbuster movies heading to local shores this month, there is no shortage of good movies to watch.
Man of Steel
28 June 2013 After the poppycock that was Superman Returns, we did not hold our breath for the franchise, thinking that the 1978 Christopher Reeve portrayal might well have been the high watermark for KalEl. That was until we saw the new trailer. Man of Steel will be directed by Zack Snyder, who in our opinion did a sterling job on Watchmen, 300 and, yes even Sucker Punch. Henry Cavill (The Tudors, The Cold Light of Day) plays the title role; and the movie also features Kevin Costner and Russell Crowe, who had to promise he would not break out in song a la Les Misrables before he got the part.
1 million+. Number of illegal downloads in two days for the first episode of season 3 of the Game of Thrones, setting a piracy record.
After Earth
7 June 2013 After Earth should answer two questions does Will Smith still have the pulling power to rake in the eyeballs, and can director M. Night Shyamalan redeem himself in the wake of such nonsense as The Last Airbender and The Happening? A thousand years after Earth was evacuated, a father and son (Smith and his son Jaden) make a crash landing on the now transformed planet. The two soon realise that due to some interesting evolution, humans are definitely not top of the food chain anymore.
To the Wonder
21 June 2013 Terence Malik-directed movies do not come along that often, so its good to see the auteur back so soon after 2011s Tree of Life. As with all Maliks films, its very difficult to prcis the plot, but for your ticket price you receive Oscar winner Ben Affleck as love interest to Bond-girl Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace). Also starring is the excellent Javier Bardem (the Bond villain in Skyfall) as a man of the cloth whos experiencing a lapse of faith. Expect the usual breathtaking cinematography and an otherworldly cinematic experience.
INTERNET
3D PRINTED GUNS
150 petabytes or 150 000 terabytes. Amount of email data Microsoft had to migrate over six weeks, to move all of its Hotmail users over to Outlook.com.
Last month the first shots were fired from a 3D printed gun. As expected it sparked debate regarding the future of 3D printed firearms.
DocumentaryHeaven
http://documentaryheaven.com
Sometimes you dont want to kick off your shoes and relax with the latest dumb comedy. DocumentaryHeaven is right in calling itself Food for your brain, since it sports a myriad (more than 2100) of documentaries, sourced from various places around the net. Youll find programmes relating to pretty much any topic available, from science to religion, technology, music, conspiracy and nature, amongst others. Youll also find full movies which are hard to come by at your regular video rental, such as the excellent Exit Through the Gift Shop. Worth many visits.
White Whine
www.whitewhine.com
If you like your humour sardonic with a dose of cutting, White Whine tracks and delivers a collection of first-world problems upon which viewers have understandably heaped scorn. These are updated daily, and range from the character complaining they had to refrain from going shopping because their mother was buying them another car, to the person in a tizz because they couldnt make a reservation for tea at the Ritz via the web. The best way to view them is to click for a random white whine and be prepared to shake your head in bemusement or dismay.
For many, 3D printing is a revolution, using a special hardened plastic to print, layer by layer, actual physical objects. While there are many uses for this, for example the printing of spare parts for models or architects constructing 3D replicas of their projects, American Cody Wilson had other ideas. Starting last year in August he created the non-profit organisation Defense Distributed, with the aim of providing freely available plans for 3D printable firearms.
Shoot em up
In a relatively small amount of time, Wilsons ideas came to fruition, since last month he managed to fire the first shot from a 3D printed gun. Called the Liberator, the gun is constructed out of 16 pieces, 15 of which were printed on an $8 000 3D printer. The final part is a simple nail that you can buy from a hardware store (the bullets are also shop bought). Wilsons success led him to release the plans on his website, even though at this stage the Liberator cannot fire more than one shot at a time. This, while its ability to withstand the pressure associated with shooting more than a few rounds, is in doubt. In the two days before the American State Department ordered him to take it down, the blueprints for the gun were downloaded 100 000 times. And just because it is not available on his site any longer doesnt mean they are gone the plans quickly made their way to torrenting networks such as The Pirate Bay.
Inside search
bit.ly/howsearch
Its likely something you use every day, if not every hour, but how much do you really know about how searching for some random fact, and receiving the multitude of results, actually works? Inside Search aims to enlighten. In the process, it dishes up some interesting facts and figures such as the fact that there are presently 30 trillion pages on the net. Indeed, sorting through all these pages which is done by crawling through links is a dazzlingly complex task that involves employing String Theory while avoiding the scourge of spam. Fascinating stuff.
To the point
The availability of 3D printed guns, and the US governments attempt to regulate these, brings up numerous difficult questions. On the one side, the Liberator is crude, costs a lot to produce and seems to be as much of a danger to the person behind the gun as in front for now at least. For the US government the problems are numerous: Is it at all possible to stop the distribution of these blueprints? Is banning the plans not a violation of freedom of speech? How do you enforce a ban on printing 3D guns? Do you regulate the sale of 3D printers at all? These questions will most probably be answered by US courts. [MJ] 26
APPS
Rockmelt
40%. Percentage of people worldwide who are currently accessing the internet. The majority of this share unsurprisingly comes from developed nations.
If like us you are also a prolific content consumer, then Rockmelt is a worthy app to add to your news aggregator arsenal. It too gathers content from your Facebook and Twitter accounts, favourite websites, blogs and online magazines, as well as YouTube and RSS feeds, and presents them in a clean, ad-free interface. In essence, it makes surfing the web, and staying informed, considerably easier. Signing up for a free account also enables you to save stories for later reading.
Galaxy Wars
Fans of Galaga will enjoy this free app by Avko Labs. Harking back to the old coin-operated games of the 80s, Galaxy Wars requires you to have quick trigger fingers since the extraterrestrial forces keeps up a relentless attack. To help you along the way you have access to different offensive and defensive power ups, while other features include four different difficulty levels along with decent sound effects and graphics. More game modes would have been welcomed. [IF]
BlackBerry tip
Instead of selecting the copy feature rather hold down the Shift key (the button may look like aA) and use your track pad to select the desired text. Once done press your track pad to copy and paste your text.
Android tip
Within ICS and Jelly Bean operating mobile devices, app icons (shortcuts) are automatically added to your homescreen as soon as you have downloaded a new app. This is handy for users who want quick access to newly installed apps on their device, but irritating to users who perfectly arrange every homescreen to avoid clutter and irrelevant shortcuts or widgets. You can turn off this feature by opening Google Play and accessing its settings to deselect the Auto-add shortcuts (aka Auto-add widgets on some devices) toggle. 27
Overkill 2
Cant get enough bullet dodging shooter action on your PC and game console? Overkill 2 is an FPS title that will have the genre blasting its way onto your mobile device. This game does not only sport some decent graphics, but also enables players to customise virtually every aspect of their guns. There are more than 30 weapons which you can trick out with various clips, scopes and other attachments.
NEWS
10 million. Global sales tally of Samsungs latest Galaxy S4 smartphone within the first month of its launch.
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Many music lovers have dreamed of a day when they could own an all-in-one entertainment centre. The Crosley Musician 5 in 1 Entertainment Centre is a little music aficionado that has the ability to play cassette tapes, CDs, MP3s, vinyl records, iPod, and AM/FM radio, all wrapped up in one vintage radio-style cabinet. An easy to use, everything-you-ever-looked-for music player.
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GAMES
Whether it be zombie outbreaks in Left 4 Dead or nuclear war in Fallout 3, gamers have recently grown quite accustomed to surviving on a ravaged planet. Last Light is the sequel to 2010s Metro 2033, a game loosely based on the novel of the same name by author Dmitry Glukhovsky. Developed by Ukrainian company 4A Games, the title throws players into the grime covered tunnels of the Moscow underground as humanity seeks to eke out a living in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
A blockbuster movie usually has a videogame closely following its warp trail, the latest being Star Trek. Will this title live long and prosper within the action adventure genre?
The events within Star Trek take place after 2009s Star Trek and before the forthcoming Into Darkness, sporting an original storyline penned by God of War writer, Marianne Krawczyk.
Unlike the guns in this title, the graphics are not out of the 23rd century.
It sees you playing as two familiar characters either Captain Kirk (voiced by Chris Pine, the same actor who brings Kirk to life on the silver screen) or Commander Spock (portrayed by Zachary Quinto). Kirk and Spock are up against the Gorn, an intelligent race of lizardmen who, probably due to the rising cost of labour and delays brought about by strikes, try to turn the galaxys species into an army of zombie slaves.
As far as shooters go, Last Light has some of the most solid mechanics weve seen in years.
Like its predecessor, Last Light focuses heavily on story and atmosphere, especially for a first-person shooter. With a richly imagined world, massive attention to detail and all-round good storytelling, youll feel like youre wading through irradiated subway tunnels in no time.
Shoot to kill
While Last Light borrows in no small part from RPGs, the game is essentially a shooter. Players will need to manage more than just scant ammo in the metro though; as gas masks, electrical chargers and even simple lighters can often be the only thing between you and a shallow grave. Most of the time however, firearms will be your saving grace with players wielding custom weapons to fend off irradiated monstrosities and ideological maniacs alike. As far as shooters go, Last Light has some of the most solid mechanics weve seen in years, with combat flowing smoothly from station to station. Every situation doesnt necessarily have to call for Rambo levels of violence though, as you also have the option of stealthily taking out enemies and sneaking between tunnels from time to time.
To the point
The atmosphere and graphical quality of Last Light is simply a joy to behold; whether youre skulking underground or racing from building to building on the barren surface world. In addition, good sound and world enriching voice acting really helps set the stage for a world torn asunder. If you enjoy your first person shooting with a healthy dose of award-winning storytelling, then Metro: Last Light is among the cream of the crop. [JK]
To the point
Star Trek had a Galaxy of factors counting in its favour to become a storyline-driven RPG rival to games like Mass Effect. Unfortunately that goal has been severely hampered by sub-par graphics; gameplay that is far too similar for either of the games protagonists; plus some annoying graphical glitches. It seems that trend of movie-to-gaming titles being bummers continues. [HD] 31
GAMES
10 million. Global sales tally of Samsungs latest Galaxy S4 smartphone within the first month of its launch.
All in all, however much we tried to enjoy the game, Riptide is hardly going to give veteran players a fresh experience.
Frankly, there really isnt too much that sets Riptide apart from its predecessor. Players consume food and other amenities for health boosts; get to fight alongside AI companions from time to time; and can loot the world for new weapons and items that allow you to repair your arsenal. One thing that Riptide does do better than most FPS games is length. Like the original the game runs quite long, keeping players busy for 10 to 15 hours. This isnt necessarily a good thing though, as many levels start feeling more like grinds than anything else.