techsmart 115, april 2013

smart ®

FREE!Issue 115April 2013ISSN 1726–3358

SA’s LARGEST TECH MAGAZINE

What’s next for mobile

BlackBerry Z10The best yet, but is it enough?

Ford Fiesta EcoboostThe little engine that could

MWC 2013

Ford Fiesta Ecoboost

The problem with GAS

TechSmart Issue 115 April 2013

14 BlackBerry Z10 reviewThe BlackBerry Z10 is the best we’ve seen from BlackBerry yet. But is itenough to keep the next-gen smartphones at bay?

22 Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost TrendWith a more aggressive look and the 1.0 litre Ecoboost engine in tow, doesFord’s latest Fiesta have enough pulling power to lure buyers away from thePolo?

The long wait is over – Samsung has announced the new Galaxy S4.Here is all you need to know about Samsung’s flagship smartphone.

15 Samsung Galaxy S4

As the first of the new superphones started making an appearance inthe office, it made me wonder about these sparkling technologicalwonders. For some, it is a have-to-have accessory, and we’ve all heardabout tech fans enduring a long, cold night to be the first to buy thelatest iPhone. Whether it can make that much of a difference in our livesis questionable, but it does seem that a key component for any newgadget is a solid sprinkling of lust.

I have fallen victim to this many times in the past, since when itcomes to photography I’m an unfortunate sufferer of Gear AccusationSyndrome (GAS). GAS can hit at any time, with no regard for yourfinancial situation. “If only I have that feature my photos would be somuch better,” I would argue. With hindsight, I can now comfortably saythat gear does not make the least bit of difference if the brain behindthe lens isn’t switched on. And that trick can’t be bought.

Enjoy the issue,Mike ([email protected])

1

Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved. No material, text or photographs may bereproduced, copied or in any other way transmitted without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or of the editor.We recognise all trademarks and logos as the sole property of their respective owners.TechSmart shall not be liable for any errors or for any actions in reliance thereon. Allprices were correct at time of going to print.

TechSmartEditor print & onlineMike Joubert > [email protected] / AgenciesKarien Steenkamp > [email protected] Joubert [MJ], Hanleigh Daniels [HD], RyanNoik [RN], Linda Pretorius [LP], Ismail Fadal [IF],Johan Keyter [JK]DesignersBrett WilsonAccounts & subscriptionsRonel Keet > [email protected] [email protected]

Smart PublishingGeneral managerAnneke Claassen > [email protected] managerGeorge [email protected] media managerSuzanne van [email protected]

Tel: 012-342-5141977 Francis Baard Street, Arcadia, PTA

www.smartpublishing.co.za

Published by:

Need your Tech fix faster? Join us now onTwitter: @techsmartmagFacebook: facebook.com/techsmartmagTo receive our newsletter:http://techsmart.co.za/user_registration

F R E E M E D I A S P E C I A L I S T SSMARTPUBLISHING

TechSmart usesBluWave CRM.

No Recovery – No Charge.No Quotation Rejection Fees.No Assessment & Evaluation Fees.

Call Data Gate & Distribution

Call: 011-467-3817www.datagate.co.za

Unbeatable Service & Turn-Around Time

Hard Drive Failure?Data Corruption?Data Recovery and Virus Removal performed onall PC’s, Mac’s & iPods etc. Including Hard drives,CD’s, DVD’s, Camera SD cards etc.

RAID failure?(Assessment fee applies)

Unit 81A Studio Park5 Concourse CrescentLonehill, Gauteng

The Data Recovery and Virus Removal Specialists

Held each year in Barcelona, the Mobile World Congress gives a goodidea of where the mobile industry is heading. We checked out some of thetrends.

1514 4

22

4-6 Mobile World Congress 2013

Contents

7 25

0 00

0 to

ns.

Plas

tic t

hat

an in

nova

tive

new

oce

an a

rray

cou

ld c

lean

the

oce

an o

f, ac

cord

ing

to y

oung

ent

repr

eneu

r Boy

an S

lat.

74 384 average copies per monthConsumer: Male [Oct – Dec] 2012

NEWS

Telkom made two noteworthyannouncements of late. The firstentailed a welcome launch of higherspeed broadband offerings, withselect areas being able to take advantage of VDSL (Very high bit rateDigital Subscriber Line) broadband, which offers speeds up to 40 Mbps.Initial rollout areas for the technology include Benmore Gardens,Fourways and Waterkloof in Gauteng. This was followed by the launchof Telkom Mobile, a rebranding of sorts for the company’s mobiledivision, of which 8ta will now forms a subdivision. When going to printno new products were offered as part of the service yet.

Telkom ups itsoffering ante

After releasing Office 365 Premium for home users, Microsoft has beenbusy with important updates for their offerings for business users. Theupdates bring new collaboration features to the mix, such as updatedemail, video-conferencing, instant messaging (IM) and calendaringservices. Office 365 also offers enhanced enterprise social capabilitieswith SharePoint and Yammer, with Lync-Skype connectivity slated forJune. Prices for Office 365 Small Business Premium start at R117 permonth, or R1 164 for an annual subscription.

Office 365 receivessignificant update

Ubiquitous and most loved microbloggingplatform, Twitter, reached yet another milestone,racking up and surpassing 200 million activedaily users to date. This marks a substantialincrease of 60 million users over the past year,since the company reported it had 140 million users in March 2012,adding an average of five million new users a month. This doesn’tcome close to rivalling Facebook’s dominance in social media, whichaccounts for a user base of more than one billion and some 584 milliondaily users.

Twitter reaches anothermilestone

BlackBerry CEO slams iOS McLaren P1

Hot New ProductsTop Tech Titbits

3

Not exactly one to shy away from controversy, BlackBerry’s CEO, ThorstenHeins, threw down the gauntlet by calling Apple’s iOS “outdated”. Heinswent on to question Apple’s relevance, commenting that “the rate ofinnovation is so high in our industry that if you don’t innovate at that speedyou can be replaced pretty quickly,” and pointed out that the iPhone’s userinterface is now five years old. Cheeky, perhaps, but not entirely withoutmerit either. A recent report revealed that 45% of Z10 buyers (read ourreview on p14) switched from Android and Apple.

One of our favourite 80s bands teams up withSwiss watchmaker Hublot to create the limitededition Big Bang Depeche Mode timepiece.Now before cries of “sell-outs” start, thecollaboration was established to benefit Charity:Water, a non-profit that efforts to bring safedrinking water to the developing world. Only 250were created and although no pricing has beenannounced yet, it’s expected to be a sell out, since for Depeche Modefans it’s always a Question of Time.

Depeche Mode Hublot BigBang Watch

If 400 kW and 600 Nm from the R3.2 million McLaren MP4-12C is a biton the light side, then McLaren’s new hybrid P1 is just what the supercardoctor ordered. The P1 is powered by an IPAS petrol-electric powertrainthat marries a substantially enhanced version of the 3.8-litre twin-turboV8 petrol engine from the MP4-12C with a single electric motor, todeliver a combined power output of around 673 kW. Top speed you ask?It’s electronically limited to 350 km/h while the 0-100 km/h sprint takesless than three seconds.

Fresh after the company’s divorce from BeatsAudio, Monster is going it alone with the DNAon-ear headphones. Monster states that theseare tuned for a “live music experience”, alsooffering an extra jack to link their MusicShareheadphones together. It should hit localMusica stores in the second week of April forR2 500.

Monster DNA on-earheadphones

BMC Lamborghini50th AnniversaryImpec Bike is notexactly there toquickly take you tothe cafe and back.Only 50 of thesebikes were made to celebrate the Italian supercar maker’s 50thanniversary, which in combination with its €25 000 pricetag means thatyou won’t be ogling one in a bike rack soon.

One

bill

ion+

. N

umbe

r of

dow

nloa

ds f

or a

udio

and

vid

eo-b

ased

edu

catio

nal c

onte

nt v

ia A

pple

’s iT

unes

U e

duca

tion

serv

ice.

BMC Lamborghini50th AnniversaryImpec Bike

MarkShuttleworthshowed off theUbuntu Touch developer preview, with thisopen-source, swipe and gesture-basedplatform managing to receive more mediaattention than any of its up and coming OSrivals.

Thanks to its eye-catching design andfeatures that help distinguish it from rivals,Ubuntu Touch can possibly be the biggestthreat to the Android-iOS-duopoly, if it cangain more traction with original equipmentmanufacturers (OEMs).

Its features include built-in voice controlfunctionality; full disk encryption for dataprotection, running apps side-by-side on asingle screen via Ubuntu side stage and theability to utilise the full desktop version ofUbuntu Linux when you connect yourmobile device to a docking station. UbuntuTouch is slated for release during October2013.

Since China has overtaken the US as theworld’s biggest smartphone market, variousmarket research companies and analystsexpect Chinese OEMs to lay claim to a biggerstake of the global mobile shipment pie, muchlike on the PC front.

At MWC 2013, Huawei and ZTE flew theChinese flag high with some interestingannouncements. For its part, the world’s thirdbiggest smartphone maker, Huawei, finallyunveiled its Ascend P2 smartphone. Thecompany refers to it as the world’s fastest LTEsmartphone, as it offers download speeds ofup to 150 Mbps on a 4G network. This slim(8.4 mm) smartphone is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU and packs a 4.7" IPSHD-Ready (312 ppi) in-cell touch displayprotected by second-generation Corning

Gorilla Glass.Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) runs the OS show

along with Huawei’s Emotion UI version 1.5,while the Ascend P2 also features a 2420 mAhbattery, 13 MP BSI rear-facing camera withHDR functionality, and a 1.3 MP front-facingcamera for capturing self-portraits and makingvideo calls. Huawei’s Ascend P2 is slated tobe released globally around Q2 2013.

ZTE also showcased its Open mobile phone,which is powered by Firefox OS and boasts a3.5" (320 x 480; 165 ppi) display. This device ispowered by a Qualcomm chipset that featuresa Cortex-A5 1 GHz CPU and sports just 256MB of RAM and a mere half a GB of internalstorage. To boost the mobile’s storagecapacity, ZTE provides a free 2 GB microSDcard in the retail box and additional features

FEATURE

4

Mobile device users fed up with iOS’s dated user interface and those on the hunt for something a little less common than Android, will beheartened by the diverse operating systems on display at this year’s show.

Beyond Android: New mobile platforms make their case

From a crop of new mobile platforms readying to challenge established operating systems, through to afew desirable device reveals, the annual Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain, dazzled visitorswith some amazing products. Hanleigh Daniels investigates.

Mobile World Congress 2013Burgeoning new tech from Barcelona

Hear the Chinese dragon roar!

Bada is dead, long-live Tizen

The company behind thepopular Firefox webbrowser has also beendeveloping its own mobileOS, built entirely usingHTML5 and other openweb standards. Rather than trying to make atop-of-the-line platform, to do battle againstflagship devices from Apple and Android, thefirm is building an OS that will power budgetsmartphones for the mass market.

Mozilla is working with handset manufacturersAlcatel, Huawei, LG and ZTE, to build the firstFirefox OS operating mobile devices based onQualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. Thesemobiles will be available in many marketsincluding Brazil, Mexico, and Spain later thisyear, with additional markets to be revealed“soon”. No local release info is available yet.

At MWC 2013, Japanese tech giant Sony alsorevealed that it will be breaking its Androidmobile platform strategy in 2014, as thecompany plans on releasing its first Firefox OShandset next year. In addition, Sony also madean experimental version of the Firefox OSsoftware available for developers.

Samsung finally pulled the plug on Bada’slife support machine, opting instead tointegrate Bada OS into the open-source,Linux-based Tizen OS project it is workingon with Intel.

Unfortunately, this integration will notresult in users with Bada OS operatinghandsets being able to upgrade theirsmartphones to Tizen, when it is released.However, Tizen running smartphones will bebackwards compatible with Badaapplications, which should play a role inboosting Tizen’s app tally at launch.

include 3G HSDPA connectivity along with Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1, and FM Radio.

Article continues on page 6.

Mozilla to outfoxOS rivals

Ubuntu comingto a smartphoneand tablet nearyou soon

2014. Year by which there w

ill be more m

obile connections globally than people on Earth.

FEATURE

6

On the tablet front

Nokia sought to expandthe midrange smartphonefootprint of its LumiaWindows Phone 8 poweredofferings, with theannouncement of theLumia 720 and 520.

Espoo’s Lumia 720operates on WindowsPhone 8 and is powered bya 1 GHz dual-coreQualcomm SnapdragonMSM8227 CPU. It sports a4.3" ClearBlack (800 x 480;217 ppi) Super SensitiveLCD screen, Skype HD wide angle 1.3 MP front-facing camera and 6.7megapixel BSI (back-side illuminated) rear-facing autofocus snapper thatfeatures Carl Zeiss optics and LED flash. Another feature setting the rearshooter apart is its bigger f1.9 aperture, which has been designed to let inmore light for enhanced low-light shots.

Nokia’s Lumia 520 is also powered by a 1 GHz dual-core Snapdragonprocessor, and features 3G HSPA+ connectivity offering downloadspeeds up to 21 Mbps, 512 MB RAM, Wi-Fi 802.11 n, and Bluetooth 3.0.Taking care of the photo capturing duty is a 5 MP autofocus rear-facingcamera, with users being able to review their shots on this smartphone’s4" WVGA (800 x 480 pixels; 235 ppi) IPS LCD. The Lumia 520 offers 8 GBworth of internal storage that is expandable via microSD card slot whichsupports cards up to 64 GB in size.

Rollout of both these smartphones are planned for Q2 2013, but nolocal pricing or release info is available yet.

NokiaLG

And even more smartphones

One of the standout tablets this year so far has come in the form of the 8"Galaxy Note 8. The device aims to meld general tablet functionality with astylus, with particular attention being paid to its capability as an eReaderand digital diary.

Along with now familiar S-pen stylus functionality, borrowed from theGalaxy Notes and Note 10.1, the Android Jelly Bean (4.1.2) tablet sports afaster 1.6 GHz A9 quad-core processor, 2 GB of memory and a brightscreen with a resolution of 1280 x 800 (189 ppi). New features includeReading Mode, which invokes side lighting for a gentler reading experience,while Awesome Notes has been integrated into the device to handle note-taking and journaling. Much of the S-Pen functionality that was included inthe Galaxy Note 2 is similarly onboard, such as Air View, while a customisedversion of Flipboard was specifically developed for the device.

Space wise, the tablet will be available with either 32 GB or 64 GB ofonboard storage, although in either case, this can be expanded by up to anadditional 64 GB via the microSD card slot. It should be here soon. [RN]

Sony showcased its new waterproof and dustproof Xperia Tablet Z,which measures in at a wafer thin 6.9 mm and weighs just 495 g. Thistablet is powered by a 1.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragonprocessor, and features 2 GB RAM while Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)handles the operating.

Users will be able to read an eBook in the bath thanks to the 10.1"Reality Display (1920 x 1200) of the Tablet Z featuring wet finger trackingtechnology. Also onboard is 32 GB worth of internal storage that can beexpanded upon via microSD memory card slot, as well as Sony’s S-Force virtual surround sound technology for an enhanced audioperformance. In terms of optics, the Xperia Tablet Z packs an 8.1 MPrear-facing camera that boasts an Exmor R sensor. NFC (near fieldcommunication) and LTE (4G) network support also makes it onto thistablet’s connectivity list. [HD]

Sony Xperia Tablet ZSamsung Galaxy Note 8

Korean tech company, LG, had plenty of smartphones on offer,including its new Optimus L Series II, but the star of the company’sMWC 2013 show was the Optimus G Pro. This LTE (4G) equippedflagship crams a mouthwatering 5.5" 1080p IPS display (400 ppi) intoa more compact chassis (150.2 x 76.1 x 9.4 mm) than the GalaxyNote II (151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4 mm).

Powered by Qualcomm’s new 1.7 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600processor, it sports 2 GB worth of RAM, operates on Android 4.1.2(Jelly Bean) and according to LG, also features the largest batterycapacity in its class at 3140 mAh. In terms of optics, users haveaccess to an enhanced 13 MP rear-facing camera and 2.1 MP front-facing snapper. 190.9 m

illion. Forecasted worldw

ide tablet shipments for 2013. 350 m

illion. Predicted tally for 2017. Article continued from page 4.

It all starts here!A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single stepChinese philosopher Laozi (c 604 bc – c 531 bc) in the Tao Te Ching

Mr P van Wyk : [email protected]

For more information please contact the following student advisors

Start your journey and uncap your potentialMr M Tsotetsi : [email protected]

Mr M Kganakga : [email protected]

Mr K Telane : [email protected]

www.facebook.com/VaalNWU

ADVERTORIAL

8

Securing capital or seed funding, andfinding the time and support to kick-startyour business is a tricky combination foryoung aspiring business owners. Havingsaid that, new businesses are beinglaunched every day, and as the marketplacebecomes more competitive, SMBs mustfocus on smarter ways to spend theirmoney to ensure they maximise growthpotential.

SMB owners are recognising thattechnology is a critical pathway toexpanding their business, as it brings somany opportunities to extend their reach tonew customers and incomes. However,young businesses rarely have the money orresources to spend on IT infrastructure –few can afford to hire a dedicated ITmanager to manage tech solutions. Thebusiness owner often assumes that role ontop of their daily job, adding extra pressureon the business. But what if technologycould do that job for you, and free up timefor the business owner to pursue growthopportunities?

The move to a smarter wayTechnologies such as cloud computing helpSMB owners to focus more on businessopportunities and less on IT infrastructure.By hosting their IT solutions in the cloud,with offerings such as Office 365, SMBowners can manage their IT processes in amore streamlined, cheaper and less time-consuming way. There are other cloudproducts similarly based on saving time and

money. With Windows Intune, SMBs don’tneed to build and maintain a serverinfrastructure. This means there’s no needto worry about purchasing server hardware,having the right OS licenses, installing andconfiguring each server, and on top of allthat, designing a secure infrastructure. Allyou need is a browser.

The National Small Business Chamber(NSBC) has been one of the firstorganisations in South Africa to adoptOffice 365, and NSBC founder, MikeAnderson, says they are already seeingbenefits in areas like greater mobility, cost-effectiveness and time-saving.

“Small businesses have to do more withless. It’s about staying close to yourcustomers, focusing on your businessdifferentiators, and being more agile thancompetitors. For us, Office 365 allows us towork from virtually anywhere, be productiveon the go, collaborate better, and worktogether and smarter,” says Anderson.

Penquin picked tooJohannesburg-based creative agencyPenquin is another company to become anearly poster child for the power of cloudcomputing to transform small businesses. Thecompany has not only saved tens ofthousands of rands in IT costs, but says it has“fundamentally changed the way it works”since moving its technology backbone into thecloud.

Penquin decided to move from an on-premise Microsoft infrastructure to acloud-based infrastructure using MicrosoftOffice 365 when it became clear that the costsof upgrading hardware and software would beprohibitive – and it’s never looked back, saysGroup Executive: Business Development GregKockott.

“Email alone is a critical factor in ourbusiness,” said Kockott. “It is incrediblyimportant for us to be able to stay in touchwith our customers and suppliers all the time.Like many small businesses, we used to battlewith a small, temperamental connection tostay connected – but now, our people are ableto work from anywhere, on any device.”

Customers can purchase Office directly fromMicrosoft or through an authorised retail outletor partner. For more information on Office,please visit http://www.office.com to sign upfor a free trial.

Small and mid-sized businesses are the backbone of SouthAfrica’s economy — studies indicate that the SMB sectorcontributes around 60% of the national gross domestic productand employs up to nine million people. However, getting abusiness off the ground is no easy task.

Technologies such as cloud computing help SMBowners to focus more on business opportunities andless on IT infrastructure.

SMBs move in the rightdirection with cloud-based technologies

By Tracey Newman, SME lead at Microsoft SA

9

iLearn, a national specialistprovider of onsite instructor ledand online e-learning trainingmethodologies, offers a range offlexible training solutions thatcover business skills, IT desktopapplications, IT technical, design,media and language courses.

ADVERTORIAL

The company, which has offices inJohannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, isfocused on increasing productivity andprofitability for its clients.

The personal approachRather than following the conventional routeand imposing the offering on the client, thecompany’s founder has moulded its serviceoffering to suit client requirements. “Flexibilitylies at the heart of what the company standsfor and what it proposes,” explains RichardRayne, managing director of iLearn.

“Traditionally a client would send a numberof individuals to an off-site venue for a full day

iLearn offers new chapter in country’s e-journeyof training, whereas we prefer to send a trainerto the client’s premises arranged on datesand times that they require. Training isspecifically designed to meet the needs ofeach individual, based on their current skillsand pace of learning. Delegates receivetraining in more manageable sessionsarranged over a spread of a few days,”elaborated Rayne. “This allows for greaterabsorption of knowledge and an opportunityto practise and verify the new skills after eachsession prior to commencing on to the nextone,” he continued.

At the same time, clients can also choose tostimulate their training experience with acombined blend of online self-paced andonsite instructor led training solutions.

Modern online learning iLearn’s online e-learning service is thecompany’s latest flagship product to themarket, with the company believing it offersthe greatest learning flexibility and scalabilityavailable.

Also on offer are technical trainingprospects and the opportunity for learners to

acquire competency in a range of technicalqualifications, including Microsoft, Cisco andCompTIA international certifications. Thecompany has further ensured that its trainingcontent is unrivalled through partnerships withglobal leaders such as Skillsoft, Eurotalk andOntuitive.

“We don’t like to use the phrase ‘one-stop-shop’, but this really describes our operationaccurately. We have the skills, resources andmarket knowledge to add value to corporateclients and individuals – our mission is thesame as those wanting education: we desireto empower people to be able to work andprogress within competitive workingenvironments,” says Rayne.

To the pointDelegates who utilise the services of thecompany can benefit from both local andinternationally recognised accreditations,including BEE Level 2, MICT SETA Accredited(ACC 2012/01/831), Microsoft CertifiedLearning Solutions Partner and IBTA CertifiedBusiness Professional authorised trainingprovider.

really liked seeing somecommendable viewing angles,which should make sharing amovie with a significant other onthe machine a feasibleprospect.

This was only furtheraugmented by the superb – andvery loud – sound that is onoffer here. Indeed, part of thereason for this is the excellentBang and Olufsen speakers,that had some satisfyingreverberation pounding throughthe frame. Also in the box is thecompact SonicMaster externalwoofer, for even more oomph.This made playing games andmovies on the ultrabook a treat;with the machine seeming to fillin nicely as a portableentertainment centre when you

are on the move or temporarilycalling a hotel room your

abode.

Key imperativeMuch like on previousZenbooks, we enjoyed

using this one’skeyboard. The keys offered a little extra depth(always welcome) but no less springinessand responsiveness than we are used to.Backlighting was bright and spreads an evenglow across the keyboard, while the nicelysized trackpad was responsive from one endto another.

While it was set quite closely to the surfaceof the palmrests, we were glad to notice thatthe trackpad does have a bit of a subtlydifferent texture, making it easier to find withone’s fingers in a dark room. Also onboard isa full numpad, while screen and keyboardbrightness, along with wireless connectivity,are accessed with the aid of function keys.

Important bits and piecesStorage wise, onboard is a 128 GB SSD,while on the port side, there is a neatlycompacted Ethernet port as well as a HDMIone, an SD card reader and three USB 3.0ports distributed across the left and righthand side of the machine. It appears that theold USB 2.0 option has finally being given itspink slip and encouraged to slowly shuffle offthe production line.

To the pointMuch like we have come to appreciateprevious Zenbooks, this one is no exception inthat regard. Indeed, it gave us a hard timefinding anything to complain about features-wise, although, enjoying it permanently comeswith the steep price tag of R22 400. [RN]

10

The design and overall build of the Zenbookrange is familiar across the board, namelystrikingly modern and stylish, and first rate,respectively. The all aluminium body, with asubtle circular zen garden motif, once againgraces the notebook’s cover, along with anall silver interior, amidst which rests a black,backlit chiclet keyboard. Indeed, theultrabook actually looks bigger, or morecorrectly, more expansive than its true sizesuggests, due to the fact that the notebook isso cleanly designed. At 2.1 kg, it may not bethe lightest ultrabook out there, but nor is itburdensome to carry.

Putting on a performanceSuffice to say, this Windows 8 Zenbook looksand feels like a premium machine, and itperforms like one too. This is thanks to somehigh end specs, including an Intel Core i7(3632QM) processor clocked at 2.1 GHz, agenerous 8 GB of DDR3 memory and anNvidia GT650 graphics card, with 2 GB ofdedicated memory handling graphic tasks.

What this means is that we would have nohesitation throwing some more demandingtasks at it than just web browsing, basicproductivity tasks and the like. Instead, themachine seems well capable of handlingsome serious image crunching as well and agood round of PC gaming when the moodstrikes.

Screen dreamsOnly enforcing this is the 15.6" screen, whichlooks, in a word, fantastic. More specifically,it offers some very good brightness,sharpness and saturation across the board,not so much of a surprise considering itboasts a resolution of 1920 x 1080. We also

HARDWARE

ASUS

Ultrabook, butultra powerful

Suffice to say, this Windows8 Zenbook looks and feelslike a premium machine.

ZenbookUX51VZ

The Asus Zenbook hasimpressed us time andagain, first with the Zenbookultrabook, and then with theWindows 8 version, theZenbook Prime. Little did weknow that waiting in thewings was an even largerand more powerful UX51VZready to vye for ouraffections.

12

Everki Versa PremiumbackpackIf you travel a lot, the Everki EKP127 Versa Premiumnotebook backpack is about to become as valuable asyour frequent flyer miles.

Full Article bit.ly/everkibag

Although protection of your device might be a notebook’s bag primaryconcern, there are a few secondary objectives that distinguish a great bagfrom a good one. In the Everki Versa Premium’s case, two things come tomind – ease of use and durability.

First things first though, as far as safeguarding your notebook isconcerned, the Everki EKP127 does a sterling job. The padded felt-linedinterior of the notebook compartment offered very good protection, furtherhelped along by special corner-guard protection that absorbs shocks to thecorner of the bag.

Ease of useThere are a few impressive extras that endeared the Everki and makes it asolid travelling companion, especially when flying.

Firstly, this backpack is airport checkpoint friendly, in the sense that youdon’t need to completely remove your notebook from the bag at airportsecurity. The notebook compartment unzips and folds out 180° to allow forthe pc to pass through the X-ray machine still protected. Secondly, whensafely in the air, those with spectacles will be aware of the hassle of finding asafe place to store them when going to sleep. On top of the Everki VersaPremium there’s a hard-shell case that is perfect for this, or for keeping yoursmartphone, gadgets or wallet.

Once off the plane, a magnetic front pocket allows quick access to, forexample, your passport or travel documents. It seems so simple but it’sactually one of the features that we used most often.

To the pointThere is very little that can be faulted on Everki’s EKP127 Versa Premiumnotebook backpack. The quality on offer is easy to see, while it providessolid protection and a number of useful extras. It makes it easy torecommend this backpack for business travellers, especially frequent flyers.

Quality does not come cheap, and in the Everki’s case it will set youback R1 474. Call Karen Lomas at Rectron Midrand for more informationon 011-203-1000. [MJ]

The quality on offer is easy to see, whileit provides solid protection and anumber of useful extras.

HARDWARE

Acer Aspire M TouchAdmittedly, we have somewhat of a fondness forthe Acer Aspire line (indeed, this review, washashed out on a Timeline X), and thus when theAcer Aspire M Touch landed on our desk for review,we were interested to see what Acer would do withWindows 8.

The best way to describe the notebook would be to call itunobtrusive. It’s not necessarily the best looking notebook we haveever seen, but, with an all black exterior and a grey sink in which thekeyboard rests, we have actually come to like the understated styling.

One design choice that we didn’t like was the decision to place thepower button on the front of the computer, just below the trackpad.We could quite easily envision scenarios in which users mightinadvertently hit that power switch, which is quite pronounced, byaccident. To its credit, sturdy hinges hold the 15.6" touchscreen firmlyin place, and we could coax no flex or creaking from the screen orkeyboard respectively.

Now for the good newsScreen resolution is a middling 1366 x 768, and while not quite asbright as on the Timeline X, was still considerably brighter than someother Windows 8 machines we’ve seen.

The good news is that screen saturation and contrast are first-rate,while we were further impressed by the very good. For those whofavour constantly touching their screen and using it as a form ofnavigation, more good news is that on this front, the screen excels,proving to be particularly responsive to the lightest touch.

Handling the processing is the budget friendly but very capableCore i5 (3317U) CPU, clocked at 1.7 GHz, with a very welcomedollop of 6 GB DDR3 RAM, accounting for swift and no-complaintsgeneral performance. Storage, and indeed excellent start up times, isafforded by a 128 GB SSD drive while Nvidia’s GeForce GT 640 Mtook care of graphics.

To the pointAll in all, we actually quite liked working on the Aspire M, as itsintegration of Windows 8 was amongst the better that we’ve seen. Ithas a RRP of R8 500. [RN]

Handling the processing is the budgetfriendly but very capable Core i5 CPUwith a very welcome dollop of 6 GBDDR3 RAM.

SMARTPHONES

14

For fans of the BlackBerry platform, the goodnews is that in the BlackBerry Z10 they nowhave a smartphone that can compete againstsome of the top devices currently available. Nomore worrying about coming to grips with anew operating system (OS), or losing BBMcontacts – the BlackBerry Z10 is a modernphone in all regards.

Look and feelLike most modern smartphones, the Z10 iscandybar shaped, and with its all-black or whitedesign, it does not look out of place on thedancefloor nor on the boardroom table. It isclear that BlackBerry put a lot of effort into theZ10’s 4.2" display. It might not be as big as theSamsung Galaxy S3’s 4.8" but it’s larger thanthe new iPhone 5’s 4" screen, while toppingboth when it comes to pixels per inch (365 ppi).

Doing the gruntwork inside the Z10 isQualcomm’s MSM8960 dual-core 1.5 GHzSnapdragon processor, and with BlackBerry 10running the show, we had no complaintsregarding the speed of the Z10. It is helpedalong by a generous 2 GB of RAM, whileBlackBerry provides 16 GB of storage space asstandard. Seeing that you can expand this byup to 64 GB via microSD, this is quite sufficient.

General navigation On the Z10 there’s no home button. Here youexit apps by swiping up from the bottom bezelof the phone, which takes you to thehomescreen and shows up to eight currentlyrunning ups. Want to close an app completely?Do it here, or simply swipe left to continuebrowsing your list of apps. It’s a very intuitiveway of navigating the new operating system,and when we started to test other phonesagain, the swipe up gesture was the one mostmissed.

BlackBerry HubFor many, when it comes to BlackBerry 10, thestar of the show will be BlackBerry Hub. It’s acentral location to manage all yourconversations, whether these are SMSes,email, BBM messages, or notifications from

Up until very recently, being aBlackBerry smartphone ownercould be compared to having arelative in prison ̶ you still loveyour device, but when a debateis raging around whichsmartphone is best, you weren’tgoing to chip in.

BlackBerry Z10

Full Article bit.ly/blackz10

Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. The fact that youcan check your messages without having toclose applications is a treat, since the Hub isaccessible from anywhere in the OS. In the past RIM were renowned for theirphysical keyboards, and we can now say thatthe Z10 contains the best virtual keyboard inthe business. Yes, even better than therenowned SwiftKey for Android. It’s an intuitiveway of typing allows you to say more and typeless.

To the point The BlackBerry Z10 is without a doubt the bestsmartphone the Canadian firm has everproduced. This news will be best received byexisting users of the BlackBerry platform, sincelife can continue within a familiar environment.Unlike the Curve range, the Z10 competesagainst the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S3and iPhone 5, retailing for about R390 permonth on contract, with these users mostlycoughing up for data too. If the lack of BIS willbe a problem in the higher-end of the marketremains to be seen.

Another problem is also right round thecorner. The next generation smartphones, mostwith full HD screens and even fasterprocessors (HTC One, Sony Xperia Z,Samsung Galaxy S4), are ready to pounce.

In the end we were impressed withBlackBerry 10. It makes for a solidsmartphone experience, in certain cases evenimproving on iOS and Android. There arebugs to be sorted out, but it’s a youngplatform so this can be expected. BlackBerrymust now task itself with seriously improvingon its app offerings, since we can’t reallyrecommend switching from the fruit companyor little green robot with so many key appslacking. [MJ+HD]

The BlackBerry Z10 iswithout a doubt the bestsmartphone the Canadianfirm has ever produced.

All this reading getting toomuch? Looking for short videoreviews to keep you informed?Join us on the TechSmartYouTube channel.

Find us here: bit.ly/techsmartvideo

Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13: The PC that twistsand turns.

HP Envy x2: Tablet then notebook or notebookthen tablet?

BlackBerry Z10: Hardware run-through

Fujfilm X-E1: 5 things to love

If you would like TechSmart to makea video of your product contact uson [email protected].

$119.3 billion+. M

obile content revenue obtained via direct carrier billing is expected to rise from $18.3 billion last year to this figure by 2017.

TechSmart

Find us here: bit.ly/techsmartvideo

Currently playing:

www.goava.net

Make calls so cheap youwon’t believe itAnytime, anywhere local andinternationally

Terms and Conditions Apply | Rates Effective from 1 April 2013 and subject to change at a later date.

75cMobile Calls

per minute

Calls to South African Mobile: 75c/min incl. VAT.Calls to India: 15c/min incl. VAT.Calls to USA: 12c/min incl. VAT.No Setup Fees and no Monthly Subscription Fees. All calls are billed on a per second basis.

SMARTPHONES

After the success of the S3 (50 million soldand counting), Samsung had to come upwith a solid follow-up, and it does seem thatthe Korean company’s flagship checks allthe right boxes.

HardwareIn line with what we’ve seen from Sony withthe Xperia Z, and HTC with its One, the S4

has gone full HD (1920x 1080). This on aSuper AMOLEDdisplay that adds tothe S3’s 4.8" andbrings the screen sizeto a significant 5" withpixels per inch (ppi)standing at 441.

As hoped, it runs onAndroid 4.2.2 JellyBean, while beingpowered by the Exynos5 Octa 5410 chipsetwith its eight cores. Allthis HD goodness andprocessing power arekept going by a biggerLi-Ion 2600 mAhbattery. It might not beas big as the Note II’s3100 mAh, but it doesbeat the S3’s 2100mAh. A decent 2 GBRAM helps pushsmooth operation,while 16/32/64 GBstorage space optionsare available, with anextra slot for expansionvia microSD.

As far as design goes, Samsung did notstray far from what they know, with the S4bearing a close resemblance to the S3,unfortunately also down to the plastic non-metal design.

SoftwareSamsung’sdistinguishing factor ispretty much theproprietary features onoffer in its devices.One of the new ones isAir Gesture, whichenables you to interactwith the device basedon the movement ofyour hands. Thisincludes waving yourhand back and forth infront of the S4 to moveto different tabs whilebrowsing, changemusic or to acceptcalls.

To the pointIn all, the Galaxy S4 is

pretty much the phonewe expected fromSamsung. The fact thatthe worldwide launchtook place in New York,part of Apple’s hometurf, is also significant,with Samsung clearly

indicating that it is readyfor anything that Cupertino might throw at it.Indeed, if the gap between Samsung’s S3and the iPhone 5 was not all that noticeable,the S4 seems to leave Apple’s best trailingin its dust. Expect it here in May.

Bigger, faster and high def. A gooddescription of Samsung’s GalaxyS4, launched last month in NewYork.

Samsung GalaxyS4: What youneed to know

If the gap betweenSamsung’s S3 and theiPhone 5 was not all thatnoticeable, the S4 seemsto leave Apple’s besttrailing in its dust.

15

Top

3. G

inge

rbre

ad (

44.2

%),

Ice

Cre

am S

andw

ich

(28.

6%),

and

Jel

ly B

ean

(16.

5%)

are

the

mos

t us

ed v

ersi

on o

f And

roid

.

PriceAs the entry-level full frame offering, the 6D commands an RRP of

R20 000, while the 5D Mark III’s pricetag is closer to the R30 000 mark. Onthis front, the 6D clearly caters more readily to photographers on a budgetwho still want to enter into the full frame arena, in order to reap the benefitsof higher image quality and greater ISO sensitivity.

FunctionalityOn the build front, both cameras are a joy to hold in one’s hand.

Admittedly, the 6D is noticeably lighter (770 g) and smaller, both in thehand and when riding against one’s hip. However, the 5D Mark III’s extrasize and weight (960 g) are hardly without reason – they account for moreimage reviewing and rating options, as well as accommodating dual slotsfor an SD Card and CF flash card. Where the 5D Mark III has one up onthe 6D is in its general navigation, with the larger thumb wheel and anadditional navigation stick making selecting focusing points easier andquicker.

FocusingHere, the 5D Mark III wins hands down. Its advanced 61 point

focusing system, borrowed from the aforementioned 1D X, far outstripsthe 6D’s 11 focusing points. Whereas the 6D has only one cross-typefocusing point for focusing in difficult situations, the 5D Mark III boasts 45.Additionally, the 5D Mark III offers 6 fps versus the 6D’s 4.5 fps, as well asa faster maximum shutter speed (1/8000th versus 1/4000th). Thus, if fastmoving action, sports or wildlife is your forte, then this may need to be astrong consideration when buying time comes around.

FeaturesWhat the 6D lacks on some fronts, it makes up for in others. For

example, two features not found on its bigger full frame brother includeintegrated Wi-Fi and aGPS. In the final analysis though, both of thesecameras are superb in their own right. [RN]

If you are considering buying a full frame Canoncamera, two in particular may be coming tomind, namely, the 6D and the 5D Mark III. Bothcameras have much counting in their favour,however, and each brings their own pros andcons to the table.

Going full frame: 6D vs. 5D Mark III

CAMERAS

The first has the distinction of being the smallest and lightest DSLR todate in the form of the EOS 100D, also called the SL1 in some regions.The camera’s dimensions are a portable 116 x 88 x 68 mm, while itsweight is a light 370 g (the Canon 700D below weighs 580 g). Canon’slatest further boasts a newly developed 18 megapixel CMOS (APS-C)sensor alongside a DIGIC-5 image processor.

The EOS 100D appears to be no slouch in the ISO department either,offering a range that spans from 100 to 12 800 (expandable to 25 000),a 9-point all cross type AF system and 4 fps continuous shooting.

Top end of the entry-levelAlso piquing interest is the newly announced 700D, which replaces the650D as the top of the line entry-level model. This, not to be confusedwith the anticipated 70D, is still a formidable EOS in its own right. Itssensor, processor, 9 point focusing system and ISO sensitivity areidentical to that found on the 100D, as is the full HD 1080p video withcontinuous autofocusing, and a built-in stereo microphone with manualaudio level adjustment. The 700D also offers continuos shootingalthough it bumps continuous shooting up to 5 fps.

The camera further offers advanced shooting modes including HDRbacklight control, handheld night scene and multi-shot noise reduction,which combines multiple images to generate a composite best qualityresult. Both cameras have a 3" LCD touchscreen, although only the700D’s is a Vari-Angle version.

To the pointCanon’s latest EOS additions bode well for other APS-C cameras duringthe course of this year, with news of the 70D largely anticipated to arriveduring the course of this month, and possibly even a successor to theEOS 7D to rival Nikon’s D7100 coming later this year if rumours are tobe believed.

The RRP of the EOS 100D with 18-55 IS STM lens is R8 500, with theEOS 700D with 18-55 IS STM lens is R10 000. With theannouncements only being made recently, local availability has notyet been confirmed at the time of going to print.

After a great deal of anticipation, and a fairamount of rumour mongering, Canon hasindeed unveiled two new EOS DSLRs for theentry-level photographer.

Canon unveils new EOSentry-level duo

1

2

3

4

Six years. Length of tim

e that a Canon Pow

erShot cam

era in a waterproof housing had been drifting in the ocean w

ith images intact.

The D7100 dethrones the D300S as king of Nikon’s DX-line (APS-Csized sensors), bringing along a number of interesting improvements forprosumer photographers. Certainly the most noteworthy is the newlydesigned 24.1 megapixel CMOS sensor.

As Nikon did with the D800E, they omitted the optical low pass filter.This filter is usually incorporated to reduce artifacts such as moiré(bit.ly/nomoire), with Nikon claiming this new sensor produces sharperimages across the board. Compared to the D7000, there are two furtherimprovements that are noteworthy. The LCD display increases to 3.2"while also upping the dot count from 920k to 1 229k – a boon forvideographers who will also love the 1080p recording at 30, 25 and 24frames per second.

Now focusNikon further paid a lot attention to the focusing system, with the D7100sporting 51 focus points, including 15 of the more sensitive cross-typesensors. This is a considerable jump up as compared with the D7000’s39 focus points and 9 cross-type focus points. We enjoyed the 100%viewfinder coverage and two SD card slots on the D7000 and luckily theD7100 inherits these traits. Nikon, however, also sticks with the relativelyslow six frames per second (fps) shooting speed, but adds aninteresting extra in the form of a 1.3x crop mode. With this, a smallersize of the sensor is utilised, reducing image size to 16 MP but uppingshooting speed to a more respectable 7 fps. It also bumps up the focallength and increases the amount of fps when recording video to a slowmotion ready 50i and 60i.

To the pointIn a very brief hands-on session we’ve had with the camera at the locallaunch, it’s clear that solid construction is a given. The camera felt robust,but still very grip friendly. It appears that the Nikon D7100 only adds to2010’s highly respected D7000’s impressive range of features. It should hitthe shops at the end of April for about R16 500 for the body only.

Certainly the most noteworthyimprovement is the newly designed 24.1megapixel CMOS sensor.

Nikon has at long last a new flagship for theirDX-format SLR range – the robust D7100.

Nikon D7100 – a new DXflagship at last

CAMERAS

To begin with, the Coolpix A boasts a DX-format 16.2-megapixel CMOSsensor, usually found in DSLRs (23.6 x 15.6 mm), in a small compactbody. Interestingly, the Coolpix A sensor does not incorporate an opticallow-pass filter, which is standard in most cameras, but also absent in theD7100 (left). This produces an optical system that makes the most of thepotential of the high-definition Nikkor lens and the resolution of the DX-format (APS-C sized) sensor.

Also worth noting is that the compact offers a fixed Nikkor wide-angle18.5 mm f2.8 lens (28 mm equivalent) and not a regular zoom lens. This,coupled with a very decent ISO range of 100 to 6400 (extendable to 25600), should make this a compact that can adeptly handle low light andshould be a boon for street photography.

Cool under fireAs befitting a camera that Nikon is touting as being “the professional’schoice of compact camera”, the new compact further offers greatermanual control. A customisable function button enables users to bypassthe menu and set shortcuts to their favourite camera settings for fastsetup, while the lens focusing ring offers manual focus and manualoverride when in auto-focus mode.

Furthermore, the Coolpix A supports 14 bits compressed RAW imagedata, while allowing pure, unprocessed images to be edited in-camera,on the 3" (921k dot) LCD monitor. Another feature boasted by the tiny titanthat is found on its bigger DSLR brothers is Picture Control, which allowsusers to adjust the contrast and colour settings (Standard, Neutral, Vivid,Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape, and Custom) to match their particularsituation. Finally, also onboard is full HD movie recording (1080p) in 30,25 or 24 fps, Wi-Fi compatibility and an Expeed 2 image processingengine.

To the pointAs competition for Canon’s PowerShot G1x and Fujifilm’s X100S, Nikon’sCoolpix A is one camera we can’t wait to take shooting. It should be arrivinglocally this May, and will command a cool R10 800 for its presence.

Nikon’s Coolpix A is one camera that wecan’t wait to take shooting.

Nikon’s big small news over the last severalmonths is the debut of the Coolpix A, a compactcamera with more than a few surprises up itssleeve.

Nikon Coolpix A coming 40 to 50 megapixels. The resolution of a largely rum

oured, and hoped for, DSLR

said to be arriving in the third quarter of this year.

At a recommended retailprice of R123 100, the PoloVivo is only the second mostexpensive car in thiscomparison, but its Achilles’heel is a lack of standardoptions. Gone are the ABSbraking (R2 040) andradio/CD sound system (R3200) as found on the othervehicles, but luckily you doreceive air-conditioning,airbags and power steering.

In February, the Vivo wasthe best-selling passengercar in SA, so this shouldequate to some excellentresale value come trade-intime. Finally, the 1.4 litre fourcylinder engine can deliver aclaimed 6.2 litres of fuelusage per 100 km.

Kia Picanto 1.2 EX manual

Hyundai’s designers haveimpressed us of late, but wefind the look of the i10 a bit toobland and safe. The i10 does,however, make for a reliableand practical little car, offeringa claimed sub-5 litres per 100km fuel usage on a combinedcycle, and a 5 year or 150 000km warranty.

Like the design, theperformance of the 1248 ccfour cylinder motor isuninspiring, delivering a so-so64 kW at 6000 RPM and 119Nm at 4000 RPM. The i10retails for R119 900, landing buyersplenty of standard kit such asan in-car sound system, airconand as well as passenger anddriver airbags.

The Figo is primarily aimed atyounger, first time car buyersand as a result it retails for anaffordable R120 484, whileoffering plenty of standard kitincluding dual airbags, air-conditioning radio/CD audiosystem, power steering, ABSwith EBD, and key operatedcentral locking.

Some of the more upmarketfeatures we want, such as FordSync, the Blue Oval’s in-vehicleinfotainment system that offersBluetooth music streaming, didnot get the green light on theFigo though. Its 1388 ccDuratec petrol engine onlychurns out 62 kW at 6000 RPMand 127 Nm of torque at 4000RPM. Fuel usage figures are aclaimed 6.6 litres per 100 km.

Due to its uninspired design, theEtios can be considered the uglyduckling in this comparison, butToyota’s legendary build qualityand reliability might just turn itinto a small car swan.

The second best-selling car inSouth Africa during Februarycosts R121 000, which netsbuyers a fair amount of standardfeatures including EBD(Electronic brake-forcedistribution), electric powersteering and remote controlcentral locking. Unfortunately, aswith the styling, the Japanesepowerplant of the Etios is a bitundercooked, with a 1.5 litre(biggest capacity engine in thiscomparison) delivering only 66kW at 5600 RPM and 132 Nm oftorque at 3000 RPM.

VW Polo Vivo 1.4Hyundai i10 1.25 FluidManual

Ford Figo 1.4 AmbienteToyota Etios 1.5 XsHatch

Although the equipment level and performance of the Picantomatches that of the i10, this vehicle does come wrapped up in a farmore easy-on-the-eye package than either the i10 and Polo Vivo.Beyond its design, the Picanto’s interior and ride quality punchesabove its lower B-segment weight division, helping it reach thepinnacle of our list of lower B-segment hatchbacks. [HD]

For first-time car buyers looking for a new hatchback (sub R130 000), emphasis should be placed on affordability,reliability and fuel efficiency. Here are our Top 5 picks of the best entry-level B-segment hatchbacks.

20

FEATURES

TOP 5 Small car hatchbacks

On this list, at an RRP of R127 995, the Kia will put the biggest dent inyour bank account. However, as with the i10, it is kitted out with plentyof spec-bang to match its pricetag, including Bluetooth connectivity.The Picanto’s 1248 cc DOHC inline four cylinder motor produces 65kW at 6000 RPM and 120 Nm of torque at 4000 RPM, with thispowerplant good for six litres per 100 km.

50 minutes. Average am

ount of travel time Tom

Tom’s H

D traffic info saves m

otorists every week, com

ing to around 40 hours annually.

An

ti-Gla

re S

cre

en

Pro

tec

tor

R229R169

US

B C

ar C

ha

rge

r

Po

rtab

le C

ha

rge

r

WA

LK

A c

ov

er

R69R299R79R89

WALKA 7 Stand and protection cover

WALKA Mobile TV accessories

Universal Car Mount – Headrest

Selected products available at selected stores. E & OE. Prices valid while stocks last. Special valid from 1 April – 30 April 2013.

One

bill

ion+

. Am

ount

of fil

es s

aved

dai

ly o

nto

clou

d-ba

sed

stor

age

appl

icat

ion

Dro

pbox

.

22

From the outside, Ford has not tinkered much in terms of design, withthe exterior changes highlighted by a new front, dominated by a largetrapezoidal grille. This grille design is the new family face of Ford andconsequently makes the Fiesta look like a smaller Focus from the front.It helps the car stand out from amongst the current crop of b-segmenthatch rivals including the Kia Rio.

No fence sitters when it comes to designOn the inside, we found the cabin layout to be comfortable, quitespacious and for the most part well laid out, but we are still put off bythe fussy dashboard and its conglomeration of switches and dials. Yourarely use those buttons thanks to Ford’s capable in-vehicleinfotainment system dubbed Sync and its useful voice functionality.When connected via Bluetooth with your smartphone, Sync enables

Ford’s aggressive new Fiesta is tasked withenticing buyers away from more conservativerivals. Is it up to the task, or does a drive in theFiesta lead to a deep siesta?

Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoboostTrend

drivers to perform functions like making calls by using only their voiceand steering mounted buttons.

Under the American bonnetThe 1.0 Ecoboost model sits atop of the Fiesta range, which is a littlestrange given its mini-me, one litre, three cylinder turbocharged engine.Diminutive it may be, but this little gem of a powerplant effortlesslychurns out a highly respectable 92 kW and 170 Nm of torque. Asimpressive as those figures is the surprisingly glorious, bassy enginenote emanating from under the bonnet, every time you floor the pedal(or pleasure pedal as we dubbed it). Ford provides a claimed fuel usagefigure of 4.3 litres of petrol per 100 km on a combined cycle (highwayand town) route, but we only managed to get around eight litres per 100km in our limited review period.

To the pointFord’s Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost Trend might sport a mini engine, but slippinginto the driver seat will require having to fork out plenty of cash to coverits maxi R211 200 price tag. The Ecoboost engine does manage topunch well above its weight in terms of performance though, and has usdrooling over the prospect that is the forthcoming Fiesta ST. [HD]

According to Lexus, more than 3000 major parts and components, rangingfrom the dashboard through to the engine control unit, have either beenredesigned or enhanced, with the Lexus’s executive price tag counting anumber of extras as standard.

More luxurious, tech savvy cabin Inside the cabin, the driver now has access to numerous informationscreens, most notably a 5.8" colour display sandwiched in between thespeedometer and rev counter, as well as a 12.3" electro multi vision (EMV)screen above the analogue clock in the centre console.

An upgraded Mark Levinson sound system takes care of all of theauditory needs, with this system featuring 19 speakers, a 15 channelamplifier, true 7.1 surround sound and connectivity for virtually every typeof sound input the likes of Bluetooth audio streaming, Blu-ray discs, iPod/iPhone input, USB and MP3 discs.

Lexus South Africa has launched its new LS460luxury executive saloon locally, with the exteriordoor panels being the only part of the new modelthat is shared with its predecessor.

Under the Japanese bonnetAlmost as glorious as the premium audio system of the LS460, is itsupgraded 4.6 litre V8 with 32 valves and dual intelligent variable valve timing(dual VVT-i). It propels the big frame of the LS460 to 100 km/h from rest in 5.7seconds, onto an electronically governed terminal velocity of 250 km/h.

Lexus’s new Drive Mode Select control system enables the driver to alterthe car’s handling dynamics, by making changes to the firmness of thesuspension and steering feel, through to the LS460’s engine characteristicsand throttle response. Drivers are able to switch between Eco or Comfort,Normal, Sport and track-focused Sport+ modes.

The Lexus LS460 is also equipped with a stereo millimetre wave radarsystem. This is one of the world’s most advanced pre-crash avoidancesystems (PCS), which, amongst others, prepares the cabin safetyequipment such as the headrests and seat belts, if an accident looksprobable.

Local market infoThe Lexus LS460 is available now at your local Lexus/Toyota dealership forthe bargain basement price of R1 236 700. This nets buyers a full four yearor 100 000 km Lexus Distance Plan complete with a full maintenance plan,as well as warranty with roadside assistance.

VEHICLES

Lexus launchesLS460 executivesedan

8 000. Num

ber of people chosen by Google in a contest to be the first to try out their new

Google G

lass internet connected devices.

23

Based in Centurion, CompEd IT Training provides government,corporate clients and small and micro enterprises with personalisedend-user NQF-aligned computer training. This is specifically directedtowards the users’ everyday needs, with training and courseware(either hard copy or electronic) developed for in-house packages aswell as new systems which need to be implemented for go-live dates.Keeping with their personalised approach, this training is eitherfacilitator led, available as e-learning courses, tuition disks or online.

ServicesCompEd IT Training’s services are based around two divisions:

1. E-learning and development services2. Facilitator led training

1. E-learning and development servicesServices presented under this division include:

a) Accredited course material in E-learning formatThese include mapped and aligned course material, with allcourses being interactive and involving videos, activities, gamesand assignments. After each segment, delegates will besubjected to continuous assessments and will not be able toprogress to the next section unless the evaluation is complete.

b)Pre-assessments development: Based on the company’s requirements, CompEd IT Training candevelop personalised pre-assessments. This is web-based andtailored to include, amongst others, the company’s logo; usernames and passwords; training for the assessment for nationalin-house roll out; and administration of results.

c) Course development and training rolloutMany companies require in-house end-user education solutions,with CompEd IT Training skilled in this type of development anddeployment. This includes the creation of courseware; learningtools; training strategy design and training course development.

2. Facilitator led trainingServices under this division include:

a) Executive one-on-one computer literacy at delegate’s desk.b) On-site group classroom training that incorporates lectures and

hands-on experience.c) Group classroom training at CompEd’s premises in Centurion.d) On-line pre-assessments to identify skills gaps, available online,

to provide a list of suggested courses.

Accreditation and contact detailsCompEd IT Training is a fully accredited ISETT training provider(ACC 2008/07/788 ) and is also rated a Level 4 BBEE contributor.

For more information on any of CompEd IT Training’s solutions, orhow they can tailor a package for your company, contact them on012-644-2182 or [email protected]. You can visit them online atwww.comped.co.za.

Not many companies make it their mission to enthuseindividuals to make the most of their abilities. CompEdIT Training is one of a few to do so.

CompEd IT Training Personalised on and off-site trainingand development

ADVERTORIAL

How do you feel about Windows 8?

Need your Tech fix faster? Join us now on:Twitter: @techsmartmag

Facebook: facebook.com/techsmartmag

To receive our newsletter: http://techsmart.co.za/user_registration

Still running Windows 7.Love it!Like it.So-so.Unusable.Needs a lot of work.www.passiveaggressivenotes.com

Passive AggressiveNotes

Being on the receiving end ofsomeone’s passive aggressivebehaviour is seldom fun, however,reading other people’s passive

aggressive notes can certainly be entertaining. As incredulous as itmay sound, indeed someone has dedicated a site to recording otherpeople’s passive aggressive response to daily life, often to veryamusing effect.

Here are the tweets that struck our fancy lastmonth.

WEB

TechSmart’s top tweetsWeb Time Wasters

24

www.twaggies.comTwaggies

If you’re the kind of person whoregularly checks Twitter in the hope offinding something smart or funny, thenthe oddly named Twaggies will be rightup your alley. The site collects some ofthe more amusing tweets on the

microblogging site, and then, offers them up in fully illustrated glory.Some of the tweets fare better than others when given the visualtreatment, but on the whole, the site offers a colourful, amusing wayto waste a significant amount of time.

TechSmart.co.za online poll results

50%20%7%11%6%6%

www.fastcoexist.comFor those interested in innovation, Coexist.com is a fine place to stirthoughts and ideas. The site, which takes a look at world changingideas and innovation, contains some alluring and interesting stories. Forexample, on offer is an exploration about whether better data canprevent school shootings in the future; the impact of email on tactileexperiences; and the future urban world. The site further highlightsinventive approaches to modern life and considers their potentialimpact. Just one such example that can be found on the site is whethermicro-donations that reward content creators and worthy charitiessimultaneously could lead to the rise of a new online economy.

Coexist

www.treehugger.comTreehugger

Although once used as an adjective todismiss hippies or those foolishenough to be environmentally aware inthe 60s, this site is certainly nothing toscoff at. Its focus, as you have nodoubt already guessed, is on eco-

friendly practises. On offer is content regarding renewable energy andclimate change, as well as eye-opening articles on bringing speciesback from extinction (all too pertinent for our beleaguered rhino) anda piece on how businesses can help save bees.

25

This app has little to do with the shortJapanese poems from which it has derived itsname, and everything to do with creatingbeautiful presentations, using your words andimages, or those sourced from common-

licensed ones, on top of theme and layout templates. The resultingpresentation can then be viewed on any web-enabled device, orembedded in the users’ own blog or site.

BlackBerry tipIf you are browsing the web with the native browser on yourBlackBerry device then have a look at these shortcuts. Press the ‘V’ or‘F’ key to search for something on the webpage. The ‘R’ key willrefresh the webpage. To view Connection Information press the ‘C’key and lastly press the ‘K’ to access your bookmarks.

APPS

Read.it!In case you wanted or needed yet more contentin your life, Read.it! is a very good free app totake a look at. This content aggregators’ claimto fame is that it offers media on your favouritetopics, curated by experts in their field. The

usual broad offering of categories and content are on offer, includingtechnology, social media, science, art and culture, travel, food, lifestyleand education. Anything not listed in the above can be added bysearching for it.

If like us you have no interest in GameCentre and are annoyed by itstendency to constantly pop up, here ishow to disable it, at least for a time.

Open a Game Centre enabled gameand clear all fields completely, thenpress cancel. You may need to do thisonce or twice more until a screen pops up asking you if you wantto disable Game Centre. Click in the affirmative and enjoy one lessannoyance in your digital life. The only caveat is you may need torepeat this banishing process if you sign in and purchase an appfrom your device.

Apple iOS tip

Apple iOS Apps of the month

Smartphone top tipsAndroid Apps of the month

BlackBerry Apps of the month

Android tipA good way of boosting the battery life of your device is to disable yourmobile data connection, when you do not need up-to-the-minute appupdates. Alternatively, users can change the frequency of updates foreach individual app, by going to Settings > Accounts and sync.

Haiku Deck

Are you in need of a new challenge after craftinga vast 3D pixel-art empire within Minecraft? If so,then The Sandbox offers the same pixel-artcreation formula and applies it to a 2Denvironment for smartphones and tablets. There

are 71 levels to make your way through, allowing players to create newlife forms, and try their hand at one-upping real man-made structureslike the Pyramids.

Moment.meFor those suffering from social networkingoverload, Moment.me will help themaggregate and organise all of their socialposts around specific events and places. All ofyour photos, tweets, Facebook posts, and

videos having to do with a particular event or linked to a location, willbe grouped and sorted into collections. You can even group certaincontacts or friends in the same manner too, and have a familycollection for instance.

Guess The Movie!

Fans of general trivia and film buffs will loveGuess The Movie, which is an interesting wayto spend a few hours. The goal for the user isto correctly guess the name of movie, withyour sole clue coming in the shape of a

minimalistic poster based on that film. There are a variety ofcategories including one for Oscar winning flicks and multipledifficulty levels to keep things challenging.

The Sandbox

Get the best out of your BlackBerry’s Wi-Fi withAerize. This R8 application allows you to use yourWi-Fi even when your BIS expires, which meansyou can still browse the web and use applicationssuch as WhatsApp. WiFix contains more than 20

different websites preloaded but you can also add your own to the list.However do note that this app may take some time getting used to andsecure sites such as banking websites are not supported.

App StalkerThe best things in life are free so why pay forapplications when you can get them formahala thanks to App Stalker? App Stalkerchecks if there are paid for apps in BlackBerryWorld that have now gone free, or if any apps

have received a price-cut. The app integrates with the OS by alertingyou via notification icons. Do note some of the applications listed inApp Stalker are not always available in South Africa. [IF]

The Oregon Trail: American Settler

Gameloft’s The Oregon Trail puts you inthe shoes of a pioneer who has to trek intothe unknown, facing dangers such as wildbuffalos, hurricanes and dysentery. If youtire from the campaign, take a rest by

trying out the fishing and hunting mini games. This game hasdecent sound effects and graphics, however, it does suffer from aframe rate drop which is more noticeable on slower BlackBerrydevices.

Aerize WiFix

Cordy 2

Cordy 2 impresses just as much as Cordy 1 did,if not more, offering beautiful, lovingly craftedlevels, the same affable robot and silky smoothplatforming. The game sees Cordy and Volt landon World 2 only to find it under threat by a nasty

piece of work named Boogaloo. In order to stave off danger, Cordy hasto collect Zap Drops, scattered across the three worlds. While the firstfour levels of Carnival City are free, the full game costs R40.

Struggling to master your new smartphone? TechSmart ison hand to provide some helpful tips.

NEWS

26

Green NewsSci News

Make it a bee-cafWe’re not the only oneswho need a caffeinepick-me-up. Accordingto a study published in arecent issue of Science,a bit of caffeine-infusednectar perks up beestoo. Tests showed thatbees that sipped on a

caffeine-containing sugar solution were three times more likely toremember a flower’s scent than those that fed on a sugar-only solution.The effect lasted at least a day, and for some bees up to three days. Thenectar of some citrus and coffee plants was found to contain justenough caffeine to elicit the memory boost without creating a repellingbitter taste. The researchers think the relationship may be a win-winarrangement: since the caffeine helps the bees remember the flowers asa good source of nectar, the plants’ pollination chances improve. Sweet.

If you think your life istough, spare a thoughtfor a few simplebacteria-like cells.These little creatures,known as Archaea, arethought to have givenrise to all life. Andaccording to a studythat appeared in a

March issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy, we may beone step closer to understanding how. Researchers studied almost1800 genes of a specific arhaeon species and found that about 30%of them are essential for life. These genes make up the systemsneeded to encode information into DNA and are similar to thosefound in cells of more complex organisms such as plants andanimals. The findings not only strengthen the idea that life beganwith Archaea but also help to unravel the mechanisms that lay downthe code of life in DNA. [LP]

BigfootIf the shoe doesn’t fit(anymore), blame it onyour baby. So sayresearchers in a recentarticle in the AmericanJournal of PhysicalMedicine andRehabilitation. The teammeasured 49 pregnantwomen’s feet early on intheir pregnancies and

again five months after childbirth. For more than two thirds of thewomen, feet measured up to a centimetre longer after childbirth thanduring pregnancy and foot arches were markedly flatter and less rigid.The findings suggest that as a result of joints becoming more flexibleduring pregnancy, mom’s extra weight lets her feet flatten out. Theresults may help to explain why women who have had children aremore prone to some kinds of arthritis later in life. But for now we sayjust go buy new shoes.

It’s a bug’s life

LaFerrari

Vodacomimplementsrenewable energy solutionsVodacom has unveiledthe largest solar arrayof panels on a singlebuilding on the Africancontinent at its officesin Century City, Cape

Town. The installation of this solar array is part of the company’songoing drive to reduce its energy consumption, as the panels areexpected to provide up to 75% of all electricity needed by thebuilding during peak production. Solar power generated by the arraywill feed into two main distribution boards and a display panelinstalled in the reception area of the building, and will showcasefactors such as instantaneous power produced and carbonemission savings.

A major ecologicalconcern and threat tothe world’secosystems is rapidly

dwindling Honey bee populations. This issue has prompted a team ofHarvard and Northeastern University scientists to collaborate on aswarm of miniature ‘RoboBee robots’. These mini-bee robots will beable to assume the role of real bees within ecosystems around theglobe by pollinating flowers. Scientists are working on methods to makethousands of these RoboBees cooperate as though they werefunctioning as a real hive. Possible alternative uses for the RoboBeesinclude search and rescue missions, where the environment is toohazardous or volatile to explore on foot.

Robots totake sting outof dwindlingbeepopulation

Ferrari’s latest supercar, the LaFerrari, is the company’s first ever hybrid.It boasts two Italian hearts (a 6262cc V12 and dual electric motors) thatbeat as one to deliver a combined peak power output of 708 kW andenough torque (900 Nm) to reverse the earth’s rotation. This sees theItalian Stallion galloping to 100 km/h in less than three seconds onto aterminal top end of 350 km/h. Only 499 samples will be made, so thechance of seeing one blasting down Grayston Drive is pretty slim (butnot out of the question altogether).

R270 m

illion. Am

ount that Yahoo! is believed to have paid 17 year old British teen N

ick D’A

loisio for his Sum

mly app.

27

SMSINSTANTLY!

TO 41876laptop

AND WE WILL CALL YOU BACK

spac

e

R2 per SMS

Printer Repairs l Laptop Repairs l Upgrades l Projector Repairs l LCD Screen Repairs | Onsite IT Support

All repairs done in our workshopHP, Acer, Compaq, IBM, Dell, Fujitsu Siemens, Mecer, Sony, Asus, Toshiba, Packard Bell, LG, Lenovo, Proline, Gigabyte, Apple Mac, BenQ, Sahara, and many more….

1292 Heuwel Avenue l Centurion, 0157 l (Next to GWM) l Prices Quoted are CASH or EFT only!

012-663-1155 | www.LaptopCity.co.za l [email protected]

Laptop Chargers

From

R695

Laptop Batteries RECEIVE OUR PRODUCT PRICELIST

Toshiba C850-F227 Acer E1-571IT Headaches?

Terms and Condi�ons apply. Stocks are limited. E&OE. Prices may change without no�ce due to Rand Dollar fluctua�ons. All prices quoted are cash or EFT only and Incl VAT.

Core I3 2.2GHz,4GB Memory,500GB HDD,Bluetooth,WiFi, DVD RW,Windows 8,1 Year FRR Warranty

-Core I5 2.50GHz,4GB Memory,500GB HDD,Bluetooth, WiFi,DVD RW,Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit,1 Year FRR Warranty

Acer Travelmate P453

R245

Deepcool Windpal

From

R240

012-663-9190

R2495 R4989

9.7 Android V4.0Tablet, 1.2GHZ CPU,1GB DDRIII Memory,9.7" IPS PANEL,MULTI-POINTCAPACITIVE TOUCHSCREEN,8GB FLASH, Wireless LAN

IS-M70006-10

R5199 R7995

Core I3 2.40 GHz,4GB DDR3 Memory, 500GB HDD,Bluetooth, WiFi, DVD RW,Windows 7 Home Basic 64-bit, 1 Year Carry in Warranty

your email address

36%

. Pe

rcen

tage

of pe

ople

who

are

rea

ding

mor

e, a

ccor

ding

to

Am

azon

, th

anks

to

read

ers

like

the

Kin

dle.

GADGETS

mantality.co.za

Speeds of 25 Megabits persecond (Mbps), 50Mbps and100Mbps available, more than10Mbps faster than existingoptions.

E & OE, terms & conditions apply. All prices exclude VAT. Installation and hardware cost not included!

25Mbps50Mbps

Call us on 087 980 0375 | www.xdsl.co.za l [email protected]

South Africa’s first super fast broadband fibre offering

Metro Fibre pricing

25Mbps50Mbps100Mbps

Metro Ethernet pricing

– R15 500 per month– R27 250 per month

– R21 950 per month– R37 150 per month– R64 370 per month

28

Struggling to find interesting or handy birthday-,housewarming- or bachelor party gifts for your friends?

Here’s a nifty way to measure temperature –just point and fire. This laser targeting infaredthermometer provides accurate surfacetemperature readings in less than a second.Readings appear on the integrated LCDdisplay and can further be viewed in the darkusing the display’s backlight. Applications forit are vast, such as detecting temperaturevariations in one’s home, or ensuring that aninfant’s milk or bathwater is at the righttemperature. It has an RRP of R570 fromMantality.co.za.

Digital Laser ThermometerIt is not only fictional secret agents who havethe best gadgets, as the snake cam enablesanyone to peak under doors or into hard toreach places. The Snake Scope, which has aflexible 600 mm ‘neck’, sports two white LEDlights on either side of the camera to illuminateone’s path, and the resulting discoveries canbe captured in both still and video images witha 640 x 480 resolution. The USB powereddevice does require a PC to work, which mightjust blow your cover. It’s yours for R995 viaMantality.co.za.

Considering how particular travel transportationauthorities can be, this digital luggage scale canquite easily save one having to pay overweightbaggage charges, and thus make globetrotting alittle less stressful. The portable device, which canaccommodate up to 50 kg of weight, displays abag’s weight on an LCD screen, and only needs tobe looped through the handle of one’s luggage andlifted. Additionally, it offers an overload indicator,which should give travellers an indication that theyneed to repack their bag long before they sidle upto check-in. R300 for stress-free travel.

Digital Luggage ScaleUSB Snake Scope

Four years. Time it took S

eagate to reach the 2 billion mark in global hard-drive shipm

ents, compared to 29 years before it crossed the one billion m

ilestone.

With its G600 MMO Gaming MouseLogitech forgoes the ‘less is more’design philosophy, offering moreprogrammable buttons than a user hasfingers. Customisation might be the

name of the game, but unfortunately the same cannot be said for theergonomics, since clip-on panels or an adjustable palm rest are notincluded. R2 000.

Logitech G600 MMOGaming Mouse

Coming equipped with Android JellyBean, a 4.8" screen and a SIM cardslot, the Galaxy camera takes mobilephotography to the next level. If youare one of those snappers that can’t

wait to upload images to social networking sites, this is the camera foryou, but its sheer size and price will deter others. R6 000.

Samsung GalaxyCamera

19 April 2013

ETC...

Gear in the office To watch

29

The TechSmart office usually overflows with newproducts coming in for review. Here are ourthoughts on a few of them.

Nashua’s ultra short throw projector(1280 x 800) is great for offices whererestrictions don’t allow for a projectoron the boardroom table, since itsupright design enables it to fit quitesnugly next to the wall it projects

onto. We were impressed by the sound, while it also comes with a greatremote and carry bag. Price though will be a problem – close to R20 000from https://shop.nashua.co.za.

Sony’s flagship Xperia Z is the first of the next-gen smartphones to arrive at the office. Itsports an impressive full HD screen, butbeyond that it has not really set our worldalight. The water resistant body is a big prothough. R8 000.

Sony Xperia Z

Nashua Ricohultra shortthrow projector

Seven Psychopaths

After his miscasting in Jack Reacher does TomCruise still have his blockbuster appeal? Theproducers of Oblivion certainly hope so. Gamingfans will be disappointed to hear that the movie isnot in fact based on the fourth chapter in TheElder Scrolls series, but rather a science-fiction

title. Cruise is a drone repairman, assigned to a now long destroyedEarth, and, like most Cruise movies, the fate of humanity soon endsup in his hands. We’re looking forward to the score composed byM83 and some great visuals.

Oblivion

26 April 2013

After masterminding the London Olympics’opening ceremony, Oscar winning Danny Boyle isback at his day job with Trance. With a gang onhis back, amnesiac art auctioneer Simon (JamesMcAvoy, Xavier in X-Men: First Class) struggles toremember what happened to a lost painting.

Enlisted to help is hypnotherapist (Rosario Dawson, Men in Black II)and this is where the fun starts. If something more challenging thanthe usual fluff is required, Trance should suffice.

Trance

5 April 2013

Ever since his portrayal as a gay cowboy in Be Cool,we’ve wished to see former WWE superstar DwayneJohnson’s (aka The Rock) in some more off-the-wallcastings. Alas, he headlines GI Joe: Retaliation, thecorrect movie to accommodate a serious session ofpopcorn crunching this holiday. Also starring is Bruce

Willis, and our very own Arnold Vosloo, who is playing the role of a super-villain (what else?). This time he takes the form of Zartan, responsible forturning the world against the G.I. Joe super-troopers.

GI Joe: Retaliation

Seven Psychopaths is basically a dog movie. Or rather, a missingdog movie. Or rather, a missing Shih Tzu, belonging to a crazygangster, kidnapped by a bunch of oddballs, movie. With WoodyHarrelson, Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell, Tom Waits and ColinFarrell starring, we can’t complain too much about the cast, but itseems as if Seven Psychopaths could either be awesome, or turnout a defective soufflé.

It has been quietly begging for more of ourattention; and by all accounts, Tomb Raider is amasterpiece of a game. For the first time in a longwhile we can honestly say Uncharted has someserious competition; Tomb Raider is an action-adventure title that not only succeeds at

immersing us fully in its world, but also shines brightly as an example ofthe heights interactive entertainment can reach. R600.

Tomb Raider

Mor

e th

an $

27.5

bill

ion.

Mon

ey p

redi

cted

to

be s

pent

by

tabl

et g

amer

s on

in-a

pp g

ame

purc

hase

s du

ring

201

6.

12 April 2013

30

FRANCHISEES REQUIRED FOR:Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth,Durban, George, Polokwane

PTA – Brooklyn Mall (012) 346-2726PTA – Woodlands (012) 997-0450 JHB – Randridge Mall (011) 792-4912CNT – Centurion Mall (012) 643-0967RTB – Waterfall Mall (014) 537-2818

Extremely handy and very useful, theC-Pen TS1 is great for scanning text& uploading it directly to yourcomputer!

The iShower is a Bluetooth-enabled,water resistant speaker that iscompatible with many of the mostpopular Bluetooth-enabledsmartphones and tablets including theiPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Androiddevices.

Parrot, a France-basedcompany, has transformedAR.Drone from a fun toy to a flyingrobot that could attract everyonefrom amateur pilots to film directors.The camera now shoots 720p video.

AR Drone 2.0

iGrillC-Pen TS1

GRIFFIN BEACONThe most powerful, easiest-to-useuniversal remote control... ever. Beaconuses your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch orAndroid device to control everything inyour home entertainment system.Without wires. And without networking.

iShower

The iGrill is an app-enabled wirelessBluetooth meat thermometer and allowsyou to monitor your food from up to 60meters away.

Sphero is acompletely new typeof gaming system. It’sthe world’s first robotic ball that youcontrol with a tilt, touch, or swingfrom your smartphone or tablet. You can drive Sphero,play tabletop and multiplayer games, hold Sphero inyour hand to use it as a controller for on-screengameplay, learn basic programming and even exploreaugmented reality.

Sphero

@TheGadgetShopSA

TheGaDGetShop.co.zaFranchise enquiries, please [email protected]

branch opening

The cool way to keepwarm! HotRox HandWarmers are a brand newway of keeping your hands(and other parts of your body)warm. HotRox reusable handwarmers are recharged byplugging them into the wall(adapter sold separately) or acomputer’s USB port (cable included).

HotRox

New Livescribe Wi-FiSmartpen Record everything you write and hearthen tap anywhere on your notes toreplay the audio from that moment intime. Your recorded notes and audioare wirelessly sent and securely storedin your Evernote account.

May 2013!

KOLONADE

83.1%. G

lobal desktop search engine market share for G

oogle, followed by Yahoo! (7.9%

) and Microsoft’s B

ing (5.27%).

RazorPit Teneo

Razor Sharpener

The new RazorPit technology works with

all razor blades, even cartridge,

disposable and DE blades.

R399.00

This product is perfect for anyoneneeding to detect cold or hot leaksin the house, look for theoverheating electronic componentin a product, or even preparing thebabyʼs milk to the righttemperature.

USB Snake Scope

R995.00

Digital LaserThermometer

R570.00

100% waterproof and flexible 2-footneck, itʼs perfect for peering roundcorners periscope-style, examining carengines or down plug holes.

R225.00Pocket DigitalWeighing ScaleDurable and compact pocket scalewith easy to use three key operation.

Metal Case ForiPhone 5

R215.00South Africaʼs only one-stoponline shop for the urban man.

www.BuyMantality.co.za

NEXT DAY COURIER DELIVERY!Tel: 011-462-5482

E & OE | All prices include VAT

Features 10x small rubber tabs to keepyour iPhone secure and preserved!

31

8x.

Mor

e pr

oces

sing

pow

er f

ound

on

Qua

lcom

m’s

new

Sna

pdra

gon

600

proc

esso

r th

an o

n th

e M

ars

Cur

iosi

ty R

over

.

The expansion, which includes so much contentthat it almost deserves the title of sequel, hasplayers taking the reins of the Zerg swarm and

continues the story where the original left off.

On the campaign trailThe story follows Sarah Kerrigan, freshly purged of most of her Zerginfluence. Imprisoned in a Terran research centre, the Queen of Bladesseems all but stripped of her former glory, her control of the swarmshattered. Kerrigan however is no damsel in distress, and as the storyunfolds we learn to control her psionic abilities with deadly efficiency.

In the HoTS campaign, missions are presented in wildly varying ways.In some the player controls Kerrigan and a small band of troops, while inothers you are able to harness entire Zerg hives, fielding hundreds ofravenous Zerg to overrun the enemy.

This variation keeps the action from becoming stale, with each missionrequiring players to utilise increasingly complex Zerg mechanics andunits in order to achieve victory. It warrants mention that the sheerquality of the narrative in HoTS makes for a truly movie-like experiencewhile playing. If you like a good story, HoTS is definitely going to makeyour day.

MultiplayerOnce players have completed the single player campaign, the game isfar from over. As always, Starcraft II’s real strength makes itself felt in theonline multiplayer compartment. Battle.net, Blizzard’s onlinematchmaking service, has received a number of big updates over thepast few months in preparation for the game, and they definitely show.

ConclusionTake our word for it, HoTS is no cheap add-on. The campaign, completewith Blizzard’s gorgeous cinematics and gripping storyline, definitelyoperates on a playing field of its own. So if you haven’t logged ontoStarcraft II for a while, or wondering whether or not the expansion isworthwhile, do yourself a favour and check out the new Battle.net. Thenew changes (available to Wings of Liberty players as well) will surelyhelp whet your appetite for getting back into the saddle. [JK]

Take our word for it, Heart of the Swarmis no cheap add-on.

GAMES

After a three-year wait Starcraft II’snew Heart of the Swarm (HotS)expansion has officially launched itsinvasion on humanity.

Set in 2047, Crysis 3 has Prophet waging a war ontwo fronts within New York City. Long gone is themetropolis that never sleeps, since the Big Apple

has been transformed into a sprawling urban jungle after evilcorporation C.E.L.L. covered it in a gigantic Nanodome.

An apocalypse has never looked this amazingDeveloper Crytek has always been known for its class-leading graphicprowess that has left many a custom-built gaming PCs crying out formercy. Crysis 3 is no exception and even on the Xbox 360 version of thegame, Crytek takes the graphical eye-candy of the series to the nextlevel. The result is stop-and-stare visuals that are simply unparalleled.

Also on offer are a few new gameplay elements, including the ability toutilise Ceph weaponry, thanks to Prophet tinkering with his nanosuit andexperimenting with Ceph DNA. Although all the alien weapons lookfantastic, they boast about the same kick as the large assortment ofhuman guns players will find scattered across NYC.

We loved the fact that you can either run and gun your way throughthe game using the large selection of weapons on offer or take thestealth approach. We preferred the latter as it’s enormously entertainingskewering C.E.L.L troops and Ceph Stalker units alike with the normalarrowheads, bringing down Ceph Pinger sentry robots via theexploding- or electric shock arrowheads. The familiar HUD now sportsthe ability to hack all manner of electronic equipment, from renderinglandmines redundant through to turning enemy torrent guns on theircreators.

To the pointAs expected, Crysis 3 blows its FPS competition out of the water interms of its graphics, and also packs some solid FPS gameplaymechanics. This title is a definite must-buy for fans of the series andFPS gamers in general. It is not only the graphical yardstick by which allother games will now be measured, but also proves to be the first bigblockbuster title of the year to live up to its billing (the second isreviewed on the right). [HD]

Nanosuit? Check. Amazinggraphics? Check. Evil corporationsand aliens? Check. Oh, it must bethe new Crysis 3 then.

Crysis 3 Starcraft IIHeart of the swarm

Crysis 3 is the graphical yardstick bywhich all other games will now bemeasured.

32

techsmart 115, april 2013

Documents

registrationf r e e

s p e c

doesfords latest fiesta

gastechsmart issue

tech fix

best weve

litre ecoboost engine

heardabout tech fans