techsmart 118, july 2013

smart ®

FREE!Issue 118July 2013ISSN 1726–3358

SA’s LARGEST TECH MAGAZINE

LenovoThinkPad HelixTablet without compromise

Top 5 Bakkies

The fight is on!Xbox One vs. PS4

The tough test

The costof privacyThe recent revelationsfrom whistleblowerEdward Snowdenregarding the USgovernment’s large

scale surveillance on its citizens are very frightening, but not totallyunexpected.

Regarding the sacrifice of privacy in order for better security, theargument often goes that if you’ve got nothing to hide, you’ve gotnothing to fear. For this it might help to go back to the words of one ofAmerica’s Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, who said: “They whocan give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserveneither liberty nor safety.”

It’s interesting to note that, at the time of his revelations, EdwardSnowden was working for consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, a privatecompany contracted to work for the US government. It begs the question -even if a government is to be trusted with conducting large scalesurveillance (they’re not), why did a private company have access to thisinformation? And who’s to say these companies are trustworthy? If youthink it’s any better here in SA, maybe go and read this: bit.ly/mgarticle.

What Edward Snowden, Bradley Manning and Julian Assange haveproven, is that the ones that have the most to hide, are governmentsthemselves.

Enjoy the issue,Mike ([email protected])

P.S. Go to www.techsmart.co.za, you might find something new.

TechSmart Issue 118, July 2013

22 Top 5 BakkiesBiltong, rugby, sunshine, corrupt politicians and bakkies – a good descriptionof life here in SA. We knuckle down and bring you the toughest rides, readyfor some serious off-road action.

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.

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Contents

Lenovo doesn’t skimp with the new ThinkPad Helix, offering a Core i7powered tablet with a great keyboard dock. Is it worth its R25 000asking price?

31

1

12 6

22

12 Lenovo ThinkPad Helix

• OnSite Support (Ad hoc and SLA contracts)

• Outsourcing• Network – ADSL – Wireless Solutions• Desktop and Server Support and

Sales• Hardware and Software Sales• Installations and Upgrades• Hosted Services – Cloud Solutions• Backup Solution• Infrastructure Planning• National Support

• Retail Systems • Clocking Systems• Software Application Development

Tel: 011 452 0022 | [email protected]

Web: www.compudynamics.co.za

Software Development and Solutions

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6 Xbox One vs. PS4At long last all the detail surrounding the next-gen consoles have beenreleased. We go head-to-head with Microsoft’s and Sony’s latest.

E3 is the biggest gaming expo of the year and a goldmine of new games. Wepan through the dreck to find you the top new titles.

31 Top 5 games from E3

Top Tech Titbits

In a sudden shift, Microsoft announced that its imminent XboxOne was abandoning DRM restriction plans that would haverequired users to connect to the internet at least once every 24hours. Furthermore, the company also changed course on itsapproach to buying, selling and hiring second hand games,stating players would be free to sell or lend their games as theysaw fit. The console’s region locking restriction was also lifted.The announcement came following the Electronic EntertainmentExpo, when players indicated displeasure at Microsoft’sapproach. See page 6 for more info on the next-gen consoles.

Apple unveils iOS 7

Google’s launch of its new Project Loon,which is either lunacy or genius, aims toenable internet connectivity in rugged, remoteor rural areas using balloons. These arecarried by the wind at altitudes twice as highas commercial planes, and are intended tobeam internet access to the ground, withconnection speeds comparable to that offeredby 3G networks. While the pilot flight is beingtested in New Zealand, South Africa is on thelist for other countries that could host theirown testing of the project.

NEWS

Microsoft South Africa, together with the government’s Jobs Fund,announced a partnership aimed at directly addressing youthunemployment in the country. Microsoft elaborated that it will trainmore than 3000 unemployed graduates, with the aim of enablingthem to obtain permanent jobs in the technology sector in the nextthree years. Students would sign 12-month internship contractsunder the Jobs Fund banner, with a target of having a minimum of75% of the students employed in full-time jobs by the end of theirtraining. Those interested can visit http://www.jobsfund.org.za/

Microsoft recants Xbox One restrictions

2

Google launchesProject Loon

Microsoft partners with The Jobs Fund

Apple has answered the problem of its iOS system looking andfeeling quite long in the tooth, unveiling a more modernised iOS 7operating system for its mobile devices. The new platform boastsa completely redesigned ‘flat’ interface, with simpler typographyand translucency. The new OS also brings several new features tothe fore. These include a new Control Centre, Notification centreas well as enhanced multitasking. The latter should enable usersto switch between their apps using a stackable card-like userinterface. It is expected this spring.

End of an era. This winter N

okia ships its last ever Symbian-pow

ered smartphones in the form

of the final batch of 808 PureView

s.

Everyone is a photographerthese days, but noteveryone can build their owncamera. Well actually youcan. The Konstruktor DIYcamera kit fromLomography gives all youneed to construct a fullyfunctioning 35 mm SLR.Price: $35. Try lomographystore.co.za on 011-403-0302 to see if theyhave in stock yet.

The 805 Maserati Edition loudspeaker from British audio aficionados, Bowers & Wilkins, aims to deliver the perfectblend of studio quality sound and opulent design. Beautiful maple wood veneer and the same black leather one findsin Maserati’s luxury sports cars adorn this luxurious speaker. When it launches during spring, this speaker will go for $5 000 Stateside, plus another $700 for the stand emblazoned with the famous Maserati Trident logo.

Bowers & Wilkins 805 Maserati Edition speaker

Hot New Products

The RJ-Romain Jerome watchcompany designed its new MoonOrbiter wristwatch as a timepiecetribute to space travel. Its black dialcontains actual moon dust, whilstthe steel case incorporates“elements from the Apollo 11 spaceshuttle”. Only 25 Moon Orbiters willinhabit the luxury timepiece galaxywith each carrying an RRP of $115 000.

RJ-Romain Jeromedeluxe Moon Orbiter

For the runner looking fora barefoot feel but with afair amount of comfortadded, Nike has just releasedtheir Flyknit Hyperfeel runningshoes. It might look like a funkysock with a sole, but theHyperfeel’s Flyknit technology uppers and a next-gen Free sole should beenough to provide a comfortable glide past opponents. No official releasedate is set yet.

Our favourite childhood things inone package – can it be? Just intime for the Man of Steel moviecomes Lego’s DC Universe SuperHeroes. The set we’re eyeing isMetropolis Showdown, featuringthe mighty Superman doing battleagainst the destructive General Zodin downtown Metropolis. Yours forR200 from http://toyssouthafrica.com.

Porsche 911 50thanniversary edition

Nike FlyknitHyperfeel

4

NEWS

Few car models can boast a fifty-year lineage, but the Porsche 911is not just any car. In celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of itsmost famous model range, the German sportscar maker islaunching the 911 50th anniversary edition. This rear-wheel-drivecoupé is powered by a 3.8-litre flat-six rear-mounted engine thatcan rocket to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds (3.8 seconds in the case ofthe PDK version) and onto a terminal velocity of 300 km/h. Thespecial edition 911 will be available in limited numbers during Q42013 for a cool $125 000.

Lomograpy KonstruktorDIY camera kit

Lego SupermanMetropolis Showdown

This year’s ElectronicEntertainment Expo (E3) was thescene for an auspicious kick off ofthe next-gen console gaming wars.The question on many players’ lipsnow is do they opt for Microsoft’sXbox One or rather go the route ofSony’s PS4?

On a hardware level, there is not too much ofa distinction between the two consoles. Bothsport eight-core processors and Blu-ray drivesand each has undergone an aestheticredesign. Additionally, both consoles boast 8 GB of memory, although the PS4 takes thelead by opting for GDDR5 RAM as comparedwith the Xbox One’s DDR3.

‘Eye’ am watching youWhereas the Xbox One ships with Kinectincluded (it’s no longer optional), thePlayStation Eye will be an optional extra.Additionally, each console will have its fairshare of tantalising exclusives upon, or atleast shortly after, release. On the PS4, playerscan look forward to the likes of inFamous:Second Son, The Order: 1866, Knack,Shadowfall, Killzone and DriveClub. On theXbox One, players can expect to see DeadRising 3, Quantum Break, TitanFall, SunsetOverdrive and inevitably, Halo 5.

A stream of cloudsBeyond the hardware and the games, theunveiling was auspicious for another reason,

WELCOME TO THE NEXT-GENXbox One and PS4 cross swords

highlighting two companies with very differentapproaches to gaming as a whole movingforward. Both Microsoft and Sony expressedreadiness to embrace the cloud; on the XboxOne, players can look forward to having theirentire libraries backed up and available in thecloud, while Sony players will have the facilityto stream their PS3 and PS4 titles as of nextyear.

Furthermore, each console has its ownapproach to the second screen trend;Microsoft via its SmartGlass app, while Sonystill opts for its dedicated handheld, the PSVita. Neither the Xbox One nor the PS4, will bebackwards compatible with older games.

Sudden changesHowever, the most stark difference betweenthe two companies and their forthcomingconsoles lay in their original approaches tosensitive and controversial issues such asdigital rights management (DRM). At first,Microsoft presented a restrictive andconfusing strategy in regards to second handgames. Additionally, the Xbox One started itslaunch requiring players to connect onceevery 24 hours to the internet, somethingwhich could leave those with spottyconnections unable to play any of their gamesuntil they do so, single player titles included.

The company also laid down prescribedconditions for selling, trading in or even justgiving one’s game away to a third party, whileconfirming that its new console would be fullyregion locked. Following E3, claiming it hadlistened to its customers, Microsoft suddenlyreversed course on all of the above,discarding the connectivity requirement, lifting

restrictions on the resale of games andmaking the console region free.

Sony, who’s announcements followedMicrosoft’s, took the opposite tack from theoutset. Indeed, the company ultimately wonthe loudest applause not so much for what itwill change, but rather, for what it won’t. JackTretton, Sony’s CEO, stressed that it would notenforce DRM or in any way require users toconnect in order to check in with a server andvalidate their purchases.

Furthermore, Sony added to this byannouncing that players will be able to freelyshare and sell their games as they saw fit, aswell as buy second hand titles if they sodesired, without restrictions on Sony’s part.Additionally, like the PS3 before it, the PS4would not be region locked. Adding to thismomentum, the company then offered firmand unwavering support to independentdevelopers, and not just the developers ofexpensive AAA titles – something Microsoft isstruggling with.

To the pointSony’s coup de grâce to the Xbox Oneannouncement though, really came with itsprice, with the PS4 commanding $400 (R4 000) as compared to the Xbox One’s $500(R5 000), a full $100 lower.

This, while Sony assured that subscribers toPS Plus would continue to receive freemonthly downloadable titles via its InstantGame Collection offering. Suffice to say, theconsole war battle has clearly begun, withboth systems now on a near parity. Come thisNovember, we should see which side garnersthe most supporters from the outset. [RN]

FEATURE

6

100 million+

. Apple surpassed this global sales m

ilestone for its iPod touch range, first on sale back in 2007.

Following on from the versatileFonepad, the company alsoannounced the device’ssuccessor, in the form of theFonepad Note FHD 6.Continuing in the same vein asits predecessor, this too isintended to be part 3Gsmartphone, part tablet, with a1.6 GHz Intel Atom Z2560 dual-core processor. The FonepadNote FHD 6 can lay claim to1920 x 1080 Full HD Super IPS+ display, and a display brightness of450 nits. As the Note in its name suggests, the 6" tablet includes astylus for quick and accurate handwritten input. Hopefully, this willmake it not just a writer’s companion, but another option for those wholong for a portable digital sketchpad.

Admittedly, these are early days for the products; with prices andavailability yet to be confirmed. However, it certainly seems that thosewho love mobility will be spoilt for choice when these products do arrivelocally. [RN]

Note well

To the point

HARDWARE

8

Asus came to Computex,which took place last monthin Taipei, Taiwan, with anumber of tantalising newproducts which users canlook forward to.

Asus tempts tablet transformation at Computex

Asus then moved on to usherin a new Transformer PadInfinity. This boasts a 1.9 GHzNvidia Tegra 4 mobileprocessor with a quad-coreARM Cortex-A15 CPU and72-core GeForce GPU.

The 10.1" display sounds like it is no slouch either, boasting asumptuous resolution of 2560 x 1600. The tablet’s redesigned keyboarddock now features a multi-touch touchpad, USB 3.0 and an SDXC cardreader. Asus asserted that the dock will also provide a longer battery lifewhen the tablet is docked.

To infinity andbeyond

At its “We Transform” Computex 2013 press event, the company’schairman, Jonney Shih, introduced the Asus Transformer Book Trio, a newAsus Transformer Pad Infinity, along with the Asus Fonepad Note 6 and theAsus Memo Pad HD 7.

Leading the transformation charge was the Transformer Book Trio(pictured above), billed as being the world’s first three-in-one mobiledevice. Aided by an 11.6" detachable display and dual operatingsystems, the company elaborated that the three-in-one device canswitch effortlessly between functioning as a Windows 8 notebook,Android tablet and Windows 8 desktop PC.

This means that users will be able to access the 700 000 apps in theGoogle Play Store and more than 50 000 apps in the Windows Storefrom one portable device. The company continued that the PC Stationdock has its own 4th generation (Haswell) Intel Core i7 processor,keyboard and 750 GB hard drive. With the tablet display detached, itcan be connected to an external display for use as a desktop PC.

Additionally, the PC Station serves as a charger for the tablet toextend battery life. The tablet features a 2.0 GHz Intel Atom processorand a 16:9 aspect ratio IPS display with full HD 1920 x 1080 resolutionand up to 64 GB of storage.

Transforming Trio

In keeping with the trend tocater to the mainstreammarket, the company alsoannounced its 7" MemoPad HD 7. Once againpushing the price envelopeas it did at the time with theNexus 7, Asus announcedthat the 8 GB version wouldcost $130 (R1 300) and the16 GB version would cost$150 (R1 500). It may be lightweight at 302 g, but the quad-coreprocessor should ensure that no corners have been cut with regards toperformance. Indeed, this was certainly the case with that other budgetstar, the Asus-produced Nexus 7.

The 10-point multi-touch IPS display will offer a resolution of 1280 x800, while users can expect to see a front 1.2-megapixel camera andoptional 5-megapixel rear-facing camera onboard. Finally, the device willlikely be aimed at the young, or young at heart, considering the fact thatit will be available in a range of colours, including dark blue, white, pinkand green.

Did you getthe memo?

256.5 million. Total num

ber of tablets expected to ship this year, a 67% increase as com

pared with 2012’s 153.6 m

illion.

10

HARDWARE

One of the lessons that the tablet craze has taught us, ismaybe all that processing power isn’t always necessary. The past few months we’ve received a number of new Windows-basedtablets for review. Many come with a separate keyboard dock, turningthem into a notebook-like device to help with creating documents,spreadsheets and emails. In order to assist with battery life, they offer theless powerful, but more battery friendly Intel Atom processors onboard.

At 11.6" the Samsung Ativ 500T is slightly larger than your averagetablet. The few inches extra on the screen make it easier to work on, but at740 grams it certainly isn’t the lightest unit available. Once docked with itskeyboard, the Ativ comes very close to a full sized notebook.

If you’re going to use the Ativ as a notebook, certainly the best feature isits battery life. Connected to a Wi-Fi network and running a movie wereceived 11 hours of power, so a full working day on the battery alone isnot out of reach. That said, the Intel Atom Z2760 processor, combined with2 GB of RAM, is definitely not suitable for heavy lifting. It showed duringbenchmarking – the Atom simply cannot hold a candle to the morepowerful Intel Core processors. If your aim is photo and video editing, orintensive multitasking, it’s best to look elsewhere.

Docked in the bayOn the tablet itself is a microSD card expansion slot, with which you canadd to the 64 GB onboard storage already available. You’ll also find a slotfor a SIM card, allowing for 3G connectivity on the go – a boon for roadwarriors. The keyboard dock adds two very important USB 2.0 ports to theequation, bringing the total to a very comfortable three.

We found the chiclet keyboard comfortable enough to type on, althoughit has a very plasticy feel to it and it’s definitely not as nice as the dockfound on HP’s Envy X2. As a final bit of critique we would have loved tohave heard a solid click when slotting in the tablet into the keyboard.Instead you’re sometimes left wondering if the keyboard is fully connected.

Despite Microsoft’s best efforts, using Windows 8 in desktop mode on atablet is still a painfully frustrating experience. Luckily Samsung includes astylus, and although not as nice as the S-Pen found on the Galaxy Note10.1, it improves the user experience quite a bit.

To the pointAs far as Windows 8 tablet solutions go, the Samsung Ativ 500T1C is avery solid offering. Used in conjunction with its keyboard dock it offerspretty close to full notebook experience, as long as you don’t expect toomuch with regards to performance. The added stylus and 3G connectivityraises its profile even more. It retails for R10 500 [MJ]

Samsung Ativ 500T

One of the Ativ’s best features is itsbattery life.

The Iconia W700 was a good tablet, but was let down bya strange keyboard and docking station combinationthat was difficult to carry along. The Acer Iconia W510puts an end to this problem.

The W510 offers a keyboard dock which you simply click the tabletinto. Although made from plastic, the keyboard comes across aswell designed. One thing to remember is, since this is a 10.1"tablet, the keyboard’s size is a lot smaller than you might be usedto working on with a regular notebook. The same is true for thetrackpad, but nonetheless, it is a great deal better than trying totype on Microsoft’s onscreen keyboard.

Going to the dockThe docking keyboard provides one full sized USB port, andalthough a micro USB connector is found on the tablet itself, Acerdoesn’t provide the necessary adaptor. Ditto for the micro HDMIport, while a MicroSD card slot can be used to expand on the 65 GB of storage space provided.

One thing that Acer can be commended on is that, once docked,the screen can be tilted backwards far enough to provide acomfortable viewing angle, without the unit falling over. TheSamsung Ativ (see adjacent), for example, doesn’t provide thesame degree of flexibility, which makes it difficult to type when it’son your lap, while HP’s Envy X2 simply tilts over due to the weightof the screen.

Processing powerThe W510 cuts down on processing power, since it does notinclude the Intel Core i3 processor as found on the W700, butrather opts for a dual-core Intel Atom Z2760 processor running at1.8 GHz and 2 GB of RAM, similar to the Samsung Ativ smart PC. Ifyou’re going to work with large files, the W510 is not the one to get,although common tablet tasks should be fine.

To the pointAs a tablet with a keyboard docking solution, we were quite fond ofthe Acer Iconia W510, but its R10 000 pricetag makes it competemore closely with the larger Samsung Ativ which boasts betterconnectivity options. [MJ]

Acer Iconia W510

The W510’s keyboard is a great dealbetter than trying to type on Microsoft’sonscreen keyboard.

Up to 12 hours. B

attery life expectancy of Apple’s new

13" MacB

ook Air, w

ith the battery of the smaller 11" version expected to last up to 9 hours.

12

Sony has a good thing going with its Xperia Zsmartphone – so why change when it comestablets?

Sony Xperia Tablet Z

Sleek and stylish: two words that describe the Xperia Tablet Z, Sony’slatest. Luckily for us Sony did not stop there, since much like itsflagship phone, the Xperia Z, its new 10.1" tablet is also dust and waterresistant. In fact, if all the ports’ flaps are closed, you can keep the Zunder one metre of water for up to 30 minutes. This means thatreading Kindle ebooks in the bath is now at long last a worry-freeexperience.

As can be expected, the Tablet Z takes its design-cues straight fromthe Z smartphone. It’s definitely not as curvy as other tablets, but thisdoes not detract from a comfortable user experience, with three thingshelping out. The matte finish of the back cover allows for a bit moregrip, while the tablet’s weight and thickness makes it a pleasure tohold for an extended period of time. In fact, at only 6.9 mm (495 g), theTablet Z is thinner than most smartphones.

And performance tooWith all this counting in the Z’s favour, one might expect a drop inperformance. Not true: the Tablet Z is one of the best performingtablets currently available. With 2 GB of RAM and the 1.5 GHzQualcomm S4 Pro quad-core processor onboard, it benchmarked thesame as the similarly specced Z smartphone, trouncing tablets suchas the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

Add to this a brilliant full HD 10.1" LED screen with excellent viewingangles, expansion of the 16 GB storage via microSD card and full HDconnectivity, and you have yourself certainly one of the top tabletscurrently available.

To the pointThere’s very little that Sony hasn’t done right with the Tablet Z. It’s apremium Android (4.1.2) device that shows a commitment from Sonyto being more than an also-ran in the tablet space. Onboard you’ll findeverything that you need (except a stylus and power cable) includingan excellent screen, strong performance and solid design. You pay forthe privilege though, since it retails for an expensive R9 000. [MJ]

There’s very little that Sony hasn’t doneright with the Tablet Z.

HARDWARER600 m

illion. Am

ount of money raised by S

napchat, a smartphone m

essaging app startup that deletes messages m

oments after they are opened.

As with most ThinkPads you can take the Helix ultrabook to a bar fight. It isbuilt like a brick and the click it makes when you dock the tablet iscomparable to closing the door on a fine German saloon.

For business users connectivity is a big deal, and on the 11.6" tablet youwill find a SIM card slot for 3G connectivity on the go. There’s also a USB2.0 port and a MiniDisplayPort, but no SD card slot to expand on ourreview unit’s 256 GB SSD (large for an SSD). All the ports are unfortunatelylocated at the bottom of the tablet; a bit of a pain when you have a USBstick inserted and you’re working on your lap. Once docked, users will find2x USB 3.0 ports at their disposal (inconveniently placed at the back of thedock), while Lenovo provides a USB dongle for ethernet. Luckily, Lenovoalso includes a digitiser stylus to work with on-screen.

And dockedAs far as the keyboard dock goes, it is by far the best we’ve used. TheThinkPad range is renowned for it’s excellent and type-friendly keyboards,and the Helix is no exception. It is partly for this reason that the Helix feelslike a proper notebook that you can simply whip off the screen to use it asa tablet.

The other reason is the processing power at its disposal. Inside you’ll finda top-end Intel Core i7 3667U dual core processor that runs at 2 GHz percore, backed-up by a massive 8 GB of RAM. If you favour multitasking, orhave a number of processor intensive applications, this is your machine.

To the pointIt’s not to say the Helix is without it faults: located at the back is a flimsypiece of plastic that detracks from the overall design; the tablet gets quitehot; the volume rockers are difficult to press; and the screen can only tiltback so far. We dare say though, that in future, many more notebooks willfollow the Helix’s footsteps. It seems like Lenovo didn’t spare any expensein producing a device that simply does not compromise. The main dealbreaker is its price – an expensive R25 000. [MJ]

Lenovo lists its ThinkPad Helix as a tablet, but that mightjust be a bit misleading. Docked in its keyboard it isactually a full strength, fully capable notebook.

Lenovo ThinkPad Helix

The Helix feels like a proper notebook thatyou can simply whip off the screen to useit as a tablet.

ADVERTORIAL

INTERVIEW

The camera, firstly, is shaped somewhat differently than the usual,bearing a distinctly more square shape rather than a rectangular one.With a 2.8" LCD screen that can lift ninety degrees to the body, it thenresembles a cube in one’s hand. Its design, however, is intentional, asthe variable screen enables one to capture stills and video from awkwardangles.

Distinguishing featuresOther differences which distinguish the 12.1 megapixel camera ingeneral use include the absence of the usual shutter release on thecamera’s top, and the familiar zoom nib. Rather, images are taken bytouching the screen, or by using one of the two control rings encirclingthe lens. The second control ring accesses the camera’s 8x (28-224 mmequivalent) optical zoom. The control rings can take a little getting usedto. thus, we preferred to use one control ring to zoom into our subjectand then just capture the image by touching the screen.

Creative companionCementing its role as a creative companion – and challenging the allureof using one’s smartphone camera – is an innovative feature calledCreative Shot. This fires off six different images of the same scene withvarying exposures, points of focus, contrast, composition and colouroptions, often producing some interesting, even surprising, results.

Also onboard is Wi-Fi for connecting to one’s notebook, tablet orsmartphone. Like a smartphone, the camera is smaller than mostcompacts, connected, and creatively orientated. This enables shootersto connect the PowerShot N to their smart device and share their effortsvia the social network of their choice. The inclusion of Canon’s DIGIC 5image processor ensures general use and navigation is quick andresponsive.

To the pointThe Canon PowerShot N may seem odd at first, but that is because itmarches to the beat of its own, creative tune. When all is said and done,the camera’s unique, whimsical and funky approach is a breath of freshair. It has a RRP of R3 700. [RN]

In the realm of portable cameras, it’s all too easyto start longing for something a little different,that rocks the compact camera boat. Enter thePowerShot N.

Canon PowerShot N

TechSmart (TS): What features in general offered by the 6D do youmost appreciate and use in professional situations?Grant Atkinson (GA): Fast, accurate autofocus, even in the lowest levelsof light, is a strong point for the camera. It also has image quality that isexcellent, especially at higher ISO sensitivity settings that I am oftenforced to use for nature photography. This while twenty megapixels ofresolution give options for big prints or cropping.

TS: Did you find the Wi-Fi connectivity facility on the camera –something that the higher end full frame 5D Mark III does not offer –to be an imperative feature or just a good-to-have when travelling?GA: For my use the Wi-Fi allowed me remote control of the camerawithout having to carry extra components like a separate infra-redtrigger and camera remote. This was invaluable when travelling, asairline baggage allowances often impact how much gear I can travelwith. I like to use remote camera locations for wildlife when the occasionpresents itself, and the smaller the camera unit, the less likely it is thatwild animals will take note of it.

TS: What kind of photography do you believe the 6D is most suitedtowards?GA: I see the 6D as a less-costly all-rounder that is going to find itselffilling all kinds of roles, just like the 5D Mark II before it. The camera hasa control set that will be instantly familiar to those users upgrading fromthe Canon 700D range, and a compact size that means it will not beintimidating, even to those with smaller hands.The 6D’s particular strengths are its AF performance, especially so in

low light, and its image quality, as well as its compact size. It is great forweddings, events and any general photography usage, both indoorsand out. With a very quiet Silent mode, it makes it unobtrusive, while italso makes a super landscape camera, with its image quality, andlightweight making it easy to carry.

Also visit Grant’s website at www.grantatkinson.com.

While we have spent somehands-on time with the CanonEOS 6D, we asked professionalphotographer and guide,Grant Atkinson, for his view

and experience of the entry level full frame offering.

Interview: Grant Atkinson,Professional photographer

The PowerShot N’s funky approach is abreath of fresh air.

CAMERAS

Full Article bit.ly/6dinter

Nikon in South Africa is committedto assisting Nikon users withgetting the most out of theirequipment. We investigate whatthey have to offer.

Nikon School of Photography (NSP) aims toinspire photographers of all levels andpromote discussions about photographyamongst Nikon users. The aim of the school isto help photography enthusiasts master newtechniques and improve their picture-takingskills by providing clear, direct information on awide range of technical and creative topics.

Not only does the NSP have an extendedrange of offerings to suit a variety of differentskill levels and requirements, but it has alsoteamed up with some fantastic presenters toprovide truly unique experiences.

Free camera training The NSP runs free camera training on all theirentry-level Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR)cameras. These free training courses aredesigned to help users discover the potentialof their Nikon camera and teach the basicfunctions. Once completed, Nikon users will beable to get the most out of their equipment.

Free photographic workshops In addition to free camera training the NSPpresents free workshops on a number oftopics. These are run on a monthly basis andcover a specific topic each month. There is no

Nikon School of Photography in South Africacost associated with these workshops andeach has a theoretical and practicalcomponent. Participants are given practicaltips and camera settings that will help themunderstand a particular photographic theme.

Workshops for the remainder of the yearinclude Sports and Action photography (July),Photographing Kids and Pets (August), Wildlifeand Travel photography (September) andEngagement photography (October).

Introductory course – ExploringPhotographyThe NSP is very excited to announce a newseries of courses that will help amateurphotographers gain a greater understanding ofthe photographic process. This four-hourworkshop is designed to help understand thekey photographic concepts of Aperture,Shutter speed and ISO. It will show participantstechniques that will ensure that every image iscorrectly exposed; how white balance settingscan be used to enhance photographic images;the importance of obtaining correct focus; andhow to handle shooting in low light conditions.

The course is filled with valuable tips andtechniques to optimise camera settings andcreate innovative and exciting images. Thecourse, Exploring Photography, will start inAugust and booking is essential.

Specialist WorkshopsThe specialist courses presented by the NSPoffers more experienced photographers andadvanced enthusiasts the opportunity to learnadvanced techniques from acknowledgedindustry leaders. Workshop topics includeAerial photography, Advanced painting withlight techniques, Setting up a studio and

Speedlight photography. Each of theseworkshops are conducted by an industryspecialist with practical sessions included,since most photographic techniques are learntnot by understanding the theoretical aspectsbut by grasping the practical component of thegenre.

Photography ToursNikon in South Africa and Land RoverCenturion have joined forces to create anexciting initiative called “I AM ADVENTURE”.The initiative sees two great adventure brandscreating exciting photographic excursions forall levels of photography. Land RoverCenturion has invested three new Discovery 4Land Rovers and together with Nikon trainersand equipment, the vehicles will be the perfecttools to set out on photographic adventures.Nikon will be offering exclusive workshopswhere clients will have the opportunity to drivethe new Discovery 4 while partaking inspecially designed photographic excursions.

To the pointNikon School of Photography workshops aregreat for beginner photographers, advancedamateur photographers, or even professionalphotographers who want a fresh way to look attheir photography. All the training facilitatorsare passionate photographers themselves,who strive to create workshops that are fun,engaging and filled with learning opportunities.The Nikon School of Photography is aboutempowering individuals to engage inphotography and create a lifetime of greatimages.

For more information on the NSP, [email protected] or 086-116-4566.

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Over the last few years Pinnacle Africa,distributor of advanced ICT equipment andmanufacturer of products such as the ProlinePC range, has been focussing on thebusiness sector in conjunction with all themajor software and hardware providerswithin the IT and mobile environments.Likewise, Samsung has followed on itsconsumer strengths with a targeted focus oncorporate customers.

Now the two companies are joining forcesby offering smartphones and tablets; value-add services; and customised bundles,directly to the end-user. Many institutionscan benefit from this, including thoseseeking to outfit their staff, along witheducational institutions looking for cost-effective digital solutions for teachers andstudents, for example.

The model essentially allows corporates toleverage existing IT budgets which havebeen dedicated for device capex spend, andto procure mobile devices via traditional ITchannels. Pinnacle Africa fits nicely into thischannel as they are a major distributor ofmobile technology.

A new approachAs this new business model has evolved,Pinnacle Africa has listened to what theirclients need. “Initially, when we first tried thismodel,” says Gerhard Hartzenberg,divisional head of Samsung, Pinnacle Africa,“we noticed that, from a pricing perspective,the markets we were targeting wereextremely price sensitive. A more innovativeapproach was needed, so we startedoffering lower memory variance devices and,most importantly, Wi-Fi only options too. Thisis most definitely a unique selling point fromour perspective as it can be deployed tostaff or students without any additional fees.”The idea has found traction within theeducation and corporate world becausethere is a significant price differencebetween Wi-Fi only and 3G models. Theoption to go with Wi-Fi only models is furtherenhanced by many big organisations havingeasy access to Wi-Fi infrastructure.

Pinnacle Africa also saw that many of theircustomers needed to have mobile businessapps or content loaded onto devices beforesending it to the end-user. “It was impractical

to order 1000 units and then have usersphysically install the required software oneach unit themselves. We decided to offer aservice whereby we would preinstall contentthat the client needed” Hartzenberg noted.

Personalisation is keyThe product customisation does not endhere. Pinnacle Africa is able to put specificbranding and covers onto smartphones andtablets. “Further, we can insert marketingcollateral inside the device packaging, sothat if the customer wants any particularcommunication around a specific offer, it isavailable. This allows for the product tobecome a client-specific out-of-boxexperience which has been extremelypopular as many of our clients want topersonalise their offering going to the enduser. We are, at our core, hardware moversand our entire drive is to create value forpeople who are buying hardware from acapex perspective and need reliability, after-sales service and product flexibility,”Hartzenberg continued.

Hartzenberg further believes that thesuccess of Pinnacle Africa’s variouspackages is based around a trend whereconsumers realise that they can purchase adevice of their choice, and then look for aseparate voice and data bundle. “What wehave seen of late is consumers actuallygoing out and buying devices and usingthem on a pay-as-you-go basis. You maywant two or three different devices but don’tnecessarily need a contract for each ofthem. Furthermore, customers may find agreat deal and want to upgrade withouthaving to take out a new contract. You cansimply use your existing contract on yournew device.”

Service is everythingTo complete their value-add offering,Hartzenberg says that Pinnacle Africa havelaunched an industry first. “For the first timein the mobile industry, we are offering a two-year on-site, next-business-day warranty onSamsung smartphones and tablets. Thismeans that if customers have a problem witha device, they can phone one number andwe will send out a technician who will offerpost-sales service and support. If thetechnician cannot fix it on the spot he will doa swap-out. This, we believe, will be of greatbenefit to the corporate world, sincesmartphones and tablets have evolved intocritical business tools. It is simply not viableto wait 14 days to get a device back.”

Contact informationFor more info on Pinnacle Africa’s mobilecommunications offerings, contact them on011-265-3000 or go to www.pinnacle.co.za.

Pinnacle Africa andSamsung have partnered inSouth Africa to bring you araft of cost-effective newpackages to meetcompanies’ mobile needs.

PinnacleAfrica andSamsungUniquesolutions forunique needs

Amarok double cab 2.0BiTDI 4x2 Highline

Mazda BT-50 3.2 SLEdouble cab

Toyota Hilux 3.0 D-4DRaised Body Raider DC

Like most of the other bakkies withinthis comparison, Mazda’s BT-50 isthe prop of the double cab rugbyteam, making for an imposing sighton South African roads. What sets itapart from the rest is its exterior

looks, which certainly will not leave anyone in doubt as to what bakkie israpidly approaching in their rearview mirror.

The BT-50 is powered by a 3198 cc in-line five cylinder turbodieselengine, which delivers 147 kW at 3000 RPM and a useful 470 Nm of torquebetween 1750 and 2500 RPM. Though the outside of the BT-50 adopts alove it or hate it styling approach, the interior cabin presents driver andpassenger with a comfortable, car-like environment with features such asBluetooth voice control and cruise control as standard. RRP: R409 600.

Besides sporting the mosthandsome face out of all thebakkies in this comparison,VW’s Amarok also boasts thebest in class handling on tarredroads. Its 1968 cc four cylinder

turbocharged motor cranks out 132 kW at 4000 RPM and 400 Nmof torque between 1500 and 2250 RPM.

Sensible drivers should see a combined-cycle (town andhighway driving) fuel usage figure close to the claimed 7.9 litresper 100 km. Also onboard is plenty of safety tech to assist driverson or off road including an electronic stabilisation programmewith brake assist, hill start assist and hill descent control. RRP isR396 500.

Toyota’s evergreen Hilux haslost some of its shine in theface of some more moderndouble cab rivals such as theFord Ranger and new KB,despite its comfortable interior

and capable off road performance. The Raider DC is powered by atried and tested 2982 cc inline four cylinder turbo diesel enginedeveloping 120 kW at 3400 RPM and 343 Nm of torque between1400 and 3200 RPM.

For R389 000, you not only get a bakkie that is capable of hangingonto a fairly good resale value, but 17" alloy wheels, six speakersound system with Aux and USB input, as well as a 5 year or 90 000km ToyotaCare Service Plan.

There are few things as South African as the Big 5, biltong, Currie Cup rugby and the weekend braai. Alsoincluded in this list is the hallowed double cab bakkie. Here are our top 5 choices.

22

VEHICLES

TOP 5 Double cab bakkies

Under the bonnet of the Blue Oval’s Ranger resides Ford’sphenomenal 3198 cc 5 cylinder turbocharged powerplantthat easily outmuscles rivals (barring the BT-50) courtesy ofits 147 kW at 3000 RPM and trailer pulling 470 Nm of torquebetween 1500 and 2750 RPM.

Together with the Amarok and KB, the Ranger representsthe latest and greatest tech one can find in a bakkie, asopposed to SA’s number one choice – the Hilux, whichdelivers capable off road performance, best in class buildquality and resale value as its main selling points. Ford’sRanger bests the Hilux in terms of its design as well as itspowerplant’s performance, and the rest of its rivals in termsof interior features.

The RRP of the Ranger comes in at R407 600, andincludes plenty of standard kit the likes of Bluetooth-basedvoice control for calls and audio streaming, helping theRanger ascend to the top of the double cab hill. [HD]

Unlike all the other manufacturers inthis comparison, Isuzu specialises inoff road vehicles. The all-new, sixthgeneration KB bakkie is powered bya three litre, four cylinderturbocharged diesel engine that

delivers 130 kW at 3600 RPM and 380 Nm of torque between 1800 and2800 RPM. More conservatively minded drivers should obtain a combined-cycle fuel usage figure of 7.8 litres per 100 km.

A plethora of safety features are onboard such as ABS, EBD, driver andfront passenger airbags, curtain airbags, and front seat side airbags. TheRRP of this desirable double cab is R410 400, which nets buyers plenty ofstandard kit including automatic climate control with pollen air filter, a sixspeaker sound system and integrated Bluetooth mobile hands-free system.

Isuzu KB 300 D-TEQ LX4×2

Ford Ranger 3.2XLT HR Diesel

The best-selling passenger cars in SA during M

ay 2013: VW

Polo (2688 units), VW

Polo Vivo (2645), Toyota Etios (1507).

The German luxury carmaker expanded its 2013 RS model range to fivevehicles with the addition of the new RS 5 Cabriolet. This joins its four high-performance siblings, the RS 4 Avant, the RS 5 Coupé, the TT RS Coupéand the TT RS Roadster) in the lineup.

Even though winter is underway in South Africa, RS 5 Cabriolet driverscan bathe in the rays on a sunny afternoon, with the four-seat convertiblebeing able to lower its soft top in just 15 seconds. If the weather happensto take a turn for the worst, the top can be raised in 17 seconds, even whilethe vehicle is travelling at speeds of up to 50 km/h. The RS5 Cabriolet’sroof compartment takes up a mere 60 litres of the total 380 litre luggagecompartment capacity of the car, leaving passengers with 320 litres whichis a best-in-class figure according to Audi.

Audi RS 5 drivers looking to let the sunshine induring those sunny afternoons are in luck, as AudiSouth Africa has unleashed the RS5 Cabriolet ontolocal streets.

23

VEHICLES

Putting a smile on petrolheads’ faces This Cabriolet should be capable of delivering an exhilarating drive in thetwisty mountain pathways or rain-soaked city streets thanks to its high-revving naturally aspirated 4.2 litre V8 FSI engine. This powerplant churnsout 331 kW at 8250 RPM and 430 Nm of torque between 4000 and 6000RPM, enough power to launch the car from standstill to 100 km/h in under5 seconds at sea-level. Its limiter only cuts in at a glorious 8500 RPM.Terminal velocity is an illegal 250 km/h, but that is only due to the car beingreigned in by its electronic speed limiter.

Audi claims that drivers should see a combined-cycle (town and highwaydriving) fuel consumption figure of around 10.7 litres per 100 km, which isactually quite decent for this class of performance car.

To the pointUnfortunately, the joy of working on your tan at excessive speeds costs anexclusive R986 000 including all taxes and a five-year or 100 000 km AudiFreeway Plan. Two more RS models will arrive before the end of this year inthe form of the RS 7 Sportback and RS Q3.

More power, lessfuel usage forthe HyundaiSonata

Hyundai skipped the midlife revamp for its Sonataand rather opted to introduce a new powerplantand some minor styling changes, culminating inthe new 2.4 GDI Elite.

Driving impressions When you floor the accelerator pedal of the Sonata GDI Elite, thereis a bit of lag initially before the engine changes down a gear so thatyou are able to keep your speed while ascending a hill.

Drivers can bypass this lag by changing gear for themselves viathe shifting paddles situated behind the steering wheel. These worka treat especially on the highway when you want to overtake, sinceyou merely flick the left paddle to change down a gear, providing thelevel of acceleration needed to pass slower moving traffic.

During our almost 110 km test route, the gas-charged dampersand fully independent suspension of the Sonata did a magnificentjob of absorbing the impact of speed bumps and potholes, whilstthe coil-springs and stabiliser bars kept body-roll down to aminimum.

To the pointThe RRP of the new Sonata 2.4 GDI Elite is a pricey R379 900, butthe biggest sales hurdle facing the Sonata is the lack of brandappeal compared to its luxury saloon competition, most notablyBMW’s 3-Series. [HD]

Styling wise, the new Sonata is almost unrecognisable as a new model,thanks to subtle changes that include new fog lights, a slightly redesignedgrille, as well as revised head- and taillight clusters that now boast Xenonbulbs. Interior changes are also minimalistic and offers a sound system thatfeatures a touchscreen display, and heated seats for the front occupants,which should be a delight to use on those cold winter mornings.

The biggest difference comes in the form of the 2.4 litre four-cylinderGDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) petrol engine that produces 148 kW at6300 RPM and 250 Nm of torque at 4250 RPM. This is enough power toaccelerate the car from standstill to 100 km/h in nine seconds. Despiteproviding the Sonata with 13% more power and 10% more torque thanbefore, the new engine actually utilises less fuel, as the combined-cycle(town and highway driving) usage drops to 7.9 litres per 100 km (from8.2 litres) in the new 2.4 GDI Elite.

AudiRS5dropsits top

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Google’s firsteco investmentin AfricaTech giant, Google,has announced its firstrenewable energyinvestment in Africa,which totals aroundR103 million. Thisinvestment was madein the Jasper PowerProject, a 96

megawatt solar photovoltaic plant in the Northern Cape. Uponcompletion, Jasper will be one of the largest solar installations on thecontinent, capable of generating enough electricity to power 30 000South African homes. According to Google, the project will bringeconomic and social benefits to the local community, since Jasper willcreate approximately 300 construction and 50 permanent jobs in aregion experiencing high rates of unemployment.

Fiat’s 900 cc TwinAirTurbo bi-fuel methane-powered engine hasscooped the title ofBest Green Engine ofthe Year 2013 at therecently heldInternational Engine ofthe Year Awards. Thiscompact two-cylinderpowerplant made itsinternational debut last

year in the new Fiat Panda (pictured above), combining theenvironmental benefits of a methane fuel supply with the power andperformance of Fiat’s Turbo TwinAir technology. It delivers 59 kW at5500 RPM and 140 Nm of torque at a low 2500 RPM, whilstconsuming just 3.1 kg of methane for every 100 km driven on acombined cycle.

PaperlessParliament onthe ecohorizon National Assemblyspeaker, Max Sisulu,revealed that anapplication dubbed ‘MyParliament’ is in its finaltesting phase and will belaunched soon. The appwill enable Members of

Parliament (MPs) to receive their Parliamentary papers and schedulesdigitally. This move cuts down on the governmental body’s need for paperpages, whilst also significantly reducing the amount of paper wastegenerated by the institution. We hope that, from now on boredParliamentarians will not enjoy tweeting or playing Angry Birds on theirsmartphone or tablet, under the guise of utilising the My Parliament app.

NEWS

24

Green NewsSci News

Fiat scoopseco-friendlyengine award

Picture by:Barcroft Media

A river runsthrough itWater is life. Andaccording to a recentreport in the journalScience, the formerwas definitely presenton Mars. Uponexamining Curiosityrover’s pictures of anarea in Gale Crater,scientists found ascattering of smooth,

round pebbles. The pebble trail is a tell-tale sign of running water, asthey can form only when water carries stones over long distances. Theshapes and sizes of the pebbles further suggest that the water mayhave run up to one metre deep and flowed at about one metre persecond. And if Mars once was wet and warm, it may be just a matter oftime before finding signs of life. Image courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech.

HIV is a callous killer.But scientists report inthe journal Nature thatthey may be able tothwart some of itsplans. The studyshowed that theenzyme DNA-PK,which in normal

conditions coordinates the repair of broken DNA strands, switches sidesupon HIV infection. When HIV invades our immune cells, it breaks a DNAstrand to fuse its own genetic material with that of the host cell.Surprisingly, DNA-PK then tells the immune cell to die rather than repairitself, which means the very cells meant to fight the infection aredestroyed. The good news, though, is that knowing how the virusmanages its destructive feat can help us to develop drugs to stop viralreplication early on. [LP]

Doublejeopardy

Fast forwardCheetahs like to gettheir food fast.According to an articlein a recent issue of thejournal Nature, acheetah can chasedown its prey at a topspeed of 93 km/h overmore than 170 m.Using tracking collarsfitted with GPS andmotion sensors,researchers measured

sprint patterns of five wild cheetahs over the course of 17 months.During a sprint, the cheetahs accelerated twice as fast as racinggreyhounds and four times faster than Usain Bolt during his 100 mworld record dash. But speed alone didn’t bring home the bacon; clevermanoeuvres and grip were as important. The data showed that during asuccessful hunt, the cheetahs would sprint, then rapidly hit the brakesand quickly change direction before setting off on another dash. Fastand smart. Image courtesy of Flickr user Vark1.

27 billion. New

record for messages sent over a 24 hour period via popular instant m

essaging platform W

hatsApp.

5 July 2013

To watch

25

For something as local as Karoo lamb, theAfrikaans flavours of Die Laaste Tango shouldbe on your menu. Firstly, no it’s not a musical;this thriller is penned and directed byacclaimed crime writer Deon Meyer, whosenovels have been translated into 20languages. A workaholic detective (LouwVenter, Corne from The Most Amazing Show)

brutally assaults a serial killer, and is sent to Loxton in the Karoo for hissins. He meets a woman with cancer (Antoinette Louw) who wants todance one last tango before her death, but the killer is also plottingrevenge. It should be riveting stuff.

Die Laaste Tango

12 July 2013

As much as we love Johnny Depp, we can’thelp but think that his characters are becomingmuch of a muchness. The Lone Ranger doesnot look to prove us wrong, with Depp playingcrazy/weird Indian Tonto, alongside ArmieHammer (The Social Network) as The LoneRanger. It might not be a western in thetraditional sense, but much like Will Smith’sWild Wild West, it should be good enough to

accompany some kernel crunching.

The Lone Ranger

With a number of blockbuster movies heading tolocal shores this month, there is no shortage ofgood movies to watch.

ETC...ETC...

Which next-gen console will you be buying?

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

Facebook: facebook.com/techsmartmag

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

Xbox OnePlayStation 4I am sticking with my old consoleNeither, I game on PC

Here are the tweets that struck our fancy lastmonth.

TechSmart’s top tweets

TechSmart.co.za online poll results

5%66%10%19%

26 July 2013

This is the second solo outing for Logan (HughJackman) and this time round he finds himselfin Japan after the events of X-Men: The LastStand. Stripped of his normal power, Wolverinehas to face an enemy from his past, while a bitof growling and bulging muscles are sure to bepresent. Local director Gavin Wood isunfortunately not at the helm again (he’s busywith the exciting sci-fi Ender’s Game), with

duties being taken over by the talented James Mangold (Walk the Line).

The Wolverine

19 July 2013

From the wealth of good movies stilllying ahead, World War Z is without adoubt the one we’re most excitedabout. Loosely based on Max Brooks’awesome novel, World War Z starsBrad Pitt as UN employee Garry Lane.He’s tasked with scouring the globefor solutions in turning the tide againstan ever increasing number of undead,which, unlike traditional zombies,have Usain Bolt sprinting abilities. Ifthe trailers are anything to go by, weshould as least have as much fun as2002’s 28 Days Later.

World War Z

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Looking to free upyour hands whencrawling under thecovers with a goodbook, or to holdyour place whencooking? TheGimble BookHolder enables bookworms to do just that, having been designed tokeep books open at the most reading-friendly angle, while stillallowing users to turn the pages easily. It retails for R95 which netsbuyers a set of two book holders that fit the most popular paperbacksizes with a spine of up to 40 mm.

Gimble BookHolder

If coughing up the dosh tobuy expensive new razorblade heads leaves youwith skin irritation, put astop to it with the RazorPitTeneo Razor Sharpener.This product not onlysharpens dull blades, but italso removes organicmaterial that accumulateson the edge of the bladeswhile shaving, delivering amore hygienic shavingexperience. It works withall razor blades andcartridges, disposable as well as double edge blades. R200 for acheek so smooth that babies will be jealous.

RazorPit TeneoRazor Sharpener

26

Web Time Wasters

ADVERTORIAL

http://curious.com/Curious

It has been said the surestway to stave off aging is tokeep learning. If true, thenCurious may be amongst thesites that could beconsidered a modern dayversion of the Fountain ofYouth. The site enables

people to teach others about a topic or activity which they know, throughshort instructional videos, as well as encouraging viewers to share theirown expertise. A small sample of lessons on offer include everythingfrom building a shelter and planting a garden, to writing HTML code andtiling your floor. While many of the lessons are free, teachers can alsoelect to charge a nominal fee.

http://narrative.ly/With journalism ingeneral, and long formstories in particular,being challenged bythe seeminglyunending trendtowards instantaneousinformation and theneed for speed

overtaking depth, Narratively is a breath of fresh air. The site isdedicated to slowing down the news cycle and instead telling in-depthand untold stories, about New York to start with. Thus, it delivers onestory a day and this could range from a longform article to a photoessay or short documentary. Irrespective of your interest in New Yorkitself, this experiment in storytelling is well worth your time.

Narratively

http://hadonejob.com/Had one job

From the serious to thelaughable, Had One Joboffers up photos of various‘fails’ for your amusement.These include a picture of aniPhone placed in a Samsungdisplay frame, an arrowdrawn on the road that points

cars directly into a pole, misspelt STOP signs (or is that SOPT signs?)and poorly planned carpentry, amongst others. For a quick and amusingglance at how signage and product design can go very wrong, this sitedoes its job very well.

INTERNET

mantality.co.za

What do you buy for thebraaimaster who seemsto have everything?How about the BBQSword which takes a jabat being both useful aswell as swashbucklinglyentertaining. The BBQSword is designed inthe style of a musketeersword, complete withsword handle grip, butremains every bit aspractical as aconventional braai fork.R330 to playD’Artagnan next to thefire with the rest of thebeer musketeers.

BBQ Sword

Struggling to find interesting birthday-,housewarming- or bachelor party gifts for yourfriends? Check out the following products fromMantality.co.za.

http://www.upworthy.com/Upworthy

Upworthy is another site thataggregates content for yourviewing pleasure. However, itis considerably more, to put itdelicately, intelligent andthought provoking than someother sites that do the same.One look at the categories

under which videos are aggregated affirms this. These include diversity,economy, environment, immigration, politics, science and technologyand inspirational. While many of the videos offer social and politicalcommentary, a number are amusing and several are profound. Wellworth a visit or ten.

Six m

illion. Num

ber of Facebook users’ personal details which w

ere inadvertently exposed by a bug in the Facebook machine.

If there is a number that you need to dial frequently, such as yourcomplex’s security gate, why not add a ‘direct dial’ to one of yourhome screens? A ‘direct dial’ option can be found under yourwidgets. Long press to add it, while it will also ask you to selectthe number/contact to link to.

27

BlackBerry tipIn order to access safe mode on your BlackBerry you will have toperform a hard reboot, which necessitates extracting your battery fromthe device. When your BlackBerry is busy booting up (with a whiteloading bar) hold down the Escape key until your device starts. If donecorrectly you will now have enabled safe mode.

APPS

If you want to know at a glance justhow much space each individualapp is currently occupying, andwhat you can delete in order to freeup space, click on ‘Settings’ andthen under the ‘General’ tab, select‘Manage Storage’. After a littlewhile of number crunching, youriOS device will give you the option to show all apps. This will then list theapps that take up the most space in descending order.

Apple iOS tip

Apple iOS Apps of the month

Smartphone top tipsAndroid Apps of the month

BlackBerry Apps of the month

Android tip

Vine may not be a new app, but thanks to Twitterending the iOS exclusivity for this application, itcertainly is new on Google Play. This app allowsusers to create and share looping videos of upto six seconds long. Users are also able to view

the Vines of other users for inspiration and follow their friends oraccounts they like. It is available if you have a mobile device usingAndroid 4.0 (ICS) and up.

Sheep Up!If you are suffering from virtual rope burn thanks tothe addictive nature of Cut the Rope and crave anew galaxy of entertainment after Angry BirdsSpace, then Sheep Up! may just be the ticket.Within this puzzle title, tiny toy sheep have been

stored in a cardboard box together with other old toys. Players are taskedwith helping them escape by employing motion-based controls (tilting yourmobile device) so that the sheep can reach the top of the box.

JuiceDefenderSmartphones are powerful devices, but theyshare a common problem which is single-daybattery life. JuiceDefender enables users toconserve their devices’ battery life by disablingthe most draining features. For instance, the

app can automatically turn off LTE connectivity, when yoursmartphone’s battery runs low. Opting for the paid version (R26,JuiceDefender Plus) adds more features like location-aware Wi-Ficontrol, enabling users to set the app to turn Wi-Fi on while you are atwork and disable it as soon as you leave work.

Vine

This free application by AppsForBB enablesyou to increase the performance of yourBlackBerry device. Besides allowing one toclean up or recover lost or unused memory,users can also schedule the clean-up process

to run at their convenience. To its credit, for a system utility app,Memory Booster boasts an easy to use interface. However, users doneed to keep in mind that the performance increase may differ fordifferent BlackBerry devices.

Alien QuarantineFans of the Alien series should have a look atthis free game by Gameloft. Alien Quarantineborrows elements from these popular moviesthe likes of Aliens, evident in the main story andgameplay. Thankfully, it boasts decent sound

effects and good graphics along with a lengthy campaign. However thisgame does suffer from performance issues, such as freezing and a slowresponsive menu. Need something to take your mind off Aliens ColonialMarines? Have a look at Alien Quarantine. [IF]

theScoreIf you are seeking an application that allowsyou to view the results of sporting events, thentheScore is worth a look. This sport applicationprovides access to coverage of a range ofsporting results, including the likes of cricket,

soccer and F1 as well as the Tour de France. The app’s detailed userinterface also lets users follow their favourite teams. The only problemwe had with this application was that it seemed to take some time torefresh results. Working in its favour though is the fact that it is free.

Memory Booster – Free Device Memory

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

Poetreat’s primary intention is to enable users tocraft quick poems on their iOS device. To thisend, users can customise their own rhymingscheme for each poem, and heed suggestionsfor potential rhyming words as they type. The

app’s single biggest accomplishment though is its propensity to get outof your way creatively, while still providing some welcome assistance.Poetreat is free to use, although unlocking saving does require an in-app purchase of R8.

Star Wars: Knights Of The Old RepublicFew role playing games have made an indelibleimpact in quite the same way as Star Wars:Knights Of The Old Republic, and nowBioWare’s masterpiece has come to the iPad.The game is most notable for beautifully distinct

characters and story with a gasp-inducing twist. More importantlythough, all that made it a hit some ten years ago is faithfully recreatedhere. At 1.8 GB it’s a hefty download, and it does not come cheap eitherat R100. However, it’s well worth it.

ColorSnap StudioFor anyone contemplating painting, orrepainting a room, ColorSnap Studio is a must-download. The app enables you to select fromsome 1500 colours and add them to your

palette. Additionally, you can capture a colour from a photo. These canthen be used to paint a photo of both exteriors or interiors and thus geta good idea of how that colour would work on the wall before you pickup a paintbrush and crack open a can of paint. The app also offers upa means of calculating how much paint you will need per wall. Genius.

Poetreat

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What sets the Epson L550apart from a sea ofmultifunction printers, is itsintegrated ultra-high-capacityink tank system that employsfour 70 ml individual inkbottles (cyan, magenta,yellow and black). Via thissystem the printer churns outup to 4000 printed black andwhite pages or up to 6500 colour pages. RRP: A pricey R4 860, witheach of the high yield 70 ml refill bottles going for R110 a pop.

With its small body size, youmight be mistaken for thinking theCoolpix A is yet another compactcamera. Big mistake. It containsan APC-sized sensor that isusually found in DSLR cameras,making for very good image quality. Its fixedlens (18.5 mm, f2, 28 mm equivalent) harks back to theold rangefinder cameras, while no optical viewfinder might be a problemfor some. The Coolpix A retails for an expensive R10 800.

Nikon Coolpix Acamera

SanDisk’s Extreme USB 3.0 packs ahandy 32 GB worth of portable storageand delivers blistering transfer speedsvia USB 3.0 connections of up to 190MB/s. We like the fact that SanDiskincluded a copy of its SecureAccesssoftware, which enables users toencrypt their data (128-bit AES) andpassword protect the flash drive. RRPis an expensive R700.

Genius’ Pen Mouse seeks toblend the best of two worlds,offering a pen shaped mousethat sits comfortably in thehand, while enabling one tonavigate a PC or notebookusing the familiar cursor. Clicking onobjects is accomplished by pressingdown on the nib, while the mouse hasanother set of buttons that enable one to right click and scroll throughdocuments at a press. In short, it’s rather nifty, particularly ergonomic, andvery suitable for Windows 8 tablets. It has a RRP of R400.

Gear in the office

28

NEWS

We never have enough space to feature all the products that made an appearance in our office. Here aresome quick thoughts on a few of them.

Out of the current crop of newly releasedracing games, Grid 2 races its way to thetop of the entertainment podium. This isdue to excellent graphics, authentic enginesounds, realistic car damage, and aLiveRoutes feature which changes thelayout of tracks on the fly to keep players ontheir toes. Just don’t expect hundreds ofgameplay hours as return on your R600investment, due to a lack of course and carvariety. We also missed the in-car cockpitview. Full review: bit.ly/grid2review.

Grid 2 (Xbox 360)

Although the look of the LG OptimusG won’t make it stand out in asmartphone line-up, having glasscovering both the front and back ofthe device does enable it to feel morepremium in hand than Samsung’s allplastic Galaxy smartphones. Spec-and price wise (R7 000) this mobilecompetes against the Galaxy S3rather than the S4, adding additionalvalue via its 13 MP rear-facingsnapper and LTE connectivity.

LG Optimus G

The action cammarket ishotting up withquite a fewnew entries.Drift’s HD Ghost camera surprised us with its onboard 2" LCD screen tocompose shots and playback video. Also added is a wearable remotecontrol which came in handy recording on the fly. It retails for R4 650,with the waterproof case going for R600. www.driftcameras.co.za.

Monster and Beats by Dr Dre mayhave parted ways, but that doesn’tmean that the company hasstopped delivering desirableheadphones that producedistortion-free sound at virtually anyvolume level. The NCredible NTuneover-ear headset is an example ofthis. We liked its lightweight, yetcomfortable design and tangle-free connection cable that sports built-inmusic playback controls and mic. RRP is an exclusive (but cheaper thanBeats) R2 000. Contact Phoenix Distribution on 011-592-9200.

Monster NCredibleNTune headset

SanDisk Extreme USB 3.0flash drive 32 GB

Epson L550 multifunction printer

Genius Pen Mouse

Drift HDGhostcamera

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Software

Hardware

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BBQ SwordThe BBQ Sword makes the ideal gift! Itʼs

fun and silly but also amazingly useful

too. Perfect! In the style of a musketeer

sword, it is the ultimate boy-toy.

R330.00R95.00

Youʼll never need to fold the book backon itself eliminating the risk of breakingthe bookʼs spine, also the book can beheld easily in one hand.

RazorPit TeneoRazor SharpenerRazor blades are not dull. They are justdirty. Clean and sharpen all razor blades.

Dog End BumTowel Holder

R195.00

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Mama mia!! Spaghetti Cheese is one ofthose items you canʼt believe you everlived without. Itʼs so brilliant youʼllsqueak with joy! It looks like a big hunkof cartoon cheese ‒ which is alreadycool, but this is cheese with a difference!This cheese helps you measure up yourspaghetti so you cook the right amountof the stringy stuff for all your friendsand family.

SpaghettiCheese Measure

R90.00

Gimble Book Holder

Always guaranteed to have visitorshowling with laughter.

R200.00

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Battlefield 4Watch Dogs inFamous: Second SonOne of the mostly highlyanticipated games that we havebeen waiting for, Watch Dogs,got fleshed out a bit more atthis year’s E3. The innovativeopen-world action game, whichis being developed by UbisoftMontreal, will apparently takeplace in a cyberpunk future.Players will be able to step intothe shoes of Aiden Pearce, whocan hack into an alternateChicago’s central operatingsystem.

The game will apparentlyblend free-running elementswith stealth and third personshooter components, asplayers take control oftechnology to meet variousobjectives. Watch Dogs is setto explore technology’s impacton society, and it is slated forrelease at the end of this yearacross all platforms.

Apart from Call of Duty: Ghosts,that other doyen of unrelentingfirst person shooter action alsoturned a few heads. WithBattlefield 4, developers DICE notonly blew us away with newtrailers for both its single-playerand multiplayer offerings, it also,in a first, announced that thegame will accommodate fiveplayer squads.

Additionally, the game willapparently offer greater freedomto play to your strengths and givesquad members ordersaccordingly.

Along with infantry, also on offerwill be more vehicular gameplayand Michael Bay levels ofdestruction. The game will beavailable on both current genconsoles – the PS3 and Xbox 360– as well as the Xbox One andPS4. A PC version will also be onoffer this November.

After the events of InFamous 2,many wondered what SuckerPunch had in store for itsfranchise. This PS4 exclusive,inFamous: Second Son, appearsto be its answer, with a youngbrash superhuman, Delsin Rowe,taking over from Cole MacGrath. Itseems that having superpowershas become a crime, as ‘supers’are hunted by the oppressiveDepartment of Unified Protection.

Rowe therefore ends up on therun and in search of others likehim. Whereas his predecessorcould travel the path of thereluctant hero, Rowe appears torevel in his abilities, wieldingsmoke and fire to devastatingeffect with gleeful abandon.Additionally rather than a fictionalNew Orleans inspired setting, aswas the case in inFamous 2,Rowe’s antics will be set in thebeautiful Pacific Northwest.

This year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) certainly made its mark, bringing two forthcoming next genconsoles and a slew of tasty looking games to Los Angeles. With regards to games that were showcased, it lookslike players will be spoilt for choice in the year ahead, as Microsoft, Sony and third party publishers all broughttheir best. Here though, are our top 5 picks to watch out for in the year ahead.

E3 2013: THE TOP 5 GAMES

Also capturing its fair share of attention was CD Projekt’s third entry inthe Witcher series. The role playing game’s world has been expanded,to be some thirty times larger than its predecessor, great newsconsidering the level of detail and obvious care that has gone intocreating the previous game’s settings. One such example is the factthat the game boasts its own weather system, which players will needto consider when setting out on quests.

Making a welcome return is Gerald, essentially a magic-wieldingassassin for hire, who it seems will have no shortage of impressivelyfearsome monsters with which to deal. The game will be released onPS4, Xbox One and PC next year.

Honourable mentions: Destiny, Quantum Break, Bayonetta 2, TheOrder: 1886, Thief and The Division. [RN]

The Wii U was not without itscontenders as well, with theconsole exclusive, Bayonetta 2,marking a major scoop forNintendo’s latest, and similarlycatching our eye. It was, however,Super Mario 3D World that reallyshowed Nintendo going back toits roots and doing what it doesbest. Super Mario 3D World onthe Wii U is a four-player Marioplatforming game set in a 3Dworld.

Each of the playable characters– Mario, Luigi, Toad and PrincessPeach – will have their ownunique strengths. Luigi, forexample, can jump higher, Toadhas greater speed, whilePrincess Peach can float.Additionally, a new cattransformation will enable playersto scratch enemies and scamperup obstacles as well as theflagpole at the end of levels.

Super Mario 3D World

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

31

GAMES

GAMES

Remember Me takes place in 2084 in a futuristicneo-Paris, where human memories havebecome commodities, to be acquired and sold.

You step into the shoes and mind of Nilin, one of the most giftedmemory hunters, who can not only scavenge memories but also remixthem. However Nilin is also a card carrying member of the Erroristmovement, which is dedicated to ensuring no company gains amonopoly on human memories.

Pain and gainSuffice to say, you start off the game in a sticky situation, about to haveall your memories wiped in what looks like an excruciating procedure,almost as painful being forced to watch all the Twilight movies.Memorize – your former employer and the cause of your predicament –apparently didn’t get Google’s ‘Don’t Be Evil’ advice.

After escaping Memorize, Nilin finds other foes to deal with, a goodthing since Remember Me’s combat system is pretty decent. As Nilinunlocks memories of fighting moves, called Pressens, she can stringtogether a series of combos to various effect, such as regainingportions of her own health. Furthermore, the more you fight, the moreProcedural Mastering Points you earn, which in turn can unlock further,forgotten Pressens with which to create more elaborate combos.

Freedom and confinementAdditionally, Remember Me has high production values, particularly themusic which is excellent, while the environs of Neo Paris are certainlyalluring and well rendered.

Add to this Nilin’s quest to regain her memory and the unfoldment ofthe game’s solid story, and there is plenty reason to start, and keep,playing. Unfortunately though, the game doesn’t give as much free reignto explore as we would have liked, instead leading the player on a morelinear path.

To the pointDespite this, Remember Me is a welcome and intriguing new IPbrimming with potential, a game well worth experiencing and one thatmerits reminding yourself to pick up. It has a RRP of R600. [RN]

Remember Me is a welcome andintriguing new IP brimming withpotential

32

The latest from Naughty Dog maydiffer wholly from the developer’sacclaimed Uncharted franchise,but one similarity shines brightly:this too is a genre defining gamein a class of its own.

While Naughty Dog’s Uncharted franchise was breezy, adventurous and ajet setting romp, The Last of Us could not differ more, oozing with gravitasand suspense, evoking The Walking Dead rather than Indiana Jones in tone.

In short, a sudden outbreak of fungal spores causes your average nextdoor neighbour to become decidingly less friendly and considerably morehungry. Alas, for the infected, dietary requirements are no longer a concern,leaving you doing your utmost to stay off some mutated freak’s impromptumenu.

The end of the world Fast forward twenty years from the game’s heart-rending opening sequenceand survivors endure living in quarantined zones under martial law. You stepinto the shoes of one such survivor, Joel, now a hardened smuggler, whofinds himself tasked with escorting a young girl, Ellie, out of the quarantinezone. Watching the bond between these two strangers gradually developshows that Naughty Dog’s mastery of telling a gripping story and creatingbelievable characters about which you grow to care, has never beenstronger.

Combat is visceral, no holds barred, and very often, brutal. While you dohave a gun, you have to be picky about when and under whatcircumstances you use it, as ammo is often in short supply, being hard wonor only occasionally found. Instead, stealth elements come into play, andmelee weapons range from the ‘sophisticated’ of shivs and baseball bats, tothe gritty of bricks and bottles.

Indeed, everything in The Last Of Us ensures you have a close andpersonal experience of the game, none more so than the charactersthemselves, who are so well drawn and believably voiced, that it is all tooeasy to forget that you are experiencing fiction at its finest.

To the pointFor us the toughest thing about playing The Last Of Us was tearingourselves away from it. It is so wholly absorbing and spellbinding, that wedare say, irrespective of your views of survival-horror titles, you really mustplay this superlative game. It has a RRP of R600.[RN]

The Last Of US shows that Naughty Dog’smastery of telling a gripping story hasnever been stronger.

Is Remember Me a gem worthreminding yourself to pick upand play, or mostly a forgettableentry?

Remember Me The Last Of Us

techsmart 118, july 2013

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