T3 India 2018's Best Tech Gadget Wishlist Must have kit to change your life Laptops, TVs, home robots & more May 2018 pdf pdf

  

P H O N E S W E A R A B L E S A U D I O T V S L A P T O P S

  VOLUME 03

  ISSUE 09 APRIL 2018 `130

  The World’s Leading Gadget Magazine! MAN TECH T3 VS F1 Circuit training

  NEW! Tomorrow’s Technology Today

INDIAN EDITION

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2018’S BEST TECH

GADGET WISHLIST

  

Must-have kit to change your life Laptops, TVs, home robots & more!

TODAY'S BEST CAMERAS

  _{ISSN 2454–9703}

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The tech that’s so cutting edge,

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GAMECHANGER

W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M

  

In the last couple of years, a bevy of modular devices has appeared on the tech scene. Admittedly, LG’s G5 phone – the

most iconic of these, which had a hot-swappable section allowing you to add in tasty new modules, such as a DAC or

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upgrade it as and when you need to; as tech gets better, you can improve it without having to buy the next big thing. About

a year before the G5 came to fruition, Blocks introduced its modular smartwatch to Kickstarter, and over two years later

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`16,819 (BLOCKS Core)/`2,532 (per module), chooseblocks.com

B L O C K S C O R E

BUILD YOUR PERFECT SMARTWATCH

  With up to five slots for adding new modules to the BLOCKS Core, you can expand it with cool features like a fingerprint reader, environmental sensor and more. The possibilities are, potentially, endless Welcome T3 is… Consulting Editor

  H. S. Billimoria Executive Editor Kunal Gangar Correspondent Ankush Mahajan Copy Editor Tania Tarafdar Contributors Lysander Fernandes

  Here’s the ultimate gadget wishlist Editor (UK) Matt Bolton Contributors (UK) Jon Porter, Lauren Scott, for 2018

  Claire Davies, Duncan Bell, Dan Grabham, Nick Odantzis Publisher Girish Mallya

  Just like that, a quarter of 2018 is over but we can’t Head Design & Production Ravi Parmar Senior Designer Prakash Gavnang really say the same for our never-ending gadget

  Nandkishor Sawant lust. Our cover story this month covers gadgets

  Photography Mahesh Reddy, Sanjay Raikar Production Supervisor Dinesh Bhajnik that are expected to come later this year.

  Product Manager Perseus Master There were a lot of gadget launches this month,

  General Manager North and East - Ellora Das Gupta including a new camera from Fujifilm, Mi TVs and

  General Manager South - Girish Shet even a new drone from DJI. Circulation

  For our Man Vs Tech feature this month, my Manager Circulation North and East - Kapil Kaushik colleague got a chance to drive an actual Formula 1

  BRANCH OFFICES car. Full story on pg 58.

  Mumbai As for the reviews, we take an in-depth look at

  Mafatlal Chambers B, Ground Floor, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel (E), Mumbai 400 013 Samsung’s latest Galaxy S flagship, Vu’s first

  Tel: +91 22 43525252 Google-certified Android TV, a couple of 2-in-1

  Ahmedabad Devendra Mehta - Mob No.- 09714913234 notebooks from Dell and Lenovo and lots more.

  Bengaluru Last but not the least, we’ve got a handy guide

  Unit No. 509, 5th Floor ‘B’ Wing, Mittal Towers, MG Road, Bangalore -560001, India for you to buy the right camera.

  Tel: +91 80 66110116/17 Fax: + 91 80 41472574 Chennai Salma Jabbar Cenetoph Elite,No.5,1st street, Teynampet, Chennai-6000018 Tel: + 91 044 421-08-421, 044 421-75-421 New Delhi Sushant Chopra 26-B, Ground Floor, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase-III, New Delhi - 110020. Tel: +91 11 4234 6600 / 6678 Fax: + 91 11 4234 6679 Pune 201 Gera Serenity, North Main road, Koregaon Park, Pune - 411001.

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  Mobile no. 09804085683 Subscription Enquiries

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  Editor: Kunal Gangar

  Award clever build in a key feature to be top tier

  W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M Contents

  HORIZON 041 058

TOP LAUNCHES

TALKING TECH

GADGET GURU

  From Compact Mirrorless models to Full-Frame DSLRs, follow our guide to take the confusion out of camera choices

  066

  Can our man drive an actual F1 car – the fastest racing machine on the planet – and avoid putting it into the tyres? You’ll have to ĆQG RXWð

  2018’S GADGET WISHLIST From VR exercise to next-gen laptops and even smarter voice assistants, this year is going to be a really big one for tech

  Contents

  T3 ’s tech sage dishes out the solutions to all of your life’s problems. Whether you actually want to go through with them, though, is up to you...

  036

  Duncan Bell offers an alternative viewpoint on Appe’s new kid on the block

  032

  STYLE Boost your fashion credentials with some stylish products

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  Cutting-edge tech heading your way, featuring the new Hasselblad camera, Asus laptop, new projectors from Optoma and Viewsonic and cameras

MAN VS TECH

BUY THE RIGHT CAMERA

  TX 5 / Tit a n iu m Available at all leading stores across I ndia Frame style shown: SI - 2 0 0 4 9 www.stepperindia.com

  Contents BEST OF THE BEST

   INTRODUCING THE BEST BUYER’S GUIDE KNOWN TO MAN From phones to tablets, and camera to cars, our selection of

  HOME TESTED the very best tells

  054 074 you what to buy

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HASSELBLAD H6D-400C MS

  W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M Horizon

  `29,05,198 hasselblad.com

  We’ve been searching for the right camera to document our vintage Star Wars toys in magnificent detail. Hasselblad has now provided the perfect tool, with its epic 400MP camera, available this spring. Okay, so a 400MP camera i overkill for us, but museum folk and nature photographers will love the H6D-400c MS for documenting antiquities, art and bugs. Hasselblad says the camera produces the highe resolution and most colour-accurate medium- format images on the market, utilising True Focu tech (precision-focus adjustment) and Multi-Sho capture, which merges six images into one supe high-res shot. The camera also offers 4K video capture. Hmm, maybe we should shoot a promo video for our radio-controlled Jawa Sandcrawle

  T3 SAYS: Capture the world in unprecedented detail with this 400MP multi-shot monster.

  `12,999, amazon.in

  The upside to wearing wireless earbuds is that we can go hands-free and don’t have to deal with pesky wires. The downsides often include middling battery life and abnormally large buds. While we can’t speak for sizing, Jabra’s new Elite 65t wireless earbuds (also available in a sporty Active 65t model) have caught our eye by flaunting one-touch access to Amazon Alexa, Google Now and Siri, and a claimed five-hour battery life from a single charge with up to 15 hours via the included charging case. There’s even a customisable EQ feature for tailored sound. Jabra has wind noise covered too, with ample wind noise reduction tech to keep your music sweet, and a four-mic array for clearer voice calls.

  T3 SAYS: With integrated Alexa, Siri and Google

  Now, Jabra’s new wireless earbuds could be a connected commuter’s dream.

  s st s II ot r- r?

  TECH-O-METER TECH-O-METER

JABRA ELITE 65T

ROWRITE SMART WRITING PAD

  W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M Horizon

  `TBA, dji.com

  How many times have you stacked a drone? These things look easy to fly but most take some getting used to, unless you’re a whizz. If you’re not, DJI has designed its new hobby drone with you in mind. The Mavic Air weighs less than a pound, folds down to fit in a (roomy) pocket and can fly itself without any help from you, thanks very much. The Mavic Air is infused with obstacle-avoidance tech and automated flight modes, including some that require only a controller tap from you before the drone whizzes off (up to a 2.4 mile flight range) to shoot 4K video, 12MP stills and 32MP spherical panoramas via the built-in camera. You can boss the drone around with hand gestures, too, making it take endless selfies of you prancing around in the park.

  T3 SAYS: We love the folding design and automated flight modes, and that price is decent.

  Plenty of authors extol the virtues of handwriting ideas and stories as a way to get the creative juices flowing. Typing up those notes and stories can be a real pain, which is why we always keep an eye out for new smart writing devices. Royole hopes it has made such a device with the RoWrite Smart Writing Pad, designed to digitally reproduce, store and share handwritten or hand- drawn work. When sitting underneath a sheet of ordinary paper the RoWrite instantly reproduces and saves your work, ready for syncing with your other smart devices or the cloud, with no pesky lag either. We look forward to digitally preserving our doodlings when the RoWrite ships the product.

  T3 SAYS: Royole’s smart writing pad could be ideal

  for students, writers and those who want to digitally preserve hand-drawn work.

  `TBA, royole.com TECH-O-METER

DJI MAVIC AIR

  TECH-O-METER The Pinnacle of Home Entertainment A very classy and feature-packed single-box solution The new SR8012 is about as feature-packed an AV receiver as you’re likely to find, with every current format covered and a few new features in the pipeline. As with all Marantz receivers, the SR8012 is incredibly easy to setup thanks to their excellent Setup Assistant, which takes you through the entire process step by step. The SR8012 also handled two-channel music extreme- ly well, with the new Water boys album ‘Out of All This Blue’ sounding superb.”

SR8012 THE FIRST MARANTZ

11.2 CHANNEL NETWORK AV AMPLIFIER

XIAOMI MI TV 4A

  W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M Horizon

  From `13,999, www.mi.com/in

  Soon after making a debut in the television segment with Mi TV 4, Xiaomi is expanding their line up with TV 4A available in 32” and 43” sizes. Although both share the same base hardware, the key difference is with the 43” model sporting a full HD (1920x1080) panel while the smaller one is HD ready (1366x768). The display panel has a 60Hz refresh rate and a 178-degree viewing angle. The sound setup consists dual 10W speakers with support for DTS-HD audio. Like its elder sibling, the 4A series has an 11-button M Remote that can double up as controller for the set-t box via a separately sold Mi IR cable. It also runs on Xiaomi’s custom PatchWall UI which is based on dee learning AI. It will adapt to user’s viewing habits and accordingly suggest content. Multiple users need no fret as the company plans to add user profiles in the near future.

  T3 Says: With three different TV sizes, Mi is catering

  to all budgets

  TECH-O-METER TECH-O-METER

  XIAOMI REDMI 5 From `7,999, www.mi.com/in

  Hot on the heels of the Redmi Note 5 comes the handier Redmi 5 adopting a bezel-less design that’s currently all the rage, leading to a larger 5.7” ‘full screen’ IPS display to be fit inside a smaller form factor. Internally, Xiaomi has gone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC based on a 14nm manufacturing process as opposed to the 28nm processors used in the previous 2 models. Not only does it mean improved battery life but also better performance. Qualcomm claims up to 25% faster graphics rendering and 30% lower power consumption in comparison to Snapdragon 435 that was used in Redmi 4 last year. The one thing that’s been reduced is the battery gone down from 4100mAh to 3300mAh. It is available in 3 RAM+storage variants: 2+16, 3+32 and 4+64. Further, they will come in a number of colours including black, gold, rose gold and blue.

  T3 Says: Looks like the base model will be ignored.

  We recommend going for the 3+32GB model for the best experience

  Mi of i op p t W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M Horizon

  TECH-O-METER Fitbit Versa

  `19,999, www.fitbit.com/in

  Fitbit Versa is the lightest smartwatch from the company to date featuring a unisex design that looks good on any wrist. The female health tracking feature especially makes it more appealing to the ladies. They will be able to record their menstrual cycle data and see dynamic cycle predictions using company’s proprietary cycle algorithm that is said to get smarter over time with continuous logged user data. Other features include a 4-day battery life, personalised on-device health dashboard, quick reply for Android smartphones, real-time heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking and Fitbit coach with pre-prepared exercise modules. A variety of unique accessories to supplement the Versa will be sold at prices ranging from `2,499 and `8,999. It comes in three colour options: full black, gray with a silver aluminium case (pictured) and peach with a rose gold aluminium case. Users will have to shell out `2,000 extra for the special edition.

  T3 Says: The lack of GPS should be considered before

  opting for the Versa but it is a unique proposition for women.

HP SPECTRE X360

  From `1,15,290, www.hp.com/in

  Like clockwork, HP has refreshed the Spectre x360 with the latest hardware including an 8th gen Intel core processor, upto 16GB RAM and more. The flagship model continues the tradition of being a super light and thin convertible laptop. As a result the design has become sleeker and angular further accentuated with the sculpted CNC machined aluminium body. On the inside, the 13.3” FHD display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass looks noticeably larger due to micro-edge bezels on both sides and the top. Security is taken very seriously as evidenced by the fingerprint reader on the side, Sure View integrated privacy screen and Wide Vision infrared camera for login and face recognition. The bundled Windows Ink Certified pen allows simultaneous pen and touch becoming pressure sensitive for precise inking when tilted. Just 15 seconds of charging provides approximately 198 minutes of usage.

  T3 Says: The X360 ticks all the important 3 P’s: Power,

  Portability and Privacy

  TECH-O-METER

ASUS STRIX GL702ZC

  W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M Horizon

  TECH-O-METER

  `1,34,990, www.asus.com/in/

  ASUS ROG has beat everyone to the punch and brought forth the world’s first gaming laptop powered by the octa-core AMD Ryzen 1700 processor. The privilege goes to ROG Strix GL702ZC favouring AMD again for their GPU with the Radeon RX580. While it comes out of the box with 16GB DDR4 RAM, it can be expanded upto 32GB and for storage we get a 256GB SSD boot partition and 1TB HDD. The 17.3” FHD IPS screen supports FreeSync which minimises frame rate stutter and eliminates visual tearing. Four display modes namely Normal, Vivid, Eyecare and Manual have been implemented to suit the user’s current viewing requirement. Shifting to the keyboard, it has anti-ghosting technology ensuring keys are correctly interpreted even with 30 simultaneous keys pressed. The ROG Gaming Center acts like a dashboard for launching ROG applications and accessing the settings menu. This includes ROG GameFirst IV, XSplit Gamecaster and ASUS Splendid.

  T3 Says: AMD purists will find the laptop to be

  perfectly suited for FHD gaming

IBALL SLIDE BRACE-XJ

  `9,999, www.iball.co.in

  iBall’s flavour of the month is the Slide Brace-XJ which is a 10.1” IPS HD tablet with a pixel density of 150ppi. It is powered by a 1.3GHz octa-core MediaTek processor, Mali T720 GPU, 3GB RAM, 32GB inbuilt storage (expandable up to 64GB via microSD) and 7800mAh battery. Coming to the optics, we get a 5MP front camera and an 8MP autofocus sensor on the rear. The dual-chambered speakers deliver satisfactory audio. Resting in between them is a kickstand that is sturdy enough to hold it vertically when watching video content. An array of connectivity options include micro HDMI, USB OTG, Hotspot, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Cast Screen. Not to forget, a microSIM slot that enables 4G VoLTE and voice calling. A DC pin is present exclusively for charging which leaves the micro USB jack free for other purposes.

  T3 Says: Running on Android Nougat 7.0 OS, Slide

  Brace-XJ supports 22 regional languages for reading and writing.

  TECH-O-METER

OPTOMA HD27E

  W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M Horizon

  `99,840, asia.optoma.com

  Not content to settle down, Optoma HD27e is an upgraded version of the now outgoing HD27 projector. In comparison, it is said to deliver brighter images, longer lamp life of upto 12,000 hours and make less running noise at 25dB. The Full HD display has a native 16:9 aspect ratio, maximum image size of 301” and a throw ratio of 1.47:1-1.62:1. It weighs just 2.8kg and comes integrated with a single 10W speaker making it a good choice for those moving around frequently. Of course, there is a separate 3.5mm port for when users plugin an external audio system along with a pair of HDMI 1.4a sockets out of which one is MHL ready for smartphone or tablet connectivity. Taken a step further, it can even be turned into a smart projector by connecting a dongle like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV or Google Chromecast.

  T3 Says: Optoma is making a name for itself with its

  decent offerings and the HD27e is no exception

  TECH-O-METER TECH-O-METER

VIEWSONIC PX747-4K

  `2,75,000, www.viewsonic.com/in/

  Viewsonic boasts that the PX747-4K is the world’s brightest 4K UHD projector with an impressive feature set. The 3500 lumens brightness and high contrast ratio will project an excellent image regardless of lighting in the room. It makes itself future proof with HDR and Rec. 2020 producing images that should match the intended source accurately. The projector meets CTA standards for

  4K UHD certification by displaying 8.3million pixels onto the display surface. Image degradation is virtually eliminated with Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) technology that has been built on all digital DLP. It is also energy conscious as the PX747-4K will automatically power off when no signal is detected thereby preserving lamp life. It is further extended to 15,000 hours on an average with SuperEco mode turning on when left on standby for 3 minutes. Perhaps, the backlit remote control is what interests us most making operation convenient in the dark.

  T3 Says: We recommend the Viewsonic to

  experienced users with an abundance of 4K HDR content.

CANON EOS 1500D

  W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M Horizon

  `TBA, www.canon.co.in

  The entry-level EOS 1500D (seen here with the EF-S18-55 III Lens) finally replaces the 2-year-old Canon EOS 1300D. It shares the same 24MP sensor present in several other APS-C format cameras from the company which is about 19 times larger than the usual 1/3.2” standard sensor found in smartphones. So it’s perfect for novices wanting to move up from them, the feature guide and Scene Intelligent Auto mode with creative filters for social media ready snaps should help make the transition easier. These include effects like soft focus, toy camera, fisheye, miniature and black- and-white. Full HD videos can be captured at up to

  30FPS. Media transfer is made simple with the Canon Camera Connect app available on both Android and iOS. It can also be used to adjust settings and even shoot images remotely.

  T3 Says: EOS 1500D will serve as a good gateway product into the world of DSLRs.

  TECH-O-METER TECH-O-METER

FUJIFILM X-H1 MIRRORLESS

  `1,49,999, www.fujifilm.in

  The long awaited X-H1 from Fujifilm has finally arrived much to the delight of professional photographers and videographers we imagine. It is the first mirrorless camera in the series to receive five-axis in-body image stabilisation, DCI 4K video shooting capability, and flicker reduction. Sporting a

  24.3MP sensor and the company’s X-Processor Pro image processor, there is a 3” three direction tilting touchscreen display with a 1.04 million dot resolution and smaller 1.28” display panel on top. It can handle native ISO range of 200 to 12800 and maximum burst shooting of up to 14FPS. 4K capture is done with Rec.2020 colour gamut at a bit rate of 200Mbps while high frame rate recording of 120FPS is supported at Full HD. Physically, an overhaul has been done starting with more robust construction using thicker magnesium and a larger grip that should afford a secure handhold.

  T3 Says: The additions in the X-H1 should give other players in the segment a run for their money.

ASUS BRT-AC828

  W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M Horizon

  `20,000, www.asus.com/in/

  The unassuming black and angular BRT-AC828 from Asus is a dual-band 802.11ac wireless router with a 4x4 antenna configuration. The business-focused device features dual Gigabit WAN able to handle up to 2Gbps aggregated bandwidth and automatic failover for uninterrupted flow of data. An array of LED indicators are located on the top side to display the status of connections. It houses 2 ports for the internet, 8x Ethernet, 1x USB 3.0, WPS, Reset and an On/Off butto Supporting both 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequencies, it c manage up to 250 simultaneous WiFi connections.

  ASUS AiProtection has been incorporated for protecti purposes using real-time network monitoring to detec malicious data and unwanted intrusions before reachi network devices. Management might seem like a headache but the ASUSWRT graphic menu system keeps things simple. Further, device grouping and built-in RADIUS server add more value.

  T3 Says: Reliability is key for business routers and the Asus will not disappoint.

  TECH-O-METER n. an on t ng

  SPHERO MINI AND SPHERO BB-8

  From

  `

  5,000, www.sphero.com The Sphero Mini is the world’s smallest app-controlled robotic ball that has a surprising amount crammed inside. An accelerometer, Bluetooth, gyroscope, LED light and a rechargeable battery are housed within 3-inches! Various colour options can be had using interchangeable shells. It is also bundled with 3 mini- traffic cones and 6 bowling pins. Controllable via voice commands, Sphero Mini has an adaptive personality that changes over time. The bigger and more expensive BB-8 (pictured) priced at `11,000 will probably make Star Wars paraphernalia collectors happy. The autonomous BB-8 moves around as it pleases and doesn’t sit still even while getting juiced from the induction charging station. The embedded holographic simulation lets users explore the Star Wars galaxy and help with training. Multiple BB-8 droids can also interact with each other like in the movies. The only thing missing is a speaker and all sound will come directly from the smartphone.

  T3 Says: Both can be controlled using smartphones or tablets running on Android, iOS and Windows Phone.

  TECH-O-METER

  W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M Horizon

  CASIO G-SHOCK RANGEMAN GPR-B-1000-1

  approx.

  `

  72,000, g-central.com We once led a hike and got everyone lost. We should have armed ourselves with a watch built for keeping tabs on location and route, but this was before the Casio G-Shock Rangeman. Now that it’s revamped for 2018 we might think about leading the charge again on a hike, and not worry about the weather either – this solar-powered (there’s wireless charging too) watch laughs in the face of rain, dust and mud. It also has a built-in GPS Navigator function. If you use this feature when out running or hiking, the watch should display a real-time compass bearing to your destination. The Rangeman even offers a Backtrack function, should you need to navigate back to your start point.

  T3 SAYS: Explorers will love Casio’s solar-

  assisted, triple-sensor watch, which offers

  $299 (

  `

  20,000), polkaudio.com Amazon’s voice assistant is slowly infiltrating all aspects of the smart home. In fact, we’re pretty sure talking toasters are somewhere in our future… but not before chatty soundbars make an entrance. This spring, Polk Audio is releasing the Command Bar, a home theatre soundbar with integrated Amazon Alexa, plus HDMI throughput that supports 4K HDR. The Command Bar offers all Alexa skills, so you can control your connected home from your TV setup – you’ll never have to leave the sofa again. The soundbar has Echo-style hardware buttons on top and a remote control featuring an Alexa Action Button designed to lower the volume to ensure your commands are heard. If we get a Command Bar we’ll be using it to stream music too – and asking Alexa to DJ.

  T3 SAYS: This soundbar could transform your TV setup into the hub of your connected home.

  TECH-O-METER TECH-O-METER

POLK COMMAND BAR

  W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M Special Feature

  Audi R8 V10 Plus A

udi’s R8 V10 plus, the

quintessential German supercar, is also a technical

marvel that comes loaded with a

host of technologically superior

features that make it a scintillating

car. We recently travelled to Buddh

International Circuit or BIC, to drive

the R8 V10 plus and see how technology has helped the R8 become a fierce supercar.

  Power – Naturally Aspirated V10 Engine In a world where manufacturers

prefer slapping a turbocharger to

the engine of their car, Audi have

left that very breathing apparatus

out of the equation. The 5.2-litre V10 of the R8 gives birth to 610

horses and also produces a ground-

breaking 560 Nm of torque. All this

power and torque is sent to all four

wheels via the seven-speed S

tronic, which uses two clutches to

go through the cogs, making the

shifts smooth and seamless.

  Quattro – All Wheel Drive System Audi are considered to be the pioneers of the modern-day four-wheel technology and it can be experienced in the R8 V10 plus as well. The system in the R8 is smart as it constantly monitors the driving conditions and varies the torque supply, giving you the optimum output at all times.

  Audi Magnetic Ride – Brilliant Suspension Audi are known for tuning their cars with the best suspension setup and on the R8 V10 plus you get the superb ‘Audi Magnetic Ride’ aluminium double wishbone suspension. The smart setup adjusts the damping depending on the driver’s driving style and the terrain, making fine adjustments throughout the drive to provide superior handling and ride-quality. Words:

  Ravi Chandnani

  Photography:

  Sanjay Raikar

  Audi R8 V10 Plus Audi’s brilliant R8 V10 plus is a marvellous piece of engineering and recently we drove the R8 on Buddh International Circuit to discover its brilliance

  W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M Horizon Style

  DRESS LIKE RYAN REYNOLDS The Deadpool star mixes prep with casual for a stylish all-American look

  THE JACKET Denim jackets are a staple in Ryan Reynolds’s wardrobe, but you won’t find any weird washes here – the Deadpool star sticks to indigo hues and tailored fits.

  For a similar vibe try Edwin’s High Road Jacket in Mid Sleet Wash (edwin-europe.com).

  THE CARDIGAN Ryan’s off-duty look takes its cues from traditional American cool with a dash of preppy. To ape it, layer a white tee and linen shirt beneath a navy button-up, such as the Merino Wool Cardigan by John Lewis (johnlewis.com).

STAR LIGHT

  THE SHOES Ryan’s box-fresh white Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Lean (converse.com) give his look a sporty boost.

  Coffee, tea, red wine and other indulgences stain teeth over time, and the older you get the more the enamel on your teeth thins, leaving it prone to stains and showing the naturally yellowing dentin beneath. A number of at-home products claim to have the power to restore your pearly whites, with a slew of electric toothbrushes, such as the Philips DiamondClean Smart (amazon.in), offering dedicated whitening modes.

  Style blogs exploded last year with reviews of activated charcoal toothpastes and oil-pulling mouthwashes, offering a gentler way to draw bacteria from teeth while whitening enamel. Polished London has a best-selling Charcoal Whitening Teeth Powder (polishedwhitening.com), while Georganics’s Activated Charcoal Oil Pulling Mouthwash (amazon.com) claims to create a “glossier smile”.

  Whitening strips are also popular and simple to use – apply them to your teeth, wait the recommended amount of time, then peel them off. Try Crest’s 3D White Whitestrips (amazon.in) or Polished London’s Whitening Stripes.

  Whitening gels will get you closer to a professional whitening treatment and often come with a mouth tray, application syringes and gels with higher levels of hydrogen peroxide. The iWhite Instant Teeth Whitening Advanced Kit comes with pre-loaded trays and claims to whiten teeth up to eight shades lighter. You can also get non-peroxide gel kits, like the Diamond Whites Home Whitening Kit (amazon.com). Just don’t leave whitening strips or gels on longer than stated, or you’ll look like a piano got lost in there.

  HOW TO BRIGHTEN YOUR SMILE Turn the tide on stubborn stains with these at-home teeth whitening kits

  Shades that evoke vintage style will never go out of fashion, making these new season Stefano Ricci sunglasses a true investment piece for SS18. Testament to the luxury brand’s Italian craftsmanship, these suave Embellished Square Sunglasses are adorned with polished gold-tone hardware and designed with an acetate frame that will flatter a variety of face shapes.

  `1,12,200, harrods.com

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  W W W .T 3 I N D I A . C O M Opinion

  And that is why all right-thinking makers of wireless speakers should be afraid. Very afraid. Because as AirPods demonstrated, Apple doesn’t even need to make an audio product sound great to conquer a market.

  The HomePod does sound good. Everyone who went to its demo agreed that it sounded better than the Echo and the Sonos One – because of course it did; they’re much cheaper speakers – but also that it was a very fine-sounding thing in its own right.

  any means, but they’re the first Apple music device (with AI extras) to truly capture imaginations since the iPod.

  Duncan Bell… is the music W

  Apple doesn’t even need to make an audio product sound great to conquer a market

  And then everyone currently making money from wireless speakers of all kinds will look upon the smoking ruins of their empires and say, “Oh bugger.”

  But we all know how this plays out. Next there’ll be a more affordable one, then a battery- powered portable one, a cheap one. The quirks will get ironed out. Then there’ll be Bluetooth updates and cheap bundle deals with Apple Music subscriptions, and ones that match the colours of the iPhone XI, and one with a screen and…

  For now, Apple is going after the top end of the wireless speaker market and there are several limitations to the HomePod – no Bluetooth, no multi-room at launch.

  All wireless speakers are built on a foundation set down by Apple and, to a lesser extent, Android. The phones are where their music comes from. Up to now, third parties have had the market to themselves, apart from that weird Star Wars ghetto blaster thing Apple tried back in 2006.

  Judging by their ubiquity in the earholes of the world’s big cities, I think AirPods may have been what persuaded Apple to make a swing for the wireless speaker market. AirPods don’t sound amazing by

  hen Apple announced HomePod, the general reaction to it was positive, if not ecstatic. An Amazon Echo rival that sounds better but costs more, and you have to use Siri… You can see plusses and minuses, right?

  Actually, in the fallow period between Peak iPod and the Dawn of the HomePod, Apple launched an excellent music streaming service and snapped up the world’s biggest headphone brand, so I am not going to claim it completely took its eye off the audio ball.

  Then the iPhone arrived, Apple became The Biggest Brand In The World ^TM and music became just one more plate it spun. Audio was simply another iCommodity, alongside mobiles, apps, a reinvigorated premium laptop line, watches, TV, movies and I dunno, shoes? Lots of stuff.

  In that time, Apple scored the implausible feat of appealing both to the mass market and to those who consider themselves aficionados of music and ‘hi-fi’, albeit more grudgingly.

  That makes sense, because Amazon is entrenched as the world’s personal AI purveyor of choice, even if Alexa does at times seem to be as thick as a bag of mince, and deaf. It also makes sense because music is a realm that Apple once ruled. For many years, it practically was an audio company, thanks to iPods, the iTunes Store and to a lesser extent, iTunes the app, and AirPlay.

  Apple is now positioning HomePod very much as a music device, rather than a Google Home/Amazon Echo home assistant (though yes, it does do all that stuff too).

  Making sweet music