Gadgetの Issue 16 の目次

01 Skyfall (2012) The opening sequence of this James Bond movie, which sees 007 chasing an unnamed terrorist across the rooftop of Istanbul’s famous bazaar – on motorbikes no less – wouldn’t have been half as panoramic if it wasn’t filmed using drones. Watch it here: youtu.be/tHRLX8jRjq8 02 The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) The iconic pool party scene in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf Of Wall Street was shot with octocopters, beginning with a bird’s-eye shot off the coast of the Hamptons, before moving in to capture an aerial view of Jordan Belfort’s rowdy bash. Watch it here: youtu.be/JLR__P1MyNQ 03 Chappie (2015) Appropriately for a film about a self-aware robot, Chappie was shot extensively with drones. As well as being used as a reference point for actors to look at…

Once upon a time, if you wanted your music to follow you around the house, you’re options were limited. Most of us just used our smartphones, which are tinny compared to having a dedicated speaker. But Yamaha has done away with that notion with its MusicCast wireless music system. MusicCast uses your existing Wi-Fi network to transmit audio all over the house to different devices, it could be a home cinema amplifier, micro hi-fi system, stereo amp, wireless speaker or a soundbar. Almost everything Yamaha makes is part of MusicCast so you can choose the right product for your lifestyle and situation. Using a single app you can play music to all of these devices, as well as control the volume, EQ and specific settings of each room. Customise your…

Smart lightbulbs are one of the most common features of a connected home. As well as allowing you to remotely turn your lights on and off (as well as check they are definitely off once you’ve left the house and have a nagging worry they’re not), every lightbulb we’ve ever tested have use LEDs. This means they use less energy, produce less heat, and last much longer. While Philips Hue colour-changing bulbs are one of the best-known brands, there are lots to choose from, including LIFX, Elgato Avea and Belkin Wemo. For our set-up guide we opted for Hive Active Lights (available from just £19), but most smart bulb installation follows similar steps, including setting up a bridge or a hub to connect to your home wi-fi. 1 Connect the…

Compact control At the heart of your DJ experience is your DDJ-WEGO4, a sophisticated controlling unit that’s got everything you need in one compact little package Tweak that tune It’s not just about fading in and mixing your tracks either – why not show off your newly-adopted hobby/career with an in-built set of jog wheels for scratching? Mix like a pro Reduced in size it may be, but the DDJ-WEGO4 has all the faders, tempo sliders, EQ knobs and crossfader you need to mix tunes Sultry surround sound Along with a front-loaded bass feature, each DM-40 has a soft dome tweeter fitted with DECO convex diffusers that enables the speaker to project sound in all directions Double the trouble The Pioneer DJ Starter Pack doesn’t come with one, but two…

PLAY JENGA - BUT WITH ANIMALS Combining a regular stacking board game with a videogame, Beasts Of Balance aims to create a true cross-media experience that’s both innovative and extremely satisfying to play. The game comes with a smart base, with each piece carrying an NFC chip that’s read before it’s stacked. Said piece, be it an animal or an artefact, suddenly appears on your tablet, with new pieces helping them evolve or breed with one another as you add more pieces. Beasts of Balance £70 | $100 | Beastsofbalance.com ‘KEEP TALKING AND NOBODY EXPLODES’ Easily one of the most innovative games to come to the new frontier of virtual reality, Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes has a simple concept: one player wears a PSVR headset, through which they can…

Convex and concave, two words that always get confused but, in this instance, can’t. Theta’s use of massively convex lenses and clever processing takes warped imagery and ‘folds’ it over into a spherical format. There are two distinct styles of camera, the singular-lens body, or the dual lens. The single-lens approach will allow you to capture a vast array of imagery that will be sent for processing, whereas the duel-lens system will take both sets of data and stitch the two files into one. As the actual image created will look like a massively distorted and bulbous version of what you are seeing, the real beauty comes when the image is converted by software or a platform like Facebook which will recognise within the file’s metadata that it is a…

Purchasing and using a dedicated 360-degree camera can be quite a commitment – especially when you consider its housings, attachments and, in many instances, its overall cost – however, you don’t need worry as the Insta360 Nano will turn your own iPhone into a fully-working 360-degree camera. Drawing vast similarities to the Theta camera, this lightweight, duel-fish-eye-lensed stick simply attaches to your phone via its lightening connector or microUSB, and, with the help of the Insta360 Nano companion app, you can use your phone to start shooting full-360 images straight away. Yes, the Insta360 Nano is basically a peripheral device, but it delivers 30fps at 3K resolution. The camera can work independently of your phone, just not remotely, but with the app and the headset the unit comes with, you…

REENACT THE BATTLE OF ENDOR WITH STAR WARS LASER DRONES ‘This is a rebellion isn’t it? I propel.’ This is what Jyn Erso, the hero of new Star Wars film Rogue One, might have said if she’d had access to the new Battle Quad drones. Available in iconic designs, including X-wing, TIE Fighter, and speeder bike, these quadrocopters whizz around at speeds of over 35mph and you can enjoy epic laser tag dogfights with up to 24 players. A Millennium Falcon model will launch in 2017. Laser accuracy The Battle Quads use Li-Fi technology that allows it to share data through each laser blast, ensuring the score and positioning is accurate and up to date. As well as tracking how many lives you have left, your smart controllers understand the…

“Some items are best on the top shelf and not the bottom” 01 The pressure is on There are two areas: the inside where the pressure of the water will do the cleaning – this is best for carbohydrate-based stains, such as potato. The outside area allows cleaning agents longer to soak, so this is where dishes with protein-based stains should be 02 Mix things up a bit If you have different sized plates, mix them up on the rack – if you have a row of the same, uniform size, then they are likely to stack against each other and water won’t reach in between them 03 Safety first In the cutlery basket, knifes should be resting in a facedown position in order to avoid injury. Forks and spoons…

Approved by HTC The TPCAST comes straight out of the Vive X Accelerator project, intended to get accessory makers working closely with HTC itself to develop some cool add-ons for the Vive Low latency The developers of the TPCAST say it has a very low latency of two milliseconds, and those who’ve tried it say there’s no noticeable lag in the gaming experience Start saving Based on a rough currency conversion, the TPCAST is going to set you back around £175/$220 – getting involved in the early adopter VR scene does get expensive quickly Order priority Initial supplies could be limited, HTC says, with priority given to those who can provide a valid HTC Vive serial number; preorders are open now, with shipping in the first quarter of 2017 A…

Weights and balances The Carr-E comes fitted with a four-wheel chassis (the front and back wheels are hidden) plus a weight sensor. It can take loads of up to 120 kilograms (about 19 stone) Follow my leader If you don’t want to step on the Carr-E, you can load it with your suitcase and have it automatically follow you; there’s an obstacle avoidance system built in as well Integrated lighting system The lights on the front of the Carr-E show the way in the dark and – perhaps more importantly – let passers-by know the strange-looking contraption is heading their way Location, location, location There’s GPS on board too, so the device can find its way to a destination without your assistance (we’d expect some kind of app remote control…

1 Check compatibility It’s possible the Nest isn’t compatible with your heating. To check, remove the cover of your thermostat and note what wires you see. Go to nest.com/widget/ compatibility to check. If they’re not right, speak to a professional heating installer about changing the system. 2 High voltage ? Also, if the thermostat is labelled 100, 120 or 240 volts then the Nest will not be compatible with your system. If you get all these things sorted, however, you are good to go. Switch off the power to your house (or just to the central heating system, if you can navigate your fuse box) and remove the cover to your thermostat. 3 Take a photo A good tip here is to take a photo of the wires coming into…

“No matter your budget, you can now reasonably expect a modern processor” For phone manufacturers, building a sub-flagship device has always been about compromise. When designing a top-of-the-range phone, the spec sheet virtually writes itself: the latest processor, best camera, highest-quality screen, finest materials available etc., but when it comes to devices that sit below the best handsets on the market, getting the balancing act between price and performance right is difficult. While the very highest spec phones now see only incremental improvements with each release, what we have seen in recent times is huge advances in the quality and performance of cheaper devices –which is particularly reflected in the overall experience of using one. Crucially, using a mid-range or even relatively low-end device no longer means having to tolerate…

Visual filters The console can display games in three styles – CRT and 4:3 for authenticity or ‘Pixel Perfect’ to make the games look as good as you remember them A relic from a bygone age Although the console has shrunk, the NES controller has remained the same size and feels authentically jagged, the cable is a too short for a home console, though 8-bit heaven 30 of the best games from the NES’s library are built into the console: including the likes of Super Mario Bros., The Legend Of Zelda, Castlevania and Final Fantasy Not really a Reset button To bring up the menu screen you just need to press the ‘Reset’ button. From there, you can select a new game, save the one you’re playing or change visual…

If we were to list the most influential apps of all time, IFTTT would rank highly. The service enables you to chain together simple commands called ‘Applets’ (they’ve just been name changed from ‘Recipes’ in a recent update) based on the ‘if this then that’ premise. Compatibility is almost universal among the most commonly-used apps (or ‘services’ as IFTTT calls them). So, at an advanced level, marketing companies could track mentions of companies in real-time in RSS feeds. The opportunities are endless. No wonder Musaic was quick to get involved. Here’s how to set up a Musaic-related Applet. 01 Set up Musaic account If you don’t do this part then you’ll come a cropper later on in the tutorial. From the Musaic app, tap More in the bottom-right, then Settings…

With more than a passing likeness for some kind of technological fondant fancy/camera hybrid, the 12MP Kodak PixPro SP360 4K is the kind of 360-degree camera that you will achieve a rotational 360-degree surround image with. But due to the single lens build, you won’t achieve the full orb 360-degree image created by the likes of the Theta. There are accessories aplenty to help you attach the PixPro to bikes, helmets and tripods, though. As well as snazzy-looking GoPro-inspired housings, there is the curious full-360 attachment, which is basically an accessory that allows you to attach two cameras together using a bracket. That is one way to get around your 360 camera not allowing you to achieve full-360 viewing in all directions. The PixPro is compact, versatile and durable, boasting…

How to give your selfie feed an upgrade So you have gone out and taken your films and your photos, now you want to share it with the world, where can you upload this content? Facebook is perhaps the biggest user of 360 content, YouTube is also a good option as they support 360 spherical videos and you can use Google Cardboard for a more immersive experience. Uploading 360 media to these websites is nearly as simple as adding any other content, but there are a couple of extra hurdles to jump through and boxes to tick before these images can be shared. Be aware as well that a 360 image or video file is going to take longer to upload than a standard post as the file size is…

Create your own case for Google Pixel or Nexus phones. All cases have a NFC chip that customises the phone’s wallpaper as well as a programmable button that can be customised with shortcuts. To order one you must go to Google’s website, select the model you want and it creates the case for you. There are currently three types of Live Cases: Artwork, Photo and Places. The Artwork cases have images from designers and the NFC chip customises the wallpaper so you can choose a piece of artwork from the artist’s collection. Photo Live Cases as the name suggest let you upload your own images when ordering. The Places Live Cases lets you find a location on Google Maps, choose a style as well as colours and your homescreen shows…

We all own devices that include certain files that we really don’t want to lose. No matter if it’s an important work document, a movie you’re dying to watch, or perhaps a photo close to your heart, we’ll want to make sure these files remain safe and sound. It’s therefore surprising that more people aren’t taking the necessary precautions against unexpectedly losing their files. Accidents can happen, so if your device ever broke down, you could be left scratching your head with how to retrieve its contents It doesn’t need to be like that, though, and users should look to the world of file backups. We admit it doesn’t sound the most exciting of tasks, but backing up your files is one of the easiest, but most overlooked, ways of…

Pocket size At two-and-a-half inches wide, five inches long and half an inch thick it was incredibly portable Plug and play The TV didn’t have built-in speakers, you had to use the earphones packed with the Casio as they also acted as the antenna Two-inch display As you can imagine from a two-inch screen made in the mid-Eighties, the picture quality wasn’t great Solar projection The screen was lit by the light source going through the back of the screen and then reflected off a mirror Tune in The TV had automatic tuning and there was no manual option To tune you only had the two buttons on the front Casio marketed its portable TVs in the Eighties as being wallet-sized, something you would take with you wherever you went.…

Quick climber As well as being able to reach new heights for aerial shots, the Inspire 2 can reach them quickly, climbing 20 feet per second and descending at almost 30 feet per second New cameras DJI launched the Inspire 2 along with two new cameras: the Zenmuse X4S has a one-inch 20-megapixel sensor and the larger Zenmuse X5S, which has a 20.8-megapixel sensor and supports eight lenses from wide angles to zoom Dual-battery system As well as extending its flight time, the Inspire 2’s two batteries ensure that if one fails during a flight, it will still have enough power to be able to return to the pilot Subzero shooting The Inspire 2’s battery system is also self-heating so it can film in even the coldest conditions – minus…

TESLA’S NEXT ELECTRIC CAR WILL GO THE DISTANCE When you fill up your car with petrol or diesel and go for a spin, you’re actually giving the environment a good old punch in the chops. Yet we persist in driving these vehicles because the alternative – a fully-electric vehicle – will only take you so far on a single charge. In a best case scenario, you’re likely to manage an average of 80 miles before it conks out, so it’s little wonder that they only generate one per cent of new car sales. Drive into the future a bit and you’ll the Tesla 3, which could inject interest into the market. Manufactured by the company cofounded by Elon Musk, it has attracted more than 400,000 preorders and while it’s likely…

MUSIC WITH COLOUR Sure, it’s great to be able to hear your tunes pumping away, but surely you’d want to see them as well? Well, you’re in luck because few speakers come as party-ready as the JBL Pulse 2. With two 40mm drivers you get serious punch in the audio department, while its in-built multi-LEDs, Bluetooth connectivity and splashproof design make it perfect for parties. JBL Pulse 2 Speaker £130 | $200 | jbl.com LIGHT UP THE PARTY Are you taking your shindig into the great outdoors? Well, you’re going to need to keep things illuminated when night descends, so why not add a little sparkle to proceedings with the Solar String Lights from Panpany? For a start all 50 bulbs are waterproof, so a little drizzle isn’t going to…

01 Sega Mega Drive Retro Console This comes with 80 built-in games including Sonic and Mortal Kombat, as well as the ability to use your own cartridges, however the overall sound quality is not great. £60 | $75 | atgames.net 02 Retron 5 With five cartridge slots you can play games from nine different consoles including NES, SNES Mega Drive, Game Boy and they’re all region-free and upscaled to 720p. £160 | $200 | hyperkin.com 03 GPD XD Retro Gaming Pad Able to emulate a wide array of consoles from the ZX Spectrum to the Dreamcast and Playstation, the GPD comes with either 32GB or 64GB of memory and the battery lasts up to ten hours. £190 | $200 | gpdxd.com 04 Atari Flashback 7 Frogger, Space Invaders, Centipede, Pong…

Booming bass What separates the M10 from its little brother? That’ll be the pumping built-in subwoofer that gives off a serious thump and helps to easily fill any listening environment Compatible with the lot You can play any of your stored music libraries, whether they’re on a Windows laptop, Mac, PC, UPnP/DLNA server or NAS drive. It’s an audiophile’s dream Wireless wonders The M10 is built to work over Wi-Fi. This offers better sound quality and the ability to stream all over your home. There is also Bluetooth and Auxiliary outputs for maximum exposure Music at your fingertips Pair your favourite streaming service with your Musaic M10 through the free app and you get a world of music at your fingertips. The app even holds podcasts and internet radio stations…

When action cameras hit the market, extreme sports fans and handheld moviemakers were frothing at the mouth at the potential of creating fantastic POV videos. Now, one new innovation has changed the game: the ability to capture a 360-degree view of everything around you, including yourself, in one click. As VR continues to make waves, a surge in interest for 360-degree content is rising, it’s with spherical photos and videos that you can explore on Facebook and YouTube, as well as view through a Google Cardboard headset. When capturing your footage, though, it’s all about the lenses and the body build: one lens will give you 360-degree horizontal panning, whereas the ‘two-or-more’ lens design will give you a spherical view, allowing you a full-360-degree panoramic rotation, as well as a…

The double-lensed Richo Theta SC is quite possibly the least imposing, most user-friendly camera in the group. This pocket pal the latest model in the range, and is designed specifically to be a lighter, mid-class model that utilises the same technology, body design and lens built as the original Theta S. And, like the S, the SC sits proudly in the compact, pocket-sized and simple-to-operate band, while delivering full orb, 360-degree photos an videos thanks to its duel-lens system. The camera also has a built in Wi-Fi module that you can connect your smartphone or tablet to and, in conjunction with the Theta companion app, you can view and shoot still imagery as well as remotely-control your 360-degree filming (there’s no in-app preview for filming, though, sadly). The Theta isn’t…

Somewhere between the PixPro and the Theta SC, the KeyMission 360 is a compact double-lens unit that will fit in the pocket easily, attach to a bike helmet or tripod just the same, as well as shooting 4K video. Designed with exploration and extreme sports in mind, the KeyMission is waterproof up to 30 meters, freezeproof down to -10 Celsius, as well as shockproof up two metres. It accepts microSD so you aren’t limited by its internal memory. You have the option of one-touch recording for stills or video on the unit itself, or via smartphone control using the KeyMission’s inbuilt Wi-Fi module. This said, connecting to the SnapBridge companion app wasn’t as smooth as we would have liked and there were a few problems in establishing a link, so,…

Self-heating skin If you picked an iPhone for its colour you don’t want to then buy a case that will cover it – and with the new jet-black iPhone, it looks cool but scratches easily. TENC (an abbrevation for The Emperor’s New Clothes) is clear, scratch resistant and has a tight fit over the phone so you’ll barely notice it. It has an AutioHeal coating that repairs itself when scratched, you can rub a key against it a few times and then watch the marks disappear. Just Mobile TENC | £20 | $25 Leave your wallet at home If The Mujjo Wallet Case has an incredibly simple design with one feature on the back: a slot with enough space to fit two or maybe three essential cards, such as your…

The backlit keyboard comes built into this iPad case, and there is also a holder for the Apple Pencil. The level of the backlighting can be adjusted and can be set to turn itself of if it isn’t used for a short while in order yo to save battery life. The Create is connected via the iPad Pro’s smart connector, this is what also powers the device meaning there are no power cables and no Bluetooth connection is needed. What makes the iPad feel like a Mac is the row of iOS shortcut keys that enables you to adjust volume and brightness settings without having to touch the screen. The auto-wake feature turns on the iPad when the case is opened so you can get straight to work. £110 |…

Maybe we’ve watched too many horror movies, by the whirring blades of a chainsaw can be pretty intimidating. Looking to chop fire wood for this winter without losing a limb, we spoke with Spike Milton, Britain’s most experienced timbersport competitor Milton has been in the foresting industry his whole life and has taken part in several STIHL Timbersports World Championships. This year’s competition took place in Stuttgart, Germany, and around 6,000 people attended to see 22 teams from around the world compete. Milton’s first rule for any aspiring lumberjack is, “You must get the proper training, even if you’re doing it just as a hobby. Each model chainsaw is different, so before you use a new one read the manual. And make sure you have the proper protective equipment, even…