Innehållsförteckning för Issue 216 från T3 Australia

McLAREN HYBRID The McLaren Artura is a 320km/h supercar that also acts as a conventional hybrid. It’ll drive silently through traffic – or at up to 130km/h – in electric-only mode, then transform into a fully-fledged supercar with the flick of a switch. HYBRID PICKUPS COMING Ford’s Ranger pickup truck is finally getting a plug-in hybrid option. The PHEV engine option will arrive early next year on Wildtrak and XLT series models as well as a new Stormtrak edition. FASTER SELF-DRIVING SPEEDS Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot 95 sees the automaker’s level 3 autonomous driving go from 60km/h to 95km/h. This effectively provides motorway speeds of self-driving. It’s coming to Germany next year and other markets soon.…

A belated thanks to the good people at Onanoff, who sent GaGu the Fokus+ headphones to test a few months ago and have been patiently waiting to hear his thoughts. They’re alright, mostly. A little small, but they fit to the head nicely without squeezing one’s skull. Very comfortable. They also sound pretty okay, at least once the volume’s been pumped up a little. Just for the sake of diplomacy, let’s avoid too much mention of the ANC, which behaves weirdly and rather ruins the experience when it’s switched on. If you have kids, consider the BuddyPhones CosmosFun – they’re almost exactly the same thing, just with a volume limiter and some shiny stickers in the box. Budgets are stretched around Guru Towers – the run up to Christmas is…

Opinion I must confess to a guilty secret in my technological life – a tendency to buy up old tech before it disappears from the market, either because it has a certain quaint appeal or simply because I think it might come in useful. That’s why I have a collection of incandescent Christmas lights (for their lovely warm festive glow), a couple of strong-sucking vacuum cleaners that exceed the latest wattage limit (I thought they’d clean better), a pair of DVD-recorders and even an unopened box of floppy disks. It’s not only me who’s afflicted. Future-proofing by buying ‘the last of stuff’ seems to have become a nostalgic ritual for some consumers. A photographer pal of mine, for instance, is stacking up on Canon EOS 5D MkIV camera bodies because it…

SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH ULTRA Rocking a gorgeous design and an enviable spec sheet, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a formidable option for rugged smartwatch lovers. Designed to work in conditions as diverse as 55 degree heat, 9000m of altitude and 100m underwater, this is ready to go anywhere you can. $1,299, samsung.com APPLE WATCH ULTRA 2 Whether you enjoy hiking to tall peaks, or diving the depths of the ocean, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has specs for you. Fitted in a titanium chassis, you’ll also find a whopping 3,000 nit display here, ensuring you can see even in direct sunlight. $1,399, apple.com/au GARMIN FENIX 8 Arguably the most recognisable name in rugged smartwatches, the new Fenix 8 from Garmin packs in just about every feature or function you…

The Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie Evo has an RRP of $99 and can be purchased from the Lavazza site or other selected retailers, including Argos and Amazon. However, I would recommend shopping around if you’re interested in purchasing, especially as it’s often discounted by up to 50%. It’s available in grey, black and white, offering versatile options to complement a range of kitchen aesthetics. In terms of its design and features, the Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie Evo is a relatively simple machine. The machine offers espresso and lungo options, both controlled by a single button, so you’ll need to keep an eye on it to stop the pour at your preferred volume. This straightforward operation is great if you prefer a quick, manual process, though it may be…

Feeling terribly groggy when you wake each morning? Then a wake up light, or sunrise lamp, could be your new bedside bestie. Designed to wake you up naturally with the sun and your body’s rhythms, wake up lights do this by gradually brightening the light to mimic the rising of the sun, for a gentle awakening. Most wake up lights have the option to add sounds at the end of the cycle to make sure you’re up when you need to be, and many come with a sunset cycle to help you wind down at night. Some people find using a wake up light over a traditional alarm clock helps them start the day off feeling more alert and in a better mood. It’s a no-brainer, right? Find out below…

Back in 2014 the smart home scene really began to kick off. Picture decade-ago me: cramming my arms with app-controlled thermostats, colour-changing lights and security cameras like a child in a free sweet shop. Of all the gadgets that I acquired over the years, the smart home stuff is what really resonated with me. Aside from some mixed results with early models of robot vacuums (they’re much better these days), everything I laid my hands on had a genuinely useful benefit, whether it was being able to remotely temperature-regulate every room in the home, or never having to touch a light switch ever again… on the ground floor anyway. Though the general smart home theme hasn’t shifted dramatically in the years since, the quality of the kit has, and you…

PETZL SWIFT RL 2 The Petzl Swift RL 2 is an outstanding head torch, combining a lightweight design, impressive 1,100-lumen brightness and effective Reactive Lighting technology. Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, it delivers excellent performance, comfort, and versatility for activities like trail running and hiking. $TBC, petzl.com LIFESYSTEMS INTENSITY 300 The Lifesystems Intensity 300 LED Head Torch is a reliable and affordable option for outdoor adventurers. Its lightweight design, six lighting modes and weather-resistant build make it perfect for hiking and camping. Simple to use and offering great value, it’s a practical choice. $TBC, lifesystems.co.uk BIOLITE HEADLAMP 750 The BioLite HeadLamp 750 excels with its bright 750-lumen output, stable design and easy operation. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, it offers strong battery life, comfortable wear and excellent stability, making it one of…

KAOS Jeff Goldblum is at his Jeff Goldblumiest playing Zeus in this Greek mythos black comedy, and boy does it work well. Seek it out on Netflix and binge the whole lot. TASKMASTER NEW ZEALAND Did you know, reader, that All 4 carries more than just the UK version of Taskmaster? The NZ edition is tremendous and well worth a watch. GUY MONTGOMERY’S GUY MONT-SPELLING BEE More absurd Australian comedy, on YouTube, featuring comedians spelling words. Check out both the New Zealand and Australia versions.…

KITCHEN 1 SAMSUNG FAMILY HUB AI VISION FRENCH STYLE SMART FRIDGE FREEZER Samsung’s Smart Fridge Freezer uses a camera to monitor the food you add and remove. From there, it’ll note the expiry date, offer recipe suggestions and add to your shopping list. The Family Hub window allows you to see inside, plus it can play music, organise your calendar and share photos. $3,399, samsung.com 2 NETATMO SMART SMOKE ALARM Whether you’re in the kitchen, in a different room of your house or even at the office, the Netatmo Smart Smoke Alarm detects smoke and flames and alerts you immediately via your phone. Aside from its detection, it also sounds an incredibly loud 85 dB alarm – so there will be no mistaking if your kitchen is on fire! $126,…

State of the Art Short throw projectors Projectors have evolved. More stylish, brighter and easier to use, you no longer need to tolerate models that look like they’re on the run from the office IT department, bolted to the ceiling, or tabletop beamers that belt out more heat than a fan heater. The latest generation of Ultra Short Throw (UST) projectors are far more conducive to real world living. They need only centimetres to cast a 100-inch (or larger) image, while a shift to laser light sources, able to deliver high brightness even in rooms with high levels of ambient light, has made them a feasible alternative to large, flatscreen TVs. Switched off, UST projectors rarely draw attention to themselves, but powered up they can transform a wall into a…

For some of us, the launch of the AirPods 4 was the best new Apple thing this year. Finally, non-Pro AirPods with active noise cancellation (ANC), gesture control and more. Plus, two different versions to choose from. But what are the pros and cons of the entry–level AirPods and how do they compare to rivals? You can choose from either no-ANC for $219, or if you want ANC, it’s an extra $299. If you’re on iPhone owner on a budget, then these are the best in-ear headphones out there. Design wise, Apple’s playing it safe, but when you’ve got a winning formula, why mess with it? They’re sleeker, lighter and more compact than the previous generation AirPods, but feature the same open-ear design for longer-lasting comfort. The iconic stemmed design…

SMARTPHONES Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/au/bestphone APPLE iPHONE 15 PRO MAX From $2,197, apple.com/au The iPhone 15 Pro Max continues to push what is possible from a smartphone. It’s lighter and stronger than ever, boasts a better camera array, and has USB-C charging for the first time. SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 ULTRA From $1,599, samsung.com Samsung’s biggest and best flagship now has a flat-panel display that is also finished in a more rugged titanium. Plus there are a host of new AI features to take on Apple and Google. GOOGLE PIXEL 9 PRO XL From $1,847, store.google.com Google’s 2024 flagship comes with great features, a distinctive design and accomplished cameras. The Pixel 9 Pro XL also offers excellent battery life and is the best Google has to offer. NOTHING PHONE…

Opinion Apple’s recent innovations in gesture-control technology across its wearables are not only changing the way we interact with devices but also signalling a broader shift in the wearable tech industry. With features like gesture-based controls on the Apple Watch and AirPods, Apple is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with often hands-free interaction. This trend highlights how wearables are evolving to become more intuitive, accessible and integrated into our daily lives. At the same time, it hints at where the entire wearable industry might be heading – towards smarter, more connected and invisible interfaces. What stands out about Apple’s approach is its focus on accessibility. Gesture control features like AssistiveTouch and Double Tap allow users with physical limitations to control their Apple Watch with hand movements, making the device…

Best for the long haul JBL LIVE BEAM 3 Two days is a long time to be listening to music – but 48 hours is what the JBL Live Beam 3 is offering, and what’s more the way they reproduce music makes two whole days and nights just fly by. On top of cracking battery life and endlessly engaging sound, JBL has included its nifty touch-screen charging case – so you don’t even have to fire up the JBL control app in order to access volume, playback or ANC modes. $219, jbl.com.au CAMBRIDGE AUDIO MELOMANIA P100 Rely on Cambridge Audio to go to town when designing and specifying a new pair of wireless over-ear noise-cancellers. Yes, the Melomania P100 look good, feel good and even smell pretty good straight from…

In the past the Pro Max model was seen as the top choice in the iPhone range, given its superior capabilities, but that’s all changed with the latest model. The 16 Pro offers everything that the bigger handset does, in a smaller, more usable format. It’s now the best choice for most. Unlike the last generation Pro, this year’s offers a bigger screen, up from 6.1-inch to 6.3-inch, so you’ve got more screen real estate to play with. That’s the biggest increase since the iPhone 12 Pro, which was the first to go to 6.1 inches. Resolution is 2622x1206 pixels, which remains the same 460 pixels per inch as before. That screen bump is the main reason why you might want to give the bigger Pro Max a miss, unless…

Google’s flagship feels like the most accomplished Android handset to take on Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro, and Samsung’s Galaxy S24. Plenty has changed in this latest iteration, including the design, display, chipset, cooling and charging. The XL option is also back, its bigger 6.8-inch display the only differentiator between them. Visually, the Pixel 9 Pro might divide opinion. In this latest design, the ‘camera bar’ no longer wraps into the edges of the phone – it’s now like a free-floating island, hiding the trio of lenses within it behind a curved, blackened shade. It looks modern yet unique and stands apart from the competition, though those steeply-angled edges love to collect pocket debris. The metallic edges of the phone also love a fingerprint, so you’ll be cleaning it more often.…

Despite what many people assume, top quality watches don’t have to cost the equivalent of a private charter to a remote Greek island. Watches are statements of intent, a fashion piece that can make the drabbest of outfits drip with style and swagger. That is, if you can afford a good one. As much as we’d all love a watch advertised by a smirking Formula One driver or a tennis player, the sky-high price tags mean they aren’t really attainable. And, while that’s still true of proper mechanical timepieces, you can certainly pick up a respectable, fashionable watch that will upgrade your overall look, without breaking the bank. Here are our top picks that all sneak in nicely under the $500 mark, so you can wear them every day without…

CAVIAR PARAMOUNT 18K iPHONE 16 PRO Caviar is well known for its absurdly decadent iPhone modifications, and that’s not changed with the iPhone 16 series. There’s a huge range of designs to choose from, with our pick being the Paramount 18K. Its side buttons and back surface are constructed from 18-karat gold for that touch of profligacy, while the eye-catching Art Deco rear design surrounds the Apple logo in shimmering lights like a celestial body. Caviar has limited this device to a run of just 16 units, so if you’re looking for your next tech folly and don’t know how to spend that pesky 40-something grand, here’s your answer. From US$58,130 (about AUD$88,000), caviar.global NEXT ISSUE ON SALE MONDAY JAN 27…