TOUCH DOWN // AUTUMN 2018
HIGH ( tech )
FlyersBY CRAIG WILSON
© NELASOVA / SHUTTERSTOCK
A drone ’ s eye view of a snowy forest in Austria .
UE WONDERBOOM
| Wireless speaker Shaped like a chubby soft-drink can , the Wonderboom is the best speaker yet from audio-hardware company Ultimate Ears . Despite its diminutive proportions ( which make it perfect for throwing in a duffel bag for a weekend away ) it offers extremely impressive sound , both in terms of volume and clarity . It ’ s also waterproof and good for up to eight hours on a charge – depending how loudly you play it , of course . A mic on the top lets you use it as a speakerphone , too , and you can use it to ask Siri or Google Assistant questions from afar on your phone . In an increasingly crowded market segment the Wonderboom stands out thanks to a price ( R1 500 ) that mimics its dimensions .
TRAVEL TECH
GOPRO HERO6
| Action camera American action-camera company GoPro has long set the bar for all-terrain , clip-it-to-a-helmet or take-it-snorkelling cameras , and with the Hero6 it moves the bar up another notch . The new version looks exactly like the Hero5 – and will work with all of its predecessor ’ s accessories – but has a number of key additions . First , it ’ ll now shoot 4K footage at 60 frames per second ( fps ) instead of 30 , and it ’ ll do 1080p slow motion at 240fps . GoPro has improved its software-based stabilisation , too , so footage should be smooth even when the trail is anything but . Faster Wi-Fi means quicker transfers to your phone or tablet , and QuikStories in GoPro ’ s Quik app will automatically edit highlight reels of your footage , slap a soundtrack on them and get them social-media ready . This upgrade will set you back around R8 500 .
DJI SPARK
| Drone Arguably the best drone for travellers is the DJI Mavic Pro , which has folding rotor arms that make it ideal for lugging about . But the Mavic costs around R20 000 , which is a big ask for a hobbyist . Enter the DJI Spark ( priced at around R8 700 ), a smaller but still extremely capable drone that shoots 1080p video , offers a two-axis gimbal for smooth , stable video and crisp stills , and which can be operated with just a phone , or even using a selection of hand gestures . Flying time is only around 15 minutes , so you ’ ll want a spare battery or two in your bag , but it ’ s an excellent intro to
DID YOU KNOW ? When in America you can “ withdraw ” cash from an ATM when you “ deposit ” your used electronics . It ’ s true : there are now EcoATMs – the world ’ s first automated kiosk to exchange electronic devices for money – dotted across the States . Insert your old cell phone and get cash back , all while helping combat the growing problem of e-waste . Visit www . ecoatm . com for more info . drone flying and a great way to get unique holiday snaps . Do check the regulations of the spot you ’ re heading to before taking to the skies , though .
“ It ’ s an excellent intro to drone flying and a great way to get unique holiday snaps ”
* Craig Wilson is editor of Stuff magazine , the world ’ s best-selling gadget magazine .
58 // MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE