In this new series I’m taking a walk down memory lane and revisiting some classic games I played in my youth. As I’m currently stuck at home because of coronavirus, it’s the ideal time to reminisce about those favourite titles that ate up hours of my youth. I’ll be revisiting some absolute legends such as Lemmings , DOOM and The Sims, and showing you how you can play them all on a modern PC today....
At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Large compacting bin Always knows its position Compact charging base Good carpet cleaning Cons Roller can drop larger debris App too pared-back Basic mopping Frequently gets stuck Our Verdict The Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo Robot vacuum does lots well: it’s better at cleaning carpet than many others, good at finding its way home to charge and the huge compacting bin on board means it can run for up to eight weeks without being emptied....
If your Roomba has trouble making its way back to its dock or scooting securely onto its charging contacts, join the club. I’ve sometimes found my Roomba 630 fruitlessly spinning around near the charging dock (or the Home Base, as iRobot calls it), as if the Roomba can’t quite get a fix on its location. Other times my Roomba does make it to the dock, only to back up and try again because it can’t make a solid connection with the charging contacts....
At a Glance Our Verdict Not forgetting that this comparison is based on our hands-on review of the S7 and Considerably more in-depth testing and prolonged use of the 6P, we can only come to preliminary conclusions about this particular battle. The Nexus 6P has two main advantages over its rival: price and plain Android. Those who use their phone’s built-in speakers a lot will also like the front-facing stereo speakers....
At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Very well built, with IP68 certification Great S Pen stylus experience Decent stereo speakers Bright & colourful screen Cons Not the sharpest screen for the money One UI is a bit Marmite Performance fine but not outstanding Our Verdict With excellent build quality, a bright and fluid display, and a brilliant all-inclusive stylus system, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a well-balanced mid-range tablet....
At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Fastest Android tablet Great screen and sound Versatile interface and controls Thin and waterproof Cons Apps and performance behind iPad Pro Expensive Our Verdict This centrepiece of the Tab S9 range seriously challenges the iPad Pro. Not with the same brutal performance or the right apps for professional creation, but as a versatile productivity tablet for those who take the time to learn all the subtleties it is brilliant....
Renders of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic smartwatch have leaked online, confirming Samsung’s assertion that it is going in a new design direction. But is it truly “innovative”? OnLeaks and SammyGuru have teamed up to post a series of detailed CAD renders for Samsung’s forthcoming smartwatch, which sees the return of the beloved rotating bezel input (hence the ‘Classic’ moniker). Most notable, however, is the shape of the phone’s base....
In the ever-evolving landscape of smartphones, Samsung has been a pioneer in introducing innovative foldable devices that offer a unique blend of style and functionality. The recent unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Flip 4, has sparked considerable excitement among tech enthusiasts. In this comprehensive comparison, we delve into the key features of each model to help you understand their strengths and differences....
At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Big, immersive, yet detailed and subtle sound Syncs its audio with Samsung TVs SpaceFit Sound room correction AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect support Cons No discrete volume for built-in Alexa Power cords for satellite speakers are too short Q-Symphony and wireless Dolby Atmos require a Samsung TV No Chromecast support Our Verdict The HW-Q990C doesn’t offer many improvements over Samsung’s recent flagship soundbars, but it still delivers stellar audio performance and a bevy of features, particularly for Samsung TV owners....
At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict Best Prices Today: Sky Soundbox Following the successful launch of Sky Q , the broadcasting giant thought its set top box could do with a friend. Sky has teamed up with Devialet to offer its own soundbar to improve on your TV’s audio. Here’s our Sky Soundbox review. Price We’re accustomed to a single price for gadgets like this, but the Soundbox has three different prices....
At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict Light, easy to use, sporty and with good performance, the SoundPeats Q9 Wireless Earbuds let you enjoy great audio on your morning run. Best Prices Today: SoundPEATS Sport Q9 Wireless Earbuds Audio quality matters, even when exercising. The SoundPeats Sport Q9 Wireless Earbuds give you the comfort you need when working out and at a bargain price, but without sacrificing sound quality. Also see: Best budget headphones 2015 ....
A mobile phone was initially only design for calls and texts, but you probably use it for a lot more these days. The smartphone has transformed the way many of us live our lives, offering easy access to millions of apps, the entire web and powerful cameras from almost anywhere. However, they’re certainly not the right choice for everyone. Many older people simply don’t need all the extra features of a smartphone, which can be confusing if you haven’t used them before....
We live in a golden age of board gaming (and party gaming ). If you’ve only played Cluedo and Monopoly, you’re in for a treat: in 2020 this hobby has far more to offer. The best board games are well worth anyone’s time. In this article we round up the 17 best board games available to humanity, together with vital statistics (time to play, number of players, our difficulty rating) and a link to buy....
While it used to be the case that creating a video game required big development teams and even bigger budgets, the last few years have seen a return to the days when one person in a basement can craft an interactive masterpiece. Freed from the constraints of marketing departments and AAA budgets, indie developers have been putting out some of the weirdest and most interesting games out there, and thanks to support from Valve, Microsoft, and Sony, it’s never been easier to find and buy the best indie games, whether you play on console, PC, or just on your phone....
Garmin Edge 830 The Edge 830 is an excellent bike satnav. It will calculate a cycle-friendly route to a destination – or you can plan your own route – and get turn-by-turn directions while you’re cycling. Don’t expect it to always pick the best route (the the one you would have done) but it will get you to the destination when you haven’t planned a route in advance. It also works as an advanced bike computer, displaying and recording all your stats as you ride and will also show you an elevation profile so you can see whether it’s uphill or downhill ahead....
Actions for Google Assistant is an actual thing, but not a well known thing because it’s complicated and aimed at devs. In essence, Actions let you extend the Google Assistant’s functionality by creating apps that include multiple actions, triggered by a single command. But while it’s complicated for home users, the functionality it has the potential to unlock is attractive to everyone who uses a Google Home device. Google Assistant is now also available on any device running Android 6....
It’s clear that, at this point, Fairphone has nailed down the fundamentals of building an ethically and environmentally conscious smartphone. So much so, in fact, that the newly unveiled Fairphone 6 (officially ‘The Fairphone (Gen. 6)’ makes for a more versatile and personal phone than ever, without compromising on the company’s core values. Building on 2023’s Fairphone 5 , the sixth-generation model has enviable sustainability credentials. It’s made from more than 50% recycled material (the most of any phone currently on the market), uses ethically-mined cobalt, gold, silver and tungsten, is made in factories powered by 100% renewable energy, is 100% e-waste neutral, and promises better working conditions and fair wages for workers throughout its supply chain....
If your summer barbecues could use a bit of finesse, here’s some good news. Kamado Joe, the brand behind the distinctive, red-shelled, Japanese-style ceramic grills is launching a digitally controlled charcoal grill and smoker in the UK and across Europe. Forget overcooked and undercooked food, faffing around with firelighters and waiting long periods for the grill to heat up. The Konnected Joe has a host of features that’ll give garden chefs pinpoint control over their cooking....
Finding the right gift for someone at Christmas can be tricky, especially if you’ve been given a Secret Santa about whom you know very little. So, rather than buying some random item and hoping it’s ok, a more sensible approach is to pick up a gift card for a shop or service. But, where can you buy them, what are the drawbacks, and which are the best ones to buy? Here’s our quick guide to gift cards, the best last minute gift this Christmas....
I choose my electric toothbrushes for their teeth-cleaning performance, not for convenience. It’s a strategy that’s served me well as I’m still free of fillings, while visits to the dentist are neither terrifying nor expensive. (It hasn’t done much for my smugness, however.) My brush of choice is the Oral-B iO4 because it brushes brilliantly, it’s not insanely priced and it has all the features I need: a two-minute brushing timer and a highly visible red/green pressure sensor that tells me when I’m brushing too hard and when I’ve got it exactly right....
