TOUCH DOWN // AUTUMN 2017
HIGH ( tech )
Flyers
BY CRAIG WILSON
Everybody gets to be a hero with the new GoPro .
© NELASOVA / SHUTTERSTOCK
FITBIT CHARGE 2
| Fitness Tracker The Fitbit Charge HR was the previous flag-bearer of the Fitbit range – better equipped than the entry-level Flex , but not as bulky or pricey as the top-shelf Blaze or Surge . There ’ s a new face for the fitness-tracking brand , though – the Charge 2 . Replaceable straps , guided breathing sessions and a substantially larger display ( four times larger , to be specific ). This all makes for a solid upgrade to the HR while keeping its key features : always-on heart-rate monitoring , automatic sleep tracking , an excellent accompanying app and five-day battery life . The only thing I ’ d change ? It ’ s still not waterproof and won ’ t track swimming , which feels like a missed trick on what ’ s otherwise one of the best all-purpose trackers on the market . Hopefully the Charge 2 ’ s arrival will also make the still-amazing HR a little cheaper .
TRAVEL TECH
56 // MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE
GOPRO HERO5 BLACK
| Action camera Though companies like Garmin and TomTom are nipping at GoPro ’ s heels , it ’ s still the gold standard for action cameras . The previous generation of devices it released put great features such as touchscreen in the midrange offering , and others – like 4K video resolution – in the top-end one , which made choosing between them unnecessarily fraught . This time around , GoPro ’ s put all the best features – and some new ones , like voice control – into its flagship device . There are also three microphones for less wind-tunnel-type audio and built-in waterproofing as standard , though you ’ ll still need a dedicated case for serious , scuba-diving type depths . And the 2-inch touchscreen makes changing settings and framing shots wonderfully simple . It ’ s tiny , it ’ s smart and it captures brilliant stills and video . A travel essential .
This time around , GoPro ’ s put all the best features – and some new ones – into its flagship device .
DID YOU KNOW ? You can now hail an
Uber from your Google Maps app . Previously you could use Maps to check price estimates and start the Uber order , but you had to exit the app and finish the transaction on Uber . Now you can do it all without leaving the latest version of Maps , just sign in using your Uber account info .
MOTO Z
| Smartphone Motorola has had a tumultuous few years . Once the maker of iconic phones , it was sold to Google for its patent collection , then passed on to Lenovo . Now it ’ s back with the Moto Z , a phone with travellers firmly in its sights . At first blush it ’ s a slim , attractive and potent Android-powered smartphone , but remove the magnetically attached rear cover and you can affix a range of accessories to it . These include a Hasselblad camera attachment with 10x optical zoom , a JBL speaker with built-in kickstand , a pocket-sized projector ( for presentations or movies on the run ) and a battery pack .
With all the accessories
sold separately it ’ s a big commitment to get the whole lot , but Lenovo ’ s promised they ’ ll work with the next few Motos , too . Look out Samsung , LG , Huawei and Xiaomi , this old dog has learnt plenty of new tricks .