TOUCH DOWN // WINTER 2017
HIGH (tech)
Flyers
BY CRAIG WILSON
DID
YOU KNOW?
Apple once made a
games console but it was
a dud. Pippin was launched in
1995 for $600, but less than 50 000
units were sold. Apple fact 2: If you
went back in time to 1991 and tried
to buy all the parts that make up
an iPhone, it would cost more
than $3m (about R40m). The
RAM alone would cost
you $1.44m.
NINTENDO SWITCH
| Gaming device
The Japanese gaming brand responsible
for iconic characters like Mario and
Donkey Kong has released the ultimate
travel companion for avid gamers (or
their parents). Called the Switch, it’s a
games console that can be plugged into
your TV or handheld device and played
on the go. This flexibility comes courtesy
of an ingenious pair of controllers
called Joy-Cons that slide on or off the
sides of the 6.2in 720p display. These
removable controllers combine with a
built-in kickstand to offer a third mode:
mobile multiplayer. Prop up the screen,
give one of the controllers to a friend
and you’re ready to challenge them
to virtual cow-milking, pistol-drawing,
sword-catching or a slew of the other
games Nintendo’s bundled together in a
game called 1-2-Switch. For single player
fun, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the
Wild is tough to top.
The ultimate travel
companion – a games
console that can be plugged
into your handheld device
and played on the go.
T R AV E L
T E C H
62 // MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE
APPLE AIRPODS
| Earphones
When Apple unveiled the latest iPhones
and announced they no longer included
a 3.5mm headphone jack, it sought to
placate critics by simultaneously showing
off the AirPods – cable-free versions of
its EarPods, the instantly recognisable
white earphones it packages with
every phone. What justifies the hefty
price tag (R2 600 a pair)? In short, the
convenience. Open the accompanying
case and the wireless AirPods connect to
your iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Watch
almost instantly. Pop them in your ears
and audio begins to play, while removing
one pauses it. A mic in each makes for
crystal-clear calls, double-tapping either
engages Apple’s voice assistant, Siri,
and the case doubles as a fast-charging
battery pack so they’ll make it through
the day with only
minor – and brief –
interruptions. Don’t
expect active noise
cancellation (there
isn’t any); do expect
curious glances from
strangers.
GOOGLE TRIPS
| App
Available for free on Android
or iOS (Apple) devices, Google
Trips is a new app from the
online advertising and search
giant that makes it easy to
plan and organise travel. If
you use Gmail, the app can
automatically collate your
transport and accommodation
details, making it a cinch to find
booking references or other
important information. Sure,
there are plenty of mobile
apps that already offer this, but
many of them require you to
forward the necessary emails
to them. Trips also allows you
to you create an itinerary based
on your interests, location,
available time, or a combination
of all three.