NEWS FEED
THE PLAYSTATION 5 IS
OFFICIALLY INBOUND
Sony has finally confirmed the PS5 will
launch in 2020. The next-gen console
will support ray-tracing for lighting
effects, and swaps the hard drive for
an SSD. A new controller replaces rumble
with more realistic haptic feedback,
while adaptive L2/R2 triggers allow
for customised resistance.OCULUS QUEST BECOMES
THE HANDIEST HEADSET
The rather brilliant Oculus Quest
has already freed us from wires and
external sensors, and soon you’ll be
able to use it without controllers. From
early 2020, the Quest will support
hand-tracking, using a new method
of deep learning that can understand
the positions of your fingers.REALME STAKES CLAIM AS
CHEAP PHONE CHAMPION
China’s Realme has launched the
X2 Pro, a flagship impersonator at
a fraction of the cost. On the spec
sheet is a top-end Snapdragon 855+,
a 64MP quad-camera, a 6.5in Super
AMOLED screen and a 4000mAh
fast-charging battery. Enough to
leave the iPhone 11 a bit embarrassed?STAR WARS SEASON
STARTS IN THE KITCHEN
Star Wars is full of cinematic icons,
from brave heroes like Han Solo to
timeless villains like Darth Vader Round
Dutch Oven. Nope, we’re not making
that one up: thanks to a collaboration
between Star Wars and pot dealer Le
Creuset, a bunch of classic characters
have been turned into kitchenware.Eggstravagance
LINN SERIES 3
Ever been told your taste in music stinks? Maybe you should invest
in a Linn Series 3 speaker – which looks as if it could double as an
air-freshener. Unfortunately, especially considering the astronomical
price, it doesn’t do that at all (and if it did, it’d surely smell of hard-boiled
eggs); but it does stream from all your usual services, including Spotify
and Tidal, plus there’s Bluetooth and AirPlay if you want to connect your
phone. Control is via the Linn app, a connected Alexa device or the
touch-sensitive buttons on the cut-glass top, and there’s even an
HDMI ARC socket for hooking it up to your TV. Just remember you’re
shelling out nearly three grand. No wonder it’s only available in Harrods.
£2950 / harrods.com
Quite the chimer
ARLO VIDEO DOORBELL
Arlo says its first video doorbell allows users to get a bigger, more
precise picture of their front porch. Fairly useless in itself, unless you’ve
been at the pub too long and can’t remember what the hell your house
looks like, but excellent if there’s someone dodgy standing on it and you
want to catch them in the act of looking shifty. With high-resolution
live video, two-way audio (including direct-to-mobile video calls)
and what Arlo claims is an industry-leading vertical field of view with
an optimised 1:1 aspect ratio, you can capture people from head to
toe – even if your would-be burglar is a basketball player in 6in heels.
Out now in the US priced $149, it arrives in Europe early next year.
£tbc / arlo.com