H O T S TUFF
Grand power in my pocket
SIGMA FP
We all want the real thing. But we all want it a little lighter, a little smaller,
a little more convenient. So the weather-sealed Sigma FP comes in at
just 370g and 113mm across. And Sigma wants you to know that this
makes it the world’s smallest, lightest full-frame mirrorless snapper.
There’s a back-lit 24.6MP full-frame sensor and the camera employs
the L-mount lens system. Throw in silent shooting and HDR with an ISO
range of 100-25,600, plus 4K video to 24p and a Cinemagraph mode
that will readily create gifs, and the FP should appeal to video fans and
stills specialists alike. It’s due later this year and there’s no mention of
price just yet – we just pray it’s in keeping with the ‘less is more’ theme.
£tbc / sigma-imaging-uk.com
Don’t mind if I 8BitDo
8BITDO SN30 PRO+
Still using just your thumbs to play mobile games? What is this, ancient
Greece? You should be handing your digits all the help they need...
possibly in the shape of 8BitDo’s new SN30 Pro+ controller – its first
full-sized pad. Compatible not just with Android but also with your
Switch, PC and Mac, and even Raspberry Pi, it comes with 8BitDo’s
Ultimate Software, which opens up a whole world of customisation,
including button-mapping and trigger sensitivity, with your setups
saved on a game-by-game basis. There’s also motion control and
rumble, plus Bluetooth. And did we mention the 20-hour battery life?
It’s time to treat your thumbs like the fleshy heroes they are.
$50 / 8bitdo.comIs that plant winking at me?
Rest assured that nobody has slipped
something into your coffee. The pot is
named Lua, and a bit of research tells
us that it winks when it understands
a QR code you’ve just shown it. Lua is
a smart plant pot, you see, the winking
animation being one of many it’ll perform
depending on its mood. If it’s thirsty, its
face – a 2.4in LCD – will turn to a gasp.
If it’s not getting enough sunlight it’ll
start doing a vampire impression, while
a squint means it’s looking for shade.
And occasionally it’ll stick its tongue out,
because why not?As a serial (accidental) killer of house
plants, I like the sound of this. How
does it work?
By constantly measuring the soil’s
moisture, light exposure and temperature,
Lua can assess what it needs and notify
you accordingly. And in addition to its
life-preserving sensors, the pot can also
detect motion. When someone walks
past, it wakes up and follows them with
its eyes. If nothing happens, it’ll drift off
back to sleep. Alright for some.Moving eyes – that’ll terrify my nan.
Easy to get set up?
Very. Once you’ve unboxed your Lua
you’ll want to download the app. Here,
you can select your plant’s family or enter
a specific type. Once you’ve done that
the app will generate a unique QR code
for your plant, which the Lua then reads
and sets the appropriate parameters for.
In-app, you can also change Lua’s facial
proportions, and the animations will
update accordingly.Anything else I need to know?
If it meets its Kickstarter target, Lua will
launch in a number of colour options in
December, making for a much better
Christmas present than a pair of Scooby
Doo oven gloves.WTF
IS LUA?