1. 14 October 2016 www.pcandtechauthority.com.au
TECHDESK MOST WANTED
www.pcandtechauthority.com.au October 2016 15
MOST WANTED
PlayStation 4 Pro
Launching on the 10th of November, Sony’s PlayStation
4 Pro is set to compete with the PC gaming market.
The device will offer 4K quality for both games and
streaming services, and even capture high definition
footage. The machine uses two quad core AMD Jaguar
processors, a 4.20 Tflops AMD Radeon graphics card, as
well as 8GB of RAM. A few previously released games
such as Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, will release a 4K
patch, with games like Horizon: Zero Dawn and Mass
Effect: Andromeda launching with built-in 4K support.
Most wanted: The PlayStation 4 Pro brings 4K
video resolution to PlayStation 4 fans. The HDR image
technology creates a sense of photorealism unique to the
device. Potentially increases the standard video quality
of PlayStation 4 games to a native 1080p resolution at 60
frames per second.
Not wanted: Bizarrely doesn’t support 4K Blu-ray.
May alienate current PlayStation 4 owners who have
already invested in the console. Only comes with 1TB of
storage as opposed to a 2TB model. The $559.95 launch
price is a bit much.
Zubi Flyer
Fuze Interactive’s Zubi Flyer is the first ever
hackable Frisbee. Currently crowd-funded on
Kickstarter, the device is designed to introduce
kids to coding. The device can be disassembled
and picked apart to change the lights and
sound effects made by it, as well. You can also
connect the device to the internet and learn
programing tools through educational courses
online.
Most wanted: It’s the first of its kind!
The device teaches kids how to code without
belittling them like many other educational
programs often do. There is a nice amount of
customisation in light and sound effects and
gameplay. It’s an open source program so the
development opportunities could be endless.
Not wanted: Since it’s designed for
children, it’s quite limited and basic. It will most
likely take a while before programmers get
invested in the hardware if at all. It’s currently
in a Kickstarter campaign so features are
subject to change.
Asus 10th
Anniversary
Mastercase
Maker 5
Asus is partnering with
Cooler Master for a limited
edition Mastercase Maker
5 to celebrate the 10th
anniversary of the Republic
of Gamers. The case is
a premium build of the
Cooler Master system and
available from a few select
Asus partners, on the 1st of
October.
Most Wanted: The
design aesthetics of the
case look really slick and
sharp. The use of red is
rich and highlights its
rarity. The case is also
entirely customisable, as
you can adjust the exterior
structure by replacing
panels and doors. Sliding
locks make it easy to swap
out your HDD or outdated
graphics card, too.
Not wanted: It’s
incredibly rare and
available at only a few
retailers.
Hydra
Hydra is an automated indoor plant care
system that waters your plants for you.
Whether they have a busy weekday
schedule or on a holiday, users can
organise routines for the machine to
water plants on a daily basis.
Most wanted: You can leave up
to ten plants unattended for weeks.
You can also set the various dispensing
volumes for each of the ten pumps,
which is especially great for those who
have a diverse range of plants. It’s also
environmentally friendly.
Not wanted: Surprisingly isn’t
waterproof. If the water source isn’t
covered, it can breed mosquitos. The
volume levels are not automatic or
responsive to the size of each pot,
meaning you need to manually adjust
each pump, or risk overwatering or
under-watering your plants.
It’s also in the middle of a crowd-funded
Kickstarter campaign so some features
are subject to change.
iPhone 7
Apple has recently unveiled its upcoming iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
models. The obvious feature is a departure from wired earphones
with the AirPod in-ear microphones, but there is also a 40%
upgrade in processing power. The device also introduces stereo
speakers with one at the bottom and the other at the top.
Most Wanted: Yes, the lack of a headphone jack is a bit
strange but the AirPod headset has an interesting design. Bigger
storage capacity with 128GB and 256GB. A variety of new colours
from glossy jet black and rose gold. Dual speakers provides
a smoother listening experience. iPhones are finally water-
resistant! The battery life has also extended to estimated 12
hours with the iPhone 7 Plus adding an extra two hours.
Not wanted: The glossy jet black colour isn’t very durable
and can be easily damaged with scratches. You can potentially
lose one of your two AirPod earbuds, which use a lightning cable
like a charger, preventing you from listening to music with your
headphones while charging.
JULIAN RIZZO-SMITH ASSEMBLES THE PCTA TEAM’S LIST OF
DESIRABLE GADGETS THIS MONTH