TechRadar Middle East Awards – honoring the best from 2017

We announced the nominees for the TechRadar 2017 awards a month back and the list was made up of editorial and people's choice awards. While we worked on picking our favourites, so did you, our readers, who poured in with your votes on your favourite smartphone, online retailer and company of 2017.

It's time to reveal which companies and products were the best from 2017 - here are the winners of TechRadar Middle East's 2017 Awards!

Best Phone (Editor's Choice): Samsung Galaxy Note 8

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is an incredibly impressive phone that's perfect for anyone who wants a productive, powerful device.

It's got one of the best displays, one of the top cameras, and an excellent mix of speed and performance under the finger, while the S Pen is a real differentiator in a sea of similar phones.

Best Phone (People's Choice): Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Huawei has been making some killer handsets lately and the Mate 10 Pro was voted the best phone by our readers. It has a beautiful design, a great camera and fantastic battery life. 

The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is for someone who wants something a little different, and needs a handset that can easily do everything with class.

Best Mid Ranged Phone (Under AED 2,000): Nokia 8

The Nokia 8 is an impressive handset with specs and performance to match any high-end smartphone. But then you look at its price and you do a double-take to see if you've read it wrong, as it offers flagship specs at a price you'd expect from a mid-ranged device. With fantastic support with updates and a clean Android interface, the Nokia 8 is the best phone in it's price range.

Best Budget Phone (Under AED 1,000): Honor 7X

Honor has always brought features found in high-end phones at prices that make it affordable for most first-time smartphone buyers. The Honor 7X was no different, bringing a 18:9 screen and a super tough build that was previously reserved for flagship products. 

Best Tablet: Microsoft Surface Pro

Microsoft Surface Pro is a hybrid tablet/PC that is very popular with business users because of its power and portability. This year's model is the biggest improvement Microsoft has ever made on a Surface. It has a fantastic battery life a great keyboard and a refined design. Even though the Surface Pen has now become an optional accessory, the Surface Pro is still our favourite tablet from 2017.

Innovation in Mobile: Moto Mods

Lenovo did it right with a modular design for smartphones and has kept on it's promise by releasing additional mods for its Z range that allow you to expand what your phone is capable of. This year we saw the addition of a 360-degree camera, a gamepad and a photo printer, which make the Moto Z2 phone more flexible than any other smartphone.

Innovation in Mobile: Sony Xperia Touch

Sony is great at designing products that give us a peek into the future, and the Xperia Touch is exactly that. It's Android-based and can project a screen that you can interact with, like you would on a phone or a tablet. Someday, all projectors will have similar functionality and we'll be thanking Sony for making it happen.

Best Smartwatch: Fitbit Ionic

The best use of a smartwatch is fitness and Fitbit have been in this space longer than any smartwatch company. Add a killer 5-day battery life and independence from your phone, and the Fitbit Ionic feels like a smartwatch that's building the foundation for all future smartwatches. 

Best Headphones: Sony WH-1000MX2

When you buy a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, you're often trading sound quality for the ability to block out outside noise. For years, we just hadn't been able to find headphones that could do both noise-cancellation and Hi-Res audio.

Until now. 

The Sony WH-1000XM2 is the follow-up to the surprisingly great MDR-1000X and wins our hearts for the best headphones of 2017.

Best Laptop: Dell XPS 13

The Dell XPS 13 is no stranger to winning awards and for a good reason. It has powerful Intel processors, ranging from i5 to i7, along with a nigh-bezel-less ‘Infinity Edge’ display, which fits a 13.3-inch screen into an 11-inch frame. The Dell XPS 13 really stands out from its competition. 

Best Online Retailer (People's Choice): SOUQ.COM

We've seen tremendous growth in ecommerce over the last year and there is no denying that souq.com is leading the pack. Under Amazon's acquisition, the brand has gone from strength to strength and offered an astonishing half a million deals for White Friday last year.

Best Tech Company (People's Choice): Huawei

Not only was the Huawei Mate 10 Pro voted as the best phone by our readers but Huawei was also selected as the favourite tech company from 2017. We can't wait to see what Huawei has planned for 2018 as it looks like it's just getting started.

source http://www.techradar.com/news/techradar-middle-east-awards-honoring-the-best-from-2017

Flying car? Watch as this drone flies around with passengers inside

By the year 2018 we were all going to be zipping around in flying cars, right? That dream hasn't come true, but one company just took a big step in that direction. 

Drone company Ehang first impressed us at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show by unveiling the Ehang 184, the first autonomous aerial vehicle capable of carrying a human being. Fast forward to today and the company is showing off the first video footage of the Ehang 184 flying around with said humans inside.

The video shows the Ehang 184 taking off several times with passengers onboard, including Ehang's founders, CTO and several government officials of Guangzhou, China. You catch a few hints of apprehension on most riders' faces as they buckle in, but by the time they lift off and float around a bit, they're waving, snapping photos and giving thumbs ups. 

The drone resembles an over-sized DJI Mavic Pro. It has a rated payload limit of 220 pounds and a cruising altitude of 500m. According to Ehang, the drone has a speed of up to 130 km/h, or 80 mph. 

While the Ehang 184 will be ferrying people around, the all-electric drone itself is unmanned, flying itself autonomously. All passengers have to do is set their flight path, press 'Take Off' and enjoy the ride. 

For those with the itch to fly on their own, Ehang is working to add a manual control option so people with pilot experience can take over the controls. This is in addition to further passenger-experience improvements Ehang has planned, as well as a two-seat version that's in development.

Though Ehang's video has footage of various test scenarios, it still may be a while before the drone is commercially available. "Regular operations" with the drone were supposed to get underway in Dubai as early as July 2017, but that hasn't happened yet as far as we know. 

"This is a step-by-step process, and at Ehang, we have our own road map," said Ehang CEO Huazhi Hu in a press release. "When it comes to the development and application of any transformative technology, first the technological innovation makes an impact, then the relevant policies are created and developed. This goes on to push further development of the industry."

Still, the video shows we're not too far off from passenger-carrying drones becoming a reality. If, however, you're afraid of heights like us, you may be looking for an alternative mode of eco-friendly transportation. 

Via TechCrunch

• DJI Mavic Air vs Mavic Pro: which foldable drone is better?

source http://www.techradar.com/news/flying-car-watch-as-this-drone-flies-around-with-passengers-inside

Best gadgets 2018: the top tech you can buy right now

Choice paralysis is something that you may or may not have heard of, but you'll definitely have been affected by. It's the thing that happens when you're given so many options that you end up not being able to make a decision at all. 

You want an ice cream? Yes. Do you want vanilla? Chocolate? Pistachio, hazelnut, strawberry, peach sorbet, rum raisin, mint choc chip, chunky monkey? Suddenly, the idea of an ice cream doesn't seem so appealing.

Well, the tech world is rife with choice paralysis. For every phone, TV or tablet there's a mind-boggling amount of options, which can make the process of buying a new piece of tech far less enjoyable than it should be.

To help you overcome this problem we've collated a list of the best gadgets available right now. The industry leaders. The creme de la creme.

For each category there is only one entry and this will only be updated when a new challenger knocks the reigning champ off the top spot. 

What that means is that sometimes (and right now is one of those times) the list doesn't change for a long time. So quite a few of the items you'll see below have been there for months, and have even endured major releases (we're looking at you iPhone X) in their field. 

If you're the sort of person who just wants to know what the best is and you don't care about the rest, welcome to your new shopping list...

Best phone

TechRadar Phones Editor Gareth Beavis thinks the Samsung Galaxy S8 is the best phone on the market for a number of reasons, but primarily for its stunning display. Gareth says “it makes every other handset on the market look positively antiquated”.

The handset smashed all our benchmarking tests, and it boasts an excellent camera and strong battery, plus that screen is in a league of its own.

Make no mistake – this is a premium handset at a premium price. But according to Gareth: “Samsung has managed to find some impressive innovation at a time when there's very little to be found in smartphones.”

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy S8

• Want to see the best of the rest? 
• In the US, check out Best phone in the US for 2018: the 10 top smartphones we've tested
• In the UK, check out Best phone 2018: the 10 top smartphones we've tested
• In Australia, check out Best phones in Australia 2018: the 10 top smartphones we've tested

Best laptop

The Dell XPS 13 is ranked best laptop and best Ultrabook for good reason. Our Computing Editor Kevin Lee is particularly enamored with the “design marvel” that is the InfinityEdge display. 

The XPS 13 manages the impressive task of fitting a 13.3-inch screen into an 11-inch frame. 

It’s thin, light, and managed a battery life of more than seven hours when running our video test. A serious champion.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13

• Want to see the best of the rest? These are the best laptops of 2018

Best TV

Our best TV in the world right now is the LG OLED C7. It's available in 55 and 65-inch versions, and manages to strike a fine balance of industry-leading OLED technology and wallet-friendly price.

All of LG’s OLED televisions include exactly the same panel, which means that although the C7 is a fraction of the price of the flagship W7, it still looks stunning. The reason for the lower price is in the sound quality, but we think the C7’s audio strikes a good balance between price and performance. 

It also delivers greater brightness and light control than it's predecessor, the C6, meaning that it’s able to offer OLED’s phenomenally dark blacks without compromising on great peak light performance. 

This 4K powerhouse delivers class-leading performance via self-illuminating pixels at a price that many more of us than ever before can afford. 

Read the full review: LG OLED C7

• Want to see the best of the rest?  
• In the US, check out this version of the Best TVs in the US for 2018
• In the UK and Australia, check out this version of the Best TVs 2018

Best games console

The battle between Sony's PlayStation consoles and Microsoft's Xbox series is hard-fought, but right now we think the PS4 Pro has the edge over the Xbox One S, thanks to a combination of good hardware, great games, and a generous online offering. 

An improvement on the already very strong PS4, the PS4 Pro supports 4K and HDR technologies; plus with advances in frame rate due to beefed-up processing speeds, gaming will look cleaner, crisper and smoother.

The only thing stopping the PS4 Pro from being the ultimate console is the omission of an Ultra HD Blu-ray drive. Instead you'll have to rely on streaming to get your 4K media fix. 

Read the full review: PS4 Pro 

• Want to see exactly how it stacks up against the Xbox One S? Xbox One S vs PS4 Pro: Which is better?

Best fitness tracker

The Moov Now doesn't have all the bells and whistles you would associate with a fitness tracker. It doesn't have GPS tracking, it doesn't even have a screen; but what it does have is a cheap price tag and six-month battery life. Yes, you read that right: six months.

During those six months you can track your steps, your sleep, your fitness, your running technique and a whole lot more. This may be an unconventional fitness tracker, but it's a great one. 

Read the full review: Moov Now

• Want to see the best of the rest? Best fitness tracker 2018: the top 10 activity bands on the planet

Best camera

According to TechRadar's Photography Editor Phil Hall, the "fabulous D850 DSLR pretty much ticks every box".

It has a brillaint 45.4MP full-frame sensor, stunning image quality, and that's where the story starts. 

It has a sophisticated 153-point AF system and 9fps bust shooting speed. The D850 is just as home shooting wildlife, landscape, and portraits. He thinks it could perhaps be the most well-rounded camera he's ever seen.

Read the full review: Nikon D850

• Want to see the best of the rest? Here are the 10 best digital cameras in 2018

Best tablet

According to our Phones, Wearables and Tablets Writer James Peckham, the best tablet on the market right now is the new iPad (2017), with its sharp 9.7-inch display, beautiful design, and A9 chip – and all for a price that isn’t going to break the bank.

While the new iPad (2017) isn’t doing anything revolutionary, it's a solid update on an already five-star device, and at a much more palatable price.

The new iPad starts off at 32GB of storage rather than Apple’s usual 16GB, and considering it’s cheaper than the entry-level iPad Air 2, that’s seriously good value for money.

Read the full review: New iPad (2017)

• Want to see the best of the rest? Check out the best tablets you can buy in 2018

Best smartwatch

Apple has managed to knock itself off the top spot for best smartwatch with the excellent Apple Watch 3. It will look very familiar to anyone who has the Apple Watch 2, as it's basically the same frame with different innards, but those innards make all the difference. 

One of the major changes is the addition of LTE connectivity, which is a great addition. For those that have been hankering for it, the feature has finally arrived, and for those that couldn't care less, you can pick up a non-LTE version for a cheaper price that still includes upgrades on the Watch 2 like longer battery life and faster speed when flicking through. 

The Apple Watch Series 3 is waterproof, has GPS capabilities, and looks good on the wrist. The real question is whether another company is going to be able to take the top spot off Apple, or if this space is going to stay the same until the Apple Watch 4 comes out. 

Read the full review: Apple Watch 3

• Want to see the best of the rest? Best smartwatch: the top smartwatches you can buy in 2018

Best VR headset

The HTC Vive is the best VR headset in the world right now. The controls are intuitive to use, the resolution is incredible, with a 1080p screen per eye, and the base stations mean you can play in a space that's 13 x 13 feet in size – that's some serious playing space to swing yourself around in. 

Like most of the entries on our list this is a premium product at a high price, but if you're looking for the best first-generation VR headset around, then the HTC Vive is the one to go for. 

Read the full review: HTC Vive

• Want to see the best of the rest? The best VR headset 2018: which headset offers the best bang for your buck?

Best headphones

Choosing a 'best pair of headphones' is a tricky proposition, because everyone needs something slightly different from their listening devices. 

If you need a lightweight pair for the gym then you're probably better off with a pair of wireless earbuds; or, if you do most of your listening at home and want the best-possible sound quality, then a pair of wired over-ears might be better. 

But if we had to pick the best headphones overall then we'd go for the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless. They're wireless, which makes them more convenient for portable use, and they're noise-cancelling for those who want to use them on a noisy commute. 

And, most importantly, they do all this without compromising on sound quality, which still lives up to the high standards that Sennheiser normally achieves. Oh, and they look pretty good as well. 

There are absolutely better-sounding, better-looking and better noise-cancelling headphones out there, but none of them do everything better than the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless, which makes them the best overall pair of headphones around right now. 

That said, if you do want to get the absolute best, purest, sound quality, we recommend the fantastic Oppo PM-3's. 

Read the full review: Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 

• Want to see the best of the rest? Best headphones 2018: the best headphones for any budget

source http://www.techradar.com/news/best-gadgets

Elon Musk is giving 50,000 South Australian homes free solar panels and batteries

The partnership between Elon Musk and the South Australian premier Jay Weatherill continues to grow as the two reach a deal to provide free Tesla solar panels and batteries to at least 50,000 homes in the state. 

Late last year, Tesla completed its project to build the world’s largest li-ion battery as a solution to power outages that were plaguing South Australia. The project was initiated via Twitter as a bet (which proved successful), with Musk promising the system “100 days from contract signature or it is free”.

The proposed network of solar-enabled homes will constitute the “world’s biggest Virtual Power Plant", with energy companies covering the cost by selling off excess electricity generated by the homes.

The roll out

Roughly 100 homes are already slated to have the Tesla tech installed by mid-year, and a further 1,000 should be fitted out throughout the following year to take part in the initial trial of the system.

If the trial proves successful, more than 50,000 South Australian homes will receive the solar panelling and batteries within four years. If you’d like to register your interest in the scheme, or to learn more about the project, visit the dedicated Virtual Power Plant website.

• How to watch Elon Musk launch his Tesla Roaster into space on a Mars rocket.

source http://www.techradar.com/news/elon-musk-is-giving-50000-south-australian-homes-free-solar-panels-and-batteries

Valentine’s Day gift ideas 2018: Top gear for UAE tech lovers

Wi-Fi is finally rolling out across British Airways planes

Well, it got there in the end – years after Wi-Fi started appearing on flights operated by US airlines, it's now officially coming to the British Airways fleet as well. You're going to have to be lucky to find it at the moment though, as it's only up and running on three planes.

That number will rise to 118 long-haul aircraft over the next two years, BA says, so maybe don't delete your Netflix downloads just yet. Apparently passengers will get alerted to the presence of on-board Wi-Fi shortly after the flight gets underway, with two different plans available to buy.

Stump up £4.99 (around $7/AU$9) for the Browse package and you get enough bandwidth to check your email and chat on WhatsApp. Upgrade to the £7.99 (around $11/AU$14) Stream package, and you'll be able to enjoy Netflix and YouTube while up in the air.

Get yourself connected

Those prices are just for an hour of sweet, sweet Wi-Fi connectivity though – you'll have to fork out more cash for the four hour package or for the whole flight. For a limited period, Visa is sponsoring a scheme to give all passengers an hour of Wi-Fi for free, so maybe see how many movies you can download to your phone in that time.

According to the FAQ page, you're looking at a minimum of 250Kbps for the Browse package and 1Mbps for the Stream package, so make your choice accordingly. Alternatively, just enjoy being unplugged from the grid for a few hours instead.

Wi-Fi will be available once your flight reaches 10,000 feet, though any packages you buy are tied to the individual device you buy them on. BA says its short-haul flights will also get connectivity in the future, and the firm is hoping to have 90 percent of its planes with Wi-Fi on board by the time we get to 2019.

• Wi-Fi at 35,000 feet! Honeywell demos new in-flight tech for flyers, pilots

Via Engadget

source http://www.techradar.com/news/wi-fi-is-finally-rolling-out-across-british-airways-planes

Uber and co don't want you to own your own self-driving car

Uber has joined forces with other online taxi and ride-sharing companies to outline what they think the future of transportation within cities should look like. And although many of the shared principles point to a positive outlook for the coming years, one, which appears to suggest outlawing privately-owned self-driving cars, is causing a stir. 

ZipCar has brought together a group of companies, including Uber, Citymapper, Lyft and BlaBlaCar, to produce the Shared Mobility Principles For Livable Cities policy document. At first glance, many of the principles in the document are positive, outlining a commission to renewable energy and prioritizing the needs of people over vehicles. 

However, the final principle may be cause for concern. It states: “We support that autonomous vehicles (AVS) in dense urban areas should be operated only in shared fleets.”

The document then goes on to explain some of the reasoning behind the need for shared fleets, including better control over emissions and stricter regulation.

“Due to the transformational potential of autonomous vehicle technology, it is critical that all AVs are part of shared fleets, well-regulated, and zero emission. Shared fleets can provide more affordable access to all, maximize public safety and emissions benefits, ensure that maintenance and software upgrades are managed by professionals, and actualize the promise of reductions in vehicles, parking, and congestion, in line with broader policy trends to reduce the use of personal cars in dense urban areas.”

An urban monopoly?

This suggests that these companies, as well as some of the other green pressure group signatories, may not want people to own their own self-driving cars, at least within urban environments. Although their reasoning may make sense, it points to a monopoly over autonomous cars that would give individuals less choice over their choice of transport. 

The Competitive Enterprise Institute reports that one way around these kinds of policies in the US may be for individual states to draw up their own plans that would stop companies and local governments from restricting the use of self-driving cars. 

For many members of the public, automated cars may still sound like the futuristic vehicles of our sci-fi dreams. However, if Uber’s ambitious plans are anything to go by, they could be arriving within the next 18 months. 

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi made headlines after he predicted that we'll be seeing Uber automated cars on the road for use by the public, outside of testing, within that timeframe. That means that discussions about restricting ownership of self-driving cars shouldn’t be ignored, even if the intentions of Uber, ZipCar and the other companies involved appear to be good. 

• Uber wants the driverless car experience to be sick bag-free

source http://www.techradar.com/news/uber-and-co-dont-want-you-to-own-your-own-self-driving-car