Fancy some gluhwein? Yeah you do. Here are the best Christmas markets in Europe December 6, 2016 The traditional Christmas market has existed for centuries, and for the most part has remained relatively unchanged. Nativity scenes depict the birth of Jesus Christ, carol singers drop festive beats and boozed up revellers stave off the freezing temperatures with Gluhwein and roasted chestnuts. But while London has certainly enjoyed its own festive renaissance of [...]
Aerobike X-Ride review: This affordable e-bike puts in a decent performance December 2, 2016 Electric bikes still feel like an insane kind of magic. Start to pedal and an intelligent motor in the wheel hub kicks in to help you accelerate, zooming you up to an EU-mandated speed limit of 15mph. The sensation is similar to being pushed along by your dad, except now your dad is invisible and [...]
Christmas gift guide: All the luxury clothing and accessories gift ideas you’ll ever need December 2, 2016 We get it. You're busy. You're important. You have things to do, people to see. You don't have time for such fripperies as Christmas shopping. This year, instead of slogging around the shops anxiously trying to figure out what to buy for whom, just take our Christmas gift guide with you. Boom. Christmas shopping sorted. Don't [...]
Snowden review: Joseph Gordon-Levitt shapeshifts into everybody’s favourite whistleblower December 1, 2016 There’s much to enjoy about Snowden. Chief among them is Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s transformative turn as the NSA contractor turned superstar whistleblower, in which he valiantly – and at first distractingly – drops his voice a full octave and assumes the unique pout of man who’s been exiled to Moscow forever. The performance elevates an otherwise [...]
This House review: Sharply scripted and performed with blistering wit December 1, 2016 At a time when our political parties could only be more adversarial if they started dropping cartoon anvils on one another, This House offers a fascinating and historical insight into a comparatively chummy parliament still ticking along with some sense of post-war unity. Charting the travails of the Labour government of 1974-79 (preceding Thatcher’s reign), [...]
Sully review: Despite Tom Hanks’ best efforts this avoided-disaster movie fails to take off December 1, 2016 If you or I were to take control of a plane and crash it into a river we’d rightly be considered villains, but when Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger plonked his in the Hudson in 2009 he was hailed as an all-American hero. How, I ask you, is that fair? Most likely because it was his plane [...]
An incremental upgrade to one of the best Android phones, the OnePlus 3T is fantastic, if a little difficult to get excited about November 23, 2016 You might remember the OnePlus 3. It’s the Chinese startup’s flagship phone that launched only six months ago, so it’s a little surprising to see an upgraded version arriving already. Design-wise it’s identical to the now discontinued OnePlus 3, using the same manufacturing techniques employed by Apple to ensure that every handset feels premium and [...]
Google Daydream View review: Potentially the coolest thing you’ll ever strap to your face November 23, 2016 Virtual reality headsets are about as fashionable as strapping a toaster to your face, so the fabric-coated Google Daydream View looks almost stylish by comparison. You still look like a bit of a tool while wearing one, obviously, but considerably less so than with other headsets. Slip in a compatible Android phone (currently only the [...]
Hidden in plain sight: A visually confounding art piece questions our relationship with social media November 23, 2016 Before the invention of radar technology, warships would disguise their true shape and heading using patterns and colour. Zig-zagging lines, high contrast and sharp angles would confuse gunners, who struggled to accurately determine the distance and speed of their targets. “Dazzle camouflage” drew inspiration from the natural world – zebra herds use this kind of [...]
Getting ready to decorate this year? Well it’s time to get serious about your bauble game November 23, 2016 If you enjoy idly browsing the shelves of high street stores, you have American entrepreneur Frank Woolworth to thank. The 19th century dime-store magnate pioneered the practice of self-service shopping, whereby customers can handle goods without the assistance of a clerk. Woolworth also enforced the idea of fixed pricing, rather than haggling, as the common [...]
