Author: Stuff writer

Google Cardboard has become a much larger thing than many of us expected, and now LG is keen to take advantage of its popularity, building a plastic version to lure in prospective G3 buyers. Announced yesterday, the VR for G3 is a simple, plastic shell for LG’s flagship smartphone that allows you to put it up to your face and use it as a makeshift virtual reality headset. And it’ll come free with the purchase of the LG G3 going forward in select, unnamed markets. Before you go thinking that LG is trying to challenge Samsung’s Gear VR platform, note…

Ever get back from the store to find some terrible driver has left an unsightly dent in your door? Not what we’d call fun. Thankfully, German manufacturer Hella has invented a technology called an Intelligent Damage Detection System, that will alert you when the impact occurs and how intensive it is. Potentially from a scale of ‘minor dink’ to ‘Hulk Smash’. The system uses sensors that can be glued behind door panels or attached onto existing parking sensors. Marc Rosenmayr, a Hella board member, says the system can function with a minimum of four sensors, and uses 12 in total. The…

Dragon Age: Inquisition has racked up glowing reviews, and the next Mass Effect is in the works, but BioWare had something else in the works: a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired, modern-day PC role-player. No more, however. After reports of its demise surfaced yesterday, BioWare confirmed news that Shadow Realms has ceased development and will not release as planned early this year. The episodic game was announced last August at Gamescom, and with a cooperative dungeon-crawling design, it sounded like a different kind of game for the studio compared to its other modern output. “While the team did amazing work on the…

What’s that? You thought the Galaxy S6 leaks were going to magically stop until its official launch on 1 March? You should know better by now. On today’s Galaxy S6 menu, we’ve got a clear look at Samsung’s upcoming flagship. Assuming the photos are genuine of course. The shots come courtesy of CNET Korea, and show off what appears to be both the regular Galaxy S6 and curved screen-toting Galaxy S Edge – in (mostly) all of their glory. The position of the rear flash and heart-rate sensor match up with previous leaks of the device, sitting to the right…

Are you sitting down, nostalgic Nintendo fans? Well, you’d better be, because a recent report claims that the legendary game company is planning a live-action Legend of Zelda television series. And it’s coming to Netflix, says the Wall Street Journal, citing a report on the matter. Netflix has already had tremendous success with its original series, and has more recently been getting into notable pop culture licenses – like Marvel’s Daredevil, due out in April. Netflix reportedly sees the show as an opportunity to create a Game of Thrones-like fantasy hit with more of a broader family target in mind.…

The Ferrari 458 Italia is dead? Man, I loved that car… You’re not alone buddy, the 458 Italia was a truly special car but petrol-quaffing naturally aspirated V8 engines have fallen out of fashion and Ferrari has decided to clean up its act. But dry those eyes, because the twin-turbocharged 488 GTB looks set to be rather awesome in its own right. Why will it be so awesome? The new turbocharged 3902cc V8 produces a staggering 661bhp – almost 100bhp more than its predecessor – and a gut-busting 760Nm of torque. And it’s not just the headline-grabbing power that’s worth…

Canon has just unveiled a pair of new DSLRs – and we reckon they’re the most exciting cameras the company has launched in years. The Canon EOS 5DS and 5DS R each offer 50.6MP full-frame sensors – the largest sensors in terms of both resolution and physical size you’ll find on any DSLR camera on the market. The idea is to deliver the sharpest, most accurate photographs. The Japanese photography giant has been trailing behind its rivals for the past few years, at least when it comes to sensor size. While Nikon’s D810 and Sony’s mirrorless A7R both have 36MP…

The pricy, pro-quality 5DS and 5DS R weren’t the only DSLRs Canon launched recently. The company hasn’t forgotten about the more affordable end of the market, and the new 750D and 760D will form its new entry-level offerings. Replacing the popular 700D, the two cameras are aimed chiefly at photographers making the step-up from compact cameras or smartphones. Both are similarly specced-out with 24.2MP APS-C sensors, DIGIC 6 image processors, an ISO range of 100-12800, 19-point autofocus, 1080p video shooting, Wi-Fi, NFC and vari-angle LCD screens. The biggest difference lies in the control layout. The 750D is your standard entry-level…

If you were upset when Google killed off Glass last month, don’t despair. Google’s apparently got a second version in the works, and it’s said to be a completely different. The New York Times has indicated that the head-mounted wearable will be redesigned “from scratch”, which probably means new look, new features, new everything. It sounds promising, considering that its change of leadership includes former Apple executive and the founder of Nest, Tony Fadell, and jewellery designer, Ivy Ross. This strategic “reset” would likely make the second version a must-have toy for geeks, executives, or even fashionistas – not that…

When Apple introduces something innovative, Samsung’s not normally too far behind, and recent rumours surrounding mobile payments mean that a battle for the high street tills could be right around the corner. According to the latest whispers, Samsung is collaborating with Massachussetts based start-up LoopPay, to bring mobile payments to the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. LoopPay differs from Apple Pay, in that Apple Pay relies on the iPhone 6’s NFC chip – the only use its NFC chip has – whereas LoopPay uses a “magnetic secure transmission”. When you swipe a credit or debit card through a card machine,…