/lifestyle/rss 九一星空无限 Read the latest lifestyle news at 九一星空无限talk ZB. We have the latest in reviews, competitions, events, home & garden, motoring and more.     Wed, 03 Dec 2025 13:39:43 Z en /lifestyle/technology/philips-hue-festavia-globe-outdoor-string-lights-a-long-line-of-quality/ /lifestyle/technology/philips-hue-festavia-globe-outdoor-string-lights-a-long-line-of-quality/ When it comes to lighting the exterior of your home, there are two ways to go about it. You can do it cheap... You know; solar pathway lights that look good for a few weeks then one by one, mysteriously stop working. Perhaps accentuated by a DIY sensor light that you were sure you could set to stay on - until you wired it in and discovered unless you move around every thirty seconds, your outdoor dining experience resembles more of a nightclub with a strobe light. Or you can do it right... When it comes to doing lights right, Philips Hue has never let me down yet, although the Festavia Globe Outdoor String lights were the first I've tried for outside. I knew I was dealing with a quality product right from the git-go, even when I was just taking them out of the box. I'm talking a 21-metre long set of 30 globes, each light meticulously wrapped in paper and the entire length tied into more manageable bunches to avoid the frustration of any pre-hanging tangles. 21 metres is decent - that should cater for most outdoor areas in one way or another, although there's a 14-metre extension available if you really want to go to town. Just note, while it's called an extension, it actually connects at the beginning of the string, close to the plug end with its own T-shaped connector. The so-called "Lightguide" bulbs are almost perfectly spherical and perhaps a little larger than I was expecting, which I consider to be a bonus. The globes aren't glass - Hue describes them as "glass-look" - again, that's a good thing because it means they're both weather and shatter-resistant, so you can leave them up permanently. Helpfully, even if you do manage to damage one of the bulbs somehow, you can replace each one individually. My only disappointment early on was the lack of mounting hardware included in the box. At NZ$659.99 you really are shelling out a fair whack for what is essentially a string of coloured lights and while both the bulbs and cable seem very durable I thought there may have been a few sticky hooks or something to help me hang it all up. Luckily, I happened to have a bucket of plastic gutter hooks stashed away from a previous life when I felt co-ordinated enough to run strings of fairy lights around my whole house each Christmas. These sorts of fastenings are relatively inexpensive and I found they worked with the Hue Festavias just as well. While lights like these are generally used to create a little atmosphere above outdoor dining areas, over spa pools or suspended from pergolas, given the time of year I decided to give the front of my house a more public display of holiday cheer. It didn't take me long to run them along the guttering above my garage door, then around my entrance porch, the idea being anyone who arrives at the house will be bathed in a Christmassy glow of some sort. As always, with Philips Hue, setup is streamlined and effortless with the latest version of the Hue app. Remember, Hue has been around a long time now so when it comes to a user-friendly configuration process, they definitely know what they're doing. Like most other Hue products, the Festavia lights connect via a Bridge - not directly to your Wi-Fi. Initially this may seem like just an extra expense but it ultimately works to your benefit as the Bridge ends up being the only device taking up space on your home network instead of each Hue product you own hogging the Wi-Fi individually. It also results in a reliable connection that never seems to drop out or fail when it comes to automations. Hue has good compatibility with virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri, so you can easily control your lights with a simple voice command. But here’s where Philips flexes: customisation. Not only can the Hue Festavia globes get very bright, they can also wind down remarkably dim - and obviously can be set to any colour imaginable or a combination of both. Hue offers a wide variety of scenes - both static or dynamic - all customisable to your preferences. Don't like how fast or slow something changes? You can adjust it. You can even match your lights to a photo (or an album of photos) if you're going for a particular style or theme for your next party, or if you prefer, sync them with your playlist and see the colours move in time with the music. I was after something Santa would approve of, so I went with a preset called "Under the Tree" - although the Hue Scene Gallery has a selection of ten different themes in its Winter Holiday section alone. I then bumped up the brightness and increased the speed of the colour changes because that's the kind of tech tweaking nerd I am. Now, the front of my house lights up like a beacon for Rudolph to follow every night from 7:30 - 10:00. Just like the colour settings, setting up automations like that is easy too. Is more than $650 to much to pay for a set of lights? Probably. But knowing they're exceptional quality, there are plenty of them, they're durable and easily customised with one of the best smart-home apps I've used, means a lot less stress at the most wonderful time of the year.      Click here for more information and pricing on the Philips Hue Festavia Globe Outdoor String Lights. Sun, 30 Nov 2025 23:39:15 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-summer-holiday-hits-across-nz/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-summer-holiday-hits-across-nz/ The great New Zealand summer calendar is generously sprinkled with some sure-fire seasonal hits to add a bucketload of fun to your family holiday. I’ve rounded up a selection of signature events and exhibitions, strung across the nation, that you may well want to thread into your domestic summer holiday plans.  String Auckland and January into one sentence and it’s tennis that springs to mind. Yes, the ASB Classic at Stanley St. But there’s another prime-time sporting spectacle waiting in the wings later in summer – SailGP. After this year’s debut, SailGP Auckland will roar back into town, with high-octane racing action in front of some of the world's most passionate fans on the 14th and 15th of February, off Wynyard Point. Elevated allocated Grandstand seating in the shoreside Race Stadium ensures fans are close enough to smell the salt as the high-tech, high-speed flying F50s do battle just metres from downtown Auckland on the Waitematā Harbour. SailGP on the water in Auckland. Photo / Supplied Sticking with the water, head to the Auckland War Memorial Museum for this summer’s banner exhibition, Sharks, created by the Australian Museum. It opens in a fortnight, running until April. The exhibition blends science, storytelling, and immersive design. It’s a chance to see sharks in a way you never have before, with lots of cutting-edge technology including a 360-degree view of the underworld, through the eyes of a Hammerhead Shark.   For something completely different in Auckland – art lovers will be swooning over the American pop art at Auckland Art Gallery. Their big summer exhibition is Pop to Present: American Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The exhibition has just opened and runs to March, with over 50 compelling works including Jackson Pollock’s iconic drip painting and pieces from luminaries like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.  If you’re heading to the Capital, add this to your do-not-miss list. Wellington Museum is playing host to Fat Freddy’s Drop, Based On A True Story. The 20th Anniversary Exhibition opened last week and explores the creative process, community, and cultural impact of Fat Freddy’s landmark album, which went straight to number one and remains the longest-charting album in New Zealand history, clocking up over two years in the Top 40. Immerse yourself in the music, magic and memories of a true Wellington original.  It might well be our favourite Kiwi summer headliner for families, the TSB Festival of Lights. It transforms New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park into a lavishly illuminated night-time wonderland. It opens December 20, for five weeks of free art, nature, music and good vibes. 36 nights of lights. Free to the public, the TSB Festival of Lights is New Zealand’s favourite, and longest-running light festival, with a host of massive lighting installations. Check out the lights from a different perspective, floating aboard a ‘glow’ rowboat, available to book each night. Over 150,000 people flock to the annual festival – half from out of town.   The TSB Festival of Lights. Photo / Supplied I also have a major soft spot for New Zealand’s summer beach carnivals, including the big daddy, the Caroline Bay Carnival, which celebrates its 115th outing this year. Opunake, Waihi Beach, Whitianga and Kaiteriteri all stage beach carnivals in the first half of January. Picton has joined the pack with their annual Maritime Festival which unfurls across the Picton foreshore in mid-January, with a stack of summer fun from raft races and live music to fireworks and food stalls. Then there’s Katikati’s Avo Fest, right in the nation’s avocado capital on January 10. Think avocado ice cream, tasty food, delectable drinks, live bands and cooking demos with celebrity chefs.  But Timaru’s big bash is in a league of its own, running from Boxing Day for a fortnight, with a daily and nightly programme of family fun, live entertainment, fairground rides, talent quests and competitions. There’s a traditional, down-home vibe to the carnival that hits the sweet spot like an ice-cream sandwich.   For a complete change of scenery, if you happen to find yourself on the wild West Coast in late January, make a date with Driftwood & Sand. Staged annually at Hokitika beach, this incredibly creative festival, transforms the beachscape, as participants compete to construct the most artistic, whimsical and wondrous sculptural pieces, washed up from the Tasman Sea. The size and audacity of some of the sculptures is absurdly good. The next festival is held from January 21-25.   Hokitika beach driftwood. Photo / Supplied Speaking of the West Coast, there’s nothing quite like the annual horse races at Kumara. The legendary Kumara Gold Nuggets Raceday returns on January 10 with live bands, local kai, kids’ entertainment and a best dressed showdown. The atmosphere is buzzing, the racing action is thrilling, and the winner takes home real gold nuggets. My father’s horse, Treybon, actually won the feature race a year ago. It’s a family-friendly race day, festive and frothing with West Coast spirit.  Towards the latter part of summer, wine buffs should make a date with the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival, New Zealand's longest-running wine and food festival, now in its fourth decade. It’s next outing is set down for February 14. Blenheim accommodation will book out, so lock in your in plans, pronto.   Trip you way around the country with the low-fares leader. Jetstar’s domestic network encompasses Auckland, Hamilton, Queenstown, Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington. When you book on www.Jetstar.com, you're guaranteed the lowest fare. With their Price Beat Guarantee, if you find a better fare online, they’ll beat it by 10% - and that includes Jetstar flights you find on other websites. As the low-fares leader, only pay for you want by tailoring your inclusions on meals, baggage and seat selection. Join Club Jetstar for member-only fares and exclusive sale access. Christchurch to Auckland one-way fares start from $65.  Mike Yardley is 九一星空无限talk ZB’s resident traveller and can be heard every week on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame.  Sat, 29 Nov 2025 00:16:35 Z /lifestyle/travel/air-nz-faces-complaints-over-treatment-of-disabled-passengers-on-regional-flights/ /lifestyle/travel/air-nz-faces-complaints-over-treatment-of-disabled-passengers-on-regional-flights/ A Napier woman claims she was left “black and blue” after being forced to slide down aircraft stairs during a round trip to Dunedin. Disabled passenger Rachel Adams, 52, was flying with Air New Zealand last month when she was told she would have to “get on [her] bum” and slide down the steps to get off the plane. Air New Zealand said its crew made a “decision they believed would ensure everyone’s safety at the time” due to weather conditions, and had apologised to Adams for falling short of expectations. However, Disability Rights Commissioner Prudence Walker said there had been a dozen complaints alleging unlawful discrimination against disabled passengers in the past two years and noted inaccessible planes and inadequate support were all too common experiences for such travellers. “It’s not just about complying with the law, it’s about treating people with dignity and respect.” Rachel Adams says she suffered large bruises down her arm, stomach, back and leg from the manoeuvre. Adams had travelled with her family from Napier to Dunedin on October 21, planning to fly via Wellington. With severe weather cancelling the first flight and requiring a transfer in Christchurch, their pre-booked seats were reassigned to a separate row for mobility assistance. Their ATR 72-600 arrived in the Garden City amid strong winds. As standard practice, Adams was told to wait until other passengers had disembarked before cabin crew informed her there would be no ramp or mobility hoist available due to the conditions. “What got me was that the ground crew, who were wonderful to me, wanted to go and get the hoist ... but the cabin crew said it was too windy,” she told the Herald. “They said, ‘You’ve got to get down somehow’.” According to Adams, one of the pilots insisted she would need to get down the stairs unaided. With no alternative offered, she was told to “get on [her] bum” and slide down the steps, narrowly avoiding hitting her head on galley equipment in the process. Adams said she suffered large bruises down her arm, stomach, back and leg from the manoeuvre. Air New Zealand apologised and offered Adams 200 Airpoints Dollars after her complaint. Photo / Mark Mitchell “I got black and blue ... I was mortified,” she said. “I don’t think anybody else would have had to slide down the ramp that day.” Adams said other aircraft were using hoists despite the winds and didn’t understand why her flight was treated differently. Issues persisted during their return to Napier on October 30. Cabin crew allegedly told Adams ramps weren’t available at gate 7 after they landed in Christchurch, and a hoist was sourced only after the rest of the passengers disembarked. Adams lodged a formal complaint with the airline on October 31 and received an apology and 200 Airpoints Dollars, but said “a refund would’ve been better”, noting that the attitude of staff and the way the situation was handled did not meet her expectations. As a resolution, she wants clearer answers from the airline about why mobility equipment was withheld and why seats booked in advance can be reassigned without explanation. Air New Zealand chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw told the Herald the weather in Christchurch “meant it was unsafe to use a ramp or mobility hoist to disembark customers” from the aircraft. Air New Zealand said strong winds at Christchurch Airport made it unsafe to use ramps or a mobility hoist. Photo / George Heard “During adverse weather events, conditions can change rapidly and our team made the decision they believed would ensure everyone’s safety at the time.” McGraw said it had “reviewed the events with the crew involved to ensure we continue to learn and improve how we support customers with accessibility needs”. “We have been in direct contact with Ms Adams and offered our apologies for her experience. We appreciate her taking the time to share her feedback with us.” Walker said air travel was already stressful, “but for disabled people it can be a nightmare”, with assistance needed for boarding and disembarking, seating and luggage. Airlines therefore had a responsibility under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Human Rights Act to make it as accessible as they could. “Disabled people travel for work, want to explore and want to connect with loved ones. We deserve to do so with the support we need,” she said. “The way that airports, airlines and staff provide for and respond to our needs can make all the difference.” Elderly disabled passenger Bruce Gordon shared separate concerns about treatment from the airline in a recent Facebook post. Gordon, who is profoundly deaf and walks with a cane, said Air NZ relocated him from a window seat he paid extra for at the rear of an ATR to a middle row so a staff member could sit in his seat. He was left feeling “embarrassed and hurt” after being made to wait until all other passengers had left before he was permitted to disembark due to his disability. After submitting a complaint, Gordon was told it could take weeks to find out whether he would receive a refund. “Time will tell if they even bother to contact me.” Air New Zealand told the Herald it had also moved to compensate Gordon following his complaint. Tom Rose is an Auckland-based journalist who covers breaking news, specialising in lifestyle, entertainment and travel. He joined the Herald in 2023. Tue, 25 Nov 2025 02:11:02 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-singapore-airlines-and-changi-airport/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-singapore-airlines-and-changi-airport/ Changi Airport Singapore consistently scoops global accolades as a world-beating aviation hub. Skytrax has crowned it the 2025 World’s Best Airport, yet again. Wherever I happen to be travelling to, it’s always an added pleasure to fly Singapore Airlines, knowing that I will be basking in the brilliance of some titillating transit time at Changi. It’s an unrivalled aviation oasis where a leisurely layover becomes effortlessly pleasurable.  Terminals 3 and 4 showcase a glittering array of world-class shopping and dining offerings. There is also the free movie theatre, and access in Terminal 1 to a transit hotel pool and shower. Aerotel doesn’t require you to actually book accommodation, just a $25 fee for rooftop pool and shower pampering. Singapore is famously a city in a garden and Changi flies the flag with its Cactus Garden, Sunflower Garden, Water Lily Garden, Discovery Garden and, best of all, the Butterfly Garden in Terminal 3. This whimsical escape from transit limbo, is aflutter with a thousand pretty insects and a glass nursery where you can watch them hatching live from their cocoons. Terminal 3 also boasts the world’s tallest slide, which your kids will love.   In Terminal 2, check out Dreamscape, a mash-up of vertical gardens and fishponds beneath an LED ceiling that morphs from blue sky to an underwater realm. It’s pleasantly and soothingly mesmerising. If you’re flight schedule entails an extended layover, there are also free sightseeing tours, but you need at least five hours until your connecting flight to qualify for a spt. There are currently four timed tours available, including of Singapore's south coast, city centre, Singapore River and Marina Bay Sands as well as a heritage and culture tour (book a few days ahead to guarantee a space).  Dreamscape at Changi Airport T2. Photo / Supplied But the crowning attraction at Changi, accessible from all terminals, is undoubtedly Changi Jewel, the show-stopping pleasure dome of retail and entertainment, with its stunning 40 metre long indoor waterfall, Rain Vortex – the tallest such water feature in the world. Water cascades down through a glass roof to a forest garden, switching between ethereal mists and thunderous downpours in a lush green theatre of terraced gardens. At night, the waterfall is at the centre of the sound and light show. If you’re travelling with kids with energy to burn, take them to Canopy Park inside Changi Jewel. It encompasses a hedge maze, a mirror maze, topiary walk, petal garden and “foggy bowls” area. Suspended eight metres above all this is a trampoline-style walkway. Bounce away!  Interior of Changi Jewel. Photo / Supplied Jewel is also home to the Changi Experience Studio with interactive displays about the airport’s history for aviation geeks. And it’s comprehensively equipped for transiting tourists with a baggage-storage service, advance check-in kiosks and a paid lounge. If you're looking for unique souvenirs, my recommended terminal shopping stops are TWG Tea and Bacha Coffee Boutique, Pokémon Center Singapore, Bengawan Solo, and Eu Yan Sang.  For many Kiwis flying long-haul, it’s hard to put a price on space, comfort and indulgence. I recently reacquainted myself with Singapore Airlines Business Class, on their A350-900 aircraft, which are typically deployed on the Auckland and Christchurch routes to Singapore, and the backbone of SIA’s long-haul fleet. These very popular workhorses are so blissfully quiet and better suited to cushioning turbulence.  Business Class seating on the A350-900 is all about thoughtful comfort. Handcrafted from Scottish leather and diamond-stitched, the seat transforms into a full flat bed, with a cushioned headboard, linen, duvet and pillows. Each seat is 25 inches wide and has a generous seat pitch of 50 inches. If you’re a travelling as a couple, the centre divider between the centre seats can be fully lowered to create a double bed. Designed to provide more personal space and privacy, the Business Class seats are arranged in a forward-facing, four abreast (1-2-1) configuration, providing every passenger direct aisle access (that’s quite the godsend when answering a call of nature to answer, deep in the night).  Business class seating on the A350. Photo / Mike Yardley  I generally find myself catching up on work when flying long-haul, and the A350 Business Class seat easily converts into an office with its well-positioned reading lights, in-seat laptop power supply, and USB ports. The KrisWorld entertainment system is loaded with over 1800 movie, TV, music and gaming selections, plus live news and sports channels (over 400 movies alone!). Equipped with noise cancelling headphones, the high-definition seatback monitors are supersized at 46cms, from which I settled on the new release Superman and The Naked Gun, before settling into the hit TV series, Outrageous. The complimentary in-flight WiFi worked a trick, too.   Attentive, graceful, personable service is a shining feature of Singapore Airlines, from the moment you to step aboard and are offered a bubbles or a Bellini. The in-flight dining service features a stirring menu, anchored by signature dishes crafted by the airline’s International Culinary Panel, which famously begins with their legendary Chicken Satay canape. All premium class guests can pre-select their main course up to 48 hours before flying from the ‘Book the Cook’ menu. But when flying from New Zealand to Singapore, definitely grab the opportunity to savour the airline’s Guest Chef Programme.   Marlborough Salmon for starters on Singapore Airlines. Photo / Mike Yardley  Since March, Singapore Airlines has partnered with distinguished New Zealand chef and restauranteur Sid Sahrawat, to design a distinctly Kiwi culinary experience for flights departing Auckland and Christchurch. Complementing the International Culinary Panel, the Guest Chef Programme collaborates with acclaimed local chefs to create limited-time menus that showcase regional ingredients and flavours. Sid’s menus sport the finest New Zealand ingredients, while also drawing inspiration from his Indian cultural roots. He executed this fusion with customary finesse. My appetiser was Marlborough Smoked Salmon and Prawns with Cucumber Gazpacho, with fresh red chilli and radishes adding some extra zing. The main course? Pan-roasted Snapper with Vindaloo Sauce and Tandoori Roasted Kumara. What a combo! The dish also included some crispy kale dusted with curry powder – signature Sid. I couldn’t say no to his divine dessert – Chocolate and Manuka Honey Bavarois with freeze-dried raspberries and finished with hokey pokey honeycomb candy. This is dining in excelsis at 35,000 feet.  I jetted my way to Singapore, Nepal and India with the award-winning flag-carrier. All of my flights ran to time, all checked bags were faithfully waiting for me on the carousel and the in-flight experience was impeccable. If you’re toying with upgrading to Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines, you’re absolutely in for a treat. I flew home from Singapore in this cabin, which is a great opportunity to graze from the Book the Cook menu. It features a stirring selection of exquisite dishes, including New Zealand Beef Fillet and Spring Lamb Loin.   Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines. Photo / Supplied The KrisWorld entertainment system brims with over 1800 movie, TV, music and gaming selections, plus live news and sport. Equipped with noise cancelling headphones, the high-definition touch screen monitors are supersized at 33cms, from which I devoured so much content. The in-flight WiFi worked a trick too – complimentary for KrisFlyer members. Premium Economy seating has a full leather finishing and a calf-rest and foot rest for every seat, so you can recline and stretch out. Be sure to request an amenity kit, which includes a pair of roomy slippers, lightproof eyeshades and a hydrating lip balm. It’s a class of its own.  Singapore Airlines proudly connects New Zealand to the world via its award-winning hub, Changi Airport via its daily services from Auckland and Christchurch. There are over 120 destinations across the combined SIA and Scoot global network, including 15 European destinations. singaporeair.com  Mike Yardley is 九一星空无限talk ZB’s resident traveller and can be heard every week on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame. Mon, 24 Nov 2025 21:51:44 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-bites-and-sights-in-paris/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-bites-and-sights-in-paris/ Beckoning as a homeland to incredible food, world-class wine, iconic cultural landmarks, and infused with a bohemian spirit, Paris is the epitome of a tourist mecca. Home to over 140 museums and 30,000 bakeries, you’ve got so many alluring visitor experiences to weigh up than you can poke a baguette at.   Taking top-billing on my latest visit to the irrepressible French capital was a jaunt to the freshly restored Notre-Dame Cathedral. A place of worship that has been open to all, free of charge for 860 years, the revered religious beacon is looking resplendent after the horrors of the devastating 2019 fire. A wallet-waving spectacle financially powered by French luxury goods billionaires who raced to outdo each other, stumped up NZ$1.5 billion within days of the blaze. Over a billion dollars has been spent renovating France’s most famous church in a five-year-long tour de force, with many milestones still being celebrated (the church has a very hefty surplus for its long-term maintenance kitty).  Interior splendour of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Photo / Mike Yardley  Just a fortnight ago, the first post-fire wedding was held in the cathedral, which suitably saw a carpenter who helped rebuild the landmark tie the knot. As my guide remarked, as I gazed at the buttery limestone grandeur of this hallowed landmark, “this is the closest thing to time travel.” Eight hundred years of grime and soot from burning candles has been removed from its interior, peeling back the layers to gloriously reveal its original creamy stone lustre. The sublime stained-glass windows, also covered in a sooty patina, haven’t looked so vivid for generations.   The herculean project saw 2,000 oak trees gathered from forests across France, hewn into beams with axes and pegged into great trusses by hand using medieval tools. Over a thousand cubic metres of limestone was hauled into place, chiselled into leaping arches and grinning gargoyles. 4,000 square metres of lead was rolled, crimped and moulded into ornamental roofing. The restoration project was a bonanza for revitalising traditional specialist craftsmanship. It truly is a sight to behold. Since reopening last December, over 15 million people have poured through its doors and the entrance queues can billow. Head there at the very start of your day and you’ll be straight in. I headed there for 8am mass, which is a 30 minute long express service. But savouring this building in the morning crowd-free calm is all the more rewarding.  Notre-Dame Cathedral. Photo / Supplied Strolling the Seine, I then ventured on foot past a parade of Parisian landmarks, from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, as autumn’s fiery hues torched the riverside plane trees. A great way to bundle together a swag of epic attractions and activities at the one low price is to order up a Go City Pass. With over 100 attractions, excursions, tours and experiences on offer, there’s a variety of pass options to choose from, to suit your schedule. I plumped for the Go City Explorer Pass is ideal for flexible sightseeing. gocity.com  Adding to the appeal of my explorer pass, Go City encompasses a spree of hospitality experiences. Settle in for a lazy brunch or late lunch at traditional brasserie, Au Vieux Châtelet. It is everything you want in a traditional French brasserie: think cosy wood interiors, ornate trimmings and classic home cooking done right. I opted for a national classic, croque monsieur – a toasted sandwich with molten gruyère cheese, smoked ham and Dijon mustard, topped with a buttery béchamel sauce. This mainstay has been on the menu for decades. Gruyère is the essential element to a cranking croque monsieur because it melts smoothly and evenly, delivering that gooey and stretchy consistency. Alternatively, for a bit of extra indulgence, go for a croque madame (very similar, but with a fried egg to crown the dish). Pair that with a cassis-flavoured kir royale Champagne cocktail, and life is good!  Just off the Champs Elysées at the Arc de Triomphe end, armed with my Go City Explorer Pass, I popped into Bistro Marbeuf for another signature snack – French Crepes. This elegant wood-panelled bistro is the ideal spot to savour this traditional sweet snack in the heart of Paris. You can choose from various flavours, but after much testing, my preferences would be butter and sugar, or banana or chocolate. The crepes are accompanied with orange juice and coffee. The perfect mid-morning pick-me-up.   Classic crepes at Bistro Marbeuf. Photo / Mike Yardley  For added indulgence, just around the corner, pop into Ladurée’s flagship venue on the Champs-Élysées. Its pastel-toned décor mimics the hues of its celebrated macarons. The boutique, patisserie and dessert bar is a calorific carnival of colour and exquisite food art. Inspiring many discerning foodies on a trip to Paris is Ladurée’s pastry workshops, headlined by their emblematic creations. You need to book well in advance for their classes, which run for nearly three hours!   For a change of scenery, I headed up to the beloved hillside neighbourhood of Montmartre, crowned with the bulbous creamy dome of Sacré-Coeur Basilica. With its steep, winding, cobbled streets and unmistakable village vibe, Montmartre is a distinctively different pocket of Paris. Place du Tertre is the beating heart of Montmartre. Artists and painters have peddled their wares in this square for centuries. Busloads of tourists have changed the atmosphere, but if you come off-season—when the air is crisp and the streets are bare—you can almost feel what it was like when up-and-coming Picassos and Renoirs lived in the houses that today are consumed by souvenir shops and cafés.   Sacré-Coeur Basilica. Photo / Mike Yardley  This quintessentially Parisian square is also where you will find La Mere Catherine, one of the oldest Paris restaurants still in operation, founded in 1793, when the monarchy was overthrown and Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were guillotined. Embraced by the Go City pass, I reflected on that red-letter year as I tucked into a quintessential three-course meal, headlined by free-range chicken, fries and salad. Feeling intrepid, for my appetiser, I ordered up the Burgundy snails. Forking them out of their shells, these pint-sized gastropods resembled curled-up mushrooms – and tasted not unlike squishy fungi. No, I’m not sold on them, but I have finally lost my ooh-la-la French mollusc virginity. A sweet and happy ending awaited, as I devoured a knock-out dessert - fudge chocolate cake with custard cream.   Where to stay? Book-ended by the Palais Royal and the Louvre, Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal has one of the most prestigious addresses in Paris, right in the heart of the stylish first arrondissement. Enter through the majestic limestone façade and you’ll be in a sophisticated haven infused with designer style, from its black marble reception and busts of French writers to cozy boutiques and sexy dark lounges with walls wrapped in abstract artwork. The rooms are refined, the restaurant exquisite and the service polished.   Grand Hotel du Palais Royal. Photo / Supplied After enduring a 28 hour trek from New Zealand, and arriving into Paris as the city woke up, the delightful hotel receptionist generously offered me a cup of coffee and early access to the spa, so I could shower, change and freshen up to greet France. Just across the street from the imperial Jardin du Palais Royal, this is where Emily Cooper would frequently lunch in the Netflix hit series Emily in Paris. Throughout the hotel, vivid green accents and fresh plants bring a sense of those royal gardens indoors.   With 59 rooms and suites the hotel feels unmistakeably intimate, homely and bougie. My gorgeous suite overlooked Place de Valois, cast as the location of Emily Cooper’s office, in Emily in Paris. My suite featured oak parquet floors, silk curtains, rustic arched shutters, retro carpets, a cream brushed cotton sofa with Jacobean floral cushions, mesh leather chairs, a cloud-comfortable king-sized bed with two flat-screen TVs, a Nespresso machine, and fully stocked minibar.   Grand Hotel du Palais Royal accommodation. Photo / Supplied The Venetian marble bathroom was sumptuous, complete with soaking tub, walk-in rain marble shower, nickel mirror lamps, Diptyque products, and fluffy bathrobes & slippers. The hotel’s Le Café 52 is another divine and art-filled space, with mirrored walls, steel blue tables, rattan chairs, linen sofas and blown-glass vases. The buffet breakfast offering will have you bouncing out of bed, whether it’s the smoked salmon avocado toast, the fresh croissants and pain au chocolat, or homemade detox juices.  Grand Hotel du Palais Royal is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. There are 650 boutique hotels and resorts in the SLH collection, spanning over 90 countries. Enjoy exclusive rates by joining the SLH Club and savour independently spirited and unforgettable luxury hotel experiences. slh.com  I flew to Paris with Qatar Airways, recently crowned the 2025 World’s Best Airline by Skytrax, scooping the supreme honours for the ninth consecutive year. Qatar Airways flies non-stop between Doha and Auckland daily, with onward connections to 170 destinations. Experience an unrivalled standard of Business Class in your very own personal suite with privacy doors. QSuite is available on the daily Auckland service, delivering first-class luxury to the Business Class cabin, including double lie-flat beds. I flew in Economy and you’ll notice the difference with one of the widest seats in the industry, complete with adjustable headrests. Lap up generous dining, complimentary Wi-Fi and over 8000 on-demand entertainment offerings in the Oryx One system. For best fares and seats to suit, qatarairways.com  Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.  Fri, 21 Nov 2025 23:37:06 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-flying-qatar-airways-to-doha/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-flying-qatar-airways-to-doha/ As a long-time plane geek, I am totally in awe of ultra-long-haul routes. Auckland to Doha remains ranked as the third longest commercial route in the world, proudly serviced by Qatar Airways. Its daily services typically take 16 hours and 45 minutes from Auckland to Doha, while the homebound leg from Doha to Auckland averages 15 hours and 15 minutes. It’s a great way to get to Europe, because from Doha, high frequency connecting flights will have at your final destination just a few hours later.  Since June, the Qatar Airways Auckland services have been operated by Boeing 777 long-range aircraft, configured with 42 Business seats and 230 in Economy. If you’re not at the pointy end, rest assured that ultra-long-haul in Economy on Qatar Airways is more than manageable. Qatar Airways provides Economy guests with one of the widest seats in the industry, complete with adjustable headrests. With the generous seat recline, I had no trouble stretching my legs completely out in front of me, with unobstructed access under the seat in front of you.  Qatar Airways Economy Class. Photo / Supplied With a voluminous library of on-demand entertainment, the Oryx One system serves up over 8500 content options at your fingertips. Plus, the live sport function is a recent addition. Just over a year ago, Qatar Airways launched the world’s first Boeing 777 flight equipped with Starlink, ushering in a new era of in-flight connectivity. The entire 777 fleet is now installed with Starlink, delivering high-speed, low-latency internet. The service is free for all passengers and available gate-to-gate. I was suitably engaged for hours, before taking my trusty magnesium tablet and clocking up 8 hours of sleep, in-flight. Along with being well-fed and watered, the marathon flying experience didn’t leave me feeling rung out.   If you plump for the pointy end, you’ll basking in the pampered embrace of Qatar Airways’ legendary Business Class product, QSuite with those sliding doors. This truly is a world-leading product, where the best of First Class has been deployed to Business Class. Best of all, those flying double beds. Yes, if you’re a couple travelling together, your seats convert into a lie-flat double bed, with privacy sliding doors, sealing you off in your own cocoon of comfort. QSuite also pioneered the quad, a private space fully adaptable to your family or fellow travellers’ requirements. Every seat, whether you’re travelling solo or with company, has its own slider door. The trimmings keep coming, with soft feathered pillows, a velvet duvet and pyjama set.   Qatar Airways QSuite Business Class. Photo / Supplied Qatar Airways has every reason to feel like it’s on top of the world – and deservedly so. The Doha-based carrier, with one of the world’s youngest aircraft fleets, has scooped supreme honours at the 2025 Skytrax Airline Awards, crowned World’s Best Airline, for the ninth consecutive year. Flying daily non-stop between Doha and Auckland, Kiwis enjoy visa-free entry into Doha. Beyond Doha, Qatar Airways flies to over 170 destinations worldwide. qatarairways.com  One of the great things about flying long-haul through Doha is Hamad International Airport. Routinely ranked as one of the world’s greatest airports, not only is it breath-takingly efficient with its leading-edge deployment of the latest technology, but the terminals exude a welcome, relaxed atmosphere of stress-free calm. Your ears won’t be assaulted with the constant cacophony of public address announcements, as is the case at many major airports. Hamad Airport is my idea of aviation haven. But don’t for one moment mistake this for soulless boredom. The terminals are abuzz with enticements, headlined by its museum-worthy artworks.   The iconic Lamp Bear by Urs Fischer is just the beginning on the self-guided art tour featuring over 30 pieces scattered throughout the airport. Discover works by artists like Ahmed Al Bahrani and Jean-Michel Othoniel. One of the most recent public art installations is the delightful wildlife sculpture collection located at the Orchard, a glass-domed garden, with similarities to the Changi Airport’s Jewel.   Hamad International Airport's Lamp Bear. Photo / Mike Yardley  This lush, indoor tropical paradise spans over 6000 square metres, boasting more than 300 trees and 25,000 plants sourced from sustainable forests. With its glass ceiling, tree-top bridge, grassed areas, and timber teepees, it’s a refreshing escape from typical airport environments, whether you want to stretch your legs or grab a bite in the surrounding retail and dining precinct. Hamad International Airport has elevated airport dining to new heights with some luxury brand credentials entering the hospitality space too. There’s the Fendi Café, Ralph’s Coffee Shop by Ralph Lauren, the Harrod’s Tea Roo and for five-star luxury, the Louis Vuitton Lounge by Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno. The latest arrival is the Lancôme Café De La Rose from Paris’s Champs-Elysées. Dive into this trippy, next-level airport experience.  Mike Yardley is 九一星空无限talk ZB’s resident traveller and can be heard every weekend on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame. Thu, 20 Nov 2025 22:13:23 Z /lifestyle/british-bar-alibi-defends-solo-drinker-ban-amid-backlash-over-woke-agenda/ /lifestyle/british-bar-alibi-defends-solo-drinker-ban-amid-backlash-over-woke-agenda/ A bar in Greater Manchester, England, has banned “annoying” solo drinkers to stop them from bothering other patrons. Altrincham bar Alibi has not allowed single parties to enter past 9pm since its 2022 opening, the BBC reports. While the ban has been slammed by online commentators as “discriminatory”, owner Carl Peters said the criticism reflected today’s “woke agenda”. Sharing his thoughts on the Alibi’s Instagram account, he claimed single drinkers are typically on their own because “they’ve got no one to talk to”, leading to them “mithering” other customers. “Because, they’re not just going to sit there in a bar having a drink on their own in silence,” he said, “that’s when things start to happen and people are like, ‘who’s this person on their own annoying us?’” Peters said the decision was also informed by safety concerns, noting the increased responsibility hospitality venues carry for their solo clientele. Residents speaking with the Daily Mail had a range of views on the policy. Amy Marsh said the move could inhibit people from going out of their comfort zone, calling the rule “strange”. “It’s a hard thing to go into a bar on your own and if anything it should be encouraged.” But others referenced “weird” interactions with single drinkers, particularly drunken men. Though the ban does not apply to singles specifically, Nicola Slawson, author of Single: Living a Complete Life on Your Own Terms, told Metro the policy makes singles seem “weird or freaky”. “There’s so many reasons to be on your own and to lump everyone in the same box is quite sickening, it’s really hurtful to a lot of single people. “I do understand they’re trying to protect people, but you’re just throwing all single people under the bus because there are a few letchy people.” Also on the banned list are roadmen, tracksuit wearers and those wearing Stone Island clothes. Thu, 20 Nov 2025 07:41:06 Z /lifestyle/technology/mighty-ape-3-in-1-magnetic-chargers-bend-me-shape-me/ /lifestyle/technology/mighty-ape-3-in-1-magnetic-chargers-bend-me-shape-me/ Have you ever gone from not knowing something exists to loving it so much you can't live without it? I kind of feel that way about MagSafe chargers. It started out as an Apple thing; why just charge wirelessly when you can actually stick your phone to the charger with a magnet? Then you can produce a bunch of other accessories that magnetise on as well... Battery packs, wallets, car cradles - you had me at magnets. Unfortunately, because I review a lot of different handsets, most of them aren't magnetic like iPhones are, even if they charge wirelessly. Luckily, you can usually pick up a third-party case that is, so you can continue using that nifty MagSafe charger. Now, with the holidays looming, and travel potentially on the cards, you might be looking for a more portable magnetic charging solution. Boy, does Mighty Ape have some options for you... Today I've picked out three of my favourite Mighty Ape 3-In-1 magnetic travel chargers. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses but I'd be happy to find any of them wrapped up in my Christmas stocking come the end of the year. Let's start with the Kogan 3-in-1 Qi2 Foldable Wireless Charging Stand. This charger caught my eye because it's quite a different shape to most other options, about the size and shape of a camera lens. At 340 grams its surprisingly heavy, which may be a bit of a drawback if you're planning on stuffing it in your handbag or backpack - although its cylindrical profile makes it a good contender for sliding into your drink bottle pouch so it's always handy. Of the three options I'm highlighting today, it's the most fun because not only does the top charging plate hinge forward to reveal a second wireless charging cradle for earbuds or AirPods, the third charger pops out of the side for you to perch your Apple Watch on. Because this is a newer-generation Qi2 device, it promises faster charging speeds and safer, cooler operation. It'll charge your phone at 15W, your buds at 5W and your Apple Watch at 2.5W - which isn't bad, although some of the latest iPhones and Apple Watches can juice up faster than that with the right chargers.  The folding phone plate is where the magnetism happens, so you can choose to MagSafe your iPhone to it in landscape mode to make use of the recently added Nightstand clock iOS feature. When I first plugged it in, I was alarmed to see a bright white ring light flash on around the base of the device. I was worried this was some kind of over-the-top status LED to let me know when the charger is charging - an absolute no-no in the otherwise pitch-black master bedroom in the Hart House. Thankfully, this simply turned out to be a nightlight, that you can turn on, off and adjust the brightness of via a capacitive button on the side of the device. It's not really bright enough to read by or anything but it could be useful for helping you navigate an unfamiliar hotel room in the middle of the night. The next option is Mighty Ape's own Foldable Magnetic 3-in-1 Wireless Charger. This is probably the clumsiest-looking of the three but it's very light and folds quite flat, so it's nice and portable. The main phone charging panel hinges up from the base where you'll find a pad for your earbuds, while the watch charging stand folds out from behind the phone charger. This model also features a ring "Ambient" light, this time around the back of the phone charging pad. There's a physical button for this on the base that toggles through several different brightness settings, which seems like overkill for a feature you'll probably hardly ever use. Alarmingly, right next to that button, there IS a status LED that can't be turned off once this charger is plugged in. I know it sounds silly - after all, it's just a tiny line of light a few millimetres long - but some people simply cannot sleep with glowing lights in the room, no matter how little they are. Personally, I'm not worried by them. However, I'm not the only person in the room at night and that other person matters a lot more than me. So out comes my roll of black insulation tape and away goes the little light. This charger is actually the most powerful of the three - still 15W for phones and 5W for buds, but twice the wattage - at 5W - for Apple Watches, which is especially good news if you wear an Apple Watch Ultra - they have bigger batteries and can take longer to top up. The third offering is my favourite; another Kogan-labelled gadget, the 3-in-1 Aluminium MagSafe Compatible Wireless Charging Stand. Why do I like it so much? For starters, it's the most compact; it folds down to the shape of a credit card and is only 22mm thick. Secondly, it looks classy - a combination of brushed aluminium and matching grey charging pads. And thirdly, it's the only one of the three that will charge both an Apple Watch and a Samsung Galaxy Watch. This is especially convenient for me because I'm often swapping between Samsung's and Apple's ecosystems, so it's nice not to have to change chargers every time. I note there's at least one other non-folding charger on Mighty Ape's site that has a reversible watch pad but I've never come across one that'll just accept both types of smartwatch before. As you can see from the photos, this aluminium beauty simply folds up in a Z-shape, with that bi-charging watch pad popping up in the middle. The pads for phone and buds are rubber-coated, so they won't scratch the devices you're charging and the hinges are reassuringly stiff and stable, so the stand will stay at whatever angle you prefer. It's not all good news - although its webpage assures me this charger has been designed with Overcharge Protection, Overvoltage Protection, Overcurrent Protection and Temperature Protection, this stand is the only one of the three that does get a little warm when in use - perhaps something to do with its aluminium casing? It also only promises a meagre 2W charge from its otherwise uniquely versatile watch stand. In saying that, I just popped my Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra on while writing this and went from 51% to 61% in fifteen minutes, so it's not exactly the end of the world. Lights-wise, it's the worst of both worlds. No "Ambient" light at all and a tiny - but inexplicably bright - status LED right on the front of the base, that had me reaching for my roll of tape again. So there you have it, the pros and cons of just a few of the chargers Mighty Ape has to offer. Each one pledges not to overcharge or overheat and all seem to be well designed and manufactured. They all come with a USB power cable in the box but no wall charger. This is a potential trap because you're unlikely to achieve maximum charging speeds if you don't plug into the right power brick. Luckily, Mighty Ape sells plenty of those too. Maybe that'll be a topic for another review, another day. Meanwhile, priced between just NZ$50 and NZ$62, I'm sure any of these three chargers would make a welcome addition to someone's Santa Sack this Christmas. Or maybe give one to yourself if you're planning on going away and you want to keep things magnetic.      Click here for more information and pricing on the Kogan 3-in-1 Qi2 Foldable Wireless Charging Stand. Click here for more information and pricing on the Mighty Ape Foldable Magnetic 3-in-1 Wireless Charger. Click here for more information and pricing on the Kogan 3-in-1 Aluminium MagSafe Compatible Wireless Charging Stand. Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:20:34 Z /lifestyle/travel/metallica-at-eden-park-drives-auckland-hotel-prices-above-1000-a-night/ /lifestyle/travel/metallica-at-eden-park-drives-auckland-hotel-prices-above-1000-a-night/ Travellers to Auckland may find it difficult to secure last-minute accommodation as hotel room rates soar ahead of Metallica’s concert at Eden Park tonight. Few hotel rooms are available as thousands of metal fans swell the city. Yesterday, Auckland Council’s cultural agency said Tāmaki Makaurau is expected to be heaving, with 40,000 visitor nights booked and the city’s hotels at 100% capacity before the massive show. The World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education (WIPCE) is another major event running in Tāmaki Makaurau and drawing huge numbers. The conference is expected to attract nearly 3800 international delegates and add a further 16,000 visitor nights over the course of the five-day event, according to Auckland Council’s cultural arm, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited. Popular travel agency website booking.com only has seven hotels available for a single person staying for one night from today in Auckland at the time of writing. The cheapest rate was $1399 at Proximity Apartments close to Auckland Airport. The most expensive hotel available was Horizon by SkyCity, offering its superior king room for more than $10,000. Using the same filters, hotel price comparison website Trivago currently shows 12 hotels available. According to the listing, the cheapest rate tonight is at the Waitākere Resort & Spa, from $924, and the most expensive hotel is again at Horizon by Sky City. Cheaper options are available on Airbnb, with some room rates under $200. Last week, Annie Dundas, director of destination at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, said: “It’s not every week you get to say Metallica and WIPCE in the same sentence, but that’s exactly what makes Auckland such an exciting, world-class events city”. “From metal militia to educators, everyone contributes to the vibrancy of our region and the strength of our visitor economy. The energy they bring before, during and after these events, is felt in our streets, our hotels and our hospitality venues.” Similar Auckland Council events have injected millions into the local economy. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited said major events hosted in the city contributed to an $89 million boost in GDP. Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:43:49 Z /lifestyle/technology/jbl-grip-get-hands-on/ /lifestyle/technology/jbl-grip-get-hands-on/ The world of tech is funny. Sometimes the big brands invent products and spend a lot of time and energy trying to convince us how much we need them... even though we never asked for them in the first place. Virtual headset, anyone? Luckily, the opposite scenario also happens occasionally too. Customer demand and popular trends can prompt manufacturers to, you know, actually give people what they want. For example; if people are going to keep dropping their phones in the toilet, I guess we'll have to make them waterproof. Likewise, JBL has seen what you've been doing with its speakers and has decided to make it easier for you. The JBL Grip is about the size and shape of a can of soft drink. That can't be a coincidence.  My guess is someone noticed how many people were shoving their speakers into the bottle-holders on their bikes, into cupholders in their cars and into the drink-bottle pouches on their backpacks. I reckon that same someone thought to themselves, "Hang on, the Flip is really the only speaker we have that sort of fits that scenario. What if we came up with one especially for it?" And the Grip is the result. A fairly powerful bluetooth speaker with good battery life that fits easily in one hand. Like JBL's other portables, the Grip is ruggedly put together, with durable rubber bumpers on each end to keep it drop-proof and an IP68 rating to keep it beach-proof. There's no lanyard or handle attached to the speaker but there is a small loop around the back you can clip or tie something onto - like a carabiner perhaps? It has a 16 watt output and that's enhanced by JBL's AI Sound Boost algorithm to create a "bigger" sound without any distortion or unwanted vibrations. As usual, no matter what size the JBL speaker is, it still manages to magically create a decent amount of bass punch. JBL claims the Grip will play for about 12 hours on a full charge and my testing so far seems to match up with that. By activating Playtime Boost through the JBL Portable app, you should squeeze out an extra couple of hours before having to recharge - although that feature in turn deactivates some others, like the customisable EQs. The JBL Portable app is also required to control the light. Yes, this portable comes with its own light show. If you've ever read any of my other reviews, you'll know I'm no fan of having flashing lights just for the sake of it. When I first tried the new LEDs out on my review units I was pretty underwhelmed. It's a fairly small panel on the back of the speaker and while it glowed brightly and I could change the pattern slightly, that was about it. In fact, initially, I thought it was only white. Then I updated the JBL Portable app. Suddenly, I had a choice of colours - not a big choice, and weirdly, there's an extra option on the iOS app than on the Android one, but still, by the time you choose a theme and a colour, you've really personalised the look of the thing. Then I realised why the light panel is on the back - not behind the front grille like the party lights are on JBL's much bigger PartyBoxes - it's called an Ambient Light, so I figure it's supposed to wash against the wall, rather than be viewed directly. Once I started using it this way it was actually pretty cool - you can even control the brightness or thankfully, turn it off completely. But my favourite feature by far is the same feature I love on every JBL speaker I've reviewed lately; Auracast - the ability to connect and stream to any other Auracast device, regardless of what make or model it is. Yes, you can create a stereo pair with two identical Grips (and at the time of writing, they're on special for just NZ$99,95 each, so why wouldn't you?) but with speakers this compact, I like to hide a few around the house to create an invisible Auracast ambience - not necessarily loud, just music everywhere. Of course, if you leave their lights on, they probably won't be that invisible. Especially since when you connect via Auracast, the light theme syncs too. The great thing about Auracast is, if you're not satisfied with the bass boom of the Grip on its own (although as I've said, it's quite respectable, given its size) you can team it up with a much bigger option - perhaps the Boombox 4 or Xtreme 4. Bass frequencies are pretty much non-directional, so with the Grip on one side of the room and a bigger speaker on the other, things will still sound fairly balanced. I'd wrongly assumed the Grip would be just another speaker, but between its more than adequate power and frequency range, its durability, its impressive battery life and the all-new light effects, I have no problem recommending it as a "handy" stocking-filler this Christmas.      Click here for more information and pricing on the JBL Grip. Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:24:08 Z /lifestyle/auckland-restaurant-rahi-closes-on-ponsonby-rd-after-lease-dispute-with-landlord/ /lifestyle/auckland-restaurant-rahi-closes-on-ponsonby-rd-after-lease-dispute-with-landlord/ A budding restaurant on Auckland’s Ponsonby Rd has closed its doors after a drawn-out dispute with its landlord resulted in its lease being terminated and locks changed. The building’s owner Samson Corporation told the Herald the situation was “really unfortunate” and stressed it had tried to resolve the dispute through several channels before cancelling the lease. Manmohan Singh, previously head chef at 1947 Eatery, opened Rahi on Ponsonby Rd with his former business partner in June last year, taking over the former Mr Spicer space by the Karangahape Rd intersection. “One of the founders told me his goal was to create food in Auckland as good as that found in the fine hotels of India, and the dishes they serve here are a noticeable step up from anything you will find elsewhere in our city,” Viva‘s dining out editor Jesse Mulligan penned in his review of the establishment. Rahi’s doors quietly closed in May to undergo renovations, originally planning to reopen in September. But come October, it remained shuttered and Samson handed Singh a termination of his lease. What happened in the months between? Singh had delayed rent payments – due on the first of each month – over September and October, requesting leniency with the instalments as he tried to recoup renovation costs. Rahi's back courtyard, where Singh spent around $20,000 to install a pergola that was subsequently removed. Photo / Sylvie Whinray In August, he spent about $20,000 constructing a pergola in the open backyard, where the premises’ only washrooms are located, to secure it and protect customers from wet weather. Having failed to receive building consent or fit-out approval beforehand, Samson suggested seeking validation of its compliance before applying for a certificate of approval from Auckland Council, or face it being removed at his own expense. Singh subsequently removed the structure in September. In emails seen by the Herald, Singh apologised for the error and said he wanted to reach a long-term solution with the landlords regarding the exposed backyard. He cited recurring issues of theft and homeless people breaking into the washrooms as being harmful to business and deterring customers, and requested to meet Samson representatives in person several times to discuss a way forward. Singh later returned to India at short notice to visit his dying mother, informing Samson of his intention to clear missed rental payments and reopen the restaurant when he returned. Rahi served contemporary Indian dishes such as palak burrata. Photo / Babiche Martens He was issued a Property Law Notice while overseas, with a $10,964.47 payment required by October 20 to prevent termination of the lease. Singh missed the deadline and the lease was cancelled on October 21. Samson refused to take Singh’s payment the following day and gave him five working days to remove all items from the premises. However, Singh alleged there was not ample time to do so and claimed the premises were locked every time he tried to collect the items. “I didn’t understand what to do. I went crazy. I was requesting [more time], but they never gave me a proper answer; just remove, remove, remove,” Singh said. Many items were later cleared from the premises by Samson and sold to recover funds. Manmohan Singh says losing Rahi has cost him his life savings and livelihood. Photo / Sylvie Whinray Having invested around $200,000 in Rahi since opening, Singh said he’d lost his livelihood in the space of a few months and is no longer able to bring his family over from India as planned. “I spent my entire life’s savings building this restaurant,” he said. “I feel like I’m dead, because my whole life is finished. My children can’t come here now. I can’t do anything.” While acknowledging Singh’s personal circumstances, Samson’s property and operations manager Callum Scott said Samson had done everything by the book. “This is a really unfortunate situation. It sadly comes down to a business breakdown leading to a tenant not paying their contracted rent over several months. “We’re never happy to be in this position, as we want our tenants to succeed and we do a number of things to try to help them to do so. “In an effort to try to resolve this non-payment, we have been proactive in communicating with the tenant, extending time periods beyond usual dates, and even communicating to the tenant how he could access the property to remove items. “Unfortunately, our communications went unanswered, so in accordance with the terms of the lease the locks were changed and items removed from the property.” While he is still working out his next steps, Singh is adamant he wants Rahi to continue trading, and has extended an olive branch to Samson with the hope he can move back into the building. “If they give me some time, I can pay the rent and I can run the restaurant, I can cover the money, everything.” Tom Rose is an Auckland-based journalist who covers breaking news, specialising in lifestyle, entertainment and travel. He joined the Herald in 2023. Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:40:07 Z /lifestyle/inside-freedom-camping-wars-why-nz-hot-spots-are-fed-up-with-bad-campers/ /lifestyle/inside-freedom-camping-wars-why-nz-hot-spots-are-fed-up-with-bad-campers/ Ami Dhabuwala has been freedom camping around Aotearoa with her partner for more than two months, but she’s never witnessed bad campers. When she heard about freedom campers defecating in public, she was shocked. According to an RNZ report, freedom campers were spotted by a local scout group defecating, urinating and littering around the West End Road carpark in Auckland’s affluent Herne Bay suburb. “We have stayed in quite a few freedom camping sites and we have never seen or experienced such horrible acts,” Dhabuwala, 34, told the Herald. Referring to a recent stay at a site in Napier, the former Auckland-based operations manager turned content creator said they “never once felt that we were unwanted. [The residents] were happy to have us there.” Sagar Patel and Ami Dhabuwala inside their van while on the road in Marlborough. Freedom camping has deep roots in New Zealand. The country has some of the most breathtaking and dramatic landscapes on earth, pulling many visitors and locals closer to nature. But lately, some popular hot spots are not as relaxing. In Queenstown, the nation’s most popular freedom camping destination, an increase in bad-behaved freedom campers has pushed the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) to implement new measures. Taking effect on December 1, the Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025 permits freedom camping in only 15 specified restricted areas, which are subject to specific conditions. Speaking to the Herald, Queenstown Mayor John Glover said the bylaw provides “some degree of control” over the impacts of the volume of freedom camping in the community. He described three key elements separating the types of freedom campers in New Zealand. According to Glover, the majority are responsible Kiwis who own their own motorhome, likely part of the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association and “understand sensitivities”. Then there are the visitors who want to do the right thing but may not understand culturally or behaviourally what is acceptable camping behaviour in NZ. “And then we’ll have ... people for whom the most important thing about freedom camping is the word free,” said Glover. “That’s probably the sector that has had the most impact on our local communities.” Queenstown Lakes District Mayor John Glover. Photo / QLDC Glover said he has personally witnessed “behaviours that wouldn’t normally be acceptable” such as littering, open fires on private land, people sneaking into hostels to take showers, hanging out the washing on someone’s fence and urinating in public. “And I’ve had people who just walk into my own business premises, using the toilets, washing their dishes in the sink. I still struggle to understand where that expectation comes from that people [think] they can do that,” Glover added. Last summer, Glover said a residential street in the district had up to 80 vehicles parked on it. People were camping out in the back of their van with no outdoor toilets nearby. Glover said the new bylaw would not only prevent a similar situation, but also help to ensure freedom campers have access to toilets off the road, and prevent obstruction. In Wānaka, residents are campaigning to stop freedom camping at Beacon Point, a popular spot drawing visitors for its panoramic views of Lake Wānaka and the Southern Alps, where the new bylaw permits freedom camping sites. On October 28, Save Clean New Zealand launched a petition via change.com to call on QLDC to withdraw Beacon Point from its bylaw. At the time of writing, the petition has gathered nearly 1000 signatures. “This is not about opposing freedom camping, it’s about getting it right,” read the petition description. Some freedom campers disagree that fulltime campers are the cause of the issue. “It’s not the freedom campers leaving the trash behind - it’s the day visitors,” wrote one user in the popular Free Camping in New Zealand public Facebook group. In response, Glover clarified the bylaw is about “people who choose to use their vehicles to sleep in public areas and to play some controls around that,” he said. “Day trippers, we’d love to have you. You’re always welcome.” The Freedom Camping Act 2011 permits freedom camping in New Zealand, but councils can introduce bylaws and restrict or ban camping in specific areas to protect the environment, the health and safety of people who may visit the area, and access. On freedom camping etiquette, Dhabuwala has straightforward advice on showing respect to the environment and neighbours. Auckland couple Sagar and Ami have been travelling around New Zealand in their van since September. “First of all, be grateful that we have been given this opportunity to even do this. Freedom camping and paying zero dollars in New Zealand - it’s a blessing,” she said. “Know that you are sharing a space with a neighbour ... be mindful that someone is living out there or someone working out there. What would you do at your home? Just treat it like your home. “You wouldn’t pee in your garden, right? So, the same rule applies to the freedom camping sites. Be respectful.” Varsha Anjali is a journalist in the lifestyle team at the Herald. Based in Auckland, she covers travel, culture and more. Tue, 18 Nov 2025 01:11:39 Z /lifestyle/technology/eero-max-7-push-your-home-network-to-its-limits/ /lifestyle/technology/eero-max-7-push-your-home-network-to-its-limits/ If you're anything like me, you've found yourself on a never-ending quest for better Wi-Fi. It's not just about speed - although speedy downloads and uploads are great. More and more, it's about creating a home network to which everything stays connected, reliably.  I currently have 59 devices connected to my Wi-Fi, with another 29 that are either switched off or are away from home right now. Not all of those gadgets need the fastest, most powerful connection. They just need a router that recognises them and can help them access the net if and when required, every time. Not too much to ask. And yet... even in 2025, all too often our smart speakers ignore us, we can't seem to turn that one smart light on or off and the movie is still buffering before it starts. WHY??? Well, as I've discussed before, there are many reasons your Wi-Fi may be under-performing; What type of plan are you on? How many devices are connecting to your router? Where have you placed your router or routers? You might even be using the wrong kind of cables - after all, they have maximum speeds too. So when I unpacked eero's top-of-the line mesh Wi-Fi system, I decided to give it every advantage... On paper, it's easy to understand why the eero Max 7 system blows its other stablemates out of the water. The more entry-level eero 7 devices are great - but they're only dual-band which means when used as a mesh system, some of their bandwidth is taken up with the routers talking to each other. Meanwhile, the eero Pro 7 units are tri-band, so they have dedicated backhaul. But even the Pro 7s are no match for the still larger eero Max 7 devices. Each eero Max 7 has twice the number of auto-sensing ethernet ports; 2 x 2.5GbE and 2 x 10GbE - that means an incredible potential for wired connectivity if you're on a HyperFibre plan like I am. Not only that, but the larger, more powerful units can cover a massive area - up to 700 square metres, so pretty much my whole section, not just my house. And finally, Amazon claims you can connect at least 250 devices simultaneously. Which should be plenty. Well, until the robots take over completely, I guess. Just because the Max 7 is faster and more powerful, it doesn't mean setup is any more complicated. Quite the opposite in fact. Because I was upgrading an existing eero system, the eero app gives you the opportunity to simply swap devices out, maintaining your network SSID (password) and even the location in your home. You can then choose to use the old eero device as another mesh extender. The eero app might just be the most user-friendly of its kind. You can see every connected device at a glance, including their connection strength and which router they're connected to. You can rename them, pause them, even block them in seconds. But here's where I was really impressed. The problem with my fibre connection - and I bet this is true for many of you out there - is it comes into my house at about the worst place possible, through the garage wall. This was conveniently close to the road for the installers, but that corner of the house couldn't be further away from where I need the internet most; upstairs and diagonally opposite, in the living room. Luckily, I do have limited data cabling installed so in the past I've always just plugged in my ISP's default router, down in the garage, then run my actual home network via a hardline from there, feeding into my primary router upstairs. This time I decided to eliminate any potential chokepoints by using one of my three eero Max 7s at the point of origin, plugged directly into the ONT box. I know in theory, it's virtually impossible to push decent Wi-Fi from a lower storey up to a higher one but I crossed my fingers and hoped I had a way around that. Following the step by step instructions in the eero app, I fired up the first unit in the garage and... it didn't work. No internet at all. There was a brief moment of panic, then I realised there was probably some unique protocol required for the primary router to connect with my ISP. As it happened, that's exactly what the eero app then asked me for. A very quick Google search provided me with the correct VLAN tag, which I entered and I was away and laughing. I've never experienced blazingly fast Wi-Fi in the garage like this - as you'll see in the video below, I could now connect at well over 2 Gbps. I could also plug in cables for other rooms in the house via the three remaining LAN ports. Time to take it to the rest of the house. Next stop, downstairs family room. Here, I set up my next eero Max 7 unit as a Wi-Fi only mesh extender, replacing an older model. This took all of about 60 seconds, again resulting in very satisfying speeds. Now for the real test. One last Max 7 device, in the upstairs living room. I knew connecting over Wi-Fi through the floor and several walls was a bad plan so I plugged into my hard-wired access point instead, just to see what would happen. Amazingly, the upstairs Max7 talked to the garage one with no issues and no input required from me. This was a relief because I needed to run a lot of gear off that upstairs unit - a television, an Apple TV streaming box, an Xbox, a bunch of smart lights and just everybody's phones, tablets and computers. Because my house is wired with Cat5e ethernet cable, I was hoping I could get close to the 1 Gbps it's rated for. When I tested the speed and got the result you'll see in the video below, I was gobsmacked. It was definitely safe to uncross my fingers. If you're upgrading from Wi-Fi 6e, 6 or even 5, I really recommend you go whole hog and give the eero Max 7 a try - especially if you're coming from an older eero system, because you can probably use your existing units to strengthen your mesh network even further. Remember, many late-model Amazon Echo smart speakers now have built-in mesh Wi-Fi too, so you might be closer than you think to the bullet-proof, no dark-spot network you've always dreamed of. Although the eero Max 7 units are bigger, they're still fairly blank and featureless, so should fit in with your decor without too much difficulty and yes, best of all, (for me anyway) you can turn off the status LED using the app. I've decided I'm no longer cutting corners when it comes to my Wi-Fi. I even bought a whole new set of Cat7 ethernet cables to connect my other devices to the eero Max 7 units, just to be sure. I now have the most reliable, wide-ranging and above all, fastest home network I've ever had. An exciting new benchmark has been set.      Click here for more information and pricing on the Amazon eero Max 7 tri-band Wi-Fi mesh system. Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:34:49 Z /lifestyle/technology/dyson-v16-piston-animal-submarine-re-setting-the-standard/ /lifestyle/technology/dyson-v16-piston-animal-submarine-re-setting-the-standard/ I'm no vacuuming expert - although I have been reviewing all kinds of vacuums for a while now. I'm also in charge of vacuuming at our house, so if I'm not an official expert, I am at least experienced. Anyway, for what it's worth, in my view, there's nothing quite like a Dyson. Because of Dyson's driving philosophy of innovation, I think you'd be hard-pushed to come up with another brand that consistently manages to reinvent itself in such revolutionary ways, others struggle to keep up. And wouldn't you just know it? They've gone and done it again. As you might be able to deduce from its somewhat multi-barrelled name, the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine has a lot going on. In fact, unboxing this thing is a bit like spending Christmas with your slightly crazy uncle who thinks it's funny to wrap every present in 17 different layers of wrapping paper to maximise the enjoymnent. Except in this case, every compartment of every box-within-the-box holds a new and exciting present that you really weren't expecting. Even the accessories are painstakingly designed for ultimate performance. The Combi Tool has long been my favourite car-cleaning aid, with its retractable brush allowing me to quickly swap between two heads depending on whether I'm vacuuming hard or soft surfaces.  When Dyson first introduced the Hair Screw Tool, I thought its ability to dispose of even the longest of hair was so groundbreaking, I dedicated a whole review to it. Version 2.0 has been modified to remove even longer hair still and there are now "rug strips" to keep soft furnishings like covers of duvets and cushions from being sucked in and causing the tool to stop spinning. They've even made the Crevice Tool longer, because who doesn't want the longest Crevice Tool possible? But the main "head"-lines are the titular Submarine 2.0 Wet Roller head and the All Floors Cones Sense cleaner head. Both of these are classic examples of Dyson's engineers being told to go out and start again from the beginning; design a wet mopping head and an all-purpose one from scratch, paying special attention to the pain points current users experience. With the Submarine 2.0 Wet Roller, they certainly nailed the cleaning part. I never trialled the original version of this head, so I'm not sure exactly how it's been improved, other than it now offers two levels of hydration - so you can up the amount of water being applied to the roller to help remove more stubborn messes from your hard floors It's a breeze to use and even though it's quite a large head, it's well balanced and the connecting joint folds down almost flat to allow you access under furniture. It cleans throughly with every pass, and unlike other similar devices I've used with rotating, disc-shaped mop heads - or even manual mopping for that matter - the Submarine 2.0 leaves a streak-free finish and the precisely measured water flow means floors are dry in minutes. For me, it worked particularly well on the bathroom tiles and was easy to manoeuvre under vanities and into other tight spaces. There is a downside; the cleanup afterwards. The Submarine 2.0 is not a vacuum head as such - unlike a robot vacuum, for example, which might vacuum at the front then mop at the back on the same pass, Dyson's method forces any hard debris up into the head where it is trapped in a thin, removable collection tray, which requires rinsing off after ever clean. As does the roller and the head itself. This is all a bit of hands-on and gross - and bear in mind, I'm a father of two so I've seen plenty of hands-on and gross in my time. The roller and head then need to dry out - which takes days, not hours. There's a base/cover just for the Submarine 2.0 head, to keep everything tidy. I'd prefer this to be some kind of auto-cleaning and drying station, in a similar vein to the various robot vacuums I've reviewed lately. As great a job as this cleaning head does, I'm not sure it justifies the inconvenience of the cleanup afterwards. On the other hand, the All Floors Cones Sense head couldn't be more user-friendly - and effective. Dyson has obviously gone all in on cones. I've already mentioned the cone-based Hair Screw Tool 2.0. I reviewed the PencilVac Fluffy Cones cleaner a few weeks back. The All Floors Cones Sense head takes that philosophy to new heights. The duo of conical brush bars are each wrapped in a twin spiral of sturdy, nylon bristles to help loosen any bits and pieces from carpet and a softer, wider brush that polishes hard floors without scratching them. The head automatically detects what surface it's on and can adjust the suction power accordingly. And best of all, this is the most tangle-free full-sized vacuum head I've ever used. As long as I've been vacuuming, I've been untangling hair wrapped around the cleaning brush. For years. I've actually become pretty good at it. I've even collected up a few useful tools to help me do it along the way. Told you I'd seen "hands-on and gross." Ah, the stories I could tell. The problem with the All Floors Cones Sense head is I don't get to use those skills anymore. At all. Since I've been using the V16, I haven't had to remove a single hair, not one. In fact, the conical brushes are so effective, when I'm vacuuming particularly hairy spaces -  like where the hair drying and straightening happens - the first pass leaves a tidy little hairball behind which is then easily sucked up on the next pass. It's a miracle. The newest incarnation of Dyson's Hyperdymium motor never misses a beat, of course. The 900w motor drives up to 315AW of suction. Don't worry if you don't know that AW stands for Air Watt - just trust me; there's all the power you need and more. The battery behind it all should last around 70 minutes on a full charge and if that's not enough, you can purchase a second one as they swap out easily. Even now, so few of Dyson's competitors offer anything like the detailed, colour LCD display on the top of the device. Never underestimate how useful it is to know what your remaining battery life is in minutes - it can be very motivational. The screen also shows a breakdown of the particles being sucked up by size, so you know when you've got the surface completely clean. As you'll see in the video below, when you have a vacuum as effective as this one, you may worry about how quickly the 1.35-litre bin fills up. That's where Dyson's next big upgrade comes in; Bin compression. They call it CleanCompaktor technology but it just means you can now squash all the yucky stuff down to the bottom of the bin and keep on vacuuming, drastically reducing the number of times you have to empty the V16. Even the emptying process is better because that same CleanCompaktor mechanism now ejects all the dust and debris out of the bin without you having to stick anything in there - like your fingers - to work any stubborn clumps of ick out. Essentially, it's the totally hands-off experience I was hoping for with the Submarine head. By now, it goes without saying Dyson totally aces the filtration system, the durability (yes, I dropped the whole shebang on my hard floor first time I used it) and the app experience; I just updated the firmware this afternoon. There are so many new and exciting features here, I almost forgot to mention the great ones that have carried over from previous models - like the dust-seeking green light on the brush head and the hidden tools - I mean, how come nobody's talking about the "Easy-Access Wand Tool?" Now you can just push down on the red ring at the top of the main tube to eject the cleaner head without having to bend down. I hate bending down. I love this vacuum. For the most thorough, tangle-free cleaning experience I've ever encountered from a stick vacuum, the V16 Piston Animal Submarine is the new champ. Now, if we can just get that mop head to clean up after itself, I'd be in vacuum heaven.          Click here for more information and pricing on the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine. Mon, 17 Nov 2025 04:12:46 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-dipping-into-the-dazzle-of-doha/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-dipping-into-the-dazzle-of-doha/ As a quick hit to recharge when travelling to or from Europe, Doha makes for an eye-opening stopover in the heart of the Middle East. The capital of Qatar pulses with all the flamboyant bling of Dubai, overlaid with deep pockets of old world Doha, where tradition, heritage and culture abound. Doha seems to have nailed the sense of urban intermingling – the fusion of cutting-edge modernity and traditional vibes.  My favourite quintessential experience is to savour golden hour aboard a traditional Dhow cruise on Doha Bay, as the slumping sun gilds the skyline. Pearl diving was the mainstay of the Qatari economy right up until the 1930s when Japan pioneered cultured pearls and revolutionised the lucrative pearl trade. Dhow boats were traditionally used by pearl divers, so a leisurely float aboard one of these wooden cuties provides a tangible link with the past.  Dhow and the West Bay skyline. Photo / Supplied When you’ve had your fill of gazing at West Bay’s futuristic skyline, studded with so many edgy designs and distinctive buildings, there’s plenty more starchitecture to explore on-foot. I’m a self-confessed building nerd and Doha’s rollcall of boundary-busting architects who have left their calling card here is formidable. I M Pei, Norman Foster, and Jean Nouvel lead the line-up.  Step out on the 7km-long horseshoe-shaped Corniche promenade, that connects old Doha with West Bay. It’s an impeccably landscaped waterfront playground, packed with cutting-edge public amenities like open-air gym equipment and phone-charging stations. Like so many public spaces in Doha, outdoor air-conditioning is becoming the norm, with highly effective cooling vents taming the desert heat in highly trafficked places.  In a city of stacked with museums, you really are spoilt for choice. But if you have time only for one, my suggestion would be the Museum of Islamic Art. It’s a chiselled jewel, designed by I M Pei, of Louvre glass pavilion fame. The museum has an illusory quality of floating on the water. Pei was determined to encapsulate the essence of Islamic architecture in his design. The building’s bright white cubes reflect in the sea by day and are illuminated by night. The curved openings in the top tower resemble the eye slit of a burqa while the museum’s ceiling is a traditional geometric pattern. Calligraphy, Islamic patterns, jewellery and textiles from three continents comprise its vast collection. Reaching back 1400 years, the museum charts the artistic flowering of Islam. The biggest unmissable is the necklace that once belonged to Shah Jahan, builder of India's Taj Mahal, studded with huge diamonds and emeralds. The British didn’t get their hands on that one.  Museum of Islamic Art and West Bay lights. Photo / Supplied Twenty minutes north of downtown Doha, I headed by metro to Lusail, home to the gleaming stadium that is nicknamed the Lantern. It was here that Lionel Messi raised the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Qatar continues to cultivate its credentials as a superhost for global sport occasions – and surely it’s only a matter of time before they bag the Olympic Games, unless Saudi Arabia beats them to the punch. Lusail is Qatar’s newest and second-largest city. There’s serious starchitecture here too, like the crescent-shaped Katara Towers with the country’s first six-star hotel; the Marina Twin Towers, which look like giant Lego blocks; and the French-inspired Place Vendôme Mall. Lusail is also a byword for vroom-vroom!   The F1 Qatar Grand Prix is just a fortnight away from being held. The purpose-built racetrack, known as the Lusail International Circuit, is highly regarded by F1 fans, particularly for its 1km long main straight, which throws up plenty of high-octane thrills. But when the big boys are not in town, you can score some track-time on the circuit, whether you want to run, cycle, skate, walk – or best of all, ride the souped-up go-karts.  Channel you inner Lando Norris and hit the tarmac.  Lusail International Circuit. Photo / Supplied Speaking of racing, for something more traditional from Qatari culture, why not pay a visit to Al Shahaniya racetrack for camel-racing? Held every Friday from October to February, it’s a wild experience and highly competitive. Originally, children would be used as jockeys for the camels, but robots have been used instead since 2004 for health and safety reasons. The robots are controlled remotely by the camel herders who often drive alongside the track. How’s that for the complete combo of old and new?  If you want more camel time or to try riding one of these graceful ships of the desert, camel riding is on offer in the heart of old Doha at the sublime Souq Waqif. As are Arabian horses. The atmospheric marketplace is also home to the falcon souq. Not only can you buy a falcon here, but it’s also go-to for falcon accessories such as landing pads and GPS guidance systems for the birds. They even have an on-site falcon hospital. I was quite taken aback to see two lovely old men carrying their sick falcon through the arrivals hall at Hamad International Airport.   Camel racing in Doha. Photo / Supplied Beyond the wildlife, Souq Waqif is a bustling blend of sights, sounds, and scents that captures the heart of Qatar's rich culture. It’s a sprawling, atmospheric stone complex of restored buildings, riddled with winding alleys, bursting with spice stalls, perfumeries, handcrafted goods, outstanding dining venues and superb local art. For a great keepsake, pop into the Souq Waqif Art Centre, to see one of the resident artists at work and peruse their traditional Arabic design pieces.  One of the most iconic breakfast spots in Doha, Shay Al Shomoos, is located at Souq Waqif’s airconditioned walkway. The restaurant is run by Shams Al Qassabi, who was the first woman to establish a business in Souq Waqif. One of the most popular items at this the breakfast spot is the traditional dish, regag.  But if there’s one signature dish you have to try during a visit to Qatar, it’s undoubtedly machboos. The dish, made of rice, meat, onions and tomatoes, mixed with spices, is the national dish of Qatar. Most importantly, it’s incredibly delicious.  Lamb shank Machboos. Photo / Time Out Destination dining? Snag a booking at Parisa. This gorgeous Persian restaurant in Souq Waqif has mosaics along the walls, ornate chandeliers, and a mirrored ceiling that took three-and-a-half years to finish. On the food front, signature dishes include watermelon salad, kashko bademjan and lamb kebab. Delicious.  Qatar Airways has every reason to feel on top of the world. The multiple award-winning airline has been crowned the 2025 World’s Best Airline by Skytrax, scooping the supreme honours for the ninth consecutive year. Qatar Airways flies non-stop between Doha and Auckland daily, one of the world’s heroic ultra-long-haul flights, currently ranked third longest in the world. Kiwis enjoy visa-free entry into Doha. Experience an unrivalled standard of Business Class in your very own personal suite with privacy doors. QSuite is available on the daily Auckland service, delivering first-class luxury to the Business Class cabin, including double lie-flat beds. I flew in Economy, and you’ll notice the difference with one of the widest seats in the industry, complete with adjustable headrests. With the generous seat recline, I had no trouble stretching my legs completely out in front of me, with unobstructed access under the seat in front of you. Beyond Doha, Qatar Airways flies to over 170 destinations worldwide. qatarairways.com  Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.  Fri, 14 Nov 2025 23:21:34 Z /lifestyle/technology/avast-ultimate-business-security-set-your-cyber-security-to-god-mode/ /lifestyle/technology/avast-ultimate-business-security-set-your-cyber-security-to-god-mode/ The trouble with being the go-to person when it comes to tech stuff - whether that's in your home or at your small business - is getting other people to take some responsibility for protecting their gear. I don't mean carrying it around in a case or not leaving it on the passenger seat of their car. I'm talking cyber security. Boring. But essential. Especially as day after day we hear more and more nightmare tales of people - and businesses - being scammed, hacked or compromised in some way. Unless software is kept update and all patches are installed in a timely manner, you, your family, or your business may be exposed. It's a risk that can cost you money, not to mention your valuable files and sensitive information, But what can you do? Other than nag them to take this stuff seriously. Now Avast offers you overall control. And it's easy too. Avast Ultimate Business Security takes all the responsibility of keeping your network secure and puts it back on you because, let's face it, who else can be trusted? Am I right? But unlike other attempts I've made to keep an eye on the PCs and laptops of those close to me, the installation and setting up of this ingenious tool is so simple, it's almost automatic. Once you've signed up and logged into the Avast Business Hub via your web browser, you'll be guided through the initial checks and tweaks to create your new security network. You can then scan your network for any unmanaged devices and add them to your dashboard by sending the owner a download link, or, assuming you know the user name and password, you can install the necessary software on the target device remotely. From that point on they'll have access to Avast's Antivirus, Web Control and USB Protection - and if it's a Windows device, Patch Management and VPN as well. In return, you can set up specific security policies for each device, or assign them to a group. You can choose to have updates installed across your network automatically, or do it manually on a per-device basis - probably more practicable if you're using this tool for your family than if you're trying to keep everyone at your business safe and secure. And unlike so many other security tools, Avast Ultimate Business Security doesn't seem to mind too much if there's already another security product installed - although you'll get the option to remove that remotely too, if you want. What surprised me the most is how thoroughly and effectively Avast Ultimate Business Security was able to detect any required patches and updates. Let me be clear; I'm not just talking about updates to the Avast suite of apps you have installed. Your new, Sauron-like, all-seeing eye will pick up any pending OS updates and third-party patches too. As hard as it may be to believe, you may never have to nag your recalcitrant teenager or long-suffering Domestic Manager to update their computers ever again - because you can now do it for them! Just a warning; your new powers as Network Overlord are not to be underestimated - or abused. Believe it or not, you can even restart your underlings' devices remotely if that's required after the installation of any updates. Mwah hah hah hah ha! Is there anything that can stop you now? Actually, there is. They'll see a little window pop-up to let them know you've activated a restart so they can delay it if they're in the middle of some important work... Or some important gaming. Both Avast's Firewall and VPN are comprehensive and effective - and yet, I haven't noticed any dramatic slowdowns when they're in effect - although I did have to customise my security policies to get Plex to work. My Plex media server resides on the Windows tablet you see highlighted in some of these pictures but after I first installed Ultimate Business Security, I couldn't seem to stream from other devices around the house. Luckily, it didn't take much prompting for Google Gemini to offer up the solution. Not only was I able to allow Plex full access through my firewall for locally connected devices, I now have it set up so I can stream from that tablet, even when the VPN is activated - which I've never figured out how to do before. This really is the most watertight security suite I've ever used on my home network. Depending on how you set it up, nothing gets in or out without being scanned and vetted first. Even unrecognised USB devices will be flagged for approval, in case they have something nasty lurking inside - or perhaps even more importantly, to prevent anyone nicking off with your company's valuable IP. Unsafe and fake sites can be blocked, emails with suspicious attachments intercepted and Ransomware Shield helps you easily protect your most precious files and folders from any outside attacks. Best of all, it really isn't that expensive. In fact, the more devices you protect, the cheaper it works out. What's more, you can trial Avast Ultimate Business Security on up to 100 devices for 30 days. Give it a crack - I'm pretty sure you'll be impressed with how easy it is to set up and monitor. In this day and age, maintaining an effective cyber security regime - both at home and at work - is just as important as insuring your business, house and contents. But I can't stress this enough; that security regime is only as strong as its last updated security patch. The bad guys aren't going away and they get more sophisticated all the time, so it's vital to stay up to date on every device you can. Thanks to Ultimate Business Security, Avast really does make it easy.      Click here for more information and pricing on Avast Ultimate Business Security. Fri, 14 Nov 2025 02:03:37 Z /lifestyle/technology/jbl-partybox-encore-2-and-jbl-partybox-520-create-your-own-light-and-sound-extravaganza/ /lifestyle/technology/jbl-partybox-encore-2-and-jbl-partybox-520-create-your-own-light-and-sound-extravaganza/ The holiday season is upon us and you know what that means... Party time. House party. Deck party. Pool party. Street party. Beach party. Whatever kind of party you're planning, you're going to need music and you're going to need lights. Oh, and karaoke. There might be karaoke. And somebody might also bring a guitar. Basically, you need to be prepared for any eventuality. Don't worry, JBL has got you covered. Take one PartyBox Encore 2, then upsize it with the PartyBox 520. Party success, guaranteed. I know I've reviewed a few of these sorts of JBL speakers before, but I don't think I've ever specifically tried an Encore and I've certainly never brought home anything as large as the 520. Even the Encore 2 is a hefty wee beastie - weighing in over 6kgs. Its size and shape kind of remind me of the 14-inch CRT TV a friend gave us for a wedding present nearly 30 years ago. Unlike that TV though, the Encore 2 has a convenient retractable carry handle on top, so it's easy enough to move from place to place. Meanwhile, at 26kgs, the 520 is one of the heaviest non-car devices I've ever reviewed. Luckily, it has a suitcase-style, telescopic handle and two hard-wearing, easy-rolling wheels at the base, so it too is reasonably portable. This is good news because there's no reason not to take your party on the road - both these PartyBoxes boast an (up to) 15 hour battery life and both have easily accessible battery compartments, so if you really want to go bush, you can purchase spare battery packs and swap them out as required. Functionally, in many ways, these speakers have similar features. A play/pause button in the middle of a volume knob on one side, a lights on/off button in a lighting theme selector knob on the other. You'll also find JBL's obligatory Bass Boost button, a bluetooth pairing button and a set of silly sound effect buttons nobody has ever used on any speaker at any party ever. What is of much more use is the Auracast button. As we've seen on pretty much every other recent JBL speaker, Auracast lets you link any enabled speakers you have, regardless of model or size. Not only does this mean you can combine the Encore 2's decent output with the 520's MIGHTY blast, it's also a clever hack that means you can use the 2 digital mics that come with the Encore 2 through its much more powerful, bigger brother. Those wireless mics are pre-paired with the Encore 2 by the way - all you have to do is charge them up via USB-C, switch them on and you're good to go. There are separate mic controls for volume and echo and they also come with convenient stretchy holders that clip into the back of the speaker. Now you have karaoke and can travel. Apart from the 400W vs 100W sheer power differential, the other major difference between these speakers is the number of I/O ports around the back. Both let you plug in a guitar or an external music source via 3.5mm AUX jack or USB-C. But the 520 reveals itself to be a genuine P.A. system with two hybrid standard/XLR (canon) inputs so you can plug in mics, instruments or perhaps even a turntable deck. There's even a pair of In and Out ports if you choose to daisy chain via hardline with other speakers - although, as we've established, Auracast essentially makes that unsightly cable business obsolete. Right, let's talk lights. Personally, I've never really got the whole "lights built into your speaker" thing. I've always considered it a bit of a token add-on. And with JBL, I find it even more confusing because the built-in lights don't really seem to have changed that much over the years. I mean, if you want lights, get some lights. Even JBL has its own range of PartyLights. They're really good. In saying that, yes, there are lights built into both the Encore 2 and the 520. It seems to be a three-way combination of the traditional RGB LED shape, top and bottom RGB bars and very bright, white strobe-like lights dotted throughout. As usual, these can play various different preset themes at random, or there might be one you particularly like. The JBL PartyBox app also lets you customise your own lighting design, which could be handy if your party was themed around a specific colour. Despite my "meh" feelings towards them, other people seem to like the lights and there's a fairly new aspect to them that does actually make me happy. Again, it's that Auracast thing. Just like the JBL PartyLights I have reviewed before, when speakers are connected via Auracast, their light shows will eventually sync up too. You can watch this happen in the video below. Don't ask me why it doesn't happen straight away but the fact it happens at all is pretty cool - even I have to admit it. There's a world of speakers - of all shapes and sizes - out there. But thanks to Auracast, I keep coming back to JBL. Some makes of smart speaker allow you to play from multiple units simultaneously but it usually requires a drawn-out setup process in an app - which you then have to alter if you want to use a different mix of speakers. It can get pretty complicated pretty fast. With Auracast, it's as easy as a press of a button, no Wi-Fi required. Tell your friends to bring their JBLs and add them to the party. Why not? Get the special features of one speaker (like the wireless digital mics paired with the Encore 2) on all your speakers. That's the kind of user-friendly connectivity that means your party can carry on everywhere - inside or out - even beside the pool. After all, both the Encore 2 and 520 are IPX4 splash-proof. The 15-hour battery life means the party never stops and synced-up lighting from every speaker is bound to please the crowds... and maybe even me.      Click here for more information and pricing on the JBL PartyBox 520. Click here for more information and pricing on the JBL PartyBox Encore 2. Wed, 12 Nov 2025 01:55:51 Z /lifestyle/rare-futuro-ufo-house-moved-from-christchurch-to-secret-north-island-site/ /lifestyle/rare-futuro-ufo-house-moved-from-christchurch-to-secret-north-island-site/ An out-of-this world prefab home from the 1970s is on the move, with a house-moving company tasked with transporting it between islands to an unknown location. Britton Housemovers Group, one of the largest in New Zealand, was spotted taking the oversized UFO away from its original home in Christchurch on a Mack truck. It drew awe from motorists trailing the spaceship on its journey, which saw it head north and across the Cook Strait to Wellington. Sharing photos of the gargantuan task on social media, Britton Housemovers wrote: “ET phoned. He was afraid and he was alone, but now he has a new home.” The company told the Herald it was moving the Futuro home – a Finnish post-war innovation – to an undisclosed location north from Wellington up SH2. The owner wished to remain private and it’s expected the build will be away from public view and public access. Between 1972 and 1974, records show that 12 Futuro homes, designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen, were constructed and placed around both the North Island and the South Island. Some were placed at the gates of Queen Elizabeth ll Stadium during the Commonwealth Games in 1974. The New Zealand Futuros differed from their Finnish counterparts because the licensing agreement only accounted for the external shell design. Futuro homes landed in New Zealand with the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. For its first year of production, Futuro Homes (NZ) Ltd manufactured one unit per month. After this period, but the combination of events such as the 1970s petro-chemical crisis led to the cease of production. In 1975, David Hamilton, general manager of the company, said: “The Futuro home will be standing in almost mint condition in 30 years’ time.” Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:09:53 Z /lifestyle/technology/glenn-harts-2025-gadget-gift-guide/ /lifestyle/technology/glenn-harts-2025-gadget-gift-guide/ By my calculations, I'm about a week late with my guide this year. That mean's you've got less time than usual to peruse my suggestions and make someone close to you very happy with your selections - so the pressure's on. Some of these ideas will make prefect, seasonal stocking-stuffers, while others are the kind of completely over-the-top gift that says either, "I really love you," or "Sorry about the terrible present I gave you last year." Some are just fun for everyone... like this, for instance... 1. Laser Smart Gaming Projector To start with, I was very impressed with how much stuff was in the box. Not just the projector itself but a remote control, two wireless controllers and a large fabric screen, complete with stick-up hooks and a couple of lengths of rope to allow you to hang it up pretty much anywhere. All that for under NZ$400 - not bad. The second thing to impress me was how simple the plug-and-play setup was. All I had to do was insert batteries into the remote and controllers, plug the projector in and switch it on. I was surprised to see the projector find the screen and automatically adjust keystone perfectly with no input from me, other than to fine-tune the focus using the physical ring around the lens. There are 80 "Classic Retro" games pre-installed on this device, taking up next to no space on the included 64GB microSD card.  It's honestly like being back in an amusement arcade in the 80s. If you're looking for hours and hours of simple fun in a box, this is a package that's hard to go past. There's virtually no setup required and everything you need is in the box, including two pre-paired, wireless controllers. I think this is fantastic value, especially given the inclusion of the large, cloth screen and I reckon it'd make the perfect family gift come Christmas time. Click here for more information and pricing on the Laser Smart Gaming Projector. 2. Sony WH-1000XM6 The WH-1000XM6 takes everything the XM5 did so well and gives you much more - or much less, if you're talking about noise. The QN3 is Sony's latest HD noise cancelling processor and it uses an unbelievable twelve microphones to stop the outside world in its tracks, supposedly seven times faster than the previous generation. The result is close to perfect. From the outset, I can confidently claim these are the most effective noise cancelling headphones I've worn to date. The WH-1000XM6 still comes in Black, Midnight Blue and Platinum Silver. Platinum Silver still isn't silver, by the way. It's more of a beige, flesh-tone colour. Seems popular, whatever it is. The soft, squidgy ear cushions and headband are more comfy than ever and at just 255grams, you can wear these headphones all day with no problem. And I do. In fact, they're so good, I'm reluctant to take them off.      Click here for more information and pricing on the Sony WH-1000XM6 wireless noise cancelling headphones. 3. Apple iPhone Air The iPhone Air might just be the most significant iPhone since Steve Jobs showed off the first one back in 2007. The way Apple has pretty much started from scratch to come up with the world's thinnest phone is so much more groundbreaking than it seems to be getting credit for. Okay, at 5.6mm the iPhone Air is not actually thinner than a couple of folding phones out there (when they're unfolded) but for a conventional handset, this is definitely Apple's least conventional yet. It really is quite breathtaking when you see it and hold it for the first time - in fact, I've yet to meet anybody who wasn't impressed when I showed it to them. It's not just that it's noticeably thinner than other phones, at just 165 grams, it weighs almost nothing. It exudes sci-fi movie vibes - you know; when they pull out a wafer thin piece of glass and use it as a phone. For me, the biggest surprise of all is battery life. As part of its new host of accessories, Apple included a MagSafe Battery customised specifically to fit the iPhone Air. Inevitably, most of us assumed this meant the Air's battery life would be terrible and we'd need to supplement it with this magnetised external power supply. Except, I haven't had to use it. Not once. I love this phone. I didn't think I would. I loved the idea of it but when does a great, truly innovative idea like this ever work so well first time out of the gate? Kudos, Apple. You got me. Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple iPhone Air. 4. 360PRO Travel Water Flosser The 360PRO Travel Water Flosser takes everything I love about my 360PRO plug-in model and essentially manages to fit it all in my pocket - well... just about. It really is very compact - the main reason being 360PRO's ingenious extendable design. When not in use, the Travel Water Flosser simply slides down into its own water tank, which essentially means it's about half as long as it would be otherwise. There's a USB-C charging cable included in the box, with the charging port covered by a watertight cap when not plugged in. I'd like to be able to tell you how long a single charge lasts but it's been two weeks of using it at least once a day and I haven't had to recharge it yet. There's even a simple, soft travel case to keep everything in. Pop it in your bag, purse, satchel or suitcase and you'll never be caught out, desperately hunting for a toothpick. Technically, the 360PRO Travel Water Flosser isn't capable of blasting between your teeth with quite as much pressure as the Plug-In can - but I've been using it exclusively for a while now and I haven't noticed any lack of cleaning power. If anything, I've probably ended up with a better result because I've been using it more often. Ideally, you'd have the Plug-In in your bathroom and the Travel version on the road with you - and to be honest, at just NZ$99.00, adding the Travel Water Flosser to your defence against tooth decay really isn't all that extravagant.      Click here for more information and pricing on the 360PRO Tavel Water Flosser. 5. Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x  And it comes in a beautiful presentation box.  The latest Dyson Airwrap is called the Airwrap Co-anda 2x - and that box is just full of surprises. It's a large box, with a luxurious, soft-touch feel to it. Not only will it keep the new Airwrap and its associated accessories safe inside, the upturned lid becomes a velvet-covered beauty console, complete with a little stand for your smartphone. That's not so you can keep up-to-date with your social feeds. The idea is to pair with your new Airwrap Co-anda 2x via the MyDyson app. Not only will the app then serve you a selection of instructional videos on how to get the most out of your new styling toy, it will literally guide you, step by step, if that's what you need. The curling barrels are now straight cylinders, not cone-shaped as before. This means you can curl more hair at once, more evenly. And obviously, using the larger 40mm barrel means looser, more wave-like curls. There are two styling brushes; First, the round volumising brush 2x, to help you plump up your style without the frizz you'd encounter with old-fashioned teasing. Dyson has tapered the bristles so you can focus the brush's attention on one section of your hair at a time. Secondly, the anti-snag loop brush 2x let's you pull your style into shape without pulling uncomfortably on your scalp. It's all thanks to Dyson's clever little loop bristles. Because great hair shouldn't give you a headache. Before I started reviewing Dyson hair care products, I didn't know what a flyaway was. In fact, I'd never even heard of them. What an amateur! Now I'm experienced enough to know these are those rogue hairs that just won't fall in line with the rest, ruining your otherwise pristine do. Unless you use the Airsmooth2x attachment, of course. But it's the new fast dryer 2x that's caused the most comment, because it's just so damn good. The Dyson Hyperdymium 2 motor provides twice the air pressure - thus the 2x on the end of everything. That means you can now dry your hair faster than ever, still at tightly regulated temperatures to prevent any damage.      Click here for more information and pricing on the Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x. 6. WiZ HDMI Sync Box with TV Backlight, Gradient Light Bars and Gradient Floor Light TV backlighting is perhaps one of the more unnecessary bits of tech you can invest in. As much as I personally love it, it's certainly not something you need, especially given how much it can cost to set up - but this is a system that doesn't have to break the bank. I like the way the WiZ HDMI Sync Box comes packaged with the TV Backlight strip, complete with its own sticky backing or the option of some little sticky clips to hook the Backlight up with. Unfortunately, the TV I was sticking it to had a textured surface that the little hook things refused to stick to, so I had to go with the more permanent sticky backing on the light strip itself. While I chose to use the WiZ Gradient Light Bars to fill out the effect along the bottom of my TV, if the base of your telly is obscured by a giant soundbar or something similar, you may feel you only need the effect of the Backlight strip on its own. The Gradient Light Bars also come with two kinds of mounting stands. You can set them up horizontally, as I have in the video, or you you might want to stand them up vertically and move them further out to extend the backlighting effect on either side of your screen. A pair of WiZ Gradient Floor lights can take this either further to each side or, as I have in my case, you can use one or two to project synced lighting effects on the wall behind you - working in much the same way as surround-sound speakers do. As you'll see in my video, this works brilliantly and the immersive way the rear-projected effect brings you into any scene with fire or explosions is particularly convincing. Click here for more information on the WiZ HDMI Sync Box with TV Backlight, Gradient Light Bars and Gradient Floor Light. 7. Logitech MX Master 4 The Logitech MX Master 4 looks similar - but not exactly the same - as its predecessor. On close inspection, the surface is slightly grippier. The whole thumb rest is now a button, instead of having a tiny one set into it, and there is now a new button entirely, just in front of the forward and back ones. Other than that, ergonomically it feels very much the same. That is to say, it feels sublimely natural in my relaxed hand. The "skates" - the smooth patches on the base that ensure the mouse slides around as frictionlessly as possible - are much larger on the new model. The list of operations you can assign to each control seems to have grown exponentially over the years. From things like play/pausing media, opening favourite apps or taking screenshots, to setting off a dialogue with your preferred AI, here's not much that can't be put on a button and yes, that includes changing devices. In fact, if you have a compatible Logi keyboard like I do, you can transfer it over to the other device, along with the mouse, in one single click. And if the choice of eight buttons isn't enough, now Logitech has introduced Action Ring - an on-screen circle of eight more programmable options, another eight virtual buttons if you like. This is set to provide a haptic vibration when you hover over or select any option. Now, not only can I open my most commonly used folders with the touch of a button, I can also copy or paste with single click. I don't know about making my workflow a third faster, but it's definitely more efficient. And that's before you get to the fact this is just a great mouse to use; it feels super comfy, it's beautifully crafted, has excellent precision and can work on practically any surface - including glass. And have you heard how quiet the clicks are? No? Exactly.    Click here for more information and pricing on the Logitech MX Master 4. 8. Satechi FindAll Collection of Travel Accessories To be frank, I don't know if I've come across a Satechi accessory that hasn't impressed me; the manufacturing standard and high quality materials have rarely let me down, if ever. Why attach a tracker to your glasses case when the case can also BE the tracker? Why slip a tracker into your passport cover when the passport cover can itself be tracked? Get the idea? In fact, Satechi has kicked things off with five ingenious FindAll products; Passport Cover, Glasses Case, Luggage Tag, Keychain and a Card. Yup, just a plain old card, the size and shape of a credit card, which will slip much more comfortably into a wallet or purse than a disc will. The real magic behind each of these accessories is the built-in rechargeable battery, compatible with any Qi, Qi2 or MagSafe wireless charger. I've been using other trackers for quite some time - especially on the two things I always need to know exactly where they are; my keys and the access card for the building I work in. The discs attached to these items work well but I've been surprised how often I have to change the batteries. These are those flat, button batteries and usually they're exactly the wrong kind - when I go to replace them I invariably have every other model of battery in the garage drawer except the one I need. With the Satechi FindAll Collection, that's just not an issue. Pop any of them on any wireless charger and not only will they juice up surprisingly quickly, the charge lasts an amazingly long time - up to 5 months for the Passport Cover right up to 18 months for the FindAll Card. Simple, right? And the keychain is just cool (well, my one is because it's all black, including the keyring itself).All in all I was surprised how much these five simple objects appealed to my geeky brain. Not only easy to pair but quick and easy to charge up too. These are definitely the sort of "Why didn't I think of it?" devices that immediately become essential tools. If you're planning on travelling soon, they're certainly an elegant and stylish way to keep track of your stuff. Click here for more information on the Satechi FindAll Collection of travel accessories. 9. JBL Charge 6 and JBL Flip 7 In recent years JBL's Charge series of bluetooth speakers has been an affordable but effective way of taking your music with you without compromising too much in terms of big bass and genuine power. As for the Flip; as each generation has been released it's won over more and more fans until by now it must be one of the most purchased portable out there. The Charge 6 and Flip 7 are very similar devices - essentially the Charge 6 is a bigger, more powerful version of the Flip 7 with the added ability to charge connected devices via its USB-C port on the back. Being bigger, the Charge boasts a larger woofer and tweeter setup. The battery also lasts longer - you'll get up to 28 hours of playback as opposed to 16 on the Flip. The best thing to do is combine the both speakers using my favourite JBL feature; Auracast. That's not strictly accurate - Auracast is not specific to JBL although I haven't really seen it promoted by other manufacturers yet. Meanwhile, JBL is all-in and I've alreaady featured it in previous reviews. With a push of the Auracast button, you can stream from the same source via multiple speakers, as I demonstrate in the video below. One big advantage to this is if you have one large speaker with superior bass response, it'll compensate for any smaller devices you've connected via Auracast because bass frequencies are non-directional. At NZ$199.95 for the Flip 7 and only $30 more for the larger Charge 6, neither device will break the bank, although together, they may well shake the floorboards.     Click here for more information and pricing on the JBL Charge 6. Click here for more information and pricing on the JBL Flip 7. 10. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 The Z Fold7 is both bigger and considerably smaller - in all the right ways. The main display (unfolded) is now a full 8-inches - last year's was only 7.6. Because of that, the cover display has also expanded out to 6.5-inches but more importantly, it has a more familiar aspect ratio, no longer unnaturally tall and skinny in the hand. The even bigger headline is how slim Samsung has managed to make this thing; just 4.2mm when unfolded. It's lighter too; only 215 grams which means it amazingly now weighs slightly less than its S25 Ultra stablemate - and not much thicker, even when closed. Despite this incredible new slimness, there's a new feel of durability about the device - not only are the displays protected by some of the latest developments from Corning Gorilla Glass, Samsung has made the Armor Aluminium frame even tougher and has completely redesigned the all-important hinge mechanism, now rebranded as the Armor FlexHinge. It's only taken seven generations but now we have a 200MP wide camera, a 12MP ultra-wide and a 10MP telephoto module that really stands out - both figuratively and literally. This is a classic illustration of the reality check Samsung has given itself; Yes, you can have one of the thinnest phones ever - but if you want great photos and videos, you'll have to put up with a big camera module. That's just physics. And I'm pretty sure Fold fans will be fine with that compromise. If you've been an early-adopting Fold fan from the start, it's probably more because you saw the potential of the device rather than being super satisfied with the reality of those first few iterations. Now all of that potential has been realised, so it might be time to upgrade and start living the dream.      Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7. 11. Apple AirPods Pro 3 The Apple AirPods Pro 3 don't look wildly different to their predecessors but a close inspection reveals a slightly more elongated design that twists the ear-tip a little further into your ear canal. That may sound a little intrusive to you in-ear skeptics out there but trust me, these may actually be the most comfortable AirPods yet. That's not just because of the new shape. There's also an extra size of ear-tip included in the box, so now there are five sizes to choose from; XXS, XS, S, M and L. In even better news, instead of including a set of foam tips, as some other manufacturers do, Apple has opted to incorporate foam into the silicone tips themselves. Another interesting addition in the AirPods Pro 3 is the heart-rate sensor - which is great news for Apple exercisers who don't currently wear a Watch. I've read some very positive reports about the accuracy of having a sensor in each ear - enhanced even further if you do have an Apple Watch. AirPods Pro 3 are now rated IP57 for sweat and water resistance, making them the most durable AirPods to date. Add that secure, snug fit to the equation and they're pretty much the perfect workout option. The sound quality was already great. Now it's nearing perfection. The heart sensors are useful and the new physical design and foam-infused ear-tips provide one of the most secure, comfortable fits I've ever encountered. As for the ANC? I hope I've made it clear how good I think it is. Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple AirPods Pro 3. 12. Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is definitely not just a giant phone with worse specs.  For starters, it'd be a particularly giant phone, with a display that measures in at an unbelievable 14.6-inches. That's huge. When I got married (a million billion years ago) someone gave us a 14-inch TV for the bedroom. The Tab S11 Ultra is wider than that - especially given its cinematic 16:10 aspect ratio. The display itself is a magnificent, 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X with an anti-reflective surface - just like you might find on the latest flagship Samsung TVs. The toned-down reflection paired with a searing peak brightness of 1600 nits makes for fantastic viewing, whatever the lighting conditions. The Tab S11 Ultra is a mere 5.1mm thick (or thin). Think about that for a minute. That's a 14.6-inch display on a tablet slimmer than any non-folding phone on the market. Talk about jaw-dropping design. What's more, it feels perfectly rigid and robust in your hands - probably due to its enhanced Armor Aluminium chassis. It's even rated IP68 against water and dust. Only weighs in at 692grams, by the way. It's flagship fast and the screen is huge while the rest of it is super slim. Even the battery life is great. There's simply no way to mark this tablet down.     Click here for more information on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. Mon, 10 Nov 2025 23:42:17 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-fresh-temptations-in-singapore/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-fresh-temptations-in-singapore/ Singapore never fails to serve up an electrifying experience, constantly refreshing and enhancing its enticements. After paying my respects to Singapore’s beloved water-spout mascot, the Merlion, overlooking Marina Bay, I ventured over to the jaw-dropping botanical blockbuster of Gardens by the Bay, armed with my Go City Explorer Pass. Like being handed the keys to the city, you can take your pick from a feast of experiences, from food tours to big-bang attractions like Singapore Zoo and Gardens by the Bay. You’ll save up to 50% on sights and attractions with a Go City in over 25 destinations. To check out all available Go City experiences, and a pass to suit, head to gocity.com. Boasting over a million plants from 19,000 species, Gardens by the Bay is an architectural frenzy of aerial walkways, supersized steel trees and mega-conservatories. The giant domed cloud forest and flower conservatories engage all senses, tripping you across the planet’s botanical wonders. Jurassic World: The Experience has ramped up the escapist wonder of mist-shrouded Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay. The cinematic verve of the Jurassic World film franchise has added thrill-factor, with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs nestled within the landmark cooled conservatory.   Cloud Forest featuring Jurassic World. Photo / Gardens by the Bay Highlights include an awe-inspiring 8.5-metre-tall Brachiosaurus, and a face-to-face moment of fearsome intimacy with a Tyrannosaurus rex. While you’re there, keep an eye out tiny Compsognathus, or “Compys,” hidden throughout lush garden pathways. More than 72,000 plants thrive in Cloud Forest, with more than 50 species with lineages that can be traced back to the Jurassic period, such as ferns, cycads and conifers. These plants once thrived alongside dinosaurs and even served as food for them. Gardens by the Bay is also swooned over at nightfall with the Supertrees Grove unleashing an electrifying choreographed light and sound show. It’s a great appetiser for Marina Bay’s free nightly light and water theatrics, Spectra.  Take a stroll through Kampong Glam. Once the seat of Singapore’s first sultan, the neighbourhood's colourful shophouses are home to a jumble of cafes and boutiques wedged among decades-old perfumeries and fabric merchants. In 1989, the government moved to protect the heritage-heavy neighbourhood, gazetting Kampong Glam as one of Singapore’s first conservation areas — forever preserving its five-foot timber-shaded ways, pastel façades and verandas that drift from Arab Street to Baghdad Street to Haji Lane.   Bussorah Street, Kampong Glam. Photo / Supplied Nowadays, amid the district's transformation, it’s not unusual for the mosque's daily loudspeaker calls to blend with belted karaoke bar ballads drifting through the alleyways – a duet that perhaps sums up the spirit of this pocket-sized precinct. Two of my favourite spots? Situated on Bussorah Street, the award-winning. Beirut Grill plates mezze, charcoal-inflected shish taouk and lamb shanks beneath a view of the mosque’s golden domes. On Beach Road, the Coconut Club turns humble nasi lemak into coconut-perfumed rice, and slow-cooks marinated for 12 hours over charcoal chicken in a restored shophouse. A short stroll away on Kandahar Street, Cichetti slings supple, leopard-spotted Neapolitan pies and trattoria plates in one of the quarter’s most handsome rooms.  Thread the narrow seam of Haji Lane into your stroll. Once lodging for Haj pilgrims and brokers, Haji Lane is now a hipsters’ hotpot, with a riot of indie boutiques and cheerful wall art. Only a few metres across in sections, it’s reputedly one of Singapore’s tightest streets. Look up for old timber louvres, and down for tiled five-foot ways that kept traders shaded long before the advent of air con. If you’re strolling down Orchard Road and feeling peckish head straight to the venerated Food Opera dining court at Ion Orchard shopping centre. It has a trove of the city’s best food stalls – including hawkers who have been in business for half a century, like Sergeant Hainanese Chicken Rice and Thye Hong Fried Prawn Noodles.   Colour of Haji Lane. Photo / Supplied Italy has gelato, Singapore has the ice-cream sandwich. And Orchard Road is home to a couple of old-school street carts that have operated for more than 30 years. Expect local flavours such as durian, red bean, yam and sweet corn, spooned between wafer biscuits or slices of pillowy pandan bread. Need decaffeinating? Check out the super-cute and super-chic Ralph Lauren café, Ralph’s Coffee, on the corner of Orchard Ave and Scotts Road.  Singapore Zoo has long been regarded as one of the world’s best. It needs little introduction. But if you’re heading out there, add River Wonders to your wildlife journey, which is embraced by a Go City Explorer Pass. The two venues form part of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve and River Wonders mixes the entertainment factor with a strong focus on raising awareness about endangered species and protecting river ecosystems.  Highlights include the Mississippi River exhibit which transports you to heartland USA, complete with snapping alligators and frolicking turtles. The Amazon Flooded Forest is a showstopper, headlined by manatees. Their slow, graceful movements through the water had an almost therapeutic effect. But my favourite attraction was the Giant Pandas Forest – home to Kai Kai and Jia Jia. They seemingly work the crowd, posing for admirers like professional models. What a life they lead, lounging around and happily chomping down on bamboo. So calm, so serene, and drop dead gorgeous.  Giant Pandas at River Wonders. Photo / Supplied A truly great hotel needs to feel like home, a place you’re not only reluctant to leave but one that you could happily move into. If you’re Singapore-bound, let The Fullerton sprinkle its stardust on you, where location, service, style and soul are all immediately apparent. Despite nearing its centenary, the Fullerton building, retains its classic allure in a highly connected world. Taking a stroll along the Singapore River at night, the building which originally served as the General Post Office before becoming an iconic hotel, glistens like a wedding-cake on the waterfront. With its stately Doric columns, coffered ceilings and cornices, this masterpiece of neo-classical architecture was the largest structure ever built in Singapore, 97 years ago. This showpiece hotel is anything but pickled – it hums with a playful buzz. After being chauffeured from the airport in the hotel limousine, I was whisked straight to my room, where the sign-in formalities were swiftly attended to.   Fullerton Hotel, Singapore. Photo / Supplied Stylish and soothing and with a ringside seat on the waterfront, my spacious Marina Bay suite with terrace was the meticulous blend of heritage, luxury and comfort, with a cream and caramel colour palette, heavenly bedding, sumptuous bathroom loaded with Diptyque toiletries, Nespresso coffee and fresh tropical fruit, delivered daily. But to step out onto that expansive terrace for the dazzling view across Marina Bay is worth waking up to – and staying up late to revel in the lights. Push the boat out and enjoy access to the Straits Club, for a plethora of indulgences including a classic afternoon with freshly baked scones, and a lavish nightly selection of sublime canapes and cocktails.   Mike and the lights of Marina Bay. Photo / Mike Yardley  After an early morning stretch of the legs on the riverside trail, I was ready to retox with a champagne breakfast, where a lip-smacking buffet of assorted goodies, strung across pedestals, complemented the eggs benedict, I ordered off the a la carte menu. Other headline dining experiences include Town Restaurant, which offers a sublime Spice Odyssey buffet dinner extravaganza. There’s a stack of seafood on ice like baby crawfish, scallops, prawns, clams and black mussels. Don’t miss the ghost pepper buffalo wings with blue cheese aioli, or the Masala fish curry.   Town’s Signature Laksa is absolutely sensational – a fusion of lobster balls, purple scallops, quail eggs, fishcakes and beansprouts. The array of options is head-swirling, but you must reserve some belly room for dessert. Their cakes are like gifts for the gods, running the gamut from ondeh-ondeh cake and raspberry lychee bandung to pistachio joconde and chocolate chiffon cake. I also treated myself to a superlative three-tier English afternoon tea at The Courtyard. Artfully executed finger food included burrata cheese and parma ham sando; smoked salmon tarte, caramel banana mousse; black forest choux and strawberry pistachio tarte.  Afternoon tea at the Fullerton. Photo / Mike Yardley The atmospheric Post Bar is another alluring spot – an effervescent haunt for mingling and mixology. If you’re partaking in some cheeky nightcaps, don’t forget to enjoy the signature Merlion Cocktail – a tequila-based drink with honey ginger syrup. After a long-haul flight, my body was gagging to be pressed for pleasure. In the dimmed light of The Fullerton Spa, I savoured a 90 minute signature Asian Heritage massage, which is intensively applied. My limbs felt so relaxed, I felt as if I might levitate after having so many kinks ironed out from my travel-weary body. Across the hotel, staff are unfailingly obliging and engaging, catering to your every whim, including sharing with you a plethora of heritage nuggets and anecdotes, that permeate the building.   Take time to immerse yourself in the Heritage Gallery, which offers so many charming insights on the importance role this building has played in the Singapore narrative.  But within this jewel-box of hospitality, my runaway favourite haven was the knock-out infinity pool lording over the Singapore River, backed by the statuesque grandeur of those Aberdeen granite pillars, and flanked by loungers. Every time I called by for a restorative dip, it took an age to tear myself away from this insatiable happy place. fullertonhotels.com  I jetted my way to Singapore with the award-winning flag-carrier, Singapore Airlines. All of my flights ran to time, all checked bags were faithfully waiting for me on the carousel and the in-flight experience was impeccable. The illustrious full-service carrier has not only fostered a world-beating reputation for its exceptional customer service and in-flight product, but also its innovation, across all classes. You’d struggle to find a better Economy class experience in the skies.  Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines. Photo / Singapore Airlines  If you’re toying with upgrading to Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines, you’re absolutely in for a treat. The KrisWorld entertainment system brims with over 1000 movie, TV, music and gaming selections, plus live news and sport. Equipped with noise cancelling headphones, the high-definition touch screen monitors are supersized at 33cms, from which I devoured so much content. The in-flight WiFi worked a trick too – complimentary for KrisFlyer members. It’s a class of its own. singaporeair.com  Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.  Fri, 07 Nov 2025 23:51:49 Z /lifestyle/technology/laser-7-inch-portable-carplay-android-auto-touchscreen-instantly-upgrade-your-cars-console/ /lifestyle/technology/laser-7-inch-portable-carplay-android-auto-touchscreen-instantly-upgrade-your-cars-console/ When you think about it, other than the move to hybrid and electric, cars haven't really changed that much over the years. Obviously, there have been many constant improvements along the way, enhancing things like passenger comfort, levelling up performance and economy with what's under the hood and changing the aesthetics, both inside and out, to suit whatever look is trending at the time. But at the end of the day, I reckon you could take a driver from the 1950s, put them in a modern car, and they'd figure out how to make it go without too much difficulty. One thing that's definitely new, though, is the advent of the car infotainment system. These days, you can access almost everything on your connected smartphone from your dashboard, via CarPlay or Android Auto - from maps and weather information, to streaming services and even your virtual assistant. That's assuming your car HAS Android Auto or CarPlay. If not, have I got the device for you... The Laser 7-inch Portable CarPlay / Android Auto Touchscreen brings all that functionality to your car - and all your car needs is a charging port and a radio. The idea is simple, really; just because your car didn't come with a fancy touchscreen doesn't mean you can't add one. What can be even more frustrating is if your car DOES have a fancy touchscreen, but doesn't have CarPlay or Android Auto - or if it does, you have to connect using a cable every time. Domestic Manager drives a 2019 Toyota Rav 4 - quite a late-model automobile, but apparently not quite late enough to have the latest connectivity options. Yes, it has a large touchscreen infotainment system, but it's only of limited use because the GPS map option hasn't been updated for six years - so we often find ourselves driving in the middle of nowhere on roads that didn't exist in 2019. That's where the Laser 7-inch Touchscreen comes in. Apart from the screen itself, there's a car charger cable, a 3.5mm AUX cable and a high-quality, versatile mounting arm all in the box. The jointed and extendable mount attaches with a suction cup for the windscreen, and I've found this extremely stable. The cables are both a decent length, so you can probably find a way to run them over or through your console so you don't end up with too much of a visible tangle. Setup is as easy as pairing your phone's Bluetooth - the device will then figure out if it's an iPhone (for CarPlay) or an Android (for Android Auto) and fire up the appropriate homescreen. Before it does, there is a generic home screen with a few icons and a clock, but you're not likely to spend much time looking at this so I wouldn't bother setting that clock - especially since it resets every time you turn your car off. However, there are a few settings that might come in handy via that initial screen during setup. There's a fairly well-appointed EQ app - probably unnecessary given your car stereo is likely to have its own EQ. If you're playing music from an SD card (which I've never actually heard of anyone doing) you can search that card from here too. The most useful thing is the radio transmitter function - which is one way you can connect to your car's stereo. The simple interface shows a selection of pre-set frequencies, or you can choose your own manually in order to find one that isn't already in use by an actual radio station. This works surprisingly well and is obviously a great option if your car doesn't have an AUX in port. The only downsides are you might have to change frequencies on long trips to avoid any region-specific interference and your car stereo will blast static at you for a few seconds when you first start up while the screen is booting. The best option is to connect via the aforementioned AUX cable. In just a few seconds, the screen boots up, connects to your phone, flicks straight into CarPlay or Android Auto (depending what kind of phone you're using) and will start playing your music or podcasts right where you left off. At this point, you now have enabled complete smart-screen capability in your vehicle, with touch-screen access to navigation apps like Waze, Google Maps or Apple Maps, not to mention streaming apps such as Spotify, Apple Music or Tidal.  Enjoy the safety and convenience of hands-free messaging via WhatsApp, SMS or Messenger, or just ask Siri or Gemini to make a call. There's even a slightly less-safe option; you can stream content from your phone via AirPlay or Miracast, which is definitely not a feature you'll find in factory-fitted smart screens. Obviously, this is for passengers' use only and you should definitely not be watching the cricket while you drive. Believe it or not, you don't even need a stereo at all. The screen has its own built-in speakers and they're not terrible - which is just as well because although I assumed they would be muted when the AUX cable is plugged in, not so, as you'll see me demonstrate in the video below. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, my motto has always been the more speakers, the better. Besides, your car stereo speakers are much more powerful and you probably won't even notice if you have the volume on the screen set to about half. That one minor anomaly aside, I've been pretty impressed with this device. Setup is easy. The power and AUX leads are long enough to ensure a tidy installation and the windscreen mount is probably the best I've ever seen. For around NZ$200.00, this might just be the most cost-effective upgrade your car ever had.      Click here for more information and pricing on the Laser 7 Inch Portable CarPlay Android Auto Touchscreen. Fri, 07 Nov 2025 01:20:05 Z /lifestyle/technology/oppo-find-x9-pro-a-strong-case-for-phone-of-the-year/ /lifestyle/technology/oppo-find-x9-pro-a-strong-case-for-phone-of-the-year/ This may come as a surprise to some of you, but there are more than two makes of phone out there. I have to keep reminding myself that a lot of people still don't really realise that. Or if they do, they certainly have never considered buying one of those "other" phones for themselves. If you're one of those people, this review is for you. I'm not trying to patronise you. Far from it. Today, I'm here to educate you about a new phone that is quite simply, factually, better than any other phone in many ways. As the telemarketer once said, "I'm not trying to sell you anything." I just thought you might be interested. For a while now, it's been Oppo's strategy to try and own the final flagship phone launch of the year. Last year, the Find X8 Pro turned a lot of heads with its unique design and premium performance. While I was reviewing it, I had more than one person stop me and ask me what kind of phone it was. I just told them, "A great one." So even if the 2025 Find X Pro ended up being a predictable, iterative upgrade, I had every confidence it would still be a pleasure to unbox and use. Well, despite a lot of pre-launch leaks, teasers and hype, the Find X9 Pro has pretty much blown my mind. Let's begin with how it looks; very different this year. The Hasselblad camera module is no longer a wide circle, with four lenses, set in the middle of the back panel. Instead we now have an asymmetrical bump pushed to the upper left-hand corner. Oppo claims this allows for a more natural grip on the phone, now that you don't have to worry about your index finger obscuring any of the lenses. Of which there only appear to be three now - but we'll get to that. The Find X9 Pro comes in just two colours in New Zealand; Titanium Charcoal and Silk White - both have an attractive, metallic sheen under the tough Corning Gorilla Glass, while still maintaining a matte, fingerprint-resistant surface. Unfortunately we don't seem to be getting the Velvet Red option that's available in some markets. Meanwhile, the 6.78-inch display is protected by even tougher Gorilla Glass; Victus 2. The handset also carries IP66, IP68 and IP69 ratings against dust and water - even hot water and high-pressure water. I haven't tried using it in the shower, but it would probably survive. There are new buttons - the Snap Button, which is a customisable shortcut key that can be set to launch tools like Do Not Disturb or turn the Torch on and off. Alternatively, it can fire off AI Mind Space, which is sort of Oppo's gateway to Google Gemini. A short press takes a quick screenshot for Gemini to analyse if required. A long press let's you save a voice note and a double press opens Mind Space to show you all the info it's collated - useful for planning your calendar or remembering that show your colleague said you should watch. On the other side there's now a Quick Button, for more tactile control of the camera. This not only opens the camera app with a double press, but can also be used to click off photos, you can hold it down for continuous burst shots or swipe it with your finger to zoom in and out. Which you may well want to do because the telephoto lens is part of the big news with the Find X9 Pro. The camera array is somewhat confusing to a non-photography aficionado like me - it's described as a triple-lens setup, even thought when you dig into the specs, there's definitely a fourth sensor; the True Colour Camera which is claimed to be an "industry first" 8-channel spectral sensor that effectively ensures the colours you capture are as you see them with your own eyes. If it's clever colours you're looking for, check out the sunset examples I show in the video below. There's a redesigned 50MP Ultra XDR main shooter, which performs particularly well in low light and the 15mm Ultra-Wide camera provides very consistent tone and colour. Then there's this 200MP Telephoto lens. I'll never forget when Oppo introduced the first periscope telephoto camera back in 2017. They thought outside the box to fit a bigger optical zoom INSIDE the box. Now, in collaboration with Hasselblad, they've blimmin well done it again. The new sensor is huge and the Hi-Res shooting unlocks a world of options when it comes to editing both photos and video. Just look at these two shots, both taken from exactly the same spot... You don't get long distance detail like that on any other phone camera I've ever used.  Video quality is incredible, obviously. You can shoot 4K at 120fps from the rear camera and there's a quad-mic system that effectively lets you capture your own surround sound footage. Something else you don't get on any other phone is a 7,500mAh battery, which is probably why the Find X9 Pro is noticeably heavier than last year's flagship. I'm thinking a few grams extra is a price a lot of people will be prepared to pay for the unbelievable battery life on offer here. Oppo says you'll get through two days on a single charge. That's not what I found. I got through three. The massive Silicon-Carbon cell never raises a sweat - and can be charged super fast with the 80W SuperVOOC charger included in the box. What's more, with the right charger, you can juice this phone up wirelessly at 50W - significantly faster than many other flagships' wired rates. What a phone. There's so many other things about this phone that make it unique and awesome, but we haven't got all day. From little things, like the fastest, most reliable under-display fingerprint reader I've ever used, to more important things, like the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chip, the 16GB of RAM and the advanced vapour cooling chamber that keeps this thing running like a Swiss watch. It even pairs with my Oppo Enco X3i earbuds better - they stay connected all the way from the other side of the house! If I'm starting to sound manic, it's because this really is one of the best phones you can buy in New Zealand today - but I'm just not sure how many people know that.  At least now YOU know that and I can finish my glass of water and calm myself down.      Click here for more information and pricing on the Oppo Find X9 Pro. Thu, 06 Nov 2025 20:40:30 Z /lifestyle/duchess-of-sussex-meghan-markle-makes-acting-comeback-alongside-brie-larson-and-lilly-collins/ /lifestyle/duchess-of-sussex-meghan-markle-makes-acting-comeback-alongside-brie-larson-and-lilly-collins/ Meghan Markle is reportedly returning to Hollywood after quitting acting eight years ago following her engagement to Prince Harry. British newspaper the Sun reports the Duchess of Sussex will be playing herself in Close Personal Friends, a film to be produced by Amazon MGM Studios. “This is a massive moment for Meghan and signifies a return to doing what she truly loves,” a source is quoted as saying. After being “swamped” with role offers, the source told the Sun, “this one felt right”. “It’s Meghan’s way of gently putting her toe back in the water and seeing how she enjoys being back on set.” Prince Harry is reportedly “supportive” of the career move, wanting his wife “to do whatever brings her joy”. A source told People magazine the 44-year-old Duchess would be playing only “a small part” alongside Lily Collins, Brie Larson, Henry Golding, and Jack Quaid. She reportedly appeared to be “very relaxed and happy” on set in Los Angeles today. Few details are known about the film’s plot, but it is said to be about a normal couple who befriend a celebrity couple. Meghan Markle played Rachel Zane for seven years on the legal drama Suits. Photo / Ian Watson, USA Network, NBCU Photo Ban, NBCUniversal via Getty Images The former Suits actress starred on the legal drama for seven years, playing Rachel Zane, the love interest of the show’s lead character, Mike Ross. USA Network released a statement when her engagement to Prince Harry was announced, giving their congratulations and signalling the end of her time on the series, Page Six reports. “Meghan has been a member of our family for seven years, and it has been a joy to work with her. We want to thank her for her undeniable passion and dedication to Suits, and we wish her the very best.” The show continued for two more seasons after her departure before ending in 2019. But according to Britain’s Daily Mail, biographer Tom Bower claims she was already to be written off that year amidst the growing buzz around her high-profile relationship with the royal. Her agent, Nick Collins, told Bower the former actress was faced with dwindling career prospects before her engagement. “No film producer was offering her any major roles and no serious Hollywood director spoke about featuring Meghan in his movie or TV series”, he said. “Just as she feared, her acting career was stymied. Her income after 2017 would plummet.” She previously expressed she “sometimes” misses her former career on the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast, the Telegraph reports. Explaining she couldn’t tell production members she was leaving Suits during her last season, Meghan said she wasn’t able to have a leaving party. “I couldn’t say my goodbyes ... If my crew’s watching, I miss you guys. I wish I could have said bye.” Thu, 06 Nov 2025 01:49:45 Z /lifestyle/technology/hyperx-cloud-alpha-2-and-hp-omen-max-16-lose-yourself-in-a-world-of-gaming/ /lifestyle/technology/hyperx-cloud-alpha-2-and-hp-omen-max-16-lose-yourself-in-a-world-of-gaming/ I'm constantly confounded by people who game. How do they find the time? Don't get me wrong, I love gaming. But it's not really something you can do for half-an-hour during your lunch break. For most games, if you're going to make it past the first training level, you'll need to invest hours, not minutes. So it stands to reason you should be prepared to invest in the best gear to play the game with too. Given we still haven't achieved the Tron-like ability to literally become part of the game, what are the tools currently available to get us as close to that as possible? Pairing the HP Omen Max 16 with the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 might be a good place to start. If you've ever wondered what eight or nine-thousand dollars buys you in terms of a gaming laptop, you could do a lot worse than the HP Omen Max 16. Obviously, there are few different configurations around but my review unit features an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 dedicated GPU, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD hard drive. If you know anything about the latest standards of PC tech, you'll know all that sounds like a pretty solid base to build something fairly special around, and that's certainly what HP has done here. This is perhaps the most specced-out laptop I've ever reviewed. Yes, it's big and yes, it's fairly heavy but it's actually not as brutishly ugly as I was expecting. The large, 16-inch display is set into a surprisingly slim lid, which closes to a stylishly tapered front edge, giving the impression of a much thinner device - from the user's end anyway. Around the back, things are a bit chunkier - plenty of ventilation and some useful ports; 10/100/1000/2500 GbE LAN for ultra-fast, hardwired connectivity, an HDMI socket for an external display and a USB Type-A port. There's another USB-A on the right side and two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C options on the left. The power supply IS a brute; a 330W brick that might even be heavier than an actual brick. You'll need to lug it around with you if you're planning on taking the Omen Max 16 anywhere - nothing else is really going to keep it charged when you start gaming, despite HP's rather optimistic claims of extended battery life. I'm sure you'll manage many hours on battery alone if all you're doing is browsing and checking a few emails - but if that's what you're planning, this is not the computer you require. Fire this puppy up and as usual for an HP device, you'll be confronted with the standard double-up (or even triple-up) of configuration and settings apps. Between HP Support Assistant, HP Hardware Diagnostics and HP Smart, there's no excuse for not keeping any of your drivers up to date. In fact, because this is an Omen, you have the even more comprehensive Omen Gaming Hub pre-installed, which essentially blows all those other apps out of the water. This is where you can customise absolutely everything, from the keyboard backlighting to the speed of the fans. You can even get those fans to clean themselves by running them backwards. If you're an experienced gaming uber-nerd, you can literally tweak every component. If, like me, you just want the games to look good and keep running with no drop in performance, you can click a button labelled "Unleashed Mode." At that point, you'll definitely start to hear those fans but your game will load nice and fast and that immersive experience we were dreaming of in the intro kicks into high gear. The illusion of being inside the game is enhanced by that big, 2.5K OLED display - complete with 240Hz refresh rate, which I didn't even realise was a thing. My one criticism of the screen is it's very glossy - so reflections can be an issue. That clever anti-reflection tech everyone's using on TVs and monitors these days seems to be taking a while to make it onto laptop screens. The keyboard is rewardingly tactile, with RGB backlighting you can control with the Omen Gaming Hub app. The keys are nicely spaced out - for the most part - and as nice as it is to have a full number pad on the right-hand side, that's where things get a bit cramped and I keep pushing NumberLock instead of BackSpace as I type. The HyperX dual speaker setup is powerful enough, although I might have expected a quad-system on a device in this price bracket. The Windows Hello camera does a nice job too, as you'll see me demonstrate in the video below. Speaking of HyperX, let's plug in the Cloud Alpha 2 headset and see how that stacks up. Wait, did I say, "Plug in?" Why would I plug in a wireless headset? Because this one comes with its own RGB base station, with a big, friendly dial for easy, no-look access to volume controls and six big, reprogrammable buttons. Essentially, the base station replaces the 2.4GHz dongle other headsets use and saves you the bother of having to memorise exactly which controls do what on the earcups themselves. The buttons can be set to act as media controls, they can swap what the dial controls between mic, headphone and chat levels and there are several totally new features on the way. That's right; Cloud Alpha 2 is so new, HyperX hasn't finished yet. To adjust the settings, you'll need to download the new NGENUITY Beta app. There you'll see functions like app launches and programmable macros are still "Works In Progress." Ultimately, what that means is you should be able to create your own macros of certain key combinations you use all the time and add those to the buttons on the base station. To be honest, I'm not sure I really need yet another console on my desk - especially one that doesn't yet have all the functionality it was designed for. But I get how convenient it is to have those controls sitting right there in front of you, rather than having to fiddle about with buttons on the headset you can't actually see while you're playing. As I expected, from my previous experience with HyperX headsets, the Cloud Alpha 2 is extremely well built - both durable and comfortable. And its performance when gaming has been stellar so far - accurate reproduction of music, effects and dialogue, with plenty of space for each element. Indeed, although Spatial Audio is another feature still in development, the surround sound effects are already top notch. I've found this multi-directional soundscape to be very useful when it comes to avoiding attacks from behind and finding contacts lurking down dark alleyways. The mic quality is exceptional - definitely up to podcast standard. What's more, if you find the boom mic too intrusive, you can simply unplug it and rely on the built-in mics instead. One other interesting feature is the Cloud Alpha 2 can pair to a bluetooth source, even while connected via the 2.4GHz base station. This means you can turn off the music on your game and listen to your preferred playlist from your phone instead. Not a bad option when you consider some of the rubbish game designers like to assault you with - especially in racing games. I'm starting to regret my decision to combine these two excellent devices into one review - I could go on and on about either of them. But the fact is, they truly are the ideal combination to bring your gaming library to life. Between the comfort, desktop control and 3D soundscape of the Cloud Alpha2 and the fantastic 16-inch display of the Omen Max - not to mention the raw power of its high-spec chip and GPU - you could be well on the way to that fully immersive gaming experience you know you deserve.          Click here for more information and pricing on the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2.  Click here for more information and pricing on the HP Omen Max 16. Wed, 05 Nov 2025 23:49:32 Z /lifestyle/tourism-new-zealand-invests-63m-to-bring-michelin-guide-to-local-restaurants/ /lifestyle/tourism-new-zealand-invests-63m-to-bring-michelin-guide-to-local-restaurants/ Tourism New Zealand is spending $6.3 million to bring the Michelin Guide – the world’s most famous restaurant ranking system – to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.  Inspectors have been dining here anonymously for more than a year with the first local edition of the guide due for release on June 4 next year.  An estimated 36,000 more international visitors could result from the guide’s move into New Zealand, Louise Upston, Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, said today.  Created in 1900 by a French tyre company and now covering almost 50 destinations, the Michelin Guide (and its infamous star ratings) has never had a presence in Oceania.  “When we see real maturity and vibrancy in a country’s restaurant landscape, we begin to invest more resources,” said Gwendal Poullennec, the guide’s international director.  “That’s been the case for New Zealand over the past few years. More than a year ago, we decided to move forward with the project – dedicating a full team to assess the quality of restaurants and bringing in additional expertise.”  Tourism New Zealand has confirmed an initial three-year partnership with Michelin Guide. It has committed $2.5m in the current financial year, including $1.9m drawn from the International Visitor Levy. A further $3.8m from that levy will be spent over the following two financial years. This year’s allocation represents just under 2% of the Crown entity’s total planned annual spend of $130m.  The notoriously secretive Michelin organisation would not confirm how many inspectors were travelling to New Zealand, how many might be based locally, or how many restaurants were being assessed.  Latest data from the Restaurant Association of New Zealand shows that of the country’s approximately 20,000 hospitality outlets, some 12,783 are based in the regions that will be covered by the new guide – 7785 in Auckland, 2556 in Canterbury, 2058 in Wellington and 384 in Queenstown-Lakes.  The Michelin Guide logo stamps a presence on the New Zealand landscape ahead of the restaurant ranking system's expansion into Oceania.  “Inspectors typically review far more restaurants than those ultimately featured,” said Poullennec. “Being listed in the guide in itself is an accomplishment. Then, being awarded a star, it’s another level. A world-class recognition.”  Poullennec told the Herald early feedback from inspectors noted the country’s restaurants had a “distinctive flavour – something to offer to world culinary culture”.  “Local influences, based on local culture, indigenous cultures. But also the local produce, the local know-hows. And at Michelin Guide we do very much value authenticity.”  Poullennec said, internationally, 82% of restaurants that had made the guide reported increased profits.  “That does not mean they will increase their price, but that they will get more customers, and that sometimes they will get customers who are high spenders. They will spend more on wine, which I also think is one of the assets of the [New Zealand] destination. Then you have a ripple effect ... hospitality, travel, produce.”  Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide.  While stars are the most coveted distinction in the Michelin Guide, there are no guarantees any will be awarded in New Zealand.  Currently, just 157 restaurants worldwide hold three-star status, denoting exceptional cuisine worth a special journey.  Another 514 have two stars (“excellent cooking”) and 3060 hold one star (“high-quality cooking”). A further 3458 have Bib Gourmand status, recognising good quality food at a moderate price.  Outside those distinctions, it’s still possible to make the Michelin “selection”, which recognises establishments with good-quality ingredients that are well cooked.  Poullennec said inspectors would make multiple visits to restaurants, sometimes just days before the release of the guide’s final selection. Meals were assessed across five criteria: quality of ingredients, mastery of cooking techniques, harmony of flavours, personality of cuisine and consistency both over time and across the menu.  “We have a ‘no quota’ approach,” said Poullennec. “And from year one to year two, it’s always a new game ... many destinations, in year one, do not have a restaurant at three-star level. It’s thought the Michelin Guide can play a role as a catalyst ... it’s fostering the elevation, it’s pushing the restaurant to elevate their game.”  Tourism New Zealand chief executive Rene de Monchy said the specifics of the three-year deal were “commercially sensitive” but he confirmed the $6.3m would pay for the restaurant assessment and selection process, promotional activity with Michelin, and the promotion of New Zealand’s hospitality sector within key tourism markets.  TNZ research showed that high-quality food and culinary experiences were an important consideration for 85% of potential travellers from key markets like the United States, China and India.  “And then, talking about the guide specifically, more than 80% of ‘active considerers’ [travellers with the means and desire to visit in the next three years] said they would consider New Zealand more if Michelin was available here.”  The Michelin Guide does not operate in Australia.  At a hospitality summit held last December in Wellington, local operators called on the Government to invest in bringing the guide to New Zealand, potentially entering into negotiations with the Australian Government to share costs.  However, de Monchy said no consideration had been given to a transtasman approach.  “We didn’t talk to Australia about this. In fact, it will be quite good that people will have to come to New Zealand if they want [to experience] Michelin in Oceania – including Australians. It’s a great opportunity for them to jump across the Ditch and enjoy our award-winning restaurants here.  A Michelin connection gives New Zealand ”a world-renowned hook”, de Monchy said.  The initial three-year partnership was “a good amount of time to firstly see what restaurants are awarded at what level and for us to assess what impact that is having”, de Monchy said.  “We’d certainly be looking to extend that period of time.”  While New Zealand had been on Michelin’s radar for some years, discussions became more serious after hype around last winter’s “star-grazing” campaign.  “We hosted food writers and influencers from around the world at a beautiful dinner at Castle Hill in Canterbury. And, actually, the whole premise of that was to come and enjoy our fantastic food and wine in our off-season. ‘Michelin doesn’t come here, but we’ve got a billion of our own stars in the dark skies’ – and that piqued Michelin’s interest,” de Monchy said.  Tourism New Zealand spent around $1.4m on that campaign, centred on a one-night-only, midwinter pop-up restaurant called Pou-o-Kai.  Auckland-based chef Ben Bayly’s menu included pāua pie and crayfish on the half shell with blue cod mousseline, served to 50 international food media, “tastemakers” and social media influencers, many of whom were then assisted to travel for culinary experiences beyond Canterbury.  九一星空无限 of the Michelin expansion into New Zealand was kept under tight wraps until this morning. De Monchy said although no territorial local authorities had been asked to contribute financially to the partnership, “under non-disclosure agreements, we have spoken to those four regions and told them this work is under way and we’re looking, certainly, to work with them to promote any awards that may be given”.  Criticisms of the Michelin rating system have included fears that it places undue pressure on chefs to gain and retain stars.  But last year, chef Nick Honeyman, who co-owns Auckland restaurant Paris Butter and the one-star restaurant Le Petit Leon in the south of France, told the Herald that while local guides were “top-notch”, the Michelin star was world-renowned.  “All chefs and restaurants in New Zealand deserve to experience the power of the guide. It would be like telling our Commonwealth Games athletes that they can’t compete in the Olympics even if they were good enough.”  Kim Knight joined the New Zealand Herald in 2016 and is a senior reporter on its lifestyle desk. She is a former restaurant critic and holds a Master’s in Gastronomy from AUT.  Wed, 05 Nov 2025 19:46:12 Z /lifestyle/technology/dreame-aqua10-ultra-track-s-now-this-is-technology/ /lifestyle/technology/dreame-aqua10-ultra-track-s-now-this-is-technology/ If you ever needed an example of how far we've evolved as a species, look no further than the robot vacuum. Of all the gadgets I've reviewed over the years, I honestly believe the robot vacuum is one of the most significant. And I've reviewed electric cars. Sure, cars are clever - but I've never seen one automatically detect what kind of road it's driving on so it can clean that road accordingly. Oh... and then clean ITSELF when it gets back to its garage. So I admit, up until now, I've given robot vacs a bit of leeway. Given they haven't even been able to come up with a reliable self-driving car yet, I was prepared to ignore a few minor shortcomings, vacuum-wise, as long as the job got done in the end. Well, today there are no holds barred. Going easy, just because it's complex technology, is no longer acceptable. That's because I've found a robot vacuum that gets almost everything right. Almost. The Aqua10 Ultra Track S from Dreame (pronounced, "Dree-Mee") is an extremely solid piece of kit. I'm not meaning it's well-built and reliable - although that certainly seems to be the case. No, I mean the device itself is fairly large and relatively heavy. There's a good reason; there's an awful lot going on under the hood, which we'll come to soon enough. By comparison, the PowerDock (base station) is really quite compact and better still, it got the aesthetic thumbs-up from Domestic Manager. She approved of its subtle, elegant style - including the marble-like front panel. Definitely preferable to being able to see a couple of water tanks - one dirty - or a half-full bin of hair and dust. It may seem superficial but in my house, the most logical place to position the PowerDock is right in the middle of our open-plan living area, so it needs to look at least a bit nice. Below that stylish upper facade, is an oddly removable access panel. I say, odd because it comes off completely - it's not hinged and it doesn't slide out like a drawer. Behind it, you'll find the dust bag the Aqua10 Ultra Track S empties itself into and a compartment containing tanks for cleaning solution and pet odour solution. This is my least favourite thing about robot vacuums and it's no exception this time; there are a lot of consumables involved. While it's true traditional vacuums might still require replacement dust bags and perhaps a filter clean every now and then, not many of us would be happy if we had to regularly change out brushes and rollers. You also don't usually add cleaning solution or deodorisers to your vacuum - but that's not quite the same thing, because when you hand-mop a floor, you generally do add some kind of household cleaner to the bucket. I'm uncertain how long it will take to fill the 3.2-litre dust bag - I've only been using the Aqua10 Ultra Track S for a few weeks - and at least there's a second bag included in the box. Perhaps the next generation will feature a bagless dustbin? As for the brushes, I think I've got a lot less to worry about in terms of replacement. This is the first Dreame device I've tried so I'm not sure if some of the technology on offer here is completely new, or just new to me. In saying that, the detangling DuoBrush beats any other system I've ever seen, certainly on a robot vacuum, because guess what? It actually does what it claims; it stays tangle-free. I know that sounds silly but I've seen a lot of hype about being able to suck up hair etc. and before now, few if any lived up to that hype. Dreame includes a fantastic multi-tool/cleaning brush in the box with a bladed hook on one end. I assumed this was going to come in handy as I struggled to free the brushes from the usual wads of long hair every other vacuum gets clogged up with at my house, thanks to its other long-haired inhabitants. But no. After several full runs, not one single hair has managed to wrap itself around either of the two counter-spinning brush rollers. That's incredible. While we're taking a look underneath the Aqua10 Ultra Track S, let's check out the mop. The TrackSync system is also revolutionary to me. I'm used to either two rotating discs or a roller, much like a paint roller. Both options usually do a pretty good job, unless there's something particularly sticky or greasy on the floor. The TrackSync mopping system works more like a belt-sander, with the mop pad running over two smaller rollers, meaning much more surface area in constant contact with your hard floors. This also seems to result in more even water distribution, with hardly any drips or wet patches left behind, so floors are dry enough to walk on almost immediately. In fact, Dreame has put an awful lot of thought into how much water is used and how hot it should be. The mop pad is constantly being sprayed through 24 nozzles by water heated to 45° - this, combined with the automatically measured cleaning solution, breaks down those greasy marks in no time and the Aqua10 Ultra Track S is smart enough to detect the more stubborn messes and will go back for a re-mop if necessary. The water temperature goes all the way up to 100° back at the PowerDock, when it's time to clean the mopping pad itself. After which, 50° heated air dries everything out, ensuring no lingering, post-clean smells. As you'll see in the video below, this is very effective. Stains aren't the only things this robot can detect, of course. Dreame's OmniSight system uses not one, but two HD AI cameras to first create an extremely accurate map of your home before setting about cleaning it, without getting tangled up in loose cords, curtains or just about anything else. That binocular vision seems to give the Aqua10 Ultra Track S a better sense of depth perception - apparently it won't even run over a piece of paper lying on the floor. And yes, you can (if you want to) order the Aqua10 Ultra Track S around with voice commands, although I prefer to schedule it to clean when I'm not home. But you know what I always ask before considering a robot vacuum? Will it take pictures of my pets while it cleans? Yes, this one can. The innovations just keep coming - for example, the LDS sensor on top of the vacuum? That can retract down into the chassis if you're wanting to get under something 10cm or more off the ground. Of course, the headline feature of this device is probably its legs. There, I said it. This is the first robot vacuum with legs as well as wheels. The wheels themselves already raise and lower and can clear things like the edges of mats and carpets with ease. If the going gets really tough, that's when the legs extend out and the Aqua10 Ultra Track S will literally climb over obstructions up to 6cm in height. While that's not enough to go up and down stairs, it'll easily conquer folded-over rugs and the backs of U-shaped chairs. Speaking of stairs, the first few times I used it, I was surprised when the robot stranded itself at the top of mine, precariously hanging over the edge, and complaining I needed to clean the cliff (drop) sensors. I'd do this, only for it happen again straight away. This was quite a letdown. The very least I want from my robot vacuum is for it to successfully avoid stairs. Oh well - thankfully the Dreamehome app is very user-friendly and it took a matter of seconds to create a no-go area on the map along the edge of my stairs and I haven't had any issues since. Other than that, my only criticisms are battery life and noise levels. I have a fairly large home and the Aqua10 Ultra Track S struggles to get through a full clean on a single charge - not a major considering you can set it to continue cleaning as soon as it's charged itself back up. Similarly, the noise of the vacuum doesn't bother me because I'm not usually around. However, I find it interesting the Dreame website wants you to, "Unlock Powerful Yet Low-Noise Vacuuming." I've definitely heard quieter. Have I experienced more powerful? At 30,000Pa, I don't think so. Between the incredible HyperStream detangling DuoBrush and the innovative TrackSync mopping system, I probably couldn't get my floors this clean if I did it manually. Both the mopping pad and side brush extend out when cleaning next to walls, so I can't even claim human superiority there. Meanwhile, the cleaning and drying process back at the base station is flawless and more importantly, odourless. I'm not going to try and convince you the Aqua10 Ultra Track S is perfect - I'm over over-hyping robot vacuums that way. But I'm finally prepared to offer the same level of honest criticism in this product category as with any other because this robot is so very good. The below-par stair-detection, mediocre battery life and requirement for replacement dust bags keep this device from scoring a perfect ten. Just. Fix those three complaints and I'll even let it drive me to work. Click here for more information and pricing on the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Track S. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:18:19 Z /lifestyle/technology/apple-watch-ultra-3-does-it-get-better-than-this/ /lifestyle/technology/apple-watch-ultra-3-does-it-get-better-than-this/ I may have misled you slightly last time I was talking Apple Watches. I think I claimed something like the Series 11 Apple Watch was pretty much the best smartwatch money could buy. As far as I was concerned, at that specific time, that was essentially true. Improved display, new chip, great battery life, upgraded durability - what more could you ask? Sure, I knew I still had one Apple Watch to come to complete my trio of 2025 offerings - but because I never reviewed the Watch Ultra 2, it had been a while since I'd worn the big daddy of the range. In short, I needed reminding how incredible the Ultra truly is. In my defence, from everything I read and watched last year, the Ultra 2 really wasn't all that different to the original - it featured a brighter display and a new chip that made it possible to interact with Siri, on-device and that was about it. No excuse though, because the original Ultra was one of the most complete "first-generation" devices I've ever encountered. Enhanced GPS connectivity, extended battery life, the most durable case and display Apple had ever produced... Not to mention entirely new features like the Depth app - also measuring water temperature - and navigation tools like Backtrack. So after a year off, I put the Apple Watch Ultra 3 on and was immediately shocked by how good it is. Although the Ultra 3 uses the same chip as Watch Series 11 and the entry-level Watch SE 3, somehow, it just seems to work even faster and more fluidly. This may be in part due to the significantly upgraded display technology. The very large (for a watch) display is now comprised of wide-angle OLEDs, which means you can read it clearly from almost any angle - perfect for sneaky checking of incoming notifications. It also uses the latest LTPO3 technology which allows variable refresh rates, right down to 1Hz (or once a second). This means big savings on battery life - even when the Watch Ultra is in Always On Display mode. That, in turn, means the possibility of some fun new watch faces, like Exactograph, which has a second hand on AOD mode then expands the seconds display down to fifths-of-seconds when you raise your wrist. Did you hear me mention battery life? Indeed you did. Another significant bump to the already outstanding battery life of the Ultra 2, which was rated for up to 36 hours of general use. Not only does the Watch Ultra 3 give you up to 42 hours "normal" use on a full charge, I can confirm it charges faster than ever too. I like to wear mine to bed for its sleep-tracking features so I pop it on the charger while I'm getting ready. By the time I've brushed my teeth and read a couple of chapters of the latest Dan Brown, the Watch Ultra 3 always seems to be back to at least 95%. Fantastic. Speaking of sleep-tracking, obviously Watch Ultra 3 has all the new (and comprehensive) features we've seen in the other 2025 Apple Watches, courtesy of the very "glassy" WatchOS 26. Ultra has always been a fabulous choice for fitness and health tracking and that's even more true now, thanks to Custom Workouts, Workout Buddy, updated sleep stats, the new hypertension alerts and the introduction of Vitals - kind of an aggregate of everything, so you can keep an eye on your overall wellbeing at a glance. Although the Watch Ultra has always led the way when it comes to satellite connectivity, the 3rd gen version now offers emergency communication via satellite, even when you're out of cellular contact. This could be potentially lifesaving in a country like New Zealand, where for some reason, people like to go off grid. For fun. Not only does the new satellite tech mean you can send an SOS if something goes wrong, Find My now also works via satellite so your location can be shared, no matter how remote it is. This is all dependent on you activating the standalone cellular abilities of the Watch Ultra 3 via an addon plan. Unfortunately, only OneNZ and Spark offer these plans for Apple Watch right now, although it's my understanding 2degrees isn't far off. Starting at NZ$1,599.00, the Watch Ultra 3 is quite an investment - but an investment is exactly what it is. There is simply no other smartwatch out there that delivers quite like this one does - and if you're already an Apple user then the choice is even more obvious. The fact that the original Ultra still measures up and I'm not sure I'd encourage those early adopters to upgrade just yet, doesn't mean there haven't been meaningful enhancements over the last two years. The improvements in battery life, display quality and satellite connectivity are all significant. It's just that testing the new model over the last few weeks has reminded me how amazing the original Ultra was in the first place. Two generations on, still the Watch to beat.      Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Wed, 29 Oct 2025 23:34:25 Z /lifestyle/technology/logitech-mx-creative-console-more-shortcuts-to-productivity/ /lifestyle/technology/logitech-mx-creative-console-more-shortcuts-to-productivity/ Here's my attitude to work; I'm against it. So everything I do in life is designed to get my work done so I can spend as much time as possible not working. That doesn't mean I'm not a hard worker. In fact, sometimes it means quite the opposite. If I've got a lot of work to do, I'll work as hard as possible to get rid of it so I can go back to doing nothing. Is that what people mean by "Being Productive?" My point is, if there's anything that can help get me to not-working sooner - even something small - I'll use it. Seconds add up to minutes and even hours... eventually. So how could I resist something that helps me automate tasks I perform over and over again every single day? The Logitech MX Creative Console is not really a single console at all. Rather, it's two separate devices - the MX Creative Dialpad and the MX Creative Keypad. These are connected to your source device via the supplied USB-C cable, plugged into the back of the Keypad. The Keypad and Dialpad connect to each other wirelessly - the Keypad powered by its USB-C connection, the Dialpad by two AAA batteries. I'm not sure how long these batteries are likely to last - there's an on/off switch on the top edge of the Dialpad but I assume (based on no evidence, just a hunch) that like most mice, it probably sleeps automatically when not in use. The MX Creative Keypad also comes with a simple stand, which displays it at a more eyeline-friendly angle than when it is just resting flat on its two rubber runners. Meanwhile, I suppose there's nothing stopping you using the stand for the Dialpad instead - except that would make for extremely bad ergonomics, forcing you to arch your whole hand back to turn the dial. The overall physical setup is very customisable - a hint of what's to come. With each device able to be placed anywhere on your desktop, there's no restriction. Use them side by side, perhaps one on either side of your keyboard - and unlike most mice, it shouldn't make any difference whether you're left or right-handed. The MX Creative Dialpad works very much like a mouse, in fact. Logitech describes its controls as Back and Forward buttons in the top left corner, the Fluid Roller top right. The Contextual Dial is the star of the show, of course, with Left and Right buttons at the bottom corners. But bear in mind, thanks to the Logi Options+ app, each of these controls can be tailor-made to suit your needs.  And the MX Creative Console is designed to suit those needs, even when they change from one app to another. For example, for my default use-case, I have the Dial set to adjust my computer's volume up and down, while the Fluid Roller essentially becomes a vertical scroll wheel, just like on a mouse. But when I'm using Adobe Audition to edit podcasts and other audio for 九一星空无限talk ZB, the roller then zooms me in and out, while the dial skips forward or back to the headers of the audio files in my multitrack session. In many ways, the MX Creative Keypad is even more malleable. It has 9 keys, each capable of displaying its own unique, backlit icon and description. As we've seen with other MX Creative devices from Logitech, again, using Logi Options+, you can use any of these keys to do just about anything; launch certain apps, play sounds, control media and yes, my favourite, start a screen recording. If there's a series of things you do routinely all the time, Logi Options+ let's you create a macro - complete with pauses if required - which you can then drag onto one of those keys. Oh, and if 9 keys isn't quite enough, how does 135 sound? Actually, that's just for starters. You can add up to 15 pages of keys for any profile you create - there are two page-turn buttons at the base of the Keypad. Any of the buttons I've mentioned can also fire off the Actions Ring of course - an on-screen display of eight more virtual buttons; maybe a selection of brush sizes or a choice of alternate signatures for your emails. If you're a bit daunted by all the options, not to worry. There are default setups for many apps, especially Adobe editing tools like Photoshop, Premiere Pro and Lightroom - but also other big ones like DaVinci resolve and Final Cut Pro. I love being able to do things like automate the Save Project As function in Adobe Audition - because there's no hotkey already set up for it. If you want to add some extra production elements to your live feed or even just your meetings, that's totally doable too. MX Creative Console has plugins for Twitch, Zoom, Discord and Teams so you can have video clips, pics, graphics and sound effects all cued up and ready to play live. And with plugins for Philips Hue and streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify, you can control your lighting and music - essentially creating your own smart home hub. So if, in the course of your day, you've ever thought to yourself, "I wish I didn't have to do this every single time..." Now you probably don't. Just take whatever that thing is and assign it to a button, roller or dial. It really is that easy to buy yourself a few extra seconds and streamline your workflow.       Click here for more information and pricing on the Logitech MX Creative Console. Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:12:51 Z /lifestyle/technology/motorola-edge-60-fusion-just-feels-so-elegant/ /lifestyle/technology/motorola-edge-60-fusion-just-feels-so-elegant/ Every now and again I come across a device that really tickles my fancy. It's not necessarily anything logical... It might just be because it's my favourite colour (red, obviously). Or perhaps the controls are in just the right place. Or maybe it just feels particulary nice to use. There was a time - about ten years ago - when curvy phones were all the rage. There were a number of handsets around with displays that flowed around the edges and I loved them. I've always had an irrational aversion to sharp corners and I much prefer something more streamlined. Then, almost as suddenly as they arrived, trends changed and handsets became more boxy again. In fact, as phone cameras became more and more powerful, the boxes started to come with other, smaller boxes attached to them, just for the extra lenses. Yuck. Luckily, sometimes the odd phone still favours curves instead of corners - even in 2025. The motorola edge 60 fusion is one of those handsets. Moreover, its 6.7-inch AMOLED display doesn't just wrap over the sides, it's a quad-curve screen which means the top and bottom taper away too. The display is also a longer-skinnier aspect ratio - 20:9 - which means you can really wrap your hand around the edge 60 fusion to feel the full effect of those curves. While we're discussing the screen, I can tell you it is dazzlingly bright, clear and colourful - but not TOO colourful. Motorola is very big into being Pantone certified for true-to-life colour reproduction - which requires special attention when engineering both camera sensors and tuning the display. I'll have a lot more to say about the cameras shortly but everything looks fabulous on this screen, which is able to produce 4500 nits of HDR peak brightness. Don't worry if you don't know what a nit is, nobody does. What I do know is 4500 is a lot of them, and it means you'll have no issues using the edge 60 fusion out in bright sunshine. The screen also makes up part of the impressive durability equation here, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i - very tough and scratch resistant for a handset in this price range. Add to that IP68 and IP69 ratings against water and dust, the multi-factor MIL-STD-810 rating that means you can essentially take this phone up a mountain or into the desert, and the fact the soft-touch rear panel isn't breakable, like glass, or scratchable, like metal. That rear panel, available in Zephyr (pink) or Slipstream (bluey-grey) also means the edge 60 fusion is far less slippery to hold than many other phones this curvy and instead of a bulky protrusion of camera lenses, the moulded panel sweeps up, ever so slightly, to surround a quadruplet of equal-sized sensors. Unusually, only two of those four sensors are camera lenses; the main shooter is a 50MP wide Sony LYT700C accentuated by a 13MP ultra wide, which also serves as an auto-focussing macro lens for super clear and detailed close-ups. The third porthole houses the flash while the other Motorola describes as a "3-in-1 light sensor." I assume it's this light sensor that facilitates such good camera performance in almost all conditions, bright, dull and even dark. Here's a quick pic I clicked off the other day while walking the dog. I was particularly taken with how blue the sky and the ocean seemed that evening and I hoped the edge 60 fusion would do the view justice... Yup, no complaints there. No issues with the front-facing camera either. 32MP means excellent, high-resolution shooting from a selfie cam, in both photos and videos, as you'll see me demonstrate below. There's also a clever AI Audio setting when filming video that amplifies any audio from the focused section of the video, meaning the dual-mics follow the action. Useful. In fact, moto ai is useful for all sorts of things. Once enabled, it will monitor your usage and keep an eye on incoming notifications when you're not actually using the phone. Then, by simply asking it to, "Catch me up," you'll receive a summary of what you've missed. "Pay attention," prompts moto ai to record and transcribe what's going on right now, pretty useful for meetings or perhaps lectures and training sessions. And you know how you can never remember how to take a screenshot when you really need to? moto ai knows how. Just tell it to, "Remember this." Although this phone isn't capable of the blistering processing speeds on offer from today's highest priced handsets, the edge 60 fusion's MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chip hasn't let me down yet. Often operations like launching and using the camera app can be slow and stuttery on mid-range phones but I just didn't have those issues with this one - probably due to the generous 12GB of RAM - enhanced even further with another 4GB RAM Boost (using available internal storage for an extra performance bump). As you can tell by now, this is a phone I've had no issue using for my everyday device - well, except for one wee niggle; no wireless charging. This is often the first feature to go when trying to get a handset under the $800 mark and sadly, that's been the case here too. Phone-makers will often try to compensate with a big battery and sure enough, the edge 60 fusion's 5200mAh cell seems to last forever between charges. What's less common in this price-range is fast charging. Well, this time you get that too - up to 68W with the right charger. Sadly, that charger isn't in the box but you do get a slimline cover that matches the back panel of the phone and for whatever reason, yes, just like the motorola razr 60 I reviewed recently, the box itself smells wonderful because... why not? Despite its affordable price, the edge 60 fusion over-delivers in many ways, especially in terms of durability and performance. And as for style, you gotta love those curves.      Click here for more information and on the motorola edge 60 fusion. Tue, 21 Oct 2025 23:53:44 Z /lifestyle/technology/apple-iphone-17-pro-max-its-definitely-max/ /lifestyle/technology/apple-iphone-17-pro-max-its-definitely-max/ If you were going to build the perfect phone, where would you start? It's a hard one, isn't it? Everyone has different priorities. For some people, it's all about the camera. If you can't snap a crystal-clear pic of your kid catching their first wave while you're still dry and warm on the beach, the phone is not the one. Actually, speaking of waves and sand and sun, many of you want a phone that can take a beating, preferably without heating. A water-tight device with no cracks or scratches? Yes, please. Other people prioritise more technical things, like processing power and performance. Can your phone edit high definition video AND play the latest AAA-rated mobile games? No? Then go and find me one that can. Then there are the users who just want decent battery life. So I forgot to put it on to charge last night. Why should that be such a big deal? Tick all those boxes off and you're really starting to get somewhere. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max might already be there. By all reports, consumers are loving this year's selection of new iPhones and Apple is already setting sales records all over again. I put part of this early success down to the fact there's no doubt the 2025 iPhone range is different to its predecessors and what's more, this year, each model is quite distinct from each other too. (Apart from the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, of course - they're essentially the same phone just in two different sizes) I was blown away by the performance and sheer slimness of the new iPhone Air. Even my battery life worries were somewhat unfounded - although, as expected, the camera proved to be slightly limited. Not so much with the base-model iPhone 17 - here the camera array was a big upgrade on previous "vanilla" iPhones. The new A19 chip never raised a sweat and battery life swooped effortlessly into day 2. So that leaves me with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, wondering how much more could it really have to offer, to justify the significant jump in asking price. Well, let's just say, it offers a lot. We'll circle back to the way the new Pro Max feels and looks shortly because the very first thing that really made this handset stand out to me was how fluid and silky smooth it is to use. The A19 Pro chip is, as you'd expect, Apple's fastest and most powerful iPhone chip yet. The Pro version offers more graphics grunt than the A19 in the base model and there's even an extra core in the GPU when compared to the iPhone Air. There's honestly a tangible difference in the way the 17 Pro Max responds to the lightest of touches. Scrolling is lightening-quick. On-screen edits are just that much more accurate. Even AI responses seem to work more promptly. Speaking of "Apple Intelligence" - it's worth remembering the 16-core Neural Engine does much of its work on-device - meaning both faster response times and better data security. Not only does all this happen more efficiently than ever, the 17 Pro Max is more likely to keep working at its maximum potential thanks to an entirely new heat management philosophy. This year, Apple has opted for a forged aluminium unibody, forgoing the previous titanium casing. The aerospace-grade 7000-series aluminium is better at dissipating heat and combines with an all-new vapour chamber to achieve the best thermal stability yet. In short, I don't think I've felt this phone get warm, let alone hot. I'm also about to write something I never thought I would; this iPhone's battery life has got to be one of the best of any phone available - certainly for a handset with this many high-performance, high-drain features. I know I keep going on about how long my day is; during the week I get up at 2:50am for my breakfast radio show and don't go back to bed until around 8:30 each night. The only reason I make that humble brag is to compare how much battery is left on my phone when I pop it on my bedside MagSafe charger. With the iPhone 17 Pro Max, it invariably shows more than 70%, occasionally even into the 80s. For many years, iPhones were the laughing stock when it came to battery life. Clearly, that reputation no longer applies. This is also a difficult device to break. The 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display looks wonderful - that's no surprise. It's now protected by Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple claims is tougher than any other smartphone glass. Not only is it more scratch resistant, it also reduces reflections and unwanted glare. The 3000nits of peak brightness adds to the equation, resulting in one of the best displays for outdoor use I've ever encountered. The camera system has also been totally reimagined, with not one, not two, but THREE 48MP Fusion Cameras on the back and the same, revolutionary selfie-cam we've seen introduced on the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air. The performance of that triple-sensor primary array is shockingly good. I've been using this phone a while now and I've barely scratched the surface of what those cameras can do. No matter the lighting conditions, or how far away the subject is, there are just so many options to enable you to shoot pro-level pictures and video. With an intimidating range of focal lengths to choose from, Apple likes to describe it as having "8 pro lenses in your pocket" and after trying them out, I'm not even sure this is over-hyping it. Your photos are captured at 24MP by default - pretty high-res. But there's nothing stopping you editing massive 48MP RAW files. In fact, this camera is so groundbreaking, Apple has come up with a whole new video codec; ProRes RAW. Luckily for me, the Camera app in iOS 26 tucks all these expert settings away - unless you desperately want to tweak them yourself - and quite intuitively juggles things around for you. (This is the kind of AI I appreciate the most - the stuff that happens without you asking it to) As I've already discussed in my iPhone Air and iPhone 17 reviews, the industry-shaking square, 18MP Centre Stage front camera can also be set to auto - intelligently zooming in and out and even changing aspect ratios to optimise your selfie game to a whole new level. I could go on forever. Features like Dual Capture and the upgraded digital stabilisation are further evidence the 17 Pro Max's camera performance probably deserves a review all of its own. And this is the problem generally, with the top-of-the-line iPhone in any given year; it's so good, and so feature packed, you'd need a weekly serial of reviews to thoroughly cover it all off. Sounds perfect, right? Well, not quite. It's big. Well, huge actually. I mean, if you're buying the Max it's because you want a big screen anyway. I get that. But it really is quite big and bulky and heavy and then there's the "plateau." So the plateau is a new design element the base-model iPhone 17 doesn't share, although the iPhone Air does. Sort of. On the Air, this new body-wide camera bump doesn't seem anywhere near as pronounced as it is on the 17 Pro or Pro Max. Ironically, the Air's plateau actually protrudes further from the back panel but it's not as tall and the phone itself is obviously much thinner. Much, much, much thinner. The over-thick design of the 17 Pro Max is all about functionality, of course. I get if you want the longest optical zoom of any iPhone camera, an effective vapour cooling system and an unheard-of extension of battery life, you've got to physically put all that somewhere. But I'll just say you definitely know when this thing is in your pocket. And if you add the horrendously thick and unglamorous MagSafe case Apple sent with my review unit to the ensemble, you might not even fit it in your pocket. Luckily, there are other cases out there and as we've already pointed out, as phones go, this one can take a few knocks even without a case. Not sure if you'd want to risk it though. The 17 Pro Max starts at NZ$2,549.00 and if you're planning to edit some of those huge ProRes RAW video files, you'll need to consider the 1TB model at least - or even 2TB at NZ$4,149.00. For that kind of money, you'd think you'd have more colour options than just Silver, Deep Blue or Cosmic Orange. However, as usual for iPhone Pro, it's what's on the inside that really counts. And when it comes to what's inside this year's version, there's never been a phone quite like it.      Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max. Tue, 21 Oct 2025 00:02:31 Z