Aki Anastasiou tests a top smartphone and an app to find the cheapest airfares between Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Find the cheapest flights between Cape Town and Joburg

Price - Free

Did you know that the air traffic corridor between Johannesburg and Cape Town is one of the busiest in the world? Last year more than 4 million people flew between these two cities. Competition is fierce amongst the airlines and the price variance on airfares can be quite confusing - but then again has anyone actually ever understood how air ticket prices work! But if you commute regularly between Johannesburg (OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town and vice versa) you need to download the Flapp app available on iOS and Android. The app offers a seven day window period for commuters wanting to book flights between the two cities. It gives you the flexibility to travel at the spur of the moment. Simply scroll down on the day you want to travel on and flights are either displayed according to departure time or price. Click the flight you want, enter your credit card details and you’re booked! The great thing about the app is that all commercial airlines travelling this route are listed. I picked up some bargains! Yes it is possible to book a return ticket for R1200 including taxes!

Cycling goes high-tech with the LifeBeam Helmet 

Price - R3 899 at CycleLab

The LifeBeam Helmet is the world’s first “smart” cycling helmet. Bio-sensing technology which has been used by astronauts, fighter pilots and Special Forces has now entered the cycling realm. LifeBeam have combined tiny high tech sensors that measure speed, calories burnt and heart rate into a Lazer Genesis helmet. While cycling, it will relay the information using a special algorithm to your device using Bluetooth 4.0 and ANT+. The LifeBeam Helmet is compatible and works seamlessly with apps like Strava, MapMyRide, Endomondo and Runtastic.

Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet - Is this the best tablet in the world?

Price R10 999

Sony did not cut any corners when producing the Xperia Z4 Tablet. It is beautiful, light, super thin and probably the most perfectly ergonomically designed tablet in the world. The 10.1 inch Xperia is just 6.1 mm thin, weighs just 393g boasts a 2K display. Under the hood is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core 64 bit processor which means this tablet has huge horsepower. The battery is enormous. You can comfortably watch videos all the way on that 16 and a half hour flight from Joburg to JFK without charging. Oh and it’s waterproof, so technically you can work while you’re showering. Is it better than the iPad Air 2? They are on par overall, it boils down to a preference of Android or iOS. You’re either a BMW or a Mercedes driver.

LG delivers another winner with the G4

Price R8 999 or on contract.

LG have been consistently delivering innovative and fantastically designed smartphones since their re-entry into a very competitive Android market. The LG G4 stands out with its unique design and features. They have focused on how the phone feels in your hand and the quality of the photography. The camera is exceptional. The 16 MP f/1.8 low-light lens takes incredible photographs especially in low light conditions. It probably has the best camera on a smartphone in the market right now. The Quad 5.5 inch display is crisp and has great warm brightness. Because phones are so visual they have become fashion statements. This is why such an emphasis has been put on the LG G4 back cover. The new phone comes with a choice of genuine leather back covers that actually look really good. For non-leather fans there is a metallic cover alternative. It will be difficult to choose the top smartphone of 2015, but the LG G4 is a very strong contender for that award.

Samsung NX1 Mirrorless Digital Camera

Price R16 000

Samsung’s NX1 camera is getting rave reviews and rightly so. It’s a semi pro mirrorless interchangeable lens camera taking on the high end DSLR variants in the market. The NX1 is packed with features! It has a solid build quality and the magnesium alloy body feels well balanced when holding it in ones hands. The 28 megapixel APS-C BSI-CMOS sensor produces amazing images and this camera has the ability to shoot up to 15 fps. The guts of the camera are impressive. It is equipped with a really fast image processor to give you this impressive performance. Another awesome feature of the NX1 is the ability to shoot video in 4K which it does really well. It has superb connectivity as well. Featuring the latest in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards it will allow you to transfer and share those photos wirelessly very quickly. The NX1 is a very good camera overall and delivers great photographs. If you’re in the market for a high end camera take a close look at this one.

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