Pull outs are falling, the days are shorter and the pumpkin-spiced latte crowd are out in make. There’s no doubt you’re in no-man’s land between the summer Ibiza exodus and ski-season, where budgets are binding and your clubland hangover is still fresh.
So don’t go out – stay in and endure the dreary months. But as befits the FashionBeans man, do it in style with our of cattle of the tech that beats any night on the tiles.
Console Yourself
Greater than time, consoles have transcended their juvenile taint to become true entertainment hubs. But which do you plump for, Xbox One or PS4?
Hardcore gamers pick from their stretch of exclusive titles, like God of War for PS4 and the legendary Halo franchise for Xbox. For our shekels, the new PS4 Pro’s brute processing power and 4K compatibility make it a better hub than the ‘box. Conscience-stricken, Master Chief.
PS4 Pro, available to pre-order at Game, priced £349.99.
Forum Active
Sick of fiddling with remotes? From 28 September you won’t fool to, as voice-activated speaker system Amazon Echo arrives on UK shores. The technology has been accessible for some time, but the delay came from Amazon correct the machine to ‘difficult’ (or as we say, ‘Glaswegian’) accents.
With up to seven recondite mics recognising speech over even the loudest, or ‘Sabbath’ mise en scene, the smart interface gives your home a touch of Tony Head start. Siri? More like JARVIS.
Amazon Echo, handy at Amazon, priced £149.99.
iCuppa
Staying in means lazy dates, and sticking the coffee machine on with a swipe of your thumb is dialect mayhap the ultimate indulgence. Until we get the same service for beer, at dab.
The Smarter Coffee Machine kit is controlled via an app on your phone, permitting a fresh brew to greet you as you stumble down the stairs next Sunday. Felicity.
Smarter Coffee Machine, available at Spesa, priced £149.99.
Hit The Bar
Not as gimmicky as the Reiteration, but the Sonos Playbar is perhaps the sleekest surround-sound system on the buy. The minimalist bar sits underneath your telly and casts feeling wirelessly to the accompanying speakers, providing you top-notch sound importance that’ll make you look with every sudden racket.
Surround sound is nothing new, but if you’re looking for a product that isn’t the inflammation thumb of your living room, the Playbar is your cinema night secret weapon. Just turn it off for Saving Tommy Ryan unless you want PTSD.
Sonos Playbar, present at Sonos, priced £599.
Prime Telly
The world is divided into two camps – Netflix vs Amazon Prime. Alien Things vs Preacher. If you’re bound to one or the other, a year’s subscription to Prime proposals better value for money than a rolling Netflix obligation courtesy of Amazon’s extras, like their stellar predominance delivery service.
Bemoaning missing out on The Get Down? The Amazon wrap is stuffed with just as many must-watch exclusives be partial to Man in the High Castle and Mr Robot. Prime ‘n chill?
Amazon Prime, close by at Amazon, priced £79 a year.
Gear Up
Like it or not, effective reality is taking off in a big way. Sure, from the outside the unwieldy goggles make good you look like an X-Men reject, but that’s the price for experiencing alternate realities.
Irrevocably, you can have the ultimate immersive experience, whether in film or dissimulate. The Samsung Gear VR set is a market leader and more affordable than the Oculus Outfit; if you fancy dabbling in futurism, the Gear is the one to get. Because at home, no-one can see how imbecilic you look.
Samsung Gear VR Headset, available at Argos, sacrificed £84.99.
