Bucket Tech: Samsung #Unpacked

Wednesday saw Samsung unveil their latest range of Galaxy smart phones, with rumours rife from last year, everyone was keen to see if the S10 did feature a folding screen. From long before the smartphone, Samsung had a great legacy with its flip phones, none more popular than the E600 which at one stage was the best selling phone in the country. A return to this sort of model of device, with it's nostalgic background was appealing to many but 24 hours prior to the official launch, hopes were dashed as Samsung Norway mistakenly uploaded their ad for the S10 and S10+ on YouTube and while the device looked fantastic, it didn't fold up but knowing Samsung the event had more in store for us than just two devices, fast forward 24 hours and we were not disappointed. 

The local launch took place at Discovery's head office in the heart of Sandton and proved to be the perfect setting to watch the live stream event. The very first device that was unveiled was the Samsung Galaxy Fold, yup they did it, Samsung made a device with a folding screen! While it wasn't quite the device some of us were expecting, it is a major breakthrough in technology. Essentially the Fold is a tablet that folds into a device the size of your average smart phone. It it has two screens, one on the front which is a 4.6" HD_Super AMOLED touch screen and when opened up, the screen on the inside measures 7.3" and is a QXGA+AMOLED. The Fold packs massive specs, 12GB of RAM, 512GB of onboard memory, a 7nm 64 bit-Octa Core processor and because of the fold, it has two batteries which function as one, with a combined power of 4,380mAh. The Fold has 6 cameras, 3 on the back, which feature a 16MP Ultrawide camera, 12MP Wife Angle camera and a 12MP Telephoto camera with 2 x Optical Zoom. The Fold has 2 cameras, which are a 10MP Selfie Camera and a 8MP RGB Depth camera, and lastly on the cover, a 10MP Selfie Camera. The Fold runs Android 9.0 and features app continuity, which basically means, if you're using an app when the device is folded, when you open it, the app displaying the same information expands onto the larger screen. It also has 3 app multitasking, so you can use 3 apps at the same time. Pretty powerful stuff from the Korean electronics manufacturer. Local release date for the Galaxy Fold in SA is said to be with the global launch on the 26th of April but no local pricing details are available yet, don't expect it to be cheap though. 

After the main attraction left everyone in awe, it was time for us to meet the rest of the Galaxy squad. Samsung launched 3 versions the Galaxy S10 on the night. The normal Galaxy S10, the S10e and the S10+. All devices boast their new infinity-O design screen with the screen extending over the bevel, giving the user a greater screen to body ratio. The one thing that strikes you is that the device doesn't feature the famous "notch" that other brands have on theirs. Samsung have laser cut the front facing cameras into the actual screen, so it just a black dot on the top right corner. The Galaxy S10 is powered by Samsungs Exynos 9820 Octa-core chipset with memory on the S10 at 128GB and ranging from 128GB up to 1TB on the S10+. The Galaxy S10 finally features tripe lens technology with an ultra wide lens, with a 123 degree width, the same as the human eye. Colours captured by the device in all light conditions look astounding but as Samsung's claim to fame with their mobile device cameras, is definitely the video quality, the Samsung S10 records videos in HDR10+ which is a format developed by Samsung to beat Dolby Vision and will feature on all their smart TV's. It has Dynamic Tone Mapping which gives you a brighter, more crisp picture with an insane amount of detail. Samsung also announced a host of collaborations, one which caught our attention was one with Adobe, who created a version of their popular video editor, Premiere, called Premiere Rush exclusive for the Galaxy S10. It gives the user a powerful video editor on their device so they can make stunning videos on the go. Other notable collaborations was with Instagram, which allows to user to edit pictures using Instagram tools and upload the picture instantly. 

Pre-Orders for the Samsung Galaxy range have begun, with everyone who pre-orders getting a set of Samsungs new wireless buds which are valued at R3500 for free. The price range for the Galaxy range starts off at R15,000 for the S10e, S10 comes in at R18,999 and up to R35,999 for the S10+ 1TB.  Overall, pretty convincing products by Samsung, who are laying down the challenge to the others in the market as they aim to keep their number one status in the country for yet another year. 

Battery Centre - GIVEAWAY

We tend to talk a lot about cars on the blog, so its only fitting we give away something car related to you, our loyal readers. Battery Centre are a house hold name in South Africa and generally the number place one goes to, to replace their car battery, stocking not only the best products but provide quick efficient service. They've given us a voucher for a replacement battery valued up to R2500 to give away, and entering is simple and will be explained later on in the post. They've given five tips to extend the life of your battery. 

Good quality car batteries have an impressive lifespan of up to five years, but most batteries fail within two to three years. The exact life expectancy of your battery depends on a host of variables, including your driving habits and the amount of love and attention you give it. Regular maintenance is at the heard of a healthy battery. Battery Centre recommends getting a free battery check twice a year so that you never get stuck with a flat battery. However, car batteries are often treated with out of sight, out of mind indifference, and as a result, many batteries have be to replaced much too soon. Fortunately there are some things you can do to prolong the life of your battery. 

1. Keep it Clean, dirt and grim can create a short circuit and cause your battery to discharge. Keep the battery terminals clean, dry and free of corrosion by scrubbing them with a solution of water and baking soda. Use a spray bottle to rinse the mixture off and dry the terminals thoroughly with a clean cloth. You can also get your battery cleaned for free by the specialist at a Battery Centre near you. 
2. Keep it Cool, extreme heat can evaporate the water in your battery and cause considerable battery damage, often leading to battery failure in winter. Keep your car out of the sweltering heat by parking it in a garage or shaded spot as often as possible. You can also consider getting a valve-regulated Raylite battery that is less susceptible to extreme temperatures. 
3. Keep it Steady, Excessive vibration can cause short circuits and internal battery damage. Make sure all your battery clamps and brackets are securely fastened or have it expertly fitting by the battery specialist. If you frequently drive on uneven terrain, you many want to opt for a vibration-resistant Raylite battery, exclusively available at Battery Centre nationwide.
4. Go for long drives more often, your battery loses power every time you start your car. After that, the alternator takes over and recharges the battery while you drive. If you only make short trips throughout the day, your battery power won't have sufficient time to recharge fully and will continue to lose power. You can help maintain your battery power by going for longer drives of at least 20 minutes more frequently. 
5. Use it or lose it, a near fully charged battery is essential to prevent battery damage over time. If your car won't be in use for a long time, ask a friend or family member to drive your car. You can also consider disconnecting the negative terminal to reduce drainage or invest in a car battery charger to keep your battery powered up. 

A little extra care goes a long way in extending the life of your battery. But if DIY maintenance is too much of a hassle, a maintenance-free Raylite battery may be the perfect solution. Visit any Battery Centre for a free battery test and expert advice on all things batteries.

Competition time! As mentioned earlier, Battery Centre have given us a voucher with the value of up to R2500 to give away to one lucky reader. All you have to do to enter follow the Bucket's instagram page and comment on this post with "I want to win with the Bucket and Battery Centre"

Monday Choon: Above & Beyond - Distorted Truth

With just 2 weeks to go till Ultra South Africa 2019, we bring you our artist feature on the Monday Choon. There's no denying Above & Beyond's cult status in the electronic music world, their hit track Sun & Moon still makes the hair on the back of many necks stand every time it plays. Their weekly podcast ABGT has hundreds of thousands of streams and their sellout shows just go to prove what a phenom they are and why we are so so lucky to see them in SA, performing at our premier music festival. Today's track Distorted Truth was released last week but was first played by them at their ABGT300 show in Hong Kong last year. It's a bit more up tempo than their previous track release Flying by Candle Light but has just the right beat to get you excited for their set. The track has all the key Above & Beyond elements, the beats, the build up and uplifting tempo's. It's simply brilliant in our books and will be a firm favourite for you too.

Bucket Seat: BMW X2 2.0i

We've spoke about how the whole crossover/ SUV trend is picking up in the motoring market with consumers finding a liking to these raised vehicles. We're not quite sure what sparked the trend but can certainly see what people are opting for these sort of vehicles. Being bigger, they're more spacious than sedans, offering the occupants more room and comfort, I also find with the slightly raised ride height, it gives the driver a better perspective when driving. But as the trend goes, and the market becomes appealing to everyone, manufacturers have to adjust to the demand, not everyone can afford the bigger SUV/ SAV derivatives or while they might one one, they want something a bit more sportier, athletic and versatile, hence BMW came up with the SAC, sports activity coupe. They have in their range the X6 and the X4 but recently introduced the first ever X2 which I got drive around for a bit. While it still falls under the crossover segment, it definitely didn't feel like it as I will explain. 

DESIGN

BMW went with a different approach to designing the X2, it's effectively the more sportier model of the X1 so to get it to appeal to a younger market they've made some daring decisions to the design that had a lot of people talking. Firstly, lets talk about that badge on the side. Personally I don't see a problem with it, it looks quite good and it pays homage to the the CS as it also had the badge in a similar sort of position. Out of curiosity I ran a poll on my Instagram and to my surprise the votes were almost split with people who liked it edging out those who didn't. Other than that the car looks quite attractive to many, I love the edginess, the bi-tone outlines and the sleek sweep effect it has. It almost looks like a hot hatch and has a playfulness demeanor about it. The lights are pretty cool, I'm especially fond of the rear lights which are angled ever so slightly and follows the contours of the body.  The X2 I had came with the M Sport X kit which just adds to the aggression factor and had 5 spoke bi-colour rims. The tail of the car is finished off with the same sporty aggression that transcends from the whole car with tail pipes fitted either side. Overall, a very unique but lovely package from the Germans. 

PERFORMANCE

While I had this car on test, BMW lifted the covers of their range topping M35i X2 which features their most powerful 4 cylinder motor. The 2.0i I had wasn't too shabby either, quick off the blocks even for a chunkier car and what impressed me to the most was the fuel consumption. While we know the figures we see in brochures are done in ideal environments, I was getting quite close to the 6L per 100km as quoted by BMW. the engine produces 141kW with 280Nm of torque which is hot hatch territory. The car handles well, it has good road presence and even with the large rims, give a pretty comfy ride whether it be driving around the burbs or open road driving. 

TECH

The X2 has a similar option list to most of the other BMW's but with it being a basic X1 fit on the inside, there is some limitations. While it does feature the new BMW menu tile configuration I don't think you can add gesture control to the car. Regardless the car I had came with some decent features. Reverse camera with rear front and rear PDC's, HiFi loud speaker system, interior mood lighting with a variety of colours, professional navigation and bluetooth connectivity with Apple Car Play. Still annoys me that BMW hasn't launch the Android Auto App for their cars yet and only certain models offer the Android screen mirror option. The X2 I had came with the LED lights but no high beam assist. 

VERDICT

While judgement on the looks of the car may still be split, I quite like it, its bold, in your face, has that rugged adventure style to it which BMW was going for. The car drives well, it's pretty comfortable for the drive and its passengers. Lots of boot space and light on fuel. The price tag may be a stinger but the quality of product you getting is worth every cent of it. I honestly can see myself driving in an X2 as an every day car. While it slots into that SAC/ crossover segment, it can also do some light off roading and by that I mean gravel roads, lets not try and take it up Sani Pass or anything. The tag line for the X2 is "Be the one who dares" and its evident in the styling, the colour range the overall appeal of the car, and from the few I see on the road so far, it seems there are people who are taking the challenge to be daring. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0L TwinPower Turbo 4cy
Gear Box	8 Speed Automatic
Power	141kW
Torque	280Nm
0-100	7.7 seconds
Economy	6.0 L/100km
Price	R 577 903*

*base price

  

Webb Ellis Cup comes to SA

With it being Rugby World Cup year, everyone in the country will be expecting that trophy returns home after the tournament in Japan but thanks to the help of Heineken, the Webb Ellis Cup will visit our shores earlier than we think! As part of an epic 18 nation journey, as it makes its way to Japan for the 2019 Rugby World cup, which kicks off in September, the trophy will be touching down on our shores this month. Heineken being a proud sponsor of this year's tournament will get first dibs when it lands in the Mother City, the world's most famous beer will host an exclusive viewing of the trophy at the Heineken's captain's dinner which will be held at the Nooitgedacht Estates in Stellenboasch.

Heineken wants consumers to be part of this historical rugby experience so they will be setting up three locations where you can catch the trophy and take a few pictures with it. Public display will be on the 22nd of February in the Mother City, Cape Town and takes place at the following times at the following venues.

• 15h30-17h00: Foresters Arms
• 18h00-19h30: Rascals
• 20h30-22h00: Premium Sports

Monday Choon: NWYR ft. Andrew Rayel - The Melody

W&W's trance alias NWYR teamed up with anothrt popular trance DJ on the amarda record label, Andrew Rayel for their latest release, "the melody". Andrew is no stranger to trance music and has been one of the standout acts over the last few years on the ASOT podcasts and live shows. Teaming up with the NWYR duo could only mean one thing, a track of epic proportions and thzyd exactly what melody is. It brings a marriage between the two sounds and works beautifully together, there are aspects which are clearly Andrew's input and vice versa with NWYR but overall a brilliant track that should be on your Playlist if you're a fan of trance.

Bucket Seat: KIA Sorento

When it comes to the Korean manufactures, there was just something about KIA that had me drawn to the brand. Their cars from the onset were different, more practical and I suppose as close to the German rivals as possible. After the arrival of Peter Schreyer, formerly of Audi as their Chief Design Officer, this just enhanced brands European styling and appeal. The models that KIA churn out slot in a various array of segments, from budget, all the way up to luxury, sporty and commercial. Late last year I got to sample the revised range topping SUV in their stable, the Sorento. Having driven the model prior to the update, I felt that while it was a great package, it was lacking quite a few elements to bring it up to speed with the competition, so it was time to find out if KIA did add these in to their latest offering.

DESIGN

With the Sorento, the shape has remained the same for many of the generations but as a newer model comes up, there are more curves and rounded edges. This latest offering remains predominantly the same in terms of design but minor changes and updates give it that refreshing look. The grille is finished in a chrome silver and there are some trimmings to match in the front. The headlights now are LED's which give it more character and detail, same goes for the rear lights. The front bumper is more edgy and gives off that menacing look. Being a 7 seater, the Sorento is a big vehicle but the design does well to not make it look bulky, the contours and flow of the windows give it that coupe like swoop on the side profile and the new diamond cut rims. Moving on in the inside, here is where you can notice the German influence, minimalistic but functional design, everything is where you expect it to be and easy to reach for the driver. 

PERFORMANCE

The model I had on test was the AWD 2.2 CRDi, Turbo charged, in-line 4 cylinder, 16 valve with the 8 speed automatic gearbox. The engine is standard across all models in the range and produces 147kW @ 3800 rpm and 440Nm of torque to haul the big body from standstill. While it may be big, the torque compensates for the size and weight propelling the Sorento from 0-100kph in 9.4 seconds which isn't bad for a 7 seater family SUV. The Sorento picks up speed well when on the open road and the light steering wheel makes it easy to maneouvre around. The car is well balanced and you don't get much body roll when taking bends at high speed, this is thanks to the MacPherson Strut & Stabiliser suspension in the front coupled with the multi-link rear suspension. While KIA doesn't make much comment on the average fuel economy, I was getting about 9.5L per 100km with mixed driving which isn't bad for a car of this size

COMFORT

Overall size of the KIA Sorento is quite big, with it measuring 4.8m in length and 1,9m wide with a height of just under 1.7m which gives it more than enough space on the inside for its occupants. The seating is a 40:20:20 split rear seat folding configuration. The driver and front passenger seats are very comfy and wide for more support, the second row of seats is pretty similar to the front and surprisingly the two fold away seats in the last row are quite spacious. The entire cabin air temperature is controlled by an automatic climate control, making sure every is comfortable in the car at all time. In terms of tech offerings, the KIA Sorento now comes with a 3.5" TFT touch screen which has built in SatNav and Bluetooth audio/ telephone. It also benefits with the Apple Car Play and Android Auto apps, so your mobile device fully integrates with the car.  The Sorento even has a wireless charging mat should your device has wireless charging capabilities, simply just place the device on the mat and it will charge as you drive. 

VERDICT

With SUV's becoming the choice of many on the roads these days, and the market growing ever so popular, it's good to see competition coming from all parts of the spectrum. While many wouldn't rank KIA as a luxury brand, I think they're doing well to convince the buyers otherwise. Their cars are built well, have offerings that can rival any of the German brands, and are a heck of a lot cheaper as well. The KIA Sorento is very well priced, coming it at R579 995 for the 2WD LX derivative and the model I had being the AWD 2.2 EX starting at R649 995 with pretty much everything standard. It's spacious, comfortable, solid drive platform and looks great. Overall if you looking for a 7 seater SUV or even a slightly larger than your medium ones, with loads of trunk space, this is the car for you. The engine is great, gives you great return on your fuel when doing urban driving and has a solid service plan of a 5 years/100 000km as well as a 5 year unlimited kilometer warranty.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.2 CRDi Turbo Diesel
Gear Box	8 Speed Automatic
Power	147kW
Torque	440Nm
0-100	9.4 seconds
Top Speed	203kph
Price	R 649 995

Pictures by @YuviKPhotography

KNQ Comedy Giveway

Durban will erupt to the sound of laughter on the evening of the 16th of February as some of the  countries top comedians take to the stage at Durban's ICC for a one night only comedy special. Back again is East Coast Radio Kings and Queens of Comedy show, featuring the likes of Darren Maule, Carvin Goldstone, Schalk Bezuidenhout, Angel Campy, Tumi Morake, Riaad Moosa, Mo Vawda, Chester Missing and many more. Tickets are currently on sale at Computicket and start from R200. 

We at the Bucket, in conjunction with Blu Blood are giving one lucky reader a chance to win themselves a set of double tickets to the show in Durban. For more information on how to win, follow our Instagram account, the competition closes on Monday and the lucky winner will be announced on Wednesday next week. 

Monday Choon: Sultan + Shepard - American Dream

Who could forget that timeless classic by Jakatta which was released in 2002, American Dream. Well Canadian electronic duo Sultan + Shepard have given that track a much needed remake and dropped it last week. While some classics are best left alone, I feel like they've given the track much respect by not changing a  lot but at the same time bringing it up to speed with the sounds we're used to hearing today. The beat and tempo has certainly stepped up a notch and they've added some classy sounds to the mix which make the track aural pleasure. 

Bucket Seat: Ford Figo Sedan

It's been a while since we had a Ford to review but I'm glad we eventually got one, even though the Figo isn't much to write home about in terms of aesthetics and appeal, it still is a very important car for the brand and for the market in general. The Ford Figo has come a long way as a car, from being just a reboot of the old Fiesta to giving itself it's own identity in the market. With the local launch of the Figo taking place mid last year, I was finally given the opportunity to drive one, albeit the sedan and not the hatch, around for a week towards the end of the year and go to say, Ford have really "leveled up" with this one. 

DESIGN

The Figo was always an odd looking car but with this new model its finally coming into its own. I love the front of the Figo, that new grille with like a 3 dimensional design to it finished in brushed aluminum gives the car some level of elegance and dare I say, luxury appeal. The grille sits prominently but low and is the first thing that gets your attention of the car. The front bump is shaped well and its outlined by a splitter also finished in brushed aluminium that goes around the fog light housing, it just adds more dimension to the front end and really does like quite smart. The headlights have been redesigned and bares resemblance to the Fiesta a bit but has an elongated fin type finish to it. The general shape of the Figo is "bubble shaped" but works well unlike other models which tried this approach. The reason for it is to maximise space in the cabin. Moving along to the back, is where most budget hatch come sedan's tend to struggle with the addition of the boot. Most of them can be quite painful to look at but kudos to the design team at Ford because the boot flows quite well with the overall design of the car. The lines extend on the side profile upwards to the back and extends to the boot space. My only grip would be that the tail lights could have been finished better but that is just me. 

PERFORMANCE

The Figo comes powered with the 1.5TiVCT naturally aspirated 4 cylinder petrol engine. It's a strong motor from Ford and at the coast it performs exceptionally well. With 88kW and 150Nm of toque at its disposal, it makes easy meat of city travelling. The car is compact and light which helps the engine a lot in terms of performance, so even if you're on the open road, there really isn't a struggle to get the Figo up to speed. The 5 speed manual gear box is a treat and slotting it into gear is like slipping a hot knife into butter, this is helped by a smooth clutch. The combined fuel economy is listed in the brochure of being 5.7L per 100km, which is very achievable as I was hovering around the 6L mark with quite a variant of driving. The Figo isn't going to win you any drag races with its 0-100km/h time coming in at 11.8 seconds and its top speed capped at 175km/h but that's not what this car is made for and I'm guessing their target market knows that as well. 

COMFORT

As mentioned before that the overall shape is catered to increase the cabin space and it's pretty comfortable for four adults travelling in the Figo sedan. The car comes with cloth seats which are decent size and quite comfy, doesn't feel hard or rigid. Interior comfort is enhances with a manual air-conditioner. It has electric windows with a one touch power down for driver only. The in-car entertainment features a four speaker system with bluetooth and USB connectivity. Safety wise, the Figo comes fitted with two airbags, one for the driver and the front passenger and has anti-lock braking system. 

VERDICT

Overall the Ford Figo Trend is a great offering for the price tag it has, it's loaded with most of the essentials that one needs in a city car and the ride quality along with fuel economy just justifies its presence in the market as one of the better budget cars to get. While the car won't win any beauty contests, Ford have done a great job with the details on the Trend spec to make it look appealing. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.5L NA
Gear Box	5 Speed Manual
Power	88kW
Torque	150Nm
0-100	11.8 seconds
Economy	5.7 L/100km
Price	R 197,950