ALL THE BIGGEST STORIES FROM PLANET TECH
HOT FIVE #1
VanMoof S5
There are many areas where Amsterdam leads the world, some of them not suited to the pages of a family magazine, but one wholesome activity where the Dutch capital definitely excels is cycling. In fact, there are more bikes there than people… and VanMoof seems to have just tipped the balance even further in favour of the two-wheelers.
This is the S5, and it isn’t just any old boneshaker. Its three-speed Gen 5 motor is supposed to offer VanMoof’s smoothest ride yet, while the 487Wh battery gives a range of up to 93 miles. Such a desirable steed will be catnip to thieves, but the S5 has a built-in lock and alarm, plus it’s compatible with Apple’s Find My system.
Everything’s integrated into the frame, including a new Halo Ring interface that uses LED lights on the handlebars to show you the current battery status, assist level and speed. There’s also a powered mount for your phone and an app that shows directions and tracks your rides. You’d have to be high on Amsterdam’s finest not to want one.
As hot as… a big night out in Amsterdam £2298 / vanmoof.com
HOT FIVE #2
Virgin Media Stream
Being a grown-up involves a lot of commitments, whether it’s paying your bills on time, knowing the right day to put the bins out, or remembering how many kids you’ve got when you do the school run. Wouldn’t it be nice to have one thing less to worry about?
Virgin Media certainly thinks so, which is why it’s launched a new set-top box that lets you mix and match your telly subscriptions almost as often as you change your bed sheets. (You do change your bed sheets, right?) As well as all the usual live channels you get with Virgin, you can add Netflix, Disney+, Starzplay and various packages from Sky and BT Sport, but without having to sign up for more than a month at a time – so you can ea
