December 2012

This has been a first-rate year. Really. Ignore the economic mire and the worst weather ever and you’re left with the brilliant Olympics (go TeamGB!) and epic tech strides forward. This was the year that Android duffed up iOS, outlandish electric car concepts became real and 3D printing showed its mettle (and ribbons of plastic). All cause for a party, and there’s no party better than the Stuff Gadget Awards. As always, we’re applauding the year’s best, most forward-thinking, most exciting gadgets, apps and gear. And anyway – back in spring most of us had a hosepipe ban, so the rain was sort of a blessing anyway.

That’s the looking back. But this issue is just as dedicated to the now and the next. Now you have to decide between a Samsung Galaxy S3 or an iPhone 5 – or one of the host of Androids that’s stuck its head over the parapet, such as the whopping Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

Next you need to block out 2013 to play the latest incarnation of SimCity. We’ve explored its deep, complex world – and even Godzilla didn’t make us want to leave. Somewhere in-between you need to put down the gadgets and take on the chill with our winter sports guide. Hope it doesn’t rain.

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This issue was brought to you by:
Asus' second PadFone
A quintet of gadget lookalikes
GoPro’s 4K headcam
A miniaturised Galaxy S III
And a computer game that teaches you to play the guitar

What's inside