September 2011

100 is a big number. A bit of a splurge, really. You wouldn’t need a list of the 100 best ever biscuits, trousers or moustaches (entertaining as they are). But with apps, 100 is barely scratching the surface. Such is the variety and quality of these smartphone and tablet softwares that when compiling this month’s cover feature we had to cull more from the shortlist than we finally included. It’s this variety that makes apps the lifeblood of modern tech. Those tiny, weightless icons can make or break a gadget, as you’ll find in our review of the new anti-iPad from HP and our look at the ludicrously cheap tablet from Kogan. They’re even important enough to warrant their own Top 10s.

Yep, apps matter. But they’re not the be-all and end-all. Gadgets can wow us with their other skills; Sony’s HX9V camera and HX923 TV are a double espresso hit of them. With tech such as this around it can feel as though we’re finally living out science fiction’s dreams - which, handily, leads me on to this issue’s centrepiece. Just in time for the release of Star Wars on Blu-ray, we’ve assembled a guide to the infinitely creative universe of sci-fi, illustrated with iconic art by Chris Foss. Set your face to stunned.

What's inside