Opinion

Witchdoctor enjoys installable smart templates for home voice control

Accessibility, Features, Home & Garden, News, Opinion, Partnership, Technology / By

Smart home, smart speakers, smart Amazon… PAT PILCHER gets to grips with installable templates that create new, personalised “skills” for Alexa, Amazon’s voice control technology. Content provided by Witchdoctor, “entertainment for grownups”. Read the story with full photographic content, plus more writing about technology, sound and vision, gadgetry, gaming and gear at https://www.witchdoctor.co.nz/ Alexa Skill Blueprints Free …

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Thinking about public transport costs (opinion)

Activism, Council, News, Opinion, Partnership, Transport / By

In Part 4 of their Reasonable Expectations series, Talk Wellington ask how much public transport costs Wellington (not much) and how much it should cost… Talk Wellington aims to bring good quality information about urban environments and transport systems to people of the Wellington region. “If ya pay peanuts, you get monkeys”, and, with no disrespect …

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Witchdoctor looks forward to guilt-free air travel

Airport, Features, News, Opinion, Partnership, Technology, Tourism / By

Travel lover PAT PILCHER gets excited about the potential for electro-aerodynamic-powered planes. Can travel finally be guilt free?. Content provided by Witchdoctor, “entertainment for grownups”. Read the story with full photographic content, plus more writing about technology, sound and vision, gadgetry, gaming and gear at https://www.witchdoctor.co.nz/ Some people smoke, but my guilty pleasure is travel. …

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Why Island Bay and the “Newtown Connections” matter (opinion)

Activism, Council, Cycliing, Features, News, Opinion, Partnership, Southern Suburbs, Transport / By

Why does stuff in the southern suburbs matter when it’s not my backyard, and when there are other cycleway type projects happening elsewhere in the region to pay attention to? Opinion by Talk Wellington, an organisation aiming to bring good quality information about urban environments and transport systems to people of the Wellington region.  If …

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Witchdoctor asks why we pay what we do for Netflix and Amazon content

Features, News, Opinion, Partnership, Technology, Television / By

Why do New Zealanders pay more per show from Netflix and Amazon Prime than our overseas counterparts? PAT PILCHER investigates. Content provided by Witchdoctor, “entertainment for grownups”. Read the story with full photographic content, plus more writing about technology, sound and vision, gadgetry, gaming and gear at https://www.witchdoctor.co.nz/ At Witchdoctor we’ve frequently bemoaned the sad state …

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Witchdoctor loves the style of the affordable Nokia 7.1

Features, News, Opinion, Partnership, Technology / By

It looks more like a piece of designer jewellery than a phone… PAT PILCHER checks out Nokia’s newest shiny thing. Content provided by Witchdoctor, “entertainment for grownups”. Read the story with full photographic content, plus more writing about technology, sound and vision, gadgetry, gaming and gear at https://www.witchdoctor.co.nz/ Nokia 7.1 RRP $598.00 Witchdoctor rating: 9/10 …

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Ferry terminal or concert arena?

Council, Events, Harbour, News, Opinion, Transport, Waterfront / By

This week, Kings Wharf was mooted as one of two possible sites for a new ferry terminal. It’s also been proposed as the best site for a new indoor concert arena. LINDSAY SHELTON of  Wellington.Scoop looks at the options. Only six days after the Regional Council announced that Kings Wharf had been chosen as one of …

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Cuba: super!

Books, Food, History, Hospitality, News, Opinion / By

The many facets of Wellington’s most iconic street are commemorated in a book that MARK CUBEY commends for mixing up a cool cocktail of history, personalities and food, glorious food. Beth Brash is having a great year. The former manager of Beervana, New Zealand’s biggest beer event, stepped up a rung in 2018 to programme …

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Blog: Work and family balance

Features, News, Opinion, Partnership, Real Estate, Recurring / By

This month I am going to change what I would normally write about, and talk about a subject that I believe every successful professional person struggles with in today’s fast-paced world. by James Copeland Recently I have been faced with a very unfamiliar situation that revolves around the loss or passing of a loved one. …

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Witchdoctor says it’s “she-oh-me” as Chinese giant lands in NZ

Features, News, Opinion, Technology / By

Electronics brand Xiaomi, China’s equivalent to Apple, hits the Kiwi market. PAT PILCHER gets hands on with one of the company’s smartphones. Content provided by Witchdoctor, “entertainment for grownups”. Read the story with full photographic content, plus more writing about technology, sound and vision, gadgetry, gaming and gear at https://www.witchdoctor.co.nz/ Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S RRP$799 Witchdoctor …

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RNZ Review: David Byrne at Wellington’s TSB Arena

Music, News, Opinion / By

RNZ Music’s KIRSTEN JOHNSTONE is overwhelmed by the incredible display of musicianship, movement, and joy on stage at David Byrne’s TSB Arena show in Wellington last night. David Byrne and band Photo: Bruce Mackay / Darker Arts Live See the full gallery at Undertheradar.co.nz I already know it’s going to be good. Variety called it “the most exhilarating touring …

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Remember Kristallnacht, fight fascism, embrace hope and violins

Activism, Events, History, Music, News, Opinion, Politics, World / By

On the anniversary of Kristallnacht, it’s time to look back 80 years and ask: who makes the Nazis? Then look forward with hope and music. By Mark Cubey Smashed windows of a Jewish business in Germany after Kristallnacht, 1938 In case you were wondering, it’s fine after the events of the last 12 months to call …

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Witchdoctor gets down and dirty with a spring clean for records

Features, Music, News, Opinion, Technology / By

Have you tried a Spin Clean with The Groovinator? Or L’Art du Son? RICHARD VAREY has used them on his records, and he’s here to tell us all about it. Content provided by Witchdoctor, “entertainment for grownups”. Read the story with full photographic content, plus more writing about technology, sound and vision, gadgetry, gaming and …

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Witchdoctor wonders why Sky has declared war on pirates

Features, News, Opinion, Technology / By

How to become a millionaire? Own a pay TV company, but make sure you are a billionaire beforehand, says PAT PILCHER. Content provided by Witchdoctor, “entertainment for grownups”. Read the story with full photographic content, plus more writing about technology, sound and vision, gadgetry, gaming and gear at https://www.witchdoctor.co.nz/ Sky TV are going after pirates. …

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Witchdoctor checks out a small but feature-packed Kiwi amp

Features, News, Opinion, Technology / By

RICHARD VAREY checks out a Kiwi-designed desktop amp that blows the lid on his preconceptions, and proves to be so much more. Content provided by Witchdoctor, “entertainment for grownups”. Read the story with full photographic content, plus more writing about technology, sound and vision, gadgetry, gaming and gear at https://www.witchdoctor.co.nz/ IMS X8 Integrated Desktop Amplifier …

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Witchdoctor finds one remote to rule them all

Features, News, Opinion, Technology / By

PAT PILCHER settles in with the Logitech Harmony Elite remote and discovers not only is there no need to move from his seat and no more searching piles of remotes, but the wife is happier too. Content provided by Witchdoctor, “entertainment for grownups”. Read the story with full photographic content, plus more writing about technology, …

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Witchdoctor explains the Victory of the Musical Magpie

Entertainment, Features, Music, News, Opinion / By

Don’t worry, it’s the 21st Century, it’s okay to like pop music and weird shit too, writes GARY STEEL. Content provided by Witchdoctor, “entertainment for grownups”. Read the story with full photographic content, plus more writing about technology, sound and vision, gadgetry, gaming and gear at https://www.witchdoctor.co.nz/ I well remember the litmus test of rock credibility …

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Witchdoctor gets hands on with the Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Features, News, Opinion, Technology / By

PAT PILCHER unboxes Samsung’s latest premium offering to find a galaxy of peeper pleasing, high performance delight… Content provided by Witchdoctor, “entertainment for grownups”. Read more writing about technology, sound and vision, gadgetry, gaming and gear at https://www.witchdoctor.co.nz/ Samsung Galaxy Note 9 $1,999 (512GB) Witchdoctor rating: 9/10 10 September 2018 Unboxing the Note reveals a solid, …

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Tumbleweeds in central city as free-parkers stage protest

Features, News, Opinion, Transport / By

The central city was a dead zone on the weekend, as thousands of motorists spat with venom on the first weekend of Wellington City Council’s imposition of paid parking charges for places on weekends, which has been widely reviled with 600 complaints. By Mark Cubey The weekend dissolved into chaos early on as motorists who …

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Witchdoctor reports on new Xbox titles from Gamescom

Features, Games, News, Opinion, Technology / By

At the annual gaming trade fair in Cologne, Microsoft announced a bunch of incoming titles for the Xbox. DAVID BUTTERFIELD asks: are they worth your time? Content provided by Witchdoctor, “entertainment for grownups”. Read more writing about technology, sound and vision, gadgetry, gaming and gear at https://www.witchdoctor.co.nz/ Fallout 76, the first online multiplayer game in …

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Wellington.Scoop opinion: the bustastrophe decade

News, Opinion, Transport / By

The roots of Wellington’s current transport problems go back more than a decade, and can largely be attributed to avoidance of a rail solution, argues BRENT EFFORD in an opinion for Wellington.Scoop. Content from 4 September provided by Wellington.Scoop. Read more writing about Wellington issues, with reader feedback at http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/ The roots of the bustastrophe …

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