Adobe has offered a glimpse of its powerful generative AI video capabilities powered by the Adobe Firefly Video Model.

These new AI-driven features have been created to provide film editors and video professionals with an all-new toolbox to enrich their creativity, fill gaps in their timeline an enhance existing footage.

Firefly Video Model is yet another of Adobe’s family of generative AI models including an Image Model, Vector Model and Design Model.

The new Firefly-powered Text to Video and Image to Video capabilities will be available later this year on firefly.adobe.com.

Generative Expand, which allows users to enlarge a frame of an image or video to match the existing content, will also be embedded directly into Premiere Pro, one of the industry’s leading video editing applications.

Text to video capabilities will also allow creators to generate videos simply by using text prompts.

There will also be access a range of camera controls including angle, motion and zoom to finesse their videos and fill gaps with generated B-roll in their timeline.

Users who want to be notified when the Firefly Video Model is available in beta can join a wait list here.

Adobe Firefly has already been used to generate more than 12 billion images globally.

“Building upon our foundational Firefly models for imaging, design and vector creation, our Firefly foundation video model is designed to help the professional video community unlock new possibilities, streamline workflows and support their creative ideation,” said Ashley Still, senior vice president, Creative Product Group at Adobe.

“We are excited to bring new levels of creative control and efficiency to video editing with Firefly-powered Generative Extend in Premiere Pro.”

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Sony Interactive Entertainment has revealed the new AI-powered PlayStation 5 Pro console which has a range of new features to enrich your gaming experience.

The PS5 Pro will go on sale on November 7, 2024, and will be priced at $1199.95. Pre-orders kick off on September 26.

On board is a 2TB solid state drive and it comes with a DualSense wireless controller.

The new more powerful console gives game creators the opportunity to create new and richer experiences for players to take advantage of the powerful hardware and system architecture.

The PS5 Pro has an upgraded CPU which delivers 67 per cent more compute units than the current PlayStation 5 console with 28 per cent faster memory.

This all adds up to a 45 per cent increase in rendering speed for gameplay so games run faster and smoother.

The new console will also deliver advanced ray tracing with more dynamic reflection and refraction of light at twice the speed of the current PS5 console.

And there is also AI onboard and it will drive upscaling with a new machine learning-based technology called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution which can improve clarity and add a remarkable level of detail.

“We are proud of the impact that PS5 has made on the gaming industry, providing an opportunity for game creators to realise their vision and reach millions of players around the world,” said Hideaki Nishino, CEO, Platform Business Group, Sony Interactive Entertainment.

“But we’re always pushing ourselves to innovate so we can meet, and hopefully exceed, the evolving needs of our players.

“We’re pleased to offer PS5 Pro alongside the current PS5 console this holiday, and we look forward to seeing continued gameplay innovation from our talented game creators that unleash the possibilities of the PS5 hardware for years to come.”

There are a range of titles which will take advantage of the additional power offered by the PS5 Pro. And they will be labelled as “PS5 Pro Enhanced”.

These include blockbuster titles from PlayStation Studios and SIE’s partners like Alan Wake 2, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Demon’s Souls, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Gran Turismo 7, Hogwarts Legacy, Horizon Forbidden West, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, The Crew Motorfest, The First Descendant, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and more.

Naturally games that a playable on the PS5 console will be able to be enjoyed on the PS5 Pro which has the same user interface.

Also on board is PS5 Pro Gamer Boost which means players have access to more than 8500 backward compatible PlayStation 4 games.

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Apple has unveiled its new AirPods 4 with a new design and active noise cancellation and announced an update for AirPods Pro 2 that can turn them into hearing aids.

Apple has also updated the AirPods Max headphones with new colours and USB-C charging.

The AirPods 4 will be available in Australia on September 20 and will be priced from $219.

AIRPODS 4

The AirPods 4 have a new look and maintains its open ear design and will be available in two models – with or without active noise cancellation.

The new design comes after Apple’s extensive analysis and mapping of thousands of ear shapes and the collection of more than 50 million individual data points.

The new AirPods 4 include a new acoustic architecture, low distortion driver and high dynamic range amplifier and now include personalised spatial audio with dynamic head tracking.

Under the hood is the H2 chip which allows AirPods 4 to offer intelligent audio experiences like voice isolation and clear call quality even in noisy surroundings.

For the first time, the AirPods 4 now have the option of active noise cancellation which can help reduce external sounds on flights and public transport.

Also on board is transparency mode so users can also be aware of their surroundings.

It also has adaptive audio which is a combination of transparency mode and ANC and determined by the sounds around you.

Another new feature is conversation awareness which automatically lowers the media volume when you start speaking before returning to full volume when you stop talking.

The charging case is 10 per cent smaller and now has a USB-C port. The AirPods 4 with ANC can also be charged with an Apple Watch charger or a Qi-certified charger.

The AirPods 4 are priced at $219 and $299 with ANC and go on sale on September 20.

AIRPODS PRO 2

Apple made another announcement about a software upgrade that’s coming for the AirPods Pro 2 that can protect, test and improve your hearing.

Apple says hearing loss affects more than 1.5 billion people and could have other detrimental effects on your health including depression and social isolation.

Apple already has features in place to alert users when they are in noisy environments and to help reduce the ambient noise around them.

But with a future update that is awaiting clinical approval, AirPods Pro 2 users can conduct a clinically validated hearing test in just a few minutes with results presented in their personal profile.

Research shows hearing loss often goes untreated with an Apple hearing study showing 75 per cent of people diagnosed with hearing loss haven’t been given the support they need.

With the update, AirPods Pro 2 can also become a clinical grade hearing aid and be personalised to boosting the specific sounds you need so you hear what’s going on around you and hear the conversations even in a crowded room.

AIRPODS MAX

The AirPods Max has not had any design changes, but it will be available in five new colours – midnight, Starlight, blue, orange and purple.

It will also include a USB-C charging port.

The AirPods Max with USB C will be priced at $899 and go on sale on September 20.

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Samsung has confirmed the Galaxy Ring unveiled at its Unpacked launch event in Paris in July will be released in Australia in mid-October.

In fact, Australia will be the first country in the South-East Asia and Oceania region to receive Samsung’s impressive new wearable device.

Galaxy Ring is designed to be worn 24/7 to collect data and gather insights into your health and wellness.

All the data collected will be viewable in the Samsung Health app – a single free platform which allows users to monitor their health and fitness patterns and look for ways to improve it.

Sleep analysis will be a major part of the wellness analysis with Samsung bringing a new sleep AI algorithm to Galaxy Ring so it can understand your sleep quality and build better sleep habits.

Galaxy Ring will be able to even analyse your snoring and introduce new metrics including movement during sleep, sleep latency, heart and respiratory rate which all add up to a detailed and accurate analysis of your sleep quality.

It also has cycle tracking so women can also track their menstrual cycle.

But Galaxy Ring isn’t just about keeping an eye on your sleep, it can also give you information about your heart health with heart rate alerts which offers instant notifications for unusually high or low heart rates in real time via the Samsung Health app.

Users could also find out more about their heart rate including beats per minute, times starting time duration with live heart rate check.

Galaxy Ring can see when you’re working out through the Auto Workout Detection and offer daily prompts if you’re being inactive.

When paired to a Galaxy smartphone, users can use a double pinch via gestures to take photos or dismiss alarms.

And if you happen to misplace the Galaxy Ring you can find it via your Galaxy smartphone with Find My Ring on Samsung Find.

It will be available in three colour choices, Titanium Black, Titanium Silver and Titanium Gold, Galaxy and has a lightweight concave design.

Galaxy Ring will be available in nine sizes – from five to 13 – and customers can access a sizing kit as part of the purchase process to ensure it is a perfect when they receive it.

Here’s what customers need to do when they receive the Galaxy Ring sizing kit:

– Pick a size, try it on. Check the position of the three sensors on the bottom and the indicator on the outer surface. Wear the sample ring so that the sensors are facing up. Make sure the indicator is also on the palm side.

– When you find one that feels right, move your fingers around. Finger sizes can change from day to night, so it’s recommended to keep the ring on for at least 24 hours. Go about your day and sleep through the night.

– If your finger feels comfortable after 24 hours, that’s your Galaxy Ring size.

Pricing and precise release date is yet to be announced.

Customers can register their interest in Galaxy Ring here.

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ASUS have announced their latest Intel-Driven Copilot+ PC, the Zenbook S14 powered by the new Intel Core Ultra 7 (Series 2) processor, which is now available to pre-order in Australia.

The Zenbook S14 (UX5406SA) comes as a part of ASUS’ latest wave of AI products which have previously included AMD and Qualcomm powered offerings. This latest Zenbook S14 uses the newly announced Intel Lunar Lake CPUs which can generate up to 47 Trillion Operations Per Second (TOPS) to power the on-board AI functions including Microsoft CoPilot (with a dedicated Copilot Key on-board), as well as the ASUS-exclusive StoryCube and MuseTree apps. 

The Zenbook S14 utilises the new Ceraluminum material announced for the Zenbook S16, and comes in a Zumia Grey colourway. The Ceraluminum offers the strength of ceramic, with the design options of metal, with the S14 including US MIL-STD 810H military-grade certification to protect it on the go. At just 1.1cm thin and 1.2 kg light making it ASUS’ slimmest 14” AI PC.

ASUS has been including stunning displays in their Zenbook series and the S14 is no different with a Pantone validated 14” 3K touch display capable of 120Hz refresh rate.

The new Intel Core Ultra 7 (Series 2) processor is matched with 32GB LPDDR5X and 1TB SSD and comes with Intel ARC Graphics. ASUS are also spruiking some incredible battery life, which offers a number of benefits, with up to 27 hours of unplugged use ensuring all-day productivity.

While you’re on the road, you’ll find a load of connectivity options with USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4) and Type-A ports-onboard, as well as HDMI out. There’s Wifi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 on offer for connecting wirelessly as well. 

Bradley Howe, Head of Consumer, Systems Business Group, ASUS Australia, said: “We’re excited to collaborate with Intel on the launch of the new ASUS Zenbook S 14. This device offers quick access to AI experiences and is our thinnest, lightest and most powerful PC yet. We wanted to create a device for those looking to combine performance with aesthetics that will last throughout the day also making this our longest-lasting PC with up to 27 hours of battery life.”

The new ASUS Zenbook S14 with Intel Core Ultra 7 (series 2) processor is available for pre-order for $3,399 from today through ASUS E-shop, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and Officeworks. You’ll be able to see them in-store from September 24th. 

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The name’s Bond, James Bond. This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching Goldfinger released in 1964 and starring Sean Connery.

Goldfinger, the first Bond movie we’ve covered on the show, tells the story of James Bond on the trail of a gold smuggler who comes up with a daring scheme to increase his wealth.

Stephen watched Goldfinger for the first time on TV with is Dad, a huge Bond fan, and has returned to see it again many times while Trevor is watching his very first Bond film.

We go through the memorable scenes and share some interesting facts, behind the scenes tidbits, trivia, fact v fiction and other things you don’t know about the film.

You can listen to the show on the player below.

Subscribe to the show here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-best-movies-youve-never-seen/id1578996864

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Europe’s biggest trade show is kicking off this week and tech company Ecovacs is showing off their upcoming tech for 2025. The new range includes a family of devices, with options for everyone’s budget. 

The headliner for Ecovacs is the new DEEBOT X8 family which offers a new mop cleaning system developed by Tineco. There’s also the new ultra-slim DEEBOT T50 range and the affordable N30 series which will offer more affordable options using the latest cleaning tech. 

The headliner for the DEEBOT X8 family is the DEEBOT X8 PRO OMNI, the first with the new integrated mop cleaning system. 

The cleaning robot as Ecovacs calls it includes 13,000pa of suction and their latest anti-tangle bristle roller to pick up dirt, dust and pet hair without a worry, and also includes an adaptive brush that can extend out into corners to get those hard to reach places. 

But the big news is the inclusion of a new integrated mop cleaning system. The X8 Pro Omni includes an OZMO cleaning roller with up to 4,000pa of downward pressure for mopping, with the roller constantly cleaned and kept wet by 16 nozzles. 

 Navigation is a breeze with the TruEdge 3D Edge Sensor able to navigate thresholds and furniture around the house without collisions.The on-board AM 3D depth-sensing visual module uses AI to find and even re-mop stains to ensure they’re gone – and you have both voice control with their Yiko assistant, or can use the app to direct it when needed. 

The DEEBOT X8 PRO OMNI will have a new OMNI station which has been re-designed to be more compact and now includes features like Temperature-controlled Hot Water Mop Washing, High-temperature Hot Air Drying and Auto Cleaning Solution addition to the water tank.

The DEEBOT T50 range will be ultra-slim, with the DEEBOT T50 and DEEBOT T50 Pro Omni featuring a height of just 81mm. 

The ultra-slim design has been achieved by removing the laser module from the top of the unit, just like their X-series, and integrating it into the housing – alongside their sensors for TrueEdge 2.0 for obstacle avoidance and navigation.

The DEEBOT T50 PRO OMNI includes vacuum suction up to 15,000 Pa with the ZeroTangle 2.0 roller to prevent tangling of hair, and adaptive brush that can really get into those deep edges and corners.

The DEEBOT T50 series will also have their OMNI station featuring heated water up to 70° and hot air drying.

Lastly the N30 series will be a more affordable range with the flagship the DEEBOT N30 PRO OMNI offering a complete cleaning solution. 

The N30 PRO OMNI includes ZeroTangle Anti-Tangle Technology 2.0 and TruEdge Adaptive Edge 2.0 roller for avoiding hair getting stuck ,as well as TrueEdge for mapping and OZMO Turbo 2.0 mopping, letting it effectively remove dirt from all corners of your home. 

The N30 PRO OMNI includes an OMNI station with auto self-cleaning. The station washes the mops in 60°C hot water and dries them at 40°C. ECOVACS have also included a new feature, an integrated floor cleaning additive in the form of a detergent capsule which mixes with the water during the mop washing process and ensures even cleaner floors for up to a month.

The easy to use app lets you manage suction power, waterflow and cleaning modes and schedules or just check your DEEBOT N30 Pro’s progress, all from your phone. 

We’re staying tuned on launch dates and pricing for this new family of cleaning robots, and we’ll bring you more as soon as ECOVACS has anything to announce.

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At IFA 2024 Belkin has today announced new audio products and travel-focused mobile charging products.

The three new SoundForm audio products are the SoundForm ClearFit, SoundForm Isolate and SoundForm Surround, each including Belkin’s Signature Sound.

The SoundForm ClearFit are open ear headphones designed for the active athlete with an IPx5 sweat resistant rating, 8 hours of playback and a charging case which houses another 18 hours of charge.  Priced at RRP $89.95 you can get them from Belkin online and leading retailers.

The SoundForm Isolate and Surround are over the ear headphones with similar builds, 60 hours of battery life with the former offering ANC as a point of difference.  They will retail for $89.95 and $69.95 respectively when they go on sale next year.

Belkin are better known for their charging solutions and here they are offering several new wired and wireless charging products including:

• BoostCharge Magnetic Foldable charger which supports 15W wireless charging of iPhones and Qi2 enabled products.  It is available as a single charger or a 2-in-1 solution to charge your earbuds at the same as your phone. Retailing at $99.95 and $149.95 they will be available in September and November respectively.
• BoostCharge  3-in-1 Magnetic Foldable Charger which supports 15W wireless charging to your supported phone, 5W to your Apple Watch and 5W to your earbuds.  RRP A$199.95 available in November.
• BoostCharge  Pro Magnetic Wireless Travel Pad is available in 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 versions with support for Qi2 and 15W fast wireless charging.  RRP A$199.95 in November and RRP A$239.95 in October
• BoostCharge Power Bank 10K with Integrated Cable – compact and support for PD you can charge multiple devices at a time.  Available in Black, Blue, Pink and White, pricing will be forthcoming closer to release date.
• BoostCharge Pro 3-Port Laptop Power Bank 20K delivers 65W of power to your laptop or smartphone for quick, safe charging.  The colour display shows battery status to monitor the remaining charge and power needs.  RRP A$159.95 and available in October.

Belkin has also announced portable keyboards to help you work on the go.  The Belkin Pro Keyboard is a backlit Bluetooth keyboard that you can pair to your iPad for easy use and connectivity.  Pricing and availability will be announced closer to the launch date.

With so many new Belkin products now announced we suggest you check out the Belkin website for more information.

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Google has released Android 15 this week, but it’s going to be a little while before we see it on phones, with Google’s Pixel phones set to receive the update in the ‘coming weeks’.

The Android 15 update has been available as a Developer Preview since it was released back in February, but the full release has now been pushed to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) repository. 

The Android 15 update hasn’t been entirely outlined as yet, however the announcement did touch on some features. 

Privacy focused features are high, with a new Private Space being launched, that will let you keep sensitive apps separate with an additional layer of authentication on top. Google is also looking to improve their Passkey support, letting you sign-in using a single tap. 

Google is looking at their device range including the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Pixel Tablet, with better support for displaying apps edge-to-edge, as well as offering a new layout which features an option to pin thte taskbar to the screen, letting you switch between apps faster – or save your favourite split-screen app combination.

There will be a lot more to come, with developers getting a head-start on building their apps for Android 15. Google is also starting a new series of feature focused topics called Spotlight Weeks, which will deep-dive the more technical topics in the release. 

With the Android 15 update now available publicly, Google says that we’ll see devices from a range of manufacturers including Samsung, Honor, iQOO, Lenovo, Motorola, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, realme, Sharp, Sony, Tecno, vivo, and Xiaomi receiving an Android 15 update ‘in the coming months’. If you’re a bit techy though, you can always pull the release and build your own ROM if you don’t want to wait.

For most of us though, we’ll be seeing the Android 15 starting to hit Pixel phones in the next few weeks. You can check to see if it’s available by going to Settings > System > Software Updates.

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Finding a pay phone these days can be a challenge, however they’re still around and being used – and used a lot according to the latest data from Telstra.

Over the last few years, Telstra has made a number of changes to their more than 14,000 public payphones around Australia. First they made  making calls free, before they also opened the Wifi Hotspot at almost 4,000 payphones to anyone.

Since making calls and data free, Telstra has seen a distinct jump in usage at their payphones. Telstra has reported a 67% jump year-over-year, with users have downloading a massive 133.4 terrabytes of data in June, and making 25.8 million calls.

The amount of data is staggering, with Telstra equating the number to being the same as ‘streaming 5 years of 4k video, over 100 years of TikTok streaming or 125 years of music!’ It’s not just downloading videos and streaming music, there’s tangible benefits for communitites, with Telstra sharing use cases including

Remote Indigenous communities, for example, use free Wi-Fi to stay connected to vital health and government services.

Communities affected by natural disasters who may have disrupted service at home gather around payphones with free Wi-Fi to let their loved ones know they’re OK or to help them rebuild and reconnect.

People in vulnerable circumstances, such as those experiencing homelessness or fleeing domestic violence, can use our free Wi-Fi services to access safety and support services.

The ability to make free calls from Telstra payphones has also been a boon, with 301,000 of the calls made to lifesaving services including ‘000’, Lifeline and 1800Respect.

It’s safe to say that Telstra’s payphones have become essential to some customers, and Telstra is set to make them even better with improvements planned to 1,000 payphones around the country. Telstra says that the ‘1,000 upgraded payphones will allow anyone to not only make free calls but also charge their devices with built-in USB charging facilities and stay active for longer thanks to better power backups.’

To check where the nearest payphone is to you, you can head to the Telstra payphone locator tool here.

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ASUS announced their second gen Windows handheld, the ROG ALLY X back in June. It’s now on-sale and time to take it for a spin thanks to ASUS sending a unit over to check out. 

At $1,599, the ROG ALLY X is a pricey device,but it’s received a few key updates from the original including upgraded storage, RAM, and battery life. The unit itself has also been redesigned for better ergonomics, and there’s a new all-black colour scheme. 

The original handled pretty well, but how does this upgraded model handle? I spent the last couple of weeks with the ROG ALLY X and here’s how it went. 

What’s New

The ROG ALLY X has seen a number of updates both inside and out, with the result being a smoother running handheld that’s more comfortable to hold and play with for longer periods.

Under the hood, the ROG ALLY X uses the same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme CPU as the original, with ASUS adding more memory bumping the original 16GB to 24GB. 

ASUS has also upgraded the size, as well as the form factor with a 1TB M.2 2280 Gen 4 SSD inside – with the 2280 M.2 drives offering larger capacity above 2TB, as well as being more commonly stocked making it easier to upgrade down the track. 

The major criticism of the gen 1 ROG ALLY was the battery life, which has been doubled for the ROG ALLY X with a whopping 80WHr battery powering the unit. 

On the outside, that new black colourway looks clean and shows off the RGB LEDs around the thumbsticks even better than the white and the unit has a more rounded shape to feel more comfortable in the hand.

The ROG ALLY X keeps the fingerprint sensor enabled power button on the top which supports Windows Hello login, however ASUS has replaced their XG Mobile eGPU slot with another USB-C port which allows for more accessories to be plugged in and more. 

In terms of ergonomics, the ROG ALLY X has changed the arrangement of buttons and thumbsticks to a better angle, as well as changing the slant on the triggers making them easier to press. The macro buttons on the rear have been shrunk to reduce accidental taps.

ASUS have also replaced the thumbsticks with more durable modules, as well as replaced the D-Pad with a more functional 8-way option more suitable for fighting and retro games.

Finally, ASUS has worked their magic on cooling with smaller fans that use thinner fan blades but move more air, and cooling the ROG ALLY X more efficiently over longer periods. 

What’s Great

The ROG ALLY X has improved a number of things between generations, though the two biggest for me have been smoothness of performance and the dramatically improved battery life. 

The original saw around an hour of gaming before you began experiencing performance issues, but the ROG ALLY was easily able to get to at least two hours of hard-core gaming on Turbo mode.

Charging is pretty decent with the 65W charger getting you back to full in a little over an hour and a half – however I used my Anker 737 powerbank on the move to keep it running for a fair bit longer. 

The other major difference for me was the smoothness of performance. The bump in RAM up to 24GB has meant an decrease in loading times, and overall smoother performance.

The games load quickly, but you also get very decent Frames Per Seconds from the AMD Z1 Extreme platform – with games like Fortnite, Sons of the Forest and Cyberpunk 2077 hitting 40-50fps easily. 

The whole design feels a little more comfortable in the hand, even if it is a little heavier – 70 grams to be exact. The change in design has shifted the weight to sit where your thumb and forefinger lie while gripping the device, keeping it balanced. 

Lastly, the star of the show for me has been the improved ASUS Armoury Crate app, which launches when you first login to Windows.

From Armoury Crate you can install the various game storefronts, then launch into them. You can also change key mappings, hardware settings and loads more in the command centre. Armoury Crate also handles updates and more, leaving you free to jump into games when you want. 

The final bonus is the 3-months of Xbox GamePass Ultimate, letting you access the pretty extensive library of games available through Microsoft’s subscription service on the ROG ALLY X. At $17.99/month though, just remember when Microsoft is set to charge you and decide if you want to continue.

What’s not so great

While ASUS has listened to the feedback and from a technical standpoint have delivered a fantastic second-gen device, there are some things that aren’t great. My two big bug-bears for the ROG ALLY X are the price, and Windows. 

The improvements in hardware across the board on the ROG ALLY X have really helped ASUS to nail this new model. Those improvements come at a cost though, and $1,599 is a pricey option. 

There are a number of options available – even from ASUS offering NVIDIA RTX graphics and decent specs for around the $1599 mark. This makes it more of a decision on whether you want a portable handheld gaming device or laptop. 

At a cheaper price point, the ROG ALLY X would really shine, but the reality of rising parts and manufacturing costs, as well as shipping has led to this price point. 

The other factor for me is the Windows system really isn’t suited for a handheld gaming device. 

ASUS’ Armoury Crate software really makes an effort to offset the clunky Windows interface on the 7” display – like entering your password on the on-screen keyboard when the fingerprint sensor doesn’t work.

While Windows really shouldn’t be navigated on a 7” display, the touch display does make it a little easier to get around – but it takes you out of what you’re doing, having to fight Windows to navigate or do things.

Overall it’s just Windows that needs to change but Armoury Crate tries its best and the ASUS developers are continuing to work to make it a little easier – even if Microsoft isn’t.

Final Thoughts

The improvements to the device design, as well as internals have made for a great second gen device in the ROG ALLY X. 

The only drawbacks are the jump in price to $1,599 and the clunky Windows experience that you have to endure when Armoury Crate can’t pick up the slack. 

Overall though, the jump in RAM, bigger battery and the changes to the design have meant for improvements all round that make the ROG ALLY X the best Windows Handheld gaming system you can get right now. 

You can check out the ROG ALLY X over on the ASUS eShop and JB Hiifi.

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IFA in Berlin is an event where home appliances take centre stage with everything from Fridges to Washing machines on display, and while Samsung has big announcements in that space we’ve also got news of two new versions of their short-throw projector The Premiere coming to Australia.

“Our commitment to Australians is to offer screens for every room that will always exceed expectations for function, form and value,” said Jeremy Senior Vice President of Consumer Electronics at Samsung Australia.

“While we know that Australians love premium big screen home cinema experiences; more than a quarter of Australians who live in apartments and townhouses get frustrated by appliances that take up too much space. Our new Premiere line-up provides Australians with more big screen options that deliver stunning picture quality, immersive sound and smart connectivity features in a simple, minimalist and easy-to-use form.”

The Premier 9 and Premier 7 projectors sit close to the wall you want the picture on and show it in huge scale with a “short throw” of the picture from projector to wall or screen.  It’s this that differentiates them from most all other projectors, allowing them to not require advanced installation or stand out as an item hanging from the ceiling.

Samsung’s Premiere 9 has triple-laser technology for outstanding colours and brightness, while both have 4K resolution for a screen up to 130 inches!

For the nerds out there, “The Premiere 9”  has a 154% colour gamut coverage while “The Premiere 7” has 100% of the DCI-P3 standard2

Both have HDR10+ with a Lumens count of 3,450 on the Premiere 9 and 2,500 for the Premiere 7.

And there’s AI Upscaling which Samsung has mastered in their TV range.

Another benefit of a short throw projector like these is the lack of need for more gear to make it work.

Both have in-built adio with a 40W 2.2.2 on The Premiere 9, and 30W 2.2 on The Premier 7.

No pricing details, yet.

Disclosure: Funding for Trevor Long’s trip to IFA includes funds, in part, from Samsung.

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Smart home company Eufy have today unveiled the new S1 Pro Robot Vacuum, the first in their high-end S-series to launch, which will offer high-tech advancements and innovative capabilities.

The eufy S1 Pro includes a load of new technical innovations, including a square, compact design that stands just 96mm tall to allow it to navigate under furniture easier and reach into corners easier, allowing it to reach within 1 cm of walls and corner.

The robot vacuum also comes with the all-in-one Uniclean Station charging base which now includes a transparent water tank to help you monitor levels. 

The vacuum itself includes the TurboWash Roller Mop, that cleans the floor while also cleaning itself, with the roller mop able to rotate at up to 170 RPM to really get those hard to remove stains. 

The roller mop is constantly kept wet with a cleaning solution and ozone water mix from the Eco-Clean tank. The built-in ozone generator will apparently sanitise the floor and vacuum components to achieve a 99.99% sterilisation rate – perfect for keeping floors clean after the kids and pets have been through. 

There’s a powerful motor in the eufy S1 Pro, capable of up to 8,000pa of suction with two side brushes and a detangling brush helping to direct dirt, and dust into the bag – with the detangling brush helping to reduce hair entanglement. 

The Best feature – at least for me – is the 12mm auto lift capability, which can automatically elevate the mop 12mm up when it detects a carpet, so you can keep cleaning, while protecting medium-pile carpets. The eufy S1 Pro includes advanced navigation and mapping as well as obstacle avoidance, letting it identify common household items including shoes, toys – and Pet ‘Messes’ letting the vacuum avoid them instead of getting caught on – or worse, spreading them. 

Eufy has included their 3D MatrixEye tech, which can map your home better, and includes a 3D mapping component to better understand your home layout. 

All of this can be controlled by the eufy Clean app – available for Android and iOS – which offers multi-floor mapping, spot cleaning, custom cleaning modes, scheduling and more – as well as keeping your UniClean Station and S1 Pro up to date with the latest firmware.

You can get your hands on the eufy S1 Pro from JB Hi Fi, The Good Guys and eufy.com/au for $2,699. 

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Show me the money! This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching Jerry Maguire starring Tom Cruise and Rene Zellweger and written and directed by Cameron Crowe.

Jerry Maguire tells the story of a sports agent who gets an attack of conscience and is fired from his agency – but he manages to hold on to one client.

Stephen did NOT watch Jerry Maguire in the cinema – and he has a very good reason but he has rewatched it several times since while Trevor is watching for the first time start to finish.

We go through the memorable scenes and share some interesting facts, behind the scenes tidbits, trivia, fact v fiction and other things you don’t know about the film.

You can listen to the show on the player below.

Subscribe to the show here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-best-movies-youve-never-seen/id1578996864

The post The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen – Jerry Maguire appeared first on Tech Guide.

OPPO Australia has today announced their latest entry-level smartphone, the OPPO A80, priced at just RRP AUD$360.

The OPPO A80 uses various OPPO’s AI technology including a system-level AI model called AI LinkBoost.  This ensures that you will have a stable connection in any location.

The A80 also includes an AI feature called AI Eraser, similar to Google’s Magic Eraser where you can identify and remove unwanted people or objects from photos and create a “flawless shot.”

“We are excited to bring this innovative AI technology to Australian users through our new A80 handset, making advanced technology accessible,” said Michael Tran, Managing Director of OPPO Australia.

The OPPO A80 is designed to be tough with a reinforced internal structure and Panda Glass for the screen cover.  OPPO has also developed the “Anti-Drop Shield Case,” to give your phone even more protection — sold separately.

It is just 7.68mm thick and has a stylish design with a glossy middle frame and an angular rectangular camera on the back.  The A80 is available in a Moonlight Purple and a Starry Black with a stunning finish.

The large 6.67-inch display has a refresh rate of up to 120Hz offering fast, smooth gaming and movie consumption made even better by the Ultra Bright Display with a typical brightness of 850 nits.

The OPPO A80 includes support for OPPO’s 45W SUPERVOOC fast charging with the  5,100mAh battery design to last over a day.

The rear camera is a 50MP AI dual camera setup promising to offer decent photography at an entry-level price.

The OPPO A80 is available now in Starry Black and Moonlight Purple for $369 at JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks, Big W, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys and the OPPO Australia Online Store.

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On September 7 ALDI have another ECOVACS DEEBOT vacuum available as part of their Special Buys.   The DEEBOT NEO 2.0 will be available at ALDI until sold out for just $349, half of its usual RRP.

The DEEBOT NEO 2.0 delivers a high 5,000Pa of suction power and a 5,200mAh battery that will keep it sucking for up to 180 minutes.

Once the battery drops low the vacuum returns to its dock to recharge before completing its cleaning when the battery is charged.

The DEEBOT NEO 2.0 can detect carpet floors thanks to its ultrasonic sensors and prevent carpet from getting wet while mopping.  When on carpets it can also automatically boost suction for the deeper clean.

The maps are updated in real time while cleaning with the maps used to clean your house the most efficient way possible.

The DEEBOT NEO 2.0 supports Google Home and Amazon Alexa control and can also be controlled using the ECOVACS app on your smartphone.

The DEEBOT NEO 2.0 is available as part of ALDI Special Buys from September 7th for $349, while stocks last.

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Sony has today unveiled their smallest ever closed true wireless earbuds, the WF-C510.

The Sony WF-C510 are will fit in even the smallest ears in comfort thanks to their ergonomic, compact design.  The shape matches the human ear shape to provide for a more stable fit.

Sony used ear data collected ever since their first in-ear headphones were introduced back in 1982 to develop the new shape that will comfortably fit more people.  The outer surface of the earbuds is a wide, flat surface to allow you to operate the media you are listening to without interrupting the fit of them in your ear.

The earbuds offer 11 hours of battery life with the charging case able to provide an extra hour of listening with just five minutes of charging thanks to its support for quick charge. 

The new earbuds support multipoint connectivity allowing you to connect two Bluetooth devices at the same time and you can expect to do it with the usual Sony high-quality sound.

The WF-C510 have an IPX4 rating you can be sure a few little splashes won’t affect them.

The Sony WF-C510 will be available in blue, yellow, black and white in Australia from October 2024. Presale starts today at an affordable AU$109.95 RRP.

The post Sony announce their smallest, most compact closed earbuds yet, the WF-C510 appeared first on Tech Guide.

This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching Lucy which was released in 2014 starring Scarlett Johannsen and written and directed by Luc Besson.

Lucy tells the story of a woman forced into handing over a suitcase to an Asian mobster who then involves her into a drug smuggling operation with a difference – one that complete changes her.

Stephen watched Lucy in the cinema – he’s a big Luc Besson fan – and has rewatched it several times since while Trevor is roped in for the first time ever.

We go through the memorable scenes and share some interesting facts, behind the scenes tidbits, trivia, fact v fiction and other things you don’t know about the film.

You can listen to the show on the player below.

Subscribe to the show here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-best-movies-youve-never-seen/id1578996864

The post The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen – Lucy appeared first on Tech Guide.

Ring has today announced the next generation of their Ring Battery Video Doorbell 2nd gen with some exciting new features to the model and a longer battery life.

The Battery Video Doorbell now includes Head-to-Toe HD video, Colour Night Vision and an easy DIY installation mount and a battery life that is 23 percent longer than the previous generation model.

The second generation model includes Ring’s HD video and an 150-degree by 150-degree field of view resulting in a head-to-toe of any visitors to your doorstep.

This view is 66 percent taller than the first generation Battery Video Doorbell making features such as package notification even more accurate and helpful.

Other Ring doorbells already include Colour Night Vision but this is usually saved for the pro models.  This time is the first time it has arrived on their entry-level doorbell and is a great new addition.

The doorbell arrives with a new mount that is not only easy to install but also easy to press, install and secure the doorbell onto.  A simple click off will allow you to remove it and recharge the battery when required (if you have the security key to unlock it).

Other Ring features include motion detection with Customisable Motion Zones and real-time alerts, Live View, and two-way talk.

Battery Video Doorbell is available for pre-order today for $149 AUD and $169 NZD on Ring.com,  Amazon.com.au and select retailers in Australia and New Zealand including jbhifi.com.au,  jbhifi.co.nz and noelleeming.co.nz. The doorbell will start shipping on September 4, 2024.

The post Ring announces the next generation of the Battery Video Doorbell 2nd gen with new features and a longer battery life appeared first on Tech Guide.

Floorcare brand Tineco’s range of Wet and Dry vacuums will be available at Harvey Norman from today making their home cleaning solutions accessible to a wider range of Aussie shoppers.

The range includes four models, at the top end a new S7 Steam which uses 140 degree steam to make a deep clean on tough stains like sticky or well set spills.

At $1199 it’s a premium product that will be a game-changer for many hard floor homes. Like all the Tineco products it has a self-clean feature to get it ready to use after each use.

A real innovation sits in the Floor One S6 FlashDry which is a strong wet and dry solution but it’s docking base solves one of the core pain points for wet and dry vacuums which is the cleaning of the vacuum itself after each use.

The dock uses 70 degree temps to wash the brush roller for two minutes, then a 70 degree hot air to remove residual water from every component including a dual-direction rotation of the brush to make it dry so there’s no moisture, no smell – just a vacuum ready to use again.

Down the lineup is the Floor One S5 Extreme which has a brush that goes right to the edge for a strong corner clean, and the entry level iFloor 2 which is lightweight but still a one click auto-clean of the brush roller after use.

All four models are at Harvey Norman with the Tineco Floor One S6 Flashdry priced at $899, the top of the range Tineco Floor One S7 Steam $1199 the Tineco Floor One S5 Extreme priced at $749 and the Tineco iFloor 2 just $399.

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