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.

The post Sony unveils the PlayStation 5 Pro console powered by AI to boost your gaming experience appeared first on Tech Guide.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has launched the latest model of its powerful ROG Ally handheld gaming consoles – the ROG Ally X – with faster speeds, longer battery life, improved thermals and even more precise controls.

ROG Ally X is available to pre-order ahead of its launch on July 22. It will be priced at $1,599.

The device was built with Windows 11 onboard and gives users the ability to play the latest games on the go.

It is powered by the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and has a new 1TB SSD (solid state drive) – up from the last model’s 512GB.

Memory has also been upgraded to 24GB LPDDR5X-7500 RAM and the AMD Ryzen Z1 can also share the video RAM with the device’s system RAM.

Having 24GB RAM means more memory can be allocated to both the system and the GPU to offer superior performance when running the next gen premium titles.

Users can even upgrade the storage thanks to a redesigned motherboard.

Design-wide the ROG Ally X has had an upgrade to make it even more ergonomic. The redesign also includes improved thermal cooling and connectivity.

It has deeper handles and a more rounded shape for added comfort without adding any thickness.

The buttons and stick are place at an even better angle and the triggers have been slanted to make them easier to reach.

The joysticks have also been replaced with a more durable module and the D-Pad has also been improved with more precise controls.

ASUS has listened to the customers and the XG Mobile port has been replaced with two USB-C ports – one of Thunderbolt compatible to work with third party docks and external GPUs.

To keep things cool the fans are 23 per cent smaller with 50 per cent thinner fan blades to promote better airflow.

There are two new tunnels in the housing to direct air up and out and a third exhaust vent on the upper edge.

This results in 24 per cent more air volume which keeps things 6-degree Celsius cooler than the last model so it can handle longer sessions.

Add in Armoury Crate SE 1.5 which now offers a customisable game library and unified system updated.

On the battery side is a larger 8oWh battery – twice the size of the previous model so users can play longer before needing to look for a power point.

“We’re excited to launch the new ROG Ally X in Australia and New Zealand after receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from users on the ROG Ally last year,” says Bradley Howe, Head of Consumer, Systems Business Group ASUS Australia.

“We have continued to listen to our customers’ feedback, resulting in the new ROG Ally X, which offers great improvements to battery, thermal cooling and storage.

“We are delighted that this best-in-class handheld console will now be available for individuals looking for a powerful yet portable on-the-go gaming experience.”

ASUS ROG Ally X will be available for pre-order, today in Australia and New Zealand from the ASUS E-shop (AU), JB Hi-Fi (AU/NZ) and PB Tech (NZ).

It will be priced at $1,599 in Australia and $1,799 in New Zealand.

SPECIFICATIONS

ASUS ROG Ally X

Operating System	Windows 11 Home
Display	7” FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9, 500 nits brightness, 100% sRGB, Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus with Gorilla® Glass DXC coating, touchscreen, 120 Hz refresh rate, 7 ms response time, AMD FreeSync Premium
CPU	AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Processor (“Zen4” architecture with 4 nm process, 8-core /16-threads, 24 MB total cache, up to 5.10 GHz boost)
GPU	AMD Radeon Graphics (AMD RDNA 3, 12 CUs, up to 2.7 GHz, up to 8.6 Teraflops)
Memory	24 GB LPDDR5X on board (7500 MHz dual channel)
Storage	Up to 1 TB M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe® G4x4 Value SSD
I/O Ports	1 x Audio combo jack 1 x Micro SD Card reader (UHS-II, 312MB/s) 1 x USB-C® supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4 with FreeSync support, Power Delivery 3.0 (Input: 20V/5A, Output 5V/1.5A)) 1 x USB4® (Thunderbolt 4 compliance, DisplayPort 1.4 with FreeSync support, Power Delivery 3.0 (Input: 20V/5A, output:5V/3A)
Audio	2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology Dolby Atmos® AI noise-cancelling technology Hi-Res Audio certification Built-in array microphone
Battery	80 Wh
Power Supply	USB-C®, 65W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 3.25 A, 65 W, Input: 100~240V AC 50 / 60 Hz universal
Dimension	28.0 x 11.1 x 2.47 cm
Weight	678 g

* Stephen Fenech travelled to Taiwan as a guest of ASUS

The post ASUS updates ROG Ally X handheld gaming console with more speed, power and a bigger battery appeared first on Tech Guide.

League of Legends Wild Rift is the mobile adaptation of the highly popular League of Legends PC game. The latest addition, Wild Rift, is designed specifically for newer platforms like iOS and Android devices.

League of Legends Wild Rift edition brings the fast-paced PVP action of the legendary game to mobile devices with a few slight adjustments to the mobile and console environment.

Gameplay of League of Legends: Wild Rift

League of Legends Wild Rift has streamlined gameplay where the matches are designed to be shorter than the traditional matches played on the PC. A match in the Wild Rift edition typically lasts for around 15 to 20 minutes. You can use different game elements like tweaking the map size, speeding up the character, leveling, and accelerating the gold acquisition for more dynamic gameplay. The newest edition of the game uses a stick control scheme optimized for touchscreen. The left stick moves the champions, whereas the right stick controls their abilities.

What are Wild Cores?

Similar to blue essence and riot points in League of Legends, Wild Rift has a premium currency called Wild Cores. The basic functionalities of Wild Cores are similar to the riot points in the original game and are used to purchase various in-game items.

Benefits of Wild Cores

Here are the different items that you can purchase through Wild Cores in League of Legends Wild Rift –

• Champions
• Champion Skins
• Chromas
• Special Bundles
• Hextech Crafting Materials
• Emotes
• Ward Skins
• Summoner Icons
• Experience Boosts
• Rune Pages
• Summoner Name Change
• Account Server Transfer

How to Get Wild Cores in League of Legends Wild Rift Game?

If you want to buy Wild Cores in League of Legends Wild Rift, you have to follow similar steps used for buying the riot points in LoL. Here is a detailed step-by-step guide that you can follow to buy Wild Cores as intended by the game developers –

• Launch the League of Legends Wild Rift game client on your device and log into your account.
• Once you have logged into your account, click on the store tab that you will find at the top left corner of your mobile screen.
• By tapping on the icon, you will be redirected to a list of drop-down menus. You will find different tabs labeled Skins, Champions, etc. From the list, look for the option that says Wild Cores.
• Click on the Wild Cores tab, after which you will be redirected to a new screen with different packages for wild Cores that you can easily purchase.
• From the packages, choose any amount that suits your preferences and follow the next step.
• After selecting the points, you have to click on Buy Now.
• After following the steps above, you will be redirected to a new screen where you will be prompted to choose a preferred mode of payment, such as debit/credit cards, PayPal, etc.
• Now, you will be asked to enter some personal information, like your name and card details, to proceed with the purchase and confirm your transaction.
• Once you confirm your transaction, Wind Cores will be instantly credited to your account.

How to Buy League of Legends Wild Cores Through Online Retailers?

It is not necessary for you to follow the in-game store to buy Wild Cores in LoL. You can also rely on authentic online retailers to purchase the Wild Cores points. However, you have to make sure that the retailers hold some kind of authenticity so that you aren’t duped for your money. You can follow the steps mentioned below to make your purchase –

• Go to the official website of Eldorado gg.
• Login into your account.
• If you don’t have an account on the website, make one, as it is a necessary step.
• Now go to the list of options by clicking on three horizontal lines present at the top left corner.
• Using the drop-down menu, click on Currency and then locate League of Legends Wild Rift Wild Cores.
• After locating the tab, click on the points label, and you will be redirected to a new screen.
• From the list of options, choose the desired amount of LoL Wild Cores you want.
• Next, click on the Buy Now option and make payment through your preferred mode of payment.
• Once your payment is registered, a small chat box will appear on your screen where you can chat with the seller.
• Keep following the steps as guided by the seller on how you can receive Wild Rift Wild Cores.
• Once you have successfully received the points, mark the order as received on the website.

Wrapping Up

In the comprehensive guide above, we understood the importance of Wild Cores in League of Legends Wild Rift and how gamers can purchase them. If you want to level up your gaming experience, you should also buy Wild Cores LoL today and take a fast route to elevate the gameplay dynamics.

The post How to Get Wild Cores in League of Legends: Wild Rift? appeared first on Tech Guide.

Laser has become an Australian consumer electronics success story and has been offering affordable products for customers for more than 36 years.

At a time when Australians are trying to balance cost of living pressures, the demand for quality yet affordable tech has not gone away.

Laser sells more than 800 products across 20 categories.

This week the company revealed its 10 most popular products sold in Australia through Amazon and it does reveal some remarkable insights.

These include multi-region DVD and Blu-ray players, a CD boombox, kid-friendly headphones, smart light bulbs, gaming keyboard and mouse and a wireless CarPlay and Android Auto touchscreen.

So what does this tell us?

First of all, physical media is still alive and well with DVD and Blu-ray players not only maintaining sales levels but also increasing more recently.

In fact, physical media makes up four of Laser’s top 10 and the top three items sold.

This shows we’re still connected to our DVD and Blu ray movie collections and our favourite music CDs.

Despite the availability of movies on streaming services, customers are still in favour of owning their favourite movies which they can view anytime and repeat at the same quality at any time.

If a customer owns a movie, they’re not at the mercy of the streaming services who seasonally remove titles from their platform.

The smart home is also becoming even more mainstream with Laser selling smart home light bulbs online and through traditional retailers for as little as $10.

The affordability of Laser’s smart products offers Australians an opportunity to adopt smart devices for the first time without breaking the bank with a view to expand their smart home network in the future.

Kids love their tech as well, but adults also love their peace and quiet which is why affordable kids headphones are among Laser’s most popular products.

Affordable gaming technology is also popular with kids and Laser offers gear like gaming keyboards and mice that improves their game-play experience.

One of the more recent product releases is Laser’s portable in-car touchscreen that can bring Apple’s CarPlay and Android Auto to older vehicles and allow drivers to enjoy hands-free access to mapping, music and podcasts while they’re driving.

“As a trusted Australian brand, we’re really proud of how we’ve stayed close to Australians wants and needs, able to help them try out new tech for less, at the same time as keeping everyday essentials affordable, accessible and quality assured,” said Chris Lau, Managing Director of Laser Corporation.

“Given our position in the market, I believe that our top 10 best sellers on Amazon give an insight into what Australians are really seeking at the moment, and what they are comfortable buying online.

“More considered purchases and new technology are more likely to be explored through our traditional instore retail partners, who play a critical role in introducing new technology into Australia.

“It is also interesting to see how online purchases have changed, as it wasn’t that long ago that our top online sellers were affordable party speakers, soundbars and other AV products.”

LASER’s Top 10 Most-Shopped Products on Amazon this month:

1. LASER DVD Player Multi-Region – HDMI, Composite Video and USB | RRP $49.95

https://www.amazon.com.au/Laser-Player-Composite-Region-Control/dp/B09RWKC6ZH

2. LASER CD Boombox with AM/FM Radio | RRP $49.95

https://www.amazon.com.au/Laser-Portable-Speaker-Boombox-Player/dp/B07DJ517HS

3. LASER Blu-Ray Player with Multi Region HDMI Digital 7.1 | RRP $129.95

https://www.amazon.com.au/Laser-Blu-Ray-Player-Region-Digital/dp/B09WQPL14Q

(back in stock from the week of April 1)

4. LASER Headphones Stereo Kid Friendly | RRP $9.95

https://www.amazon.com.au/LASER-Headphones-Stereo-Friendly-Colourful/dp/B074WPR777

5. LASER Smart White Bulb| RRP $10

https://www.amazon.com.au/Laser-10W-Smart-White-Bulb/dp/B082C6J6CK

6. LASER Earbud Headphones | RRP $5.95

https://www.amazon.com.au/Laser-AO-EB30-TOR-Earbud-Headphone-Tornado/dp/B07SDP1SC4

7. LASER Portable Walkman CD/MP3 Player with Anti-Skip Tech & Headphones | RRP $49.95

https://www.amazon.com.au/Laser-Portable-Walkman-Player-Headphones/dp/B0C8R3HCTY

8. LASER PC Gaming RGB LED Full Size Wired Keyboard | RRP $29.95

https://www.amazon.com.au/Laser-Keyboard-Backlit-Multimedia-Ghosting/dp/B0BTY4HCQM

9. LASER ANC Kids Wireless Headphones | RRP $29.95

https://www.amazon.com.au/Laser-Kids-Wireless-Headphones-Black/dp/B0CKQFW3F3

10. LASER Wireless CarPlay & Android Auto Touchscreen | RRP $169.95

https://www.amazon.com.au/Laser-Real-Time-Navigation-Hands-Free-Connectivity/dp/B0CL3Q8TK2

The post Laser reveals an interesting snapshot of Australia’s current affordable tech trends appeared first on Tech Guide.

Batteries are something we all need but single use batteries can not only dig into our wallet but also end up in landfill and impact the environment. The answer is Paleblue – a brand that offers rechargeable lithium ion, fast USB-C rechargeable batteries.

The Paleblue rechargeable batteries are available in a number of formats – AA, AAA, C, D and 9 Volt  – and they each have a USB-C port built-in and come with a cable that can charge four batteries at once.

That means there is no need to have a separate charger that adds to the cost of the product and reduces the clutter in your home.

With buy more than a million single use batteries every day in Australia and more than 90 per cent of these end up in landfill which can leak toxins into the soil.

At the moment only 30 per cent of batteries bought in Australia are rechargeable and in the AA and AAA that figure drops to below 2 per cent.

Paleblue now offers an alternative for a better solution for customers who churn through a lot of batteries.

One Paleblue smart USB-C rechargeable battery can replace more than 4,000 single use alkaline batteries which will add up to thousands of dollars in savings.

Paleblue batteries are already being used on film sets, concert venues, cruise ships and also in household devices.

These batteries have also been tested to provide impressive performance and can be charged by USB-C anywhere, on the move or at home.

A set of four AA USB-C rechargeable batteries is priced at $49.95 and includes a special four-in-one charging cable. The eight pack is $89.95, 12 pack is $124.95.

The AAA four pack is $49.95, eight pack $89.95 and 12 pack is $124.95.

The D USB-C two pack is $49.95, four pack $89.95 and 6 pack is $124.95.

The C USB-C two pack is $49.95, four pack $89.95 and 6 pack is $124.95.

The 9 Volt two pack is $49.95, four pack $89.95 and 6 pack is $124.95.

www.paleblueearth.com.au 

The post Paleblue’s USB-C fast rechargeable batteries can save you thousands and save the environment appeared first on Tech Guide.

It’s Day 5 of Tech Guide’s 2023 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas which is designed to help you find the right gift for your family and friends.

Today is Day 5 and we’re talking about all things gaming and accessories.

Here are Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas:

Day 1: Cameras

Day 2: Smartphones

Day 3: Wearables/smartwatches

Day 4: Headphones/speakers

DAY 5: Gaming

DAY 6: Tablets/e-readers

DAY 7: Drones/Gadgets

DAY 8: Smart/IoT devices

DAY 9: In-car gadgets

DAY 10: TVs/Blu-Ray/4K

DAY 11: Appliances

DAY 12: Computers

DAY 5: GAMING

SONY PLAYSTATION 5 SLIM – $799

Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced a new slim-line PS5 console will go on sale on December 6 with pre-orders kicking off today.

The new PlayStation 5 has a smaller and slimmer design but packs the same power as the original model and includes 1TB of storage for the PS5 and PS5 digital edition.

This new model also makes it possible to add an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive to the PS5 digital edition.

Sony created the new form factor to provide players with more flexibility and choice while at the same time ensuring the same technology was being offered despite the smaller housing.

FULL REPORT HERE

PANASONIC SOUNDSLAYER WEARABLE SPEAKER

Panasonic has released its latest SoundSlayer wearable speaker that can deliver an exciting audio experience while playing your favourite games.

The GNW10 SoundSlayer is the newest version of the SoundSlayer speaker released last year.

The lightweight speaker is worn around your neck and places four 38mm speakers right below your ears to add even more realism to your game.

FULL REPORT HERE

QUEST 3 – $799

The Quest 3 headset is powered by the Snapdragon XR2 from Qualcomm to give it enough power to run the latest graphics intensive games including Asgard’s Wrath II and Assassin’s Creed Nexus.

The new headset will allow user to play games, exercise and stream content in 4K and immersive 3D audio.

The new Touch Plus controllers have also been redesigned with a more streamlined look and now offer haptic feedback.

READ FULL REPORT HERE

LASER LED PC Gaming Bundle – $89

This PC Gaming Combo from Laser has all the essentials you need to get started on your computer gaming journey. The bundle features a full-sized RGB Gaming Keyboard with RGB backlighting, a six button mouse to configure your games with your most used commands, RGB Mouse Pad with 13 different lighting modes and a headset with microphone. The built-in boom microphone on the headset comes in handy when gaming online or during applications which require voice-chat. Available from Big W.

SAMSUNG NEO G9 57-INCH GAMING MONITOR – $3,199

Samsung has just unveiled the Odyssey Neo G9 – a monstrous 57-inch gaming monitor that’s the world’s first dual UHD display – to take your gaming experience to all new heights.

The Odyssey Neo G9 (C95NC) has 1000R curvature in the 32:9 screen which is just as wide as two 32-inch monitors.

It is the world’s first DUHD (dual ultra high definition) screen so users can enjoy pin sharp picture quality and wide wrap-around field of view.

FULL REPORT HERE

BACKBONE ONE PLAYSTATION EDITION FOR ANDROID – $179

Sony and Backbone have joined forces to unveil the Android version of its popular BackBone One PlayStation Edition Mobile Gaming Controller.

The controller has been available for iPhone since last year, but finally Android users will be able to enjoy mobile gaming with the device on the move.

The controller was created in collaboration with PlayStation and looks just like the PS5 DualSense wireless controller right down to the button design, colour, material and finish.

FULL REPORT HERE

ASUS ROG ALLY – $1,299

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) Ally is a powerful portable gaming system running Windows 11 that’s powered by the all-new AMD Ryzen processor.

The ROG Ally brings powerful gaming into the palm of your hands to enjoy anywhere.

The device features a bright 7-inch 120Hz full high definition display and all the physical controls you’d find on a regular gaming controller.

FULL REPORT HERE

PLAYSTATION DUALSENSE EDGE WIRELESS CONTROLLER – $339.95

If you want to get serious about your gaming on the Sony PlayStation 5 then you need the new DualSense Edge wireless controller which can take players to the next level.

It’s appropriately called Edge because that’s precisely what it can give you – the edge over your opponents which can make the difference between winning and losing.

The added controls and settings can make you a more efficient player to provide that little bit extra over and above your skills and reflexes.

And you can personalise the controls and triggers to suit your own preferences and to better fit the game you’re playing.

FULL REPORT HERE

LEGO 2K DRIVE: AWESOME EDITION – $149.95

Rev your engines for a high-speed adventure in LEGO 2K Drive, the perfect Christmas gift for LEGO and racing fans of all ages. Create custom LEGO vehicles to race or complete challenges across a vibrant and playful open world. The robust co-op mode also allows the entire family to get behind the wheel for thrilling multiplayer action!

Logitech G PRO X TKL Gaming Keyboard – $369.95
Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT 2 Gaming Mouse – $299.95
Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED Gaming Headset – $449.95

Upgrade your gaming prowess this festive season with the Logitech G PRO X Suite. The G PRO TKL Gaming Keyboard, engineered for elite play, pairs seamlessly with the SUPERLIGHT 2 Gaming Mouse, boasting LIGHTFORCE switches and a HERO 2 sensor. Complete the trifecta with the G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED Gaming Headset, designed in collaboration with pros, offering 50mm graphene drivers for superior audio.

The post Tech Guide’s 2023 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas – Day 5: Gaming appeared first on Tech Guide.

Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced a new slim-line PS5 console will go on sale on December 6 with pre-orders kicking off today.

The new PlayStation 5 has a smaller and slimmer design but packs the same power as the original model and includes 1TB of storage for the PS5 and PS5 digital edition.

This new model also makes it possible to add an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive to the PS5 digital edition.

Sony created the new form factor to provide players with more flexibility and choice while at the same time ensuring the same technology was being offered despite the smaller housing.

The new slim PS5 has 30 per cent less volume and is 24 per cent lighter (PS5 Digital Edition is 18 per cent lighter).

The new external measurements make it 35.8cm wide, 9.6cm high and 21.6cm deep with a weight of 3.2kg.

The new design has four separate cover panels with glossy panels on top and a matte finish down below.

Customers who purchase the PS5 digital edition have the option of adding the Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive for PS5 later – this will be sold separately for $159.95.

There will also be a number of colour covers for the new slimmer model from early next year including all matte black and the Deep Earth Collection colours in volcanic red, cobalt blue and sterling silver.

The new slim PlayStation 5 console will go on sale on December 6 with pre-orders commencing from today.

PRICING

PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – $799.95.

PS5 Digital Edition – $679.95.

PlayStation 5 specifications

External dimensions(excluding projecting parts)	Approx. 358 × 96 × 216 mm(width × height × depth)
Mass	Approx. 3.2 kg
CPU	x86-64-AMD Ryzen “Zen 2”
	8 Cores / 16 Threads
	Variable frequency, up to 3.5 GHz
GPU	AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine
	Ray Tracing Acceleration
	Variable frequency, up to 2.23 GHz (10.3 TFLOPS)
System Memory	GDDR6 16GB
	448 GB/s Bandwidth
SSD	1TB
	5.5GB/s Read Bandwidth (Raw)
PS5 Game Disc	Ultra HD Blu-ray, up to 100GB/disc
BD/DVD drive	Disc Drive port equipped with Disc Drive
Video Out	Support of 4K 120Hz TVs, 8K TVs, VRR (specified by HDMI ver.2.1)
Audio	“Tempest” 3D AudioTech
Input/Output Front of Console	USB Type-C® port (Super-Speed USB 10Gbps)
	USB Type-C® port (Hi-Speed USB)
Input/Output Back of Console	USB Type-A port (Super-Speed USB 10Gbps) x2
Networking	Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T) Wi-fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax

PlayStation 5 Digital Edition Specifications

External dimensions(excluding projecting parts)	Approx. 358 × 80 × 216 mm(width × height × depth)
Mass	Approx. 2.6 kg
CPU	x86-64-AMD Ryzen “Zen 2”
	8 Cores / 16 Threads
	Variable frequency, up to 3.5 GHz
GPU	AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine
	Ray Tracing Acceleration
	Variable frequency, up to 2.23 GHz (10.3 TFLOPS)
System Memory	GDDR6 16GB
	448 GB/s Bandwidth
SSD	1TB
	5.5GB/s Read Bandwidth (Raw)
PS5 Game Disc	Ultra HD Blu-ray, up to 100GB/disc
BD/DVD drive	Disc Drive port
Video Out	Support of 4K 120Hz TVs, 8K TVs, VRR (specified by HDMI ver.2.1)
Audio	“Tempest” 3D AudioTech
Input/Output Front of Console	USB Type-C® port (Super-Speed USB 10Gbps)
	USB Type-C® port (Hi-Speed USB)
Input/OutputBack of Console	USB Type-A port (Super-Speed USB 10Gbps) x2
Networking	Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)Wi-fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax

The post Sony unveils new slimline PlayStation 5 console – and it goes on sale on December 6 appeared first on Tech Guide.

Panasonic has released its latest SoundSlayer wearable speaker that can deliver an exciting audio experience while playing your favourite games.

The GNW10 SoundSlayer is the newest version of the SoundSlayer speaker released last year.

The lightweight speaker is worn around your neck and places four 38mm speakers right below your ears to add even more realism to your game.

“The GNW10 SoundSlayer delivers an immersive audio soundscape and intense gaming experience, along with crystal-clear communication,” says Fifi Tjiong, Product Marketing Manager – AV, Panasonic.

“It’s combined with an ergonomic design that removes pressure on ears and the head, so you can play hard in comfort.”

By connecting the transmitter to a PC or console via USB, this creates a wireless connection to the speaker so you’re not getting tangled up in cables.

The GNW10 SoundSlayer works with Windows 10/11 PCs, PS4 and PS5 consoles and the Nintendo Switch in TV mode only.

The speaker has new housing that’s 60 per cent larger than the previous version and offers improved audio and more powerful bass to help immerse you into the game even further.

The GNW10 SoundSlayer is an alternative to conventional headphones and players can still hear dialogue, music, sound effects and chat.

Play who connect the speaker to their PC can also install the SoundSlayer app which brings added functionality including accessing the equaliser, adjusting chat volume and choosing a sound mode.

The GNW10 SoundSlayer Is designed to be worn for hours and eliminates contact pressure around the ears and the top of your head that’s often the result of wearing headphones for extended periods.

Panasonic did a long study of ergonomics and created a housing that avoids contact with the collarbone and places no pressure on the trapezius muscles. The results in a comfortable lightweight fit.

Onboard is proprietary wireless technology that can transmit six channel audio signals on a dedicated 2.4Ghz band with the latency below 20ms so you can stay competitive and comfortable within the game.

There are also microphones on both sides of the speaker to make sure you’re heard during the game no matter where your head is facing.

The GNW10 SoundSlayer Also has AI voice control and noise cancelling that eliminates the ambient noise around you so your fellow players will only hear your voice loud and clear.

The Panasonic GNW10 SoundSlayer will be available in mid-December through Amazon and will be priced at $449.

The post Panasonic unveils latest SoundSlayer wearable gaming speaker appeared first on Tech Guide.

Telstra is offering mobile customers and avid gamers with a need for speed a way to find faster download speeds and lower latency even during periods of high network traffic.

The Telstra Mobile Speed Optimiser delivers faster typical download speeds when compared to the standard plans without this feature activated.

This means customers can download large files even faster and hotspot multiple devices that will benefit from the faster speeds to improve their work or video streaming experience on the go even during busy times.

And for online multiplayer gamers – and there are plenty who play on their smartphones – the Mobile Latency Optimiser reduces the time it takes for data to travel while playing competitive and multiplayer games.

Any online gamer will tell you, a fraction of a second could mean the difference between winning and losing and they try and take every advantage they can find.

Mobile Latency Optimiser can be that advantage.

Telstra says there are more than half a million gamers that use its network for gaming with more than a third having significant monthly data usage that will allow them to benefit from the Speed or Latency Optimiser.

Telstra did a thorough test of their network to ensure the Speed and Latency Optimizer add ons would perform at their best and provide that improved network experience.

Telstra says to ensure the products don’t impact other users and take away from their experience, the Speed and Latency Optimisers will only work in prescribed network traffic levels.

In other words, these customers who choose to pay an additional $10 a month for these Optimiser products will be given priority when performing tasks that require faster downloads and lower latency.

But Telstra says if the network congestion goes above optimal levels, the Optimisers will not provide any improvement to ensure there is no impact on other customers.

The Speed Optimiser and Latency Optimiser from Telstra will be attractive to a small core group of customers who already have high network activity and whose needs require extra speed or lower latency when they are not typically delivered at times of peak usage on the network.

Customers can access a one month free trial of either product before being charged $10 per month and they can cancel at any time.

The post Telstra releases new mobile optimiser packs for customers who feel the need for extra speed appeared first on Tech Guide.

Australian success story espresso Displays – the company that introduced portable touchscreen technology to make it easier to work from anywhere – has just unveiled its latest product – the espresso 17 Pro.

The espresso 17 Pro is a stunning 4K portable touchscreen display that’s capable of displaying more than a billion colours and with 450 nits brightness.

The espresso 17 Pro connects to your computer with a single USB-C cable and can expand your screen real estate from your laptop or desktop computer as well as offering a unique touchscreen experience so users can interact with their favourite applications like never before.

“espresso 17 Pro is meticulously crafted to support professionals and creatives who need to perform at their best, wherever their work takes them and whatever platforms they use,” says Will Scuderi, cofounder and CEO at espresso Displays.

“Every aspect of espresso 17 Pro has been developed and refined to produce an unrivalled experience and helps people deliver their best work, whatever the task.”

Tech Guide was offered a sneak peek at espresso 17 Pro ahead of its official launch.

It has an impressive and lightweight design that’s made of aerospace grade aluminium with the same portability as the previous versions.

When we saw espresso 17 Pro for the first time, all we could think about were the many uses and possibilities the product could offers whether it’s in a corporate setting, on the go, for a creative professional or for video production.

And now the 4K resolution has provided the very thing many creative professionals have been waiting for.

“We’ve listened intently to how people work today and where work trends are evolving,” Scuderi added.

“Our innovation responds directly to what we see and hear from our customers, partners, and collaborators, which is why our products do not sit within the confines of traditional tech product categories.”

The touchscreen software has also been re-engineered to deliver enhanced and intuitive controls whether it’s connected to a Mac or PC.

Now espresso 17 Pro can support pro-level drawing and creative touchscreen controls.

Also announced today is espresso Jot – software that turbocharges your note taking and drawing and that can also work with hundreds of existing desktop and web-based applications.

Users can capture, cut, save and copy on-screen content and move between other apps and windows or documents.

Jot can also be used to mark-up documents and insert sketches into presentations and other creative projects.

Espresso has also launched a range of accessories to optimise the experience with the espresso 17 Pro.

The espresso Stand Pro attaches magnetically to the back of the display so it can be adjusted at the precise angle and height to suit what you’re doing.

You can also power the whole experience with the espresso Charge which is designed to seamlessly integrate under the stand and elevate it to an even higher position.

The battery can provide power to your laptop or smartphone when you’re working on the move.

The new espresso Creator is a screen protector that also provides a paper-like texture when writing and drawing on the espresso 17 Pro screen.

The espresso 17 Pro is available to preorder now with shipping in November. Launch bundles are also available with a preorder deposit.

espresso 17 Pro techs and specs:

Australian pricing and pre-sale bundle offers:

US pricing and pre-sale bundle offers:

The post espresso Displays unveils stunning new 17-inch portable 4K touchscreen appeared first on Tech Guide.

The 2020s have been a strange and exciting time for the handheld market. After the initial launch of the Switch as a next-gen handheld device in 2017, more and more companies have tried to take the top spot as the best handheld gaming device money can buy, and that led to a sea of impressive emulation-focused devices that promised games from the NES to the PS2 in the palm of your hand.

These seem like the lofty promises of an Alibaba seller offering 5000 games in one on a piece of hardware suspiciously resembling the Playstation Portable, but against all odds, most of these competitors actually pulled off their goals. The Retroid Pocket 3+ allowed gamers the chance to play Kingdom Hearts 2 on a pocket-sized device, whilst companies like Anbernic and PowKiddy completely dominated the more budget market of handheld retro gaming enthusiasts.

With all this going on, however, one console stood above the rest in terms of power and design, offering an experience that would have seemed like a near-impossibility even a year before. On February 25th, 2022, the Valve Steam Deck would release, bringing with it a new gold standard that would need to be crossed for anyone looking to dominate the handheld space. At the time, practically nothing could even compare to the Steam Deck’s absolute prowess in the handheld gaming market, with the console allowing for AAA gaming experiences like Elden Ring and Death Stranding without too much in the way of graphical tweaking. Plus, the fact that it was designed and released by Valve themselves allowed for seamless integration between the Linux-based device and Steam, the largest digital distribution platform for PC gaming.

However, that was then, and this is now. Cut to August of 2023 as I’m writing this article, and the Steam Deck isn’t the only high-power gaming machine available on the market. So, that begs the question of where a gamer should be investing their money if they’re thinking of entering the handheld market now, and whether the Steam Deck is still the right choice in a fast-paced tech environment.

Firstly, What Made the Steam Deck So Special to Begin With?

There has never truly been something quite like the Steam Deck in the world of gaming. I don’t say that to overstate its innovation, as many of its specific functions can be achieved through the use of a solid gaming laptop. Rather, there has never been such a powerful device that was optimised solely for the gaming experience. A laptop is good, and will offer a high level of portability, but is it going to allow you to comfortably play Katamari Reroll on a packed train? Are you going to be able to whip out your laptop and seamlessly get back into a game of Dark Souls 3 while waiting for the bus? The answer is yes, but not without great difficulty and a lot of strange looks.

The Steam Deck took the basic control-first design principles of the Nintendo Switch and managed to successfully blend them with high-end hardware capabilities in a way that just feels natural in the hand. Some of my nicest gaming memories of recent times involve me lounging out in gazebos and on my family’s verandah in the rain with the Steam Deck (undercover, of course) playing Sekiro or Undertale and watching the clouds go by. It’s a unique level of freedom just being able to pull out a handheld console and play literally anything, and that’s an experience that most people had for the first time with the Steam Deck.

Steam Deck Specs

With a 40Whr battery allowing anywhere from two to eight hours of gameplay off the charger, the Steam Deck is an absolute beast of a machine. That coupled with a Zen 2 AMD CPU and 16 GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM makes the Steam Deck a machine capable of playing almost anything in the Steam library without issue. That said, all of this isn’t to say that the Steam Deck can play every game, with compatibility issues with the Steam Deck layout being one of the main reasons that certain games are labelled as unsupported. Certain well-loved games that the Steam Deck has proven to have issues with include:

• Destiny 2
• Fall Guys
• Dead By Daylight
• Burnout Paradise Remastered
• Valheim
• Terraria
• Remnant 2

Do note that many of the games mentioned here aren’t due to issues with the Deck as much as they are either issues with game optimisation or simply offer controls that aren’t very compatible with a controller setup.

Steam Deck Competitors

Whilst the Steam Deck may have been a trendsetter, inevitably, we were always going to get to the point at which competitors would be able to throw their hats into the proverbial ring. So, if we’re asking whether the Steam Deck is the best choice, we have to take a look at the releases that are vying to take its place.

ASUS ROG Ally

An absolute juggernaut in its own right, the ASUS ROG Ally is an incredibly sleek Ryzen Z1 CPU-powered machine that really gives the Steam Deck a run for its money. As a Windows-running console, it’s perfect for those that want to step away from Steam and into the world of standard Windows games that won’t work on the Steam, Deck’s Linux OS.

With all that said, the ASUS ROG Ally isn’t leaps and bounds above the Steam Deck in terms of game functionality, and for its still quite high price point and history of minor issues with hardware and software, it’s not an unquestioned pick for the top spot. The one thing that really sets the Ally apart from the Steam Deck is just its CPU, which is more optimised for gaming and is likely to provide a smoother experience for some more CPU-intensive gaming experiences.

The Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld

Whilst this Logitech offering has definitely been touted as a Steam Deck competitor, I’d say that I am in two minds about whether I would consider it as such. At a $300 USD price point, this Android-based device, as the name suggests, is designed for cloud gaming. In other words, it is not nearly as powerful as the Steam Deck, instead focusing the experience on the cloud and game streaming.

To be clear, this isn’t a bad thing on its face, but it does limit the type of experiences most people are going to have. For example, in Melbourne where I’m currently writing from, the internet speeds are truly terrible for most gaming means. In other words, most people here just aren’t going to be able to get the amount out of cloud gaming that someone in the States may, and that’s a problem for something like the Logitech G Cloud. This, coupled with the price point being not that different from the Steam Deck itself, makes its viability as a competitor pretty meagre.

The Razer Edge

Whilst not as impressive in some respects as the ASUS ROG Ally, I have to give the Razer Edge respect for being one of the more uniquely interesting handheld devices I’ve seen appear in the past few years. Razer is a well-regarded name in many respects, and this isn’t their first attempt at breaking into this market, technically. I say technically because their entry into the field wasn’t a gaming device in and of itself, instead being the Kishi, a controller add-on for phones that allowed them to take on a similar aesthetic and function to the Retroid or other small gaming handhelds at the time.

So, when it came time to create a gaming handheld properly, they didn’t leave the Kishi on the cutting room floor. Rather, they created a tablet to pair directly with the Kishi V2, allowing for a tablet handheld that is capable of running Android and Xbox games. Whilst I can’t say I’ve had the chance to sample the Edge personally, its Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen-1 chips and 5g capabilities really do make it a unique entry in Android-based gaming. I’ll be excited to see more come out about it as time goes on.

So, What’s the Verdict?

As much as the competition has really put up a good fight in doing what the Steam Deck has achieved, there’s still nothing that quite hits that sweet spot of affordability and powerhouse capabilities. Even as more powerful consoles are released, the Steam Deck’s native Steam compatibility and sleek design just make it a difficult machine to readily replace in the market. Plus, with the thriving emulation scene getting the EmuDeck to play games up to the late PS360 era, as well as practically every Switch game, it’s hard to see Steam being beaten out until they themselves potentially release an updated console.

The post Steam Deck in 2023: Does It Still Hold Up to the Competition? appeared first on Tech Guide.

Streaming video, music and gaming services saw a drop in annual growth in the past year as cost of living pressures take hold in Australia according analyst firm Telsyte.

The Telsyte Australian Subscription Entertainment Study 2023 revealed the number of subscription services in Australia grew by 3 per cent to 49.9 million as of June 2023 but the growth rate was lower than the double digit increase of the previous year.

But Australians are still quite attached to their on-demand services with Netflix continuing to be the market leader with 6.1 million subscribers in Australia as of June 2023 followed by Amazon Prime Video (4.5 million), Disney+ (3.1 million), Stan (2.6 million), Binge (1.5 million), Paramount+ (1.5 million), Kayo Sports (1.4 million) and Apple TV+ (1 million).

While the growth has declined, Australians are still avidly consuming SVOD (subscription video on demand) with 55 per cent discovering new content through their services.

Average weekly video consumption dipped by 9 per cent year on year to 45 hours but SVOD consumption was one of only two categories that increased across nine video categories measured by Telsyte.

Nearly half (47 per cent) of subscribers said they would switch between services to save money with 27 per cent finding it too hard to unsubscribe even if they are not using them often.

“Profits, partnerships, and more aggressive behaviour. There’s going to be increasing competition to win people over from other platforms,” Telsyte Managing Director, Foad Fadaghi, says.

Telsyte says SVOD subscription could exceed 30 million by June 2027 thanks to new content, growth in multiple subscriptions, new market entrants and more ad supported services.

SVOD market revenue grew to $2.7bn in 2023 – that’s a 14 per cent year-on-year increase because of the rising subscription costs and in-service adoption.

SVOD ranked sixth among segment where customers would be willing to cut back to ease their household budget.

The top three were dining out and takeaway, clothing and accessories and holiday-related expenses.

Above SVOD cutbacks were also alcohol and electronics and gadgets.

“Paid SVOD services as a category exhibits strong retention and near recession-proof characteristics, as other significant spending areas become household budgeting priorities,” says Fadaghi.

This year Netflix started a crackdown on password sharing with 32 per cent sharing their services and half of those are with people who live outside their household.

About 7 per cent of Netflix subscribers cancelled their accounts in the last 12 months because of the crackdown.

At the time of the survey the number of new Netflix members was yet to exceed those exiting the service.

Gaming subscription saw a 2 per cent increase over last year – this is a slower growth rate that can be put down to the rising cost of living.

Music streaming services still remain popular with subscriptions hitting 16.6 million by the end of June 2023 – an increase of 5 per cent from a year ago.

The post Growth of subscription services slow down in Australia as cost of living pressures bite appeared first on Tech Guide.

Samsung has just unveiled the Odyssey Neo G9 – a monstrous 57-inch gaming monitor that’s the world’s first dual UHD display – to take your gaming experience to all new heights.

The Odyssey Neo G9 (C95NC) has 1000R curvature in the 32:9 screen which is just as wide as two 32-inch monitors.

It is the world’s first DUHD (dual ultra high definition) screen so users can enjoy pin sharp picture quality and wide wrap-around field of view.

“As we stride forward as pioneers in the global display industry, Samsung consistently seeks to redefine the boundaries of excellence, particularly in response to the ever-evolving needs of the gaming community,” said Phil Gaut, Senior Director of Display and Brand Memory, Samsung Australia.

“With the introduction of the world’s first dual UHD monitor, the 57” Odyssey Neo G9 paves the way for monitors in 2023 and beyond, helping gamers see new levels of detail with an incredible field of view.

“The Neo G9 transcends conventional limits, boasting cutting edge technology for those seeking a truly immersive experience with enhanced colour expression and pin sharp imagery, opening the doorway to adventure like never before.”

Under the hood is Samsung’s Quantum Matrix Technology that powers the Quantum Mini LED lighting for more smaller and discrete dimming zones.

The result is impressive contrast and reduced blooming.

The VESA Display HDR 1000 when combined with the 1000 nit peak brightness produces accurate colour and contrast.

Gaming realism is also enhanced with the 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms grey to grey (GTG) response and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro which syncs the screen so its lag-free and stable.

The Odyssey NEO G9 offers VESA-certified DisplayPort (DP) 2.1 along with HDMI 2.1 and a USB hub to allow gamers to easily connect all their other devices.

“By bringing DisplayPort 2.1 connectivity to their premium gaming monitor, Samsung is opening new doors for gamers,” said Scott Herkelman, senior vice president and general manager, Graphics Business Unit at AMD.

“More bandwidth, high speeds and fast refresh rates provide new levels of performance and visual fidelity in games, and together the new Samsung displays and Radeon RX 7000 Series graphics cards will deliver vivid and immersive gaming experiences yet.”

Having so much screen real estate when not gaming allows the user to spread out their work and organise their desktop as if they had multiple monitors.

The Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo is priced at $3,199 and will be available exclusively from the Samsung online store.

The post Samsung unveils massive new 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 gaming monitor appeared first on Tech Guide.

Australians love their video games. In fact, 81 per cent of the population plays video games according to the new Australia Plays 2023 report – that’s a 14 per cent jump from the previous report.

The Australia Plays 2023 report was produced by the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA) in conjunction with Bond University.

It proves conclusively that gaming is a mainstream activity and that it’s not just for kids with the average age of a gamer found to be 35 years old – that’s up by three months from the last report.

And nearly half of all gamers are female at 48 per cent – up from 46 per cent. And more women than men play videos aged 55 years and over.

The report found 94 per cent of Australian households have a device for playing video games and 76 per cent have two or more.

And gaming is also a family affair with 91 per cent of parents playing with their children.

The report also posed the question: why do you play video games? The most popular answers were for enjoyment (91 per cent), to bring joy to their lives (82 per cent) and to nurture their mental health (66 per cent).

And what do they enjoy within the game? The most popular responses were achieving (92 per cent), exploring (81 per cent) and socialising with others (59 per cent).

The most popular gaming genres are Puzzle (36 per cent), Action/Adventure (32 per cent) and strategy (21 per cent).

Australians over 65 who play games say it is to feel challenged and to improve their mental health.

The report says aging Australians who play games are wanting to increase their mental stimulation, promoting mindfulness and to fight dementia.

“Australia Plays 2023 proves that Australia is a nation that loves to play, achieve, connect,

and learn through video games,” said Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA.

“Over 80 per cent of the population is now engaging with video games, making it clear that video games have become a part of everyday life.

“Over 90 per cent of Australian gamers say they find joy in video games, as is reflected

by our successful local industry.

“Video games have proven to be very important to this country’s economy, as can be seen by the recently released consumer video games sales data in Australia.”

The post We’re a nation of video gamers according to the latest Australia Plays 2023 report appeared first on Tech Guide.

One of the best things about being a gamer is being able to transport yourself to different realms, new dimensions, and unseen worlds. There’s real magic to being able to lose yourself in a game, no matter what your favorite genre or style is. 

If you’re a fan of strategy, simulation, and fantasy games, you may have a few castle games in your library. There are heaps of them out there on every platform, from mobile to PC, and it can be hard to know what to play next in this expansive genre.

To help you live like a King, here are the four best castle games to download today.

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

Age of Empires has an incredibly dedicated following in the strategy community- and with good reason. It’s an immensely influential franchise, and you can see the impact that it’s had in almost any of the games featuring castles available right now.

Without a doubt, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is one of the most rich and immersive castle games out there. It’s a detailed RTS game with elements of city building, combat, and resource management, and the campaigns it offers are second to none.

One of the things that makes this game stand out from the crowd is that there are 35 different civilizations to play as. Each civilization comes with a different playstyle, troop variety, and aesthetic, which adds a huge amount of replayability to the game.

King of the Castle

If RTS games aren’t your style and you’re hunting for something a little more casual and laid back, King of the Castle could be the perfect pick for you.

King of the Castle is a fun, casual party game with a strategic feel. The aim is to successfully lead your Kingdom throughout your rule, making key choices to keep your people happy and to placate your advisors. There will be people trying to ruin your run, and you’ll need to make smart choices in order to keep your castle safe and to keep the crown on your head.

Unlike most of the castle games in this list, King of the Castle is a party game. It’s been built with casual co-op in mind, and it’s a lot of fun to bring out at a games night with friends.

It’s also quite an accessible game, meaning that it’s ideal if you want to play something with a friend or partner who’s not that into traditional or competitive gaming.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Changing subgenres once again, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is one of the most influential castle games in history. The Castlevania franchise itself is legendary (spawning the Metroidvania genre alongside the Metroid franchise), and this entry is a fan favorite.

This is an action RPG set in Dracula’s Castle. Complete with all the side-scrolling action and over-the-top enemies you might expect from a 90s ARPG; this is an absolute must-play for anyone who wants to expand their castle game library.

The soundtrack is absolutely beautiful, too.

Something that makes this game an absolute gem is the free, open nature of the in-game world. Most ARPGs from this era tend to stick you on quite a linear path, but in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, you’re free to wander and unlock secrets at your own pace.

Stronghold Crusader HD

History nerds, this one’s for you. The Stronghold franchise is very well known in the RTS and war game community, and Stronghold Crusader HD is one of the most popular entries. It’s detailed, immersive, and full of content.

The gameplay loop is incredibly addictive, including all the best elements of base building, sandbox, and strategic war games. Each campaign is rich and vibrant and takes heavy inspiration from the actual Crusades to keep things intriguing for gamers with an interest in history.

One brilliant thing to note about this game is that the AI opponents pose a genuine challenge. Unlike other castle games, which might have standard bots that throw out the same troops and moves every time, this game will push even the most dedicated strategy fan to their limits.

The post Live Like a King: The Best Castle Games Ever appeared first on Tech Guide.

Amazon’s Prime Day is here and there are lots of tech bargains on offer during the sale on July 11 and July 12 – and we’ve gone through them and found the best deals.

Customers need to be Amazon Prime members to enjoy the discounts. For $9.99 a month or $72 annually, members receive free shipping all year round as well as subscriptions to Prime Video, Amazon Music and Prime Reading.

Here are the best deals we’ve rounded up:

Amazon Devices – Echo, Fire TV, Kindle and Ring:

– Save 63 per cent off RRP on the brand new Echo Pop, the latest compact smart speaker with Alexa, just $29

– Save 56 per cent off RRP on the Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen), featuring an 8” HD touchscreen with Alexa, just $99

– Save 50 per cent off RRP across the entire range of Fire TV products, including the Fire TV Stick 4K Max our most powerful streaming media stick

– Save 30 per cent off RRP on the Kindle Paperwhite range, purpose-built for reading with adjustable warm light, from just $187

– Save 51 per cent off RRP on the Ring Indoor Cam, watch over your home with the compact plug-in HD camera for just $49

– Save 34 per cent off RRP on the Ring Video Doorbell, to help you monitor your home your way, for just $99

Amazon Basics – additional discounts on already great value! 

– Save up to 30 per cent on select Amazon Basics range products including select Batteries, Luggage, Bedding, Kitchen items and more

Electronics, Home Entertainment and Videogames

– Save up to 50 per cent off RRP on select Philips TVs, 20per cent off on select Sony TVs

– Save up to 45 per cent off RRP on select soundbars, headphones and speakers from brands including Sony, JBL, Bose and Ultimate Ears

– Save up to 54 per cent off RRP on select Fujifilm Instax products

– Save up to 35 per cent off RRP on select PC Accessories and Routers from Logitech, Corsair and ASUS

– Save up to 30 per cent off RRP on select Laptops and Monitors from LG, Lenovo and Samsung

– Save up to 46 per cent off RRP on select Samsung Galaxy phones and accessories

– Save up to 30 per cent off RRP on select printers from Canon, Epson and Brother

– Save up to 26 per cent off RRP on select Nintendo Switch grey console

– Save up to 38 per cent off RRP on select Nintendo Switch games including The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda Links Awakening, Mario Strikers and New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe

– Prime members get $50 promotional Amazon credit with eligible purchase of select PlayStation 5 consoles (per console purchased)

– Save up to 31 per cent off RRP on select PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headsets

– Prime members get $100 promotional Amazon credit with eligible purchase of Meta Quest 2 or Meta Quest Pro VR Headsets (per headset purchased)

– Save on select Prism+ Monitors

– Save on select Prism+ TVs

– Save on select HP Probook

– Save on select Dyson V15 Detect Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

– Save on select electronics, chargers and more from Anker

– Save on select headphones and accessories from Avantree

– Save on select Bang & Olufsen

– Save on select Edifier Speakers

– Save on select SoundPEATS Earphones.

– Save on Select Viewsonic projectors

Ecovacs Robotics

Customers can enjoy up to 43 per cent off the recommended retail prices of the ECOVACS DEEBOT range.

There are seven models that will be available at greatly reduced prices – the T10 Plus, N10. X1 Turbo, X1 Omni, N8+, N8 and the Winbot W1 Pro.

Huawei

Audio deals

HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i – $89 (45 per cent off) at Amazon

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 2 – $149 (57 per cent off) at Amazon

HUAWEI Sound Joy – $169 (27 per cent off) at Amazon

Wearable deals

HUAWEI Band 7 – $87 (55 per cent off) at Amazon

HUAWEI Watch Fit 2 Active – $177 (41 per cent off) at Amazon

HUAWEI Watch GT 3 46mm Brown– $289 (42 per cent off) at Amazon

HUAWEI Watch GT 3 46mm Black – $239 (47 per cent off) at Amazon

Tineco

– 36 per cent OFF FLOOR ONE S5 Steam – RRP $699, On sale for $449. Available on Amazon Australia
– 33 per cent OFF iFLOOR3 – RRP $549, On sale for $369. Available on Amazon Australia 
– 33 per cent OFF A11 Pet – RRP $449 and now available at $299. Available on Amazon Australia
– 38 per cent OFF PWRHERO 11 Snap – RRP $319 and now available at $199. Available on Amazon Australia

CuboAi

– CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor 3-Stand Set RRP$499 30 per cent down to $349.30

– CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor Wall Mount RRP$329 30 per cent down to $230.30

– CuboAi Sleep Safety Bundle RRP$699 30 per cent down to $489.30

The post We’ve rounded up the best tech deals for Amazon’s Prime Day sales appeared first on Tech Guide.

Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin says she’s proud of how her team responded to the massive data breach last year but admitted they still need to rebuild trust and that there were things the company could have done better.

Optus also revealed the work it was doing to block scam text messages and calls from reaching customers and showcased the many new and existing features and services of the network.

Speaking at Optus Tech Day at its Macquarie Park headquarters, the Optus boss Kelly Bayer Rosmarin said she learned a lot about the company, her team and their customers in the aftermath of the data breach in September.

“For us we were very, very clear that our mission was to protect customers and ensure that no customer came to any harm and that really galvanised our team,” Ms Bayer Rosmarin said.

“One of my learnings was just how important it is to build culture and to have a strong team around you well ahead of when you need it.

“I’m enormously proud and grateful to the whole team, how everybody responded and leaned in.

“We saw the best of everybody and working together it meant we could deal with the incident very effectively under enormous pressure and really continue to focus on customers and the right priorities.”

But Ms Bayer Rosmarin said Optus could have done some things differently.

“There was a lot of information around – some of it right, some of it wrong,” she said.

“We could have managed that better.

“We could have explained how complex the process was that we were going through.

“The customers saw our actual response not just what they read about our response.”

Ms Bayer Rosmarin also implied that Optus had also returned to pre-breach customer numbers.

“All the metrics that we tracked have now stacked really strongly so I think they (customers) appreciated that we were transparent in a way that has not been seen before in corporate Australia, that we did put them first,” she said.

But the Optus CEO also said there is still a lot of work to do rebuild their reputation and trust in the eyes of customers.

“For people who are not customers, that’s going to take a longer amount of time for us to rebuild that trust and ensure that people are focused on what we actually do every day, what motivates us as a team which is delivering a great solution with leading innovation to our customers as we continue our endeavour to build the most loved everyday brand in Australia with lasting customer relationships,” Ms Bayer Rosmarin said.

“Obviously, there were other learnings we took away about cyber crisis management and those will be fully implemented.

“We are striving to be the best that we possibly can be when it comes to security practises.”

Optus says it is also actively blocking scams texts and messages.

Here’s what Optus has done so far:

– Optus has blocked more than 300 million scam calls since December 2020; and blocked 65 million SMS scam messages over the last year.

– Just in 2023 alone, Optus suspended more than 22,000 services on the network for sending scam messages.

– Currently, Optus is blocking close to 5 million calls per month, and almost 8 million SMS per month.

– Over the last month, Optus blocked more than 18,000 LINKT scam SMS.
At Optus Tech Day, the company demonstrated a number of features and services available for Optus customers including The Living Network, SubHub, Cloud Gaming and Smart Spaces.

THE LIVING NETWORK

This is a menu of features Optus customers can use including Optus Pause to pause your home and mobile connection, Network Pulse to visual the Optus network and towers near you, Call Effects which can trigger in-call skills like a coin toss.

SUBHUB

SubHub is a dashboard where you can stay on top of all your streaming services and keep track of your subscriptions and easily pause and swap services when needed.

And if you have three or more eligible services in SubHub you can save 10 per cent on each of them every month.

CLOUD GAMING

Optus has formed a partnership with Pentanet and NVIDIA to start a premium cloud gaming service.

This means players won’t need a console to play the latest games – all they need is a controller and a connection.

Optus says this service will be optimised for Optus 5G customers so they get a fast and responsive experience.

SMART SPACES

Smart Spaces is a service where customers can purchase a range of smart products and receive personalised installation and set for everything like security cameras, smart doorbells, sensors and even installing and setting up smart TVs.

This service is available to everyone, not just Optus customers.

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Ubisoft and Lucasfilm has announced Star Wars Outlaws – the first open world game set in the vast Star Wars universe – that will be available for Xbox, PlayStation 5 and Windows PC in 2024.

Announced at the Xbox Games Showcase, Star Wars Outlaws is set in the criminal underworld of the Star Wars galaxy between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi as the Rebel Alliance tries to vanquish the Galactic Empire.

Developed by Massive Entertainment, Star Wars Outlaws will have players assuming the identity of Kay Vess alongside a number of colourful scoundrels as they attempt a massive heist in the Outer Rim.

Kay wants to start a new life with her companion Nix as they work their way through the underbelly of the galaxy and battle crime syndicates and wanted criminals.

 “When we first imagined the first open-world Star Wars game, we explored where and when it could take place, and quickly realized that we had all the right ingredients for the journey of a scoundrel,” said Julian Gerighty, Creative Director at Massive Entertainment.

“These outlaws live life under the thumb of the Galactic Empire but can still thrive given the opportunities that the criminal underworld opens up for people looking to take advantage of the turmoil.

“The time is ripe for a new outlaw to make their name, and Kay Vess is written in the stars.”

Douglas Reilly, vice president, Lucasfilm Games said: “With Star Wars Outlaws, we’re excited to deliver the first truly open world Star Wars game, with an action-adventure story filled with characters and planets both new and well-known to the Star Wars galaxy.

“We have been working closely with the talented team at Massive Entertainment, and with their years of experience in creating richly detailed worlds, we’re excited for fans to be able to jump into the Star Wars scoundrel fantasy like never before.”

Star Wars Outlaws will be released in 2024 for Xbox. PlayStation 5 and Windows PC.

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Sony and Backbone have joined forces to unveil the Android version of its popular BackBone One PlayStation Edition Mobile Gaming Controller.

Due for release on July 6 and priced at $179, the controller has been available for iPhone since last year, but finally Android users will be able to enjoy mobile gaming with the device on the move.

The controller was created in collaboration with PlayStation and looks just like the PS5 DualSense wireless controller right down to the button design, colour, material and finish.

A PlayStation fan will recognise the look and feel of the controller right down to the transparent face buttons with the iconic symbols and floating appearance of the directional pad.

When users download the PS Remote Play app, the device is recognised as a DualSense controller so users can play your favourite PS4 and PS5 games on their Android smartphone anywhere.

The Backbone One PlayStation Edition draws its power from the Android smartphone it’s connected to so there is no need to charge it.

The BackBone One PlayStation Edition for Android is available for pre-order now through JB Hi-Fi, EB Games, Big W and The Gamesmen. It goes on sale on July 6 for $179.

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Sony has stunned gaming fans with the news of a new portable gaming system during its PlayStation Showcase known only as Project Q.

The device, which is due for released before the end of 2023, is designed to let you play your favourite PlayStation 5 games on the move.

Take a sneak peek at new accessories revealed at today’s Showcase — the Project Q device for playing games installed on your PS5 and streamed over WiFi, plus our first official wireless earbuds offering lossless audio on PS5 and PC.

More details to come in the months ahead. pic.twitter.com/0nzemSWSCV

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) May 24, 2023

PlayStation is no stranger to portable gaming with the PSP (PlayStation Portable) and the PS Vita.

But, by all accounts, the Project Q device will only be able to stream games from the PS5 console in your home.

There is a hope the device will be able to stream games from online gaming services.

Project Q has an 8-inch full high definition display which looks like its been placed in the middle of a PlayStation 5 Dual Sense wireless controller that’s been cut in half.

Sony says the Project Q device can only play the games that are already installed on your PS5.

There was no information about whether the device could play games outside your home.

Pricing and a launch date is also yet to be confirmed.

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