Leading smart home security brand Arlo has introduced Arlo Secure 5 – a suite of AI-powered industry-first features that enable Arlo cameras to recognise people and vehicles and to learn what other notifications customers want to receive.

Arlo Secure 5 builds on Arlo’s already robust system which can detect people, parcels, vehicles and animals but it takes that to the next level with recognition powered by AI and machine learning.

Now users can train the system to recognise friends and family members along with their vehicles and choose to be notified when those people and cars are seen by the cameras.

For example, a parent can privately teach the system what their son or daughter looks like and choose to receive a notification when they get home from school.

Users will also be able to do the same with vehicles that come into their driveway with the added ability of personalising alerts for vehicles they know.

The system shows detection and recognition are two different things and the customer can choose which of those notifications to receive.

Arlo Secure 5 also includes custom detection which allows customers to train the Arlo AI to deliver notifications about personalised events.

One use case could be wanting to know if the garage door has been left open, if lights are left on or if a pet is sitting on the couch.

Users would upload an image to train the system and teach it about what to look out for.

Then, when that event occurs, users will receive a notification so they can take action.

“Arlo continues to lead the industry with our advanced AI and Computer Vision capabilities, including custom detections, vehicle recognition and person recognition, that deliver even more peace of mind to Arlo users,” said Matthew McRae, Chief Executive Officer at Arlo.

“Our relentless focus on smart home security backed by our commitment to also protect our customers’ data and privacy will continue to drive more industry-first innovations that customers can trust to safeguard their loved ones.”

The new Arlo Secure subscription plans start at $7.99 a month with new Plus plans starting at $17.99 a month.

These offer 30 days of video cloud storage and events which you can view, save and share.

Customers are also able to create personalised notifications to filter unwanted notifications and choose the zones which they want to be monitored.

Having these meaningful notifications alert customers to what’s happening without the need for them to open the Arlo app.

This way they can take the appropriate action or respond to the rich notifications or view an animated video preview on the device’s lock screen.

Arlo Secure also brings advanced detection so users can be alerted if packages, animals and known people and known vehicles are detected by Arlo Intelligence.

For more information on the range of Arlo smart home security products and Arlo Secure visit www.arlo.com.

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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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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. 

The post Eufy unveils their S1 Pro robot vacuum cleaner with a new square design and self-cleaning mop 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.

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Australia’s leading robot vacuum brand Ecovacs has dropped three stunning new products today at price ranges as low at $999 with features we’ve never seen before on Robot Vacuum models.

The three models range in price from $999 to $2,499 and all offer the much desired auto-empty station base to ensure you don’t have to clean up after the cleaner every single time it goes out and does the work for you.

And Aussies are keen for that work to be done by a robot too!

Ecovacs own research shows that Aussie’s are stressed about not accomplishing their chores like cleaning, and that 80% of us clean weekly – averaging 2.5 times a week.  But we also know how cleanlieness relates to our own mental well being – 93% of people saw that correlation.  Amazingly that’s more than the number who see the benefits of time-saving as important – though that was still high at 87%!

A robot vacuum is highly desired by 46% of people – so, Ecovacs said “Hold my beer” and announced three brand new models.

Starting at $999 is the new Ecovacs Deebot N20 Pro Plus.

This is an all-new look for those Auto Empty return stations. Instead of a bag inside which you never quite know how full it is, you get a transparent “PureCyclone” system which looks just like many bagless vacuums.

The robot returns, it cleans out, then you empty that removable container into the bin.  easy!

The DEEBOT N20 PRO PLUS boasts key features including:

• PureCyclone Auto-Empty Station: this new Auto-Empty station boasts a two-stage separation process and multi-cone structural design that ensures 95% dust separation, minimal suction loss even after 100 uses, an extended lifespan for the motor and cotton filter, and stable dust collection efficiency, providing users with powerful and long-lasting suction for pristine floors and cleaner air.
• This station includes a 4-Stage HEPA Filtration System for unparalleled air purification, and a consumable-free dust container eliminating the need for dust bag replacements and hassle-free maintenance.
• ZeroTangle Anti-tangle Technology: saves the hassle to cleaning the roller brush manually between cleans, thanks to its specific bristle and comb design.
• Powerful 8,000Pa Suction power: super strong suction power will auto-adjust to the floor type its cleaning for thorough cleaning on hard floors to thick carpets.
• OZMO PRO 2.0 Vibrating Mop System: mimics a ‘scrubbing’ motion during mopping for sparkling floors
• TrueMapping 2.0 Mapping and Navigation Technology: enables detailed, multi-floor maps to be created for efficient path planning and cleaning customisation in-app.
• 300 minute / 5 hour runtime: thanks to its 5200mAh battery – it can tackle your whole home in a single charge
• Easy-to-use ECOVACS Home App: allows you to schedule, monitor and customise maps and cleaning functions to your specific home environment and preferences.

Next up for $2,299 is the Deebot T30S Combo

For people who have stairs – you know that your robot can’t clean the stairs. It can do two levels of a home, but it can’t make it up and down alone, so you probably have a stick vacuum too.

Well, look no further for your ultimate Combo, the T30S Combo is a fantastic robot, but also a stick vacuum.

Best of all, the auto-empty station empties out BOTH the robot AND the stick!

Key features and benefits of the Deebot T30S include:

• Combo Design: the robot vacuum tackles daily automated floor cleaning dramatically reducing dust and home maintenance throughout – while the versatile handheld vacuum tackles vertical surfaces, leaving no corner untouched.
• Handheld Vacuum: features a four-stage HEPA filtration system, lightweight design, intelligent auto boost suction and multi-brush heads including Zero-Tangle power brush.
• TruEdge^TM Adaptive Edge Mopping: enables the robot’s mop pads to extend and retract around furniture legs, walls, corners and more – interacting directly with your unique home environment.
• ZeroTangle Anti-tangle Technology: saves the hassle to cleaning the roller brush manually between cleans, thanks to its specific bristle and comb design.
• Powerful 11,00Pa Suction Power: super strong suction power will auto-adjust to the floor type its cleaning for thorough cleaning on hard floors to thick carpets.
• TrueDetect 3D 3.0 Technology: which uses structured light to detect and strategically navigate around small and large obstacles
• TrueMapping 2.0 Mapping and Navigation Technology: enables detailed, multi-floor maps to be created for efficient path planning and cleaning customisation in-app.
• OZMO Turbo 2.0 & 9mm Auto-Lift Mopping: mopping with dual-plate rotating mop pads that apply downward pressure effectively tackling tough stains and wet or dry messes also lift and lower over carpets.
• Dual Auto-Emptying: the all-in-one OMNI station empties dust from both DEEBOT and handheld vacuum into a 3L sealed dust bag that ensures easy & hypoallergenic disposal and up to 60 days of use.

• OMNI Station: features a minimalist square design, and combined auto-emptying with 70°C Hop Water Mop Washing effectively removes dirt stains from mop and preventing cross-contamination, Intelligent Deep Mopping that detects cleanliness detected during mop washing and activate re-mopping of dirty areas, and Hot Air Drying to prevent bacteria and odour build-up
• Next-Level Control: either with your voice via the YIKO 2.0 Voice Assistant or a simple touch to the front bumper with Foot Touch Control.

And then there’s the flagship Deebot X5 Pro Omni for $2,499.

This is the top of the line, it has the best suction, mopping you name it.  And it looks the best too.

Sometimes having premium matters for the look because this is a visible appliance in the home now.

It is set apart from the others in the range and in the market by:

• New Ultra-slim D-Shaped Design: the D-shape enables it to effortlessly clean every corner, while slim profile means it can get into lower and tighter spaces, that you might not even normally clean yourself!
• TruEdge^TM Adaptive Edge Mopping: enables the mop pads to extend and retract around furniture legs, walls, corners and more – interacting directly with your unique home environment.
• 15mm Mop Plate Auto-lifting: ensures carpets are not dampened when the robot seamlessly moves between mopping and vacuuming different floor types
• AINA 2.0 Intelligent Navigation Model: offers real-time navigation and obstacle avoidance, ensuring seamless movement and precise cleaning led by AI and machine learning so that the robot truly understands your unique and changing home environment. – in short, it can ‘think through’ and ‘react’ to obstacles and changes to mapped rooms on the go.
• AI Instant Re-Mop: is part of AINA 2.0 and intelligently identifies significant stains on the go. It adjusts water levels in real time, and make multiple passes over the stain to ensure deep cleaning.
• Powerful 12,800Pa Suction power: super strong suction power will auto-adjust to the floor type its cleaning for thorough cleaning on hard floors to thick carpets.
• ZeroTangle Anti-tangle Technology: saves the hassle to cleaning the roller brush manually between cleans, thanks to its specific bristle and comb design.
• OMNI Station:
  • Auto-Emptying: into a sealed dust bag that ensures easy & hypoallergenic disposal
  • 70°C Hop Water Mop Washing: effectively removes dirt stains from mop and preventing cross-contamination
  • 2-hour Hot Air Drying to prevent bacteria and odour build-up
  • Intelligent deep mopping: which detects the ‘dirtiness’ of mops upon cleaning, and initiates further mopping as needed
• YIKO 2.0 Voice Assistant: Say hello to your new cleaning bestie – simply by stating “Okay YIKO” you can give the robot commands with your voice.

When can you buy these new Ecovacs models?

The N20 goes on sale today, while the T30S and X5 are on sale on September 5

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To think they were just a cute little camera just a few years ago.  Now, in 2024, Arlo is celebrating six years and they’re making the celebrations worth your while too!

Head over to Arlo’s Website and snag 30% off a big range of products.

Never a better time to upgrade a camera, add to your system and get the most from the Arlo ecosystem.

We’re fans, so take the chance to build peace of mind into your home with a security camera today!

The post Happy 6th Birthday to Arlo smart home cameras! appeared first on Tech Guide.

Google has announced their latest video streaming device, launching the Google TV Streamer in the US.

Priced at $99.99USD and available exclusively through the US Google Store for now, the Google TV Streamer will replace the Chromecast line, which Google says will now ‘only be available while supplies last’.
Update: Google Australia has confirmed the TV Streamer will be landing here later this year with more details to follow.

The Google TV Streamer includes a faster CPU than the Chromecast, and comes with 32GB of on-board storage and 4GB of RAM. It’s powered by USB-C and includes a HDMI out, with Ethernet for improved connectivity.

The streaming box will support 4K HDR @ 60fps with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. While you can hardwire the Google Streamer to your network, you can also connect with 802.11ac, and connect to Bluetooth, with full Google Cast support.

When not in use, the Google TV Streamer will display an ambient mode showing your photos, or artwork, and it doubles as a Home Hub, showing your camera feed including your Nest Doorbell, as well as adjust the lights and temperature, or just close the blinds and more. The Streamer also supports Matter for easy SmartHome connectivity, and comes with a Thread Border Router included as well.

There’s a new voice remote included with the Google TV Streamer. Similar to the remote included with the Chromecast with Google TV, the remote includes a number of refinements including a rubberized base, and a redesigned face with the volume rocker moved from the side to the front and a new * button which can be customised.

The Google TV Streamer is available in the US in two colour options: Porcelain and Hazel. The unit is priced at $99.99 USD with shipping expected to start on September 24 and we’ll hopefully be bringing you any news of local launches soon.

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Amazon’s smart home ecosystem is vast and their medium sized smart speaker with screen the Echo Show 8 has received an update which will launch in Australia this month.

A new edge to edge glass on the screen gives it a slick look, while it now appears to sit or lean against what might look a bit like one of the larger round Echo speakers.

Designed with open rooms like the kitchen or living room in mind, this is a smart home device, using the updated home screen we’ve seen on their Echo Hub device, this also brings video calls, music and video to those rooms.

The camera is updated with an auto-framing 13 megapixel quality, plus enhanced audio too.

Along with the new design, Echo Show 8 features an updated processor to process the most common smart home requests some 40% faster.

It also features a smart home hub, with support for Matter, Zigbee and Thread meaning this can be the central device for your smart home where devices require a hub.

Amazon Echo Show 8 goes on sale from August 22 at JB Hi-Fi and Amazon, with pre-orders open today – it comes in two colours “Glacier White” and “Charcoal” for $249.

The post Amazon announces 3rd generation Echo Show 8 smart speaker for Australia appeared first on Tech Guide.

Leading wireless home security brand arlo has introduced a brand new feature which allows multiple users and multiple devices to maintain uninterrupted monitoring of their home.

Before, if users logged into their arlo account from a different device it would automatically sign them out from other devices that were previously logged into.

Now with multiple login, customers can now remain logged in and maintain active sessions.

From the app users can view live and recorded footage across all their Arlo devices including cameras and the wireless doorbell that are connected to their wireless network.

From here users can also talk to whoever is in front of the camera using the two way audio feature which is as clear as a phone call.

Now with the multiple login feature, this means more than one person in the household can have access to the notifications and control of the devices.

The other benefit is the ability for more than one person to arm the system when they leave home and then disarm their system when they return.

www.arlo.com

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Lighting. It has become an even important part of every home and can not only provide illumination but also add character to a room.

Tech Guide had a first-hand look at not only new lighting technology from leading lighting brand Legrand but also took a tour of the company’s manufacturing facility in Prestons in Sydney’s southwest and spoke with the Australian and New Zealand CEO Palash Nandy.

LED lighting is the new normal and lasts much longer than older technologies – more than 35,000 hours in fact which, based on three to four hours usage per day, lasts more than 20 years.

One of the most common uses of LED lighting is downlights – a popular choice in any modern home – and Tech Guide was able to replace a few of our older halogen downlights.

The new Zyla Plus Flicker Free Tri-Colour LED downlights from Legrand’s HPM brand are bigger than the previous downlights with a 110mm fascia and a 90mm hole cut out.

The other feature was your choice of three colour temperatures – warm, cool or natural white.

We went with warm which suited the living area where we placed them while natural white offers an added brightness that might suit other rooms like a study or a kitchen.

But you get to choose. And even if you change your mind later, it’s not hard to snap the light out of the ceiling and change the temperature via a switch.

Some of HPM’s other downlights can also connect to your wifi-network and users can change the colour temperature, group and control lights, dim the lights and create scenes.

The Zyla Plus Flicker Free Tri-Colour LED downlights, available from Bunnings for $29.65 each, also have an IP44 rating which means they can be used indoors and outside in undercover areas.

The lights are free of visible flickering and, as is the case for most LED lights, they are also dimmable.

So what’s the big deal about flickering – which occurs due to fluctuating DC current on LED chips?

And even though most people don’t even notice it – it can still result in things like eye strain and headaches.

These HPM downlights, switches and other products are also being integrated into smart homes to make life simpler and to create energy efficiency.

It’s not every day that we get to see where a product we’re writing about is actually made and we had that opportunity when we visited the Legrand headquarters in Prestons.

They have a manufacturing plant where many of the HPM products are meticulously made using recycled plastic in a plant powered by renewable energy.

The area for the manufacturing and the adjacent warehouse, where products are shipped to retailers, commercial builders and trade distributors, is larger in area than two football fields.

All product testing also is done on site.

Legrand Australian and New Zealand CEO Palash Nandy says its products must be accessible and easy to use.

“If you make it simple for people to use your product they will use it,” he said.

“The test of the technology should be how easy it is to use.

“I shouldn’t be having technology that overwhelms people because then I’m not doing it correctly.

“But on the other hand if technology simplifies life, then I’m correctly using the technology, and this is where education becomes important.”

“Similarly, making informed health choices can simplify your life, such as deciding to Buy Antabuse when appropriate.”

“When you talk about smart homes people imagine complication, but it is up to us to demonstrate to them it’s not necessarily complicated.”

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Uniden has updated its entire App Cam Solo X wirefree range which provide a simple security solution to keep an eye of your home inside and out.

The line-up includes solar-powered easy-to-install 2K cameras which can be scaled to suit any size property along with the video doorbell so you can answer your door from anywhere.

Each new device has been redesigned with a sleek and fresh new look and has been competitively priced to suit anyone’s budget.

The range includes the App Cam Solo X2K, App Cam Solo X2K Bullet Kit, App Cam Solo X2K Wirefree Video Doorbell, App Cam Solo X2K PT Kit, App Cam Solo X2K 4K Kit and the Uniden App Cam X25T tracking camera.

All the new products are accessible from the MyUniden+ app and include free 7-day rolling cloud coverage with the ability for local backups on an SD card for the life of the product.

Customers can monitor their home while they are at work or on holidays and receive notifications when it detects movement around your property.

“This new range of wire-free security cameras provides an innovative and functional way for people to monitor their homes, capturing every detail and storing footage for peace of mind and deterring a crime before it happens,” says Brad Hales, National Marketing Communications Manager for Uniden.

“We’ve taken all kinds of consumers into consideration when developing this range, knowing that people seek out trusted brands with a local presence, and most importantly create products that are reliable with no hidden fees after the product purchase.”

UNIDEN APP CAM SOLO X2K – $149.95, $289.95 (TWIN PACK), $569.95 (QUAD PACK)

The Uniden App Cam Solo X2K can be used to build a system to cover your entire home with each camera including an integrated spotlight, ThermoSense technology for heat and movement detection which reduces multiple nuisance notifications along with two-way audio, a 120-degree wide viewing angle and a siren alert trigger.

The camera can also be paired with the Uniden solar panel accessory to keep the cameras charged.

APP CAM SOLO X2K BULLET KIT (INCLUDES SOLAR PANEL) – $199.95

The Uniden App Cam Solo X2K Bullet kit is a spotlight and camera which includes colour night vision so you can get clear views and excellent clarity day and night.

Also included is a solar panel and mount so it can be easily installed in an ideal position and ensure continuous charge.

The camera which provides sharp footage which can clearly show faces, number plates and other details even after the sun goes down.

APP CAM SOLO X2K WIREFREE VIDEO DOORBELL – $159.95

The latest addition to the Uniden portfolio of security cameras is the new App Cam Solo X2K wirefree video doorbell which allows you to see who is at the door thanks to a 135-degree viewing angle and 2K resolution which includes colour night vision.

It has two-way audio so you can easily communicate with whoever is at your door and see when kids are coming home.

Included in the package are wireless chime alerts so people inside your household can also hear the doorbell without solely relying on notifications via the app.

APP CAM SOLO X2K PT KIT (INCLUDES SOLAR PANEL) – $249

This camera has a pan and tilt function which allows you to have a 355-degree view of the area so your security has no blind spots.

It also includes a solar panel and can be controlled remotely using the MyUniden+ App to scan your property.

The App Cam Solo X2K PT camera can also be paired with other Uniden cameras across the Solo X range.

APP CAM SOLO X2K 4G KIT (INCLUDES SOLAR PANEL) – $429.95

This is the only 4G cellular security camera in the Uniden range which means it can be located in remote areas where there is no wi-fi including building sites, caravans, holiday homes, sheds, farms and marinas.

The camera offers a 355° viewing angle including pan and tilt and allows users to view and control the camera remotely through the companion app.

UNIDEN APP CAM X25PT – $69.95

The Uniden App Cam X25PT Super HD motion tracking camera is ideal for indoor security and packs in essential features into a small easy-to-use device that can blend into your home’s décor.

It includes a motion detection camera with a 350-degree pan and 95-degree tilt and can track movement whether it’s your kids doing their homework or your pets roaming around the house.

The device also has clear two-way talk to help check in and connect with loved ones through the Uniden app.

Stay tuned to Tech Guide for a full review of the new Uniden security range.

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Arlo Technologies, the company behind the market-leading wireless home security cameras, doorbells and floodlights, has exceeded four million subscriptions globally which demonstrates the appreciation for the added value that the plans provide.

Subscribers to Arlo’s AI-powered paid plans grew steadily in 2024 as more customers discovered the benefits which make the products even more useful and valuable in creating added security and peace of mind.

The plans extend the security experience offer complete protection.

Subscriptions include 30-days of secure cloud storage of all video recordings and offer smart notifications and advanced object recognition with AI, setting smart zones and more.

Plans starts from $7.99 a month.

Features of Arlo Secure, and Secure Plus subscriptions include:

– 4K Cloud-based Video Recording (Secure Plus plan): View 30 days of recordings securely stored on Arlo’s SmartCloud platform for ultimate peace of mind and protection even if the device is damaged or stolen in a break-in, storm, or other physical incident.

– Smart Interactive Notifications (All plans): Users can take quicker action by responding to rich notifications or viewing an animated preview of a video through the lock screen on their smartphone or other smart device.

– Advanced Object Detection with AI (All plans): Arlo processes and filters 50 million events each day through advanced object detection backed by visual artificial intelligence, allowing for better recognition of people, packages, vehicles, and animals to add key context to notifications and reduce unwanted alerts.

– Smart Activity Zones (All plans): Users can reduce unwanted notifications by highlighting specific areas on their property where they want motion to be detected, eliminating notifications from irrelevant movement such as tree branches or vehicle traffic on the street.

– Priority Care & Support (All plans): Subscribers get priority technical support through the in-app Help Centre with omnichannel access to phone, chat, community, or self-help articles.

And Arlo will roll out even more features later this year.

www.arlo.com

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Uniden has released a new range of advanced yet affordable baby monitors to give parents even greater flexibility to keep an eye on newborns and toddlers.

There are three new models in the line-up in the award-winning Uniden BabyWatch range – BW2511, BW3531 and W4501 – which have been priced to keep them within easy reach of budget-conscious customers.

The range feature Uniden’s signature high-quality while keeping the prices down to make them accessible by even more families who are feeling cost of living pressures.

Every model features a colour screen along with sound detection, temperature monitoring and two-way talk so parents can see and hear their child clearly and talk to them and soothe them remotely.

They also have onboard night vision so parents can keep the room light off and still clearly check on their child in the middle of the night.

Prices start at less than $100 for the Uniden BW2511 ($99.95) which has a 2.8-inch colour screen, night vision and six lullabies that can be played to calm the child down and help get them off to sleep.

Moving up to the BW3531 ($159.95) and the screen size increases to 4.3-inch and the camera can be panned and tilted to see even more of the room.

The Uniden BW4501 ($229.95) has a full HD clamp camera which can be placed anywhere in the child’s room.

It also has sound and movement alerts and the ability to record to an SD card.

“We developed these new products keeping in mind the financial pressures Australians are under, while still providing all the favourite baby monitor features in an affordable package,” says Brad Hales, National Marketing Communications Manager for Uniden.

“We know that young families are seeking reliable products from trusted brands and believe these new additions, starting at under $100, really open up the category to a wider group of parents and carers.”

FEATURES

UNIDEN BW2511 2.8” Baby Monitor – $99.95

– 2.8” Colour Screen

– Temperature Display

– Night Vision

– Six Lullabies

– 2-Way Talk

– Time Task Function

– Sound Detection

– Camera Rotating Stand

UNIDEN BW3531 4.3” Baby Monitor with Pan & Tilt Camera – $159.95

– 4.3” Colour Screen

– Pan & Tilt Camera

– Temperature Display

– Night Light

– Night Vision

– Eight Lullabies including White Noise

– 2-Way Talk

– Time Task Function

– Sound Detection 

UNIDEN BW4501 4.3” Baby Monitor and Clamp Camera – $229.95

– 4.3” Colour Screen

– FULL HD (1080P) Clamp Camera

– Portability with Battery Backup

– 4 X Local Digital Zoom

– Room Temperature Display

– Room Humidity Display

– Selection of 4 Lullabies

– 2-Way Talk “Walkie Function”

– Ability to Record to SD Card

– Sound and Motion Alert

www.uniden.com.au

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Netgear, one of the leading brands in Wi-Fi, has release a new standalone Wi-Fi 7 router – the Nighthawk RS300 – which offers game-changing Wi-Fi 7 technology at an affordable price.

The Nighthawk RS300 router, priced at $649, delivers faster Wi-Fi speeds and even wider wireless coverage of up to 230 square metres across a maximum of 100 devices.

Wi-Fi 7 office speeds 2.4 times faster than Wi-Fi 6 and offers low latency and less wireless interference so users can enjoy uninterrupted streaming of 4K and 8K content, video conferencing and online gaming.

Today more people are working from home and there are more AR and VR devices and AI focused products that are being introduced that require extreme low latency and higher throughput.

Wi-Fi 7 is also appearing on the next generations of smartphones, laptops and other devices.
“Netgear’s singular focus has always been to create and provide industry-leading solutions with powerful performance and secure Wi-Fi connectivity.” said David Henry, president and GM of Connected Home Products and Services at Netgear.

“Our newest Wi-Fi 7 addition, Nighthawk RS300, delivers these connectivity benefits to a wider audience, helping them experience unprecedented speed and performance on their devices and applications with the strongest possible security available today.”

The Nighthawk RS300 is a tri-band router with speeds of up to 9.3Gbps.

Under its sleek design is a patented omni-directional internal antenna that improves coverage and ensures the wireless signal reaches the furthest corners of your home.

Also onboard is a 2.5 Gig internet port and the additional 2.5 Gig and two 1 Gig LAN ports which allow for wired connections to nearby products including smart TVs and gaming consoles.

Also under the hood is state of the art encryption protocols and advanced threat detection mechanisms to protect the network from evolving cyber threats.

The Netgear Nighthawk RS300 automatically updates its firmware and can support VPNs.

For added protection a 30-day trial for Netgear Armor – powered by Bitdefender is included with the RS300 and this provides a shield of security for all the connected devices on the network and a VPN.

Armor is built into the router and goes further than traditional antivirus products to provide an all-in-one security solution to protect connected devices like computers, security cameras, baby monitors and other IoT devices on the network.

A 30-day trial of the Netgear Smart Parental Controls is also included to help parents manage their children’s screen time and connected devices and encourage responsible online habits for the entire family.

The Netgear Nighthawk RS300 Router is available now and is priced at $649.

Nighthawk RS300 Technical Specifications:

– Blazing-Fast Wi-Fi 7 Tri-Band Speeds up to 9.3Gbps – Experience combined Multi-Gigabit speeds up to 9.3Gbps with the ultra-fast 6GHz Wi-Fi band for smoother Wi-Fi experiences and less interference from neighbouring networks.

– 2.4x Faster Speeds – Wi-Fi 7 delivers 2.4x faster speeds than Wi-Fi 6 with ultra-wide 320MHz high-capacity channels and 4K QAM to maximise performance across your connected devices.

– Multi-Gig Speeds with 2.5Gig Internet Port –Use the 2.5Gbps internet port for today’s faster cable and Fiber plans. Or link one LAN port and the internet port together for speeds up to 2Gbps for a modem that does not have a multi-gig port but supports link aggregation. Compatible with any internet service provider.

– Improved Performance with 2.5Gig Wired Ports –Enjoy improved performance on your gaming and entertainment devices by plugging them into the two 2.5Gbps ports for faster wired connections. And link the two 1Gbps LAN ports together for speeds up to 2Gbps for a NAS device.

– Easy file sharing – Plug a thumb drive to the router’s USB port to easily share files.

– Do It All with the Nighthawk App – Configure your Wi-Fi for peak performance on priority devices. Easily manage your network from anywhere, including pausing the Internet, running Internet speed tests, tracking your Internet data usage, setting up separate guest networks, and more.

The post Netgear releases the Nighthawk RS300 – its latest and most affordable Wi-Fi 7 router appeared first on Tech Guide.

Amazon has unveiled the latest version of the popular Echo Show 5 – the smart device with a 5-inch display that’s powered by Alexa.

This is the third generation of the Echo Show 5 and it now includes a completely re-engineered microphone array and a faster AZ2 Neural Edge processor.

The unit also has an improved speaker system to deliver higher quality audio when listening to music, podcasts, Audible books or watching videos.

The latest Echo Show 5 also supports Matter – the new platform that makes it easier to connect and control compatible smart home products no matter the brand into your home setup.

Customers will also have full control over their privacy and the Alexa experience with a manual off button for the microphone and camera, a built-in camera shutter and the ability to easily delete all your voice recordings.

Echo Show 5 is made from 100 per cent post-consumer recycled polyester yarn and 100 per cent recycled aluminium with the devices packaging made of 99 per cent wood fibre based materials from managed forests or recycled sources.

Echo Show 5 (third gen) is available to pre-order now at amazon.com.au/echoshow5 and in leading retailers from July 10.

It will be available in three colours – black, white and cloud blue and will be priced at $169.

The post Amazon unveils the latest version of the Echo Show 5 smart display appeared first on Tech Guide.

If you’re in the market for a security camera there are a lot to choose from and they all offer an array of different features, design and quality. So what exactly should you look for?

Leading home security brand Arlo has come up with the five things to look for when shopping for your first camera or your additional camera.

There are lot of different factors to consider when looking for the right security camera for your home.

Here are Arlo’s top five features to look for:

1. Recording Clarity – FHD vs 2K vs 4K

Camera resolution and recording clarity are important so you get clear images, smooth footage and capturing finer details from a distance.

The more common security camera resolutions are FHD, 2K and 4K.

At the very least you should consider a camera with FHD (full high definition) clarity.

But recording clarity has improved over the years.

Arlo has launched its latest Essential range featuring 2K resolution setting a new benchmark for minimum clarity at an entry level price range.

For even better recording clarity, Arlo Ultra 2 with 4K resolution provides crisp, clean, and clear footage. 2K & 4K resolution enables you to zoom in and still maintain a higher level of clarity.

2. Field of View – 130° to 180°

The field of view is the area a security camera can cover, influencing the overall effectiveness of surveillance.

Having a decent field of view is essential for ensuring comprehensive surveillance.

This is important especially in larger spaces or outdoor environments where multiple entry points or potential security risks may exist.

By capturing a wider area, security cameras with a generous FOV help monitor more effectively, detect suspicious activities, and respond promptly to potential threats.

Arlo’s cameras are designed with wide-angle lenses, offering expansive coverage ranging from 130° to 180°.

This wide field of view ensures no corner of your property goes unnoticed, providing in-depth surveillance even in large outdoor spaces or expansive indoor environments.

3. Zoom – Tracking & Zoom Capabilities

Want to take closer look at your video? You can zoom in know the package you’ve been waiting for lands at your door.

Zoom is an important feature with security camera systems so users can focus on specific areas of interest and capture critical details.

Arlo offers up to 12x zoom and advanced zoom and tracking functionalities, enabling users to zoom in on subjects without sacrificing image quality.

4. Audio – Full Duplex, Regular, Noise Cancelling

It’s not all about video. Audio is important as well and adds an extra layer of security to your surveillance system.

Good audio allows you to hear and communicate with individuals on your property.

Arlo’s cameras have two-way audio and noise-cancelling features.

The onboard full-duplex audio enables simultaneous two-way communication, allowing for seamless interactions with visitors or potential intruders.

Meanwhile, noise-cancelling technology helps filter out background noise for even clearer audio.

5. Night Vision – B&W vs Colour

Many would argue that night surveillance is the most important reason to have a security camera.

Arlo cameras’ night vision capabilities offer clear imaging in low-light or night-time conditions and providing clear footage in both black and white and colour.

This dual-night vision capability ensures you can monitor your property with clarity, whether it’s monitoring your backyard, driveway, or entry points, enhancing your overall security measures.

The post The top five features to look for when shopping for a home security camera appeared first on Tech Guide.

Ring has unveiled its latest indoor camera which includes a pan and tilt function to allow users to look around the room and cover more parts of their home.

The new Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Camera offers 360-degree panning and 169-degree vertical tilt coverage.

The camera has all the features of Ring’s Indoor Camera range Including the manual privacy cover.

The plug-in powered Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Camera lets users see even more of their phone home so they can keep an eye on things when they’re out – including their furry friends.

The camera offers 1080p HD video and colour night vision and can fit into any home’s decor thanks to its small footprint.

It has live view with real-time motion alerts sent to the app when the camera detects activity.

Also on board is two-way talk which allows users to chat in real time with anyone in range of the camera through the built-in microphone and speaker.

The Ring Protect plan allows customers to enjoy additional features including advanced pre-roll, cloud storage, video sharing and motion notifications with the photo view directly inside the app’s notification.

Ring Protect Plus also has multi-cam live view which gives users the option of playing for live use at the same time per location on ring.com.

“The new Pan-Tilt Indoor Camera is the perfect solution to capture every angle with one device, whether you are a pet owner who wants to pan around the living room to check on their furry friend, or someone who wants to cover multiple hallways and doorways,” says Mark Fletcher, Ring Managing Director, APAC.

“Indoor cameras have been among Ring’s fastest growing and most popular product categories, offering Australian and New Zealand customers the ability to check in on their home, no matter where they are.

“The new Pan-Tilt Indoor Camera is an excellent addition to the range, offering the ultimate peace of mind.”

Ring has also announced new device colours – Blush and Starlight – for the Indoor Camera (2^nd Gen) which join the existing black and white choices.

The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Camera goes on sale on May 31 and will be priced at $ on ring.com and amazon.com.au.

The new Ring Indoor Camera (2^nd Gen) go on sale on July 24 for $99 on ring.com and amazon.com.au.

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Arlo has released a new affordable entry level security camera – the Essential FHD Outdoor Camera 2^nd Gen – which can keep your home safe for the value price of $99.

Available exclusively from Officeworks, the Arlo Essential FHD Outdoor Camera 2^nd Gen offers full high definition 1080p resolution.

The camera links to your home’s wi-fi and can send movement alerts to the Arlo companion app on your smartphone.

This new model can fit in with in existing Arlo cameras in your home or start your home security journey with the ability add more Arlo cameras in your home and monitor them and receive notifications through the app.

The Arlo Essential FHD Outdoor Camera 2^nd Gen also has clear two-way audio with noise cancellation so you can talk to whoever is on camera and has colour night vision so it can identify details even in low light conditions.

KEY FEATURES OF THE ARLO ESSENTIAL FHD OUTDOOR CAMERA 2^ND GEN

– It records in clear, 1080p FHD video.

– The camera is fully wireless and weather resistant giving you additional freedom with mounting options.

– You can hear and speak clearly with visitors using 2-way, noise cancelling audio.

– You can identify details in low light with Colour Night Vision.

– The camera has a rechargeable battery.

– Compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa.

– There’s an integrated spotlight and siren for added security.

– An Arlo Secure plan trial is included. After trial, a paid plan is required to keep premium features like 30-day video cloud storage, People, Package, Vehicle Detection, and more.

The Arlo Essential FHD Outdoor Camera 2^nd Gen is priced at $98 and is available now from Officeworks.

The post Arlo launches feature-packed Essential FHD Outdoor Security camera for $99 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.

Arlo, one of the leading smart home security brands, has just set up a new website which allows customers to create their own security bundle of Arlo products and receive up to 20 per cent off the total price.

On the website, customers can go through the entire Arlo range of products including the Essential 2K Wireless Security Camera, the Arlo Pro 5 2K, the GO 2 and the Pro 3 Floodlight Camera and add them to their basket.

They can also add the Arlo Video Doorbell 2K and several accessories including the Arlo Smart Hub, the outdoor camera mount, magnetic wall mounts, charging station, solar panel charger and spare rechargeable batteries.

And depending on the price of their bundle that will determine the discount they can receive.

For baskets of $250 and above there’s a 10 per cent discount off the entire order.

If you go over $500 that’s a 15 per cent discount while orders above $1000 attract a generous 20 per cent discount.

Arlo has created an ideal opportunity for customers to invest in home security for the first time or add more products to their existing setup.

Customers can go to this link to start creating their bundles and adding up the savings.

For more information about Arlo’s range of smart home security products and services head to www.arlo.com.

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