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The iTWire Father's Day 2024 gift guide

2024-08-28T21:55:23+10:00

Father's Day is almost upon us. Whether you have a dad in your life who's hard to shop for, or want to treat yourself, iTWire has a roundup of some of the best gadgets, comforts, and deals available right now.

What kind of Dad are you shopping for? Check out our guide here, with these categories:

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Audio

Sonos has released its first-ever set of headphones, the Sonos Ace. And, right now, they're $70 off. iTWire has been testing a set out, and found them really comfortable, while providing stunning sound. They have a crisp, vibrant, and expansive soundstage. Also, Sonos has put huge work into making them dead simple to pair with your phone, computer, or whatever else. The headphones support Bluetooth, USB-C, and 3.5mm jacks. They have fast charging, combined with a 30 hour battery life. There's a terrific active noise cancelling option to truly immerse you into your music or podcasts, while aware mode helps you remain in touch with your surroundings such as when walking alongside a busy road. Spatial audio and dynamic head tracking allow you to have your own concert all about you, and wear detection easily helps you play and pause, or answer calls by merely putting the headphones on or taking them off.

The Sonos Ace headphones are solidly and stylishly built. Even if you don't have any other Sonos gear they're a great option for the Dad who values a great set of headphones. However, if you have particular Sonos soundbars you can pair the headphones with them to easily switch your television from the soundbar to the headphones and back again.

For its first headphones, Sonos has smashed it out of the park with quality, looks, and comfort.

Also, the Sonos Roam 2 ultra-portable waterproof speaker brings the power of sound in a powerful, yet tiny, speaker with 10 hours of battery life and IP67 dust and water resistance. It supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple Airplay for a full range of streaming audio options. It is available in a range of colourways and can be voice controlled too.

When it comes to the gift of audio, you won't go wrong with either of these Sonos products, and isn't life better with a soundtrack?

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Coffee

Start the day with a delicious, aromatic fresh brew. Finish the day off too. In fact, have one in the middle of the day too. Whatever your coffee habits Lavazza has a range of premium coffee pod machines, sure to delight Dad. These include the top-class A Modo Mio Deséa and the stylish A Modo Mio Smeg. TheDeséais renowned for its versatility and ease of use with its in-built milk frother, whilst the Smeg model unites the sophistication of modern technology with tradition to create a perfect Italian espresso. What's more, from 21st August to 3rd September, the entire machine range will be 30% off.

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Footwear

How much would you expect to pay for a stylish yet tough, insulated, waterproof pair of boots for trekking around? Would you believe $US 69.99? Nortiv8 carries a wide range of shoes and boots, from casual to formal, classic to modern, and more.

The Nortiv8 men's waterproof slip-on snow boots are that very boot, coming in sizes from 6.5 to 15. That's US sizes, so be sure to check the sizing chart. They feature 3M thinsulate with 200g high quality cotton to keep your feet warm and dry, even when the temperature is -3⁰C. Take a nice summer holiday at Thredbo, or do as iTWire did and have trek around kunanyi / Mount Wellington while looking out for the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis).

Nortiv8 has a great selection with other options, including its companion brand Bruno Marc, such as the fashionable and classy men's lace-up classic Oxford shoes at $US 49.99, or the colourful men's lightweight running shoes.

Whether Dad could do with a new pair of shoes, sneakers, work boots, or anything else, Nortiv8 offers stunningly good value across a wide range of comfortable, attractive, stylish, and durable options.

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Gaming

Make Dad's gaming even more convenient than ever with the official Sony PlayStation Portal remote player for PS5. No need to use a mobile phone, the Portal remote player includes a screen and handheld controller, that effortlessly pairs with your PlayStation 5 console for remote play. Use it as a controller, and also use it to play your PS5 games on-screen while someone else uses the TV.

Bring the power of the PlayStation to your hands, with a glorious 8" 60fps 1080p screen. You don't need a TV, nor a living room. Play anywhere in the house, and play whatever you've installed on your console, both PS5 and PS4 titles.

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Heated pillows

Whether Dad likes some comfort, or experiences painful knee pain flair ups, Dutch lifestyle brand Stoov has some great options. Stoov is famous for its personalised, innovative heating cushions and launched in Australia only earlier this year.

The Stoov range looks good, is made sustainably, is energy efficient, and is sure to keep Dad comfy and cosy day and night. The products come in a range of different fabrics. Each Stoov item has a rechargable battery so you can use it without cords or cables for up to 9 hours, and feature three heating levels up to 42⁰C.

Actually, Father's Day is a great time to get a Stoov product for Dad, because it can keep him warm in the morning, warm at night, help with aches and pains, and be right there as a familiar, trusted companion when we hit autumn and winter again in 2025.

The Stoov range in Australia offers four products:

Ploov: Heated cushions in sizes 45x45 cm and 45x60 cm that look equally stylish on a couch or a picnic blanket.
Homey: Electric heated ‘water bottles’ that are made for snuggling into - no water involved, and maintains the heat.
Big Hug: Heated blanket that fits perfectly over your camping, garden, or office chairs.
One: Convenient heated seat cushion that can be utilised almost anywhere.

Watch out though, because in iTWire's experience, Mum is sure to want one too. Now you have Christmas sorted as well.

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Mobile phones

Why not check out the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra? Has Dad been on the lookout to replace his old phone? With Circle to Search, Live Translate, and amazing camera features, the latest Samsung flagship phone lets him capture the moments that matter most. It comes in titanium yellow, titanium violet, titanium grey, titanium orange, titanium green, and titanium blue.

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Smart lighting

iTWire has long been impressed with the wide array of Nanoleaf smart lighting solutions, and no doubt Dad is sure to love them too. Whether to brighten up a dark area of the house, decorate a man cave, or even simply to give him the peace of mind that children aren't leaving lights turned on when nobody's home, Nanoleaf has something that's sure to be a hit.

The Nanoleaf lights come in traditional light bulb formats, as well as a whole range of decorative shapes and lightstrips. The globes will screw into your existing Edson or Bayonet sockets, replacing regular globes, but giving you the energy effiency of LED right away, as well as a huge range of colours and hues. What's more, being smart globes, you can control the colours, brightness, and power through a smartphone app, desktop app, voice control via your smart assistant, and through a wide range of interconnected tools such as the Elgato StreamDeck, Corsair iCue, IFTTT, and so much more.

It's not only light bulbs; Nanoleaf provides huge selection of lights in all kinds of shapes - triangles, hexagons, rectangles - as well as lightstrips and even strings of individually-controllable outdoor icicle lights. These don't require a light fitting or socket; provided you have power and Wi-Fi you can run lights anywhere you desire. Click and join the shapes in all manner of designs, giving you the ultimate in personalisation.

Now, you can string up the lights and adorn any surface, and manage them via apps and smart assistants. However iTWire has been experimenting with the Nanoleaf API to make the outdoor string lights put on a fancy light show of our own design. We'll report back when it's ready to share.

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Image credit: Moondance from Pixabay

History makers make history: St Kilda welcomes LOEWE

2024-08-15T10:13:38+10:00

St Kilda Football Club are proud to welcome German technology marvel LOEWE as a platinum partner across the clubs AFL and AFLW programs until at least the end of 2026.

St Kilda Football Club is proud to welcome German technology marvel LOEWE as a platinum partner across the club's AFL and AFLW programs until at least the end of 2026.

As the inventor of the first television set, LOEWE has been a pillar in craftsmanship and innovation for generations.

“We’re thrilled to sign a multi-year deal with a premium and historic brand in LOEWE,” St Kilda Executive General Manager of Commercial Chris Larkins said.

“Much like our club, LOEWE are built on tradition and share a passion for technique, precision and efficiency.

To sign a joint partnership across both our men’s and women’s programs also demonstrates LOEWE’s commitment to longevity as we look to continue to grow stronger right across our club - St Kilda Executive General Manager of Commercial, Chris Larkins.

For over 100 years, LOEWE has produced quality televisions and audio equipment, remaining at the forefront of ingenuity and luxury.

“LOEWE Australia believe in partnerships that are in line with commitment, dedication and passion, and this is what we believe St Kilda Football Club represents,” LOEWE Australia CEO Paul Riachi said.

“LOEWE products are built on the same passion and drive, furthermore the collaboration between us presents a new chapter in the LOEWE success story and raise the brands awareness even further here in Australia.

“LOEWE televisions and audio come with the ‘Made in Germany’ respect and are built to perform, endure and make sure AFL fans experience every second of the action in true colour with roaring sound.”

LOEWE will be featured across the AFL and AFLW player sleeves as well as all major signage, matchdays and more.

Verizon bundles Netflix and Peacock premium plans

2024-07-24T10:11:58+10:00

American telecommunications company Verizon announced its customers will gain exclusive access to new streaming savings featuring Netflix’s Premium Plan and Peacock Premium, claiming they can save US$275 in value.

The telco claims they are the first company to bundle Netflix and Peacock for an annual offer.

For a limited time, Verizon customers can buy one year of Peacock Premium and get one year of Netflix’s Premium plan included

The Netflix and Peacock offer is available through +play, Verizon’s hub for content subscriptions, which is now available to all Verizon Mobile and Home Internet customers.

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Customers can subscribe to the Peacock Premium annual plan for just $79.99, and get a year of Netflix Premium, a US$275 value, included.

Peacock Premium gives customers 80K+ hours of ad-supported NBC, Bravo hits, live sports including Sunday Night Football, Premier League, and the Olympic Games. With Netflix Premium, customers can stream from multiple devices, all in ultra-HD and spatial audio.

Plus, customers can save even more on content services in +play by using the +play US$10 monthly perk, available to Verizon’s myPlan and myHome customers.

With the perk, customers get US$15 to use in the +play store on any of the 30 subscription services available, ranging from streaming services to lifestyle and fitness.

Verizon recently unveiled a refreshed brand identity, along with a suite of new customer-focused programs and deals on exclusive experiences and offers.

Tubi enters UK market

2024-07-09T13:44:25+10:00

Rupert Murdoch’s Fox is entering the UK market with the launch of Tubi, an ad-supported streaming service.

Tubi will enter UK’s highly competitive video streaming market, competing with giant streaming brands Netflix, Disney+, ITVX, and Channel 4’s streaming platform BBC iPlayer.

Tubi claimed that it has emerged as the fastest growing US streaming service with nearly 80 million monthly active users since its debut on the Nielsen Gauge just over a year ago.

Tubi said it will launch with over 20,000 movies and TV episodes on-demand, featuring curated content from major global distributors such as Disney, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, and Sony Pictures Entertainment as well as a robust slate of exclusive Tubi Originals in the UK.

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Tubi’s content will also feature British, Indian, and Nigerian content.

Viewers will be able to access content on the Tubi webpage and on smartphones and smart TVs.

“We are launching with one of the largest and most diverse content libraries in the UK, designed to indulge viewers in everything from blockbusters to original stories to hidden gems. Most importantly, we’re committed to listening to what resonates with UK fans, and bringing them more and more of what they love,” said Tubi CEO Anjali Sud.

“We believe that we can build a brilliantly broad, culturally ambitious offering that puts UK audiences back at the centre, and makes it fun and easy to enjoy great entertainment from around the world,” said Tubi executive vice president and managing director of international David Salmon.

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 8 July 2024.

Vodafone partners with Hubbl to stream entertainment content

2024-07-04T10:56:17+10:00

Vodafone has partnered with Hubbl to deliver and stream content exclusively for the telco’s customer base.

Hubbl simplifies streaming with search and content aggregation across local video-on-demand apps and Australian free-to-air TV channels in one platform.

Hubbl upgrades any TV, offering subscription management at the touch of a button.

Customers can stack up to five eligible streaming apps when billed via their Hubbl account and save up to $15 per month via a credit on their subscriptions.

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No antenna and satellite dish are required when customers sign up with Hubbl.

Hubbl is compatible with any broadband connection, including Vodafone’s NBN and 5G Home Internet plans—meaning streaming content is just a plug away.

“By connecting our customers to a premium entertainment experience with Vodafone’s great value broadband, we are setting a new standard for what Australians can expect from their home entertainment setup,” said Vodafone group executive consumer Kieren Cooney.

“With 16 paid and free apps available on Hubbl and more to come, there is nothing like the world of entertainment Hubbl unlocks,” claimed Hubbl executive director Dani Simpson.

To mark the launch of Hubbl with Vodafone, the telco is offering six months of Binge Standard included on NBN and Home Internet plans when they include the Hubbl small device to their plan at $4.12 month over 24-months* ($99 in total).

Vodafone is also offering three months of Binge Standard included to all new and upgrading postpaid mobile customers.

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 3 July 2024.

Schneider Electric launches its 'first uninterruptible power supply (UPS)' designed specifically for gamers.

2024-06-27T11:38:08+10:00

COMPANY NEWS: Catering to the unique gaming requirements of e-sport players and gamers, Schneider Electric announced today that it has introduced its first APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming, which delivers uninterrupted power protection “as well as ensuring gamers can enjoy continuous gaming experiences in spite of unpredictable power issues”.

The gaming community in Australia is thriving, and gamers are looking for “an unparalleled gaming experience to keep leveling up. According to the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association, 91 per cent of Australian households currently own at least one video game console.

“The APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming provides gamers with a reliable solution to ensure their high-performance gaming equipment is not affected by power interruptions whilst gaming. The advanced features of the device offer both performance and reliability, making it an ideal choice for those gaming online as well as people working from home," said Joe Craparotta, Vice President, IT Business, Pacific Zone at Schneider Electric.

By incorporating the APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming into gaming setups, gamers can enjoy a worry-free gaming experience:

Protected: the gaming battery backup protects valuable gaming systems from different power disruptions and damage.

Connected: once the gaming system has been properly shut down, the UPS continues to supply power to routers and/or modems, ensuring that equipment remains connected.

In the game: in the event of an interruption or loss of power during gameplay, the backup power supply gives players enough time to save their progress or complete the game, preventing dropped games and resulting penalties.

The APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming was recognised with a prestigious iF Design award and is available in both black and white and features a patented Reactor Circle. When the device is in power mode, the circular LED ring indicates the backup power supply's remaining runtime and power level. The sine wave power ensures a stable and high-quality voltage for gaming professionals at critical moments, maintaining a continuous gaming experience.

The APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming also boasts efficient power capacity with an output of up to 2200VA / 1320W, allowing gamers to immerse themselves in high-performance games and enjoy exceptional gaming performance

Designed to secure existing equipment, this system is not about the short-term, it’s about securing your equipment life in the long run. This can help a PC or console withstand the test of time. This device is not only functional, it is also designed to be a showpiece in every home office and gaming setup,” concludes Craparotta.

For more information on the launch of the new APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming, please visit:

Australia: APC Gaming UPS – Get the Best Protection for Your Rig - APC Australia
New Zealand: APC Gaming UPS – Get the Best Protection for Your Rig - APC New Zealand

Rogers Communications strikes content deals with NBCUniversal, Warner Bros Discovery

2024-06-14T08:48:32+10:00

Rogers Communications signed multi-year deals with Comcast-owned NBCUniversal and Warner Bros Discovery to bring sports and entertainment content to Canada, the Canadian telecommunication announced.

Reuters reported the move comes at a time when Rogers is looking to boost its presence in sports and entertainment content to attract audiences.

Rogers will launch NBCUniversal’s Bravo channel in Canada this September. It will hold the English-language content rights in Canada.

In January 2025, Rogers said it will have access to Warner Bros Discovery’s brands including HGTV, The Food Network, and among others.

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Rogers sports and media president Colette Watson said the company is evolving the business to reflect where consumers are going, bringing the “best mix of US and Canadian content to audiences.”

“This investment also advances our position as a strong Canadian broadcaster that can compete with foreign streamers.” 

The financial aspect of the deal was not disclosed. But over the last 10 years, Rogers claimed it has invested US$6.9 billion in Canadian content.

Last April, Rogers signed a 10-year agreement with Comcast to bring Xfinity, a suite of TV products and ISP for consumers.

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 13 June 2024.

Get ready for Aldi's special buy this Saturday - a 70" 4K TV for $629

2024-06-13T23:34:33+10:00

Aldi is bringing a 70" 4K Ultra HD TV with webOS to the middle aisles across Australia this Saturday, 15 June 2024 - for a crazy low low price of $629.

With genuine 4K 3840 x 2160 resolution, plus all the features of a webOS-powered smart TV, this is an astounding deal. At $629 - the lowest price since 2021 - the only question you need to ask yourself is what you will watch first. Will it be the grandeur of a Pixar movie, or the stunning colour palette that is the Bruce Willis sci-fi adventure, The Fifth Element? Perhaps Blade Runner 2049 or Avengers: Infinity War? Or, of course, enjoy the cricket and football and all other sports in such a huge, stunning 4K screen.

The Aldi special buy 70" 4K Ultra HD TV with webOS will be available for $629 in stores while stocks last.

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Features include:

Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Built-in speaker with 2 x 8W output
Ports include: 3 x HDMI, 2 x USB, 1 x headphone jack, 1 x LAN, 1 x optical, 1 x AV in and 1 x antenna
4K Ultra High Definition
High Dynamic Range
Voice Assistant on the Magic Remote
12 months warranty

The TV is Bauhn, Aldi's own model, with webOS licensed from LG.

ASUS ROG Ally X handheld gaming PC available for pre-order

2024-06-02T19:23:26+10:00

ASUS, and its Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand, have announced the all-new ROG Ally X handheld gaming PC is now available for pre-order, with extra RAM, storage, battery life, and durability.

The ASUS ROG Ally handheld put serious Windows-based gaming power in the palms of your hand - literally, with a full high-def Windows 11 AMD Ryzen Z1-powered PC. What better way to play your Steam or Epic Games libraries, or get great value from your Microsoft GamePass subscription, by gaming when you want, where you want.

ASUS has now announced the next model is available for preorder in Australia and New Zealand now. The upgraded ASUS ROG Ally X includes the same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, but adds upgraded storage, RAM, battery life, and an enhanced chassis for improved ergonomics, cooling, and connectivity.

It will retail for $1,599 in Australia and $1,799 in New Zealand, and is available from 22 July 2024.

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The new 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). The specs are confirmed as 24GB of LPDDR5X-7500 RAM, and a 1TB M.2 2280 SSD. Such a cavernous disk, and a generous amount of RAM, are sure to see you gaming today and well into the future.

And, with that, ASUS has also improved the joysticks and ergonomics to allow for more precise control. The device sports two USB-C ports and includes new fans to push up to 24% more air through a third vent, keeping the panel up to 6 degrees cooler to the touch. What's more, the battery has been doubled to 80 Wh so gamers can play for even longer. Yet, despite these hardware improvements, it's only a tiny 70g heavier than its predecessor.

The Armoury Crate software has been upgraded to SE 1.5 with a new customisable game library and unified system updates.

ASUS Australia head of consumer systems business group Bradley Howe said, “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. 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.”

Personal listening perfected with the first-ever Sonos headset, the Sonos Ace

2024-05-22T13:57:58+10:00

Audiophiles rejoice; American audio brand Sonos has announced its first-ever headphones are now available for preorder, and will be released in early June. The headphones boast acoustic performance, all-day comfort, spatial audio, active noise cancelling, lossless audio, and much more.

It may be a surprise to realise that Sonos has not previously had headphones as part of its impressive product set. The company is set to change that, with the Sonos Ace coming to market in early June and available for preorder now. And Sonos has ensured it's no mere entry, but hits the high standards Sonos is known for.

Sonos is well-known for its audio equipment that not only sounds brilliant, but creates a mesh network between itself so you can play synchronised music throughout your home. Sonos Trueplay technology allows you to individually calibrate any speaker to the acoustics of the room it is in. It's these quality-of-life details that Sonos has become known for.

It's with this same commitment to its craft Sonos says the just announced Sonos Ace headphones are obsessively crafted and masterfully tuned.

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The headphones are available in stylish black or white colours, and boast these specs:

Spatial audio
Active Noise Cancellation
Lossless audio
Aware mode
Dolby Atmos
30-hour battery life
Dynamic head tracking
Rapid charging
USB-C and 3.5 mm
Bluetooth 5.4
Wear detection
Works with Apple and Android
Custom-designed 40 mm dynamic driver in each cup
Eight microphones for noise control and voice targeting

However, mere specs don't tell the full story. Sonos says these headphones are designed to be experienced, to be felt, to be heard. Each component has been carefully constructed and meticulously tuned to ensure crystal-clear high-fidelity surround sound where every note feels profound.

The headphones feature Dolby Atmos with dynamic head tracking to help you feel surrounded by hyperrealistic sound from all directions, exploring different elements of the music as you move.

The Sonos Ace brings high-end ANC to help you immerse yourself in your music, as well as Aware mode to keep you in tune with what's happening around you.

When it comes to lossless audio, you can enjoy lossless tracks and spatial audio in Dolby Atmos or Sony 360 Reality Audio from Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, and Deezer. To hear lossless audio, customers can use the included 3.5mm to USB-C cable or can listen via Bluetooth with an Android device that includes Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound AptX for lossless.

Meanwhile, beamforming microphones target your voice and suppress background noise on phone and video calls so you can participate in phone calls and teleconferences equally as well.

The headband is made of stainless steel and smoothly extends, while also staying securely in place where you want. The cup allows for precise adjustment to create an acoustic seal and equalise pressure. The headphones and cups are wrapped in plush memory foam and soft vegan leather, while also maintaining a lightweight design.

Multi-point Bluetooth allows the headphones to be connected to two device at once, and with wear detection will also stop and start play automatically when you don or remove the unit.

The battery life is rated at 30 hours, including with ANC turned on. You can fast charge up to three hours of playback in only three minutes.

And, as you'd expect from Sonos, it integrates into the existing Sonos ecosystem. If you have a Sonos Arc soundbar you can effortlessly switch from the soundbar to the Sonos Ace headphones to watch television without disturbing others while still receiving the benefits of the three-dimensional soundstage. In fact, the headphones will preserve the acoustic properties of the room you're sitting in so it can feel like you're not wearing headphones at all. Further, this covers everything you play on the TV including console games, movies, music, and more. Sonos says it is expanding support to include the Sonos Beam soundbar later in the year.

You can find more information, or pre-order, here. RRP is $699.

Feel it in the launch video here: