iTWire - Your Tech

The battle of the smartphone giants: Will Huawei's Mate XT outshine Apple's iPhone 16?

2024-09-11T09:54:51+10:00

Chinese smartphone maker Huawei has unveiled what it calls the world's first tri-fold smartphone, launching the device just hours after archrival Apple introduced the iPhone 16.

The Shenzhen-based firm stole the spotlight as it began pre-orders for its Mate XT midday on Saturday, two days ahead of Apple's planned iPhone 16 launch early morning Tuesday Beijing time, CNBC reported.

It seems Huawei is on track to become the world's best smartphone as it made a comeback as it launched popular models like the Mate 60 Pro and Mate X5.

Last month, Huawei emerged financially victorious, reporting double-digit jumps in both revenue and profit, despite US sanctions.

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Huawei consumer business chairman Richard Yu said at the livestreamed launch event that the company spent five years developing the product, leading to what he calls "breakthroughs" in screen and hinge technology.

As reported by CNN, he was quoted, claiming that the “Huawei Mate XT is the world’s first triple-fold smartphone, and the largest and thinnest foldable handset globally."

“We are the first in the world to achieve outward folding (in smartphones) and the first to create an inward-folding phone with no gaps.”

The phone has three panels that can be folded up to three times. It sports a 10.2-inch screen available in red and black.

Huawei claimed the Mate XT smartphone has currently more than 3.7 million pre-orders since becoming available online Saturday.

The base model sells for US$2,800.

Canalys research manager Amber Liu told CNN that Huawei's recovery "directly challenges" Apple's performance in China, its second largest market, which accounts for 20% of its global shipments.

She noted that Chinese smartphone makers climbed the top five spots domestically on a quarterly basis for the first time ever, pushing Apple to sixth place.

The iPhone 16
Apple introduced the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16, built for Apple Intelligence, a personal intelligence system that "understands personal context to deliver intelligence that is helpful and relevant while protecting user privacy."

Apple boasted the new lineup features camera control, which brings "brings new ways to capture memories, and will help users quickly access visual intelligence to learn about objects or places around them faster than ever before."

The Apple Intelligence harnesses Apple-built generative models to understand and create language.

Apple said the generative features will soon follow.

It is still unclear whether the Mate XT features AI.

GlobalData senior technology analyst Anisha Bhatia said that although Apple Intelligence has arrived, Google is "miles ahead when it comes to AI."

"The integration of this technology into Apple's ecosystem will occur in a phased manner over the next few years," Bhatia said. "Meanwhile, Google will race ahead taking its Gemini AI models to 200 million Android devices by the end of 2024."

“The upcoming iPhone cycle is crucial for Apple after multiple years of lackluster sales, especially in China, regulatory scrutiny, and a loss in market cap to Microsoft and Nvidia on the strength of their AI business. Apple will have to upsell its AI significantly," Bhatia added.

Airvine unveils new gigabit-speed links

2024-09-10T09:23:20+10:00

Wireless network infrastructure provider Airvine unveiled its WaveCore product line, which it said eliminates drilling required when confronting concrete barriers (which includes labour, permitting, and inspections) to link areas with Ethernet cabling.

The WaveCore consists of point to point bridge with two nodes measuring 10.x1” x 2.7” x 10.3” that are installed one on each side of a concrete wall or floor ceiling.

It operates on PoE (power over ethernet) or a 12V DC input.

Airvine said it tested the product with select customer this year, showing results such as a 3Gbps connection through 8” of concrete in the middle of a 54-foot link and a 4Gbps connection through a 12” concrete wall in a garage that was in the middle of a 6-foot link.

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Airvine said WaveCore will “prove useful” for meeting connectivity requirements for fire control rooms.

Such rooms are often located in the basement and surrounded by thick concrete walls. These rooms are mandated to have connectivity to the outside world (to the fire department and perhaps other first responder entities) and today typically use 3G connections.

Unfortunately for building owners, 3G is now being phased out and 5G does not have the signal propagation to penetrate concrete walls and/or ceilings.

Airvine claimed that instead of core drilling to connect the outside world to the fire control system with a cable, a WaveCore link can deliver this connectivity cheaper and faster.

“We have proven with customers for more than a year now that the WaveTunnel provides cost-effective Gigabit-speed connectivity in MDUs, factories, warehouses, conference centres, and other similarly large properties,” said Airvine CEO Vivek Ragavan.

“The WaveCore system surmounts these obstacles and enables us to connect wirelessly any building with any floor plan anywhere.”

The combined WaveTunnel and WaveCore solution is managed by the VineSuite software platform, which facilitates network set-up and operation.

GoPro launches new HERO action camera line-up with new flagship HERO13 Black and smaller, simpler 4K HERO

2024-09-05T20:54:59+10:00

The ever-popular action cam, night sky cam, go-anywhere do-anything cam, the GoPro, has two new members in its line-up, with the flagship HERO13 Black at the top end, and a brand new smaller, simpler HERO model that despite slimming down on size and price it still offers 4K and a host of great GoPro features.

The brand-new HERO13 Black stuns with incredible 5.3K 60fps video, 13x burst slow-mo, GPS+, WiFi 6, and a bunch of other enhancements and redesigns. This includes a brand new, 10% larger capacity, more power efficient Enduro battery, upgrading the GoPro's battery that saw it through many previous years.

The return of GPS functionality will be welcomed by those who love the ability to track their runs and rides. Four new lenses will also be welcomed by those seeking clarity in precision no matter how expansive their field of view, or how far away or close their subject is.

Meanwhile, the smaller brother, the brand-new HERO proves you can still get a great camera at a more budget-friendly price. The HERO offers 4K video, a teeny 86g weight, rugged and waterproof design to 16 feet (4.8 metres), 2x slow-mo, and other features.

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Both cameras are available for preorder today, while pre-order shipping and global retail on-shelf availability will begin on September 10. There's also a HERO13 Black Creator's Edition at $979.15 that includes some top accessories such as the Volta grip, delighting users since it first appeared with the HERO10. Also, GoPro subscribers get discounts and other special features.

“This year’s two new GoPro cameras are inspired by and built for the GoPro Community,” said GoPro founder and CEO Nicholas Woodman. “HERO13 Black features four new interchangeable lens mods that HERO13 automatically detects and adjusts its settings for, magnetic latch mounting, GPS, and a more powerful battery that provides longer runtimes and improved thermal performance. And then there’s HERO, the smallest, lightest 4K GoPro ever with a screen that will appeal to new and experienced users with its rugged, ultralight design and impressive 4K image quality.”

Starting at the top, the new GoPro HERO13 Black features magnetic latch mounting, GPS, extended power capabilities, and four swappable HB-Series lens options with auto detection. The lenses provide ideal settings for capturing ultra-wide PoV, macro with variable focus, anamorphic cinematography, and smart motion blur with ND filters.

The GoPro HERO13 Black is a powerful combination of leading-edge tech and endless creative possibilities. Beyond best-in-class 5.3K 60 frames per second video, Emmy® Award-winning HyperSmooth stabilisation, and core GoPro characteristics, HERO13 Black features new:

Incredible 13x Burst Slo-Mo – Captures up to 400 frames per second at HD-quality 720p video, as well as 5.3K at 120 frames per second and 900p at 360 frames per second video.
Redesigned 10% Larger Capacity, More Power Efficient Enduro Battery – Extends runtimes in all weather conditions.
Snap and Go Magnetic Latch Mounting – Joins built-in mounting fingers and 1/4-20 mounting threads for three ways to mount HERO13 Black.
Faster WiFi 6 Technology – For up to 40% quicker content transfer speeds.
Professional-Level Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) HDR Video – Broadcast-standard 10bit and Rec. 2100 colour space and a wider colour gamut than HDR alone.
More Customisable Audio Tuning - Choose balanced true-to-life sound or a Voice setting that enhances vocal clarity, while also preserving ambient background sounds.
GPS + Performance Stickers - Track speed, path, terrain, altitude and g-force, and help with geotagging in third party media management apps.
Plus, more custom preset options, improved QuikCapture and more.

The Creator's Edition bundle includes the Volta power grip, Media Mod and Light Mod. Other activity-optimisedHERO13 Black accessory bundles are available directly from GoPro.com..

The four HB-Series lens, with "HB" standing for, of course, "Hero Black", are plug-and-play with the HERO13 Black automatically detecting the lens and adjusting settings appropriately.

All four are waterproof and scratch-resistant, with hydrophobic coatings that literally means "water fearing," reflecting how the molecules in the coating do not bind with water. The four lens are these:

Ultra Wide Lens Mod ($169.95): Transforms HERO13 Black into the ultimate POV camera by capturing more in every shot with a 177° field of view and new 1:1 aspect ratio, giving you more field of view and the freedom to crop your footage to widescreen 16:9 or vertical 9:16 shots—no matter how the camera is mounted. And, this lens maximises HyperSmooth performance for unbreakable 360° Horizon Lock in-camera video stabilisation up to 4K60 resolution.
Macro Lens Mod ($219.95): Expand creative possibilities with variable focus on objects in the distance and objects that can be up to 4x closer than the standard GoPro lens. The variable focus ring lets you manually adjust the focus distance from as close as 4.3in (11cm).
Anamorphic Lens Mod ($219.95): Capture ultra wide-angle, artistic footage with less distortion than traditional wide-angle perspectives in a dramatic 21:9 aspect ratio—just like you see in feature films. Cinematic lens flares add to the character of your footage, while in-camera “de-squeezing” makes it easy to capture, review and edit anamorphic content without intensive post-production workflows.
ND Filter 4-Pack ($119.95): Easily create cinematic motion blur in your shots with HB-Series neutral density (ND) filters in ND4 / ND8 / ND16 / ND32. Simply attach a filter and your HERO13 Black automatically detects it, toggles into Auto Cinematic video mode, and dials in the best settings based on your environment.

The lens are sold separately and available for preorder now. Shipping and on-shelf availability commences on September 10, except for the Anamorphic lens, which will be available in 2025.

Now, with all this goodness, it's time for a new battery. While GoPro has used the same batteries for successive previous generations, the new 1900mAh Enduro battery brings 10% more capacity plus improved power efficiency. As such, there's a new battery enclosure that can deliver longer runtimes in all conditions - hot and cold. In a nutshell, it's a brand new battery so your existing GoPro batteries can't be used, but it does mean you get 1.5 hours of continuous recording in the highest 4K30 and 5.3K30 resolutions, plus over 2.5 hours of continuous recording at HD-quality 1080p30.

Other accessories include the all-weather magnetic power extension, the Contacto Magnetic Door and Power Cable Kit ($139.95), and the Magnetic Latch ($39.95) and Ball Joint Mounts ($64.95).

Meanwhile, the brand-new HERO is the smallest, lightest, simplest to use, and lowest cost 4K camera ever with a screen. It features:

Ultra Compact Design, Weighing Only 86g: With built-in mounting fingers included, HERO has 35% less volume and 46% less mass than HERO13 Black.
Rugged + Waterproof to 16ft (5m): Completely waterproof and built with legendary GoPro durability, HERO is ready to capture the fun whether you’re ripping through mud, snow, water or just exploring a new city.
Intuitive Touch Screen + One-Button Control: Use HERO’s LCD screen to frame your shots perfectly and simply swipe or press the mode button to swap modes. When you’re ready, hit the shutter button to start capturing.
Stunning Image Quality + 2x Slo-Mo: Capture in Ultra HD 4K and HD 1080p video, 12MP photos or slow things down with 2.7K 60 frames per second. You can also grab 8MP frame grabs from your 4K videos using the Quik app.
16:9 Aspect Ratio: Delivers YouTube-optimised, horizontal video.
HyperSmooth Video Stabilisation With the Quik App: The GoPro Quik app uses HyperSmooth video stabilisation to automatically smooth out the bumps in your footage.
Long-Lasting Enduro Battery: HERO can record continuously for up to 100 minutes at its highest video setting on a single charge.

HERO ($349.95) is available for preorder today. Preorder shipping and global retail on-shelf availability will begin on September 22.

The GoPro Quick App continues to be the de-facto method to save, edit, and upload your footage. Bolster it with a GoPro subscription that opens up a wide array of video editing tools and gives unlimited cloud backup. What's more, if you charge your device and connect it to Wi-Fi, the footage will be automatically uploaded and GoPro will send a highlight video with beat-synced music and effects to your phone for viewing and sharing. Subscriptions start at $69.99 per year.

GoPro has a well-deserved reputation as a leading action camera brand and it's not hard to see why; its cameras are small and tough, but yet come packed with huge feature sets, crisp colours, and shockingly good video capture. With a huge set of mounting options you can clamp them to your wrist, your bike, your helmet, your board, even wear it across your chest or over your head.

Dreame Technology Launches the X40, The Ultimate Robotic Cleaner

2024-08-29T12:24:20+10:00

Dreame Technology, a pioneer of innovative home appliances, recently announced the ultimate robotic vacuum of the year, the X40 Ultra. With unique side brush extends and MopExtend RoboSwing technology, and industry-leading suction capabilities, a fully automated cleaning station, an anti-tangle brush, and intelligent mapping technology, maintaining a sparkling clean home has never been more effortless, eliminating the need to get your hands dirty.

The X40 Ultra sets a new standard for clean living, with revolutionary features including the world's premier bionic robotic arm technology, an autonomous self-cleaning base station, intelligent algorithm-driven path planning, and unparalleled obstacle recognition capabilities. Keeping a home clean can be demanding, the X40 Ultra can be your ultimate cleaning companion.

"Our latest innovation, the X40 Ultra, represents one of our most advanced robotic vacuum cleaners that has been developed after extensive research into the needs of our consumers. Our customers want a robotic vacuum that effectively cleans corners and edges, requires minimal post-cleaning maintenance, and utilises intelligent technology to accurately navigate their homes with ease,” said Mike Eagle, Regional Manager (ANZ) at Dreame Technology.

Extended Cleaning to Tackle Tight Corners

The X40 Ultra introduces a new innovation, extendable SideReach.These brushes lift and extend during simultaneous sweeping and mopping, ensuring comprehensive coverage of your home's tightest corners and narrowest crevices. They effectively clean the undersides of curved furniture and reach right angle corners with 100%* efficiency. The side brush can lift up to 10mm (0.39in)** and extend to reach wall corners and curved furniture legs with fewer missed spots. Utilising Dreame's MopExtend RoboSwing technology, X40 Ultra eliminates hidden debris under low-profile furniture with a 4 cm mop extension.

Dreame X40 Ultra with Side Brush Extends and MopExtend RoboSwing

Smarter Cleaning to Remove Stubborn Stains

With the latest upgraded OmniDirt detection technology, X40 Ultra's intelligent RGB camera identifies tricky and sticky stains, scrubbing them off the floor precisely. Its turbidity sensor measures water dirtiness, ensuring mop rewashing for efficient stain removal and a refreshed home. OmniDirt Detection Technology is turned off by default and is only active in CleanGenius Mode.

All-In-One Cleaning for Hassle Free Maintenance

The X40 Ultra features an all-in-one, self-cleaning base station where it can remove its oscillating mop pads, wash and dry them, refill its water tank, empty the bin, and reattach the clean mop pads when needed. The X40 Ultra automatically empties its internal dustbin into the base station when it's docked and its 3.2-litre dust bag requires emptying only once every 75 days. And, with Auto Washboard Cleaning, the upgraded duo-scraper allows simultaneous scrubbing of the washboard and mop, ensuring both stay consistently clean. The scraper eliminates the need for users to disassemble and clean them separately. When cleanup is complete, the rotary mops are blow-dried for 2 hours with warm air to help prevent mildew formation and any unpleasant odor. Also, the base station's intelligent cleaning solution system delivers the perfect water-to-solution ratio for spotless cleaning the next time.

Powerful and Effortless Cleaning

Impressive 12,000Pa suction picks up hair, dirt, dust, and other debris. An optimised air duct design ensures efficient airflow, keeping the passageways unobstructed for a smooth cleaning session.

Upgraded Anti-Tangle TriCut Brush for Optimised Performance (purchased separately)

Unparalleled suction and cleaning capabilities combined with the Anti-Tangle TriCut Brush makes cleaning even easier. The meticulously placed cutting heads safeguard your rugs and carpets as it effortlessly slices through tangled hair, effectively removing it from the brushes and depositing it into the dust bag. This latest anti-tangle TriCut Brush can handle all the troubles, despite how increased suction usually causes more hair to be trapped and tangled in the brush.

About Dreame Technology

Established in 2017, Dreame Technology is an innovative consumer product company focused on smart home cleaning appliances with the vision to empower lives through technology. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. For more information please visit https://www.dreametech.com/.

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

Dreame Technology Expands into New Zealand and Bolsters Presence in Australia

2024-08-27T10:31:46+10:00

Dreame Technology, a pioneer of innovative home appliances, announced its expansion into New Zealand retail stores bringing its range of indoor and outdoor appliances to the market by September 2024.

Following an exclusive hands-on experience in Sydney for retailers, Dreame Technology, known for its cutting-edge robotic technology and breakthrough autonomous cleaning solutions, announced it would be available for Kiwi consumers in JB Hi Fi across 17 locations across with more stores expected before the end of the year. Additionally, Dreame Technology is bolstering its presence in Australia with a total of 535 stores across the country with Dreame’s indoor and outdoor range available in Harvey Norman, JB Hi Fi, The Good Guys, Bing Lee, David Jones, Bi-Rite, and Betta Electrical.

Dreame Technology recently launched the X40 Ultra in Australia and New Zealand, bringing its most advanced robotic vacuum to the market. The X40 Ultra offers a vacuum and mop solution that effectively cleans corners and edges, requires minimal post-cleaning maintenance, and utilises intelligent technology to accurately navigate and efficiently homes with ease. With unique side brush extends and MopExtend RoboSwing technology, and an Anti-Tangle brush the X40 Ultra is the ultimate cleaning companion.

"Our industry-leading features, award-winning innovation and minimal post-cleaning maintenance when it comes to our robotic vacuums have resonated with consumers across Australian and New Zealand. We are excited to bring our top of the range products to the New Zealand market and offer more in store locations to Australians. We know our customers want innovative solutions that utilises intelligent technology to accurately navigate their homes and make cleaning easier,” said Mike Eagle, Regional Manager (ANZ) at Dreame Technology.

By the end of 2024, Australian and New Zealand consumers can expect to see more of Dreame’s range, including robotic vacuums, robotic mowers, and wet and dry vacuums, in local retail stores.

About Dreame Technology

Australians would rather live with smashed phone screens than shell out cash for repair

2024-08-27T08:31:41+10:00

A Vodafone survey has uncovered almost one in five Australians (19.1%) would rather live with smashed screens than fork out cash to fix them.

Tasmanian residents are most likely to have a smashed phone screen with more than a quarter (27.8%) reporting they don’t repair their phone because it is too expensive.

More than half of Australians (54.9%) have shattered their phone screens up to five times in the past year. Apple users struggle with repair costs, with more than a third (35.2%) spending up to $250, and almost 12% of respondents forking out as much as $500 to fix their smashed phone screens.

In the lead up to the launch of the highly anticipated Apple iPhone 16, Vodafone is helping customers avoid costly repairs with the introduction of $0 first screen replacement for those who sign up to Vodafone Device Care at a cost of $14.99/mth plus service fees.

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Vodafone will repair the first screen for $0 instead of the standard fee of $45.

“For chronic screen smashers or those experiencing this phone-omenon for the first time, Vodafone Device Care will be $0 for your first screen replacement, so those looking to protect their phone can experience even greater peace of mind,” Vodafone said.

“With Vodafone Device Care, customers can leave the stress and exorbitant screen repair costs behind with access to phone screen replacements, and mobile phone exchanges for any reason,” said a Vodafone spokesperson.

When it comes to accidentally smashing phones, Australians are a creative lot. While some reported “throwing it into a wall when it doesn’t do what it’s supposed to,” another responded, “it was in my hand when I tried to catch a falling tin of peaches.”

Here is a list of the top ways Aussies are smashing their phone screens:
Pocket Plummeter: 70% dropped their phone while taking it out of their pocket or bag
Social Stumbler: 17% were texting or scrolling on social media when it slipped out of their hand
Selfie Smasher: 13% were snapping a pic when their phone slipped out of their hands
Screen Stomper: 6% had their phone screen stepped on or crushed
Run Club Fumbler: 6% dropped their phone while going for a run
Baby Bumbler: 5% had their kid drop and smash their phone

Other data includes:
Tasmania (27.8%), South Australia (22.5%), Australian Capital Territory (21.7%) and New South Wales (21.6%) are the states most likely to not repair smashed phone screen because it is too expensive.

Australian Capital Territory residents broke their phone screen the least in the last 12 months with only 35% reporting they’d broken it in the last 12 months, compared to over half of Queensland (55%) and the Northern Territory (78%) residents.

Tineco announces four new floor-cleaning products plus amazing Father's Day sales on vacuums, mops, and more

2024-08-25T21:08:46+10:00

Innovative floor cleaning product manufacturer Tineco has announced a great new product plus some amazing deals across its range right in time for Father's Day.

To begin, the Tineco range now features brand new products, the FLOOR ONE S6 FlashDry, along with three wet and dry vacuums with proprietary technologies to make hard floor cleaning effortless. All products are available through Harvey Norman nationally.

"We are thrilled to partner with Harvey Norman and expand our retail network in the Australian market. Our new FLOOR ONE S6 FlashDry and other wet and dry vacuums in the range embody our commitment to providing top-notch, effortless cleaning solutions. This partnership will allow us to reach even more customers and demonstrate the superior performance and convenience of our products." said, Tineco GM international business unit Romeo Luo.

The FLOOR ONE S6 FlashDry makes hard floor cleaning effortless with its wet and dry vacuuming capability and features proprietary technology including MHCBS continuous clean water flow technology, iLoop smart sensor technology and Tineco’s new FlashDry Self-Cleaning System. This cleaning system ensures the appliance is clean within only minutes, using a hot water wash to dissolve stubborn stains and clean the entire cleaning path from the pipe to brush roller. Then it uses hot high-temperature air to extract residual water from every component, before giving the brush roller a rotational and centrifugal air drying.

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Additionally, Tineco's MHCBS tech ensures a spotless clean by continuously supplying fresh water to the brush roll for a fresh clean every time. This prevents dirty water from being redeposited on your floors, leaving them sparkling clean with every pass.

And what's more, Tineco’s patented iLoop Smart Sensor technology intelligently adjusts water flow, suction power, and battery usage based on the type of mess, maximising cleaning efficiency while conserving energy. The upgraded pouch battery provides a consistent 40-minute runtime, even after multiple uses, extending the vacuum’s lifespan.

The new products are:

FLOOR ONE S6 FlashDry

FLOOR ONE S6 FlashDry Smart Wet Dry Vacuum features a Balanced-Pressure Water Flow System that washes floors with fresh water while efficiently recycling dirty water at 450 washes per minute. The FlashDry Self-Cleaning System utilises hot water (70°C) to dissolve stains and deep clean from the brush roll to the pipes, followed by hot air drying (also at 70°C) for a complete clean with reduced odour. Effortless cleaning is achieved with a self-propulsion system that assists in pushing movements. Plus, the intelligent iLoop technology optimises water usage, dirty water levels, and battery power for an impressive 40-minute runtime. And to ensure no spot is missed, the dual-sided edge cleaning reaches within 1cm of baseboards on both sides.

The Tineco FLOOR ONE S6 FlashDry has an RRP of $899 and is available now at Harvey Norman.

FLOOR ONE S7 Steam

This vacuum Wet & Dry vacuum uses the power of superheated 140℃ steam to seamlessly tackle all messes. Removing sticky messes and stubborn stains in half the time of traditional methods, this multifunctional vacuum combines the power of vacuuming, mopping, and steaming into one effortless solution. By combining HyperSteam technology, Tineco’s patented iLoop Smart Sensor technology, an upgraded battery and a continuous clean brush washing system, the FLOOR ONE S7 Steam is intuitive and easy to use while still incorporating the very latest cleaning technology, making it an indispensable cleaning partner for the busy Australian home. It's super easy to use, and has a self-cleaning function for an odour-free vacuum and constant freshness.

The Tineco FLOOR ONE Steam S7 has an RRP of $1199 and is available now at Harvey Norman.

FLOOR ONE S5 Extreme

FLOOR ONE S5 is a versatile Wet and Dry vacuum for hard floors that combines vacuuming and mopping in one sleek design. Equipped with Tineco’s proprietary iLoop Smart Sensor Technology, it automatically adjusts suction, water flow, and brush roller speed to tackle even the toughest and stickiest messes, including pet hair. The brush roller glides closely against baseboards and into hard-to-reach corners, leaving your floors completely dry and streak-free in minutes. The dual-tank system ensures you’re always using fresh water and solution, keeping dirty water separate for optimal cleanliness. Maintenance is effortless with the hands-free, one-press self-cleaning cycle deep-cleans the brush roller and tubing, and the pet hair strainer makes removing pet hair quick and easy.

The Tineco FLOOR ONE S5 Extreme has an RRP of $749 and is available now at Harvey Norman.

iFLOOR 2

Lightweight Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner that vacuums and washes floors at the same time, iFLOOR 2 leaves the floor clean, dry, and streak-free. In just one click, the unit auto-cleans the brush roller and the tube with fresh water and detergent, making the machine clean and ready for the next use.

The Tineco iFLOOR 2 has an RRP of $399 and is available now at Harvey Norman.

FATHER'S DAY DEALS

Also, Tineco has amazing deals in time for Father's Day and running now until 9 September 2024, with up to 38% off some of Tineco's best sellers. These deals are available through Amazon.

Deals include:

FLOOR ONE Stretch S6 I 20% OFF| RRP $899 – Sale $719 | Amazon Australia

Using Tineco’s proprietary HyperStretch technology allows the FLOOR ONE Stretch S6 Wet & Dry vacuum to compress to just 13cm to effortlessly cleaning dust under beds and in tight spaces. With its exclusive 3-chamber dirty water separation system, the Stretch S6 keeps dirty water away from the motor, ensuring full cleaning power even when lying flat. The vacuum self-cleans, using 70℃ fresh water to effectively dissolve stains and deep-clean from the pipe to the brush roller. It then undergoes sealed drying at 70℃ to provide powerful water extraction of every part. Tineco’s clever iLoop adjusts battery levels so that the Stretch S6 maintains a generous 40-minute run-time.
FLOOR ONE Switch S6 |25% OFF| RRP $ 999 – Sale $749 | Amazon Australia

FLOOR ONE Switch S6 Wet & Dry vacuum is a 5-in-1 multifunctional vacuum that comes with a range of attachments, making it easy to clean both hard and soft surfaces. Users can easily switch out attachments in seconds with the SwitchPro Motor and unlock multiple cleaning solutions for their Wet and Dry messes for a spotless home. Plus, with one push of a button, the Switch S6’s Flashdry feature combines 70°C heated water to effectively dissolve dirt, grime and deep-clean the entire machine from the pipe to the brush roller and utilise bi-rotating brush rollers for deeper cleaning. Then the vacuum undergoes 70°C sealed air drying that extracts water from all parts and delivers faster drying.
FLOOR ONE S5 Steam | 36% OFF| RRP $699 – Sale $449 | Amazon Australia

FLOOR ONE S5 Steam is a smart Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaner and Steam Mop that utilises the power of steam for cleaning hard floors. With its powerful suction and steam cleaning technology, the Tineco Floor One S5 Steam can remove dirt, dust, debris and eliminate bacteria from floors. Featuring Tineco’s proprietary iLoop Smart Sensor Technology, this advanced cleaner automatically adjusts suction power, brush roller speed, and fresh water flow for incredibly efficient cleaning. The steam self-cleaning also cleans and sanitises the brush head after use, for odour-free maintenance.
iFLOOR 5 | 25% OFF| RRP$599 – Sale $449 | Amazon Australia

Effortlessly handle both wet and dry messes with iFloor 5, eliminating the need for multiple cleaning steps including sweeping and then mopping like traditional cleaning. Its innovative dual-tank system ensures clean and dirty water stay separate, and the continuous cleaning with fresh water and solution ensures pristine floors. Designed for various sealed hard floors such as hardwood, tile, marble, and laminate, the iFloor 5 leaves floors dry and streak-free within moments. Plus, its hands-free self-cleaning feature simplifies maintenance, ensuring automatic cleaning from rollers to tubing with one button press, so you don't need to get your hands dirty. Thanks to its centrifugal drying mechanism, the roller remains dry and ready for your next cleaning session.
FLOOR ONE S6 | 33% OFF | RRP$899 – Sale $599 | Amazon Australia

The Tineco Floor One S6 is a versatile vacuum and floor washer all in one. Whether you're dealing with wet or dry messes, stubborn sticky spills, or routine cleaning tasks, this vacuum can handle it all, making your cleaning routine easier and more efficient. The Floor One S6 is equipped with the unique MHCBSTM System, ensuring a consistently clean brush roller by efficiently clearing away debris and expelling dirty water with suction power adjusted in real time. Maintenance is a breeze with its self-cleaning cycle, which deep-cleans the brush roller and tubing, preventing mould and bacteria growth. The enhanced dual-sided edge cleaning, paired with Tineco's iLoop Smart Sensor Technology, ensures thorough and hassle-free cleaning, as it detects messes and adjusts suction power, roller speed, and water levels for optimal performance and extended battery runtime. So, say goodbye to missed spots and hello to a cleaner home with the Tineco Floor One S6.
FLOOR ONE S7 FlashDry|23% OFF| RRP $ 1299- Sale $999 | Amazon Australia

Tineco FLOOR ONE S7 FlashDry is an innovative floor washer that brings deep cleaning, fast drying, and effortless operation all in one. It utilises a balanced-pressure water flow system to deliver fresh water for a spotless clean. But the cleaning power doesn't stop there. The appliance features a unique FlashDry self-cleaning system with two key steps. First, 70°C effectively dissolves stains and deep-clean from the pipe to the brush roller. Then with a sealed drying process at 70°C ensures powerful water extraction of every part. The brush roller rotates in both directions and utilises centrifugal air drying to make the brush fluffier and drier, while also reducing odours. Even manoeuvring the S7 FlashDry is effortless as its bi-directional self-propulsion system detects the movements and assists you, making cleaning effortless. With an impressive 40-minute runtime thanks to Tineco's intelligent iLoop technology, you can clean for longer with less refilling, emptying, and recharging. The dual-sided edge cleaning design tackles even the toughest corners, reaching within 1 centimeter of baseboards for a complete clean.
iFLOOR 3 |38% OFF| RRP $549 - Sale $339 | Amazon Australia

Lightweight Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner that vacuums and washes floors at the same time, iFLOOR3 leaves the floor clean, dry, and streak-free. In just one click, the unit auto-cleans the brush roller and the tube with fresh water and detergent, making the machine clean and ready for the next use. Featuring a low noise, brushless digital 150W motor and using unique materials that reduce noise, the iFloor3 is ideal for use around children and pets.
FLOOR ONE S5 I 30% OFF I RRP $749 – Sale $528 I Amazon Australia

FLOOR ONE S5 is a versatile Wet and Dry vacuum for hard floors that combines vacuuming and mopping in one sleek design. Equipped with Tineco’s proprietary iLoop Smart Sensor Technology, it automatically adjusts suction, water flow, and brush roller speed to tackle even the toughest and stickiest messes, including pet hair. The brush roller glides closely against baseboards and into hard-to-reach corners, leaving your floors completely dry and streak-free in minutes. The 30% larger clean water tank than the previous generation, allows users to clean larger areas without interruption. The dual-tank system ensures you’re always using fresh water and solution, keeping dirty water separate for optimal cleanliness. Maintenance is effortless with the hands-free, one-press self-cleaning cycle deep-cleans the brush roller and tubing and the pet hair strainer makes removing pet hair quick and easy. The 3-in-1 docking station conveniently stores and charges the unit, making it the perfect space-saving design.
PURE ONE S15 |30% OFF| RRP $599 – Sale $419 | Amazon Australia

Featuring Tineco's proprietary ZeroTangle brush head, the new vacuum significantly simplifies maintenance and improves the overall cleaning experience for users. Featuring Tineco Pure Cyclone technology, S15 powerfully separates air and dust to avoid pre-filter clogging or suction loss. This guarantees strong and reliable suction. With iLoop Smart Sensor Technology, the PURE ONE S15 series automatically adjust suction power according to the mess, improving the cleaning efficiency.
PURE ONE Station Pet |27% OFF| RRP $1,099 – Sale $799 | Amazon Australia

Tineco Pure ONE Station Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner is perfect for pet owners. It features the innovative OmniHub that automatically self-clean, recharge, and stores the vacuum. With a big 3-liter capacity, the dustbin holds dirt and pet hair for up to 60 days, minimising the emptying chores. The specially designed brush tackles pet hair with ease, preventing it from tangling and making maintenance effortless. To top it off, the Tineco iLoop smart sensor automatically adjusts suction power based on the amount of dirt detected, optimising cleaning efficiency and ensuring a deep clean every time. It also has a 4-stage HEPA filtration system captures up to 99.97% of dust particles as small as 0.3 microns so you can breathe fresher, healthier air at home.

Cricut introduces largest and fastest cutting machine for large-scale precision

2024-08-25T20:30:17+10:00

Creative tools and materials company Cricut has announced its new large-format cutting machine, Cricut Venture. The device is available at Harvey Norman and helps you make bigger and larger creations than before, and in bulk too.

The brand new Cricut Venture cuts a wide variety of materials with precision at commercial speeds, as well as writes, scores, and foils. Cricut Venture builds on the existing Cricut platform by creating new opportunities for people who are looking to expand their making capabilities, and those looking to grow and scale their creative businesses.

"Our platform is designed to inspire and empower our community of makers to customise their everyday. Our community has ambitions to grow — whether it be their love for making, a side hustle, or full-time business — and are looking for ways to achieve and scale their ideas," said Cricut ANZ regional director Nicola Dow Smith.

"We created Cricut Venture for enthusiastic makers and those who sell what they make, or want to have creative control over their merchandise, without size limitations. With Cricut Venture and the full Cricut platform, our community members can bring their large-format dreams to life with precision and ease."

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With Cricut Venture, makers can create for occasions that require larger scale and sizes, from big custom wall decals to bulk quantities of custom t-shirts or tote bags. Cricut Venture is the largest cutting machine offered by Cricut, able to cut up to 22.8 metres of repeated images. It is also the company’s fastest machine with a cutting speed of up to 63.5 centimetres per second, allowing users to get more done in less time.

Cricut Venture is designed to be beautiful and functional at the same time. The unique 45-degree angle for this cutting machine allows it to keep a small footprint with large impact. It’s designed to sit at the edge of a table so when cutting on a mat, you don’t need to have 91 cm behind and 91 cm in front of the machine to operate. Cricut Venture is packed with functionality and is able to cut most popular materials in addition to drawing, scoring, foiling. It supports Print then Cut capability up to 24 in x 28" (61cm x 71 cm). With a force of up to 400 gf, it allows for cutting and making projects with more than 100 different types of materials to make things like large 3D paper projects, extra-large vinyl wall decals, huge paper flowers, and making bulk quantities of sweatshirts or other clothing items.

The launch of Cricut Venture comes with an assortment of materials and accessories to help make big and make in bulk. For cutting posters, cardstock, or other specialty materials, the new performance machine mats are available in two sizes: 24 in x 12" (61cm x 30 cm) and 24 in x 28 in (61cm x 71 cm). The angle and speed of Cricut Venture required mats that could withstand forces of this machine. These stronger, more durable performance machine mats come in the same three grips: Light Grip, Standard Grip, and Strong Grip. These mats are great for drawing on poster board, making bulk quantities of stickers, scoring with cardstock and even for using various scraps in one go!

Cricut Venture also works with a variety of Smart Materials, just load material directly into the machine without mats and start cutting faster. Using Smart Materials means you can cut longer, larger designs without having to piecemeal parts together. They’re especially useful when making projects in bulk so you don’t have to load multiple mats after each other.

Powered by Cricut Design Space, the central design platform where millions of users create, customise, and share projects, Cricut Venture expands the ability for users to make thanks to enhanced software features that support this new machine. Built with the user experience in mind, Cricut Design Space has been re-architected to support the larger designs enabled by Cricut Venture. This includes improvements to existing tools and development of new features, from improved text tools and font bookmarking to editable images to automatic background removal.

The Cricut Venture is available now for $1,499 from Harvey Norman, plus a full range of materials and accessories.

Key features:

Works at commercial speeds – maintains incredible precision, even while cutting or drawing up to 25 inches/second (61 cm/second)
Cuts with precision – make using popular materials like vinyl and iron-on to cardstock, plus tons of specialty materials like bonded fabric, leather, and poster boards
Makes extra-long cuts – cuts single images up to 12 feet (3.6 metres) long and repeated images up to 75 feet (22.8 metres)
Allows for wider cuts – adjustable for 13-inch (33 cm) and 25-inch (63.5 cm) width Smart Materials™, or use any material size with compatible Cricut Performance Machine Mats for Cricut Venture (sold separately)
Writes, draws, foils & scores – embellishes with flawless text, detailed illustrations, or easy-to-fold creases for cards and 3D projects
Space-saving design – unique, table-friendly, 45 degree angled design with built-in mat supports to use it almost anywhere, or try it with the new Docking Stand for Cricut Venture (sold separately) for even more flexibility.

Qualcomm announces new Snapdragon 7s version for mid-range smartphones

2024-08-22T09:22:05+10:00

Smartphone CPU maker Qualcomm has announced a new version of its Snapdragon 7 chipset series - the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Mobile Platform - which the company says builds on the 7-series momentum of bringing enhanced capabilities to the mid-range smartphones market.

Qualcomm says the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Mobile Platform leverages specially selected features from the 7-series to make its technologies more accessible to all, including generative AI, mobile gaming, camera and video.

"The new platform offers on-device generative AI capabilities with support for LLMs including Baichuan-7B, Llama 2 at 1B parameters and others," Qualcomm says in its announcement.

"It also features new adventure-packed mobile gaming experiences powered by the powerful Qualcomm Adreno GPU, and professional-grade camera and video capture features such as 12-bit triple ISP and 4K sHDR."

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According to Qualcomm, the platform achieves new performance heights across the board, with nearly 20% improved CPU performance thanks to the latest Qualcomm® Kryo CPU, up to 40% accelerated GPU, over 30% better AI performance and 12% overall power savings.

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi will be the first cab off the rank to incorporate the new Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 platform, with the first device expected to be announced next month.

Other smartphone OEMs, including Realme, Samsung, and Sharp are expected to announce the adoption of Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 in the coming months.

“Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 will bring the best of the 7-series to more mid-tier devices by selecting top 7-series features including on-device AI support,” said Chris Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile handsets, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

“This platform is another proof point in our commitment to deliver the best-in-class mobile experiences to consumers at every price.”