Abandon cartridge printers, Epson says with new EcoTank range

How long has it been since you’ve upgraded your printer? Many older printers rely on cartridge refills, regardless of whether they’re of the inkjet or laser variety. Over time, they add up in cost, plus there’s the environmental element associated with disposing of used cartridges. In recent years, Epson has moved towards a format it calls ‘EcoTank’, and now it has a new range of printers out in Australia.

A bit different to your printer of 10-plus years, Epson’s EcoTank printers don’t rely on disposable cartridges to top up ink levels. Instead, you buy a bottle of ink and use it to fill up a printer compartment. Epson claims that this is cheaper, and you also get more ink per refill.

To use Officeworks as an example, a $28 black ink cartridge for the Epson WorkForce range is good for roughly 350 sheets. Conversely, a $17 EcoTank ink bottle should last up to 4,500 pages. These estimates vary depending on various factors, like printing frequency, but that’s still a big difference.

Three new Epson EcoTank models are out now in Australia: the ET-1910, plus the ET-2910 and ET-2911 — the only difference between the latter two is either a white or black printer colour. The $299 ET-1910 is solely for printing, while the $399 ET-2910 and ET-2911 let you copy and scan too.

Aimed at home offices and small businesses, all three printers support Wi-Fi connectivity, so it doesn’t matter where you put them. Plus, you can also print directly from your phone using Apple AirPrint.

These printers might cost a bit more upfront than budget inkjet alternatives, but if you do lots of printing, you’ll likely save on ink over time. It’s an appealing proposition; no unnecessary subscriptions or fiddling around, just a bunch of printers designed to be economical.

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This air conditioner saves money by adjusting to weather forecasts

As the cooler months approach, you’ll usually set the air conditioner to react to dropping temperatures, keeping you warm when it’s cold outside. Traditionally, air conditioners have been pretty limited in how proactive they respond to changing weather conditions. Midea wants to change that with its AI-powered Athena split system that takes more than indoor conditions into account.

Via its ‘AI Ecomaster’ technology, the Midea Athena air conditioner proactively adjusts its operation based on indoor data, what’s happening outside, and also the weather forecast. In practice, this means a more consistent indoor temperature that requires less power. Midea claims it results in upwards of 30 per cent energy savings, which is definitely on everyone’s minds at the moment.

You can also view real-time energy consumption via the Midea app to see exactly how much power the air conditioner uses. Between energy savings, and technology that claims to help you sleep better, there’s a lot happening in the world of air conditioning right now.

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SteelSeries Nova Pro Omni is a high-end headset for all platforms

When SteelSeries brought the Arctis Nova Pro gaming headset to market, it was immediately lauded as being one of the best. It oozed premium quality at all levels, and still holds up remarkably well today. Now, SteelSeries is back with a sequel, the Arctis Nova Pro Omni, a headset that expands the audio quality and device compatibility.

A premium bit of kit at $879, it’s clearly aimed at the most hardcore multiplatform gamers. Via its DAC, the Arctis Nova Pro Omni can connect up to four audio sources simultaneously, letting you quickly switch between devices — similar to other gaming headsets, like the Logitech G Astro A20 X. This control unit houses three USB-C ports, and line-in and line-out jacks, plus you can connect mobile devices via Bluetooth.

SteelSeries’ DAC then connects to the Arctis Nova Pro Omni wirelessly using 2.4GHz technology. The Hi-Res Wireless Certified headset can transmit 96kHz, 24-bit audio, with 40mm Neodymium Magnetic drivers powering the sound. SteelSeries also describes the retractable omnidirectional microphone as “broadcast-quality”, something not many gaming headsets can lay claim to.

The DAC can adjust audio while connecting to multiple devices simultaneously. Image: SteelSeries.

For gaming on the go, the high-end headset includes active noise cancellation (ANC). SteelSeries claims the ANC blocks out “up to 40 per cent more background noise” than headsets from competing brands, which is a lofty claim. It goes even further, saying the mic gets rid of up to 96 per cent of surrounding noise. If that turns out to be true, it means noisy housemates or public transport commutes won’t interfere with your gaming sessions or phone calls.

SteelSeries also includes two batteries, so you can always keep one on charge, which is a nice touch.

More headsets and gaming mice

Not everyone is in the market for a near-$900 gaming headset — SteelSeries seems to be aware of that fact. Alongside the Pro Omni, the peripherals brand also recently launched the $429 Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 headset in Australia.

It’s still pricier than the more budget-friendly Arctis Nova 5, but the second-gen Nova 7 adds a midpoint before you start spending top-of-the-range money. Compared to the first-gen headset, the new model sports up to 40 per cent more battery life, totalling up to 54 hours of use.

Fancy a fun colour? The updated Nova 7 comes in a nice shade of pink. Image: SteelSeries.

The Nova 7 Gen 2 also supports concurrent 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, letting you chat on the phone while playing on PC or console. While not Hi-Res like the Pro Omni, the Nova 7 uses similar Neodymium Magnetic Speaker driver technology to produce a spatial audio effect.

Rounding out the recent SteelSeries announcements is the Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 mouse. At 68g, it’s extremely light, while still including gamer flourishes like customisable RGB lighting. It supports both 2.4GHz, via an included USB-C dongle, and Bluetooth connectivity, with a 4K polling rate, 1.2ms click response time, and a 26K optical sensor.

It wouldn’t be a gaming mouse without some RGB lighting. Image: SteelSeries.

SteelSeries estimates the mouse’s battery life as lasting up to 200 hours when used with Bluetooth, or 120 hours with 2.4GHz. Fortunately, you don’t need to replace batteries; the new Aerox 3 plugs in to recharge. It costs $229 in Australia, aimed at those who take their gaming seriously.

The new range of gaming peripherals is out now in Australia via SteelSeries’ website and retailers, including JB Hi-Fi.

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New high-res Sony Alpha 7R VI uses fascinating autofocus tech

It’s something of a novelty when a renowned camera brand announces a new camera that isn’t video-focused. While the new Sony Alpha 7R VI DSLR can shoot video, it’s still being billed as a photography camera.

Considered a step up from the $4,699 Alpha 7 V that launched last year, the $6,999 Alpha 7R VI specialises in high-res photography. Equipped with a 66.8MP full-frame, fully-stacked Exmor RS sensor, Sony’s new mirrorless camera is big on clarity.

With a new BIONZ XR2 engine in tow, Sony claims the camera produces a 5.6-times faster sensor readout than the Alpha 7 V model. Because of this, the Alpha 7R VI can shoot more still frames continuously, up to 30fps.

Supporting this faster shooting is what Sony calls “Real-time Recognition AF+”, an autofocus that tracks subjects via “skeletal-based human pose estimation”. That doesn’t mean your photos will show people’s skeletons, sadly, but it does potentially mean fast focusing on moving subjects, especially during sports.

To help keep things steady when shooting fast-moving subjects, the Sony Alpha 7R VI includes five-axis optical image stabilisation. At the centre, it produces as much as 8.5 stops of stabilisation, while it reaches up to seven stops on the sides.

When shooting video, the Alpha 7R VI can record in up to 8K at 30p. Dial down the resolution, and you can shoot in 4K at either 60p or 120p.

Joining Sony’s latest camera is a whopper of a new lens: the FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS. Compatible with E-Mount Alpha cameras, including the 7R VI, this new lens can hold a constant f/4.5 aperture at all focal lengths. It also includes built-in stabilisation, as well as tapping into any in-body stabilisation.

Unsurprisingly, considering the technology it uses, the lens comes in at a pricey $7,399 in Australia. It’s the sort of glass that you’d use for sports photography, snapping photos of wildlife, and anything that requires zooming in from a distance.

Both the new Sony camera and lens launch in Australia this month.

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DJI finally confirms dual-lens Osmo Pocket 4P gimbal camera

After months of speculation, rumours, and industry whispers, DJI has lifted the lid on the Osmo Pocket 4P, a dual-lens version of its popular portable gimbal camera.

Shown at the Cannes film festival, of all places, the upcoming camera follows the standard Osmo Pocket 4 that DJI launched last month. While many considered last month’s launch to be iterative and a slight upgrade from the wildly popular Osmo Pocket 3, the 4P looks like a more substantial change.

DJI didn’t specify much in the way of specifications or exact technology. Being at Cannes, the focus was more on the type of filmmaking the brand hopes to augment. More natural-looking skin tones and “cinematic depth” were some of the selling points, alongside “improved zoom functionality”.

DJI described the Pocket 4P as wielding a “next-generation imaging system”, without getting into much detail. Both the Pocket 3 and Pocket 4 use a large one-inch sensor, which looks to be consistent with the 4P.

Much of the appeal of the Osmo Pocket series is its built-in gimbal technology contained within a small form factor. Using three-axis mechanical stabilisation, it helps keep shots steady while locked onto a subject.

Before DJI officially confirmed the Osmo Pocket 4P, its rival, Insta360, shared its Leica-powered Luna gimbal cameras, including a dual-lens model. Insta360 teased optical zoom as being a major drawcard for the premium model, although it didn’t specify how far the zoom goes. Based on this, it’s likely that DJI’s dual-lens model will also include some form of optical zoom.

That’s all we have to go on for now; DJI hasn’t confirmed a release date or price yet. Considering the base Osmo Pocket 4 starts at $769 in Australia, expect to pay a bit more for the 4P.

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Kindle Scribe gets colour and bigger screen with Colorsoft model

Aussies keen for a colour digital notebook-slash-ereader won’t have to wait much longer, with Amazon bringing the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft to local shores.

It’s part of a new range of three Kindle Scribe models that originally launched in the US last year, and are now making their way to Australia. As Amazon puts it, the new models double as an “AI-powered notebook” as well as showing your digital book library.

Joining the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is an upgraded base version of the Scribe, along with a cheaper variant without a front light. Amazon’s new colour-compatible Scribe follows last year’s debut of the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition. According to the company, the new Kindle Scribe uses a “new rendering engine”, helping produce colours meant to be “soft and easy on the eyes”.

Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft 32 GB (newest gen…

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Amazon Kindle Scribe 32 GB (newest generation…

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Amazon Kindle Scribe without Front Light 16 GB…

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All three Scribes have larger 11-inch displays, up from the previous generation’s 10.2-inch design. They’re thin too, weighing 400g and measuring 5.4mm thin. Amazon also says the ereaders benefit from 40 per cent faster writing and page turns, likely the result of faster processors and upgraded software.

All models ship with a pen to use for note-taking, annotations, and general doodling. In addition to books, the Scribes are also compatible with PDFs, including Google Drive, OneDrive, and OneNote integrations. As for the AI features, Amazon lists the likes of searching between notes, summaries, and follow-up questions as the main tools at your disposal.

Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft price

Amazon’s base Kindle Scribe Colorsoft model comes with 32GB of storage and costs $999 in Australia. There’s also a 64GB model available for $1,099. Alongside it, the revised core Kindle Scribe costs $849 for 32GB of storage, while the 16GB model without a front light costs $699.

All new Kindle Scribes are available to pre-order now directly from Amazon ahead of an offical 10 June launch.

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Canon optimises vertical recording with new EOS R6 V camera

There is no shortage of cameras these days, including the ones attached to the rectangular slabs we carry in our pockets all day. For something a little more heavy-duty, there’s little better feeling than shooting with a DSLR. To give creators another camera option, Canon has announced the EOS R6 V.

Positioned between the EOS R6 Mark III and the EOS C50, Canon’s new $3,599 camera is considered a step up from its entry-level range. It’s designed to be a more versatile video-ready DSLR before you start spending more on Canon’s Cinema cameras.

Looking at the specs of the Canon EOS R6 V, it’s clear that this is a video camera, first and foremost. Its sensor supports up to 7K RAW footage at 60p, with the option of 4K at 120p for slow-motion footage. A full-frame camera, the EOS R6 V also enables open gate recording, using the sensor’s full width, meaning you can edit both 16:9 and 9:16 videos using the same footage.

This flexibility between horizontal and vertical video also extends to the camera’s interface. The screen adapts to vertical recording, with a front-positioned recording button to help creators record themselves. Canon also made sure the camera is compatible with the brand’s vertical tripod grip, including a1/4-inch screw mount.

There’s also a built-in fan, helping keep the camera cool during longer recording sessions. In-body image stabilisation is also included, providing a steady hand while shooting on the go.

Alongside the Canon EOS R6 V is a new kit lens: the RF 20-50mm f/4L IS USM PZ. Built with an internal power zoom, optical image stabilisation, and a f/4 aperture at all focal lengths, it’s made to complement Canon’s latest video-first camera.

Canon EOS R6 V price and release date

By itself, the lens costs $2,199 in Australia. When bundled with the EOS R6 V, the package costs $5,399. As a limited-time-launch promotion, the camera, plus the kit lens bundle, comes with a set of Rode Wireless Go Gen 3 microphones, which normally costs $340 when bought separately.

Expect to see Canon’s new creator-centric camera arrive in Australia by the middle of June.

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