DJI recently launched a range of robot vacuums in Australia, but the timing unfortunately coincided with security concerns. Since then, DJI has resolved some of the issues at the heart of the recent controversy while working to fix one remaining vulnerability.
Just before DJI launched the Romo robot vacuums in Australia, a software engineer by the name of Sammy Azdoufal accidentally gained access to thousands of robots in other regions around the world. All he wanted to do was control his device using a PlayStation DualSense controller. Instead, Azdoufal, using Claude Code, inadvertently found a way to remotely control other people’s Romo robots.
DJI deployed a fix in early February, which didn’t require any user input. More recently, the company published a blog post explaining what happened.
“In late January, as part of routine internal security reviews, DJI identified a backend validation issue involving the DJI Home app that affected our new ROMO product and some DJI power stations,” the blog post said.
“Our investigation indicates that the observed activity was primarily related to security researchers’ testing, and we did not identify evidence that user data was misused.”
Is the DJI Romo vulnerability fully fixed?
According to The Verge, DJI will pay Azdoufal US$30,000 for assisting with identifying and fixing one of the reported vulnerabilities. One vulnerability involved being able to access a DJI Romo’s video stream without needing a PIN code. A DJI spokesperson told The Verge that this issue was fixed in late February.
However, The Verge‘s reporting also alludes to a yet-unnamed vulnerability that has not been resolved. According to DJI’s spokesperson, the company is “upgrading the entire system”, with a series of updates set to roll out within a month.
It’s not known what this remaining vulnerability is. The Verge reporter Sean Hollister labelled it “so bad [The Verge] refused to describe it in our original story”. When there’s a risk of security vulnerabilities being exploited by bad actors, it’s common practice not to publish the full details, so that there’s time to fix the problem before the public knows.
DJI’s blog doesn’t reference this reported vulnerability. Instead, it outlines the brand’s approach to security, including the role that its security team plays alongside external researchers via a bug bounty program.
“Security is a never-ending process, and we will continue to share developments along the way,” the blog post concludes.
In GadgetGuy‘s review of the flagship DJI Romo P model, the device received praise for its cleaning capabilities and excellent navigation. However, its security concerns left some lingering question marks.
Every single accessories brand apparently has to have a “creator starter bundle”. They range in quality from “this belongs in a Christmas cracker and then the bin” to “finally, a one-stop-shop”. This Belkin Stage Creator Kit is one of, if not the best, starter kits I have tried in this price bracket.
The $199 kit includes a tripod, a magnetic phone mount, and a wireless lapel mic set. It’s a companion set to the great $99 Stage PowerGrip, which is a magnetic powerbank that doubles as a camera grip for your phone.
Obviously, it’s not on the same quality level as professional kit, but as a bundle, it also costs less than half the professional version of just one of these items. It’s also significantly better quality than I would expect from a ‘starter’ bundle. In my weeks of testing this kit, I have been very impressed by what it has to offer.
My first impression of the Belkin Stage Creator Kit is of how straightforward the box setup is. Nothing takes up more space than it needs to, which bodes very well for how I’m going to store it for future use, and how budding creators will be able to pack it to take on their adventures.
The second thing was just how easy it was to set up. I screwed the magnetic phone mount to the tripod (though you can use any standard mount with the tripod if you also want to be able to take GoPro footage, for example). Then I angled the tripod to point my phone at what I wanted to film, and I started filming. Ridiculously easy.
Image: Alice Clarke.
The mic setup was also straightforward — I took the mic out of the charging box and attached it to my lapel, then I plugged the dongle into my iPhone, and it just worked.
Belkin Stage Creator Kit specifications and price
Price
$199
Warranty
1 year in addition to your Australian consumer law rights
2x omnidirectional microphones
USB-C receiver
Charging case
Tripod stand
Magnetic phone tripod mount
USB-C to USB-C cable
Carrying case
Magnetic phone tripod mount
I love a good magnetic mount. That said, I have used plenty of magnetic mounts in my time, where the magnets weren’t strong enough to hold my phone against a decent breeze. So, I went into using this mount sceptically.
However, my scepticism was not warranted. This is one hell of a strong magnet. Not so strong that I can’t get my phone off, but strong enough that vigorously shaking the mount didn’t dismount the phone.
I’ve used a wide variety of tripod phone mounts, and usually favour a clamp mount (even though I hate them and they almost never fit properly) for peace of mind. But with the magnet, the phone is always centred, I never have to worry about taking my MagSafe case off. It’s just good. It’s one less thing I have to think about.
Of course, this won’t be as helpful for non-magnetic phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S26 range. But most mainstream phones generally have a magnetic case option these days, which would solve the problem.
Tripod
On the one hand, this isn’t the fanciest tripod on the market. There are tripods that feel more sturdy, and allow for more adjustments. However, those tripods cost double the price of this whole pack. For an inclusion in a sub-$200 pack, this is a ridiculously good tripod.
It’s super light to carry around, which could be a challenge in very windy or unstable areas, but it is a godsend for those of us who have to carry it in our backpacks or luggage on the way to capture whatever it is we’re trying to film.
That lightweight nature means it’s always going to be better suited to mobile phone photography. Sure, it says that it’s rated to 2kg, but I would be surprised if those leg locks would be able to stand up to repeated 2kg camera use long-term. It is, however, excellent for phones.
Image: Alice Clarke.
There are little bubble level windows to see if you have it level. However, I found them difficult to read and not as helpful or intuitive as bubble levels on some other tripod models, just because they were too small.
I do like how adjustable the height and positioning are. I was able to film an unboxing while sitting on the ground with the phone sitting in front of me, and then I could extend the legs tall enough to get the camera bang on to my eye level (iPhone 17 Pro Max; I am 175cm tall).
Obviously, I haven’t been able to do any long-term testing on the locks, but they seem solid enough for now.
Wireless microphones
This is the item I was most excited about in the pack, because an affordable wireless lapel mic set that doesn’t sound like it’s at the bottom of the ocean is so hard to find. While it’s definitely not perfect, and I do have a few issues with it, overall it’s a solid option for those starting out on a limited budget.
The recording quality is about half a step down from just recording a voice memo on the phone’s built-in microphone in a quiet room. However, this connects two microphones, and both users can stand a good 15m away from the phone and still get a clear recording. It might not sound as good as the iPhone microphone in ideal conditions, but it sounds a lot better than the iPhone microphone in a busy environment with two speakers standing away from the phone. Given fancier brands’ wireless lapel mic sets start at around the $150 mark, this is excellent value for people starting out.
My big complaint about the set, though, is that without the magnetic clips to attach the mics to, the microphones are a nightmare to attach. Basically useless. So, why are the special magnetic clips left to cling onto the outside of the charging case? They’re going to get bumped off the case in any bag they’re thrown into. Surely Belkin could spare a little room in the case to store them? Even just a tray on the lid? This is the one ridiculously poor design aspect of the set, and I find it frustrating. It’s not a dealbreaker, but I really dislike it.
Who is the Belkin Stage Creator Kit for?
The Belkin Stage Creator Kit is for people who want a decent tripod and lapel mic setup without breaking the bank. It’s for hobbyists, people starting out, and those who just want to upgrade their setup to record interviews, speeches, TikToks, home movies, short films, and anything else that would utilise a tripod and a wireless lapel microphone.
The kit is easy to use, and it’s good value for the price.
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I have loved Espresso Displays products for many years, having used them for a long time. But, because of the (justifiably) high price tag, they were sometimes difficult to recommend to people who didn’t have specific, high-end needs.
The Espresso Lite 15 changes all that. Now, people who need a second screen on the go have no reason not to try one of this excellent Australian company’s screens.
Taking the Espresso Lite 15 display out of the box, I was struck by how simple the setup was. There’s a super thin screen, a USB-C cable and a magnetic stand, and that’s really all you need.
I also really loved the colour. I strongly debated between orange and purple, and I think I still one day want to get a purple one, but I love the orange so much that I think I made the right choice for now. It’s just nice to have productivity devices with a little personality. Sure, I’m using this to fill out my expenses spreadsheet, but I also enjoy colours. For those who don’t enjoy colours, there are also black and white options.
You might only see it from the back, but the bright colouring is fun. Image: Alice Clarke.
Setting it up was easy. Because I already had the Espresso Flow software installed on my Mac, I plugged in the screen, and that was the whole setup process. The app is easy enough to use, letting you customise the screen and whether you want it to mirror or extend, which apps you want to open automatically on each screen in certain modes, etc. I’ll explain more later on in this review, but the main takeaway is that it was super easy to set up and use.
Espresso Lite 15 specifications and price
Price
$399
Warranty
2 years in addition to your Australian Consumer Law Rights
The difference between the Lite and my usual $1,100 Pro model is stark, and that really shows the range of this brand. At the higher end, you can get 4K resolution, 550 nits of brightness, an aluminium body (instead of plastic) and touchscreen capability across Mac and PC.
However, at this end of the market, FHD (1080p) is to be expected, and most other options only have either 800:1 or 600:1 contrast ratios, which is suboptimal. Comparing the Espresso Lite 15 to similar-priced portable monitors, like the Lenovo ThinkVision M15, the Espresso comes out on top.
For instance, Lenovo’s display has a 1000:1 contrast ratio, 250 nits of brightness, a significantly less adjustable stand, and a larger, heavier body for the same screen size. The Espresso Lite 15, with a 1500:1 contrast ratio, 400-nit brightness, and a lighter build, obviously wins in that direct comparison.
General use
This is an absolutely solid screen for daily use. I use it as my emails and notes screen, and I have the document I’m working on and whatever research on my main screen. Because my main monitor is 6K, the difference is more stark than I’d like, but FHD is more than enough for most non-gaming and intensive video editing duties.
Watching an old film (D.E.B.S., one of the greatest films of all time) on it, the colours popped, the motion was appropriately smooth, and it generally looked excellent.
Image: Alice Clarke.
Watching a newer, fancier show, like Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, I can see that the blacks aren’t fully black, and there is some light bleed. This reinforces that this is an affordable portable screen for productivity and work travel.
You can technically play games on it, but the refresh rate is nothing to write home about, and the 9ms response time is lacklustre.
400 nits of brightness is plenty, so long as you don’t plan on working in full sunlight. I’m generally happy having it at 10 per cent brightness, and can count on one hand the number of times I’ve felt the need to crank the brightness to contend with bright rooms or parks. That said, I do like a dark screen, so your mileage may vary.
Portability
This screen is ridiculously portable. It’s so thin and light that it fits in the laptop section of my backpack with my MacBook Air and room to spare. It’s smaller and easier to transport than an iPad Pro with a keyboard case.
Image: Alice Clarke.
The stand is also quite versatile. I’ve seen people angling their stands to fit in the seat backs of trains to mount a second screen while in transit. While I prefer the Stand+ Pro because it’s able to get in more positions and reach higher while remaining stable, the Stand+ is extra portable and is fine to fit next to or above a laptop screen. It also folds up so small that it’ll fit in basically any bag.
Software
This is where I become less effusive. The software isn’t as intuitive as I’d like, and I have had problems with it in the past (though these bugs were usually fixed relatively soon after I reported them).
Espresso Flow is an essential tool to get the most out of your display, because you can set up Workspaces and use Jot with the touchscreen models, as well as get battery information. But it’s also just clunky. Like, it’s fine. It does the job well enough, and it hasn’t crashed on me in a while. I just look forward to a day when it’s better.
Image: Alice Clarke.
This is a nitpicking issue, and the software isn’t bad per se, it just doesn’t flow in the way my brain does. It’s a personal preference thing. There needs to be more view options, and I shouldn’t have to click so many things to get to the brightness adjustment and picture tone options.
The good news is that once you’ve used Flow to set up the screen how you’d like, you only have to deal with it to adjust brightness.
Who is the Espresso Lite 15 for?
This is an excellent portable screen for productivity. It could be the second screen at your desk, one that you use on the go, or to use in a hot-desking situation. It’s just so easy to take around with you.
It’s a fantastic no frills option — it doesn’t do the fancy stuff like 4K, high refresh rates, OLED or support touch inputs. But what it does do is make spreadsheets, Slack, Google Docs, and emails look good. It also fits in your bag without breaking your back, and it costs (marginally) less than $400. Really, what more could you ask for?
I love the Espresso Lite 15 and strongly recommend it to people who need a basic but good portable screen.
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Espresso Lite 15
The Espresso Lite 15 is the best portable display I’ve tried for under $500, and I have no idea how a small Australian company is making screens that are this good, for this cheap.
Across both hardwood floors and rugs, the T90 Pro Omni picked up a wide range of dust and large particles, all without my input. A big part of the robot’s efficiency comes from a combination of its 30,000Pa peak suction power and a large air inlet.
Owners of long-haired cats or shaggy dogs will be pleased that this Deebot avoids tangles as a priority. Instead of long strands of hair or fur getting caught on its brushes, the robot sucks up the hair before it has a chance to tangle.
Stay tuned for our full thoughts on this $2,299 robot vacuum in the next couple of weeks.
After being beaten to the punch by Insta360’s Antigravity A1 360-degree drone last year, DJI has teased its response. Dubbed the DJI Avata 360, the upcoming device will have an 8K camera system of its own to rival Antigravity’s.
Teased in a short social media video, DJI showed some close-up footage of what looks like the drone’s dome-shaped camera. Accompanied by the “above it all, see it all” tagline, the DJI Avata 360 is scheduled to launch on 26 March.
The drone will be DJI’s first new entry in the first-person view (FPV) drone series since the Avata 2 in 2024. FPV drones let you control the device via a set of goggles that make it look like you’re seeing footage from the drone’s perspective.
While Australia’s communications regulator determines a new standard for how mobile coverage maps are presented, Telstra has responded to accusations that its network doesn’t cover as wide an area as it claims.
In a blog post authored by Shailin Sehgal, Telstra’s Group Executive of Global Networks and Tech, the telco claims that its competitors want to use the new standard to “downplay the large difference between their network and [Telstra’s].”
“We know that our customers use over 1 million square kilometres of coverage today that sits below the -115dBm threshold,” a Telstra spokesperson told GadgetGuy. “Our concern is that if this coverage were removed from the comparable map, we may need to find a different way to help our customers understand that it exists because we know it works, without an external antenna.”
Telstra also claimed that 1.5 million of its customers use coverage below -115dBM every month, citing internal data.
Telstra responded by saying that its third-party testing is “vastly more extensive” than TPG’s tests submitted to the ACMA. Furthermore, a Telstra spokesperson explained that “no map, from any provider, can guarantee mobile service at a particular time or exact location”.
“That’s because all our maps are predictions based on extensive modelling and real-world testing.”
In contrast to the ACMA’s proposal to define mobile signal strength weaker than -115dBM as ‘no coverage, the National Audit of Mobile coverage uses a different set of metrics. This audit, commissioned by the Australian Government, refers to signal strength of -122dBm for 4G, and -126dBm for 5G, as ‘modest’. Anything weaker than -122dBm and -126dBm is classified as ‘limited’.
Telstra points to this audit as proof that “usable coverage exists below -115dBm,” the current lower-end threshold proposed by the ACMA.
It raises questions about what the finalised standard, due by 31 March, will look like before it takes effect on 30 June. Telstra supports the ACMA’s goals of simplifying coverage maps for Australians, albeit with tweaks to what data gets included.
For some years now, Sonos has built a reputation for making high-quality speakers, albeit with some software missteps along the way. As good as the brand’s speakers are, they err on the pricier side. Today, Sonos announced two new speakers, including one that sits at a more affordable price point.
One is the Sonos Era 100 SL, a $289 microphone-free version of 2023’s brilliant Era 100 speaker. It’s fundamentally the same device but without the option of voice controls. The Era 100 SL is also over $100 cheaper than the original launch price of the base Era 100 (which now retails for $319).
Sonos’ other device is a brand-new speaker: the Sonos Play. Advertised as the brand’s “most versatile speaker”, it’s designed for listening to music at home and on the go. At $499 in Australia, the Sonos Play is significantly more affordable than the $799 Sonos Move 2, a speaker also known for its portable design.
The Sonos Era 100 SL is a cheaper version of the original model. Image: Sonos.
Like the rest of the core Sonos ecosystem, the Play connects to other speakers via Wi-Fi. It means you can connect two speakers to create a stereo setup, and also cast audio using AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect.
In a new addition for Sonos, the speaker also supports connecting up to four Play or Move 2 speakers together via Bluetooth. If you’re hosting an outdoor party or somewhere without reliable Wi-Fi connectivity, you can still get a pseudo surround sound system up and running.
Inside the Play are three amplifiers, two tweeters, one midwoofer, and dual passive radiators. It’s also more weather-resistant than the Move 2, with an IP67 rating, compared to IP56. Sonos claims the speaker lasts up to 24 hours of nonstop music playback on a single battery charge.
