Party speakers are all the rage, and Sony has a new one in tow: the SRS-XV900, the brand’s loudest X-series Bluetooth speaker to date.
Omnidirectional audio is one of the major drawcards here, with the SRS-XV900 blasting sound from all sides to fill a room. It’s designed to provide deep bass while generating strong mid and high frequencies through six tweeters distributed across the speaker’s front, side and back. Made for all-night raves, expect a 25-hour battery life from the speaker, with only 10 minutes of charging needed for a three-hour session.
Karaoke enthusiasts can plug in a microphone to belt out tunes, and guitarists can use the additional input slot to use the SRS-XV900 as an amp. For even more performance options, you can download the Sony Fiestable app to layer vocals via double tracking. Self-harmonising, anyone? Fiestable and the Sony | Music Centre apps also enable custom playlists, speaker lighting control, and audio effects to change your voice or add echo.
From a connectivity standpoint, the SRS-XV900 lets you connect up to 100 compatible Sony Bluetooth speakers for synchronised audio across multiple devices. This could be handy for large house parties happening across multiple rooms at once. Another feature party guests may find helpful in addition to Bluetooth phone connectivity is the ability to charge phones via the speaker. Also, it supports music playback through a USB connection, if you prefer a wired system.
One thing to note with the SRS-XV900 is that it’s portable in the sense that you can use its handle to slide it around – not Wonderboom 3 portable, mind you. What this does mean, however, is that it can be moved to where the party is, and then moved back to the living room for use as a makeshift TV soundbar. Regardless of the TV brand you use, you can take advantage of the speaker’s TV Sound Booster mode via an optical cable, providing an enhanced audio experience over your TV’s onboard sound.
Out in Australia from the middle of October, the Sony SRS-XV900 party speaker will cost $1,299.
Between Sony, Ultimate Ears, Soundboks, and countless other audio brands, you’re spoilt for choice with party speaker options. Naturally, what suits you best depends on your budget, the intended purpose, and your preferred speaker size. The SRS-XV900 appears to be a direct competitor to the likes of Soundboks, for people with a bit of money and who want something big, bassy and powerful.
Apple’s latest home-grown M2 chip promises a 40 percent performance increase over the M1 but you’ll only find it in the 13-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. Question is, should you go for the sleek and fresh design of the M2 Air or will you need that extra bit of promised performance on the actively-cooled 13-inch Pro?
We’ve spent more than a month with both models, and while they might seem very similar, they do have a few important differences beyond design and performance. Here’s what you need to know.
The M2 MacBook Air comes with a fresh redesign that is both thinner and lighter than the MacBook Pro
Design and display
The M2 Pro comes with the same basic design we’ve had since 2016, with chunky bezels and a Touch Bar display. The M2 Air reduces the bezels and increases the screen size to 13.6-inches versus the Air’s 13.3-inches, while the much maligned Touch Bar has been axed in favour of a traditional row of function keys.
Despite having a slightly larger screen, the M2 Air looks and feels noticeably lighter and thinner in the hand, while the new midnight blue colourway complements the design well. The Air’s display is marred somewhat by an iPhone-esque black notch that houses a slightly more powerful 1080p webcam.
The resolution bump doesn’t make a night and day difference to image quality but I did find video calls to be a little less noisy in appearance than the Pro’s 720p webcam. The M2 Air’s webcam also supports Center Stage, which enables the camera to digitally zoom and pan to keep you in the frame as you move around.
Outside of the slightly larger display and the camera notch, the LCD screens on both machines are identical. This means that you get a bright and vibrant 500 nit display that is well calibrated out of the box and support wide colour (P3) gamut and true-tone. You really have to step up to the mini-LED display of the 14-inch MacBook Pro for a for a more substantial jump in visual quality including Dolby Vision and High Dynamic Range (HDR) support.
The M2 MacBook Pro uses the same design as in previous years complete with chunky bezels
Speakers and microphone
Both the M2 Air and Pro sound great but the M2 Air has a slightly upgraded four speaker sound system over the stereo setup on the Pro. However, in practice, I found the stereo speakers on the Pro sounded slightly better overall with the ability to hit louder volumes and deliver a bit more bass.
Similarly, Apple claims that the three-mic array on the Pro is ‘studio-quality’ but the differences were difficult to discern on regular video calls, with people on the other side of the line noting that my voice sounded the same with both machines including blocking unwanted background noise.
Ports and connectivity
After a long absence, Apple’s proprietary magnetic charging port, MagSafe, makes a return on the M2 Air, however, this is missing on the Pro. This means that you still have full use of the two USB-C ports for other accessories and connections while charging. Otherwise, the port selection is identical with two USB-C ports and a headphone jack.
Battery life
Both machines are endurance champs, delivering a little over 10 hours of actual real world use before needing a charge. I was able to get an hour more with the Pro but either machine should comfortably get you through a full work day.
Note that my use case typically involves having 15+ browser tabs open, editing Microsoft Office documents, some video calling using Zoom and Skype as well as a bit of light photo editing. If you stick to using Safari as your web browser instead of Google Chrome and do more video streaming than browsing, you should see even better battery life.
The M2 MacBook Pro also comes with a beefier 67-watt charger that tops up the battery much faster than the 30-watt power brick that Apple includes with the base M2 Air.
MagSafe makes a welcome return on the M2 Air but the M2 Pro misses out
Performance
The 13-inch Air and Pro have the same M2 processor and can be configured with up to 24GB of memory and 2TB of storage. The base model of the Air comes with an 8-core GPU while the M2 MacBook Pro gives you 10-cores out of the gate, netting it a 12-15% jump in GPU performance. Stepping up to the 512GB model of the M2 Air puts it on par with the Pro.
However, the Pro uses a fan for cooling, giving both CPU and GPU better sustained performance when running heavy workloads. The fan on the Pro is surprisingly quiet too. Meanwhile, the M2 Air doesn’t have a fan, making it completely silent but also throttles performance earlier and gets noticeably warmer than the Pro under sustained load.
This bore out in my testing where short run synthetic benchmarks were almost identical such as in GeekBench 5 where the single-core and multi-core of the Pro hit 1930 and 8948 respectively versus the Air’s scores of 1920 and 8928.
But it’s when running long-run benchmarks that gives us the clearest picture of the Pro’s performance advantage over the Air.
In CineBench’s R23 10 minute test, the Pro delivered a multi-core score of 8729 – a score that it was able to sustain running the test for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the Air notched up a lower initial score of 8190 in the short run test, 7653 after 10 mins and 7370 after 30mins, amounting to a 10% drop in sustained speeds.
In actual real world workloads, performance was varied. For example, doing a RAW photo export in Adobe Lightroom yielded identical export times while transcoding a 4K video clip in Handbrake took a minute less on the M2 Pro. On the gaming front, titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider delivered 20 percent faster frame rates on the M2 Pro.
Keep in mind that most everyday tasks that people use their laptops for are single-core so you won’t notice a difference with things like web browsing, video streaming, video conferencing, email and editing documents and spreadsheets.
If on the other hand your workflow consists of more demanding applications such as editing video, working with motion graphics, 3D or visual effects then that’s where you will benefit from the improved sustained performance of the M2 Pro. However, if you have the budget then you should really be looking at the 14-inch MacBook Pro, which comes with a more powerful M1 Pro chip and offers substantially better performance in heavier programs as well as a much more useful port selection.
There was next to no difference in read or write speeds of the SSD drives with both models handing in more than 3,000MB/s in read and write speeds. However, it’s worth noting that there is a considerable difference in read and write speeds with the 256GB hard drives on the base model Air and Pro which have over 50% slower read and write speeds. So, if you’re regularly moving around large files, go with the 512GB models as a starting point.
Apple’s M2 chip is powerful and extremely battery efficient but you get a bit more of both on the Pro
Price
The M2 Pro starts at $1,999, making it $100 more expensive than the M2 Air. The base model Air also comes with a GPU that’s at least 12% slower, thanks to the lower core count of the GPU.
However, in our view, 256GB of internal storage for a laptop will be too limited for most people and our recommendation for both the Air and Pro is to consider 512GB, which will also avoid the considerably slower drive speeds in the base models.
At 512GB, the price difference between the Air and the Pro is just $50 and it also puts the Air’s GPU on par with the Pro.
GadgetGuy’s Take
With a stayed design and modest boost in sustained performance, the M2 MacBook Pro sits awkwardly between the fresh feeling M2 MacBook Air and the brawnier 14-inch MacBook Pro. The M2 MacBook Air is the laptop that most people should buy while the 14-inch MacBook Pro should be your first port of call if your workflow consists of sustained processing tasks such as intensive video editing, coding, 3D design, etc.
With a sleek design and laser sharp display, the Amazon Kindle (11th generation) eBook reader makes it easy to take all of your favourite books wherever you go.
While you might keep a smartphone in your pocket and/or a tablet in your bag, dedicated eBook readers are far from obsolete. They offer avid readers a much lighter device that’s comfortable to hold in one hand for extended periods, with a screen that’s easier on the eye and a battery life that’s measured in weeks rather than hours.
As you’d expect after 11 generations, Amazon’s iconic Kindle eBook reader offers a slick and tightly-integrated reading experience. Also known as the ‘All-new Kindle (2022 release)’, the new Amazon Kindle (11th generation) extends the current Kindle line up to five.
As the second cheapest Kindle at $179, there are few surprises with Amazon’s latest eBook reader. Instead, it continues to hone the user experience and trickle down advanced features from the more expensive Kindle models.
You can read other GadgetGuy Kindle news and reviews here
First impressions
The Amazon Kindle (11th generation) is ridiculously slender and light. The longer it is since you’ve held a Kindle, the more impressed you’ll be with how they’ve evolved over the years.
Weighing in at a mere 158 gm, the minimalist design doesn’t feature any buttons on the front for turning the page, you simply tap or swipe the screen. Across the bottom of the unit you’ll find a power button and USB-C charge port, but no headphone jack or speaker. Instead, you can connect headphones via Bluetooth to listen to a screen reader, but this Kindle can’t play audiobooks.
This new Kindle sports a 6-inch display, similar to the entry-level $139 Kindle. Like all Kindles, it’s a monochrome e-Ink display which only uses power when it refreshes the screen as you turn the page – in some ways it’s like an old Etch-a-Sketch.
Like all the current Kindles, the screen has a built-in adjustable front light so you can read indoors and outdoors, in any lighting conditions. Unlike the more expensive Kindles, the light in the 11th gen doesn’t adjust automatically to allow for ambient lighting conditions and you can’t adjust the warmth of the light.
Amazon has added a dark mode, which inverts the page to display white text on a black background. It also steps up from 8 to 16 GB of onboard storage, which is more than enough considering it only supports eBooks and not audio books.
More importantly, the big improvement with this new Amazon Kindle (11th generation) is that it bumps up the screen resolution from 167 to 300 dots per inch (dpi). As a result, pages look as sharp as if they were just spat out from a laser printer.
This is now the most affordable 300 dpi Kindle (previously you needed to spend at least $239 for the Kindle Paperwhite). Considering how much of a difference the leap 300 dpi makes, it’s hard to see why you’d spend $139 on the entry-level 167 dpi Kindle when this new Kindle is only an extra $40.
The Amazon Kindle (11th generation)’s 300 dpi display is a big step up from the entry-level Kindle.
Amazon Kindle (11th generation) specs
Screen size
6 inches
Screen resolution
300 dpi
Screen technology
e-Ink 16-level greyscale
Screen lighting
manully adjustable front light
Storage
16 GB
Book formats
Natively: Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC
Through conversion: HTML DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, PMP, EPUB, TXT, RTF
Connectivity
USB-C
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi 2.4 and 5.0 GHz
Battery life
up to 6 weeks
Dimensions
157.8 × 108.6 × 8.0 mm
Weight
158 gm
Colours
Black, Denim
Features
Amazon ensures the Kindle is very easy to set up, with the option to automatically configure it via Bluetooth using the Kindle app on a smartphone or tablet. Once it’s connected to your Wi-Fi network, the Kindle will automatically grant you access to your library. There’s also an option to create a profile for a child and add content from your Kindle library.
The Amazon Kindle (11th generation) lacks a built-in SIM card for accessing books via 4G “Whispersync” when you’re on the move, that’s only available in the top-of-the-line Kindle Oasis.
The USB-C charging port will be welcome if you’ve been steadily upgrading to USB-C devices. There’s a charge cable in the box but not an AC adaptor.
Amazon cites a battery life of up to six weeks, which is a step up from the entry-level Kindle. Even so, six weeks is rather optimistic considering that it’s based on only 30 minutes of reading each day with Wi-Fi disabled and the backlight turned down to 13 (it’s at 18 by default).
It’s worth noting that the 6-inch display is smaller than the 6.8 and 7-inch displays on the more expensive Kindles. Realistically, once you’re engrossed in a good book, you’re unlikely to notice the difference other than needing to turn the page more often. After a while you don’t even notice yourself turning the pages, just like reading a physical book.
The only real disappointment with this new Kindle is that it lacks IPX8 waterproofing. For that you need to step up to the $239 Kindle Paperwhite, which is protected against accidental immersion in up to two metres of fresh water for up to 60 minutes, or up to 0.25 metres of seawater for up to three minutes. There’s also a $289 Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition, but you might not consider it worth the extra $50.
Of course, the other key feature with every Kindle is the slick integration with Amazon’s eBook store. It’s easy to buy books directly from the eBook reader and keep your progress in sync with the Kindle app on your other devices. There’s also the Kindle Unlimited subscription, which grants you access to a wealth of titles for $13.99 per month (Amazon throws in a free 30-day trial).
Depending on where you want to buy your eBooks, some people might prefer the greater freedom granted by rival eBook readers like Kobo, which support the widely available EPUB eBook format. Amazon is reportedly expanding Kindle EPUB support later this year, but how well this works remains to be seen.
Quality
As the names suggest, the screen on the Amazon Kindle (11th generation) isn’t as white as the Kindle Paperwhite. While a Paperwhite screen does offer a nicer reading experience, this isn’t a dealbreaker and you wouldn’t notice unless you were downgrading from a Paperwhite model.
The lack of a Paperwhite screen does mean the contrast isn’t quite as high, although the step up to 300 dpi helps compensate for this in terms of readability. It’s also easy to adjust the font size to something that’s comfortable for you to read for extended periods.
The eBook reader also offers fast page turn times, to help you get lost in your book and forget that you’re using technology. “Refresh display with every page turn” is now diabled by default, meaning the screen doesn’t flash black every time you turn the page.
The low screen glare and adjustable backlight make for an excellent reading experience in a wide range of lighting conditions. Plus the unit is so small and light that you won’t tire of holding it in one hand for hours at a time, after which it’s easy to slip in your bag or even a large jacket pocket. Amazon sells a fabric screen cover for $49.95 in a range of colours.
GadgetGuy’s take
The Amazon Kindle (11th generation) is the new sweet spot in terms of price and features. If you’re in the market for a Kindle eBook reader and you don’t need all the bells and whistles of the high end models, you should be weighing up this new $179 Kindle and the $239 Kindle Paperwhite.
If you’re looking for an easy way to hold a vast book library in your hand, and you’re happy to buy your books through the Amazon ecosystem, the Amazon Kindle (11th generation) could be the eBook reader for you..
Would I buy it?
Yes, if I was sure I could live without the Kindle Paperwhite’s whiter screen and IPX8 waterproofing.
Amazon Kindle (11th generation): by the book (review)
With a sharp screen and slender body, the Amazon Kindle (11th generation) eBook reader will hit the sweet spot for many book lovers.
Professional filmmakers and TV productions have a whole new range of gear to choose from following Canon recently launching its latest professional camera equipment.
Included in the launch are four new 4K camcorders, a remote-controllable pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera, and several accessories to bolster filmmaking and studio productions.
Four new 4K camcorders for the pros and enthusiasts
Starting with the new Canon camcorders, four new 4K-capable models will be available in the coming months: the XA60, XA75, XA70, and HF G70. Made to be versatile and featuring advanced autofocus, the handheld cameras are suited for various uses, including documentary filming, schools, and corporate events. Aside from 4K footage, they all support USB-C HD UVC streaming, making them suitable for recording live productions for online viewing.
Each X model camcorder has 40x digital zoom, with the XA60 equipped with 20x optical zoom, compared to 15x for the XA75 and XA70. Additionally, the XA60 uses a 1/2.3” type CMOS sensor, while the other three models use a 1.0-inch type CMOS sensor. Billed as a prosumer model for enthusiasts, the HF G70’s zoom maxes out at 20x.
Two of the cameras are due out in October, with some retailers listing the XA60 at $2,499 and the HF G70 for $1,799. Following in November, the XA75 is listed for $4,199, while the XA70 costs $3,499.
Broadcasting at a high level
The professional-grade Canon CR-N700 PTZ camera
Aimed at those in the land of broadcast TV, Canon also announced the CR-N700, a PTZ camera capable of filming in 4K at 60 frames per second. Equipped with a 1.0 type CMOS sensor and DIGIC DV7 processor, the CR-N700 is made for various types of TV productions, ranging from reality TV to sports. It has a 15x optical zoom and a 30x advanced zoom when filming in 1080p. Intelligent autofocus and image stabilisation features make sure the subject remains the focal point, with face, head and eye tracking making it possible to track moving talent.
For when light is limited, the CR-N700 has a Night Mode that uses an in-built IR cut filter to capture footage in dimly-lit settings. Plus, it supports PQ and HLG HDR formats to handle different lighting situations. In addition to being designed to work in conjunction with other Canon Cinema EOS cameras, the CR-N700 can also provide two separate feeds from a single device using its crop function.
Launching in January 2023, the CR-N700 will fetch a price of close to $15,000 according to several early listings from specialist retailers.
More Canon professional accessories
Alongside the new professional-grade Canon cameras, the company also announced three new pieces of hardware to complement the filmmaking arsenal. A new lens in the form of the CN8x15 IAS S E1/P1 is coming in November, has a focal range of 15-120mm, boosted to 180mm with its in-built 1.5x extender, and is futureproofed to support 8K cameras.
Additionally, the EU-V3 module expansion unit for the EOS C500 Mark II and EOS C300 Mark III cameras is also coming in November. It expands the cameras’ multi-camera and live production capabilities, adding various connection types for more options. It also comes as the cameras get a new Cinema EOS firmware update in October, adding new lens and accessory support, enabling more auto-focus features when shooting at 100p and above, and more.
Although not necessarily aimed at the consumer market, it’s fascinating to glean an insight into the technology used by professionals to create our favourite shows and sports broadcasts.
As details about the recent Optus data breach continue to emerge, you’re likely wondering how to protect your data if you’re among the affected customers.
If you, like many Australians, are a victim of the recent data leak, here are some practical steps to help stay secure and minimise risk. Be aware that because the situation is developing, some information may change.
Don’t click on any links in emails or SMS
If your email address and phone number get in the hands of scammers, it’s important to be aware of increased phishing attempts. This is where someone sends messages claiming to be from a reputable organisation, only to redirect you to a site where they can capture more of your sensitive information. Scammers have recently targeted LinkedIn users via this method. Sophisticated phishing attempts look almost identical to emails and websites from genuine companies, so it’s best to be safe and avoid clicking on any links.
For example, if you believe your bank or telco recommends you change a password, don’t click on any links sent to you. Even if it’s the real deal, it’s not worth the risk. Instead of clicking on a link, open a web browser and type the correct URL manually. This way, you know you’re visiting a legitimate website and can access your information securely.
Change your passwords and use a password manager for extra security
Although Optus claims no passwords have been compromised, it’s always a good idea to change your password when data leaks. Create a difficult-to-guess password with a mix of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers and symbols. Also, ensure you aren’t using the same password for multiple accounts (banking, social media, etc.), otherwise, it places everything at risk when a password gets out. If you do use the same password in multiple places, change all of them to be unique.
An easy way to manage this is to use a dedicated password program to generate and store secure passwords. There are multiple options available, many of which are relatively affordable, ranging from free for individual use, to a few dollars a month for families. 1Password and LastPass are popular choices, as they include browser extensions and mobile apps to access passwords wherever you need them. It’s generally not recommended to use a browser’s (like Chrome or Firefox) in-built password storage tools, as this is not as secure as dedicated password software.
Another option for Apple users is to enable iCloud Keychain. It’s a free password manager that creates and stores passwords across Apple devices, which makes it helpful if you use an iPhone and a Mac.
Also, enable two-factor authentication whenever you can. When enabled, it means in addition to a password, you need to input a limited-time code generated by a separate app or another form of verification.
Update your proof of identity documents
Numbers on driver’s licences, passports and Medicare cards used to provide 100 points of identification were included in the Optus data breach. Although Services Australia reassured Medicare card holders no one can access your account with just your number, you can request a new card with a different last digit. The rest of your Medicare number remains the same.
For anyone who provides proof their licence details were compromised, several jurisdictions – including Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and New South Wales – are providing free replacements. How to do this differs between states, however. Currently, NSW residents need to pay the $29 replacement fee up-front and then apply for Optus to reimburse the cost. Given that details are rapidly changing, visit the website of your state or territory’s government services to get the most up-to-date information.
If you’re worried about any banking details, contact your financial institution to re-issue any cards and receive advice on further steps you can take. Many banking apps let you “lock” your cards in the event they are lost or stolen.
Additionally, Optus is offering impacted customers a free 12-month subscription to Equifax Protect, a service that helps monitor your credit history and mitigate against identity theft. For further support, IDCARE, Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service, is also assisting those affected.
Educate yourself on the risks of a data breach
Above all else, research what happens with stolen data and how it occurs in the first place. Hackers looking to make money may look to sell personal information via the dark web, which may lead to identity theft and people spending your money.
Arming yourself with knowledge means you’ll know what to do in the event of a data breach and be able to identify the scams that follow.
Gaming peripheral specialist SteelSeries has launched the Apex 9 series of keyboards packed with fast-response technology designed for competitive gamers.
In a twist from the rise of mechanical gaming keyboards, the new boards – consisting of the tenkeyless Apex 9 TKL and 60%-sized Apex 9 Mini – use optical switches. Using next-gen OptiPoint optical switches, the new keyboards use optical light sensors to detect key presses, providing a faster response time than mechanical switches. According to SteelSeries, these switches feature a rapid response time of 0.2ms, which the company claims is 33% faster than the quickest optical keyboard on the market.
Preference for mechanical or optical keyboards is usually determined by whether you want a tactile typing experience, or fast switches ideal for playing competitive games. With the latest SteelSeries keyboards, however, you can have both. Rich in customisation options, the SteelSeries GG software lets you choose from either a 1mm actuation point or 1.5mm, even on a per-key level. Additionally, they support swappable switches, including Linear, Tactile, and Clicky. Of course, you can also tweak the RGB lighting as you see fit.
The SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini keyboard
In line with trends from international esports competitions, the keyboards are SteelSeries’ response to a growing preference for smaller devices. As the name suggests, the Apex 9 TKL does away with a number pad, leaving room for wider mouse movements. Meanwhile the Apex 9 Mini goes even further, removing the row of function keys to create a compact keyboard you can take with you. Both keyboards are built to last, with aluminium surfaces and switches rated to 100 million presses.
Here in Australia, the Apex 9 TKL is available for $349, and the Apex 9 Mini costs $309, firmly placing both in the premium gaming peripheral category.
SteelSeries is known for making high-quality accessories, as evidenced by our recent review of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro X headset. From a price perspective, they do skew towards the more expensive side of gaming gear. Fortunately, if SteelSeries tech is within your budget, the brand routinely delivers on quality and premium feel.
Microsoft has rolled out its major Windows 11 2022 update, with a range of new features added to the operating system aimed at improving the overall experience.
Four main areas were the focus of the update, according to an official blog post: ease of use and safety, productivity, play and creation, plus added workplace security and management features.
From increased accessibility to expanded communication tools, here are a few of the biggest features included in the Windows 11 2022 update.
Live captions and voice controls boost accessibility
System-wide live captioning is one of the major accessibility additions coming as part of the Windows 11 2022 update. Previously confined to supported apps, live captions are now supported at a system level. Captions appear at the top of the screen by default, near where a webcam would be, but can be moved to wherever suits you the most. Additionally, in a win for workplace accessibility, Windows 11 can also be used to transcribe in-person conversations.
How live captions will appear on Windows 11 by default
Another helpful accessibility tool now entering preview access is voice access, enabling you to use a PC and input text using your voice. Natural Voices for Narrator is also said to make for a more pleasant screen reader experience, too.
Snap improvements and better focus sessions
Multitaskers rejoice, because the latest Windows 11 update improves the way you can snap and arrange open app windows. By dragging a window to the top of the screen, you can easily sort open apps into various layouts to suit your display. Microsoft also claims that snap layouts now have better touch navigation, and the ability to snap Microsoft Edge browser tabs.
Seemingly inspired by the Pomodoro productivity method, the new Windows 11 introduces new focus sessions that automatically enable the notification-muting Do Not Disturb feature. It also links up with the clock app to provide a timer to help guide work sessions and breaks.
Speaking of tabs, get ready for the most-requested Windows feature: File Explorer tabs. Coming in October, the addition of tabs should make organising files and navigating folders easier.
At long last: File Explorer tabs.
Look professional and have fun with new creative tools
Windows 11 now natively supports more customisation features when videoconferencing. While various software packages already let you tweak webcam settings, now you can blur your messy home office background, automatically keep you in frame, and plenty more helpful tools just by using system settings. This also includes the AI-driven Voice Focus that filters background noise and improves audio clarity for fellow callers. All of this and more comes under the banner of Windows Studio Effects, which should help elevate the standard of video calls everywhere.
On the play side of things, Windows 11 gains the Controller Bar, a new extension of the Xbox Game Bar, making it easier to jump in and start playing. Various graphical improvements also come with the update, including broader Auto HDR support and variable refresh rate for windowed games. Microsoft aims to make Edge the go-to destination for games, particularly if you’re using Xbox Cloud Gaming. It has features like Clarity Boost to make games look sharper when streamed through Edge, and reduce browser resource usage during game sessions.
Feel more secure with Smart App Control
Whether at home or at work, Smart App Control prevents untrusted apps, script files and malicious macros from running, protecting your device. Smart App Control requires either an up-to-date clean Windows 11 install or a new Windows 11 device so you can be sure there aren’t already any nasties on your PC.
If you’re always nervous about inputting sensitive data online, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen steps in to keep your Microsoft credentials safe. It alerts you in the event you’re about to enter your details into a malicious app or hacked website, adding another layer of security.
This only scratches the surface of what the Windows 11 2022 update introduces to the widely-used Microsoft OS. You can read about all the added features and improvements in more detail via the official Microsoft blog.
Australian banks will be informed of attacks such as the Optus data breach more swiftly, as the Federal government prepares to announce a security crackdown to tackle the impact of cyber attacks which expose personal information and put customers at risk.
The recent Optus data breach exposed the personal information of up to 9.8 million Australians, including details such as customers’ names, dates of birth, phone numbers and email addresses. For 2.8 million customers, their home address was also exposed, along with ID document numbers such as their driver’s licence or passport.
The attack appears to impact Optus customers dating as far back as 2017, including former customers. The telco says account passwords were not compromised, and neither were financial and payment details.
One of the largest data breaches in Australia history, the attack leaves affected Optus customers at risk of fraud and identity theft. It also leaves all Optus customers at risk of falling prey to further attacks, as scammers take advantage of poeple’s concern through bogus emails and text messages.
Customers warned of Optus data breach
Optus first alerted customers and media to the cyberattack on Thursday September 22, but the full extent of the data breach and those responsible for the attack is still unclear.
“While not everyone may be affected and our investigation is not yet complete, we want all of our customers to be aware of what has happened as soon as possible so that they can increase their vigilance,” said Optus CEO, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin.
Optus assured customers the data breach has been blocked and that phone and internet services remain safe to use. It says that its SIM-only brands Amaysim and Gomo, along with Optus resellers, were not impacted by the attack.
The attackers claim to have already released the details of 10,000 Optus customers on the dark web and are demanding a $1.5 million ransom. The threat is yet to be confirmed as genuine by Optus, although cyber experts view early customer data released by the alleged hackers as genuine.
Optus has sent emails or text messages to all customers who had their identification documents compromised in the data breach. The telco is offering its “most affected” customers a free 12-month subscription to Equifax Protect, an ID and credit monitoring service to help them detect signs of fraud.
Government response to Optus data breach
Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, labelled the Optus data breach as a “huge wake-up call”, as the government flags introducing large fines for future breaches and overhauling the nation’s data retention laws.
Home Affairs Minister, Clare O’Neil, laid blame for the attack at the feet of Optus and said the government is looking to work with financial regulators and the banking sector to see what steps can be taken to protect impacted customers.
“One significant question is whether the cyber security requirements we place on large telecommunications providers in this country are fit for purpose,” O’Neil said.
“In other jurisdictions, a data breach of this size will result in fines amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.”
How Optus customers can protect themselves
As law firm Slater and Gordon announces it is investigating a class action against the telco over the data breach, customers can take several precautions to reduce their risk from the Optus data breach.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s ScamWatch has urged Optus customers to take extra steps to secure their accounts, as well as watch out for signs of identity.
Sensible precautions include changing passwords on Optus email accounts and linked services, such as online banking, as well as enabling multi-factor authentication as an extra layer of defence.
Optus customers should also closely monitor their bank and credit card statements, along with other personal financial accounts, and immediately flag suspicious activity.
They should also be on guard for calls, emails or text messages from scammers attempting to take advantage of the situation. This includes bogus messages claiming to be from Optus or other organisations, asking customers to hand over personal information or click on links.
Optus says that no legitimate communications from Optus relating to this incident will include any links, as it recognises that cyber criminals will be using this incident to conduct phishing scams.
A pint-sized projector with the power of Android TV, the Philips PicoPix Max TV pico projector pumps out a big picture on the go.
As the name suggests, pico projectors are considerably smaller, lighter and more portable than traditional full-sized home theatre projectors. There’s an understandable trade-off in terms of picture quality, but that might not bother you if you place a greater emphasis on convenience.
Of course, a projector is only part of the solution on movie night, you also need something to watch and some way to listen to the audio. Traditionally, this has meant plugging a disc player or some other playback device into your projector, along with external amp and speakers.
The Philips PicoPix Max TV makes life easier thanks to built-in stereo speakers, along with built-in Android TV offering easy access to all of your favourite streaming services. There’s even a built-in battery, making it an all-in-one entertainment package for the lounge room, bedroom, rumpus room or even the backyard after dark.
You can read other GadgetGuy Philips news and reviews here
First impressions
If you’re not familiar with pico projectors, you might be surprised at how small the Philips PicoPix Max TV projector actually is. With a 15 × 15 cm footprint, standing 12 cm tall, it’s roughly the size of a stack of eight Blu-ray disc cases. Tipping the scales at 2 kg, it’s light enough to slip into a carry bag so you’ve got a travelling movie show.
On the front you’ll find a lens with a slide-up protective cover, while on the back you’ll find HDMI and USB-C for playing content. You can plug in pretty much anything that can spit out an image, such as a disc player, set-top box, computer or games console. There’s also a USB-A port from playing video files from a USB stick, well as well as a button to sync with Bluetooth devices so you can use the projector as a Bluetooth speaker.
Alongside these on the back is an SPDIF digital audio port for connecting to an external sound system, along with a 3.5 audio jack for connecting to headphones or external speakers.
Across the top of the projector are touch-sensitive buttons for accessing the projector’s onscreen menus. The projector also comes with TV-style smart remote control for making the most of the Android TV smart TV interface, with dedicated buttons for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Google Assistant.
To take advantage of all of these internet features, the projector has built-in Wi-Fi, which also lets the projector act as a Chromecast streaming point for streaming audio and video from your devices. Android TV’s slick user interface and extensive app library make for a great user experience.
Which brings us to the potential dealbreaker, the projector only offers 1080p resolution. While that’s sharp enough to do DVD, Blu-ray and broadcast television justice, it’s not sharp enough to make the most of the Ultra HD original content found on most streaming services. The projector will automatically scale this content back down to 1080p, with support for HDR10 High Dynamic Range but not Dolby Vision. All of this will frustrate people who are fussy about picture quality.
The compact Philips PicoPix Max TV pico projector is easy to move around so you can enjoy movies anywhere.
Philips PicoPix Max TV pico projector specs
Display technology
DLP
Resolution
1920 x 1080 pixel
Aspect ratio
16:9
Throw ratio
1.2:1
Contrast ratio
1000:1
Focus adjustment
Auto
Keystone correction
Auto, 4 corners correction
Screen size (diagonal)
76 – 305 cm
Screen distance
27 – 319 cm
Video inputs
HDMI, USB-C, USB-A, Chromecast
Speakers
2 x 12W
Audio outputs
SPDIF digital, 3.5 mm analogue
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4 + 5 GHz
Bluetooth 5.0
Battery
2100 mAh (four hours playback)
Operating system
Android TV
Weight
1.96 kg
Dimensions
158 x 150 x 119 mm
Features
Fire up the Philips PicoPix Max TV and you’ll notice that the lens projects straight forward, so the bottom of the picture is level with the projector. This means you’ll probably need to sit the projector on something tall, like a table or stool, so the picture fits nicely on your projection surface.
Flip the projector over and you’ll find a mounting thread on the bottom, which offers the option of securely attaching the unit to a stand.
Unlike some projectors, there are no built-in legs which allow you to tilt the unit upwards so it projects the picture higher. As a workaround, you can always slip a book or a few DVD cases under the front to prop it up.
At this point, the projector’s auto focus and distortion correction come in handy. There’s no need to mess around with a focus knob. The projector also uses automatic vertical keystone correction to straighten up the picture, plus you can dip into the menus to access 4-corner correction. This can come at the expense of resolution, it’s best to get the projector as square with the wall as possible.
If you want a larger picture, simply move the projector further from the screen, although this comes at the expense of brightness. Philips cites a maximum picture size of 305 cm, but you might consider this rather optimistic if you don’t want it to look too washed out.
Adding to its versatility, the projector features a built-in battery, which is handy if you’re running an outdoor movie night. Philips cites a four-hour battery life but, at full brightness in Presentation mode, it’s closer to two hours – which should be fine for one movie but won’t get you through a double feature.
Of course, you also need to be able to hear your movie, which is where those built-in stereo speakers come in handy. Mounting the projector up high also helps the sound carry. The projector’s fan isn’t overpowering but is still loud enough that you’ll notice it in the quiet scenes. You wouldn’t want to be sitting right next to the projector all night.
Along with built-in Android TV, you can watch content from extrenal players via HDMI and USB-C, as well as video files from a USB stick.
Quality
The Philips PicoPix Max TV pico projector naturally isn’t going to compete with a high-end home theatre projector. You’re trading quality for convenience, which might be a fair trade if picture quality isn’t your highest priority.
While the brightness varies depending on the distance from the screen, the bigger frustration for viewers with an eye for detail is that the contrast isn’t high enough to deliver a really great, life-like picture with deep blacks and plenty of detail in the shadows. As the picture gets larger and the brightness drops, the contrast also suffers.
When it comes to brightness you’ve got a choice of four modes: Presentation, Normal, Energy Saver and Super Eco. You’ll want to stick with Presentation mode to get a decent picture.
On an overcast day with some light coming in the lounge room windows, you probably wouldn’t go past a 1.25-metre picture before the picture looks too dim and washed out. Draw the curtains and you could go up to around 1.75 metres.
That’s when watching a TV show, like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, where picture quality isn’t so important. Switch to a movie like Dune and you’ll want to get the projector a bit closer to the screen, shrinking down the picture for a brighter image with better contrast. Especially if you’re watching a movie with a lot of dark scenes.
Likewise, the built-in stereo speakers deliver decent sound when you’re watching a television show which is dialogue-heavy with the occasional music. It’s loud enough to fill a decent-sized room and even carry in the backyard. Fire up an action move and it’s going to get a little murky with lots of explosions and a frantic action soundtrack.
After dark, you can naturally go even larger with the picture. Watching television, you might be happy with the quality of a giant 3-metre picture, but the contrast struggles to the point when you lose a lot of detail in some actors’ faces. You’d probably pull back a bit for the sake of picture quality. Watching a movie, you’re more likely to scale the picture size back to around 2.25 metres, if not smaller, before you’re happy with the picture.
Keep in mind, this is all on the assumption that you’re projecting onto a projector screen. A cheap 2-metre screen will set you back at least $100, but you’ll pay a lot more for a 3-metre screen. Considering the projector’s portability, you might forgo a proper screen and settle for any flat, white-ish surface. This might let you go large, but it’s going to impact the picture quality even further.
All of this is also on the assumption that you’re entertaining adults who care at least a bit about sound and picture quality. The projector is going to be a bigger hit with kids who are more impressed by picture size than picture quality. Issues with picture quality also become less pronounced when you’re watching animated content.
GadgetGuy’s take
The Philips PicoPix Max TV pico projector has a lot going for it. Its Achilles’ Heel is the brightness/contrast and resolution, but to dismiss it over these concerns is to miss the point. Pico projects aren’t about amazing sound and picture quality, they’re about the fun entertainment possibilities opened up by a small, portable projector – like sleepover movie nights and backyard cinema. The inclusion of Android TV takes this flexibility to the next level.
If you’re looking for a projector that will stay put on the one room, this isn’t the option for you. A home theatre projector, or simply a big television, might be money better spent. But if you’re looking for a projector which can easily follow you around the house, or even out the door, then the Philips PicoPix Max TV pico projector might be a wise entertainment investment.
Would I buy it?
Maybe, if I could see past the picture quality and just enjoy a big picture anywhere, any time.
Philips PicoPix Max TV pico projector: movie night (review)
Easily following you around the house, or even out the door, the Philips PicoPix Max TV pico projector could make for the ultimate movie night.
