Following its recent appearance in an FCC filing, Google's long-rumored Android TV dongle, is now closer than ever to an official reveal thanks to a listing found within US retailer Home Depot's internal systems. And, if the listing's pricing is to be believed, it will be surprisingly affordable.
As reported by 9to5Google, the Android TV-powered Chromecast Ultra successor will be priced at $49.99 (around £37 / AU$68), placing it right in the same ballpark as the Amazon TV Fire Stick 4K and the Roku Streaming Stick.
According to Home Depot's listing, which can still be viewed thanks to Google Cache, the streaming device will be called Sabrina as per previous rumors.
That said, it's worth noting that both the image and description included in Home Depot's now-removed Sabrina listing was that of the current Chromecast Ultra, and not of the expected Android TV-powered dongle with remote – this implies the listing is more of a placeholder than anything concrete.
Of course, there is some new information to be found within Home Depot's system, including the names of at least three expected colors for the device: Rock Candy, Como Blue and Summer Melon.
While Como Blue suggests a similar color to the Nest Mini's Sky variant, the other two color options could be just about anything. We won't know for sure until Google officially unveils its new streaming device, which should be sooner rather than later.
Ereaders have been exploding in popularity lately – this surge of demand quite possibly steams from people stuck indoors wanting to fill the extra hours in their days with something move constructive than just binge-watching Netflix.
Reading is a fantastic hobby that expands your mind, deepens your knowledge and takes the lid off your imagination. What's even better is that the best ereaders around are currently being discounted by major retailers so you can grab yours without making a dent in your back pocket.
At the moment, the best device available for quality and price is Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite. Currently on sale for AU$179 through Amazon, this ereader is one of the more affordable options in the Kindle series, and the latest iteration is thinner and lighter than ever before.
The Paperwhite has a stunning 6-inch screen with a 300ppi resolution that makes the words sharp and clear, creating a better reading experience overall. It’s also packed with 8GB of storage and is Wi-Fi enabled so you can download books from the Kindle Store whenever you wish.
You’ll also be able to adjust the built-in light from white to warmer hues to reduce eye strain caused by blue light– a nifty feature, especially when you’re in the habit of reading before bed.
However, unlike the Oasis, the Paperwhites chassis hasn’t been designed for single-hand use, so that’s something to keep in mind when deciding what ereader to get.
That said, the Paperwhite does feature IPX8 waterproofing, and the battery will go weeks before you need to recharge – this combined with all of the above features, makes this ebook a perfect companion, whether at home or out-and-about.
If this sounds like the deal you’ve been looking for, don’t hesitate to grab yours today through Amazon and save a handy AU$20.
Grab Amazon’s mid-range ereader and get lost in the immersive world of reading for only AU$179. This nifty ereader is waterproof (so it’s safe from accidental bath incidents), has a glamorous 6-inch screen and is Wi-Fi enabled – everything you need in an ereader. Head to Amazon to secure your very own portable library today. View Deal
Qualcomm announced the next generation of chipsets to power mid-range gaming phones: the Snapdragon 732G, which could power the Google Pixel 5a and Xiaomi Mi Note 11.
That’s because the new chipset is replacing the Snapdragon 730G, which was introduced in mid-2019 and powers the Google Pixel 4a, Xiaomi Mi Note 10 family, and other mid-range phones. At least one phonemaker – POCO – has already affirmed in Qualcomm’s press release it will use the 732G in one of its future phones.
The improvements aren’t too significant from the Snapdragon 730G to the new 732G, but that’s not surprising in a year-old chipset: the core clock speed is upped from 2.2 GHz to 2.3 GHz, while the Adreno 618 GPU has 15% improved graphical rendering, according to the official press release.
Best cheap phones: will a Snapdragon 732G-powered phone end up here?
Google Pixel 5a: a mainstream phone that could get the chipset
Snapdragon 732G: the best new chipset below 5G
The Snapdragon 732G has an X15 LTE modem, which doesn’t have 5G connectivity. That sets a clear line between the cheaper mid-range phones powered by this chipset and (assumedly) each that’s numbered lower and the minimal 5G-capable chipset, the Snapdragon 765 and 765G.
It’s no surprise that we’ll continue to see 4G LTE-only phones as 5G infrastructure is built out, especially given the increase in price for 5G connectivity that we’ve seen in this year’s 5G phones. The question was: what’s the threshold dividing these two groups?
That answer seems to be the Snapdragon 765, and every chipset below it won’t be able to connect to 5G. That could change, of course, especially if the Qualcomm processors replacing the Snapdragon 675 (found in the TCL 10 Pro, Samsung Galaxy A70, and other phones) could offer 5G capability to budget and/or mid-range phones. But we’ll have to wait and see what Qualcomm offers.
Even large organizations often need help finding vulnerabilities in their software and services which is why many either start their own bug bounty programs or partner with the bug bounty platform HackerOne to do so.
Security researchers expect to be paid for their work and some have even become millionaires for finding critical vulnerabilities that could have serious repercussions for businesses if they were to be exposed online.
However, a security researcher who recently disclosed multiple vulnerabilities to Slack, which could have allowed an attacker to take over a user's computer, only received $1,750 from the company valued at close to $20bn.
Security engineer Oskars Vegeris from Evolution Gaming privately shared extensive details on the vulnerabilities he discovered in a detailed write-up to Slack back in January of this year. If exploited, these bugs would have allowed an attacker to upload a file and share it with another Slack user or channel to take over a victim's computer.
Critical vulnerabilities
Vegeris provided further details on the vulnerabilities he discovered in a HackerOne report that was recently made public at his request, saying:
“With any in-app redirect - logic/open redirect, HTML or javascript injection it's possible to execute arbitrary code within Slack desktop apps. This report demonstrates a specifically crafted exploit consisting of an HTML injection, security control bypass and a RCE Javascript payload. This exploit was tested as working on the latest Slack for desktop (4.2, 4.3.2) versions (Mac/Windows/Linux).”
According to the report, Vegeris showed multiple ways in which Slack apps could be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution on a user's computer. He even went as far as to make a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) exploit video show just how easy it would be for a hacker to exploit these bugs if they were left unpatched.
Vegeris himself wasn't happy for receiving just $1,750 for disclosing multiple bugs and neither was the rest of the security community. However, the payments he received were in line with rewards detailed on Slack's HackerOne page.
Chief security officer at Slack, Larkin Ryder has since apologized to Vegeris on the company's HackerOne page after a blog post was published detailing his work without credit, which has since been fixed, saying:
“I am writing to convey very sincere apologies for any oversight in crediting your work. We very much appreciate the time and effort you've invested in making Slack safer. While the security team didn't author this blog post and the author has no visibility to your work in H1, we should make the extra steps to ensure all who contributed to improvement efforts in this area are recognized. I will investigate making appropriate updates to our blog post. Brandon will followup to ensure those updates are to your satisfaction and to coordinate your disclosure request. Again, I am very sorry for any misstep on our part.”
Google is reportedly bringing the NFC powered Tap & Pay feature to its widely used Google Pay application in India. While the flagship phones like Samsung Galaxy phones or the iPhones already have this feature inbuilt, however, thanks to Google Pay, it will be soon available to all smartphone users who have an NFC enabled phone.
To explain, Tap and Pay is an intuitive payment method that allows you to make a payment without needing to pull out your card from the wallet. Yes, it does make use of the smartphone, however, unlike the regular scan the QR code method all you need to do is just tap your smartphone on the POS machine. The only limitation here is that both the smartphone and the POS machine need to be NFC enabled.
Announced last year, the contactless payment system on Google Pay is now available to some users in the country and is being rolled out in a staggered manner. As of now Google Pay Tap & Pay feature is limited to Visa cards issues by Axis and SBI bank cards. There is no clarity on the support for Rupay and Master Cards as of now.
How to add your cards to Google Pay’s 'Tap & Pay' NFC feature
Adding a debit or credit card to Google Pay is fairly easy and you can follow the below-mentioned process to easily add your bank cards in case the feature is available on your phone already. Additional details around how to manage and unlink your card can be found on the support page set up by Google.
Tap on the profile icon on the top right corner
Tap Settings on the next page
Go to Payment Methods
Tap on Add Card and hit Proceed on the pop-up page
Add a credit card or Debit card details on the next page
Add details like expiry date, CVV, and the cardholder’s name and billing address
Accept Terms and Conditions
Select the verification method and submit the OTP number
Tap activate next to your card
Enter the One-time password and you’re done
Once done, you’ll be able to use Google Pay to make contactless payments at the NFC enabled terminals. In a related piece of News, even Jio along with NPCI is looking to bring a similar feature to its ultra-affordable JioPhone.
With so many shows and movies to choose from on Australia's major streaming services, it can often be difficult to finding the best new stuff that's been added each week.
In an effort to make things easier, every Monday we'll be hand-picking the best new shows and movies that are added to Aussie streaming platforms each week, covering the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, Binge, Stan and Amazon Prime Video.
Below, you'll find a list of this weekend's highlights, separated by streaming service, with binge-worthy new shows sitting alongside some great big-budget new movie arrivals – and a couple of oddball dark horse entries, just for some variety.
This week is rather jam-packed in terms of new releases, with some extremely high-profile shows and movies to look forward to. Here are our streaming picks for week of August 31 to September 6, 2020.
Netflix
I'm Thinking of Ending Things (Movie – available September 4)
From the creative mind of Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Enternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) comes I'm Thinking of Ending Things, a film that's takes the filmmaker's unmistakable mind-bending style into darker territory. Based on Iain Reid’s acclaimed novel, the film sees a young woman (Jessie Buckley) accompany her boyfriend (Jesse Plemons) to meet his family for the first time. Right from the outset, something feels very off about these people...
Chef's Table: BBQ (TV series - all episodes available September 2)
Does the thought of slow-cooked ribs and brisket make your mouth water like Mark Zuckerberg when he's near a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's? You're going to love the latest instalment of Netflix's fantastic Chef's Table series, which is dedicated entirely to different types of BBQ from around the world. Better get your bib ready...
The Boys: Season 2 (TV Series – all episodes available September 4)
Arguably the best superhero show on television, The Boys returns for its highly anticipated second season, and early word has it that it's even better than the first. Following on from last season's bombshell reveal regarding the wife of Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), the boys ramp up their war on the 'supes'. Unfortunately for them, they have a new (and extremely volatile) supe to deal with in Stormfront (Aya Cash).
Disney's Mulan (Movie – available to purchase from September 4)
It's official – the live-action Mulan is skipping theatres entirely to debut on Disney Plus, but it'll cost a hefty premium of AU$34.99 on top of your monthly subscription fee to watch it. Thankfully, this purchase, which Disney is calling Premiere Access to Mulan, will be permanently tied to your Disney Plus account, meaning you'll be able to watch it as many times as you like (so long as you're still subscribed to the service).
Doom Patrol (TV series – all episodes available September 2)
The surprise hit of DC's original television lineup, Doom Patrol is a quirky superhero show about a team of outcasts who brought together under the guidance of a mad scientist (Timothy Dalton). A hilarious comic book series for adults, Doom Patrol's second season looks even crazier than the first (in a good way).
Power Book II: Ghost(TV Series – Season 1, Episode 1 available September 6)
Picking up after the shock ending of Power's sixth season, Power Book II: Ghost takes the story in an entirely new direction, acting almost as an entire new series that's set in the same universe. In Ghost, we follow Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) as he navigates his new life while trying to shed his father's legacy. That said, he'll stop at nothing to protect his family.
The Indian e-commerce space, which has been showing incipient signs of recovery, is hoping to further improve its showing in the oncoming festival season.
For this festival season --- typically from before the Dusshera time and running till New Year or oven Pongal in the Southern States --- the e-commerce platforms are expecting a 30% increase from their last year's figure in sales.
The surge in sales is based on the increase in online shopping ever since the social distancing norms came into place. A slew of new launches across diverse products is also seen as a positive cause.
Hope is further buoyed by the fact that two of the biggest online players in India, Amazon and Flipkart, recorded a combined sales in the range of Rs 5,600 crore -Rs 6,000 crore during their Prime Day and Big Savings Days sale events in August.
According to a report in the Economic Times, which quoted executives at online marketplaces, "new models of smartphones, work-from-home and study-from-home enablers are expected to drive sales, while apparel and fashion sales will still remain a little weak".
Home, appliance, sports, fitness and health are the other categories that look to make impressive recovery.
If the wedding season kicks in even apparel and fashion market would get a bump in sales.
As we said, the festival season is a long, over-two-months window in India. Usually, Amazon has its Great Indian Festival sale and Flipkart holds its The Big Billion Day sale around this time. Last year, the two platforms, according to the Economic Times report, recorded about $3.5-3.7 billion in sales in the highest-selling six days, a rise of 33% over 2018. In the overall 2019 festive sale period, these platforms clocked $4.8 billion in sales.
Amazon and Flipkart have said that they would help their sellers make a comeback in what has been a tough season due to the economic lockdown.
Even though the number of Covid-19 cases in India are far from subsiding, the curbs are being lifted across States and mobility is expected to improve since September 1. This should help e-commerce companies to straighten out their logistical chain.
Also, e-commerce portals are expecting tier-2 cities to lead the charge for fresh demand.
In general, India’s e-commerce sector has been on a constant growth, the e-commerce order volume saw a growth of 20% while the GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) witnessed a surge of 23% with an average order size of Rs 1100.
Tachyum, the company that plans to kill the CPU and GPU with its universal Prodigy processor, this week shared additional details regarding its upcoming chip.
As it turns out, the new processor will support industry-standard open-source development frameworks for AI applications, as well as a rather whopping amount of RAM.
The Tachyum Prodigy, a universal homogeneous processor with up to 128 cores, can run x86, Arm, and RISC-V binaries using software emulation without performance degradation, according to the company.
Meanwhile, when running native code, Prodigy can outperform Intel’s Xeon processors by 10 times at a lower power, as well as leaving behind Nvidia’s A100 GPUs in HPC, AI training, and inference tasks.
8TB of RAM
According to Tachyum, while its proprietary compiler will be required for the chip to demonstrate everything it can do, software makers do not have to worry as they will be able to use open-source TensorFlow and PyTorch environments to develop artificial intelligence and machine learning applications.
Each Tachyum Prodigy will support up to 8TB of memory per chip, which is in line with what is expected from upcoming CPUs from AMD and Intel (modern EPYCs support up to 4TB), but considerably more than is supported by modern GPUs, such as Nvidia’s A100.
Tachyum does not disclose which type of memory Prodigy supports, though we are probably talking about regular RAM types, such as DDR4 or DDR5, but not high-end HBM-class DRAM.
Tachyum claims that different versions of Prodigy will be able to serve edge and data center applications, which indicates that the chip will be rather scalable in terms of performance and power consumption.
Prodigy will enter volume production some time in 2021, so expect it to hit the market in the next year or two.
A bug involving US-based telecoms giant CenturyLink briefly interrupted internet service in several global markets Sunday, affecting popular streaming services, gaming platforms, and webcasts of European football.
We’re now less than one week away from Father’s Day, and we know finding the right gift for your dad can be tricky. Whether he’s a fully-fledged tech-head with a smart home setup, or a little averse to electronics, we’ve got you covered with plenty of practical gift ideas he’ll actually use.
There’s recommendations here to suit a variety of budgets, and something for the dad who appreciates high-fidelity, wants a clever security system or simply enjoys relaxing with a book. Everything below is available online, just make sure you order early enough for it to arrive in time for Father’s Day on September 6!
Last minute Father's Day gift ideas
So Father’s Day has snuck up on you again, huh? If you’re scrambling for a gift with less than a week to go, why not consider some of these last-minute gift ideas.
Our original list of tech gift ideas is also available below, and you might still be able to get them if the seller offers fast shipping – just be sure you're ordering early this week.
(Image credit: Kayo Sports)
Kayo Sports
Got a sports-mad dad? A subscription to Kayo will be the gift that keeps on giving. Signing him up to Kayo this Father’s Day will get him almost everything sports-related that’s available on Foxtel for a pretty nice price. That’s over 50 sports live and on demand, plus a bunch of excellent features not available on any other platform. That includes SplitView, that allows you to watch multiple streams at once, and a No Spoilers mode, to ensure you don’t see the scores of the matches you've missed. Kayo offers a 14-day free trial, and after that, a basic subscription costs AU$25 a month.
If your old man’s more into Emmy-worthy drama over sports, then a subscription to Foxtel’s new streaming service is definitely worth a look. It has a huge library of classic HBO TV shows and an impressive movie line-up, and it’s quite affordable compared to a regular cable TV subscription. Binge also offers a free trial for 14 days to new sign-ups, and once that ends, plans start at AU$10 a month for a single standard-definition stream. For AU$14 per month, you can step up to two simultaneous high-definition streams, and hey, that’s not a bad deal if you want to Binge for yourself as well.... we won’t tell.
To have your last-minute gift-giving sorted in a pinch, consider a membership to Audible. This is a unique (and great) idea if your dad’s an avid reader but finds it hard to sit down with a physical book. You can set him up with Audible’s audiobook gift membership, which has more than 400,000 titles to choose from – whether he loves true crime stories, autobiographies or getting lost in sci-fi fiction – for as low as AU$16.45 a month. There are a few gifting tiers to choose from – see full details below.
Tech, gaming, photography or AV magazine subscriptions
If you’ve got a dad who loves to talk tech, why not gift him with a subscription to APC or TechLife – TechRadar’s sister titles in print? These top tech magazines will have your dad in the know on what’s happening in the world of tech, with the latest news, in-depth reviews and handy tips and tricks for his devices. A yearly subscription to either of these magazines is now discounted for Father’s Day – down to AU$69 for 12 issues, which is AU$10 off the usual price, and much less than what you’d pay at your local newsagent.
If your pop isn’t into tech, but likes his music, video games, or is deep into photography, there are other magazines to choose from. See the full list below:
And with TechRadar’s Aussie team regularly contributing to all the above magazines, we guarantee they’re excellent reads!
Note: these offers are only available to Australian customers
Father's Day tech gift ideas
(Image credit: Apple)
Beats Powerbeats Pro
If your dad’s the active type, consider gifting him the rather stylish Beats Powerbeats Pro. These true wireless earbuds are designed with working out in mind, with a unique and adjustable hook that keeps the ‘buds securely on the ear. These aren’t just made for exercise though – most importantly, the sound quality is up to scratch, warranting them a place as your dad’s all-purpose set of headphones. The Powerbeats Pro also have an IPX4 sweatproof rating and nine hours worth of juice on a full charge, and an extra two charges from the case, each worth about eight-or-so hours. Time to kick dad’s fitness back into gear? Now he can do it in style.
There are plenty of smartwatches to choose from these days, but the brand-new Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 offers one of the best experiences you can get. This is a rather slick-looking timepiece, and it’s more refined than the original Galaxy Watch – it’s slimmer, lighter and more comfortable to wear. It has a vivid display which your dad can navigate around using the rotating bezels with a satisfying click, click, click, rather than a fiddly touchscreen. This updated version has improved on its fitness features too, with automatic tracking for selected workouts and plenty more you can add in yourself. This savvy smartwatch works with both Android and iOS phones, though it will play better if you own an Android device.
The Nest Cam IQ is really darn smart. While this rather sweet-looking security camera will look unassuming wherever it’s placed, it’s hiding some pretty impressive power. When it detects movement inside the house, not only will it differentiate between people and animals, it will also identify whether it’s a familiar or unfamiliar face – pretty remarkable. With a 4K image sensor, you can monitor your home in full high definition (1080p), while two-way audio should help in deterring unwanted guests. It’s worth noting that full functionality of this smart security camera will require a subscription fee to Nest Aware. Without one, you’ll only be able to see snapshots of the past three hours. So while the Nest Cam is usable without it, it’s something to consider if dad wants continuous and live video recording.
If your dad often has his head buried in a book, the Kobo Libra H2O should make for a fantastic gift. It’s comfortable to use single-handed thanks to page-turn buttons and an asymmetrical design, so your dad can kick back and get cosy. The Libra uses the latest E Ink technology, so the 7-inch display imitates real paper and is wonderfully fast and responsive. Kobo’s ereaders also have OverDrive support, which means ebooks can be borrowed from the local public library as well. Oh, and did we mention it’s waterproof? The user interface is also streamlined and intuitive, making the Libra H2O, in our books, one of the best ereaders you can get without spending too much money.
The UE Megaboom 3 is for the dad who wants to enjoy his music both indoors and out. It’s an incredibly rugged Bluetooth speaker, with an IP67 waterproof rating to handle rain, accidental spills, and even a dip in the pool. While it’s portable, it’s also powerful enough to be a go-to home speaker, with a 360° design that pumps out loud room-filling sound. We favour the Megaboom 3 over the slightly smaller Boom 3 because it has better bass, louder volume and a longer 20-hour battery life for a reasonable price – but either will make a great present for dad.
If you're looking for a backpack that’s equal parts style and substance, you’ll want to take a closer look at Peak Design’s Everyday Backpack. Originally designed to comfortably and securely carry camera gear, these well-constructed backpacks can be customised to suit any purpose. These bags have a weather-proof shell, so whether it's for commuting to work with a laptop or camping out in the elements, everything will be protected. Expandable side pockets provide extra room if you need it too. The Everyday Backpack retails for AU$369 and is the brand’s leading bag, but if you’re hoping for something a bit cheaper, check out the more streamlined Everyday Backpack Zip for AU$270. And they're both available in a variety of great natural-looking colours.
(Image credit: Future)
Nanoleaf Canvas
To really make your dad’s eyes light up, consider gifting him the unique Nanoleaf Canvas. It’s a set of interactive smart light panels that can absolutely transform a space. The colour on these panels can be adjusted to suit the mood, from playful colours for entertaining to soothing ambient light. Those colours and scenes can be controlled through the app, but they’re also touch- and voice-sensitive, with a touch sending out a mesmerising ripple and colour change effect. While setting up the Nanoleaf Canvas might sound like a tricky task, it’s actually quite easy, and your dad can get creative with the design – the app will help if you need a hand.
At first glance, this is a rather unassuming power plug, but it’s a nifty device that can turn almost any appliance into a smart home gadget. You just need to insert the plug into an AC outlet, then connect it to your home Wi-Fi using the companion Kasa app. Once that’s sorted, simple home devices, like an electric kettle, can be controlled remotely. Even their power usage can be monitored through the app. That means you can switch off lamps without getting up, or set on and off schedules for your devices. If your dad accidentally leaves something on while he’s away, he’ll be able to switch it off with a tap on his smartphone from anywhere.
(Image credit: Audio Technica)
Audio Technica AT-LP60XUSB
If he loves his vinyl collection, get your dad an easy-to-use turntable this Father’s Day that won’t burn a hole in your wallet. This deck from Audio Technica is a fully automatic belt-drive turntable, and has a line output so it can be plugged directly into any amplifier. What’s more, this turntable can also convert vinyl records into digital audio files, in case your pop wants to take his music with him while on the go.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Oculus Quest
For the gamer dad, the Oculus Quest is a superb piece of kit. If he’s curious about virtual worlds, this VR headset will deliver it right out of the box, no expensive extra equipment required. The set comes with two handheld motion controllers, and it’s completely wireless, so you can really immerse yourself in virtual worlds without fear of tripping over a cable. There are a ton of games available – he can get his hands on a virtual lightsaber and face off against Darth Vader himself, or play puzzle-platform games if that’s more his speed.
If he’s been curious about a smart home setup but has been worried it might require some elaborate equipment, put your father’s mind at ease and get him the Nest Hub. This smart display is a nice introduction to Google Assistant (if you're not already using it on a smartphone), and it’s intelligent enough to answer almost any question you can throw at it. YouTube is also available, and now so is Netflix, Stan and Foxtel too. So not only can your dad listen to music or follow along to a recipe in the kitchen hands-free, he can even stream his favourite shows and movies while he’s pottering around with other things. There’s Google Photos integration as well, so when it’s not busy fielding queries, this device makes for an excellent digital photo frame.
For the forgetful person who always seems to be misplacing their valuables, a Bluetooth tracker could be just the thing they didn’t even know they needed. Tile make some of the best, and the Tile Mate is the most affordable. It looks like a keychain, and it can easily be attached it to your keys, lanyard or even laptop bag. So next time your dad asks “have you seen my…” he can use the companion app to find it again. The range of the Mate is 61 metres from a smartphone, and the tracker will ring out loudly when you’re near the lost item.
(Image credit: Sonos)
Sonos One
If you’re looking to get your dad a smart speaker, why not spoil him with one of the best. Not only is the Sonos One the best-sounding on the market, it has support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. That means you can request songs from Spotify, hear the news, set an alarm and get questions answered completely hands-free. The audio really is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition, and if you want to elevate it a step further, a second Sonos speaker can create a multi-room setup.
For the film buff who wants to watch movies and TV shows in picture perfect quality, the Apple TV 4K is a great gift. To match the brighter colours and richer detail, it also has support for Dolby Atmos sound to deliver a truly immersive experience. It supports the most popular streaming apps including Netflix, Stan and Apple TV Plus, as well as most Aussie TV catch-up apps. You can use the remote to search, or simply ask Siri to find what you’re looking for. We’d strongly recommend this one be paired with a 4K HDR-ready telly, and being an existing Apple user can be beneficial, though not essential.
GoPro’s flagship model is its best offering yet, and it’s ideal for the dad who wants to capture all his adventurous exploits in glorious 4K. It’s image stabilisation is second to none, so all the action from his (mis)adventures will look much better than he might be letting on. There’s unique time-lapse modes as well, and sound quality for video recording has improved over previous models. If you want to make your father feel like a video pro, this is a brilliant buy.
For anyone that craves a shot of caffeine in the morning, the Nespresso Vertuo Plus is convenient, easy to use and serves up great-tasting coffee in a variety of flavours. This is a great gift if you’re not interested in grinding your own coffee beans, and prefer the thought of just getting delicious coffee with two touches of a button. It’s a compact machine, so you won’t have to worry about it taking up too much valuable countertop space. It’s one of our favourite coffee machines here at TechRadar, so we wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it to any caffeine-loving dad.
The SodaStream is a nifty kitchen gadget that’ll turn your tap water into a refreshing sparkling drink. It’s an easy system to use as well, with a simple push being all that’s required to add some fizz to your beverage. You can add some flavouring as well to turn plain water into something a little more exciting. It’s all a rather compact system, and should be simple to store on the kitchen bench or in a cupboard. The carbon dioxide canister is refillable and there are plenty of places that’ll do so, including some major supermarkets and petrol stations.
When is Father's Day 2020?
Father’s Day in Australia and New Zealand is reserved for the first Sunday in September. This year, it’s on September 6, 2020. It’s a day to celebrate the men who look after us, or have helped us raise children of our own, whether that be our own fathers, stepfathers, guardians, caregivers or partners.
This year, Father’s Day is likely to look very different. Physical and social distancing are still strongly encouraged, and the traditional gatherings may not be able to go ahead.
Despite all this, we can still take time to make our dad’s feel special. That might mean getting them a gift they’ve long wanted, or a nice surprise with the latest gizmo or gadget. If you’re planning to shop online, we’ve laid out some excellent gift ideas right here – just make sure you order in time to have it delivered by September 6.
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The Samsung M series devices in the past couple of years have been one of the best mid-range to premium devices in the sub Rs 20,000 segment. The series has played an instrumental part in bringing Samsung’s overall numbers up and staying in the top 5 smartphone makers in India.
Soon, the company will be launching the Galaxy M51 in India. With this launch, Samsung will be moving a step ahead in the price ladder and we expect it to be slightly more specced and priced above the Galaxy M31 series.
The Samsung Galaxy M30 and M31 series are extremely popular in India and the company added a new device called the Galaxy M31s. The key highlight of the series is the massive battery and the AMOLED screen, which is a great combo for the masses. With the upcoming Galaxy M51 device, Samsung will try and replicate the same success they’ve enjoyed with the M30/M31 series but with a slightly more premium price.
Just ahead of the India launch, the device was announced in Germany and now, we have all the specs as per the German Samsung site.
Cut to the chase
What is it? A new mid-ranger by Samsung
When will it come? September
What price? Under Rs 30,000
Samsung Galaxy M51 expected price and launch date in India
(Image credit: Sudhanshu)
The device is in the news for a long time now. First, the device was expected to launch in the month of June and then, due to the production issues, the launch was pushed ahead and now, it looks like Samsung is finally ready to unveil the Galaxy M51 in India. We are expecting the launch of the device in September first half.
As far as the pricing is concerned, the device is expected to sit above the Galaxy M31s line-up, which means the price of the base variant of the Galaxy M51 might start around Rs 25,000 and go all the way up to Rs 30,000. Since the devices are most likely ‘made in India’, we can expect some aggressive pricing. With this price point, Samsung will take on the likes of OnePlus Nord, Realme X3 series, and Redmi K20 Pro.
In Germany, the device is available for pre-order at € 360 which is around Rs 31,400. The Samsung Galaxy M51 will be available on Amazon, just like the other M series devices. The teaser for the same is already live on Amazon.in.
Design and Display
The Samsung M series has followed the same design language over the years with a polycarbonate body and different colours including a couple of gradient finishes on the back. With the Galaxy M51, you get a similar design language. It comes with a glossy back and is available in two colour options Black and White.
The Samsung Galaxy M51 packs in a 6.67-inch display. It is a Super AMOLED screen with Infinity-O panel which means there is a centred punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. The refresh rate here is set at 60Hz, although we’d have liked to see a Samsung device with 90Hz in the mid-range segment.
According to previous reports, the device will have a resolution of 2,340 by 1,080 pixels. It is said to have a pixel density of 386ppi and 420 nits brightness, which is similar to the Galaxy M31s. Further, the device is said to come with 8.5mm thickness and weight of around 213 grams.
(Image credit: Samsung(Germany))
Performance
Performance is one thing that the M series always had issues with. Samsung was opting for its own Exynos SoC or going for under-powered/outdated chipsets from Qualcomm. They both resulted in a slow performance which affected the user experience.
In Germany, the Galaxy M51 is available in one configuration, 6GB of RAM with 128GB of internal with microSD card slot for additional storage. However, in addition to the variant, in India, we can expect the device to come with 8GB RAM. There is also the Samsung Knox security feature that's built-in to the handset.
There is still no clarity on the chipset of the Galaxy M51 even though the device is launched in Germany. The site only mentioned "Octa-core" and nothing more. The chipset inside still remains a mystery here. It could be Snapdragon 730/730G chipset or the in-house Exynos SoC.
The Galaxy M51 comes with a quad-camera set-up with a 64MP primary camera with f/1.8 aperture. The primary camera is followed by a 12MP wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture, a 5MP depth sensor and a 5MP macro lens. For selfies, the phone is said to feature a 32MP shooter. The camera specs are pretty much similar to the Galaxy M31s here.
It also comes with a bunch of shooting modes such as Live focus, background blur for selfies, and more.
Battery and charging
Battey capacity and battery life have always been a plus point for the M series. With the Galaxy M51, Samsung is taking that to the next level. The Galaxy M51 features a massive 7,000mAh battery. This is a jump for M series standard 6,000mAh capacity. On the charging front, the device comes with support for 25W fast charging technology via Type-C interface.
(Image credit: Amazon)
Everything else
Apart from the above-mentioned specs, the Galaxy M51 comes with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner along with face unlock feature. It runs on OneUI 2.0 based on Android 10.
Since the turn of the century, the vinyl, which most thought was a dead audio format, has seen a surprising resurgence. Tens of millions of copies have sold across both sides of the Atlantic, bucking the trend that saw physical, tangible objects being replaced by digital formats.
Like we did for the venerable tape cassette a few weeks ago, we let our minds wonder and had a think about what a 2020 vinyl upgrade might look like.
It turns out there was indeed an update to the LP, the 12-inch version of the vinyl medium, but it was used for video, not audio. The Laserdisc was all the rage in South East Asia in the 1980’s and 1990’s, where the ability to access any track on a disc within seconds made it a favourite in thousands of Karaoke bars before the internet era.
The technology used in the Laserdisc was improved over two decades to give rise first to the DVD and then to the Blu-ray.
The Laserdisc's official successor, the Archival Disc, was first announced in 2013. However, it is used primarily - as the name implies - for data archiving purposes (popular in cloud storage setups as cold storage).
A single disc can store 300GB, with triple layer Blu-ray discs reaching 200GB. The data is recorded on both sides for both media and the Archival Disc roadmap introduces 500GB and 1TB models in a near future.
They are stored in cases (known as magazines) to mitigate the risk of physical damage (scratches etc.), similar to floppy discs (or ZIP/Syquest).
Laserdisc updated to 2020
Even using the technology of a 200GB Blu-ray disc, a dual-sided 2020 version of the vinyl would be a formidable rival to other archival media. A Blu-Ray disc has a diameter of 4.7 inches, while a Laserdisc is 12 inches in diameter. Without accounting for the non-usable areas (near the edge and in the middle), the “laservinyl” offers a far larger real estate, by about 6x.
So here you have it, if someone (Panasonic, Sony, Verbatim or Hitachi) decided to take a punt and create a 2020 version of the Laserdisc, complete with a portable turntable/record players/mange disque, the media would have a capacity of about 1.2TB - and up to a staggering 6TB if they used the latest technology deployed on the Archival Disc.
That is still a far cry from the 100TB SSD(the world’s biggest solid state drive) or the forthcoming 20TB hard disk drive, but it is likely that the cost of production would be far cheaper.
A wardrobe-sized cabinet with 200 or so discs would be able to store 1.2PB of data. Plus, optical discs are a contactless media, impervious to magnetic fields and have a lifetime of about 100 years when stored safely.
Motorola’s latest G series device, the Moto G9 will go on sale in India today. The device was announced last week in India as India’s first smartphone with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chipset.
The Moto G9 will go on sale in India 12 noon on Flipkart. For the first sale, you can also avail Rs 500 instant discount if your purchase made through ICICI Bank or Yes Bank Credit Cards and Debit card EMI transactions.
The Moto G9 features a 6.5-inch HD+ Max vision IPS TFT display with 1600 x 720 Pixels resolution. It comes with a tall 20:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the device is powered by Snapdragon 662 SoC with Adreno 610 GPU. This is also India’s first phone to feature the same. Snapdragon 662 is an octa-core processor with a clock speed of 2GHz. The device comes in one variant only with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. You also get micro SD card support up to 512GB.
On the optics front, the Moto G9 features a triple camera stack at the rear with a 48MP primary sensor with f/1.7 aperture and quad pixel technology. This is followed by a 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro shooter with an f/2.4 aperture. The Moto G9 comes with an 8MP selfie camera which is placed in the dew-drop notch. Powering the internals is a 5,000mAh battery, the largest in the Moto G series. It is backed by a 20W fast charging and comes with a Type-C port.
The device runs on Android 10 with near-stock UI. The fingerprint scanner is located on the rear. Other features on the Moto G9 include water-repellent design, NFC, 3.5 mm headphone jack, quick gestures, Bluetooth 5, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Hybrid slot.
The OnePlus Nord will go up for pre-booking in India today. The device was launched as the OnePlus’s first mid-range device last week. There are also a couple of offers for those who pre-book the phone.
The Pre-booking will be up on Amazon starting today 12 noon and will go on till August 3. The OnePlus Nord will go on open sale starting August 4 on Amazon. If you pre-book today and pay the full amount, your Nord order will be dispatched starting August 4.
If you pre-book the device today, you will be eligible for Rs 2,000 off on purchase of OnePlus Nord. EMI offers will include upto 6 months of no-cost EMI on purchase of the OnePlus Nord. Jio is offering Rs 6,000 worth of benefits across the platform. And, lastly, OnePlus Red Cable Club will give you an additional six-month extended warranty and assured buyback rates, 50GB worth of free OnePlus Cloud storage and other exclusive benefits.
OnePlus also said that the open sale will be available on a first-come, first-served basis depending on the stocks. Hence, pre-booking is advised.
For those who pre-ordered the OnePlus Nord by paying Rs 499 on July 15, Amazon will send a coupon code along with the Gift Box web-link (oneplus.in website) within 30 days of the smartphone purchase. You can redeem the Pre-order Gift Box in the web-link provided by Amazon without additional cost. If you return the phone, you would not be able to redeem the 2nd pre-order box.
The offline pre-booking is now open and will be available till August 3 at OnePlus Stores, Reliance Digital stores and other selected partner stores across India. You can pay Rs 1,000 and pre-book the OnePlus Nord. The orders can be collected during pre-booking sale on August 4 and 5.
Starting August 4, the OnePlus Nord will be up on open sale on Amazon.in. The 8+128GB Blue and Gray variant will be on sale. The 12+256GB Gray variant will also go on sale on the same day. However, the 12+256GB Blue Marble variant will be a part of Amazon Prime Day 2020 launch and will go on sale from August 6. And, lastly the base variant 6+64GB will be available later in the month of September.
OnePlus Nord price
OnePlus Nord
Price
6+64GB
Rs 24,999
8+128GB
Rs 27,999
12+256GB
Rs 29,999
(Image credit: Srivatsa Ramesh)
OnePlus Nord quick specs
6.44-inch Full HD+ Fluid AMOLED screen
90Hz refresh rate
Octa-core 2.4GHz Snapdragon 765G processor
6/8/12GB RAM
64/128/256GB internal storage
48MP + 8MP + 5MP + 2MP rear cameras
32MP + 8MP selfoe cameras
4,115mAh battery, 30W Warp charging
Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5
Thickness: 8.2mm
Weight: 184 grams
OnePlus Y1 32-inch smart TV will also on sale via Amazon at 12 noon today. It is priced at Rs 12,999.
