Life & Technology – 2GB 8th November, 2015

Want a lot of data for an affordable price? Amaysim now has an AUD$49.90 per month plan with 8GB of data, unlimited talk and text, unlimited international text to 32 countries, and 300 minutes of international calling to those same 32 countries. You’re not getting any adds in like Netflix, Spotify or Stan, but if you’re just after a vanilla 4G plan, Amaysim’s new option is one of the best value options we’ve seen. Read more about it here.

 

It's time for Microsoft fans to get excited! The Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book are coming to Australia on November 12. The Surface Pro 4 improves on the Surface Pro 3 in almost every way (and features a way better trackpad) while the Surface Book is Microsoft's first true laptop and looks pretty impressive. Click here for more on the Surface Pro 4, and here for more on the Surface Book.

 

On a Microsoft related note, it’s now easier than ever to upgrade to Windows 10 if you’ve got a copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 While you previously had to reserve a copy and wait an unspecified amount of time, you’re now able to download and install it straight away using the same option.

 

If you’re still waiting, Microsoft will be adding Windows 10 to “Optional Updates” under Windows Update shortly, and when the new year hits, it will be listed as “Recommended”

 

The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P are now both available in Australia! The LG-made Nexus 5X is a 5.2-inch device, whereas the Huawei-made Nexus 6P is the first all-metal Nexus phone and comes in at 5.7-inches.

 

Both phones are designed to show off new features in Android Marshmallow, such as advanced power saving, native fingerprint reader support, and Now on Tap, a context aware version of Google Now.

 

Harvey Norman will sell the Nexus 5X in 16GB and 32GB in black only. It will sell the 64GB Nexus 6P in aluminum. The 16GB Nexus 5X will retail for AUD$659, while the 32GB model will be priced at AUD$739. The 64GB Nexus 6P will be priced at AUD$999.

 

I also spoke to Harvey Norman's National Business Manager for Technology and Entertainment Glen Gregory about one of the latest tech crazes: "hoverboards". Rather than Back to the Future style skateboards-with-out-wheels, these new devices are best referred to as self-balancing scooters – kind of like a segway without the handle. Harvey Norman will be selling at least one, Kaiser Baas' Revo Glider.

 

Samsung’s just unveiled a pretty interesting new product: the Galaxy View. While the Galaxy View is technically an Android powered tablet, at 18.4-inches in size, it’s more of a portable TV. It even has an integrated kickstand and handle. Weighing in at 2.65kg, the almost A3-sized device probably isn’t something you’d put in a backpack or take out of home very often, but it’s easy to move from room to room.