Good Phones, Now Cheaper 

Still on Smart Phones, I mentioned on the show today that a very good phone is currently on sale for 50% off. Its the Motorola Edge 50 Pro. It was $1000, now its under $500 which I think is a little nuts, but that’s an opportunity for you, if you need a good new phone. Here is the buy page and here is our review of the handset. 

Guests and Topics on the Show

Mike Boyd joined us this week and discussed how Apple is transforming accessibility with the AirPods Pro 2. He highlighted the latest hearing test and hearing aid features.  He explained how users with an iPhone and a pair of AirPods Pro 2 can perform a five-minute tone test by tapping their screen when they hear a sound. Boyd noted that while this feature offers a convenient and discreet option for those in their 40s and 50s who may feel self-conscious about traditional hearing aids, it’s not a substitute for a full audiology exam.

He also highlighted how Apple’s hearing aid functionality combines Active Noise Cancelling with the retransmission of surrounding sounds, providing subtle amplification for clearer hearing. 

Mike pointed out that this feature is currently only available to users aged 18+—likely due to FDA regulations—and requires iOS 18.1 or higher. With a retail price of $400, the AirPods Pro 2 offer a more affordable and accessible alternative, potentially making the audiology sector more competitive.

Rutland Smith, proprietor from Harvey Norman Technology for Business, shared insights on why cybersecurity is now a top priority for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). He explained how rising threats, including data breaches and ransomware attacks, are putting SMBs at greater risk.

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ASUS Zenbook UX3407 A14 OLED – Windows Copilot + Snapdragon ASUS Zenbook UX3407 A14 OLED is part of its new Qualcomm Snapdragon X range for Windows Copilot+ PC. It promises long battery life and AI power. It comes with the Snapdragon X Plus in the UX3407QA and X Elite in the UX3407RA models. This is not ASUS’s first entrant – its VIVOBOOK S55O7Q was released in July last year, and it also has Intel Core and AMD Ryzen AI Copilot+ PCs. I am sitting here pondering how to review this device. Yes, it is hardware, so there will be some ‘speeds and feeds’, but how do I do justice to the Copilot part? So, tolerate me as we explore more of the hardware side.  Read Review

Guests and Topics on the Show

Bianca Bai discussed Roborock’s plans for 2025, highlighting the latest innovations in smart home cleaning. She covered advancements in navigation, self-maintenance features, and how Roborock’s new lineup aimed to make cleaning smarter and more efficient.  What is a Saros? I’m glad you asked because Saros means 6,585.321 days (18.04 years) between the eclipse of the Sun and Moon. We don’t think Roborock meant anything by the name. No, Potter fans, don’t be tempted to call it Sauron (although it looks foreboding). The Saros Series replaces the prestigious S8 Max Ultra and sits above the Qrevo series. The Saros Z70 has a 5-axis robotic arm that can pick up obstacles. It is not the lower-cost Saros 10R, which has dual rotating mops, StarSight navigation, and a less functional dock.

Hisense discusses ‘non traditional’ TVs 

We also spoke with Christopher Mayer who explained the differences between Projector TVs and Canvas TVs. He outlined the key benefits of each and shared insights on which option delivered the best cinematic experience for home entertainment.

The Hisense Canvas S7NAU is a 4K QLED TV with a Hi-Matte display and free art mode for over 1000 diverse art pieces. You can also use your photos to bring memories alive. Oh, and it has a faux wood picture frame as well.

As far as a big black 55 or 65” black glass slab goes, it is like the rest. But add the faux Teak, Walnut or White frame, wall mount it with the ultra slim wall mount (inbox), and you have a TV with a difference.

Technically, the Hisense Canvas S7NAU is very similar to the Samsung Frame, which is also edge-lit, has a VA panel, Quantum Dot, an anti-glare LCD, and is about 50 nits brighter. Samsung is also dearer, but savvy shoppers will find bargains. And you must buy Samsung Art masterpieces – Hisense has over 1000 for free.

It has desktop feet offering a scant 60mm height (no adjustment), so few soundbars will fit. There is some cable management for flush wall mount, but the cables exit the bottom middle of the TV.

The Frame is 25mm clip-on alloy with a wood grain or white finish. You can also paint the frame to suit your decor.

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Life and Technology – Saturday March 22 2025

Air Travel and Power Banks – Rules Enforced By Even More Airlines Traveling with tech? Some airlines are changing how they manage your your Powerbank rules and if you dont follow them, they wont let your battery on the plane. Check our summary of the latest rule updates here.   Best TVs for watching sports (AV guide 2025)  The best TVs for watching sports are not necessarily the best TVs for HDR movies and free-to-air/digital TV. We help you get the one for sport!Conversely, the best TVs for watching movies are also great for sports, with one important difference. Most sports are not transmitted in 4K HDR (High Dynamic Range), so HDR10/10+/Dolby Vision is not a prerequisite.  What is sport, and why is it different to normal TV?  When you think of sport, most immediately think of the footy (all codes). Some think cricket or golf. Add hockey, basketball, baseball, equestrian, rowing, sailing, and swimming. Let’s not forget motorsport and horse racing. There is a whole menagerie – no wonder Kayo is booming. There is one key difference from movies and TV, where you passively enjoy the content. In sports, you are an active spectator, and the aim is to draw you into the game—to impart some of the atmosphere, excitement, elation, and disappointment to feed your inner sportsperson. In short, broadcast sport is about making you part of the crowd, as if you were there. Advertisers know that, too, and pay a premium to reach you with carefully crafted, psychologically appropriate messages. Have you ever felt like a Tooheys or two or smacked down a VB while demolishing Smith’s crisps?  CONTINUE READING  EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus 600W/286Wh portable power bank – handy to have around (off-grid)   The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus 600W/286Wh portable power bank for light use in a blackout, camping or portable 240V power.  Let’s position the EcoFlow RIVER 3 PlusIt is one of many EcoFlow power banks, and you must buy the one that works for you.This is a DC ‘battery’ bank with a 600-watt load (can momentarily surge to 1200W) and 286-watt hours (fuel in the tank). It has an inverter that converts DC to 240VAC power and AC to DC when charging. So, let’s use a 100W AC para flood as an example. In theory, it should provide 2.8 hours of power. But in practice, you have: – DC-AC inverter loss/efficiency is not stated, but expect between 85% and 90% for a quality inverter. – EcoFlow recommends setting the Depth of Discharge (DoD) to 80% of usable fuel (90% charge and 10% discharge limits). It uses LFP batteries, which can handle 100% charge and 0% empty, but battery cycle life suffers slightly in the longer term. – Unit energy use is not stated but expected between 10—20Wh.In our tests, we got 2.4 hours of 240VAC at 108W or 226.8W or 79% efficiency – very good. Of course, the inverter efficiency loss is negligible if you have a DC-only load.Summary: Most power banks have about 70% usable AC capacity—any more is a bonus.  READ MORE..

Guests and Topics on the Show We sat down with Bradley Howe, Head of Consumer at ASUS Australia, to discuss the Zenbook A14—a sleek and powerful laptop designed for modern users. He shared insights on what makes the Zenbook A14 stand out, including its performance, design, and key features that cater to professionals and students alike. ASUS Zenbook A14 UX3407 OLED – Windows Copilot + Snapdragon (first look) The ASUS Zenbook A14 UX3407 OLED is part of its Qualcomm Snapdragon X range for Windows Copilot+ PC.It comes with the Snapdragon X Plus in the UX307QA and X Elite in the UX3407RA models. It is not ASUS’s first entrant. The VIVOBOOK S55O7Q was released in July last year, and it also has new Intel Core and AMD Ryzen AI Copilot+ PCs.  What is Copilot+ PC? Importantly, it is not Copilot, a generative AI chatbot. It is a new PC (or laptop) breed designed explicitly for AI efficiency, including running Copilot and AI apps.At its most basic level, it is Windows running on a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon ARM processor with a Neural processor Unit (NPU). Together with the CPU and GPU, it is capable of AI processing at up to 45 TOPS (trillion operations per second). It must have at least 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.   READ MORE.

We also spoke with Gavin Williams, Chief Development Officer for Regional and Remote Australia at NBN Co, about a major breakthrough in connectivity. NBN and Ericsson recently achieved gigabit speeds in long-range fixed wireless trials, paving the way for faster and more reliable internet access in rural and remote areas. Gavin explained what this means for Australians outside major cities and how it could transform regional digital access.

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Life and Technology – Saturday March 15 2025