Martin Kovacs

“Users who are looking to capture more content in real time while on the move can find it challenging to manage that content, especially in an iOS device,” Micron Consumer Products Group marketing manager APAC Mathew Luu commented.

“Shooters can now take advantage of the large screens and connectivity of their iOS devices by editing and uploading content captured on their action sports and aerial cameras wirelessly.

“Users no longer need to wait until they’re back in front of their main computer at home or in the office to upload content captured on-the-go.”

Users can offload files and store more on the card, with the microSD Reader also providing for users to move files from Android or other microSD-based devices to an iPhone or iPad, and swap content between iOS devices.

The DHP-701AV kit features two PowerLine AV2 2000 gigabit adapters, with D-Link stating it leverages the latest in AV2 multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology and up to 2000 Mbps connectivity, “allowing users to transfer larger files with ease and enjoy uninterrupted HD media streaming and online gaming”.

The updated DHP-601AV kit includes two DHP-600AV PowerLine AV2 1000 gigabit adapters, creating a HomePlug network with speeds of up to 1000 Mbps.

“Our latest PowerLine solutions underscore the growing needs of connected homes – an ever-expanding list of bandwidth-intensive applications,” D-Link ANZ managing director Graeme Reardon commented.

“Whether gaming online, streaming HD media or extending your home network, the new PowerLine Starter Kits transform any room’s existing electrical wiring to seamlessly connect everything together, providing the highest quality streaming and fastest throughput speeds available. They are the perfect complement to an existing home network.”

The DHP-601AV is priced at $149.95 and the DHP-701AV $199.95.

The Professional 2000x SDXC UHS-II additionally includes an SD UHS-II reader for high-speed file transfer of photos and videos from the card to any PC or Mac system.

“Demand for cinematography-grade video and images requires the ability to shoot, store and transfer more content than ever on a single card, and the 128 GB Lexar Professional 2000x SDXC empowers professionals to meet those demands.”

The models deliver up to 8,000 lumens of colour brightness and 8,000 lumens of white brightness, with the series also featuring “the world’s first zero-offset ultra-short-throw lens with 0.35 throw ratio, making them ideal for space-constrained venues and digital signage applications”.

“The new G7000-Series raises the bar with higher brightness, 4K Enhancement resolution, new motorised lenses, and advanced technology to captivate any audience,” Epson Australia general manager, business division, Craig Heckenberg commented.

“They also underscore our commitment of delivering a broad portfolio for any company who requires a high-quality projection solution for their meetings.”

Epson states that additional features include nine optional interchangeable lenses, with increased installation flexibility allowing users to choose the motorised lens most suited for their environment.

A variety of ranges include an ultra short-throw, two short-throw, one wide-throw, four middle-throw and one long-throw, while a quick-release lever provides for fast, easy lens exchange.

Versatile connectivity sees a full range of inputs, including HDBaseT, HDMI, DVI-D, VGA and 5-BNC, while, decked out with Epson’s latest generation of inorganic LCD panels and optimised cooling systems, the G-Series projectors are capable of 24/7 use, warranted up to 15,000 hours.

Emulation of the control codes of other industry-leading projector brands, meanwhile, provides “for easy upgrade to Epson projectors without the need to reprogram existing control systems”.

Built-in edge blending, image warping and curved-surface correction technologies provide for a variety of applications, while the split-screen function allows two different sources to be projected side-by-side, and free Epson Moderator software allows up to 50 Windows, Mac, iOS or Android devices to be connected over the network, with up to four of them displayed on the screen simultaneously.

Epson states that full 360-degree installation flexibility, including portrait mode, allows for a wide range of applications, including simulators, mapping, digital signage and command centres.

Each projector comes with a three-year limited warranty and a one-year or 750-hour (whichever comes first) lamp warranty, while G-Series replacement lamps are priced at $271.

The G7000-Series models are priced at:

– Epson G7905UNL – $6,499
– Epson G7500UNL – $5,699
– Epson G7400UNL – $5,099
– Epson G7200WNL – $5,499
– Epson G7000WNL – $4,499
– Epson G7800NL – $4,499

Consumers will be able to record up to 12 hours of 4K UHD video or 33 hours of full-HD video without needing to change or replace the memory card, or record up to 46 hours of HD video, store up to 23,500 MP3 files/songs or store up to 55,200 photos.

Samsung’s V-NAND tech offers read and write speeds of up to 95 MB/s and 90 MB/s, respectively, with Samsung stating the EVO Plus 256 GB provides “general consumers and professionals with superb user convenience for storing heavy-loaded, high-resolution photography and 4K video recording, as well as graphic intensive multimedia like virtual reality (VR) and gaming”.

“With the upward trend of consumers using high-performance, high-capacity mobile devices, our new V-NAND-based 256 GB microSD card solution allows us to deliver the memory card consumers have been craving,” Un-Soo Kim, Samsung Electronics senior vice president of brand product marketing, memory business, commented.

“Our EVO Plus 256 GB microSD card will provide consumers with large capacity, and high read and write speeds. We are excited to offer our customers convenient and seamless multimedia experiences when they access, store and share all of the content they create and capture.”

The iPhone 7, which under the current Apple cycle would incorporate a major upgrade, will launch in September this year, if Apple sticks to the timeline of its most recent iPhone launches.

The Nikkei, however, has reported that the changes on this year’s model will be minor.

The Nikkei reported that the move is largely due to there being little room left for major enhancements to smartphone functions, with a slowing market being another factor.

According to Gartner, global smartphone sales posted a 3.9 per cent rise year-on-year in the 2016 first quarter, while Apple registered its first year-on-year double-digit decline.

“In a slowing smartphone market where large vendors are experiencing growth saturation, emerging brands are disrupting existing brands’ long-standing business models to increase their share,” Anshul Gupta, Gartner research director, commented upon release of the figures.

“With such changing smartphone market dynamics, Chinese brands are emerging as the new top global brands.”

The upcoming iPhone will look almost identical to the current iPhone 6, the Nikkei reported, with the camera, water resistance and battery capacity likely be improved and the headphone jack removed, while a high-end version will be equipped with better-quality photo capabilities via correction functions.

Before users travel overseas, they connect the Strone Roam, which is about the size of a soft drink can, to an Ethernet connection at their home or office, taking their SIM card from their mobile phone and inserting it into the device. Connected to the internet, the Strone Roam then pairs with the app on the user’s smartphone or tablet.

Strone also provides users with an international data SIM to use when outside of a Wi-Fi area, with data available for pre-purchase.

“Fear of exorbitant international roaming charges is a major issue for travellers and nobody has been able to provide a full solution to avoid the cost and inconvenience, no matter which carrier or which country you travel to,” Tas Tudor, Strone CEO and director, commented.

“It is time to put the fear of roaming behind us. We are encouraging everyone that wants hassle-free, affordable global communication to go to Indiegogo and order their Strone Roam now.

Further information can be found here.

SamMobile has reported that the Note 6 will feature a USB Type-C port, with it yet to be determined if it will be USB 3.1 or an older standard.

SamMobile additionally notes that this could also mean a new Gear VR headset with a USB Type-C connector.

Samsung last year launched its Galaxy Note 5 in August alongside the Galaxy S6 edge+, meaning that, if Samsung follows a similar timeline this year, the Note 6 is still three months away.

Gartner recently forecast that, for the first time, global smartphone sales are set to post single-digit yearly growth in 2016, and the battle for premium smartphone market share between the likes of Samsung and Apple will be a point of interest in the remainder of the year.

According to recent International Data Corporation (IDC) figures, 334.9 million smartphones were shipped worldwide in the 2016 first quarter, up from 334.3 million units year-on-year, marking the smallest year-on-year growth on record.