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Martin Kovacs

Galaxy Note 6 To Be Equipped With USB Type-C?

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Rumours have been circulating about Samsung’s Galaxy Note 6 in recent weeks, with anticipation already building in the lead-up to Samsung’s next flagship smartphone.Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and S7 edge launched in March, with Samsung highlighting their “strong global performance” in its latest quarterly results, and the tech giant will be looking to generate further momentum in the premium smartphone category with the Note 6.

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.

With Samsung remaining the worldwide smartphone market leader, despite a year-on-year shipments decline of 0.6 per cent, the IDC noted that the S7 and S7 edge “sold vigorously in the month of March”.

Best Of The Best? Galaxy Note7 Display Draws High Praise

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Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 display has drawn high praise from DisplayMate, which has labelled it the “best performing smartphone display” it has ever tested.Samsung unveiled the Note7 earlier this month, with it sporting a 5.7″ quad-HD dual-edge Super AMOLED 2560 x 1440 (518 ppi) display.

DisplayMate put the Note7 through its paces, noting that “Samsung has been systematically improving OLED display performance with every Galaxy generation since 2010”.

“The Galaxy Note7 provides many major and important state-of-the-art display enhancements, with mobile OLED display technology now advancing faster than ever,” DisplayMate states.

“The Galaxy Note7 is the most innovative and high-performance smartphone display that we have ever tested. It leapfrogs the displays on the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S7 to become the best performing smartphone display ever.”

DisplayMate found that the Note7 broke or equalled display performance records across a number of categories, including:

– Widest colour gamuts for current content (DCI-P3 for digital cinema and Adobe RGB for digital photos)
– Highest peak brightness (1,048 nits)
– Highest contrast rating in ambient light (228)
– Highest screen resolution (2560 x 1440)
– Highest (infinite) contrast ratio
– Lowest screen reflectance (4.6 per cent)
– Smallest brightness variation with viewing angle (21 per cent)

DisplayMate notes that, compared to the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S7, “almost every display lab test and measurement shows some improvements”.

The Note7 is set to launch in Australia on August 19.

Netgear Brings Three New Smart Switches To Oz Market

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Netgear has brought three new smart switches to the Australian market, with the ProSAFE 10-Gigabit Ethernet switches addressing bandwidth bottlenecks created by IoT, video streaming and cloud services.Netgear states that the switches “are purposely designed to provide small-and-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and other growing organisations with cost-effective 10GBASE-T connectivity, IPv6 management, and other advanced Layer 2+/Layer 3 Lite features”.

The switches comprise the:

– Netgear ProSAFE 48-Port 10-Gigabit Ethernet Smart Managed Switch (XS748T): including 44 copper 10GBASE-T ports and four additional dedicated 1GbE/10GbE SFP+ ports for 10G fibre links.
– Netgear ProSAFE 16-Port 10-Gigabit Ethernet Smart Managed Switch (XS716T): including 16 copper ports of 10-Gigabit connectivity, two of which are shared/combination copper/SFP+ fibre ports for 10G fibre links.
– Netgear ProSAFE 8-Port 10-Gigabit Ethernet Smart Managed Switch (XS708T): including eight copper ports of 10-Gigabit connectivity, two of which are shared/combination copper/SFP+ fibre ports for 10G fibre links.

Netgear states that some of the main features of its ProSAFE 10GbE smart managed switches include:

– Advanced VLAN features, such as protocol-based VLAN, MAC-based (media access control) VLAN and 802.1x Guest VLAN
– Advanced QoS (quality of service) with L2/L3/L4 awareness and eight priority queues including Q-in-Q
– Static routing (IPv4 and IPv6)
– Private VLAN
– Dynamic VLAN assignment
– IGMP and MLD snooping
– Advanced security
– IPv6 for management, QoS and ACL
– Easy-to-use web browser-based management GUI
– Green Ethernet features for energy efficiency

The ProSAFE XS708T is priced at $1,559, the ProSAFE XS716T $2,989 and the ProSAFE XS748T $9,329.

Further information can be found here.

No More Cartridges: Epson Introduces EcoTank Printers

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Epson states that its new EcoTank printer range comes with up to two years of ink included, with the range comprising the Expression ET-2500, Expression ET-2550 and WorkForce ET-4500 aimed at the home user, and the WorkForce ET-4550 for the home office user.Epson has done away with cartridges for the EcoTank range, which instead employ “integrated high-capacity ink tanks”, with ink supplied to the printer via ink bottles. As Epson states “no cartridges to change, ever”.

When the tanks run low, the user tops up the tanks, with the bottles priced at $16.99 each, except the large black ink bottle for the ET-4550, which costs $24.99.

Epson states the replacement bottles, which have a drip-free nozzle and resealable cap for easy storage, hold enough ink to print 4,000 pages in black and 6,500 pages in colour (ET-2500, ET-2550, ET-4500) and 6,000 pages in black and 6,500 pages in colour (ET-4550).

The entry-level ET-2500 allows users to print wirelessly via Android or iOS smartphones and tablets via

Epson’s free iPrint app, and comes with multifunctional print, scan, copy and Wi-Fi options.

The ET-2550 offers the same functionality, and also comes with a 1.44″ colour LCD screen, Wi-Fi Direct for router-free printing, and Epson Connect, enabling printing from iPad, iPhone, tablets and smartphones using Google Cloud Print via Gmail or a Google Drive account. Users can also print from a Chromebook and Google Chrome without installing drivers.

The ET-2550 also uses Apple AirPrint for printing straight from any iPad or iPhone, and its wireless connectivity allows users to share the printer with multiple computers and mobile devices (up to four devices at once).

The ET-4500, which is equipped with a 2.2″ mono LCD screen, provides the same functionality as the ET 2500 and ET-2550, while its 30-page automatic document feeder is designed to easily copy, scan and fax, with Epson Connect supporting Android, iPad and iPhone, Chromebook, Kindle Fire, Mac and Windows devices.

The top level WorkForce ET-4550, comes with all the key features of the ET-2500, ET-2550 and ET-4500, and is powered by Epson’s PrecisionCore inkjet technology.

Epson states that the ET-4550 come with up to two years of included ink, which in this model constitutes up to 11,000 pages in black and 8,500 pages in colour. As well as Epson Connect and Wi-Fi Direct, the ET-4550 features auto two-sided printing, a 30-page auto document feeder, a 2.2″ mono LCD screen, and 150-sheet paper capacity.

“EcoTank printers and printing are all about convenience and practicality,” Bruce Bealby, Epson Australia

general manager sales & marketing – consumer division, commented. “The ET-2500, ET-2550 and ET-4500 are ideal for those households with basic printing requirements that don’t want to continually order ink on a regular basis.

“The technology is proven and has been highly successful in other markets and now its Australia’s turn. These EcoTank models are ideal for all your day-to-day printing needs, such as recipes, homework, emails and photos, and with two years’ worth of ink included, users know exactly where they stand from a cost point of view.”

The ET-2550 ($499 RRP) and ET-4550 ($699 RRP) are available now at Harvey Norman, with the ET-2500 ($449 RRP) and ET-4500 ($599 RRP) available now at JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys and Bing Lee.

LG 4K UHD TVs Recommended By Netflix Available In Oz

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With Netflix having made its Netflix Recommended TV program global this year, LG has noted that the recommendation has been made by Netflix for a TV brand in Australia for the very first time.LG has achieved the Netflix Recommended TV designation for 2016 models.

The LG smart TVs with webOS 3.0 that made the list include the: LG 4K UHD OLED G6 series, LG Super UHD 4K TVs – UH950T and UH850T series, and LG 4K UHD TVs – UH656T, UH635T and UH652T series.

Netflix has stated that the program, introduced in the US last year, was created because its members told it “they wanted smart TVs to be easier to use, provide simpler access to the things they do most, and perform better overall”.

Netflix introduced new criteria in 2016, establishing faster performance thresholds for existing criteria.

LG notes that certification is based on three criteria:

– Features: TV instant on, TV resume, latest Netflix version

– Performance: Fast app launch, fast app resume

– Ease of access: Netflix button, easy Netflix icon access

Further information on the criteria can be found here.

“LG has continued to lead the way in making streaming services, including Netflix, easier and faster to use,” Scott Mirer, Netflix vice president, Device Partner Ecosystem, commented.

“We are pleased to designate the latest LG 4K UHD TVs with webOS 3.0 as Netflix Recommended TVs, offering a superior experience for Netflix members all over the world.”

Further information on LG’s 2016 TV range can be found here.

Lexar 200 GB microSDXC UHS-I Card Launches In Aussie Market

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Lexar’s new 200 GB Lexar High-Performance microSDXC UHS-I memory card, designed for sports camcorders, tablets and smartphones, has landed in the Australian market.With read transfer speeds of up to 95 MB per second (633x), Lexar states that the card can capture up to 17 hours of 4K and full-HD video, 33,000 photos or 28,000 songs.

The card comes with a USB 3.0 reader, allowing for high-speed file transfer to a PC or Mac, and is also backwards compatible with USB 2.0 ports.

The reader comes with a one-year limited warranty, with the card coming with a limited lifetime warranty and including a lifetime copy of Image Rescue software.

“Professional and everyday photographers are now more passionate about shooting high-quality video, on everything from digital SLRs to sports and aerial cameras,” Mathew Luu, Micron Consumer Products Group marketing manager APAC (Lexar is a brand of Micron), commented.

“With the Lexar 200 GB microSDXC UHS-I card, photographers can continue to capture and store large amounts of content on the go, without having to worry about running out of space.”

Available from Kogan and RamCity along with other retailers, the card has a recommended price of $194.95.

D-Link Launches 180-Degree Full HD Ultra-Wide View Wi-Fi Camera

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D-Link ANZ has launched its Full HD Ultra-Wide View Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-2630L), stating that the Wide Eye camera, its first 180-degree Wi-Fi camera, delivers the widest angle lens available on a consumer fixed camera.Among the DCS-2630L’s features, it is decked out with HD video quality, two-way audio, sound and motion detection, a microSD card slot for local recording, and automatic day/night viewing, with D-Link stating it is “an ideal start to a DIY security solution for any home or small business”.

Providing wall-to-wall surveillance coverage, D-Link states the DCS-2630L is suited for large rooms and areas with multiple entry points. Employing de-warping technology, the 180-degree Wide Eye lens is able to take a fisheye view, transforming it into a more viewable video stream with less distortion.

Built-in night vision provides up to five metres of viewing in total darkness, while with two-way audio, users can respond to what they see and hear.

“Our new 180-degree Wide Eye camera provides customers with the ability to see an entire room from a single camera, all in glorious full-HD,” D-Link ANZ managing director Graeme Reardon commented.

“The fact that a single camera can now provide full wall-to-wall coverage is a huge benefit to consumers and small businesses, as many other competing solutions may require several cameras to see all the details within a room.”

When combined with the mydlink Camera Video Recorder (DNR-202L), users can simultaneously stream, record and playback up to four D-Link Wi-Fi cameras, with the recorder recording footage locally to an attached USB hard drive.

The mydlink Lite app allows the DCS-2630L to be accessed and managed from iOS, Android and Windows Phone devices.

DCS-2630L features:

– 180-degree field of view – widest angle lens on a fixed consumer camera.
– Full-HD 1080p video – rich detail and crisp image quality for monitoring.
– De-warping technology – maximises video quality with less distortion.
– 802.11ac wireless – latest Wi-Fi technology for better bandwidth and improved range.
– Sound and motion detection – push alerts notify users of detected motion or loud noise.
– Two-way audio – built-in microphone and speaker for two-way communication.
– Local recording – microSD/SDXC card slot for local recording based on event triggers.
– Night vision – see up to five metres in complete darkness with built-in IR LEDs.

The DCS-2630L is available now, priced at $499.95, via D-Link’s website and at D-Link resellers.

IDC: Tablet Market To Face Down Years Until Slight Rebound In 2018

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Worldwide tablet shipments are expected to decline 9.6 per cent year-on-year in 2016, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC), and won’t return to growth until 2018.The IDC expects detachable tablet growth to drive a slight rebound in the tablet market in 2018 and beyond.

While the detachable category currently only accounts for 16 per cent of the market, the IDC expects it to reach 31 per cent in 2020.

The IDC notes that the life cycles of tablets “have proven to be more like PCs a few years back, which is likely to be somewhere around four years”, with manufacturers large and small slowly shifting focus towards detachables.

The move to detachables has quickly resulted in increased product offerings and lower average selling prices, along with broadened consumer awareness of the category.

“Many traditional PC manufacturers have assumed the detachable category to be a natural extension of the PC market and perhaps assumed it would rightfully be theirs to capture,” the IDC notes.

They now “find themselves in head-to-head competition with a slew of new manufacturers” having created their market off smartphone and slate tablet growth.

“This brings new channel dynamics and lower prices to a brand new category with an abundance of upside,” the IDC states.

Jean Philippe Bouchard, IDC tablets research director, noted that the detachable segment “is also considered by some manufacturers, like Apple, as a way to spur replacement cycles of the existing slate tablet installed base”.

“One reason why the slate tablet market is experiencing a decline is because end-users don’t have a good enough reason to replace them, and that’s why productivity-centric devices like detachable tablets are considered replacement devices for high-end larger slate tablets,” Bouchard commented.

The IDC expects that well over 100 million slates will ship annually through to 2020, with the main driver being the low cost associated with smaller-screen slate devices, with the IDC expecting average selling prices for slate tablets with screen sizes less than 9″ to decline from US$183 in 2015 to US$157 in 2020.

“It wasn’t long ago the industry talked about one PC per person and to some extent that theory has vanished,” Ryan Reith, IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Device Trackers program vice president, commented. “I’d rather look at it and say the PC we were referencing six to eight years ago has changed, drastically.

“In many emerging markets the only computing device for many will be a mobile device, whether that is a small-screen tablet, smartphone, or both. This is the main reason why, despite all the hype that the detachable category receives, we believe cheaper slate tablets fill an important void.”

In the detachable tablet operating system market, the IDC forecasts that Windows will command a 49 per cent worldwide market share this year, rising to 51 per cent in 2020, with Android to capture a 12 per cent share in 2016, rising to 20 per cent in 2020, and iOS to capture a 38 per cent share this year, dropping to 29 per cent in 2020.

In the slate tablet operating system market, the IDC forecasts that this year Android will command a 75 per cent worldwide market share, with its market share to remain the same at 75 per cent in 2020, iOS to capture a 22 per cent share this year, dropping to 21 per cent in 2020, and Windows to capture a 3 per cent share this year, rising to 4 per cent in 2020.

New Apple Macs To Be Launched Next Week?

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It could be that Apple is getting ready for the launch of new Macs next week, following on from last month’s iPhone and Apple Watch launches, with speculation building as to what might be in store.Recode has reported sources as confirming that Apple is planning to introduce new Macs at an event on October 27.

It has also been reported by Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, that Apple is currently planning to announce Mac updates at an October 27 event.

The new reports come as MacBook speculation has been steadily building ahead of the expected event.

Bloomberg has reported people familiar with the matter as stating that Apple has been developing multiple Mac-related products, with there to be an update to the MacBook Pro, including a thinner case, larger trackpad, faster graphics cards and a secondary display at the top of the keyboard, with virtual keys changing based on the application being used.

Bloomberg additionally reported that a new iMac version has been in development, with the option for new AMD graphics chips, along with a new MacBook Air version with USB-C port technology.

Apple had last month released its macOS Sierra desktop operating system, available as a free update, bringing its Siri personal assistant to the Mac.

D-Link’s New Wireless Range Extender Is In The Zone

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D-Link has launched its DMG-112A Wireless USB Range Extender, equipped with new “AutoZone” technology.AutoZone, D-Link’s smart Wi-Fi technology, automatically connects devices to the access point with the strongest signal, designed to deliver the best possible Wi-Fi no matter where the user is in their home.

The DMG-112A is D-Link’s first AutoZone-enabled extender, with D-Link stating it works best when paired with the DSL-2877AL Dual Band Wireless AC750 VDSL/ADSL Modem Router.

D-Link has teamed up with JB Hi-Fi, giving away the DMG-112A free with every purchase of specially

marked DSL-2877AL modem routers, available for a limited time and while stocks last.

“The DSL-2877AL is ideal for people looking for a mid-range Wireless AC750 ADSL/VDSL Modem Router, and now that it is bundled with a free DMG-112A AutoZone-enabled Wireless USB Range Extender, it makes for an even more appealing proposition, as AutoZone technology allows wireless devices to roam and automatically connect to the strongest Wi-Fi signal every time,” Graeme Reardon, D-Link ANZ managing director, commented.

Reardon noted this means users won’t have to wait while their device reconnects each time they move in and out of stronger signal zones.

“In a nutshell, AutoZone technology seamlessly moves your devices between the strongest Wi-Fi signals available throughout the home, without you doing a thing,” he commented.

“The DMG-112A Wi-Fi Range Extender provides a simple-to-use, highly efficient way to roam about your home with worry-free Wi-Fi.”

The DMG-112A and DSL-2877AL are available to purchase separately at retailers and online, with the DMG-112A carrying a price tag of $49.95 RRP and the DSL-2877AL $179.95 RRP.