The moment you switch on your Smart TV is becoming one of advertising’s most valuable opportunities.

Advertising technology company Nexxen has launched its programmatic Smart TV home screen advertising solution across Asia-Pacific, giving brands access to premium placements that appear before viewers even open a streaming app.

The new capability is now available in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines through Nexxen’s demand-side platform (DSP), allowing advertisers to buy native home screen placements programmatically for the first time across VIDAA-powered Smart TVs.

Rather than waiting until viewers begin watching content, advertisers can now reach audiences at the point of discovery, when they are browsing streaming services and deciding what to watch.

“Today’s TV experience begins long before a show starts,” said Josif Zanich, Managing Director JAPAC at Nexxen.

“The Smart TV home screen creates a prime opportunity for brands to reach highly engaged audiences. By combining this premium inventory with Nexxen’s unique data and advanced TV capabilities, advertisers can plan, activate and measure campaigns within a single platform, helping deliver stronger performance throughout the customer journey.”

The inventory is delivered through VIDAA, whose operating system powers more than 50 million Smart TVs across more than 180 markets worldwide.

“The TV experience doesn’t start with playback – it starts on the home screen,” said Guy Edri, Chief Executive Officer at V, the company behind VIDAA.

“That’s where content discovery happens, where viewing decisions are made and where audience attention is at its highest. It has become one of the most valuable moments for brands to connect with consumers.”

The launch reflects the continued shift away from traditional linear television advertising as streaming platforms become the primary viewing destination for many households. With more consumers navigating Smart TV interfaces to discover content, home screen placements are emerging as premium digital real estate that combines television-scale reach with the targeting and measurement capabilities of programmatic advertising.

Nexxen says additional Smart TV manufacturer inventory is expected to be added to the platform over the coming months, expanding advertiser reach across the region.

Ring has added a new device to its smart home security lineup, and this one’s specifically aimed for those who are living in apartments and who’ve previously been left out of the smart doorbell conversation. Ring Intercom works with compatible building intercom systems, giving residents the ability to see and speak to whoever’s buzzing their building entrance, plus grant remote access whether they’re home or halfway across the world. Ring’s also rolling out new features for the device through its Ring Protect subscription plans.

The core appeal of Ring Intercom is straightforward: it puts control of your building entrance in your pocket. Through Live Video View and Two-Way Talk, you can see and speak to visitors and grant them access directly from the Ring App, whether you’re on the couch or away travelling. Pair it with an Echo Show device and you get hands-free video monitoring and communication thrown into the mix too, which is a nice touch for anyone who’s already invested in the Amazon ecosystem.

Missed deliveries are one of those small annoyances that add up, especially in apartment buildings where couriers can’t always get past the front entrance. Ring Intercom tackles this with its streaming feature, letting you visually confirm who’s at the door before unlocking it remotely. There’s also the option to grant automatic, temporary access for Amazon drivers specifically, which should mean fewer “sorry we missed you” cards left behind.

For record-keeping, Visitor Snapshot automatically captures an image every time someone buzzes the intercom, and the 180-day video history gives a longer-term log of who’s been coming and going. Both of these sit behind a Ring Protect subscription, worth noting if you’re budgeting for the full feature set.

Quick Replies is letting you send preset messages to visitors when you can’t answer in person. Telling a delivery driver where to leave a parcel or letting a guest know you’ll be back shortly are the kind of small conveniences that make a real difference day to day.

In-app calls and Quick Replies are included with Ring Intercom out of the box, no subscription required. Stepping up to a Ring Protect plan, starting at AU$4.95 per month, unlocks the likes of Video History, Visitor Snapshot, and Voicemail. It’s a fairly low bar of entry for the extra functionality, and for renters in particular, that monthly cost is probably easier to justify than dealing with a poorly managed building intercom system.

Speaking of renters, Ring Intercom is built for DIY installation, with setup taking under 45 minutes and no structural changes needed to the property.

Australian Pricing and availability

Ring Intercom is available now in Australia for AU$189.

Logitech G has expanded its G3 Series lineup, adding the G305 X SUPERLIGHT wireless gaming mouse and the G316 X 98 wired mechanical keyboard (not to be confused with the recently reviewed G512 X 98) to the mix. Together with the G325 X gaming headset that launched earlier this year, the G3 Series now offers a complete desktop setup built around pro-level features without the pro-level price tag.

Arnaud Perret-Gentil, Head of Product PC Gaming and Creators at Logitech G, said the lineup reflects an effort to make competitive-grade gear more accessible. “By fusing elite precision, like our sub-micron HERO 44K sensor and 8 kHz report rates, with high-end heritage design, we are enabling everyday gamers the ability to level up their gaming experience at an approachable price tag,” he said. “The G3 Series represents a strategic evolution in our mission to facilitate ‘Play for All’.”

G305 X SUPERLIGHT: A Lighter, Faster Take on a Familiar Favourite

The original G305 has long been one of Logitech’s more popular budget picks, mostly thanks to its dependable performance and that classic shape gamers have grown attached to over the years. The G305 X SUPERLIGHT keeps that same recognisable form but updates it considerably, dropping the weight down to roughly 59g and swapping in a HERO sensor capable of 44K DPI.

It’s a sensible upgrade path if you ask me, rather than reinventing the mouse from scratch, Logitech seems to have focused on refining what already worked.

The mouse supports the PRO LIGHTSPEED Receiver as an upgrade option, pushing performance up to 8kHz for those chasing every bit of responsiveness they can get. Connectivity is flexible too, with LIGHTSPEED wireless, Bluetooth, and wired modes all available depending on preference. Battery life is rated at over 130 hours, and USB-C charging means a two-minute top-up is enough for around 3.5 hours of play, useful if you’ve forgotten to charge it before a session.

On the sustainability side, the G305 X SUPERLIGHT uses a minimum of 51% recycled plastic and keeps its screws exposed rather than hidden, making it easier to repair down the line. It’s a small but welcome detail in a market where disposable tech is still the norm.

The G305 X SUPERLIGHT will retail for A$149.95.

G316 X 98: Built for Sound as Much as Speed

The G316 X 98 wired mechanical keyboard is aimed at gamers who want the satisfying “thocky” sound and feel of a custom-built keyboard, but without sacrificing competitive performance. It runs at 8kHz with a 0.125ms response time, so the typing feel doesn’t come at the cost of speed.

Logitech’s gone with a multi-layer snap-fit gasket design here instead of traditional screws, which apparently helps with both structural integrity and that distinctive sound profile enthusiasts tend to chase. There’s also a dot-matrix LED display and control dial onboard, letting you adjust report rate, brightness, or volume without digging through software, while the interactive LIGHTSYNC RGB light bar gives visual feedback as you adjust settings via the dial.

For customisation, there are 30 light bar zones plus per-key LIGHTSYNC RGB lighting, and the keyboard supports hot-swappable switches and cross-hatch stem keycaps if you want to push personalisation further. Macros and key assignments can all be set up through G HUB.

The G316 X will be priced at A$199 RRP.

G325 X LIGHTSPEED

Rounding out the G3 Series is the G325 X LIGHTSPEED wireless headset, which launched earlier this year and brings 24-bit audio along with a boomless microphone featuring AI-powered noise reduction. It’s built with all-day comfort in mind, paired with a cleaner aesthetic that should suit most desk setups rather than looking overly “gamer.”

With the G305 X SUPERLIGHT and G316 X now joining the G325 X (and the existing G321 wireless headset), the G3 Series effectively gives gamers a full desktop ecosystem, mouse, keyboard, and headset, that aims to deliver solid performance without an enthusiast-tier price.

Australian Pricing and Availability

The entire G3 Series integrates with Logitech G HUB, where users can fine-tune performance presets or download lighting and macro profiles shared by the community.

The G305 X SUPERLIGHT will be available in Black and White at an RRP of A$149.95 from June 30, 2026. The G316 X will also launch on June 30, 2026, in Black and White, priced at A$199 RRP. The G325 X is currently available now at an RRP of A$199.

Packaging Contents

Design and Build Quality

This is one of the best looking gaming keyboards I’ve ever seen. The design is striking and pleasing to look at, and the combination of cap colours and the two dials creates some nice accents that tie the whole theme together without looking busy. It’s the kind of board that gets noticed the moment someone walks past your desk.

The front-facing Lightbar is the real star of the show here, and it’s the best lighting design I’ve come across on a keyboard so far. The glow it throws off sits on another level entirely, making the keyboard even more enjoyable to look at and own, even when you’re not actively using it. Logitech G also sent over the Palm Rest for this review, which is sold separately, and it makes the whole setup look even more vibrant and complete on the desk.

There’s a catch though: the Palm Rest isn’t magnetised, and it doesn’t really click into place against the body, so it just sits there rather than locking on. That’s a bit of a letdown given how considered everything else about this keyboard feels. Still, it does its job as a palm rest and pushes the aesthetics even further, so I’d still recommend grabbing one if the budget allows.

At 1000g and built with a mix of recycled plastics (44% in the black parts, 34% in white), the G512 X 98 has a reassuring weight to it on the desk. It doesn’t shift around during intense gaming sessions, and the dimensions feel right for a full-size 98-key layout without it sprawling too far across your setup. Note that there’s also a 75-key layout version.

Dual Swap Switches: Analog Meets Mechanical

I didn’t expect the customisation experience on this keyboard to be this good. For a start, the body includes storage on the back for spare switches, and it’s covered by a glass panel that protects everything from dust while doubling as a nice visual touch rather than hiding it away.

The G512 X 98 ships with nine Gateron KS-20 analog switches included, and you get 39 Dual Swap switch beds across the board where you can fit either analog switches or any standard 3- or 5-pin mechanical switch. The remaining 81 positions are dedicated mechanical switch beds, pre-installed with tactile or linear switches depending on which version you go for.

You might wonder why Logitech didn’t just make every switch analog and call it a day. The answer comes down to cost, I think. Going all-analog across the board would push the price up significantly without delivering much real benefit for most people. If you’re mainly an FPS player, you’d likely only want analog switches sitting on W-A-S-D, plus maybe a few extras like R for reload, Q for an ultimate ability in Overwatch, or V for a melee strike in Call of Duty. If MOBAs are more your thing, you’d probably set the analog switches across your 1-4 ability keys instead and leave the rest as standard mechanical. This setup keeps the customisation focused and personal to how you actually play, rather than paying for analog precision on keys you’ll never need it for.

The analog switches let you dial in a custom actuation point anywhere from 0.1mm to 4.0mm through G HUB, which is a wide range to play with. Worth flagging though: setting it right down at 0.1mm gives you the fastest possible response, but it’s not great for typing, since the key becomes so sensitive that the slightest touch registers as a full press. I found a happier middle ground for everyday use and gaming but your personalisation may vary.

On top of custom actuation, the analog switches support Multipoint Action paired with the included Second Actuation Pressure Point (SAPP) rings. These give you a tactile bump right at the second trigger point, so you can feel exactly when that second action is about to fire rather than guessing.

Rapid Trigger is also baked in here and worth switching on if you’re playing competitive FPS titles, since it lets the switch reset and re-actuate the moment you release pressure rather than waiting for the full travel.

Typing Feel and Sound

All the switches on the G512 X 98 feel and sound great, whether you’re typing an email or in the middle of a match. They’re not loud, but they’re not silent either, so you get a nice mix of tactile, physical, and audio feedback all happening together rather than one drowning out the other. The premium gasket mount construction plays a big part in this. It gives the board a softer landing on every keystroke and dampens the harsher clack you sometimes get on cheaper mechanical boards, resulting in a more rounded, satisfying sound profile across the whole typing experience.

The PBT DoubleShot keycaps also deserve a mention here, since they’re not just about durability. The dual-layer design means the legends won’t wear or shine over time the way cheaper ABS caps tend to, and the RGB still shines through brilliantly from underneath, which matters given how much of this keyboard’s appeal comes down to its lighting.

Dials and Everyday Use

A dial on a keyboard has always been one of my favourite features, since it makes adjusting volume on the fly so much easier, and I find myself doing this constantly throughout the day between music, movies, and games. The G512 X 98 goes one better by giving you two dials instead of one, and both are clickable and fully customisable through G HUB, right down to assigning macros or quick actions to each one.

Performance and Polling Rate

The G512 X 98 supports true 8K polling, switchable down to 1,000 Hz if you don’t need the extra headroom, with response times as fast as 0.125ms at the top end. In practice, this translates to inputs that feel instantaneous, particularly noticeable in fast-paced shooters where every millisecond of input lag matters. Whether you’ll consciously feel the difference between 1K and 8K polling depends on your reflexes and the games you play, but it’s reassuring to know the headroom is there if you want to push for it.

G HUB Software

Logitech’s G HUB software ties the whole experience together, covering lighting effects, switch profiles, KEYCONTROL for layering different assignments onto the same key, and Game Mode to lock out accidental key presses mid-match.

Pricing and Value

The G512 X 98 sits firmly in premium territory, and that’s reflected in just about every part of the build, from the Dual Swap switch system down to the keycaps and gasket mount. It’s not a cheap keyboard, and kitting out more of the 39 Dual Swap beds with additional analog switches adds further cost on top of what’s included in the box. That said, for players who want the flexibility to tailor actuation points and switch types per key, there isn’t much else on the market offering this level of customisation in one board as far as I’m aware of. If you just want a great-feeling mechanical keyboard without the analog extras, you’ll find cheaper options elsewhere, but you’d be giving up what makes this one stand out.

Logitech G512 X 98 Review Conclusion

The Logitech G512 X 98 is a solid, premium, high-performing keyboard that also manages to stand out visually. Between the Dual Swap switch system, the wide actuation range, the SAPP rings, and the two customisable dials, there’s a real amount of depth here for players who like to fine-tune their setup down to the smallest detail. This has become my favourite gaming keyboard, and the Lightbar alone is a big part of why – plus, you get all the high-performing features like Rapid Trigger, Custom Actuation Points, 8,000Hz polling rate, and more for gaming.

Logitech G512 X 98 retails for A$339.95 and is available now for purchase.

Disclosure: Logitech G512 X 98 review sample was supplied for reviewing

Two new PITAKA cases for the iPhone 17 Pro have landed recently, and they couldn’t be more different in inspiration — one draws from the natural world, the other from the halls of academia. Both, however, share the same core DNA that PITAKA fans have come to expect: thin, light, and well-made.

Breath of Veins – Earth Day Collection

The Breath of Veins case is PITAKA’s Earth Day release, and its design is inspired by the vein patterns found on begonia leaves. Each colour in the collection reflects what PITAKA describes as “the untamed rhythm of natural growth,” and looking at it up close, the woven aramid fibre does bear a striking resemblance to organic textures. It’s a subtle effect rather than a loud statement, which suits the case well.

The collection comes in three different colours: Burning Orange, Sprout Surge, and Dive Green. My samples here are the Burning Orange and Sprout Surge:

Beyond the aesthetics, PITAKA has partnered with Tree-Nation — a UN Environment Programme-recognised reforestation platform that has planted over 46 million trees across 70+ projects since 2006 — to plant a mangrove tree along Kenya’s Swahili Coast for every Breath of Veins case sold. Each case also comes with a QR code that lets you register a digital tree-planting certificate with your serial number.

The case itself is built from aerospace-grade aramid fibre and measures just 1.2mm thick at approximately 25g. MagSafe compatibility is built in, and the refined textured finish gives the iPhone 17 Pro a much more secure grip compared to holding the bare glass. This is something anyone who’s ever fumbled their phone will appreciate. The camera bump is protected thanks to a raised bezel, while the physical buttons remain fully exposed — no mushy, case-covered presses here. You get the original haptic feedback as Apple intended.

Scratch resistance and resistance to discolouration are also part of the package, which matters for aramid fibre cases. The PITAKA cases I’ve used in the past (the Sunset Moment case) have held up well over time, and this one should be no different.

Harvard University Collection – “In the Weave, We Seek Truth”

The Harvard University collection takes a completely different direction. PITAKA holds a global official licence from Harvard, and the design is centred on the university’s motto — Veritas, meaning truth. The woven structure uses a Harvard Crimson colour palette with subtle tonal variations that echo the rhythm and geometry of Harvard’s historic brick architecture. It’s restrained and intentional rather than slapping a logo across the back.

At 0.88mm thick and approximately 20g, this one is even slimmer than the Breath of Veins case — barely there in the hand, yet sturdy when you actually grip the phone. Like the Earth Day case, it uses aerospace-grade aramid fibre and is fully MagSafe compatible. The Camera Control Button is handled by PITAKA’s PitaTap system: a hidden capacitive layer sits beneath the aramid fibre, allowing you to tap and slide the button without any change in texture or response. It works seamlessly and doesn’t compromise the slim profile.

The Harvard case also features exposed physical buttons, which keeps the tactile experience consistent with the bare phone. Both collections share this approach, and it’s the right call — case-covered buttons never feel as satisfying.

In terms of durability, the aramid fibre construction is scratch-resistant and built to last. PITAKA offers a two-month warranty on both cases.

Camera protection is present on both, with raised bezels preventing the lenses from making direct contact with flat surfaces. Button openings are left fully exposed on both, preserving the original feel. They’re also both MagSafe compatible and wireless charging friendly, so your existing accessories work without issue.

The build quality feels solid and premium across both. Aramid fibre has a luxurious quality to it that’s hard to describe without handling one – silky-smooth yet textured, light yet reassuring. These don’t feel like cases you’ll replace in a few months. Honestly, I’ve always used a single PITAKA case on every new iPhone I bought and it lasted until the next iPhone purchase the following year.

There are many other selections of cases over at PITAKA website if these are not your favourites. Make sure to check them out.

Scaling art production without increasing the payroll is one of those challenges that creeps up on studios once a project moves past its earliest phases. A 3D art outsourcing company helps development teams bridge the gap between what their internal capacity can handle and what their production demands. 

The studios leading this shift are not cutting corners. Many of them carry the highest quality bars in the industry. What they have figured out is that hitting those bars consistently at scale requires a production model that most internal teams were never built to sustain on their own.

This article gets into why outsourcing has become the go-to model for studios that need to grow their output without increasing their overhead, and what to look for when deciding who to trust with that work.

The Internal Team Problem No One Talks About Enough

Building an internal art team that covers every discipline a modern game requires is expensive, slow, and difficult to sustain between projects. A 3D art studio that you staff internally comes with salaries, benefits, software licenses, and the management overhead of keeping creatives productive during the stretches between production peaks.

The bigger problem is specialization. Environment artists, character modelers, VFX specialists, hard surface artists — a project might need all of these at different points and various intensities. An internal team sized for peak demand sits underutilized between production spikes. A team sized for average demand hits walls when a sprint requires more than it can produce.

What Outsourcing Fixes

Essentially, 3D art outsourcing addresses the mismatch between fixed internal capacity and variable production demand. Instead of staffing for a peak that only lasts a few sprints, studios bring in external capacity when the work requires it and scale back when it does not.

That flexibility does more than control costs. It lets studios take on projects that would otherwise sit outside what their internal team could realistically deliver. A smaller studio can punch significantly above its weight when the right 3D art outsourcing services partner fills the gaps that internal resources cannot cover.

Why Consistency Matters More Than Most Studios Expect

One of the legitimate concerns about outsourcing is visual consistency — specifically, whether an external team can match the style and quality of an internal one across a sustained production run. It is a fair concern, and it separates strong 3D art outsourcing companies from weaker ones.

The answer is not just about individual artist quality, but the process. A 3D art company with proper style guide systems, internal review stages, and shared asset libraries produces uniform output. Reason? Consistency is built into how it operates, and not because every artist happens to make the same judgment calls independently.

Matching Capacity to What Each Phase Actually Needs

Game production does not run at a single tempo. Some phases are heavy on environment work and modular kit development. Others shift toward character finishing, LOD passes, or VFX asset creation. The art requirements change as the project moves forward, and a rigid staffing model struggles to keep pace with that.

A 3D artist agency with a genuine range lets studios move between disciplines within a single partner relationship rather than managing a different vendor for each art type. The right 3D art services are structured around that kind of production flexibility. Not as separate teams that pass work between each other, but as an integrated unit that understands how each discipline feeds into the others inside a real game build.

The Mistakes Studios Make When Choosing a Partner

Leading with price is the most common misstep. A 3D art company that undercuts the competition and underdelivers on consistency does not generate savings. It produces rework, and rework during a late production phase is one of the most expensive things a studio can absorb.

The second issue is not pinning down delivery expectations early. 3D art for games needs to arrive formatted for your engine, within technical spec, and ready to drop into the build without a cleanup pass on your side. A 3D art studio that cannot give you a clear picture of its delivery pipeline before the project starts will give you a clearer picture of it through the problems that surface after.

Asking the right questions before signing anything is not overcaution. It is the difference between a partnership that runs smoothly and one that runs your producers into the ground, managing it.

Why Kevuru Games Is the Best 3D Art Outsourcing Partner for Your Studio

Our 3D art outsourcing services were built around one straightforward idea: studios should not have to trade quality for flexibility or flexibility for reliability. At Kevuru Games, you do not have to choose between any of those things.

Our team covers character art, environment modeling, hard surface work, VFX, and UI across mobile, PC, and console — all delivered through a production process that keeps technical standards consistent from the first asset to the last. As a 3D artist agency that keeps communication direct and delivery structured, we function as an extension of your team rather than an external resource you have to babysit.

Every asset we hand over is engine-ready, within polygon budget, and aligned with your visual direction. When scope shifts mid-production, we absorb it and keep the work moving.

Ready to Build a Production Model That Scales?

Growing your output without losing control of your quality or your timeline is exactly what the right outsourcing relationship makes possible. If your studio needs a 3D art outsourcing partner that brings the range, the process, and the reliability to back it up, reach out to Kevuru Games today and let us show you how we can fit into your production.

The BOOX Go 6 (Gen II) is one of the more thoughtfully designed compact eReaders to arrive this year, combining a refreshed aesthetic, stylus support, and open Android functionality in a device that fits in your pocket.

BOOX describes the Go 6 (Gen II) as being built for travel, and the design language reflects that. The back shell features tactile grooves and subtle curves inspired by a traveller’s suitcase — it sounds a bit marketing-speak on paper, but in practice the result is a device that feels distinct from the sea of plain black slabs that dominate the eReader market. It comes in four colours: Plum, Stone, Shell, and Custard. I quite like that BOOX is leaning into personality here rather than doing the traditional, boring colours.

At around 160 grams, the Go 6 (Gen II) is light enough to carry in a jacket pocket without thinking about it, which is really the whole point of a 6-inch eReader. The flush, borderless front panel keeps the display looking clean, and the 300 PPI E Ink screen delivers the kind of sharp, paper-like clarity that this resolution has become known for. Reading in bright sunlight is a non-issue, and the adjustable front lighting means you can keep going well into the night without eye strain.

One area where this model steps up over its predecessor is the addition of stylus support via the InkSense Plus stylus. You can now annotate books, take handwritten notes, and doodle directly on the device, which opens it up to use cases beyond pure reading — handy if you want to highlight passages or jot down thoughts mid-chapter without reaching for your phone. The native Notes app handles quick captures well, whether you’re on a train or waiting at an airport gate.

On the software side, the Go 6 (Gen II) runs Android with the Google Play Store built in, which is a meaningful advantage over locked-down eReaders from other brands. You can install Kindle, Kobo, or whichever reading app you prefer, plus podcast players, note-taking apps, and pretty much anything else that has an Android version. Performance is handled by an octa-core processor with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, with a microSD slot for expansion. For an E Ink device, that’s more than enough headroom. Battery life, as expected with E Ink displays, is measured in days rather than hours, so charging anxiety is largely off the table on longer trips.

The built-in reading app, NeoReader, covers the basics well — adjustable fonts, customisable margins, dark mode, and reading themes — though most people with specific preferences will likely gravitate to a third-party app anyway.

At US$189.99, the BOOX Go 6 (Gen II) sits in a competitive but not overcrowded space. It’s priced above basic entry-level eReaders but offers considerably more flexibility with its open Android system and stylus capability.

Razer has announced the Seiren V3 Pro, a professional-grade dynamic microphone that brings studio-quality audio tools to streamers without requiring a degree in audio engineering to set it up. Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been streaming for years, there’s a lot here to like.

The headline feature is 32-bit float recording support via Razer Synapse on Windows. This is the same format used in professional recording studios, and it offers a significantly wider dynamic range than standard 24-bit recording — meaning less clipping, more preserved detail, and less time fixing things in post. For streamers who just want their audio to sound right without fiddling around, that’s a meaningful step up.

At the core of the microphone is a built-in audio DSP that handles processing directly on the hardware, independent of your PC. This onboard chip drives AI noise removal, compression, limiting, and expansion — so you’re getting broadcast-quality tone straight from the mic without needing plugins or a separate audio interface running in the background. For anyone who has wrestled with software chains eating CPU resources mid-stream, having it all baked in is a genuine relief.

Connectivity is dual USB Type-C and XLR, which is a smart move. It means beginners can plug straight in and go (with USB-C), while more experienced creators can route it through an audio interface or mixer when the time comes. The mic uses a 30mm dynamic capsule with a cardioid polar pattern, covering a frequency range of 50Hz to 16kHz — a range well-suited for voice work and streaming, delivering that warm, broadcast-presence sound rather than the harsh, overly bright tone you sometimes get from cheaper condenser setups.

Build quality looks solid too. The zinc unibody construction is acoustically tuned to resist vibrations, and a built-in shock absorber along with a removable pop filter helps clean up handling noise and plosives. The included adjustable arm mount is vibration-dampened, so you’re not fighting with desk rumble during a long session.

On the controls side, there’s a physical gain dial for precise level adjustments and a touch mute button with LED indicator — both things that matter when you’re live and need to react quickly. Razer Chroma RGB lighting wraps around the mic and provides real-time visual feedback for gain, mute, and peak status, with full customisation through Razer Synapse. It’s a bit flashy for some tastes, but I can see streamers appreciating the at-a-glance monitoring.

The Razer Seiren V3 Pro is available now at Razer.com, Razer stores, and select Australian retailers. Pricing is A$429.95. For a dynamic microphone with onboard DSP, 32-bit float support, and both USB-C and XLR connectivity built in, the Razer Seiren V3 Pro is shaping up as one of the more versatile streaming microphones on the market right now!

Logitech has just announced the Mobi Fold, its first-ever foldable mouse designed specifically for professionals who work outside the office. Launching globally, the Mobi Fold addresses a surprisingly common problem — while 72% of professionals own a mouse, only 26% actually use one when working in public, mostly because traditional mice are just too bulky to bother carrying around.

The solution Logitech came up with is a folding mechanism that collapses the mouse to nearly half its size when not in use. It automatically powers on when unfolded and shuts off when folded, so there’s no fumbling with buttons. The company also says it reduces muscle strain by 22% compared to using a laptop trackpad, which makes sense for anyone spending long hours away from their desk.

In terms of features, the Mobi Fold comes with Adaptive Touch Scrolling that adjusts between precise line-by-line navigation and faster scrolling depending on the task. Two customisable buttons on the touch panel can be configured through the Logi Options+ app to trigger shortcuts like app switching or screenshots. It connects to up to three devices simultaneously via Bluetooth and works across Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, iPadOS, and Linux — pretty much every platform you’d realistically need.

For those working in shared spaces, the mouse features quiet-clicks so you’re not disturbing everyone around you. It’s also been drop-tested, wrapped in a dust-resistant silicone sleeve, and the internal hinge is rated for 15 years of daily use. An on-device AI model also helps prevent accidental clicks when folding the device shut.

Battery life is solid — a one-minute charge delivers 22 hours of use, with up to 30 days on a full charge. The Mobi Fold is also the first Logitech input device to carry Fast Pair certification, making it instantly pairable with compatible Google devices.

It comes in three colourways: Graphite, Lilac, and Off-White. Logitech has also put some thought into sustainability, with the Graphite model using up to 36% certified post-consumer recycled plastic, 100% post-consumer recycled rare earth metal in the magnets, and FSC-certified packaging.

A Mobi Fold for Business variant is also available, adding a Logi Bolt USB-C receiver for more secure wireless connectivity, a two-year limited hardware warranty, and Logitech Sync support for IT management.

The Logitech Mobi Fold is available now for A$129.95, with the Mobi Fold for Business priced at A$149.95 through authorised B2B channels. Might be useful to some but I’ll stick with my Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse for work purposes.

Packaging Contents

Design and Build

The iX2500 has a modern, compact design that does not look out of place in a professional workspace. For what it packs inside, the footprint is impressively small – it sits neatly on a desk without demanding too much real estate.

One of my favourite design touches is the cover. When closed, it completely protects the internal paper feed mechanism from dust and debris, which matters a lot if the scanner is sitting on your desk for years. Close the cover and the scanner automatically powers off. Open it again and it powers on within a few seconds, ready to scan. It sounds like a minor thing but in a fast-paced work environment where you need to scan something quickly and get on with your day, that kind of convenience adds up.

The body itself is minimal in the best possible way. There is a 5-inch colour touchscreen and a single Scan button. That is it. No unnecessary buttons cluttering the panel. Ricoh has kept the advanced settings, profile management, and configuration within the companion software on Windows or Mac, which keeps the physical interface clean and focused.

The touchscreen is bright, responsive, and easy to navigate. Large icons and straightforward menus mean you are not hunting through layers of options to find what you need.

Setup and Connectivity

Getting the iX2500 up and running is straightforward. Connect it to your Wi-Fi network and the scanner becomes accessible to any computer or mobile device on the same network. The ScanSnap Home software on Windows and Mac handles deeper configuration, but if you just want to scan to your phone, you do not even need to install software at all (apart from the app on your phone).

From an iPhone, once the scanner is on the same Wi-Fi network, you can scan documents and share them directly to your phone or some Cloud services (although sending directly to an email like Gmail, and a few other things are missing). You can get the scanned files to your phone and then use your phone’s Share functionality to any respective apps though, so that’s fine even though it’s a bit manual.

There is also a feature called ScanSnap Go, which allows you to initiate a scan by simply holding your smartphone near the scanner. It is a small but handy addition for those who scan on the move or sharing the scanner in a big workspace.

USB connectivity is also available via USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen1), so you can hardwire the connection if preferred.

Scanning Performance

This is where the iX2500 surprised me the most. I will be honest – I did not pay close attention to the specs before I started testing, so when I saw how fast this thing scans, my jaw dropped. The iX2500 handles up to 45 pages per minute in duplex (double-sided) mode across all standard quality settings. That speed does not drop until you push into the top-tier Excellent mode at 600 dpi colour, which slows to 13 pages per minute – still respectable at that resolution.

The 100-page automatic document feeder means you can load a thick stack and walk away. For anyone scanning contracts, invoices, or any volume of paperwork on a daily basis, that capacity is a real time-saver.

The scanner handles a wide range of document types well. Standard A4 sheets, small receipts, business cards, plastic ID cards, folded A3 documents – it manages them all. There is even a manual feed mode for envelopes and documents with sticky notes attached. Photo scanning should be fast too with 4×6 prints processed in under a second, complete with automatic facial orientation correction and red-eye reduction. I don’t have hard-copy photos lying around unfortunately, so I honestly didn’t do any photo scanning test.

Output formats are equally flexible. You can save documents as searchable PDFs, JPEGs, etc. The automatic document recognition is useful – I set up a Receipt profile pointing to Dropbox, fed it a receipt, and it detected the document type and sent it to the right destination without any extra input. Pretty nifty.

Profiles and Cloud Integration

The profile system is one of the iX2500’s strongest features. Each connected device gets its own independent set of profiles, so your Mac setup, your Windows machine, and your iPhone can all have completely different scanning destinations and settings configured. You can have a Dropbox profile, a Gmail profile, an OneDrive profile – each with its own file format preferences and quality settings.

Supported cloud destinations include Box, Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, OneNote, and iCloud. For business collaboration, Microsoft Teams, Notion, and Google Photos are supported. There is even accounting software integration with Concur, QuickBooks Online, Shoeboxed, and Hubdoc.

During testing I scanned to Gmail, Dropbox, OneDrive, and directly to an iPhone 17 Pro. Everything worked without issue, and files appeared almost instantly. The whole experience feels seamless – you load the documents, press Scan, and they are wherever you need them to be.

One thing worth noting: the iX2500 does not include a TWAIN driver, which rules it out for certain professional scanning workflows that require TWAIN compatibility. If that is a requirement, Ricoh’s fi-8040 or SP-1130Ne models are worth looking at instead.

ScanSnap Home Software

The ScanSnap Home application on Windows and Mac ties everything together. It handles profile creation, destination configuration, document management, and editing of scanned files. It is clean and well-organised without feeling overwhelming.

For most users, the software setup is a one-time task. Once profiles are configured, day-to-day scanning is handled entirely from the touchscreen or the Scan button without ever opening the application again.

Ricoh ScanSnap iX2500 Review Conclusion

The Ricoh ScanSnap iX2500 is one of the best desktop document scanners available right now. The combination of fast duplex scanning, smart auto-power from the cover mechanism, a well-designed touchscreen, flexible connectivity, and broad cloud integration makes it easy to recommend for both home users and busy office environments.

If you regularly deal with large volumes of paperwork and want a scanner that handles everything quickly and intelligently, the iX2500 is exactly that. The lack of a TWAIN driver is worth being aware of for specific professional use cases, but for the vast majority of users it will not be a concern.

The Ricoh ScanSnap iX2500 is available in both White and Black finishes.

Disclosure: Ricoh ScanSnap iX2500 review unit was supplied for reviewing

D-Link’s new GaN charger range for Australia and New Zealand is the kind of product that makes you wonder why you’ve been putting up with a drawer full of mismatched chargers for so long. Announced today, the new Tech Essentials lineup includes three models — the DCF-241 240W, the DCF-141 140W, and the DCP-101 100W – each built around Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology that runs cooler, charges faster, and takes up a lot less space than the bulky adapters most of us are still keeping around.

All three chargers support USB-C Power Delivery 3.1 and Quick Charge 4.0, with intelligent power distribution across multiple ports — meaning the charger detects what’s plugged in and allocates wattage accordingly rather than splitting it blindly. They also handle 110–240V AC input, so they’ll work anywhere in the world with just a plug adapter.

The flagship DCF-241 is the one that really catches my eye as someone who regularly has multiple devices on the desk at once. It offers up to 240W across five ports — four USB-C and one USB-A (glad they still include this) — and a single USB-C port can push the full 140W on its own, which is enough to fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro or a high-end Windows workstation without breaking a sweat. The remaining ports handle phones, tablets, earbuds, and wearables simultaneously. It ships with a compact stand holder to keep things tidy on the desk, and advanced safety features cover over-current, over-voltage, over-temperature, and short-circuit protection. At AU$249.95, it’s a solid investment for households or shared workspaces where everyone needs power at the same time — and it’s currently on EOFY promotion at AU$229.95 through 30 June.

Step down to the DCF-141 and you still get a very capable four-port charger — three USB-C and one USB-A — with a total output of 140W. The interesting bit here is the dual-laptop fast-charging: two of the USB-C ports can each deliver 70W simultaneously, so a couple sharing a desk can charge their respective laptops from a single adapter without either port throttling. It’s a smart design choice that makes this a particularly good travel companion. RRP is AU$129.95.

The DCP-101 rounds out the range at AU$99.95. It’s the everyday carry option: four ports (three USB-C, one USB-A), up to 100W total, and compact enough to slip into a backpack pocket without the usual GaN charger bulk. A single USB-C connection can power a laptop at full 100W (most modern laptops like my Dell XPS 13 here only needs 65-68W), and when you add more devices it redistributes intelligently. It plays well with ultrabooks, Chromebooks, the iPad Pro, Nintendo Switch, and fast-charging Android and iPhone models.

All three models are available now through D-Link Australia website and authorised retailers.

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2026) kicks off today, June 8, with the keynote at 10 AM PT. This is one of the most anticipated events in years, as the company finally delivers on its long-promised AI overhaul.

Here’s a breakdown of the biggest expected announcements, with my honest opinions on what could actually move the needle (or fall flat).

1. Siri Gets a Massive Overhaul (The Star of the Show)

This is the big one. After years of delays and criticism, Siri in iOS 27 is rumored to transform into a true conversational AI assistant.

Key expected features:

• Standalone Siri app with chatbot-style interface (text + voice threads).
• Context awareness: Understands what’s on your screen, personal data (emails, calendar, photos), and handles multi-step commands in one go.
• Powered (at least partially) by Google’s Gemini model, with options for extensions to ChatGPT, Claude, or others.
• Deeper app integrations (e.g., Camera, Photos, Shortcuts) and Dynamic Island enhancements.
• On-device privacy focus via Private Cloud Compute.

This is Apple’s redemption arc, but I’m cautiously optimistic. Siri has been painfully basic for too long compared to competitors. If it delivers reliable multi-command execution and screen understanding without constant “I didn’t get that,” it could finally compete. However, launching in beta (as rumored) means real-world polish might take until iOS 27.1 or later. For users in regions with spotty connectivity, the on-device emphasis is a huge plus.

If Apple nails privacy and seamless third-party AI switching, this could be a game-changer for productivity—think smarter smart home controls or travel planning on the go.

2. iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 & Other OS Updates

Focus on stability, performance, and refined Apple Intelligence rather than flashy redesigns.

Expect:

• Bug fixes and battery optimizations (always welcome after iOS 26’s Liquid Glass tweaks).
• Enhanced Apple Intelligence features in native apps (Photos editing, Writing Tools, Visual Intelligence upgrades).
• Possible multitasking improvements on iPad, smarter Spotlight/Search, and developer tools.
• macOS 27 might drop older Intel Mac support for better efficiency on Apple Silicon.

Apple often under-promises and over-delivers on polish. I would personally prioritise reliability over gimmicks. If iOS 27 brings meaningful battery gains and fewer crashes (especially on older supported devices), it’ll be a win for everyday users. The AI features need to feel effortless—not another half-baked rollout.

Watch for foldable iPhone hints in the UI, which could influence future hardware.

3. Broader AI Strategy & Developer Tools

Apple is leaning into partnerships (Gemini integration) while pushing on-device processing. Expect new APIs for agents, better Home app/smart home tools, and accessibility upgrades.

No major hardware expected—just software focus.

WWDC 2026 feels like a “make or break” for Apple’s AI narrative. It’s not revolutionary hardware, but a foundational shift toward more useful, private AI. Success depends on execution—beta quality and real-user testing will tell.

How to Watch & What’s Next

• Live: Apple’s website, YouTube, or Developer app (10 AM PT / 12 AM WIB tomorrow).
• Follow up: I’ll update this post or publish a recap with hands-on implications once details drop.