Thursday, October 1, 2020

Dell Australia's latest sale shaves 40% off select laptops

There’s good news for those looking to buy a brand-new laptop – Dell has just kicked off a sale, and you can save up to 40% on regular machines, 2-in-1s and high-performance beasts from Alienware.

You’ll also find the XPS 13 discounted – one of our favourites – plus big savings on gaming rigs featuring the powerful Nvidia RTX 2080 Super.

We’ve highlighted these deals along with some of our other top picks below, or if you’d like, you can shop the entire sale directly from Dell. These offers will end on October 8, so don’t delay!

Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1 | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD | AU$1,679 (RRP AU$2,799; save AU$1,120)

You can now pick up a hefty 40% discount on this 15-inch 2-in-1 from Dell. Inside you’ll find a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 chip, working alongside 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It’s all encased in a sleek chassis which houses adaptive thermals, so it should be comfortable to use whether you’re at the desk or curled up on the couch. It doesn’t come with the Active Pen, so be sure to add it at checkout if you’d like to pick it up as well. Buy directly from Dell and save a massive AU$1,120.View Deal

Dell XPS 13 (7390) | i5 / 8GB / 256GB SSD | AU$1,614 (RRP AU$1,899; save AU$285)

It may be last year’s version, but this discounted Dell XPS 13 is still a stellar machine. This configuration has Intel’s latest 10th-gen Core i5 processor inside, plus 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solid-state storage. The barely-there bezels show off its bright and beautiful display, leaving plenty of screen real estate for streaming. Work or play, this sleek machine will deliver. Now 15% off when buying directly from Dell.View Deal

Dell Inspiron 15 5000 (5501) | i7 / 8GB / 512GB SSD | AU$1,364 (RRP AU$2,099; save AU$735)

Dell has slashed the price of this Inspiron laptop by a solid 35%. Under the hood is a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor for smooth and seamless multitasking. This updated design is sleek and clean, with an aluminium cover making this Inspiron feel a little more… inspired. It also features ExpressCharge, which Dell promises will add 80% juice in just 60 minutes. Head directly to Dell to save AU$735.View Deal

Dell G7 17 (7700) | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD / GTX 1660 Ti | AU$2,634 (RRP AU$3,099; save AU$465)

If you’re looking for a gaming laptop, this Dell G7 17 comes with a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU. It’s also equipped with a respectable Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti GPU, which is well-matched to the screen’s 1080 resolution and will allow excellent performance on high detail in most games. Dell has shaved 15% off the asking price, so you can save AU$465 when you buy directly from the maker.View Deal

Dell G5 15 (5500) | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD / GTX 1650 Ti | AU$1,954 (RRP AU$2,299; save AU$345)

For an even more affordable gaming laptop, you could consider this discounted Dell G5 15. It’s powered by a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor and a Nvidia 1650 Ti GPU, which will do well against its 15-inch screen with 1080 resolution. The 16GB of RAM will keep gaming running smooth, while dual-fans keep the hardware cool. Dell has taken 15% off this machine, saving you AU$345.View Deal

Alienware m17 R3 | i7 / 32GB / 1TB SSD / RTX 2080 Super | AU$4,929 (RRP AU$5,799; save AU$870)

For an absolute gaming beast, check out this deal. This Alienware m17 R3 has been outfitted with a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU and a powerful Nvidia RTX 2080 Super. Match that with the screen’s 1080p resolution and 300Hz refresh rate, and you have an excellent gaming rig on your hands. Build quality too is great, with a unique intergalactic-inspired design. Dell has axed 15% from the RRP, which will see you save AU$870.View Deal

Alienware Area 51m R2 | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD / RTX 2070 Super | AU$4,249 (RRP AU$4,999; save AU$750)

The second iteration of Alienware’s powerful Area 51m machine has also seen a price cut. This rig is equipped with a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU and an Nvidia 2070 Super. The display stretches 17-inches with 1080p resolution, and a 144Hz refresh rate (which can be bumped up to 300Hz for an additional AU$100). You can now save AU$750 on this machine when you pick it up from Dell.View Deal

Dell Vostro 15 7000 | i7 / 16GB / 1TB SSD / GTX 1650 Ti | AU$2,057 (RRP AU$3,429; save AU$1,372)

If you’re in need of a machine to seamlessly switch between both work and play, this Dell Vostro is worth considering. It’s designed for the office, but there’s also a discrete Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti graphics card to handle demanding applications, and for some gaming when you need to switch off. Plus the 1TB SSD is great for software developers, photographers and content creators who need plenty of room for storage. Now slashed by 40%, taking a massive AU$1,372 off the asking price.View Deal

Dell Vostro Small Desktop (3681) | i7 / 8GB / 256GB SSD | AU$1,145 (RRP AU$1,909; save AU$764)

If you’re looking for a desktop PC, this Dell Vostro has been steeply discounted. It’s sporting the latest Intel Core i7 CPU for fast performance, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. It’s a small piece of hardware that doesn’t skimp on any of the essentials with plenty of ports and slot options available. Pick it up directly from the maker to save AU$764.View Deal



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HP's new 14-inch Spectre x360 flexible laptop is Evo-certified

HP has announced a list of Intel Evo-certified laptops today, led by a 14-inch entry to the Spectre x360 lineup. With a 13.5-inch display, the new flexible, convertible PC is slightly larger than the other devices in the series. It’s the first Spectr...

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HP's Spectre x360 14 Ditches the Widescreen for 3:2 and I Think I'm In Love

HP’s premium Spectre x360 systems are already some of the most full-featured and eye-catching 2-in-1s on the market. But now HP is adding a new 14-inch convertible to the line sporting a bigger and taller 3:2 display along with updated specs for even better productivity.

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Pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE from Amazon AU and get a pair of Buds Live free

In the lead up to Prime Day 2020, Amazon is flexing it’s deal muscles by pumping out daily discounts that are worth looking at.

The latest offering is no exception with the online retail giant producing a decent two-for-one bargain: pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and Amazon will sweeten the deal by chucking in a pair of Buds Live for free.

For those who don’t know, the Galaxy S20 FE is the recent budget addition to Samsung’s S20 range. The Fan Edition inherits much of the power of the regular S20 while cutting some costs with a more economical chassis. This makes it a great choice for those looking to upgrade from their old Samsung devices or for those who want recent tech but don't want to cough up the dough for the standard range.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

(Image credit: Roland Quandt / WinFuture)

The Buds Live are also new to Samsung’s range of noise-cancelling headphones which competes with the likes of the Apple AirPods and Google Pixel Buds, offering many of the same features (and a few extra). 

They aren’t the best-of-the-best when it comes to noise-cancellation and the sound isn’t memorable but these issues that bump the Buds Live down a few pegs can be forgiven… because they’re free! 

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

(Image credit: Samsung)

If you’re serious about purchasing a new Android and you’re on a limited budget, you can’t go wrong with this deal – you get a decent phone at a reasonable price and a pair of wireless earbuds for nothing… too easy! 

If this deal tickles your fancy, head on over to Amazon by clicking here and you’ll be whisked away.



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Nearly 20,000 Amazon Employees Have Contracted Covid-19 This Year

Amazon finally released data on the number of coronavirus cases among its workforce, and it’s staggering: Nearly 20,000 U.S. employees have contracted the virus since March.

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New York and New Jersey launch COVID Alert apps for Android and iOS

Back in May, Apple and Google released technology to enable COVID-19 exposure notifications via their mobile platforms and now more people in the US can opt-in to programs based on the technology. Virginia was the first state in the US to release an...

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Xiaomi has produced an 82-inch 5G display that businesses will love

Xiaomi started life as a smartphone vendor, but is rapidly turning into the closest China has to a Samsung or LG equivalent, thanks to its endless product list.

The firm recently unveiled an 8K television called the Mi TV Master Extreme Edition, which comes with 5G connectivity and a gargantuan 82-inch displaying - meaning it will make for an excellent digital signage solution or large format display.

The screen supports Quantum Dot technology and offers a 98% P3 wide color gamut, 120Hz refresh rate, MEMC technology, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ certification and a 400,000:1 contrast ratio.

Unsurprisingly, it has a built-in Android computer based on the quad-core Novatek 72685 8K chip, paired with a Mali-G51 MP4 GPU, 4GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

We don’t know how much it costs, whether it will ever go on sale outside of China, what version of Android it uses nor whether the 5G capabilities can be used to power a built-in wireless hotspot.

The mini-LED display can of course be used as a business monitor, or for gaming thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate (provided you have an Nvidia RTX 3080/3090 GPU).

Another feature worth highlighting is a pair of retractable “sound wings” that contain four speakers each. And the rest of the specification sheet is rounded out by an HDMI 2.1 port, USB 3.0 port and an Ethernet connector (hopefully Gigabit capable).



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Twitter is working on a fix for its automated image cropping

Twitter will change its automated image cropping feature after users complained that it was biased. The company says it’s working to “decrease our reliance” on automatic cropping so users can ultimately control how their images appear in a tweet. “We...

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We now know a lot more about 'Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit'

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit was actually announced last month, but today Nintendo revealed new details about the “mixed reality” game ahead of its launch on October 16th. The software is free to download but it won’t work without one of the camera-...

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Is NordVPN the fastest VPN? This research claims so

After undergoing a series of comparative VPN connection speed tests, NordVPN has been acknowledged as the fastest VPN service on the market by AV-Test.

The independent provider of comparative tests and reviews for antivirus, anti-malware and security software conducted the comparative test by measuring the download and upload speed of NordVPN and comparing it to an unencrypted connection in the UK, Japan and the United States' West Coast.

AV-Test provided further insight on the VPN company's speed tests results in a new report, saying:

“NordVPN was the clear winner in this performance test for measured download and upload performance in all three major world regions. Getting the first spot in five tested categories and only missing the last top spot by a small margin. Outperforming the next ranked VPN by sometimes doubling the performance”.

Improving NordVPN's speed

While using a VPN can help you protect your privacy and stay secure online, one of the most common drawbacks to using a VPN is the fact that your internet speed will be reduced as a result of the encryption process.

In order to overcome this issue, NordVPN built a custom VPN protocol called NordLynx which is built around the WireGuard protocol that uses state-of-the-art cryptography and is also backed by academic research. However, since WireGuard is so fast, it does have some privacy shortcomings that the company was able to get the better of by building a custom double Network Address Translation (NAT) system. The system allows NordVPN's clients to establish a secure VPN connection without storing any identifiable data on a server.

According to AV-Test's results, NordVPN outperformed other VPN services including  ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, PrivateVPN, ProtonVPN, PureVPN and TorGuard by a margin of over 60 percent when connected to a local VPN server. At the same time though, the company's VPN service leads by a double margin in overseas download speed.

Digital privacy expert at NordVPN Daniel Markuson provided further insight on the results of AV-Test's comparative VPN speed tests, saying:

“We have made a promise to our users and ourselves to become the fastest VPN in the universe, and now I am proud to say we are. Security measures still require sacrificing some of the service speed, but what we’ve achieved is already groundbreaking. Our users can rest assured that we are working towards a seamless, all-around cybersecurity protection every day, and the test proves that we are moving in the right direction.” 

  • Also check out our complete list of the best VPN services


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Microsoft's new portable and affordable Surface Laptop Go is up for pre-order now

Microsoft has introduced another family member to its Surface range of portable computing devices – the Surface Laptop Go – available for pre-order now in Australia and looking set to take on the rumoured 12-inch MacBook.

As the name suggests, this is a more affordable entry in the premium Surface Laptop line-up (Microsoft’s MacBook equivalents), starting at just AU$999 and getting more expensive with more powerful configurations.

The Surface Laptop Go sports a more compact form factor than its bigger Surface siblings and, although Microsoft has kept costs down by sticking with an i5 processor for all configurations, you do still get a full-featured laptop.

It sports a 12.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen, a full-sized keyboard, a fingerprint scanner, an HD camera and the promise of 13 hours of battery life. There's also a USB-C and USB-A port. Alongside the 10th-gen Intel Core i5 CPUs are configurations ranging from 4GB, 8GB or 16GB of system memory (RAM) and 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB SSD storage.

Most importantly though, the new Surface Laptop Go is available in three stylish shades – Ice Blue, Sandstone, and Platinum.

As mentioned, Microsoft has opened up pre-orders already, with the device shipping out from October 13.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go | from AU$999

Available for pre-order right now in three different colours and shipping from October 13, this 12-inch laptop promises not just portability but some decent amount of power as well. This might actually give Apple a run for its money, potentially making it a great Windows alternative for students or anyone on a limited budget.View Deal



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Facebook's Latest QAnon Crackdown Scraps Ads, Pushes 'Credible' Info on #SavetheChildren Searches

In its ongoing crusade to keep QAnon stans from congealing on its platform, this week Facebook announced new restrictions aimed at limiting the conspiracy movement’s spread online.

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World of Warcraft Shadowlands delayed until later this year

John Hight, Executive Producer of Blizzard's World of Warcraft, announced in a blog post Thursday that World of Warcraft: Shadowlands was being delayed until some time later this year.

"I wanted to let you know that we’re delaying the release of Shadowlands to later this year—and while we’re still in the process of determining the right new date to launch," Hight said, "we felt it was important to let you know about this change in plans as soon as we could."

In a post on Wowhead about the news, several commenters actually applauded Blizzard for delaying the official launch of their highly anticipated expansion to the best-selling World of Warcraft MMO, apparently due to considerable work that remains to be done polishing up the game - something Hight himself acknowledges in his post.

"Shadowlands is one of the most intricate expansions we’ve yet created, and while we’ve made great progress, the challenge of tuning the endgame was compounded by the team having to work from home."

"Blizzard has a commitment to quality," Hight said. "We believe Shadowlands will be something special, and we’ve heard from many of you who feel the same. We need this extra time to ensure that Shadowlands lives up to its full potential."

On the bright side of the Shadowlands, there's finally a date for the prepatch 

While it's disappointing to hear that Shadowlands itself is being delayed by several weeks or even a couple of months, Hight did announce that the Shadowlands prepatch - where the expansion's level rebalancing of existing characters and other changes will be implemented - will drop in two weeks.

"In the meantime, we’re excited to announce that beginning October 13 we will be releasing the Shadowlands pre-patch, which lays a lot of the groundwork for the expansion and includes our revamped character leveling, new-player experience on Exile’s Reach, and a host of new character customization options," Hight said. 

"And once we get closer to Shadowlands’ release, you’ll be called upon to defend Azeroth against a resurgence of the Scourge during our pre-launch event."

While this will likely break the hearts of an entire burning legion of diehard fans, no doubt it's for the best. It is 2020, after all.



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Data traveling through space could become priority target for cybercriminals

As we've entered a new era of space exploration where commercial companies such as Elon Musk's Space X and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, along with smaller companies, have begun to launch satellites into orbit, a new report from the cybersecurity company McAfee warns that space may be the next frontier for cybercriminals.

In a recently published technical research paper, the firm's Advanced Threat Research team in collaboration with Cork Institute of Technology, Blackrock Castle Observatory and the National Space Center in Cork, Ireland, have outlined the threats posed to space 4.0.

According to the European Space Agency, space 4.0 represents the evolution of the space sector into a new era where governments and private sector businesses are working together with an increased number of diverse space actors around the world to launch small satellites and make commercial space travel a reality.

Up until now, cyberattacks in space have been fairly infrequent though the extent of these attacks is not known due to the fact the majority of the industry is operated by government agencies. However, with the proliferation of small satellites currently being launched into orbit by commercial companies, there will likely be an uptick in the number of publicly known cyberattacks in space.

Taking a cybersecurity approach to space

In a blog post outlining the findings from their technical research paper, McAfee's Eoin Carroll and Christiaan Beek explained why space security should adopt a cybersecurity approach, saying:

“Space security has typically been analyzed from the perspective of ground segment, communications or datalink and space segment. Additionally, the attack classes have been categorized as electronic (jamming), eavesdropping, hijacking and control. We need to think about Space 4.0 with a cybersecurity approach due to the increased connectivity and data, as opposed to the traditional approach of ground, communication and space segments. Cybercriminals will target the data and systems as opposed to the RF transmission layer.”

The research team also likened the emerging Space 4.0 industry to the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) where hardware makers brought a number of new devices to market without proper security protections in place. This has led IoT devices to become a popular target for cybercriminals and if the space industry isn't careful, the same thing could happen to satellites and other devices as well.

McAfee's Advanced Threat Research team believes that now is the time for the space industry to take steps to secure their devices or risk repeating the mistakes of the IoT where “the rush to adopt new and faster technology resulted in large scale deployment of insecure hardware and software”.

Via Verdict



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Wohl Hits Wall

The office of the Attorney General of Michigan announced felony charges on Thursday against far-right conspiracy theorists Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, saying the world’s least dynamic pro-Trump duo was behind tens of thousands of robocalls attempting to intimidate voters. If convicted on all four counts, they could…

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Nest Audio listed on Google's India store; to launch with Pixel 4a

During its annual product launch event, Google has launched a variety of hardware products including it’s latest smartphones, new Android TV dongle and the latest smart speakers. 

Post the event Google announced that the Pixel 4a will finally launch in India later this month and while it did not reveal its plan to bring the other products to India, the Google Nest Audio can be seen listed on Google’s India Store.

These new smart speakers will be launched alongside the Pixel 4a smartphone and may retail on Flipkart like most other Google products.

(Image credit: Google)

Google Nest Audio 

The all-new Google Nest Audio is a bigger smart speaker that allows you to do what the previous generation Nest speakers could do but slightly better because it comes with "50% more bass and volume" than its predecessor. 

It is made of 70% recycled material and comes with a wraparound fabric grille. The Nest Audio is available in a variety of colour options including - light blue, charcoal gray, light gray, green, and light pink. However the India store currently only showcases the charcoal gray, light gray colour options.

Equipped with the prowess of Google Assistant, the new Nest Audio lets you control music, set reminders, hear the news, control other smart home devices and more.

(Image credit: Google)

Google Nest Audio price 

The Google Nest Audio costs slightly more than the Google Home and has been launched at a price of $99 in the United States and is available for pre-booking already.

It’s retail price in India, however, is not known as of now nor has the company announced any pre-order plans as yet. We will have to wait for the official announcement from the company, till then stay tuned. 



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Oracle opens Gen 2 datacentre in Dubai as digital transformation revs up

Hyperscalers are continuing to open and announce new availability zones in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as CIOs are accelerating their existing digital transformation efforts, even more, to meet new customer and operational agility needs.

Oracle, which has opened its second data centre in the UAE in Dubai, is witnessing a growing demand for cloud computing amid Covid-19.

The US technology giant opened its first data centre in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi last year and one in Saudi Arabia this year.

As of now, Oracle has 26 cloud regions globally and is on track to have 36 cloud regions by the end of the year, compared to 25 for Amazon Web Services (AWS).

“We are investing in the region significantly as we are seeing a steady increase in digital technologies. We have some loyal customers in the region and it is our duty to take them and scale them to the next level,” Andrew Sutherland, Senior Vice-President for Business Development - Technology License and Systems EMEA and APAC at Oracle, told TechRadar Pro Middle East.

There is a no-nonsense approach in the region and there is very strong leadership, from top-down, he said and it can be seen even in the governments' sector.

“Backed up with our knowledge of the market and backed up with our historical presence in the region, it gives us great confidence in the investment we made in the region. We will see existing Oracle customers move their workloads on to the cloud and out of that, partly will be hybrid cloud, cloud at customer and dedicated cloud at region, and new workloads coming on to the cloud,” he said.

However, he said that different enterprises are in different stages of transformation and some instances; they are seeking cost cuts and improving the performance of existing processes.

All data centres are not equal; he said and added that organisations need to take a close look at the functionalities of the data centres.

Unique offering

“With Gen 2 OCI, we cracked the enterprise-capable cloud technology and have a unique offering in the market. We are focusing hard to get customers on board and making sure they benefit from the true value of the cloud. We are the best in the industry and I can authoritatively say that,” Sutherland said.

Oracle’s cloud journey started 12 years ago with software-as-a-service (SaaS) and moved into the infrastructure and platform as services five years ago.

“Who else got the autonomous database and who else can run OLTP (online transaction processing), software programs capable of supporting transaction-oriented applications, on the cloud.”

Moreover, he said that Gen 2 datacentres are the only datacentre architecture created with true enterprise cloud in mind, right from the start, with a focus on security and with AI capabilities, scalability and performance.

The key differences between Generation 1 and Generation 2 cloud are that Generation 1 cloud places user code and data on the same computer as the cloud control code with shared CPU, memory, and storage, so, the cloud providers can see user’s data while Generation 2 cloud puts customer code, data, and resources on a bare-metal computer, while cloud control code lives on a separate computer with a different architecture.

On top of it, Oracle recently enhanced its security offerings with “Cloud Guard” and “Maximum Security Zones” to automate threat response and quickly and efficiently reduce customers cloud security risk at no additional cost.

Sutherland said that Oracle is the first public cloud provider to activate security policy enforcement of best practices automatically from day one to prevent misconfiguration errors and deploy workloads securely.

Key focus on security

Security has been a critical design consideration across Oracle cloud for years, he said, and it should be foundational and built-in.

“Customers shouldn’t be forced to make tradeoffs between security and cost. The maximum-security zone is for individual cloud customers who can set their customised policies and under their control while Cloud Guard is a constant and on-going guard with AI capability in your entire environment which can draw users’ attention for likely breaches,” Sutherland said.

Many of the security breaches which had happened are due to human errors, he said and Oracle is making absolute effort to eliminate, as much as possible, human errors.

“I don’t know whether anyone has an autonomous database that looks after itself and we are the only one who has taken security seriously and taken it to the next level. Security is built into every layer within the cloud – infrastructure, database and applications,” he said.

With the current scenario, he said that security is vital and some backdoors could be mistakenly opened to hackers as IT demands are increasing and putting pressure on valuable resources of human beings,” he said.

“Many organisations are making much greater use of the digital infrastructure during the Covid and humans cannot spend much time to manage and monitor data. So, we must have a cleverer way of managing the data and that is what Cloud Guard is doing, machines are looking after machines,” he said.

When Oracle built its second-generation core cloud infrastructure, he said that it was based on four main principles – performance, security, openness (interoperable with other cloud providers) and autonomous capabilities.

Addressing the challenges

Moreover, Sutherland said that Oracle created a brand new infrastructure cloud from scratch with a key focus on engineering to address the challenges and that is Gen 2 Oracle cloud infrastructure.

Gartner in its “Magic Quadrant for Cloud Infrastructure and Platform Services” report said that Oracle, a niche player, is now well-positioned to handle broad lift-and-shift use cases (not just those limited to Oracle applications) and hybrid workloads, and has a future focus on expanding the worldwide geographies it serves with competitive capabilities.

 “Oracle is distinguished among most companies of its lineage in that it has developed thoughtfully architected, hyperscale cloud architectures that are competitive with the more-established cloud providers,” the research firm said.

According to Gartner, Oracle has demonstrated impressive improvements in both the IaaS and PaaS capabilities of OCI in the past year. Between 2019 and 2020, Gartner stated that OCI improved from a solution score of 38 out of 100, to 62 out of 100. Its score on the required criteria vital to businesses improved from 45 per cent to 74 per cent.

“Compared to AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Alibaba Cloud, Oracle is the provider whose scores improved the most in 2020,” the research firm said.

The US giant also reported a 140 per cent jump in its Gen2 public cloud revenue in its fourth-quarter results that ended on May 31.

Sutherland said that many of the customers that Oracle added recently - Zoom, 8X8, McAfee, 7-Eleven, GE, Sky, Outfront, CERN, Cisco and Nissan - are not new to the cloud.

“They were using other cloud providers’ services for years and the customers have seen our efforts such as increased security, low manageability costs and better scalability performance,” he said.

When looking to move to the cloud, organisations need to look at the service offerings of the cloud providers and the investments they have made in the region, he said.



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Where to buy a Nintendo Switch: how to find a Switch in stock right now

You're not alone if you're wondering where to buy a Nintendo Switch. With stock shortages hitting retailers across the world, plenty of Nintendo fans are still waiting to get their hands on either the fully fledged console, or its handheld-only Lite version. That said, we're seeing the Nintendo Switch in stock a little more often right now, and with rumors of production starting back up again things might be a little more stable soon. 

The reason these consoles keep selling out is obvious: a lot of people have been in lockdown over the past few months, and this is the best console to buy right now, given that the Xbox One and PS4 will be replaced this year. See our Nintendo Switch bundles and deals page for an around-the-clock update on how the console's supplies are doing, but below we'll pick out stock across the internet for your convenience. If you're just after a handheld, you'll find the latest Nintendo Switch Lite deals and sales available as well. We're also bringing you the best cheap Pro Controller prices as well so you can get the full experience.

Nintendo Switch stock alert US, UK & AU: 

Where to buy a Nintendo Switch in the US

If you're looking for a Nintendo Switch in stock in the US, you'll want to head to GameStop first. With their higher value bundles dissuading scalpers, any new stock that does come in seems to last a lot longer here. If there's nothing available at GameStop, however, you'll want to check Amazon and Newegg as well. 

Nintendo Switch Neon | Animal Crossing | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Minecraft | Pro Controller: $519 at GameStop
This is a lot to pay for a Nintendo Switch in stock this weekend, but you're actually getting good value here. With three big name games and a Pro Controller included, GameStop is making sure only the fans are buying their new Switch stock to avoid scalpers here.
View Deal

Nintendo Switch Gray | Animal Crossing | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Minecraft | Pro Controller: $519 at GameStop
You'll also find the Gray Nintendo Switch in stock at GameStop this weekend as well. Offering up the same bundle as above, we'd move quickly on this one to avoid disappointment.
View Deal

Where to look for more Nintendo Switch Lite and Nintendo Switch stock:

Where to buy a Nintendo Switch in the UK

If you're looking for where to buy a Nintendo Switch in the UK, your best bet is to check Very and Argos first. These two retailers have been the first to post new stock when it has become available in the UK, so offer your best shot at grabbing a console as soon as it hits the shelf. Amazon has also offered up its own inventory over the past few weeks as well, however. 

Nintendo Switch Neon Red & Blue: £279 at Currys
Currys currently has the Nintendo Switch in stock, with the standard £279 price on the Neon Red & Blue model. You'll have to move quickly, though, because these offers run out quick. You'll also find stock available at Amazon for this price as well.
View Deal

Nintendo Switch | Animal Crossing New Horizons: £319 at Currys
Or, bundle up and save some cash on this Animal Crossing: New Horizons bundle. Currys will only have a limited supply of these consoles, though, so don't leave it too long.
View Deal

Nintendo Switch | Paper Mario: The Origami King: £319.99 at Very
Paper Mario: The Origami King is the latest first party title to hit the Nintendo Switch system, which makes its inclusion in Very's selection of bundles all the more impressive this week.
View Deal

Nintendo Switch | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: £319.99 at Very
There's no doubt about it, Mario Kart is a classic starter game for a new Nintendo system. Grab the latest version with your Nintendo Switch deal for £319.99 at Very.
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Nintendo Switch | Luigi's Mansion 3: £319.99 at Very
Luigi's Mansion 3 offers an excellent multiplayer and single player experience for kids and adults alike. It's a fan favourite when it comes to Nintendo Switch deals, so be quick to snap up this offer from Very.
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Nintendo Switch | Super Mario Maker 2: £319.99 at Very
Think you could do a better job? Prove it with Super Mario Maker 2 - this Nintendo Switch bundle offers up the DIY platforming creator for a fantastic £319 price at Very.
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Nintendo Switch | Pokemon Sword / Shield: £319.99 at Very
The latest Pokemon games are also included in Very's Nintendo Switch deals. Linked here is Pokemon Sword, but you'll also find Shield for the same price.
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Nintendo Switch | The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening: £319.99 at Very
If you're feeling nostalgic, the latest Nintendo Switch stock also includes this Link's Awakening bundle for the same £319.99 price.
View Deal

Where to buy a Nintendo Switch in Australia

With things slowly getting back to normal in most of Australia's states and territories, Nintendo Switch stock has started return to store shelves and online retailers. That said, the highly sought-after console/handheld doesn't tend to stay in stock for very long, meaning it's best to act fast in order to secure a unit. Here are the best Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite deals in Australia at the moment.

Nintendo Switch console (2019 edition) | AU$449

It seems like every time Nintendo Switch consoles (with docking station and detachable Joy-Cons) are back in stock at Amazon Australia, they sell out incredibly fast! Thankfully, the console is back in stock once again, meaning you can pick up the Switch in both the  Neon Blue/Red Joy-Cons or Grey Joy-Cons versions right now for AU$449 if you hurry! We don't expect this batch to last long, so grab yours today!View Deal

Nintendo Switch Lite: Amazon Australia – AU$299

While Nintendo Switch Lite consoles had temporarily sold out in some colours, Amazon now has it stocked in every shade for only AU$299 – that's AU$30.95 off the RRP. That means you can pick up the grey,  coralturquoise and yellow editions right now. Better hurry though, we can't imagine every colour will be available for long.
View Deal

Nintendo Switch Lite: Kogan – AU$299 - AU$346

Kogan still has some of Nintendo Switch Lite units in stock at varying prices, with the yellow, grey and turquoise versions now priced lower than before at AU$299 – which is AU$30.95 cheaper than the RRP. Additionally, Kogan also has the coral edition priced slightly higher at AU$346.
View Deal

No Nintendo Switch in stock? Here's where to buy a Switch Lite

The Nintendo Switch Lite is a handheld-only console, while the Nintendo Switch functions as a home console, too, plugging into your TV. That said, if you want a Nintendo Switch right now, the Switch Light is far easier to get hold of. Here's where it's in stock right now. 

Why is the Nintendo Switch selling out?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

It's a combination of a few factors: the global pandemic has led to a rush of people buying the console to fill their hours indoors, which isn't surprising. At the same time, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has released, a long-awaited game and a massive crossover hit that's captured the imaginations of a wider, mainstream audience. The Switch has been regularly selling out for a while now. This has just exacerbated the issue. 

In addition, back in February, Bloomberg posted a report warning that a potential bottleneck with component supplies coming out of China (caused by coronavirus) would see stock dry up as soon as April. If the reasoning mentioned in that report was correct, it looks like they were pretty on the money with the timing, except stock looks like it'll be gone even faster than that. 

"Nintendo Switch hardware is selling out at various retail locations in the US, but more systems are on the way. We apologize for any inconvenience," is what Nintendo told THR in a statement. So, more stock is on the way. But when will you you be able to buy a Nintendo Switch?

When will the Nintendo Switch be back in stock?

The situation is hard to predict given that Nintendo has reportedly faced supply line issues over the current health crisis, but Nintendo intends to make 10% more consoles than it did in 2019 to help meet the increase in demand (assuming its supply lines can keep up). A Nintendo representative told Nikkei, though, that it can't be sure how many Switch units will be supplied as it procures parts for the console.

Our prediction? The Switch will be hard to get hold of all year, but we'd be surprised if we see many more new units released as parts of the world are in lockdown. We're hopeful we'll see the Switch more readily available in the summer months.

Again, this is just our best guess, but you can be guaranteed that when the Switch does come back, folks will be rushing to claim the new consoles. It's very likely to sell out again. 

In the meantime, our advice is to avoid being gouged by third-party sellers who are inflating the price. $299.99/£279.99/AU$469 is the MSRP/RRP for the regular Switch, while $199.99/£199.99/AU$329 is the price for the Switch Lite. Paying above that isn't worth it unless you're picking up a bundle with games and accessories. 

Where to buy Nintendo Switch when stock returns

As soon as those consoles hit that warehouse, retailers are going to want to get them on the shelves. And you can bet they'll be flying into delivery trucks just as quickly. If you hear word that the Nintendo Switch is back in stock in the US, Amazon and Walmart will be your best bet. 

With massive warehouse inventories, speedy delivery, and quick checkout processes, these retailers are primed to pick up your Nintendo Switch order ahead of the queue. Plus, in all our time covering Nintendo Switch bundle deals, these stores have consistently won out in value, meaning you're more likely to grab some extras for your cash. 

where to buy Nintendo Switch

(Image credit: Nintendo)

In the UK, Currys and Game are likely to offer the first bundles of the pack, though don't underestimate the power of Argos same day delivery if you want your console now. We'll likely see the best prices come out of Currys, who are normally reluctant to increase the cost of the console as demand reaches its peak, and if you're looking for the fastest checkout times to secure yours before everyone else, you'll want to keep an eye on Amazon as well.

If stock has already been wiped clean at these retailers by the time you get there, you'll still be left wondering where to buy a Nintendo Switch. Luckily, plenty of non-tech retailers stock the Nintendo Switch as well, so you'll have luck with John Lewis, Jacamo and Studio among others.

In Australia, Amazon is likely your best bet, though it's worth keeping an eye on other online stores, such as Kogan and eBay. While it might take a while, big retailers such as JB Hi-Fi and Big W are also likely to receive new stock, and game retailers such as EB Games and The Gamesmen are also expected to get more units soon.

Don't leave yourself wondering where to buy a Nintendo Switch on the day, get prepped now and you have every chance of bagging one when the masses flock to the shelves.

Right now, you're more likely to find a Switch Lite than you are a regular Switch, but stock is still selling out fast. Here's a quick price comparison chart for the Switch Lite:



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Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Retro-styled Amazfit Neo smartwatch now available in India

The affordable Amazfit Neo smartwatch is now available in India. After launching Amazfit Bip S and Bip S Lite earlier this year, the company has expanded its affordable wearable portfolio to even cheaper price point with the Amazfit Neo. 

The Amazfit Neo is a smartwatch that comes in a retro-styled design with a four-sided screen - equipped with four physical buttons. These buttons are can be used to perform select, back, up, and down operations. You get a 1.2-inch STN monochrome screen with always-on display feature. There is also a lift-to-wake feature. The Amazfit Neo features a durable exterior case and PUR strap. The smartwatch is water-resistant up to 50 meters.

(Image credit: Huami)

The Amazfit Neo harnesses Bluetooth 5.0 and can be paired with new Zepp app to gain more control over the smartwatch. Talking about the features that are offered, you get three basic modes here - walking, running, and cycling. The watch is also equipped with PPG bio-tracking optical sensor, that monitors your heart rate 24 hours a day. The sleep quality monitoring can measure your total sleep, light sleep, deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM). 

And, lastly the PAI score a.k.a Personal Activity Intelligence. Using a special algorithm, this system converts complex data like heart rate, active time, and other indicators into values that help you assess your overall health. The watch can last up to 28 days on a single charge and it takes about 150 minutes to completely charge the smartwatch. It has a 160mAh battery built-in. 

The body of the smartwatch is made up of plastic and weighs 32 grams. The dimension of the watch stands at - 40.3 x 41 x 11.7mm. The Amazfit is compatible with Android 5.0 or iOS 10.0 and above. 

Pricing and availability

Checkout Amazfit Neo on Flipkart | Amazon

Rs 2,499View Deal

The Amazfit Neo is available on Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra starting today. It is priced at Rs 2,499 in Green, Black, and Red colour options. 



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