The online marketplace Etsy has been flooded with activity since the pandemic’s onset as millions flocked to online shopping to stave off lockdown blues. However, that pandemic-fueled growth is also highlighting Etsy’s struggle to moderate what goes up for sale on its platform. A recent Insider investigation found…
The credit scores of millions of Americans were left exposed online when a lender misused an API belonging to the credit reporting agency Experian.
As first reported by Krebs on Security, independent security researcher Bill Demirkapi was shopping around for student loan vendors online when he discovered that he could easily pull up his Experian credit score just by entering only a portion of the information normally required to do so.
Demirkapi was on a site that offered to check his loan eligibility just by entering his name, address and date of birth. Normally when using a credit monitoring service, Americans also need to provide their social security number to get access to their credit scores.
After providing the necessary information, Demirkapi took a look at the code on the lender's site and it was then that he found that the company had been invoking Experian's API. He provided more details on the significance of his discovery in a statement to Krebs on Security, saying:
“No one should be able to perform an Experian credit check with only publicly available information. Experian should mandate non-public information for promotional inquiries, otherwise an attacker who found a single vulnerability in a vendor could easily abuse Experian’s system.”
To make matters worse, Demirkapi also found that the Experian API being invoked on this particular lender's website could be accessed without any sort of authentication. In fact, he was even able to enter all zeros on the site's date of birth field to pull a person's credit score.
From here, Demirkapi built his own command-line tool to speed up these lookups which he named “Bill's Cool Credit Score Lookup Utility”. Besides being able to pull a person's credit score, the Experian API also provides information on up to four “risk factors” that could explain why their score isn't higher.
In the end, Demirkapi reached out to Experian and the company was able to discover which lender was exposing its API online. In a statement, Experian explained that it takes data security and matters such as this very seriously, saying:
“We have been able to confirm a single instance of where this situation has occurred and have taken steps to alert our partner and resolve the matter. While the situation did not implicate or compromise any of Experian’s systems, we take this matter very seriously. Data security has always been, and always will be, our highest priority.”
When a book franchise has a fanbase as fervent as Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, some fans will always complain about any deviation from the source material, even if it’s necessary to bring the books to live-action. However, Netflix is confident its Shadow and Bone TV series is so good no fan could possibly find fault…
Marvel’s upcoming Disney+ show Secret Invasion is quickly turning into an Avengers-level collection of talent. Of course we already knew Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn would reprise their MCU roles. Then Kingsley Ben-Adir joined the mix. Then Olivia Colman. Then Emilia Clarke. And now a new cast member is…
You’d be forgiven if you had forgotten by now that Hulu announced back in January that a slate of new ViacomCBS channels was coming to its live TV service. They’re finally here.
Android has far more offerings in the premium smartphone space than Apple. Yet, for someone looking for a more compact device, the options quickly reduce. Asus is looking to change that with the upcoming Zenfone 8 Mini.
On May 12, the Asus Zenfone 8 series will be unveiled, with at least two devices in the family — a regular and a mini. Compact Android smartphones are an endangered species, with barely a handful of devices fitting the bill in the last few years. It seems like Asus wants to try its hand at making a small-sized flagship, and possibly take on the iPhone 12.
Based on information received by DealNTech, the Asus Zenfone 8 Mini will a 5.92-inch screen, which is smaller than the iPhone 12’s 6.1-inch but slightly larger than the iPhone 12 Mini’s 5.4-inch displays. It is expected to have an aspect ratio in the ballpark of 20:9, making it one of the smallest and narrowest Android smartphones of recent times.
Other specifications from the leak include up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which suggest that Asus is really pitting the Zenfone 8 Mini as a full-fledged powerhouse and not a sidekick. The battery capacity is tipped to be 4,000mAh with support for 30W fast charging.
One of the major reasons why Android OEMs have avoided making compact smartphones is because it is difficult to offer good battery life on these devices. Not only do the batteries have to be physically small, but even the high-end chipsets from Qualcomm, such as the Snapdragon 888, are known to be particularly power-hungry. It remains to be seen how Asus tackles this issue.
Another teaser revealed that the Asus Zenfone 8 Mini’s display will have a punch-hole display instead of the series’ iconic flipping cameras, with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Other expected additions include dual- cameras, Android 11, and of course, the Snapdragon 888 chipset.
It has been a hard week in India as the blighted Covid-19 continued its fatal sweep across the country. In such a situation, entertainment may be the last thing on many people's mind. On the other hand, it can also be argued that entertainment, as represented by films and series, may be the welcome distraction for people stressed out by the pandemic.
So, in this weekly recommendation list, we have our usual bag of films from Bollywood and South, and we have also included in the mix a comedy show in the belief that some light-hearted humour may be the salve that is much-needed in the situation.
There is Vakeel Saab, the Telugu adaptation of the much-acclaimed Hindi movie Pink. The Mammootty starrer '1' should be another interesting political drama. We also have the masala entertainer Sulthan releasing in two versions --- in Telugu and Tamil. We have the Hindi action crime thriller Mumbai Saga. The weekly roster is completed by the series LOL- Hasse Toh Phasse that will witness some of the most celebrated Indian comedy entertainers.
Director: Sanjay Gupta
Cast: John Abraham, Emraan Hashmi, Suniel Shetty, Kajal Aggarwal, Rohit Roy, Anjana Sukhani, Mahesh Manjrekar, Prateik Babbar, Samir Soni, Amole Gupte, Gulshan Grover, Shriya Pilgaonkar.
Synopsis: The film is set in Mumbai, circa the happening 90s. It is an action thriller that has an ensemble cast. This cop vs gangster explores the different tangents of hopes, aspirations, friendships and betrayals. As the film's publicity material put it, "Mumbai Saga is a tale of the Bombay that it was and the Mumbai that it became." That kind of nicely sums up the film and its gritty treatment.
Language: Hindi
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Release date: April 27, 2021.
Director: Santosh Viswanath
Cast: Mammootty, Murali Gopi, Nimisha Vijayan, Joju George, Siddique
Synopsis: This political thriller hit the theatres last month, and in under 4 weeks it has made it to OTT platform. The film has Mammootty playing the character of the Kerala Chief Minister Kadakkal Chandran. And the general speculation is that this a loose take-off on the real-life Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. But the film has no mention of any party name or ideology or even a visual with political flags.
Mammootty plays the honest, righteous, do-gooder Chief Minister amidst a cesspool of corrupt, self-serving politicians. His quest is to cleanse politics by championing the ‘right to recall’ bill.
Language: Malayalam
Platform: Netflix
Release date: April 27, 2021.
Director: Venu Sriram
Cast: Pawan Kalayan, Nivetha Thomas, Anjali, Ananya Nagalla, Prakash Raj, Shruthi Haasan, Kalyan
Synopsis: The story is well known as its original Pink in Hindi was a national hit. So what holds the key to this Pawan Kalyan-starrer in Telugu is its treatment. Now, Pawan is a mass hero, and his fans would want to see him in a larger-than-life masala entertainer. Does the sensitive story of Pink have scope for those things?
Apparently, it does, as the film when it was released a couple of weeks ago arrived to packed cinema houses. It reportedly made over Rs103 crore in its opening week.
The original Hindi film, written by Ritesh Shah and directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, narrates the story of three women who are implicated in a crime and how a retired lawyer steps forward to help them clear their names. The larger theme is about a woman's consent, and when she says no it means a no.
Language: Telugu
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Release date: April 30, 2021.
Director: Bakkiyaraj Kannan
Cast: Karthi, Rashmika Mandanna
Synopsis: The film has a dual release on the streaming platforms. This Tamil original gets to stream on Disney+ Hotstar on May 2. But the dubbed Telugu version will be streamed on Aha from April 30.
The action drama marks the Kollywood debut of Geetha Govindam fame actor Rashmika Mandanna. Sulthan is director Bakkiyaraj Kannan’s second film following the Sivakarthikeyan starrer Remo.
The story is about a man who sets out to reform his brothers for good, but finds himself stuck between the path of violence and the road to his love.
The film had its theatrical release in both languages on April 2.
Language: Tamil, Telugu
Platforms: Disney+ Hotstar, Aha
Release dates: May 2, 2021 & April 30, 2021.
Cast: Cyrus Broacha, Sunil Grover, Suresh Menon, Gaurav Gera, Kusha Kapila, Mallika Dua, Ankita Shrivastav, Aakash Gupta, Aditi Mittal, Aadar Malik.
Synopsis: This is the Hindi version of the well-acclaimed International Amazon Original Series LOL. In India, it's LOL- Hasse Toh Phasse. The unscripted comedy will feature India’s popular comedy entertainers Cyrus Broacha, Sunil Grover, Suresh Menon, Gaurav Gera, Kusha Kapila, Mallika Dua, Ankita Shrivastav, Aakash Gupta, Aditi Mittal, Aadar Malik as contestants.
Popular actors Boman Irani and Arshad Warsi are the show hosts. The show brings ten professional comedians pitted against each other for six consecutive hours with two objectives – to make the others in the house laugh and more importantly, ensure that they do not laugh or even smile themselves.
This is a 6-hour long comedy duel. The 'Last One Laughing' stands to win the prize of Rs 25 Lakh.
Language: Hindi
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Release date: April 30, 2021.
Enjoy these shows and films as they are a good excuse to stay at home and beat the Covid-10 virus. Mask up, and stay safe, folks.
Video editing tools – like photo editing tools – are often thought to be expensive, complicated and something best left to the professionals. But with its selection of super-user-friendly software, Movavi goes a long way to help break this widely held notion.
The company has been producing accessible yet powerful multimedia and creative programs for over 15 years, catering for individuals, businesses and educational establishments alike.
Covering everything from screen capture, video editing and video conversion to photo editing and making slideshows, Movavi has a range of tools to help you get creative in a variety of ways.
Whether you're looking to create an animated slideshow to show off your holiday photos, want to tweak your images to improve their look, or need to create a video presentation that includes footage of computing activity, Movavi has the software you require.
In the fields of photo and video editing, there are some big names that tend to spring to mind, but these are usual expensive, professional-level tools that will be overwhelming and intimidating for the majority of people.
The same cannot be said of Movavi's tools, which manage to balance of powerful features with a highly approachable ease of use. Programs such as Movavi Video Editor, Movavi Picverse, Movavi Video Converter and Movavi Screen Recorder also score major points when it comes to price.
Unlike many rival products, all of Movavi's desktop software is available for both Windows and macOS, while the company’s mobile offerings are available for Android and iOS.
One of the highlights of the impressive collection of tools offered by Movavi is Movavi Video Editor. Perfect whether you are a vlogger looking to create professional-level output for your audience, or you need a tool to polish up some footage you shot while on vacation, the software provides you with the advanced tools and options you need get creative and generate some stunning results.
We're talking far more than simply arrange video clips on a timeline – although this is a very basic function of the program. You can use a range of impressive special effects to liven up your videos, add remarkable transitions between scenes, set the mood with an atmospheric soundtrack, add intro scenes and more.
It does not matter if you are not the best cameraperson in the world. Even if you have a shaky recording of an unsteady hand, Movavi Video Editor can fix your footage for you.
If you want to really blow away your audience, you can experiment with Chroma Key (also known as green screen) to completely change the backgrounds of videos and come up with creations that would simply not be possible otherwise – including using striking picture-in-picture effects.
There are a number of special effects included with the app, but if you need something more advance, or you're in need to further inspiration, look no further than the Movavi Effects Store where you can purchase addition effect packs.
These are themed, grouping together the tools and effects needed by YouTubers, Instagrammer, vloggers and influencers into affordable bundles that are a great way to extend the functionality of an already powerful application.
You should be getting the sense that Movavi Video Editor is not only powerful and user-friendly, but also highly versatile. This is a theme that's common to all of the software from Movavi.
Other notable tools from the company include Screen Recorder for recording on-screen activity ready for use in tutorials and presentations.
You can find out more about Movavi over on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. If you head over to the Movavi website, you can download free trial versions of the company's various programs so you can take them for a no-commitment test drive.
So what are you waiting for? Get downloading and get creative right now!
If you like what you see and try, it's worth noting the software bundle that is on offer. For just $119.95 you can buy Movavi Unlimited which includes all of the company's creative tools in a money-saving package that slashes more than 90 percent off the usual selling price when compared to buying each of the programs individually.
We’re in the midst of a new, digital age of media, and the rising popularity of internet content may have your own creative juices flowing. From video platforms like YouTube and TikTok, to social media sites such as Instagram, there's a platform out there ready to host your ideas.
All you have to do is bring them to life, but the sheer quantity of applications to do so can be overwhelming – which is where a Movavi can help. Established in 2004, Movavi has created a range of multimedia programs that aren’t just powerful, they’re easy to use, helping to alleviate any confusion between you and a new passion.
These programs can cover everything you need to get started, so we’ve collated some of the best software below to guide you through the benefits of using Movavi for your next project.
Many video editing programs are targeting solely towards seasoned professionals, with an intimidating (and often unnecessary) amount of features layed out in a hard to use format. The Movavi Video Editor was creative with a more open mind, creating accessibility for everyone to use regardless of skill level – all while being intuitive enough to also convert professional users.
There's no download required to use the Movavi Video Editor, allowing you to make all the edits you need directly in your browser. Simply upload your video, make your desired edits, and export and share with zero fuss.
You can remove unwanted sections of footage, overlay filters, and crop to the desired aspect ratio in minutes, giving you more time to come up with ideas for your next feature. Given almost every successful video you will have seen online has been cut, cropped, and edited in some way, it's essential that your content gets some attention before you post raw footage onto your platform of choice.
Perhaps your content requires footage captured from online calls or seminars, or you simply want to record video instructions or tutorials for safekeeping – the Movavi Screen Recorder is the easiest way to capture footage from your desktop. This is a lifeline for students in the current pandemic who may be dependant on online learning resources, or for saving precious family moments from zoom calls.
Simply set up your capture area and adjust the recording settings as desired. You can then hit the REC button for screen capture, and even make simple edits to your footage before you save the file. Your final recording will be free of long, rambling introductions, or unrequired sections can be removed to cut down the length of your video where required.
You can even set up a schedule for recording if you have recurrent events and seminars by choosing a date and time for the screen capture to start recording and draw on live footage to highlight important information to revisit at a later time.
If Instagram or Pinterest is more your bag then Movavi Picverse is an absolute must, designed as the perfect PC photography editing tool for any skill level. Where clunkier software excludes novice photographers, Picverse is intuitively designed for users regardless of current skill level, packed with smart tools to give you beautiful results in no time at all.
With AI Auto Enhance, you can adjust the displayed slider to optimize the colors and contrast of your image without messing with individual settings, and further artificial intelligence features are included to take on work that usually requires years of training, such as restoring and colorizing old photos.
You’ll also get access to over 100+ filters and tools that make removing objects and flawlessly retouching portraits a breeze, taking your initial photographs and turning them into professional-quality photographs for all of your projects.
There are few things as frustrating as receiving a file that isn’t the correct format for your needs, and the pain of trying to find suitable software to convert them into a usable video or image is known by many.
Thankfully, Movavi also has you covered on that with the Movavi Video Converter, a lifesaving video converting tool that can convert the offending media files to over 180 different formats to suit your needs. Not only that, but alterations can be made directly to the videos in the software, such as compressing without a loss in quality for websites that don’t allow large file sizes, and merging videos together into a larger, singular file.
Audio clips can also be adjusted for any podcast recordings or voice notes you may need to work on, and images imported to create slideshows or presentations.
Whatever your media needs, Movavi has you covered across its wide range of reliable tools to help you on your content creation journey with fantastic programs for users from novice to professional.
Another PUBG game is getting the curtain calls in India. Developers have announced that PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Lite or PUBG Lite for short which was available for PC has reached the end of its life and is being terminated as of April 29.
The developers have announced that the first step to the termination process will be to shut down lite.pubg.com, which will follow end of service. But the developers mention that the Facebook page will still be operated till May 29 when player support is set to end.
“Dear Players, We are deeply grateful for the passion and support from the astounding number of PUBG LITE fans that have been with us. During the strenuous times of the COVID-19 pandemic, we hope that PUBG LITE was able to provide our fans a fun way to stay safe. Unfortunately, we have made the difficult decision to close service after much deliberation and the time has come for our journey to end,” wrote the developers on the PUBG Lite webpage last month.
The servers of the game stopped at 10:30 am IST on April 29, which means that players will no longer be able to find matches, buy currencies and spend what they already have invested in the game.
PUBG Lite was made popular because it ran the core game with much lower requirements for graphics. This meant that people who did not have PCs with specs to run the original PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds game could opt to play this one.
The PC and the console versions of PUBG has survived in India despite the mobile versions being banned because these have essentially been developed by the team at Krafton in South Korea. But the PC and console versions of PUBG have been losing players for a while now which could be one of the possible reasons why the developers decided to end service of PUBG Lite.
Loosely based on Paul Theroux’s 1981 novel of the same name, and starring the author's nephew Justin in the lead role, this Apple TV Plus exclusive looks set to take viewers on a tense journey across Mexico.
Described as a seven-part chase, it's a must-watch for thriller fans, so read on and we'll explain below how to watch The Mosquito Coast online with Apple TV Plus now.
Premiere date: Friday, April 30
New episodes: every Friday at 12am midnight PT / 3am ET / 8am BST
Cast: Justin Theroux, Melissa George, Gabriel Bateman, Logan Polish, Kimberly Elise
Watch now: stream The Mosquito Coast on Apple TV Plus for $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$7.99 per month.
The drama follows the dangerous journey of radical idealist and inventor, Allie Fox (Justin Theroux), who uproots his family for Mexico when they suddenly find themselves on the run from the US government.
Tracked by two determined agents (Kimberly Elise, James LeGros), Allie keeps his wife Margot (Melissa George) and young children safe as they abscond across the border to evade criminal charges.
Things soon unravel further as the Foxes unwittingly stumble into even more trouble after crossing paths with a powerful Mexican drug cartel.
The original novel was given the big screen treatment back in the mid-eighties, but the movie starring Harrison Ford was infamously a flop, with many critics panning the film for stripping out the books action-packed tension.
With shootouts, life-threatening snakebites and deadly assassins all promised to feature in the opening episodes, it looks like this new adaptation will be a far more gripping ride - here's how to watch The Mosquito Coast online with Apple TV Plus.
This much-anticipated drama series is exclusive to Apple TV Plus, with the show's first two episodes premiering on the service on Friday April 30.
New episodes will be made available on the service every Friday from then on.
Now available in over 100 countries, including the United States, the UK, mainland Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India, Apple TV Plus is the iPhone maker's very own exclusive streaming service.
Offering a raft of exclusive movies, documentaries and kids shows, with most offered in glorious 4k and HDR, the service currently costs $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$7.99 per month.
You can sign up and watch Apple TV+ content through Apple’s TV app, which, somewhat unsurprisingly, is available on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac computers, in addition to some supported third-party smart TVs from Samsung, LG and Sony, as well as Roku, and Fire TV devices.
Apple TV Plus currently offers a seven-day free trial, and if you're new to the service and have just bought a new iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac you're currently entitled to a massive bonus of a full year's subscription to the streaming service.
Failing those options, you can also watch Apple TV+ on a browser.
While Apple's answer to Netflix has a comparatively tiny library of films and shows to get stuck into, what's available is top-notch, well-produced fare with little in the way of filler.
The service's launch calling card was The Morning Show, a drama starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell, which was complemented by See - an epic sci-fi drama starring Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard, as well as M. Night Shyamalan’s horror series, Servant.
The service's surprise big breakout show so far has been the Jason Sudeikis comedy Ted Lasso, which follows an American football coach hired to coach a Premier League football team, which has earned an army of fans and a sizeable amount of gongs during this year's awards season.
The small but great library is set to grow at a steady pace - alongside incoming second seasons of Ted Lasso and The Morning Show, Apple TV Plus looks to have a pretty strong-looking upcoming schedule of new exclusive content.
The Martin Scorsese-directed Killers of the Flower Moon, promises a 'large-scale Western' that stars big guns Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.
The Shrink Next Door, meanwhile, is a new comedy series based on the 2019 podcast of the same name, that is set to bring together Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd, while Foundation is a much-anticipated sci-fi series based on the books by Isaac Asimov, and starring Chernobyl's Jared Harris and Lee Pace.
Read more:
If you’re looking for a cheap laptop or a deeply discounted premium machine, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve scoured the web for savings and rounded up all the genuine deals in one neat place.
You’ll find we’ve covered everything from budget browsing machines to high-performance powerhouses, so you’ll no doubt find something here to match your needs.
We’ve highlighted a selection of the latest deals that we’ve sniffed out, and if you scroll further down, we've rounded up some of our favourite laptops in a dedicated buying guide.
Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) | M1 / 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD | AU$1,349 (RRP AU$1,499, save AU$150)
It’s not too often we see MacBooks discounted, particularly the latest models. But that’s exactly what’s available, and the MacBook Air (M1, 2020) just so happens to be our favourite laptop in Australia. Under the hood is Apple’s own M1 processor, which has greatly improved both performance and battery life for the laptop. Available from the Apple education store.
Apple MacBook Pro (M1, 2020) | M1 / 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD | AU$1,749 (RRP AU$1,899, save AU$150)
As with the MacBook Air above, the MacBook Pro (M1, 2020) has also had a major update to its internals. The M1 chip delivers exceptional battery life and excellent performance, which exceeds the Intel CPUs that previously ran Apple’s MacBooks. You can now save AU$150 on the machine when you buy from the Apple education store.
Dell XPS 13 | i5 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD | AU$1,501 (RRP AU$1,899, save AU$398)
The Dell XPS 13 is a beautiful piece of kit, and we’d go so far as to say it’s one of the best laptops you can buy. This 2020 model packs Intel’s 11th-gen i5 processor that delivers excellent performance. As for bezels, there’s hardly any to speak of, and despite its power and all-encompassing display, battery life is still great on this laptop. There’s now AU$398 to be saved on this machine, just use the code LOVEKEANU at checkout.
HP Spectre x360 | i7 / 16GB RAM / 1TB SSD | AU$2,719 (RRP AU$3,399, save AU$680)
This is the 2020 update to HP’s flagship 2-in-1, and it’s more feature rich than ever. You’ll find Intel’s 11th-gen i7 CPU under the hood and 16GB of RAM to boost its performance. That’s packed into a rather slender chassis, and the design is undeniably beautiful. It’s still quite a dear laptop, but this sale knocks 20% off the RRP, saving you AU$680.
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook | AU$395 (RRP AU$499, save AU$104)
We rate the cheap and cheerful Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook as one of the best student laptops you can buy in a 2-in-1 form factor. This pint-sized laptop is portable and lightweight, with a screen that measures just 10-inches and a keyboard that can be detached entirely. It’s equipped with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. Nab this Lenovo Chromebook for just AU$395 from Amazon.
Asus ROG Zephyrus S15 | i7 / 16GB RAM / 1TB SSD / RTX 2070 Super | AU$2,599 (RRP AU$3,299, save AU$700)
There’s a huge chunk of change to be saved on this gaming laptop when you buy from Scorptec. It’s equipped with a 10th-gen Intel i7 chip, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. An RTX 2070 Super takes care of the graphics, so you’ll be missing out on Nvidia’s brand-new RTX 3000-series. Still, there’s much to like with its blitzing 300Hz screen refresh rate and its attractive chassis.
[EBAY PLUS EXCLUSIVE]
MSI GF65 Thin | i5 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD / RTX 3060 | AU$1,699 (RRP AU$1,799, save AU$100)
Under the hood of this gaming laptop you’ll find an RTX 3060 Max-Q GPU, which comes from Nvidia’s brand-new (and hard to get) RTX 3000-series. It comes with ray-tracing support, often delivering frame rates up to twice that of a GTX 1650 Ti, which is what you’ll commonly find in laptops around this price point. You’ll need to be an eBay Plus member to be eligible for this deal, then enter the code PLUSDE1 to save AU$100 on the rig from Wireless 1’s eBay store.
HP Omen 15 | i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD / RTX 2080 | AU$1,999 (RRP AU$3,799, save AU$1,800)
This HP Omen 15 is outfitted with a 9th-gen Core i7 processor, while an RTX 2080 handles the graphics. There’s also 16GB of RAM in its arsenal, plus a 512GB SSD. The laptop is encased inside a slick all-metal chassis with a decent 15-inch Full HD LED display. There’s AU$800 to be saved on this Omen when you buy from Microsoft.
Over the years we've reviewed plenty of laptops, and as a result, we've seen what to avoid and what to jump on when there's savings to be had. We'll keep track of the prices of some of the best we've seen so that you can snatch up a bargain when they do show up. Check out the prices below and see if anything has dropped enough to spark your interest.
Saying that we’re very happy with Dell’s XPS 13 is a huge understatement. At first glance, its slim profile and small frame don’t give away the powerful performance and gorgeous 13-inch display inside. Typically, you’d have to weigh up portability and performance, but the XPS 13 has managed to strike a fine balance between the two. Sporting Intel’s latest 10th-generation chips, much-improved battery life and barely-there bezels, the starting price of the newest iteration of the XPS 13 is a tempting proposition. We’re so chuffed with it that it’s still our favourite Ultrabook, and has taken the top spot as the best laptop overall.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 (2020)
It’s true, the Aero 15 range from Gigabyte is aimed at creatives. However, it’s also an attractive option for gamers – with powerful internals, a brilliant display and a sleek chassis – so we think it’s one of the best-value gaming machines Australians can get their hands on. The 2019 model boasts a 15-inch 4K HDR screen, which is ideal whether you’re looking to buy for high-resolution on-the-go gaming or its intended creative use. Under the hood it’s also got the option of the latest Nvidia RTX series GPUs and 9th-gen Intel Core CPUs.
Read the full review: Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED
This premium portable 2-in-1 has a lot to love: a strong build, excellent battery life and a robust feature set. It has a 360° hinge, so can easily be converted from a conventional clamshell to a handheld tablet. There’s also the addition of Dolby Atmos speakers, cleverly built into the rotating hinge, so you’ll have superb sound whichever way you use it. The screen too is vibrant, though the graphics performance could leave some wanting. Still, with an 8th-generation chip, it’s a solid all-rounder for the 2-in-1 crowd.
Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C930
If you’re looking for a student laptop, chances are you’re shopping on a budget. If that’s the case, our go-to bang-for-buck pick is the Acer Aspire 3 15-inch laptop. It’s a Chromebook, which means it runs on Google’s Chrome OS and is ideal for those with a reliable internet connection who want a laptop to browse the web and complete coursework online. The battery life isn’t the best, but if you don’t mind keeping your charging cable with you during the day, it certainly offers excellent value for money.
If you’re firmly placed in the Apple ecosystem, or you’re a Windows user thinking about converting, then we think the 2019 version of the MacBook Pro is the best Mac you can buy. It has a generous 16-inch display, and while that may spell a bulky laptop for other brands on the market, Apple remains true to form with this svelte machine. It’s got the latest and greatest components under the hood, rounded out with high-quality speakers and a much better keyboard than older models.
Read the full review: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
If you're after some more further info on the best laptops, check out some of our other dedicated articles:
Watch the video below for the top 7 things to consider when buying a laptop.
Looking for a new 4K television? The best 55-inch 4K TVs should be your first port of call, offering exceptional picture quality and feature sets at today's flagship size from all the major TV brands out there.
Since most of us have already adapted to work from home scenarios, big-screen entertainment occasionally is a gateway to have good timing with your family members - be it watching the IPL matches, movies, or shows.
Most TV manufactures have also started to launch 55-inch 4K TVs in India and especially in the year 2020, the scope for a 55-inch 4K TV grew tremendously with almost every brand jumping on the train and launching their own TVs. Not only Samsung, Sony, and Xiaomi, we witnessed smartphone makers like Realme, Nokia, and Motorola also join the smart TV gang in India. Most 4K TVs these days come in a 55-inch size, making it the most competitive sizing option – and therefore the hardest in which to choose a winner. And, of course, all the TVs here are smart with an OS inside.
1. LG 55BXPTA
2. Samsung The Frame
3. Sony Bravia X7400H
4. TCL C715
5. Xiaomi Mi QLED TV
6. Realme SLED TV
7. iFfalcon 55K61
8. Redmi X55
9. Kodak X7XPRO
55-inch 4K TVs are also a sensible middle child amongst the immense variety of sizes found on TVs today. 32-inch TVs seem small by comparison, and won't get 4K; 75-inch TVs are impactful but pricey and hard to fit in the average living room. The 55-inch TV is the Goldilocks option, neither too big nor too small.
If you’re like most TV buyers and you want a happy medium in terms of scale, price and practicality, the best 55-inch 4K TVs are where you should start your hunt for a new screen – whether you're after LED, QLED tech, or an OLED TV.
You'll still get premium features at this size too, with 4K resolution being guaranteed as well as HDR (high dynamic range) and built-in smart services and app support. We have listed the smart TVs in decreasing order of the pricing, so make sure you go through the complete list and make the best possible decision depending on your needs. We’ve also tried to include TVs for different use cases such as gaming, movies, music, etc.
Starting off the list with LG, the BX series smart TV from LG comes with a 55-inch OLED 4K resolution panel. The LG BX 55-inch brings all the goodness from the flagship CX series at a lower price tag, the only trade which you are doing is settling for the last-gen α7 Gen3 processor. The TV is also having a 40W output speaker with Dolby Atmos.
Further, in terms of connectivity, you get four HDMI 2.1 ports with support for eARC as well. The display also supports a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz, which is the biggest selling point of the television – making it ideal for next-gen console owners. A smart remote is also provided in the box with support for Google Assistant, Alexa, and Prime Video, Netflix hotkeys. The TV runs on LG’s own WebOS with support for all the popular streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, Zee5, and Apple TV.
Buy LG 4K OLED TV 55BXPTA on Amazon| Flipkart
Price: Rs 1,19,999
Rs 10,000 coupon available on Amazon
Want to turn your smart TV into a frame when you are not watching? As cool as it sounds, Samsung’s The Frame literally turns into a photo frame when you are not using it as a TV. The TV features Samsung’s QLED technology which offers beautiful colors, excellent contrasts, and details with a 100% color gamut. When the TV is not in use, the display can turn into a digital frame showcasing art.
The TVs come with Art Mode that turns into a picture frame that can display over 1,200 digital art from around the world. They also come with in-built motion and brightness sensors and are capable of adjusting the screen brightness based on the ambient light in the room.
Furthermore, the TV also comes with auto hotspot technology, USB 3.0, and support voice assistants like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Bixby. They also come with a game enhancer for smooth lag-free gaming on the big screen. You also get a content guide for curated content, personal computer mode, home cloud, and music player. Other features include laptop mirroring, remote access, and multi-layered Knox security.
Read our Samsung The Frame TV (2020) review
When it comes to smart TVs, Sony TVs will also find a way to make it to the list. While the company may not offer bang for the buck televisions, Sony smart TVs are known for their brand value and panel quality that they have been offering for many years now. The TV comes with a powerful X1 processor paired with 16GB of internal storage. The TV runs on Google’s Android TV OS with support for over 5,000 apps, Chromecast, and Google Assistant.
Sony’s 4K X Reality Pro features the Full HD content to 4K resolution. The Motion flow XR 100 analyses the scenes and inserts additional frames between the original ones and thereby offers a blur-free cinematic experience. The device comes with not-so-impressive 20W speakers. Other features include an elegant design, a remote with a Netflix button, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi, and Dolby Audio support.
One of the cheapest QLED smart TV on the list, the TCL C715 is powered by Android TV OS with support for all the Google apps and services for TV. Additionally, the 4K screen also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ content.
The smart TV also packs an IPQ engine with scene identification of HDR content to dynamically improve the visuals. The engine also improves HDR on low-light display, highlight overexposure, and detail enhancing, and makes the picture more layered, and content details richer.
TCL’s AI feature offers search function, turns on/off the TV, and even connects with your smart home devices - all of which can be controlled by your voice. There is also support for Google Assistant. For audio, the TCL TV packs in 30W speakers with DTS and Dolby Atmos. The Tv comes with an edge-to-edge panel with a metallic frame that looks stunning.
Priced competitively and with equally impressive specs, the Xiaomi Mi QLED smart TV is the first premium TV by Mi India. While the 4K panel brings ample sharpness, the QLED technology underneath is clearly the star of the show. It offers incredible color vibrancy, contrast, and dynamic range -- at levels that are usually seen on expensive products only.
The Xiaomi Mi QLED TV 4K is an easy recommendation for anyone looking to get a TV with premium features without burning the pocket. There are in-built speakers onboard which the company claims eliminate the need for a soundbar with decent sound quality.
Lastly, to bind everything together, we have PatchWall. The custom interface, even if a little heavy, is a great way to find content to watch, even if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
Read our Mi QLED TV review
The world’s first SLED TV was unveiled by Realme in India. The 60Hz display has a maximum brightness of 300 nits. It has a striking 108% NTSC ultra-wide color gamut and dynamic range of 137%. The display features the world’s first SLED technology which is based on SPD or Spectral Power Distribution technology.
It differs from QLED in the color of the backlight where QLED uses blue light, SLED uses white. It has support for HDR10+ content as well. It is powered by a 64-bit quad-core MediaTek processor with the Mali 470 MP3 GPU. It also features 16GB of internal storage along with 1.5GB of RAM. It runs on Android TV 9.0 and comes with Chromecast built-in.
In terms of audio, the Realme SLED 4K Smart TV comes with 4 speakers at 24W speaker output. There’s also Dolby Audio in terms of audio technology in the TV. Realme claims that the TV is bezel-less in design. It comes with metal stands and a free wall mount.
iFfalcon by TCL is one of the most popular smart TVs in the budget segment in India. The company offers impressive specs and excellent value-for-money smart TVs. The iFfalcon 55K61 is again a brilliantly priced product with 4K Upscaling, HDR, micro dimming, and dynamic color enhancement features.
The smart TV runs on Android TV 9 which is slightly outdated for a 2021 smart TV. But, you do get access to Google Play Store and services including Chrome cast, Google Assistant, and Google Assistant. For audio, there is a 24 speaker with Dolby support. Other features include dual-band Wi-Fi, A+ Grade panel, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB internal storage.
The Redmi 4K LED TV offers support for HDR10+ content and is also Dolby Vision enabled. On the inside, the smart TVs packs in the same chipset as the Mi QLED TV which is a 64-bit quad-core MediaTek 9611 chipset. Paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. Xiaomi’s Vivid picture engine is also here to enhance the viewing experience by emitting true to life colors. The Reality Flow MEMC is also present on the TV which upscales 24fps content to 60fps. In terms of picture modes, you get a bunch of options such as Dolby Vision Bright, Dark, Game, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, Standard, Movie, Game, and more.
Audio is taken care of by a 30W speaker setup that supports DTS virtual X, Dolby Audio, and Dolby Atmos(pass-thru via e-ARC). The smart TVs run on PatchWall UI based on Android 10 TV OS. Some of the key features of the UI include universal search, smart recommendations, kids mode, and a user center that shows you upcoming trailers.
Further, the Redmi TVs come with the Mi Home app built-in which can be used to control smart home devices such as Mi smart bulb, Mi camera, and more. The app is built for TV and it also comes with Picture in picture mode. Other features include inbuilt-in Chromecast, Google Assistant, and Google Play Store. The TV also comes with ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). In terms of wireless connectivity, you get dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0.
Kodak launched a bunch of Android certified smart TVs in India last year and among the whole bunch, the Kodak 55UHDX7XPRO is one of the most impressive smart TVs, mainly because of the pricing as well as the specs and features that the TV brings to the table. The Kodak smart TV is also the cheapest in our buying guide.
It runs on Android TV 9 OS with support for all Google apps and services as well as Google Assistant and Chromecast. The smart TV also packs in 2GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage, which is a rarity in this price segment. In the audio department, you get a 24W speaker. Other features include AirPlay, Bluetooth 4.0, 2.4 GHz Wifi, and voice-enabled remote with Prime, YouTube, and SonyLIV hotkeys.
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| LG 55BXPTA | Rs 1,19,999 |
| Samsung The Frame | Rs 81,999 |
| Sony Bravia X7400H | Rs 75,999 |
| TCL C715 | Rs 59,990 |
| Mi QLED TV | Rs 57,999 |
| Realme SLED TV | Rs 43,999 |
| iFfalcon 55K61 | Rs 43,699 |
| Redmi X55 | Rs 39,999 |
| Kodak 55UHDX7XPRO | Rs 35,999 |
