Realme Buds Q is the company’s third and most affordable pair of TWS which was launched in India recently along with Realme X3 series. Today, the Realme Buds Q will go on sale for the first time.
The Realme Buds Q will go on sale via Amazon today for the first time at 12 noon. It is priced at Rs 1,999. Since this is the first sale, the product might sell out soon. So, it’s better if you are on the site a few minutes before.
On paper, the Realme Buds Q looks pretty impressive and is targeted at the affordable segment. It will take on the Redmi Earbuds S which is priced slightly lower than the Buds Q. The Realme Buds Q was unveiled in China last month along with the other seven products.
The Realme Buds Q has an in-ear design without a stem. It has a circular shape design for the buds and the carry case which doubles up as a battery pack comes in pebble shape. It houses a 10mm bass boost drivers, with support for 119ms low latency, aka gaming mode.
It harnesses Bluetooth 5.0 along with R1Q chipset that brings instant pairing option. The battery life is rated for 4.5 hours on a single charge, with the case providing an additional four charges taking the total tally to 20 hours. The buds also offer capacitive touch controls. Colour options include black, white and yellow.
Apart from the Buds Q, Realme also sells Realme Buds Air and Realme Buds Air Neo which are priced at Rs 3,999 and Rs 2,999 respectively.
The Realme X3 series consisting of Realme X3 and X3 Super Zoom went on sale in India yesterday for the first time on Flipkart and it was sold out quickly. It is expected to go on sale again next week.
Sony and Fujifilm are locked in a battle for tape supremacy, with the latter revealing it's preparing for tape media with an areal density of 224Gbit per square inch, which translates to a real life capacity of around 400TB.
Fujifilm - which has just announced its first Tape-as-a-Service offering - is betting on Strontium Ferrite (SrFe) as opposed to the popular Barium Ferrite, which is used in most LTO tapes, the capacity of which currently top 12TB (uncompressed) or 30TB (compressed using an industry ratio of 2.5:1).
LTO-8 will make way for LTO-9 later this year and, with the last four LTO generations shipped over the past six years, one can expect the next four (LTO-10, LTO-11, LTO-12 and LTO-13) to be available by 2026 (depending on market conditions).
At 384TB, a single LTO-13 tape is likely to be the single biggest unit of storage in the world, far outclassing hard disk drives (with capacities stalling, having grown by only 2TB per generation) and solid state drives, which reached 100TB in 2018 and then stopped growing.
It would take a very bold person indeed to bet against LTO being the first media to reach 1PB (that’s one million Gigabyte).
The biggest issue with tape has to do with accessing the right file, which is why it is seen as an archiving media above all. Transfer rates are unlikely to be an issue, with LTO-13 likely to surpass 16Gbps, but that still means you will need at least a day to fill one up, especially if the tape length surpasses 1,000m.
After being targeted by a large scale state-based cyberattack, Australia has announced that it will spend $926.1m over the next 10 years to boost its cybersecurity defenses.
The country's prime minister Scott Morrison said earlier this month that the threats against Australia are not only sophisticated but are directed towards “all levels of government, industry, political organisations, education, health, essential service providers and operators of other critical infrastructure”.
As of yet, Australia has not revealed who it believed was responsible for the recent attacks. However, three sources briefed on the matter informed Reuters that China is believed to be the country responsible though Beijing has rejected these claims. In a statement, Morrison explained why Australia is investing heavily into its cybersecurity defenses, saying:
“The federal government’s top priority is protecting our nation’s economy, national security and sovereignty. Malicious cyber activity undermines that.”
Cybersecurity investment
Of the funds that Australia will invest to improve its cybersecurity posture, $324m will be used to hire an additional 500 security experts to bolster the country's cyber intelligence agency, the Australian Directorate.
According to the country's Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds, the funding is part of a $10bn investment in cyber warfare capabilities and part of plan that was expedited following a cyberattack on Australia's parliament and three of the country's largest political parties last year.
While Australia did not publicly disclose who was responsible for the hack that occurred just months before its election, the country's intelligence agencies were able to determine that China was responsible for the cyberattack. Once again, Beijing denied that it was responsible for the attack.
Cyberattacks and other online threats continue to disrupt businesses as well as governments and it makes a great deal of sense that Australia wants to double down on its cyber defenses before it faces yet another attack.
Keep all of your devices protected online with the best antivirus software
Gavin Bashar, UK MD of Tunstall Healthcare, discusses the important role of medical alert systems, activity monitoring and health monitoring to improve care delivery and maintain health and wellbeing for people living with dementia.
In the UK, 850,000 people currently live with dementia but this is set to reach 1.6 million by 2040 due to the ageing population.
It can be challenging to care for someone living with dementia, and this has only been exacerbated further by COVID-19. However, technology is available to support care-giving and ensure that individuals receive the care they need to live a healthy, happy and high quality life.
Technology can facilitate care delivery, even during a global health crisis, and enable people living with dementia to stay in familiar surroundings for as long as possible. They are therefore able to enjoy a better quality life for longer, and invaluable support can be more easily provided by the people caring for them.
As more is understood about dementia in its various forms it is clear that enabling technology has the potential to make a significant and positive difference to the lives of people living with dementia, and the ability of our health and social care systems to support their needs effectively.
Why technology?
Technologies such as medical alerts systems, telecare and telehealth offer an excellent opportunity to enhance the quality of life of people living with dementia.
When deployed correctly, technology can enable vulnerable people to remain independent, safe and socially involved with friends, family and their community. In addition, people living with dementia can use technology to secure more choices about their care to ensure it is right for them.
However, technology must always be viewed in the context of complementing an individual’s care and support, rather than as a replacement for human interaction as this can leave users feeling isolated and alone.
Medical alert systems and other technology not only provides numerous benefits for people living with dementia, but also for their carers. When telecare is introduced, it can enable carers to improve the relationship with the person they care for, the opportunity to continue activities outside of their caregiving role and peace of mind that the person they care for is safe and comfortable.
To fully realise the benefits of technology in dementia care, it should be introduced as early as possible and be tailored to the specific needs of each individual. Securing the right support early will enable users to continue living in an environment of their choice for as long as possible, with independence and dignity. Furthermore, the range of technology available is constantly growing so early diagnosis is key, so that the right systems can be put in place to offer insight into patterns of behaviour and enable effective care planning.
The role of technology in caregiving
Technology has a key role to play in improving care quality, increasing the capacity of key services and enabling flexibility in the way care is delivered. This will make care for dementia more proactive and predictive, and help to address both current and future challenges. Technology is an enabler, and as our population ages and more people are affected by dementia, it will allow daily monitoring to be delivered more effectively, so that vulnerable people can live independently and be kept out of residential care, for as long as possible.
Alert systems, along with health and activity monitoring, can be tailored to the needs of individuals and automatically monitor risks inside the home, such as falls or fires. Vulnerable people are also able to call for help in case of an emergency, 24 hours a day, from a range of stakeholders. Furthermore, operators can make proactive calls to service users, checking on their wellbeing, offering advice and supporting carers.
Assistive technology enables sophisticated remote monitoring and proactive care planning, ensuring care is provided when it is needed most. Discrete monitoring of activity in the home over time, such as how often the kitchen and bathroom are being used, can detect any deterioration in wellbeing at an early stage and enable interventions which can reduce or delay the need for more complex care. Likewise, remote monitoring of vital signs and symptoms can give an early indication of deteriorating health, and clinicians can view data via an online portal to identify individuals most in need of intervention.
Technology in practice
Organisations across the UK are working to help support people with a wide range of needs using technology as part of services. The Hertfordshire Telecare Service supports almost 4,000 people in Hertfordshire to live more independently, many of whom have dementia.
One patient, who will call Norman to protect his privacy, has vascular dementia, and lives alone, although his daughter lives nearby. Technology is helping him to remain safe and at home, and provide reassurance to his daughter. Unobtrusive telecare sensors in his home will automatically raise an alarm at the 24 hour monitoring centre if they detect floods, fires or carbon monoxide in Norman’s home, and property exit sensors have also been fitted which will notify the centre if an external door is opened. A specially trained operator at the centre can then talk to Norman through the speaker on the Lifeline unit to assess the situation, and make sure Norman is okay. If the operator is unable to get a response, they can contact Norman’s daughter, or the British Red Cross Responder Service so they can check on him.
Norman also has a GPS tracker device, which enables his daughter to locate him should he leave home and be unable to find his way back. Together with the Telecare Service, this has already helped Norman to be found quickly and returned to his home, avoiding him being at risk. It also means that Norman is able to remain in his own home, rather than being admitted to residential care for his own safety.
UPDATE:After a bit of a drought on the sales front, some decent Xbox One X bundles have landed on Microsoft's online store which are quite well discounted – you can check out those deals below.
We research the best Xbox One sales to bring you the best value bundle deals every week. We generally find opting for an Xbox One bundle instead of a console-only deal is a smart way to go as you'll most likely get more for your money, with extra games and accessories thrown in to sweeten the deal.
To make finding the best Xbox One bundle deal less tasking, we've scoured the internet for the lowest prices on bundles and best console deals and rounded them up here in one spot for you.
As we stay indoors to self-isolate due to the threat of Covid-19, what better time to pick up a console and get stuck into some games? Below you will find the lowest prices in Australia for both the Xbox One S, Xbox One X and the newly released Xbox One S All-Digital Edition. Admittedly, it's getting tough to find consoles for sale at the moment, let alone great deals. That said, we're committed to bringing you the best Xbox One prices we can find during this difficult time.
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Xbox All Access
A fantastic option for those who don't want to buy a new Xbox One console as we approach the upcoming release of the next-generation Xbox Series X, Microsoft's Xbox All Access service offers month-to-month access to an Xbox One console, along with an Xbox Game Pass subscription. This allows users to access the console and over 100 great games for a very reasonable monthly-fee.
Telstra is offering an Xbox One S console with Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass For just AU$22 per month*. That means you can play online with a selection of over 100 games to choose from.
*Min cost AU$528 when you stay connected for 24 months + plan charges. Price after first 24 months: AU$15.95 per month. Early termination charges apply.View Deal
Need a console with a bit more grunt? Telstra is also offering the powerful Xbox One X console with Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass For just AU$34 per month*. You get all the same Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass benefits as the previous deal, along with a download code for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Deluxe Edition.
*Min cost $816 when you stay connected for 24 months + plan charges. Price after first 24 months: $15.95 per month. Early termination charges apply.View Deal
Xbox One S deals
With the unveiling of the Xbox One X, the Xbox One S has seen some impressive price drops and bundle deals with Microsoft going all out to pump up the pressure on its rivals. It was already often the cheapest console of the current generation, but with some of these savings on bundles and even Xbox One controllers, the price seems right.
At this point it's probably wiser to buy a bundle and score some wicked Xbox One games along with the unit, as some of them can come in cheaper than the standalone consoles themselves.
It might be getting on in years, but the Xbox One S is still a great console for new gamers. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of deals around for consoles at the moment, with many retailers across Australia totally out of stock. That said, Microsoft is offering the all-digital version of Xbox One S for only AU$239 – that's well below full RRP and comes with codes to download Sea of Thieves, Fortnite and Minecraft, which is better than nothing.View Deal
At once more elegant and more powerful, the slimmed-down design of the Xbox One S ditches the external power brick and chunky looks of the original Xbox One. More importantly, it comes kitted out with 4K visual support meaning you'll be able to watch specialised Blu-Ray and Netflix content in 4K.
Xbox One X prices are constantly changing from store to store, making it hard to keep up at times. To take the pain out of scoping out the best Xbox One X prices this Black Friday 2019, you should be able to find the best real-time deals listed below, updated live, along with some hand-picked options.
Now AU$120 cheaper than it was last week, this Xbox One X bundle is totally worth it if you're desperate for some entertainment during lockdown. Microsoft's online store is offering the 4K-ready Xbox One X bundled with the utterly splendid Forza Horizon 4 and its expansion LEGO Speed Champions for only AU$429 View Deal
Like the deal above, this bundle from Microsoft's online store quite discounted compared to its previous price of AU$549. You can pick up the 4K-ready Xbox One X bundled with last year's terrific Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order for only AU$429. View Deal
Games and peripherals deals
Resident Evil 3 (Xbox One) | now AU$69
Following on from 2018's stellar Resident Evil 2 remake, Capcom has given a fresh coat of paint to the next title in the classic horror series with a remake of Resident Evil 3. While we've heard the game is shorter than its predecessor, this AU$30 discount on the full RRP should make up for that. Buy the Xbox One version for only AU$69 from Amazon Australia.View Deal
Red Dead Redemption 2 (Xbox One) | now AU$44
If you need a truly fantastic game to keep you occupied for a lengthy period of time, look no further than Rockstar's latest masterpiece, Red Dead Redemption 2. Right now, you can pick up a copy of the award-winning western title for Xbox One for only AU$44 from Amazon Australia.View Deal
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If you’re looking for a cheap laptop or a mammoth saving on a premium portable computer, 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.
While many of the configurations from Dell’s premium XPS range will set you back a hefty sum, here’s your chance to score one for under the AU$2,000 mark. It’s last year’s version, but it’s still a stellar machine with a 10th-gen Core i5 chip and 256GB of solid-state storage. Work or play, this sleek machine will deliver. Now 15% directly from Dell.View Deal
Last year’s Dell XPS 13 was always going to be a tough act to follow, but Dell pushed the envelope and delivered this stunning XPS 13 2020 update. There’s grunt under the hood, with a 10th-generation Core 17 and 8GB of system memory. This brand new machine had dropped to 20% off last week, and while it’s since bumped up slightly, you can still score 15% off when you buy directly from Dell.View Deal
This laptop brings the power and design of the XPS to 15-inches of screen real estate. This iteration has a 9th-generation Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. It also has an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU onboard for basic gaming, which you’ll have plenty of room to enjoy with barely-there bezels on a Full HD display. It was AU$660 off last week, but if you buy it now, there’s still AU$495 to be saved.View Deal
This may be from Lenovo’s range of business-focused laptops, but that hasn’t stopped our colleagues over at Laptop Mag from recommending it as the best Lenovo laptop available today. It’s incredibly light, yet manages to be durable as well, and the 1080p display on this model means you’ll get nearly 10 hours of battery life. Available directly from Lenovo with just over AU$800 saved.View Deal
This 15-inch workstation is now 35% off from Lenovo, and it’s packing power inside its slim form factor. That includes a 9th-generation Core i7 processor and Dolby Atmos speakers. You’ll also find Wi-Fi 6, so you can get faster downloads and optimal functionality in crowded networks. Available directly from Lenovo with a huge saving of AU$1,450 on the table.View Deal
Dell has slashed the price of this high-spec machine, dropping the RRP by 40%. There’s a lot to like here too – inside you’ll find Intel’s latest 10th-gen i7 processor, teamed up with 16GB of system memory and 512GB of solid-state storage. Exactly the kind of specs that’ll make using this laptop a breeze. Grab it now while it’s discounted down to AU$1,259 directly from Dell.View Deal
Each configuration of the Surface Laptop 3 has been discounted by 20%, and it’s one to consider if you’re looking for a machine with all-day battery life. You’ll have your pick from a variety of eye-catching colours, and processors are available in i5 or i7, all Intel’s latest 10th-generation. Available directly from Microsoft.View Deal
Lenovo's ThinkPad range is known in the world of business laptops for its security and stability, and this E15 is no exception. You can set yourself up with a 10th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 15.6-inch display, 512GB SSD and fingerprint reader for better than half price from Lenovo's store.View Deal
This 15-inch laptop has been designed for work but there's a discrete graphics card that will help when it comes time to switch off. While the MX230 isn't a powerful GPU, it will run some basic gaming when you require a little distraction. And a 40% discount sees a cool AU$860 slashed off the RRP, and you can use the checkout code EOFY5 to score an additional 5% off. That brings the final price down to just AU$1,215.View Deal
Dell Latitude 7400| i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD | AU$2,343 (RRP AU$5,983; save AU$3,640)
Time to get down to business? The Dell Latitude 7400 is one impressive machine, and now you can save 60% on this workhorse. To keep your day running smoothly, you’ll have an 8th-generation Core i7 processor on your side, plus 16GB of memory and 512GB of solid-state storage. You’ll comfortably power through the day thanks to a long battery life which Dell promises will last up to 13 hours. Head directly to Dell to make it yours.View Deal
2-in-1s
Further price drop:Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (7390)| i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD | AU$2,324 (RRP AU$3,099; save AU$775)
This is Dell’s premium XPS 13 machine in a versatile chassis. This particular configuration has Intel’s latest 10th-gen Core i7 chip inside, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It’s also got a lovely 13.4-inch Full HD touchscreen display. If you want top-of-the-line specs in a flexible laptop, this one is hard to beat. Best of all, it’s now 25% off from Dell’s online store.View Deal
The X1 Yoga brings a sleek, convertible chassis to Lenovo’s business range of laptops, and it doesn’t disappoint. You’ll find a bright, vivid Full HD display with a battery life that’ll last you all day. This configuration houses a 10th-gen Core i5 chip, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. A built-in stylus slot and Dolby Atmos are the cherry on top of this very well-rounded package. Now 25% off from Lenovo.View Deal
The Surface Pro 7 is Microsoft’s most powerful Surface tablet to date, and each configuration is discounted by 20%. Configurations start with an Intel Core i3 and go up to an i7, with various blends of system memory and solid-state storage available. Go to Microsoft to pick yours up with a decent packet saved.View Deal
Whether you’re working from the home office or curled up on the couch, this versatile 2-in-1 will quite literally bend over backwards to fit your needs. This convertible laptop comes from Dell’s more affordable Inspiron range, yet it feels quite premium with an aluminium casing and fingerprint login. Running the show is a 10th-generation Core i5 processor, teamed with 8GB of memory and 256GB of solid-state storage. Now discounted by 40% directly from Dell with an Active Pen included.View Deal
The Latitude line is Dell’s range of premium business laptops, and practically all of them come with a high price tag to match. However, this machine is steeply discounted by 52%, saving you a solid AU$3,770. This workhorse has a slightly older 8th-generation i7 processor, but it’s got 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD. It’s lightweight, flexible and has an all-round sleek design. Save yourself a packet when you pick it up from Dell.View Deal
Our colleagues over at Laptop Mag called the C940 the best Yoga yet, and we’d have to agree. The pairing of fast performance with a premium 2-in-1 design is a winning combination in our books. This is a customisable machine, but the base model comes with a 10th-gen i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD, but you can change the elements to suit your needs. While 15% off isn’t a huge discount, it’s a decent saving on this killer machine. Available from Lenovo.View Deal
Dell Latitude 5300| i7 / 8GB / 256GB | AU$2,297.80 (RRP AU$4,867.80; save AU$2,570)
It might have an older 8th-gen Core i7 processor under the hood but don't underestimate this 13-inch Latitude 2-in-1. With ExpressCharge support that adds 80% juice in an hour and Wi-Fi constantly running in the background, it's designed for the busy professional constantly on the move. And, to make this even better, there's 52% off the device directly from Dell.View Deal
While it’s technically a tablet, this can easily be converted into a 2-in-1 with the Type Cover that’s conveniently bundled into this deal. It’s also the thinnest and lightest from the Surface range to date, so is worth your consideration if you’re a frequent traveller and portability is what you’re after. It also has the neat feature of Windows Hello facial recognition – just look at the tablet’s webcam and you’ll instantly be logged on. Available from the Microsoft Store with a Type Cover and Slim Pen bundled in and a decent packet saved.View Deal
Our colleagues over at PC Gamer recommend this Razer Blade 15 as the best gaming laptop you can buy today, and you can now save a huge packet on this dream machine. It’s housing a 9th-gen Core i7 CPU, and an RTX 2070 GPU. Despite that, it’s also one of the longest-lasting premium gaming laptops we’ve got our hands on. Now steeply discounted, with AU$1,000 slashed from the RRP – this deal’s a steal.View Deal
Alienware is Dell's dedicated gaming brand, and it shows. The Area-51m is a complete beast of a laptop – in fact it's one of the best – and this model packs in a 9th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU, a beastly Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 GPU with 8GB GDDR6 memory, 16GB of RAM and an impressive 1TB worth of SSD. This configuration fell to AU$3,994 last week, and while it's since bumped up slightly, you can still get it for 15% off. If you're interested, you can double the RAM for AU$300, or go up to a model with 32GB RAM and an RTX 2080 GPU if you're not messing around.View Deal
Dell G3 15 (3590)| i7 / 8GB / 512GB SSD | GTX 1660 Ti | AU$1,784 (RRP AU$2,099; save AU$315)
For gamers on a budget, or those just getting started in the world of PC gaming, here’s a strong contender. The 15-inch Dell G3 has solid performance given the price – you have a 9th-gen Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti that will manage light gaming just fine. Plenty of storage for your budding gaming library, and the Full HD screen should go easy on the battery life too. Discount directly from Dell’s online store.View Deal
Dell G5 15 (5500)| i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD / GTX 1660 Ti | AU$2,209 (RRP AU$2,599; save AU$390)
If the above G3 gaming laptop isn't quite going to cut it, this more recently released G5 has a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU at its helm, as well as 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD to back it up. Available directly from Dell with AU$390 saved.View Deal
Lenovo Legion Y540 (15)| i7 / 16GB / 1TB HDD / GTX 1660 Ti | AU$1,949.25 (RRP AU$2,599; save AU$649.75)
If RGB keys are too flashy for your tastes, then consider this Legion Y540. Inside is a 9th-gen Intel Core i7 chip, matched with 16GB RAM and a 1TB HDD. An Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti handles the graphics, while Dolby Atmos sound will pull you further in when you’ve got your headphones on. The Legion Y540 has a white backlit keyboard, and a full numerical keypad. Head directly to Lenovo to get your hands on it.View Deal
Find great bargains and compare Australian prices on the latest tech atGetprice.
We'll keep on updating the list of deals as and when we find them. Below, you'll find up to date prices on TechRadar's favourite laptops, so keep an eye out for those savings.
The best deals on our favourite laptops
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.
(Image credit: Future)
Our favourite overall laptop: Dell XPS 13 (2020)
Dell's latest Ultrabook is simply the best laptop in the world
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.
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.
A 2-in-1 laptop experience with little to no compromise
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i7-8550U | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 13.9” UHD (3,840 x 2,160) IPS Glossy Multi-touch with Dolby Vision | Storage: 1 TB PCIe SSD | Connectivity: 802.11 AC (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 4.1 | Camera: 720p HD Camera
Strong build quality
Robust feature set
Excellent battery life
Weak graphics performance
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.
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.
(Image credit: Future)
Our favourite Apple laptop: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
The best MacBook Pro ever
CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7 – i9 | Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300M – Radeon Pro 5500M | RAM: 16GB – 64GB | Screen: 16-inch Retina display with True Tone | Storage: 512GB – 8TB SSD
Stunning 16-inch screen
New and improved keyboard
Expensive
Limited to four Thunderbolt 3 ports
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.
The pandemic has changed the way organizations operate and many workers will continue to work from home once their coworkers began returning to the office which is why Nvidia has released a new version of its virtual GPU software, vGPU.
The latest version of vGPU adds support for more workloads and also includes features that improve operational efficiencies for IT admins.
GPU virtualization providers workers from designers to data scientists with a flexible way to collaborate on projects which require advanced graphics and computing power without the need for their organizations to outfit everyone with their own workstation.
The market intelligence firm IDC recently interviewed Nvidia customers using GPU-accelerated virtual desktops and found that organizations with 500 to 1,000 users experienced a 13 percent increase in productivity.
Nvidia vGPU
Nvidia has expanded hypervisor support by partnering with SUSE on its Linux Enterprise Server and vGPU support is now available on its kernel-based virtual machine platform.
Nvidia vComputeServer software will support initial offerings and enable GPU virtualization for AI and data science workloads. This will help expand hypervisor platform options for enterprises as well as cloud service providers that are seeing an increased need to support GPUs.
Collaboration in VR is also getting a boost as Nvidia CloudXR technology uses Nvidia RTX and vGPU software to deliver VR and augmented reality across both 5G and Wi-Fi networks. The latest version of vGPU adds 120Hz vSync support at resolutions up to 4K and this gives CloudXR users an even smoother immersive experience on untethered devices.
At the same time, vGPU will also enable improved collaboration in computer-aided design while also providing real-time photorealistic renderings of models in the recently released Omniverse AEC Experience which combines the real-time collaboration platform Omniverse with RTX Server and Nvidia Quadro Virtual Workstation software for the data center.
By using vGPU, organizations can provide their employees with the advanced graphics and computing power they need to do their jobs from anywhere whether that be at home or in the office.
When in 2010, former VC Michael Kim set out to raise a fund that he would invest in a spate of micro VC managers, the investors to which he turned didn’t get it. Why pay Kim and his firm, Cendana Capital, a management fee on top of the management fees that the VC managers themselves charge?
Fast forward to today, and Kim has apparently proven to his backers that he’s worth the extra cost. Three years after raising $260 million across a handful of vehicles whose capital he plugged into up-and-coming venture firms, Kim is now revealing a fresh $278 million in capital commitments, including $218 million for its fourth flagship fund, and $60 million that Cendana will be managing expressly for the University of Texas endowment.
We talked with Kim last week about how he plans to invest the money, which differs slightly from how he has invested in the past.
Rather than stick solely with U.S.-based seed-stage managers who are raising vehicles of $100 million or less, he will split Cendana into three focus areas. One of these will remain seed-stage managers. A smaller area of focus — but one of growing importance, he said — is pre-seed managers who are managing $50 million or less and mostly funding ideas (and getting roughly 15% of each startup in exchange for the risk).
A third area of growing interest is in international managers. In fact, Kim says Cendana has already backed small venture firms in Australia (Blackbird Ventures), China (Cherubic Ventures, which is a cross-border investor that is also focused on the U.S.), Israel (Entree Capital), and India (Saama Capital), among other spots.
Altogether, Cendana is now managing around $1.2 billion. For its services, it charges its backers a 1% management fee and 10% of its profits atop the 2.5% management fee and 20% “carried interest” that his fund managers collect.
“To be extremely clear about it and transparent,” said Kim, “that’s a stacked fee that’s on top of what our [VC] fund managers charge. So Cendana LPs are paying 3.5% and 30%.” One “might think that seems pretty egregious,” he continued. “But a number of our LPs are either not staffed to go address this market or are too large to actually write smaller checks to these seed funds. And we provide a pretty interesting value proposition to them.”
That’s particularly true, Kim argues, when contrasting Cendana with other, bigger fund managers.
“A lot of these well-known fund of funds are asset gatherers,” he says. “They’re not charging carried interest. They’re in it for the management fee. They have shiny offices around the world, they have hundreds of people working at them, they’re raising billion-dollar-plus kind of funds, and they’re putting 30 to 50 names into each one, so in a way they become index funds. [But[ I don’t think venture is really an asset class. Unlike an ETF that’s focused on the S&P 500, venture capital is where a handful of fund managers capture most of the alpha. Our differentiation is that we’re taking we’re creating very concentrated portfolios.”
Specifically, Cendana typically holds positions in up to 12 funds, plus makes $1 million bets on another handful of more nascent managers that it will fund further if they prove out their theses.
Some of the managers it has backed has outgrown Cendana from an assets standpoint. It caps its investments in funds that are $100 million or less in size.
But over time, it has backed 22 managers over the years. Among them: 11.2 Capital, Accelerator Ventures, Angular Ventures, Bowery Capital, Collaborative Fund, Forerunner Ventures, Founder Collective, Freestyle Capital, IA Ventures, L2 Ventures, Lerer Hippeau, MHS Capital, Montage Ventures, Moxxie Ventures, Neo, NextView Ventures, Silicon Valley Data Capital, Spider Capital, Susa Ventures, Uncork VC (when it was still SoftTech VC), Wave Capital and XYZ Ventures.
As for its pre-seed fund managers, Cendana is now the anchor investors in 10 funds, including Better Tomorrow Ventures, Bolt VC, Engineering Capital, K9 Ventures, Mucker Capital, Notation Capital, PivotNorth Capital, Rhapsody Venture Partners, Root Ventures, and Wonder Ventures.
As for its returns, Kim says that Cendana’s very first fund, a $28.5 million vehicle, is “marked at north of 3x” and “that’s net of everything.”
He’s optimistic that the firm’s numbers will look even better over time. According to Kim, Cendana currently has 38 so-called unicorns in its broader portfolio. It separately hold stakes in 160 companies that are valued at more than $100 million.
