Joe Gallop

5 days ago | channelnews.com.au | Joe Gallop

Google could be fast-tracking the launch of its Pixel 10 smartphones, with a new invite to its Pixel Superfans suggesting the devices might break cover as soon as late June. The company has sent out invites for an exclusive “Pixel Penthouse” event in London on June 27, where 25 fans will get hands-on access to “pre-release Pixel devices.”While the invite doesn’t name the Pixel 10 explicitly, the timing and language strongly hint at an early unveiling of the next-gen lineup.

5 days ago | channelnews.com.au | Joe Gallop

Australian shoppers are set to spend a record $10.5 billion during this year’s End of Financial Year (EOFY) sales, according to research from the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and Roy Morgan. That’s a $400 million (3.9%) increase on 2024, as tech, fashion and appliance discounts drive big-ticket spending. ARA Chief Industry Affairs Officer Fleur Brown said the sales have arrived at a crucial time for both retailers and consumers.

5 days ago | channelnews.com.au | Joe Gallop

Samsung has been hit with a major legal setback in the U.S., with a federal jury ordering the Korean tech giant to pay nearly $112 million (A$169 million) to Japanese electronics company Maxell for infringing on multiple patents. The verdict, handed down by a Texas federal jury, found that Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones, tablets, and SmartThings devices violated three Maxell patents related to unlocking functions, information processing, and multimedia reproduction technologies.

5 days ago | channelnews.com.au | Joe Gallop

Amazon-owned Blink has launched a budget-friendly, next-generation Video Doorbell priced at US$69.99 (A$110), featuring several upgrades over its predecessor. Key improvements include a wider 150-degree field of view with a new 1:1 “head-to-toe” aspect ratio, giving users a full-body view of visitors and package deliveries. The camera resolution has been boosted to 1440p and the device is now rated IP65 for improved weather resistance.

5 days ago | channelnews.com.au | Joe Gallop

Microsoft has given its Notepad app a major overhaul by introducing text formatting features that bring it closer to a modern writing tool. Available now to Windows 11 users in the Canary and Dev Channels, the new version introduces bold and italic styling, hyperlinks, lists, and support for Markdown. A new formatting toolbar now sits at the top of the app, giving users quick access to text styling and structure tools.