According to new popularity data from PriceSpy, the fully impartial price and product comparison site, Kiwis are feeling the heat this summer, with online traffic increasing by a massive 96 per cent* for air conditioning heat pumps (January 2019, compared to December 2018).

Liisa Matinvesi-Bassett, New Zealand country manager for PriceSpy, says: “With the summer going down in the New Zealand history books as being the third warmest on record**, we have seen a huge spike in the number of Kiwis searching for air conditioning heat pumps to help keep them cool over the warmer months.

“The most popular days of the year so far appeared to be 10^th and 12^th January, which coincided with when thermometer readings reached a sweltering 29 degrees in Auckland alone, 8.7 degrees higher than the national average for January***.”

Whilst data from PriceSpy suggests consumer interest in air conditioning heat pumps is rapidly growing, overall popularity for fans and portable air conditioning units appears to be cooling down.

Liisa continues:  “Historically, fans and portable air conditioning units have been a popular choice of products for Kiwis wanting to keep cool over the warmer summer months.  This year however, our data suggests otherwise as the insights revealed there was actually a decrease of -25 per cent within both of these categories (for January 2019 compared to the month previous).”

“This change may be due to a number of reasons.  Temperatures this year may just be more extreme than that of previous years and Kiwis are looking for a more permanent fixture that will help keep their households cool throughout the summer (and warm in the winter).

“The shift in consumer behaviour may also be down to the pricing strategies of retailers.  For example, based on the five most popular products listed on PriceSpy within the shopping categories of air conditioning heat pumps and fans**** (as at 7 March 2019), the average price of air conditioning heat pumps has dropped significantly by 19 per cent since the start of December.

“The price of fans on the other hand have increased by one per cent over this same period of time.

“The switch towards pricier air conditioning units may also have something to do with the two most popular fans on the market featuring bladeless technology, as these types of items come at a premium.  Consumers therefore may simply be choosing to upgrade from a fan to air conditioning.”

As well as products that help to keep people cool, PriceSpy insights also reveal a number of shopping categories have also increased in popularity alongside the sunnier, warmer weather.

Liisa adds:  “Our insights show just how much Kiwis love the great outdoors, as clicks for lawn mowers increased by 25 per cent over the same period of time (December 2018 through to January 2019), as did the popularity for sunglasses (14 per cent) and life jackets (11 per cent).

Top five most popular sunglasses (from December 2018 to date, based on historical click data)

The prices quoted above are the cheapest listed price on PriceSpy each date.

Liisa concludes:  “Whilst the summer sun is certainly encouraging consumers to spend out on products that can be enjoyed at this time of year, we always recommend shoppers should carry out important price and product research before they go out and spend their hard-earned cash.

“Even over the short period of time from December 2018 through to February 2019, our insights show the average price drop of air conditioning heat pumps is in the realms of $200, which is huge. Consumers need to make sure they aren’t caught out by such pricing strategies, to ensure they aren’t overpaying on purchases they are looking to make.

“Using a price comparison website or app such as PriceSpy gives the power back to the consumers, offering full transparency advice and information on what retailers are charging.  Download the app for free, today.” Download the PriceSpy app here.

The post PriceSpy Reveals How Kiwis Kept Cool over Summer appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

If you’re anything like me, by the time it gets to the second week of the school holidays the kids are bored and you’ve used up all your best entertainment material in the first week. Well if you need some new entertainment ideas then perhaps the folks over at Sky TV can help you out.

In this day and age it’s hard to pull the kids away from their tablets or smartphones (at least our daughter is hard to prise away from her devices), so Sky has partnered with Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network to create kid friendly apps. Nick Play and Cartoon Network Watch & Play are available for families that have at least the Sky Starter package and will provide Kiwi kids with access to some of their favourite games, videos, animations and shows anywhere at any time.

“We know hundreds of thousands of Kiwi kids are avid fans of both Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network,” said SKY’s Director of Entertainment Content, Travis Dunbar.  “So now, not only do they have the ability to access additional content via the Apps, but can also catch up on their favourite shows on the go just because they are SKY customers.”

“As a parent myself it’s great to see the launch of both the Nick Play and Cartoon Network Watch & Play Apps in this market as they offer a safe place for kids to enjoy some of the best children’s content SKY has to offer when they’re away from home,” he said.

“SKY customers will love the extra content available on the Cartoon Network Watch and Play App,” said Robi Stanton, General Manager of Turner Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Territories.

“Together with SKY, Cartoon Network is committed to providing our fans in New Zealand new ways to connect with the world’s best animation.  The App offers a truly unique and enjoyable second-screen brand experience for kids to enjoy – and for parents to trust.”

Ben Cox, Vice President and General Manager of Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand said, “Nickelodeon has a long history of bringing the best shows and content to our Kiwi viewers and together with SKY, we’re now offering them more than ever before.  The free Nick Play App provides our audiences with a safe environment to catch their favourite show from The Thundermans, to SpongeBob SquarePants and more.”

“Our dedication to constantly innovate across all of our platforms means that we can provide viewers with a different experience every time they connect with our brand,” Cox concluded.

These engaging Apps for a new generation of multi-taskers allow our youngest viewers to watch their favourite episodes and shows, and play games, in a simple and safe layout, from anywhere in New Zealand.

To get access to all of the content both apps have to offer, simply download the apps then login using your Sky TV login credentials.

The post Struggling to entertain the Kids at the end of the School Holidays? Sky’s Kid Friendly Apps have got your back appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

Samsung Electronics today announced the launch of two new AddWash front loading washing machines featuring Quick Drive, a new feature that promises to speed up the average Kiwi laundry cycle time by up to 50%. It is important that whoever buys this invests in some form of warranty in case it breaks down in the future. A USA home warranty company will be able to assist our American readers.

“While many Kiwis love the full clean, compact size and efficiency that front loading washing machines offer, the generally longer cycle times can be a frustration for busy households, “ said Jens Anders, Consumer Electronics Director for Samsung New Zealand.

“The introduction of our new washing machines with QuickDrive technology underscores our commitment to providing Kiwis with smarter ways of getting the laundry done, to free up time for what really matters,” continued Anders.

The key to the washer’s innovative performance starts with Samsung’s award-winning QuickDrive technology, which features a large main drum and a back plate that move independently. This creates a dynamic action that moves clothes in four directions – up and down, and back and forth – to quickly, gently and thoroughly remove dirt for a more powerful and intense wash cycle that takes up to 50% less time than other comparable Samsung machines, and 20% less energy*. The SuperSpeed setting allows a 5Kg wash cycle to be completed in as little as 39min.

Both washing machines feature the Addwash door, an innovation Samsung integrated into front loading washing machines which allows you to add items or extra detergent to the machine during the cycle. Additionally, at 600m wide and stackable, both machines and their companion dryers are an ideal size for small laundry spaces tucked behind sliding doors or apartment and town house living. If you have a lot of commercial washing to get done such as workwear, we recommend using something like phs Besafe Commercial Laundry for this task, and keep your own washing machine for home use.

Like many Samsung devices, the new washing machines are compatible with Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem, with WiFi connectivity, future proofing them for consumers evolving home needs. Samsung has also developed the handy Q-rator laundry assistant app, which makes using the washing machines to their full potential easier than ever. Functions of the Q-rator app include:

• Laundry Recipe, which provides automatic recommendations for optimal wash cycles based on the colour, fabric type, and degree of soiling inputted by the user.
• Laundry Planner, which allows consumers to manage the time that a wash cycle will finish, adjusting cycle settings accordingly.
• HomeCare Wizard, which monitors the washer to keep it operating at optimal performance and provides easy-to-follow maintenance instructions

The new Quick Drive washing machines will be launched initially in two 8.5kg models (Model code starting with WW85M) from Harvey Norman and Noel Leeming, starting from $2299 RRP.

The post Samsung Unveil new Quick Drive Front Loading Washing Machines appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, new research by Mumsnet has revealed what mums really want on their special day, is some well-deserved ‘alone time! Mums also want to be adored and one way of doing this is buying something of sentimental value for Mother’s Day. Jewellery is something that mothers appreciate, such as necklaces or bracelets from Jacobs the Jeweller, which you can view site here. Whatever you decide, mothers will appreciate anything!

To help those who are looking to go all-out to make mum feel extra special, PriceSpy, the fully impartial price and product comparison service is revealing its top gift predictions, so she can enjoy her deserved day off in style…

Here is PriceSpy’s top gifting predictions for Mother’s Day 2018:

Perfumes

1. Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium – from $109.99
2. Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh – from $78
3. Giorgio Armani Code Women – from $99

Hair styling

1. Remington Keratin & Argan Oil Nourish – from $49
2. Vidal Sassoon Curl Secret – from $89
3. Remington Silk – from $89

Hair dryers

1. Vidal Sassoon Digital Sensor Dryer – from $248
2. Remington Pro-Air Turbo – from $49
3. Vidal Sassoon Salon Pro– from $55

Gadgets

1. GoPro Hero 5 Black – from $403
2. Apple Watch Series 3– from $548
3. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 3 – from $179

Liisa Matinvesi-Bassett, New Zealand country manager for PriceSpy, says: “With Mother’s Day happening this Sunday, last minute panic-purchases can often mean shoppers end up spending more than planned or not buying a present their mum actually wants.

“According to our historical data, we are able to predict what we believe will be the most popular Mother’s Day gifts.

“This year our predictions tie in with the new research from Mumsnet. So, whether mum prefers a bit of pamper time, looking back at old family photos or reading her favourite book, there’s something for everyone to help her enjoy that ‘me-time’ even more.

“Whatever you buy for your Mum, PriceSpy encourages consumers to compare products amongst all popular retailers to get some product inspiration and also ensure they are getting the best deal possible.”

“And if the piggy bank doesn’t quite allow for the gifts mentioned above, we’re pretty sure Mum will still appreciate a lie-in, breakfast in bed or some flowers from the garden!”

The post Still Searching for Mother’s Day Gift? PriceSpy Predicts the Top Gifts in 2018 appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

I don’t know about you, but vacuuming is one of my least favourite jobs. In my house it takes hours! Well, it used to take hours because I never realized the vacuum I was using wasn’t fit for use on hardwood floors. Thank goodness I went to https://modernliving101.com/vacuums-for-wood-floors/! I’ve got a young child and a hairy dog who sheds all over the floor. My current vacuum is one of those really heavy upright ones with a canister I have to empty out every few minutes, partly because it doesn’t hold very much and partly because I hate vacuuming so much that I put it off until it becomes a major job.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that the Samsung POWERbot robot vacuum is a real Godsend. My floors have never been so consistently clean. Now I don’t have to worry about dragging the upright vac out if I’m expecting company and am ashamed of the state of my carpet. But perhaps what I appreciate most about the POWERbot is the time it saves me. It trundles around cleaning my floors while I get on with other jobs. I don’t even have to be at home! It has a rather wonderful scheduling feature where you can set a time at which your POWERbot will automatically start vacuuming.

If you’ve never seen one of these nifty little machines at work, it’s quite enchanting, with its clever little sensors it approaches objects slowly (so it doesn’t bash into your furniture) and figures out if it can go around or if there’s an edge for it to follow. I watched it approach the top of the stairs, wondering if it would figure out that it couldn’t go any further, and it did. You can also set boundary markers to prevent your POWERbot from entering certain areas.

The POWERbot has several different cleaning modes to choose from. I kept mine on Auto clean for the most part, where it works back and forth the room in a grid fashion. Then there is Manual clean where you can direct your POWERbot with a laser light on the remote control to a specific area that needs a quick clean up. Repeat clean mode will keep cleaning until its battery is depleted. Spot clean intently cleans a localized area, great for cleaning up crumbs.

And when his battery gets low, he will alert you with a beep and then take himself back to his docking station, and if it’s in Autoclean mode he will return to cleaning after his battery is two thirds full. Or you can use the remote to direct your POWERbot back to his docking station.

Now considering my hairy dog, I was thinking that this smart little vacuum was going to be easily overwhelmed and unable to cope with the amount of pet hair, just like every other vacuum I’ve ever used. I read an article in anticipation of this about the best robot hoovers for removing dog hairs in carpets and nearly purchased one. However, I was wrong. The amount of hair and dust that gets picked up and packed into the little cyclone unit is impressive, and so easy to empty out. The brush and auto shutter are also super easy to clean.

Now I like to write a balanced review, so here are my thoughts on any flaws that I’ve observed. Don’t leave your phone charger cable where it can be run over by the POWERbot as it can strip the cables coating. Same goes for extension leads. Because the whole point of a robot vacuum cleaner is that you don’t have to watch it, it pays to pick up anything off the floor that may get stuck in the cleaner or that you don’t want sucked up. This is quite a good motivator to not leave stuff lying around. Sometimes the POWERbot can have a wee bit of trouble finding his way back to his docking station and docking, but he’s very determined and doesn’t give up. I don’t mind giving him a helping hand

Overall, I’m very impressed with the POWERbot, and I feel that it’s a very helpful little tool in completing the unending list of jobs that must be done in the home. Being a stay at home Mum the list of jobs that need doing never seems to get shorter. I’m about to start studying so my chore list will struggle to get done more than ever but thanks to the POWERbot I can take vacuuming off the list of chores. Plus the carpet has never looked cleaner. I know one thing for sure and that’s that when the POWERbot goes back to Samsung I’ll have to work my magic to get the Hubby to buy me one ;).

To see more about the Samsung POWERbot and where to purchase visit the Samsung NZ website.

The post Samsung POWERbot VR7000 Vacuum Review appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

We’ve all had that situation where you get an unexpected phone call from someone telling you that they are planning to “pop round for a coffee” and then the mad rush begins to make the house presentable. Out comes the vacuum for a quick clean up and when you’re done you realise you’re out of time for clearing the dishes or putting the kids toys away. Well Samsung is here to save the day with their POWERbot VR7000 robotic vacuum that will do the vacuuming so you don’t have to.

First unveiled earlier this year at CES, the Powerbot VR7000 series feature powerful suction, a slim design and new intelligent features that promise to make vacuuming a cinch for busy households. As this type of vacuum is a fairly new development, many people question ‘do robotic vacuums work?’ Well this new model is Samsung’s answer – a resounding yes.

Slim New Design, Powerful Cleaning

The new design is aimed squarely at consumers who demand better automated cleaning – the VR7000 robot vacuum cleaner’s sleek profile allows it to move into hard-to-reach places while still maintaining enough suction capacity to eliminate the need for manual follow-up cleaning.

Depending on the model chosen, the POWERbot VR7000 ensures thorough cleaning by generating up to 20 watts of suction power while covering areas that hand-operated vacuum cleaners miss, like under beds or other furniture.

The POWERbot VR7000’s Edge Clean Master feature enables the unit to come within a ½ inch (15mm) of the wall. This is achieved by placing the unit’s wide 11 inch (288mm) brush close to the front, so when the unit reaches the wall it can easily gather dust and hair. Additionally, the Auto Shutter feature automatically drops down a barrier to help the unit sweep up more dust collected closer to the edges.

The POWERbot VR7000’s unique Self-Cleaning Brush System significantly reduces the amount of dust and hair that gets trapped in the bristles. It collects debris in the center of the brush, facilitating easier transfer into the dustbin to cut down on regular maintenance.

Smarter Than Ever

The POWERbot VR7000 is equipped with several intelligent features that power the unit’s automated performance. With Visionary Mapping Plus and FullView Sensor 2.0, the POWERbot VR7000 maps and remembers contours of the room to provide thorough cleaning. Later, it can guide itself to dirty areas on any surface. It can also detect and work around obstacles or small items (less than 10mm or 0.4/inch).

The Intelligent Power Control feature automatically adjusts the level of suction power, optimising cleaning functions according to surface type. For instance, when it moves from a hardwood floor onto a carpet or rug, the motor adjusts suction power to the surface for optimal performance. Like so many of Samsung’s home appliances, the POWERbot VR7000 is IoT-ready, and fully controllable remotely by app. From a smartphone or other mobile device, users can start or stop the machine, schedule cleaning times, and check the cleaning history.

“The POWERbot VR7000 keeps up with the floor care needs of today’s busy families,” said Byung-Sam Seo, President of Home Appliances at Samsung Electronics. “Just set it and watch it go to work. The POWERbot VR7000’s navigational features and sensors combined with slim design and increased suction power help make sure the job gets done.”

The POWERbot VR7000 is available now from Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming (from December), and JB Hi-Fi (from December)

VR10M7010UB/SA – RRP $999

VR10M7030WW/SA – RRP $1,299

VR20M7070WS/SA – RRP $1,499

The post Samsung’s POWERbot VR7000 Lets You Vacuum without Vacuuming appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

Sleek, sophisticated and stylish are words that spring to mind when describing the new Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

I had the pleasure of using the newest addition to the Galaxy family over the past couple of weeks, and found it to be exceptional in almost all respects. Unlike my hubby, I’m not a techy, just a slightly technologically impaired stay-at-home mum. My smartphone however is my constant companion and invaluable assistant. The Note 8 did not let me down.

I particularly enjoyed the slightly taller and slimmer design, which fit very comfortably in my petite hands which is a testament to the design from Samsung given that the screen size is 6.3 inches. Although I did find that the infinity style screen caused me some problems, perhaps just from the way that I hold my phone, but it caused me some frustrating errors when typing messages. It does have the ability to reject the palm on the edges but it can still be a bit hit and miss.

The camera is excellent. I take a lot of pictures and videos of my daughter and our various pets, and although I have fairly limited idea about camera settings and such, the Note 8 made it easy to take excellent quality photographs and video. And if you are inclined to play around with settings and filters and such, there are a few adjustments you can make. The dual lenses allow for great depth of field effect, giving photographs a much more professional look.

Another feature I enjoyed was the blue light filter, which adjusts the light the screen emits so as to cause less eye strain, particularly helpful if you are reading a lot.

One of the highlighted features on the Note 8 is Bixby. The phone even has a hard button on the side allowing you to launch Bixby from the lock screen. I can’t say I really had any use for Bixby, but I’m sure some people will love it since you can use the camera to take a picture of a landmark and have Bixby suggest things like restaurants or attractions that are nearby to what you took a picture of or find similar images on the likes of pinterest.

The battery life of the Note 8 I found to be pretty weak in comparison to what has become standard for smartphones. However, I do understand that Samsung purposely made the battery for this phone less powerful so as to avoid the explosive issues that occurred with the Note 7. So having to charge the phone every night is a small price to pay for it not exploding in my face.

The other really neat feature, which I confess I kept forgetting about, is the stylis. The S pen allows you to write notes while your phone is locked, make notes directly on your screen, or make Live notes which are little animated drawings or messages you can create and then send to your friends or share on FaceBook or whatever. You can also use the S pen to handwrite your messages which the phone then translates into text.

Overall Samsung have done a fantastic job with the Galaxy Note 8, the impressive screen and impeccable camera marks a resounding comeback for the Note smartphone even if they have been a little extra cautious when it comes to battery life.

The post Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Review appeared first on 8-Bit Island.