Logitech has taken their popular MX Keys Wireless Keyboard and crammed into a new pint-sized product.

Designed to optimise workspaces, the MX Keys Mini and MX Keys Mini for Mac are for creators that need that sweet sweet desk space.

This mini beast would also be next level useful for on the go. After all, a massive gaming keyboard isn’t going to easily fit in your backpack with your lappy and mouse.

If it

Key features:

• Ultra-Fluid Typing Experience: Spherically-dished keys and increased stability that reduces noise while optimizing responsiveness
• Three New Smart Keys: dictation, mute/unmute microphone, and emoji menu
• Comfort & Stability: Minimalist form factor aligns shoulders and allows the mouse to be placed closer to the keyboard for less hand reaching
• Elegant and Minimal: Sleek design available in rose, pale gray and graphite
• Style and substance: Includes the great features of MX Keys in a smaller size to optimise desk space and provide a seamless work-from-anywhere solution
• Backlit Keys: Lighting up the moment your hands approach
• Smart Power Efficiency: Backlit keys automatically adjust to the environment and turn off when not needed for optimal battery consumption
• USB-C Rechargeable: Stay powered up to 10 days on a full charge or up to 5 months with the backlighting turned off
• Sustainability: A portion of plastic parts are made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic

MX Keys Mini and Mac variant will be landing in NZ stockists from Oct 18^th for $199.00 NZD.

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EPOS has unleashed their top-of-the-range H6PRO Closed and H6PRO Open acoustic gaming headsets.

The H6PRO Series is built on the heritage of the GSP 600 Series. They are touted to deliver exceptional, natural and expansive high-fidelity audio for the ultimate gaming audio experience.

Best of all there are both open and closed acoustic variants. Boasting powerful sound, intuitive, detachable boom arms, durable materials, long-lasting comfort and more. The H6PRO series will unlock “The Power of Audio” for a wide range of gaming experiences.

The H6PRO Closed and Open gaming acoustic headsets are compatible with anything rocking a 3.5mm jack. That of course includes Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Switch.

Closed Acoustic vs Open Acoustic

I know what you are thinking, what the hell does that mean and which headset do I buy? Well basically Closed Acoustic means noise cancelling and Open Acoustic lets the sound in.

If you need to hear what is happening around you, like your family, Closed Acoustic may be for you.

If you want to drown out the sound around you, like your family, then Open Acoustic may be your choice.

It is super cool that the headset has been designed with these 2 variants. You can nab the H6PRO that suits your life best.

Both are available now directly from EPOS HERE!.

Mighty Ape has them available to pre-order with a release date of the 29th of October.

It doesn’t take much to guess why there may be delays… bring on 2022!

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Windows 11 is available now. Both through a free upgrade on eligible Windows 10 PCs and on new PCs pre-installed with Windows 11.

Here are a few of the top features Windows 11 has to offer:

New Features that Bring you Closer to What you Love:

Chat from Microsoft Teams is a new experience that helps bring you closer to the people you care about.

Microsoft Store on Windows has been redesigned from the ground up to be easier to build for, and make it more seamless for customers to find and browse apps, games and entertainment all in one place

Snap Layouts and Groups offer a more powerful way to multitask and optimize your screen real estate.

Windows 11 is the most inclusively designed version of Windows, built with and for people with disabilities.

Aotearoa Keyboard 

Devices which upgrade to Windows 11 will have access to the all-new Aotearoa keyboard. This allows users to add macrons while writing in te reo Māori, without having to switch keyboards or copy and paste. Instead, users can use the tilde (~) key before a vowel and the macron will be automatically added.

“The Aotearoa keyboard addition to Windows 11 may seem like a small thing. It represents the latest milestone in the work we’ve been doing alongside cultural and language advisors for the past 15 years to support te reo Māori as a vital part of Aotearoa’s culture and identity,” says Vanessa Sorenson, Managing Director of Microsoft New Zealand. 

”It’s also about encouraging more Kiwis to learn and engage with each other in the language every day. The Aotearoa keyboard will enable millions of Windows users around Aotearoa and the world to write more easily in te reo Māori, removing the barriers people currently face to expressing themselves in our indigenous language. That’s huge.”

Built for Gaming

Windows 11 was made for gaming, with new features that can take your PC gaming experience to the next level. This is helped by AutoHDR, DirectStorage, and the Xbox app built right in. Here you can browse, download and play over 100 PC games from the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC library.  

The Operating System for Hybrid Work and Learning

Beginning today, organizations can also start moving to Windows 11 on powerful PCs and through the cloud with Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop.

Chip–to-cloud Protection

Windows 11 was designed with security in mind to meet the challenges we will face in this new work environment and beyond.

New Tools and Resources for Developers 

Windows 11 is for all developers. Whether you are building apps for a PC, web, phone, game console or anything in between. Windows 11 offers the most seamless development experience. A more open store, deep development integrations and new design are just the start.

Available on the Widest Array of Choice in Devices

Microsoft is offering Windows 11 on the widest array of choice in devices, form factors, and silicon from its partners. These include Acer, AMD, ASUS, Dell, HP, Intel, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Samsung, and Surface. 

Additionally, as a reminder, most new Surface devices and accessories will be generally available today from Microsoft Store on microsoft.com and other major retailers. These include the Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Pro 8, and Surface Go 3.

Be sure to check out the microsite for all the Windows 11 general availability assets and additional Windows 11 blog posts. 

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The new ultra-lightweight Logitech G435 Wireless Headset has been announced.

It is supposedly going to deliver on all fronts. With a balance of comfort, sustainability, sleek and bold design, multi-platform support and more. This latest addition to the Logitech G Colour Collection is touted to change the game for good.

Key features:

• Versatile: features LIGHTSPEED as well as low-latency Bluetooth connectivity
• Play your way: compatible with PC, smartphones, PlayStation and more
• Ultra-lightweight: weighing in at just 165 grams
• Immersive sound: high fidelity audio with 40mm drivers, dual beam-forming mics, Discord certified, compatible with Dolby Atmos, Tempest 3D AudioTech and Windows Sonic
• Play on: 18 hour battery life
• Total comfort: fits a wide range of people, but designed for the comfort of smaller head sizes
• More sustainable: plastic parts are made from a minimum 22% post-consumer recycled plastic; paper packaging comes from FSC -certified forests and the product is certified CarbonNeutral
• Safer: optional volume limiter to under 85 decibels to protect eardrums

The G435 is launching in NZ retailers at the end of Sept in Off-White & Lilac and Black & Neon Yellow for an RRP of $249.90.

The post The light Logitech G435 Wireless Headset has been announced. appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

ROCCAT has unveiled the Torch, its first studio-grade USB microphone.

the Torch is designed for gamers, streamers, and aspiring content creators, and is packed full of professional-grade features. These include 24-bit audio quality, a dual condenser design, latency-free Mic Monitoring, and a built-in pop filter.

ROCCAT’s Torch will ensure creators always sound flawless and its stylish and intelligent design is compatible with a wide range of shock mounts, boom arms and other accessories.

The Torch microphone will feature ROCCAT’s intelligent AIMO RGB lighting. This means special lighting zones change colour depending on the mic’s settings.

Even better, the driver-free setup makes the Torch simple to use right out of the box.

ROCCAT’s Torch launches 17^th August 2021 for an RRP of $149.95AUD. No NZ stores have it listed yet but is available for pre-order from http://au.roccat.com/.

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One of the many things that has exploded in popularity since half the world locked down is eracing. Logitech is expecting their G Challenge in 2021 to be even bigger than the massive 2020 challenge.

As such Logitech G and McLaren Racing have announced a new-look to the G Challenge eracing competition to excite racers and race fans around the world.

For motorsports enthusiasts and amateur drivers, the official 2021 Logitech McLaren G Challenge racing season will start on July 1st, 2021.

The tournament will expand to include three divisions: Open Wheel, Stock Car and Sport Car Racing. In this fourth year, G Challenge will be played on the iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione games, and will culminate with the Grand Finale January 15, 2022 in Las Vegas, NV.

This year’s three division winners of the 2021 Logitech McLaren G Challenge will earn a four-day all-expenses paid trip to London, a behind-the-scenes experience of the McLaren Technology Centre, coaching with McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris, and a VIP experience at the 2022 Formula 1 British Grand Prix.

In celebration of this year’s new look, Logitech G and McLaren will host a celebrity Pro-Am race on 7 July, where celebrities will form two teams to compete in a Stock Car and Open Wheel race. American racing driver William Byron and McLaren Formula 1 driver Lando Norris will captain and draft their respective teams. Additional celebrities include rapper, singer, and songwriter A$AP Ferg, Arrow McLaren SP racing driver, Felix Rosenqvist, American race car driver and NASCAR pit reporter, Parker Kligerman and Indianapolis 500 Champion from Brazil, Tony Kanaan.

“The success of G Challenge 2020 was underscored by an effort to continue entertaining motorsport fans,” said Jim Hoey, head of G Challenge at Logitech G. “This year we will return with new formats, multiple game titles and a monthly schedule of broadcasted races that will continue to excite race fans around the world.”

“McLaren Racing embraced Logitech McLaren G Challenge as a way to keep racing fans entertained, but we quickly realised it was an opportunity to collaborate with Logitech G in an industry that continues to explode,” said Lindsey Eckhouse, Director, Licensing, Ecommerce and esports at McLaren Racing.  “G Challenge is in a class of its own, delivering an opportunity for amateur drivers and motorsports enthusiasts to compete and race like professionals. We look forward to another year of excitement and fun, building McLaren’s presence in this space.”

The top three racers from each division (Open Wheel, Stock Car and Sport Car) will earn an all-expenses paid trip to the Grand Finals Weekend to compete for the championship. The Grand Finals Weekend will be packed full of exciting activities, including a live on-track driving experience with exotic race cars, official meet and greets with professional drivers, athletes and other celebrities, and a chance at winning the McLaren Racing VIP Experience Grand Prize.

Registration for the online qualifiers are open now at LogitechGChallenge.com

If you need to up your kit I am sure Logtiech would love for you to try their G923.

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When it comes to new gaming tech it is easy to enhance them right? Pop on some more buttons and lights and make it … gaminger. HyperX has gone down a different path with the new Pulsefire Haste mouse, opting to make it better but making it have less mouse weighing it down.

Less mouse, more light, easy win.

Less bang for your buck... in a good way

So the biggest benefit the Pulsefire Haste offers is how light it is. The honeycomb design filled with holes and the light plastic might seem minor but the mouse is super light weighing under 60 grams and the most surprising thing was the difference it made. I didn’t realise how heavy mice can be until I started using this mouse but man moving it around was an absolute breeze.

Moving back to my generic wireless mouse has been a painful difference. Everything on my computer feels slower and sluggier so I immediately switched back to the Pulsefire Haste and everything from general use on my PC to gaming feels so much smoother. Sometimes the most simple solution is the best, and the Pulsefire Haste eptimoses that by making the mouse lighter and as such, better.

No more eating at your desk

The one thing I am nervous about is the holes that go straight through. I imagine over time some dust and crumbs will get stuck in there. You can see the chips through the honeycomb gaps and they appear to have a nice plastic coating. How long that will work, or how nasty the mouse will get and easy to clean will be a waiting game.

In my time using it the mouse hasn’t gotten gunked up yet, but it has only been a week of heavy use. I can’t say how it will handle time and many snacks at the computer, but it will be interesting to see long term how it holds out. Think about how every couple of months you can bash your keyboard upside down and a disturbing amount of stuff comes out, this could be the case here too. Though there are holes at the bottom so it will be a waiting game.

Or you know, I could spend 10 minutes away from my PC and eat at the table.

A mouse needs to breath

My first thought was that the crumb issue could be fixed by a thin layer of plastic or something, but this would remove an unexpected benefit. Some cool air around my hand.

If you’re anything like me, and I hope you’re not, you get sweaty. Using the Pulsefire Haste I was delighted by how comfortable I was thanks to a little bit less plastic covering my hands. This is another thing I hadn’t noticed was a thing until I was switching between mice, but my hands were a lot less clammy using this mouse, especially on some long gaming sessions.

For the most part the mouse has a nice generic ergonomic shape, but the other sweet comfort perk it offers is the grippiness. The honeycomb holes do a surprisingly good job of holding it to your hands and if that isn’t enough the mouse comes with some extra grippy stickers in the box, to make it grippier.

So much grip.

Excellence for the price

Given the mouse comes in for under $100 the HyperX Pulsefire Haste is an awesome mouse. It doesn’t have too many buttons like some more advanced gaming mice, and it doesn’t light up your living room like some gaming tech.

Instead it offers some more subtle lights and heaps of comfort. If a couple of extra buttons is all you need then given you don’t have to drop a couple of hundred bucks, this mouse is certainly an easy recommendation. Be careful with the Copper Kettle crumbs on the longer gaming marathons though.

The post HyperX Pulsefire Haste Mouse Review appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

It can be weird thinking about the start for the brands that have been around forever.

SteelSeries is celebrating their 20 years in the industry this year and kicked it off with 6 short videos to celebrate.

We have reviewed SteelSeries products and loved them so it is no surprise they have been around as long as they have.

Check the videos out below:

The post SteelSeries celebrates 20 years of innovation in Gaming & eSports appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

Earlier this morning Apple held one of their live, special events direct from the Steve Jobs Theater. Over the last week Apple has sent out press releases to announce updates to the iPad, iMac and AirPods but it used the beloved purpose built Theater for their biggest announcements of 2019 so far; Apple is attempting to become your one stop shop for TV, Movies, Games and News.

Let’s start with the biggest announcement. The one that will see Apple attempt to take on the likes of Netflix.

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is being billed as the new home for the world’s most creative storytellers featuring exclusive original shows, movies and documentaries, coming this spring. Apple TV+, Apple’s original video subscription service, will feature a brand new slate of programming from the world’s most celebrated creative artists, including Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Octavia Spencer, J.J. Abrams, Jason Momoa, M. Night Shyamalan, Jon M. Chu and more. On the Apple TV app, subscribers will enjoy inspiring and authentic stories with emotional depth and compelling characters from all walks of life, ad-free and on demand.

“We’re honoured that the absolute best lineup of storytellers in the world — both in front of and behind the camera — are coming to Apple TV+,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “We’re thrilled to give viewers a sneak peek of Apple TV+ and cannot wait for them to tune in starting this spring. Apple TV+ will be home to some of the highest quality original storytelling that TV and movie lovers have seen yet.” 

Additionally, Apple debuted the all-new Apple TV app and Apple TV channels coming in May 2019. The all-new Apple TV app brings together the different ways to discover and watch shows, movies, sports, news and more in one app across iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, smart TVs and streaming devices. Users can subscribe to and watch new Apple TV channels — paying for only services they want, like HBO, SHOWTIME and Starz¹ — all on demand, available on and offline, with incredible picture quality and sound; enjoy sports, news and network TV from cable and satellite providers as well as purchase or rent iTunes movies and TV shows all within the new, personalised Apple TV app. 

Beginning in May, customers can subscribe to Apple TV channels à la carte and watch them in the Apple TV app, with no additional apps, accounts or passwords required. Apple TV channels include popular services such as HBO, Starz, SHOWTIME, CBS All Access, Smithsonian Channel, EPIX, Tastemade, Noggin and new services like MTV Hits,with more to be added over time around the world.

The new Apple TV app personalises what viewers love to watch across their existing apps and services while developing a secure and comprehensive understanding of users’ viewing interests. The app will offer suggestions for shows and movies from over 150 streaming apps, including Amazon Prime and Hulu, as well as pay-TV services such as Canal+, Charter Spectrum, DIRECTV NOW and PlayStation Vue. Optimum and Suddenlink from Altice will be added later this year.

Additionally, the Apple TV app will become the new home to the hundreds of thousands of movies and TV shows currently available for purchase or rent in the iTunes Store.

Availability

• Pricing and availability for the Apple TV+ video subscription service will be announced later this spring. 
• The all-new Apple TV app is coming to iPhone, iPad and Apple TV customers in over 100 countries with a free software update this May, and to Mac this spring. 
• Through Family Sharing, users can share Apple TV+ and subscriptions to Apple TV channels. 
• The Apple TV app will be available on Samsung smart TVs beginning this spring and on Amazon Fire TV, LG, Roku, Sony and VIZIO platforms in the future. 
• Later this year, customers with eligible VIZIO, Samsung, LG and Sony smart TVs will be able to effortlessly play videos and other content from their iPhone or iPad directly to their smart TVs with AirPlay 2 support.

Pricing is yet to be revealed so it will be interesting to see what this cost when it hits New Zealand. It is worth noting that most of the TV channels mentioned in the announcement are unlikely to come to New Zealand due to rights agreements, etc, etc. We’ll keep you posted on what Kiwi’s can expect form the service as more information continues to come through.

Apple Arcade

This is the one that is most likely to resonate with Kiwi’s due to the App Store not necessarily having the same restrictions placed on them as Movies, TV and News.

Apple Arcade will be a game subscription service that will feature over 100 new and exclusive games, including original releases from renowned creators Hironobu Sakaguchi, Ken Wong, Will Wright and dozens more. Apple Arcade games will redefine gaming and be curated based on originality, quality, creativity, fun and their appeal to players of all ages. Apple Arcade will give customers the freedom to try any game from its handpicked collection of titles that are all-you-can-play, have no ads, ad tracking or additional purchases, and respect user privacy.

Free games, supported by advertising or in-app purchases, are enjoyed by hundreds of millions of players around the world. Paid games are often critically acclaimed and beloved by the people who play them, but competing with free is hard, so even the best of these games have only reached a smaller audience. With the simplicity of a single subscription, Apple Arcade will bring games like these to the App Store’s more than 1 billion gaming customers. Apple Arcade is the perfect complement to the already enormously popular catalog of free games on the App Store, making iOS the premier gaming platform for players of all ages.

Apple is not just handpicking the games in Apple Arcade, but also contributing to the development costs and working closely with creators to bring the games to life. Made by some of the most critically acclaimed game developers in the world, Apple Arcade games will entertain customers with incredibly fun gameplay and immersive stories, while capturing imaginations with original art and music. The service will feature games from Annapurna Interactive, Bossa Studios, Cartoon Network, Finji, Giant Squid, Klei Entertainment, Konami, LEGO, Mistwalker Corporation, SEGA, Snowman, ustwo games and dozens more.

“The App Store is the world’s biggest and most successful game platform. Now we are going to take games even further with Apple Arcade, the first game subscription service for mobile, desktop and the living room,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “We are working with some of the most innovative game developers in the world to create over 100 new and exclusive games to play across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. Apple Arcade games will be great for families, respect user privacy and will not have ads or require any additional purchases. We think players of all ages are going to love Apple Arcade.”

Apple Arcade will introduce an innovative way to access a collection of brand new games that will not be available on any other mobile platform or in any other subscription service. Rather than pay up front for each game, a subscription to Apple Arcade will give players the opportunity to try any game in the service without risk. Since every game includes access to the full experience, including all game features, content and future updates, no additional purchases will be required. Every game will be playable offline, and many games will offer support for game controllers. Because subscribers can play Apple Arcade games across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV, they can pick up where they left off in a game, even if they switch devices. New games will be added to the service on a regular basis.

Apple Arcade will launch in spring 2019 in more than 150 countries from a new tab on the App Store across iOS, macOS and tvOS. Pricing has not been released but it will be interesting to see where Apple goes with pricing. Microsoft have their Xbox Game Pass available for $10.95 a month but I wouldn’t expect Apple to go that cheap with Apple Arcade, if I had to guess I’d say $19.99NZD but that is purely a guess. In any case it is an exciting development for Apple’s mobile developers and consumers alike. I personally tend to stick to free games, despite seeing what admittedly looks like some seriously quality paid mobile games in the App Store. Having an all you can eat subscription model to the games in the App Store could be enough to tempt me.

Apple News+

So here’s the one that kicked off the special event but the one I’, talking about last and for good reason. The News App isn’t available in New Zealand, there’s no word on when/if it will come to New Zealand and lastly News+ hasn’t been announced as coming to New Zealand. But for those of you who have their iDevices set to a region that has News support then this one is for you.

News+ will be a subscription service that brings together over 300 popular magazines, leading newspapers and digital publishers into a beautiful, convenient and curated experience within the Apple News app. Available in the US and Canada, Apple News+ presents the best and most relevant articles to meet any range of interests from renowned publications such as Vogue, National Geographic Magazine, People, ELLE, The Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

Apple News+ adds an even more expansive collection of high-quality stories to the free experience of Apple News, which is the No. 1 news app and delivers current events coverage from trusted sources.¹ All Apple News users in the US, Canada, UK and Australia can continue to enjoy the free news experience within the app on iPhone, iPad and Mac, including access to Top Stories, Trending Stories and a personalised feed of articles.

“We’re committed to supporting quality journalism, and with Apple News+, we want to celebrate the great work being done by magazines and news outlets,” said Lauren Kern, editor-in-chief of Apple News. “We think the breadth and quality of publications within Apple News+ will encourage more people to discover stories and titles they may never have come across before.”

Apple News+ subscribers can access current and past issues and individual articles from magazines such as The Atlantic, Better Homes & Gardens, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, ELLE, Entertainment Weekly, ESPN The Magazine, Esquire, Food & Wine, Good Housekeeping, GQ, Health, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, National Geographic, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, O, The Oprah Magazine, Parents, People, Real Simple, Rolling Stone, Runner’s World, Sports Illustrated, TIME, Travel + Leisure, Vanity Fair, Vogue, WIRED and Woman’s Day.

In addition, Apple News+ includes The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Toronto Star, Canada’s largest daily newspaper. Apple News+ also provides access to premium online publications such as theSkimm, The Highlight by Vox, New York Magazine’s sites Vulture, The Cut and Grub Street, and Extra Crunch from Verizon Media’s TechCrunch.

Apple News+ showcases magazines in richly designed layouts, featuring animated covers, vivid photography and bold typography optimised for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It makes reading articles even more fun, immersive and convenient. In the Today and News+ tabs, subscribers will be presented with individual article and issue recommendations based on both editorial curation and personalised suggestions that maintain user privacy.

“Apple News+ validates the power of premium content from great and trusted brands, and being a part of it makes good business sense,” said Tom Harty, president and CEO of Meredith. “Apple News+ will be an extremely valuable mass platform to attract new paid subscribers to our titles.”

“At Hearst Magazines, we are hyperfocused on creating consumer value through our storied brands, high-quality content and great experiences,” said Troy Young, president of Hearst Magazines. “Apple News+ amplifies our ability to do this in a premium environment with a key audience, elevating the digital magazine experience for millions of iPhone, iPad and Mac users.”

“We’re constantly innovating how we connect with our audiences and bring them the content they crave on the platforms they use every day,” said Bob Sauerberg, president and CEO of Condé Nast. “Apple News+ represents an exciting opportunity to bring a premium experience to millions more readers, so they can enjoy the conversation-shifting journalism, influential points of view and unparalleled visual storytelling they’ve come to expect from our brands.”

“We are proud to work with Apple, a company that believes in the profound importance of journalism and journalists,” said Robert Thomson, chief executive of News Corp. “The Wall Street Journal is certainly the most trusted newspaper in the US and its coverage of politics, business, economics, national news and lifestyle issues is nonpareil. We expect through the Apple platform, our journalism will reach and inform many more millions of readers, viewers and listeners around the country and the world.”

“Apple News+ provides a perfect platform for our expanded coverage of news, analysis and opinion,” said Norman Pearlstine, executive editor of Los Angeles Times. “We share a world vision that is informed by our California roots and by our common commitment to innovation and excellence.”

Pricing and Availability
Apple News+ is available today in the US for $9.99 a month and in Canada for $12.99 a month. Customers can sign up for a free one-month trial, and the plan automatically renews after the trial ends. To sign up for Apple News+, customers must update to iOS 12.2 or macOS 10.14.4. Through Family Sharing, up to six family members can share one Apple News+ subscription. Apple News+ will be available in the UK and Australia later this year.

This is the one I’m least excited about. I’m not really a big news/magazine guy. Even if News+ (or News) was available in New Zealand I’m just not sure I would use it much and I can’t see myself paying a subscription fee for it. Why? Because I prefer browsing the web for my news and stories. Why pay for something that I can get for free?

And that’s it folks, which services are you most excited for? Tell us in the comments below.

The post Apple Announces Apple TV+, Apple Arcade and Apple News+ appeared first on 8-Bit Island.

A day after they announced a new iPad Air and iPad, Apple have today announced updates to the iMac line.

The new iMac line will feature up to 8-core Intel 9th-generation processors for the first time and powerful Vega graphics options, delivering dramatic increases in both compute and graphics performance. From consumers to pros alike, users will notice their iMac is faster for everyday tasks all the way up to the most demanding pro workloads. This boost in performance, combined with its gorgeous Retina display, sleek all-in-one design, quiet operation, fast storage and memory, modern connectivity and macOS Mojave, makes iMac the world’s best desktop.

“Customers are going to love the huge boost in iMac performance. With up to 8-core processors and powerful Vega graphics, the iMac lineup is stronger than ever,” said Tom Boger, Apple’s senior director of Mac Product Marketing. “With its stunning Retina display, amazing design, twice the performance, and macOS Mojave that our customers love, iMac is by far the best desktop in the world.”

With updated processors across the line, customers will experience dramatically faster performance for a wide range of everyday computing tasks, from editing photos to playing demanding games, composing music or even creating a feature film.

• The 21.5-inch iMac now features 8th-generation quad-core, and for the first time 6-core processors, delivering up to 60 percent faster performance.
• The 27-inch iMac now for the first time features up to 9th-generation 6-core and 8-core processors, delivering up to 2.4 times faster performance.

Radeon Pro Vega graphics come to the 21.5-inch iMac, delivering up to 80 percent faster graphics performance. The 27-inch iMac with Radeon Pro Vega now delivers up to 50 percent faster graphics performance, ideal for pros with graphics-intensive workloads, such as developing 3D content, editing videos with complex effects or designing high-resolution games.

With up to 14.7 million pixels, 1 billion colours, 500 nits of brightness, P3 wide colour gamut and an incredible viewing angle, iMac’s Retina display delivers an immersive front-of-screen experience. All these pixels result in text that looks like a printed page, sharper photos with more detail, and the ability to edit 4K video at full resolution.

Unrivalled All-in-One Design That Elevates Any Space
With its sleek aluminium and glass enclosure, 5 millimetre-thin profile and beautiful matching keyboard and mouse, iMac delivers a clean and uncluttered desktop experience that allows users to focus more on their content. With everything they need and nothing they don’t, customers love how iMac fits seamlessly into so many different environments, from the home, to businesses of all sizes, or even a pro studio.

macOS Mojave
All new Macs come with macOS Mojave, the latest version of the world’s most advanced desktop operating system, with features inspired by pros but designed for everyone. In macOS Mojave, Dark Mode transforms the desktop with a dramatic new look that puts the focus on user content, Stacks organises messy desktops by automatically stacking files into neat groups and FaceTime supports group calling. macOS Mojave also brings iOS apps, including News, Stocks, Voice Memos and Home to the Mac and features a redesigned Mac App Store with rich editorial content and the addition of apps from top developers, including Microsoft and Adobe.

Pricing and Availability

The new 21.5-inch iMac with Retina 4K display starts at RRP NZ$2,199 inc. GST and the new 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display starts at RRP NZ$2,999 inc. GST.

Both are available to order starting today from apple.com/nz/ and the Apple Store App, and in Apple Stores and through Apple Authorised Resellers next week.

The non-Retina display iMac configuration continues to be available for RRP NZ$1,849 inc. GST. Additional technical specifications, configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at apple.com/nz/mac.

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