In Sunday's segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Jaynie Seal) we looked at how Apple AirTags are helping travellers track down lost luggage. Although other trackers like Tile have been around for some time, AirTags have really changed the game due to the number of devices, not just phones, that are part Find My system.

DJI has just made the battle better cameras and gimbals at lot easier for creators. I stepped away from gimbals for several years but now I’m back after seeing what DJI has produced in the RS 3 Pro and to a lesser extent the RS 3.

Everything is faster with these gimbals. From the the new automated axis lock system to one-tap calibration the RS 3 and RS 3 Pro will make the shooting process at lot smoother. DJI says its 3rd-Gen RS stabilisation algorithm improves performance by 20%.

Hisense is a big backer of sport around the world so it was no surprise that Hisense Australia chose Rugby League’s showcase event, State of Origin, as its launch venue. From the end of June, the widest range of TVs made by Hisense will be available through Australian retailers. Ranging from 55 inches to 98 inches so you’ll easily find a ULED, Mini-LED or OLED TV to suit your needs. There’s also Laser TV with a maximum 120-inch screen.

In Sunday's segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Tim Gilbert) we looked at amazing tiny robots developed by the team at Northwestern University in Illinois, USA. They developed the smallest-ever remote-controlled walking robot — and it comes in the form of a tiny peekytoe crab. Just a half-millimetre wide, smaller than flea - the tiny robot crabs can bend, twist, crawl, walk, turn and even jump. The researchers also developed millimetre-sized robots resembling inchworms, crickets and beetles. The team used a laser beam to rapidly heat the robot. The heating and fast cooling creates motion.

In the very near future tiny robots, like these experimental creations, could assist in medical procedures like clearing clogged arteries, stopping internal bleeding or eliminating cancerous tumours. There’s a long, long way to go but this is exciting stuff.

SAMSUNG EXPERT RAW

If you have a new S22 Ultra you could be missing out on a massive photography update. Expert RAW is a ‘pro’ app that takes advantage of Ultra’s powerful camera array and ability to capture 16-bit images. It will allow users to unleash the full power of the S22 Ultra and other Samsung cameras. You can download it from the Galaxy Store. Other models supporting Expert RAW are: S21 Ultra and Fold3.

So if you’re doing a little photo editing, you’ll get some amazing results from Samsung’s latest flagship phone.

SONOS RAY SOUNDBAR

The Sonos Ray is a compact soundbar designed for smaller rooms, like a home office, bedroom or small TV/Gaming room. Key features are: - Optical input - Touch controls - TV remote sync - Apple AirPlay 2 - WiFi. I’ve just finished a full review on it and although small it packs a punch. Watch it here. It’s available from June 7 and costs $399 AUD.

SOUNDBOKS GO

If you want big sound on the go then the SOUNDBOKS GO is the ultimate speaker due to its insane volume and portability. It is very loud. Up to 121 dB. It weighs less than 9kgs , features two 72-watt continuous class D amplifiers, uses a removable battery and can be wirelessly linked to 5 SOUNDBOKS (Gen. 3) and Go speakers. It’s available now for $1099 AUD.

Keep an eye (ear) out for a review video soon.

This is our review of the Sonos Ray. The Sonos Ray is a small and surprisingly powerful soundbar.

It's a step down from the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) but in the right room it's a good, possibly better option.

Key features are: - Optical input - Touch controls - TV remote sync - Apple AirPlay 2 - WiFi It will be available globally from Jun 7th 2022.

In Sunday's segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Tim Gilbert) I gave TV viewers their first look at Canon’s brand new EOS R - crop sensor cameras - EOS R7 and EOS R10. These are the affordable models we’ve been waiting for and I had them exclusively for our Weekend Edition audience.

One of my favourite Apple Watch bands is the Pride band. So it’s great to see in celebration of Pride month in June, Apple is releasing two new Pride Edition bands plus dynamic Pride watch faces in support of the global LGBTQ+ community and equality movement.

The 2022 Pride Edition Sport Loop displays a colour gradient with the word ‘pride’ woven directly into the band. Apple is also launching a new Shot on iPhone pride campaign on Instagram that captures the essence of artists and figures within the global LGBTQ+ community.

Canon has expanded its EOS R mirrorless range to include two new crop sensor cameras; the EOS R7 and EOS R10. It’s also released new RF-S lenses; the RF-S 18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM, and RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM.

Starting at $1499 AUD for the R10 body and $2349 AUD for the R7 body - RRP - these new cameras will attract a whole new group of enthusiasts that may have been holding off on the EOS R system.

In Sunday's segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Tim Gilbert) we discussed why Australia doesn’t have federal elections online. We’ve had some online voting in Australia but nothing on the scale of a full federal election. Voting via the Internet is available in several counties around the world, like Brazil and Estonia, but here in Australia it’s still paper and pencil.

Why? We do the census online and our banking online so why not elections?  It turns out the answer is more than the technical challenge because other countries have proved that it can be done. It comes down to trust, transparency and tradition. The AEC conducts federal elections in accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. The introduction of Electronic voting would require legislative change, which is a matter for Parliament.

If you want more historic detail on why we don’t vote via the Internet, check out these resources.

When it comes to noise cancelling headphones - Sony’s 1000X series is King. I’ve got four of them and each one was a sensation at launch. Now the WH-1000XM5 version is coming our way, mid-June in Australia actually, for $549.95 AUD.

The WH-1000XM4s are already pretty amazing so it will be an interesting hands on review.

The WH-1000XM5s have a different look to the previous models but under the hood there’s more power to the shut the world out and improve audio reproduction. The M5’s use two processors controlling eight microphones that reduce noise especially in the mid-high frequency range. The Auto NC Optimiser automatically optimises noise cancellation, depending on the environment. Think of cafe, train or walking the city streets.

If you’re looking a small travel drone - less than 250 grams - to pull off some epic shots then the DJI Mini 3 Pro is the one for you. I used the original mini for a TV job and no one knew. It was limited to 30p but I got away with it. The Mini 3 Pro is a far better machine than the original. Weighing less than 249 grams means it can fly where other drones can’t over 250 grams without qualifications. Here’s an example of the CASA rules re: flying near Australian airports.

In Sunday's segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Tim Gilbert) we went through the key improvements in LG’s 2022 TV range. It can be overwhelming for a consumer when it comes to buying a new television so we offer some tips.

LG has 42 new models on offer ranging between $1K to $60 AUD. You can make big savings by opting for a 2021 model so we make some suggestions.

In Sunday's segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Tim Gilbert) we looked at the camera technology that enabled Tom Cruise to produce the long awaited sequel to Top Gun, Top Gun Maverick. Almost three years after it was supposed to make its premiere, Top Gun Maverick will finally hit cinema screens later this month - May 26. Actors will be seen in real jets during action scenes. A US Navy pilot is flying the FA/18 Super Hornet but by cutting between the tandem-seater and single seater in the editing room - it looks like Tom Cruise and the others are actually flying. It’s been made possible because of this special Sony camera rig. These cameras are 6K and modular so all of the reactions are real in the cockpit.

In Sunday's segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Tim Gilbert) we looked at the Australian release of the ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNI robot vacuum cleaner. It’s the smartest robot vacuum cleaner you can buy and it will cost $2 499 AUD.

It takes direct voice commands - extra to Google and Alexa, sweeps, vacuums and mops. After each cleaning round the base station automatically washes the mop and dries it using hot air to remove odours when working in humid environments. Automatically stores the wastewater after cleaning the mop, automatically empties dust bag and refills the water tank with clean water.

Australia’s Forcite Helmets has just released the MK1S. A smart helmet inspired by a bike accident the CEO was injured in. It’s taken two years of development and $10.1M of R&D investment. The helmet includes smart navigation technology, alerting riders of upcoming dangers. The LED display is designed to be non-distracting - no need to look down or at a head-up display.

There’s no bulky clip-on camera or headsets. An embedded camera records continuously - in HD. Following an accident, or even a dropped helmet, Forcite owners can send their helmet to have the shell replaced and the tech components salvaged.

Another great Australian tech success story.

In Sunday's segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Tim Gilbert) we looked at mobile coverage for Easter road trips. A cheap city plan may leave many travellers out of range on bush roads. This is where area coverage not population coverage matters. Australia is 7.7 million km² and Telstra covers 2.6 million km² - one million more than nearest rival Optus.

Clearly Telstra offers more coverage but you don’t need a Telstra account to take advantage of that wider service area. There’s a simple ‘hack’ without leaving your current provider that works fine in city areas. And that ‘hack’ is buying a Boost pre-paid sim. Boost is the only MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that has access to Telstra’s entire network, excluding 5G which isn’t relevant in this discussion.

If you are already with Telstra you can get devices to boost coverage but you’re looking at another thousand dollars. I tested the CEL-FI Go on the fringe of Telstra’s network last year and it works. A quick look at coverage maps will show you there are still plenty of gaps out there so if you’re going off the main roads - take into account your mobile phone coverage. Or .. get a satellite phone.

In Sunday's segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Tim Gilbert) we looked an Australian designed and built underwater drone. “Hydrus” is a fully autonomous submarine robot that doesn’t need a cable to explore. It is (for real) a game changer for undersea mapping and exploring.

This system developed by Advanced Navigation is much safer.

In our recent segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Gabriella Power) we looked Google’s annual health event “The Check up” and the company’s emphasis on body sensors. Currently patients recovering from knee surgery attend a gait lab for 3D motion capture. But Google is hoping to get similar results by using existing USB-dongle-sized sensors. These sensors would track relevant metrics, like knee angular velocity. This data, collected 24/7, would then be used to improve the recovery process. As the owner of bad knees - this is great news.