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Headphones have flooded the market, and it’s difficult to know which ones to pick – especially if you’re a first time buyer. Here, we’ll help you weigh up whether you should buy top-of-the-line, or if a cheaper set will suffice.

While it’s tempting to buy a set of super cheap headphones, it’s worth remembering that they are inexpensive for a reason. But as you’ll see below, getting your hands on a decent pair of headphones doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Especially when you have us to do the digging for you.

To save you the time and effort, we’ve put together this dedicated guide to the best bargains on great-sounding headphones. We constantly monitor major Aussie retailers to bring you the most worthwhile deals on a variety of sets – from in-ear buds to noise-cancelling cans from the most popular brands – so check out our continually updated list below to discover the best current headphones deals in Australia.

• Find great bargains and compare Australian prices on the latest tech at Getprice.

Over- & on-ear headphones

Sony WH-CH710N | AU$219 (RRP AU$349; save AU$130)

Sony’s best known set of headphones are the stellar WH-1000XM3, but they come with a suitably premium price tag. This more affordable offering from Sony has good sound quality and noise-cancelling tech, though they aren’t quite up to scratch with Sony’s top tier offering. That said, if you don’t want to drop AU$350 on a set of headphones, these could make for a worthwhile alternative. Available from The Good Guys with AU$130 saved.View Deal

In-ear headphones

Sony WF-1000XM3 | from AU$278 (RRP AU$479.95; save up to AU$201.95)

These are Sony’s true wireless ‘buds and they’re just as exceptional as their over-ear siblings. Sony managed to squeeze active noise cancellation and a great battery into these earbuds – no small feat. If you’re ready to cut the cord, the silver set is discounted on Amazon.View Deal

Jabra Elite 65t | from AU$149 (RRP AU$249; save up to AU$100)

These excellent true wireless 'buds have been discounted on Amazon for a very long time, although they had dropped as low as AU$143 a while back. While this isn't as great a deal at just a few dollars more than its lowest offer, these 'buds are a great bargain for the comfortable fit and brilliant bassy sound quality.View Deal

Jabra Elite Active 65t | AU$179 (RRP AU$279; save AU$100)

This is the workout version of the Jabra Elite 65t. With that in mind, these true wireless ‘buds have a built-in motion sensor to track your steps and an IP56 rating which promises to resist sweat while you’re busy getting the blood pumping. These in-ears have great sound quality too, as we’ve come to expect from Jabra.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus | AU$239 (RRP AU$299; save AU$60)

These earbuds get a number of upgrades on their predecessors: a whopping 11-hour battery life, a dual-driver design for improved audio and support for iOS users. The Buds Plus don’t have noise cancellation tech, which could be a dealbreaker for some, but instead they’re offering a price point that goes relatively easy on the wallet. Discount only available in blue.View Deal

Bose QuietControl 30 | AU$299 (RRP AU$449; save AU$150)

Looking for active noise cancellation without feeling the weight of a set of cans on your head? Then Bose's QC30 Bluetooth 'buds might be what you're after. You get the brand's signature sound quality and a neckband design that offer more security than true wireless headphones. You'll get up to 10 hours of battery life per charge and save a very decent AU$150 on these premium 'buds when shopping on Amazon.View Deal

The best deals on our favourite headphones

To help you decide which headphones work best for you, we’ve decided to put together a little buying guide with a list of our favourite recommendations. 

The headphones you’ll find here have tons of features to help you to get the most out of your music, or any other form of audio-visual entertainment you prefer, however you like to listen to it.

(Image credit: Sony)

Our favourite overall headphones (and noise-cancelling too): Sony WH-1000XM3

The cans that can do everything

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 254g | Cable length: 3.94 ft | Frequency response: 4Hz-40,000Hz | Drivers: 40mm | Driver type: Neodymium | Sensitivity: 104.5 dB / mW (1 kHz) | Impedance: 47 ohm | Battery life: 30 hours | Wireless range: 10m

Outstanding noise cancellation

Fantastic sound quality

30-hour battery life

Mediocre call quality

The Sony WH-1000XM3 noise-cancelling headphones are the best you can buy – for now, anyway. They’re very much in line with what we’ve seen from Sony in the past two years, and with this model the electronics giant has managed to improve on some already fantastic sets. The noise cancellation these headphones have can beat anything Bose has to offer with ease. That’s because Sony has dedicated time to perfecting audio playback and its noise-cancelling technology. However, their crown could soon be handed over, as rumours of a Sony WH-1000XM4 release date have been circling. We’ll see what 2020 brings.

Read the full review: Sony WH-1000XM3

(Image credit: JBL)

Our favourite budget headphones: JBL Tune 750BTNC

Quality noise-cancelling over-ears for a pocket-friendly price

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 220g | Cable length: N/A | Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz | Drivers: 40mm | Driver type: N/A | Sensitivity: 95dB | Impedance: 32 ohms | Battery life: 15 - 22 hours | Wireless range: 30ft (10m) | NFC: No

Good sound quality

Strong active noise cancellation

No waterproofing

Average battery life

JBL is a name you’ve probably heard in the affordable audio space. The brand consistently puts out good quality speakers and headphones with an even better price tag to match. Our previous pick on this list was the JBL Live 650BTNC, but there’s now a worthy successor to take their place – the JBL Tune 750BTNC. These noise-cancelling headphones sound great, look great, and they’re comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Maybe some might miss waterproofing and a few minor features but, at this price, it might be foolish to complain.

Read the full review: JBL Tune 750BTNC

(Image credit: Steve May)

Our favourite true wireless earbuds: Sony WF-1000XM3

The true wireless headphone jungle has a new noise-cancelling king

Weight: 70g | Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz | Drivers: 6mm | Driver type: Dome Type | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life (charging case): 18 hours | Wireless range: 30ft | NFC: Yes

Efficient noise cancellation

Inconspicuous looks

Great fun to listen to

Not suitable for sports

It’s still rather rare to get ANC in wired earbuds at all, yet Sony has managed to squeeze best-in-class noise cancellation tech into these ‘buds that have cut the cord – and that’s no small feat to achieve. And then there’s the battery life – Sony has even managed to pack above-average battery life in here, offering up to six hours of playback on a single charge of the ‘buds alone. And then there’s more to go in the charging case as well. While the WF-1000XM3 won’t offer the same level of noise cancellation that you’ll find in their over-ear counterparts mentioned above, they offer a sleek form factor, and an alternative for those who don’t enjoy carrying around full-sized cans.

Read the full review: Sony WF-1000XM3

(Image credit: Apple)

Our favourite workout earbuds: Beats Powerbeats Pro

Impressive-fitting workout ‘buds from Beats

Weight: N/A | Battery life: 9 hours | Heart rate monitor?: No | On-ear controls?: Yes

Good sound

Immaculate fit

Case is fairly bulky

Limited noise isolation

If you’re looking to amp up your fitness routine with an energetic soundtrack, our top pick would be the Beats Powerbeats Pro. These true wireless earbuds fit comfortably on and around the ear, thanks to their close-fitting hook design, and they don’t seem to ever fall out – important when you’re in the middle of a workout. They also have an IPX4 sweatproof rating, a long battery life of nine hours on a full charge and sound fantastic whether you’re in the gym or at home. What’s not to love?

Read the full review: Beats PowerBeats Pro

If you're after more information on headphones in different form factors, take a look at some of our other dedicated audio articles:

• Best headphones: Your definitive guide to the latest and greatest audio
• Best earbuds: earphones and in-ear headphones for any budget
• Best on-ear headphones: our pick of the best supra-aural cans
• The best wireless headphones: our pick of the best ways to cut the cord
• Best noise-cancelling headphones: our top picks for travel and commuting

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Update(July 1): Vivo has started teasing the X50 series on Twitter. The Vivo X50 series is now confirmed to launch in India. 

The Vivo X50 series gained a lot of attention earlier this month. The X50 series was unveiled in China on June 2. Now, Vivo X50 series is all set to make its way to India next month.

A report from 91mobiles, citing a retailer confirmed that the new Vivo X50 series will be launching in India in July. This will also make Vivo’s comeback into the premium segment after a long time. 

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It is no surprise that the device is coming to India. In fact, Vivo India's CEO had already confirmed that the Vivo X50 series will launch in India on his Facebook page. The report has posted a 10-second short video which says the device is “coming soon”. But, it doesn’t mention the region or the launch date yet.

(Image credit: Vivo)

Vivo X50 Series

The launch will mark the return of Vivo’s X series to India after over two years, with the last one being the Vivo X21 in 2018. The Vivo X50 series consists of three smartphones: Vivo X50, X50 Pro, and X50 Pro Plus.

The Vivo X50 Pro is a camera-centric premium mid-ranger which will be powered by the Snapdragon 765G with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. If the same specifications make it to India, it will be one of the first phones in the country to sport this chipset.

All three X50 series device sport a 6.56-inch display. The X50 and X50 Pro feature 90Hz refresh rate while the X50 Pro Plus features a 120Hz refresh rate. Also, the Plus model is powered by the flagship Snapdragon 865 chipset with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage.

The X50 Pro features 48MP + 13MP + 8MP + 8MP quad-camera setup with gimbal camera system on the primary sensor. X50 Pro's built-in gimbal module moves in the opposite direction of shaking motions, providing increased stability for the main camera.

Pricing

The Vivo X50 starts at 3498 Yuan in China which is around Rs 37,400. We should hear more on the launch date from Vivo India in the coming days. 

• Vivo X50 Pro to launch in India in July, alongside other countries

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Even when we're out camping or going off the grid, we're surrounded by countless gadgets and devices. And when those devices lose power, we notice. Unfortunately, we're usually left with little alternative but to tough it out. 

To wait out power outages, and to leave all our electronics behind while we're on the road. Sure, that may be appealing to some people. But most of us wouldn't kill for a few creature comforts even while roughing it in the woods. 

That's where Bluetti comes in. A brand founded on over a decade of industry experience in clean power generation, they've just kicked off an IndieGoGo campaign for an exciting new eco-friendly backup power system. Known as the Bluetti AC200, it's clean, quiet, and packs an incredible punch, with the capacity to power up to 17 devices simultaneously with a total output of 2000 Watts and a capacity of 1700Wh.

That's enough to power your entire kitchen, or charge up a Tesla for an eleven-mile drive.  

(Image credit: Bluetti)

The Bluetti AC200 is armed with an intelligent temperature-controlled cooling fan and features a built-in touchscreen interface that lets you both configure and monitor the generator. It's chargeable in just a few hours via AC, solar, car, gas generator, or lead-acid battery. It's all about which is the easiest option for you.

That said, solar is the recommended route. You can charge the AC200 to full in just three and a half hours via its 700 W (35-150V) solar input. And if you absolutely need to top up fast, you can even charge the power station via both solar and AC power simultaneously, which takes approximately two hours. 

If specs alone aren't enough to convince you of this product's merits, however, here are a few reasons we're excited about it ourselves -  and why you should be too. 

Slash your electric bill

(Image credit: Bluetti)

Some of our most important appliances and devices are also some of the most notorious power hogs. Have you ever thought about how much a portable air conditioner, a refrigerator, a desktop PC, or even a laptop can jack up your electric bill?  You might be surprised. 

The Bluetti AC200 lets you worry less about those numbers. Its small form factor makes it ideal for use around the house, and it's capable of powering a 150W refrigerator for approximately 13-26 hours or lighting for more than two days. In other words, put it wherever you're using the most electricity - whether that's your kitchen, den, or office.  

Provided you're using solar power to recharge your power station, you can cut a considerable chunk off your monthly bill.

Go green

(Image credit: Bluetti)

Many portable or emergency power generators either rely on diesel fuel or offer very little in the way of battery capacity. The AC200 has no such shortcomings. Rather than having to maintain a noisy, high-maintenance machine that belches out pollutants with abandon, you'll instead be able to rely upon solar energy.

You won't be sacrificing efficiency in doing so, either. The AC200 takes only three and a half hours to charge fully via a 700W solar panel. In other words, if you're looking to reduce your environmental footprint, this is the way to do so. 

Take the party on the road

(Image credit: Bluetti)

Because of its flexibility and portability, the AC200 makes for an incredible companion on camping trips, road trips, and festivals. You might bust out a sound system to spice up a tailgating party, spin up a portable air conditioner to keep your campsite cool in the summer, or set up your TV and PS4 for some gaming while you're getting back to nature. 

Either way, it's easy to bring with you wherever you go. This also makes it ideal for tradespeople, who may be going to sites where there's not always a readily-available power hookup. Rather than having to fiddle around with extension cords or bulky generators, you can simply pop out the AC200 and hookup whatever tools you need to run. 

It's also a great option for people living off the grid in a motor home or camper van thanks to a 12V 25A RV DC port. Rated at 12V/10 amps, it's capable of charging car appliances such as tire pumps and car fridges for all your DIY needs. 

Count on quality

(Image credit: Bluetti)

Bluetti prides itself on excellence. That's why the AC200 has a top-grade LG auto battery cell. Coupled with the power station's built-in battery management system, this allows the power station to both maximize its battery life and protect your devices against overloading and overcharging. 

Beyond that, All AC200 Portable Power Stations are subjected to an incredibly strict quality control process. Before it's released, each system undergoes more than 1,000 different tests and inspections to ensure they're of the utmost quality. These tests include vibration, hot and cold shock, prolonged temperature, impact testing, accessory wire bending, and more. 

Protect what matters most

(Image credit: Bluetti)

Most personal medical devices such as CPAP machines have at least some built-in protections against power surges and power interruptions. With that said, it's always better to be safe than sorry, especially if you're planning to travel. Whether you're treating sleep apnea or utilizing a home dialysis machine, you can rest assured that the AC200 will keep you powered up and online via a battery backup - and better yet, the quiet nature of the power system means you won't need to worry about interrupting your sleep to do it.  

Enjoy an unbeatable price

Whether you're a tailgater looking to add some excitement to their next party, a camper who wants some more creature comforts on their next trip, or simply a homeowner who wants to have power during a blackout, the AC200 Portable Power Station is a perfect choice. 

As you might expect, something like this doesn't come cheap, retailing at approximately $1,800. We've saved the best for last, in that regard. If you back the product on IndieGoGo now, you can score a pretty cool discount while supplies last. 

Early Bird Discount

Back the product on IndieGoGo to get a great discount (while supplies last.)View Deal

In short, not only are you getting a revolutionary solar power system that's quiet, clean, and efficient, you're getting it at an incredible discount – what's not to love?

Back the AC200 Portable Power Station on IndieGoGo

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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.

Check out Realme Buds Q on Amazon.in

• Realme Buds Air review
• Best TWS under Rs 5,000

Realme Buds Q specs and features

(Image credit: Realme)

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. 

• Best TWS under Rs 10,000
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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).

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Tape supremacy

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.

• Here's our list of the best external hard drives around

Via AnandTech and Blocks and Files

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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:

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“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

Via Reuters

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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.

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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.

You can learn more about how Tunstall Healthcare is helping patients with dementia here.

Gavin Bashar, UK MD of Tunstall Healthcare

• We've also highlighted the best medical alert systems

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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. 

Xbox One S (Xbox All Access) | AU$22 p/m (24-month contract) – via Telstra)

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

Xbox One X (Xbox All Access) | AU$34 p/m (24-month contract) – via Telstra)

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.

Xbox One S All-Digital Edition (1TB) | AU$239

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.

• To compare Xbox One prices in real time, check out our pick below, or visit our sister site Getprice.

Xbox One X deals

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. 

Xbox One X + Forza Horizon 4 LEGO Speed Champions| AU$429

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

Xbox One X + Star Wars jedi: Fallen Order| AU$429

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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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.

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Facebook’s recently launched app, Hobbi, an experiment in short-form content creation around personal projects, hobbies, and other Pinterest-y content, is already shutting down. The app first arrived on iOS in February as one of now several launches from Facebook’s internal R&D group, the NPE Team.

Hobbi users have now been notified by way of push notification that the app is shutting down on July 10, 2020. The app allows users to export their data from its settings.

In the few months it’s been live on the U.S. App Store, Hobbi only gained 7,000 downloads, according to estimates from Sensor Tower. Apptopia also reported the app had under 10K downloads and saw minimal gains during May and June.

Though Hobbi clearly took cues from Pinterest, it was not designed to be a pinboard of inspirational ideas. Instead, Hobbi users would organize photos of their projects — like gardening, cooking, arts & crafts, décor, and more — in a visual diary of sorts. The goal was to photograph the project’s progress over time, adding text to describe the steps, as needed.

The end result would be a highlight reel of all those steps that could be published externally when the project was completed.

But Hobbi was a fairly bare bones app. There was nothing else to do but document your own projects. You couldn’t browse and watch projects other users had created, beyond a few samples, nor could you follow top users across the service. And even the tools for documentation were underdeveloped. Beyond a special “Notes” field for writing down a project’s steps, the app experience felt like a watered-down version of Stories.

Image Credits: Hobbi

Facebook wasn’t alone in pursuing the potential of short-form creative content. Google’s internal R&D group, Area 120, also published its own experiment in this area with the video app Tangi. And Pinterest was recently spotted testing a new version of Story Pins, that would allow users to showcase DIY and creative content in a similar way.

It’s not surprising to see Hobbi wind down so quickly, given its lack of traction. Facebook already said its NPE Team experiments would involve apps that changed very rapidly and would shut down if consumers didn’t find them useful.

In addition to Hobbi, the NPE Team has launched a number of apps since last summer, including meme creator Whale, conversational app Bump, music app Aux, couples app Tuned, Apple Watch app Kit, audio calling app CatchUp, collaborative music app Collab, live event companion Venue, and predictions app Forecast. Before Hobbi, the only one to have shut down was Bump. (Some are not live in the U.S., either.)

Of course, Facebook may not intend to use these experiments to create a set of entirely new social apps built from the ground-up. Instead, it’s likely looking to collect data about what features resonate with users and how different creation tools are used. This is data that can inform Facebook’s development of features for its main set of apps, like Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram.

We’ve reached out to Facebook for comment but one had not been provided at the time of publication.

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