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21 May 2025

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Frederick King sentenced for manslaughter after lighting fatal South Taranaki fire 20 years ago
Michael Slade died in a house bus fire that police thought was accidental.

Why more ABs may not join Ardie Savea at Moana Pasifika
All Blacks great Sir Michael Jones doesn't believe a flood of All Blacks will join Ardie Savea on Moana Pasifika’s roster.

40/20 NRL Podcast: Daley stays loyal for Origin I as Latrell stays silent
Why did Laurie Daley select Max King over Terrell May and Mitchell Moses over Jarome Luai? Michael Chammas and Christian Nicolussi chop up the big issues around the game one teams.

Michael Campbell appointed Chief Product Officer at Hyland
Hyland appoints Michael Campbell as Chief Product Officer to lead cloud, AI, and content management innovations, leveraging his 20+ years in enterprise software.

Knights growing concerned over Ponga's future
Michael Chammas reports Newcastle are worried Kalyn Ponga could look for the exit amid the club's slide in form.

‘Ridiculous’: Six years of roadworks and ‘dangerous’ Wellington road still not fixed
Haywards Hill Rd connecting Porirua and Hutt Valley has seen a never-ending stream of lane diversions, several stop-go signs, overnight closures and hundreds of road cones.

Masterton church fires: Police arrest man, charge him with seven counts of arson
It comes after a manhunt for 44-year-old Michael Kane McRae.

Gove 'in agreement' with Swinney over second independence referendum
Former Tory MP Michael Gove reveals his change in position over a second vote.

Voss' flat admission after Carlton fadeout
Carlton coach Michael Voss addresses the press after the Blues faded late in a defeat to the Swans.

Annke NightChroma NC500 review: Standout low-light vision
At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Excellent full-color night vision Sharp 3K video resolution Smart motion detection with human and vehicle filtering Cons No included microSD card No AI-driven features beyond basic smart detection Our Verdict The Annke NightChroma NC500 is a rock-solid budget camera that delivers sharp, full-color surveillance–including at night–and smart detection where it counts. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly security camera that doesn’t skimp on nighttime clarity, the Annke NightChroma NC500 is worth a look. This wired 3K PoE (Power over Ethernet) camera captures full-color video even in total darkness, something you don’t typically get at its modest $64.99 price point (that was the sale price at the time of this review; MSRP is $99.99). That combination of sharp imaging and vivid night vision makes it an appealing option for DIYers setting up their own security systems–especially those who are also looking for a local networked storage option–as well as homeowners looking to add reliable coverage without blowing their budget. The Annke NightChroma NC500 doesn’t try to dazzle with extras; it focuses on doing the basics really well, and that’s what makes it such a strong buy. Design and features The Annke NC500 is available in both bullet and turret styles; I tested the bullet version. It has the no-nonsense look of a classic security camera—long and cylindrical, with a sturdy mounting bracket that makes it easy to aim exactly where you need coverage. The housing is made of aluminum and feels solid and well-built, with an IP67 weatherization rating that protects it against dust and rain (it can withstand being immersed in up to 3.3 feet of water for as long as 30 minutes). It can also operate in extreme temperatures, with an operating range of -22 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees F (-30 to 60 degrees C). (To find out more about how well devices are protected from the elements, read our informative guide to IP codes at the preceding link.) Whether it’s scorching summer heat or a winter freeze, the Annke NC500 is built to hold up outdoors. The compact bullet-style camera supports Power over Ethernet, meaning power and a network connection are supplied by a single cable, simplifying outdoor installations. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Beneath its rugged exterior, the camera is more impressive than its price might suggest. It captures video with 3K resolution (3072 × 1728 pixels), providing a significant leap in detail over standard 1080p (1920 x 1080). That’s especially useful for identifying faces, license plates, or small movements at a distance. But what really sets this camera apart from the competition at this price is its low-light performance. The Annke NC500 uses a large f/1.0 aperture and a backside-illuminated (BSI) image sensor, both of which help it gather more light after dark. Combined with Annke’s Acme Color Night Vision technology, the camera can deliver full-color footage even in near-total darkness. A built-in soft supplement light discreetly activates in 0 lux conditions, boosting low-light performance without the harsh glare of a spotlight or the grayscale fallback of infrared night vision. Other useful features include a built-in microphone for audio capture and support for local storage (up to 256GB via a microSD card that you’ll need to supply your own. Video is compressed using the efficient H.265+ codec, which helps reduce file sizes without sacrificing image quality. Setup and performance Support for Power over Ethernet (PoE) means both data and power travel over the same ethernet cable, simplifying wiring and delivering added flexibility as to where you install the camera–you’re not limited to locations near an electrical outlet. As long as you have a PoE-capable ethernet switch or a PoE injector you can use with your existing switch or roouter, one cable from your router or NVR (network video recorder) is all it takes to power the camera and get it online. The NC500 is designed to work seamlessly with Annke’s own NVR systems; if you’re using a third-party recorder, you’ll want to confirm compatibility before purchasing. The Annke Vision app has a spare, intutitive design that makes it easy to control the camera and customize its settings. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Once connected, setup is handled through the Annke Vision app, which offers a relatively smooth user experience. You can view live footage, play back recorded video, adjust camera settings, and set up motion detection alerts. The motion detection feature allows you to fine-tune sensitivity levels, helping reduce false alarms from wind-blown trees or passing cars. In terms of performance, the NC500 punches well above its weight. Its night-vision capabilities are particularly strong—footage is captured in full color and is impressively clear even when the ambient light drops to near zero. This gives it a significant edge over traditional IR-based night-vision cameras, which often revert to grainy black-and-white imagery when operating in full darkness. During my testing, the camera maintained sharp image quality in both rainy and bright conditions, and the sturdy build showed no signs of stress during a spring downpour. The onboard microphone also did a decent job picking up conversation, handy for capturing more context in your recordings. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras. The camera’s smart detection capabilities are a clear step up from basic motion alerts. It can distinguish between people and vehicles, which helps cut down on false alarms from things like swaying branches or neighborhood pets. In my testing, motion alerts were timely and mostly accurate, with only the occasional missed detection or unnecessary ping. You can tweak sensitivity and set motion zones in the app to further reduce noise, making the alerts more useful and less disruptive. Should you buy the Annke NightChroma NC500? The Annke NC500 doesn’t try to dazzle with extras; it focuses on doing the basics really well, and that’s what makes it such a strong buy. You get sharp video, reliable full-color night vision, and motion detection that’s smart enough to tell a person from a passing car. That’s more than enough to stand out in a crowded budget security camera market.

Girl, 11, who drowned at water park unlawfully killed, inquest rules
Kyra Hill, 11, drowned during a birthday party at the park near Windsor in August 2022.

Lockyer backs Madge amid Taupau saga
Broncos legend Darren Lockyer has backed the coach Michael Maguire after veteran player Marty Taupau took exception to his pre-season training methods, and was then sacked.

New light shed on Hasler's contract pickle
9News and Sydney Morning Herald journalist Michael Chammas provides an update on the contract situation surrounding Gold Coast Titans coach Des Hasler.

GE Cync Reveal Smart LED Undercabinet Bar Light review: Superb task lighting
TechHive Editors Choice At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Bright, high-quality lighting (in white or in color) You can daisy-chain up to 10 light bars Easy to install and configure Excellent app Cons You lose all the great features of the GE Cync app if you connect the light bars via Matter Connecting via Matter is the only way to add the light bars to Apple Home Onboard Wi-Fi adapter is 2.4GHz only Our Verdict These beautiful undercabinet light bars deliver both excellent task lighting and fabulous lighting scenes, but they’re better suited to smart homes that revolve around Alexa or Google Home, because using Matter to connect them to Apple Home entails giving up the excellent GE Cync app and all the control features it has to offer. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: GE Cync Reveal Smart LED Undercabinet Bar Light (18-inch) Retailer Price $45.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket I’m not ready to remodel my (very) small galley kitchen, but my family desperately needed more space for storing some of the bowls, cups, and glasses we use every day. The least expensive solution I could think of was to install a floating shelf on the only empty wall. Problem solved, but also, problem created: The 10-inch-deep shelf cast an objectional shadow on the counter below. Given the small amount of counter space in our kitchen, we utilize every square inch for food preparation. I needed those shadows to be gone. Enter the GE Cync Reveal Smart LED Undercabinet Bar Light. These under-cabinet lights can be hardwired to your home’s electrical system or plugged into a standard AC outlet. And if your cabinets don’t go all the way to the ceiling, you could also mount them on top to cast light up the wall and onto the ceiling. The GE Cync undercabinet light bar can produce 34 “light shows” that involve not just colors but also animations. The lights come in white enclosures rated for installation in damp locations. They measure 4.8 inches deep, 1.8 inches thick, and are available in three widths: 12-, 18-, or 24 inches. You can daisy-chain up to 10 of them. I went the plug-in route and mounted two of the 18-inch models under my floating shelf. Voilà! No more shadows. An 18-inch GE Cync Reveal Smart LED Undercabinet Bar Light, unboxed.Michael Brown/Foundry The lights are exceedingly easy to physically install, thanks to captive self-tapping screws that you can drill into the bottom of your cabinet or shelf with just a screwdriver. This neatly avoids the need to pre-drill pilot holes that inevitably end up being just a bit off when you go to screw in the light itself. As I’ve already mentioned, you can wire the lights to your home’s electrical system or use the provided cable with a 3-prong plug at one end to power the lights. If you go the plug-in route, the cord emerges from the bottom of the plug at a rightward angle, allowing you to plug it into either the top or bottom of a duplex outlet, even if the outlet is occupied. Pro tip: Using a cable chase to hide the excess electrical cord looks a lot better than just letting it dangle. The cleverly angled plug can fit in either the top or bottom of a duplex outlet, even if the other socket is occupied.Michael Brown/Foundry Each bar has one button for toggling the lights on and off (or you can dim the LEDs by holding this button down) and a second one for changing the color or color temperature. Special stub cables are provided for daisy-chaining the lights—again, up to 10—after which either set of buttons will control both lights. Specifications Once the lights are set up, you can control them individually or configure multiples to operate in sync. They can be controlled via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (2.4GHz networks only), with the latter method being the best approach to take if you want to use Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands to control them. The lights are also Apple Home compatible, but only via Matter over Wi-Fi (there’s no Thread support), and adding them to your Wi-Fi network in that fashion prevents you from using the Cync app to program and control the lights. You can make many—but certainly not all—settings changes and schedules using the Apple Home app, but you won’t have full control over them if you go that route. You also won’t be able to access any of the lighting effects that the GE app offers. My home revolves mostly around Alexa, so I didn’t enroll the lights in Matter. You daisy-chain up to 10 of the GE Cync Reveal light bars using the provided stub cables.Michael Brown/Foundry The LED light bars can produce colored light from a palette of 16 million colors, or you can choose a tunable white light (ranging from a very warm 2,000 Kelvin to a cool 7,000K). You can also set them to use GE’s own Reveal HD+ setting, which promises white light with higher contrast. I like it. The 18-inch light bar tested here produces up to 1,150 lumens of white light at a color temperature of 3,000K, but note that using the Reveal setting reduces the bar’s maximum brightness to 900 lumens. The 12-inch light bar delivers up to 750 lumens (630 with Reveal), while the 24-inch model delivers 1,500 lumens (1,200 with Reveal). Light shows The GE Sync Reveal app offers a host of lighting options in both color and various white color temperatures, depending on your needs.Michael Brown/Foundry The Cync app is so rich with features that you’ll want to think twice about going the Matter and/or Apple HomeKit route that will deny you access to it. Or you might decide that these lights are just not the right solution for your home if you’re striving for a homogenous smart home. In any event, going far beyond the usual color wheel for picking colors from a palette of 16 million shades, you can also choose from nine white color temperature presets: Sunlight, Early Morning, Candle Light, etc. There are also 34 “light shows” that involve not just colors but also animations. The app divides these between 10 presets and 24 other categories under the heading Explore. Each preset is labeled with an evocative name, such as Candle, Rainbow, Fireworks, and Aurora. The button on the left toggles the lightbar on and off, or you can hold it down to dim and brighten. The button on the right steps through light colors and white color temperatures.Michael Brown/Foundry Tapping a preset changes the lightbars’ behavior immediately, while the 24 Explore choices must be previewed before they can be sent to the lightbars. If that isn’t enough options for you, you can create custom light shows based on nine effect types: Wave, Flicker, Fill, Pop, Alternating, Erratic, Rhythm, Pulse, and Static. Each custom light show has adjustable parameters for color palette (with an option for random changes), brightness, fade and color duration (each on a scale of 0.1 to 5 seconds). These custom shows can be saved with names and called up later or scheduled. Lighting schedules It wouldn’t be a smart light if you couldn’t schedule it to turn on and off, so of course you can use the Routines section of the app to program the lights to turn on and off, either at defined times or on a sunrise/sunset (or sunset/sunrise) schedule (with padding before or after those events). This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart lighting. The scheduling section of the app also lets you create lighting scenes, which are curiously distinct from the light shows I’ve already mentioned. Scenes give you the option of choosing a photo—or uploading one of your own—that will influence the illumination the light bars produce. Honestly, this feature seems like an afterthought, and it’s not one that I see myself using on a regular basis. The GE Cync Reveal Smart LED Undercabinet Bar Light proved to be a problem solver in my kitchen.Michael Brown/Foundry Should you buy GE Cync Reveal Smart LED Undercabinet Bar Lights? Unless you’re set on controlling everything with Matter and/or the Apple Home—or you don’t mind giving up the effects available in the app—these GE Cync Reveal Smart LED Undercabinet Bar Lights are a fabulous solution for smart task lighting in a kitchen or other workspace that has cabinets or shelves mounted over counters. The light bars are very easy to install and configure in the app, which offers a seemingly endless number of lighting colors, routines, and options. They produce high-quality task lighting when you’re cooking, working, or crafting; and their lighting scenes are great for entertaining or just relaxing.