NZCity NewsLinks -

All Links

27 Sep 2024

Search

US designer's 'electrifying' high-vis creation tops the 2024 World of Wearable Art Awards
A vibrant orange garment made from construction signs, road cones and fibreglass poles has won the 2024 World of Wearable Arts Supreme Award.

‘He’s in the zone’: McDonald on record pace as Golden moment looms
Jockey James McDonald has been on fire in the first two months of the season, but he wants to get off his group 1 duck with Broadsiding in the Golden Rose.

Race-by-race preview and tips for Rosehill on Saturday
Everything you need to know to find a winner on Golden Rose day.

FIFO final could be fitting finish to vintage AFL season
The angst around interstate raiders has rightfully eased and now fans can enjoy one last taste of our great game.

‘We’re the next generation’: Why James Fisher-Harris is putting his culture before footy
The New Zealand prop will leave Penrith with the primary purpose of learning more about his lineage and becoming a family leader in his Northland village of Kohukohu.

Ponga backflip: Star makes himself available for Kangaroos selection
The Kalyn Ponga eligibility scandal has taken a fresh twist, with the Knights star now making himself available for Kangaroos selection.

Ref punishes Radley for hip drop
Victor Radley puts himself in hot water for a hip drop tackle on Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Storm stun with 100m try
Jack Howarth finishes off a brilliant team try for the Storm.

Think you know what a $500 laptop looks like? We’re in a new era now
Laptops have come a long way in the last decade. There was once a time when $500 laptops would bite the dust in record time, forcing you to upgrade frequently or suffer with an underperforming hunk of junk. These days, you can shop for laptops with a $500 budget and get away with something that’s far from the bottom of the barrel in terms of specs, even more so if you’re willing to shop around and score a deal. Related: The best laptops under $500 Sure, you still have to be smart and thrifty to make sure you’re getting a worthy machine. But if you know what your priorities are — and if you know which specs are non-negotiable for your needs — then you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised by what you can get for half a grand. How good are $500 Chromebooks? Let’s start with something easy: if all you’re going to do is browse the web with Chrome, write emails in Gmail, and watch videos via YouTube, then you have plenty of affordable options, particularly among Chromebooks. Chromebooks tend to perform better with lower-end (i.e., cheaper) hardware compared to budget Windows laptops. Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook PlusIDG / Ashley Biancuzzo Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook PlusIDG / Ashley Biancuzzo IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo For example, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus was $499 when we reviewed it and we gave it a spectacular rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars and our Editors’ Choice award. It has a 2-in-1 form factor and lots of great features, including a 14-inch touchscreen display, a 13th-gen Intel Core i3-1315U (admittedly on the low end), 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage. It’s surprisingly good — and if you wait around for a deal, you can snag it for as low as $399. (Avoid paying full price on a laptop if you’re shopping on a tight budget.) Acer Chromebook 516 GE Acer Chromebook 516 GEMatthew Smith / IDG Acer Chromebook 516 GEMatthew Smith / IDG Matthew Smith / IDG And don’t sniff at some of the gaming Chromebooks available on the market today. One of our favorites, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE, has seen some cuts lately. It was already a steal at $649, but you can now grab it for just a hair over $500 on Amazon. It’s no slouch, either! You get an Intel Core i5-1240P processor, a 2560×1600 display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, support for Wi-Fi 6 (a solid perk for fast streaming). Solid for gamers. Related: Are Chromebooks good for gaming? No… but actually yes What about $500 Windows laptops? Maybe a Chromebook is off the table for you, whether it’s because you need to use Windows-only software, you want to play lots of PC games without relying on cloud streaming, or you just don’t like Google and don’t want to support their products. Fortunately, you do have options — but the Windows side of the budget laptop market is a little different. You can find good laptops under $500 if you’re patient for deals and willing to give up certain specs. The Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024) is a simple machine that can serve you well for light web browsing and video streaming — and it’s only $299, a long way below the $500 threshold. It’s a solid pick for tight budgets. Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024) Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024)IDG / Mark Knapp Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024)IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp That said, you’re much better off if you sit tight and hold off for a discount or seek other ways to save big on like-new laptops. For example, if you’re willing to shop Open Box offerings, you can score the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED for a third of its retail price, like this one that’s well below $500 at Best Buy. Similarly, you can score an Asus Vivobook Go with an OLED display and 16GB of RAM for just $404 at Newegg. Want a powerful laptop but don’t want “used” or “refurbished” or “opened” tech? You’ll have to wait around for a good deal, then. But the good news is, a solid deal can take a laptop that was way out of your budget to well within striking distance of it. The Samsung Galaxy Book4, for instance, normally costs $899. It comes with a recent Intel Core 7 150U processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and an admittedly basic display, all packed into a metal chassis. It might feel a bit underwhelming at $899, but it was on sale for $549 at Best Buy just last month. And you can also score big savings just by looking in the right places. This Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 16 configuration on eBay is cut down from $749 to $519, providing potent internals for the price. Acer Vivobook 16X OLED Acer Vivobook 16X OLEDDominic Bayley / IDG Acer Vivobook 16X OLEDDominic Bayley / IDG Dominic Bayley / IDG For something on the larger side, the Asus Vivobook 16X OLED packs a large 16-inch OLED display with 3.2K resolution, plenty of ports, an Intel Core i5-1235U processor with 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. I wouldn’t expect it to be a performance monster, but those specs are more than enough for everyday tasks and usage. Budget laptops aren’t terrible anymore All of this is just scratching the surface of what you can get in the $500 range with modern laptops. That much cash can get you a more-than-decent workhorse that won’t disappoint with subpar performance. Truth be told, you rarely have to wait more than a month to spot a really good deal that takes an $800 or even $1,000 laptop down into the $500 range. As of this writing, three HP Pavilion laptops have such discounts available, and they aren’t underpowered with anemic specs. It’s worth paying close attention to HP Envy, HP Pavilion, Acer Swift, Asus Vivobook, and Asus Zenbook laptops. These often see considerable price cuts, especially as newer models start to trickle in and replace prior models that aren’t anywhere close to outdated yet. Further reading: Today’s best laptop deals, updated daily

‘A massive day’: Kiwis confirm support for Anzac Day Bledisloe clash
New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson said an annual Test on Anzac Day between the All Blacks and the Wallabies would create “a real tradition”.

Stop the boats, start the party: Melbourne turns it on for the AFL grand final parade
The return to land-based vehicles and a more traditional motorcade, after the farce on the Yarra two years ago, was warmly welcomed by all concerned.

How RCG signing can push Titans to finals
Phil Gould reveals how potential Reagan Campbell-Gillard signing can boost the Titans finals chances.

‘The first time I’d seen tatts’: Swans and Royboys of old return to fly the flag
As Sydney and the Brisbane Lions face off in the grand final, South Melbourne and Fitzroy will be out there with them, too.

Mother of Sharks star allegedly assaulted in Dubbo pub
Braydon Trindall’s mother denied leaking a photo of Latrell Mitchell leaning over a white substance in the days before being allegedly struck by another woman.

Nelson binned seconds into final
Nelson Asofa-Solomona is sent to the sin bin for his high shot on Lindsay Collins.

The long-serving apprentice and dormant champion the Broncos should call
While the Broncos will no doubt hunt an experienced NRL coach, should a former premiership hero and developing prospect be given shock considerations?

Suaalii dazzles with no look pass
Joseph Suaalii shows his class to put Daniel Tupou over.

Paps fools Roosters defence
Ryan Papenhuyzen fools Luke Keary with a dummy to score.

NRL finals LIVE: Melbourne proving too strong as Hughes scores a double on cusp of half-time
The Storm have bounced back after enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona was sin-binned in the opening 18 seconds of Friday’s elimination final. Follow all the action

The best free alternatives for pricey software
In times of ever-increasing subscription fees and license costs for software, many people are looking for cost-effective alternatives. Fortunately, there are a variety of powerful free tools that can compete with the expensive market leaders in many areas. Here are the best free alternatives you can turn to. Image editing and graphic design Adobe Photoshop is considered the ultimate in image editing software, but at $19.99 per month it’s not exactly cheap. Here are three good freeware alternatives for design and image editing purposes: GIMP: GIMP is one of the most popular alternatives to Photoshop and offers a similar range of image editing tools such as layers and masks, selection tools, cloning, filters, and image adjustments. Although GIMP’s user interface is less intuitive and lacks some advanced features (such as Smart Objects and CMYK support), it is still a comparable solution to Photoshop and is completely free. See also: GIMP basics: Best tips and tricks for beginners. Paint.NET: Although this Windows tool is nowhere near as comprehensive and professional as Photoshop, it is the quickest way to achieve your goals when it comes to simple image editing. Paint.NET supports layers, selection tools and image adjustments, an unlimited undo function and a number of other practical functions for editing graphics. Canva (free version): The free version of Canva offers a lot of potential for professional social media graphics and presentations. Thanks to the intuitive interface, creating graphics is child’s play even for non-professionals, but editing images is reduced to the basics of all basics. For more functions, templates and elements, you need the paid Pro version ($10 per month). Canva is web-based and therefore platform-independent. GIMP is one of the best alternatives to Adobe Photoshop. GIMP is one of the best alternatives to Adobe Photoshop. GIMP GIMP is one of the best alternatives to Adobe Photoshop. GIMP GIMP Another firm favorite in the field of graphic design is CorelDRAW, which offers a comprehensive suite of tools that will make many a designer’s heart beat faster. However, the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2024 costs $549 for a single license or $22.42 per month for an annual subscription — a considerable investment. It is also possible to use Inkscape, for example, completely free of charge. Inkscape is a strong open-source alternative to CorelDRAW, especially when it comes to vector graphics. It offers extensive tools for creating and editing vector designs and is excellent for projects such as illustrations, technical drawings and diagrams. Although it can’t quite compete with CorelDRAW in some areas (for example, it doesn’t offer native support for multi-page documents and has fewer plug-ins), Inkscape’s versatility and ability to achieve impressive results without high costs is impressive. Inkscape is a favorite freeware for designers. Inkscape is a favorite freeware for designers.Kristian Kask Inkscape is a favorite freeware for designers.Kristian Kask Kristian Kask Video editing software Adobe Premiere Pro is an industry standard for professional video editing, but it too costs $22.99 per month. Two good free alternatives are: Kdenlive: Kdenlive is a comprehensive open-source video editing software that offers many features found in more expensive programs. With multi-track timelines, effects, transitions and even keyframe animations, Kdenlive offers an impressive range of functions that is more than sufficient for many projects. It is an excellent choice for Linux users in particular, but is also available for Windows and macOS. Shotcut: Shotcut also offers a wide range of video editing tools and supports a variety of video formats. The software is cross-platform and — despite its lack of user-friendliness — is a solid and powerful solution that you can test risk-free. Kdenlive offers professional video editing features — completely for free. Kdenlive offers professional video editing features — completely for free. Kdenlive Kdenlive offers professional video editing features — completely for free. Kdenlive Kdenlive Livestreaming software Many people rely on paid tools such as Vimeo or Streamyard for live streaming. If you want to save the subscription costs, it is better to use the open source tool OBS Studio. This tool offers a wide range of functions for professional live streaming, including scene transitions, source management, and support for various platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook Live. OBS Studio is available across all platforms and, despite being free of charge, offers powerful options for customizing your livestreams and broadcasting them in high quality. Professional streaming doesn’t have to cost anything –OBS Studio proves it. Professional streaming doesn’t have to cost anything –OBS Studio proves it.OBS Studio Professional streaming doesn’t have to cost anything –OBS Studio proves it.OBS Studio OBS Studio Office software Microsoft 365 is the most widely used Office package in the world and offers a wide range of applications that are indispensable for everyday office work — such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. However, with an individual license costing $69.99 for an annual subscription, the Office suite quickly adds up. A great offline alternative is LibreOffice. It may look a little old-fashioned, but it combines all the essential Office applications and also offers some additional features for editing PDFs. A bit old-school, but still powerful: the Word alternative LibreOffice. A bit old-school, but still powerful: the Word alternative LibreOffice. PC-Welt A bit old-school, but still powerful: the Word alternative LibreOffice. PC-Welt PC-Welt For those who prefer to work online, there are also powerful free alternatives. Microsoft itself offers a slimmed-down online version of Word, Excel and PowerPoint that can be used free of charge as long as you are logged in with a Microsoft account. While these versions are not quite as feature-rich as the full versions, they offer enough tools for most everyday tasks. Another excellent option is the Google Suite (Google Docs, Sheets, Slides). These online tools are free, available across all platforms, and enable seamless collaboration in real time. All you need is a free Google account. There are also free alternatives for editing PDFs that can prove useful. ONLYOFFICE PDF Editor (the free version), PDFgear, and PDF24 Creator offer a solid basic set of features that are sufficient for many everyday tasks. With these tools you can edit PDFs, comment on them, fill in forms, and even convert documents — without paying a cent. Antivirus software Instead of paid antivirus software such as Norton or Avast Premium, there are also a few free alternatives that offer solid protection. One of these alternatives is Windows Defender. The tool is integrated into Windows and offers basic protection against viruses, malware, and other threats. It is particularly user-friendly and uses few system resources. Another free option is Avast Free Antivirus, which offers protection against malware, viruses, and phishing and is available for Windows, macOS, and Android. Chris Hoffman/IDG Chris Hoffman/IDG Chris Hoffman/IDG Important note: While free antivirus software offers good protection, it can’t always keep up with the latest threats. If you want to be on the safe side, it’s better to opt for a paid solution. When it comes to security, the savings factor should not take center stage. Further reading: The best antivirus software for Windows PCs