STACK #249 July 2025

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Choosing between a laptop and a desktop depends on your needs for portability, performance, and flexibility. A laptop is ideal if you need to work or study on the move. They’re compact, energy-efficient, and have long battery life. Laptops generally suit students, remote workers, and casual users, but typically offer less power and limited upgrade options. A desktop, on the other hand, delivers more power for your dollar. You’ll get better cooling, faster processors, and the ability to easily upgrade components like RAM, storage, and graphics cards. Desktops are ideal for gaming, video editing, and multitasking, but they require a permanent set-up. So, in summary, get a laptop for mobility and a desktop for power and customisation. The question of whether to choose a laptop or a desktop is one we regularly hear. And it’s understandable. You’re about to make a sizeable investment, so you need to know you’re making the right choice.

JULY

Technology has become an integral part of Australian lifestyles and continues to advance in leaps and bounds. From smartphones to smart homes, STACK keeps you up to date on the latest consumer tech in user friendly terms, along with key points to consider before you buy. If you love tech, you’re in the right place.

DYK?

Dr. Amar Bose (of Bose Corporation) came up with an idea after a terrible flight in 1978. The new in-flight headphones let in so much noise on his trip from Boston to Zurich that he immediately began work on an idea for noise-cancelling technology. The prototype was tested by pilots in 1986 to reduce engine noise. Music lovers would have to wait another 14 years.

What tech has been floating the boat of the writers at STACK recently? You can find it right here every month.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

2015

What was the hottest tech in…

Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones take an already class-leading formula and refine it to near perfection. Noise cancelling is more adaptive than ever, with 12 microphones and new processing power tackling everything from low-end rumbles to city clatter and voices. The ambient mode feels natural and ideal for commuting safely. Sound quality gets a noticeable boost with a new driver, carbon fibre dome, and DSEE upscaling, delivering tight bass, clear vocals, and crisp highs. Add 360 Reality Audio, and music and movies become fully immersive experiences. Comfort also gets a boost: a softer fit and foldable design, paired with a magnet-latched case, make them travel-ready. Call quality is excellent thanks to AI-powered mic arrays, and Head Gesture Control offers genuinely useful hands-free options.

For years, consumers just accepted that a tangled pair of earbuds and the accompanying Mensa-strength challenge of untangling them was all part of the experience. For years, Bluetooth earbuds that connected each unit via a single wire were called ‘wireless’, but the advent of the term True Wireless would not arrive until 2015. A year before, two European start-up companies, Earin and Bragi, announced crowdfunding for two separate true wireless earbud concepts loaded with ambitious ideas. They went head-to-head to be first to market, but the earbuds were plagued with problems. Meanwhile, Japanese audio

giant Onkyo was about to pull a Steven Bradbury and claim a victory seemingly out of nowhere. The company had been beavering away on its own true wireless design, developing the W800BT. These earbuds had on/off, mic, volume control and a battery built into the earbuds – not a wire to be seen. Early reports were promising, and the earbuds were released in late 2015. The W800BTs weren’t without issue on launch, but they worked, highlighting the commercial opportunities in the true wireless space. Within a year, Samsung and Apple had entered the market, and the floodgates were opened.

Battery life remains steady at 30 hours, with fast charging for quick top-ups. The Sound Connect app enhances usability with EQ, ANC tweaks, and updates. The XM6 doesn’t just improve on its predecessor—it

On The Radar

Our August issue will be an essential pick-up if you’re in the market for a new smartphone. We’ll pick out the best new models, highlight the brand-new tech in

elevates it. For premium wireless headphones, this is the new benchmark.

smartphones and detail the must-have accessories you can’t be without.

JULY 2025

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