STACK #253 November 2025

CONTENTS

ISSUE 253 NOV 2025

TECH 6 Yesteryear’s tech/Editor’s choice 8 What’s new in smart home tech 10 Check out the new Amazon Echo range 14-15 Your quick guide to smart home security cameras 16-18 The latest security cameras 20-21 Smart security cameras to suit all budgets 22 Video doorbells to suit all budgets 24-30 Check out the latest hair care tech 32 OPPO’s new Find X9 series is here 34 Meet the next generation Lenovo IdeaPad 36-37 Boost your creativity with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX laptop 38 Bose’s limited edition line-up, loved by Parcels 40 See smarter with the Oakley | Meta Vanguard AI Glasses 42 Audio-Technica ATH-R50x review 44 New tech at JB this month GAMING 3 Take 5/Charts/Q5/Wham, bam, game exam! 4-6 Duty now for the future: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Q+A 10 Think pink! Kirby Air Riders zooms in 11 Warriors, come out to play! Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment hits 12 From tractors to tracks! Project Motor Racing Q+A 14 Less is more! Playing with the Razer BlackWidow V4 Low-Profile Hyperspeed Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard 16 30 years of PlayStation in Australia 18-19 What’s out this month? MOVIES & TV 20 Intro/In development/Take 5/Trivia/ Filmmaker’s Signature/Bob J’s Film Buff Baff lers 22 Merch of the month/Charts/Socials 24 Cinema: The Running Man / Wicked: For Good 26 Next-gen nightmare: M3GAN 2.0 /Bound by love: Together 28 Neeson unleashed: The Naked Gun / From the Files of Police Squad 30 The Life of Chuck : A Stephen King toe tapper/Smurfing through the generations 31 Vanishing act: Weapons 32 New to 4K 33 Bob J: Carrie ’s revenge! 34 Reel Classics: New from Imprint 36 What’s out this month? 38 The latest anime/Board games MUSIC 42 Take 5/My first album/ STACK exchange 44 AC/DC: We salute you 46 Showtime: Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl 48 New albums from Florence + the Machine + 5 Seconds of Summer 50 New albums from Paul Kelly + Wicked 52-53 What’s out this month? 54 Vital vinyl: Jimmy Barnes, For the Working Class Man - 40th Anniversary Edition Flame Vinyl 55 Shake some action with Stuart Coupe FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK

WELCOME

Technology has always been about performance. Historically, the colour palette has remained largely unchanged since the inception of consumer electronics. Blacks, greys, and silvers have been consistent traditional favourites, designed to blend effortlessly into the home environment. However, all that is changing. Now, technology is all about representing the user’s personality. Audio in 2025 is designed not just to sound good, but also to stand out. From clean lines and fresh colours, tech is finally showing some character, and fashion forward sound is here to stay. A new shade or finish isn’t just a design choice; it’s a way for brands – and us – to make a statement. We no longer want devices that blend into the background. We want them to reflect how we live, work, and unwind. Consequently, audio gear now runs a spectrum

of exotic colours and the latest range from Bose sees their premium QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and Open Ultra Earbuds sporting a new Desert Gold look, along with the SoundLink Max Portable Speaker in a bold Citrus Yellow finish. Even better, Bose has partnered with Australian electropop band Parcels to launch this limited-edition line-up, continuing the brand’s ongoing strategy of enlisting exciting artists for their seal of approval. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

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Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Tech Editor Scott Hocking

Music Consultant Mike Glynn Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Gill Pringle, Bob Jones, James O’Connor Contributors Jeff Jenkins, Billy Pinnell, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson, Stuart Coupe, Trista McConville, Michael Caverzan

Social Media Manager Glenn Cochrane Production Manager Craig Patterson

Games & Online Editor Amy Flower Movie & TV Editor Glenn Cochrane Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando

Correspondence STACK editor@stack.com.au

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended for mature audiences

Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accommpanied by a parent or adult guardian

Restricted to 18 and over

General

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2025 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor. By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press.

NOVEMBER 2025

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