New on the AU

Author: Chris Singh

Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.

Oppo set to launch various smartwatches and earbuds in Australia

Given their popularity amongst Android users in Australia, it’s a surprise that Oppo has taken this long to official expand the brand’s ecosystem down under. That all changes at the end of this month, as Oppo unveil a series of smartwatches and wireless earbuds, set to compete on two very busy markets. Hitting stores on…

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Win a new EPOS│SENNHEISER GSP 600 Series headset

In the wide, wonderful world of gaming, what does victory truly sound like? For starters, it’s incredibly detailed with high-audio fidelity, acoustic clarity and exceptional realism. Getting the sound of winning exactly right is the challenge gaming headphones seek to fix, fighting their own battle when it comes to delivering gamers the best possible sonic…

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Sydney’s The Burger Collective are slinging freebies for National Cheeseburger Day

Since 2016, Sydney-based smartphone app The Burger Collective has collated and showcased the best burger joints in the city. And that’s no easy feat, given that Sydney has what is arguably one of the absolute greatest collection of burger restaurants in the world. Burger Head, BL Burgers, Happy Ending, Mister Gee, Superior Burger – need…

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You can now get Gelato Messina’s famous Magic Mushroom cake for $21

To celebrate its 21st birthday in Australia, eBay has partnered up with those dessert mad scientists over at Gelato Messina to bring back one of their most famous creations. Available for a limited time exclusively through eBay Australia, with all proceeds going to Beyond Blue, the treat is a refined take on the brand’s classic…

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Bose is releasing both the QuietComfort and Sports earbuds next month

Bose’s highly regarded QuietComfort series is about to get slimmed down and transposed from over-head headphones to truly wireless earbuds. The company first teased the arrival when it put out the excellent but ambitiously priced NC700 headphones last year, but delays presented themselves. And now here we are. Those promised QuietComfort Earbuds are due to…

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‘Looking Past the Pandemic’ with Wax Chattels from Auckland, New Zealand

Keeping travel dreams alive and setting goals has never felt more important. We can all agree that 2020 has been an unfortunate year so far, and almost every facet of daily life has been wrought by this ongoing global pandemic, the start of which now feels like forever ago. The arts has been one of…

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D-Link AX1500 Wi-Fi 6 Router Review: A ‘work from home’ essential

Working From Home has made maintaining a faster, more stable Wi-Fi connection one of the most important things to consider in 2020. That necessitates a leap from the current standard of 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) to 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) in order to cope with the burgeoning number and diversity of smart devices vying for that signal,…

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Sydney’s NOMAD to reopen in original Foster Street home next month

Beloved Sydney restaurant Nomad will shift back to its original Foster Street location as of Tuesday 20th October, reopening doors to reveal extensive renovations following a fire last September. The new-look Nomad will sport a larger kitchen, opened up and surrounded by twice as much seating, a larger charcoal grill, and the new addition of…

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Jameson wants to buy you a free drink as Australia’s Biggest Shout returns

After success last year, Jameson have officially brought back “Australia’s Biggest Shout”, committing 15,000 free Jameson, Dry & Limes for Aussies at participating venues. Initially, this will include venues in NSW, QLD and SA, but Jameson has also promised to extend the shout and resume it when its safe for Victorians to head on out…

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Virgin Australia is now offering free booking changes until January 2021

Under a new customer policy announced recently, Virgin Australia will now be offering unlimited booking changes without any change fees for reservations with travel between now and 31st January 2021. The announcement comes as the airline refines their “Passenger Promise” concept, remaining hopeful for the uptick in domestic travel as we near the end of…

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LG’s new earbuds come with an industry-first, germ-killing UV charging case

LG Electronics Australia is officially bringing the company’s newest wireless earbuds, the LG Tone Free FN6, down under this month. And in an attempt to stand far apart from the massively overstuffed market, the designers have surprisingly focused on health as a paramount feature, equipping the accompanying charging case with a built-in ultraviolent light that…

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Here’s what to expect from OPPO’s new ColorOS 11

Following the initial rollout of Android 11 to Google’s Pixel devices, Oppo has now lifted the lid on its own operating system, ColorOS 11. As one of the first OEM’s to bring the latest Android 11 update to its users, Oppo is moving fast to ensure a total of 28 phones receive the huge update…

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Employees Only Sydney introduces “Around the World in Four Drinks” set

Cocktail bars are catching onto the taste-bud-travel trend, and the latest just happens to be one of Sydney’s best. Employees Only has introduced a new travel-themed set of four cocktails, a tightly curated menu for customers to traverse the various tastes of popular spots like Japan, Mexico, Hong Kong, and New York, simply by sipping…

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Cocktail recipes from the best bars in Whistler, British Columbia

In between time spent on the towering twins of Whistler Blackcomb, one of the most exciting ski villages in the world gets much of its energy from its famed nightlife. Whistler, flooded with expats (mostly Aussies) addicted to the daily cycle of adventure and unwind, has built up a solid reputation for a modest but…

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New and improved Bose Frames are coming to Australia next month

Bose are not only adding three new styles to their wearable Frames range, but the company has made some improvements which should make meaningful differences to the audio sunglasses. The eyewear-headphone hybrid device was first released on the market in 2018, kicking off a new category for the reputable audio brand with Alto and Roundo…

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Northern Territory’s ‘Parrtjima – A Festival in Light’ can now be experienced online

The spectacular annual Parrtjima – A Festival in Light is now in full force, taking over the Red Centre of Northern Territory with a dazzling light display of various installations and artworks. Located in Alice Springs Desert Park, the lively art and light festival has now been firmly established as one of Australia’s best and…

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‘Looking Past the Pandemic’ with ELEEA from Gold Coast, Queensland

Keeping travel dreams alive and setting goals has never felt more important. We can all agree that 2020 has been an unfortunate year so far, and almost every facet of daily life has been wrought by this ongoing global pandemic, the start of which now feels like forever ago. The arts has been one of…

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Potts Point favourite Yellow plans epic World Vegetarian Day feast with guest chefs

A new Australian inspired pizza joint isn’t all Bentley Group have got cooking in the kitchen. The team are set on continuing their long-running Yellow Presents series at the beloved Potts Point restaurant, planning a huge feast for World Vegetarian Day with numerous guest chefs from the group’s awarded restaurants. For one day only, Bentley…

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Chin Chin is doing delivery to Mornington Peninsula for one day only

With Melbourne still under lockdown, ordering in has become a necessity for those who still want to support and experience their favourite venues. Chin Chin has been at the forefront of this, with their ready-to-cook Make Me, Feed Me packs being delivered all over Melbourne. Though that hasn’t been of much use for fans outside…

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Tequila Mockingbird opens Sydney CBD pop-up

The best named Latin American restaurant in Sydney has officially popped open a sister venue, translating much of what makes Paddington’s Tequila Mockingbird such a stunner. The new Tequila On York is a semi-obscured, Tequila-heavy restaurant and bar hanging out in an old printing shop just off the CBD’s York Street, streamlining the flavours of…

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Track of the Day: Stevan “Impress You” (2020)

Following up the huge success of his debut mixtape Just Kids, Wollongong-based artist Stevan wastes no time with new single “Impress You”. Gliding over a fast-bubbling beat shaped by LUCIANBLOMKAMP, it’s clear the 19-year-old artist has no designs to slow down anytime soon, demonstrating a sound that’s even more expansive and open than the potent…

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Koko Black blesses chocolate lovers with new Australiana range

Australia’s most timeless treats have been pulled in every direction for the past few years, expressed so lovingly as ice creams, biscuits, KitKat’s, and more. Now, artisan chocolatier Koko Black have thrown their considerable hat in the ring with a new range celebrating Australiana classics distilled into and expressed as various chocolate bars and crackles….

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Coast & Ocean “Valentino” (2020)

Hailing from Wollongong, Coast & Ocean has already demonstrated a flexible style with singles “Peaches n Cream”, “Cherry Cola”, and “Golden in April”. Now it’s time to switch to a spring aesthetic with “Valentino”, the playful new single that uniquely sketches a coastal vibe onto a seamless blend of R&B and rap and is premiering…

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Track of the Day: Yawdoesitall Feat. Maina Doe “Armadillo” (2020)

Rising Sydney emcee Yawdoesitall hooks up with guest vocalist Maina Doe for new single “Armadillo”. Though early days for the rapper, with previous single “Get It” turning heads on the local scene earlier this year, the new cut is a sharp image of a young artist steady proving himself more than ready to rise through…

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Recipe: How to make the Pixieberry Cheesecake from Final Fantasy XIV

It’s not often that a game is so stacked with delicious food that it inspires IRL recipes. Final Fantasy XIV is an exception. As one of the most beloved MMORPG’s based on the classic Square Enix series, XIV maintains an enviable space in the world of video games, with a passionate fan base just as…

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Relicta Review: F**king magnets, how do they work?

Is Relicta trying too hard to be another Portal or can the first-person puzzler fashion its own identity from its magnetism-based mechanics? Yeah, kind of. I guess. The powers of magnetism and gravity are compelling when aggressively tested by complex level design and well considered puzzles, but the inconsistency in the game’s physics can easily…

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Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera Review: Finally, a budget smart security camera

Arlo’s lineup of battery-powered outdoor cameras has been growing nicely as of late, offering up a flexible range that positions the company as one of the frontrunners when it comes to smart home security tech. With their latest, the Essential Spotlight Camera, the team at Arlo have created what is their most affordable entry-level device…

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Cocktail Recipe: You’re Grounded by Melbourne Gin

Emerging craft gin label Melbourne Gin has just come from securing a Double Gold metal at the 2020 SIP Awards for the second year in a row, which certainly bodes well for their inventive releases as of late. To see what they’ve been playing around with in terms of flavour we hit them up for…

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Samsung’s outdoor 4K Terrace QLED is coming to Australia

Samsung has announced a game-changing QLED 4K TV designed especially for outdoor set-ups, forming a new category that nods to an increasing need for flexibility to complement a wider range of home designs. Dubbed The Terrace, the new TV will be arriving in Australia next month in 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch sizes, sporting the company’s…

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‘Looking Past the Pandemic’ with Hussy Hicks from Gold Coast, Queensland

Keeping travel dreams alive and setting goals has never felt more important. We can all agree that 2020 has been an unfortunate year so far, and almost every facet of daily life has been wrought by this ongoing global pandemic, the start of which now feels like forever ago. The arts has been one of…

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