Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook Touch, Apple Watch and SVOD

THE latest technology for busy executives.

The Apple Watch.

THE latest technology for busy executives.

Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook Touch. Dell has set review sites ablaze with the release of the Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook Touch (2015). It has a quad-HD 13.3 inch screen that has been squeezed into an 11 inch laptop body, giving it a smaller footprint than a 13-inch MacBook Air. The screen comes in a 1080p version or a 3200 x 1800 pixel, full-touch display that gives it another win over the MacBook. It is 9mm at its thickest point and weighs around 1.2kg. While the top and bottom are aluminium, the keyboard area is carbon fibre. If you are an executive who is part of the Windows ecosystem and you’ve been jealous of the look and feel of the MacBook Air, this gorgeous laptop is for you. The 3Ghz i5 CPU, 8Gb RAM, 250Gb SSD and AC wireless don’t hurt either. Available now for $2099.

The Elite Smart Watch. Next month there will be lines down streets outside Apple stores. This time people will be waiting for the first in a new product line from Apple — the Apple Watch. Not to do things by half, this new product already makes other smart watches look like toys. The first will come in two sizes — with a more appropriate smaller size for women. Apple will release three versions from day one:

Apple Watch — stainless steel or black case with sapphire crystal glass

Apple Watch Sport — anodised aluminium in silver or grey with Ion-X glass

Apple Watch Edition — the stunning 18-carat yellow or rose gold case with a sapphire crystal face and specially crafted bands and closures.

Smart watches were previously the domain of gadget geeks and fitness freaks, but now, with the Edition, Apple has entered the world of luxury watches. Those who love style and exclusivity and sport a Rolex, TAG Heuer, Breitling or Longines will surely be tempted by the Edition that is predicted to sell for anywhere from $5000 to $12,000 — just based on the gold value alone. The LG Watch Urbane has a classic and elegant style that will give the Apple watch a run for its money, with a beautiful design, stunning bands and a premium feel. What can these smart watches do? Does it matter?

SVOD — Streaming Video on Demand. The death of linear television is upon us and the way we view everything is changing, here and now. Three services are the dominant players in the Australian market: Presto (Foxtel + Channel 7) and Stan (Fairfax + Channel 9) launched in January and Netflix, this month. Netflix already apparently has hundreds of thousands of users. Other players will come, especially in the movie space with participants such as already-available Dendy Direct. The price seems to have levelled out at around $10 a month with Presto charging $10 for TV or movies, or $14.95 for both. Stan and Netflix both charge $10. The market has some teething problems. Most players are removing Microsoft Silverlight in favour of HTML 5 video. Support for some tablets, phones and devices such as the Google Chromecast and other Android-powered dongles, means you can easily have streaming throughout your house. I predict that later this year some services will start to appear offering content that focuses on business, finance and other related media. Sports are also entering the space with US baseball and basketball entering into agreements, and Cricket Australia and others experimenting with the format. www.presto.com.au / www.stan.com.au / www.netflix.com / www.dendydirect.com.au