BTTR Roundup #44: Planning a fun long weekend of not playing the $700 Switch 2

Just in time for the June long weekend, Nintendo has launched its Switch 2 console around the globe. I don't have one, so I won't be spending my long weekend exploring the wild world of Mario Kart.

It's interesting because there weren't any reviews of the console or the games before the launch, as Nintendo didn't send out early review units anywhere around the world. I discuss this in more detail in the paid section below, but for now, let's just say that it's odd to not know if it's worth buying something at launch.

Because of the lack of early reviews, any research you do now is either a "review in progress", or an outlandish claim of excellence or disappointment, depending on what type of influencer you're watching.

That said, I'm sure that Nintendo has made a fortune from the launch period – it's too soon for actual sales numbers, but we all know Nintendo will print money with this thing.

It's just not my money. Not yet, anyway.

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This week's new tech news

The Switch 2 is finally here. It will probably be a while before I get to play with one, but it is available to buy right now. But Nintendo's new console was just one of many news announcements this week:

• Hisense has launched its new Series 8i laundry appliances. The dryer is Australia's first 10-star energy rated dryer, which isn't something to shy away from given the way energy prices are going. The washing machine can auto-dose up to 27 washes automatically, while both have a 3.55-inch colour display for easy control. Washer is $1,199, dryer is $1,499 and both are available now.
• Optus has announced a partnership with AI search engine Perplexity. New and existing eligible Optus customers can now receive a complimentary 12-month subscription to the paid Perplexity Pro subscription, worth $300. Google may be pumping out crap, but I'm not convinced generative AI is the solution to this problem. [Optus]
• Telstra now lets customers using a Galaxy S25 phone (or one of its many variants) send and receive text messages via satellite. The service uses Starlink's Direct to Cell technology, and opens up the coverage maps in Australia in a big way. More phones are coming soon. [Telstra]
• The Nintendo Switch 2 is now available, though if you wanted to buy it at launch, you were buying it without the benefit of any expert reviews, as I mentioned above. I still want one, though. [Nintendo]
• Belkin is celebrating the arrival of the Switch 2 by stepping back into the gaming accessory market. Its hero product is a Switch 2 case with an integrated 10K/20W battery to give you extra gaming juice on the go, with a hidden AirTag pocket ($99.95). It also has a simple travel case ($39.95), anti-reflective and blue-light screen protectors ($29.95 each) and USB-C cables on offer. All products are available now. [Belkin]
• PlayStation has a new wireless arcade control stick coming up. Dubbed "Project Defiant", the controller is going to launch in 2026, with more details to come this year. It looks kind of cool, though. [PS Blog]
• ALDI has the Ecovacs Deebot Neo 2.0 for sale as a special buy on June 14. Priced at $499, it offers 5,000 Pa of suction and 180 minutes runtime. The dock lacks the water tanks of the more premium models, but is more than sufficient if you just want a robot vacuum. [ALDI]
• Britbox has announced an update to its platform, launching three linear channels, as well as upgrading and redesigning its entire platform. I feel that if you wanted British television, you'd already be a subscriber though [Britbox]

(Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash)

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