A review by the shadow attorney general will examine whether the UK should exit certain domestic and international agreements. Read...

The moderator in the talks is former New Zealand governor-general Sir Jerry Mateparae. Read...

Three Chinese tourists were injured when their bus crashed on Mossburn Five Rivers Rd on Wednesday, one of whom was taken to hospital in a serious condition. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Sharp 2K video Spotlights enable good color night vision Easy to set up Local storage via up to 512GB microSD Cons No support for Apple Home Onboard mic doesn’t mask wind noise very well Our Verdict The Tapo C410 Kit is a very good home security camera, especially for folks looking to avoid the necessity of paying for a subscription to get its most important features. It’s also a great pick for those looking to avoid wires and needing to dismount the camera to charge its battery. But the absence of Apple Home support will be a bummer for some. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today I’ve had a full set of security cameras set up around my house for many years, but none of them was oriented in such a way that I could see over the fence to check on the car or who was on the other side of the fence. Since my existing system can’t support any additional cameras, I figured I might as well get a smart solar-powered security camera. That’s when TP-Link’s affordable Tapo C410 Kit caught by eye. This bullet-style, battery-powered camera is completely wireless; it comes with a solar panel to keep its lithium-ion battery topped off; and the presence of a microSD card slot means it can accommodate up to a user-provided 512GB memory card–and that means you don’t really need to pay for a subscription to store video recordings in the cloud (TP-Link does offer optional subscriptions, of course, which I’ll discuss later). The solar panel is the star of the show here because it’s what gives us so much freedom. Design and features The cylindrical Tapo C410 itself has a clean and modern look that we’ve come to expect from security cameras. When triggered by motion after dark, a pair of LED spotlights enable color night vision, and there’s an onboard microphone for two-way audio. There’s a power button on the back of the camera, as well as a USB-C port for charging its battery (the included solar panel plugs in here as well) and the slot for the previously mentioned microSD card slot. In other words, it offers all the features we think you should look for in a budget-priced security camera. Gabriela Vatu The included mount accommodates both the camera and the solar panel, simplifying physical installation. You’ll also find several rubber elements in the box you can use to make camera’s ports watertight even after plugging the solar panel into the camera. The camera carries a weatherization rating of IP65, which–according to our IP code guide–indicates it is impervious to dust ingress and that it’s protected from water jets sprayed from any direction, although it probably wouldn’t stand up to a pressure washer at close distance. The camera delivers 2K resolution (defined as 2304 x 1296 pixels) at 15 frames per second, which means the image is sharp enough to capture great details, from license plates to faces. The solar panel is the star of the show here because it’s what gives us so much freedom, making it possible to set it up anywhere we need it as long as it’s exposed to sunlight. Gabriela Vatu The camera also delivers a slew of features that many smart cams come with, including two-way audio, general motion detection, and person detection. The camera uses motion detection to send you alerts when activity is noticed, and it can smartly distinguish between people, pets, and vehicles. You decide which notifications to get and which to ignore. The camera connects to your local router easily (2.4GHz networks only). Whether or not you avail yourself of the camera’s microSD card slot, an optional Tapo Care subscription enables you to store video recordings in the cloud (with a 30-day history), and it adds a rich notification feature that includes a snapshot of the motion that triggered the camera to send you an alert. Tapo Care plans start at $3.49 per month or $34.99 per year and are one of the least expensive security subscriptions out there. But remember: don’t buy just any microSD card for a security camera–make sure its specs are suitable for the job. Setup and performance The Tapo C410 Kit is extremely easy to set up. Everything you need is in the box, including screws to mount it on your wall. All you’ll need to do is to figure out where to set it up so it gets enough sunlight to keep its battery charged. Tapo says the camera needs at least 45 minutes of direct sunlight for all-day monitoring, so make sure you pick a good spot. A longer USB-C cable is also in the box in the event you need to mount the solar panel further away from the camera to get enough exposure to the sun. Gabriela Vatu The whole process was relatively painless and took 15 minutes at most, including all the time spent going up and down the ladder. Connecting the camera to the app is also extremely easy. To take things one step further, I integrated the Tapo app with Google Home. In less than two minutes I could say “Hey Google, show me the front yard” and have the footage displayed on my Nest Hub. If Alexa rules your smart home, you can do the same with an Echo Show. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras. The quality of the two-way audio is great, although I found the microphone to be a bit susceptible to wind noise I feel there’s quite a bit of extra noise when it’s windy, despite Tapo claiming there’s some noise cancellation. One thing I love about the camera is that you can define activity zones or black out your neighbor’s windows for privacy, for instance. Should you buy the Tapo C410 Kit? Frankly, there’s no reason not to get the Tapo C410 Kit. It’s super easy to set up—both physically and via the app—and it delivers great video quality, as well as plenty of smart features. It’s a great pick for anyone who doesn’t want to spend a fortune on security cameras, wants one they can set up and forget about, and wants the ease of mind of always getting notifications about what’s happening outside their home. Since this is a solar-powered camera, this may not be the best pick for folks who live in areas with limited sunlight or who have an Apple Home setup. Read...

Even though the crypto mining boom has largely passed, cryptocurrency scams still remain out there. Since crypto wallets often come in the form of a web browser extension, so do crypto scams—and Mozilla has spotted hundreds of them trying to get onto the official repository of Firefox extensions. Now, a new tool that automatically scans for them exists. So sayeth a new Mozilla blog post, spotted by BleepingComputer. Exactly how the automated system determines that a newly-posted extension is suspicious isn’t elucidated… but I suppose spelling it out would just give scammers an easy way to circumvent it. If the system spots enough red flags, it holds the extension for human review, after which the extension can be approved or tossed out. At the moment, the system is only applied to “wallet” Firefox extensions, though I have to assume there are other systems in place for more general threats. Firefox is one of the last major browsers that still isn’t based on the open-source Chromium, the root project for Google Chrome and Microsoft’s Edge, so extension developers already have to target it narrowly. Of course, this system only protects users who are going through Mozilla’s official repository of Firefox extensions at addons.mozilla.org. Hackers and scammers can—and often do—entice unwary users to download extensions from third-party sites. Downloading from official sources (like the Chrome Web Store for Chromium-based browsers) doesn’t automatically protect you, but it’s generally a safer bet than downloading and installing extensions from elsewhere. Read...

Meridian Energy has appointed Rory Blundell to the newly created role of General Manager, Strategy and Portfolio. Rory is currently Meridian’s Group Strategy Manager and starts his new position with immediate effect Read...

General Capital Limited is pleased to advise that its subsidiary, the RBNZ licensed deposit taker General Finance Limited, has passed the last hurdle to be part of the Government`s new Deposit Compensation Scheme (DCS) which is due to commence on 1 July Read...

An Invercargill councillor says he is writing to the Auditor General about his council spending more than $200,000 on legal fees for its new museum. Read...

TechHive Editors Choice At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Vastly improved installation procedure Integrated Wi-Fi frees you from the external bridge Lockly Home app is significantly improved, with lots of new features Cons Integrated Wi-Fi significantly reduces battery life (by about half) We experienced some app-disconnect issues Still quite bulky on the exterior Our Verdict Integrated Wi-Fi is the major upgrade in this revamp of Lockly’s well-aged Secure Pro lock, making it a winner on all fronts. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Lockly Secure Pro 2025 Version (model PGD728WMBE1) Retailer Price $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Lockly Secure Pro isn’t a new lock, but rather an upgrade to an old one: The original Lockly Secure Pro came out way back in 2019, hence this release’s full (and rather awkward) name: Lockly Secure Pro 2025 Version. The two locks have roughly the same industrial appearance (though the new lock is reportedly 25 percent smaller), so you’ll need to pay close attention when shopping to ensure you’re getting the current version. While Lockly’s website includes the 2025 indicator in the name, many vendors, including Amazon, do not. Look for Lockly model number PGD728WMBE1 to be sure. Specifications The biggest difference between the two locks is indeed a biggie: The 2025 Version has a built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi adapter and no longer requires an external hub to bridge to your internal Wi-Fi network. (Lockly says the fingerprint scanner on the lock has also improved, but this isn’t nearly as important: Lockly has long had some of the best fingerprint scanning tech on the market, so any improvements are minuscule). Lockly’s PIN Genie makes it impossible to guess a PIN by observing someone or by dusting the touchscreen for fingerprints. Other changes are incremental, and many are part of wider industry shifts, such as the move from a 9-volt battery terminal at the bottom of the exterior escutcheon to a USB-C port that can provide emergency power from a power bank if needed. The interior escutcheon and thumbturn have been redesigned to be more appealing and easier to grasp, and the fingerprint reader has been moved from the side of the device to the front, just above the touchscreen and set at a slight angle. Lockly’s PIN Genie randomizes the arrangement of numbers on its PIN pad, so no one will be able to observe the code you tap out or discover your code by looking at the locations of your fingerprints.Lockly Lockly’s PIN Genie keypad is still in effect, and if you’ve never seen it, it does take some getting used to. Instead of being organized in numerical order, digits are grouped into four sets of three, which are shuffled each time the lock is used. This makes it functionally impossible to guess a PIN by observing someone or by dusting the touchscreen for fingerprints, since the numbers move around every time it’s used. The lock is also built to ANSI Grade 2 standards, according to Lockly, but it is not certified as such. Installation and setup I’m happy to report that Lockly has made great strides in improving its hardware and installation process in the last six years. The disconnected crossbar that connects the exterior and interior escutcheons is now built into the exterior escutcheon, making setup far easier than in previous incarnations of Lockly hardware. The whole kit comes together with two long bolts that connect a standard interior mounting frame to the exterior escutcheon, plus three more screws attaching the interior escutcheon to that frame. It’s by and large a process that’s fairly standard in the smart lock industry, and while I didn’t have any major issues getting things connected, I will offer a pro tip: Make sure the deadbolt is extended when you attach the interior escutcheon, or the system will not be able to calibrate, an important step for setting whether the door is left-handed or right-handed. (This calibration is done by pressing the red button located under the cover of the interior escutcheon, after which the lock opens and closes a few times before finalizing setup.) All told, installation was smooth—and even Lockly’s manual has been greatly improved since the original Secure Pro launched, should you need extra help. The built-in wired door sensor informs you if the door is open or closed.Christopher Null/Foundry The lock is still powered by four AA batteries, and after they’re installed, you’re directed to the newish Lockly Home app, which replaced the old Lockly app earlier this year, for onboarding. The new app a big upgrade, too: It’s straightforward and painless to initially configure the app, and once everything is configured, it’s equally easy to use. The primary screen offers a standard, front-and-center button for lock/unlock operations; the button doubles as an icon to show whether the door is locked, unlocked, open, and/or closed. (A built-in wired door sensor that sticks out from the bottom of the interior escutcheon is still standard, though its use is optional.) In addition to support for using a physical key or the app to open the lock, the lock (still) supports PIN and fingerprint-based access. The lock supports a maximum of 52 users, with support for a total of 99 fingerprints and 49 access codes. I don’t get the math on those numbers either, except that users are not required to have both fingerprint and PIN, so it sort of makes sense. Lockly has made significant improvements to its app.Christopher Null/Foundry Users can be configured with full-time access, as “sub-admins” who can also create new accounts, with time-limited access that either expires at a set time or recurs each week, or one-time access (which can also be set to expire). Up to three one-time or limited-time access codes can also be configured, though note that there are specific instructions that must be followed (involving certain button presses and entering the code twice) for these codes to work. All told, I didn’t encounter any issues with user setup or management—or using PINs or prints to open the lock. As with previous Lockly products, all access methods were wholly reliable. Logging is robust, though Lockly includes a second, slightly confusing “notification center” that duplicates some but not all of the information in the logs about lock openings, closings, and failed access attempts. These notifications (not the log entries) are what are pushed to your phone—reliably so, in my testing. You can open the Lockly Secure Pro 2025 with a physical key in addition to using the app, the PIN pad, or your fingerprint.Christopher Null/Foundry A bevy of settings options are available for those who wish to dig deeper, including three power modes designed to extended battery life (5 months is specified by Lockly, about half what the old lock offers), automatic locking (customizable by time, or settable to lock whenever the door is closed), and Lockly’s somewhat maddening “random mode” which shuffles the digits on the PIN Genie keypad each time a button is pressed instead of just once per use. Support for Alexa and Google Assistant are also included (though not Siri). This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks. Should you buy the Lockly Secure Pro 2025 Version? The few non-trivial issues I encountered with the lock were connectivity related. The app would sometimes take a few seconds to connect to the lock, and on more than one occasion it didn’t connect at all, forcing me to quit the app and try again. The open/closed door status condition also didn’t update reliably in my testing, though it was accurate more often than not. In general, the unit was plenty reliable and its few connection hiccups were easily resolved with a little patience. At $310, the lock isn’t significantly more expensive than the 2019 model, which is still available for $260. Still, both are on the high side for Wi-Fi-capable smart locks, though not egregiously so. If you’re sold on Lockly, especially its unique touchpad interface and slightly dystopian design, the 2025 Lockly Pro sees the outfit performing at its best. Read...

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accuses Lord Hermer of `calling people who disagree with him Nazis`. Read...