Category: 4. Technology

​UNIT, the Fitzrovia-based independent shortform and longform creative production house, has delivered full post production – VFX, grade and audio for Marks & Spencer’s limited-edition campaign with luxury nightwear designer Olivia von Halle. The film marks the launch of a new capsule collection that blends accessible elegance with timeless 1920s glamour.

An exclusive design collaboration with the London-based fashion label, the Marks & Spencer x Olivia von Halle collection launched on 8 April across stores and online. The coveted 10-piece edit marks M&S’s first venture into luxury sleepwear, reimagining von Halle’s iconic aesthetic for the high street.

The campaign, titled ‘Project Overboard’, invites viewers into a surreal, sumptuous world of slinky nightdresses, silk pyjamas, and opulent colour palettes — hallmarks of Olivia von Halle’s cult aesthetic. UNIT collaborated closely with the M&S creative and production Team to craft a narrative that reflects the collection’s tone: luxurious, modern, and just a little playful.

Created in-house by the M&S team, the campaign was led agency-side by creative director Nicola Creamer, creative lead Jo Dailly, senior art buyer Jasmin Hadfield, and agency producer Pamie Wikstrom.

The UNIT post production team worked closely with M&S to set the tone of the campaign – luxurious, classic but modern, and a bit playful. The goal was to reflect the elevated feel of the collection, the rich textures, and flowing movement. The grade palette played a crucial role in creating a sense of celebratory escapism, with considered VFX that felt confident without being too composed. The sound design added subtle sonic layering to give the film a heightened sense of rhythm and mood.

UNIT’s signature craft helped bring the creative vision for Project Overboard to life — elevating M&S’s exclusive collaboration with Olivia von Halle into a dreamlike campaign. By balancing brand accessibility with luxury aesthetics, the team delivered a film where every creative element works in harmony — the kind of immersive, detail-driven storytelling UNIT does best.

​Adam Luckwell, UNIT founder and co-owner, commented, “This was such a beautifully designed campaign to be a part of. There’s a lot of subtlety in a piece like this. The film had a very specific mood, and we worked closely with the M&S team to ensure that every creative decision — from edit to final grade — supported that vision. It’s a great example of what happens when visual storytelling and craft align.”

For more information on UNIT Studios, visit unit.tv.

The LG C4 is one of the best TVs we’ve ever tested – and the 48-inch is our favourite at this particular size.

Fortunately we have some good news for you. Right now, this spectacular five-star OLED can be yours for just £799 at Amazon.

No fancy codes or newsletter sign-ups, it’s really as simple as that.

So, if you’re in the market for rich and engaging picture, an unrivalled gaming feature set and excellent app compatibility, we’d seriously recommend this deal.

We’ve reviewed the LG C4 in a variety of sizes and always land on a five-star rating. And while the 48-inch model doesn’t go quite as bright as its larger siblings, if you can look past this it still sits comfortably as the best TV of its size.

Sure, the LG C5 has entered the scene, but as far as the C4 is concerned it’s still an excellent pick for quality, feature set and price. And you certainly won’t pick up the LG C5 for £799 at Amazon, like the C4 right now.

There’s plenty of reasons the 48-inch tops our best 50-inch TVs guide (that also includes 48-inch TVs). It’s got excellent picture quality, an unrivalled feature set that is especially alluring for gamers and is incredible value.

For picture, the LG C4 produces a crisp, balanced and rich image that’s even better than its C3 predecessor.

For features, it carries the same four HDMI 2.1 ports as the C-series range, which is great news for gamers looking for 4K/120Hz with VRR and ALLM.

Plus, there’s Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos immersive audio alongside the webOS smart platform that connects you to a whole range of popular streaming apps.

When it comes to sound, the built-in audio system is a little underwhelming. But, with a £700 saving to be had when purchasing the LG C4 right now, you could absolutely use this extra cash towards one of the best soundbars to bolster your home cinema setup.

MORE:

Read the full LG C4 review

LG C5 vs LG C4: what’s the difference, and which one should you buy?

And the best OLED TVs: as tested by our experts

SAVE $400: As of July 2, the 3i P10 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo is on sale for $699.99 at Amazon. That’s a 36% saving on the list price.

If you thought robot vacuums had reached peak automation, think again. The 3i P10 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo aims to redefine what “hands-free cleaning” means — and now it’s 36% off, dropping from $1,099.99 to $699.99 on Amazon. That’s a jaw-dropping $400 discount on what looks like one of the smartest cleaning gadgets out there, also bringing it back to its lowest-ever price according to tracker camelcamelcamel.

Where most vacuums clean near the edges, the P10 Ultra actually extends its mop to clean edges and corners, hugging your baseboards like a pro. Its dual mops spin at 220 RPM — basically giving your floors a power scrub — and its 18,000Pa suction rivals high-end models at nearly twice the price. When it comes to carpets, it detects them, lifts the mop, and cranks up the power automatically.

What makes the P10 Ultra appear truly next-gen is its all-in-one docking station. We’re talking self-emptying, self-refilling, hot-water mop washing, and hot air drying, all without you lifting a finger. It even adds cleaning solution by itself. The result: your robot stays fresh, and your floors stay spotless.

Navigation is where the P10 Ultra also flexes its AI muscle. With LiDAR, dual 3D sensors, and onboard AI cameras, it maps your home in 3D, avoids tiny cords, glides over thresholds, and dodges furniture with uncanny precision. Its AI DirtScan can recognise over 100 types of messes — from pet food to juice spills — and adapts how it cleans in real time.

You can schedule cleanings, draw no-go zones, and customise settings all from the app, or even just tell Alexa or Google to take care of it. With anti-tangle tech on top, you won’t be fishing out hair from the brush ever again.

At $699.99, the P10 Ultra is still a splurge — but if you want a robot vacuum that actually does it all, this could be your moment.

If you’re in the market for a slightly cheaper robot vacuum, the 3i G10+ is also on sale and does a great job in its own right. While we weren’t a massive fan of its “superficial” design in our review, we couldn’t help but praise everything under the hood with “more going on” compared to any other robot vacuum we’ve tested. 

Marshall has unveiled the second-gen iteration of its portable Middleton Bluetooth speaker. The Middleton II adds further features to the original model, promising to deliver “the ultimate listening experience wherever it goes”.

The new speaker is powered by 60 watts of Class D amplification for its twin 7.6cm woofers alongside 20 watts of power for a pair of 15mm tweeters. Marshall promises improved sonic talents with this iteration over the first-gen model, teasing “even deeper bass and more refined performance at maximum volume”.

​Studio RM, the post-production studio renowned for its distinctive approach to colour and retouching, has appointed Susan Pratchett as Interim CEO, effective immediately.

This appointment marks an exciting new chapter for Studio RM as it continues to evolve in response to a dynamic creative landscape. Susan joins the business at a pivotal moment, providing experienced leadership and strategic continuity while the search for a new full-time managing director is underway. She will work across Studio RM’s global locations in London, Paris, and New York.

Susan brings a wealth of experience from leading creative agencies through periods of transformation and growth including Virtue (VICE Media Group), Spring Studios and earlier experience at Droga5 New York and Grey London.

Studio RM founder Robert Moore said, “We’re excited to have Susan join us as Studio RM looks towards the future. Her experience has consistently centred on aligning studios with the changing needs of the industry and their clients—ensuring relevance, resilience, and future-focused innovation. At Studio RM, she will focus on strengthening client partnerships, supporting internal talent, and identifying immediate and long-term opportunities to drive innovation, operational efficiency, and creative excellence.”

The Nikon Z9 for $4,600? That’s a Pro-Level Steal. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to invest in Nikon’s flagship mirrorless beast, the moment has arrived. The Nikon Z9 Mirrorless Camera with the FTZ II Adapter Kit is now available on Amazon Renewed for only $4,600 — a major drop for a camera that continues to push the boundaries of hybrid cinematography and professional stills. Grab it here on Amazon Renewed. This price isn’t just attractive. It’s a golden opportunity for filmmakers and photographers looking to step into Nikon’s most advanced system without the premium price tag.

See the Nikon Z9 on Amazon Renewed

Even in the face of upcoming successors like the Z9 Mark II (explored in The Nikon Z9 Mark II: What to Expect from Nikon’s Next Mirrorless Flagship), the original Z9 remains an industry powerhouse.

It delivers:

• Full-frame 8K video at up to 60p

• No mechanical shutter for silent operation and fewer moving parts

• Advanced AF tracking powered by deep learning

• Dual CFexpress card slots for robust workflows

• Superb build quality trusted by pros in the field

The inclusion of the FTZ II Adapter means users can seamlessly use Nikon’s legacy F-mount lenses with full autofocus capabilities — perfect for hybrid shooters with a legacy lens collection.

Buying from Amazon Renewed means the gear has been professionally inspected, tested, and cleaned by qualified vendors. Plus, it’s backed by Amazon’s satisfaction guarantee, so there’s peace of mind with that savings. In a similar spotlight, we previously covered a gem of a deal in The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II for Just $1,800 on Amazon Renewed: showing that renewed gear is becoming a serious option for serious creatives.

With the Nikon Z9 still dominating the field and the price of entry now dramatically lower, this deal is too good to ignore. Whether you’re a cinematographer looking for 8K RAW power or a photographer seeking uncompromising autofocus and speed, this is your chance to level up your kit without draining your wallet. Check the Nikon Z9 Renewed deal now

Neat, affordable and great-sounding hi-fi is becoming increasingly rare but Elac’s Debut ConneX DCB41 ticks all of those boxes.

Our team of expert testers reviewed the Elac Debut ConneX DCB41 back in 2022 and the system not only earned a glowing five-star rating but it also managed to pick up a coveted What Hi-Fi? Award for the past two years. And all of this at the full asking price of £529. So, you can imagine our delight now that the price has dropped to £339 at Richer Sounds and Peter Tyson.

We’ve seen the Elacs at this price before – during Black Friday last year to be precise – but they went back up and we are pleased to report that they are back to being an absolute bargain.

Current What Hi-Fi? Award winners, these Elacs are flexible standmount speakers, combining superb sound quality with Bluetooth streaming and a phono stage for accommodating a turntable. They can easily double up as a clever soundbar alternative for your TV setup, thanks to their HDMI ARC socket, too.

Set-up is fuss-free: one speaker in the pair contains all the electronics, amplification and connections, and the other sports a more conventional passive design. The speakers are then linked together with a cable.

You don’t get any fancy network streaming smarts included here as there is no wi-fi (see the Triangle AIO Twin and KEFSX II LT systems for wi-fi streaming setups). But it doesn’t get simpler than playing tunes wirelessly from your phone or laptop over Bluetooth, which is what you get here.

Optical and USB inputs offer alternative wired connections to an external music source, while the Elacs can do the job of a soundbar thanks to the provision of an HDMI ARC input.

The Elac package is very well-made, brilliantly executed and of course, very convenient, removing the need for external amplification and boxes along the way.

The added convenience of having nearly all you could want in one place doesn’t seem to have sacrificed the sound stakes, either.

In our Elac Debut ConneX DCB41 review, we explain that we found the speakers to be “controlled and even-handed” with a clear, balanced and insightful sound. In fact, we went so far as to say we could find “no obvious areas of weakness”. As you can tell, we are pretty big fans of this talented speaker pairing.

These fantastic powered speakers are great at their full price, but this excellent £339 deal at Richer Sounds makes them a bargain that deserves serious attention.

MORE:

Here’s our full Elac Debut Connex DCB41 review

Want streaming smarts included? Check out our KEF LSX II LT review

These are the best all-in-one systems you can buy

SAVE $200: As of July 2, the Shark Navigator robot vacuum is on sale for $249.99 at Amazon. This is 44% off its list price of $449.99 and marks its lowest-ever price on Amazon.

There have been plenty of early Prime Day deals dropping ahead of Amazon’s big summer sale event, including robot vacuums. One of our favorite deals is on the Shark Navigator robot vacuum, which has dropped to its lowest-ever price at the retailer.

The Shark Navigator robot vacuum is currently marked down to $249.99. This is 44% off its list price of $449.99, saving you $200. This is the lowest-ever price on Amazon.

This robot vacuum will make sure your carpets and floors get a deep clean. With powerful suction and SmartPath Navigation, the Shark Navigator robot vacuum can map out your home to get the most effective clean without running into any obstacles. It also self-empties after each clean to make things easier. Its bagless base can hold up to 60 days worth of dirt, debris, hair, and more, so you can go a couple of months without even thinking about it.

Why wait for Prime Day to score this deal? Act now to get the Shark Navigator robot vacuum at its lowest-ever price.

Amazon Prime Day is coming up fast, and if you’re hoping to make the most of the sale event when it kicks off on July 8, check out our guide on everything you need to know about Amazon Prime Day 2025 to plan ahead.

Roland DG Connect Designer offers easy design tools for beginners and includes a library of images, shapes, fonts, and illustrations.

Roland DGA has released a new software application, Roland DG Connect Designer, which allows users to create print-ready graphics tailored for their Roland DG printers.

As part of the Roland DG Connect software suite, the Designer application—available with the free Basic Roland DG Connect plan—provides three main functions. One of these is a simplified design creation tool intended for users with limited experience in professional design software, such as in-store staff or small business owners. The application streamlines the design process and includes a library of images, shapes, fonts, and illustrations.

A second function is the generation of automated print settings. Instead of having to set detailed print settings in the dedicated VersaWorks 7 RIP software running the printer, Roland DG Connect Designer produces the necessary print settings automatically during the design phase and enables printing to begin immediately once the job is sent to the printer, allowing for a faster, more streamlined workflow.

A third set of capabilities allows for the unique functions of various printers to be incorporated into the design by utilizing modules specific to each device. With Roland DG Connect Designer, users can choose to add the desired design features made possible by their printer and work requirements, and install only the functions they require, for a simpler and more cost-effective operation. Initially, for users of the new DA-640 dimensional surface printer, a DIMENSE module offers preset embossing effects, file preparation, and visualization for creating textured output on the DA-640.

For more information, visit rolanddga.com.

Howden, the global insurance and reinsurance broking group, has acquired a majority stake (68.3%) in Holos Holdings Co., Ltd. (Holos), a Kyoto-headquartered retail insurance broker.

Founded in 2001 by Kei Horii, Holos is a privately owned retail insurance broker with over 400 employees across 20 locations in Japan.

The acquisition marks a significant milestone in Howden’s strategy to scale its business in Japan. Since establishing operations in the country in 2024, Howden now employs more than 450 people. The deal enhances the credibility, relevance, and capabilities of Howden’s service offering in the Japanese market.

With this acquisition, Howden is well positioned to deliver high-quality services across both life and non-life insurance segments to a broad range of clients, from individuals to SMEs and corporates.

The deal follows a series of strategic initiatives by Howden Japan in 2024, including the launch of Howden Re Japan, a partnership with Keystone ILS Capital, and entry into the Japanese retail insurance market through the acquisition of the Foresight Group.

David Howden CBE, CEO of Howden, said, “Right from the very start we’ve known that to provide the best services to clients you must have strong local expertise on the ground. Holos has incredible know-how and like us they have a rich history in the market. And joining forces now gives us strength-in-depth across Japan, enabling us to provide individuals, SMEs, corporates, and insurers with a full suite of services from reinsurance to retail. This is a transformational move for us, and it shows that our commitment to this dynamic market is truly for the long-term.”

Kei Horii, CEO of Holos Holdings, commented, “For the past 25 years, Holos has grown its business with the strong support of our employees and clients. As the Japanese insurance industry enters a new phase, we have decided to join Howden. By combining Holos’ deep experience in the life insurance sector with Howden’s global resources and advanced expertise in the corporate general insurance field, we aim to grow into a trusted and valued insurance group, even more loved by our clients.”

Kentaro Tada, CEO of Howden Japan, added, “Holos and Howden share similar corporate cultures in that we value the independence of each employee and aim to deliver optimal insurance solutions that bring satisfaction to clients. I look forward to working together with the team at Holos to grow our business while continuing to earn the trust of our clients.”