Which is the best router generation? WiFi 6, WiFi 7 and WiFi 8 explained    Browsing online or in-store for the best router these days, you might see WiFi 6 and 7 and wonder which to pick, while WiFi 8 starts to gain headlines too. Marketing would suggest you should always buy the newest, but there’s more nuance to it than that. What each generation of WiFi does WiFi 6 (802.11ax) shifted focus from prior generations only improving raw speed, instead designed for traffic optimisation in busy homes with a lot of devices. Smart TVs, phones, laptops, security cameras and more can create problems in older WiFi versions, but WiFi 6 addressed the issue. WiFi 6E (802.11ax extended) builds on WiFi 6 with an additional band that reduces congestion further in dense environments. The performance gain is modest for most users, but the additional 6GHz band helps in apartments and congested network conditions. WiFi 7 (802.11be) added a big speed increase and Multi-Link Operation that allows compatible devices to connect on multiple bands to reduce latency and increase stability. With theoretical maximum speeds upwards of 40 Gbps, the focus here was speed. WiFi 8 (802.11bn) is an upcoming standard that targets consistency to deliver reliable performance in interference-heavy environments. It’s intended to reduce latency and packet loss while increasing traffic performance. Instead of faster speeds, it tries to improve performance on busy networks.   Read more here on CyberShack.com 3 alternative search engines that put privacy first Amid Google’s upcoming search changes and a massive AI push, users are losing the familiar blue links page that surfaces related pages when you search the internet. Google is instead pushing its AI mode designed to deliver an answer that may or may not be accurate, meaning you have to do the extra legwork of fact checking its answer. Whether you want to keep the familiar link results page, seek to boost your privacy, or just interested in an independent service, there are many alternative search engines you might be interested in. Read more…

Guests and Topics on the Show

Guests and Topics on the Show    Why Identity Verification Matters More Than Ever      Identity verification is becoming more important than ever as Australians continue to move more services online. Today we’re joined by Rick Iversen, Head of ConnectID, to talk about how digital identity solutions are evolving, the role of secure verification in protecting consumers, and how ConnectID is helping simplify the way people prove who they are online.      Inside Honor’s Latest Smartphone Innovations        Honor continues to expand its smartphone lineup with devices focused on performance, durability and premium features. Matt Segafredo, Sales Director at Honor, joined us today to discuss the new Honor X9D and Magic 8 Pro, including the technology behind the devices, key standout features, and what consumers can expect from Honor’s latest smartphone range. I’m taking these handsets with me to Vivid Festival in Sydney this week. I’ll share how they perform capturing images at the annual light show in the newsletter next week.

Here’s a copy of our newsletter

Inkjet vs Laser – A printer buying guide to save you money    When choosing the right printer, a lot of us might reach for the cheapest on the shelf or buy based on pages per minute and other metrics. The problem is that the wrong choice could end up costing you more in the long run, and buying a printer without considering your usage is an easy way to end up overspending. In this printer buying guide we’ll discuss the benefits and drawbacks of inkjet vs laser, then explain who each category is for and what features to look for.  Read more…   Google Speaker Radio Station Streaming Update      Stations has announced that the playback issue affecting Google smart speakers and Nest devices has now been resolved after causing disruptions for around a week.  Google confirmed the fault has been fixed, although users still experiencing issues are advised to restart their device by unplugging it for 30 seconds before reconnecting it.  The station also reminded listeners that the 2GB app remains the easiest and most reliable way to listen from anywhere.

Guests and Topics on the Show

Can AI Help Prevent Storm Water Flooding Before It Starts?   On the show today, we spoke with Len Luxford about how agentic AI could transform stormwater management and help reduce flooding risks in the future.   Len explained how new AI-integrated sensor systems can detect blockages, debris and pipe issues before water even starts flowing, allowing maintenance teams to move from reactive fixes to proactive management.   We also discussed how the Australian-designed technology is already being used overseas, including in Ho Chi Minh City, to support early flood warning systems and improve city preparedness.      Inside Google IO – Search Changes and What Comes Next         We also spoke with Alex Zaharov-Reutt about Google’s latest Search update and what it means for users and publishers.   Alex explained the reported changes, why Google continues to refine its search systems, and how updates like this can impact the way information is surfaced and accessed online. You can read more about it here: Google is burying your search results and calling it progress

Here’s a copy of our newsletter

Gemini Personal Intelligence is available in Australia, but should you turn it on?    Gemini can read your emails, look at your photos, and search your YouTube and Search history. But should you let it? Google has enabled a feature in its ecosystem that allows its AI assistant Gemini to read your emails, see your Photos, and view your YouTube and Search history to give contextual responses. It’s an opt-in feature, meaning it’s turned off by default. It’s being rolled out to paid subscribers on the Google AI Plus plan and up with free users to follow. So should you switch on the new feature? Here’s what you need to know. Read more…   ASUS Zenbook A16 Review: Portability Meets Performance      The ASUS Zenbook A16 is a premium ARM-based laptop designed to tackle today’s modern workloads. Equipped with the premium Snapdragon X2 Elite chipset and a gorgeous 3K OLED display in a lightweight package, the Zenbook A16 fills a gap in the market for high portability with excellent visuals and performance. That mix of features comes with a hefty price tag, though, and it’s not easy to justify. Overall Rating: 4 / 5

Guests and Topics on the Show

Why SMEs Became Prime Targets for Cybercrime     Cyber threats continued to hit Australian small and medium businesses hard, with attacks becoming more sophisticated and costly than ever. Many SMEs faced the challenge of protecting their operations without the large security budgets of major enterprises.  Harvey Norman Tech for Business Director Rutland Smith joined us to discuss the practical cybersecurity protections businesses needed to put in place and the tools available to help safeguard against evolving digital threats. During the discussion I explained how our system was hacked and what it took to regain control of all our digital channels and services.  Breaking Down the New Wholesale Mobile and NBN Announcements        Australia’s telco market saw fresh movement as wholesale mobile and NBN announcements reshaped pricing, competition and consumer choice.  The changes had the potential to affect everything from plan affordability to service flexibility for households and businesses alike.  Alex Choros, Managing Editor at WhistleOut, joined us to break down what the latest announcements meant and what Australians needed to know before choosing their next mobile or broadband plan.

Here’s a copy of our newsletter