How to recover data from a dead PC   When your computer won’t turn on or your hard drive won’t spin up, there’s a horrible sinking feeling that comes moments afterwards. It’s easy to think about all the lost data you may not be able to access again, whether it’s work, photographs, or media. Before you panic, it’s worth figuring out exactly what the problem is. Often, your data remains on the device, it just can’t be accessed through the normal methods. Here’s how to recover data when your device stops working.      Work out what’s wrong Not every device breaks in the same way, and how it happened is important to inform the best method to recover data. Usually, you’re looking at one of a few different situations: The PC boots but won’t load. This could be a software or file system issue, or it could be the drive failing. Nothing happens at all when you power it on. This could be the motherboard, power supply, or RAM. A hard disk drive makes a clicking, grinding, or whirring noise. This is mechanical failure on a spinning disk drive. Stop trying to power it on to limit damage. A solid state drive disconnects, turns read-only, or gets suddenly slower. This can be a sign of SSD failure. Stop trying to power it on to limit the risk of data loss. The device has been dropped, crushed, or submerged. This problem will result in physical damage, and the severity depends on what happened.    READ MORE.

 

Guests and Topics on the Show

Temporary Disaster Roaming: Keeping Australians Connected During Emergencies       With the high-risk weather season approaching, Australia’s major mobile networks had been preparing to activate Temporary Disaster Roaming, a system designed to help people stay connected when their usual mobile network was affected by a disaster. Luke Coleman, CEO of the Australian Telecommunications Alliance, joined us to explain how Temporary Disaster Roaming worked and what Australians could expect when it was activated. We looked at how customers could connect to another available mobile network during an outage, when the system could be used, and how it could help communities maintain access to communications during severe weather and other emergencies.         MOVA at IFA 2026: The Next Generation of Smart Home Technology     IFA 2026 had provided a showcase for the latest developments in consumer technology, with smart home products continuing to become more capable and automated. MOVA had used the event to highlight its latest innovations and demonstrate how technology could take on more everyday household tasks. Kattie Lu, Senior Marketing Manager at MOVA Tech ANZ, joined us in a prerecorded interview from IFA to take us through the company’s latest developments. We looked at what MOVA had showcased at the event, the technology behind its newest products, and how the brand saw the smart home evolving as automation became a bigger part of everyday life.   Watch this Mova IFA 2026 Hype Reel   A closer look at MOVA at IFA 2026.

 

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Fetch TV Gen 3 owners face a deadline to pay, upgrade, or lose access         Fetch TV Gen 3 owners face a deadline to pay, upgrade, or cancel their service by 31st October 2026, according to an email sent to everyone still running a Fetch TV Mini (H626T) or Mighty (M616T) activated over five years ago, currently the oldest devices on the platform.      What Fetch TV Gen 3 owners need to do      Owners without an active Fetch subscription have a few options. One is to pay a one-off $29.99 Fetch Extended Service Levy that covers the device until at least 31st October 2027. Subscribing to Fetch Access ($4.99 per month), Movie Box ($3.99 per month), Multiroom ($4.49 per month), or a Content Pack waives the levy automatically.      Customers who pay the levy will get a 30-day window through November to change their mind, including a free trial of a Content Pack, and a full refund if they decide to cancel instead. Pensioners and anyone experiencing financial hardship can also contact Fetch for a confidential review of their options.      Upgrading is another option. Fetch is offering a loyalty discount on the Mini Gen 5 and Mighty Gen 4 boxes, and is currently taking preorders for a Mighty Gen 4 Pro with 2TB of storage and an updated voice remote. All new devices require a mandatory Fetch Access subscription, adding a $4.99 monthly cost on top of the device purchase.      Cancelling is a permanent choice. Fetch confirmed that deactivated Gen 3 devices “cannot be reactivated in the future by you or anyone else,” and told us this has long been a policy to stop deprecated hardware being resold to unsuspecting buyers.      Customers who take no action will be charged automatically on 1st November, and four failed payment attempts will suspend the account across all linked devices.      The deadline applies only to devices activated more than five years ago, and Fetch says the majority of affected customers are using devices between eight and ten years old.     READ MORE.

 

Guests and Topics on the Show

EZVIZ Australia: Building a Smarter, More Connected Home      EZVIZ had been expanding its presence in Australia with a broader range of smart home security products, including cameras, video doorbells, smart locks and home control devices. The company had also placed a strong focus on making connected security more accessible to Australian households. Jock Jones, Country Manager for EZVIZ Australia, joined us to introduce the brand and its growing range. We looked at where EZVIZ fitted into the Australian smart home market, the different types of products available, and how consumers could build a connected security system around their needs.    EZVIZ at IFA 2026: A First Look at the Future of Smart Home

Roborock at IFA: Putting Consumers at the Centre of Innovation       Roborock had continued to expand its range of robotic and smart cleaning technology, with its IFA 2026 showcase featuring new robot vacuums, wet-and-dry cleaners and robotic lawn mowers. The company had also highlighted its focus on solving everyday problems through technology. At IFA in Berlin, we spoke with Roborock’s Global Product Marketing Head about the thinking behind its latest innovations. The conversation covered the company’s consumer-centric approach, how LiDAR helped robots understand and navigate their surroundings, and the continuous development of its technology. We also looked ahead at what could be next for Roborock.      Roborock RockAqua P1 to plunge into Aussie pools from January 2027 Roborock F25 Ultra Steam Gen 2 adds hotter, faster steam cleaning Roborock IFA 2026: Its first-ever pool cleaner and new smart home robots

 

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No roof, no problem: Australian balcony solar ban could lift soon     Balcony solar could become legal in Australia after energy ministers met and agreed to explore its viability for local households. The United Kingdom recently legalised plug-in solar systems, and New Zealand plans to do the same in the coming year. Germany is a current world leader, with estimates showing 1 in 10 households have a plug-in system installed. Unfortunately, it’s currently illegal to plug in a balcony solar system in Australia, though technically the systems can be sold. There is a small group of Australian retailers selling kits that are marketed with a caveat to check local laws before connecting. Repealing the ban would lift the gate barring solar for millions of Australians who rent or live in apartments. Plug-in solar doesn’t need a roof or an electrician, and the system can move with you. How does balcony solar work? Unlike rooftop solar systems that are most popular with owner-occupiers, balcony solar doesn’t require professional installation. The systems typically incorporate one or two panels that connect to a microinverter and plug directly into a standard power point. A typical system generates around 800 watts. When they’re plugged into the wall, the solar panels push generated electricity back through your homes wiring. That way, they power your appliances directly rather than drawing energy from the grid. That means if you run your appliances like washing machines and dishwashers when the sun’s out, the panels automatically offset some of the power draw from the grid, lowering your costs. Batteries are increasingly bundled with plug-in kits, meaning surplus energy generated through the day can be stored for use after dark. Some estimates say a battery can double the savings compared to a panel alone. READ MORE. CYBERSHACK TV  We’re back with a brand-new episode, and this week we’re taking you to Berlin for IFA! We’re checking out the latest robots, smart-home innovations and some seriously exciting new tech. LG pushes the limits of ultra-thin design with its astonishing Wallpaper TV. Epson is making dye-sublimation printing more accessible, and we’ll show you how. Plus, there’s plenty more to discover from the wonderful world of tech.

 

Guests and Topics on the Show

HTC VIVE Eagle AI: Bringing AI Into the VR Experience   Artificial intelligence had been moving beyond phones and computers, and it was also becoming part of immersive technology. HTC VIVE had been exploring how AI could make virtual and mixed reality experiences more useful, interactive and natural. Thomas Dexmier, ANZ Country Manager for HTC VIVE, joined us to discuss Eagle AI and what it meant for the future of VR. We looked at how AI could be integrated into VIVE experiences, what consumers could expect from the technology, and where AI-powered virtual reality could fit into everyday applications. Read More Here    Dye-Sublimation Printing: Bringing Professional Printing to More Businesses      Dye-sublimation printing had become an increasingly useful technology for businesses producing everything from personalised products to signage, apparel and promotional materials. Unlike conventional printing, the process used heat to transfer dye into a material, creating durable and high-quality results. Ryan Warby, Development Manager – Professional Print Solutions at Epson Australia, joined us to explain how dye-sublimation printing worked and where businesses could use it. We also looked at what businesses needed to consider when choosing a dye-sublimation printer, including the type of materials they worked with, print quality and production requirements.    Dye Sublimation Printer: The perfect companion for small business

 

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