New Outlook versus Classic Outlook: Why your client looks different   If you bought an outright license for Outlook with no subscription attached, you may have noticed it switching to a new version seemingly on its own. Microsoft’s rollout of New Outlook has been landing on Windows PCs regardless of what version you actually own. Whether you press the “Try the new Outlook” banner toggle or receive a sneaky popup that prompts you to do so, it means a separate version appears on your PC.    What is New Outlook? New Outlook has difficulty with larger .pst archives and offers limited functionality beyond reading them. If you rely on PST in your workflow, you may find it inadequate. New Outlook is a separate app built on a different underlying architecture. It’s installed separately from your standalone Outlook app, but supplants it as the default email client on your system. New Outlook repeatedly sets itself as the default app for email files, calendar links, and mailto links for some users – even after they’ve manually switched it back. New Outlook looks different than Classic with a modernised interface. It is faster for search and Microsoft is continuing to build it out. If legacy extensions and .pst file handling aren’t important to you, New Outlook is a solid option.        Read the full article here.

 

A Windows 11 storage bug could be eating your hard drive space If you’ve found your PC is mysteriously using up hundreds of gigabytes for no reason, you’re not alone. Microsoft has confirmed a Windows 11 storage bug that eats up hard drive space in a hidden system file. The problem is in a Windows component that logs application permissions. Its log file, CapabilityAccessManager.db-wal usually sits at around 1.6MB to 4MB, but affected machines running the 24H2 or 25H2 Windows 11 update cause the file to grow unchecked. Some users have reported the file reaching upwards of 70GB, and in one confirmed case, over 500GB. Microsoft has not listed the problem on its issue tracker although there have been months of user reports. In the latest update, the release notes specify “improved disk space usage” for the file in question.

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After the Upgrade: The Right Way to Dispose of Old Tech Millions of Australians upgrade their phones, tablets and other devices every year, especially during major sales events. But while many people enjoy the latest technology, old devices are often left sitting unused in drawers or end up in landfill. Those forgotten gadgets still contain valuable materials that can be recovered and reused, making proper recycling more important than ever. Helen Maisano from MobileMuster joined us to explain why recycling old tech matters, what can actually be recovered from these devices, and how Australians can safely and responsibly dispose of their unwanted electronics. Google Storage Update   Google recently announced a significant change to how Android device backups are stored, with backups once again counting towards a user’s available Google Account storage. While the change may sound minor, it could affect millions of Android users who rely on cloud backups to protect their photos, apps and device settings. For anyone close to their storage limit, it could mean needing to free up space or upgrade their Google One plan. Alex Choros from WhistleOut joined us to explain what has changed, who will be affected, and what Android users should do now to avoid unexpected storage issues.

 

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What happens when you call 000, and why you should never hang up    There’s a mystery about what happens when you call 000. It might be the most important phone call of your life, but there’s no way to test it out first. Making a non-emergency call to Triple Zero is an offence, carriers warn against testing, and even the shadow communications minister copped backlash for test-calling the service. DO NOT EVER CALL TRIPLE 0 UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY  Of course, we hope you never have to make a call to emergency services, but it’s important to know what to expect in the event you do have to. The gap in knowledge around the service may cause people to hang up too early, panic at silence, or otherwise waste valuable seconds in an emergency situation.      Read the full article here.  How AI is changing the way scammers target Australians Scams are becoming harder to spot, with cyber criminals using AI to create more convincing emails, messages and even fake phone calls. I mentioned on the show we have recorded a Webinar with Norton where we explore how scammers are reaching people today, the most common threats to watch out for, whether Mac users are really safer, and the simple steps everyone can take to stay protected online. Watch the full webinar to learn how to recognise evolving scams and protect your personal information.

 

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Saving Hot Water in The Home With New Aussie Shower Head Tech  As winter sets in and Australians enjoy longer, hotter showers, household water and energy use rises, placing additional pressure on family budgets. Water heating accounts for around 30% of a typical home’s energy bill, with showers responsible for up to half of all household hot water consumption. ShowerStar inventor and father of three, Bernard Emby, says the challenge of encouraging his teenage daughters to take shorter showers inspired him to develop a practical solution after seeing the impact on household bills. Research shows that many Australians underestimate how much water they use, despite showering being the largest source of household water consumption, while rising living costs have left many families struggling to pay their energy and water bills. More than half of Australians are unsure how to reduce their water usage, highlighting the need for simple tools that encourage better habits. ShowerStar automatically detects water flow, provides real-time shower alerts and usage data through a companion app, helping families reduce water consumption without sacrificing comfort. We spoke to the founder Bernard, today on the show. Visit them here.      NBN Continues To Remove Copper Connections From The NBN Network NBN has removed the requirement for customers in its Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) network to sign up to a high-speed broadband plan before qualifying for a free full fibre upgrade. Around 860,000 FTTC homes and businesses can now request an upgrade through their internet provider on the plan that best suits their needs. The move is part of nbn’s accelerated transition away from ageing copper infrastructure, which has higher fault rates, with more than 1.3 million customers already upgraded to full fibre and around 45,000 upgrades completed in May alone.  We spoke to the NBN today about the update.  We also discussed with NBN, if you ring your NBN provider and they are not aware of the change, wait a week and ring again!!! Read more details here

 

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Travel Guide 1: Stay connected with a travel eSIM, secure VPN, and top phone tips    When you arrive overseas, one of the first things you need is access to data for maps, translation, ride-hailing, and boarding passes. However, using your Aussie telco’s roaming options can prove costly for extended trips. The best way to stay connected overseas is with a travel eSIM and a reliable VPN while ensuring you don’t incur any unexpected charges from your domestic telco provider.      Choosing a travel eSIM Travel eSIMs are specifically designed for use overseas. They provide access to data across a range of countries much cheaper than Australian telco roaming offers. Our guide on travel eSIMs provides an overview of how they work and how to set them up to avoid unexpected fees. When choosing an eSIM provider, you’ll want to check out the terms so that you don’t receive a surprise charge. What to look for Data caps Most travel eSIM plans use a form of data cap or throttling. They provide a fixed amount of high-speed data and then the service stops or slows down. The cap can be either a total amount for your agreed term or as a daily cap. Some plans advertise unlimited data but impose a threshold that throttles speeds for the remainder of the term. The slower speeds still support basic connectivity but aren’t ideal for streaming or hotspots. There’s often a cap that applies to tethered devices separately, so if you plan to use your hotspot you should carefully check the terms around your data cap. The best option is an unlimited plan that throttles rather than one that automatically tops up if you hit a data cap. They might be a little more expensive than options with a hard cap, but you won’t have unexpected charges. Read more here.  Tineco’s best floor cleaners go on sale this Prime Day with up to $550 off Its a bit unusual having a sale after EOFY, but this is exactly what has been happening this week. Tineco has built a reputation as one of the world’s leading wet and dry floor cleaner brands by solving the problems cheaper cleaners ignore. From 7th to 13th July, Amazon Prime Day will see six of Tineco’s best cleaners drop to their lowest prices of the year, with up to $550 and 46 percent off RRP. If you’ve been considering a powered cleaner to help with your floor care routine, this is a great time to check out Tineco. Why Tineco leads the market Tineco introduced real-time dirt sensing and automatic suction adjustment on the Pure One S12 back in 2019, delivering responsive cleaning technology in a handheld form factor. Since then, the brand has been building on that template with tech and design innovations that have earned it the world’s number one wet/dry vacuum brand for four consecutive years. Euromonitor International shows the brand held 35 percent market share in 2025 with over 24 million households in approximately 30 countries owning one.

 

Guests and Topics on the Show

Online Scams Manifestations (Traditional and AI-driven)   Online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with AI giving cybercriminals new ways to impersonate trusted organisations, friends and even family. From convincing phishing emails and fake phone calls to AI-generated voices and deepfake videos, it has never been harder to tell what’s real. This week we’re joined by Dean Williams from Norton to explain how scams are evolving, the warning signs Australians should watch for, and the practical steps everyone can take to stay protected online.      Next week we’ll be releasing an exclusive webinar with Norton cybersecurity expert Dean Williams, where we take a deeper dive into the rise of AI-powered scams. Discover how scammers are using artificial intelligence to create convincing emails, phone calls, messages and even deepfake videos, plus the practical steps you can take to protect yourself, your family and your finances. Stay tuned  -it’s a must-watch for anyone who wants to stay one step ahead of today’s cybercriminals. In the meantime, have a read through this too:    Tax time scams 2026: Fake documents and refund emails      Could the Next Major Telco Outage Be Prevented?    Australia’s recent telecommunications outages have highlighted just how dependent we are on mobile and internet networks. But could future outages be avoided?  This week we’re joined by Associate Professor Mark Gregory from RMIT University to discuss what causes major network failures, whether our telecommunications infrastructure is becoming more resilient, and what improvements could help prevent widespread disruptions in the future.

 

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