Winter is here – time to think about portable heaters

Winter is here, and our guide to portable heaters may help you stay warm and save big bucks in energy costs.

Of course, we are talking about portable electric heaters. In this guide, we look at three things

• Types of heaters
• Best places to use them
• Efficiency – power used to heat a specified area
•  

We are not covering gas, boiler/radiator, heat pumps, air-conditioning (just a mention), underfloor, etc. These require expensive capital outlays.

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Guests and Topics on the Show

A few weeks ago, we featured a 4K Video Doorbell on CybershackTV. This week we invited Swann to talk about that product as well as WIFI blockers and some tips on how to still make your security cameras work.  Jeremy Stewart, VP Global Marketing from Swann joined us in this discussion.   In the discussion Jeremy listed out some advice and Swann product options for residents to consider –  Think about your entire homes security. This means door & window locks and getting to know your neighbours. Things that are not to do with your security cameras. Consider a mix of wired and wireless cameras, and also cameras with a different wifi frequency (like the new 900 mghz wireless cameras from Swann)Consider cameras that have on board vision storage, so if the wifi network goes offline the vision is stored on the camera until it reconnects to the network.  Jeremy also discussed Swann’s home security gear offers cheap and effective ways to keep an eye on your place. Meet the SwannBuddy 4K, a top-notch wireless video doorbell and chime combo that adds convenience, peace of mind, and handy features. See more product details here.  Watch our feature of the doorbell here.  We also invited Mike Boyd, our in-house Apple guru who discussed about the highlights of the recently concluded WWDC 2024.

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Life and Technology – Saturday June 15 2024

G-mee Connect Pro 4G Smart – Review From A Senior  We received a lovely review from a senior (and a quite tech savvy) listener who recently purchased our G-mee Connect Pro. Barry purchased the phone because of the 3g switch off, and wanted an unlocked and simple smart phone.  “I feel it’s geared towards older teens who need a phone that’s both safe and secure. No cameras mean no worries about sharing pics or videos. Moreover, it offers robust parental controls through a built-in app locker, empowering parents to manage various phone features. But it’s not just about safety. You can stream your favorite shows in HD+ and listen with Bluetooth headphones or the included earbuds. Furthermore, this phone serves as an ideal choice for seniors seeking a straightforward communication device. With its intuitive interface, seniors can easily stay in touch with family via phone calls or messaging apps. Plus, with the dual Nano SIM slot, you can easily switch between networks, perfect for when you’re traveling or just want to try out a new carrier.”  Barry received a small discount on his purchase for agreeing to share his review. We thank Barry for sharing his thoughts on the handset – G-mee Connect Pro To ensure disclosure, this is the phone I created.   ROBOT WINDOW CLEANER REVIEW Hobot S6 Pro robot window cleaner – for big jobs The Hobot S6 Pro robot window cleaner has the power of 600 times-a-minute dual reciprocating cleaning pads – far faster than good old elbow grease. Hobot is a leader with its Legee robot vacuum/mop cleaners and Hobot window cleaners. It focuses on these two technologies and does them very well.  We all hate washing windows – Hobot makes you hate this job less.  Let’s start with a caveat or three because you need to have a reasonable expectation of what robot window cleaners (all brands) can and cannot do.  READ MORE..  Watch our video feature of S6 Pro too.

Guests and Topics on the Show

We invited Dr. Stefan Peters Lead researcher from University of South Australia and shared their latest research on using AI to early detect bushfires.   A project funded by the SmartSat CRC and led by the University of South Australia (UniSA) has used cutting-edge onboard AI technology to develop an energy-efficient early fire smoke detection system for South Australia’s first cube satellite, Kanyini.   We recently reviewed a carbonated drink maker and it’s really amazing. Check out Breville In Fizz.  Lucy Martyn General Manager, Global Communications Breville joined us in the show this week and told us about the In Fizz technology.  The Breville InFizz Fusion is a carbonated drink maker supporting the trend of making more homemade foods and having control over what you drink. Carbonated water is not new. Swiss man Jacob Schweppes commercialised it in 1786. The process is the same – injecting carbon dioxide (C02) into water. The earliest products were soda siphons, particularly useful for adding soda to spirits.   Read the full review.  During the show we discussed the cost of gas bottles. To purchase a new one its $35 and to refill one you already have its about $18. More details are in the review.

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Life and Technology – Saturday June 8 2024

3G Shutdown in AU – Moving To a 4G Smart Phone

Many of you have been in touch about the need to get a new Smart Phone because your current handset does not connect to the 4G network or does not make calls when using a 4G network. There are two issues here, making calls on 4G requires a technology called ‘VoLTE’ or Voice Over Long Term Evolution. This basically means making a phone call on the 4G network! No VoLTE in your phone, no phone call on 4G. Why would a phone connect to 4G and not make a call? 4G data speeds are faster, so while using just data you get a better experience, but the handset is an older one and the manufacturer didnt include this last bit in the service. 

There are lots of different technologies that will be affected by the shutdown. Phone service interruptions are one of the easiest to prepare for, you just need to buy a new phone! A 3G only phone, wont ever work just on 4G because the correct cellular antennas are included. 

Dont Buy Grey Import

So, we are now looking at upgrading to a new phone that works on 4G for calls, sms and data. ALL phones for sale in Australia right now should be able to achieve. My suggestion is you purchase a phone that is unlocked, so you can change carriers easily if you choose to. Also, choose a phone that has local customer support. Either by way of a local team or a locally registered business operation. In short, dont by a Grey Import!  

Simpler Smart Phones

As I have mentioned a few times on the show, we have a Smart Phone business called G-mee, so we know all about the details that are required to make phones compliant for operation and safety in Australia. We have two phones that are being purchased by older Australians looking for a simpler smart phone, that is unlocked and comes with local support – I’ll share some customer comments in a newsletter – 

G-mee Connect Pro – Unlocked 4G – $189 (plus delivery)
G-mee Connect 2 – Unlocked 4G – $89 (plus delivery)

Guests and Topics on the Show

Really appreciated both our guests coming on the show today to discuss VR Technology and Cyber Law rules and changes.   We invited Dr. Tanya Petrovich Business Innovation ManagerDementia Australia to talk about De-escalation VR training.    D-Esc, is a new innovative virtual reality (VR) training workshop aims to de-escalate a behavioural emergency in a care setting. D-Esc provides an immersive simulation, designed for frontline and health care professionals, to adopt an interactive approach to de-escalation training. Participants will build empathy and understanding towards people with dementia, with the aim to reduce the use of restrictive practices and the number and severity of dangerous incidents in care. In line with the latest data breach from TicketMaster, we also played a pre-recorded interview we had with Annie Hagar, Cybersecurity Lawyer from CyberGC who discussed what the businesses need to do when they experience a data breach.

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Life and Technology – Saturday June 1 2024