Life & Technology – 2GB 23rd May 2026

 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

Life & Technology – 2GB 16th May 2026

 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

Life & Technology – 2GB 9th May 2026



 
G-mee – The Smart Device I Designed That We Discussed On Air Today
  
  
I want to start today’s newsletter with a huge THANK YOU for your support of our device business, G-mee.

What began as a quick mention on the radio show last week in response to a listener question quickly turned into a much bigger conversation. More questions came in, the discussion kept growing, and by Saturday afternoon we had completely sold out of our G-mee Play Pro devices.

Thankfully, we already had more stock on the way from our factory in Shenzhen, so we were able to reopen orders on our online store, au.g-mee.com, and continue taking orders over the weekend.

When I first started G-mee, I had absolutely no idea how to create a smart device. I knew how to review technology and spot the difference between a good product and a bad one, but the process of actually making devices was completely new to me.

Today, G-mee devices are sold in more than 30 countries, with happy customers all around the world. While we’ve grown internationally, we’re still incredibly proud that it all started right here in Australia.

And the exciting part is — we’re only just getting started.


Thank you again for your support. It genuinely means a great deal to all of us.

You can visit the website for the Play Pro our Smart Player and the Connect Pro Smart Phone here.



Midea brings its global HVAC expertise to ARBS 2026
  
Australia will see the growth of a global tech brand as we move through 2026. 

You may not have heard of Midea, but it’s a giant electronics company that has decided Australia is a place it needs to focus more attention. Already one of the biggest brands in the global HVAC business, setting the standard for climate control technology worldwide.


This week the company brought its global scale and breakthrough innovations to the premier exhibition for Australia’s air conditioning industry, ARBS.


The exhibition is a platform for companies to showcase what the next-generation HVAC industry looks like in both residential and commercial applications.


What is Midea?


Founded in 1968, Midea Group is a Fortune Global 500 company that now builds one quarter of the world’s inverter air conditioners and half of all compressors globally. That scale is what sets Midea apart from other HVAC brands. 


So now when you see or hear about Midea when shopping for appliances, you know who they are! We have written up more about them and their products below. 

Read the full article here. 

 

Guests and Topics on the Show

The Laptop Reinvented: Inside the ASUS Zenbook Duo  
 
Today we were joined by Bradley Howe, Head of Consumer at ASUS Australia and New Zealand, to talk about the latest ASUS Zenbook Duo. 

The conversation explored how dual-screen laptops continued to evolve for productivity, multitasking, and flexible work setups, while also looking at how ASUS approached innovation in the premium laptop space.

Check out the Zenbook Duo here. 

Also check out the new 14 inch Zenbook A14 that is ultra light and super fast from Harvey Norman (that is even on SALE right now!!) 
The Ultimate Mother’s Day Breakfast Starts Here
   
We were joined by Lucy Martyn, General Manager at Breville Australia, to talk about creating the ultimate Mother’s Day breakfast at home with practical and stylish kitchen appliances. 

The conversation started with the compact yet powerful Breville Bambino Espresso Machine, designed for café-style coffee at home and as Lucy said during the show will heat up in 3 seconds!!! Then move to the feature-packed Breville Waffle Maker, complete with a clever spill-catching moat for easier cooking.  

Other items you can explore are the Breville Fresh & Furious Blender for healthy breakfast smoothies, alongside the stylish Breville Luxe Kettle – Pomodoro Rosso and matching Breville EyeQ Toaster – Pomodoro Rosso, which introduced innovative colour-based toasting instead of traditional timer settings. 

Here’s a copy of our newsletter