Life & Technology – 2GB 5th July, 2014

It's been another big week in tech, but I guess most of them are!

 

Following Google's I/O keynote last week, the first two Android Wear smartwatches are due out this coming week. Australian orders of the LG G Watch started shipping out yesterday, due for arrival as early as Monday, and the Samsung Gear Live should start shipping any day now too.

 

I had a chat to Brad Reed, LG Australia's Senior Marketing Manager for Communications, Content and Applications about LG's wearable offering. The G Watch gives you access to the important notifications in your life when you need them. Had a package dispatched recently? It will show you a tracking notification. Rain forecast for your area? It will show you a weather update. You can even make phone calls and reply to text messages straight from your wrist. Pretty cool, right? If you want to know more about the G Watch, check out our review over on CyberShack.

 

Another big piece of news from I/O was Android's redesign. Last week we loaded up one of the Nexus 5s at the office with the developer preview of Android L, and checked out the new interface. I've gotta say, it's looking slick. Apple should be worried! A standout feature is that each web tab you've got open in Chrome now appear individually in the re-designed app changer, further blurring the line between the web and apps.

 

The last State of Origin match is on this Wednesday, and hopefully we can show those Queenslanders what's what by finishing the season with three wins. Allegiances aside, what’s really interesting is how people are using technology to enhance their Origin viewing experience. I sat down with Rebecca Haagsma, Director of Jump-In and Digital Operations to see just how people are watching the game in this modern day and age. You'd be pretty surprised by just how many people are engaging with TV through a second screen or through their computer!

 

Now here's a fun fact: research undertaken in Europe suggests we'll need 165 megabits per second (Mbps) internet by 2020, based on the increasing number of downloads were making a year. The average internet speed in Australia is currently only around 14Mbps… Fingers crossed we make it! We've still got 6 years to make it there!

 

In smartphone news, Microsoft are bringing the Lumia 930 to Australia by the end of this month. The Lumia 930 is the flagship device for Windows Phone 8.1, which should be a great update. I'm definitely looking forward to checking the 930 out when it’s available!

 

And lastly, Fetch TV can now be purchased through Harvey Norman whereas previously it was exclusive to certain ISPs. I talked to Scott Lorson, CEO of Fetch TV, about what makes Fetch TV different to other PVRs. The heart of Fetch TV lies in its electronic programming guide, or EPG. What makes it different to other PVRs is that it is updated nightly, rather than weekly. This means the device always knows the latest schedule, so you'll always be able to watch your favourite shows. On top of this, for an additional $15 a month, you get access to a great range of channels including Nickelodeon, National Geographic, SyFy and BBC World News. What's more, you can turn these on or off on a month-by-month basis. Foxtel have some serious competition! If you're interested, have a read of our review.

 

If you're looking for something more to read, check out my latest editorial, "Why a smartwatch won't change the world".