Data harvesting – scammers profit from your memories (safety guide)  Data harvesting is when personally identifiable information is data harvested by social media, apps, scammers, AI, and just plain cybercrooks.My daughter gave me an annual subscription to an app that sends you weekly questions with AI prompting to answer, ostensively so that the daughter and family can get to know Dad better. It is data harvesting at its worst. Poor Dad is subjected to weekly cleverly socially engineered questions that open his life to endless potential scams. Worse, it is now aided by AI that knows what buttons to push. They also sell your data to advertisers, affiliate marketers, price comparison websites, social media, funeral homes, charities, and more.  READ MORE..

Pool Robots – how to choose the right one for you (guide)  Pool robots are now more common, but there are many things you need to know before you splash the cash. CyberShack has now reviewed several pool robots and a new category of pool skimmer robots. Although the terms robot and intelligence don’t really apply like they do to robot vacuum/mops. More on that later. We will limit this guide to cordless, rechargeable underwater vacuum cleaners that do not use the pool filter system for motion  READ MORE..

Guests and Topics on the Show

At CES 2025, we caught up with two industry leaders shaping the future of home entertainment and smart living.  Jeremy Senior from Samsung shared exciting updates on the evolution of SmartThings, setting new standards for connected homes. Samsung Vision AI Unveils Smarter TVs for Connected Living Tony Brown of LG gave us an exclusive look at their cutting-edge 2025 lineup, including the revolutionary G5 OLED and next-gen QNED TVs, which combine stunning visuals with advanced AI features to deliver an unparalleled viewing experience.LG Unveils 2025 OLED evo TVs with Wireless Innovation

At CES 2025, Bradley Howe from Asus unveiled their latest AI-powered PCs, marking a major leap in personal computing. These cutting-edge machines integrate advanced artificial intelligence to enhance performance, productivity, and user experience. From intuitive task automation to real-time system optimisation, Asus’s newest lineup promises to redefine what’s possible with desktop and laptop computing. Bradley shared how these innovations will empower users in both work and play, setting a new benchmark for the future of PC technology.  ASUS ROG 2025 Laptops: Strix, Flow Z13, and Zephyrus Shine

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PWM – Is your phone making you sick? (smartphone guide)

PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) is a low-cost way to dim AMOLED or OLED phone screens. It results in low-frequency, imperceptible flickering that can cause nausea and headaches.

PWM is the smartphone industry’s dirty little secret. It severely affects over 10% of the global population, and several times that number suffers some effects. Why the industry has been allowed to get away with it for so long is a testament to the power that Apple and Samsung yield—two of the worst offenders.

What is PWM?

Guests and Topics on the Show

Earlier, we had Mitchell Whitaker, our go-to guy for all things retail at Harvey Norman Newcastle. He shared his top tips for last-minute Christmas gift ideas to help shoppers get everything sorted just in time. One of the featured ones is the moto tags.

We also had an engaging discussion with Ryan Rieveley, the brains behind Smartvisit, talked about how her company has been changing the way we travel with tech. He explained how technology is making travel easier and more exciting for everyone.

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Rooftop Solar Part 1 – where do I begin? (off-grid guide)  Rooftop Solar Part 1 is the first of a four-part series about the journey to installing rooftop solar. We will cover when you need solar, what solar you need, and whether the promise lives up to the marketing hype. Some 3+ million Australian homes now have rooftop solar, mainly because energy costs are skyrocketing and the push to renewable energy is straining the electricity grid. Never before has Australia faced the possibility of total power loss, power rationing, and unexpected blackouts. We are not going down the renewable versus coal/gas versus nuclear baseload argument but looking at what Joe and Jan Average can do to ensure continuous supply. Rooftop Solar Part 1 is a 4-part series that will explore everything from the decision to go solar to a few months after – Continue Reading.

Guests and Topics on the Show

Joined us today was Dean Williams, a Partner Specialist Systems Engineer from Norton. Dean was here to talk about Norton Financial Monitoring, a powerful tool designed to protect your finances from cyber threats. He shared tips on how to keep your financial details safe in today’s digital world.

We’re also joined by Kurt Bonnici, Head of Motorola for the Greater Asia Pacific. Kurt’s here to chat about Motorola’s latest tech, including the Moto G75, Moto G55, and their new Moto Tags. We learned how these devices are changing the way we stay connected and organised.

Motorola has taken a significant step beyond smartphones with the launch of the Motorola moto tag in Australia. This innovative tracking device is designed for Android users. Making it easy to keep track of personal items, from keys to bags. The moto tag connects via Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) and integrates with Google’s Find My Device network for global item tracking with real-time precision. Continue Reading

Kurt also talked about the Motorola G75 and G55 smart phones. 

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