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

Can You Boost Cellular Reption At Home – YES! But Do It Right

I continue to have lots of listeners contact me about getting better reception for your phone at home. You can improve things, but our article takes you through all the details.

Banning social media for children under 16. 100% right, but will it work?

The problem with banning social media for children under 16 is not that it is 100% the right thing to do, but in the word, ‘banning’.

As parents, we have the right, responsibility, and power to guide our children’s social media use. It is not about banning but setting boundaries to protect them from potential harm. We must take the time to ‘parent’ – communicate the dangers, and provide more parental interaction instead of more harmful screen time (two excellent articles).

To be crystal clear, Joe and Jane Average can stop their kids from accessing social media right now.  But they are too afraid of being pilloried by their kids for trying to save them from its evils.

No, let the Government do what the parents should, so it becomes the scapegoat. Let’s see how that works – vapes are an excellent example of a significant Government policy failure. Banning social media will make it more attractive and drive its use under the radar.

Banning social media starts with WHY

Guests and Topics on the Show

On the show this week, we invited Dr. Wayne Warburton, Professor, School of Psychological Sciences from Macquarie University who talked about screen time for kids and how hyper connection is harming our children.   Screen Time for Kids is a literal translation of a 142-page report commissioned by French President Emanual Macron. It has 29 proposals taken as a whole to solve the issues confronting us all. A copy of the machine-translated report is here – Screen Time Drug Addiction – children, teens, and Everyone Else at Risk. We want to look at some of the more pertinent points. This is a precis – not commentary. We often have had to paraphrase to get the English interpretation and apologise for any unintentional mistakes.  READ MORE..    ASUS has unveiled the Vivobook S 15, a groundbreaking addition to the AI PC market, to much anticipation. This device caters to your diverse needs, packed with next-gen AI features that promise to revolutionise work, learning, and play.  Bradley Howe Head of Consumer from ASUS Australia joins us this week and shared this latest in their Vivobook range.  The Vivobook S 15 is available for pre-order starting today,and it will hit the shelves at leading retailers such as Harvey Norman, JB HiFi, Officeworks, and the ASUS E-shop from 18 June. RRP is set at $2,699. For more information and to pre-order, visit the ASUS e-shop link. Don’t miss out on securing this impressive piece of technology, designed to make you life smarter, faster, and easier.

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Life and Technology – Saturday May 25 2024

Anker MagGo 10K Qi2 power bank – 15W Qi2 wireless power bank (off-grid)

The Anker MagGo 10K Qi2 power bank is a 10,000mAh power bank and 15W Qi2 charger for compatible iPhones and Android smartphones. It will charge an iPhone 12 or later up to two times.

This is unique. iPhone 15W Qi2 MagSafe charging from this power bank takes 40 minutes to reach up to 50% charge. Qi2 is intelligent charging, making it safer and faster. And you can use it on the go—it snaps onto the iPhone as an instant emergency battery (who has never run out of battery at an inconvenient time on an iPhone?) or has a desk stand for the bedside table or food tray on a long-haul flight.

READ MORE..

Breville InFizz Fusion – carbonated drinks on command (kitchen review)

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 MORE..

Guests and Topics on the Show

This week we invited Geoff Quattromani to talk about technology at sea, newest and latest advanced while on board a cruise ship.  As a true retiree, I am heading on a cruise in Europe in the coming weeks. I have been invited by Princess Cruises to experience their latest ship and have been told it is loaded with technology and innovation that will actually allow me to still attend virtual meetings at sea and even stream Netflix. There is also new technology on board that allows me to order a Long Island Iced Tea from anywhere in the ship and have it delivered to wherever I lay.   Read more details about the Ship that Geoff was sunning it up on while he researched the story of ‘Tech on The Ship’.   Earlier this week, Google held their annual I/O event with the announcement of Android 15.  We invited Alex Choros, Managing Editor from Whistleout who discussed some key updates on Android 15.

­Here’s a copy of our weekly newsletter.

Life and Technology – Saturday May 18 2024