Starlink – power for good or Musk’s evil political football (consumer advice)
Starlink has become a blessing to the 14% of the Australian population that lives outside the capital and regional cities. Let’s put this in perspective—some 12.5 million households can connect to the NBN by cable, 4/5G modems or GEO satellite. That leaves about 1.7 million households that cannot. This is similar to Optus and Telstra claiming that 4G covers 98% of the population but conveniently forgetting to mention that it is only 12% of the landmass.
Today, we’re joined by Brad Marshall, a renowned child psychologist and the founder of The Unplugged Psychologist. Brad has been at the forefront of guiding families through the digital landscape, helping young people balance screen time and mental well-being. As Australia moves toward implementing a social media ban for those 16 and under—a decision led by the Prime Minister—it’s the perfect time to discuss what this change could mean for Australian families. Brad’s also released a new book, Busy Idiots, which takes a deep dive into how we can all break free from the trap of unproductive busyness. In a world that demands constant connectedness yet often leaves us feeling burned out and disconnected, Brad’s insights are both timely and transformative.
Dr. Emily Siddons, the Artistic Director and Co-CEO of the National Communication Museum in Melbourne also joined us today. Dr. Siddons is leading a groundbreaking new initiative that explores the intricate relationship between humanity and technology—a timely subject as digital innovation reshapes our lives daily. This new museum aims to engage visitors in an interactive journey, examining how communication technology has evolved and its profound impact on society. Dr. Siddons will share insights into the museum’s vision, exhibits, and the vital conversations they hope to inspire within the community.
Air Purifiers – breathe easy this spring (2024 update guide) Air purifiers may be what you need to help you breathe easy this spring. CyberShack has tested many and shows you how to get the right one.Our extensive testing reveals that most any air purifiers do a fine job removing enough dust and pollen; some go several steps further, removing noxious gasses like Formaldehyde, have informative readouts, and fans/heaters for multi-use. The guide covers:What is air quality, and how it impacts respiratory issues?Sources of air quality issues in the home – cooking, flatpack, new flooring, circulationWhy/if you need a purifierWhat are typical room sizes/layouts, and how do these affect purifiersThe right purifier for the job (CADR, Coandă effect, UV, Ions, HEPA, other)Mould ControlRemote controls, control panel readouts, sensors, Wi-Fi, and appsFan, heatEnergy UseSound levelsMaintenance, filter cost, warranty, aftersales supportChildren’s safety
G-mee Connect Pro Smart Phone – Block & Allow Calls & SMS Remotely I mentioned on here before that I designed a smart phone that is safer for families and one of the areas of the community we think its going to help is with older family members. We love them dearly and want to look after them, but they are mostly less tech savvy and with that comes concerns about who is calling or smsing them.
Being able to simply block/allow Calls and SMS to the phone, but have a family member set the rules for what calls/sms are allowed or blocked, will assist that family to stay connect but without the concerns that come with the wrong people or groups contacting them (like scammers!!). I have mentioned this on the newsletter before and following questions from subscribers, I have presented a video that shows how the system works for managing the Calls and SMS on the Connect Pro smart phone.
Bryn Brooker, Head of Road Safety at Nextbase, joined us to discuss the Nextbase IQ, a smart dash cam with advanced safety features. Its just landed at our Sponsor Harvey Norman.
Bryn will covered the IQ’s AI-driven alerts like lane departure and collision warnings, as well as its connected technology for remote monitoring and automatic video uploads. Tune in to learn how this device enhances road safety and offers drivers a new level of protection and convenience.
Lucy Martyn from Breville was also invited to guide us on selecting an air filter. She touched on essential technologies like HEPA and carbon filters, the cost and frequency of replacing filters, whether air filters are seasonal, and the significance of different dust size ratings. Choose from a variety of Breville Air Purifiers here. Read our full guide of Air Purifiers here.
Twelve essential Android smartphone buying tips gives you the power to get what you, not the salesperson, want. Most people buy a smartphone with little knowledge of what they really need.
When you walk into a store, the salesperson asks two questions to profile you. Are you an iPhone user (in which case, stop reading now as you will take whatever has its logo on it), and what do you want to spend?
Then, as salespersons are wont to do, they will show you the easy sell. They invariably trot out Samsung or the brands/models with the largest sales incentives.
We usually update this guide annually. But the thing that struck us was the overwhelming change in the last twelve months.
It is hard to go wrong with Samsung, OPPO and Motorola. Other brands like ASUS, Nothing, Xiaomi (Poco and Redmi), and HMD exist, and you can often get better specifications and value from them. If you are tech-savvy, this may be the way to go.
Here is Cybershack’s proven way to buy a smartphone. Models usually change every six months, so we look at what you get and refer to our Best Android Phones July 2024 – some gems there (to be updated in December).
This week, we had the chance to review the Philips Homerun 9000, and we were amazed by its innovative technology. We’re joined by Libby Redmond, Shopper Marketing Lead at Philips, to dive deeper into this cutting-edge product and explore how it’s transforming the world of home cleaning.
Philips’ new HomeRun 9000 robot vacuum combines vacuuming and mopping for versatile, hands-free cleaning across all floor types. Equipped with PowerCyclone Aqua technology, advanced navigation, strong suction, and HEPA filtration, it ensures a thorough clean and fresher air. Controlled via an app, users can set room-specific cleaning and monitor progress. The base station automates maintenance for up to three weeks, making it an effortless solution for keeping floors spotless.
We’ve also invited Glenn Yee, Managing Director at Robot My Life, who discussed new Moebot Acre Eater, an advanced tool for large-scale land management and maintenance. I was hesitant at first to test a robot lawnmower. Historically, the models I had seen required a metal cable to be installed around the edge of the lawn. This would act as the boundary fence and the grass would be cut within. The problem for my place is that I live on half an acre, so I was looking for a solution that would cut small areas of backyard all the way up to large acreages. Moebot claims the Acre Eater is designed for just that, so I thought I’d put to the test. Read my full review here.
