New Email System for the Life and Technology Newsletter

This week we have moved email service providers to a new bulk email distribution system. We made the move because the previous provider was offering too many services we did not need and recently increasing the price of their service in response to these new features being offered. The new provider looks like its giving us the services we need and the pricing allows far more flexibility to grow now and in the future. We hope the new service does not interrupt your experience, but please share with us any feedback on how it works for you.  

3 scams to watch out for this Valentine’s Day and how to avoid them

Every Valentines Day the scammers approach on mass in an attempt to find more victims to fleece. 

We have put together the top three scams to look out for, starting with the biggest and often most expensive… The Lonely Hearts Scam. 

Lonely Hearts Scams

Caution around online dating is more important than ever around Valentine’s Day.

Scammers use romantic messages to build confidence with victims before scamming them out of money and personal information.

There are often red flags long before any request for money or data, though. Scammers might insist on text chat rather than video chats, or request to move communications from the dating platform to another service.

If your online partner begins hinting at financial trouble or or personal data, it’s a good idea to take a step back and reevaluate the relationship.

Common emergencies scammers use are medical issues, family troubles, or even investment options.

It’s always best practice never to send money over the internet to someone you’ve never met in person.

Guests and Topics on the Show

Why your home Wi-Fi suddenly struggles when school starts  

Every year, parents blame their internet provider when school goes back. But the real problem is usually inside the house.   We talked to Jo Fraser, National Account Manager (Retail) ANZ at TP-Link, about what really happens to home networks during the school term. Multiple laptops, tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles and video calls all compete for bandwidth at the same time — and most homes were never set up for that kind of load.   Jo explained why “slow internet” is often actually Wi-Fi congestion, how modern homes have dead zones, and what simple changes families can make to stabilise connections for online classes, homework uploads and after-school streaming.   If your kids complain about lag, buffering or dropped Zoom calls — this interview will probably explain why.

 Trying to predict Apple? Here’s how their launch calendar really works  

Apple doesn’t randomly launch products — even if it sometimes feels that way.

We spoke with Mike Boyd to unpack Apple’s release strategy and the patterns behind its announcements. From iPhone launches in September to WWDC software reveals and the quieter spring events, Apple actually follows a surprisingly consistent schedule.

Mike explains why certain products appear at certain times of year, how supply chain and marketing cycles influence announcements, and what we can realistically expect in upcoming releases — including Macs, iPads and services.

You can get the book through retailers like BigW and Booktopia

Here are 5 devices to bring with you when adventuring off-grid

Whether you’re camping, hiking, or bikepacking, technology can make adventures easier and safer.

We’ve put together a short list of devices to consider for your next journey off-grid.

A navigation device with offline maps

Knowing your way around is important when going off grid, so bringing a device that lets you browse the map, follow your route, and navigate is crucial.

Depending on the type of adventure you’re on, this could be your normal smartphone or a dedicated device. Smartphones offer all the functionality you need, but navigation-specific devices generally offer better battery efficiency and potentially better signal strength.

For hiking, a handheld device is light and pocketable, for bikepacking a cycling computer is ideal for wayfinding, and for 4WD adventures, in-car GPS models offer bigger screens and charge from the car.

The main thing to remember is to download maps for the area you’ll be traveling through so you have them available where there’s no cellular signal.

Guests and Topics on the Show

Home Robots in 2026 At CES 2026, we spoke with Ecovacs and Roborock about where home robots were heading next. The conversations explored how robot vacuums and home cleaning tech had become smarter, more autonomous, and more integrated into everyday life. From AI-driven navigation to hands-off maintenance, both brands shared how they were shaping what homes would look like in 2026 and beyond. Video: Interview with ECOVACS Australia’s Karen Powell at CES 2026Roborock CES 2026 Smart Cleaning Products: Saros Vacuums and RockMow X1 Revealed

Raising Kids in a Screen-Filled World

We were joined by Dr. Mark Williams, co-author of Screen Smart Children, to talk about raising kids in a screen-filled world. He shared practical insights on how families were navigating technology at home, the impact of screens on learning and behaviour, and how parents could set healthy boundaries without completely switching off from the digital world.

You can get the book through retailers like BigW and Booktopia

Here’s a copy of our newsletter

What happened with older phones being unable to contact 000?

Telstra discovered an issue that prevented some Apple devices from accessing its network, which may have interfered with users’ ability to contact emergency services.

The problem has since been resolved, but why did it happen in the first place?

Apple’s software update to iOS 16.7.13 released on 26th January changed carrier settings, effectively disabling connectivity to certain networks, including Telstra.

The company had recommended installing this update to provide bug fixes and security updates as per most maintenance patches. It also applied a carrier setting update for Telstra networks that appears to be the root of the problem.

Users were hopeful that the updated carrier settings would solve ongoing problems with contacting the emergency call service.

Guests and Topics on the Show

Is Your Browser Actually Safe? Most of our digital lives start and end in a browser. Work. Banking. Shopping. Passwords. Private conversations. Yet browsers were never really designed with safety in mind. Dean Williams from Norton joined us to unpack a new way of thinking about online protection, sparked by the launch of Norton Neo. Instead of adding security later through extensions or settings, this approach builds privacy and protection directly into the browser itself. We explore why traditional browsers struggle to keep up with modern threats, how AI is changing the way risks appear online, and what it means when safety is part of the foundation — not an afterthought. If you assume your browser is already protecting you, this conversation may challenge that idea.

Screens at the Table: What’s Happening to Our Brains?

Eating with a screen nearby now feels normal.
Phones at the table. Videos during lunch. Streaming while snacking.

But what’s really happening in our brains when food and screens collide?

Dr. Brad Marshall joined us to explore a habit most of us barely question anymore — consuming screen content while we eat. We dig into how divided attention at mealtimes may shape the way the brain processes focus, behaviour and reward, and whether repeated exposure can lead to long-term effects.

The conversation also looks at who may be most affected, and whether there’s a smarter, healthier way forward in a screen-saturated world.

Check out more details about Dr Brad Marshall on his website

Here’s a copy of our newsletter