In today’s episode of Cyber Wednesday on the Chris Smith Show, we speak with Charlie Welch, the founder and CEO of ZapBatt, whose batteries solve all the problems with Lithium Ion batteries – no more battery fires, charging in 20 minutes and more – plus a stack of other top tech topics – read on!
1. BATTERY REVOLUTION: I’ll be posting the video here of the interview with Charlie Welch from Zapbatt, but here’s my previous interview with Charlie from late last year that you can read about and watch here.
2. Over a million smartphones in Australia won’t be able to call 000 emergency services once the 3G networks are permanently shut down this year – is your mobile phone going to need replacing? Here is Telstra’s blog post, but the simple solution is to buy a new or refurbished smartphone, or get one on a 12, 24 or 36 month plan.
If you’re a Telstra customer, SMS the number 3 to the phone number 3498 and you’ll receive a text back telling you if your phone is compatible post the 3G shutdown, or not. Up to a million phones could be affected, so please do check, go to your local phone store if needed.
3. Samsung launches in 2024 range of new TVs – with 98-inches the biggest size on offer, so what are the excuses being given as to why you should buy a new TV when your current one is probably more than good enough, or can be inexpensively upgraded to a smarter smart TV with a cheap Google TV or Amazon Fire Stick?
A separate article is coming soon, which I’ll link to here. Here’s a video worth watching in the meantime:
Also – the big stores are selling the 2023 models on clearance type prices, and a new TV from last year’s range is still great value!
4. A Record number of batteries installed in Australia last year, in homes, businesses and at grid-scale, according to solar and storage market analyst SunWiz – but harking back to our interview with Charli Welch, we’re still seeing recall notices from electronics company LG, which also has a huge battery division, because those batteries might catch fire,
An article with separate details is coming soon, more info in the video above.
The report said a record 57,000 battery systems, or energy storage systems, were installed in Australian homes in the period a 21 percent growth on installation levels from 2022. SunWiz said a record-setting 656 MWh of residential battery capacity came online during last year.
Altogether, a record total of 2,468 MWh of energy storage capacity was deployed in Australia in 2023, SunWiz said.
4. There’a renewed push for nuclear power globally so we have more than enough power for our AI systems and data centres, with the boss of major data centre company NextDC calling for nuclear in Australia. Details here.
5. The global PC market has returned to growth in the first quarter of this year, after two years of decline – why are we suddenly buying PCs again, and who is the world’s top PC seller?
7. Hisense also launches new TVs – with a massive 110-inch model coming later this year!
A couple of weeks ago it was LG with its new TVs, and earlier we spoke about Samsung’s new 2024 range, but another popular brand is Hisense, and while the biggest TVs from LG and Samsung are 98-inches, Hisense has one that’s 100 inches, and another that’s 110-inches! More details to come in a separate article.
8. Home security maker Swann has just launched its new AI-Drive “HomeShield” tech that can automatically respond to visitors with natural, human-like interactions… wow, your doorbell will now talk to people at the front door?
Here’s a video from CES 2024 that someone took – note, the system will be MUCH faster at delivering responses, this was a demo system at CES where the network was flooded by 200,000+ people:
It’s no surprise to see Swann say this will revolutionising home protection. It uses Amazon’s web and cloud services, and the generative AI comes from something called Claude 3, from Anthropic, a company that Amazon is investing US $4 billion into, the same way Microsoft has invested $10 billion into the makers of ChatGPT.
The tech launches in May, called Swann HomeShield, and it will let compatible Swann video doorbells, cameras and devices, using the latest adaptive AI technology to automatically respond to visitors with natural, human-like interactions.
It will use heat and motion-based Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors, video analytics, and activity pattern analysis to autonomously facilitate interactions in several scenarios that include accepting packages and screening unexpected visitors all while giving the impression there is a real person at home with an active presence.
The core Swann HomeShield tech is Anthropic’s new Claude 3 Haiku advanced language model, which as we noted has had a multi-billion dollar investment from Aamazon, and it is billed as “uniquely trained to act and answer as a knowledgeable housemate, aware of residents’ preferences.”
When a visitor approaches, HomeShield uses that Amazon tech analyse the situation and create an AI-generated response that is then converted to speech and played back through the camera, providing a responsive experience that emulates interacting with a resident in real-time.
“Swann HomeShield™ represents a paradigm shift in smart security solutions,” said Alex Talevski, CEO of Swann Security. “This launch is a big step of accessible AI amongst everyday consumers, offering an easy and affordable solution to not just easily accept deliveries and screen unexpected visitors when they’re not at home, but also help keep families safe. Powered by Amazon Bedrock’s cutting-edge AI capabilities with Anthropic’s Claude 3 Haiku, Swann HomeShield™ sets a new benchmark for intelligent home protection, reinforcing our commitment to innovation and customer safety. When Claude 3 Haiku launched on Amazon Bedrock, we switched from Claude 2.1 in a couple of hours, and the speed of responses is 30% faster and significantly more accurate.”
9. Google launches “Find My Device” network to find lost Android devices – which sounds like the Apple Find My network that Apple users have enjoyed for several years
Today, the all-new Find My Device is rolling out to Android devices around the world, starting in the U.S. and Canada. With a new, crowdsourced network of over a billion Android devices, Find My Device can help you find your misplaced Android devices and everyday items quickly and securely. Here are five ways you can try it out.
1. Locate offline devices
Locate your compatible Android phone and tablet by ringing them or viewing their location on a map in the app — even when they’re offline. And thanks to specialized Pixel hardware, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro owners will also be able to find their devices if they’re powered off or the battery is dead.
2. Keep track of everyday items with compatible Bluetooth tags
Starting in May, you’ll be able to locate everyday items like your keys, wallet or luggage with Bluetooth tracker tags from Chipolo and Pebblebee in the Find My Device app. These tags, built specifically for the Find My Device network, will be compatible with unknown tracker alerts across Android and iOS to help protect you from unwanted tracking. Keep an eye out later this year for additional Bluetooth tags from eufy, Jio, Motorola and more.
3. Find nearby items
Sometimes what we’re looking for is right under our noses. If you’re close to your lost device but need a little extra help tracking it down, a “Find nearby” button will appear to help you figure out exactly where it’s hiding. You’ll also be able to use this to find everyday items, like your wallet or keys, when Bluetooth tags launch in May.
4. Pinpoint devices at home with Nest
More often than not, we lose everyday items like our keys or phone right at home. So the Find My Device app now shows a lost device’s proximity to your home Nest devices, giving you an easy reference point.
5. Share accessories with friends and family
Share an accessory so everyone can keep an eye on it in the app. For instance, share your house key with your roommate, the TV remote with your friend or luggage with a travel buddy so you can easily divide and conquer if something goes missing.
Find My Device is secure by default and private by design. Multi-layered protections built into the Find My Device network help keep you safe and your personal information private, while keeping you in control of the devices connected to the Find My Device network. This includes end-to-end encryption of location data as well as aggregated device location reporting, a first-of-its-kind safety feature that provides additional protection against unwanted tracking back to a home or private location. Read more about how our multi-layered protections for the Find My Device network work.
The new Find My Device works with devices running Android 9+. Learn more about Find My Device-compatible devices and all the ways the Find My Device network can help you find a lost device or item. And look out for software updates coming to headphones from JBL, Sony and others, which will join the Find My Device network soon.
7. Hisense also launches new TVs – with a massive 110-inch model coming later this year!
A couple of weeks ago it was LG with its new TVs, and earlier we spoke about Samsung’s new 2024 range, but another popular brand is Hisense, and while the biggest TVs from LG and Samsung are 98-inches, Hisense has one that’s even bigger?
Yes, Hisense’s new 2024 range launched overnight, and while it’s entry-level models will be in stores this month, its mid and high range models are coming in May, with Hisense’s biggest TV a whopping one hundred inch model – which may well be too big for some living rooms!
Hisense will also be launching a 110-inch model later this year too.
Hisense talks up its all-new solar remote for this year, with the panel on the front of the remote, rather than the back, it also has USB-C charging so you never have to fiddle with AA or AAA batteries, and you wont have to plug it in to a charger anywhere near as often.
Its top three models have IMAX Enhanced Certification, which is obviously meant to convey spectacular vision.
Every TV maker talks up how bright, clear and colourful their screens are, with both LG and Samsung offering OLED screens, where each pixel is its own light source, so that when the pixel is off, black looks really black.
Both LG and Saumsng also have LED technology where a backlight is used to shine behind the pixels, and this is what Hisense has. Its flagship models have 20,000 backlights that can shine at more than 2500 nits, so the pictures can be really bright, with HDR 10+ support for colours that are as true to life as possible, and Dolby Vision IQ tech and the IMAX Certification, Hisense is obviously hoping it has more than enough buzzwords and tech to convince you to condor one of its new TVs rather than TVs more the competition.
The 7 series models and up all feature a game mode, too, something we see on Samsung and LG ‘s modern TVs too, so those who play games via consoles or connected computers see smooth action as well.
One thing I didn’t see on Hisense TVs though was any mention of AI… no doubt it is in use in the background but Hisense hasn’t made it part of its marketing.
8. Home security maker Swann has just launched its new AI-Drive “HomeShield” tech that can automatically respond to visitors with natural, human-like interactions… wow, your doorbell will now talk to people at the front door?
Chris, at midday I was part of a round-table discussion that explained this technology, and it’s no surprise to see Swann say this will receding home protection. It uses Amazon’s web and cloud services, and the generative AI comes from something called Claude 3, from Anthropic, a company that Amazon is investing US $4 billion into, the same way Microsoft has invested $10 billion into the makers of ChatGPT.
The tech launches in May, called Swann HomeShield, and it will let compatible Swann video doorbells, cameras and devices, using the latest adaptive AI technology to automatically respond to visitors with natural, human-like interactions.
It will use heat and motion-based Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors, video analytics, and activity pattern analysis to autonomously facilitate interactions in several scenarios that include accepting packages and screening unexpected visitors all while giving the impression there is a real person at home with an active presence.
The core Swann HomeShield tech is Anthropic’s new Claude 3 Haiku advanced language model, which as we noted has had a multi-billion dollar investment from Aamazon, and it is billed as “uniquely trained to act and answer as a knowledgeable housemate, aware of residents’ preferences.”
When a visitor approaches, HomeShield uses that Amazon tech analyse the situation and create an AI-generated response that is then converted to speech and played back through the camera, providing a responsive experience that emulates interacting with a resident in real-time.
“Swann HomeShield™ represents a paradigm shift in smart security solutions,” said Alex Talevski, CEO of Swann Security. “This launch is a big step of accessible AI amongst everyday consumers, offering an easy and affordable solution to not just easily accept deliveries and screen unexpected visitors when they’re not at home, but also help keep families safe. Powered by Amazon Bedrock’s cutting-edge AI capabilities with Anthropic’s Claude 3 Haiku, Swann HomeShield™ sets a new benchmark for intelligent home protection, reinforcing our commitment to innovation and customer safety. When Claude 3 Haiku launched on Amazon Bedrock, we switched from Claude 2.1 in a couple of hours, and the speed of responses is 30% faster and significantly more accurate.”
9. Google launches “Find My Device” network to find lost Android devices – which sounds like the Apple Find My network that Apple users have enjoyed for several years
Today, the all-new Find My Device is rolling out to Android devices around the world, starting in the U.S. and Canada. With a new, crowdsourced network of over a billion Android devices, Find My Device can help you find your misplaced Android devices and everyday items quickly and securely. Here are five ways you can try it out.
1. Locate offline devices
Locate your compatible Android phone and tablet by ringing them or viewing their location on a map in the app — even when they’re offline. And thanks to specialized Pixel hardware, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro owners will also be able to find their devices if they’re powered off or the battery is dead.
2. Keep track of everyday items with compatible Bluetooth tags
Starting in May, you’ll be able to locate everyday items like your keys, wallet or luggage with Bluetooth tracker tags from Chipolo and Pebblebee in the Find My Device app. These tags, built specifically for the Find My Device network, will be compatible with unknown tracker alerts across Android and iOS to help protect you from unwanted tracking. Keep an eye out later this year for additional Bluetooth tags from eufy, Jio, Motorola and more.
3. Find nearby items
Sometimes what we’re looking for is right under our noses. If you’re close to your lost device but need a little extra help tracking it down, a “Find nearby” button will appear to help you figure out exactly where it’s hiding. You’ll also be able to use this to find everyday items, like your wallet or keys, when Bluetooth tags launch in May.
4. Pinpoint devices at home with Nest
More often than not, we lose everyday items like our keys or phone right at home. So the Find My Device app now shows a lost device’s proximity to your home Nest devices, giving you an easy reference point.
5. Share accessories with friends and family
Share an accessory so everyone can keep an eye on it in the app. For instance, share your house key with your roommate, the TV remote with your friend or luggage with a travel buddy so you can easily divide and conquer if something goes missing.
Find My Device is secure by default and private by design. Multi-layered protections built into the Find My Device network help keep you safe and your personal information private, while keeping you in control of the devices connected to the Find My Device network. This includes end-to-end encryption of location data as well as aggregated device location reporting, a first-of-its-kind safety feature that provides additional protection against unwanted tracking back to a home or private location. Read more about how our multi-layered protections for the Find My Device network work.
The new Find My Device works with devices running Android 9+. Learn more about Find My Device-compatible devices and all the ways the Find My Device network can help you find a lost device or item. And look out for software updates coming to headphones from JBL, Sony and others, which will join the Find My Device network soon.
Here’s the full hour 2 of the April 10, 2024 Chris Smith Show , where the above episode appears from the from the 32 minute and 33 second mark:
