Hello, Radio listeners! If you heard me on the radio this week, then you would have heard us covering as many of the topics below as we were able to squeeze into the segment!
BREAKING NEWS: I was at the ASUS ROG Ally launch this week, a handheld gaming console running full Windows 11 and using a powerful Asus Z1 Extreme processor – I have filmed the main presentation, two video interviews and more – it’s all here!
But let’s move on to today’s topics:
First, let’s start with Apple bringing its Emergency SOS via Satellite service to Australia and New Zealand, making these two countries the 13th and 14th in the world to get this game-changing, life saving capability. I wrote about this here, there’s plenty of information and full details. if you’re in Australia, NZ, the US, UK, Canada or nine other countries as outlined in the linked article, and you haven’t yet tried the Emergency SOS via Satellite demo, please do!
Companies that sell “personal locator beacons” or PLBs, like GME, also want to stress that the new iPhone feature should not replace life-saving devices, as they warn of an iPhone’s battery life potentially being an issue, that iPhones aren’t fully waterproof, can get damaged in harsh conditions, and that you need to have your hands free and working to text emergency services, which isn’t always possible in an emergency situation.
GME’s PLB has a 7 year battery life, a compact and sturdy design, is waterproof and can float if submerged in water, and can be activated “. GME’s PLB is designed so it’s activated “in one swift movement, which will alert rescue authorities of the user’s precise location and contact information,” with a GME spokesperson stating the following:
“At GME, we encourage Aussies to explore their own backyard, while also ensuring they have the right equipment with them when they do. Our number one message for Aussies is to not rely on your phone when exploring the Australian terrain. It’s vital to carry an emergency locator beacon if you’re planning to hit the road or adventure out into the bush. The PLB is compact and lightweight, has an IP68 ingress-protection rating, offers an impressive seven-year battery life and six-year warranty, making it perfect for Aussies who want total peace of mind when exploring.”
All of that said, everyday iPhone 14 users aren’t likely to buy a personal locator beacon, so Apple’s emergency SOS via satellite really is quite spectacular, and as explained in the article linked above, also lets those you share your location with, see where you are, even when you’re not in mobile coverage range.
Second is the news that KMPG has released a “future of telco report” for Australia, but its findings are effectively global. KPMG wars that the Low Earth Orbiting satellite constellations being rapidly built out this decade will create challenges for phone network providers, like Telstra, AT&T and all the rest, as they will be competition to ground based networks with their satellite voice and data connectivity. More details in the report linked above.
Third is the news that Apple has previewed new software features for cognitive, vision, hearing and mobility accessibility, coming later this year, with one example being the ability to capture your voice and have your phone speak for you, in your voice, because you’ve had a stroke but can still type? Lots more at the link above, direct from Apple – truly impressive stuff.
Fourth is the news the Australian Federal Government has given the competition regulator $58 million Australian dollars to set up a new National Anti-Scam Centre, and with the massive increase in cybercrime seen this decade, particularly increasing during the pandemic, it’s about time! Full details here
Fifth is the news from Just this morning, which sees Apple having introduced Tap to Pay on iPhone in Australia, following its launch in the US in February last year, and nearly a decade after Apple first launched Apple Pay, so what does “Tap to Pay on iPhone” allow businesses to do? You can read about it all, direct from Apple, here
Sixth is Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference, which goes for a week and starts on June 5, 2023. The news has come that Apple has trademarked ‘xrOS”, which is supposed to stand for “extended reality operating system.” Details on the xrOS trademark via MacRumors here, and here is the MacRumors “everything we know that’s coming at WWDC 2023” article.
Seventh, and finally for today, is the news that Ikea will start a three month trial to deliver Ikea products via two electric tuk-tuks in Australia. Obviously this is going to save on emissions, and the tuk tuk’s can carry products up to 500kg in weight, so for smaller items, it’s ideal, but for larger items you want home delivered, you’ll still need a larger delivery truck.
Clearly, as a a trial, it’s a trial balloon for Ikea, but given I’m a huge fan of technology, this is still a good move – we just have to wait and see how many people within the 10km delivery range will take up the offer.
