ABC Hobart / 2CC Canberra / TNTRadio.live tech topics 19, 20, 21 October – X’s new charges, wearable baby sock from Eufy, robot vacuum cleaners, new Apple Pencil but no iPads yet, iOS updates, iPhone 15 screen burn in, digital film for analogue cameras and more!

Thank you for tuning in to the Chris Smith Show, from 3 to 5pm AEDT on TNTRadio.live! Normally, I join Chris on Wednesday afternoons after the 4.30pm news, but there was so much going on in yesterday’s show, I was on after today’s 4.30pm news instead.

Scroll down for the short version of the topics we spoke about, and then the full version with all the links, context, videos, video interviews and more – well worth your time to scroll down and take a look for yourself. 🙂

Here’s the show, I’m on at the 36 minute and 50 sec mark, but hours 1 and 2 are worth listening to in full!

Let’s start with the short version of what was discussed on today’s show, and if you scroll down, you’ll find the full details with links, images and more – so please scroll down and read on!

Short version:

1. Elon Musk’s X platform will start charging $1 USD to new users in two countries as a test, to reduce spam, platform manipulation and bot activity, but existing users won’t have to pay. 

2. The James Dyson Awards top 20 global finalists have been announced, with the Australian invention being a “Rapid Electric Vehicle Retrofit” kit that can turn fossil fuel cars into electric hybrid EV cars in a clever way that should cost less than $5000.  

3. Dreame L20 Ultra – a brand new, self cleaning, fully automatic robot vacuum that can extend a mop to clean corners and edges, mop the floors with self cleaning mop heads, and special AI intelligence that is the most advanced yet – Alex please tell us more, and what this will cost?

4. Eufy launch – dual-cam security cameras, new robot vacuum cleaner, new wearable for your baby to check its vitals – why does a security camera need two lenses, and how does a baby wear a wearable device?

5. Apple introduces new USB-C Pencil for its iPads, but without pressure sensitivity, has Apple cut too many corners and put its sales under pressure by removing pressure sensitivity?

6. And where are the heavily rumoured new iPads?

7. There are reports the iPhone 15 Pro Max is suffering from screen burn in – so what is screen burn in, and when will Apple fix this problem?

8. A brand new type of digital film that fits into analogue cameras where the traditional film sits is coming, but what will it cost?

Longer version with all the details: 

1. Elon Musk’s X platform will start charging $1 USD to new users in two countries as a test, to reduce spam, platform manipulation and bot activity, but existing users won’t have to pay. 

Starting today, we're testing a new program (Not A Bot) in New Zealand and the Philippines. New, unverified accounts will be required to sign up for a $1 annual subscription to be able to post & interact with other posts. Within this test, existing users are not affected.

This…

— Support (@Support) October 17, 2023

As announced on Twitter/X: “Starting today, we’re testing a new program (Not A Bot) in New Zealand and the Philippines. New, unverified accounts will be required to sign up for a $1 annual subscription to be able to post & interact with other posts. Within this test, existing users are not affected.

“This new test was developed to bolster our already successful efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform and bot activity, while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount. It is not a profit driver. 

“And so far, subscription options have proven to be the main solution that works at scale.”

CNN says X is also planning a US $3.99 subscription service with more ads, while I’ve previously read that the existing US $8 service will continue as it is now, and a more expensive service is coming that will eliminate ads entirely. 

At the Not A Bot page from the X help pages, there’s extra info: 

As of October 17th, 2023 we’ve started testing “Not A Bot”, a new subscription method for new users in two countries. This new test was developed to bolster our already significant efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform and bot activity. This will evaluate a potentially powerful measure to help us combat bots and spammers on X, while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount. Within this test, existing users are not affected. 

Here’s how this new test will work for new accounts on web in New Zealand and the Philippines:

Step One: Phone Verification

New accounts created on X, in these two countries, will first be required to verify their phone number.
Step Two: Select Your Subscription Plan

$1 USD Annual Fee (prices vary by country and currency). New users will be able to perform certain actions on the web version of the platform: post content, Like posts, Reply, Repost and Quote other accounts’ posts, Bookmark posts.

New users who opt out of subscribing will only be able to take “read only” actions, such as: Read posts, Watch videos, and Follow accounts.

This new program aims to defend against bots and spammers who attempt to manipulate the platform and disrupt the experience of other X users. We look forward to sharing more about the results soon.

Pricing

New Zealand: $1.43 NZD per year 

Philippines: ₱42.51 PHP per year

Note: Users who participate in the Not-A-Bot program are subject to the Not a Bot Terms and Conditions. 2. James Dyson Award top 20 global finalists announced, with the Australian invention being a “Rapid Electric Vehicle Retrofit” kit that can turn fossil fuel cars into electric hybrid EV cars in a clever way that should cost less than $5000.  

The full list of 20 global finalists is listed at TechAdvice.Life, but in short, it spans from Spain to Singapore and Poland to the Philippines, with the inventions ranging from a forest fire detection system to a rehabilitation device for patients who have undergone open heart surgery.3. Dreame L20 Ultra – a brand new, self cleaning, fully automatic robot vacuum that can extend a mop to clean corners and edges, mop the floors with self cleaning mop heads, and special AI intelligence that is the most advanced yet – Alex please tell us more, and what this will cost?

2. The James Dyson Awards top 20 global finalists have been announced, with the Australian invention being a “Rapid Electric Vehicle Retrofit” kit that can turn fossil fuel cars into electric hybrid EV cars in a clever way that should cost less than $5000.  

The 2023 James Dyson Award is a global engineering award that calls on students and recent graduates to create a design that solves a problem, and with 20 amazing inventions in the top 20 finalists, we’ve focused on Australia’s winning entry – a retrofit kit that turns fossil fuel cars into hybrid EVs, so please watch the videos below – with the full article here.

3. Dreame L20 Ultra – a brand new, self cleaning, fully automatic robot vacuum that can extend a mop to clean corners and edges, mop the floors with self cleaning mop heads, and special AI intelligence that is the most advanced yet!

The full article is here, where you can see the details of the L20 Ultra, and four videos in total, including an extended demo, and the Dreame robot dog!

Here is the launch video:

4. Eufy launch – dual-cam security cameras, new robot vacuum cleaner, new wearable for your baby to check its vitals – why does a security camera need two lenses, and how does a baby wear a wearable device?

Eufy is part of the Anker Innovations stable, and you can read my full article, with pricing, on the Eufy Australia launch event earlier this month in Sydney Australia, featuring new security cameras that come with dual cameras – just like your mobile phone, along with Eufy’s own new robot vacuum, and the release of its Baby Smart Sock in Australia.

Here is the Eufy baby smart sock video:

Here’s the video of the launch event in Sydney Australia:

My original article with full pricing details is here,

5. Apple introduces new USB-C Pencil for its iPads, but without pressure sensitivity, has Apple cut too many corners and put its sales under pressure by removing pressure sensitivity?

Apple has brought more choice to iPad users with its new, more affordable, USB-C port equipped Apple Pencil, coming in early November.

This new model sells for USD $79 and AUD $139. This compares with the first generation Apple Pencil, for the basic iPad and earlier iPad models, which is USD $99 or AUD $159, while the most fully featured Apple Pencil of all, with full pressure sensitivity, is USD $129, or AUD $219.

Promising “pixel-perfect accuracy, low latency, and tilt sensitivity”, Apple says the new Apple Pencil is ideal for note taking, sketching, annotating, journaling, and more.

It has a matte finish and a flat side that magnetically attaches to the side of iPad for storage, being instead of being magnetically charged or magnetically pairing as with the Apple Pencil 2, this new, cheaper Apple Pencil pairs and charges with a USB-C cable.

That differentiates it from the Apple Pencil 2, but there are two other changes – it doesn’t have pressure sensitivity, which more dedicated artists will want to use, but it’s no big deal at all for people that just want a stylus to take notes, do handwriting, do simpler, non-professional art, etc.

This USB-C Apple Pencil also can’t be double tapped at the tip to electronically change between brushes or tips.

As Apple’s VP of Marketing globally, Bob Borchers puts it: “Apple Pencil has revolutionised note taking, sketching, and illustrating, unleashing endless possibilities for productivity and creativity. Combined with the versatility of iPad, the new Apple Pencil unlocks another great option to experience the magic of digital handwriting, annotation, marking up documents, and more.”

Here’s the graphic from Apple that shows the differences between the three models.

6. And where are the heavily rumoured new iPads?

At this stage, the new iPad announcement hasn’t yet been made – we’ve only had the cheaper new Apple Pencil announcement.

The world of rumours is now split as to whether we’ll see new iPads this year or not.

Apple doesn’t always hold an October event – the last time there was one was in 2021, where Apple launched its MacBook Pro models with the more advanced versions of the M1 chip, but Apple has already launched the M2 versions of both these professional level portable computers earlier this year.

So, if you’re in the market for a new iPad, you just have to keep on waiting. It’s a tough thing to do because no-one wants to buy a new iPad that is going to be superseded with a new model in a few weeks or even a few months, but if you need a new iPad, you’ll just have to get one of the current models on sale – or see if there’s a second-hand or refurbished model available.

More information on the likelihood of an October or November iPad launch at MacWorld here.

7. There are reports the iPhone 15 Pro Max is suffering from screen burn in – so what is screen burn in, and when will Apple fix this problem?

Some iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max owners are reporting their screens are showing ghostly images of the keyboard and home screen icons.

In 2023, OLED displays aren’t supposed to be having burn-in issues any longer. Apple hasn’t officially responded to the claims, but there are photos online of the issue.

Apple’s iOS 17.1 update, which is expected to launch next Tuesday 24th of October in the US, which will be early Wednesday morning for Australians, is meant to have a fix for this issue. If you are still affected by it, you can take your iPhone to Apple to have it replaced with a new one.

More details at TechRadar here.

8. A brand new type of digital film that fits into analogue cameras where the traditional film sits is coming, but what will it cost?

Over at Kickstarter is a new project- a special roll of digital film that fits into traditional film camera – and it’s called I’m Back. After years of meticulous planning and the collective desire to preserve the magic of vintage cameras, the creators proudly present the I’m Back Film – and it is billed as the ultimate bridge between analog nostalgia and digital innovation.

The crowdfunding price is 639 Swiss Francs, which is about AUD $1129, or a bit over $700 US dollars.

It promises to revolutionise your 35mm analog photo camera with a Digital Film Cartridge, which is pictured below, followed by the official video.