### Issue 1514 - Tuesday 14th December, 2021

## In Today's Issue

- Say hello to the Australian Data Strategy
- Apple publishes app for Android users to detect AirTags
- COVIDSafe still useful as a one legged bloke in an arse kicking contest
- MacStories Apple apps of the year
- Cheap GL.iNet wi-fi 6 router, Vodafone & Catch Connect 365-day SIMs, Optus 500GB/m plan, Amazon Echo Dot, Rode Lav GO, Corsair 16GB DDR4 RAM, refurb Dell all-in-one PC, 3rd-gen Chromecast, iPad mini

## The News

### Say hello to the Australian Data Strategy

Hey look, Australia has a data strategy now. According to the strategy, "data can create new value when shared between different levels of government, and the private and non-government sectors". This strategy largely relies on the Data Availability and Transparency (DAT) Bill that is designed to reduce red-tape so government agencies can "share public sector data between themselves and the private sector for three purposes: service delivery, informing policy, and research and development". They also want to bolster data.gov.au as the "one-stop shop" and create something called Dataplace as "front door" of access to Australian government data.

### Apple publishes app for Android users to detect AirTags

Apple finally released a Tracker Detect app for Android. Its purpose is to "look for item trackers that are separated from their owner and are compatible with Apple's Find My network". Essentially if you're near an AirTag for at least 10 minutes that's not yours and has been separated from its owner, this Android app will let you know. It'll also let you play a sound on the tag, scan the tag using the NFC function on your phone and even give instructions on how to take the battery out. On iOS it's all built-in, but Android users can use this app. It's particularly handy for people who might have reason to think they're being stalked, but don't own an iOS device.

### COVIDSafe still useful as a one legged bloke in an arse kicking contest

Well, well, well, if it isn't our old friend COVIDSafe! The Health Department has submitted a second report on the operation and effectiveness of COVIDSafe, which revealed it received an algorithm update to handle the Delta variant of COVID-19 by allowing "for close contact between users for as short as one minute to be sent to state and territory health departments, down from the previous 15 minute time limit". Rather embarrassingly, COVIDSafe only found "two potential close contacts since mid-May, despite this period covering the most significant COVID outbreaks in Australia across the entire pandemic". This app has got to be the poster child for government technological ineffectiveness.

## Something I Saw On The Internet

### MacStories Apple apps of the year

MacStories has posted their list of the best Apple Watch, Mac & iOS apps for 2021:

- Noir - a "native Safari extension that automatically enables dark mode on websites you visit"
- Mela - a recipe app by the same bloke who made the Reeder RSS app (which I love)
- Tweetbot 6 - a Twitter client that won't drive you insane like the official one
- Sofa - "a downtime organizer for tracking the books, movies, videogames, and other media you want to try"
- BetterTouchTool - a "utility that can kick off a long list of actions based on an extensive set of triggers"
- Yoink - background clipboard monitoring
- Streaks - a habit tracking app (created by a Sizzle subscriber, hello Quentin!)
- Drafts - "quick access to an input field where you can create a new draft via dictation, Scribble, or the new full keyboard on the Apple Watch Series 7"
- Bartender 4 - for "users who simply want to hide the menu bar icons they don’t use to those who want to control the apps that appear dynamically via scripts and other triggers"
- Doppler - a music player "focused on people who buy their music instead of using streaming services"
- Craft - a fancy note-taking/writing app
- Obsidian - a "complex, highly customizable writing tool"

I used to remember when app reviews were a big thing. I even started a YouTube channel/vodcast (back when vodcasts were a thing, lol) dedicated to app reviews! Don't see them around much these days so it's great work from MacStories to still be putting effort into highlighting the best apps for our pocket computers.

## Bargains

- GL.iNet AX1800 wi-fi 6 OpenWRT router - $114.75 from Amazon
- Vodafone 200GB 365-day unlimited call & SMS SIM card - $125 at Woolworths
- Optus SIM only plan with 500GB/m (with 5G access) data for $65/m for the first 12 months
- Amazon Echo Dot 3rd-gen - $17.88 at Officeworks
- Catch Connect (Optus MVNO) 365-day SIM with 85GB data - $89
- Rode Lavalier GO microphone - $75 from Amazon
- Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz C16 RAM - $99 from Amazon
- Refurb Dell 7450 all-in-one PC (24" 1080p, i7-7700, 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 11 compat) - $470.80 from BNEACTTRADER's eBay store
- 3rd-gen 1080p Google Chromecast - $38 from Amazon
- Apple iPad Mini (6th Gen) Wi-Fi 256GB - $878.40 from Titan Gear's eBay store

## The End

📻 Bound For The Floor - Local H

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