Plus: Does Tim Cook really not use an Apple Magic Mouse? ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

April 08, 2025 | Read online
# Tech is at the 'find out' stage, 7's anti-EV episode and more super fallout Plus: Does Tim Cook really not use an Apple Magic Mouse?
Issue 2308 - Tuesday 8 April 2025
# The News
### Big Tech f***ed around and now it’s finding out
Remember this photo I shared in one of my first Sizzles of the year?
The lads….
Despite a little gain today, US-listed tech companies have been obliterated by the Trump tariffs (CNBC). While the tariffs exempt semiconductors, many of the things that the tech industry needs that contain semiconductors like graphic cards and servers are not exempt (WIRED, $). There’s been some noise about potential deals like Apple’s carve-out from the last Trump admin’s tariffs, but nothing yet as the phone and computer-maker looks to rush imports and shift them across countries to get slightly less worse deals (WSJ, $). Even crypto, which was supposed to be the counterweight to US government uncertainty, is being slammed (The Verge). In fact, the tariffs even killed Trump’s own TikTok deal that China was reportedly OK with (NYT, $)! While Big Tech got a few things that they want — such as loosened AI rules (Reuters) — you’d have to wonder how everyone in that photo is feeling now.
### Channel 7‘s anti-EV investigation gets blowback
On Sunday, 7NEW’s Spotlight ran an episode ‘The EV Con’ (7PLUS) that investigated some Indonesian nickel mines which apparently make a lot of emissions, are unsafe and are being used by China to dominate the EV market. Stunningly — from a show best known for allegations it paid for drugs and sex workers, hosted by a former Shell employee and on an unabashedly pro-mining television network — there have been claims that the episode wasn’t entirely fair. One example: the show didn’t specifically name or prove that any major EV providers who sell in Australia actually use nickel from the plant or from Indonesia all together (TechAU). I’m not sure who’s right here but my gut says that some of the supply chains for some EVs are probably sketchy and could be improved. But that’s the same with everything including batteries or produced using global manufacturing processes (i.e. everything). There should be a push for improving global supply chains for EVs and everything else. But I don’t think that’s the real goal of some of the bad faith attacks on EVs, and nor do I think EVs are worse for the environment.
### Superannuation cyber attack fall-out
The superannuation industry group had argued that improving the sector’s cybersecurity requirements would be too onerous before it became the subject of cyberattacks (AFR, $). On AustralianSuper, customers had reportedly tried and failed to get multi-factor auth to log into their accounts (ABC News) but apparently there is mandatory 2FA on doing anything significant i.e. transferring money. I guess that’s better than no 2FA but also even allowing access to the information in those accounts leaves people vulnerable to targeted, sophisticated phishing attacks. Am I really asking too much for expecting that companies who we trust with our retirement savings to send us a bloody text when we log in? Also, just responding to some fair feedback from Sizzler AndyB: these definitely were cyber attacks, but I wouldn’t call them “hacks” like some outlets have. We’re not dealing with the Lazarus group here — this is about the most basic of cybersecurity defenses for one of the most cashed up industries in Australia.
#### Leftovers
Election deepfake risks need 'perspective', AEC says (Information Age) Cyber experts warn of public Wi-Fi risks in Australia (ITBrief) AI scanners not to blame for guns incident, says MCG (Information Age) Starlink thumps NBN in latest satellite internet speed tests (CyberDaily) AirTrunk and Canva bosses call for more immigrants to make Australia ‘richer’ (The Australian, $) Leaker wars escalate, Jon Prosser shows alleged iOS 19 redesign (Apple Insider) Declining R&D Tax Incentive payments are a mystery and a worry (InnovationAus, $) ‘An Overwhelmingly Negative And Demoralizing Force’: What It’s Like Working For A Company That’s Forcing AI On Its Developer (Aftermath) UK's attempt to keep details of Apple 'backdoor' case secret… denied (The Register) How one tweet wreaked havoc on the stock market (TechCrunch) The Shocking Far-Right Agenda Behind the Facial Recognition Tech Used by ICE and the FBI (Mother Jones) Bluesky Can’t Take a Joke (WIRED, $) Microsoft fires employee protestor who called AI boss a ‘war profiteer’ (The Verge) iPhones were already losing ground in China. Then came Trump’s tariffs (Rest Of World)
# Oh, Also
### Does Tim Cook really not use an Apple Magic Mouse?
I was going to write something for the Apple Magic Mouse haters. There’s been a story floating around the internet about how Tim Cook apparently prefers a Logitech MX Master 3 over the much maligned Magic Mouse. Except, it’s not true. Despite having spread around the internet, the kernel of this story was an Mac Observer article that mistook something from a Verge article that was responding to a WSJ interview with Tim Cook.
You’re telling me this isn’t the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?
I’m personally a Magic Mouse defender. I just spent 15 minutes looking for a very compelling post I once saw that argued that the designing the mouse so the charging port was on the bottom of the mouse makes sense and found this (Tumblr). I use a Magic Trackpad but, as always, I would love to see and hear what peripherals you use!
# Bargains
Electrical & Electronics
Enhance Auto 20% off Sitewide (except 1 item) + Extra 10% off Using Code Phillips 6 5W Fast Charging Wall Adapter - $29 at Mobileskin Philips Hue Garnea White Ambience Downlight 90mm - $42 at JB Hi-Fi PHILIPS 3 in 1 10000 mAh 20W Power Bank - $49 at Mobileskin DJI Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case) - $219 at FPV Faster Samsung Galaxy Watch7 BT 40mm - $322 at Samsung Narwal Freo Z Ultra Vacuum & Mop Robot [VIC] - $1599 at Costco
Computing
Programmable RGB Wired Gaming Mouse - $6 at Kmart PNY Mako RGB 32GB (2x 16GB) DDR5 6000MHz CL30 XMP 3.0 RAM - $149 at Centre Com HP OMEN 27q 27" IPS QHD 165hz Gaming Monitor - $239 at HP Official Store eBay OMEN 34c 34 Inch WQHD 165Hz Curved Gaming Monitor - $399 at HP eBay MSI Claw A1M 7" Handheld Gaming PC: Intel U5-135H CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD - $599 at Costco Lenovo Legion Go S Z2 Go 512GB - $999 at JB Hi-Fi
Mobile
Belong Prepaid SIM Starter Kit at Coles 40GB for $17 160GB for $27 Lebara 360-Day Prepaid Starter Pack SIM 120GB - $119 at Woolworths in-Store Kogan Mobile 200GB 365 SIM/eSIM - $139 at Kogan
# The End
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