### Issue 1843 - Thursday 11th May, 2023

## In Today's Issue

- Google I/O 2023, AI rules everything around me
- FBI takes down huge Russian state sponsored malware platform, Snake
- YouTube testing ad blocker bans, Pakistan turns off the internet, MSI got hacked really bad, Microsoft buys fusion energy for 2028, Vietnam to make ID verification mandatory for social media
- Dell's 6K monitor is nice, but expensive at US$3199
- Cheap BlitzWolf gaming desk, Samsung SSD, Apple Macintosh personal computers, Pixel 7A smartphone, Orico 2.5" USB enclosure, 4K blu-rays, refurn iPhone SE, Microsoft keyboard with trackpad

## The News

### Google I/O 2023, AI rules everything around me

Google's annual I/O conference begun today. Lots of stuff, mostly AI adjacent announcements. Here's some highlights of what I thought was interesting:

- New Pixel devices. The Pixel 7a is a much cheaper, almost identical version of the Pixel 7 smartphone. There's a folding Pixel phone that is like the Samsung Fold range of phones, just by Google and all Pixel-fied. There's also a Pixel tablet with a decent SoC in it and a fancy speaker dock.
- Bard, Google's response to ChatGPT, is out of beta and is now available for anyone to use, anywhere in the world. Exactly like Microsoft's Bing chatbot, Google is "partnering with other service providers such as Kayak, OpenTable, ZipRecruiter, Instacart, Wolfram, and Khan Academy to build extensions for Bard".
- Google Search is basically getting the same treatment as what Microsoft did to Bing with ChatGPT, allowing you to ask Google multi-part questions and slapping a detailed, but still brief summary answer right at the top of search results. You can try it out now in "Search Labs" before it gets a wider release.
- The Google Home app had a big overhaul that's supposed to be much easier to use. Google Photos will get an AI-powered "magic editor" that can do some pretty advanced editing of objects in photos. Wear OS 4 was announced and is now available as a developer preview, with heaps of new features to catch up with the Apple Watch.

### FBI takes down huge Russian state sponsored malware platform, Snake

I've never heard of the Snake malware, but the FBI and US Justice Department is very proud of having "dismantled a global network of malware-infected computers that the Russian government has used for nearly two decades to conduct cyber-espionage, including against our NATO allies". Snake was operated by a group called "Turla", a "unit within Center 16 of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation" and according to the FBI is "among the most sophisticated pieces of malware ever found". Apparently the FBI developed something called PERSEUS that hacked Snake, impersonated Turla and issued commands to "effectively, and permanently, disable it". Sounds like a big deal.

### YouTube testing ad blocker bans, Pakistan turns off the internet, MSI got hacked really bad, Microsoft buys fusion energy for 2028, Vietnam to make ID verification mandatory for social media

- Get ready to cough up for YouTube Premium, as YouTube is running experiments on some users, asking them to disable their ad blockers before beign allowed to watch any videos.
- Pakistan is having some, shall we say, political difficulties, at the moment. In response the government has cut off all internet access "for an indefinite period".
- PC component manufacturer MSI fucked up and had their UEFI signing keys stolen by hackers. I don't quite grasp the full ramifications of this but it sounds Extremely Bad.
- Microsoft signed a deal with startup Helion Energy to provide it with 50MW of electricity generated by a nuclear fusion reactor by the end of 2028. I hope it happens, I really do.
- Vietnam is gonna make it mandatory for users of Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and other platforms to confirm their identities when making an account. They say it's to reduce online scams.

## Something I Saw On The Internet

### Dell's 6K monitor is nice, but expensive at US$3199

Dell's U3224KB 32" 6K monitor is finally on sale. In the USA only. For US$3,199. That's close to $5,000 in dollarydoos once you add on GST and the usual markup. Dell does put their monitors on sale often, but even after a 20% discount, you're looking at a $3,500 to $4,000 monitor. A very nice monitor and cheaper than the Apple XDR display, but still very expensive and way more than Apple's Studio Display that can be had for around $2,000 regularly if you wait for a JB Hi-Fi sale and do the gift card dance. Anyone know what's happening with Samsung's 5K display that they were hyping up around the same time Dell announced the U3224KB earlier this year?

## Bargains

- BlitzWolf BW-GD2 55" gaming desk (AU stock) - $76 from Banggood
- Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB NVMe SSD - $78 + delivery from Centrecom
- 10% off Macs (inc Studio Display) at JB Hi-Fi
- Google Pixel 7a 128GB & $150 JB Hi-Fi gift card - $749 from JB Hi-Fi
- Orico 2.5" HDD/SSD USB enclosure - $4 from Aliexpress
- 20% off 4K Blu-Ray discs at JB Hi-Fi
- Refurb iPhone SE (2020) 64GB - $219 + delivery from Coles
- Microsoft All-in-One Media Keyboard with trackpad - $49 from Amazon

## Image Of The Day

Everything Is Easy, the world's largest internet cafe, opens on Times Square with 800 computers in New York, United States on November 28, 2000 - Internet access for $1, 800 state-of-the-art PCs with flat screens and high-speed fiber optic communications lines. 18,300 sq.ft. of space. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. (Getty Images)

## The End

📻 Just Like Heaven - Dinosaur Jr

😎 The Sizzle is curated by Anthony "decryption" Agius and emailed every weekday afternoon.

💬 Checked out the paid subscriber only forum? It's a tidy little place to discuss tech with like minded Aussies.

👋 Forums not your thing? The Sizzle has a Slack group you can procrastinate in and chat with other nerds bored at work.

💳 Paid subscriber looking to manage your billing info, change email address or cancel your subscription? Visit the customer portal.

🎁 Make someone's day and buy them a 12 month gift subscription to The Sizzle.

📚 Browse The Sizzle Archive. A few issues are missing and it's not searchable, but it's better than nothing.

🫂 Friends of The Sizzle is a small group of businesses or organisations operated by Sizzle subscribers. Support your fellow Sizzler!

💔 Tired of my bullshit? Unsubscribe and I'll never speak to you again.

## Always Was, Always Will Be Aboriginal Land

The Sizzle is created on Wathaurong land and acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, recognising their continuing connection to land, water and community. I pay my respect to them and their cultures and to elders both past and present.