### Issue 1573 - Thursday 24th March, 2022

## In Today's Issue

- Google dips toes in allowing 3rd party payments on Play Store, starts with Spotify
- Instagram restores chronological timeline, hallelujah!
- ALP to try get more tech workers in the economy if they get elected
- Bandwidth analysis of FTA channels during a rare simulcast
- Cheap Osmo kits, Nintendo Switch, Civ 6 Anthology, Xiaomi Mi Band 6, Asus Lyra Voice speaker wi-fi router

## The News

### Google dips toes in allowing 3rd party payments on Play Store, starts with Spotify

Google is allowing "a small number of participating developers" to use an alternative payment system on the Play Store. Spotify is first and will use the default payment system alongside their own payment setup. Dunno what the financial details are of this "multiyear agreement". I assume it's different than the paltry 4% discount Google offer in South Korea, where they're forced by law to allow 3rd-party payments. The fact the announcement has come months before the feature (ETA is "the coming months") shows to me that Google is preempting government regulation and removing Spotify as ammunition for any government claims they're being unfair.

### Instagram restores chronological timeline, hallelujah!

Instagram is bringing back the chronological feed. That's right - "a new Following tab shows users content from everyone that they follow in chronological order. A second Favorites tab shows users chronological content from 50 chosen accounts. The features are available as part of Instagram’s new update, rolling out today". This is minor news in the scheme of things, but I'm so glad it's happening I could not resist mentioning it here. A little victory for common sense. Take inspiration from my joy in this announcement Twitter!

### ALP to try get more tech workers in the economy if they get elected

Old mate Albo is adopting the Technology Council of Australia's "target of increasing the number of Australians employed in tech-related jobs by 340,000 to 1.2 million by the end of the decade". If the ALP get elected, they'll "work with the tech sector on an industry plan to strengthen existing technology companies, create an environment that builds new startups, and to grow the number of technology jobs in this country". The aim is an extra 340,000 jobs by the end of the decade, and will mostly be done by funding 20,000 extra uni places and adding tech courses to 465,000 fee-free TAFE places.

## Something I Saw On The Internet

### Bandwidth analysis of FTA channels during a rare simulcast

Free to air TV channels 7, 9 and 10 simulcast a telethon a few weeks ago to raise money for people impacted by the massive floods in NSW and QLD. Gough Lui took advantage of this rare event to compare how each network encodes their broadcasts. Normally this is tough as each channel shows different stuff at the same time which impacts the results, but because the exact same thing was sent across the 3 channels simultaneously a comparison is easier. Extremely niche nerd areas, but I love it. Gough's blog is full of gems like this.

## Bargains

- 30% off all Osmo kits and games from Osmo's online store starting on the 4th of April
- Nintendo Switch console (OLED model) - $489 from Target
- Sid Meier's Civilization VI Anthology on Steam- $29.82 at Instant Gaming
- Xiaomi Mi Band 6 Fitness Tracker (Global Version) - $43 from Banggood
- Asus Lyra Voice AC2200 wi-fi router with built-in Alex smart speaker & Bluetooth - $159 from Amazon

## The End

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