### Issue 2197 - Thursday 17th October, 2024

## In Today's Issue

- Amazon joins Google & Microsoft in funding nuclear reactors to power data centres
- Entire Amazon Kindle range got updated & new colour model
- EU doesn't make X a "gatekeeper" platform, Zuck and I both love Civ, Android 15 has new anti-theft features
- Watch Red Flag: Music's Failed Revolution on SBS On Demand
- Cheap TCL 4K TV, Boost Mobile SIM, TCN Ultimate gift cards

## The News

### Amazon joins Google & Microsoft in funding nuclear reactors to power data centres

Amazon and Google have made separate investments into small modular nuclear power reactors to one day fuel their massive data centers. Unlike Microsoft's recent nuclear power announcement, Amazon and Google are investing small modular reactors (SMRs), whereas Microsoft is actually paying a company to refurbish an existing nuclear power plant. What's also interesting is that this small modular nuclear power plants are the thing the Libs here are pumping up as their solution to getting Australia's power grid to net-zero emissions. It still remains to be seen if SMRs can be built at a cost that'll deliver electricity at the same or lower prices than renewables, but so much energy is needed for like, everything, not just data centers, I'm not against Google and Amazon pouring their cash into seeing what SMRs can do.

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### Entire Amazon Kindle range got updated & new colour model

Yo bruh, we got new Kindles. The entry-level Kindle is lighter than ever, has "a 300 ppi, glare-free display, now with faster page turns, higher contrast ratio, and a front light that is 25% brighter at max setting — as bright as Kindle Paperwhite". The Kindle Paperwhite has 25% faster page turns, the bigger 7" display has the "highest contrast ratio of any Kindle" and has 3 months of battery life. It also comes in a Signature Edition with "32GB of storage, optional wireless charging, and auto-adjusting front light". The Kindle Colorsoft is like the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but with a colour e-ink screen that will go in sale in 2025 in Australia. Finally, the Kindle Scribe "updated the included stylus, the texture and color mask of the 10.2-inch screen, and the internal software to make it feel more paper-y".

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### EU doesn't make X a "gatekeeper" platform, Zuck and I both love Civ, Android 15 has new anti-theft features

- Good news for X - it's not going to be designated a "gatekeeper" under the EU's DMA law. The bad news is that's because the EU reckons "X is not an important gateway for business users to reach end users". sad_trombone.wav
- Mark Zuckerberg and I have two things in common - we are born in the same year and our favourite video game is Civilization. He's put in over 1000 hours into the game (I've "only" played 492 hours of Civ6), claims he is a "grandmaster" and would "be surprised if anyone in the world can beat me".
- Android 15 is starting to roll out to Pixel devices and part of the update includes new "advanced theft protection features". Some of the anti-theft features will also trickle down to devices running Android 10 via updates to Google Play Services.

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## Something I Saw On The Internet

### Watch Red Flag: Music's Failed Revolution on SBS On Demand

Sizzle subscriber Adam sent me a message to say I should watch Red Flag: Music's Failed Revolution on SBS On Demand. I watched it last night and it was good. It's a 2hr doco hosted by Marc Fennell about Guvera, a Gold Coast based music streaming service that tried to compete with the likes of Spotify. I vaguely remember it from 2008 when they were giving out free and legal MP3 downloads supported by ads, but don't really remember much else about it until writing about its financial explosion in The Sizzle in 2016! Certainly worth a watch.

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## Bargains

- TCL C855 Mini-LED 4K TV, 65" & 75" - $1599/$2149 from Costco
- Boost Mobile 365-day SIM with 170GB data, unlimited calls & SMS - $145 after cashback from TopCashback AU
- 10% off TCN Ultimate gift cards at Coles next week

## Image Of The Day

Apollo 17 Hasselblad image from film magazine 134/B - EVA-1 & 3 (Project Apollo Archive)

## The End

📻 PNAU - Bloodlust

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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.