### Issue 1604 - Wednesday 11th May, 2022

## In Today's Issue

- Apple discontinues the iPod touch, no more iPods now
- DJI Mini 3 Pro drone is the popular Mini 2's successor
- Elon Musk adjacent news bulletin
- "Encryption protects our privacy where the law falls short"
- Cheap Netgear Orbi, Eko 75" 4K TV, Jabra Elite 4, Far Cry 6 for PS5, QNAP NAS, Lego R2-D2, Edifier speakers, Dell monitor arm, Sonos One SL

## The News

### Apple discontinues the iPod touch, no more iPods now

Pour a 40oz on the curb for a fallen homie - the iPod touch has been discontinued, ending 20 years of the iPod as a thing Apple sells. The iPod touch is still for sale, but once stock runs out in shops it's gone for good. I don't know what else to write about the iPod that hasn't been said before, but damn it was a good little gadget. I still remember buying my first iPod in 2003 (a 10GB 3rd-gen), from Next Byte on Elizabeth Street with my freshly minted RMIT student card so I could get a discount. It was the first Apple product I owned and I think the first "big" tech purchase I made with my own money. Good times.

### DJI Mini 3 Pro drone is the popular Mini 2's successor

DJI has announced the Mini 3 Pro, an update to the popular Mini range. The camera is upgraded with an f/1.7 lens, more flexible gimbal and slightly bigger sensor, flight time is increased over the Mini 2 by a few minutes (34 vs 31) and it still weighs less than 250g so it can be flown within 5.5km of an airport with the standard battery. It gains intelligent flight modes from DJI's other higher-end drones like Spotlight 2.0, Point of Interest 3.0, ActiveTrack 4.0 and MasterShots. There's also a new remote, the DJI RC, a lighter version of the RC Pro with a few less features. Pricing starts at $989, will ship next week.

### Elon Musk adjacent news bulletin

There's a bit of Elon Musk related news around after he did a 90 minute interview with the Financial Times about the "Future of the Car", which went into areas not car related.

- Tesla plans to open up the Supercharger network to non-Tesla vehicles worldwide. No other info besides it will be done "gradually", but good. The more chargers the better for everyone and I can charge my Tesla at a non-Tesla charger guilt free.
- The Shanghai Tesla factory has shut down again, this time due to component shortages and may stop taking orders due to the high demand and inability to deliver. RIP to those waiting for a Model 3.
- Elon is "very much on the same page" when it comes to the EU's Digital Services Act, saying it is "exactly aligned" with Twitter's future goals. Watch this extremely awkward video of Elon and the EU Commissioner. Yikes. It's like a Tim & Eric sketch.
- Elon reckons Donald Trump's Twitter ban was "a morally bad decision, to be clear, and foolish in the extreme" that "alienated a large part of the country". Trump's ban will be reversed when (if???) Musk assumes control of Twitter.

## Something I Saw On The Internet

### "Encryption protects our privacy where the law falls short"

Riana Pfefferkorn writes that there's never been a better time to reassess data privacy threat models with the imminent repeal of abortion rights in the US. There's heaps of data lying around on various US-owned systems that could be used to punish women thinking about or getting an abortion, so now is the time to implement strong end-to-end encryption and to minimise the amount of data systems collect. It's not too much of a stretch to imagine data being used against people in ways nobody imagined when it was haphazardly collected. That only works if calls to implement backdoors for cops and governments are resisted, so tell them to get fucked and protect our privacy.

## Bargains

- NetGear Orbi AX4200 RBK752 mesh wi-fi system - $569 from Amazon
- 75" EKO K75USW 4K TV with WebOS - $879 at Big W
- Jabra Elite 4 Bluetooth earbuds - $149 from Amazon
- Far Cry 6 for PS5 - $25 from Amazon
- QNAP TS-453D-4G 4-bay NAS - $782 from Shopping Express' eBay store
- LEGO R2-D2 75308 - $264.99 from Zaavi
- Edifier R1280DBs active bookshelf speakers - $165.19 from Ventchoice_au's eBay store
- Dell MSA20 Single Monitor Arm - $157.92 from Dell
- Sonos One SL wireless speaker - $245 from Selby

## The End

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