Google updated their lineup of Pixel phones, smart watches and earbuds overnight. The Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL and 9 Pro Fold (which is finally coming to Australia) have a new Google Tensor G4 SoC designed to do more AI related tasks on device. The phones have more battery life, new designs, better cameras and so on, but Google really wants to sell the Pixel phones as cutting edge devices with AI features that'll make your life better. The Verge made a list of all the Gemini powered features coming to Pixel phones. None seem that particularly exciting to me. Even the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are "the first Buds built for Gemini". They're smaller and lighter, have their own Tensor A1 SoC, have built-in Find My Device network support and a range of audio processing features for improved voice/call clarity. The Pixel Watch 3 is vastly improved over previous Pixel Watches, with a smaller bezel but larger screen and a shitload more features built-in to Wear OS. Always On has a list of all the new Google gear with Aussie release dates and pricing.
Optus and Telstra have delayed shutting down their 3G networks again due to government pressure. The new date is October 28th. Government's main concern is "a subset of 4G phones configured by the manufacturer to default to 3G for Triple Zero calls, and personal medical alarms that rely on the 3G network". Telstra also admitted that they still have "399,000 3G-capable IoT devices, such as water meters and electricity meters, as well as 107,000 older smartwatches and tablets", with Optus still seeing "around 100,000 devices, including IoT devices and payment terminals" on their 3G network. The two telcos are also going to run "a national public media campaign to ensure Australians are informed of the impacts for some handsets" and are "committed to ensuring 3G-only areas will have no loss of coverage as a result of the switchover, with Telstra undertaking independent testing in impacted areas to ensure this occurs".
Remember the ASX's 2016 brainfart to replace the CHESS system (used to register who owns what shares and other important stuff) to some blockchain thing? That idea died in 2022 after years of delays and everyone just kinda forgot about it - except ASIC. The regulator is now suing the ASX, alleging that statements made in ASX announcements on 10 February 2022 that the project remained "on-track for go-live" in April 2023 and was "progressing well" were misleading. ASIC reckons "ASX did not have any reasonable basis to imply the project was on track to meet future milestones" and this level of bullshitting is not acceptable because the ASX is "critical national infrastructure crucial to the operation of the Australian economy". Good to see some potential consequences for irresponsible use of blockchain technologies.
This is from June, but some blokes in the USA made their own Netflix clone called Jetflicks, sold it for $9.99/m and gave subscribers access to over 180,000 episodes of TV shows. They were able to "rake in millions of dollars with its subscription model" but when the payment processors and TV studios realised what was going on and dobbed them in to the FBI, the guys running it "tried to disguise Jetflicks as an aviation entertainment company". That's fucken hilarious - what did these blokes think was going to happen? Pull in millions of dollars hoping nobody would noticed, then pretend it's just innocent plane videos?!? Anyways, one of the dudes involved copped a 57 month prison sentence and has to pay the US government $1m. The others are yet to be sentenced but could face years in jail.
Today we have released a series of rare and never-before-seen images of Colossus, in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the code-breaking computer that played a pivotal role in the Second World War effort. (GCHQ)
📻 Jack White - It's Rough On Rats (If You're Asking)
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