Plus: Could Trump kill physical media? ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

March 06, 2025 | Read online
# Facebook, YouTube limit Cyclone Alfred info, Mobile World Congress shows Peak Phone and the return of Digg Plus: Could Trump kill physical media?
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Issue 2285 - Thursday 6 March, 2025
Hello! Sorry for the late Sizzle. I was held up publishing a trove of federal ministerial diaries which you should check out (Crikey, $). And a special shout-out to Laura who emailed me eager to know where it is. It’s here now!
# In Today’s Issue
Facebook, YouTube problems limit Cyclone Alfred information Mobile World Congress isn’t what it once was The return of Digg? Could Trump kill physical media?
# The News
### Facebook, YouTube problems limit Cyclone Alfred information
Meta blocked Facebook searches for Cyclone Alfred, sending people to a “Climate Science Centre” or telling them that the posts go against “our Community Standards” (ABC News). The company said it was an error, which makes sense but doesn’t really exonerate them for allowing it to happen. There’s a broader context about how local journalism has been eviscerated by Meta, leading people to turn to community Facebook groups instead, but there’s another tech-related problem here. People like Bluesky user Miles McBain found themselves locked out of BOM’s YouTube updates unless they signed in (Bluesky). Not necessarily a huge impediment, but an unnecessary barrier during a moment of emergency because it was more important for Google to avoid bot traffic than to ensure that anyone could get this information.
Miles McBain
I know it’s easy to default to private, seemingly ubiquitous, platforms that might even be better than what governments offer. But governments need to invest in creating and running the platforms — preferably open platforms! — because they can’t leave serving the public to the goodwill of private companies. You shouldn’t build your emergency broadcast systems in other people’s kingdoms.
### Mobile World Congress isn’t what it once was
It doesn’t have the sheen it once did but Mobile World Congress was on this week. I linked to Nothing’s new phone yesterday but other than that, the most high profile release was Xiaomi’s 15 series which includes a MASSIVE camera on its Ultra (Android Police). But really there’s not a crazy amount happening in the mobile game at the moment since it feels like we’ve arrived at Peak Phone: a 6-inch thin glass box. Anyway, here’s a good wrap-up of the event (ZDNet) and some of the more fun, outside-of-the-box gadgets that were previewed and announced (WIRED, $). The official position of the Sizzle is: more weird gizmos.
### The return of Digg
Digg is back! Well, it will be soon according to an email sign-up page (Digg). Its old founder Kevin Rose, not to be confused with NYT tech writer Kevin Roose, and Reddit co-founder Alex Ohanian are relaunching the platform (The Verge). Their twist? Why it’s the same as every other tech bro’s: they’re going to introduce AI. “Everything from AI agent that converts your entire sub-community into Klingon, to another one where you don’t allow a certain type of profanity and that’s automatically auto-moderated,” Rose said. Digg was one of my first internet loves. I don’t really care about AI being used (it’s pretty common in content moderation) but I do wonder what its place will be in the modern internet since Reddit ate Digg’s lunch and never looked back. Anyway, I’ve signed up.
#### Leftovers
Apple launches new Mac Studios with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips (The Verge) eSafety report reveals serious gaps in how tech industry is tackling terror and violent extremism (eSafety) Google Gemini linked to AI-generated deepfake porn, terrorist content (AFR, $) Tech companies’ proposed new safety codes won’t protect all kids online (The Conversation) Canva study shows Aussies love AI but are we moving too fast? (The Australian, $) Volkswagen Introduces ID. EVERY1, Its Most Affordable EV (Transport Topics) The Trump administration wants to review all prospective citizens’ social media accounts (The Verge) Google is adding more AI Overviews and a new ‘AI Mode’ to Search (The Verge) US indicts slew of alleged Chinese hackers (IT News) Judge denies Musk’s initial bid to halt OpenAI’s for-profit shift but sets trial for fall (The Guardian) AI-generated review summaries are coming to Apple’s app store (The Verge) The L.A. Times adds AI-generated counterpoints to its opinion pieces and guess what, there are problems (Nieman Lab) Italy Is Getting Cold Feet Over Deal to Use Musk’s Starlink (Bloomberg, $)
# Oh, Also
### Could Trump kill physical media?
Is anyone here a physical media fan? I wouldn’t define myself that way, mostly because pretty much everything I use is cloud. But I understand the impulse: owning your stuff physically means that you really own it. No DRM, no disappearing content. Well, apparently another victim of Trump’s tariffs might be physical media (Ars Technica). Apparently most video game discs are made in Mexico and, rather than moving production, the publishers might just decide it’s too hard and pull the plug, analysts speculate. It would be a real shame, especially since physical media was occasionally creative. I know it’s a million years ago but I loved the way Pokémon Yellow Game Boy Colour cartridge stood out.
Look how yellow it is
# Bargains
Electrical & Electronics
The Good Guys: 12% Cashback at TopCashback Kinivo Pro Series 350BN 3-Port 4k 60Hz HDMI Switch - $5 at Vinnies Victoria Brateck MDS16-1 Slim Microphone Boom Arm - $29 at Centre Com Remax 10000mAh Wireless Power Bank with Built-in Stand - $33 at Remax Australia Official Store eBay UGREEN 65W GaN II Charger - $34 at UGREEN via Amazon AU Phillips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones - $76 at Famous Audio Store AliExpress Blaupunkt 75" 4K Ultra HD QLED Google TV - $997 at Officeworks Anker Prime Charger - $188 at Original Authorized Store AliExpress Yale Assure Lock SL Digital Deadbolt - $249 at Pop Phones Ninja Creami Deluxe Ice Cream Maker NC501 - $292 at Bing Lee Apple AirPods Pro 2 with Magsafe Case (USB-C) - $329 at BIG W Garmin Forerunner 255 Music - $398 at Amazon AU Dreame L10s Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop Cleaner - $799 at Dreame Official AU Amazon AU Reolink 8 Channel NVR 8x 8MP Dome Security Cameras - $799 at Costco Sony 28-70mm F2.0 GM - $3740 at Georges Cameras (Backorder) Canon EOS R5 Mark II Full Frame Mirrorless Camera - $5399 at Camera House eBay
Computing
Monster HDMI to Mini Display Port Adapter 15cm - $4 at The Good Guys SanDisk 1TB E30 Gen 2 Portable SSD - $99 at Kmart Apple Pencil at JB Hi-Fi Apple Pencil (USB-C) - $117 Apple Pencil Pro - $167 KAMRUI AK2PLUS 4K Mini PC - $183 at KAMRUI Official via eBay Dell Latitude 7410 14" 2-in-1 - $390 at TechAlpha eBay (Used) Dell Latitude 5420 14" Touch Laptop - $529 at MetroCom (Used) Dell Inspiron 16 Plus CU5-125H - $899 at Dell Outlet Apple iPad Air M2 11" Wi-Fi 128GB - $799 at Costco Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 - $1549 at Apple Education Store Apple Mac Studio M4 Max - $3071 at Apple On Campus OMEN by HP 45L Gaming Desktop - $6744 at HP Education Store
Mobile
MyFitnessPal Premium for 12 months - Free at Apple/Google app stores Apple iPhone 16 128GB - $1206 at Dick Smith eBay
# The End
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