Word-whore. I write 'em. I talk 'em. Information, politics, media, and the cybers. I drink. I use bad words. All publication is a political act. All communication is propaganda. All art is pornography. All business is personal. All hail Eris! Vive les poissons rouges sauvages!
Google’s Pixel 7a is here (as is Google I/O), but is the Pixel 7a a worthwhile phone? How is Australia’s Federal budget fighting scammers and cybercrime? Are blue skies already turning grey at Bluesky Social? I was on this week’s Vertical Hold: Behind The Tech News and this is an updated version.
Continue reading “The 9pm Extra: Vertical Hold episode 428, “Is Google’s Pixel 7a a winner, How is the budget fighting cybercrime?””
This week the government released draft legislation for small business tax incentives including a Technology Investment Boost, the eSafety released a slab of documents relating to the Online Safety Act, and more.
Continue reading “Digital developments from Canberra 4”
My week of Monday 9 to Sunday 15 August 2021 was a productive one, with the weather already starting to feel like it’s spring. This time two years ago it was snowing. And four years ago I was in Canberra.
Continue reading “Weekly Wrap 585: Lyrebirds, productivity, and some nostalgia for Canberra”
I’m very happy with my week of Monday 1 to Sunday 7 March. I was the midst of changing my medication regime and productivity was high — there’s a good chance these things are connected — and I’ve just enjoyed a train trip up to Newcastle.
Continue reading “Weekly Wrap 562: Pills, productivity, and peregrinations”
The massive global phenomenon that is the Pokémon Go augmented reality game naturally caught the interest of media producers all over — including at ABC 774 Melbourne.
Here’s my chat with Wendy Touhy from the evening of 20 July. I’m hoping I didn’t screw up some detail of the game, although I’m pretty sure I did.
We also spoke about one of my pet topics, the risks of electronic voting.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (9.5MB)
This audio is ©2016 Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
[Photo: Ready to go live on ABC 774 Melbourne from ABC Sydney TARDIS 1, 20 July 2016.]
The news that a Wi-Fi enabled Hello Barbie doll had been released got plenty of media interest at the end of the working week, especially since the security and privacy risks weren’t just theoretical.
I was interviewed by journalist Penny Timms about these security risks by ABC Radio’s national current affairs program PM.
The makers of one of the world’s most famous dolls are due to roll out their latest edition. Forget Malibu Barbie, because wifi Barbie could be on shelves by Christmas. The technology means the doll can hold conversations with her owner. But security experts warn there are serious flaws, with suggestions the technology has already been hacked.
Somehow I managed to include some paranoid ideas for using Hello Barbie for psychological warfare.
ABC News also posted a written story, which uses some different quotes. But here’s the radio story.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (2.0MB)
The audio is ©2015 Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It’s being served from the ABC website, where you can also read a transcript.