Techbest – Top Tech Reviews In Australia
The best in Australian gadgets and technology
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We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission which is paid directly to our Australia-based writers, editors, and support staff. Thank you for your support!
xinwld Bluetooth Headphones, Wireless Bluetooth 5.4 in-Ear Headphones with 4 ENC Noise Cancelling Mic, Wireless Headphones Deep Bass Wireless Earbuds 40 Hours
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Earlier this year, HESTA initiated a substantial technology shift, characterized as one of the largest and most thorough projects of its type by an Australian industry super fund. This significant replatforming took the super fund offline from early April until early June, disrupting account access and transaction processes for around 1 million members.
Although the transition concluded in early June, some members still encountered access difficulties for up to a month. Extended wait times at contact centres compounded the issue, delaying solutions and frustrating members.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has raised concerns regarding the project’s management, leading to additional licence stipulations for HESTA. APRA Deputy Chair Margaret Cole highlighted the importance of effectively managed transitions that do not hinder members’ access to their accounts.
HESTA CEO Debby Blakey recognized the regulator’s worries and expressed apologies to members for the experienced disruptions. Blakey reaffirmed that the transition aimed to enhance service in the long run and that HESTA is dedicated to implementing enhancements to better support its members.
HESTA’s ambitious technology transition initiative has attracted scrutiny from APRA due to extended disruptions in member services. The super fund is now under extra licence conditions and is required to undergo independent reviews to evaluate its risk management and board efficacy. HESTA assures that measures are being adopted to improve service delivery for its members.
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Cochlear is trailblazing a new integration that could transform how sales teams handle leads. By incorporating voice-to-text functionalities into their CRM system powered by Salesforce, Cochlear intends to abolish the manual documentation of management notes after meetings. This advancement is a significant evolution for Cochlear’s “sales road warriors” who can now dedicate their attention to primary responsibilities rather than administrative tasks.
The integration is strongly dependent on AWS services, notably employing Amazon Lex as the conversational interface. Cochlear has created an internal AI solution, fondly named ‘Clark’, which is based on Amazon Bedrock and its extension, Bedrock AgentCore. This AI platform is tailored to simplify the data input procedure by translating spoken data into structured information that is directly entered into the CRM.
Clark, the AI walled garden, was unveiled at the AWS re:Invent conference by Andy McLaughlin, Cochlear’s director of IT networks and telecommunications. Named in honour of Dr. Graeme Clark, a visionary in cochlear implant technology, this system is still undergoing piloting but displays strong promise for future deployment.
Sales staff will dial a dedicated line following client meetings, where the system will identify the caller and associate them with the relevant customer case in Salesforce. After inputting a security PIN, they can verbally relay meeting information and future goals to the system. This data is processed by Bedrock and entered into the CRM, facilitating instantaneous updates without requiring manual data entry.
Presently, Cochlear’s technology teams are assessing this system with the intention to implement it across their sales personnel by the end of the financial year. This progression is expected to boost efficiency and productivity, enabling sales teams to prioritize client interactions over data handling.
Cochlear is on the verge of a technological advancement with their voice-to-text CRM integration. By capitalizing on AWS services and their proprietary AI, ‘Clark’, they are poised to refine lead management workflows, minimizing administrative tasks for their sales teams. The launch is projected for the end of the financial year, representing a notable upgrade in Cochlear’s operational effectiveness.
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Jaybird – Freedom F5 in-Ear Wireless Headphones – Ocean
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The Audit Office of New South Wales has initiated a pioneering collaboration with CSIRO’s Data61 to investigate how artificial intelligence (AI) can be applied in government auditing. This prolonged partnership, which started in October, aims to unearth innovative AI applications, conduct pilot projects, and explore technologies to enhance public audit functions.
The central objective of this partnership is to establish a transparent, resilient, and efficient auditing system that responsibly utilizes AI while preserving public trust and accountability. NSW Auditor-General Bola Oyetunji expressed a positive outlook on the collaboration, underscoring the potential benefits of predictive analytics and the ability to handle extensive documents more proficiently.
Dr. Ming Ding, group leader of privacy technology at Data61, recognizes an opportunity to apply traditional audit oversight techniques in managing AI systems. Established auditing methodologies offer a structured oversight framework that can be tailored to supervise AI, ensuring informed and effective human oversight.
By employing these established methodologies, the partnership could shape the creation of oversight frameworks for advanced AI, influencing both governmental and industrial sectors.
This alliance between the NSW Audit Office and Data61 marks a crucial advancement in embedding AI within governmental operations. By concentrating on both technological progress and governance, the partnership aspires to create a model for the responsible implementation of AI that improves public sector auditing.
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Today signifies a major change in the digital environment for families in Australia. Effective from December 10, 2025, the federal government’s regulation prohibits children under 16 from accessing social media. This innovative law is designed to safeguard young individuals from the possible negative impacts of social media.
The primary aim of this regulation is to transfer the duty of online safety from parents to the platforms themselves. For many years, parents have struggled against algorithms meant to keep users engaged for prolonged periods.
The government contends that this “delay” in access will shield developing minds from the adverse effects of social media, including cyberbullying, issues related to body image, and exposure to unsuitable content. By establishing the age threshold at 16, policymakers intend to provide youth additional time to grow before entering the often chaotic realm of social networking.
According to the new regulations, social media companies face penalties of up to A$49.5 million if they do not take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from creating accounts.
The eSafety Commissioner has extended its reach, targeting the most frequently used services by teenagers in Australia. Starting today, the following platforms are restricted for individuals under 16:
Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Messenger Kids are excluded from the restrictions, enabling families to maintain communication. Gaming platforms like Roblox have mostly avoided the ban, although they are rolling out their own age-restricted features to align with safer online environment standards.
The foremost inquiry leading up to today has centered around how these companies would validate age without infringing on privacy rights. The legislation permits various methods, and multiple strategies are being implemented today.
Meta has chosen a stringent deactivation policy for accounts suspected of belonging to users under 16. If your account is flagged, you must verify your age to restore access. They are utilizing a third-party service known as Yoti, which enables users to submit a government ID or capture a video selfie that estimates age via facial analysis technology.
Snapchat is adopting a slightly different approach by locking accounts for three years instead of deleting them right away. To unlock an account, users must verify that they are 16 or older. Snap has collaborated with k-ID to provide verification through government ID or facial age estimation. Alternatively, they are presenting a “ConnectID” option, allowing users to confirm their age by linking to an Australian bank account, utilizing the rigorous ID checks that banks already conduct.
TikTok is implementing a “multi-layered approach” to compliance. This includes examining usage patterns to identify underage users, along with standard verification methods. Users identified by the system must present government identification, credit card authorization, or utilize facial age estimation services to validate that they meet the age criteria.
Reddit is mandating all Australian users to verify their age for platform access starting today. This process requires providing a date of birth and, for many, completing a verification through a third-party service utilizing government ID or a selfie. Accounts that cannot be confirmed as being owned by individuals aged 16 or older are being suspended, with an appeals process available for those who feel they have been mistakenly banned.
The large tech companies have voiced their objections to the specifics of this regulation, even while they comply.
“We align with the Australian Government’s objective of providing safe, age-appropriate online experiences; however, isolating teens from their friends and communities is not the solution.” Meta spokesperson.
“Those under 16 will not be able to keep a Snapchat account.” Snap Inc. statement.
“Although we have disagreements about the scope, effectiveness, and privacy implications of this regulation, as of December 10, we are adapting accordingly…” Reddit public statement.
“Most crucially, this law will not deliver on its promise to enhance the safety of children online, and indeed, will render Australian children less secure on YouTube.” Rachel Lord, YouTube Public Policy Manager.
The new legislation in Australia signifies a key advancement in online safety for youth, shifting the responsibility to platforms to uphold age restrictions. While the law seeks to defend children from potential dangers associated with social media, it has also ignited discussions regarding its efficacy and the implications for privacy. As companies strive to adhere, the landscape of social media access for young Australians is set to experience considerable changes.
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Google Pixel Buds Pro Wireless Bluetooth Noise-Cancelling Earbuds, Bay
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Macquarie Group has unveiled an innovative tool named Dexd, which aspires to transform the developer experience for its engineers. Introduced by Brent Burgess, Head of Public Cloud, during the AWS re:Invent conference in Las Vegas, Dexd seeks to guarantee that engineers have a uniform setup along with access to templates that aid in maintaining productivity and workflow. Dexd is integrated into each engineer’s laptop, providing a smooth onboarding experience and the adaptability to collaborate across various teams and projects.
Dexd is constructed on Microsoft’s Dev Containers, offering developers a holistic development environment. This configuration enables engineers to start from a stable base and choose from a selection of pre-configured templates related to their specific tasks.
A key feature of Dexd is its capability to simplify the onboarding experience. New engineers or those moving between teams can rapidly become acclimated with the required tools and frameworks, thanks to Dexd’s user-friendly dashboard and traffic-light system that ensures all settings are properly configured.
The tool’s functions are persistently broadened through innersourcing, permitting engineers to add improvements, ensuring Dexd evolves in line with user demands.
Macquarie Group primarily utilizes AWS and GCP, with more than 70% of its infrastructure and applications hosted in public cloud services. Dexd is essential in supporting this cloud-first strategy, allowing for swift deployment and development on these platforms.
Burgess emphasized that Dexd aids in reducing complexity for engineers, enabling them to concentrate on delivering business results effectively. The introduction of this tool has reportedly increased the pace of coding new features and deploying them into production environments, aligning with Macquarie Group’s objective of achieving scalable business outcomes on a global scale.
Dexd signifies a noteworthy advancement in enhancing the developer experience at Macquarie Group. By simplifying setup procedures, easing team transitions, and boosting productivity, Dexd enables engineers to efficiently produce high-quality software solutions. As the group continues to broaden its cloud presence, Dexd will play a pivotal role in ensuring that Macquarie stays at the cutting edge of technological advancements.
