STACK #245 March 2025

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STACK ’ s TECH tips

Avoid switching off wall light switches if using smart bulbs - they won’t work if you do. Place security cameras within reach for easy battery recharging. Check security settings and update firmware to keep devices secure. Delete unused routines to declutter and prevent issues. If a device malfunctions, check Wi-Fi first - signal strength or a reboot often solves the problem. Set up a geofence linked to your phone’s GPS to automate routines, like turning off lights and closing the garage when you leave. Looking to build a smart home? Here are six helpful tips to keep it running smoothly.

MARCH

Before voice helpers like Alexa and Google Assistant, there was The Clapper - a simple sound-activated device that let you turn lights on and off with just two claps. Released in 1985, it was one of the first widely used smart home gadgets, laying the groundwork for modern voice-controlled technology. DYK?

Technology has become an integral part of Australian lifestyles and continues to advance in leaps and bounds. From smartphones to smart homes, STACK keeps you up to date on the latest consumer tech in user friendly terms, along with key points to consider before you buy. If you love tech, you’re in the right place.

2001

What was the hottest tech in…

It’s 1996. Paul Keating ceded the top job to John Howard, The Wiggles released their sixth album, North Melbourne won the flag, and a revolutionary robot vacuum cleaner was demonstrated on a BBC TV show about future tech. However, it would be five years before the robovac would come to market. In 2001, Electrolux rolled out, quite literally, the groundbreaking, floor-sucking enemy of all dust and detritus, the Trilobite. And it had a lot. 90 watts of power would ensure that the vac could clean an entire room in just 40 minutes while you relaxed on the couch watching the latest episode of Friends . Crucially, it was fitted with infrared and ultrasonic sensors to prevent the Trilobite from falling downstairs, bumping into furniture, or, perish the thought, knocking over a glass of wine. Once complete, like its descendants, it would humbly

What is TOPS and why does It matter for your laptop? TOPS stands for Trillions of Operations Per Second, a way to measure how fast an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) can handle AI tasks. Microsoft’s new Copilot+ PCs come with NPUs capable of over 40 TOPS, making them 20 times faster and 100 times more efficient at AI tasks than older Windows laptops. In simple terms, this means your laptop can run AI powered features instantly without needing the internet. If you’ve used tools like ChatGPT, you know how fast AI can summarise and analyse data. Now, that same power is built into your laptop, helping with tasks like voice transcription, image generation, and smart automation - all in real-time. TOPS will soon be a common term in tech as AI becomes a more significant part of everyday computing. Confused by tech jargon? We’re here to decode your desktop, give you a laptop lowdown, and tame your tablet talk.

roll back over the floor and return to its charging station, where, after just two hours, it was ready to hit the next room. The only stumbling block for consumers was the price tag. It retailed for a quite considerable US$1795. If you convert that into Australian dollars and allow for 24 years of inflation, it equates to a staggering five thousand bucks! While the price was enough to deter most, the Trilobite provided a blueprint that is still used today. It is widely considered the first commercially available robot vacuum cleaner.

Are you looking to update your existing camera, add some equipment to your arsenal, or just check in to see what the latest tech is in the world of cameras? We’ve got you covered in our April camera bonanza issue. On The Radar

MARCH 2025

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