STACK #216 October 2022

visit stack.com.au

OCTOBER LIFE TECH 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.

STACK ’ s TECH tips

PRESERVE YOUR SMARTWATCH BATTERY Your average smartwatch battery will last for at least a day, but there are some pointers users can employ to extend that.

Firstly, disable any unnecessary notifications. If your wrist is being pinged every five minutes with social media notifications, you’ll expedite the use of power. If it’s an option, turn down the brightness

on your smartwatch and disable any ‘always-on’ displays. Most new smartwatches will offer

an energy-saving option, so ensure that’s enabled. And finally, kill any voice assistants as these will draw power from the battery, and uninstall any apps on the smartwatch that are no longer used.

1980

Do you have a tech horror story? Has tech come back to ‘byte’ you hard? Have you sent a text to the wrong person or deleted your employer’s hard drive by accident?Well, we want to hear about it. Send your terror byte to editor@stack.com.au This month, Mario A recalls his tech nightmare. I had just started a photography course after leaving school in 2007 and worked on the weekends as a photographer/videographer’s assistant. One Saturday afternoon, we were covering a big client’s daughter’s wedding. All the stops were pulled out with top-level production, and for the first time, given the size of the shoot, he asked me to shoot the bridal party getting ready, arriving, and entering the venue. Super nervous, I prepped my camera, drove to the bride’s house, and began shooting for the best part of an hour. Later I left the boss

What was the hottest tech in…

Back in the early ‘80s, a Casio calculator watch was considered the apex of tech trends – just ask Marty McFly. A guaranteed head-turner and the envy of all kids who couldn’t afford one, having one of these strapped to your wrist was a status symbol, a wearable declaration

of someone embracing future frontiers. It would also influence the concept of smartwatches. Kids would pretend calculator watches were Star Trek transponders, sneak them into school, attempt to get the upper hand in

maths exams, and simulate making phone calls on them. Although not the first to market, the Casio C-80 was released

to finish the night and took most of the equipment back to the studio. There, I realised I’d forgotten to load an SD card into my camera. My stomach dropped out of me. I thought about deep scratching an SD card and blaming the loss on a corrupted unit, but in the end, I opted to tell the boss straight up what had happened. Needless to say, I lost the gig, but I’ve never forgotten an SD card again.

On The Radar

in 1980. However, what it offered over its competitors

were buttons that could be, somewhat awkwardly, pressed with fingers. Up until then, calculator watches would be operated with a stylus. Made from plastic, it retailed for a relatively reasonable $75 in the US (about AU$400 today). Its popularity, not just on the street but on the screen, also triggered an insatiable desire for calculator watches. Now considered part of the ‘80s zeitgeist, original C-80s in good condition are highly sought after.

Do you want your lights to spring to life as you wake in the morning, married to your favourite playlist to kickstart the day? How about a smart lock on the front door for keyless access, or wireless security cameras to protect your property while you’re out? In our November issue, we’re delving into the smart home, and we’ll show you just how easy it is to set one up.

42 OCTOBER 2022

jbhifi.com.au