STACK #224 June 2023

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STACK ’ s TECH tips

Printer hassles? We all have them. But before you send out an SOS for a costly technician, try these troubleshooting tips.

TECH

It sounds obvious, but we all know rebooting a device can be the tech panacea we seek, right? Start here. Uninstall and then reinstall the printer. If print quality is the issue, run an ink test, check the print settings, and scan the head for dried ink that might be clogging it. For printers connected via cable, check that these are firmly in place. And in turn, ensure the printer is connected via Wi-Fi if you’re using a wireless connection. Ensure the latest version of the driver for your printer is installed. Clear the printer queue. Before you part with your hard-earned, turn to your search engine.

JUNE

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 ROVING REPORTER

SCOTT HOCKING STACK ’s Tech Editor

1981

What was the hottest tech in…

What tech can you not live without? As a die-hard movie buff, I would be lost without my big Samsung QLED TV and Panasonic UB-820 4K Blu-ray player. How tech-savvy are you? I’ve always had an interest in and basic understanding of most tech. The role of STACK Tech Editor has since given me a valuable insight into the full gamut of consumer technology and how incredibly quickly it’s advancing. And it’s also taught me how to properly set up a smart home. What tech changed your life? The VCR. It was the best invention ever! Being able to watch movies at home and record my favourite TV shows was a dream come true. It nurtured my love of films and turned me into a movie reviewer and videophile. Your biggest tech fail is? A few years ago I connected a Dolby Atmos soundbar to my TV, only to be completely underwhelmed by the sound quality when watching 4K discs. I hadn’t set the audio output to bitstream in the player’s settings, or changed the TV’s audio setting to eARC. Once I solved the problem, wow, what a difference! What tech don’t you have but want? A premium, ultra short throw 4K projector. The fact that a projector’s image quality now rivals the best TVs is catnip for film fans. What a time to be alive!

Despite its generic appearance, the IBM 5150 was a revolutionary bit of kit. IBM, a company with a track record in the corporate computer world, had its eye on the emerging ‘microcomputer’ market and set 12 of its brightest young engineers to work. In 12 months, the result would be a computer that completely changed the playing field. To expedite the manufacturing process, IBM employed a radical production concept for the time and

used existing third-party off-the-shelf components. It incorporated Intel’s 8088 computer processor and gave the fledgling start-up Microsoft a leg up by utilising its operating system, PC-DOS. The base model would ship for $1565 ($7690 AU today) with no monitor, no floppy drive, and just 16K of RAM. engineer the architecture and design their own PC – which hordes summarily did without recourse. The 5150 was an overnight success, with IBM shifting 40,000 PCs monthly. And while the open architecture decision would eventually cost IBM dearly, it would create the industry standard we still recognise over 40 years later. This ‘open platform’ design meant that anyone could build add-ons or reverse

On The Radar

Earbuds or headphones? What is the latest Bluetooth standard? Should you be excited about spatial audio? Why are portable speakers a must? Do you know your aptX from your AAC? In June, we’re

going deep into our annual audio showcase, where you’ll find all these answers and more.

26 JUNE 2023

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