STACK #228 October 2023

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STACK ’ s TECH tips

How many of us still use a football team, a birthday, a pet’s name, or, perish the thought, the word ‘Password’ as our password? Well, that’s understandable – it’s

thought that the average internet user has over 100 logins with passwords. Experts

predict criminals with the right automated

tools can crack a simple password in seconds.The general rule for a

OCTOBER

strong password is the longer, the better with a combination of

uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. But if all that sounds too much, it’s probably time to consider a Password Manager.These apps generate strong passwords for all your logins using strong encryption, and they’re stored in a digital vault that can only be accessed with one master password. When you revisit these sites, the passwords are automatically filled, taking the hard work out of trying to remember them all.

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.

What tech has been floating the boat of the writers at STACK recently? You can find it right here every month.

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Audio-Technica Sound Burger Taking an idea that first surfaced at the retail counter in 1983 and bringing it back to life 40 years later sounds like a tall ask, but that’s the story of Audio-Technica’s portable Sound Burger turntable. While its mobility is appealing, the Sound Burger’s small footprint makes it a viable option for anyone who wants to listen to records but might not have the space for a full-sized turntable. Belt-driven and weighing only 900g, it has a line-out and USB-C port at the rear and a Bluetooth pairing button on the side. It opens like a burger, with the record being the patty, spinning discs at 45 and 33rpm. A rechargeable battery holds about 12 hours of play when away from the mains. The Sound Burger supports both wired and Bluetooth connectivity. Hooking up to a Bluetooth speaker is a cinch, and for a more personalised experience, the Sound Burger can connect to wireless earbuds and headphones. A real head turner, the Sound Burger combines modern technology with a retro aesthetic to deliver an excellent performing turntable.

1994

What was the hottest tech in…

D ecades before connected wrist technology became the norm in households across the globe, an idea co-developed

DYK?

by Microsoft brought the future to 1994. Often called the world’s first smartwatch, the Timex Datalink was designed as an alternative to personal

There are approximately 9 billion Google searches every day. The current most asked

Google questions are, “What to watch?” and “What is my IP.”

digital assistants (PDAs), bringing many cool features to the package. To download information from a PC to the Datalink, an optical sensor sited at the top of the watch face received data transmitted from cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors in flashing light pulses. The watch just needed to be held 20 cm from the monitor. Negating the need for

fiddly little keys, the simplicity of transferring data wirelessly appealed to its users. Out of the box, the Datalink was compatible with Windows 3.1 and ‘future-proofed’ for upcoming Windows updates. A Datalink owner could download alarms, appointments, lists, anniversaries, and phone numbers with all the information retained and accessed with one glance at the wrist. Retailing for $130 in 1994 (around AU$415 in 2023), the Timex Datalink, adopted by NASA astronauts in the mid-90s, was way ahead of its time.

Is it time you got into home automation? Want tech to take some of the stress out of day-to-day living? Well, in our November issue, we’ll look at the latest innovations and products in the smart home space. On The Radar

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