STACK #252 October 2025

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Today’s tech that the movies predicted first

Total Recall (1990) Johnnycab, the robotic taxi in Total Recall , humorously imagined driverless transport but shaped public perception of automation. Its depiction of vehicles without human drivers sparked debate and inspired innovators, influencing the vision and development of today’s autonomous vehicles and contributing to the cultural groundwork for driverless technology.

OCTOBER 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.

The term Wi-Fi doesn’t actually stand for anything. It was conceived as a term to make the standard IEEE 802.11b Direct Sequence sound less like tongue-tangled tech jargon. DYK?

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

EDITOR’S CHOICE

1915

What was the hottest tech in…

JBL Tour One M3 – Review JBL’s new premium range Tour One M3 headphones successfully go toe-to-toe with Sony and Bose. Comfort is a highlight:

One of the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly and popular modes of transport in 2025 is the ubiquitous electric kick-scooter. However, 110 years earlier, its somewhat noisier and smellier predecessor was powering around the streets of New York. Conceived by Arthur Hugo Cecil Gibson and built by the Autoped

plush earcups, lightweight design, and perfect clamp pressure make these ideal for all-day wear. Controls blend touch and physical buttons – volume rocker,

Company of Long Island City, the pioneering machine, known as, erm, the Autoped, was one of the first mass-produced motorised scooters. Cars were for the select few in 1915, so the budget-friendly Autoped was aimed squarely at the bustling urbanite who wanted to beat horse-drawn traffic without the expense of a car or even a motorbike.

power slide, ANC toggle, and a touch panel for easy playback. The star feature is the Smart TX – a

Its design was charmingly simple: a sturdy footboard, wide handlebars, and a single-cylinder 1.5-horsepower engine perched above the front wheel. Push the steering column forward

sleek touchscreen remote that lets you adjust EQ, control music, answer calls, and even use it as a handy torch. Auracast support lets friends wirelessly share your playlist, while a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter connects to legacy devices like old gaming consoles or airplane entertainment systems.

On The Radar

and you’d roar off at up to 20 mph; pull it back and you’d coast to a stop. It was ingenious,

Sound is rich and balanced, with JBL Pro Sound and wireless Hi-Res Audio delivering clear highs, natural mids, and punchy but controlled bass. Adaptive noise cancelling adjusts to your environment, while TalkThru mode lets you chat without taking off the headphones. Battery life is impressive – up to 70 hours without ANC, or 40 with it, plus a quick ten minute charge gives five extra hours. Perfect for travel, work, or relaxing at home, the Tour One M3 impresses on every front.

compact, and offered a great way to traverse the city streets with relative ease. The Autoped’s marketing was as bold as its engineering. Advertisements featured businesspeople commuting with ease, postal workers zipping through traffic, and, strikingly for 1915, women riding confidently in long coats – a subtle rebellion against the era’s social norms. Though it never became a runaway hit, the Autoped left a lasting legacy. It planted the seed for Vespa scooters, commuter mopeds, and today’s relatively quieter electric kick-scooter revolution.

Are you looking to start a smart home? Maybe you’ve begun the journey

already and are looking to increase the smart devices around the house? Smart lighting, video doorbells, CCTV cameras and even smart devices can all add convenience and even energy savings for our busy households. Next month, we’re going to lift the lid on the latest technology

in the smart home space and what’s available in-store that can bring your home into the 21st century.

30 OCTOBER 2025

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