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TECH LIFE DECEMBER

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STACK ’ s TECH TipS

“W hat do you want for Christmas?“. It‘s the same question many of us are asked every year. If you‘re anything like us, it‘s promptly followed by aimlessly staring into space before being countered with a predictably despondent “I don‘t know.“ Hence the reason we‘ve pulled together this whopping tech gift guide this month. You‘ll find 100 of our favourite tech picks spread across multiple categories, catering to all tastes and interests. Allow us to take the hassle out of your Christmas shopping headaches this year.

1 Set up a wireless camera to monitor your house. You can pick one up relatively cheaply and set push notifications to send an alert when movement is sensed. Alternatively, fit a couple of smart bulbs and set up an evening schedule that will simulate occupancy. 2 Don't post holiday pics on social media apps while you're away – nothing shouts an opportunity to a burglar more than confirmation you're up in Noosa for a week. 3 It's tempting to piggyback public Wi- Fi wherever possible, but avoid it like the in-laws. These can be a springboard for criminals to embark on malware attacks and steal your data. Ensure that your auto-connect to a Wi-Fi network is switched off in your smartphone settings. If you have a generous plan, choose mobile data or use a VPN and encrypt your data if you have to rely on a public network. 4 Invest in a decent pair of noise- cancelling headphones or earbuds. These are great for cutting out the constant noise of travel, loud neighbours in hotels, and even your children. 5 A smartwatch with LTE support will enable you to head off with your tunes on a glorious walk on the beach, unencumbered by a bulky smartphone. You can also track all your essential health and fitness stats in the process. 6 Don't forget to pack your favourite media streaming adaptor so you can binge on essential TV shows in paradise. 7 Remember to pack all the relevant chargers and cables you need for all your tech devices to make the getaway as stress-free as possible. 8 And finally, a portable power bank is your best friend while you're away from a power source. Keep it fully charged and ready to roll. to get away over Christmas. If that's you, here are some tech essentials and tips you might find helpful. Have a great holiday! After a long, arduous year, many Australian families will be looking

After six long weeks at home, the words' back to school' ring sweetly in parents' ears like a chorus of angels. So along with a new slew of school uniforms come the necessary tech requirements to start a new year. We'll have all the essentials and more so you can kick off 2022 with confidence. And hopefully no more homeschooling… On The Radar

What was the hottest tech in… 2004 It's hard to imagine reaching an address across the other side of the city using nothing but a dogeared street directory. But that struggle was once a very real proposition. Wrong turns, road changes, and missing pages, it was the stuff of nightmares. All that changed in 2004 when TomTom, a company initially formed in 1991, released the TomTom Go, and the satnav era arrived. Retailing for a rather costly $1460 in today's money, the personal satellite navigation device with

calm voice directions completely revolutionised the car journey. Snapped up in record numbers, the days of heated in-car arguments and delivery driver exasperation were a thing of the past. However, the arrival of the smartphone and the introduction of the Google Maps app just four short years later swiftly curbed the meteoric rise of the satnav. Now all smartphone users had the keys to the city right in their back pocket.

44 DECEMBER 2021

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