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STACK ’ s TECH tips

Headphones Your headphones come in a case for a reason. It protects them from dust and the elements or any unwanted prying little fingers. If the headphones you buy don’t come in a case, you can pick one up cheaply. Humidity and moisture are the enemies of headphones that don’t have a high IPX rating. Wipe off any sweat after use, and if they do get wet, ensure they are completely dry before putting them away. Regularly cleaning earpads is essential, especially if more than one person is wearing them. Use a damp, soft cloth (or unscented baby wipes) and mild soap, towel off, and leave to dry naturally. Earbuds As with headphones, keep your earbuds in the case they come in when not in use. A build-up of ear wax can damage the earbud and affect the all-important audio, so regularly clean it with a warm damp cloth. You want to avoid getting to the stage where you need to use a toothpick or Blu Tack to remove the wax. Removable ear tips can be cleaned in warm water with mild soap and left to dry. Keeping your headphones and earbuds clean will ensure a longer life for your favourite devices. Wherever possible, follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions, but the following tips will help you on the road to ear gear preservation.

TECH

JULY

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

JENNIFER HOLMES @ JB Bourke St, VIC

1979

What was the hottest tech in…

What tech can you not live without? Ever since I begrudgingly started streaming a few years after it became the norm, I purchased an Apple TV, hosting a world of movies and TV. Although movies are great to own, it’s good to explore the content that apps have to offer. How tech-savvy are you? I’m always asking questions about technology because it’s always growing and changing in my workplace. Some things work, and others don’t, but it all comes down to just appreciating that we are lucky to live in a world where we have access to so many things to connect us. What tech changed your life? For my 21st birthday, I requested vouchers to purchase my first digital camera. Digital cameras were in the heat on the news; people were concerned about being able to falsify images and questioned whether digital cameras would last. However, they did, and I still have my old red Fujifilm camera as a relic from those times. Not having to process film and wait to see the picture blew our minds! Your biggest tech fail is? Buying a notebook computer with very little space to save any documents but upgrading that to a Microsoft Surface turned that fail into a win!

In 2023, we take listening to our favourite artists when we’re out and about for granted. Practically every song we can think of is accessible at a touch of a screen on a device so small it can fit comfortably in a pocket. And to add to the convenience, our headphones and earbuds are wireless. However, playing music on the move before 1979 either involved a ghetto blaster, a weighty cassette player on a strap, or a car. That all changed when Masaru Ibuka, one

of the co-founders of Sony, requested a small portable stereo device with playback only

so he could privately listen to opera during long flights. The revolutionary Sony Walkman was born. It was released on July 1, 1979, for 33,000 yen (around 540x Aussie dollars in 2023). Sony put an initial sales forecast of 5,000 units a month but sold 30,000 in the first two months. By the end of the year, the Sony Walkman was introduced to the US, where it soon became the most desired consumer tech device on the planet.

On The Radar

In August, we’re taking a big look at the small appliances around the house. From coffee machines to air fryers, we’ve got the skinny

What tech don’t you have but want? I’ve had my eye on the Polaroid Now i-type instant camera. The sleek retro exterior stands out in the vast field of Polaroid cameras and hosts a range of modern features you’d find on a digital so you can balance quality with fun!

on it all in one giant, all encompassing feature.

JULY 2023

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