China busted using Twitter & Facebook to spread bullshit about HK protests
Disney+ to launch in Australia on November 19th
Reddit starts allowing users to live stream video of themselves
Domestic batteries to store excess solar power still aren’t worth it
Cheap refurb smartphones, Bose 700 headphones, Google Home Max, Logitech Harmony Elite, TP-Link C5400X wi-fi router, Mi Smart Band 4
Twitter and Facebook have shut down Chinese government disinformation campaigns regarding Hong Kong protests running on their platform. According to Twitter, 936 accounts "were deliberately and specifically attempting to sow political discord in Hong Kong, including undermining the legitimacy and political positions of the protest movement on the ground" and almost 200,000 accounts were doing similar things, but on a smaller scale and shut down by Twitter as part of their usual anti-spam procedures. Facebook was tipped off by Twitter about the Chinese disinformation campaign and closed down "5 Facebook accounts, 7 Pages and 3 Groups".
Australia has ended up in the first group of countries to get Disney+, Disney's new streaming media service. It'll cost $8.99/m or $89.99/yr, which isn't too bad considering the mega cache of content Disney owns (20th Century Fox, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, ESPN, National Geographic, ABC TV and obviously Disney itself). You'll be able to give Mickey your credit card on November 19th. Americans will be able to hand over a bit more cash and get Hulu and ESPN bundled in with Disney, but no word if Australians will be able to do the same. Also not sure what it means for all the Disney stuff on Stan.
Reddit's getting in on the live video streaming game, creating the "Reddit Public Access Network" - a new place to metaphorically drop your pants to the entire world for pennies. According to the article, Reddit is being "incredibly judicious with the rollout of RPAN" with policies like getting "quarantined" if you do stuff that "average redditors may find highly offensive or upsetting, or which promotes hoaxes" and employing dedicated moderators to oversee streams, which are only allowed during 9AM to 5PM California time and limiting the number of “slots” available to stream. You can find out more about RPAN at /r/pan.
Solar Quotes has a useful article and video comparing the financial return of solar panels on your roof compared to the same solar panels attached to a battery. Unfortunately a battery hooked up to your house is just way too expensive right now to ever pay itself back - a Tesla Powerwall 2 for example, is about $16,000 installed and has a warranty for 10 years. There's basically no way you'll save $16,000 worth of electricity during that battery's lifetime. By all means buy one if you think it's cool and you want to reduce your reliance on the dirty grid (particularly in VIC, NSW & QLD), but it won't save you money.
Boost is selling refurbished smartphones at 10% off (e.g: iPhone SE for $215.10) and throwing in a $30 SIM.
Pre-order a pair of Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 for $495 from Addicted to Audio.
JB Hi-Fi will be selling the Google Home Max for $279 later this week.
They're also selling the Logitech Harmony Elite universal remote for $287.95.
Use the code PAPA20 to get the TP-Link Archer C5400X wi-fi router for $399.20 delivered.
The Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4 is $47.96 from the official Australian Mi eBay store, also using the code PAPA20.
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The Sizzle is created on Wathaurong land and acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, recognising their continuing connection to land, water and community. I pay my respect to them and their cultures and to elders both past and present.