China’s salty that Australia’s making it hard for their businesses to maintain 4G networks here
Australian Human Rights Commission wants to pause the use of facial recognition technology
Short little bits of news
The easy way to set up a fancy PXE boot server with multiple Linux distro options
Cheap Pioneer speakers, JB Hi-Fi gift cards with Telstra mobile plans, Tenda smart plugs, Optus 500GB/m data plans, 10% off Google Play & Kogan gift cards
China has complained to the World Trade Organisation about Australia allegedly expanding its ban on Huawei and ZTE products beyond 5G. Some of the things China is salty about include "preventing 4G maintenance staff from Chinese suppliers from entering sites also hosting 5G technology and prohibiting existing 4G networks operated by Chinese equipment suppliers from transferring data sent by 5G base stations". According to telco consultant Paul Budde, if a base station has 5G from a different provider (e.g: Ericsson) and the 4G stuff is Huawei, it's technically illegal for Huawei staff to maintain the 4G stuff that was installed prior to the 5G ban. Sounds like a pain in the arse for the telcos (except Telstra, which never had Huawei/ZTE infrastcuture).
The Australian Human Rights Commission wants a "legal moratorium on the use of facial recognition technology in decision making that has a legal, or similarly significant, effect for individuals". In their latest discussion paper on the topic of human rights and technology, they outline their concern that "the current underlying technology is prone to serious error, and this error is often more likely for people of colour, women and people with disability, among others". Even California has banned law enforcement from using facial recognition for the same reasons and you'd think of all the places that would be into using technology to solve problems, it would be them! Unfortunately our government rarely listens to AHRC's suggestions so expect botched facial recognition programs to roll out across the country despite the evidence saying to leave that feature turned off.
PewDiePie is taking a break from YouTube because he is tired. He didn't say how long for, but he will be back (unfortunately? That's mean of me)
The Medicare card details of 3 former AFP commissioners were available to buy on the Dark Web back in 2017.
Apple Arcade has a cheaper yearly subscription option now. Instead of $7.99/m, you can pay $79.99 a year. Not sure if this is live in Australia yet.
Turkey has joined the list of countries where it's illegal for Google to bundle its services on Android smartphones.
Singapore's used its fresh anti-fake news law to force opposition politicians into "correcting" their Facebook posts.
Linuxserver.io has released a very nifty PXE boot image inside a Docker container that lets you choose which Linux distro you want to install. If you're sick of having to download an ISO and write it to a USB drive every time you want to use a new machine or whatever, netboox.xyz makes it a piece of cake. It'll grab the latest version of that distro and start the install process automatically. The Docker container has the TFTP server ready to go and a web interface for configuring any custom images (e.g: maybe you want a specific version, or a specific machine to use a specific image). If you've been put off setting up a PXE boot setup at home (like me) because it looked like a pain in the arse, this could be worth a look. It installs just like any other Docker container if you're running a Synology NAS or Unraid server, etc.
Pioneer SPFS52 floor standing speakers (pair) - $299 from Kogan
$500 JB Hi-Fi gift card if you go on a 12m Telstra $65/m 60gb data contract (works out to just $23.34/m)
Tenda SP3 Smart Wi-Fi Plug - $12.98 from Apus Express eBay store
Optus has 500GB/m 4G plans (uncapped speeds) for $68/m
10% off Google Play & Kogan gift cards at Woolworths starting tomorrow
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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.