There is no doubt that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has captured global imagination and attention. But in the business world, the rate of adoption of artificial intelligence has lagged behind the level of interest through 2019. Even though we hear that most business leaders believe AI provides a competitive advantage, up until recently, some industry watchers have pegged enterprise adoption at between 4% and 14%.
But as we enter 2020, we are seeing an uptick, not only in interest but in AI adoption. And that uptick is reflected in the results of a new survey commissioned by IBM in late 2019. From Roadblock to Scale: The Global Sprint Towards AI polled more than 4,500 technology decision makers – including over 500 from the UK. We wanted to gauge the current and future states of AI deployment to better understand the landscape and the challenges. As you’ll see, it’s about to change dramatically.
AI Adoption on the Rise
UK results from the survey indicate that while there is still work to be done, advances in data discovery and IT management, skills training and new innovations in AI explainability are driving the rate of AI adoption faster than many predicted.
Slightly over one in five (21%) of the UK audience surveyed report that their company has actively deployed AI as part of business operations, while nearly half (46%) say that their company is exploring but have not yet deployed AI. These numbers are significantly higher than some industry watchers have estimated to date. Some of the more telling data points from the UK survey include:
Skills. Major roadblocks are still holding companies back from the benefits of AI. Among respondents, 38% cite limited AI expertise or knowledge as a hindrance from successful AI adoption at their business, with increasing data complexities and siloed data (26%) and lack of tools for developing AI models (21%) following close behind.
Trust. Trust is part of the bedrock of AI’s deployment - almost 70% of respondents in the UK say it is very or critically important that they can trust that their AI’s output is fair, safe, and reliable. It is also clear that ‘breaking open the black box’ of AI is key – with 74% of respondents saying that being able to explain how AI arrived at a decision is important.
Business Need. Over half of respondents (55%) cited that business needs are driving AI adoption within their organisations, followed by competitive pressure (38%) and directives from leadership (30%).
The AI Journey Streams Across the Business World
Based on our interactions and the results of this study, we expect to see organisations not only adopt AI – but scale it across their enterprises, by building/developing their own AI, or putting ready-made AI applications to work in a multitude of ways. Specifically, the UK audience cites data security (34%), process automation (25%), and customer care (22%) as the top three ways that AI is being used by their organisations.
I see the excitement building with clients every day as they realize the potential of AI. Just last year we announced that SPF Private Clients, one of the UK’s leading financial services firms, has adopted IBM Watson and IBM Cloud to develop Ava, a new AI virtual Help-to-Buy mortgage adviser. Ava helps first time home buyers onto the property ladder by offering round the clock support for queries and a mortgage indication in just three minutes.
When I look at insights from the report, which was conducted by the firm Morning Consult, and think about my interactions with clients, the roadblocks to AI adoption have been a prime concern. They’re the reason we’ve worked to lower the barriers of entry and make AI more accessible to businesses.
It’s why we have invested in building capability in our services teams across Europe and launched the Data Science Elite Team in 2018, to build a global group of experienced technical professionals who help companies solve and scale AI solutions to real problems. It’s what drove us to introduce innovations like Watson OpenScale, to help mitigate bias in AI models; Watson AutoAI, which literally uses AI to build AI models; and it’s what led us to create the first-of-its-kind container-based data analytics platform, Cloud Pak for Data, that lets people run Watson with any cloud services.
We’ve also, taken skills training and support to whole new levels, with robust data science work with several open source standards bodies, such as The Open Group and The Linux Foundation. And in response to the need for transparency and explainability in AI, IBM has been directly involved in working with The European Commission to shape its Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI designed to set a global standard in advancing AI ethically and responsibly.
There is no doubt that 2019 was a productive year for AI, but 2020 is shaping up to bring an exciting new level of commitment and with it, exciting new outcomes for business and society.
If you were a fan of the Samsung Galaxy Fold from 2019, you can rejoice, because Samsung has not one but multiple foldable phones in the works that will be released over the course of 2020.
This news comes from Samsung itself, albeit in a cryptic way. The company recently posted an analysis of its 2019 earnings to its newsroom, and there are multiple references to 'new foldable devices' and 'foldable models'. The fact that 'devices' and 'models' are both pluralized tells us everything we need to know.
The post also confirms the company will be 'introducing new designs for foldable products', so rumors of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip clamshell device might not be far-fetched.
We were expecting the Galaxy Z Flip foldable phone to be unveiled alongside the Samsung Galaxy S20 on February 11, with a release date shortly afterwards. We've also heard a Samsung Galaxy Fold 2, succeeding the company's first foldable phone, could come along later in the year.
Even more foldable phones
When we heard those rumors, especially the latter one, we weren't totally sure, since that sounded like a lot of foldables for one year, but this confirmation from Samsung suggests we could actually see a variety of foldable phones in 2020.
Could there be more foldable phones than just the Galaxy Fold 2 and Galaxy Z Flip coming from Samsung in 2020? The name 'Galaxy Bloom' has been circulated, and while we initially thought that was merely a code name for one of the aforementioned devices, there have also been suggestions it could be a unique device.
On top of that, several smartphone companies are expected to launch Z-style foldables which have two hinges to fold in the shape of a Z, and it's completely possible Samsung could have such a handset in the works too.
Though with the obvious Z Flip name being used for a different design it will be interesting to see what Samsung would call such a device.
Test footage of the canceled Star Wars TV show Underworld has surfaced on YouTube. The show, which George Lucas apparently wanted to be 100 episodes long, was first discussed after the release of Revenge of the Sith in 2005, and was officially put on hold in 2010 due to budget restrictions.
It shows Star Wars as you've never seen it before: a Blade Runner or Cyberpunk 2077-esque vision of Coruscant with bright lights, flying cars and an underground resistance movement forming against the Empire. With citizens going to desperate measures to stop the Empire, it might also remind you a little of Saw Gerrera's fighters in Rogue One.
Check it out:
There's roughly five minutes of test footage and five minutes showing how the short show was made. This was likely created as a proof-of-concept – the effects studio mentioned above, Stargate, has worked on everything from the Jennifer Lopez movie Hustlers to ABC show The Walking Dead.
Polygon points out that it's actually been on the Vimeo page of effects studio's Vimeo page for nine years – but this is the first time most people have seen it. Both the test footage and making of footage have been removed from Vimeo in the meantime, so it's possible this won't remain on the internet for long.
It's rumored that 50-100 scripts were written for Star Wars: Underworld, and you can see why the TV landscape of the late 2000s wasn't ready for a show like this. It looks very expensive, and this was from the era before 'Peak TV', where TV show budgets would escalate in an arms race between streaming services and traditional networks.
It's a very different proposition to something like The Mandalorian, which even with its quieter adventures on mostly empty planets, reportedly costs $15 million an episode. So the idea of anyone making 50 episodes of a show set in a cyberpunk world to this standard feels unlikely even now.
After Disney bought Lucasfilm, talk of Underworld mostly went away. The acquisition coincided with the cancelation of third-person shooter Star Wars 1313, which would have explored a similar part of the universe.
The show would have featured Emperor Palpatine in some capacity, according to a 2016 interview with God of War's creative director Cory Barlog. The scripts for Star Wars: Underworld actually helped inspire that game, largely considered one of the greatest blockbusters of the past generation.
So, at least Underworld's demise wasn't entirely in vain.
Apple is on the verge of releasing its first-ever wireless over-ear headphones, according to KGI Securities analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo.
A report from Kuo (via 9to5Mac), who correctly predicted the release of the upgraded Apple AirPods and the AirPods Pro in 2019, says that the wireless headphones will launch alongside a number of new products in the first half of 2020.
That means we could see the Apple over-ear headphones at WWDC in June. Saying that, Apple has been known to hold launches far earlier in the year, revealing Apple Arcade and Apple TV Plus in March 2019, as well as the upgraded AirPods. In fact, the company has held March product launches in four of the last five years (2019, 2018, 2016, and 2015), so it wouldn't be out of the question to expect the new headphones in a matter of weeks, rather than months.
Looking for noise cancellation? Check out the AirPods Pro
Kuo claims that the next few months will see in the anticipated iPhone SE 2, a new iPad Pro and MacBooks with scissor keys, as well as a "smaller wireless charging mat, UWB tag, and a high-end Bluetooth headphone" from Apple.
The UWB tag is something we've been hearing about for a while now, with the supposed upcoming Apple accessory designed to help you "tag your everyday items" and "never lose them again" – putting the company in direct competition with Tile.
What can we expect from Apple headphones?
Kuo's report doesn't offer any other insight into the rumored Apple headphones, but it's something the respected analyst has been predicting for a long time; in 2018, he claimed that Apple was working on updated AirPods (which was proven true) and some "own-brand, high-end over-ear headphones with an all-new design".
As wireless headphones, we're expecting to see the same H1 headphone chip that’s built-in to the AirPods (2019) and the PowerBeats Pro. It's designed to improve connectivity and battery life, and allows for a new 'Hey Siri' voice activation feature in the upgraded AirPods – all of which we would like to see in any future Apple over-ear headphones.
In terms of sound, it could be that the new Apple StudioPods take inspiration from the over-ear headphones already offered by Beats like the Beats Solo Pro; arguably the best headphones the brand's offered to date, they offer a more natural soundstage than their bassier predecessors.
If Apple wants its StudioPods to compete with the best over-ear headphones on the market, it should take a leaf out of Sony’s book, and offer the same high-standard of noise cancellation provided by the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Headphones, too.
We'd also like to see an evolution of Apple's classic design with their rumored over-ear headphones, with smooth, clean lines, premium materials, and a minimalist look without lots of bulky hardware ruining the effect.
German tech publication Curved mocked up its own concept illustrations of what the headphones might look like, as seen in the images above.
The illustrations from Curved are based on the look of the Apple HomePod, framed by "the same textile mix as Apple’s smart speaker". They also take inspiration from Beats headphones in terms of their shape and build, but swaps the Beats logo for Apple’s own hallmark – although we're not sure such abundant use of color is likely from the brand that has only ever made white audio accessories so far.
OnePlus is now officially a member of the Wireless Power Consortium, the promoter group of various wireless charging standards. It pretty much implies that future OnePlus devices could also support wireless charging.
OnePlus has long been skipping wireless charging on its flagships, stating speed and convenience to not be at acceptable levels. It has been one of the few notable omissions on its seemingly complete flagship smartphones each year, especially since it moved to glass backs from metal a few years ago. It seems like that is about to change.
The WPC is one of the biggest standards development groups with over 500 member companies from around the world, working towards worldwide compatibility of all wireless chargers and wireless power sources. The applications primarily include three interface standards — Qi, Cordless Kitchen, and Medium Power.
Qi wireless charging (pronounced as chee), as you may recognize, is the most popular standard for inductive charging on smartphones. It uses a charging pad that can charge compatible devices when placed on it. The group already has smartphone manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Google, Xiaomi, etc. as members. Being a full member is a requisite to be able to use any of the charging standards mentioned above.
With OnePlus now joining the fray, it is almost sure that future devices from the Chinese company will also support wireless charging. It remains to be seen if the upcoming OnePlus 8 family will be Qi-enabled, or if we will have to wait for a little longer. OnePlus seems to have joined the Wireless Power Consortium only recently, which could suggest that it may be a little late for the upcoming smartphones. Perhaps we will see its debut on an accessory.
This last-four Australian Open showdown pits two European players who came into the tournament with next to no expectation, yet have flourished over the course of the fortnight. There's a place in the final against defending champ Novak Djokovic up for grabs, but which player will take their opportunity? Its a match you'll be able to watch as it happens from anywhere in the world with our Thiem v Zverev live stream guide.
Austria's Dominic Thiem delivered one of the performance of the Open so far to beat world number one Rafael Nadal in their quarter-final match, while Germany's Alexander Zverev edged past Stan Wawrinka over four sets to reach the semi-finals.
Thiem comes into the match as favourite, with a dominant 6-2 head-to-head record over Zverev.
The German will be looking to be far more competitive than their encounter in a semis of the ATP Finals back in November, which Thiem ease his way to a straight sets victory.
Make sure you don't miss any of this 2020 Australian Open semi-final by following our Thiem vs Zverev live stream guide below - it doesn't even matter where on Earth you are.
Live stream Australian Open 2020 from outside your country
If you're trying to discover what your watching options are in Australia, the US, UK, Canada or New Zealand, we have all that information on this tennis live stream guide.
But if you're away from your country and still want to catch your usual broadcaster's coverage then prepare to be disappointed if you try to watch online, is you'll likely get an error message describing the fact the tennis action is unable to be watched from overseas.
How to watch Thiem vs Zverev with a US live stream
Virat Kohli's army in blue marches on and, with four T20 cricket wins already secured over New Zealand in the last week, it will now be seeking the full whitewash of the Black Caps. To make sure you don't miss a single six or wicket, we've put together this guide to getting a New Zealand vs India live stream from pretty much anywhere in the world.
New Zealand came into this five-match series looking to bounce back after a 3-0 test thrashing to great rivals Australia and a Super Over loss to England in their last T20I. But visitors India chased down pretty gettable targets twice in succession, before sealing the series with not one but two ridiculously exciting Super Overs.
Despite having to contend with a lengthy injury list, the Black Caps still boast a strong squad, but will their second string be enough to knock a rampart India off their stride? Key players Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson, along with Tom Latham and Matt Henry are all missing for the hosts, but there's a recall for paceman Hamish Bennett. Another plus for the Black Caps will be the return of Kane Williamson who will lead the side after missing out on the series against England.
While not as severe as their opponents, India have their own injury problems, with Ishant Sharma set to miss the series after turning his ankle. Mohammed Shami comes into the bolster the bowling attack, but otherwise its a largely unchanged Indian side from the one that saw them ease past Sri Lanka in their last T20 outing at the start of the year.
Follow the instructions below to find out how to grab a New Zealand vs India live stream from pretty much anywhere on Earth and see which side can gather momentum ahead of the World Cup later in the year.
Live stream New Zealand vs India from outside your country
In India, New Zealand, Australia, or the UK and looking to find out how to watch the T20 matches between New Zealand vs India? We've got all the details about the broadcaster with the rights to show the series in your region below.
But if you're away from home country - maybe abroad on business or on holiday - but still want to tune in to your domestic coverage of the match then you'll run in to issues. Because of broadcaster geo-blocking, you won't be able to watch online from overseas. By using a VPN however, you'll be able to watch the game without having to resort to watching a potentially illegal feed from a dodgy Reddit link.
How to watch the T20 cricket series in India
How to watch a live stream of the Blackcaps in New Zealand
VAIO is fondly remembered as a cutting edge computing brand by many, and its new SX12 continues in the path of its predecessors.
A utilitarian design combines with a super light frame that sees an overall weight of just over 900g (2lbs) for the heavier unit. The 2020 version adds 10th generation Intel CPUs (including a six-core model), and shrinks its footprint to 287 x 203mm, meaning that although it's not small, it is certainly still portable.
When it comes to connectors, Sony didn’t hold back. The SX12 boasts a Gigabit Ethernet connector, four USB ports, an HDMI connector, an audio connector, a card reader and, most surprisingly, a VGA connector.
D-Sub ports are still popular with many businesses, especially in Japan, where legacy projectors and displays abound. Their maximum resolution is limited, but they are still very useful as a backup.
These ports have been phased out over the last 24 months, even in business laptops, so it is refreshing to see VAIO still includes this venerable (but near obsolete) piece of technology.
The remaining specs are average for a device of this calibre. It has a 12.5-inch anti-glare panel with a full-HD resolution, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD and a battery that Sony says can last up to 13.5 hours.
The SX12 is available in Japan for as little as $1,800 (about £1,400, AU$2,700).
You know what sucks? A good vacuum. And we're here to find the perfect one for your everyday needs. We know that finding the best vacuum cleaner can, well, suck – there are just so many models to choose from, and who really wants to spend their time finding an appliance that means more work around the house?
The thing is, vacuum cleaners have come a long way since the days where you had to haul out that massive corded behemoth from your hall closet and plug it into a new socket every few minutes. Compared to some of the slick vacuums on the market today, that's practically medieval.
Today's vacuums are much slimmer, and while most are still controlled by hand there's a growing number that have robotic brains and can clean up all on their own. Many of today's vacuums also run on battery power, so you won't have to worry about dragging cords all around your house.
While it's still a 'chore' in the traditional sense, vacuum cleaning can now be done in far less time and with far greater ease thanks to cordless vacuums. But if even that sounds too hard, you'll likely be chuffed to learn that most robot vacuums can be set on a schedule, so they'll even clean your house while you're out living it up (or working).
It's true that high-end vacuums can be quite costly, but they can also be the sort of investment where the benefits become almost immediately clear. As soon as you've experienced the added ease and efficiency first-hand, it's hard to go back to anything else.
Whether you're after a lightweight cordless, a super-powerful upright or the kind of brainy robot cleaner that'd give Will Smith night-terrors, these are the best vacuum cleaners currently available in Australia. They all suck, but in the best possible way.
Adding another integer and two years of R&D to its V-series cordless range, Dyson’s V11 Absolute takes another giant leap forward for vacuum cleaner kind. It’s more potent than its best-in-class predecessor, cleans even better on all surfaces, is quieter, and has a impressive run-time of over 40 minutes on the seriously-capable Auto power mode.
The powered tools ooze design class and hard-earned experience in the field, with the mini motorised tool easily outperforming air-powered equivalents, and the adaptability of the vacuum when you pair the torque head with the Auto mode makes the V11 Absolute easy to use as well as powerful. It also has an LCD screen, a first for Dyson, which tells you the exact run-time remaining, where blockages are located and how to clear them. Pretty handy if you ask us!
Admittedly, the V11 Absolute doesn't come cheap, but we think it’s worth the money if you're after the best cordless vacuum cleaner available today.
The main reason to get yourself a robot vacuum cleaner is so you can either put your feet up and get something else to do all the hard work for you, or so you get more time to do more important things – or perhaps both. The Deebot Ozmo 930 will do just that for you and goes further than most other robovacs.
There’s not much we can fault with this little droid: it vacuums, it mops and it does so quite well: Ecovacs Robotics has pretty much aced it with both hardware and software.
It’s already a must-have in our books, and if there was a way to increase suction power in these robot vacuums, the Deebot Ozmo 930 would be the perfect helper, no matter what type of floor you have at home. Add to that the ability to control it remotely and the addition of voice control makes this robot worth every penny.
At the time of its release, Dyson was so confident in the sucking prowess of the Dyson Cyclone V10, that the company ceased production of new corded vacuums going forward. Now, it did eventually develop a successor in the Dyson V11 Absolute (because of course it did), but that should still give you an idea of how good the
Dyson has redefined its cyclone technology to produce more suction power than previous generations; the V10 digital motor is 20% more powerful than the previous V8, and, we can assure, it sucks a lot (we mean that as a compliment).
You'll notice a number of crucial changes between the V10 and older V models. For example, the barrel is now front-facing, and all attachments connect here directly. This design allows for greater suction efficiency, according to Dyson. The V10 is smarter than ever before, too, and can even detect differences in altitude, air pressure and temperature, and auto-adjust itself for maximum performance.
Prices and models vary across regions, but needless to say, you pay for the Cyclone V10's souped-up suction. And while the Cyclone V10 is super powerful and boasts a more energy-dense battery than previous models, putting it on the highest setting will drain the battery in about five minutes. At the lowest setting, however, you'll get up to 60 minutes of use, and that should be plenty for your everyday messes.
Dyson might be dominating the handheld vacuum arena at the moment, but when it comes to the robot vacuum space, many people rate iRobot and its Roomba 980 vacuum cleaner at a similar level of esteem.
With its low-clearance design and smartphone app control functionality, this dirt-sucking disc is intelligent enough to go about its business in your home without much prompting on your part. The Roomba 980 will intelligently map your home for problem spots, kicking into a high-power mode whenever it rolls over carpets, and weaving around chair legs and other potential obstacles.
Making things even easier, you can manage the Roomba 980's daily schedule from the device's accompanying iOS and Android apps, allowing you to set the time and duration of its cleaning routine however you see fit. You will have to empty it out after each use, though.
With an impressive two hour battery life, it'll also manage a longer cleaning cycle than any cordless or robot vacuum from Dyson, and when it's running low it'll automatically head back to its dock to charge itself.
Other smart features of the Roomba 980 include its battery-powered Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barriers which you can place around your crib so that your 'bot will know which areas to avoid, such as rooms you don't want it to enter or floor-level pet food bowls you don't want it to crash into.
However, the Roomba 980 does still have some room for improvement, with its app being a little sluggish at times. The robot also has a tendency to get trapped in cables and stuck under furniture.
Sure, it's pretty pricey for what is admittedly a cleaning luxury, but it really is like having a robot maid that will keep your place clean. If you hate vacuuming and can afford it, the Roomba 980 offers exceptional cleaning convenience.
There's no question that Dyson's manoeuvrable and endlessly convenient stick vacuums are incredible, sporting powerful suction and a modular design that allows for a number of area-specific attachments – all without having to worry about pesky cables getting in the way. However, cordless vacuums do have their caveats.
Getting a limited amount of vacuum time from a battery that takes hours to charge can be extremely frustrating, and there are times when you may require a more powerful and heavy-duty vacuum solution. Cordless models are often pretty darn expensive, too.
If you share these concerns, Dyson's Cinetic Big Ball vacuum may be a terrific alternative, offering the same quality cleaning experience that the company's vacuums are known for, while avoiding all the usual annoyances that make inspire people to choose a cord-free option.
Most vacuums will tip over as they're dragged along the floor — not the Cinetic Big Ball, with its ball-shaped design that has been perfectly weighted to roll back into place whenever it falls down — it's a neat example of Dyson's knack for finding solutions to problems that have plagued these kinds of products for decades.
Another advantage over cordless vacuums: its suction power leaves them in the dust — literally. At 250 air watts, the Cinetic Big Ball is even more powerful than the new Dyson Cyclone V10, which offers around 150 air watts of suction.
Taking into consideration that you can now pick up a Dyson Cinetic Big Ball for under $500, and what you have is a highly-recommended alternative to Dyson's pricier cord-free options.
Like most Miele vacuums, the cat and dog version of the CX1 is a little more expensive than the non-pet versions, but that extra cost is offset by the additional attachments you get that will help you round up and deal with shed hair and the general mess that comes from having four-legged members of your family.
Plus, when you consider how affordable it is compared to the average Dyson product, the price of the CX1's 'deluxe' model will seem quite reasonable.
We also love that it's got an AirClean lifetime HEPA filter to remove allergens from your household, as well as an extremely high airflow that works hard to remove as much dust and debris from your floors and carpets as possible. It's also the first bagless Miele device, and it does a pretty darn good job of that, too.
Boasting a 1,200W “Vortex” motor, the Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat Dog Bagless delivers an air speed of more than 100km/h and still manages to separate dust into two types: coarse stuff goes into the clear dust container, while the finer stuff is caught and trapped in its own filtered container.
Impressively, the Blizzard CX1 also sports a new CleanStream filter, which has a sensor-controlled self-cleaning system. You'll still need to clean the filters yourself on occasion, though.
That’s not the only big change Miele has in store for us: the design is also quite modern-looking, putting the device in a league above its predecessors. For a vacuum that goes for less than $500 at some stores, Miele has certainly stepped up its game with the CX1 Cat Dog Bagless.
Once the leading name in vacuums, Vax is still going strong today and its Blade 2 Max 40V vacuum more than proves it. Easy to use, and delivering excellent results on different floor types, the cordless Vax Blade 2 Max 40V offers powerful suction and long run-time for a great price.
It has bright lights on the floor head, so you won’t miss any dirt, and a good-sized bin for a cordless machine too, meaning fewer bin-emptying interruptions when cleaning. The Blade 2 Max is easy to use, but it's let down by how heavy it feels in the hand – your arm may not be able to hold out for as long as the battery.
The Blade 2 Max delivers great cleaning results on different floor types, and it's no slouch when it comes to tackling pet hair; however, it's far from the lightest-feeling or quietest cordless cleaner out there.
There was a niche that needed filling and Ecovacs decided to take a stab at it. Unless you’re willing to pay top money for the iRobot Roomba 980 – the only robot vacuum we’ve tested that comes with a carpet agitator – there aren’t very many autonomous vacuums that can deal with carpets.
While the Deebot 900 does a good job on a low- to medium-pile carpet, it struggles on high-pile rugs. The fibres impede movement and dirt is often so deep-seated that there’s not enough suction, even on the Max setting, for a good clean. Moreover, with a limited battery life of 45 minutes on Max, a large home will always require a double run. On hard floors, however, there’s absolutely nothing you can fault the Deebot 900 for – it’s works like a charm.
Ecovacs has aced both the hardware and the software. Our only complaint would be the droid’s inability to clamber over obstacles and thresholds more than 18mm high, but that’s us nitpicking, really.
The droid moves exactly as you’d expect with practically perfect mapping, and the evidence of its cleaning performance will be there for you to see every time you empty the bin. And it’s all done quietly and at a relatively affordable price. Need we say more?
Realme C3 will pack a 5000mAh battery, which is touted to offer 20.8 hours of YouTube streaming, 43.9 hours of talk time, and 10.6 hours of PUBG gaming.
Optus has been handed the second-largest fine ever dealt by the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) for contacting customers that had explicitly unsubscribed from communications.
The ACMA fined the telco giant AU$504,000 following an investigation into breaches of Australia’s anti-spam laws, a sum second only to a AU$510,000 fine Telstra copped in 2014 for delays in connecting landline customers.
Specifically, Optus was found to have sent marketing emails and SMS messages in 2018 to around 750,000 customers that had already opted out of these communications. Other emails were also sent that lacked any kind of unsubscribe facility.
ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said it was the largest infringement paid for spamming and that it “reflects the seriousness of breaches made by Optus and its failure to honour its customers’ wishes to unsubscribe, in some cases on multiple occasions”.
In order to ensure Optus doesn’t break the law again in the future, the telco will appoint an independent consultant to act as a watchdog, reviewing its procedures, systems, and policies for compliance with these laws.
On top of this, “the ACMA will be actively monitoring Optus’ compliance with its commitments,” O’Loughlin said. “If they are not met, the ACMA will consider court action”.
O’Loughlin told the Sydney Morning Herald that Optus blamed the spam messaging on an “IT systems failure” and that the telco had checked its marketing lists for compliance, although the ACMA believes otherwise.
