[LINK] Tech news

[Stephen Loosley]

>From The Age Technology newsletter yesterday .. perhaps of interest:


The Zigbee Alliance, a group that aims to make sure all the smart devices in your home can talk to each other, has introduced a new name for its upcoming wireless standard: Matter. By the end of the year it will begin handing out Matter certifications to gadget makers, and Amazon, Apple and Google are all on board, so hopefully we’re not too far from the day you can control any device with whatever voice assistant or smart home app you choose.

ASUS is bringing its flagship line of smartphones to Australia for the first time, though it’s yet to announce dates or prices. With a screen size under 6 inches and an incredible spec sheet (Snapdragon 888, 120Hz Samsung AMOLED, dual Sony cameras, 5G), the Zenphone 8 could be an Android answer to the iPhone 12 Mini. Meanwhile, the bigger Zenphone 8 Flip has its camera array on a mechanical apparatus that lets it point forward or back, eliminating the in-screen selfie cam.

Apple’s recent privacy change in iOS 14.5, which made it so users had to opt in before apps could track their activities, appears to have been effective. Data from US-based Flurry Analytics indicates that only 13 per cent of users worldwide have consented to an app tracking them, not counting the 5 per cent who specified they don’t ever want to be tracked. Facebook has vehemently opposed the change, saying small businesses that advertise through its platform could lose millions.