March 13

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 13 - 18 MARCH 2023

Hello and Welcome,

Meetings This Week

2023/03/14 — 18:00-20:00 — March, Tue — Programming 1

2023/03/18 — 14:00-16:00 — March, Sat — Web Design 1

Meeting Next Week

2023/03/21 — 10:00-12:00 — March, Tue — Tuesday Group 1

Schedule of Current & Upcoming Meetings

First Tuesday 18:00-20:00 — Main Meeting

First Saturday 13:00-14:00 — Penrith Group

Second Tuesday 18:00-20:00 — Programming

Third Tuesday 10:00-12:00 — Tuesday Group

Third Saturday 14:00-16:00 — Web Design

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2023/03/04 — 13:00-14:00 — March, Sat — Penrith Group (MEETING) 2

2023/03/07 — 18:00-20:00 — March, Tue — Main Meeting 1

2023/03/14 — 18:00-20:00 — March, Tue — Programming 1

2023/03/18 — 14:00-16:00 — March, Sat — Web Design 1

2023/03/21 — 10:00-12:00 — March, Tue — Tuesday Group 1

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1 As decided after assessing the Members' wishes (resumption of face-to-face meetings) via the latest Online Survey.

2 Penrith meetings are held every 2nd month on the 1st Saturday from 1-2 pm. Next meetings: May, July and September 2023.

ASCCA News:Tech News:

Microsoft Hijacks Chrome Download Page with Banner Ad

See the InfoPackets article by John Lister on March 8, 2023, at 01:03 pm EST.

Microsoft has experimented with one of its most audacious attempts yet to persuade users to prefer the Edge browser over Google Chrome. The plan, which effectively involved full-size banner "ads" on the Chrome website, will not proceed after the tests.

Technically speaking, the Microsoft Edge browser is built using "Chromium" code (open source), the same code that Google's Chrome browser uses. The only difference between Edge and Chrome is that Edge has been customized with unique features and is branded as Microsoft Edge.

That said, users of Edge Canary spotted the banner for a couple of days. That's an "early release" version of the web browser that includes new features being tested, with users warned it may be less stable.

The new "feature" was arguably more for Microsoft's benefit than any user. The banner appeared whenever someone visited Google's website to download the Chrome browser. In this case, the user would see a small ad inserted in the page; if the user started the Chrome download, the page would update to show the banner ad across the entire screen width.

The Test Didn't Last Long.

The banner ad included the text "Microsoft Edge runs on the same technology as Chrome, with the added trust of Microsoft" and a button marked "Browse securely now". It's unclear what this button did: the most likely explanation is that it simply cancelled the file download, but this still needs to be confirmed. (Source: neowin.net)

The test only ran for a few days in Edge Canary, though it was later spotted in Edge Beta. That's updated less frequently and should be more stable than the Canary version.

Public testing is meant to see if features cause technical problems and whether or not those features are widely used. In this case, Microsoft likely wanted to test both the logistics of displaying the ad and how hostile the public response would be.

The Page is "Hijacked" By the Browser.

The test has proven very controversial because it appears to involve Microsoft manipulating another company's website, or at least how it appears to users. It's a very different prospect to Google inserting third-party ads on its web page.

Critics have noted that Microsoft's approach makes it unclear that what the user sees on the screen is part of the web page and what has been "created" by the browser. That could be both an ethical and security concern as, for example, malware that hijacked a browser might use similar tactics. (Source: theregister.com)

NSW Govt Seniors Card

See this month's NSW Govt Seniors Card.

Hi <YOUR FIRST NAME HERE>,

Are you thinking about which part of the world you will travel to this year? Or have you booked a cruise to take you on your next adventure? Remember to consider travel insurance wherever you are on your holiday planning journey.

[ The whole email is composed of images of paragraphs. We can't type all of it! Sorry — Ed. ]

Latest news

15 Dec 2022

NSW Seniors Card 2023 Directory has arrived.

Go to the link above to see other features of the site.

Nokia Launches 'Repairable' Smartphone

See the InfoPackets article by John Lister on March 9, 2023, at 02:03 pm EST.

Nokia has launched an Android phone designed to be repairable by the user. The G22 handset was made in cooperation with spare parts and repair site iFixit.

Being unable to quickly repair a handset (or even to get a third-party expert to do it) has been one of the biggest frustrations for many phone owners. It often means having to replace an entire handset because a single component has failed, causing financial and environmental damage.

While some manufacturers have made phones with easily replaceable components, they tend to be less well-known brands and carry a premium price.

The iFixit site tries to overcome this by selling spare parts and repair tools and providing guides for fixing or replacing components. Different manufacturers have different attitudes to such services, with some deterring users by warning self-repairs will invalidate warranties.

Replaceable Display

Nokia says replaceable components on the G22 will include the display screen, the back cover, the battery and the charging port. It tells users to follow the iFixit guides or get an authorized service centre to do the fix.

As well as the components, iFixit is selling a repair kit with tools, including tweezers designed to avoid electrostatic charges, a magnetized screwdriver, a means for opening the handset and levering out components, and a suction handle for removing the screen. (Source: ifixit.com)

The G22 is a budget device, costing the equivalent of US $180. It runs Android 12 (rather than the latest Android 13) and doesn't support 5G networks.

Available On Subscription Model

The handset will initially be available in Europe and Australia, with the makers citing research that shows Western European phone users were particularly interested in repairing rather than replacing handsets wherever possible. (Source: independent.co.uk)

The handset will also be part of a Nokia program called "Circular", where users can pay a fixed monthly subscription price rather than buy a phone outright, with free replacements if the handset is damaged, stolen or lost. When users cancel their subscription (or change to another model), they return the handset, and it will either be reused or recycled following secure data deletion.

Interesting Member-supplied Information

List of Top Stories at the Sydney Morning Herald, cut/pasted from an SMH email to Jeff Garland.

No simple URLs were pointing to the following articles in the message from Jeff.

CYBERSECURITY — Five data breaches in six months.

The number of large-scale privacy breaches in Australia leapt by a quarter in the last six months of 2022.

By Nick Bonyhady

PHONES — Chinese folding phones set to go global.

At Mobile World Congress in Spain, Samsung's dominance of the flexible phone market is under threat.

By Tim Biggs

CYBERSECURITY — 'Australia is not a soft target'.

A review of Australia's cybersecurity strategy has raised the idea of a ban on companies paying for ransomeware.

By Nick Bonyhady

ANALYSIS AI — We might not be ready for AI search.

The preview of the new AI-powered Bing chatbot makes for a generally excellent search experience but raises questions.

By Tim Biggs

ANALYSIS SOCIAL MEDIA — Twitter is demanding payment for security.

Getting login codes via an app is more secure, but few users do it. Twitter's tight-fisted announcement could spur change.

By Nick Bonyhady

INNOVATION — 'We don't have any privacy anymore'.

The inventor of the mobile phone, Martin Cooper, frets like everybody else about his invention’s impact on society.

By Kelvin Chan

CHILD ABUSE — Meta's tool to stop nude image spread.

The new platform will let young Australians stop their explicit images from being circulated on social media.

By Nick Bonyhady

[ You must register with the SMH for a FREE daily email containing all the above information.
I don't have access to the SMH, so I can only show some restricted "meta-text" of these articles — Ed. ]

— Jeff Garland

Fun Facts:

Why You Should Line Drawers with Aluminium Foil

See the LifeSavvy article by STACEY KOZIEL | MAR 7, 2023, at noon EST.

Most people use aluminium foil in their homes for all the usual stuff — like wrapping leftovers and cooking a baked potato. But there's one use for aluminium foil you might not expect.

You can line your kitchen drawers with aluminium foil, making finding that set of measuring spoons easier.

Lining your drawers with aluminium foil isn't some weird conspiracy theory. It's not even really a "kitchen hack", though there are plenty of other hacks, you can use with foil to make your life easier. Instead, it’s a fantastic way to better view your cabinets and drawers.

If you have a smaller kitchen or the lighting isn't great, you might shuffle around utensils and disorganise things as you find the "missing" object. Lining your drawers and cupboards with aluminium foil can mitigate that issue. Since the foil reflects light, it can help you see what you need without pushing everything else out.

Plus, using aluminium foil as a drawer liner means easy clean-up. Spills and messes can be wiped away, and if the foil gets too dirty, it can quickly be replaced with a new piece.

But your drawers are one of many clever and unexpected ways to use aluminium foil. Use it to polish silverware, clean your grill grates, and even cookware caked with baked-on food (that darn tuna noodle casserole!). If you didn't think aluminium foil was a must-have before, you might now.

Join the GrammarlyGO Waitlist

Join the GrammarlyGO Waitlist.

Announcing GrammarlyGO

We're thrilled to announce GrammarlyGO — the most secure, enterprise-grade generative AI product that will transform how your team writes.

With GrammarlyGO, your team can effortlessly compose, ideate, rewrite, and reply contextually within existing workflows — accelerating productivity and making their writing more compelling.

Your company’s new ideation and composition partner is almost here. Stay tuned for the GrammarlyGO beta launch—coming in April!

[ Ideate? — Ed. ]

Meeting Location & Disclaimer

Bob Backstrom
~ Newsletter Editor ~

Information for Members and Visitors:

Link to — Sydney PC & Technology User Group
All Meetings, unless explicitly stated above, are held on the
1st Floor, Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney.
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Disclaimer: We provide this Newsletter "As Is" without warranty of any kind.
The reader assumes the entire risk of accuracy and subsequent use of its contents.

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