Embedded Files
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 27 MAY - 01 JUNE, 2024
Hello and Welcome,
Meetings This Week
NO MEETINGS
Meeting Next Week
2024/06/04 — 18:00-20:00 — June, Tue — Main Meeting
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
----------
Go to the official Sydney PC Calendar for this month's meeting details.
----------
Penrith meetings are held every 2nd month on the 1st Saturday from 1-2 pm.
The next scheduled meetings are in July, September and November 2024.
ASCCA News:
Tech News:
Court gives Assange leave to appeal against extradition to US
See the iTWire article by Sam Varghese | Monday, 20 May 2024 10:20 pm.
Free Assange
WikiLeaks founder and publisher Julian Assange has been granted leave by the UK High Court to appeal against a bid to extradite him to the US to stand trial on espionage charges.
The court hearing on Monday was focused on whether Assange, 52, would be offered the same protections under the US first amendment as American citizens are.
His lawyers accepted assurances given by lawyers from the US Government that he would not be given the death penalty.
Two senior British judges said the US submissions were not sufficient and hence they had decided that Assange could go ahead with an appeal.
Once again, Assange was too ill to physically appear in court on Monday as he was during the last hearing in March.
The Australian came up before the British High Court in a two-day hearing on 20 and 21 March but was too ill to even appear physically before the court.
At the end of those two days of hearings, the High Court decided the US must give assurances that Assange will not face the death penalty if he is extradited.
It gave Washington until mid-April to provide such an assurance before it made a final decision on whether Assange could launch an appeal against his extradition.
Additionally, the High Court also sought assurances as to whether Assange would be able to rely on free speech rights during any hearing in the US.
The US provided these assurances on 16 April, but there was a catch in what it said: while Assange would be able to "seek to rely" upon the US Constitution's provisions for free speech, "a decision as to the applicability of the first amendment is exclusively within the purview of the US courts".
Assange is being held in the UK's Belmarsh maximum security jail. Last June, the Australian lost his first appeal against the order that aims to send him to the US for trial over alleged espionage charges. The second appeal was filed on 13 June.
Assange was arrested by British police on 11 April 2019 and removed from the Ecuador embassy where he had taken refuge. His asylum was withdrawn shortly before he was arrested and he appeared in court soon after. The US made a formal request for his extradition on 6 June 2019.
The Australian is one of the better known hackers Australia has produced.
New Laptop Memory Saves Space and Power
See the InfoPackets article by John Lister on May 22, 2024, at 12:05 pm EDT.
Micron LPCAMM2 Memory
A new form of laptop memory aims to remove one of the most significant trade-offs in portable devices. It promises speed and power efficiency while still being easily replaceable.
Most existing laptop memory falls into two categories, each with a weakness. One easily replaceable type takes up a comparatively large amount of space and uses much power, which is double bad news for a portable computer.
The other type is smaller and more energy efficient but must be soldered onto the motherboard, effectively the "spine" of a computer's operations. That's great at first, but it removes the possibility of extending a laptop's lifespan by upgrading memory as software demands evolve. It also means that the computer could be useless if the memory fails without an expensive or impractical repair.
The new LPCAMM2 format is billed as offering speed and capacity while being replaceable. It's not relatively as straightforward as snapping a memory board in or out of a desktop, but it does only need to be screwed in or out of place.
Dual Channel Approach
One of the keys is that LPCAMM2 only takes up a single module (a designated space) in a laptop but still offers dual-channel support. That means the computer has two "connections" to send and retrieve data from memory, dramatically increasing operating speed. In standard memory setups, dual channels require two modules and take up twice the space. (Source: pcgamer.com)
The technology is debuting in a Lenovo ThinkPad in 32GB and 64GB varieties. The makers say it takes up 64 per cent less space and reduces power consumption by 80 per cent in standby and between 43 and 58 per cent in active use. (Source: pcworld.com)
Competition May Follow
It's already been approved as an industry standard, which should assure compatibility between laptops and memory modules from different manufacturers. That should make it more likely that competition will drive down prices, with users able to shop around.
Initially, the technology is likely to appear only in high-end laptops. However, the format means that, theoretically, it could be added to mid-range and budget machines and still make a meaningful performance difference.
What's Your Opinion?
Have you ever wished you could replace or upgrade the memory in a laptop? Is 64GB too much memory to make upgrading irrelevant? Would you pay extra for a smaller laptop with a longer battery life?
I Use My Apple Watch as a Walkie-Talkie (And You Should Too)
See the How-To Geek article by TIM BROOKES | PUBLISHED 1 May 21, 2024.
Use Apple Watch as Walkie-Talkie
Perhaps the most overlooked feature on your Apple Watch.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Walkie-Talkie on Apple Watch emulates one-way radio comms over the internet by relying on FaceTime.
Walkie-Talkie offers a quick and convenient way to communicate remotely, particularly when sending short messages.
You must add friends to the app before you can start chatting, and you can adjust your availability to avoid being disturbed.
Your Apple Watch has features, and you don't use most of them. One feature that gets overlooked is the Walkie-Talkie, a fun and helpful way to chat with other Apple Watch owners.
How Walkie-Talkie Works
Walkie-Talkie is a built-in watchOS feature that allows you to send short, near real-time voice messages between two Apple Watch wearers. It doesn't work like a "real" walkie-talkie via radio waves and local communications but instead uses the internet. Walkie-Talkie is powered by Apple's FaceTime VoIP service.
The feature emulates one-way radio communication using a "Push to Talk" interface. You can either listen or speak, not both. This makes the feature ideal for simple instructions and ill-suited to longer chats (better conducted over a real FaceTime call).
Due to a reliance on FaceTime, you'll need an internet connection on your Apple Watch to use the feature. You'll also need to enable and set up FaceTime under Settings > FaceTime on your iPhone. To use Walkie-Talkie, you'll need first to invite a contact so that they appear in your list of Walkie-Talkie contacts.
Though the feature is fun and valuable, it has a few drawbacks, including a slight lead time when starting a conversation. The feature must first establish a line of communication in the form of a FaceTime call in the background. Once this step is complete, communication is conducted almost in real-time, depending on your connection speed.
Using the Apple Watch Walkie-Talkie App
You'll find the Walkie-Talkie app in your list of available Apple Watch apps. The icon is bright yellow with a black outline of a handheld radio on it. Tap on it to launch it, and you'll see your availability and any friends you have added.
You can add a friend using the plus "+" icon at the top of the screen. Do this, and your Watch will bring up a list of iPhone contacts. If you want to use Walkie-Talkie with anyone, you'd better ensure they're a regular iPhone contact first. They'll also need to be an Apple Watch user.
Once you've added a friend or two, tap on their name, and Walkie-Talkie will attempt to establish a connection. You're ready to start chatting once the giant "Push to Talk" button turns yellow. Press and hold the button and speak into your Apple Watch, then release and await a response.
You must add a friend to your Walkie-Talkie app because this chatting method can be invasive. When you start a conversation, the recipient will hear a short beep (reminiscent of a radio squelch) informing them that a new Walkie-Talkie session has been started. Your messages will then be delivered loudly and proudly to their Apple Watch, wherever they are and whatever they're doing.
Walkie-Talkie will be audible, whether or not your Apple Watch is in silent mode. The feature works well with people you know and trust (like partners, best friends, and family members) rather than those who could potentially embarrass you (intentionally or otherwise). Fortunately, you can adjust your availability so that Walkie-Talkie won't take you by surprise at inopportune moments.
Adjusting Your Availability
You'll only get a moment's notice after you hear the Walkie-Talkie beep before someone starts speaking to you over your Apple Watch. Even if your Watch is silent, the message will be audible.
You can easily adjust your Walkie-Talkie availability using the Walkie-Talkie button in the Control Centre on your Apple Watch. On watchOS 10, you can access the Control Centre by pressing the Side Button once on watchOS 9 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom of the screen from the watch face view.
While the icon is yellow, you will be contactable via Walkie-Talkie. If the feature is enabled, you'll also see a small yellow Walkie-Talkie symbol at the top of the screen when you look at your Watch face throughout the day if the feature is enabled. The availability toggle is also accessible in the Walkie-Talkie app.
If you don't see the yellow Walkie-Talkie button in Control Centre, scroll to the bottom of the list, tap "Edit", and then tap the plus "+" button next to Walkie-Talkie to add it. You can then drag it into position if you want (and remove other buttons you won't use).
Reliability Can Be an Issue
The Walkie-Talkie was the least reliable Apple Watch feature by a large margin before the watchOS 10 update. I struggled to get the feature working reliably for years, even though it worked fine when I started using my Series 4 Apple Watch. Upgrading to the Series 8 didn't help, but Apple's 2023 software upgrade did.
If you're having problems, we have a Walkie-Talkie troubleshooting guide you can follow. This mostly involves double-checking permissions, restarting devices, and fiddling with settings. It can be hard to know whether the problem is on your side or not, so consider passing the link on to any contacts who are having issues, too.
On the bright side, Walkie-Talkie works reliably now (even when my iPhone is behind a VPN). I'm crossing my fingers that future watchOS updates don't repeatedly break the feature.
Why Use Walkie-Talkie?
Walkie-Talkie is a fun Apple Watch feature. For someone who consistently avoids answering phone calls on their Watch, I use the feature purely for its novelty factor. It's a method of communication that Inspector Gadget would be proud of, but it's also pretty helpful.
Because the Apple Watch is a wearable gadget, you don't need to worry whether the other party has their phone on them. It's much harder to miss a message if your wrist screams at you. Due to the one-way nature of this method of communication, people can't talk over you.
It's great if someone is in another room and you want to avoid shouting across the house. It's also good when taking your phone out of your pocket (or finding it) is inconvenient. I use it to tell my partner that the shower is free or that dinner is ready.
There's also an element of fun to it. It's still a novelty all these years later. You can embarrass your partner in the supermarket from several aisles away. Just don't do it while they're at work.
Have you just bought an Apple Watch? Check out our favourite tips and tricks for new Watch owners.
Fun Facts:
Vivid Sydney
See the TransportNSW article for Vivid Sydney on Friday 24 May to Saturday 15 June 2024.
Sydney Harbour, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Walsh Bay, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour and The Goods Line.
Lights on 6 pm
Lights off 11 pm
Important Event Information
Vivid Sydney returns for its 14th year to light up the city for 23 consecutive nights from Friday 24 May to Saturday 15 June. There are hundreds of installations along the 8.5km light walk so plan your experience over multiple nights as you won't get to see it all in one go. The light walk is free and unticketed. Ticketed precincts include Royal Botanic Garden Sydney's 'Lightscape' and Wynyard Tunnels 'Dark Spectrum' return, while Sydney's Taronga Zoo will not be lit up this year. Vivid Sydney's popular drone shows will be held on Saturday 8, Sunday 9 and Saturday 15 June only, from 9.10 pm.
The city is no place for cars during Vivid Sydney with road closures and parking restrictions in place each night.
The best way to get around is by public transport with plenty of extra services running and all Vivid Sydney precincts within short walking distance of major transport hubs.
Public transport gives you the freedom to get the most out of your Vivid Sydney visit, and the ability to start and end your experience at different points along the light walk. See our Vivid Sydney Light Walk and Transport map to find your way (pdf 712KB).
Remember, you'll need to use an Opal card or contactless payment card/device when travelling on public transport to and from the event. Register your details online at Opal or via the Opal Travel app ahead of time.
Due to road closures and large crowds there will be changes to transport services. On Fridays from 6 pm and weekends from 5 pm buses and light rail services will not run to Circular Quay. Buses will be relocated to stops at Martin Place and light rail services will run to and from Town Hall only. On Saturday nights and Sunday of the long weekend from 6 pm to 11 pm trains will not drop off passengers at Circular Quay. Plan ahead if you are visiting on these nights and factor in additional time as you will need to walk further than usual to reach the harbour.
Vivid Sydney attracts millions of people each year, with the largest crowds visiting on Friday nights and weekends; if you want to avoid the peak crowds or are travelling with families consider visiting earlier in the week instead.
Transport changes during Vivid Sydney
1. Trains: from 6 pm to 11 pm on Saturdays and Sunday of the long weekend (9 Jun) trains will not drop off passengers at Circular Quay due to anticipated large crowds — use Wynyard, Martin Place or St James instead.
2. Bus: On Fridays from 6 pm and weekends from 5 pm buses that usually run to Circular Quay will start and end trips at Martin Place due to road closures. Continue on foot from Martin place to the harbour. Buses that usually run to King St Wharf will relocate to Wynyard.
3. Light rail: On Fridays from 6 pm and weekends from 5 pm L2 and L3 light rail services will not run between Town Hall and Circular Quay; continue on foot from Town Hall.
4. Ferries: Ferries are always extremely busy during Vivid Sydney so expect long queues on weekends and consider alternative transport options. On Saturday 8, Sunday 9 and Saturday 15 June ferries will not run to Circular Quay from 9 pm to 9.30 pm while the drone shows are underway.
Stay connected
Stay connected and get real-time updates on transport services, event precinct capacities and road closures online:
1. Event updates: follow Vivid Sydney on Facebook and @VividSydney on Twitter and Instagram for the latest event updates. For more information on Vivid Sydney Light, Music, Food and Ideas visit the official website.
2. Transport updates: follow @TrainsInfo, @BusesInfo, @FerriesInfo and @SydneyMetro.
3. Getting around is easy with the Opal Travel app. Opal Travel app is the official Transport for NSW app to help you get around public transport. You can plan and save your trips, check your travel activities and fares, top-up on-the-go and more. Download the FREE Opal Travel app now.
4. Vivid Sydney Walking & Transport map: See our Vivid Sydney Light Walk and Transport Map (pdf 712KB) to find your way along the Light walk. For details on light installations see the Vivid Sydney Light page.
5. Road closures and traffic: follow @LiveTrafficSyd and Live Traffic NSW Facebook page for real-time updates on closures and traffic conditions. To plan ahead, see the Vivid interactive road closure and clearway maps for more details.
Ticketing Info
Opal
You can use an Opal card for all modes of public transport in Sydney and surrounding regions, including metro, trains, buses, ferries and light rail.
Remember to top-up your Opal card before you travel to avoid waiting in line at top-up machines. You can top-up your card online or at an Opal retailer.
More ways to pay
If you have a contactless-enabled American Express, Mastercard or Visa debit or credit card, or a linked device, you can use it to pay for your travel by tapping on and tapping off at Opal card readers. Available on all public transport, contactless payments are another way to pay on the Opal network. Adult Opal fare pricing applies and you will receive Opal benefits, including daily and weekly fare caps.
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.
Sydney PC & Technology User Group's FREE Newsletter — Subscribe — Unsubscribe
Go to Sydney PC & Technology User Group's — Events Calendar
Are you changing your email address? Would you please email your new address to — newsletter.sydneypc@gmail.com?
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.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse