In Sunday’s segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Tim Gilbert) we took at the tech behind the 2021 Census, Amazon’s robots we can’t wait for in Australia, Sonos’s new Beam 2nd GEN Soundbar and Suunto’s 9 Peak ultra fitness watch.
CENSUS 2021 TECH
Why did this year’s census run so smoothly online?
Go back to 2016 and you’ll remember a massive fail as the system crashed under the weight of users and DDos attacks.
This year the Australian Bureau of Statistics was prepared.
We discuss how the first Australian cloud census was built and run in partnership with PwC and AWS (Amazon Web Services).
AMAZON ASTRO
So far Australia is missing out on some of the coolest tech announced by Amazon last week.
Amazon’s home robot is designed to follow you around at home, answer questions and guard the house.
Using artificial intelligence, computer vision, sensor technology, and voice and edge computing, Astro costs US$1000 and is available via Invitation Only in the USA.
Also unavailable in Australia – at the moment – is the Ring Always Home Cam.
It’s a security drone that investigates break-ins by flying around your home.
It comes in at US$250.
SONOS BEAM 2ND GEN
Available this week for A$699 the Sonos Beam 2nd Gen looks the same as version one but sounds a lot better.
Dolby Atmos is the big addition Beam 2 and that’s a big deal with HDMI eARC support.
The centre channel has been revamped, you’ll hear clearer voice and you won’t need much space.
SUUNTO 9 PEAK
Suunto 9 Peak starts at A$999.99 and it’s now available in Australia.
It’s the thinnest, smallest and toughest watch from Suunto.
Up to 170 hours of GPS battery life and blood oxygen measurement.
HEAT MAPS show where other people have been training.