In Sunday’s segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Jaynie Seal) we looked at Samsung’s new foldable phones. The tech heavyweight Samsung is banking on foldable phones to increase its marketshare and keep ahead of its biggest rival Apple. This comes as the iPhone continues to take big chunks out of the Android market. So are foldables finally ready for mainstream? We discuss the release of the Samsung Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4. Samsung says other Android users are coming to Samsung due to phones like the Flip .
Also, by announcing new foldables, watches and earbuds, Samsung is taking on Apple’s ecosystem – a big challenge. Apple’s ecosystem is unmatched when you consider the hardware, software and services integration.
APPLE MARKS 40 YEARS IN AUSTRALIA WITH COMMUNITY PROJECTS
While Apple stores are only recent .. Apple computers have been here a lot longer. 40 years after coming to Australia Apple is not just supporting tech but funding community programs. This week Apple announced grants, coding opportunities, renewable energy initiatives (QLD wind farm) and Indigenous programs.
In Australia, the App Store supports nearly 160,000 app economy jobs across the country. SWIFT is a great way to get coding and it’s a big part of Apple’s future.
HERTZ ADDS POLESTAR 2 EV TO ITS LINE-UP
The starting price for a Polestar 2 is close to $70K drive-away in Australia so renting is a good option if you want to try one for a few days. This Hertz news is a big deal as it involves one of the best transition cars you can drive. Especially if you’re never experienced an electric vehicle before. The Polestar 2 is very much like a normal car – with a normal (modern) dashboard. It has a centre screen but it doesn’t distract you like others. It is less intimidating than other EVs with massive screens.
Hertz Australia is starting with 100 Polestars – with more to come. Globally they ordered 65 000 from Polestar – part of Volvo. This could speed up EV infrastructure and make EVs cheaper when these rentals hit the used-car market. And the bonus … you don’t have to fill the tank up when returning.
AUTONOMOUS SECURITY VEHICLE
This week I came face-to-face with an Autonomous Security Vehicle that could easily be a character from RoboCop. It is Australian designed and made and a collaboration between Honeywell, Stealth Technologies and the Department of Justice WA.
This type of robot could patrol any large site but in this case it does the rounds at a WA correctional facility. It patrols the fence – looking for problems. It can also reach out and test the fence with a robot arm. This saves time and improves accuracy.
It has spotlights and military grade cameras that work day and night. It does not put anyone out of a job as it allows personnel to concentrate on other work.