# I am the Watcher. I am your guide through this vast new twtiverse.
# 
# Usage:
#     https://watcher.sour.is/api/plain/users              View list of users and latest twt date.
#     https://watcher.sour.is/api/plain/twt                View all twts.
#     https://watcher.sour.is/api/plain/mentions?uri=:uri  View all mentions for uri.
#     https://watcher.sour.is/api/plain/conv/:hash         View all twts for a conversation subject.
# 
# Options:
#     uri     Filter to show a specific users twts.
#     offset  Start index for quey.
#     limit   Count of items to return (going back in time).
# 
# twt range = 1 1782
# self = https://watcher.sour.is?uri=https://feeds.twtxt.net/TheAge_Technology/twtxt.txt&offset=582
# next = https://watcher.sour.is?uri=https://feeds.twtxt.net/TheAge_Technology/twtxt.txt&offset=682
# prev = https://watcher.sour.is?uri=https://feeds.twtxt.net/TheAge_Technology/twtxt.txt&offset=482
Cesspool of misogyny: Instagram accused of failing high-profile women
Amber Heard and other high-profile women opened up thousands of their incoming private messages to researchers as part of a new report. ⌘ Read more
No ‘covfefe’, no ‘pedo guy’: the danger of Twitter’s edit button
Though its final form is yet to be revealed, allowing edits on Twitter could amplify problems of misinformation and harassment. ⌘ Read more
You’re still being tracked on the internet, just in a different way
The internet industry shuddered last year when Apple and Google announced measures that threatened to cripple digital advertising. But in less than a year, another type of internet tracking has started taking over. ⌘ Read more
Clickbait: Telstra switches on filter to stop dodgy SMS texts
The telco has turned on a new SMS scam filter feature to protect customers from dangerous messages by blocking them at the network level. ⌘ Read more
Can we trust wearables to watch our hearts?**
Heart monitors are ubiquitous on wearable devices, and only growing more popular as a way for us to keep tabs on our health. But there’s a limit to what they can do. ⌘ Read more
Why you should buy a desktop PC in 2022
Laptops, smartphones and tablets may seem more convenient, but for home use a desktop PC is hard to beat. ⌘ Read more
The murky world of China’s social media influencers
To her 1.4 million followers, Vica Li says she is a “life blogger” and “food lover”. She also appears to be part of a network of social media personalities who help push the Chinese government’s perspective. ⌘ Read more
Crypto heist: Hackers steal $US600m from blockchain connected to online game
Hackers stole millions from a blockchain network connected to the popular Axie Infinity online game in one of the biggest crypto attacks to date. ⌘ Read more
More than just fun selfies: How influencers have become their own brands
Netflix’s reality show Byron Baes has shone the spotlight on the world of influencers. How do you cultivate a following and create an income as an influencer? The experts tell us how ⌘ Read more
Apple planning on selling iPhones on a monthly subscription service: report
Apple is developing a subscription service for the iPhone and other hardware products that would allow users to buy products for a monthly fee. ⌘ Read more
The secret to TikTok stardom? Don’t be yourself
Comedian Tom Cardy’s profane and zany videos have made him a viral sensation. The fact that he’s a nice guy has very little to do with it. ⌘ Read more
Meet Amazon’s Mr Alexa, the man who lives in the future
One of the perks of Dave Limp’s job is that he lives in a world the rest of us won’t inhabit for years: the head of Amazon’s gadgets division is also the company’s chief guinea pig. ⌘ Read more
Apple wildcard: The iPhone could be the key to a crypto revolution
There’s a massive opportunity that Apple so far has been fairly quiet on. ⌘ Read more
A new wave of digital media is coming. Will it do better than the last one?**
Buzzfeed, Vice and Huffington Post were going to upend journalism but they didn’t last in Australia. New companies are hoping to learn from their mistakes. ⌘ Read more
Earlyhome experiment to turn share houses into tech talent pools
The founders of tech community Earlywork are working on projects from hiring to a startup sharehouse as they raise money and go full-time. ⌘ Read more
New iPhone doesn’t live up to Apple standards
When Steve Jobs led Apple, the company was famous for making products that would impress and even “delight” its customers. The uninspiring iPhone SE unveiled today shows how far Apple has strayed from that standard. ⌘ Read more
Apple unveils faster, more expensive budget iPhone
unveiled a new version of its budget-priced iPhone that’s capable of connecting to ultrafast 5G wireless networks as well as a new desktop in its first product launches of 2022. ⌘ Read more
Australian foreign exchange firm blocks wages to workers in Ukraine
One startup, Kademi, had previously relied on OFX to pay its Ukrainian staff but found itself unable to do so last week. ⌘ Read more
Big Tech has a fight on its hands in Australian courts
The Federal Court of Australia’s insistence that local laws override Big Tech’s contracts with users could pose a threat to the US platforms’ legal strategy. It may explain why the platforms are so eager to fight this fight. ⌘ Read more
Australia challenged Big Tech to remove Russian state media. It deserves an answer
Russian state media RT and Sputnik have been accused of spreading lies to further Russian president Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine, but removing them from the social internet requires a public debate. ⌘ Read more
VR edges closer to mainstream success, thanks in part to Meta
Though virtual reality has been rising in popularity as a gaming platform for some time, the success of Meta’s headset may put the future of the technology in the company’s hands. ⌘ Read more
‘We are sorry for the stress this caused’: Atlassian toughens stance on Russia after internal pressure
The company conceded it had fumbled communications with its staff about its decision to lock Ukrainian contractors out of its systems. ⌘ Read more
Government demands tech giants pull Russian state media
The Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has demanded that Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and others pull the pro-Putin state media accounts. ⌘ Read more
Government demands tech giants pull Russian state media
The Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has demanded that Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and others pull the pro-Putin state media accounts. ⌘ Read more
There’s a video war, and Ukraine is winning
The world is watching the conflict in Ukraine online like never before — and it is having major strategic consequences. ⌘ Read more
Tasmanian outage a reminder that internet networks are physically fragile
The ubiquity of the mobile internet has had a major impact on our lives, leaving homes and businesses at a loss when there’s an outage. ⌘ Read more
Government pushes social media giants to suspend Russian state news sites
The European Commission’s president accused RT and Sputnik of spreading lies to justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. ⌘ Read more
$10 billion flows to Australian start-ups in banner year
But the number of deals involving at least one female founder to take in an investment remains stagnant at less than 20 per cent. ⌘ Read more
‘Everyone wants an iconic image of conflict’: Social media users hit by misinformation deluge
Australians trying to follow Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are being enveloped in a blizzard of fake or misleading content online. Here’s what to look out for. ⌘ Read more
Why is Ukraine under cyber attack – and could it spread?**
Cyberattacks now feature in most country’s war plans. In Ukraine, the world may see what that means in action. ⌘ Read more
Location tracking company shares crash as stalking fears weigh on sector
Life360 lost 30 per cent of its value on the ASX after costs spiked and its CEO flagged privacy concerns about a competing Apple product. ⌘ Read more
The rise of Big Tech may just be starting
Don’t be fooled by recent share price jitters. For all that has gone right during the pandemic for the largest companies in tech, they now seem poised to expand their reach and influence over the rest of the economy, rather than relinquish it. ⌘ Read more
WiseTech boss raises alarm on port fees
Australia’s Productivity Commission is examining the country’s ports system to see if it is holding back the economy. ⌘ Read more
‘Under immense pressure’: Uber allowed drivers to work 61 days in a row
Uber allowed hundreds of drivers to work every day for two months, and failed to remove cars deemed unsafe or with inadequate insurance from its platform. ⌘ Read more
Tech giants can claim they’re everywhere and nowhere, but it’s not smart
The sooner that technology companies can admit their US parent companies do business in Australia and have to abide by local laws, the better. ⌘ Read more
National digital ID plan sparks ‘Australia Card’ warnings
The planned system could let Australians access state and federal services with just one login, but privacy advocates are concerned. ⌘ Read more
Samsung’s Galaxy S22 line improves cameras, revives Note
The latest Samsung smartphones add some small tweaks and upgrade incentives, while merging the Ultra and Note lines to create a big, stylus-toting premium option. ⌘ Read more
Working through the eye of a social media storm
Technically and ethically, what stays up and what comes down is not an easy question but the bottom line is there is a lot of money riding on getting content moderation right. ⌘ Read more
Bigger than Netflix: Video game content is the new king
A land grab for content is on between the global technology giants as they set their sights on locking in the next cohort of consumers into a web of subscription-based streaming services. ⌘ Read more
What is the metaverse?**
It will make video meetings and phone apps seem quaint. How will the metaverse work, and when can we go there? ⌘ Read more
Mediscare redux: Top union targeted pensioners in shadowy online ad campaign
Online ads from a major union point users to a site falsely claiming the government plans to keep pensioners from buying Christmas presents. ⌘ Read more
Andrew Forrest launches criminal case against Facebook over crypto scams
The mining magnate believes the social media giant failed to stop Australians being defrauded by scam ads using his likeness, breaching money laundering laws. ⌘ Read more
We might be in a simulation. How much should that worry us?**
Virtual reality is getting very real - real enough to call into question what “reality” even means. ⌘ Read more
As Spotify faces the music, what are the alternatives?**
If you’re thinking of shopping around with your $12 a month, here are four alternatives to Spotify. ⌘ Read more
Sony gears up for content war with $5b deal for Halo creator Bungie
Following Microsoft’s $96 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, Sony says it will buy Destiny 2 makers Bungie but will not pull the game from Xbox consoles. ⌘ Read more
Local musos split on Spotify’s Rogan stance as service unveils new rules
Australian musicians Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier have broken ranks and lashed out against the Spotify boycott launched by Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. ⌘ Read more
Menulog’s plan to shape the future of delivery work suffers setback
The national industrial tribunal ruled employed food delivery riders should be paid the same as other transport workers. ⌘ Read more
‘TikTok is basically in control’: How clothing ‘hauls’ run teen fashion
The video genre, where TikTokers try on a series of items with quick cuts in between, has launched once obscure retail Australian brands to international success. ⌘ Read more
With a boom on the horizon, are old video games the new vinyl?**
Nostalgic gamers are snapping up old favourites like never before – and so are a growing number of investors. ⌘ Read more
No longer an outcast, Bitcoin has succumbed to the cold, hard truth of finance
In the latest bout of market turbulence, Bitcoin has risen and fallen in lockstep with major US tech stocks. But it wasn’t meant to be that way. ⌘ Read more
‘I don’t like the unicorn label’: For some startups, $1 billion is not as cool as it once was
While venture capital cash comes easy to some startups, other founders are still grinding out hundreds of emails, calls and meetings as they seek the cash to get their dream businesses started. ⌘ Read more
‘Most hated man in video games’: The scandalous reign of Call of Duty billionaire
Bobby Kotick rescued Activision from bankruptcy more than 30 years ago and helped turn it into a video games titan. But his tenure has been riddled with a series of scandals. ⌘ Read more
Microsoft’s historic $96b deal comes with a lot of games - and a spotty reputation
Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Crash Bandicoot and more will soon be under the Xbox umbrella, along with Activision Blizzard’s tarnished reputation. ⌘ Read more
Uber, Airtasker face new worker protection rules as Victoria overhauls gig economy
The state is going further than any other in Australia in setting how companies like Uber, Deliveroo and Airtasker have to treat their workers. ⌘ Read more
Digital legacy: who gets your cloud storage when you die
Proving to big tech that you’re entitled to a loved one’s possessions can be a nightmare, but it’s getting better. ⌘ Read more
Twitter, Snapchat warns government off undermining online anonymity
Twitter and Snapchat argue pseudonyms let people express themselves, explore their sexuality, comment on repressive regimes and blow the whistle on misconduct. ⌘ Read more
10-minute dash: New startups join fast delivery race
New delivery apps are offering inner-city dwellers reasonably priced grocery deliveries in 10 minutes, seeking to cash in on a multibillion-dollar global trend. But will they last? ⌘ Read more
Turning off: The devices that could follow BlackBerry’s fate
Very few gadgets simply stop working like Blackberries have, but all eventually lose support and slowly become obsolete. ⌘ Read more
BlackBerry, smartphone pioneer, finally hangs up on its classic devices
Anyone still holding on to one of the proto-smartphones, with its hardware keyboard and BlackBerry OS software, will be locked out of most functions from this week. ⌘ Read more
Drone delivery, DAOs, digital docs: The tech trends to watch out for in 2022
As technology advances, it is anyone’s guess what craze 2022 might hold. Here are some predictions what to watch out for this year. ⌘ Read more
The gadgets that were almost game changers in 2021
There’s been plenty of devices this year where companies took a big swing at something new and didn’t quite make it. But these three could become must-haves in their next iterations. ⌘ Read more
Bigger and stronger, but swarmed by doubts: The year in tech empires
Big Tech got bigger-er and stronger in 2021. The empires of technology also appeared more vulnerable than ever to the forces of regulation, competition, and perhaps hubris. ⌘ Read more
Essential summer tech: Four innovations for the holiday break
From keeping cool to setting the mood, here are some tech ideas for your summer adventures. ⌘ Read more
Russian court slaps Google, Meta with massive fines
Google was fined nearly $US100 million while Facebook’s parent company Meta was ordered to pay $US27 million over their alleged failure to delete content banned by local law. ⌘ Read more
Kobo writes a new chapter in e-reader war with Amazon
No longer just a hipster alternative to the Kindle, Kobo e-readers have come into their own with great hardware and broad content options. ⌘ Read more
The tech I want in 2022
Next year we need more creative ways to bring us together. (Laundry robots would be cool, too.) ⌘ Read more
‘We’ve had enough with trolling’: AG Cash pressures Labor on social media crackdown
Attorney-General Michaelia Cash has urged federal Labor to support the government’s proposed anti-trolling laws in a clear signal the government wants to make its crackdown on tech giants a political issue ⌘ Read more
‘Bullish on the future of audio’: Spotify scoops up Aussie podcasting platform
Whooshkaa got its name from a good day at the races. Now the Australian podcast business has been acquired by audio giant Spotify. ⌘ Read more
The best video games of 2021, and what to buy
From big budget blockbusters to imaginative indies, 2021 brought us heaps of incredible games and plenty of gift options for the gamers in your life. ⌘ Read more
Anti-vax app gets the boot from Google but remains on Apple App Store
Reignite Democracy Australia has had its pages pulled from Facebook twice for spreading harmful COVID and vaccine misinformation, prompting it to turn to its own app. ⌘ Read more
Why Apple will now let you fix your iPhone
The tech giant, once the arch nemesis to DIY fixing of broken gadgets, is leading a shift to reuse rather than discard. ⌘ Read more
Under-fire Instagram to nudge users to ‘take a break’**
Federal Liberal MP Julian Simmonds said the changes were a recognition by the service that too much time on the photo-sharing app could damage teens’ mental health. ⌘ Read more
After 20 years, Halo Infinite is the series’ return to relevance
Returning Xbox’s erstwhile flagship franchise to its roots while also pivoting to an open-world, live service model was a big ask, but it has paid off. ⌘ Read more
Amazon cloud outage hits major websites, streaming apps
An Amzon outage has caused havoc in the US by knocking out streaming platforms Netflix and Disney+, Robinhood, a wide range of apps and Amazon.com’s e-commerce website as consumers shopped ahead of Christmas. ⌘ Read more
Under-fire Instagram to nudge users to ‘take a break’**
Instagram is encouraging users to take a break as the company battles accusations that too much time spent on its social networks hurts the mental wellbeing of teenagers. ⌘ Read more
Defamation isn’t the biggest worry about social media
Despite the Prime Minister saying he wanted his proposed new social media laws “to protect women”, defamation is a tool mostly used by the rich and powerful - especially politicians and especially men. ⌘ Read more
In an era of virtual socialising, get ready for virtual influencers
A mysterious avatar named Kai is a huge celebrity within kid-focused social network Roblox, but she isn’t exactly what she seems. ⌘ Read more
How your employer can keep track of your work at home
Since the pandemic and the rise in people working from home, employers’ use of employee-monitoring programs has been growing rapidly. ⌘ Read more
Holberton shakes up tech education with Melbourne campus
Project -based software engineering school offers an intensive nine-month course that focuses on hands-on collaboration rather than lessons. ⌘ Read more
20 years on, the impact of the original iPod is plain to see
Apple didn’t invent the portable digital music player but, as with many technologies since, it took an existing clunky idea and polished it for the masses. ⌘ Read more
Apple to start selling parts for customers to repair their iPhones
The program will be rolled out across the globe in 2022 and will initially allow people to fix the display, battery and camera for their iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 before expanding to other devices. ⌘ Read more
This year, give the gift of boring but useful tech
After long lockdowns, there’s a good chance we all have too much stuff. But there’s always room for gadgets that make life a little bit better. ⌘ Read more
Google invests $1 billion in Australia with new research hub
Google has announced a $1 billion investment in Australia over five years, including a new research hub, increased cloud capacity and partnerships with local organisations including the CSIRO. ⌘ Read more
Microsoft’s latest Surface strikes a better balance than M1 iPad Pro
Both devices are laptop-replacing tablets with mystifyingly sold-separate keyboards, but the Surface Pro 8 and iPad Pro are quite different. ⌘ Read more
How four speakers can rival a dedicated 12-channel home theatre setup
Sony’s wireless HT-A9 setup uses psychoacoustics to create a dome of sound with a dozen “phantom” speakers, with surprisingly convincing results. ⌘ Read more
How to use Apple’s SharePlay to watch, listen and work out with friends
Apple’s latest update brings the ability to share media over FaceTime, with each participant still keeping complete control of their devices. ⌘ Read more
Apple may have just transformed the world of computers
For years, Intel was making muscle cars; Apple’s big innovation was to build the Tesla of computer chips. ⌘ Read more
Connecting with family, friends a key reason people play video games
Games are now the second most popular entertainment medium in Australia, behind streaming services and ahead of free-to-air TV. ⌘ Read more
How Australia’s helping to fight the snowballing threat of space junk
Since we rely on satellites for everything from navigation to weather reports to communication to your local ATM, we can’t afford a catastrophic collision. ⌘ Read more
Invasive surveillance: Are regulators ready to deal with Facebook’s ‘metaverse’?**
The warning on the metaverse is clear: “This is probably the most invasive surveillance technology we’re going to bring into our homes in the next decade.” ⌘ Read more
Australian regulator demands face-scanning firm Clearview AI delete photos
An Australian privacy authority has ordered facial recognition company Clearview AI to stop scanning the faces of Australians and destroy the images and related data it has already collected. ⌘ Read more
A hi-fi streaming box to replace your receiver
To audiophiles it may sound like blasphemy, but streaming music over a network or the internet can now easily be the heart of your system. ⌘ Read more
Facebook to shut down face-recognition system, delete data
Facebook said it will shut down its face-recognition system and delete the faceprints of more than 1 billion people. ⌘ Read more
How to choose an air purifier
It’s the season for pollen, bushfires and thunderstorms, not to mention that pesky pandemic, so you may be wondering if you need an air purifier. ⌘ Read more
Scandal-plagued Facebook hoping for a fresh start, and younger customers, with Meta
Aside from distancing itself from controversy, Facebook’s pivot is all about setting itself up with a new generation of internet users. ⌘ Read more
Squid Game reignites battle on who pays for the internet
A South Korean network provider is insisting Netflix should cough up for the bandwidth its hit show uses. ⌘ Read more
Google’s latest phones outsmart, and undercut, the competition
The Pixel 6 is an incredible phone at a reasonable price, with hardware and AI that put Google back on top for smartphone photography and smarts. ⌘ Read more
Apple’s new AirPods are greater, but girthier
The 3rd Gen buds feature much better sound and some new tricks like spatial audio, if they fit comfortably in your ears. ⌘ Read more
Rise of the metaverse could put the entire internet into Facebook
Mark Zuckerberg’s empire is positioning itself to be at the centre of the next phase of the internet. ⌘ Read more
Google’s connected cameras a smart, slightly spooky way to watch your home
With a few cameras or a doorbell around your home, and Google’s Nest Aware subscription, you can look out all your windows 24/7 from anywhere. ⌘ Read more