The NSW government is taking the first steps towards legalising electric scooter use throughout the state, as the form of transport grows in popularity.
Under the current electric scooter laws, NSW residents can only ride e-scooters in public from approved rental companies in designated council trial areas. Use on private property is not restricted by law.
According to the NSW Minister for Transport Jo Haylen, there’s a plan to address “a regulatory blindspot” not many people know about.
“There are already 1.35 million e-micromobility devices in homes across NSW,” Minister Haylen said in a statement. “Almost 460,0000 of these are e-scooters. But only 22% of people across the state know it’s illegal to ride e-scooters on our roads and streets.”
Electric scooters are seen as an accessible mode of transport, particularly for people with disabilities. The NSW government also views legislating the transport option as a potential way to reduce road traffic congestion. Electric scooters aren’t without criticism, though, with safety concerns a big issue.
Although there’s no legislation on the table yet, the recently published draft rules are fairly consistent with other states that permit public electric scooter use. Based on these rules, NSW commuters would be able to ride on shared paths, bike paths, and on roads marked 50km/h or less.
16 years old is the proposed age limit, the same as most states. Queensland is the notable exception, allowing children as young as 12 to ride electric scooters in public under adult supervision. To encourage electric scooter use, the Queensland government recently offered a rebate of up to $200.
Parliamentary hearings are currently taking place to solicit feedback on the NSW government’s draft rules. There’s no set date for any potential law changes yet; more information is available on the government’s E-micromobility website.
I stopped wearing a watch 15 years ago after wearing one for 30 years before that. About five years ago, I tried a smartwatch and gave it up quickly with all the charging and little value over my smartphone, which I always carried anyway. For the last eight weeks, I have tested the Garmin Descent Mk3i scuba diving watch and have not taken it off.
Ideal for taking underwater, the Garmin Descent Mk3i incorporates a dive computer. A dive computer is like a super-smart watch for underwater adventures. It tracks your scuba diving or free diving time, depth, and other important information.
A pressure sensor shows how deep and long you’ve been underwater. The computer then uses this information to calculate your no-decompression limit (NDL), the maximum time you can stay at a certain depth without getting decompression sickness.
Decompression sickness is serious if you come up from a dive too quickly or stay too long at certain depths. A dive computer helps prevent this by warning you when to start your ascent.
A dive computer is standard equipment to keep scuba divers safe. Additional features, like keeping a log of dives and indicating when it is safe to fly on an aeroplane after a dive, are also features of a dive computer.
Not just for diving, the Garmin Descent Mk3i has made me start wearing a watch again.
A Garmin Descent Mk3i is a full-featured touchscreen smartwatch and dive computer with up to 25 days of battery life and a flashlight.
When I review a product, I make notes while I use it. As I write this review, I have 40 separate notes on this watch, more than I can fit into one review. The story’s moral is that this watch’s features are far greater and more advanced than I thought.
The Descent has a built-in LED light, GPS receiver, heart rate monitor, customisable watch face, and customisable menus. Some of the natively supported sports include:
Scuba diving
Freediving
Swimming
Surfing
Multisport (e.g. Triathlon)
Cycling
Hiking
Pilates
Weightlifting
Rock climbing
Hunting
Golf
Sailing
Sky diving
Fishing
Skiing
Plus more – you get the idea
A big positive of wearing the Garmin is the health and wellness monitoring. The watch can measure your heart rate, Pulse Ox (Oxygen in the blood), detect stress, measure respiration, record sleep, and detect daytime naps. These sensors combine to help training or warn of issues and include sleep coaching, women’s health, fitness tracking, fitness age, intensity minutes, calories burned, wheelchair physiology, jet lag advisor, HRV status (overall health measure) and even record your hydration when paired with a smartphone.
The Garmin may have a small screen, but its full-colour scratch-resistant sapphire display renders zoomable maps, including topographic and turn-by-turn street maps, golf courses, ski resorts, and dive sites.
Music can be stored on the watch and played back through Bluetooth headphones so that you can leave your smartphone behind.
Garmin T2 Transceiver. Image: Angus Jones.
Those of you who want more can access a range of additional accessories to enhance functionality, from chest-mounted heart rate monitors to cycling speed sensors. There’s even a dog-tracking device, so you know exactly where your pooch is. You can even control a trolling motor for fishing with the watch.
Replacement quickfit watchbands, as well as spare charging cables, can be purchased. A unique accessory for this dive watch is the Descent T2 transceiver (RRP $899), an air pressure monitor that attaches to a scuba tank. This device allows you to monitor your air pressure and your watch to monitor the pressure of up to eight tanks, which may be yours or others are using. The T2 will allow divers to communicate up to 30 metres via messaging on their watch using a new underwater sonar technology.
Scuba diving features
The Descent is a very advanced tool that adapts to freedivers and scuba divers on air, nitrox, mixed gasses, closed-circuit rebreathers, and multi-gas. Most scuba divers use air, and the good news is that the defaults are set to that. When paired with the T2 transceiver, you can see your estimated Air Time Remaining (ATR), which indicates how long until your air runs out.
Garmin after Dive logged information. Image: Angus Jones.
A safety feature called dive readiness calculates your preparedness to dive based on lifestyle factors the watch has gathered. Over 4,000 dive maps are available, but they appear only as site locations in Australia rather than dive site details for some international locations.
The built-in compass works above and below the water, helping you stay orientated. After you dive, all data is logged into the watch’s 32GB of storage, meaning you don’t have to have your phone with you on a dive holiday. The extraordinary battery life would easily get you through a week of diving without recharge; Garmin quotes 66 hours in dive mode.
I thought this review would be all about the dive features of this watch. Instead, it is mainly about the above-water features. I have been scuba diving for 40 years, which excited me about this watch. What has excited me is how far smartwatches have come and how useful this device is on my wrist. We have become so reliant on our smartphones, and there is an app for everything. The Descent takes this same logic but narrows it to information and features you need on the end of your arm.
I must admit I have become obsessed with the sleep tracker. I may sleep 8 hours, and I feel average. Why? The Garmin will tell you why and what you can do to get a better night’s sleep. This extends throughout the day, where your exertion is measured, giving you a real-time index of your readiness to train or dive. I found this pretty cool and sensible, as my brain would always say: just power on when sometimes you need to take it easy, especially as you age.
I use a torch more regularly than my phone, as I can still use both hands. The battery life means I charge the watch every three weeks, depending on whether I have scuba-dived or tracked a bike ride or a hike. I have not activated any battery-saving features. Tracking an activity uses more power, which could reduce the quoted battery life from 25 days to 56 hours (GPS always on).
Bicycle ride tracked. Screenshot: Angus Jones.
I have used the activity tracker regularly to track my bike rides and hikes, and it is good to see the results, including statistics like how much liquid I have lost, speed, elevation, and heart rate.
A limitation I have found is that of the three credit cards I use, only one is supported by Garmin Pay contactless payments. Charging is also via a proprietary clip charger, which you must remember to take on a trip. Saying this, a USB-C solution would not work charging a waterproof watch.
I did not intend to test the assistance/incident feature. However, the watch immediately alerted my emergency contact when I hit a bump hard on my bike. This feature detects falls and calls for assistance.
Garmin Incident alert. Screenshot: Angus Jones.
The watch will act independently but benefit from a connection to your smartphone, which you will need for the seamless setup. Initially, I received every notification from my phone, even ones already disabled on the phone; these are easily reduced on the watch by dismissing unwanted alerts.
For those of you who have swapped from an Apple to an Android phone, it takes a bit to get used to a new user interface, and from a diving perspective, I found that very much the case, having previously relied on a Suunto dive watch. The Garmin provides a lot more info on a clearer screen.
I found you can customise what dive data you can see but could not change a small display of my ATR to a larger, more prominent position, which I would have liked. After your dive, all the data collected is sent from the watch to your smartphone’s Garmin Dive app. This makes logging your dives easy, including the GPS surface position of your entry and exit, minimising further manual input.
Garmin ATR data on the top right of the display (too small). Image: Angus Jones.
Since I tested the watch with new features, Garmin has pushed two software updates, so functionality will only improve.
Who is the Garmin Descent Mk3i for?
The Garmin Descent Mk3i will indeed tell the time. It has an alarm clock and a stopwatch, but it is also a powerful dive computer and smartwatch designed to match many sports, interests and health monitoring. So, in my eyes, this is an everyday watch you will wear night and day.
This model has a price premium over other Garmin smartwatch models because of its scuba diving computer. The target audience is, of course, divers. This review has certainly been a surprise regarding the long battery life and all the other features for active people. Millions of smartwatches are sold every year, and there is good reason. Maybe it’s time to put a watch back on your wrist and match a smartwatch to your passions.
Garmin Descent Mk3i
More than just a diving smartwatch, the Garmin Descent Mk3i has me wearing a watch again after years of a bare wrist.
Apple’s big week of Mac announcements continued overnight, revealing the even more miniature Mac Mini built with the company’s M4 chip.
Previously rumoured to be similar to the Apple TV streaming device in size, the new Mac Mini is indeed tiny. With a bit of dramatic flair, Apple showed just how much smaller its pint-sized desktop computer is in the product reveal video.
At just 5 x 5 inches (12.7 x 12.7cm), it’s a substantial downsize from last year’s Mini, which measured at 7.75 x 7.75 inches. It’s noticeably lighter too, weighing roughly 0.7kg compared to the older model’s approximately 1.2kg heft.
Like the 2024 iMac revealed yesterday, the latest Mac Mini uses the M4 system-on-a-chip, skipping directly from the M2 platform. According to Apple, this year’s model delivers 1.6 times faster CPU performance on Affinity Photo, and 1.4 times faster GPU performance when playing World of Warcraft. They’re very specific examples, demonstrating a reasonable leap between Minis.
Of course, that’s only relevant if you upgrade your computer every year, which would be uncommon. Apple likes comparing its silicon to older Macs running on Intel chips prior to 2020, touting up to 13 times faster performance.
The M2 Mac Mini (left) compared to the M4 Mac Mini (right). Image: Apple.
Apple also debuted the M4 Pro version of its chip, a more powerful version that includes a 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, up from the base M4’s 10-core CPU and GPU configuration. Mac Mini’s with the M4 Pro get Thunderbolt 5 connectivity for the first time, providing data transfer speeds reaching 120Gb/s.
For a more current comparison, Apple claims that the M4 Pro boasts 2.4 times better GPU performance than the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 chip. Keep in mind that this is not Intel’s most powerful processor; that crown goes to the Core Ultra 9 model.
Available to pre-order now, the M4 Mac Mini starts at $999 in Australia, while the M4 Pro model starts at $2,199. Both variants arrive locally on 8 November 2024.
Described by the company as a “huge week for the Mac”, Apple is announcing several new devices over the next few days, bolstering its range of computers.
Is it a case of two steps forward and one step back? Joining the latest iMac is an updated Magic Mouse that replaces the older Lightning charger with a USB-C port. Except that the charging port is still relegated to the mouse’s underside.
For some folks, it’s not a big deal because you get roughly a month of use from a full battery. So, plenty of time to charge it in between, right? Alas, we’re forgetful creatures, so the risk of getting caught out by a low-battery notification is not zero. Needing to flip the mouse over to charge, rendering it unusable for a time, isn’t ideal.
Available to order now, the Magic Mouse costs $119 in Australia, and is joined by the new USB-C version of the Magic Keyboard which starts at $149.
iMac gets M4 chip, new colours, more high-speed ports
Two of the new colourful M4 iMac desktops. Images: Apple.
As expected, the Apple iMac now features the company’s latest in-house M4 chip. Other than incremental performance gains, the combined desktop computer and 24-inch display now supports up to four Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports. That means high-speed data transfers, device charging, and additional external display compatibility.
Another addition to the iMacs is the optional nano-texture screen coating for an extra $300. It’s said to reduce glare and reflections, which might help if your workstation sits next to a window. In Australia, Apple’s M4 iMac starts at $1,999 for the two-port model, and $2,399 for the version with four ports.
What’s expected from Apple’s big Mac week
Apple’s previous Mac Mini: Apple.
Apple usually announces its new devices in clusters but this time is different. Apple’s Senior Vice President of Marketing, Greg Joswiak, posted to X about “an exciting week of announcements” relating to the Mac. Instead of dropping a bunch of devices at once and letting the dust settle, Apple is spreading its reveals out over multiple days.
Mac () your calendars! We have an exciting week of announcements ahead, starting on Monday morning. Stay tuned… pic.twitter.com/YnoCYkZq6c
Timed to coincide with the launch of the first Apple Intelligence features, the company’s new Macs are set to take advantage of several in-house generative AI technologies. Australia won’t get a native dialect option until December, but it’s still possible to play around with the features using US English.
As previously reported, it’s expected that Apple will reveal new iMac, Mac Mini, and MacBook Pro models running on the faster M4 processor. Stay tuned for the full details from each announcement.
Apple may have upgraded its computing credentials when it revealed the M4 iMac overnight, yet its Magic Mouse continues to be a big talking point.
Previously charged via Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector, the Magic Mouse now uses the more universal USB-C technology. The same goes for the latest version of the slimline Magic Keyboard. That’s good, right? To an extent.
Despite the USB-C upgrade, Apple’s low-profile mouse keeps the charging port in an unusual spot. It’s located on the peripheral’s underside, meaning you have to flip it over when charging. In other words, if you forget to charge before logging on, you’re left mouse-less while waiting for the battery to top up.
According to Apple, the Magic Mouse lasts roughly a month on a full battery. So, a bit of foresight should see you avoid being left stranded by an empty battery. Regardless, it’s an odd legacy design decision that continues to divide tech enthusiasts.
Reporters over at The Verge have waged a long campaign against the bizarre charging placement, questioning why Apple hasn’t changed it. Redditors appear divided on the topic, with some commenters suggesting it barely rates a mention, while others criticised the mouse’s overall design.
In the grand scheme of things, it’s a storm in a teacup. Sure, being able to charge and use your mouse simultaneously would be nice. Other brands find a way to make it work, so why not Apple? Either way, I won’t lose any sleep over it.
Apple’s new USB-C Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard are available to order now, starting at $119 and $149 respectively. They also come included with the new iMacs, matching the colour of the chosen desktop computer.
As teased last week, Apple is gradually drip-feeding its Mac announcements this week instead of blasting us with a bunch of devices in one go. Alongside the launch of the brand’s first Apple Intelligence features, the M4 iMac comes with promises of a performance boost and more connectivity options.
Starting at $1,999 in Australia, Apple’s 24-inch all-in-one desktop computer and display isn’t a huge step up in performance from last year’s M3 model. According to Apple’s announcement video, the M4 chip provides a slight bump in performance across productivity apps and graphics.
Where it really proves a bigger leap, however, is compared to Apple’s earlier M1 chip or its previous Intel-based iMacs. Specifically looking at the older Intel desktops, Apple claims this iMac runs up to six times faster. It’s arguably a more useful comparison considering you don’t need to upgrade your computer every year.
By default, the starting configuration comes with two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports. Pricier models, like the $2,399 one, include four Thunderbolt 4 ports and gigabit Ethernet connectivity.
All M4 iMac models ship with an upgraded 12MP camera that supports Center Stage, the feature that automatically frames subjects in the middle of the screen. It also has a wide-angle Desk View mode, letting you share the contents of your workspace via the camera.
Apple also introduced a screen option that tackles glare, providing the optional nano-texture glass designed to reduce reflections. It’s a $300 add-on, augmenting the 4480 x 2520 resolution display.
Apple’s M4 iMac range arrives in Australia on 8 November 2024, with pre-orders live now. As standard, it comes with Apple’s Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard peripherals.
After years of planning Australia’s final 3G network shutdown is underway, leaving thousands of older devices stranded and some remote regions struggling with mobile coverage.
After two postponements and a major public awareness campaign, Telstra and Optus finally began to shut down the remaining sections of their 3G mobile networks across the country on October 28.
Telstra says it will take about a week to complete its 3G shutdown, while Optus expects the process may take several months. Previously, Vodafone switched off its 3G network between December 2023 and January 2024.
All three Australian mobile network operators are decommissioning their 3G networks so they can reallocate that mobile spectrum to bolster their 4G and 5G networks.
When was the shutdown announced?
In 2019, Telstra was the first Australia network provider to announce a shutdown date for its 3G mobile network, with Optus and Vodafone later following suit.
With the announcement, Telstra committed to expanding its 4G coverage to a “materially equivalent size and reach” to its 3G footprint. At the time, 0.3 per cent of the population had 3G-only coverage.
The final stage of the 3G shutdown was postponed after, at the beginning of 2024, it was estimated that around 740,000 devices were still set to be impacted by the change. After a significant public awareness campaign, this number is now estimated to be around 59,000.
Which devices are affected by Australia’s 3G network shutdown?
Mobile phones manufactured before 2019 are likely to be impacted by the 3G shutdown. Newer 4G/5G phones purchased or imported from an overseas retailer, otherwise known as “grey phones”, may also be affected – particularly those that don’t support the 700 MHz band.
Along with mobile handsets, other devices in Australia potentially impacted by the 3G shutdown include medical devices, EFTPOS machines, ATMs, farming equipment and other internet-connected devices.
Make sure you’re ready for when the 3G network shuts down. Photo by Josh Withers on Unsplash
Impacted medical devices include personal medical alarms, pacemakers and wearable health monitors which rely on 3G to report on their status. Some impacted Australians have been provided with dongles and device upgrades to mitigate their reliance on 3G, although there are reports that Telstra is still struggling to provide 4G coverage for some affected Australians previously relying on 3G for medical device monitoring.
As listed by Optus, some of the impacted medical devices and other connected gadgets include:
iHelp personal fall alarm
Quectel EC21-AU series
Cinterion EHS6
Fibocom NL668-EAU
Gemalto Cinterion PHS8-P
MikroTik R11E-LTE6
PPIS LTE
Sierra Wireless Airprime
Telit H24
U-Blox LISA-U200
Zebra TC56/TC57
Under new federal law, telecommunications providers are now legally required to block impacted mobile phones which can no longer call Triple Zero from accessing their networks.
In the lead-up to the switch-off, both Telstra and Optus still had pockets of 3G-only coverage, mostly in remote regions of the country.
Telstra claims to have upgraded its 4G network to match the coverage of its 3G network, while Optus is continuing to operate 3G in remote areas until 4G becomes available in the coming months.
How to check if the 3G network shutdown affects you
) your calendars! We have an exciting week of announcements ahead, starting on Monday morning. Stay tuned… 
