Apps
Analysis
Competition
Will new competition laws make your digital life cheaper?
An EU-style regime aims to stop big tech locking down their platforms. But we are still a long way from making smartphones a truly open ecosystem, like home computers.
- by Tim Biggs
Latest
The ‘death clock’ that predicts the day you’ll die
The AI was trained on a dataset of more than 1200 life expectancy studies with some 53 million participants. Its answers may well be of interest to economists and money managers.
- by Alex Tanzi
Tech giants face $50 million fines in app store battle
Just days after banning under 16s from social media, the federal government is now targeting tech companies’ app stores amid competition fears.
- by Shane Wright
To stop screen addiction, this school will give out phones. But there’s a catch
As families struggle to manage their children’s screen obsessions, Pymble Ladies’ College has devised a ground-breaking way to help.
- by Jordan Baker
How would a social media ban actually work?
Almost a quarter of children aged eight to 10 use social media, as do half of 13-year-olds. How would new laws banning them from apps actually keep them off?
- by Paul Sakkal, David Swan and Tim Biggs
On Telegram, a violent preview of what may unfold during and after the US election
Far-right groups like the Proud Boys are revving people up to fight should Trump lose, with some promising “to get you trained and ready for election day”.
- by Paul Mozur, Adam Satariano, Aaron Krolik and Steven Lee Myers
Exclusive
Telecommunications
Telcos in talks to roll out ‘SMS on steroids’
Telstra, Optus and TPG are in talks to implement an SMS replacement that could slash the rate of spam messages.
- by David Swan
Exclusive
Gadgets
AI hype, 3G shutdown drive bumper smartphone sales
Australians are back buying new smartphones, with the new iPhone facing stiffer competition from AI-enabled Android rivals.
- by David Swan
Analysis
Apple
‘End of the world’: The Apple change that has flown under the radar
When Apple announced iOS 18, the latest version of its mobile operating system, most of the attention went to its slate of new AI features. But a lesser-known change may wind up being more important.
- by Kevin Roose
Would you pay $1500 a month for a health app?
Buzzy health start-ups are vying for users and venture capital funding, but some warn they offer little health benefit and in fact may be causing harm.
- by David Swan
Exclusive
Parenting
The simple tip to help a child get over their screen addiction
An Australian-first clinical trial of treatments found parents can have some success by enforcing rules that limit internet access.
- by Mary Ward