techAU

Australia telcos are finally allowing temporary disaster roaming (TDR), ahead of summer - https://techau.com.au/australia-telcos-are-finally-allowing-temporary-disaster-roaming-tdr-ahead-of-summer/

This happens overseas, so it's been long overdue for Australia.

Google announces Gemini 4 Argon, $2 per M in/$4 per M out and uncensored cyber defense - https://techau.com.au/google-announces-gemini-4-argon-2-per-m-in-4-per-m-out-and-uncensored-cyber-defense/

Google had fallen behind in the frontier model race, but today announced Gemini 4 Argon. While it's not available for everyone yet, it's showing promising results in benchmarks and has a few unique features that'll draw some attention.

Australia's Card Surcharge Ban Starts Tomorrow: The Real Tech and Cost Breakdown - https://techau.com.au/australia-bans-card-surcharge-from-tomorrow-but-you-will-end-up-paying-more-anyway/

Starting tomorrow, October 1, new Reserve Bank of Australia rules will come into effect. This means retailers won't be able to display one price and charger another.. card fees for networks like Visa, Mastercard, and EFTPOS will go away.. but that's not the whole story.

Stake Adds PayID Support to Make Purchasing US Stocks Easier - https://techau.com.au/stake-adds-payid-support-to-make-purchasing-us-stocks-easier/

Funding your trading account is getting significantly faster. Stake is rolling out dedicated PayID support alongside new account details, removing the waiting times and friction when moving funds to invest in US shares and ETFs.

Supported by updated banking infrastructure, Australian investors will be able to deposit money in real time. That means no more missing time-sensitive Wall Street market moves while waiting days for standard bank transfers to clear.

Vodafone Launches Australian-First 4-Year Phone Plans to Tackle Rising Hardware Costs - https://techau.com.au/vodafone-launches-australian-first-4-year-phone-plans-to-tackle-rising-hardware-costs/

With flagship smartphone pricing pushing well past $2,000, Vodafone has become the first Australian telco to introduce 48-month interest-free hardware repayments.

Spreading device costs over four full years effectively halves monthly hardware repayments compared to a standard 24-month term, offering households welcome cash flow relief.

Only question is.. will the battery last?

Meta Unveils the Muse Charm: A Pocket-Sized Hardware Puck to Command Your AI Agent - https://techau.com.au/meta-unveils-the-muse-charm-a-pocket-sized-hardware-puck-you-use-to-command-your-ai-agent/

Meta is moving AI hardware beyond smart glasses with the introduction of Muse Charm, a dedicated pocket-sized puck engineered to interact with your personal AI agent anywhere.

Roughly the size of an earbud case, the compact device features a built-in touchscreen, 5G connectivity, and a low-latency voice model that delivers instant, hands-free access to your AI agent.

Australian sentiment drops on Autonomous Vehicles as we wait for AV legislation and entrants - https://techau.com.au/australian-sentiment-drops-autonomous-vehicles-as-we-wait-for-av-legislation-and-entrants/

Public enthusiasm for autonomous vehicles across Australia is showing signs of cooling off, according to new data from Savvy's latest EV Sentiments Survey.

Prolonged delays in national legislation, slow regulatory frameworks, and a lack of real-world commercial rollouts have left motorists waiting while overseas markets race ahead.

Without clear timelines from regulators or visible local deployment from key autonomous players, consumer confidence is giving way to skepticism.

Magic: The Gathering's multiverse fractures as epic three-year story arc reaches its climax - mtg-reality-fracture@mishmanners" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://techau.com.au/mtg-reality-fracture@mishmanners

Wizards of the Coast is pushing tabletop play into uncharted territory with this release.

It marks the conclusion of an epic three-year story arc, the new set explores a twisted alternate reality where Jace Beleren's vision collides directly with the existing Multiverse.

Players can expect a range of fresh mechanics and collector highlights.. Prerelease events kick off today, with the official tabletop launch following on October 2, 2026.

Tesla Semi is finally ready to roll - https://techau.com.au/tesla-semi-is-finally-ready-to-roll/

After years of development, testing, and pilot deployments with early fleet partners, the Tesla Semi is moving into its next critical phase of real-world freight operations.

Tesla are officially launching the Semi, along with a range of transport and distribution customers.

Screen-free holiday fun: Top board games to play with friends and family - https://techau.com.au/top-board-games/ (by @ ).

Looking to put down the phones and step away from the screens these holidays? Tabletop gaming is having a huge resurgence, offering an engaging, budget-friendly way to connect with family and friends.

We rounded up top tabletop recommendations that cater to every group, from introductory modern classics to high-energy party picks.

Of course there's still some technology.. with a smart Bluetooth dice - GoDice that bridges the physical and digital tabletop experiences.