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Senin, 30 September 2019

5G in Australia: the best phones and networks ranked

With the next generation of mobile data connectivity already beginning to spread across Australia, it's time we start to look at how to get the most out of 5G.

You can check out our detailed look into what 5G actually is, but the short and sweet of it is that it's an improvement on 4G connectivity that allows for significantly faster (up to 1GBps) download and upload speeds while using a mobile internet connection.

While still in its infancy, there's already a few 5G handsets and contract plans available to compare, so we've done the legwork and checked them all out thoroughly – rounding them up in one neat place.

5G: everything you need to know

Best 5G handsets

In Australia, there's currently only five or so 5G-ready handsets available to customers, and not all of them can be purchased outright or are available on all carriers, so that doesn't leave us with too much in the way of choice just yet.

Regardless, here are the best 5G phones you can buy right now in Australia.

1) Oppo Reno 5G

2) Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G

3) Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

5G on iPhone

Not one to rush things in terms of the forefront of phone tech, Apple has chosen a more cautious approach to adding 5G to its popular iPhone range.

At the moment, there's no Apple iPhone capable of supporting 5G, and there's no official word on when we'll see one either, although rumours have recently pointed to either 2020 or 2021.

The handsets that are already out and supporting 5G all boast the same chipset – Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855. Apple was engaged in a long-running legal battle with Qualcomm, but in order to maintain its 5G targets, settled the dispute.

However, since then, there have been rumours that Apple will buy up Intel's smartphone modem division in order to bring the development of 5G tech in-house, adding to the growing list of iPhone components that the Cupertino giant aim to produce themselves.

5G devices from Samsung

On the other hand, Samsung has already released two 5G-capable handsets – the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G – both of which are available in Australia both outright and with carrier plans.

Telstra 5G plans

Right now, Telstra has a bit of an advantage in the world of 5G plans, launching ahead of Optus and to much greater fanfare. In fact, right now, you can't sign up to a new Telstra plan without getting some form of 5G connectivity.

Currently, Telstra is offering four different plans – Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large. The Small and Medium plans offer 15GB and 60GB of data respectively and both come with access to the 5G network on a trial basis (which means you'll need to start paying for it if you want to use it after June 30, 2020).

The Large and Extra Large plans offer 100GB and 150GB of data respectively and include full 5G network access, even after June 30, 2020.

Telstra 5G coverage

As Telstra's 5G trial period is live, coverage of the future-ready network continues to grow. At present, there are only 10 cities and regions that have 5G network coverage – Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Launceston, Gold Coast, Toowoomba.

It's worth noting that, while these cities do have some degree of 5G coverage, it doesn't account for the entire region. For an up-to-date map of where you can and can't get coverage, check out Telstra's dedicated page.

In our own testing, we found that download speeds on the fringes of these 5G coverage zones were actually considerably worse off when compared to the 4G signal attained just outside of the zones.

Optus 5G

Towards the end of 2019, Optus introduced new 5G-ready phones to its host of stocked handsets, and made its 5G network available to customers with compatible handsets.

It is still very much in its infancy – more-so than Telstra's at this stage – but 165 sites are said to have been built and Optus claims that it will reach the 1,000 mark by March 2020 (it previously aimed for 1,200 but has since adjusted that benchmark).

As for coverage, you can check out the finer details on the official Optus 5G page, but despite having many regions in a number of cities live, the coverage map shows a rather patchy signal.

We expect the rollout will follow a similar pattern to Telstra's current coverage, with the select few areas that currently have the new network slowly expanding over the following months.

5G phones: these are going to be the first next-gen handsets

October 01, 2019 at 10:14AM
Harry Domanski

Nintendo Switch Lite v2 already in the works, according to FCC filing

Nintendo's Switch Lite may have only been released less than a fortnight ago, but it appears the company is already prepping an updated model, according to new FCC filing spotted by Digital Trends.

The new filing sports the identification number BKEHDH002 (the original Switch Lite's ID number was BKEHDH001), suggesting a minor update rather than a drastic redesign.

The company's filing for an updated model comes just days after the new handheld was added to a class-action lawsuit, following reports that the Switch Lite suffers from Joy-Con drift – just like the original Nintendo Switch console.

Drift? What's 'drift'?

The name 'Joy-Con drift' has been applied to an issue which sees the Switch analog sticks continue to register movement, even when sitting idly in a neutral position.

Originally, the drifting issue was thought to only affect the original Switch console's detachable Joy-Cons, but users are now reporting that the Switch Lite's built-in analog sticks have the same problem.

While the FCC filing doesn't explicitly state that Nintendo is addressing the Joy-Con drift issue, it's hard think of any other reason why the company would be thinking about hardware revisions this soon after the Switch Lite's release.

In the meantime, Switch Lite users affected by Joy-Con drift can opt for one of these matching third party controllers – even if they do lack thumbsticks.

Protect your Nintendo Switch Lite with an official Flip Cover case

October 01, 2019 at 09:49AM
Stephen Lambrechts

Optus starts offering 5G-ready phones, but is its network ready?

At the end of September, Optus announced it would be expanding its 5G-ready handset range by stocking the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G and the Oppo Reno 5G, alongside the already-available Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G .

With this new range of phones, however, comes a series of disclaimers about the current state of the Optus 5G network, namely that it’s “starting to be rolled out in selected areas”, and that 5G coverage within buildings “is not currently available”.

While its primary competitor, Telstra, has made a bit of a display about being the first Australian telco with the next generation in mobile connectivity enabled, Optus hasn’t had quite the same fanfare, instead opting to quietly creep onto the market.

As per the dedicated 5G page on Optus’ website, the company has enabled 165 sites so far, with over 1,000 planned to be live by March 2020. You can check the full coverage map for finer details on where these locations are, but the zones are somewhat spread out and the coverage within them is noticeably patchy.

Regarding the indoor coverage, it’s worth noting that a similar disclaimer is found on Telstra’s coverage map – ”our maps depict approximate 5G coverage only and do not include indoor coverage” – so this could well be an issue surrounding the current signal strength of the telcos’ respective 5G signals.

5G in Australia: the best phones and networks ranked

Should I go 5G?

For those that do opt for a 5G-ready handset with their Optus plan, you’ll still be able to experience high-speed 4G connections when 5G isn’t available, as is the case with Telstra customers.

From our testing within the Telstra network, however, we’ve noticed that the 5G signal strength makes for significantly slower download and upload speeds than 4G when at the boundary of the coverage zone, which could be problematic if you find yourself on the fringes often.

We’re yet to trial Optus’ 5G network in the same manner, but it’s likely that a similar issue will occur while the rollout is still in its very early stages. Our advice for new customers at present is to wait it out a little longer until either telco's 5G network is better established.

5G: everything you need to know

October 01, 2019 at 09:41AM
Harry Domanski

Google Pixel 4 may launch with Live Caption feature from Android 10

It looks like we know about one more important Google Pixel 4 feature ahead of the October 15 launch date, and it’s a concept that was previewed for Android 10 in May.

Live Captions is predicted to finally be making its debut with Google’s new phone, according to the findings of XDA Developers. It has the ability to create real-time captions for audio and video automatically.

The Live Caption feature is similar to another tool Google has introduced: Live Transcribe. But, where Live Transcribe listens to what people around you are saying and prints it out on your phone’s display, Live Caption processes the audio from videos, podcasts, and other sources to provide you with real-time captions. The feature can aid everyone from those with hearing limitations to people who are in a situation where they simply can’t turn the volume up.

Though Google announced the Live Caption feature back at Google IO 2019 in May, the feature hasn’t shown up in the live build of Android 10. But, XDA Developers managed to get the Live Caption feature working on a Pixel 2 by installing APKs taken from a Pixel 4 XL, with one called Device Personalization Services enabling the accessibility tool.

With the APK installed, Live Caption was able to provide text captions for sources from YouTube and Netflix to Google Podcasts and Google Photos. The captions can omit profanity, and controls can show up in the volume control. The captions also appear as an overlay that you tap and drag to move or can dismiss by swiping off the screen.

Given that the feature could be enabled through APKs taken from the Pixel 4, it’s a good bet that the Pixel 4 will launch with the feature active. The new phone is expected on October 15, and only time will tell whether other devices running Android 10 will get the Live Caption feature as soon.

October 01, 2019 at 08:20AM
Mark Knapp

Google Pixel 4 may launch with Live Caption feature from Android 10

It looks like we know about one more important Google Pixel 4 feature ahead of the October 15 launch date, and it’s a concept that was previewed for Android 10 in May.

October 01, 2019 at 08:20AM
Mark Knapp

Australia’s healthcare data security is sick – but there is a cure

If you ever want to find out what sorts of data cyber-criminals are targeting, there's a simple rule; follow the money. And some of the most valuable commodities threat actors are looking for comes from the healthcare sector. As hospitals, medical practitioners and allied health professionals digitise more of their systems and workflow, and people use more wearable devices to monitor and improve their health, the amount of data that is being exposed is growing.

In Australia, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) publishes a report every six months detailing the most common types of data breaches and which sectors are targeted. Health service providers reported the most breaches in the latest report, and that number has risen for every period the report has been issued. Almost half of those breaches were the result of malicious activity or criminal acts, according to the OAIC.

Right across the Asia Pacific region, we are seeing attacks that specifically attack the healthcare sector. There have been several attacks in Singapore, with one even exposing the Prime Minister's health data. The WannaCry malware continues to be an issue and healthcare data is now readily available over the dark web.

Australians' confidential medical data can be purchased on the dark web.

Healthcare industry ‘not keeping up’

The old school approach to business IT security – ensuring end-point protection is up to date and there's a firewall in place – is no longer good enough. Cyber incidents, where threat actors are able to bypass security controls account for more than half of the reported breaches in 2019, with the remainder spilt almost evenly between the theft of data storage devices and paperwork, and rogue employees.

Putting all this together, we are seeing the digitisation of healthcare is occurring faster than the sector's ability to protect the valuable information it creates and holds.

At a recent event, Stephan Neumeier, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky, said that, "Data is sick. Confidential medical records being breached and advanced devices turning a human into a bionic man. These ideas have since crossed the bridge between fictional stories and our physical world. They are well within our reality. As rapid digitalisation penetrates the healthcare sector, cybercriminals are seeing more opportunities to attack this lucrative and critical industry."

Stolen medical records openly sold on the dark web

When we follow the money in any industry – and cybercrime is one of the most profitable industries on the planet – we find there are marketplaces where skills and information are traded. Senior Security Researcher from GReAT Korea, Seongsu Park recently presented at a cybersecurity forum and discussed an Australian-based dark web seller called Ausprdie. This platform trades in medical data.

Park said medical records can be considered more valuable than a simple credit card because a hospital generally requires a patient’s personal and financial credentials before a check-up or an admission. Those online forums are even advertising in order to access confidential medical data. And those breaches, like the fallout from a nuclear incident, can have long-term repercussions.

Stephan Neumeier, Managing Director of Kaspersky APAC, explained that the dangers of healthcare IT hacks were making cautionary science-fictional concepts into a reality at the recent Cybersecurity Weekend in Myanmar.

How the industry can better protect itself

With such a well-organised adversary, it's important to take a forward-looking posture when planning a defence. Hoping that a "walls and moats" approach will be sufficient is not enough. Attackers use tactics such as phishing attacks, where a large volume of emails are sent containing fraudulent instructions that seek to dupe people into giving up log in data or other valuable information. Or, they can take a more focussed approach, where they try to trick someone with a higher level of data access to hand over information – a targeted tactic called spear-phishing. As we know from the OAIC's data, malicious insiders are also a major challenge.

Rather than trying to block all the possible attacks it's important to actively seek threats that may already be inside the network. That means having tools that actively seek potential threats that are already inside your firewall. For healthcare providers, this means looking for unusual activity. For example, detecting when something like a blood test report is being sent to an x-ray technician. This could indicate that an email account has been compromised, as that type of data is not usually shared between those two parties.

New methods for breaching systems, often called attack vectors, are constantly being created by criminals. Trying to keep up with the latest types of attacks is not easy, but there are threat feeds and other types of intelligence from external parties that not only keep healthcare providers informed, but help them detect when the risk of a new type of attack is rising so that appropriate counter-measures can be put in place.

Rather than waiting to become a victim, hospitals, doctor's offices and other healthcare facilities can get on the front foot and hunt for threats before they escalate and become cyber incidents.

Protecting healthcare data is about more than ensuring data is as well-protected as possible when it's at rest and when it's in transit. It's about proactively looking for where the risks are, then taking active steps to mitigate those potential losses and any unauthorised access.

As it stands today, the healthcare sector is lagging as security pays catch up with the digital transformation effort. By taking a forward-looking approach, where risks are constantly assessed and mitigation strategies are put in place, the sector can move forward.

Kaspersky is a global leader in cybersecurity for both consumer and business users. To discover how it’s helping healthcare providers protect their critical data, click here.

October 01, 2019 at 08:09AM
Sponsored

Apple News Plus lands in the UK, Australia with more than 150 publications

It took six months, but Apple News Plus has officially made its way to the UK and Australia today, finally bringing the subscription news and magazine service to countries outside of the US and Canada.

Apple News Plus UK costs £9.99 / AU$14.99 a month, opening up access to over 150 publications in the UK and 'hundreds of titles' in Australia at launch. The UK edition is priced similarly to the US version, with the exception that the US version has more than 300 publications available — roughly double the amount in the UK.

The UK and Australian release of Apple News Plus gives readers the same upgraded Apple News experience, complete with “richly designed layouts, animated magazine covers, vivid photography and bold typography optimized for iPhone, iPad and Mac.”

UK, Australian region-specific publications

Apple News Plus does come with some region specific titles in the UK. Apple highlights several notable British publications that will appear as part of the monthly subscription: The Times, The Sunday Times, Cosmopolitan UK, Elle UK, Esquire UK, FourFourTwo, Empire, Hello!, Cyclist, and Grazia.

Apple News Plus UK

Australia gets the same localized treatment with The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Courier Mail, The Advertiser, Vogue, Australian Women’s Health, Elle, The Australian Women’s Weekly, Harper’s Bazaar Australia, GQ, Australian Men’s Health, Delicious and Australian Geographic.

Apple News Plus outlook

Apple News Plus was able to amass 200,000 sign-ups in the US in its first 48 hours of availability (note: there was a one-month free trial, just like there is in the UK and Australia). But new subscriptions are said to have flatlined, according to 9to5mac . It’s also competing with Apple’s newer, cheaper subscription services, like recently launched Apple Arcade and the November 1-bound Apple TV Plus.

The slow rollout of Apple News Plus to various countries around the world likely has to do with the tedious task of making individual deals with local and regional publications. Presumably, more counties will gain availability to the subscription service in the coming months.

Go pro in 2019? Our iPhone 11 Pro review

October 01, 2019 at 08:08AM
Tyler Hayes