Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom customers can now borrow a rival's mobile network when a bushfire, flood or cyclone knocks their own one out. The feature's called Temporary Disaster Roaming, and it went live on Thursday 1 October, right as Australia's higher-risk weather season got under way.
Latest in Tech
Bose buys FMOD maker Firelight Technologies of Melbourne
Bose said on 1 October it's bought Firelight Technologies, the Melbourne maker of FMOD game audio tools. FMOD stays open and supported. Terms are private.Facebook groups and Meta's Forum app test a top voices role
Meta said on 29 September it's testing a top community voices role in Facebook groups and new AI answers in its Forum app. The role replaces old badges.Amazon redesigns the Kindle with flush screens and aluminium
Amazon's redesigned Kindle, Paperwhite and Colorsoft arrived on 1 October. The base Kindle's on sale in Australia now from A$279.vivo takes its X Fold6 foldable global with a 6,900 mAh battery
vivo launched its X Fold6 foldable outside China on 30 September. It packs 6,900 mAh into a 4.4 mm body, and Basic Tutorials says it's €2,199 in Germany.Amazon's new Fire TV Stick 4K can run off your TV's USB port
Amazon's new Fire TV Stick 4K went on sale on 30 September. It runs off a TV's USB port and costs A$129 in Australia, Digital Reviews Network reports.Shopify's Canvas builds an online store by chat with Sidekick
Shopify launched Canvas on 1 October. Merchants can now design a whole online store by chatting with its Sidekick AI agent and watching it change live.Qualcomm unveils two 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chips
Qualcomm unveiled two 2nm flagship chips on Maui, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and 8 Elite Gen 6. Xiaomi and Motorola phones are among the first.Samsung's Micro RGB TVs headline its Connect show in Berlin
Samsung's Connect show in Berlin leads IFA week with Micro RGB TVs, Vision AI Companion and an Odyssey G6 monitor that runs up to 1,100 Hz in HD.iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders open, but iPhone Duo waits
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders opened on 12 September, with phones in stores on the 18th. The foldable iPhone Duo takes pre-orders from 16 October.HyperOS Ran the IFA Stand
Xiaomi's IFA stand, its largest overseas at more than 3,300 m², puts HyperOS at the centre, with SU7 cars aimed at a 2027 auto entry.Samsung Left the IFA Floor
Samsung has skipped the main IFA Berlin floor for the first time since 1991, holding its Connect show at Humboldt Carré instead.Xiaomi makes its full IFA exhibitor debut in Berlin
Xiaomi is a full IFA exhibitor for the first time in 2026, showing more than 380 products. It says its platform links more than 1.1 billion devices.FAA's final review backs wider Starship Pacific reentry zones
The FAA's final environmental review expands Starship's Pacific reentry contingency zones and adds a Northern Pacific one. It's paperwork, not a launch.SpaceX's Flight 14 FCC filing includes an orbital second stage
SpaceX has asked the FCC for radio authority for Starship Flight 14's orbital second stage, from 15 September. It's not a flight licence.Motorola puts 35 Swarovski crystals on the Razr 70
Motorola's Razr 70 Brilliant Collection puts 35 Swarovski crystals on the flip phone, plus one on the hinge. It was shown at IFA on 3 September.Xiaomi's 18 Fold is the first phone with its XRing O3 chip
The Xiaomi 18 Fold, shown at IFA 2026 before its 7 September China launch, is the first commercial phone with the company's XRing O3 chip.Xiaomi shows the 18 Fold's mid-fold design
Xiaomi's 18 Fold has a 5.38-inch cover screen and a 7.58-inch inner one, TechNode reports. It launches in China on 7 September with the Xring O3 chip.SpaceX booster B1063 flies 35th time, two short of record
SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster B1063 flew its 35th mission on 2 September, launching 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites from Vandenberg and landing at sea.The Texas robotaxi book is public
TxMCCS is a public file. Tesla Robotaxi LLC showed 7 then 45 Cybercabs on 31 August. A listing is an authorization, not a fare. SB 2807 from 28 May.
