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Seamus Byrne

Founder and Head of Content at Byteside. Brings two decades of experience covering tech, digital culture, and their impacts on society.

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E3 2021 hype preview: what's looking worthy?

What's looking good already and what's still in store? From Xbox to PlayStation, the indies and more, we get on the virtual E3 hype train.

E3 2021 hype preview: what's looking worthy?

The cowboy will be a real bop

Bitcoin goes legit: El Salvador has voted to make Bitcoin a legal tender currency in the country, the first country to do so. It sounds wild on its surface, but the legislation says it aims to add regulation to Bitcoin’s use in the country. The country’s other legal

The cowboy will be a real bop

An eternity on the Internet

Wednesday, June 9, 2021 Quite the bit of police work that: In one of the most remarkable digital policing operations ever seen, the Australian Federal Police in conjunction with America’s FBI managed to essentially run an encrypted messaging app for criminals, collecting masses of information and evidence over years

An eternity on the Internet
Byteside Podcast

It's about time (the podcast is back)

It's been too long but the Byteside podcast is back for a catch up on what we've been watching and playing, plus WWDC and the Fastly mess.

It's about time (the podcast is back)
Games

Playdate handheld console unveils Pulp, a free tool for making games

Along with news the cranky handheld console will open for pre-orders in July, Pulp will help anyone make games for it – no code required.

Playdate handheld console unveils Pulp, a free tool for making games
Networks

NBN wants to make 'fair use' rules better than some vague handwaving

Maybe you're not actively trying to download the entire internet but you'd like to know what counts as "excessive"? NBN is working on it.

NBN wants to make 'fair use' rules better than some vague handwaving
Politics

AFP, FBI encryption operation was some truly amazing digital police work

Operation Ironside (aka Trojan Shield) was a crazy idea to begin with, and even crazier that it actually worked.

AFP, FBI encryption operation was some truly amazing digital police work
Networks

Fastly just showed us how CDNs keep the Internet alive – until they don't

Just saw a bunch of 503 errors on your favourite websites, like Amazon, Twitch, Reddit and major news outlets? Here's what went wrong.

Fastly just showed us how CDNs keep the Internet alive – until they don't

What's another word for 'brave'?

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 NBN has a plan to end CVC – pay it different money! The National Broadband Network has suggested the first major overhaul to how its pricing is structured for resellers, with the existing price structure an eternal point of argument due to the Connectivity Virtual Circuit (CVC)

What's another word for 'brave'?
Games

D&D reveals its next campaign adventure has a Feywild flavour

A circus with a secret? A trip to the Feywild? The next campaign adventure from D&D looks set to be a lighter affair than recent years.

D&D reveals its next campaign adventure has a Feywild flavour
Technology

Jeff Bezos is strapping in for a crazy dangerous ride to space

A billionaire CEO joining in on the untested first ever crewed flight to space for his Blue Origin New Shepard mission is... a 'brave' choice.

Jeff Bezos is strapping in for a crazy dangerous ride to space
Technology

Apple WWDC keynote shows off all the new hotness for iOS 15, watchOS 8, macOS Monterey

Here's our first very quick look at the features that jumped out during the opening keynote of Apple WWDC 2021.

Apple WWDC keynote shows off all the new hotness for iOS 15, watchOS 8, macOS Monterey
Business

G7 nations agree on minimum corporate tax to slow the loophole gymnastics

The big economies have agreed that if we can all just hold global corporations to a 15% tax maybe they'll actually pay it.

G7 nations agree on minimum corporate tax to slow the loophole gymnastics
Technology

Vaccination certificates will be available via myGov starting this week

Those lucky enough to have had two shots can get a certificate to prove it via the Australian Immunisation Register attached to myGov.

Vaccination certificates will be available via myGov starting this week
Business

NBN has a plan to end CVC charge – pay it more money elsewhere!

Every NBN reseller's old enemy, CVC, could be on the chopping block as a new alterative fee structure gets offered up. Will it fly?

NBN has a plan to end CVC charge – pay it more money elsewhere!
Games

Hearthstone's Wailing Caverns mini-set is now live for virtual card shenanigans

An extra 35 cards you can buy in one job lot is now live in the game, with some clever new basics and beefy legendaries to mix things up.

Hearthstone's Wailing Caverns mini-set is now live for virtual card shenanigans

Hot Sauce of Oblivion

Friday, June 4, 2021 Not the Blue badge you were looking for: Twitter has officially launched its subscription service today, but only for those of us here in Australia and in Canada. Twitter Blue is available through the iOS version of the app for $4.49/month, but right now

Hot Sauce of Oblivion
Politics

One set of rules to rule them all

Twitter gives Australia the Blues, COVIDSafe doesn't give anything, plus Facebook, hot sauce, Hearthstone, Valorant and more.

One set of rules to rule them all
Politics

Europe is developing a Digital Identity system that actually sounds helpful

A unified identity service with cross border benefits across a region that works hard to respect privacy? Tell me more!

Europe is developing a Digital Identity system that actually sounds helpful
Media

Facebook might finally stop treating politicians as 'more equal than others'

After recent Oversight Board questions, Facebook might be about to stop letting politicans say whatever they like.

Facebook might finally stop treating politicians as 'more equal than others'