review – Michmutters

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Technology

Huawei Watch D smart watch

Huawei Watch D smart watch

The Huawei Watch D is the latest flagship smart watch from the Chinese tech giant, and it’s further proof that the company is more than capable of competing with the likes of Samsung and Apple in the highly competitive wearable market.

The cutting-edge blood pressure monitoring feature uses a built-in airbag to make it as accurate as possible, and other standout features like 70+ workout modes and ECG and skin temperature monitoring make the Watch D a true contender if you’re in the market for a new premium smart watch.

First impressions and setup

Compared to other smart watches in Huawei’s current portfolio, you can tell straight away that this is its best model. The packaging and the overall unboxing experience feels premium and (dare I say it) almost ‘Apple-like’.

The device is surprisingly weighty at 41 grams and feels nice and solid on your wrist. It’s also pretty and features just two non-intrusive buttons on the face’s right-hand side.

The Watch D puts a lot of focus on the device’s setup. This is partly to optimize comfort, but it also ensures that the blood pressure monitor performs as accurately as possible.

Two butterfly clasp straps are included in the box to tailor the watch to your wrist, as well as an innovative foldable ‘ruler’ to measure your wrist with. The straps are made from a rubber-like material, while the rectangular watch face is made from glass within a durable aluminum case. It feels premium and very well put together.

I reviewed the Huawei Watch GT back in March 2019 and commented then on how simple it was to set up. It’s a good thing that, other than some minor upgrades to the app over the last three years, Huawei’s user experience remains pretty much the same. Pairing to the watch takes just a couple of minutes via the HUAWEI Health app, and once complete, your device will appear on your phone and allow you to update things like the watch face with ease.

All your data can also be viewed through the app, and it goes without saying that the more you wear it, the more you can find out about your fitness and lifestyle. After approximately three weeks of wearing the Watch D, I was fascinated to see how closely my fitness was being tracked – from the dozens of times I tested my blood pressure to the amount of REM sleep I was getting.

Performance

The Huawei Watch D runs smoothly, and the 1.64-inch, 456×280-pixel AMOLED screen is one of the most responsive I’ve tested.

I’ve already touched on a handful of things the watch can do, but things like the HUAWEI TruSeen 5.0+ heart rate monitoring technology make this one of the most accurate smart watches on the market.

The ECG app packs a high-performance ECG sensor module, which provides single-lead ECG measurements, real-time analysis, and sinus rhythm, atrial fibrillation, and premature atrial and ventricular beat reminders to stay informed and proactive about major heart health-related risks.

The handful of the 70+ workout modes I tried worked great and were familiar, too, given my time with the Watch GT (which I still use to this day). One thing to consider is that the fabric airbag built into the strap can get sweaty after a particularly heavy workout. This could prove to be a smelly problem over time. Built-in GPS allows you to track your runs without needing your smartphone nearby.

The HUAWEI TruSleep 2.0 app works excellently. It identifies key sleep states, including deep sleep, light sleep, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, naps, and wake-up times, with sleep quality scores and personalized advice on how to get the best possible night’s rest. I found myself checking this every day, so I could try and improve my rest time the next night.

Other key features like stress and SpO2 monitoring also worked well. Importantly, all the key information was displayed well in the HUAWEI Health app.

There are also handy features like the ability to do a daily health check-in and share your results with family members via the app. This could be particularly useful for older users who might want to share their health information.

The battery can run for an outstanding seven days between charges, which is a great selling point ahead of the likes of the Apple Watch.

One flu I did have during my time with the Watch D was that it seemed to disconnect randomly from my iPhone 11, although I suspect it might not have this issue with an Android device, particularly a Huawei one.

Sadly, you can’t do things like respond to messages via the device (which is a feature that I know a lot of Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch users don’t even use due to the small screen size). It also lacks features like web browsing, which, again, isn’t for everyone.

verdict

The Huawei Watch D is well-equipped and has some of the best (and most) features I’ve ever seen in a smart watch. Devices like this one have now reached the point where they’re genuinely able to change lifestyles and even save lives.

The elephant in the room here is the price, which I’ve purposely not mentioned until now. The Watch D currently has an RRP of $749. Pricewise, this puts the watch right next to the flagships from Samsung and Apple.

The question is – will Huawei be able to do enough to sway potential buyers towards the Watch D? If it were me, I’d be seriously tempted…

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Australia

Release of NSW Broderick report into toxic culture was dehumanizing, advocate for sexual assault survivors says

a woman wearing glasses standing outdoors in a park

The release of the report into the workplace culture in NSW Parliament was “dehumanizing” and “frustrating”, a former Liberal staffer and advocate for sexual assault survivors says.

Dhanya Mani, who publicly aired allegations of indecent assault against a colleague in 2019, said the report had been handed down with no survivors present.

Conducted by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, the investigation lifted the lid on a “toxic” culture in state parliament.

It found one in three staff had experienced bullying or sexual harassment in the past five years.

Three men and two women reported they had been subjected to an actual or attempted sexual assault at work.

“The optics of this report being released, showed MPs controlling the conversation with survivors completely omitted from that picture,” Ms Mani said.

“It was just something that was very dehumanizing and frustrating. If anything it feeds into these troubling power dynamics that Broderick and her team spoke about in their reports.

“Where they said the power imbalance between staff and MPs was a leading driver that underpins the causes for misconduct.”

a woman walking up a set of stairs
Almost 450 people working at the NSW Parliament responded to a survey.(AAP: Bianca De Marchi)

Hearing their experiences being addressed would have been a first for many survivors, Ms Mani said, and leaders of political parties missed an opportunity to stand with them.

As the only survivor advocate representative on the parliamentary advisory group into sexual harassment, bullying and misconduct, she felt particularly aggrieved with the political leaders.

“I’m mystified that neither leader reached out to me in my capacity in that role, to consult on their statements or the way in which they wanted to approach their responses to this report being handed down,” she said.

“To feel that, even when I’m here that I’m not being seen, that my expertise isn’t really been utilized, just makes me also feel really traumatized.”

Almost 450 people working at the NSW parliament responded to a survey which found widespread bullying and everyday sexism.

The report found the human cost of the abuse was high with staff describing the impact on their mental health, their relationships and their career as “devastating”.

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Technology

Google Pixel Buds Pro Review: Truly Excellent Earbuds

Google Pixel Buds Pro Review: Truly Excellent Earbuds

If Apple’s AirPods Pro are the benchmark for measuring the quality of any new pair of wireless earbuds, then Google has them beat with its new Pixel Buds Pro. Not only do they sound better than Apple’s flagship earbuds, but they also cost $50 less, have better battery life , and come in cuter colors.

These earbuds work fine with iPhone devices, but their full suite of features shines through when you pair them with an Android device. For starters, they pair quickly. You can also easily connect them to multiple devices and swap between them, so if you have the buds in your ears while watching a movie on your laptop and a call comes through, you can just answer your phone without having to fiddle with anything. More importantly, these buds never fell out during my plodding runs, they feature wireless charging, and did I mention the cute egg-like case? What more could you need for podcasts and Beyoncé?

Form-Fitting Buds

The best part about the Pixel Buds Pro is how comfortably they fit in your ears. The medium-sized buds have a form-fitting peanut shape that sticks right in my medium-sized ear canals with ease, but never loses grip. I’ve tried to headbang these buggers out of my ears. I’ve taken them on 7-mile runs in the woods. I’ve showered with them in after said runs. They stay in there perfectly despite the lack of ear fins—they use the same standard silicone ear tips you’ll find on most earbuds, but the overall ergonomics just make them hug my ear holes.

The exterior of each bud comes in a few colors. My favorite is the tangerine orange (or what Google calls Coral), but my review unit was a discreet gray, which looks handsome but isn’t as fun. Frankly, part of the reason to get these instead of AirPods is the aesthetic difference between Apple’s monolithic white and Google’s playful pastels.

Google Pixel Buds Pro

Photography: Google

Using them is just as easy as using AirPods. The outside of each bud is touch-sensitive, with intuitive controls. Tap once to play or pause, twice to skip songs, and long-press to turn the active noise cancellation on or off, depending on whether you want to hear the world. I also like that swiping left or right adjusts the volume—oftentimes earbuds with touch sensors forgo volume controls for playback controls.

These buds are also plugged into Google Assistant, so you can shout “Hey Google” and demand it set timers or play a certain song. It’s useful for the few times I didn’t want to touch my phone, but it’s still a novelty in public, where you might not want to look like you’re yelling at yourself. To each their own, I guess.

Like the controls, the case the buds come in is smartly designed. It’s harder to put an earbud into the wrong slot, and I like how flat it lays on my wireless charging pad between listening sessions. It’s also just nice to hold. Like a little tick tock.

into the music

A single 11-mm dynamic driver inside each Pixel Buds Pro delivers a surprisingly robust soundstage, made possible in large part by Google’s excellent digital signal processing and noise canceling.

Music comes through with presence and personality, especially in the bass, which tends to have more punch and separation than what I’ve heard from prior Pixel Buds. While listening to my testing playlist, the midrange is the only place where the buds lose some definition. That’s to be expected when a single driver has to handle perfect bass response and shimmery highs (and does so well)—you tend to lose something, somewhere. Still, I’m glad Google’s engineers focused on the areas most people care about.

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Australia

South Australia’s Parliament had a sexual harassment problem. What’s changed?

A woman with short blond hair in dark top looking serious

Months before reports of bullying and sexual harassment in Federal Parliament, South Australia’s Parliament was dealing with its own cultural crisis.

Now, 18 months after a damning report into its “toxic” workplace, the state’s Equal Opportunity Commissioner has said she is not satisfied enough has been done to protect MPs and staff from harassment.

“All of us are entitled to a workplace free of discrimination and harassment including sexual harassment,” SA’s current Equal Opportunity Commissioner Jodeen Carney said.

“There’s a big difference, isn’t there, between talk, and actually getting a job done.

“I’m not satisfied as to the latter.”

The review was ordered by both the Upper and Lower House in 2020, following allegations of inappropriate behavior by former Liberal MP Sam Duluk at a parliamentary Christmas function.

Mr Duluk was found not guilty of assaulting SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros in the Adelaide Magistrates Court last year.

South Australian Parliament
The report detailed a ‘toxic’ culture. (Gary Rivett: ABC News)

Earlier, Mr Duluk had apologized for his behavior at the event, saying he was “deeply sorry for any actions that have caused offence”.

The Equal Opportunity Commissioner’s workplace review found sexual harassment was prevalent in state parliament.

Eight people reported being victims of sexual harassment by MPs or their staff in the five years prior, with the allegations including sexually suggestive comments, indecent exposure, and physical assault.

The report detailed a culture of victim-blaming, a lack of support for complainants, power imbalances, and a lack of training and accountability around workplace behaviour.

Concerns raised about response

Greens MLC Tammy Franks said she was concerned by the parliament’s “slow” response to the report’s 16 recommendations.

“That EO report revealed the toxic workplace here in South Australia,” she said.

“A year-and-a-half on, so many of those recommendations haven’t even begun, let alone be in a position where we can examine whether we’ve addressed the toxic culture.

“The old government was moving, but at a glacial pace.

“The new government needs to step this up.

“We should be seeing far more…on-the-ground evidence.”

The report recommended training for all MPs and parliamentary staff, to raise awareness of sexual and discriminatory harassment, as well as the establishment of new HR structures.

South Australia elected a new government in March, with a swag of first-term MPs sworn in soon after.

A blonde woman wearing a blue jacket in front of columns
Tammy Franks says the government is moving too slow on the report’s recommendations.(ABCNews)

Ms Franks said she had received “one email” from the parliament’s recently appointed People and Culture Officer, while her staff had not received any correspondence.

“It’s concerning that the old crop of MPs didn’t get any training, it’s just as concerning that the new crop hasn’t been offered any training,” she said.

“Parliament is an old institution… [and] the culture of this institution needs concerted, dedicated, and resourced effort to get this job done.”

Liberal frontbencher Michelle Lensink said she believed all MPs wanted to see the recommendations brought in.

“We haven’t had proper HR channels in a range of things for people when they’re experiencing these difficulties,” she said.

“My understanding is there’s some progress that has been made under the Marshall Liberal Government… [but] the primary responsibility lies with the Department of Treasury and Finance.”

Code of conduct commences

Since the review, a code of conduct has been adopted by the parliament – ​​a recommendation put forward by both the Equal Opportunity Commissioner, and by the state’s Independent Commissioner Against Corruption.

In a statement, the Clerks of the House of Assembly and the Legislative Council said work was underway to implement the recommendations.

“Importantly, a people and culture coordinator has been appointed to lead a people and culture unit within Parliament House and there has been considerable progress towards implementing the report’s other relevant recommendations,” they said.

“The Speaker and the President have made it clear how important this work is and it is being taken extremely seriously.

“Both presiding officers will update parliament after the winter recess.”

Changes have also been made to allow breast and bottle feeding in the chamber.

Government responds

Premier Peter Malinauskas said he wanted to see changes made “in a timely way.”

“The Speaker has advised us that the recruitment of a HR specialist has now taken place, which to most people in the private sector would seem like a standard operating procedure, but as it turns out in the archaic processes of parliament is something that’s rather revolutionary ,” he said.

Premier Peter Malinauskas looks sternly toward a journalist wearing a blue suit and black and white tie
Premier Peter Malinauskas says his government will be making changes. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

“I do hope this represents a change and that we actually do get some HR skills in the parliament, to not just train staff, but to make sure basic standards are being adhered to.

“We know that there has been progress … but naturally we want to see progress in a timely way, especially because we’re at the point where most new MPs have got their feet under the desk.

“Now is the time to make sure they’re being trained up on all those appropriate standards.”

“My government will be providing the parliament with all the resources it needs to make sure that can occur.”

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Categories
Australia

Lismore Mayor frustrated over flood report delay as media leaks show $3b recovery expense

Lismore Mayor frustrated over flood report delay as media leaks show $3b recovery expense

The Mayor of Lismore in northern NSW has urged the state government to release a flood inquiry report after hearing unconfirmed leaks from the media and nothing from the government.

The ABC understands the state government has received a $3 billion recovery cost estimate within the findings of a 700-page independent flood report it commissioned to investigate the preparation for, cause of and response to the crisis.

Other recommendations include offering buybacks and land swaps, the rebuilding of assets, and economic measures.

A man poses next to a fire place
Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg had both his home and business damaged in the February flood event.(ABC News: Bronwyn Herbert)

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said he was frustrated the government had not publicly released the findings.

“I read the information in the paper today, but I’ve had no direct information from the government at all,” Mr Krieg said.

“It would be nice to get a bit of an update and a briefing. What people in Lismore really need now is hope and certainty, and at the moment we don’t have any of those.”

About 4,000 homes were damaged by flooding in February and March.

It is understood the government will seek funding from the Commonwealth to help with rebuilding and disaster proofing of communities.

A dilapidated house covered in mold and grime
A flood-hit house on Wotherspoon St in North Lismore. (Four Corners: Tajette O’Halloran)

The inquiry’s recommendations, led by NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer Mary O’Kane and former police commissioner Mick Fuller, were handed to Premier Dominic Perrottet a week ago.

The findings will likely lead to the disbanding of the disaster agency Resilience NSW, which was heavily criticized for its response to the floods in the Northern Rivers.

The ABC understands a proposal to dismantle Resilience NSW will now be presented to cabinet.

Resilience NSW commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, who led the government’s response to the Black Summer bushfires, has not yet commented on the report or his future employment.

The report is still under review by the government.

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Technology

be quiet Pure Loop 2 FX 280mm LCS

be quiet Pure Loop 2 FX 280mm LCS


Review: be quiet Pure Loop 2 FX 280mm LCS

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Read the review here.







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Technology

Samsung QN90B Review: The Best TV for Bright Rooms

Samsung QN90B Review: The Best TV for Bright Rooms

In TV land, excellent black levels have been the name of the game for nearly a decade. By providing better contrast via new backlighting technologies like organic LEDs (OLEDs) or mini LEDs, companies have slowly given us a more realistic (and less gray) view of our favorite images.

For years now, high-end TVs like the new Samsung QN90B have had nearly perfect delineation between light and dark. However, many models lacked the powerful brightness you might need to overcome a sunny California afternoon in a modern glass living room.

That’s why if I were shopping for a new high-end screen, I’d be sure to consider this model specifically. The thin, pedestal-mounted TV has excellent, mini LED–driven contrast, but at brightness levels that might downright hurt your eyes in a dark room. For watching inside during summer, there is probably no better viewing experience.

All Class

Photography: Samsung

The QN90B is thin but not too thin to easily grip by two people when assembling and mounting it. That’s why I’m ashamed to admit that I bonked the corner of my first review unit on my coffee table when mounting it to the included pedestal, thus ruining it. (Ed. note: It had to happen sometime, Parker!) A few weeks, a new unit, and a slightly bruised ego later, and I repeated the process without incident.

Get it set up, and you’ll be impressed by the QN90B’s looks. The pedestal mount really makes it look like the TV is floating behind my soundbar, with the screen just high enough to peek over the top. It’s a design that’s surprisingly rare in modern screens, many of which end up getting slightly blocked at the bottom.

Because I use a Samsung phone, setup was nearly instantaneous. I just signed in to my Samsung account on my phone, told the TV what apps I wanted to download, and was off to the races. You still have to sign in to individual apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more, but all the apps you’ll need are likely to be here. It even has Paramount+ and Plex apps.

One criticism of Samsung’s Tizen smart TV interface is that it can be a bit difficult to navigate for newbies. You get used to the weird assortment of menus below the single app bar that you’ll actually want to use, but it’s easy to get lost among Samsung’s free content. Heck, to this day I can’t figure out how to add the aforementioned Paramount+ and Plex apps to the home screen. I’m sure there’s a way, but I’ve yet to be motivated enough to find it.

I’d encourage Samsung UI designers to take a deeper look at what people actually use these interfaces to do. I don’t really need endless lists of suggested items to watch below the actual apps. One thing I absolutely won’t complain about? The remote, which is rechargeable via a solar cell on the back. I never have to hunt for pesky AAA batteries again. Eureka!

looking good

Photography: Samsung

Once you’ve found something to watch, you’re sure to be impressed with how it looks on the QN90B. The TV features quantum dot technology for bright colors in high dynamic range. The matrix of mini LEDs behind the screen keeps even fast-moving objects like soccer balls from having weird shading.

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