Technology

Disclosure: Most of the vendors noted are clients of the author.

Windows arose after IBM behaved very unlike itself in the 1980s as it looked outside itself for technology from then-young companies Intel and Microsoft. The move led to AMD, created an alternative to Apple & and nearly killed its own then-predominant mainframe program. Early on, DOS was merged with Windows to compete with the macOS, but IBM and Microsoft eventually went separate ways. The revolutionary model (where hardware and software were divorced from each other) lived on, however, until this month when Microsoft effectively killed it.

The Microsoft move, while disruptive for PC OEMs, should result in a better user experience.

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Pilot fish is just starting in IT at this big pharmaceutical company, and he gets a call from an executive admin with a problem.

&She said her monitor had mysteriously gone blank and she was afraid she had lost what she was working on,& says fish. &I told her not to touch anything and I would be right over.&

When fish arrives on the executive floor, the admin is talking on the phone, but she points to her PC for fish to take a look.

Fish can see that the computerpower light is on, but the monitorisn&t. A quick scan of the back of the machine makes it clear that the video cable is screwed in tightly on both ends.

Quietly, so as not to disturb the phone conversation, fish asks the admin to slide back so he can check under her desk.

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Photoshop is one of the computer world's most influential applications. Thirty years ago today, Adobe first introduced the popular software. To celebrate, the company today updated Photoshop for Mac and iPadwith a range of tasty new features that show how far digital arts have come in the last three decades.

Photoshop on iPad

Adobe has been working hard to make Photoshop on iPad more feature complete in comparison to the Mac version. Both versions use the same code base, which helps the company move new tools to the tablet.

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Microsoft's latest roadmap for the Edge browser spells out when developers will tackle some of its many not-yet-coded features, but most remain in the planning or even in-discussion phases, leaving users uncertain when functionality would be implemented.

Typically, Microsoft refreshes a "Feedback Summary" for Edge once a week, when it lists what impending features have met the "Planning" milestone and when — as in which month — each will supposedly make it into the browser.

Microsoft solicits feedback from participants in the Microsoft Edge Insider preview program, which, like its Windows equivalent, asks users to test early versions.

At the top of Edge's roadmap are a pair of sync issues, both set as "Planned for February." One is dedicated to cleaning up existent problems, including duplicate bookmarks (still called "Favorites" in Edge, a term long used by Microsoft for its antique Internet Explorer); the other will enable synchronization of browser add-ons between copies of Edge on multiple devices.

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We&ve been dropping into the Australian startup scene increasingly over the years as the ecosystem has been building at an increasingly faster pace, most notably at our own TechCrunch Battlefield Australia in 2017. Further evidence that the scene is growing has come recently in the shape of the Pause Fest conference in Melbourne. This event has gone from strength to strength in recent years and is fast becoming a must-attend for Aussie startups aiming for both national international attention.

I was able to drop in ‘virtually& to interview a number of those showcased in the Startup Pitch Competition, so herea run-down of some of the stand-out companies.

Medinet Australia Medinet Australia is a health tech startup aiming to make healthcare more convenient and accessible to Australians by allowing doctors to do consultations with patients via an app. Somewhat similar to apps like Babylon Health, Medinettelehealth app allows patients to obtain clinical advice from a GP remotely; access prescriptions and have medications delivered; access pathology results; directly email their medical certificate to their employer; and access specialist referrals along with upfront information about specialists such as their fees, waitlist, and patient experience. They&ve raised $3M in Angel financing and are looking for institutional funding in due course. Given Australiavast distances, Medinet is well-placed to capitalize on the shift of the population towards much more convenient telehealth apps. (1st Place Winner)

Everty Everty allows companies to easily manage, monitor and monetize Electric Vehicle charging stations. But this isn&t about infrastructure. Instead, they link up workplaces and accounting systems to the EV charging network, thus making it more like a &Salesforce for EV charging&. Itavailable for both commercial and home charging tracking. Italso raised an Angel round and is poised to raise further funding. (2nd Place Winner)

AI On Spectrum Ita sad fact that people with Autism statistically tend to die younger, and unfortunately, the suicide rate is much higher for Autistic people. &Ai on Spectrum& takes an accessible approach in helping autistic kids and their families find supportive environments and feel empowered. The game encourages Autism sufferers to explore their emotional side and arms them with coping strategies when times get tough, applying AI and machine learning in the process to assist the user. (3rd Place Winner)

HiveKeeper Professional bee-keepers need a fast, reliable, easy-to-use record keeper for their bees and this startup does just that. But italso developing a software+sensor technology to give beekeepers more accurate analytics, allowing them to get an early-warning about issues and problems. Their technology could even, in the future, be used to alert for coming bushfires by sensing the changed behavior of the bees. (Hacker Exchange Additional Winner)

Relectrify Rechargeable batteries for things like cars can be re-used again, but the key to employing them is being able to extend their lives. Relectrify says its battery control software can unlock the full performance from every cell, increasing battery cycle life. It will also reduce storage costs by providing AC output without needing a battery inverter for both new and 2nd-life batteries. Its advanced battery management system combines power and electric monitoring to rapidly the check which are stronger cells and which are weaker making it possible to get as much as 30% more battery life, as well as deploying &2nd life storage&. So far, they have a project with Nissan and American Electric Power and have raised a Series A of $4.5M. (SingularityU Additional Winner)

Gabriel Sadly, seniors and patients can contract bedsores if left too long. People can even die from bedsores. Furthermore, hospitals can end up in litigation over the issue. Whatneeded is a technology that can prevent this, as well as predicting where on a patientbody might be worst affected. Thatwhat Gabriel has come up with: using multi-modal technology to prevent and detect both falls and bedsores. Its passive monitoring technology is for the home or use in hospitals and consists of a resistive sheet with sensors connecting to a system which can understand the pressure on a bed. It has FDA approval, is patent-pending and is already working in some Hawaiin hospitals. Itso far raised $2m in Angel and is now raising money.

Herea taste of Pause Fest: