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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.

Byteside Podcast

The future of sound production at Trackdown Studios

From Mad Max Fury Road to The Crown, World of Warcraft to The Boys, Sydney's Trackdown Studios makes big productions sound amazing.

The future of sound production at Trackdown Studios
Media

Heavy the bird nest

At the end of the first week of Musk's Twitter, it's hard to put a finger on which part of the chaos engine has been the most damaging to the brand.

Heavy the bird nest
Media

Saving Twitter from Twitter

There's never been a company with such a wide gap between its cultural impact and its economic success. Maybe a little chaos makes sense right now?

A blue bird sits, watching a younger blue bird play with a stick. There a plates with nuts near them.
Security

💡 Weekly: Is anyone *not* getting hacked out there?

News rounded up from Google, USB 4, Medibank, Spotify exclusive pods, positive social apps for teens, and AI bias issues in the jobs market.

💡 Weekly: Is anyone *not* getting hacked out there?
Games

PAX Australia 2022 looked different, but does it hurt the show's future?

The biggest platforms and developers weren't on the show floor in 2022. But does the spirit of PAX protect it against the changing nature of games marketing?

A giant Welcome Home sign and the PAX logo on the MCEC. Seamus Byrne stands in the lower right.
Gear

Google Pixel 7 & Pixel 7 Pro review: because you love Google's brains

The same price in an inflationary market and some solid updates in camera and features makes it a good year to upgrade if you've been waiting for a few years.

Two phones resting in a fancy dish on a sidetable. The phones are a black Pixel 7 and a while Pixel 7 Pro.

14 great articles to close out the week

14 great articles from across the web that capture some of the biggest ideas in tech and digital culture from the first half of October.

14 great articles to close out the week
Culture

💡 Weekly: September 30, 2022

New gear from Amazon, Optus breach still a confusing mess, plus a host of news updates and juicy articles to enjoy.

💡 Weekly: September 30, 2022
Security

💡 Byteside Weekly: Optus says 'yes, we were hacked'

No bigger news than the Optus hack this week, but there's still plenty more to explore in this week's round up.

💡 Byteside Weekly: Optus says 'yes, we were hacked'
Business

Slack, Canva, and a reset on where we spend our workday

In a year where every business is looking for an excuse to reduce costs, adding a few more 'essential' features to a subscription service can keep you off the cut list.

Slack, Canva, and a reset on where we spend our workday
Culture

'In the style of': why AI art needs to address named artists as prompts

If you ask an AI art tool to be inspired by a specific artist, should the artist be compensated?

'In the style of': why AI art needs to address named artists as prompts
Technology

💡 Byteside Weekly: Ethereum powers down, Canva powers up

From Ethereum's shift to proof-of-stake to Canva, Zoom and Figma making big (but very different) moves, it's been quite a week in tech.

💡 Byteside Weekly: Ethereum powers down, Canva powers up
AI

💡 Byteside Weekly: Are AI art programs a tool or a cheat?

An AI artwork wins a local art competition. Is that fair? Plus other curated links on digital twins, USB4 Version 2 confusion, the end of SIM cards, and plenty more.

💡 Byteside Weekly: Are AI art programs a tool or a cheat?
Technology

Laptop stands have become a staple in the home office era. You need to get that screen and camera up to eye level and make space for a proper keyboard and mouse. This Bonelk setup comes with 'gamer' RGB lights – we've debated those here plenty. They look bright in the pictures but in real life the USB powered lights are kinda subtle. But when it's dark, RGB can be overpowering if its too bright. So this gives a soft glow that works nicely.

Bonelk Elevate Gamer laptop stand
Samsung

Galaxy Z Flip 4 makes smartphones fun again

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 has the finesse we've been waiting for to embrace flip phones in the next phase of the smartphone era.

Galaxy Z Flip 4 makes smartphones fun again
Technology

Upright Go S review: a nudge toward better posture

The Upright Go S wants to help you improve your posture and develop better sitting habits. And it works – as long as you want to actually do the work too.

Upright Go S review: a nudge toward better posture
Media

"It's not me, it's the algorithm!"

Executives say they can't stop the trends they're seeing on their platforms. Oh, really?

"It's not me, it's the algorithm!"
Gear

Google Pixel 6A review: delicious Google flavour with minimal compromise

The Google Pixel 6A cuts corners in places you'll hardly notice, making this a smart choice for most users who love getting every feature Google has to offer.

Google Pixel 6A review: delicious Google flavour with minimal compromise
Byteside Podcast

Engineering for a clean future

Rosie Barnes from the YouTube channel Engineering With Rosie drops by to share her knowledge on all things clean energy and community building.

Engineering for a clean future
Byteside Podcast

Can Slack Huddles kill the 30 minute meeting?

Slack Huddles gave us an audio format for quick work chats. Now it's being extended to really put formal meetings out of business.

Can Slack Huddles kill the 30 minute meeting?