Happy 50 years Apple - Plus your calls
About this episode
Apple’s 50th anniversary kicks things off, with Trev reflecting on how Apple rarely “looks back” and how the company’s product evolution—from Macs to iPod to iPhone/iPad—has led to today’s premium hardware. Calls then dive into practical tech: managing limited BigPond email storage via Gmail import and Chrome profiles, using satellite messaging in remote areas (and why emergency calling still isn’t reliable), and comparing budget smart rings (Kogan vs Apple Watch) for sleep/heart-rate tracking. The show also covers internet security plan limits and value comparisons (Norton vs Trend Micro) and a quick detour into Jolla’s non-Android phone and Formula 1 rule frustration.
Apple
"hello, welcome to April. Pinch of the punch for the first day of the month. And happy 50 years of Apple tomorrow. April the first. 50 years of Apple."
Apple is the company behind popular gadgets like MacBooks, iPhones, and iPads. The episode is talking about Apple’s 50-year milestone and how their products evolved.
Apple is a major consumer electronics company known for products like the Mac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. In this segment, the host is celebrating Apple’s 50th anniversary and highlighting how the company shifted its product focus over time.
Google Calendar
"But in big gray, because gray is my family calendar color, it says Trev USA... every calendar you have comes through as a different color."
They’re talking about using Google Calendar to organize events. Different calendars show up in different colors so it’s easy to see what kind of plans they are.
The speaker is describing using Google Calendar to manage schedules across multiple “calendars” (work, family, and shared calendars). Each calendar can be assigned a different color so you can quickly tell what’s on your schedule at a glance.
auto responder
"Then I would start, man, I would set up an auto responder if you can. So"
An auto responder automatically sends a pre-written reply when someone emails you. The speaker suggests setting this up during the transition to a new email account so people get an immediate response.
Telstra
"There's no way Telstra is the cheapest internet provider. So why be with them? But one reason people stay with them is because they've got a big pond email address."
Telstra is a big Australian company that provides mobile phone service and home internet. The host is saying some people stay with Telstra because of the email address they get through it, even if there are cheaper options.
Telstra is Australia’s largest mobile and internet service provider. In the episode, it’s discussed as a reason people keep a specific email/mobile setup even if it may cost more.
3G network
"But look, we obviously out in the country, we've really missed the 3G network. Oh my God, yeah."
3G is an older type of mobile phone network that used to cover lots of areas. The caller is saying people in the countryside miss it because it worked better for sending messages where they live.
The 3G network is a cellular generation that provided mobile voice and data services. The episode frames it as something rural users “miss,” implying coverage or reliability issues after 3G availability changes.
SMS
"Yes. As a Telstra customer on certain mobile phones, but most of the modern iPhones and new Samsung's, you can send an SMS to anyone and be in the middle of absolutely nowhere."
SMS is just regular text messaging. The point here is that newer phones can sometimes text from far away, but if you’re in a tricky coverage zone you might not get the satellite option to kick in.
SMS (Short Message Service) is standard text messaging over cellular networks. The episode notes that modern iPhones and Samsung phones can send SMS even in remote areas, but satellite fallback depends on coverage conditions.
iPhones
"As a Telstra customer on certain mobile phones, but most of the modern iPhones and new Samsung's, you can send an SMS to anyone and be in the middle of absolutely nowhere."
An iPhone is Apple’s phone. They’re saying newer iPhones can still send texts from places with little or no cell coverage.
iPhone is Apple’s smartphone line. The episode specifically mentions iPhones as supporting SMS messaging and satellite-related messaging behavior in remote areas.
Samsung's
"As a Telstra customer on certain mobile phones, but most of the modern iPhones and new Samsung's, you can send an SMS to anyone and be in the middle of absolutely nowhere."
Samsung makes phones. The host is saying newer Samsung phones can still send texts from remote areas, similar to iPhones.
Samsung is a major smartphone manufacturer. In this segment, Samsung phones are grouped with iPhones as devices that can send SMS even when you’re far from cell towers, with satellite messaging as a related capability.
electric vehicle charger
"I'm tipping there's no electric vehicle charger in, in town. No, there isn't. But if there's a few around, some of the major highways, leading out of Perth have chargers, but they're not, not in Wageham."
It’s the place you plug an electric car into to charge its battery. If there aren’t chargers in town, you may need to plan routes around where chargers are available.
An electric vehicle (EV) charger is the infrastructure used to charge an EV’s battery. The availability of chargers affects how practical EV ownership is for trips and day-to-day driving in smaller towns.
Sailfish OS
"It doesn't run Android. It runs what they call Sailfish OS. So they're a mobile world congress in Barcelona..."
Sailfish OS is the “computer system” inside a phone. It’s not Android or Apple iPhone software, so apps and updates can work a bit differently.
Sailfish OS is a Linux-based mobile operating system used on some niche smartphones. It’s an alternative to Android and iOS, and it changes how apps are installed and supported.
mobile world congress
"So they're a mobile world congress in Barcelona, which is a big show I used to go to every year..."
Mobile World Congress is a big yearly event where phone and tech companies show off what they’re building. It’s like a major “new tech reveal” conference.
Mobile World Congress (MWC) is a major annual telecom and smartphone industry trade show, held in cities like Barcelona. It’s where companies announce new phones, platforms, and network technologies.
Formula One fan
"Yeah. Listen, I'm also a Formula One fan. What do you think of the new rules going out?"
They’re talking about Formula One, which is the highest level of open-wheel racing. The rules in F1 affect how the cars are built and how they race.
The speaker is discussing Formula One (F1), the top tier of open-wheel motorsport. F1 rules heavily influence car design, especially power units, aerodynamics, and race procedures.
new rules
"Yeah. Listen, I'm also a Formula One fan. What do you think of the new rules going out?"
They’re talking about changes to the racing rules. In F1, if a car doesn’t meet the rules, it can fail to qualify or even not be allowed to start.
“New rules” refers to recent regulatory changes that teams must comply with to qualify and race. In F1, rule changes can affect whether cars can start the grid and how power units and energy systems are used.
grid
"it's a disgrace that two cars of a top of the manufacturing world champions, the two cars don't make the grid."
The “grid” is where all the cars line up to start the race. If a car doesn’t make the grid, it can’t start the race.
The “grid” is the starting lineup for a Grand Prix, where cars line up in order before the race begins. If a team’s car can’t make the grid, it means it failed to qualify or was disqualified/blocked for technical or regulatory reasons.
hybrid systems
"We've had hybrid systems in Toyota cars for decades. Why are we reinventing the hybrid?"
A hybrid system uses two sources of power—an engine plus an electric system. The electric part can store and reuse energy, which helps performance and efficiency.
Hybrid systems in F1 combine an internal combustion engine with energy recovery and electric power. The speaker argues that hybrid tech already exists in road cars (and in Toyota for decades), questioning why F1’s approach feels like it’s being “reinvented.”
Grand Prix
"let's be honest, the first five laps of the first two Grand Prix have been unbelievably good to watch... But in the end, Mercedes is faster."
A Grand Prix is a Formula 1 race weekend. Drivers race on a track for many laps, and qualifying helps decide who starts where.
“Grand Prix” refers to a Formula 1 race event. It’s typically a multi-lap race held on a specific circuit, with qualifying determining the starting grid.
Mercedes
"No one's going to deny that. Awesome. Racing, passing, amazing. But in the end, Mercedes is faster."
Mercedes is one of the big Formula 1 teams. When they say Mercedes is faster, they mean the Mercedes cars were quicker during the race.
Mercedes is a top Formula 1 constructor/team known for strong engineering and frequent championship contention. When the speaker says “Mercedes is faster,” they’re referring to overall race pace and performance.
Ferrari
"And I hope that Ferrari bridges the gap a little bit because we need Ferrari not to be competing just for four laps. We need to be competing for 50 laps."
Ferrari is a major Formula 1 team. “Bridge the gap” means they want Ferrari to be competitive for the entire race, not just for a short time.
Ferrari is one of Formula 1’s most historic and competitive teams. The speaker wants Ferrari to “bridge the gap,” meaning close the performance difference to the fastest cars so they can contend for the whole race distance.
Kogan
"I ended up getting a Kogan one, because I figured that was the cheapest option."
Kogan sells lower-cost electronics, including smart rings. The caller picked it because it was cheap, then checked whether its health numbers match a more expensive watch.
Kogan is an electronics retailer/brand that sells budget smart devices, including smart rings. The caller chose a Kogan ring mainly for price, then compared its heart-rate and sleep-related readings to an Apple Watch.
Garmin
"They want me to do a segment where I wear an Apple Watch on one arm, maybe a Garmin or a Samsung on the other, and then a Aura ring."
Garmin makes fitness watches and trackers. They’re being used here as another device to compare against an Apple Watch and smart rings.
Garmin is known for fitness-focused wearables and GPS devices. In this context, it’s mentioned as an alternative to Apple Watch for tracking health and exercise metrics.
O2 levels
"I've only got to set up to monitor my heart rate, temperature, body temperature, and my O2 levels."
O2 levels usually means how much oxygen is in your blood. Some smart wearables can estimate it, but it’s best thought of as trend information, not a diagnosis.
“O2 levels” refers to blood oxygen saturation, often measured as SpO2. Wearables estimate this using sensors (commonly optical sensors) and can be useful for spotting trends, though they’re not a medical device replacement.
Trend Micro
"They used Trend Micro, for example, who are an advertiser at EFTM. They would have, I think they had three, five, and ten. Now they're just five and ten because…"
Trend Micro is a cybersecurity company that offers antivirus and internet security subscriptions. The speaker compares its tiered plans (e.g., device limits) and notes the price difference between lower and higher device counts.
Internet Security
"Look, the bottom line is there's only really four companies I would trust with my Internet Security, Norton's, Trend Micro, McCarthy, and it used to be Kaspersky."
Internet security is software that helps protect your computer or phone from online scams and malicious software. It often comes as a subscription, and the plan may limit how many devices you can protect.
“Internet Security” refers to software suites that protect your devices and home network from malware, phishing, and other online threats. In the context of the call, the speaker is comparing subscription plans and how many devices each plan covers.
Norton
"Look, the bottom line is there's only really four companies I would trust with my Internet Security, Norton's, Trend Micro, McCarthy, and it used to be Kaspersky."
Norton is a well-known security program that helps protect your devices from viruses and online threats. People often choose it for home computer and phone protection.
Norton is a long-running consumer cybersecurity brand known for antivirus and internet security suites. The speaker lists it as one of the trusted options for home “Internet Security.”
Kaspersky
"…and it used to be Kaspersky. Look, I haven't seen them or used them for a while, but they are, they're trying to come back. You know, they went through this whole thing of being far too linked with the Russians…"
Kaspersky is an antivirus/security company that has been in the news for political concerns. The speaker is saying that controversy affected how much people trust it.
Kaspersky is a cybersecurity company that has faced controversy and scrutiny over alleged ties to Russia. The speaker references that history and says it damaged the brand’s credibility, even if they personally didn’t fully believe the claims.
ID security
"testing their products is it's more than just, you know, Internet Security. It's, you know, it's ID security and different things like that."
ID security is protection for your personal info. It helps stop scams that try to steal your identity or trick you into giving away passwords.
ID security is software protection aimed at safeguarding your personal information—like identity data and accounts—rather than only blocking malware. It typically includes features that help prevent phishing and account takeover attempts.
ransomware
"ransomware, malware, VPN, dark web monitoring, parental control, deep vape protection."
Ransomware is malware that can hold your files hostage. It may lock your computer or encrypt files and then demand money to unlock them.
Ransomware is malicious software that locks or encrypts files and demands payment to restore access. It’s a major threat category that antivirus/security suites try to prevent or detect.
VPN
"ransomware, malware, VPN, dark web monitoring, parental control, deep vape protection."
A VPN is like a secure tunnel for your internet traffic. It helps keep your data safer, especially on public Wi‑Fi.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your internet connection and can help protect privacy and security when browsing. In security suites, VPN features are often bundled to reduce tracking and improve safety on public Wi‑Fi.
malware
"ransomware, malware, VPN, dark web monitoring, parental control, deep vape protection."
Malware is any kind of harmful software meant to damage your device or steal information. Antivirus tools try to stop it.
Malware is an umbrella term for harmful software such as viruses, spyware, and trojans. Security suites use scanning and behavior detection to block malware before it can cause damage.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.