The week in digital: ads in AI answers, iPhone age checks and rival Android stores
Apple’s age confirmation, ads in Google’s AI Mode, ASD’s cyber threat report, one-tap rival Android stores and Discord’s public web pages.
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Deadlines, price changes and new rules for Australian businesses, soonest first.
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Apple’s first touchscreen Mac is a MacBook Pro from A$4,599
Apple’s MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display adds touch and an OLED screen. Australian prices, what touch does in macOS 27, and how it compares with the M6 model.
DoorDash starts robot food deliveries on the Gold Coast
Serve Robotics and DoorDash have started Australia’s first footpath robot deliveries in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct. How it works, and who gets it.
Google is bringing ads into AI Mode answers in Australia
Sponsored results are now scaling inside Google’s AI Mode in Australia. Which campaigns are eligible, how ads get matched, and why you can’t opt out.
Is paying for a password manager worth it?
Apple and Google include free password managers. What Bitwarden and 1Password charge, what the money adds, and who should pay, from the vendors’ own pages.
Cybercrime is reported once every six minutes in Australia
ASD’s new threat report counts 82,000 cybercrime reports and says AI is helping attackers move faster. Small businesses report an average cost of $55,400.
Discord is putting its most public servers on the open web
From 16 November, every Discoverable Server gets a public web page that can show chat summaries. In Australia, members’ own messages stay off unless they opt in.
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Got an iPhone Duo? What Apple’s new guides say about the hinge and screens
Apple has published iPhone Duo support guides. How to clean the inner screen, fit the case, restart a black screen and check what’s wrong with the hinge.
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Seven iPhone settings to change before you use it for work
A new iPhone holds your email, client calls and saved passwords. Seven settings that protect it and cut scam calls, with Apple’s own steps for each.
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Business phones on the NBN: what VoIP costs depend on, and what to check before you rely on it
NBN phone lines are VoIP, and most stop in a blackout. What to check on power, Triple Zero, number porting, alarms and EFTPOS, and how to compare plan costs.
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Your turn
Quiz archiveThe weekly quiz
How closely did you follow the week?
Question 1 of 5
Which of these can’t you use to confirm you’re 18 or older on an Australian Apple Account?
Show answer
Answer: A. A debit card
Apple accepts a credit card in your name, a scan of your passport, driver’s licence or government ID, or a selfie with iOS or iPadOS 27.2. Debit cards and gift cards don’t work.
Read the story: Your iPhone may now ask you to prove you’re an adult
Question 2 of 5
What do advertisers need to do for existing Google Search campaigns to show ads in AI Mode in Australia?
Show answer
Answer: B. Nothing: they’re automatically eligible
Existing Search, Shopping and Performance Max campaigns are automatically eligible. There’s no new campaign or budget to set up, and no extra charge for appearing in AI Mode.
Read the story: Google is bringing ads into AI Mode answers in Australia
Question 3 of 5
What was the average self-reported cost per cybercrime report for small businesses in ASD’s 2025–26 threat report?
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Answer: D. $55,400
ASD’s report puts the average self-reported cost at $55,400 per report for small businesses, about the same as last year. Medium businesses reported $141,300, up 45%.
Read the story: Cybercrime is reported once every six minutes in Australia
Question 4 of 5
From what date can rival Android app stores registered with Google offer one-tap installs in Australia?
Show answer
Answer: C. 1 December 2026
From 1 December 2026, third-party app stores that register with Google can offer one-tap installs and automatic background updates on Android 17 QPR2 and later.
Read the story: Rival Android app stores get one-tap installs in Australia from December
Question 5 of 5
Where can admins of a Discoverable Discord server choose which channels appear on the web, or opt out?
Show answer
Answer: B. Server Settings > Web Presence
Admin controls are in Server Settings > Web Presence, where admins can choose which channels take part or opt every channel out. If they change nothing, public channels are included.
Read the story: Discord is putting its most public servers on the open web
A new quiz comes out every Friday with the briefing. Get the Friday briefing by email
Reader poll of the week
Is multi-factor authentication or a passkey turned on for your business email accounts?
Reader polls aren’t scientific: they show how readers who chose to vote answered. One vote per reader. Background: Cybercrime is reported once every six minutes in Australia