A Sydney software engineer has discovered a way to text federal MPs and senators without knowing their mobile number.
Fairfax reports Justin Simon, a developer from New South Wales, sent a rude message to Attorney-General George Brandis’s iPhone by using his parliamentary email address to send him an iMessage.
The prank follows heated debate over the Abbott government’s proposed data retention scheme, which would require Australian phone and internet companies to retain customer data so intelligence agencies can access it without needing a warrant.
The plans have raised concerns about press freedom in Australia and the need to protect whistleblowers from government agencies.
Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook has told Apple Store employees in Germany that the Apple Watch will be available outside the US next month, according to 9to5Mac.
The comments were made in Germany at the company’s flagship store in Berlin, indicating the smartwatch’s rollout could be more aggressive than first thought.
More than 300,000 smartwatches were sold in Australia last year, according to Telsyte. The analytics firm estimates Australia’s smartwatch market will exceed $400 million by 2018.
Popular dating app Tinder has released a premium version of its app called Tinder Plus, in a bid to bring in revenue from its millions of users worldwide.
The premium service introduces a range of new features including a “rewind” function that allows users to go back in time and review people they had previously dismissed, or “swiped left”.
Tinder Plus also allows users to change their location in order to “connect with people anywhere around the world”.
“Passport creates real, one-on-one connections with people across the globe,” Tinder said in a statement.
“Whether you’re planning vacations and business trips or simply expanding your social network, with Passport, you’re swiping before you arrive.”
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 149.60 points, rising 0.83% overnight to 18,282.30. The Aussie dollar is currently trading at around 77.68 US cents.
