CSIRO's digital division, Data61, is in the midst of another restructure that is seeing 70 jobs lost from the research organisation. One of the victims of the changes is the loss of a world-leading team that has developed a highly secure computing microkernel, seL4. According to reports, the team has been disbanded with staff either exiting Data61 or being moved into an AI division. Members of the team were told last week it no longer fits the agency's strategic goals. The seL4 work will continue through an independent body.

https://www.innovationaus.com/data61-dumps-world-class-sel4-security-team/

ABC iView has begun an advertising campaign that tells users they will soon be required to create an account to continue using the public broadcaster's streaming service. The ABC says the requirement will be in place in July and is aimed at improving personalisation of the service for better recommendations, creating watch lists, and tracking of which shows and episodes a user has or has not watched. But privacy advocates decry not maintaining an optional approach, and that in the end the best security is to hold as little personal data as possible.

https://www.innovationaus.com/abc-may-lock-out-iview-users-for-personalisation/

Spotify has added offline music downloads for users of the Apple Watch. A lot of apps seem to have had a hard time getting Apple Watch audio downloads up and running, so it's a great milestone to see Spotify get support in place. It makes it easy for Spotify users to leave their phone behind when going out with just their Watch for exercise or just wanting to operate a little lighter during the day.

https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/21/22447222/spotify-adding-feature-music-downloads-offline-apple-watch

Twitch has been inundated with popular hot tub streams in recent weeks, with some streamers using a loophole in rules around 'contextual attire' to wear skimpy bikinis in paddling pools they've setup in their streaming rooms. On Friday, to better accommodate such activity while managing wider user and advertiser expectations, Twitch announced a new "Pools, Hut Tubs, and Beaches" category exclusively for these kinds of streams. The company admits it is a first step solution to manage controls for viewers and advertisers while not being overly censorious toward streams that can be seen as sexually suggestive.

https://blog.twitch.tv/en/2021/05/21/lets-talk-about-hot-tub-streams/

In entertainment, talk of a Highlander reboot is heating up as word emerges that Henry Cavill is in talks to tackle the lead role. The new film is set to be directed by Chad Stahelski, who directed the John Wick films. Whether the lead role will hold to the name Connor MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod remains to be seen. Just remember, they only ever made one film.

https://blog.twitch.tv/en/2021/05/21/lets-talk-about-hot-tub-streams/

In esports, China's Royal Never Give up aka RNG won the Mid-Season Invitational event in League of Legends overnight, while in Rainbow Six Siege the Six Invitational in Paris was won by Ninjas in Pyjamas, defeating Team Liquid in a tight 3-2 series win. Three of the top four teams were Brazilian, showing the regions dominance in the game.

https://dotesports.com/rainbow-6/news/nip-defeat-liquid-in-si-2021-grand-final-cementing-brazilian-rainbow-six-siege-dominance

Also at the final, Siege announced the next season of the game, Operation North Star, will add a new operator to the game, Thunderbird, a healing defender, as well as a rework to the Favela map and more active play after death with control over drones and better camera controls. Operation North Star launches in June.

https://www.dexerto.com/rainbow-six/rainbow-six-operation-north-star-details-operator-map-rework-1555554/

That's your Bits bulletin for Monday. I'm Seamus Byrne from Byteside, thanks for joining me.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.