GLENN’S SHOWNOTES

Thieves raid JB Hi-Fi

Three offenders “jimmied open” a JB Hi-Fi store in Ballarat, Victoria and stole $40,000 worth of Apple products at 2am ina 3 minute raid.

“They grabbed all the iPads and iPhones, put them in a doona cover and took off in a small black sedan.”

Apple launch iPhone trade-in scheme

Apple in the US has launched an iPhone trade-in program through Apple retail stores

Apple in the US will accept previously owned iPhones that still power on.

Depending on the condition iPhone users could receive up to $280 toward a new iPhone model. Any customer taking advantage of the program must have or leave the retail store under contract.

But check other trade in avenues or places like ebay for current 2nd hand prices – might get a better deal than from apple.

Windows 8 sees biggest jump in market share since launch

figures show Windows 8 increasing its market share from 5.4% in July to 7.4% in August, by far the biggest jump since the operating system arrived on the market almost a year ago

Windows XP, which falls from 37.1% in July to 33.7% in August, while Windows 7 also shows a small uplift.

The surge could merely be a result of employees – who are more likely to be running Windows XP in offices than home users – taking holidays in the summer months. With a greater percentage of website visits coming from home users, Windows 8’s sudden uplift could merely be a short-term seasonal boost, although we’ll have to wait for next month’s figures for confirmation.

Microsoft to buy Nokia Devices for $8 billion

Microsoft will take over Nokia’s Devices and Services business for A$7.9 billion with Nokia CEO Stephen Elop stepping down from his role to return to Microsoft.

t will see Microsoft take over Nokia’s Mobile Phones and Smart Devices business units, design team, operations including all Nokia Devices & Services production facilities, Devices & Services-related sales, marketing and support functions.

The operations to be transferred to Microsoft generated 50 percent, of Nokia’s net sales for 2012, the company said.

lop will depart Nokia to become executive vice president of Devices and Services at Microsoft once the acquisition closes. Elop previously worked for Microsoft from 2008 to 2010 as head of its Business Division.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of next year and is subject to Nokia shareholder approval.

Nokia will grant Microsoft a 10 year non-exclusive patent license, while Microsoft will grant Nokia reciprocal rights to Here services. Microsoft will also become a licensee of Here and will pay Nokia a four-year license.

Microsoft will also be given a 10 year license to use the Nokia brand on current mobile products, but Nokia will continue to own and maintain its Nokia brand.

Apple’s Beijing iPhone event shows China focus

Apple has invited Chinese journalists to an event in Beijing on 11 September, a company spokeswoman said, just hours after it is expected to unveil its newest iPhone models in the US.

The event will mark the first time that the company has held near-simultaneous briefings in the US and in China, the world’s biggest mobile phone market

Xbox One pre-orders almost tapped out

Microsoft’s first new gaming console in eight years will go on sale 22 November in 13 countries

It has gone into full production and pre-orders have so far outpaced the available supply to retail stores in most markets.

We have more pre-orders than any other Xbox console releases in history,”

Retail stores in many markets have run out of Microsoft’s Xbox One consoles available for pre-orders

Samsung, Qualcomm reveal smart watches

The companies launched the devices at nearly simultaneous events in Berlin and San Diego, and some analysts immediately questioned whether the devices were too costly, with expected prices near A$327.

Samsung’s Galaxy Gear smartwatch works as an accessory to its market-leading Galaxy smartphone, with a small screen offering basic functions such as photos, hands-free calls and instant messaging. The Gear will go on sale later this month in the US for A$326.

Qualcomm’s “Toq” smartwatch can play music and handle phone calls and messages. It will be the first smartwatch with a touch-enabled “Mirasol” color screen that can be viewed easily in bright sunlight.

iPhone release date confirmed

Apple has sent out invitations for a press event next week, widely expected to mark the arrival of the next iPhone.

The event will start next Wednesday at 4am EST

Reports suggest Apple will release an iPhone 5S as well as an iPhone 5C – a cheaper model in different colours, with leaked photos suggesting it will come in blue, green, yellow and white.

The iPhone 5S – or iPhone 6 – is thought to be a higher-end model, to succeed the iPhone 5, and is expected to come with a fingerprint reader, improved camera, and may also come in different colours, including gold.

The handsets are expected to arrive in stores by 20 September

Coalition to filter internet, smartphones

The party said its proposal “is a very different approach to the discredited compulsory filter proposal championed by the Rudd-Gillard Government, which was abandoned as unworkable”.

It said it would work with internet service providers to “develop online safety standards” for fixed line broadband services into homes.

It went on to define “standards” as involving “the major internet service providers providing home network filters for all new home broadband services”.

These filters would be switched on as the default unless the customer specifies otherwise, or proves they are over 18, the Coalition said.

Smartphone users under the age of 18 would have “adult content filters” applied to their mobile services by default, according to the policy.

The Coalition said it would work with mobile phone operators to install the filters onto handsets.

It also plans to introduce legislation to force social media sites operating in Australia to take down “harmful material” quickly.

The Coalition said it would define specific rules for the takedown system within six months of coming to power.

Election 2013: A tech-first guide to the minor parties

The Future Party

The Future Party markets itself as a group of “technophiles” promoting the belief that “our quality of life is improved primarily through technological developments”.

It is pushing tech-friendly reforms across a number of policy areas, such as mandatory computer programming studies for early high-schoolers, installation of smart meters in all homes and businesses, and warrant-restricted access to private browsing data by law enforcement agencies.

Senator Online

“SOL will, as far as practicable, for every Bill put to Parliament, summarise the arguments in a fair unbiased and concise manner. An online poll will be conducted in which all Poll members who have access to the internet can vote for or against the proposed Bill,

The Pirate Party

The Pirate Party has been outspoken in its opposition to what it sees as the gradual and unjustified encroachment of national security onto civil liberties, particularly in the online world.

reventing warrantless monitoring of internet use;
Banning mandatory internet censorship; and
Legislatively protected ‘net neutrality’ which would outlaw discrimination when it comes to internet speed.

The Party has also taken a stance against what it sees as uncompetitive corporate tax rates and software patents.

Lava lamp creators mark 50 years of 1960s icon

Edward Craven Walker was inspired to create the lava lamp after admiring an oil and water-based ornament he had spotted on display in the country inn – and in September 1963 he set up a company, now known as Mathmos, to research, develop and most importantly market his invention.

In the mid 1960s, they made their first TV appearance on the set of Doctor Who.

Unexpected, yes, but Google’s KitKat marketing may get the word out

Google said earlier Tuesday that version 4.4 of the OS would be called KitKat, “after one of our favorite chocolate treats.”

The trademark is owned by someone, of course, but Google partnered with Nestle to do the promotion.

The whole thing was Google’s idea, according to a BBC report, and no money changed hands between the companies.

Twitter unveils Australian headquarters

It will formally open its corporate offices in Sydney CBD this week – though staff have been working from the building for several weeks.

Twitter also confirmed on Monday it has appointed former Google Asia-Pacific executive, Karen Stocks as its Australian managing director.

The move comes as Twitter seeks to grow its pool of around two million Australian users and increase advertising revenue.

SHAYNE’S SHOWNOTES

Aussie TV Networks Reportedly Working On A Netflix Rival

Channels Seven and Nine are both working on a new “Netflix rival” if a new report is to be believed. Basically it would see the two networks join forces to dominate the rebroadcasting rights surrounding their most popular local shows, so that online rebroadcasting services like Netflix and Hulu can’t scoop them up for cheap if they ever decide to land in Australia.

The Australian Financial Review adds that an elite team of Channel Nine goons has been stationed at Seven’s offices to work on the new online platform, which would reportedly boast shows like Home And Away, which believe it or not is Seven’s most popular show in catch-up.

Discussion Topics:Microsoft/Nokia thing.

Balmer thing & was the Nokia thing his decision

Election

My phone

Google’s iOS Authenticator Update Nuked User Data Before Being Pulled

Google’s updated Authenticator app for iPhone rolled out last night, bringing new retina graphics for iPhone 5 users. Unfortunately, it also brought a nasty little glitch that wiped out user account info, forcing Google to pull it from the App Store.

Apparently, users who installed the new update found all the services they’d connected to the two-factor authentication app disconnected, forcing them to start from scratch setting up account info. Google says it’s working on a new version that won’t spit out all your data. [9to5Mac]

Episode 357 – Aussie Tech Heads Shownotes – Longest Running Australian Tech News Reviews Podcast