Episode 085

posted in: Show Notes

GLENN'S SHOWNOTES 

Skype expands 'unlimited' calling | Australian IT

SKYPE has introduced its first plan for so-called unlimited calls to overseas destinations.

There are no long-term contracts – just a monthly fixed rate to dial landline numbers.

Monthly packages to North America start from $3.95, Europe costs a dollar more while Asia rings in at $5.95.

All calls have a limit of 10,000 minutes per month or more than five hours of talk time per day.

Australia leads eBay sellers' revolt | Australian IT
Australia leads eBay sellers' revolt

 paypal is not a bank and it is not secure funds like banks

Smarter ATMs for NAB | Australian IT
Smarter ATMs for NAB

 NATIONAL Australia Bank has signed a deal in excess of $US100 million ($106.2 million) to increase the functions of its autoteller network to enable mortgage applications and share trading.

NAB signed the seven-year deal late last year with US-based technology company NCR, and in the process became the first Australian bank to upgrade its autotellers to an internet protocol network, allowing the machines to run more complex applications.

The Intelligent Deposit autotellers credit cash deposits to the customer's account immediately, with the amount printed on a receipt.

ANZ autoteller head Tania Foster it was close to announcing plans to upgrade its network to provide more of the services its customers wanted.

Westpac said it had installed anti-skimming technology in 80 per cent of its autotellers, but didn't mention plans to upgrade its network to allow internet protocol applications.

Woman pleads guilty in Craigslist hitman case | NEWS.com.au
Woman pleads guilty in Craigslist hitman case

 A woman who advertised online for a hitman to kill her lover's wife has pleaded guilty to the murder-for-hire scheme.

In November 2007, three California residents searching job listings on Craigslist.com found an advertisement for a "freelance" position posted by Ms Linscott, according to court documents. The three job seekers contacted California police.

The defendant asked two of the respondents via email to "eradicate" the victim and provided the victim's name, age and employment address.

In one correspondence, she said she was looking for "silent assassins" and offered to pay $US5000 ($5367) to kill the victim, who was not identified by the court.

"This IS a serious proposition," Ms Linscott said in an email. Her account name was "bourne2run."

The world's first YouTube divorce writ | NEWS.com.au
The world's first YouTube divorce writ

 

A WOMAN has delivered the world's first YouTube divorce writ to millions of people, tearfully ranting about her sexless marriage to a man 24 years her senior.

The video, by New York's sometime actor and playwright Tricia Walsh-Smith, 52, has attracted 2.9 million viewers and offers to appear on US TV shows such as Today and The View.

Hi-tech pokies chase young gamers | NEWS.com.au
Hi-tech pokies chase young gamers

 A NEW futuristic line of poker machines with Xbox-style graphics will rake in a younger generation of gamblers according to experts.

 

 

MARK'S SHOWNOTES 

BBC NEWS | Technology | Microsoft unveils its web vision

Microsoft unveils its web vision

Live Mesh connects devices and services online and offline

 

Microsoft has lifted the lid on a new web service called Live Mesh, designed to connect a multiplicity of devices and applications online.

The service is seen by many as a key plank in the company's vision for the future of the web.

Live Mesh is designed to blur the lines between running software and storing data on a desktop and "in the cloud".

Microsoft's Amit Mital said Live Mesh would "connect and bring devices together… to work in concert".

Live Mesh pits Microsoft against companies like Amazon, Google and Salesforce.com which are already offering different varieties of so-called software-as-a-service systems.

It comes as Microsoft is engaged in a bid to buy rival Yahoo and emphasises just how important the web has become to the firm.

"We may be seeing signs of a Microsoft that is newly focused," Jonathan Yarmis, a vice president and analyst at AMR Research, told Reuters news agency.

Current – Seagate ships one billionth hard disk drive
Seagate ships one billionth hard disk drive

By Matthew Henry

SYDNEY: After 30 years in the hard disk drive business, Seagate Technology today shipped its one billionth drive. But with the rate of consumer and business data production rising dramatically, the company will take just five years to ship its next billion.

Digital cameras, mp3 players, HD video and the internet are driving consumer demand for digital storage products, and Seagate is clearly benefiting.

The Cayman Islands-based company shipped around 500 million hard disk drives last year compared with just 30 million in 1990. Revenue reached $US11.4 billion in fiscal year 2007.

Seagate today heralded shipping its milestone drive with a calculation of just how much digital data could fit onto one billion HDDs.

Current – NEC packs full HD resolution into camcorder-size screen
NEC packs full HD resolution into camcorder-size screen

By Chris Nicholls

TOKYO: NEC LCD Technologies has unveiled a new compact high definition LCD, which packs 413 pixels per inch, or quarter HD (QHD) resolution, and allows 1080p images to be viewed on its 2.7-inch screen.

The new module will allow high definition video and still cameras to display up to a 1080p image on their screens, along with 70 per cent of the NTSC colour gamut. NEC claimed the screen, if embedded in a professional broadcast use camera, would allow “highly accurate adjustment of focus”, thanks to its high resolution.

Australia leads eBay sellers' revolt | Australian IT

Australia leads eBay sellers' revolt

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Fran Foo | April 22, 2008

AUSTRALIA will lead a worldwide revolt against new PayPal-only payment plans adopted by online auctioneer eBay at a conference in New Orleans kicking off this week.

PESA Australia president Phil Leahy will put his case to eBay global marketplace operations president Lorrie Norrington when they meet. Pic: David Geraghty

The charge is led by the Professional eBay Sellers Alliance (PESA), which consists of eBay's elite sellers. Combined, they generate more than $US400 million ($424.88 million) in sales each year on the website.

PESA Australia president Phil Leahy will put his case to eBay global marketplace operations president Lorrie Norrington when they meet.

From June 17, eBay Australia wants to force members to use PayPal, a transaction gateway it owns, for buying and selling goods.

The only other form of payment will be cash on delivery. 

EBay has filed for immunity from the Trade Practices Act, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will investigate whether eBay's double-dipping tactics are anti-competitive. Members of the public can submit comments to the regulator by May 2.

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