Episode 094

posted in: Show Notes
GLENN’S SHOWNOTES

 

EBay fined $64m over counterfeits | Australian IT

EBay fined $64m over counterfeits

 A FRENCH court ordered eBay to pay 38.6 million euros ($63.84 million) to luxury goods group LVMH for allowing the sale of fake merchandise, in a ruling immediately appealed by the online auction website.
Ebay has been sued by jewellers Tiffany, which accused it last year of turning a blind eye to sales of counterfeits, and faces action from L’Oreal over the sale of perfumes on the site.
why is this not the same as putting inthe paper – the paper doesnt get sued

Seven, Foxtel chiefs’ spat over DVRs | Australian IT
Seven, Foxtel chiefs’ spat over DVRs

 A WAR of words has erupted between the Seven Network and Foxtel over the effectiveness of Seven’s TiVo digital video recorder amid claims the device will struggle to make money.
Mr Warburton said that by 2010, official TV ratings group Oztam would account for time-shifted viewing conducted through DVRs up to a week after a show had been first broadcast, allowing networks to better monetise such viewing.
We are going to change our industry model from saying ‘here is today’s live and as-live viewing’, to ‘here is the catch-up and time-shifted viewing’.”

E-conveyancing scheme goes ahead | Australian IT
E-conveyancing scheme goes ahead

 HOMEBUYERS could save hundreds of dollars in conveyancing costs under a new plan to  settle property transactions electronically.

“Under the current system every state and territory has their own unique property conveyancing system with different processes and procedures, based on an antiquated system of paper-shuffling,’’ the government said today in a statement.

“Industry groups estimate a national electronic conveyancing system could reduce the costs of buying and selling property by $250 million a year.

“This national system will mean that whether they buy a house in Darwin or Dubbo, Bundaberg or Ballarat, consumers will use the same online system to lodge and exchange all the documents, certificates and contracts needed to buy their new house.’’

Local vendors gear for Vista downgrade | Australian IT
Local vendors gear for Vista downgrade

 CONSUMERS will have to pay between $21 and $83 to downgrade from Windows Vista to Microsoft’s older operating system, XP.

Microsoft has been struggling to convince Windows XP users to embrace Vista and PC makers have shunned the new operating system as well due to negative feedback from customers. The new platform, they claim, is too bloated and slow when compared with its predecessor.

Microsoft unveiled the corporate edition of Vista on November 30, 2006 and the consumer equivalent on January 29, 2007.

In a bid to boost Vista’s sales, Microsoft had set June 30, 2008 as the last day for PC makers to sell machines preloaded with Windows XP – with the exception of low-cost systems such as the Asus Eee PC.

 

Mac attack: beware the malware – Technology – BrisbaneTimes
Mac attack: beware the malware

  the global install base of OS X is now estimated by some to be approaching 8 per cent.

PC Tools is the latest anti-virus company to bring a Mac-flavoured solution to the market with a lightweight but highly targeted anti-virus and spyware tool that it says will offer an alternative to the bloated offerings currently available.

Now available in beta, the company said the product had been created to address the misconception that the Mac OS was inherently secure – which was not being backed up by its own internal research.

“Up until the end of last year there were only a handful of threats, but in calendar 2008 we have seen more threats that have both Windows and Mac variants,” said Simon Clausen, PC Tools chief executive.

 

Split network and broadband: Google | Australian IT
Split network and broadband: Google

 SEARCH giant Google has joined Australia’s national broadband debate, telling the federal Government’s expert panel that the provider of Australia’s new high-speed internet network must not operate both the network and a retail broadband businesses.

 

Telstra billing fix delayed | Australian IT
TELSTRA boss Sol Trujillo has failed to meet his June 30 deadline for completing the migration of 5 million users to a new consumer billing system, despite claiming less than four months ago that the multi-million-dollar overhaul would be complete.

Gmail – Aussie TEch Heads 94 – thesecrethub@gmail.com
The movie script is still in the works, coming along smoothly, few changes.
1. It’s now divided into a 3-part movie, so I can have cliffhangers.
2. I was originally going to have the character of Carnage Skills as the muscles of the team, but after consulting a few episodes of Aussie Tech Heads for guidance, I have decided to change the character’s name to Chris.
3. I am not going to be in the movie. (Ok, so this isn’t a change, I just didn’t mention it before) seeing as I want to direct each shot to capture the right feeling.
4. I am putting in references to things talked about on the show, such as Telstra putting people on hold, or licking Apple items.

Telstra finally woos the iPhone – Mobile Phones
Telstra finally woos the iPhone

reboot sucks

Queensland first, state of the art self serve
check-outs have launched at Woolworths Robina

Queensland first, state of the art self serve
check-outs have launched at Woolworths Robina
– 5 check-outs for customer convenience!
The new self serve check-out is very user
friendly… plus you can pay via cash, EFTPOS
and even Credit Card!

 

MARK’S SHOWNOTES

Optus reveals iPhone pricing | Australian IT

Optus reveals iPhone pricing

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Andrew Colley | July 03, 2008

OPTUS has unveiled its pricing plans for the new 3G iPhone to be released later this month.

The carrier is offering an 8GB version of the iPhone to customers with no upfront cost if they are prepared to commit to spending $79 per month over two years. Under the same pricing plans, a 16GB version of the handset will cost an extra $2 dollars per month.

Customers that wish to purchase the phone to use on Optus’ pre-paid network will pay $729 for a black 8GB iPhone or $849 for a handset with 16GB of storage.

Optus would not be making an 8GB version of the handset available in white.

Customers would also be able to commit to shorter contracts if they were prepared to pay additional monthly handset repayments.

For example, customers who sign up for a $49 pricing plan over a year can expect to pay $37 per month and 47 per month to cover the cost of an 8GB and a 16GB handset respectively.

All iPhone handsets are fully subsidised for customers who chose a pricing plans based on a 24 month contract that require a minimum monthly spend in excess of $89.

The basic $79 plan included $550 worth of calls and 700MB worth of mobile data usage, Optus said.

Optus is offering a $179 plan aimed at high-usage customers which includes $1500 worth of calls and texts, and 1GB of data.

Under both plans, calls are charged at 35 cents per 30 seconds and text messages are 25 cents each.

“Optus iPhone 3G pricing plans focus on giving our customers free data. Post-Paid customers receive free data for the first month from connection if they connect before 31 August 2008, and Pre-Paid customers receive free data until the end of August – allowing them to completely immerse themselves in the features and functionality of the device,” Mr Smith said.

Telstra and Vodafone will also carry the iPhone from June 11, but neither carrier had pricing plans available at publication time.

Seven hopes we’ll grow to love TiVo | Australian IT

Seven hopes we’ll grow to love TiVo

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Jane Schulze | July 03, 2008

THE Seven Network has imported at least 20,000 TiVo digital video recorders as it seeks to take on the rival pay-television product Foxtel iQ.

And the network will try to team with internet broadband providers to ensure users of TiVo have unmetered downloads for its future movie service. Unlike the Foxtel iQ, consumers who buy TiVos must connect it to their broadband internet connection to be able to access the full array ofservices.

But TiVo general manager Mark Hughes said while the TiVo connected through the internet, it was estimated to use about only 5Mb of capacity for each user a month.

“The amount of information (users) would download on a daily basis from their internet connection is minimal,” Mr Hughes said.

“At most the typical user won’t use more than 5Mb per month, which is a handful these days.”

Mr Hughes is employed by Seven, which created a subsidiary company to buy the Australian rights to TiVo and market the device here.

Now Seven has underwritten the cost of bringing TiVos to Australia.

EBay drops PayPal bid | Australian IT

EBay drops PayPal bid

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Fran Foo | July 03, 2008

ONLINE auction website eBay has dropped its bid to use Australia as a guinea pig to trial a new policy where all other modes of payment are barred except its own transaction gateway, PayPal.

As a result, direct deposits, personal cheques and money orders will continue to exist as allowing all existing payment methods on eBay.com.au.

Australia’s Professional eBay Sellers Alliance president Phil Leahy welcomed the news. “This is great for the eBay community … this will remove the confusion that’s been around since this proposal was first made.”

“We’re looking forward to getting back to business and providing a great experience to eBay buyers,” Mr Leahy said.

Earlier this month the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission released a draft proposal to revoke eBay’s immunity from anti-competitive sanctions for enforcing the payment policy on its website.

EBay subsequently said it would continue to fight for the safety benefits of the policy for consumers, despite the ACCC ruling.

Study says many dial-up users don’t want broadband – Breaking News – Technology – Breaking News

Study says many dial-up users don’t want broadband

July 3, 2008 – 3:34PM

A new study suggests that attitude rather than availability may be the key reason why more Americans don’t have high-speed Internet access.

The findings from the Pew Internet and American Life Project challenge the argument that broadband providers need to more aggressively roll out supply to meet demand.

Only 14 percent of dial-up users say they’re stuck with the older, slower connection technology because they can’t get broadband in their neighborhoods, Pew reported Wednesday.

Thirty-five percent say they’re still on dial-up because broadband prices are too high, while another 19 percent say nothing would persuade them to upgrade. The remainder have other reasons or do not know.

Use Microsoft to win Apples – Technology – BrisbaneTimes – brisbanetimes.com.au

Use Microsoft to win Apples

Asher Moses | July 3, 2008 – 7:52AM

Microsoft is dangling prizes made by arch-nemesis Apple to entice Australian web surfers to give its online search products a second chance.

Through its local joint venture with the Nine Network, ninemsn, Microsoft recently completed a full revamp of Live Search to improve results and integrate video, images, news and maps into search queries.

But in what is perhaps a sign of desperation given Google’s growing market share dominance, ninemsn is running a new Live Search promotion – Secret Search – offering surfers the chance to win prizes including the iPod Nano, Shuffle and Touch just for conducting searches.

A Microsoft source said using competitor products was frowned on at Microsoft and the company was offering large discounts on Windows Mobile-based smartphones to dissuade staff from buying iPhones.

At ninemsn, staff are forbidden from using Google search.

At the entrance to Microsoft’s Zune headquarters in the US there is an “iPod Amnesty Bin” for staff to throw away their iPods. The words “bite me” are plastered across the bin below a picture of an Apple with bites taken out of it.

Ninemsn’s head of Live Search, Alex Parsons, said if the Zune music player was sold in Australia it would have been offered as a prize instead.

“Where we don’t have a great product or we don’t have a product at all there’s no internal edict that says we’re not allowed to use competitor products,” he said.

Mac attack: beware the malware – Technology – BrisbaneTimes

Mac attack: beware the malware

Louisa Hearn | July 3, 2008 – 10:44AM

The anti-virus vendors have begun circling over Apple as the legendary virus-free status of its Mac OS begins to fade.

A victim of its own success, the global install base of OS X is now estimated by some to be approaching 8 per cent. Double that figure for developed countries, and it makes for a far juicier proposition for virus writers.

In addition, industry experts say the nature of malware is shifting, with the new breed of “socially engineered” threats far more effective at penetrating even the Mac’s robust defences.

PC Tools is the latest anti-virus company to bring a Mac-flavoured solution to the market with a lightweight but highly targeted anti-virus and spyware tool that it says will offer an alternative to the bloated offerings currently available.

Now available in beta, the company said the product had been created to address the misconception that the Mac OS was inherently secure – which was not being backed up by its own internal research.

“Up until the end of last year there were only a handful of threats, but in calendar 2008 we have seen more threats that have both Windows and Mac variants,” said Simon Clausen, PC Tools chief executive.

YouTube – Boston Dynamics BigDog Robot – the Army mule
Boston Dynamics BigDog Robot – the Army mule

YouTube – Boston Dynamics Big Dog (new video March 2008)
Boston Dynamics Big Dog (new video March 2008)

Robot soldiers ready for real battlefield – Technology – brisbanetimes.com.au

Robot soldiers ready for real battlefield

James Bloom | July 3, 2008
AT A desert test site in Texas, a street battle rages between US soldiers and local “insurgents”. It’s much like any other training exercise, except the soldiers are accompanied by a Mule (Multifunctional Utility/Logistics and Equipment), an armed robot the size of a Humvee vehicle.

Microsoft cuts Xbox console prices – BizTech – Technology – brisbanetimes.com.au

Microsoft cuts Xbox console prices

Asher Moses | July 2, 2008

The Xbox 360 is now the cheapest non-handheld games console on the market after Microsoft slashed the price of the entry level Arcade model to $349.

Jeremy Hinton, Xbox group product marketing manager, said the company was passing on savings from recent currency fluctuations and lower manufacturing costs.

But retailer EBGames suggested the cuts may be due to flagging sales of the Xbox 360.

“Wii is so far in front, then PlayStation 3 is a clear second with Xbox coming in at third,” said EBGame merchandising director Shane Stockwell.

The move means the Nintendo Wii, which was previously on par with the Xbox 360 at $399, loses its title of budget console king.

It also makes Sony’s Playstation 3, priced at $699.95, an even harder sell for budget-conscious buyers. But Stockwell said, even at that price, EBGames was having difficulty keeping the console in stock.

“$699 is no barrier to sales for PlayStation 3,” he said.

Some retailers, such as Big W, have slashed prices even further than Microsoft’s official adjustment, selling the Xbox 360 Arcade for $279 for a limited time.

The mid-range Xbox 360 console, which adds a 20GB hard drive, headset and high definition cables, now sells for $499. Before the cuts it was $579.

 

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