APC - Author

How Conroy's daughter wrecked his unsecured iPhone

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:29:00 +1000

The filter-loving Senator's phone was disabled by a persistent 3 year old.

The Australian Federal Police tackle Google

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:35:31 +1000

An official Australian investigation into the search giant's Wi-Fi privacy debacle has launched.

Inside Android Gingerbread: Google shows off future phone features

Fri, 21 May 2010 06:15:29 +1000

Future Android releases will include over-the-air application installs, a music store and automated voice control. Plus: what's cool in Froyo.

No Google TV for Australia before 2011

Fri, 21 May 2010 05:21:23 +1000

Google has made a big splash with its Google TV platform for blending TV viewing and Internet browsing, but it will be 2011 at the earliest before any Australians can access it.

Google: Open video good, MS and Apple bad

Thu, 20 May 2010 05:09:37 +1000

I/O 2010 Day 1: WebM goes up against H.264, Wave gets opened and Adobe gets some surprise love as Google's annual developer conference kicks off.

Google Chrome Store to take on iTunes

Thu, 20 May 2010 04:02:35 +1000

Google's built-in browser store will sport a range of free and paid web apps, including some based on Flash.

eBay's total smackdown: forced PayPal out and free listings

Thu, 13 May 2010 22:33:00 +1000

From July, sellers will be able to choose between PayPal, PayMate and credit cards, and list goods for free via a new classifieds system.

Did Apple's new iPhone get nicked?

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:45:56 +1000

A prototype iPhone got left in a bar . . . no, it's not the start of a joke.

eBay Australia considers free listings

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:17:00 +1000

Radical changes to fees are also being weighed up.

Dell takeover fuels Mac panic

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:40:00 +1000

Customers at KACE stress that Dell's takeover might spell the end for Mac and Linux support.

XP apps not happy on Windows 7

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:39:00 +1000

Two-thirds of companies shifting from XP to Windows 7 had issues, a study finds.

No porn allowed on $AU21,000 Microsoft Surface

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:09:00 +1000

Microsoft's new coffee table-sized iPod Touch (now available in Australia) promises "touch at a completely new level", but not of the nasty sort, apparently.

What the iPad will mean for the homeless

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:23:00 +1000

Apparently it's going to revolutionise everything else, so why not the 105,000 Australians without a permanent roof over their head?

Aussie eBook thinks Android, not Apple

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:00:50 +1000

The Australian-designed QuokkaPad will run Linux based OSes such as Google Android.

Patents biggest threat to free software

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:25:00 +1000

Samba developer Andrew Tridgell reckons the open source community is poor at fighting patent attacks, but says things could improve with a change in strategy.

Microsoft to declare patent war on iPhone/Android?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:25:00 +1000

A key Linux developer has predicted Microsoft will use its huge patent portfolio to cripple smartphone competitors and boost its woeful Windows Mobile market share.

75% of Linux code now written by paid developers

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:07:20 +1000

Forget lofty ideals about the open-source community: most Linux kernel code is written by paid developers at major corporations.

The big China hacking lesson: ditch IE

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:03:40 +1000

Browser flaw seen as key to hack attack on Google and others.

CES 2010: The verdict

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:05:00 +1000

CES 2010: 3D TV and Android dominated the conversation, but that may not help the world of technology in the short term.

Android a huge opportunity for adult developers

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:00:00 +1000

CES 2010: Web porn companies urged to consider Google's phone OS for future growth.

NetGear Push2TV streams PC to TV wirelessly

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:00:00 +1000

CES 2010: Netgear has outed a new device that connects your PC screen to your TV wirelessly -- and without an annoying dongle on your computer.

Sex robot offers social networking [NSFW]

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:30:00 +1000

CES 2010: The $9,000 True Companion, aka "Roxxxy", includes a range of artificial intelligence features.

Lenovo readies Android-based smart phone

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:35:00 +1000

CES 2010: The forthcoming phone shares design features with the detachable screen IdeaPad U1.

Nokia banks on the SMS app store

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:34:00 +1000

CES 2010: The phone giant readies its Nokia Money application and takes a few swipes at Apple.

High-tech sex still selling strongly

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:17:24 +1000

CES 2010: Gadget design continues to influence sex toys, and sales are booming even in tough times.

What a turnaround: Apple now tops Greenpeace's list

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:27:00 +1000

CES 2010: what a difference a year makes; last year, Apple was being excoriated by Greenpeace for its poor environmental credentials.

Intel uses iTunes for performance benchmarking

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:24:00 +1000

CES 2010: Who needs a formal benchmark when Apple's software is available?

Why Lady Gaga is designing your next gadget

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:20:00 +1000

CES 2010: The pop megastar has struck deals with Monster Cable and Polaroid.

Ballmer can't resist another "Developers!" cry

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:15:00 +1000

CES 2010: High point of keynote is learning Microsoft CEO can't lay out slides in a hurry.

Will 3D TV hit the mainstream in 2010?

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:00:00 +1000

CES 2010: We all love a good 3D flick, but watching them at home is still tricky despite promised new models.

Sony admits defeat on Memory Stick

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:46:00 +1000

CES 2010: The company will begin supporting and selling SD cards as an alternative.

Sony: Dash! Bloggie! Taylor Swift!

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:45:00 +1000

CES 2010: Sony's product lineup includes some cool but strangely-named products.

LG pushes Skype on TV

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:26:00 +1000

CES 2010: LG talks Internet TVs and 3D Blu-ray.

Toshiba Cell TV promises real-time 3D

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:26:00 +1000

CES 2010: Tosh's new TV set will convert 2D broadcasts to 3D.

Monster Cable : still monstrously overpriced

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:25:00 +1000

CES 2010: "Always lead, never follow" certainly applies to the price tags on these cables and headphones.

No easy sell for Apple's tablet

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:41:00 +1000

CES 2010: Apple's impending tablet will face a tough and fragmented market, industry figures suggest.

Internet-enabled TVs: we don't want 'em

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:34:06 +1000

CES 2010: Aussies might complain at the lack of Net-enabled TVs here, but people who have them can't be bothered using them.

Google Nexus One breaks cover, but not for Aussies

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:30:00 +1000

CES 2010: Google's own Android phone is a neat CES spoiler, but a no-go for Aussies so far.

Microsoft finds new use for screensavers

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:41:58 +1000

CES 2010: Forget burn-in, screensavers are the new search technology.

Why hard drive prices might actually go up

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:41:01 +1000

CES 2010: Storage has traditionally got larger and cheaper, but this year could see that change.

CES 2010: what's going to be hot

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 09:00:00 +1000

There's no rival Apple event, but will the depressed climate take the edge off the world's biggest tech gathering?

Why Apple is a joke in the business world

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:44:55 +1000

Employees might like iPhones, but Gartner says Apple doesn't have a clue how to do computers for business at anything like a reasonable price.

Five weird facts about Wikipedia

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:00:00 +1000

Which nations don't like reading Wikipedia articles about sex? How does weather influence editing on the world's most popular encyclopedia site?

IN PICTURES: Zut alors! Inside the Windows Cafe in Paris

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:18:12 +1000

In what may well be the weirdest promotional strategy ever, Microsoft has opened a Windows Café in the heart of Paris. APC takes you on a tour.

Symbian slags off iPhone: "6 months for cut and paste?"

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:33:37 +1000

Symbian's director has taken a series of pot shots at the iPhone, while proclaiming the Symbian mobile OS "three years ahead of its time".

Windows 7 may slow PC sales

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:50:15 +1000

Vista may have been a groaning, hefty beast needing fast hardware, but Windows 7's snappy performance on older computers has the computer industry worried.

Sony bans hi-def porn in Aussie factory

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:44:11 +1000

Sony is keen to attract local producers to use its recently opened Blu-ray disc factory in Sydney, but there's one big condition attached: no porn is allowed.

PayPal targets charities, schools for more bucks

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:32:25 +1000

Having failed in last year's attempt to become a compulsory payment mechanism for eBay, PayPal is eyeing off a new source of potential cash: charities and schools.

5 reasons the Google Chrome OS is a f*#$ing bad idea

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:37:28 +1000

It's a Google OS! It's open source! It's not Windows! It's vaporware.

Why Commonwealth Bank spam is slipping through spam filters

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:59:08 +1000

Antispam vendor MessageLabs admits the Commonwealth Bank phishing spam-wave is proving hard to filter out.

ASUS: Only 5% of Eee PCs use Linux

Fri, 29 May 2009 16:06:35 +1000

The original Eee PC might have promised to bring Linux to the masses, but these days it looks like ASUS is running away from open source and towards Redmond at breathtaking speed.

First Windows 7 RC feature gets pulled

Wed, 06 May 2009 17:09:01 +1000

The Windows 7 release candidate has been live for just 24 hours, but Microsoft has already pulled one feature amidst fears it could make the new OS unsuitable for netbooks.

Kogan busted by ACCC over 'non-existent' savings

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:41:54 +1000

Discount electronics manufacturer Kogan Technologies has promised to modify its advertising practices after the ACCC gave it a stern warning.

Computer games go porno

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:17:24 +1000

How do you make an already R-rated game called Bonetown even pervier? By integrating footage from adult DVDs, apparently.

PHONE CON: No, that is not "Microsoft" calling

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:18:25 +1000

Have you had a man from Microsoft ring up and advise your computer is virus infected? If so, you're one of many Australians targeted in a phone scam.

BLACKLIST: Government cracks down on Whirlpool.net.au

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:56:54 +1000

Internet filtering is supposed to just be a trial in Australia, but the government has already clamped down on Whirlpool for posting a link to a banned website.

DRM to infect Flash soon, Adobe hints

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:11:16 +1000

DRM. They're the three most-dreaded letters in the world of technology. And it looks like they are going to infect your copy of Flash soon.

Pirate Bay goes on trial: 20 things you need to know

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:12:12 +1000

The world's largest BitTorrent tracker, on trial for piracy in Sweden, is providing live updates via Twitter. Here are 20 key facts you need to know, in 140 characters or less.

Airbus: why in-seat tech is so tricky

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:19:41 +1000

Future planes will continue to offer better integration with media players and high-speed Internet access, but developing those features is a major pain, according to an Airbus executive.

PREDICTIONS: Best and the worst of tech in 2009

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:00:00 +1000

Now that CES 2009 has been and gone and the world's media has cast its vote, what stands out as the good and bad of tech coming this year?

Now you can use Gmail when you're offline

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:19:04 +1000

It's taken more than 18 months in development, but Google is finally rolling out an offline mode for Gmail that lets you work with your email while you're not connected to the net.

What's behind Sol Trujillo's oh-so-kind Wikipedia entry

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:33:40 +1000

Britney Spears' Wikipedia entry gets edited multiple times a day. Telstra boss Sol Trujillo's has been essentially untouched for six months. What's Sol's secret?

Defiant Kogan plans for future Android, netbook releases

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:44:37 +1000

While the January launch of the Agora has been cancelled, Kogan is still planning to produce an Android phone eventually, and is also working on a netbook for imminent release.

IN PICS: Linus Torvalds shaves open source legend down to size

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:06:23 +1000

When the IBM PC was first released, open source legend Bdale Garbee started growing his beard. Today, Linus Torvalds proved open source is "free, as in beard" and cut it off.

Wikipedia readies for print encyclopedia sales

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:57:58 +1000

Wikipedia is likely to start offering print books of its most popular articles, as the Wikimedia Foundation explores ways to diversify its funding and increase its reach.

Linus Torvalds on regression, laziness and having his code rejected

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:20:53 +1000

Want to know what happens if you suggest a way to fix Linux that might solve a major difficulty, but also introduce new problems? To quote Linus Torvalds: " I laugh in your face!"

Unwanted advice: Trujillo tells Obama how to run the Internet

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:51:33 +1000

Hey Barack! Want to set up an Internet that everyone hates? Mr Trujillo has some ideas for you...

LCD bigwigs busted for price fixing

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:07:51 +1000

No wonder big LCD screens cost so much: multiple execs have confessed to a "global LCD-price-fixing conspiracy" and now face the prospect of watching crappy CRT TVs in prison.

Google sacks staff as reality kicks in

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:00:00 +1000

Google is sacking engineers and other staff across the globe, but that rationalisation is not set to impact its Sydney engineering and development centre.

Apple refuses to submit to Greenpeace testing

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:09:31 +1000

Apple likes to boast about the green credentials of its most recent MacBook machines, but when it came to being assessed by Greenpeace, the Cupertino crowd chickened out.

Former Apple exec unveils wireless iPod sex toy

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:04:00 +1000

Proving that there’s no gadget concept so simple that it can’t be improved, the inventors of the most prominent iPod vibrator are getting ready to launch a new wireless model.

Can Palm WebOS save the company?

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:00:00 +1000

Palm’s new WebOS operating system and forthcoming Pre are drawing cautious enthusiasm, but there are still roadblocks to overcome if Palm is to become a major smartphone player.

Why Agora beat other Android phones to market

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:12:20 +1000

INTERVIEW | Agora phone mastermind Ruslan Kogan explains to APC why Android phones are still tricky to develop. PLUS: FIRST VIDEO OF A KOGAN AGORA!

Skype heading to iPhone, Android, Blackberry

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:38:00 +1000

The new Mac and Android versions announced this week are just the tip of the iceberg: Skype has a lot more on its schedule for the year.

Windows 7 public beta is all yours, says Ballmer

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:15:50 +1000

Like a proud parent seeing his kid off into the big wide world, Steve Ballmer has handed over the keys to the Windows 7 beta to the world. (Or will in a few days).

Rock Band beats iTunes to selling The Beatles online

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:54:47 +1000

It may not be inextricably linked to every iPod in the world, but the Rock Band console game has beaten Apple to the punch in selling Beatles music online.

Monster unveils $1,800 cable -- "very expensive, unfortunately"

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:02:14 +1000

Monster Cable's event at CES had hype and hoopla, but nothing could conceal the fact that Monster exists to fleece the wallets of rich suckers.

"We made a mistake with netbooks last year" -- CES

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:18:41 +1000

The convenors of the giant Consumer Electronics expo in Las Vegas say 2009 is -- without doubt -- the year of the netbook.

Five key CES 2009 predictions

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:01:44 +1000

The Consumer Electronics Show kicks off this Wednesday, and APC is on the ground in Las Vegas. Here are five predictions so far...

US dumps unpopular internet filter plan

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:50:19 +1000

Even before a change of president, US government officials have realised that trying to block porn online is a bad way of trying to enhance the Internet. Anyone wanna tell Conroy?

CHRISTMAS SHOCK: Australian government to trial P2P filters

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:22:44 +1000

The Rudd government didn't tell voters before the election, but now it has revealed it will filter illegal P2P transfers at a government level as part of its ISP filtering plan.

eBay Oz chief quits after failed PayPal plan

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:30:55 +1000

eBay has capped off a troublesome year with Australian chief Simon Smith qutting. Yep, he's the one who made that remark likening eBay users to heroin junkies.

iiNet piracy case starts in Federal Court

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:21:38 +1000

iiNet says it will vigorously defend itself against AFACT's claims that it authorised piracy among its users, but the case looks set to be a long battle.

IN PICTURES: hundreds protest govt net censorship

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:38:54 +1000

Protest marches were held around Australia today against the Australian government's internet censorship plans. APC was at the Sydney march, armed with a camera.

Telstra rejects govt internet filtering trials

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:24:50 +1000

If the nation's biggest ISP doesn't have anything to do with them, how much reliance can be placed on tests of the controversial "clean feed" proposal?

Internet filter stuff-up cuts off Wikipedia

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:54:34 +1000

Want proof that internet filters can have dire unexpected consequences? Look no further than the UK, where Wikipedia has been filtered out by mistake.

ISP filter tests: ideally, someone will get a clue

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:12:17 +1000

The government has released the spec documents for its proposed compulsory internet filtering system. The problem? They're a confusing mess of vague waffle.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Aussie Android phone maker

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:22:38 +1000

On sale for less than a day, Kogan's Agora Android phone has already attracted orders from Australia and overseas, and a touch-screen only successor is on the cards.

Apple attempts to silence iPhone hack discussion

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +1000

Here's another tactic to add to the long list of ways to annoy Steve Jobs: try and build an application that syncs with the iPhone or iPod Touch.

Street protests planned over internet filtering

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:00:00 +1000

Protests against plans to censor Australia's internet feeds are moving from online to the physical world, with a series of street protests planned.

Conroy mocks Telstra broadband "bid"

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:17:59 +1000

"They describe it as a proposal... they believe it can be considered."

Microsoft names the date for IE8

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:06:00 +1000

A release candidate for Microsoft's browser is due in early 2009, which suggests that Windows 7 could also hit the decks by the end of the year.

SCAPEGOAT: iiNet sued over BitTorrent piracy

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:46:12 +1000

Internet service provider iiNet is being sued by seven Hollywood movie studios for failing to disconnect users who allegedly swapped pirated movies via BitTorrent.

Windows 7 to launch in 56 fruity flavours?

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:26:44 +1000

Mid-2009 is tipped as Windows 7's release date, but the big question is: will Microsoft abandon, or expand, its strategy of making umpteen versions of the same OS?

Man blames iPhone for cheating on wife

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:43:09 +1000

"I took my husband's i-phone and found a raunchy picture of him attached to an e-mail to a woman. He says the Genius Bar at Apple told him it is an i-Phone glitch."

Adobe explains: Why there's no Flash on iPhone or BlackBerry

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:00:00 +1000

There's hope on the horizon for iPhone owners when it comes to Flash support, but when if you're a BlackBerry owner, you probably shouldn't hold your breath.

Blue Badge hack opens up hidden Windows 7 features

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:09:16 +1000

Features baked into the first public Windows 7 build but hidden from most users can now be unlocked using a simple download.

Grammar check optional for Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:39:18 +1000

Hey, it looks I'm trying to write a letter that's going to come out later in a lawsuit. Should I use some grammar in that?

Windows 7 Device Stage could cut crapware bloat

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:08:56 +1000

Microsoft is promising its new "Device Stage" will help you connect hardware without having to install vendor rubbish software.

How does Windows 7 improve performance?

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:17:38 +1000

"We believe we can get below 1% idle CPU utilisation with Windows 7." What technical tricks is Microsoft using to try and get the next release of Windows to those levels?

USB in Windows 7: More reliable but no 3.0 speed boost

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:37:33 +1000

Microsoft will combat driver installation woes in Windows with a much tougher approval regime -- and it's looking increasingly likely USB 3.0 won't be supported in Windows 7.

Can Windows 7 overcome Vista driver woes?

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:03:18 +1000

Microsoft has revealed some staggering figures showing how often driver installations fail in Vista. Ouch.

Microsoft: Windows 7 torrents are a fact of life

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:41:05 +1000

Microsoft has stopped just a millimetre short of giving royal consent for users to download pirated copies of Windows 7 that have hit the trackers.

Microsoft begs hardware makers: don't screw Windows 7 like Vista

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:09:40 +1000

Microsoft confirms Windows 7 public beta and begs hardware companies to take driver support seriously this time.

Top 5 reasons to fight government ISP filtering

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:11:08 +1000

Hey, Senator "cleanfeed" Conroy, listen up!

Symbian: developers, developers, but about that monkey dance...

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:09:08 +1000

Nokia wants developers to create apps for the aging Symbian mobile phone OS, but will Symbian execs do what it takes to really get developers excited -- a sweaty dance on stage?

Playboy kisses DVD goodbye

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:45:58 +1000

The news that Playboy is dumping DVD production for online offerings is being taken as a sign that physical media is dead, but the truth is more complicated (and a bit filthier).

Tax office to crack down on eBay cheats

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:02:23 +1000

Think you can get away with selling a bunch of stuff at eBay and then not declaring the income to the Australian Taxation Office? Think again.

Mozilla launches Geode: location-aware browsing

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:56:34 +1000

A new Firefox extension brings PCs knowledge that mobile phones and GPS systems have had for some time — where the user of that machine is located.

Cheaper car insurance for gamers

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:44:16 +1000

Have you got what it takes as a gamer? You could qualify for reduced car insurance premiums, according to one insurer. There is a catch though.

Skype caves in to user outrage over 4.0 design

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:45:51 +1000

Skype has been forced to revise its 4.0 beta release after outraged users bombarded it with criticisms of the screen-hogging and unintuitive design.

Windows 7 promises fixes for Vista taskbar screw-ups

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:27:45 +1000

Microsoft has promised that Windows 7 will fix two minor but highly annoying features of Vista: the near-invisible 'shut down' menu and the overcrowded taskbar.

Telstra's new prepaid wireless broadband - be careful with the top-ups

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:51:51 +1000

Telstra becomes the second Australian telco to offer prepaid wireless 3G broadband -- but like its rival Optus, offers a potentially nasty pricing twist in its plans.

iPhone users are download crazy

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:20:14 +1000

iPhone users consume six times as much data as the users of other mobile Internet devices, confirming that Apple's device has had a dramatic impact on the mobile content market.

Windows 7 won't break ties with Vista, goes public in November

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:27:33 +1000

Microsoft's plans for Windows 7 remain ambitious, with 100% backward compatibility for Vista applications one of the features it hopes to have ready for public display in November.

Qantas abandons in-flight internet

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:43:59 +1000

What's the logic behind Qantas abandoning plans to offer Internet access on its A380 services: concerns over porn, technical incompetence, or fear of more bad press?

Optus dumps wireless Fusion bundles due to 3G network congestion

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:25:40 +1000

As criticism of its 3G service mounts, Optus has quietly ditched the 3G wireless version of its Fusion broadband and telephony plans.

Congrats, Optus: you're the world's worst for 3G

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:01:36 +1000

A global survey has concluded that Optus offers the slowest network speeds of any carrier selling the iPhone worldwide and that Aussies get the slowest 3G speeds in general.

Office workers frustrated by network delays

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:00:55 +1000

Office networks are so slow that many of us are ready to throttle the IT manager, and there doesn't seem to be an immediate fix in sight, a survey has shown.

BitTorrent man gets 18 months prison

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:46:06 +1000

If you've recently downloaded the latest ep of Prison Break, you might potentially find yourself in the less pleasing role of prison bitch -- ask 26 year old Daniel Dove.

NVIDIA sued: chips and tempers run hot

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:00:17 +1000

NVIDIA is being sued in a class action for allegedly concealing knowledge of a defective manufacturing process which resulted in overheating and widespread chip failures.

Microsoft rolls out new "BluRay" mice, keyboards, particle colliders

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:43:09 +1000

Alright, the last one is a lie and technically the new mice are blue beam, not BluRay, but Microsoft Hardware's new devices are interesting nonetheless.

HP claims 24-hour battery life for notebook

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:11:06 +1000

HP has launched the Paris Hilton of notebooks — it grinds for 24 hours without stopping.

Optus slow to block stolen phones, say angry customers

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:59:12 +1000

Number two telco Optus appears to be dragging its feet on blocking stolen phones from its network, causing some users to question Optus's motives.

Microsoft's new Seinfeld ad: one word - WTF?

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:51:59 +1000

Microsoft provides proof that even $300 million and Jerry Seinfeld can't revive the fortunes of the sickened Vista OS.

Microsoft debuts Live Mesh for mobiles

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:43:53 +1000

Microsoft has demonstrated a version of its Live Mesh synchronisation platform for mobile devices, due out at the end of the year.

Google to release own browser: 10 reasons it's a bad idea

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:42:34 +1000

Google's plans to release its own browser have got everyone jabbering with excitement, but here's 10 reasons why it's a seriously bad idea.

15 second boot times in Windows 7: Microsoft

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:42:31 +1000

Microsoft wants to dramatically improve boot times in Windows 7 after admitting that Vista has failed to meet its goal of providing high-speed booting for the majority of PCs.

Microsoft releases IE8 beta 2: MS porn mode included

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:47:52 +1000

The second beta of Internet Explorer 8 looks a lot better than the first one — but frankly, a lot of that is due to features copied from Firefox 3.

Reserve Bank arms itself for PayPal showdown

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:31:44 +1000

The Reserve Bank says it is about to take on eBay to stop the auction giant from forcing sellers to offer PayPal. It has other concerns about eBay's conduct too.

How Phil Burgess exploited his mother to spruik Telstra

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:01:20 +1000

Telstra's American PR boss, Phil Burgess, is jetting back to the motherland, but not without sharing a secret about his mum.

Ripped-off consumers furious at PayPal

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:10:19 +1000

eBay's decision to only extend refunds to customers of a failed eBay seller as a "courtesy" demonstrates that the 'PayPal guarantee' is far from rock solid.

Sanity's new music store a DRM nightmare

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:00:28 +1000

Sanity's new online music store is all about restrictions, restrictions, restrictions.

Michael Dell: "I'd be glad to take on Steve Ballmer any time"

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:57:10 +1000

Dell is getting into the operating system business, and Michael Dell is unashamed about taking on one his biggest suppliers, Microsoft.

Telstra selling DRM-free MP3 tracks on BigPond Music

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:31:22 +1000

Bad news for Apple, great news for price competition in the marketplace: Telstra is now selling DRM-free MP3 music that can work on all music players including iPods.

Facebook Scrabulous sued by the makers of Scrabble

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:10:55 +1000

Scrabble trademark owner Hasbro has belatedly sued the developers of Facebook Scrabble clone Scrabulous, after making an inferior official Facebook Scrabble game.

Spam king fugitive kills wife and child in murder suicide

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:25:59 +1000

The jail escape of convicted spammer Edward "Eddie" Davidson has ended in tragedy, with Davidson, his wife and daughter all found dead in Colorado in an apparent murder-suicide.

Spam king escapes from prison

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:46:44 +1000

Police have yet to recapture convicted spam sender Edward “Eddie” Davidson, who absconded on the weekend after serving less than two months of a 21 month sentence.

ABC launches PC-based streaming TV

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:58:39 +1000

ABC's sexy new TV streaming service could suck up Aussie ISPs' download caps, but the national broadcaster is hoping ISPs will make it quota free.

ABC launches TV download store

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:17:28 +1000

The ABC’s new rental and download to buy service might be Windows-only for the moment, but Mac users may not have to wait too long before they can also buy programs too.

Flash won't overtake hard drives for a decade: Hitachi

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:43:17 +1000

Don't let that 16GB iPhone fool you — despite the profusion of flash-based devices Hitachi is predicting that there's at least another decade in hard drive technology.

Is affordable global roaming finally coming?

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:00:00 +1000

After years of being rorted for telephone and data charges every time we leave the country, Australians might finally be in line for some decent deals when they travel.

Little chance of getting eBay to remove PayPal requirement

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:26:40 +1000

The public might have had a win against eBay about banning all payment methods other than PayPal, but don't expect eBay to back down completely, tail between legs.

eBay: we're sorry for treating sellers like dirt

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:48:55 +1000

eBay has officially withdrawn plans to force customers to use PayPal, just as the ACCC was expected to announce eBay was breaking the law by doing so.

In-flight internet takes off in Qantas A380

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:07:04 +1000

Accessing the net 35,000 feet up is taking off around the world, with Australia's flying roo announcing its inflight internet plans for the Qantas Airbus A380.

CONFIRMED: iTunes movies for Australia just a month away

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +1000

Apple will roll out movie sales on the Australian version of the iTunes store within the next month, with ISP iiNet hoping unmetered downloads will provide a download bonanza.

eBay: pro-choice, but only when it suits

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:50:46 +1000

eBay is screaming blue murder over being banned from selling Louis Vuitton goods by a French court... meanwhile it is pushing on with banning all payment methods except PayPal.

eBay all but gives up on compulsory PayPal

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:38:40 +1000

eBay appears to have worked out what everyone else has been saying for months: plans to force people to use PayPal are the dumbest idea ever.

Did Kevin Rudd kill laptop salary sacrifice?

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:00:00 +1000

Confusion reigns: is the era of the half price laptop, purchased from pre-tax income, really over? We've got the definitive answer.

EzyDVD launches download movie rentals

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:00:00 +1000

New Aussie movie download service EzyDownload will initially only work on Windows and Xbox 360, but versions for Mac, Linux, set-top boxes and mobile phones are on the way.

Google developers packing on the lard

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +1000

IN PICS | Last year, we revealed that Google developers were a lot skinnier than the fatties that waddle round Microsoft conferences. But at this year, we were shocked...

ASUS backs down on anti-Linux pricing

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:41:06 +1000

Asus has quietly ditched its ludicrous policy of charging $50 more for the Linux-based Eee PC 901 than the XP one.

INTERVIEW: Google Android expert Dan Morrill spills all

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:14:04 +1000

Google Android expert Dan Morrill denies any plans to copy the Apple iPhone, deflates the biggest Android myths and explains why web apps won't always cut it on phones.

Google starts on browser development

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +1000

Google is working on solving a number of 'pain points' in browsers, including giving web apps the ability to send you an alert even when your browser is closed.

Denon creates $500 Ethernet-cable-for-suckers

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:06:24 +1000

$500 can buy you a decent desktop PC or ultra-portable notebook, but wouldn't you rather blow that wad of cash on an Ethernet cable?

Five desperate tactics eBay could use to change the ACCC's mind

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:12:19 +1000

eBay now just has 12 days to convince the ACCC it isn't an anti-competitive rorter. Our lawyers have put some tips together for their lawyers.

How eBay trashed its brand for the sake of profits

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:17:28 +1000

The ACCC's rejection of eBay's compulsory PayPal plans is good news for consumers, but eBay's naked grab for cash has done irrepairable damage to the entire online auction market.

Kevin 07 shifts to Facebook hate 08

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:16:57 +1000

Kevin Rudd may have been happy to promote himself on Facebook before the election, but now the PM has turned his back on the social networking service, banning his staff from it.

Set-top boxes to get VLC for all-format TV playback?

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +1000

Funding to port the popular VLC open source media player to set-top boxes could mean a lounge-room media player that actually supports all the media you want to play.

Trading Post cures eBay/PayPal pain with free auction site

Tue, 27 May 2008 12:01:55 +1000

Telstra's Trading Post business hopes to grab millions of pissed-off eBay users by offering a free listing auction classifieds site.

eBay distracts from PayBay scandal with discounts

Thu, 22 May 2008 19:45:14 +1000

As the ACCC readies to decide whether eBay's PayPal push is legal, the auction giant is resorting to a fairly obvious tactic to try to distract customers: discounted listing fees.

Microsoft admits some PCs won't be offered Vista SP1

Tue, 20 May 2008 21:59:31 +1000

Microsoft has admitted that some users may not get Vista SP1 offered to them through Windows Update. Why? Read on...

More rural broadband, less porn in budget

Wed, 14 May 2008 09:03:03 +1000

You'll be able to access the net faster under the new Rudd Government budget -- but steer clear of the rude stuff, or else...

Vista less secure than 2000: researchers

Mon, 12 May 2008 17:00:00 +1000

Machines running the beleaguered operating system are more likely to suffer from malware attacks than either Windows 2000 and Windows 2003, new research suggests.

Windows-based EeePC cheaper than Linux one

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:32:41 +1000

Is ASUS in bed with Microsoft? The new XP-based EeePC 900 will actually be cheaper than the Linux-based version.

eBay boss: "not offering PayPal is like buying heroin"

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:22:50 +1000

eBay's Australian management held a public meeting for sellers in Melbourne tonight to justify its plans to make PayPal compulsory. Things got nasty. Very nasty.

Dell to sell in Officeworks, but no Linux PCs, thank you

Thu, 01 May 2008 13:16:43 +1000

Dell is dipping into the retail market in Australia by selling machines through Officeworks, but the PC giant doesn't believe there's enough consumer demand to sell Linux PCs.

eBay: no idea how account was compromised

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:11:18 +1000

Despite eBay claiming forcing people onto PayPal will make things safer, here's a clear example of eBay fumbling and tripping over its own tail when my eBay account was hacked.

Sony shows PlayStation3 PVR

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:43:52 +1000

Sony is arming itself for battle against Tivo, Foxtel IQ and PVR makers with the impending release of an add-on to turn the PS3 into a top-grade PVR.

More mobiles than people in Australia

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:00:00 +1000

There are officially more phones than people in Australia, but what are we all doing with the spares -- and why are ADSL subscriber numbers actually falling?

Mac OS X still trails Vista by a long way

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:09:36 +1000

The Apple fanboy community is rejoicing at news that sales for Macs have grown 51% in the last quarter, but still nowhere near catching up to Microsoft's dismal failure, Vista.

Prepare for your laptop to be searched

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:10:31 +1000

If your notebook is filled with porn, P2P or even just too many iTunes downloads, you might want to think twice before taking it on your next holiday -- especially to the US.

Is SP3 really the end of the road for XP?

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:48:40 +1000

With the final major service pack for Windows XP being released, Microsoft is hoping people will start focusing on Vista, but Dell, Asus and others still see a large market for XP.

ACCC swoops on PayPal plot as eBay plots global rollout

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:15:17 +1000

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has begun investigating whether eBay's ban on all online payment methods except PayPal breaks Australian laws.

Block Facebook and watch your staff walk

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:30:00 +1000

A new study has confirmed some employees believe access to social networking sites is so important they'd leave their job rather than work for a company which blocked Facebook.

USER RAGE: eBay restricts payments to Paypal only

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:36:43 +1000

Enraged users are accusing eBay of anti-competitive profiteering after it announced PayPal would be the only payment option for online auctions from mid-June.

Google eyes iPhone, but Aussies don't want iGoogle

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:25:41 +1000

Google's search chief wants to offer voice search on the iPhone and a better way to keep up with friends than Facebook -- but first, she has to convince Australians to use iGoogle.

Finally, a real Outlook alternative?

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:03:58 +1000

Microsoft's release of protocol documentation for Exchange brings the possibility of a true alternative to Outlook for businesses using Linux and Macs one step closer.

Qantas to take on Google?

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:39:53 +1000

Qantas is examining a plan to launch CBD meeting rooms that could see it involved in a range of technology services, including online document storage and VOIP telephony.

YouTube and Facebook double Oz uni traffic

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:01:47 +1000

AARNet might have some of the biggest Intertubes in Australia, but even it is feeling the effects of YouTube and Facebook on its traffic figures, with usage more than doubling.

DEAD: Aust govt kills national WiMax plan

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:03:17 +1000

The Australian Government has pulled the plug on its $1billion national WiMax plan, citing inadequate coverage.

Australian open source industry worth $500 million

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:07:24 +1000

Open source in Australia has gone well and truly past the "one geek and a server" stage, an independent report has shown.

Roll up, roll up: broadband cockfight

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:33:06 +1000

The Telstra chairman, the ACCC chairman, Senator Conroy and an ISP CEO were put in a room together and let loose on each others' throats. We had front row seats. Peck on!

Spammers invade Google calendar

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:23:52 +1000

Ding! It's time for your 4pm with the Nigerian Minister for Foreign Affairs ... if you're a Google Calendar user, anyway.

Govt asks: what do YOU want from Australia's new broadband network

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:07:23 +1000

Want to give the government some advice to ensure that its next-generation broadband network isn't the disaster that our current one has been? Here's your chance.

Google Earth captures Sydney ferry crash?

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:37:31 +1000

If you believe Google Earth, Sydney Harbour is filled with sunken ferries and just-about-to-happen naval disasters. But is that really a submerged boat?

Has Vista lost all credibility?

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:20:18 +1000

Even internally, Microsoft couldn't agree on what the base requirements to run Vista were, but that didn't stop it from inaccurately promoting the OS as running on some hardware.

Great coincidences in Microsoft's history

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:13:34 +1000

What a remarkable coincidence: just days after Microsoft announced its whole strategy was going to be "interoperability, interoperability, interoperability", it gets smacked with a $1.4bn fine for ... interoperability breaches.

Why selling an iPhone to an Aussie might be illegal

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:07:14 +1000

A twist in Australian competition law means that Apple's iPhone might be illegal in its current form. Bundling a phone with a network contract is established practice, so what is it that Apple's doing wrong?

IE8 Beta 1: the screenshot tour

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:23:53 +1000

Does IE8 deliver the wow that was never "now" with Vista? We've captured the interesting moments of beta 1 in a set of screenshots.

Microsoft's interoperability illusion

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:16:50 +1000

Microsoft is promising a new world of interoperability with its software, with support for industry standards and open file formats. Have these two men turned a new leaf?

Five unexpected effects of a Blu-ray victory

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:31:39 +1000

For consumers, the great HD format war is over, but there's five consequences of a Blu-ray victory that you might not have considered.

P2P pirates: three strikes and you're out

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:17:22 +1000

The Australian Government is contemplating introducing '3 strikes and you're out' laws for online copyright offenders, mimicking a proposed similar policy in the UK.

Google behind Photoshop's new Linux compatibility

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 07:16:12 +1000

Cold, hard cash from Google's war coffers have funded the creation of software that allows Photoshop to run on Linux. Is it a move to undermine Microsoft's Windows cash cow?

Sun sets sights on social networking sites

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:07:33 +1000

Most companies don't need anywhere near the level of computing performance they have now, Sun Microsystems CEO Jonathan Schwartz has admitted. The new target market? Facebook.

Next: the pay-per-candidate IT job site

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:48:13 +1000

Taking a trick from the pay-per-click advertising model popularised by Google, a new Australian tech recruitment site plans to charge advertisers based on the number of resumes received.

Dreamliner: PC power still an open question

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:54:44 +1000

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has some fascinating new uses for technology, but the simple ability of cattle-class travellers to get laptop power isn't yet a done deal.

When porn, patents and copyright collide

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:46:26 +1000

Just because the notion of making ISPs responsible for blocking users who swap copyrighted content seems stupid and impractical, that doesn't mean it's unlikely to happen, a leading legal academic has warned.

Tridge confesses: I'm a Sony Reader fan

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:06:04 +1000

Linux.conf.au wouldn't be complete without Andrew 'Tridge' Tridgell giving a presentation on the latest developments in Samba, but attendees who turned up early for his talk this year got an unexpected insight into another one of his passions: the Sony Reader.

Oz Dell kiosks safe despite US closures

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:49:08 +1000

Dell says it will slash costs by shutting down 140 retail kiosks, but insists the move will not affect Australian consumers.

The future of Linux: what it means for Wikipedia

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:47:28 +1000

With 2,000 lines of code being added every single day, any lingering suggestion that Linux might suffer from a lack of support is clearly insane. But what lessons can the open-source OS teach its somewhat younger encyclopaedic cousin, Wikipedia?

Big picture, big problems: Foxtel previews its HD service

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 03:13:42 +1000

It won't be generally available until halfway through the year and the all-important detail of pricing is still under wraps, but there's already enough information on Foxtel's high-definition service to make us think we won't be racing out the door to get one.

Bad luck, Sol: government overrules CDMA switch-off

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 08:07:19 +1000

The planned January 28 closure of the regional CDMA mobile network has been deferred until April 28, offering signal-starved rural phone users a temporary reprieve and delivering Telstra its first governmental bitch slap for 2008.

"No porn, no ads, please: we're Google"

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:03:40 +1000

Me, I like porn stars; dodgy 80s music; hurling random abuse at George Bush and celebrating operating system failure screens. But according to Google, building a theme for my iGoogle homepage around any of them isn't actually possible.

3 doubles mobile broadband data allowances again

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:00:21 +1000

3 has doubled the capacity on its mobile broadband plans, meaning that $29.95 a month now buys you more Internet access than most entry-level ADSL offerings. Is the end now nigh for fixed broadband plans? Sadly, not quite.

Social networking sites perform like sludge... or do they?

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:49:48 +1000

It's not just everyone playing Scrabulous that's making Facebook so slow -- a new study suggests that social networking sites rank pretty poorly when it comes to overall performance. But can its results be trusted?

YouTube-style torrent site a major hit

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:25:29 +1000

A new BitTorrent aggregator has glossy web 2.0 touches and more than a passing reference to YouTube.

5 reasons why Google-enabling your GPS is wrong

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:24:40 +1000

Magellan's new Maestro GPS systems include built-in Google searching -- which sounds great, until you switch your brain on for a few seconds. Here's five reasons to steer clear.

XP SP3 beta available to all, but is it a secret strategy to boost Vista?

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:33:22 +1000

All Microsoft wants for Christmas is your download limit. The long-awaited first service pack for Vista -- a whole freakin' gigabyte of it -- is due to arrive early next year, but patch junkies can give themselves an early injection of bug-fixing with a general pre-release of Service Pack 3 for Windows XP.

Aussie business gets hooked on mobile email

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 02:01:33 +1000

Despite the paucity of unlimited data plans for mobiles and 3G coverage that's either patchy or charges like a wounded bull, Australian small businesses are poised to become completely addicted to mobile email, new research suggests.

Telstra's secret Next G documents ordered confidential

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:09:54 +1000

Telstra misled the public over Next G coverage, the Federal Court has ruled. Now, the telco giant doesn't want the public to see evidence that was presented in court.

The new hot trend in social networking: toothpaste

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 06:17:07 +1000

Possibly the lamest attempt by a marketing company to get in on social networking yet. Get 20 friends with each tube of toothpaste.

Optus profit points toward demand for "naked" DSL

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:02:10 +1000

If anyone ever doubted that the average consumer would warm to the prospect of naked DSL, then Optus' latest numbers provide a powerful counter-argument.

"Literally naked" DSL services loom

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:55:43 +1000

The availability of naked DSL services will might well unleash a wave of anti-Telstra sentiment, as customers realise they can be freed of line rental forever.

Apple's price cuts take iTunes store offline

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 02:41:26 +1000

Apple has confirmed plans to reduce the price on DRM-free music, but that's resulted in the entire iTunes Plus store going temporarily offline while the prices are being altered.

ABC offers election news app for mobile phones

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:30:16 +1000

ABC's new free Java app for mobiles adds an interesting twist to the hooplah of the upcoming federal election.

Telstra pushes Next G as bigger and faster, but stays mum on cheaper

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:25:17 +1000

Telstra says the coverage of its Next G network is now equivalent to CDMA, but the telco dominator isn't talking signal strength or price cuts just yet.

Domains to go non-English: will it cause internet havoc?

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 01:38:58 +1000

The biggest change ever to the way the internet works will be switched on for testing on October 15th. The question is: will the world patchwork of internet routers be able to handle it?

Can IE's architect explain why it's so bloated?

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:59:08 +1000

Microsoft's platform architect for Internet Explorer, Chris Wilson, admits Microsoft has done both good and bad things in IE over the last 14 years.

Whirlpool's off the hook, but the big issue remains unsolved -- are you next?

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 01:53:28 +1000

ANALYSIS |2Clix's withdrawal from a legal case against the founder broadband discussion forum Whirlpool might be welcome news, but leaves the legal status of Internet publishers just as murky as ever.

Moore's laws for a doubly successful life

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 23:34:15 +1000

IDF San Francisco |Everyone knows Moore's Law for a successful processor. But what principles can Intel's co-founder Gordon Moore offer for managing your own life?

Will the Whirlpool case wash?

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:49:26 +1000

Prominent lawyers say lawsuits of the type taken by Queensland software company 2Clix's lawsuit against Whirlpool founder Simon Wright are a long shot at best.

Telstra announces internet for trains... in Europe

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:34:15 +1000

Under fire for Next G coverage issues in Australia, Telstra has just announced a $3.6 million project to provide network services to London-Paris train operator Eurostar.

Microsoft: the authentic smell of failure

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 05:45:06 +1000

What is the Microsoft WindowsGenuine Advantage, exactly? Over the past weekend, some owners of legitimate copies of Windows had their copies of Windows invalidated by Microsoft, while users of pirated copies were unaffected.

The gospel according to Niklas Zennström

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 02:29:54 +1000

The man behind Skype, Joost and KaZaA explains what he still thinks is wrong with the P2P communications, how there's no such thing as a typical Skype user, why the company won't open up its source code, and the real reason that eBay buying Skype proved to be a good idea.

1 million Joost users prepare for year-end launch

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 06:40:13 +1000

Joost, the peer-to-peer TV sharing application from the inventors of Skype and Kazaa, has signed up more than a million beta testers and is on track for an end-of-year launch, its co-creator has revealed.

Vista: 150 problems, 0 solutions

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 10:31:47 +1000

Your problem is important to us, please continue to hold...

What's behind the rise of Facebook?

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 02:06:14 +1000

Facebook is commonly presented as MySpace for people with brains, but that alone can't explain the sudden surge in the popularity of the social networking site. Is it the API? Is it the network effect? Or is it (shudder) Paris Hilton?

Could Dell's anti-bloatware campaign spark PC industry change?

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:59:29 +1000

Dell has reacted to customer anger over pre-loaded bloatware on new PCs. The PC giant is promising customers the ability to opt-out.

Govt releases broadband coverage map

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 07:21:04 +1000

See those white bits...? That's where there's no ADSL2+ coverage.

Don't invade our privacy: Google dodges questions at Paris Press Day

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 05:48:49 +1000

Google has spent an inordinate amount of time in its Paris press day reinforcing to journalists how it is opening up to the media. As long as journos don't ask inconvenient questions.

Google skinsters vs Microsoft fatties

Thu, 31 May 2007 07:25:27 +1000

One thing was striking about today's Google Developer Day in Sydney: the attendees were fit and trim, compared to the fatties that normally waddle round Microsoft conferences.

Google announces Gears: web apps that can run without a net connection

Thu, 31 May 2007 01:11:40 +1000

Google has announced a browser extension called Gears that will allow AJAX applications to run without an internet connection. Sydneysiders got the news first -- thanks to Australia's early timezone compared to the rest of the world.

Google Maps takes 3D photos down to street level

Wed, 30 May 2007 06:50:37 +1000

Google is offering 3D views of street level in a number of major cities, making 'virtual tourism' more real than it has ever been before. Surely, it can surely only be a matter of time before Google has tracking cameras attached to every object in the world!

DSLAM flaw cuts off iiNet ADSL

Mon, 28 May 2007 06:51:07 +1000

First it was Optus; now iiNet, which boasts more than 200,000 customers, is suffering from a software bug on its DSLAM equipment, making it difficult for some of its ADSL2+ users to get a connection.

Google targets ISPs: is there a dark side?

Sat, 19 May 2007 21:34:20 +1000

Google's plan to offer co-branded Gmail to ISPs might sound like a good idea, but is there a ... dark hand ... at work here? Could Google be the ... next Microsoft? (Yes, we're hamming it up a bit.)

Microsoft can't afford to support OEM Vista?

Mon, 14 May 2007 14:15:10 +1000

Microsoft might have $US7.6 billion in spare cash in the bank, but when it comes to supporting users who purchase Vista on a new machine, the software giant is all too ready to cry poor.

Alleged Aussie software pirates raided

Thu, 10 May 2007 04:24:01 +1000

Old-fashioned software piracy -- the kind that uses actual media rather than P2P networks -- is alive and well down under, it seems. Two brothers in Ballina on the NSW North Coast have been raided by police, who have seized 5,000 CDs.

Bland budget for broadband battlers

Tue, 08 May 2007 11:16:48 +1000

Anyone looking for a broadband war between political parties following Tuesday's Federal Budget is set to be bitterly disappointed -- the most exciting technology development is pre-filled tax forms if you submit electronically. Yes, really.

Is Apple losing its brand halo?

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:42:57 +1000

Sure, Apple may have sold 100 million iPods globally, but new research suggests that it's struggling to maintain enthusiasm for its music players, let alone convert that into PC sales success.

5 reasons not to trust Microsoft near Firefox

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 06:42:18 +1000

Microsoft's recent release of a Firefox-friendly Windows Media plug-in might seem to signal a softening in its attitude to rival browsers, but don't be fooled. Here's five reasons to think it's not much more than a token effort.

Microsoft in search of hyperactive beta testers for "Fiji"

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 06:15:59 +1000

Microsoft has begun accepting applications for beta testers for Fiji, the next version of Windows Media Center -- but get ready to answer sixty somewhat bizarre questions in the process.

Windows XP to be phased out by year's end despite customer demand

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:08:16 +1000

Computer makers have been told they'll no longer be able to get Windows XP OEM by the end of this year, despite consumer resistance to Vista and its compatibility problems.

Aussies: What's this DRM thing anyway?

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 05:11:53 +1000

A new survey of 3,000 Australian consumers has shown that not only is DRM inconvenient, the vast majority of us don't actually have a clue what it is.

Apple and EMI: All you don't need is DRM

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:58:03 +1000

Forget a minor deal involving some band called the Beatles: EMI has apparently agreed to drop copy protection from most of the songs it sells on Apple's iTunes store. Are consumers ready for the ultimate honesty test?

Yahoo! launches unlimited web mail capacity

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 03:21:13 +1000

Yahoo!'s plans to offer unlimited email storage for users of its web mail storage set the stage for a new level of rivalry between itself, Google and MSN. But will Australian users really be able to take advantage of it?

Dell to expand Linux PC range following overwhelming feedback

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 07:19:48 +1000

Dell is planning to expand its range of PCs with Linux pre-installed, in a move that's likely to set the open source community ablaze with excitement whilst potentially putting Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer into an apoplectic rage.

So you want cheap hi-def movies, eh

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 10:54:29 +1000

The Australian market's about to get flooded with hi-def DVD players. But where can you get the cheapest movies to play on them?

Seven things worth noticing from 3GSM

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:41:02 +1000

GPS. Mobile TV. The odd iPhone clone (if you can clone something that doesn't exist yet). Here's the high-speed rundown on the most interesting new products to emerge at the 3GSM gabfest in Barcelona.

Affordable Vista Premium notebooks

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 04:14:04 +1000

The easiest way to get Vista working on a notebook is to buy it pre-installed, but that doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune. We've tracked down some options for discount notebooks.

What went wrong at the launch of Vista

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:18:54 +1000

The projector didn't work, Rogue Traders appeared by accident, and apparently all the best bits of Vista are actually Windows Ultimate Extras. Oh, and Microsoft is partnering with Sanity for the world's most overpriced subscription music service.

How to get a cheap copy of Windows Vista

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 03:13:57 +1000

Microsoft's official upgrade price for Vista Home Premium is $299, but there are plenty of ways to shave that cost down (even if you're not a student). We've done the price hunting for you.

True HD LCD TVs drop below $2500

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 07:37:16 +1000

Yes, you can have a 1080p screen for $2,500 -- but just how big will it be? We've tracked down the best pricing on true HD LCD TVs for aspiring high-resolution addicts.

No future in porn downloads: adult industry

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 11:30:20 +1000

If it's true that the adult industry provides the best indication of future trends in Internet usage, then all those companies trying to develop movie download services might as well give up and go home now. Who needs iPod porn when there's pay-per-minute streaming?

Former Apple exec creates iPod vibrator

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 01:36:34 +1000

There's an unexpected connection between Apple's slick design and the vibrator manufacturing industry... and it's not just iPod compatibility.

Like Tivo for iPod: Broadclip pounces on your favourite internet music

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 15:05:39 +1000

Broadclips's scheduling tool to automatically record radio broadcasts and download them to your iPod. Truly cool idea or a potential legal minefield? Do you even care?

Now you can put YouTube on your tube

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 21:18:09 +1000

At CES 2006, everyone was trying to frantically integrate with Skype. In 2007, there's a different dream partner: YouTube.

Gates announces Windows Home Server

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 06:32:14 +1000

Microsoft's new Windows Home Server platform may be designed for hardware manufacturers, but the software giant is considering letting geeks install and customise the basic operating system. Microsoft is struggling with one aspect though: connecting to Macs.

Bluetooth beckons iPod car enthusiasts

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 00:48:07 +1000

No matter what Apple's official plans for the next iPod may be, a number of manufacturers are showing intriguing new devices at CES that add features like Bluetooth networking, with a special emphasis on in-car use.

Diamond-encrusted LCD display takes the floor at CES: 2.25 megadiamonds

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 22:54:18 +1000

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, so will Philips' new 2,250 diamond-encrusted display make the spousal purchasing decision easier?Plus:top three indignities that flat panel technologies have been subjected to in Las Vegas.

Zune ecosystem an ecological disaster

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 18:24:31 +1000

While there are plenty of vendors trying to suck some dollars out of iPod consumers with accessories and add-ons galore, evidence of a similar ecosystem for Microsoft's Zune is somewhat thin on the ground. Which companies are brave enough to even try?

Live from Las Vegas: can CES deliver?

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 07:30:10 +1000

It may still be the biggest gadget-fest in the world, but some dangerous planning assumptions and a cheeky challenge from Apple are challenging its relevance to technology enthusiasts as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. Here's a pre-show roundup of rumours and cock-ups.

Deal hunter: Dragging a discount out of Dell

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:06:13 +1000

Just because Dell loves to boast that its build-to-order process means it sells the lowest-priced gear doesn't mean we wouldn't like to get it a little bit cheaper. Here's how.

Deal hunter: USB memory keys officially cheaper than chips

Sat, 09 Dec 2006 12:00:52 +1000

With prices on USB keys falling below $25 a gigabyte, plugging one in to work with Vista's ReadyBoost cache might well be the cheapest way to boost system performance.

Deal hunter: cheap RAM upgrades for Vista

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 09:25:42 +1000

If you're contemplating shifting to Vista, you'll really need to chock up your RAM as much as possible. Here's how to do it for as little as $129 a gigabyte.

Data on the go still far from cheap

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:59:50 +1000

3's newly announced discounted broadband plans offer new prospects for those of us keen to use mobile data all the time, but despite the ever-increasing range of choices you're still quite probably going to end up paying a flipping fortune.

OpenMoko: open source mobile phone

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 05:18:54 +1000

Linux and mobile phones have been uneasy bedfellows in the past, yet Taiwan's First International Computer believes that its forthcoming OpenMoko platform can put open source software into pockets and handbags worldwide.

How to beat the scam of security software

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 07:27:00 +1000

Buying security software is a necessary evil, but it needn't cost you a fortune. Here's how to get the best deals on internet security packages.

From KDE to karaoke: five things to do with a sub-$100 PC

Sat, 30 Sep 2006 02:10:36 +1000

Taiwan's E-Way Technology is the latest vendor to promise a PC for less than $100. Assuming that price isn't just wishful thinking, what are the possible applications for such a cheap machine?

Vista scoots to new boot, but it's still kinda rooted

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 00:27:12 +1000

Microsoft has grudgingly given some ground to critics of its 'nuke-first-ask-questions-later' approach to master boot records in Vista, but will it be enough to satisfy users who want to run more than one OS?

Sony on a plane: we got motherfuc*ing ads!

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:00:13 +1000

Action/horror/rubbish movie Snakes on a Plane infamously built a pre-release hype frenzy online, but the film turns out to be awash with technology product placement. Oh no! It's ads in a movie!