A massive week this week in the world of computers and technology. Not only thanks to the revealing of the new version of the iPhone mobile phone, but also the final episode in the Microsoft Yahoo! buy out talks.

Say hello with an iPhone 

America tries to become China

New, faster internet from smaller providers

HP goes for the touch

Australians more gullible

iPhone not ready at launch

Wii should buy one

Canada opens a window, but locks a door

Microhoo! no more

  Monday 9th June 2008 - 13th June 2008

Say hello with an iPhone 

At Apple's World Wide Developers Conference this week, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the new version of the highly popular iPhone mobile phone.

The new version, which will see a release in 22 countries on the same day, including Australia, on the 11th of July, will have GPS built in, more programmes installed plus the ability to purchase new programmes and games, as well as the ability to use the faster 3G mobile phone networks around the world.

Except the US, no price details or contract terms have been revealed.

Source Apple

Comment

With both Vodafone and Optus in Australia already announced they will be selling and supporting the iPhone we already have some details on what to expect however there have been no prices set for the new phone in Australia there is no knowing what we will be paying. In the US there will be 2 versions, the first an 8 gigabyte version will be sold for $US199 and a 16 gigabyte for $US299 we should be paying close to those prices. 

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America tries to become China 

In what could be seen as censorship, or Internet Service Providers playing mummy and daddy to the greater population in the US, this week 3 providers, Verison, Sprint and Time Warner Cable announced they will start blocking websites and bulletin boards that host child pornography.

All three providers will be given a share of $US1.1 million from the New York government to help set up the filtering system.

The filtering will affect the entire United States. 

Source Reuters

Comment

While there are plans to bring a similar filtering system to Australia, it will not stop people who will do anything to gain access to this kind of content.

The only way to stop the spread of content that is illegal, is to shut down internet access for the entire country, however this would have a devastating affect on a countries economy.

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New, faster internet from smaller providers

After initially playing coy about their expansion plans for ADSL 2+ services, Telstra installed and activated over 900 exchanges earlier this year allowing even more people in the country to get access to super fast broadband.

This week, after being told they will not be forced to sell their services to competitors, Telstra announced they will be looking into the possible profits from selling heir services to competitors.

Source ZDNet

Comment 

The only reason Telstra would even consider selling access to their service would because of lower than expect profits from selling the services themselves. 

Most internet providers in Australia buy their access to the internet from Telstra, which they then sell to you. Buy Telstra opening up their services to their competitors, it will allow them to gain profit from other companies that sell the ADSL 2+ service to customers.

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HP goes for the touch

This week HP, the worlds largest computer maker, announced they will be launching a new computer in July that will work completely differently to all others.

Using a technology they have been working on for over 20 years, HP will be releasing the Touch Smart All In One computer in 17 in July.

The Touch Smart computer will use a touch screen interface that will allow people to see, enlarge, scroll, and interact with things on the screen, just by touching them.

With a low end Touch Smart computer costing $US1,299 HP is hoping to get the computer into more rooms of the house.

David Roman, head of marketing communications for HP's Personal Systems Group, said "No new product has been more significant as this new TouchSmart PC we just showed you,".

Source Reuters

Comment

With the iPhone and Microsoft's own Surface using the same sort of controls and interface it could lead to a revolution in computer use and interface controls.

While the price might be a little high, over time we might see this sort of technology becoming more main stream and as such coming down in price. 

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Australians more gullible

A study commissioned by security company AVG has found Australians are more likely to be fooled by online scammers then people in other countries.

The study that was released this week surveyed 1000 people in Australia, Brazil, The US, France, Spain, Sweden,  Germany and other countries found that the largest percentage of people affected by online scams was from Australia.

Spain and Sweden were found to be the most security conscious.

Source ZDNet

Comment

While the survey was online conducted using 1000 people from different countries, it shows a current lack of education on personal security online.

I Highly recommend being very careful when you are checking your email, and don't click any links in emails you are sent, unless you know the link is coming; be careful where you go online, and make sure you are only going to sites you know and trust; never put your details into a website you can't trust, make sure the sites that want your details are secure, by checking for the padlock on the screen with details on the site you are on.

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iPhone not ready at launch

A  telecommunication analyst company has found when the 3G iPhone is launched in Australia, in July, will not work properly in rural and some regional areas of the country.

Due to the lack of full support for some mobile phone technology in use in Australia the 3G iPhone will not give high speed data access until later in the year.

Due to the current use, by Optus and Vodafone, of the 900MHz frequency in less populated areas, when you leave the metro areas of the country your new iPhone will slow down to close to dial up speeds, until the mobile phone networks roll out the rest of their new 3G networks later this year.

Source ZDNet

Comment 

While the iPhone will support the current metro, and future Australian wide 3G networks, it does not support the current system the mobile phone networks are using to try and boost performance in less populated areas.

Optus and Vodafone have both said, by December this year they will have covered nearly all of Australia with a network the iPhone will use.

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Wii should buy one

Currently one of the most popular videos on Youtube, Why every guy should buy their girlfriend a Wii Fit ,  has been called an attempt at viral marketing by Nintendo. Nintendo how ever have said they did not apply, or approve any such ad.

The ad, which was uploaded by an advertising company, and stars members of business, has been viewed by people who have researched the people behind the videos.

Source Gamespot

Comment

While the video might have been made by an advertising company it doesn't mean it is commisened by Nintendo. It could merely be a demo of what they are capable of doing in an effort to get more business.

Either way it is not a bad video.

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Canada opens a window, but locks a door

This week saw new copyright laws introduced into the Canadian parliament.

The new copyright laws will allow people to legally allowed to copy music they have bought to their computer or MP3 player, but will make it illegal to break any form of copy protection on any music bought.

While it will be legal to record a TV propgramme to watch at a latter time, it will be illegal to keep and create a library of those programmes.

Source Reuters

Comment 

Canada was one of the few countries that have a very lax copyright law, allowing Canadians to do what ever they wanted, with in reason, with any music they purchased.

The new proposed laws, while not as extreme as those in the US are still blocking many of the rights people should have when they a product.

In Australia we have similar laws that are still evolving as technology advances.

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Microhoo! no more

After weeks of speculation and news stories, it is over. Microsoft will not be buying Yahoo!.

This week Microsoft walked away from their planned purchase of the search website after plans to break up and buy parts of the business were squashed.

After Microsoft announced they weren't interested in Yahoo! any more, the Yahoo! share price dropped by 16 percent, while Microsoft jumped 3 percent.

With out a doubt, the planned law suits against the board of directors of Yahoo! will continue after the large share price drop.

Source Reuters

Comment 

That is it. Unless a new Yahoo! board is elected later in the year and approaches Microsoft with a new lower offer, Yahoo! will continue to loose value and drop further in users opinion.

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