It's been relatively quiet over the last couple of weeks in the world of technology, this week however made up for it.

Telstra gets with the programme

Windows XP not for you

Sony gets ready for round 4

Australians over charged for tech

Windows XP breathes at your cost  

iPhone shows it's true cost

A sequel for the game that never came

Buy cheap, sell high

High def gaming for a low price

Firefox has the record  

Playstation 3 gets an update, then loses it  

Optus shows it's price  

Tivo has landed  

Your viewing habits are known

Ebay pays with all  

Monday 30th June 2008 - 4th July 2008

Telstra gets with the programme

After a couple of weeks of saying they would announce their plans to sell the new Apple iPhone, Telstra this week announced they would be selling the new mobile phone on the 11th of July.

Unlike the other mobile phone networks that had announced plans to sell the phone, Telstra has released details on the prices they will be charging for the new phone.

The iPhone prices will start on a $30 a month plan with an upfront cost of $279 for the 8 gigabyte model and $399 for the 16 gigabyte model. The 8GB iPhone will be free on an $80 plan and the 16GB version will be free on a $100 plan.

Source ZDNet

Comment

After months of rumors, speculation and pre-announcements all the major mobile phone networks in Australia will be selling and supporting the iPhone in July when it is released world wide.

One thing that will be different will be the extra features and programmes on the phones. With Telstra owning Sensis, the group behind The White pages, Yellow pages, Trading Post and Where Is you can almost guarantee there will be some major feature incorporation to add to their revenue.

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Windows XP not for you

Monday this week saw the final day for the retail sale of Windows XP.

As Microsoft tries to get the number of new computer buyers to get Windows Vista, they have told all retailers and computer manufacturers that as soon as the current stock of Windows XP disks runs out they will not be getting any new batches.

Microsoft has said Windows XP will continue to be sold exclusively in developing countries and on ultra cheap computers that can't handle Windows Vista. People who are desperate to get Windows XP on their new computer can buy a downgrade kit for Windows Vista which will let them install a copy of Windows XP.

Windows XP will continue to be supported, including updates until the release of Windows 7, sometime in 2010.

Source ZDNet

Comment

Windows XP has had many stays of exclusion over the last few months.

It was originally going to stop sales at the start of the year and moved that plan twice.

There are still computer parts stores in Sydney that will sell you a copy of Windows XP if you are going to get a new computer, however their socks are limited, and the copies of Windows XP I stock piled on Monday have manufacturing dates from March this year so it won't be long until there are no more Windows XP disks on the market.

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Sony gets ready for round 4

After only 2 years of the current generation of games consoles, Sony, maker of the Playstation line of consoles, is starting to show what they have planned for the next generation.

In patents filed in the US this week Sony has shown a new touch interface and a new motion based interface, both of which are similar to what Nintendo is using in the current generation of gaming machines.

The touch interface is the most interesting for gaming and other uses with Sony planning on their touch surface to actually provide tactile feedback to the user based on what they are touching.

Source Gamespot

Comment

With Sony so far this generation coming in last place, they are with out a doubt going to look for any chance they can to claw back to the leading spot in the future.

Taking successful ideas is nothing new, but with the planned improvements Sony is making to the technologies it could help them gain the lead.

Add to that the fact that the planned technologies can be used for all sorts of uses, including medical uses, and we could have major technological advances thanks once again to video games.

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Australians over charged for tech

Choice magazine conducted a survey to see what price discrepancies were online between Australia, the US and the UK.

While there were some prices of downloadable programmes that were the same price or close to it no matter where you were,  in some cases they found Australians were being slugged up to five times more than people in the other countries for the same product.

The ACCC said they have no power to make the software vendors sell the programmes at the same price in Australia as they charge other countries, it comes down to what people are willing to pay.

Source News.com.au

Comment

While this news might come as a shock to some people, it has been known for a long time by people in the technology feild that we are paying too much.

In Australia we usually get the technology after it has been made available over seas and at a higher price than other countries are having to pay. The main difference with this is it has moved to programmes you buy and download off the internet as well as those you buy from a shop.

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Windows XP breathes at your cost

Both Lenovo, Dell and Hewlett Packard have all said they will continue to sell computers with Windows XP, if the customer is willing to pay a little bit extra.

While all new computers they sell will come pre installed with Windows Vista, Lenovo, Dell and HP customers can request a Windows XP CD to allow them to down grade their copy of Windows, but it will come at a higher price, with Lenovo charging $82.50, Dell charging between $21 and $55 and HP charging an unknown amount.

Source The Australian

Comment

In what is no real surprise, the death of Windows XP is slow and protracted and Microsoft can slug yu twice for a computer to make sure they squeeze every cent they can.

Both Lenovo and HP have said they will be selling the downgrades until next year, July and January respectively, as a way to make sure people will continue to buy computers until Windows 7 is closer to launching.

Having to pay more for the worlds leading operating system is wrong however.

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iPhone shows it's true cost

With the release date of the 11th of July getting ever closer pricing of the new iPhone is being released. In Australia, Telstra have released their pricing system for the new mobile phone, now AT&T in the US have revealed what they will be charging people who don't want the get the iPhone and be on a contract.

While people will have to get some form of AT&T service the 8 GB iPhone will cost US$599 and the 16 GB iPhone will be US$699.

Source Reuters

Comment

The price is nothing surprising, it matches closely with what the current iPhone that is in the US is selling for. Seeing as AT&T in the US is the exclusive carrier, forcing people who buy the new phone to get some kind of service will at least reduce the number of people who will buy the phone and then get it to work on other mobile phone networks.

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A sequel for the game that never came

Last November the Rock Band rhythm game was released in the US, earlier this year the game was released in Europe. So far the game is slated for an October release date in Australia.

This week Harmonix Music, Electronic Arts and MTV games, the makers and publishers of the game have announced the sequel, rock Band 2 will be released in the US in September on the XBox 360.

While the game makers have said all the songs people have bought for the original game will be playable on the new version it has brought in to doubt the planned release of the original game in Australia.

Source Reuters

Comment

While not the first game to never be released in Australia while it's sequel might be released in it's stead, Rock Band is the first big name game to fall to this fate.

While it is some sad news, it could be a blessing as the game will ship with a drum set, microphone and guitar in a package worth around $200, the skipping of the original  will mean we will only get the new better versions of those instruments.

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Buy cheap, sell high

A service in the US is allowing people to buy petrol at todays price, and fill up at some time in the future.

MyGallons.com is a service, website and card, that allows people to pre buy petrol now to help reduce costs at the bowser.

Steven Verona of Miami started the service in January this year and due to the massive hike in petrol prices has seen membership grow. Steven said "The price of gasoline was changing all the time. It seemed unpredictable," and "There is that risk that the price could fall significantly," about the risks of the service.

Source Reuters

Comment

With a reported 95% of service stations in the US accepting the card it is becoming quiet successful. If this service was integrated into the planned Fuel Watch in Australia it could have a major benefit to drivers as a way of keeping fuel costs down.

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High def gaming for a low price

With the Nintendo Wii leading the current console race, and the Playstation 3 increasing market share thanks to its ability to play Blu Ray movies and big name games being released, Microsoft have stepped up the fight by reducing the price of their console, the XBox 360.

From this week the recommended price of the XBox 360 Arcade is  $349, a $50 discount and $50 cheaper then the Wii. the other 2 versions of the console both recieved an $80 discount.

Jeremy Hinton, XBox product manager for Australia and New Zealand told Gamespot "We'd had a pretty good track record of--wherever possible--passing along savings to the consumer. So with the recent currency fluctuations as well as some cost savings we've been able to make, we thought that the July period was a perfect time to pass those along to the consumer for people looking to lay by for Christmas" when asked about the reason for the price cut and "No, absolutely not. This is a strategy we've had for some time. Decisions are made not necessarily around what the competition are doing. And from our point of view, the last 12 months have been very successful--more dollars have gone through retail tills on Xbox 360 products than both of our competitors." when asked about the possible scare of their competitors.

Source Gamespot

Comment

With the new price of the 360 it does make it the cheapest console, however many of the faetures that make the console so popular are missing from the Arcade version, including the hard drive and the wireless controller. While those features can be added a later date, the lack of them out of the box means the price will go up.

Add to that the price of 360 games verses the price of Wii games and over all the Wii is still better value.

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Firefox has the record

On the 17th of June the Mozilla foundation released Firefox 3.0. On the same day they wanted to take the title as the most downloaded programme in a 24 hour period. This week Guinness awarded the organisation, and programme with that title.

Prior to their attempt there was no official record.

Firefox now holds the record for 8,002,530 downloads in a single 24 hour period.

Source ZDNet

Comment

The record is the first and was planned as a publicity stunt, but with the growing popularity of Firefox and the larger market share the browser has now it was always going to happen.

If you have yet to download the new version of Firefox, you can get from www.getfirefox.com

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Playstation 3 gets an update, then loses it

This week Sony released the latest software update for the Playstation 3, 2.40. but on the same day recalled the update after some users had problems with their consoles after installing the update.

The update allowed access to the Playstation system menu while in a game, custom soundtracks and other features. there is currently no details as to when it will return.

It followed an earlier problem this week when 2 of the Playstation websites were infected with a virus.

All problems have since been taken off the internet.

Source ZDNet

Comment

Due to the timing of the update I was unable to install it on my Playstation the test to see how it performs but at the time of publishing, the update has not be reposted online and details on what caused the problems are not being released.

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Optus shows it's price

Earlier this week Telstra announced their prcing and plans for the new Apple iPhone, Optus has followed suit.

Optus will be selling the iPhone at $729 for the 8GB version and $849 for the 16 GB version with a prepaid Optus SIM card. If people want to use the iPhone on another network in the first 6 months after they have bought it they will be charged $80 or after the have used $80 of credit.

Optus will also be offering the iPhone on 2 year contracts of $40 - $80 depending on use and choice of iPhone.

Source ZDNet

Comment

With 3 mobile phone networks fighting for customers and prices being announced, it will no doubt be a battle of who will be the best to get an iPhone from and then unlock it for use on other networks.

At this early stage, and as long as all carriers provide the same services on their iPhones any company that let's you unlock the iPhone as soon as you walk out of the store will be the best option, no matter the price.

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Tivo has landed

TiVo, the set top box that allows you to record your favourite programmes without having to think about it, or programme it each week, has arrived in Australia.

This week Channel Seven announced they have imported at least 20,000 to be sold at retail stores to allow people to record their favourite shows of the free to air channels with out having to programme in times or days.

Unlike normal recorders, TiVo uses the internet to find out when shows are airing and can record the show exactly as it airs, starting time and finishing time.

Mark Hughes, TiVo General Manager, said it will lead to a future where current commercials are skipped and banners are used instead and internet videos can be watched on your TV.

Source The Australian

Comment

TiVo is hugely popular in the US where it has been out for over 4 years. While there is a subscription fee and small downloads from the internet, the ability to set and forget when it comes to your TV shows is seen as a massive advantage.

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Your viewing habits are known

This week a US court has ordered Youtube to give details on every video watched on the website, the username and IP address of the people who have watched them to Viacom, owner of MTV and Comedy Central in the US.

This is the latest in the court case that Viacom took out on Youtube in October last year after some users posted clips from some shows Viacom had produced.

While the details, 4 Terabytes worth, do not contain personal information it sets a precedent and could lead to future court cases as well as privacy fears.

Source Wired Threat Level

Comment

While your personal details are safe, and the sheer size of the log files will be like looking for a needle in a hay stack, Viacom is hoping to prove Youtube only became popular thanks to the clips from it's shows.

If the log files, details on who watched what and when, do not show that as the case, or even that their shows were highly popular it could lead to a major disaster for Viacom and the judge involved.

Viacom is also seeking a copy of all the videos Youtube has deleted as well as details on all the videos people have uploaded privately to the website and who has watched those private videos.

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Ebay pays with all

After months of saying they were going to bring in the Pay Pal option for EBay users, the auction site has backed down just 2 weeks before the ACCC was going to hand down it's findings on whether the plan was anti competitive.

EBay announced this week things will not change, while the buyer protection has increased to $20,000 for people using Pay Pal, you will still have the option in the future to use other payment methods, as you have in the past.

Ebay will continue to force sellers to accept Pay Pal as one of their payment options.

Source ZDNet

Comment

While they might be forcing sellers to accept Pay Pal to accept payment for items on the site, allowing them to continue to use other methods is a smart idea.

With Ebay owning Pay Pal it was without a doubt anti competitive.

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