A week after the iPhone was released by Apple, we now have the massive business summit in Los Angelas for the video games industry E3.

This week video games weren't the only thing to make news in the technology industry.

Laptops taking up more room

Your information is safe with Google

Brisbane needs to phone a friend

Apple releases the lawyers, again

iPhone for all

Queensland wants Google updated  

Aussie content gets rated  

Norton goes on a diet

3 iPhone

iPhone iQue still

E3 Coverage

XBox 360 new flavour  

The new look you  

Wii do what Wii wanted  

Wii want to play  

Sony not down yet  

Microsoft drops the biggest announcement  

Monday 14th July 2008 - 18th July 2008

Laptops taking up more room

Seagate, one of the most well known makers of computer hard disks, has announced they will start manufacturing and selling a 500 gigabyte hard drive for laptops later this year and a 1.5 terabyte hard drive for desktop computers next month.

The massive jump in storage space on the disks is due to Seagate using the Perpendicular Magnetic Recording as opposed to the normal horizontal recording method.

Source ZDNet

Comment

When I first heard about Perpendicular Magnetic Recording I was amazed at the amount of storage the hard drive manufactures were going to be able to fit on a normal sized hard drive, interested in how the new technology will work, and more importantly worried about the massive amount of data that can be lost should these massive storage's stop working.

While PMR is a confusing technology, it stores the data standing up instead of laying down on the disk, the fact that there is so much data stored in such a small area will lead to more data loss due to small bumps on desks, or shakes of a laptop.

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Your information is safe with Google

A few weeks ago Google was ordered to hand over all the information on what and who watches videos on it's YouTube service. This court order worried users of YouTube because it meant Viacom was going to be given information on who saw videos on the website, their username and their IP address, where they are located.

This week Viacom and Google lawyers have agreed that the personal and identifiable information on who watched the videos will be left out of the records that Viacom will be given.

The new agreement will see Google give Viacom details on the videos, and how many people watched the videos only.

Source Reuters

Comment

Having personal information blocked is an important step to easing the concern Youtube users had with this current, long running, lawsuit.

While it is still a case of Viacom wanting to sue Google for as much as they can, it is well recignised that thanks to their shows turning up on YouTube they gain popularity faster than they would have with out the free promotion.

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Brisbane needs to phone a friend

On Tuesday a contractor on the Gold Coast cut a main communication line owned by Optus, cutting off communication in the Brisbane airport, banks, hospitals and thousands of Optus customers.

While Optus said services were returned to normal by lunch time, the costs due to lost businesses could lead to lawsuits against the second largest telecommunications company in the country.

Some mobile phone customers in Northern New South Wales were also affected.

Source The Australian

Comment

In what was an obvious case of not using the free service, Dial before you Dig , a contractor started digging where Optus had laid some of their cable, taking a very large population of Brisbane off the telephone network.

While some hospitals were with out phones, 000 calls were still working properly.

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Apple releases the lawyers, again

For nearly 3 months Psystar, a computer sales company in America, has been selling computers that come with a copy of the Apple operating system OS 10.5 for less than the cheapest Apple made computer costs.

This week it was reported Apple has finally decided to close down the company before it eats away too much of their profit.

For the last 11 years only Apple has built and sold any computer capable of running the Apple operating system and they use that fact as a major draw card for their systems.

Currently not much information on the lawsuit has been released, but currently Psystar is still selling their Apple clones.

Source Ars Technica

Comment

While it is possible to buy the computers,and they do allow you to easily upgrade parts, you should be careful when buying the computers due to the inability to reinstall OS 10 on the computer if there is a problem, and the ability of Apple to release an update that will make the computer useless. 

Always buy from a direct source, and do you research into the products you buy and the businesses you buy them from.

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iPhone for all

With the release of the new iPhone 3 G from Apple people are scrambling to change their mobile phone providers to get the best deal, and to get their hands on the new phone.

Now you want have to change providers, or hunt down the best deals. Thanks to a Brazilian company you can now buy an Apple iPhone from any provider and unlock it.

While the hack is not perfect, requiring an add on to the SIM card and a modified programme installed on the phone, it will allow you to use the iPhone on any network.

Source ZDNet

Comment

It should be noted the unlocking of the iPhone will cost around $300 - $400 dollars and can be rendered useless by a simple software update from Apple, it does prove a proof of concept, but still does not match the price you can get an unlocked iPhone, legally, through Optus.

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Queensland wants Google updated

With the fast development of infrastructure in the sunshine state, the Queensland Deputy Premier has asked Google to update their Google Maps images of the state.

"Google is often associated with cutting edge internet services but when it comes to growth in Queensland, they're behind the times." Mr Lucas said.

Source ZDNet

Comment

Google Maps is a service that allows people to search for a location, business or address and see it from a satellite of plane photograph or a map, as well as get directions to the location from where ever you are planning to start your journey.

While Sydney had new photos taken last year, allowing users of Google maps to zoom in to nearly ground level, other cities don't have as up to date photos.

Due to the requirements of taking photos, some images on Google Maps are a few years old.

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Aussie content gets rated

Due to the live streaming of the Big Brother house in 2006, and the adult activities that took place, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) have set new guidelines for online content in Australia.

Under the new guidelines, any content that is to be streamed live on the internet must not be have the possibility of being rated any higher than M 15+ if it is not news related.

Any content that is not live streamed and is not news related must be rated by either ACMA, or a trained assessor.

The code also has provisions for children under 13 in chat rooms.

Source ZDNet

Comment

While I have in the past produced both live streaming and no streaming content, the content has always been given a rating that I have believed matched the requirements under the ACMA broadcasting rating system.

While I have no problem in doing it in the future, should I be required to submit all my content to ACMA to be rated, or be limited to only M15+ content it will greatly reduce my possible content I could produce.

While I'm all for keeping kids safe online and not letting them see things that they shouldn't see at their age, I believe that adults can make decisions for themselves and should be given the right to do so.

It just further raises the question of entertainment ratings in Australia.

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Norton goes on a diet

Symantec, the makers of the Norton security software, this week announced plans to allow the public to test their new Norton Internet Security 2009 programme.

Symantec have said the new versions, due for release in the future will not only address the main concern for computer users and technicians, the huge systems requirements needed, but will add some added security with updates every 15 minutes.

Source ZDNet

Comment

While the beta test of the new versions of Norton Internet Security and Norton Anti Virus are open to everyone, due to the very nature of the unfinished programme, it is recommended that only skilled computer uses install and test the programme,and only after they have backed up their computer properly.

I will join the test and see how it matches up to AVG.

If you do want to join the test you can by goint to their site by clicking here.

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3 iPhone

Last week Hutchinson Telecom said they were unsure if their network could run the new Apple iPhone. Some users of the the 3 network in Australia decided to see if they could get it to work them selves.

They posted the details on how to get the iPhone to work on the 3 network on the website MacTalk.com.au showing the iPhone does work on all networks in Australia. 3 has yet to announce whether it officially works or not.

Source ZDNet

Comment

The announcement that a 3 user was able to get the iPhone to work on their network is no surprise. The iPhone does work on the same frequencies the 3 network so it should not have been a problem.

3 might not make any announcements due to the possible law suits it could raise, so don't be surprised if they stay quiet on this development.

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iPhone iQue still

A week after the launch of the iPhone and people are still lining up to buy the new mobile phone at the new Apple store in Sydney. While ZDNet reports there was a line of people on Friday afternoon waiting to get an iPhone on an Optus plan, NewsThatMatters.com.au can report that the line continues, each night until the store closes with some people being sent home empty handed and told to return the next day.

While the Vodafone and Telstra customers can walk in off the street and quickly get an iPhone, Optus customers are still having to line up and wait for the phone.

Source ZDNet

Comment

With Optus regarded as having the best iPhone plans and the ability to own the iPhone outright and take it to another network, it is no surprise people are lining up to get the iPhone from the countries second largest telco.

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E3 Business Summit Coverage

XBox 360 new flavour

Just prior to the start of the E3 Business Summit, XBox 260 maker, Microsoft, announced they were cutting the price of the 20GB version of the Xbox 360 in America and were discontinuing the construction of the console.

As soon as stocks of the current XBox 360 Pro run out, they will be replaced by the new 60GB version of the console, leaving 3 versions of the console on store shelves. Arcade: no hard drive, Pro: 60GB hard drive, Elite: 12oGB hard drive.

While the announcement was only for North America, later in the week Microsoft said they will be bringing the same console to Australia and Europe in August.

Source Gamespot

Comment

While Microsoft are good at keeping the consoles the same around the world, it's a shame the same can't be said about the price. While Microsoft did announce a price cut here in Australia last week, they still charge us more than the North Americans.

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The new look you

During the Microsoft press conference at this years E3 a few simple things were announced, including the release of 2 new colours for the controllers for the XBox 360, new features in XBox Live, their online service, that will allow better sharing of content between friends, that biggest announcement was for the new look XBox 360 dashboard.

The XBox 360 dashboard, the screen that has all your details and gives you access to all the features in the console will be updated later this year to make it work easier with the controller, and integrate closer with their new XBox Live features.

The new interface will also include a new avatar, similar to the Nintendo Wii's Miis, that you can take online and use in your games.

Source Gamespot

Comment

While not a major announcement the new look for the main XBox 360 interface should make it easier to use and blend better into a family room environment.

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Wii do what Wii wanted

At their E3 press conference, Nintendo announced they are going to release an add on that will plug into the Wii Remote to allow it to better show and respond to the users actions.

the WiiMotion Plus will plug into the back of the WiiMote and allow you to still plug the other addons into the controller.

While the new add on will allow the Wii to better respond to your actions it will use more power, and not allow batteries to charge through a charging station you might have bought for the controller.

Source Gamespot

Comment

I noticed on the first day I played a Wii, while it was good that my actions were being played out on screen, they were never exact. With the new WiiMotion Plus, that problem will be fixed and the control system will be what we were promised originally when the Wii was announced.

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Wii want to play

Video games and their consoles are all about playing. Nintendo this week announced some things we will be playing on the Wii console and DS hand held console in the next 12 months.

Nintendo has announced the popular series Grand Theft Auto will return to a Nintendo console with the Nintendo DS exclusive Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.

On the Wii Nintendo announced the sequel to Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, as well as new games to take advantage of the Wii Fit balance board, including the long awaited Wii Music.

Source Gamespot

Comment

While the GTA series has been on both the Nintendo GameBoy and GameBoy Advance, this is the first time it will be on the the DS.

Meanwhile with people around the world bored with Wii Fit, the new uses for the balance board will keep people happy that spent money on the device and don't use it that often.

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Sony not down yet

At the E3 Sony press conference it was announced that Sony is going to get rid of the current 40GB version of the Playstation 3 and replace it with an 80GB version.

While in America it will mean there will become only one version of the console, with no Playstation 2 compatibility, in Australia and Europe it will lead to a larger hard drive in the console.

No details of an Australian release date or price were announced, but they will be bringing the new version here sometime this year.

Mean while Sony has said they are hoping to bring movie rentals to the Playstation 3 in Australia sometime next year.

Source Gamespot

Comment

In what was the most lack luster press conference, from an Australian stand point, Sony only delivered a larger hard drive in our Playstation 3's, a platinum range of cheap games and an hour and a half of my life I want back.

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Microsoft drops the biggest announcement

All last week Bungie studios, the makers of the hugely successful Halo series, were promoting a new game announcement to take place this week.

However on Monday, American time, an announcement was made that the game will not be announced at this years E3.

By Friday it was revealed Microsoft had told Bungie they would not be allowed to announce their new game due to the lack luster announcements from Nintendo and Sony.

Source Gamespot

Comment

The announcement that Microsoft decided to hold off one of the biggest announcements because of the extremely poor offering this year from their competitors have lead many to question if the new look E3 can survive for too much long.

The Bungie announcement will be coming some time in the future.

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