Tesltra to help 3

Cheating is the new way to learn

iPods are hot currently

Free digital boxes

Microsoft goes for the HA HA

Intel go unwired

Monday 18th August 2008 - 22nd August 2008

Tesltra to help 3

Telstra announced this week they will be allowing the fourth largest mobile phone company to use it's Next G network where they currently don't have a 3G network of their own.

Hutchinson Telecommunications 3 mobile phone company currently has a strong following in the metropolitan areas where they rolled out their 3g mobile phone network a while ago, but hasn't made a dent in the more regional areas.

The deal could see the 3 network grow in popularity as users will be able to use their phones with a high speed data connection in most of the country and with out paying higher prices then they normally would.

The deal takes affect in later next year.

Source The Australian

Comment

While the deal has been struck,it doesn't take affect until late next year. Currently 3 is rolling out their own 3G mobile phone network where they currently don't have one, but the deal could see them stopping where they are in an effort to reduce costs.

The deal is also a good thing for people in regional areas that currently don't have access to the 3 service. Any new competition is a good thing and will help reduce prices and give people more choices.

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Cheating is the new way to learn

A high school in Sydney will allow it's students in year 9 English to use technology, including iPods and mobile phones, during exams.

The students will be allowed to access the internet and listen to prerecored content to help answer exam questions, as long as they source where they got their answers from.

Dierdre Coleman an English teacher at Presbyterian Ladies' College in Croydon told FairFax "In their working lives they will never need to carry enormous amounts of information around in their heads. What they will need to do is access information from all their sources quickly and they will need to check the reliability of their information,".

If the trail is successful, the school plans on using the same system for all their subjects.

Source ZDNet

Comment

While it is true that quiet often in the real world we don't have to remember every small piece of information we will ever need, remembering a few pieces of information that will help us further our knowledge will help in letting us know how better to memorise what is important.

When calculators were first allowed in exams there was a major out cry over the possibility of cheating and of the students not learning how to perform mathematical equations properly, if you allow students to use the internet to get the answers to exam questions, you may as well put the answers on the black board and let the students copy it down verbatim, as long as they write "source blackboard"

In the world currently, young people are refusing to use common sense and their own mental capicity, why are we letting the next generation turn into a mindless mob of zombies, who can't think for them selves.

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iPods are hot currently

In Japan possible overheating of batteries has caused 3 fires to be started by iPod Nano MP3 players.

The Japanese government said 3 fires where started but nobody was injured. Apple Inc, the company behind the iPod said they believe the fires were caused by faulty batteries.

The fires possibly caused by batteries continue to circulate the internet after the major laptop battery recall from Sony a couple of years ago.

Source Reuters

Comment

Lithium Ion, the kind of rechargeable battery found in most consumer electronics, is a very volatile mixture and is prone to exploding if over heated.

Any damage that occurs to the battery cell, or the circuitry that controls the charging of the battery can lead to over heating, fires and explosion.

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Free digital boxes

Retailer Harvey Norman has said in an effort to appease confused customers, it has been giving away high definition set top boxes for people to use with their TV's.

Due to the massive variety of choice, people have become confused as to what they are going to buy. While you can buy a digital TV, it might not get the HD content Seven and Ten are currently producing, which includes some sport events.

Gary Brown, Business development manager of Harvey Normans visual products has said their stores have been giving their customers high definition set top boxes when they have tried to return the TV they bought due to not being able to see the HD content.

Gary Brown has called on all TV networks to continue to push the extra HD content to allow for a smoother transition in the future.

Source The Australian

Comment

In the next few years the government will be telling all the TV stations to turn off their old analog transmitters. While people are making the move to digital TV's and set top boxes, the TV stations have also started adding content to their HD channels which require either a HD set top box  or a TV able to receive a HD signal. Both options are more expensive, but give you access to extra channels and shows you can't get on the normal digital channels.

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Microsoft goes for the HA HA

In an effort to get Windows Vista into the hearts and minds of more people. Microsoft has decided to get Comedian Jerry Seinfeld to team up with Bill Gates for a series of ads.

The ads will attempt to let people know that Windows Vista will allow them to do more with their computer by "breaking down barriers that prevent people and ideas from connecting." the Wall Street Journal reports.

Seinfeld is being paid $US 10 million to take part in the ads.

Source ZDNet

Comment

With billions of dollars spent on marketing by Microsoft, the small amount they are planning on paying Seinfeld isn't has high as you would expect.

The one problem they will have to over come is the sense of me twoism this will create due to the highly successful Apple Vs PC ads from Apple.

Update

The first video has been posted on Youtube. You can watch it by clicking here

The second video is no on Youtube. You can watch it by clicking here

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Intel go unwired

In California this week, Intel demonstrated a new way or transmitting electricity that does away with cables.

Intel researcher Josh Smith was able to demonstrate the ability to wirelessly power a 60 watt light globe safely.

Josh Smith explained that by using the magnetic wavelength, as opposed to the electric wavelength, Intel is able to pass the power safely through people.

The intent is to install similar systems into areas where people require power for devices like phones and laptops to be charged, and eventually to get rid of the need for batteries.

Source The Australian

Comment

7 words, I'll believe it when I see it.

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