New research from Telstra shows that internet access along with food and heating are the three things Australians would least like to spend a day without.

“The average Australian household has entered a new age of online connectivity,” said Telstra Executive Director Consumer, Ms Rebekah O’Flaherty.

“Telstra’s research reveals more than half of all households now feature four or more types of internet enabled devices -from wireless laptops to smartphones.”

Telstra’s research also revealed:

• Half of Melbourne households have more than four types of internet enabled devices, followed by Sydney (44%), Perth (43%), Adelaide (42%) and Brisbane (42%).
• One in five (23%) Australian households regularly use more than four internet-enabled devices at the same time.
• Almost a quarter of Australian men (24%) would rather go without food, heating or their TV and mobile phone than give up their internet access; (Women 19%)
• Surprisingly, older Australians (65yrs+) report having the most home PCs (88% vs 72% among 18 -24 year olds). In comparison, younger Australians are more likely use a laptop in the home (88% vs 53% among people aged 65yrs+).

Source: Telstra

There are some brilliant web experiences to be had these days, but every now and then, something goes wrong and it is not always an error on someones behalf.

We ran into a couple of technology related issues with different clients this week which serve as a good reminder about the need to both be aware that different technologies can cause different website and internet experiences and the need to be vigilant and keep your website and other technology more up to date.

These issues related to newly released websites that a number of viewers had trouble viewing correctly. You would expect, and quite reasonably, that if you told your friends and colleagues to check out your new website that they would actually see it as it was designed.

Well that wasn’t the case. As it turned out some earlier browser versions of Internet Explorer have trouble with the latest versions of many web technologies. In this case a version of IE that was first released back in 2001, nearly 10 years ago.

Old Technology
The reason there are different versions of web browsers is because of technology changes. The big up-dates (eg from version 8 to 9 for example) are supported by interim changes (ie 8 to 8.1 to 8.1.1 to 8.2 etc) which are usually for bug fixes and smaller updates until the next major update release. These updates are to keep up with the ever changing demands on web experience and expectation as technologies change.

So, these constant updates are done for very good reasons and it becomes more and more important over time to keep your computer software up dated.

4 Technologies That Drive The Need To Update Websites And Computer Systems And Software

* Search Engines – these have become more and more sophisticated and over time many have disappeared as the web advanced in leaps and bounds. Do you remember names like Infoseek, Lycos, AltaVista, Excite, Netscape among others? Where are they today? Google dominates search today with only really 2 other contenders in Yahoo and Microsoft’s Bing.
* VOIP – Voice over Internet Protocol which is a technology for transmitting voice over the internet. Skype is probably the biggest player in this space and allows cheap and free calls to be made globally. With both text and video chat, computers must be powerful enough to deal with it and internet connections must have high volume capacity. I know many people who simply cant use the video chat because it interupts the voice call quality.
* Real Time Streaming – Consider the real time status updates available in Facebook and Twitter. New technologies that have and are changing the way we deal online. It has improved the way we communicate and spreads news…but this is only a couple of years old.
* AJAX – a new (’ish) technology that effectively allows a webpage to update information without re-loading the page. Too complicated to discuss in full here, but it is a technology that allows things like Google Maps, Google Docs and Meebo to deliver a more computer desk-top like user experience by updating text edits, or new images and messages without have to reload the page…I bet you hadn’t even considered that this feature on many websites wasn’t able to be done until recently. Now we just expect this powerful user experience to be there and that websites and computers should be able to deliver.

There are many more examples than this, but I think that is enough to get the message across. These technologies don’t necessarily impact on browsers directly, but over time, their ability to provide the expected user experience is affected and they must continually update and develop to keep pace.

New Website Development

When developing a new website, we work to ensure that the viewer experience is a positive one in as many browser versions as we think are reasonable and across a number of platforms…Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Mozilla’s Firefox, Mac’s Safari, Google’s Chrome (and don’t forget iphone), plus in the most likely recent versions of these programs.

But we do draw the line at going back in time too far (and 10 years is way too far!). The cost of trying to make a website work correctly on every possible version of a browser would make websites prohibitively expensive for the majority.

Other issues still arise, however, such as the same browser on a PC and a Mac will likely display things differently…it’s not a perfect world.

So, it becomes a percentages game.

The Viewers Computer
Two other issues that drive viewer experience are;

* Age and quality of the computer being used – speed of processor, available memory, number of other programs open etc.
* Speed and quality of internet connection – to those of us using the latest high speed ADSL or Cable internet connections, it would seem crazy to think that there are still dial up accounts operating today, but there are. With memory and download hungry media such as video being so common on websites today, most of us would understand that dial-up connections just won’t cut-it any more accept for the most basic of needs.

So, as a user, you need to understand that more and more activities are becoming web based and that this trend is rapidly growing. For example, my wife opened a new mobile/cell phone account the other day and the default choice of invoice or account delivery was email…to save trees and of course cost. The old standard of a paper version via snail mail was not mentioned and is considered the last resort. It wasn’t that long ago that snail mail was the only option. The result is that you need to regularly make sure that your computer systems are up to date so you can do what you need to do online. What’s more, it is becoming the norm to have an email address now.

What Are The Marketing Takeaways?
If you own a website, you need to think about who your core target audience is and what technologies and understanding they are likely to have so that you can make sure you give them as positive an experience as possible.

Unfortunately, unless you are an individual or organisation with budgets that extend to funding full time web development teams, you must expect that the user experience with your website will vary. As mentioned earlier, the key is to ensure you pitch a positive message to your niche…and don’t forget, people actually like to receive the odd message in more traditional ways…don’t forget to catchup for a coffee from time to time and actually talk!

Sourcs: X2 World

Eavesdropping Webcams, spying ISPs, toxic PCs, and more. Here are 21 dangers that the industry is hiding from you–and what you can do about them.

Dan Tynan – Mar 30, 2010 1:00 pm

Yes, the truth is out there. But they don’t want you to know about it.

Who’s “they”? It could be Google or product manufacturers, your boss or your wireless carrier, Hollywood or Uncle Sam.

What don’t they want you to know? That your cell phone, your Webcam, and your employer may be spying on you. That you’re probably paying too much for printer ink, and that your wicked-cool subsidized handset will cost you way more over time than an unsubsidized one. That your PC may be coated with toxic flame retardants. And that’s just for starters.

Don’t despair. For every dirty little secret revealed herein, we describe a fix or a way to work around it (if any exists). You don’t have to be a victim, if you know what to do.

Just remember: You’ve been warned.

Your ISP Is a Copyright Cop

The RIAA and the MPAA may have a new ally. The next people who bust you for illegally swapping music and movies could be the folks you pay for Internet access.

Illustration: Barry Blitt
The recording and film industries are seeking to manipulate upcoming net neutrality legislation to allow ISPs to scan the bits passing through their networks and to block any that may violate copyrights–similar to Comcast’s notorious attempts to throttle BitTorrent connections in 2007. The Federal Communications Commission’s recommended rule changes already contain an exception for “reasonable network management,” which could include sniffing for copyrighted content, says Jennifer Granick, civil liberties director for the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Meanwhile, according to leaked reports, the international Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) now being negotiated in private sessions contains provisions requiring ISPs to police their own networks for copyright scofflaws. Critics of the proposed treaty fear that copyright holders will insert a “three-strikes” policy, under which users could have their Internet access revoked if they’re caught exchanging copyrighted content more than twice.

“It’s dangerous giving so much power to copyright claims,” says Wendy Seltzer, project leader for the Chilling Effects Clearinghouse and a Fellow at Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society. “Imagine someone telling you, ‘If you violate our copyrights, we can terminate your Net connection, not just your blog.’”

With such a powerful new partner playing the role of both investigator and enforcer, might copyright holders be emboldened to pursue more consumers suspected of violating copyrights? And what protections will consumers have against false claims of infringement?

The Fix: Contact your congressional representatives and tell them that you oppose net neutrality loopholes for content filtering. Support organizations such as Chilling Effects, the EFF, and Public Knowledge, which fight laws that turn ISPs into Hollywood’s hired guns.

Cell Phones Don’t Crash Airplanes

The Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Aviation Administration have each recommended that airlines not allow passengers to use cell phones during commercial flights. The FAA fears that the RF signal emitted by devices using the 800MHz spectrum band might interfere with the navigation systems of the plane, specifically GPS instrumentation. Yet there is no documented case of an air accident or serious malfunction caused by a cell phone’s interfering with a plane’s navigation system.

Read More on PC World

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By Renai LeMay, Delimiter.com.au on April 7th, 2010

Microsoft appears to have accidentally deleted six years of blog archives hosted on its free Windows Live Spaces platform belonging to Australian mobile technology evangelist Shane Williamson.

“About 3 weeks ago my Windows Live Spaces blog was deleted by Microsoft for no reason,” Williamson wrote on his site over the weekend. “That is over six years of blogging on mobile, technology and convergence gone … Microsoft claims they cannot reclaim any part of the data lost, or will they give a reason why it was lost.”

“This should be a major concern to anyone who is, or thinking of, using Windows Live SPaces as a serious blog or any other type of cloud computing services from Microsoft.” Delimiter couldn’t reach Williamson for a comment today.

When contacted about the issue today, Microsoft Australia’s public relations agency punted the question to ninemsn, which operates the Windows Live brands in Australia courtesy of its joint venture relationship with the software giant.

A spokesperson for the company said it was investigating the issue back in Microsoft headquarters in the US — as that was where the Windows Live Spaces blogs were administered from, although it hoped to provide further information on Williamson’s case in due course.

Previously known as MSN Spaces, Windows Live Spaces was initially released in 2004, and is broadly seen as competitor to other free hosted blogging platforms such as Wordpress.com and Google’s Blogger offering.

Williamson himself is seen as one of Australia’s foremost experts on the mobile technology space. In the past he’s held senior roles focused on the mobile space at a number of companies such as Microsoft, Optus and Hutchison Australia (before the merger with Vodafone). He is also the co-founder of the Mobile Monday Sydney chapter, which attempts to bring mobile industry professionals together.

Read the blog post on Zdnet

By now, you’ve probably heard that Facebook has made some big changes that affect your privacy. However, you might not know what they are.

So far, the changes have been explained in the language of the people that they benefit: companies and app developers. What about us, the end users?

Here’s a handy collection of the best tips that we could find for protecting your privacy on Facebook’s wild new frontier.

Read More on Download Squad

In its rush to take on Facebook and Google Buzz, Microsoft is now collecting and displaying personal information on your Hotmail page — information you may never have wanted to broadcast.

Exactly how it’s mining this information is something of a mystery, but if you use Hotmail or Windows Live, it’s time to review your privacy settings — lest something you said or did comes back to haunt you.

One user signed in to her Hotmail account recently and was greeted with Microsoft’s new, improved social networking splash page.

What’s wrong with this picture? All three What’s new with your network entries contain potentially embarrassing information that the authors never dreamed would appear on someone else’s Hotmail sign-in page.

Read More on Windows Secrets: http://windowssecrets.com/comp/100422#story1

Do you Facebook?? – You MUST watch this if you are a facebook user. Know all the facts before blindly continuing in being a user.. for you are a user being used. learn how.

A 4G Wireless World

The world of wireless and mobile communications is on the verge of a new revolution–a 4G wireless broadband revolution. But the blazing super fast speed offered by 4G systems (100Mbps and faster) is not the “Che Guevara” in the revolutionary world of 4G technology. Companies that produce content running at 4G speeds are the future of mobile communications.

Think of it this way. Carriers or operators are the conduits (the “pipes” in Internet terms) and handset manufacturers the “appliances,” similar to utility companies delivering electricity, gas and water and appliance manufacturers producing refrigerators, furnaces and dishwashers.

Read More: http://mobilebeyond.net/why-4g-wireless-broadband-content-providers-are-the-future-of-mobile/

During 2008-09, Australians continued to demonstrate their thirst for flexible communications.

Take-up continued across a range of platforms and technologies, with the use of 3G mobile and wireless broadband services growing by 162%.

At the same time, general internet use continues to grow and diversify strongly, with Australians downloading ever-increasing amounts of data and more people going online for business and personal transactions.

These are some of the highlights of the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s Communications Report 2008-09, released in January.

“Digital convergence is well and truly with us,” said Chris Chapman, Chairman of the ACMA. “During 2008-09, Australians continued to adopt new communication and media services and adapt their usage patterns to meet their specific lifestyle needs.

Services such as 3G, VoIP and wireless broadband internet are being increasingly used, with factors such as lifestyle, age and family type shaping these choices.”

Australians increasingly seek flexibility in where and how they access communications and content.

The number of mobile phone services increased by 9.5% in 2008-09 to 24.22 million, while wireless broadband services grew strongly increasing 162% to reach 2.1 million services as at 30 June 2009. This contrasts with the number of fixed-line telephone services, which declined by 3% to 10.67 million.

Other key findings from the report include:

• Growth in mobile services has been driven by a continuing surge in the take-up of 3G mobiles, with 12.28 million services in operation at June 2009 compared with 8.55 million at June 2008, reflecting in part increased 3G network coverage and handset functionality.
• The growing importance of mobile networks as a revenue source was demonstrated in 2008-09, with all major carriers reporting mobile network revenue exceeding revenue from the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
• There were 8.4 million internet subscribers in Australia at June 2009, up from 7.2 million at June 2008. Nearly 80% of Australians have an internet service at home, most of which (90%) are broadband enabled. Broadband (non dial-up) internet subscribers have risen from 5.66 million to 6.72 million.
• Wireless broadband subscribers accounted for 25% of all internet subscribers at June 2009, up from 11% at June 2008.
• During the June quarter of 2009, Australians downloaded 99,993 terabits of data compared with 55,434 terabits during the same period in 2008, a staggering 80% increase. Australians also viewed 46.6 billion web pages from home compared with 38.9 billion in 2008.
• Online data and information services generated $1.37 billion in revenue during 2008-09 while online advertising expenditure increased by 27% to reach $1.7 billion at the end of 2008.

Source: Voice & Data

Once-doubtful users can easily be swayed to virtual desktop infrastructure’s (VDI) myriad benefits, if the technology is presented to them the right way. The aim is to make VDI as good for users as physical desktops or even better.

Read More