Quickflix movies to stream to PS3
DVD rental outfit Quickflix today revealed it had signed a deal with Sony to allow streaming of its nascent video on demand platform to the Japanese manufacturer's PlayStation 3 platform.
Perth app developer wins $1.1m capital
Perth-based smartphone app developer Filter Squad this week announced it had taken a new $1.1 million funding round led by fellow Perth firm Yuuwa Capital, as the startup continues to leverage its popular Discovr iOS app into commercial success.
Treasurer Swan awaits IT price hike report
Federal Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan has indicated the Government is keenly awaiting a report from the Productivity Commission which will detail the extent to which price hikes on imported technology goods and services are hurting Australian consumers.
NSW Attorney-General wants GTA banned
NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith has unexpectedly called for the popular Grand Theft Auto video game series and other violent games to be banned -- not just classified R18+ as suitable for adult use.
‘Bad journalism’: Seven’s GTA report under fire
Several high-profile members of Australia's technology and gaming industries have written directly to the Seven Network, alleging the television station's report last week into a call to have the video game Grand Theft Auto banned in Australia did not represent fair coverage of the issue and made incorrect statements about gaming in general.
BlackBerry Curve 9360 comes to Australia
Research In Motion (RIM) announced this week in Sydney that the BlackBerry Curve 9360 is now available in Australia.
Internode slashes FetchTV prices
In an effort to draw more subscribers to Internet Protocol TV (IPTV), national broadband provider Internode late last week announced that prices for its FetchTV service have been cut by one-third.
Internode offers free FetchTV trial
In response to Australian customers’ interest in the FetchTV service, Internode has revealed a new offer for those hesitating to commit to a two-year subscription. The company has introduced a 30-day ‘no penalty’ return process to boost potential customers’ confidence.
What’s the best Australian streaming music service?
Which music streaming service should you choose? It'll depend on your specific technology setup, habits and how much you're willing to spend for what you use. But the good thing is the market for music streaming services in Australia is getting increasingly crowded; meaning more options for users and more competition.
Aussie SMBs want tablets for Christmas
The latest research conducted for Telstra by StollzNow Research has shown that one in three Australian small business owners are thinking of buying an iPad or other brand of tablet in the lead up to Christmas.
Internode launches FetchTV for the NBN
Internode customers using fibre connections on National Broadband Network (NBN) and Opticomm-based FTTH (Fibre to the Home) network ports can now benefit from the full subscription TV channel suite offered by FetchTV.
EA’s Syndicate reboot game banned in Australia
Video games giant EA has confirmed news broken by Kotaku yesterday (further reports at Ausgamers, Kotaku and Gamespot) that its reboot of the classic Syndicate game being planned for next year has been refused classification in Australia and won’t go on sale.
Optus releases Galaxy Tab 10.1 pricing
National telco Optus has announced the addition of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to its tablet range, just in time for Christmas. Starting from this week, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be on offer at the Optus online store bundled with a variety of plans for householders and small and medium businesses (SMBs).
PlayStation 3 adds Quickflix streaming for Christmas
Sony Computer Entertainment Australia has announced that it is expanding its on-demand services in Australia with the launch yesterday of the Quickflix subscription movie streaming service for PlayStation 3 (PS3). The PS3 Quickflix service will offer unlimited movie viewing with a continually updated catalogue.
iiNet hints at new BoB in 2012
Dropping hints about new products due to be launched in 2012, iiNet Labs team member Simon Watt has revealed in a blog post this week that one of these is a major new broadband hardware product.
Internode launches Fritz!Box rentals, slashes prices
National broadband company Internode revealed a new service last week that allows customers rent its Fritz!Box broadband routers and accessories. The announcement also unveiled lower pricing across the series of Fritz!Box equipment.
Infinity Blade II: Review
Frenetic combat and perpetual dungeon-delving are compromised by a clumsy interface and inconsistent gesture recognition in Infinity Blade II, a hack-and-slash RPG for iOS. If you can handle the repetitive content and temperamental responsiveness, an enjoyable, if grating experience lies beyond.
AFL rights: Optus, Telstra in a techno-legal time warp
The danger here is that regulators go with a business-friendly commercial fix, rather than regulation in the public interest. At the heart of capitalist property law is the right to exploit: just ask Optus.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: Review
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword takes its time to warm up, but when it does, there's a lot to like about Nintendo's last serious hurrah on the Wii.
HBO to invest $10 million in Quickflix
Leading Australian online movie rental company Quickflix announced yesterday that US television giant Home Box Office (HBO) would invest $10 million for a strategic stake in the company.
Games industry upbeat despite downturn
Australia’s interactive games industry is upbeat and prospects remain bright as consumption of games continues to thrive, according to a media release from Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (iGEA). The sentiments come despite latest data showing that there was a significant dip in ‘traditional retail’ computer and video games sales in 2011.
Do Australia’s video game developers have a future?
While there are obviously plenty of opportunities to develop a sustainable video game industry in Australia, the key appears to be an ongoing dialogue between industry and policy advisors at a state level, and an association such as the GDAA.
R18+ game legislation hits Federal Parliament
Jason Clare, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice, yesterday introduced legislation to create an R18+ category for computer games.
R18+ game classification: The quest continues
The battle for an R18+ classification for videogames in Australia has been something of an epic, but the journey’s not over yet. There are still plenty more rocks and potholes to navigate before we start seeing R18+ games in local stores.
R18+ game delays frustrate Pirate Party
The Australian branch of the Pirate Party has expressed its dismay about the continuing delay over the introduction of an R18+ classification for video games, in a statement issued last week.
Telstra launches Samsung 4G tablet
The nation's largest telco Telstra today started selling the first tablet able to take advantage of the dramatically heightened speeds available on its fledgling 4G/LTE network infrastructure, with the device to be a 8.9" Galaxy Tab model manufactured by Samsung.
Watching Media Watch’s iPad coverage
In its criticism of the media coverage of the launch of Apple's new iPad in Australia this week, the ABC's normally stellar Media Watch program went too far, alleging journalistic impropriety where there was none, and unfairly targeting media outlets for legitimately covering an important news story which the public was interested in.
Internode manager proposes in video game session
An online game of Team Fortress 2 in late February became the unusual setting for Internode web site manager Taryn Hicks to propose to her long-time boyfriend Derek Adams.
Dick Smith in new offer after game sale fiasco
Electronics retailer Dick Smith has kicked off a new sale on video games and accessories, to mollify customers miffed by a poorly handled sale last week which saw thousands of customers lining up in front of stores for deals, only to walk away empty-handed.
Made in Australia: Windows Phone 7 apps plugged
Developed Down Under (DDU) is a new, free, Aussie-made mobile phone app for the Windows Phone 7 platform that officially went live about a week ago.
GAME Australia goes into administration
The Australian division of embattled video game retail chain GAME Group has gone into administration, video game media outlet Kotaku reported this morning.
Blizzard honours GAME’s Diablo III pre-orders
Pre-ordered hit Diablo III from dying Australian video game retailer GAME? Frustrated that you won’t be able to play this year’s biggest game when it launches at 5PM today, as GAME has been blocked from selling Diablo III? Worry no more. Blizzard’s got your back.
IT price hike inquiry kicks off: Submissions wanted
The Federal Parliament's inquiry into local price markups on technology goods and services has gotten under way, with the committee overseeing the initiative issuing its terms of reference and calling for submissions from the general public on the issue.
Diablo III latency: Blizzard faces angry Aussie horde
Video game giant Blizzard is currently facing a tsunami of complaints from Australian gamers frustrated that the company's lack of Australian servers is making its new Diablo III unplayable for locals.
Kogan to tax shoppers for using IE7
Australian consumer electronics upstart Kogan Technologies has deployed a special "tax" on its popular website which will charge online shoppers an extra 6.8 percent on top of their purchases if they persist in using what the company described as Microsoft's "antique" Internet Explorer web browser.
Praise the Sun
In the critically acclaimed video game Dark Souls, there is a mysterious character known as Solaire of Astora who has developed something of a global cult following which may give us some insight into this human existence.
It’s official: R18+ game legislation passes
After a hard-fought campaign lasting several years, Australia's video game industry and community has achieved a major victory with the passing last night of landmark legislation which will introduce a new R18+ classification for video games in Australia.
4G: Judge finds Apple flouted Australian law
A Federal Court judge has found that iconic technology giant Apple's US headquarters deliberately chose to ignore the fact that its new iPad was not capable of 4G mobile broadband speeds in Australia, during a marketing campaign for the device.
Angry consumers flood IT price hike inquiry
Dozens of frustrated Australians describing themselves as concerned private citizens have flooded the Government's IT price hike inquiry with hundreds of examples where they allege technology retailers and vendors have been ripping them off with unfair markups, while the major vendors concerned have yet to formally respond.
Google Nexus tablet hits Oz in July: Gizmodo
Gizmodo Australia this afternoon reported that Google will launch its own 7" Android tablet, dubbed the Nexus 7 and running version 5.0 of Android (Jelly Bean) in Australia this July, with prices ranging from US$199 to US$249.
Sydney’s Bubble Gum studio raises $2.5m more
Sydney-based children's entertainment company Bubble Gum Interactive has raised another $2.5 million to help fund the expansion of its Little Space Heroes online game, adding to an initial $1 million raised in mid-2011.
ABC unlocks 3G iview iPhone app, Android coming
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has modified its highly popular iview streaming video iPad app so that it will function on Apple iPhones, as well as unlocking the streaming ability for the app on 3G networks and revealing that it also has a separate version in the works for Google's rival Android platform.
HTC One S to hit Telstra, Optus, Virgin
Taiwanese consumer electronics giant HTC yesterday afternoon revealed that the middle smartphone in its flagship One series, the One S, would shortly launch through Australian mobile carriers Telstra, Optus and Optus brand Virgin Mobile.
Broadway Apple store: Opening video
Want to see hundreds of iFanbois lining up to buy things they could already buy elsewhere? Want to see dozens of Apple retail staff in blue t-shirts revving themselves up to sell them those iThings? Then you'll want to watch the video above of Apple's new Broadway, Sydney store opening last Saturday. iExciting.
Huawei’s Ascend P1 lands in Australia
Chinese manufacturer Huawei this morning confirmed that it had started selling its high-end Android smartphone, the Ascend P1, in Australia, with the model being on sale outright through retailer Dick Smith for $499.
Aussie Google store hobbled for Nexus 7 launch
We shouldn't have to find out weeks after the Google Nexus 7 is unveiled through investigative work by bloggers that Google's latest tablet will be hobbled in Australia. Google should be more up-front about this kind of stuff.
LG’s new Android mobiles hit Australia
Korean electronics giant LG has launched a new range of Android-based smartphones in Australia, dubbed the Optimus L-Style series.
RIM loses second Australian MD
The Australian division of Research in Motion has lost its second managing director in six months, with Ray Gillenwater reportedly to leave the company just three months after he took up the role, following the departure of his predecessor Adele Beachley.
BlackBerry 10 Jam, Sydney: Photo gallery
Last week Research in Motion held the Sydney leg of its BlackBerry 10 Jam World Tour series of developer events to promote its upcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system.
HTC One V launches through Optus
Taiwanese giant HTC has introduced its One V handset in Australia, picking an exclusive partnership with mobile telco Optus to launch the handset, which is the baby in its popular One series already available locally.
Telstra’s second T-Hub runs Android
The nation's biggest telco Telstra has unveiled a new generation of its modernised T-Hub home fixed telephony platform, in a new tablet form factor and running version 2.3 ('Gingerbread') of Google's Android platform.
IT price hike inquiry: Apple gets private hearing
Apple, as per usual Cupertino style, doesn’t want the public involved, and has pressured Federal MPs into a private, closed door hearing on the matter of IT price hikes.
Choice wants geo-IP blocking abolished
One of Australia's peak consumer groups has recommended the Federal Government investigate whether region-coding and charging Australians higher prices for products based on Internet IP address should be banned, in the context of an investigation which has found little justification for average Australian price hikes of 50 percent on technology goods.
Nintendo Australia takes huge revenue hit
The Australian division of Japanese video gaming giant Nintendo has lost a staggering 41 percent of its local revenue in one year, as diminishing interest in the company's aging Wii platforms and lacklustre launch of its 3DS handset console have slugged the company's finances hard.
FetchTV fail: iiNet has just 10,000 customers
National broadband provider iiNet today revealed that it had so far only signed up 10,000 customers to the FetchTV platform it launched in mid-2010, representing only a tiny success rate in converting its 824,000 ADSL broadband customers to the system.
Apple win doesn’t apply to Australia: Samsung
Wondering if Apple's billion-dollar patents victory in the US against Korean consumer electronics rival Samsung will have any impact on the Australian market? Well, it was always unlikely, given the differing legal jurisdictions. But now we have an official answer from Samsung itself.
HP reveals first Win8 laptops for Australia
The first tranche of new laptop models slated to land in Australia and fuelled by Windows 8 have been announced by Hewlett Packard, with three new models due to launch locally later this year, all featuring touchscreens that take advantage of the new touch features of the new Microsoft operating system.
Forgotten again: No new Kindles for Australia
For the second year in a row, Amazon has decided not to launch the majority of its new Kindle tablet and e-reader devices in Australia, in a move which appears set to diminish the local popularity of the devices.
Surviving the zombie apocalypse: the DayZ experiment
Amid the resurgent popularity of zombies in recent years – think The Walking Dead, I Am Legend, Shaun of the Dead and so on – the 2011 publication of Dan Drezner’s Theories of International Politics and Zombies showed we might be able to learn something useful from the lumbering horde. In short, Drezner poses the question: how would we deal with a zombie outbreak?
iPhone 5 hits Australia next week with 4G
Consumer technology giant Apple has revealed its new iPhone 5 smartphone will launch in Australia next week on Friday September 21, and will support the 1800Mhz 4G networks which Telstra and Optus operate locally. It will also launch through Australia's third major carrier Vodafone, but without 4G speeds.
Why I don’t regret not waiting for the iPhone 5
Delimiter editor + publisher Renai LeMay is interviewed by comparison site WhistleOut on whether he regrets switching to a HTC One XL and not waiting for the iPhone 5 to be released instead.
Nintendo Wii U hits Australia on 30 November
Nintendo announced this morning that its new Wii U console would launch in Australia on 30 November this year, with several different pricing options available ranging from a "Basic Pack" at $349.95 to a "Premium Pack" containing a black model with more space for $429.95.
R18+ rating added for videogames … but are children protected?
New guidelines for the classification of videogames have been released by Federal Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare and, despite being a step in the right direction, the revisions are largely disappointing and a missed opportunity.
Private equity firm buys Dick Smith Electronics
Retail giant Woolworths this morning revealed it had sold its Dick Smith Electronics chain to local private equity firm Anchorage Capital, in a move which may help rejuvenate the ailing business and provide a certain degree of employment certainty for its 4,500 staff around the nation.
Freeplay reminds us videogames matter: The ‘culture’ debate is over
Videogames are already here, are already culturally and politically active, and have been for quite some time. We no longer need to debate if they deserve a spot at the cultural dinner table. We just need to recognise they are already there.
Focus after the fact: The Lytro light field camera is in Australia
Today, nine-or-so months after its launch in the US, the Lytro camera will be available to buy in Australia – bringing with it the ability to refocus pictures in incredible detail after the fact.
Penny Arcade Expo hits Melbourne for two years
The organisers of the popular Penny Arcade Expo ('PAX') event have announced that the popular show will be held in Melbourne in July 2013 and 2014, in an event which will mark the first international version of the expo founded by the creators of the video gaming comic.
New Apple iPads support 4G in Australia
Iconic technology giant Apple has confirmed that its new iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad tablets announced overnight will support the 4G mobile networks of Telstra and Optus when they launch in Australia, although the versions supporting mobile broadband will launch several weeks later than the Wi-Fi versions.
Foxtel launches streaming iPad app
Pay TV giant Foxtel this morning launched its live streaming service Foxtel Go on the iPad. For existing Foxtel subscribers, the offering allows them to watch Foxtel channels live on their iPad.
Google Nexus 4 launching soon in Australia
Discouraged by Ausdroid’s reports (here, here and here) that Google’s new flagship Nexus 4 handset (manufactured by LG) isn’t going to launch through Australia’s mobile carriers? Worry no more. According to Gizmodo (we recommend you click here for the full article), the hyped Android 4.2 handset is set to launch locally through retailers anyway.
An iPad lover’s new Surface romance
Australian Microsoft professional Loryan Strant goes into detail about how he's switching from the Apple iPad to the Microsoft Surface.
Australia won’t get the HTC One X+
Interested in HTC’s One X+ smartphone? Prepare to be disappointed. Ausdroid has dug up this post on HTC Australia’s Facebook page, where the Taiwanese company makes it clear Australia’s not getting the handset.
Telstra launches 4G Lumia 920, HTC 8X on way
If you are one of those looking forward to the incoming wave of Windows Phone 8-based smartphones to Australia, you're in for a treat. Telstra yesterday revealed it had started taking orders for Nokia's incoming flagship Windows Phone 8-based device, the Lumia 920.
4G Galaxy Note II hits Australia next week
Want a larger version of Samsung's Galaxy S III handset? With a stylus and decent handwriting recognition? And 4G speeds to boot? You're in luck. Korean electronics giant Samsung announced last night at a Sydney event packed with ... well, hype and B-grade celebrities such as Todd Sampson.
Optus gets first dibs on 4G HTC One SV
The newest handset on the block from HTC is the One SV, which is a 4G model exclusive to Optus and its subsidiary Virgin Mobile at this point and with some pretty strong specifications -- although it's not absolutely top of the line.
Quickflix leadership decimated as losses mount
Online DVD rental and Internet media company Quickflix this week revealed a series of senior leadership losses including the representative of investor HBO, as the company continues to burn through cash and seek further funding to continue its operations.
“Click Frenzy” was a marketing/PR hypno-orgy right from the start
Confused about what the hell this whole "Click Frenzy" online retail phenomenon thing that we've all been reading about over the past several weeks was all about? Join the club: I'm a paid-up member. Maybe I didn't get the original press release. Thankfully, local IT geek and Delimiter reader Dawnstar (not his real name) has posted several epic rants and deconstructions of legendary proportions on his blog to explain it to y'all, complete with SPAM Act illegality, journalist/public relations/marketing love-ins and a health dose of sarcasm.
Huawei’s quad-core D1 Android hits Australia
A quad-core smartphone with a 4.5" screen and close to stock Android, for $499 outright? Sounds like a bargain, and that's precisely what Chinese manufacturer Huawei has a reputation for delivering. The Ascend D1 quad will hit JB Hi-Fi this week, and if it's anything near as solid as the P1, we think quite a few people will be interested. Stay tuned for our review sometime soon.
Parliament must subpoena IT giants: Choice
Consumer group Choice has called for the Federal Parliament to use its powers of subpoena to force recalcitrant IT vendors such as Apple, Adobe and Microsoft to give evidence about their price setting practices in Australia, due to the vendors' reluctance to voluntarily appear before a committee into Australian IT price hikes.
Google’s Ingress creates Aussie online turf war
Don’t read technology blogs? Then a new innovation in massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMPORGs) may be passing you by. Perhaps, like me, such games have never been of much interest to you. Or perhaps they haven’t been able to hold your sustained attention. So why should you care now?
HTC Windows phones hit Telstra, Optus
We've more or less known about these launches for a while, but today HTC finally confirmed the details of its Windows Phone 8 launches in Australia. There's two new models on offer here, both looking especially spiffy.
LG Optimus L9 hits Australia
This week LG added another model to its Australian line-up in the form of the Optimus L9.
Apple Maps losing Victorians in forest
We haven’t found Apple’s new mapping application in iOS 6 to be that much of a headache — in fact, it does offer some noticeable improvements in some areas over the previous Google Maps tool — but then we weren’t trying to use the platform to navigate by road to the Victorian town of Mildura. According to the Victorian Police, quite a few people have made that mistake — and ended up in the middle of nowhere.
Sony’s Xperia Z lands in Oz in March
Probably the most interesting announcement from CES so far for Australians is a new hero smartphone from Sony, the Xperia Z, which Gizmodo reports will land in Australia in March.
Australia has its first R18+ video game
The Federal Government's Classification Board has revealed that it has classified its first video game under the new R18+ category, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, following the delivery of amended classification rules last year after a long community campaign to see the new adult-only category implemented.
Valve may re-issue Left 4 Dead 2 as R18+
Thanks to the new laws allowing R18+ video games to be sold in Australia, Valve is strongly investigating re-releasing its Left 4 Dead 2 game locally in its original gory form.
4G LG Optimus G hits Telstra in March
Korean consumer LG today revealed it would launch its high-end Optimus G smartphone exclusively on Telstra’s 4G mobile network in March.
Rejected: No Surface Pro for Australia, yet
Just a quick note that Microsoft has left Australia off the list of countries which will receive the Surface Pro tablet when it launches in February.
Google Nexus 4 hits Harvey Norman
Frustrated at not being able to buy Google’s Nexus 4 handset (manufactured by LG), which Delimiter recently rated as the best non-4G handset available in Australia? Worry not. LG has just announced the handset will be on sale through Harvey Norman imminently. Praise be.
Surface storage misleading? Choice files complaint
You may have noticed, if you've bought one of Microsoft's new Surface tablets, that you haven't actually gotten the storage you paid for. Consumer watchdog Choice objects to this kind of behaviour, and has referred Microsoft to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission over the situation.
More R18+ games approved for Australia
It was only a little over a week ago that the Classification Board approved the first R18+ video game to be launched in Australia in the form of Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, following new legislation supporting R18+ games taking effect on 1 January. And now we have word that that wasn’t an anomaly, with the news that the Classification Board has approved two more games as R18+ in Australia.
$6 billion: Apple’s huge Aussie haul in 2012
Technology giant Apple has revealed it had a record year in terms of revenues and profits from its Australian operation over the past year, raking in revenues up 23 percent to almost $6 billion, as new iPad and iPhone launches sent the company’s finances into the stratosphere over the past 12 months.
Apple Australia’s tiny tax bill “staggering”: Husic
Apple made more than a billion dollars more revenue from Australia over the year to the end of September 2012, but it paid (according to its financial statements) about $54 million less tax.
Samsung ATIV S for Australia in Feb?
Australian Windows Phone enthusiast site Windows Phone Down Under says it's likely Australia will see Samsung's Windows Phone 8-based ATIV S in February.
New Govt tax taskforce may tackle Google, Apple
Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury has announced a government taskforce to force multinational corporations to be more transparent and accountable about how their finances and details of their taxation.
The difficulties of ordering a Surface Pro in Australia
Want to buy one of Microsoft's new Surface Pros in Australia? Well, As we covered a couple of weeks ago, you're out of luck, as Microsoft isn't shipping them locally yet. But you may not know quite how out of luck you truly are: It's probably not even worth ordering one from overseas through the usual avenues.
Nokia CEO Stephen Elop jets in to Australia
You may have noticed from the flurry of articles from the mainstream media this morning that Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop is in Australia at the moment checking on the progress of the Finnish smartphone manufacturer Down Under.
Video games “screw up” kids’ minds: Gerry Harvey
According to Gerry Harvey, one of "the great tragedies" of our modern age is that kids spend way too much time ... you guessed it ... playing video games. Wow.
R18+ fail: Qld bans God of War: Ascension
Kotaku brings us news that the Sunshine State has has banned Kratos’ new blood-soaked romp, God of War: Ascension.
WA Police, FBI raid Aussie Xbox insider
Western Australian man raised by the FBI and Australian police for releasing Xbox trade secrets.
Google Glass will ‘end privacy’, claims Cory Bernardi
Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi has unleashed on Google’s augmented reality Glass project, which has been getting some press in the US as it comes closer to becoming a commercial project.
Galaxy Note 8.0 lands in April, from $459
Samsung's Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet set to land in Australia in April.
Chromebooks finally land in Australia
Google announced on its Australian blog this morning that 2013 is the year. Finally, Chromebooks are in Australia. The only problem is … will anyone actually want to buy them? We’re not really sure.
Australia’s carriers want to sell you a Galaxy S4
In case you missed it, we thought we'd let you know that we've received fevered media releases from all of Australia's major mobile carriers over the past few days letting us know the somewhat obvious news that they will be stocking the new Galaxy S 4 model when it launches in Australia.
Use a Surface Pro as your desktop? It’s possible
Local Microsoft Office 365 MVP Loryan Strant has been successfully conducting an experiment in using his new Microsoft Surface Pro tablet as his full-time desktop, complete with multiple monitors.
Apple’s Australian tax is mainly on iTunes
Extensive analysis on the day of Apple's appearance before the IT price hike inquiry finds that the company's Australian markups are mainly on digital products sold through its iTunes store.
Apple’s longest statement about Australia ever
This brief speech was read by Apple Australia managing director Anthony King to Australia's House of Representatives' Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications last week on Friday 22 March. As far as Delimiter is aware, it represents the longest and most detailed statement technology giant Apple has made with respect to its operations in Australia over at least the past decade.
“Open, frank + candid”: Apple defends tiny tax bill
Iconic technology giant Apple has described its relationship with the Australian Taxation Office as "open, frank and candid" and its process of calculating its local tax obligation as "rigorous", despite the fact that the company last year paid local company tax of just $40 million, off Australian revenues of $6 billion.
Further evidence Kogan’s Agora doesn’t do 850Mhz
PCWorld has tested the Kogan Agora and affirms in a new article that the smartphone doesn’t support 850MHz mobile phone networks. Bummer.
Non-4G Lumia 720 hits Australia
Finnish smartphone manufacturer Nokia announced today that its Lumia 720 model would come to Australia. Unfortunately, while the model is quite high-end -- it comes with a 4.3" screen, a 1GHz dual-core CPU, Windows Phone 8, a 6.7 megapixel camera on the back, 512MB of RAM and 8GB of storage space, plus the ability to take a microSD card up to 64GB -- it does not support the 4G networks already launched in Australia by Telstra and Optus, being limited to 3G.
Crysis 3: Review
Crysis 3 has a single player game that leaves the competition for dead, in both length and quality, and is a beautiful, cinematic experience with a haunting soundtrack and some of the best visuals on the PlayStation 3.
Tomb Raider: Review
Tomb Raider is an amazing game. It is a perfect way for the series to be re-introduced to gamers, as it depicts a very likable heroine who truly struggles to survive, emotionally and physically. The overall experience wanted me to jump straight back into the campaign the moment it ended. Lara is back!
Samsung skips Exynos CPU for Aussie Galaxy S4’s
Most of you probably already suspected this, but just to put it on the record: Korean smartphone giant Samsung has confirmed that its flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone will ship in Australia in the lesser quad-core version of its processor rather than the top of the range eight-core Exynos processor which many people have been looking forward to.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Wii U): Review
If you’re a Monster Hunter fan, you know what you’re signing up for. A great game with a great online community. If you’re not sure if Monster Hunter is the right game for you, know that it will take you quite a few hours to begin to understand the game, and even longer for you to master it. But stick with it, you’ll be glad you did in the end. Even if you don’t have any friends afterwards.
Absolutely phabulous: When is big, too big?
Just when is a smartphone too big? Manufacturers have been pushing the boundaries for some time as they dance with higher resolutions and larger screens, but the latest offerings from Huawei and Samsung may have clinched the deal as both companies produce 'phablets' – smartphones with screens in the six-inch range.
Would your company ban Facebook Home?
It’s only been two weeks since Facebook launched its home-screen replacement for Android phones, and hours since it was launched in the UK. But as privacy advocates wrestle with the ever-increasing efforts of Web giants bent on collecting and utilising personal information to line their own pockets, some in the security community are calling for companies to ban Facebook Home for the myriad and untested security vulnerabilities they fear may be hiding inside it – as well as the usual concerns over Facebook’s (often-questioned) privacy.
How Westfield turned free Olympics WiFi into social-media gold
Forget big sales, exclusive brands, and big marketing campaigns: when it came to getting customers through the door over and over again during the 2012 London Olympics, the best marketing tool for Westfield’s Stratford City shopping centre turned out to be the promise of free Wi-Fi and a place to recharge spent mobile batteries.
KIRA elaison: Has Toshiba burned Apple’s Retina Display?
Laptop stalwart Toshiba has beaten Apple to the punch by offering an extremely high-resolution display in a slimline Ultrabook that has been clearly designed to appeal to buyers’ deep love of everything shiny.
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge: Review
Overall Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge is a better and more rounded game than the original attempt, and I would suggest that series fans who previously felt slighted should give this one a chance - it’s very much the entertaining game now.
Privacy commissioners issue please-explain about Google Glass
It’s been hailed as the vanguard of wearable computing, derided as a plaything of perverts and stalkers, and in a Seattle bar even though it’s not broadly available in the wild and is still untold months from release. No doubt about Google Glass is already brewing a firestorm of controversy – and its possibilities for public snooping have proved worrying enough to Australia’s privacy watchdog that he has requested a meeting with Google to discuss its implications.
Samsung Galaxy S4 hits Australia, but will it match the S3’s success?
If there was any question whether Samsung has become a superstar of the smartphone market, it was put to rest with last night’s Sydney Opera House launch of its flagship Galaxy S4 phone – in which the mobile giant pulled out all the stops to show the world the device that it hopes will consolidate its market lead over rival Apple’s iPhone 5.
Despite Aussie windfall, does Apple profit slide suggest hard times ahead?
blog Even as it marks the tenth anniversary of iTunes and its companion iPod device, Apple’s first profit decline in a decade has many observers contemplating the future of the pioneering company – and asking whether Steve Jobs’ spirit of innovation has in fact passed along with the company’s co-founder.
Consoles to suffer as tablets triple mobile games downloads by 2017
Tablet makers are set to reap a windfall in coming years as gamers continue to shift their gaming dollars away from dedicated gaming devices and into the wallets of increasingly agile mobile-gaming developers, new figures from Juniper Research have suggested.
Amazon Appstore challenging Google Play as Australian launch looms
Australian Android users will soon have an alternative source for sourcing paid and free mobile apps, but will they embrace it? Yes, if the first analysis of Amazon Appstore sales figures – which suggests the site is rapidly increasing its appeal to US consumers as a source of paid apps – is any indication.
Why touchscreens matter for laptops (Or, review of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch)
Over the past several years I've had the somewhat unique experience of reviewing almost exactly the same laptop three times. What the process has taught me is that the new wave of touchscreens making their way into laptops aren't just a fad; they're part of a subtle revolution in the way we interact with out portable devices.
HP Slate 7 to land in Australia shortly
If there's one thing we like more than hot new gadgets entering the Australian marketplace, it's inexpensive hot new gadgets, and this appears to be precisely what global tech giant HP is about to deliver with the Australian launch of its Slate 7 Android tablet.
Once more into the data breach: the LivingSocial hack and you
News of the LivingSocial breach coincides with debate within the privacy and information technology communities about Commonwealth proposals for data-breach legislation.
God of War: Ascension: Review
So, how do I rate God of War Ascension? It lives up to its franchise and escalates its key features over the previous title. The combo system is as fun and fluid as it ever was. And it can hardly be faulted for giving its fans what they’re probably working on. But by the same token I can’t help but shake the impression that things have gone too far with this game. Any sense of balance that the previous games have has been thrown out of the window here, and overall it is the weaker game for it.
Gears of War: Judgment: Review
I don’t think that Gears of War does anything that we haven’t really seen in shooters in the past, but because it does do it so well and with such intensity, it still manages to be a rollarcoaster of a ride.
Sony Xperia Z tablet hits Australia
Sony’s last clutch of Android tablets, as with the offerings from virtually every other manufacturer, failed to make much of a dent on the Apple-dominated tablet market. However, Google’s recently had a series of hits with its Nexus line-up, and Samsung has also recently stepped up to the plate with its ‘Note’ series of tablets. Can Sony be the third party to succeed in breaking through in the hyper-competitive Android tablet market?
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch: Review
Ni No Kuni is a genuine masterpiece and all-but guaranteed to be the best game released this year. That's a big call since it's still January, but that's how great this game is.
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Review
The only people who will look at Injustice and think to themselves “this looks good” are the fans of the DC Universe. And for those people I don’t think it will really matter that there are better fighting games out there - this plays well enough, and it rocks because it lets Batman beat the living bejeebus out of Aquaman.
Soul Sacrifice: Review
There is an intensity to Soul Sacrifice that makes its minimalist plot and single-note theme feel more compelling than it has any right to be.
Surprise! Xbox One neutered for Australia
Look, I don’t know what y’all were expecting at this point. But if you’ve been reading Delimiter for a while, you may be aware that global technology giants do not always launch the same products in Australia that they launch internationally, they don’t always launch them at the same time, and they almost never launch them at the same price point. That’s why we’re not entirely surprised to find that some of the key features hyped this week as part of Microsoft’s Xbox One reveal won’t be available in Australia, at least initially.
HP forces MicroServer fan page offline?
Some of you may be aware that local IT professional Joel Dickins has for some time been running a rather useful Facebook page dedicated to the HP MicroServer, an excellent HP line which are used by many geeks in their households for varied duties from media serving to NAS functionality and so on. The only problem? HP has had the page taken offline.
3G ASUS 7″ Fonepad lands Down Under
ASUS announces that its 3G, 7" Fonepad has landed in Australia, at prices starting from $329.
Kindle Fire HD finally lands in Australia
Amazon has gradually been opening up its Kindle range to Australians, culminating in the news overnight that the Kindle Fire HD models are now available.
The Last Of Us: Review
I just want to get this out from the start: The Last Of Us is an incredible game. Naughty Dog's finest title, to be sure, and if you're looking for buyer's advice, just skip the rest of this review and look at the score at the bottom. Suffice to say, the game is essential.
R18+ fail: Australia bans Saints Row IV
In a move which will be seen as a challenge to the efficacy of Australia's new R18+ video game classification category, the Classification Board yesterday revealed that it had refused to classify the upcoming title Saints Row IV, due to what the board said was implied sexual violenace and illicit drug use.
Double R18+ fail: State of Decay banned
It's times like these that we have to wonder what the point of Australia enacting an R18+ rating for video games is, when the Classification Board seems intent on banning popular games regardless.
Warhammer Quest (iPad): Review
Warhammer Quest belongs to the old school approach of dice rolls and with that comes the potential for hours of play only to end in failure due to some rotten luck. As well made as this game is, it really does struggle to break away from the feeling that this game belongs to a genre that we've all moved on from.
Plants Vs. Zombies 2 (iPad): Review
I really don't understand why PopCap and EA didn't simply say "here you go, dozens of hours of fun; give us your $10 please." It would have been a guaranteed hit at that price, and perhaps, just perhaps, it would have retained its soul.
Locked down: Foxtel blocks non-Samsung Android, jailbroken Apple devices
Pay TV giant Foxtel this week blocked those Australians using non-Samsung Android and jailbroken Apple iOS devices from accessing its flagship mobile IPTV streaming app Go, in moves that seem destined to reinforce the company's reputation for setting strong restrictions on how customers can access its content.
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Bros: Review
Dream Team Bros. is a game that offers me nothing that I look for in a typical RPG, and perhaps that's precisely why I enjoyed it so much. It's pure fun; nothing more, and certainly nothing less.
Dynasty Warriors 8: Review
Will Dynasty Warriors 8 convert the kind of person who is inclined to dismiss a game without playing it first? Sadly, no. Is it the finest example of the series to date and does it deserve to be given a fair go by everyone? Absolutely. It's incredible.
Nintendo Australia finances fall off a cliff
The Australian division of Japanese video gaming giant Nintendo has taken another staggering hit to its finances for the second year in a row, losing a further 36 percent of its overall revenue over the past year as its flagship Wii U console has flopped with consumers due to what is perceived to be a lack of quality games.
Pikmin 3 (Wii U): Review
Pikmin 3 isn't the massive game that we might have hoped for. It's a load of fun, and the charm is irresistible, but looking past that is a game that is part of a franchise that isn't quite in Nintendo's top-tier. That's not to take anything away from the game, because it is a lot of fun and comes recommended wholeheartedly, it's just not the killer app that some might have hoped it would be.
Dragon’s Crown (Playstation Vita): Review
While certain aspects of the game's artistic approach have started a healthy industry debate, it doesn't stop it from bringing the classic multiplayer beat-em-up gameplay that had us filling arcade cabinets with quarters many years ago back and better than ever. Vanillaware, I crown you the new beat-em-up genre victor.
DuckTales Remastered (Wii U): Review
Wayforward is really thriving in this era of digital distribution. Because its games are so marketable as cheap downloadable titles it's scoring all of the licensed titles and retro remakes that it wants. Playing DuckTales I could feel how much the developer team loved making the game. And that love is infectious.
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified: Review
I was really worried about this game. In an era where developers seem more interested in boiling every beloved franchise down to a cookie-cutter shooter, it takes real bravery to break out and do something different. Bringing a legitimate tactics structure into the third person shooter genre has given us a game that genuinely feels like XCOM, but is also something a little new to play and as such I really can't complain about this as I eagerly await the next "genuine" XCOM title.
Disney Infinity (Wii U): Review
Disney Infinity is a giant love letter to everything Disney, a collector's dream and a parent's nightmare. It's expensive to own everything (though not necessary to buy anything beyond the starter set to enjoy yourself immensely), but it offers unbounded creativity and one of the finest and most accessible virtual toy boxes you'll ever experience in the games industry. The potential for this game to expand even further into the future is truly exciting.
Killer is Dead: Review
Even though Killer is Dead's gameplay itself is a little too unrefined for its own good, the thematic strength of it is enough to make it an interesting curiosity to sit on any game library.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Wii U): Review
Between the lick of paint and wealth of gameplay refinements, Wind Waker HD seems more like the actualisation of the concept Nintendo could not fully achieve in 2002 than the high-definition upgrade it is billed as.
Killzone Mercenary (PS Vita): Review
Everyone knows that shooters are not my area of specialty, but as far as I'm concerned if a game of the genre can check the technical boxes and keep a healthy energy to it, then I'm pretty sure that it's achieved what the fans want from it. I'm fairly certain that Killzone has done enough that even the hardcore shooter fans will appreciate it.
Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox 360): Review
In a nutshell, Grand Theft Auto V is nothing short of pure fun. There are some minor issues, but the game's strengths easily overshadow its tiny flaws. San Andreas is a large world to explore, and there are so many things to do and sights to see that will keep players hooked for a very long time.
Beyond: Two Souls (PS3): Review
Whether Beyond is the kind of game that you would like to play a lot of or not is largely irrelevant to the objective quality of Cage's work. In terms of storytelling and technical execution there isn't anything out there better, and the fact that it is a different, more thoughtful experience than anything else produced by a major studio means it is worth experiencing.
Xbox One goes off with a bang … but will the PS4 launch eclipse...
Which console launch are you most excited about, and why? Am I right that the PlayStation 4 has most of the momentum at this point? Or is underdog Microsoft making a comeback with the Xbox One?
Screwed: Australian PS4, Xbox One lack basic functionality
Are you one of those Australians who lined up at midnight to buy some of the first next-generation video game consoles to go on sale? Have you spent some time exploring your new PlayStation 4 or Xbox One? Then you would be aware that when it comes to Australian support for their new consoles, both Sony and Microsoft appear to have screwed Australians pretty badly.
New FRITZ!Box 7272 hits Australia
Australian distributor PCRange this week revealed it had started distributing a new model in the popular FRITZ!Box range of high-end ADSL routers, with the 7272 model to launch locally this year, replacing the entry level 7270 model and adding two gigabit Ethernet ports into the mix.
Video games are art: And this awesome Kickstarter project will prove it
The debate over whether video games can be classified as art has been a long and bitterly fought one. To explore this issue in greater depth and champion the idea that games can have artistic merit, Australian gaming journalist Matt Sainsbury has started a Kickstarter project to fund the development of an in-depth, 200 page, premium quality hardcover book which will tie in conversations with some of the gaming industry's artistic titans.
MacTalk founder’s Love Letter to the Mac
As you might have noticed, Apple is currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of the birth of the Macintosh. Anthony Agius, the founder of Australian Apple forum MacTalk and long-time Mac lover, has posted what he bills as "a love letter for the Mac" on his blog.
Toshiba Chromebooks hit Australia
Japanese electronics giant Toshiba has announced its Chromebook laptops are available in Australia. Announced at CES 2014 in Las Vegas earlier this month, the devices ship with a 13.3" display and run Google's Chrome OS operating system. Australian recommended retail price will be $399.
All Australian telcos to offer Samsung Galaxy S5
Samsung's flagship Galaxy S5 handset revealed overnight at the Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona is set to be offered by all three of Australia's major mobile telcos, although the Korean manufacturer has not yet confirmed any pricing or availability details for the device's Australian launch.
Sony Vaio line exits Australia, local jobs cut
After a decade and a half of only modest success with its VAIO PC and laptop line-up, technology giant Sony has finally confirmed the plans to remove the brand from the Australian market congruent with its sale to a Japanese investment giant, in a move that comes along with local job losses.
Dark Souls 2 (PlayStation 3): Review
Dark Souls 2 is challenging, but ultimately rewarding, and it stands as one of those rare examples of a frustration-free difficulty that encourages players to get better at playing the game, rather that putting them off ever trying again.
Victorian tries to fly drugs into prison with drone
Australia’s law enforcement agencies have for some time now been demonstrating their interest in using remotely controlled drones to tackle crime. The military already uses them, South Australia’s police force went to market for a whole bunch last November, and Queensland Police is also keen on the technology. But what the law may not have quite anticipated is the degree to which criminals are also interested in using drones for their own, not quite as legal purposes.
Delimiter is giving away a Nexus 5!
As you may know, we're big fans of Google's Nexus line-up in general here at Delimiter towers. Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10 ... we love pretty much anything Nexus. Because of this, and because we're still seeking to boost our newsletter subscriber numbers, today we're kicking off a new competition to give away one of Google's new Nexus 5 smartphones.
Top-shelf FRITZ!Box 7490 hits Australia
Australian distributor PCRange this week revealed it had started distributing a new top-end model in the popular FRITZ!Box range of high-end ADSL routers, with the model supporting the long-awaited 802.11ac standard.
Blizzard finally starts adding Australian servers
Those of you who've been long-term fans of the excellent video games produced by Blizzard Entertainment (StarCraft, World of Warcraft, Diablo) will recall that Australians have been fighting for many years to get the company to set up local servers to service the multi-player aspects of its games. Well, Blizzard has finally cracked, and Diablo III is the first cab off the rank to get the local seal of approval.
Introducing Australia’s (eventual) game classification system
Those of you with a long memory will recall that Australia’s video game classification systems hasn’t precisely always been without controversy. Well, in what looks like a good move on the surface, Australia appears set to join a new international system for video game classification.
Forget it, Australia: No Amazon Fire TV for you
Global content Amazon giant overnight unveiled Fire TV, an Apple TV-like set-top device which is designed to stream movies, TV shows to consumers' televisions, as well as providing video game functionality. However, as with many of Amazon's product launches in the past, there appear to be no immediate plans to ship the device to Australia.
As laptop scheme ends, what next for families and learning?
The computers for schools program, which involved federal funding for the supply of laptops to high school students, is set to end in June. The program was a central piece of the former government’s “digital revolution” but is being discontinued by the current government. The end of the program is already having consequences for schools and for families.
Hackett wants tax breaks for electric cars
Internode founder, NBN Co board director and all-round superhuman Simon Hackett is well-known as being one of Australia’s main electric car evangelists. The entrepreneur imported Australia’s first Tesla Roadster and recently teamed up with another former senior Internode executive and two early executives from electric car pioneer Tesla to found a new startup focused on building a new type of electric car specifically designed for high-speed performance racing. With the news that Australia may shortly see its first Tesla Model S units shipping locally, Hackett has been investigating the regulatory settings for the emerging industry and found them wanting.
Budget 2014: Govt dumps game dev funding
The Federal Government tonight announced as part of this year's Budget that it would cut $10 million of remaining funding to the Australian Interactive Games Fund, in a move which at least one commentator has already said will "destroy" Australia's video games industry.
Budget 2014: Game devs ‘bewildered’ by fund cut
Australia's peak game developer's body has issued a statement noting that it is "disappointed and mystified" by the Federal Government's decision to cut $10 million of remaining funding to the Australian Interactive Games Fund, which had been established in 2012 to help game studios get off the ground in Australia.
Budget 2014: No country for new games
Cutting off the Games Fund demonstrates that the Liberal government has no interest in supporting an existing vibrant and maturing creative industry. Attacking the younger and lower classes of the nation by gutting a wide range of social services demonstrates that the Liberal government has no interest in the creative and cultural future of the nation.
Surface Pro 3 lands locally in August
US technology giant Microsoft announced this morning that its Surface Pro 3 tablet -- unveiled in New York overnight -- would start shipping in Australia from the end of August, with Microsoft itself, Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi to sell the unit for prices starting from AU$979.
12 months late, Chromecast finally hits Australia
Almost twelve months after the USB dongle went on sale in the US, Google has finally made its Chromecast TV connector available in Australia.
Internet nasties lock out Aussies’ Apple devices
Own an Apple device, use the vendor's iCloud online synching service but haven't been able to get access to one or more of your devices this week? Congratulations: You've fallen prey to what are probably a bunch of Internet script kiddies attempting to ransom your data for a hefty fee. ZDNet has a solid local story on the phenomenon, which so far (weirdly) appears localised to Australia.
Broadcast to Chromecast – is TV being recast or cast out?
I expect more from the biggest screen in my house and, once again, traditional mass media have failed to deliver.
Surprise! PlayStation Now delayed for Australia
From the Department of No Surprises comes the news that Sony’s cloud-based PlayStation Now service — which allows users of its gaming consoles to play games online without having to download the content — will not initially be available to Australians when it launches in the middle of this year.
iiNet launches Budii Lite modem
I know that mentioning consumer-grade modems such as the Budii Lite on Delimiter can be fraught with danger -- many readers, including myself, prefer options such as FRITZ!Box, D-Link or Linksys. However, I wanted to flag this as something that readers may especially find useful to recommend to friends and family. I get constantly asked by personal connections for broadband recommendations.
No Amazon Fire Phone for Australia yet
You might have noticed that global online retailer Amazon launched a new phone overnight in the US. With a new feature called ‘Dynamic Perspective’ (which delivers 3D depth to some apps), a customised version of Android and solid integration with Amazon’s world-beating content ecosystem, this model is getting some plaudits from technology reviews. However, for Australians the phone itself may not be as interesting as Amazon may want it to be. That’s because there are no signs it’s coming to Australia yet.
LG Android smartwatch available online now to Australians; Samsung’s not so much
If you caught Google’s I/O conference overnight, you will be aware that one of the highlights of the show was the fact that several smartwatches running Google’s new Android Wear operating system supposedly went on sale. However, as regular readers will be aware, “on sale” doesn’t always quite mean in Australia what it means in the US, with devices typically launching in Australia at a later date than they do in America.
Will Netflix launch in Australia, or not?
Over the past week several fascinating articles have been published speculating about the possibility of US-based IPTV giant Netflix launching in Australia.
‘Digital play’ is here to stay … but don’t let go of real Lego...
Ensuring access to both physical and digital methods of building block construction where children can move freely from one to another is crucial for their development in the early years.
TPG claims best unlimited, Netflix ADSL plan
Cut-rate broadband provider TPG last week claimed its new $69.99 Unlimited plan was the best value option in the ADSL broadband market, additionally claiming credit as the best provider in Australia for those looking to watch television online through the popular Netflix platform.
Driverless cars to hit South Australia in November
The South Australian Government has announced that driverless cars will be driven on Australian roads for the first time in November this year, with the state partnering with a number of motor vehicle manufacturers and technology companies such as Telstra to test out the next generation in transport technology in early trials.
Three years later, Optus finally gets HD voice
Almost three years after Telstra and two years after Vodafone, national mobile operator Optus has finally enabled high-definition voice calling on its mobile network.
RAC builds electric vehicle highway in WA
The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia this week revealed it had build a network of charging stations around the state that can be used by anyone with an electric vehicle, as infrastructure of this kind continues to be deployed around the nation.
Netflix Australia: Review
Australians have spent years waiting for US Internet television giant Netflix to launch its popular streaming service in Australia. But now that the service has finally launched Down Under, is it worth paying cash money for on a monthly basis? Read on to find out.
Oops … Tesla enthusiast charges car on Qld windfarm
Headline says it all, really. The future is here.
Gasp … Qld will fuel electric vehicle charging stations with solar
It seems like it was only yesterday that a rebel Queensland resident was committing the heinous sin of charging his Tesla Model S electric vehicle (EV) using a windfarm up north. Well, today’s news is even more shocking — the Queensland Government itself has announced it plans to start deploying new EV fast-charging stations around the state, powered by solar energy. That’s right. Blasphemous. How dare they!
Older Australians embracing video games
Over the past decade, stereotypes that video games were a popular medium intended only for youths have been eroded. It is clear that video games are also a popular medium for adults.
Telstra integrates Netflix, Stan, Presto into re-badged Roku box
The nation’s largest telco Telstra today revealed it will launch a Telstra-branded version of the popular Roku TV streaming device to Australians, as the telco struggles to ensure its over-the-top services remain relevant in a next-generation viewing world which increasingly appears to be dominated by the likes of US giant Netflix.
Optus launches Wi-Fi calling, SMS
SingTel subsidiary Optus today revealed it had launched a smartphone app dubbed “Wi-Fi Talk” that would allow customers to make and receive calls and SMS over a Wi-Fi network, instead of through the company’s mobile network.
Australia misses out on 64Gb Galaxy Note 5, some colours
Korean electronics giant Samsung today revealed it would start selling two new high-end smartphones, the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 edge+, in Australia in early September at comparable prices to those charged in the United States, but leaving the 64GB version of its Note 5 handset out of the local market.
Simon Hackett is selling his original Tesla Roadster for a cool $150,000
But don't worry, Hackett's not short of speed, even though he's selling his original ride. He actually has another Roadster still in Australia and one in California, as well as a Tesla Model S. The Carsales ad for the car states: "Owner has too many Roadsters; this one is surplus to requirements." It's a hard life for a multi-multi-millionaire.
The best smartphone in Australia
Australians have a wide variety of options available when it comes to great smartphones in 2015. Shape, size, style, performance and features are all factors that can be considered, and the diversity is endless. So with all this variety available, which model should you buy?
Fixed broadband replacement? Voda unveils 20GB mobile plan
National mobile operator Vodafone this week launched what it said was Australia’s largest data allowance in a smartphone plan, offering customers 20GB of quota for $130 per month on a two-year plan and pitching the plan as a potential replacement for customers’ traditional fixed broadband plans.
Tesla Powerwall to hit Australia first, in late 2015
Reneweconomy reports that US car manufacturer and burgeoning battery giant Tesla is looking to launch its home and commercial battery storage solution Powerwall into Australia in late 2015, with retailers such as Canberra-based Reposit Power already going public with its plans to act as an integrator.
MyNetFone launches ADSL plan with free relocations for renters
National broadband player MyNetFone has launched an ADSL broadband plan that comes with 500GB of data and unlimited free relocations, in a move that the telco said would be aimed at Australia’s army of home renters, who may regularly relocate to new premises.
TPG’s Teoh opens the FetchTV door for iiNet once again
Remember how one of the first actions which TPG took upon acquiring its broadband rival iiNet was to dump the FetchTV Internet television product which iiNet and its subsidiary brand Internode had been such an evangelist for back in the early days? Well, that move, it turns out, may have been something more akin to a negotiating tactic.
Screw you, Australia: We’ll get new Google gear late and pay more
US-headquartered technology giant Google has completely left Australia off the list of countries that will receive its new smartphones, tablet and other devices announced in the United States overnight, with countries like the UK, Korea, Japan and even Ireland getting the nod over the lucky country for access to the new kit and Australians to pay more when the devices do eventually launch
New Microsoft Surface + Lumia devices to hit Australia before Christmas
Microsoft’s new range of Surface convertible table devices will launch in Australia in mid-November, the global technology giant announced this week, as well as a clutch of new Lumia-branded handsets to keep Windows mobile enthusiasts happy.
Why the drop in illegal movie downloads in Australia?
This article is by Marc C-Scott, Lecturer in Screen Media, Victoria University. It originally appeared on The Conversation.
analysis There has been a decline in...
Apple Pay to hit Australia by end of 2015
Overnight in the US Apple revealed it is still planning on bring Apple Pay to Australia -- and the launch could happen sooner than you expect.
Police target Gumtree Internet pirate
Officers from Green Valley Local Area Command and investigators from Australian Screen Association have executed a search warrant on a residential address in Busby, NSW during which they discovered a large number of allegedly illegally stored film and television titles.
Optus targets renters with 50GB 4G wireless broadband plan
Australia’s second-largest telecommunications company, Optus, has announced a new 50GB 4G wireless broadband plan it says is perfect for renters or students who need to quickly set up a reliable Internet connection or those living in areas with no access to cable broadband.
Microsoft launches flagship store in Sydney’s Pitt St Mall
Microsoft Australia has launched its first flagship store outside of North America in Pitt Street Mall, Sydney – one of Australia’s most popular and expensive retail sites.
iiNet launches $69.99 terabyte naked DSL, VDSL plans
National broadband company iiNet has launched a new range of naked DSL broadband plans -- simplifying its plan structure by offering customers a single download quota of one terabyte for the cost of $69.99 per month -- as well as revamping its VDSL plan structure on TransACT's FTTN network in Canberra.
Apple Pay partners with American Express for Australia launch
American Express card members in Australia can now use Apple Pay to purchase products and services at participating merchants across the country.
iiNet launches $109.99 100Mbps terabyte NBN plans
National broadband player iiNet has revamped its National Broadband Network plans to match its newly minted ADSL and VDSL broadband plans, with the headline offering seeing customers offered a terabyte of download quota coupled with 100Mbps speeds and local and national telephone calls included, for $109.99 per month.
Natural Solar, Origin to be first Australian resellers of Tesla Powerwall
Solar power company Natural Solar and power giant Origin are to be the first resellers of Tesla Energy's Powerwall battery system to the Australian market.
Google trumps Apple with banking partners for Android Pay launch
Google has announced that it will be be bringing its digital wallet Android Pay to Australia in the first half of 2016 with a number of financial partners.
In which a Microsoft fan ends his Apple iPhone experiment
I always enjoy Strant's posts. He's primarily a Microsoft-focused technologist, but he has an open mind. And that can sometimes be a rarity in our idealistic industry.
Microsoft Surface 3 4G hits Australia this month
Microsoft Australia says the Surface 3 4G LTE will soon be on sale at select outlets in Australia, while the Microsoft Band and Surface Book will soon be more widely available.
Google and JB Hi-Fi cut Australian price of Nexus 5X, 6P by $100
Google's Nexus 5 is now available with a $100 discount in the Australian market, with both the company itself and retailers such as JB Hi-Fi applying the discount.
ACCC sues firm for alleged fake iPad sales to Aboriginal communities
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has started Federal Court proceedings against a company alleged to have sold counterfeit iPads to Aboriginal communities.
Xenophon announces plan to save Dick Smith gift card holders
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has announced a possible solution for Dick Smith gift card holders following the electronics retailer's collapse.
Kogan fined $32k for dodgy Father’s Day ads
Online retailer Kogan.com has been fined for "false or misleading" claims in its Father's Day advertisements last August.
Australia’s first Tesla Powerwall goes live in Queensland
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has launched a battery storage trial that sees the first use of Tesla's PowerWall system in Australia.
Microsoft recalls 285,000 Surface Pro power cords in Australia
Microsoft is recalling 285,000 Surface Pro power cord sets sold in Australia over a fault that can expose live wires and represents a risk to consumers.
Telstra doubles NBN/broadband data on new bundle deals
Telstra has announced limited-time bundle deals for new NBN or broadband customers, offering extra data, bonus calls, and access to Wi-Fi when away from the home.
Apple recalls some Australian AC adapters over shock risk
Apple has announced a voluntary recall of AC wall plug adapters designed for use in Australia, as well as some other countries.
Vodafone inks rewards deal with Qantas, opens NZ roaming
Vodafone has inked a deal with Qantas that will see the companies work together to deliver new ways to reward customers. Furthermore, the mobile provider is offering free roaming in New Zealand to its $5 roaming package users.
Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Edge to hit Australia in early March
Samsung has announced that the latest additions to its Galaxy range – the S7 and S7 edge mobile phones – will be available in Australia from the middle of March.
Foxtel launches unlimited broadband plans
Pay TV giant Foxtel today launched a set of broadband plans offering unlimited download quota, although customers will need to be signed up to its subscription television offering to get the full benefits.
Qantas to use NBN, ViaSat to deliver in-flight Wi-Fi from 2017
Qantas is set to introduce inflight Wi-Fi from next year under a partnership with international broadband services provider ViaSat and the NBN network.
Delimiter is giving away an Apple Watch!
Delimiter is about to hold our first reader giveaway of the New Year! This time the prize will be an Apple Watch!
Senate backs Greens motion for ‘refocus’ on electric cars in SA
The Senate has backed a motion from the Australian Greens calling on the government to "refocus" South Australia's car manufacturing industry on electric vehicles.
Updated Amaysim deals include 9GB of data for under $50 a month
Australian telecoms provider Amaysim has announced improved data and international inclusions on all its Unlimited mobile plans, including a 9GB package for less than $50.
Optus offers early phone upgrade option, new data deals
Optus has introduced a new offer that will give new customers the option to receive an early phone upgrade on its My Plan Plus deal.
Vodafone offers free month for customers switching networks
Vodafone has announced it is offering a month of fee-free access for new customers who switch from another provider on any post-paid voice or mobile broadband plan.
TPG releases unlimited NBN business plans
National broadband provider TPG has released a new range of National Broadband Network plans aimed at businesses, with the headline plan offering 100Mbps speeds and unlimited data and telephone usage for $120 per month.
Federal Court finds Valve guilty of deception over Steam refunds
The Federal Court has found that the Valve Corporation misled Australian consumers over consumer guarantees via its online game distribution and social platform Steam and the Steam website.
Redflow launches ZCell battery to rival Tesla Powerwall
Australian battery specialist Redflow has launched a residential energy storage solution called ZCell – a product that will rival Tesla's Powerwall, which launched in Australia in late January.
Optus, Uber team up to trial in-car Wi-Fi
Optus has inked a deal with ride-sharing firm Uber that will see the two firms trial in-car Wi-Fi, as well as introduce Uber as a business travel option for Optus employees.
Amazon launches new flagship Kindle e-reader for $449
Amazon has launched a new flagship Kindle called the Oasis – the eighth generation of its dedicated e-reader device -- which will sell in Australia for the high price of AU$449.
Foxtel launches special Game of Thrones plan
Foxtel is offering a discounted subscription to its Premium plan for the broadcast of HBO's much anticipated Game of Thrones Season 6, which the company will commence airing on Monday, 25 April.
Quickflix goes into administration, blames rival firm
Australian streamed content provider Quickflix has announced that it has gone into administration, claiming that Nine Entertainment Co and Fairfax Media Limited are to blame for its problems.
Australia again leads world in Game of Thrones pirating
Australia has once again topped the list of countries breaching copyright by downloading HBO's Game of Thrones television show from BitTorrent sites, despite efforts by the show's local licensee Foxtel to cash in on the popular series.
Apple Pay no sure thing in mobile payments race
Evidence both the incumbents and disruptors face challenges in non-traditional payments.
A shake-up in Australia’s busy TV industry as Quickflix calls in the administrators
If Quickflix does fold or get absorbed by another local service, how many local services will survive? We may also see global VoD services taking over the local services.
Don’t hang up yet: the latest study linking mobile phones to cancer has big...
You may have seen the headlines over the weekend, reporting on a new study that’s supposedly found a link between mobile phones and cancer. But all is not quite as it seems. And much of the alarm raised by the study is misplaced.
Redflow debuts ZCell enclosure at Sydney energy storage show
Australian energy storage specialist Redflow is set to show its recently launched ZCell home battery and new custom-designed enclosure at the Australian Energy Storage Conference & Exhibition this week in Sydney.
Samsung Pay hits Australia via AMEX and Citibank
Mobile wallet app Samsung Pay launched yesterday in Australia, with American Express and Citibank as its supporting card issuers.
Delimiter is giving away another Apple Watch!
Just a quick post to let you know that Delimiter is about to hold a new reader giveaway. Our previous Apple Watch giveaway was quite popular, so it feels like the right thing to do to do another :)
Android Pay launches in Australia
Android Pay has now gone live in Australia, allowing smartphone users to pay for items anywhere contactless payments are accepted.
Tesla Powerwall helps slash electricity bill for early adopter family
One of the first Australian residents to install the Tesla Powerwall power storage unit has had its power bill slashed by over 10% in its first quarter.
Vodafone announces Samsung Galaxy Note 7 pricing
Vodafone has announced details of its pricing strategy for Samsung's high-spec Galaxy offering, the Note7, which will be available for preorder online from 5 August at 12.01am.
Apple rejects banks’ proposed mobile payments “cartel”
In a strongly worded letter to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), Apple has rejected the formation of a mobile payments "cartel" proposed by four major Australian banks.
Telstra announces free Netflix, Stan, Presto on mobile plans
Recognising that Australians' sport and TV consumption habits are moving rapidly towards a more mobile, small-screen experience, Telstra has announced a number of free streaming options for its customers, as well as a new app.
ANZ Bank adds Mastercard to its Apple Pay, Android Pay options
ANZ Bank has announced that its MasterCard customers can now use their smartphones to make payments with both Apple Pay and Android Pay.
Foxtel ramps up its IPTV offering in competition with Netflix
Foxtel has revamped its approach to package pricing for its IP-delivered subscription TV service, Foxtel Play, presumably aiming to lower the cost bar for customers in the face of competition from rival services such as Netflix.
Australian smartwatch market gathering steam
After a slow start, smartwatches sales numbers are starting to climb in Australia, according to a new study by emerging technology analyst firm Telsyte.
CBA and Barclays announce UK-Australia mobile payments solution
Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Barclays have announced a new technology partnership that is aimed to ease the movement of money between Australia and the UK.
Apple announces Australian launch dates for iPhone 7
Apple has announced that its new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available for preorder on 9 September in Australia, with the phones becoming available for retail sales on 16 September.