HP Chromebook 11″ lands in Australia
Technology giant Google this morning announced it had started selling HP's Chrome OS-based Chromebook 11 laptop in Australia through its Play Store as well as select JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman stores, with the low-priced laptop going for a recommended retail price of $399.
CommBank’s Kaching hits iOS App Store
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia's 'Kaching' mobile payments app has been approved by Apple and is now available through the company's iOS App Store, the bank said this afternoon.
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.
Apple harmonises Aussie MacBook pricing
Iconic technology giant Apple appears to have broadly harmonised the Australian prices of its MacBook laptop line with its US pricing, with its new line-up of products released overnight to cost broadly the same locally as they do in its home country.
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.
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.
Kobo announces price cuts for holiday season
Kobo, the eReading service with over 2.5 million eBooks, newspapers and magazines in one of the largest eReading catalogues globally, has dropped prices for its eReaders at top-tier Australian retail partners.
Dick Smith’s amazing iTunes specials
Incredible value -- zero dollars off. Spotted in Randwick. A $50 iTunes voucher for $50 -- who would have thought?!
‘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.
Will the PlayBook’s US price cut hit Australia?
A spokesperson for Research in Motion (RIM) has Australia declined to reveal whether RIM will apply US discounts on its PlayBook tablet to its Australian stock. RIM has announced substantial price cuts for a limited time up to February 4 on the PlayBook in the US, offering the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models all for US$299 each, saving buyers between US$200 to US$700.
Nokia’s 6″ Lumia 1320 hits Australia
Finnish smartphone vendor Nokia this week revealed it would in February launch its new Lumia 1320 handset in Australia, which it is billing as introducing many of the high-end features and bold colours Lumia has become known for in an affordable six inch large-screen smartphone.
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.
Huawei confirms Ascend P6 for 15 July
We've been getting gradually more impressed with the smartphones launched in Australia by Chinese vendor Huawei over the past several years, although they haven't quite measured up to the best that top of the line vendors like Apple, Samsung and HTC have been able to deliver. The newest cab off Huawei's rank is the Ascend P6.
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.
Bushfires: Regulator warns drone operators of collision danger
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has issued a strongly worded statement warning the operators of small remotely piloted drones which have produced amazing footage of bushfires in the Blue Mountains that they are putting fire fighting operations at risk and should be aware of appropriate regulations.
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.
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.
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.
Quickflix movie streaming hits PCs, Macs
DVD rental service Quickflix yesterday announced its new instant movie streaming service had gone live. Most householders in Australia with entry level broadband speeds can now stream unlimited movies from Hollywood’s leading studios at any time, for a monthly fee.
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.
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.
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
Judge overturns Galaxy Tab sale ban
Multiple media outlets are reporting this afternoon that the Federal Court of Australia has overturned Apple;s preliminary injunction against the sale of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 Android tablet in Australia.
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.
New Kindles hit Australia a week early
Amazon has announced that its new Kindle Touch e-reader devices would start shipping to customers in over 175 countries and territories worldwide (including Australia) seven days earlier than the previously announced shipping date of April 27.
Harvey Norman fined $1.25m for false advertising
The Federal Court in Brisbane has penalised retail giant Harvey Norman $1.25 million for misleading advertising, resulting from action by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
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.
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.
14 Dec: Galaxy Nexus to launch in Australia
Korean manufacturer Samsung has confirmed it will officially launch its highly anticipated Galaxy Nexus handset in Australia on 14 December, although details of carrier availability remain absent for now.
Toshiba’s ‘thinnest & lightest’ tablet hits Australia
Japanese consumer electronics giant Toshiba yesterday launched what it described as "the world's thinnest and lightest tablet" in Australia, putting the 10.1" Android device on sale for a recommended retail price of $579.
Tesla Model S may come to Australia shortly
Queue the hype train, because Gizmodo reported this morning that US electric car firm Tesla has shipped one of its popular Model S units over to Canberra for testing.
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.
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.
Nexus 5 hits Australia from $399
US technology giant Google has finally taken the wraps of its latest high-end smartphone, the Nexus 5, and there's good news for Australians: The hotly anticipated device will launch at a very competitive price -- starting from $399 -- in Australia next week, the same time as it will launch internationally.
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.
iPhone 5S and 5C hit Australia 20 Sept
Iconic technology giant Apple this morning announced that its new iPhone 5S and 5C models would be available in Australia from the company's own stores and through every major mobile carrier from Friday 20 September, the same date they will be available in other major countries such as the US and UK.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nexus 7 continually selling out in Australia
Google's popular Nexus 7 tablet has been selling out repeatedly since it launched in Australia in late July, according to the tablet's manufacturer ASUS, in what may mark the first commercially successful launch of a tablet computer in Australia apart from Apple's market-dominating iPad.
Kogan installing bloatware on supposedly clean OnePlus 2 phones
Over the weekend an extensive article was posted on Medium alleging that a customer had bought a new OnePlus 2 smartphone from Kogan and found it had bloatware installed on it — bloatware that could not be easily removed.
Samsung beats Apple to take top Aussie mobile spot
Analyst firm IDC’s ANZ Quarterly Mobile Devices Tracker released this week showed that Samsung has overtaken Apple to claim the No. 1 spot in the Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) mobile phone market. Samsung has been growing rapidly and has shown continuous growth for the past three quarters in the ANZ market.
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.
Spotify hiring Australian staff
Online music streaming label Spotify is currently hiring for at least one Australian staff member, following its high-profile launch in the United States.
iPhone explodes on Sydney plane flight
Regional Express (Rex), Australia's largest independent regional airline yesterday revealed that a passenger’s iPhone had self-combusted on board its flight ZL319 from Lismore to Sydney on November 25th. After landing, the phone began giving out a significant amount of dense smoke, along with a red glow.
Telstra/AFL launch Google Glass app
The Australian Football League, its partner Telstra, and local developer Seventh Beam have teamed up to deliver an app running on Google's next-generation Glass augmented reality headset that will allow AFL fans to get live information associated with AFL matches -- all through their headset.
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.
Amaysim launches 1GB mobile plan with unlimited talk + text, for $24.90
National mobile telco Amaysim has launched a mobile plan featuring 1GB of data quota and “unlimited” “standard’ national phone calls and text messages for the low price of $24.90 per month.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Huawei’s new P6 superphone lands in July
Huawei's new superphone, the P6, is slated to launch in Australia before July, the company announced
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.
ACCC sues Apple over “misleading” 4G iPad claim
Australia's competition regulator will tomorrow (Wednesday) take iconic technology giant Apple to court for advertising its new iPad tablet as featuring "4G" speeds -- which are not supported on Australian telecommunications networks.
Vodafone launches Android clearance sale
Vodafone has launched an online only clearance sale for select smartphones, primarily offering recent generations of Android models in the deals, but also models with different operating systems from the likes of Nokia and Research in Motion.
In-flight Internet: Qantas’ failure to launch
Qantas, Australia’s biggest airline, has announced a new trial run of in-flight Internet connectivity on its superjumbo A380 for passengers on intercontinental flights between Australia and the United States. But it's not the airline's first attempt to bring in-flight connectivity to its passengers; in fact, Qantas has repeatedly struggled with the issue over the past decade.
Rip-off: Telstra wants $20 a month to share data between devices
Telstra attempts customer rip-off with data sharing plans which will cost at least an extra $480 over a two-year mobile phone plan.
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.
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.
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 Black Friday discounts hit Australia
Apple has confirmed that its online and retail Australian stores will offer customers one-day only discounts today for Black Friday celebrations. The last Friday in November, known as Black Friday in the US, is a day of massive discounts on various items to start the Christmas shopping season.
SAMSUNG ONLY: SBS limits Android IPTV app
Publicly funded broadcaster SBS today launched a highly anticipated Android version of its on-demand Internet TV viewing platform, but limited the launch to those Australians with Samsung devices, in a move stimulated by a co-development effort with the Korean manufacturer.
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.
ASUS PadFone docks in Australia
Taiwanese electronics giant ASUS this morning announced that its combination smartphone, tablet and netbook device the PadFone, would launch in Australia through Harvey Norman from 14 August, retailing locally for $999.
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.
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.
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.
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 :)
Optus, Virgin open pre-orders for HTC One X
Optus has announced the availability of online pre-orders for the HTC One X Android smartphone. Booking started on March 20th for delivery in Metropolitan areas on April 2nd, and Regional areas on April 4th. Optus subsidiary Virgin Mobile has also announced the imminent arrival of HTC’s flagship model in Australia, posting “check back early April for updates” on its website.
Telstra is essentially giving away new ‘Telstra TV’ Roku box
The nation’s largest telco Telstra has revealed it essentially give away its Telstra TV-branded Roku box to its customers, aiming to drive rapid adoption of the platform’s Internet television streaming capability.
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.
Delving behind the iPhone 4S “demand”
Over the past several days several pieces of evidence have emerged that there is overwhelming interest from consumers in Apple's latest handset, the iPhone 4S. But what's behind this "demand"?
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.
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.
Apple hikes Aussie iOS app prices as Australian dollar sinks
The sinking value of the Australian dollar when compared to the greenback is certainly causing quite a spot of bother for Apple gear. Australians already got a raw deal on Cupertino’s new iPhones, iPads and TV, and now we’re going to be paying through the nose as well for apps, with Apple announcing a formal price rise over the next 36 hours.
“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.
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.
Vodafone launches Sony smartphone Xperia S
Sony’s new flagship smartphone – the Xperia S – is set to make its Australian debut at Vodafone stores and online for $0 upfront on a range of Vodafone’s 24-month plans.
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.
Samsung Galaxy Note launches in Australia
Samsung launched its Galaxy Note Android handset in Australia on Tuesday. The device, which the company claims is a product category of its own, is described as having the benefits of a tablet while maintaining the functionality of a smartphone.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Those Telstra iPhone 5 ads? They’re fake.
OK, calm down everyone. Those iPhone 4S/5 ads which someone posted on Whirlpool? Yeah, they’re fake.
Transformer Pad Infinity lands Aug 7
The ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity looks set to hit Australian from August 7 this year.
Music service Rdio launches in Australia
Rdio, the music streaming service from the founders of Skype has launched in Australia and New Zealand this week, according to a blog post on their website. Rdio is now available on the web, iPad, iPod touch, smartphones like the iPhone, Blackberry, Android and Windows Phone 7, and on desktop apps. Rdio is also available for users with a Sonos wireless audio system at home.
Australia gets quite the raw deal in expensive Apple iPhone, TV, iPad launch
Australians have been left with something of a raw deal from Apple’s launch this morning of new models in its new iPhone, TV and iPad lines, with the giant vendor revealing locals will pay more for the product lines than they previously did and receive some products later.
Vodafone preferred 3G provider for PlayStation Vita
Vodafone and Sony Computer Entertainment this week announced a partnership that will deliver Vodafone preferred provider status for 3G connectivity for the PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) handheld console in Australia.
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.
New BlackBerry OS 7.1 hits Australia
Troubled Canadian device manufacturer Research in Motion has made the new version of its operating system available to Australian customers, with the new platform being approved already for Government use and telcos Optus and Vodafone making it available to customers.
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.
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.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 3 range hits Australia
Korean consumer electronics giant Samsung this morning launched its latest range of Android tablets at a breakfast event in Sydney. There are three models in the new Galaxy Tab 3 line, in three different sizes: 7″, 8″ and 10.1″, which will be selling for pretty great prices — $249, $349 and $399 respectively.
Virgin Australia provides in-flight Galaxy Tabs
Airline Virgin Australia has revealed plans to use Samsung's Android-based Galaxy Tab 10.1 device to launch Phase I of its new in-flight entertainment system on most of its Boeing 737 and Embraer E190 aircraft in April 2012. Business Class guests on all sectors will be able to use the Galaxy Tab while Economy Class passengers taking flights over three hours will have access to the device.
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.
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.
Price gouging: Apple hikes Aussie Mac Pro prices
Iconic technology giant Apple has applied a substantial markup on the Australian price of its new Mac Pro professional workstation computer compared with the machine’s US prices, with Australians to pay hundreds of dollars more for exactly the same product when the unit goes on sale in December.
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.
Mobicity, Kogan start selling Galaxy Nexus
Independent online retailers Mobicity and Kogan have started selling Samsung's Galaxy Nexus handset, ahead of any planned Australian launch by Samsung itself or any mobile carrier partners.
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.
Telstra, Optus launch 4G version of Galaxy S III
The nation's top two mobile telcos Telstra and Optus this morning revealed they would start selling a version of Samsung's popular Galaxy S III handset which will function on their growing 4G networks and come with the Jelly Bean version of Android, as Optus simultaneously launched consumer access to its 4G infrastructure.
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.
HTC One XL on sale: Compatible with Telstra 4G
Independent mobile retailer Mobicity has started selling a version of HTC's flagship HTC One XL smartphone which will fully function on Telstra's 4G mobile network, ahead of an expected launch by the telco of the device in the next month or so.
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.
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.
‘Champagne gold’ HTC One hits Telstra
If you're an Android user but also a fan of the new gold option on Apple's iPhone 5S, you may be interested to know that Taiwanese vendor HTC has just announced a 'champagne' gold version of its flagship One handset through Telstra.
Telstra gets two new 4G Motorola handsets
Google subsidiary Motorola has revealed it will launch two new Android-based handsets in Australia in the last three months of 2012, the RAZR M and the RAZR HD, with both models to be available exclusively through the nation's largest telco Telstra -- and supporting 4G speeds.
Spotify: Saviour of the music industry?
It says an awful lot about the music industry that the key IT companies have dominated legal sales mechanisms in providing affordable digital systems and a decent market share. Spotify will continue to be an interesting experiment in an industry that is still not relaxed and comfortable about the new century.
ASUS Transformer Pad tablet hits Australia
Taiwanese consumer electronics giant ASUS has started selling its Transformer Pad TF300T Android tablet in Australia, with the device to hit retailers this week starting at $499 for the basic model, and $599 with a docking station attached.
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.
Software is officially a rip-off in Australia, So what can you do?
It’s official: Australia isn’t the “lucky country” in the IT sector. Consumers, government and industry down under are charged typically 50% more for software and hardware compared to their American counterparts. Why is this the case and, more importantly, what can affected customers do about it?
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.
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.
Apple Watch saves Aussie tech journo’s life
For those of you who’ve been relatively dubious about the supposed health benefits of wearing an Apple Watch, I recommend you check out this story posted by long-time Australian technology journo Garry Barker earlier this month.
iPhone 4S Sydney launch: Vodafone pics
Vodafone has also sent through some pictures of its iPhone 4S launch in Sydney this morning. The company shipped in a boatload of celebrities for the event -- the overwhelming majority of which we'd never heard of.
Telstra launches Samsung Galaxy S II 4G
The nation's largest telco will tomorrow start selling a 4G version of one of 2011's most popular smartphones, Samsung's flagship Galaxy S II.
Android tablet growth slows in Australia
The Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) media tablet market experienced a visibly dampened growth in the third quarter of this year, with a rise of only 3.1 percent quarter on quarter (QoQ) with 434,000 units shipped, and much of the slowdown relating to the Android side of the sector.
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.
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.
Telstra hints at Galaxy Nexus launch
Telstra hasn’t yet confirmed reports that it’s planning to launch Samsung’s highly anticipated Galaxy Nexus smartphone, but if this post on its CrowdSupport forum by one of its executives, Gerd Schenkel, is any indication, the telco is certainly eyeing the handset off.
No Telstra 4G version for Galaxy S III
Korean electronics giant Samsung this morning confirmed its highly anticipated Galaxy S III handset would launch today through all of Australia's major mobile carriers, but without a version supporting Telstra's next-generation 4G mobile network, which is the fastest and least congested mobile network in Australia.
An Aussie IPTV revolution we can believe in
The founder of DVD and streaming online video service Quickflix has made a stirring speech to a local investment conference, arguing that Australia is at the beginning of "an IPTV revolution" that will see the nation's entertainment choices reach equal par with those available in the US through popular platforms such as Netflix.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
BlackBerry CEO to hit Australia in March
Yesterday it was revealed BlackBerry chief executive Thorsten Heins would bring his smile to Australia on Monday 18 March to launch the new BlackBerrys and share the happiness. Praise be.
Telstra sold 500,000+ iPhone 5’s last year
Every time I think I know just how dominant Apple's iPhone unit is in Australia's mobile phone ecosystem, I am forced to confront new information showing that I had underestimated the situation.
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.
Memorial gathers at Apple store Sydney
A small Steve Jobs memorial has started to gather outside the Apple store in downtown Sydney this afternoon.
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.
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.
iPhone 4S launch: Telstra photos
Lastly, some photos from Telstra's iPhone 4S. The photos appear to have been taken both in Sydney and at one of the telco's stores in Melbourne.
New Android army invades telcos, resellers
Thinking of buying an new smartphone based on Google's Android platform? You may want to hold off for a while. It was revealed this week that a number of new high-end Android devices are slated to hit Australian mobile carriers Optus and Vodafone over the next few months -- as well as through third-party suppliers.
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.
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.
Optus a “disgusting” company, says AFL chief
AFL chief Andrew Demetriou has reportedly blown his stack over Optus' appeal in the ongoing legal drama over the telco's TV Now Internet TV recording system, labelling the company "a disgusting organisation" which was undermining the rights of sports companies.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Optus to release Galaxy Tab 2 10.1?
According to Ausdroid, which usually has the inside scoop on these things, Optus is shortly planning to launch version 2 of Samsung's Galaxy Tab tablet (the 10.1" model).
Samsung files suit to block Aussie iPhone 4S sales
Korean electronics giant Samsung today asked courts in Australia and Japan to block the sale of Apple's latest iPhone 4S handset in the two countries, as part of ongoing legal action between the pair.
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?
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.
iPhone 4S: Telco forums flooded with queries
Pundits have panned it as only a modest upgrade on the previous model, analysts have bemoaned the lack of an iPhone 5 and the traditional midnight launches have been cancelled. But if the flood of queries to the forums of Australian mobile carriers is any indication, demand is running hot for Apple's iPhone 4S.
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.
Telcos clam up on iPhone 4S injunction
Australia's major mobile carriers have declined to comment on whether they will stop selling Apple's latest iPhone 4S handset or shipping the device to customers, following a legal attempt by smartphone rival Samsung yesterday to block the sale of the handset in Australia.
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.
In court: Apple offers refunds to iPad buyers
Iconic technology giant has reportedly offered to refund any Australian customers who bought its new iPad tablet under the misapprehension that 4G network speeds were available in Australia, in a preliminary hearing in Melbourne this morning, after the national competition regulator filed a lawsuit over what it called 'misleading' advertising in the area.
Cheaper hardware, software and digital downloads? Here’s how.
Australians are paying about twice as much as they should for a range of tech products including computers, software and digital downloads. It’s time for the government to act to bring this shameful situation to an end, to stop foreign multinationals from ripping us off. But until then, people should take steps to lower the cost of buying tech products. How? Read on.
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.
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.
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.
Oops … Tesla enthusiast charges car on Qld windfarm
Headline says it all, really. The future is here.
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.
Aussie Motorola Xoom prices decimated: Now half-price
The approaching holiday season has online retailer Kogan Technologies slashing prices yet again on Motorola's troubled Xoom Android tablet. The 32GB 10” Wi-Fi tablet is on offer at $369, while the 3G version is available for $429.
Vodafone’s iPhone 5 speeds are awful
We've known for a while that the iPhone 5 would be dramatically slower on Vodafone's network, as it doesn't support 4G speeds like Telstra and Optus do in some areas. And now we know just how slower it will be.
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.
Revamped Telstra plans bundle yearly handset upgrade
The nation's largest telco Telstra has launched two new ranges of mobile phone plans, in addition to offering customers the option to pay $10 a month extra for the ability to trade in their smartphone once a year for a new model.
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.
Telstra to launch first 4G Windows phone
Telstra will shortly launch its first smartphone based on Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 operating system that will support 4G mobile speeds, according to a product catalogue seen by local Windows Phone enthusiast site WPDownUnder, with the model to be a HTC Titan II 4G.
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.
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.
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.
Classification Board allows State of Decay through
According to Gizmodo, quoting the Classification Board, drug references have been removed from the Australian version of openworld zombie survival game State of Decay, allowing it to be classified under the new R18+ rating.
LG Optimus L9 hits Australia
This week LG added another model to its Australian line-up in the form of the Optimus L9.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.