Q: Which laptop should I buy?
A: If you are looking to save money and get a smaller machine than a desktop don’t get a laptop. Only buy a laptop if you need a portable machine.
- Desktop machines offer better value when comparing like for like specifications.
- A desktop machine with an LCD/LED screen doesn’t take up much desks space if you can stow the main machine under the desk. (Or like the iMac, the screen is the machine.)
- Upgrades are usually easier and cheaper in a desktop machine.
Filed under: Apple, Questions | Leave a Comment
A: Usually the one with the best reception in your area. Don’t get caught up with data download caps, most people don’t get close to their data limits unless they use their phone as a tethered modem.
- Check the reception levels in the areas that matter to you before you sign a contract. Pick up a pre-paid SIM from each of the carriers in your area and try them out. Your phone will show you the signal level even without credit.
- Crunch some numbers and estimate how much data you will need. It’s probably less than you think. I use around 100MB a month, and I use my iPhone without a second thought.
- Remember that you can often scale up a contract plan, but it’s harder to scale down. Carefully watch your usage, and increase your plan if you need. Watch out that you don’t go over your cap data limit, as excess charges are often steep.
Filed under: iPad, iPhone, Mobile, Questions | Leave a Comment
HDTV – Doing less with more.
I have written about the demise of HD in Australia previously.
In this opinion piece on CNet they look more closely at the situation so far:
Commercial free-to-air networks are only allowed three channels under government regulation, so while most HD channels have mirrored the content on primary channels networks have become creative about ways to increase revenue.
But while that’s all well and good for the network bottom line it’s bad news for viewers.
Does the public at large care about HD?
Read the rest of the article here.
Filed under: Australia, HD, Television | Leave a Comment
Tags: ABCNews24, Australia, HDTV
This is an interesting opinion piece in The Australian regarding the cost of the NBN. As much as it pains me to say so, I largely agree.
Here is the money quote, aimed outback to our new ‘kingmakers’:
“Without the long wait for fibre deployment, the Coalition’s plan will also bring greater bandwidth to the bush much faster.”
But a point that I think was missed, and has been missed in the NBN cost debate generally, are the indirect costs to consumers. In order to take real advantage of the NBN, to the levels suggested by the rhetoric, folks are going to have to make significant investment in the equipment they have at home, which is against the current trends or low cost and mobility (i.e. Netbooks and phones).
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
This is significantly scary stuff. A vulnerability has been discovered in iOS 4 that allows a remote party to compromise an iPhone or iPad simply by visiting a website.
The vulnerability has been made available by well intentioned ‘hackers’ to jailbreak iPhones and iPads such that applications other than those approved by Apple can be run on the devices. Its possible to jailbreak your own device by visiting a website set-up by the hackers (Google for it, if you want to.)
The problem is that the same vulnerabilty could be used for malisious purposes. The exploit method is to load a specially crafted PDF file into Safari, that installs code on the phone and ‘opens’ it up for further exploit. The attack could be activated by pressing a link on a web page, via email, or even a link sent in an SMS.
There is no such thing as third party anti-virus or anti-malware for the iPhone and there is no way to switch off the vulnerable PDF reader, so right now the only defense for iPhone and iPad users is to practice safe browsing, and not to load PDF’s from untrusted sources.
To see the location of a link before clicking on it, press and hold the link, the URL will be displayed in the slide up menu, however even this can not be relied upon as long links get truncated and URLs often don’t disclose the type of media it links to.
iPhone vulnerabilities have been found in the past. iOS 1 (then called iPhone OS 1) had a very similar flaw that was again used to jailbreak the iPhone. And back at CanSecWest’s Pwn 2 Own competition an iPhone 3GS was hacked, but the exploit was far more involved.
I try to be careful not to overstate security issues, but this is a real threat and needs to be taken seriously. Its not a matter of if, but when this vulnerability will become ‘weaponised’. iPhone users are at the mercy of Apple to release a fix, and this is something that Apple has been slow to do in the past.
Filed under: Apple, iPad, iPhone | Leave a Comment
Tags: Apple, hack, ipad, iPhone, jailbreak, pwn, security, vulnerability
Eight and a half hours after the midnight opening, and a whopping 19 hours after the queue originally started… and it’s still going!! A few sick days being used here no doubt!
The queue is sitting to the right of the picture, stretching into the distance.
Filed under: Apple, iPhone | Leave a Comment
Tags: Australia, Brisbane, iPhone 4, launch, Optus, queue
Conroy weakening on filter?
The ABC is reporting that Wayne Swan hinted to possible changes to Labour’s mandatory Internet filter policy. While speaking on Triple J’s Hack program Wayne said:
“It’s possible that we could move in slightly different directions.”
Politicians, especially senior – experienced politicians, especially during an election campaign, don’t say these things kind of things lightly.
Earlier in the week the already delayed filter ‘suffered’ another setback as the planned meeting of state Attorneys-General set up to discuss the review of RC material was put back until late November.
It’s almost certain that Conroy called for the review of RC material to push the highly unpopular policy off the election agenda, but the questions keep coming and the pressure starting to take effect.
Earlier I called the filter policy dead. That may have been a little premature but I think it’s really on the cards that common sense will win and the filter will be introduced as opt-in.
Filed under: nocleanfeed, politics | Leave a Comment
Tags: Australia, Australian, conroy, filter, nocleanfeed, openinternet, swan
The line is growing outside the Optus store in Brisbanes Queen Street Mall where 9 folks are now in line.
Just down the way at the Telstra store the line has stared and has 4 members.
Filed under: Apple, iPhone | 3 Comments
Tags: Australia, Brisbane, iPhone 4, launch, Optus, queue
UPDATE: More photos, the line grows and Telstra kicks off…
These guys started queuing 30 mins ago (around 11:30am) outside the Optus store in the Queen Street Mall.
No signs of other lines yet. Will check a bit later.
The madness begins!
Filed under: Apple, iPhone | 1 Comment
Tags: Australia, Brisbane, iPhone 4, launch, Optus, queue
In my last post I compared all the published mobile plans for iPhone 4. There are a bunch of offers for anyone prepared to be lock in for the next two years (Optus has some one year offers too).
For the last 4 years I have been locked in to two 24 month contracts. Both seemed good to start with, but both ended up with significant drawbacks that other offers didn’t have.
Mobile plans are fast moving products. I don’t want to be tied in again. So with Apple selling an unlocked handset, what pay as you go options are there?
In a previous post I predicted that carriers would be able to artificially restrict plans for iPhone 4 by limiting the availability of the micro-sim. Well, after talking to most of the carriers yesterday I was told that practically any none phone specific plans would be available for purchase, and could be enabled on a micro-sim via a sim card replacement process. The process may cost though – 30 bucks on Telstra.
If you are happy with a carrier enough to be locked in for two years, you will get better value from a contract plan. But if you want to be commitment free you do have options.
Again, check out your phone usage and work out what you need. So far from everyone I have walked through this process nobody has come close to using the amount of data that they currently pay for. Gigs of data sounds good but if you have a day job and Wifi at home you are unlikely to use it all.
TIP: Telstra to announce new pay as you go options on Aug 8th. We could see a price drop or value boost if recent changes to their broadband plans are anything to go by.
Filed under: Apple, iPhone | 1 Comment
Tags: 4, Apple, iPhone, iPhone4, Optus, pay as you go, PAYG, pre pay, prepay, Telstra, Three, Vodafone
