The Antipodean Podcast Blog

APC 2008-07-20 Science & Technology Roundup

This week we provide a hearty roundup of science and technology news with no mention ‘of that phone’

All stories o the blog at www.antipodeanpodcast-blog.com

 

Tags: Antipodean+Podcast

Ovum says voice market booms in Asia Pacific

Ovum says voice market booms in Asia Pacific - www.crn.com.au

Telecommunication analyst group Ovum predicts that the voice market will grow from 2.2 billion connections at the end of 2008 to 3.8 billion by 2017 in the Asian region, including Australia and New Zealand.

Atom laser to keep spacecraft on track

Atom laser to keep spacecraft on track (ABC News in Science)

A laser beam that emits a continuous stream of atoms may one day help ultra-precise navigation of space craft, say Australian experts.

'Chemical chaperone' may be breakthrough for diabetics

'Chemical chaperone' may be breakthrough for diabetics - Local News - News - General - The Canberra Times

Australian scientists have discovered a chemical compound which acts as a ''saviour'' for dying insulin cells in Type2 diabetics, offering new hope in combating the disease

Scientists warn important Antarctica ice bridge may collapse

iTWire - Scientists warn important Antarctica ice bridge may collapse

An ice bridge connecting Wilkins Ice Shelf and Charcot Island in Antarctica may collapse very soon. Its demise would likely doom the 9,000-square-mile (16,000-square-kilometer) ice shelf.

Grow a heart valve: An Australian scientist is ready

iTWire - Grow a heart valve: An Australian scientist is ready

Australian scientist Yosry Morsi is ready to use tissue engineering to grow valves and tissues. Morsi says it is likely that the process he is now developing to grow artificial heart valves could likely be tested on animals in one year and used in humans within five years.

Queensland goes offline

Queensland goes offline | Australian IT

A WORKER operating a backhoe on a building site at Molendinar on the Gold Coast threw Queensland's communications network into chaos yesterday morning by severing a fibre optic cable.
The Optus network collapsed, rendering landline and mobile phones to and from Queensland useless and leaving internet services blacked out. Automatic teller machines and EFTPOS services were also affected.

Study puts urine in the spotlight

Study puts urine in the spotlight (ABC News in Science)

Australian researchers are developing a simple fluorescent light test that could provide an almost instantaneous diagnosis for urinary tract infections.

Queensland urges Google Maps to catch up

Queensland urges Google Maps to catch up | Australian IT

QUEENSLAND Deputy Premier Paul Lucas has asked Google to update its satellite images to show the state's new infrastructure.
Mr Lucas said the state was developing so rapidly, the popular website Google Maps did not accurately depict its landscape.

Woolworths customers embrace new technologies

Woolworths customers embrace new technologies | Australian IT

RETAILER Woolworths said sales for new technologies had increased in its electronic stores while older technologies were being phased out.

Australians set a shining standard

Australians set a shining standard (ABC News in Science)

Australian scientists say they have achieved the world's most accurate measurement of the fundamental unit of light intensity.

Sexes need different dinners, says study

Sexes need different dinners, says study (ABC News in Science)

The wisdom of feeding the man meat has been thrown into question by a study that shows the secret to a long reproductive life in males is carbohydrates.

Optus cable culprit found

Optus cable culprit found | Australian IT

GOLD Coast City Council has admitted it was in charge of the project on which a backhoe driver unwittingly cut Optus's main fibre optic cable, crippling the telco's network in Queensland.

The council initially denied it was involved and blamed the State Government for the incident which left more than a million people without phone, mobile and internet links.

Techno Pope texts the faithful

Techno Pope texts the faithful | Australian IT

HE'S known in some circles as the "techno Pope", but not because of a love of dance music -- his holiness is more of a Beethoven or Mozart fan.
Rather, it's Pope Benedict XVI's penchant for text-messaging the masses, his iPod (with the Papal coat of arms engraved on the back) and the Catholic Church's increasing use of social networking media that have earned him the moniker, according to World Youth Day spokesman Father Mark Podesta.

Online code of conduct launched

Online code of conduct launched | Australian IT

THE federal Government has unveiled a new code of conduct to regulate online and mobile phone content which will call for classifications similar to those for films.

Researchers close in on chlamydia vaccine (ABC News in Science)

Researchers close in on chlamydia vaccine (ABC News in Science): "A vaccine designed to protect koalas from the infectious disease chlamydia has shown positive results in an early trial, researchers say."

(Via .)

Researchers close in on chlamydia vaccine (ABC News in Science)

Optus cable cut? Think of your own backup plan

iTWire - Optus cable cut? Think of your own backup plan: "If you were one of the many individuals or businesses affected by the recent Optus cable snafu caused by a backhoe driver working for the Gold Coast City Council, it’s time to think about a Plan B in case it ever happens again. What can you do?"

(Via .)

iTWire - Optus cable cut? Think of your own backup plan

My iPhone is now Free of shackles and unlocked - simple pleasures and freedom

I purchased my iPhone outright last week from Optus and paid the extra 80 dollars to allow it to ultimately become unlocked as promised on their prepaid plan. Last weekend I called and asked for unlocking to be processed, they went through the process then told me it would be unlocked in up to 10 days. Well 5 days later, I got a an SMS telling me it was unlocked and to sync with iTunes to complete the process. Woo hoop I thought. But life is never so simple.... When I connected to iTunes nothing happened. I put in another SIM and nope no unlocked phone. it took some care sifting of comments over on the MacTalk website to work out the process to complete my path to freedom. Basically I had to do a restore and backup for the process to complete. This done I am unlocked and was able to get my 3 network data card to connect in my iPhone. OK so I am a happy untethered iPhone user, no contracts or issues and I can move to different networks as deals emerge or as the need requires when I travel overseas, the primary reason for this action. But why was the process not a little more transparent? If I wasn't a pseudo geek I probably would never have figured out how this worked and spent hours on the phone to Optus. I must say however I have found their service to be quite good this week as I travel around the country to regional areas and my phone stays connected and gets good 3G service in the centers I was in. I will stay with them having moved from Vodafone during the iPhone switch. Optus simply offered the best deal and their coverage appears to be better than that I have experienced during 14 yrs. with Vodafone.

iPhone not so multimedia friendly

iPhone not so multimedia friendly - Articles - Mobiles & Handhelds - smh.com.au

Most of the TV, movie and other multimedia content offered by Optus, Vodafone and Telstra over their 3G networks is not available on the iPhone.

The iPhone 3G, which debuted around the world on Friday, is being billed as the ultimate multimedia handset and one of the main benefits of upgrading to a 3G service is the ability to access a range of content provided by the carriers.

Naked DSL extends broadband reach

Naked DSL extends broadband reach: News - Communications - ZDNet Australia: "Several of Australia's largest internet service providers are using the new naked DSL style of broadband to extend the reach of their services and eliminate customer black spots."

(Via .)

Naked DSL extends broadband reach: News - Communications - ZDNet Australia

NZ teen mastermind walks free over global cyber crime

NZ teen mastermind walks free over global cyber crime - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "A New Zealand teenager who confessed to a central role in a global cyber-crime ring which caused millions of dollars in losses has walked free from court with police wanting to secure his skills."

(Via .)

NZ teen mastermind walks free over global cyber crime - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

NSW to appoint Chief Scientist and Scientific Engineer

Science Industry Australia - SIA News - NSW to appoint Chief Scientist and Scientific Engineer: " The New South Wales Government is to appoint a Chief Scientist andScientific Engineer, and will also fund an academic position inEngineering Innovation at the University of Sydney."

(Via .)

Science Industry Australia - SIA News - NSW to appoint Chief Scientist and Scientific Engineer

Broadband and Internet Use in Australia

Broadband and Internet Use in Australia - eMarketer: "In what is typically a sign of growing broadband usage, the number of dial-up subscribers in Australia showed a notable decline last year, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Meanwhile, the number of high-speed subscribers climbed markedly."

(Via .)

Broadband and Internet Use in Australia - eMarketer

SA govt to rig buses for free internet

SA govt to rig buses for free internet: News - Hardware - ZDNet Australia: "The South Australian Government is planning to offer free internet on the state's public transport system to make it more appealing to use — but it needs to find a hardware vendor and ISP willing to install the technology first."

(Via .)

SA govt to rig buses for free internet: News - Hardware - ZDNet Australia

New meters slash home power use: trial

New meters slash home power use: trial - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "Energy Australia says new-generation electricity meters could cut household power use by up to 25 per cent."

(Via .)

New meters slash home power use: trial - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Atom laser to keep spacecraft on track

Atom laser to keep spacecraft on track (ABC News in Science): "A laser beam that emits a continuous stream of atoms may one day help ultra-precise navigation of space craft, say Australian experts. Physicists Dr Nick Robins and colleagues from the Australian National University in Canberra report their progress on developing the first gyroscope of its kind, in the journal Nature Physics."

(Via .)

Atom laser to keep spacecraft on track (ABC News in Science)

'Chemical chaperone' may be breakthrough for diabetics

'Chemical chaperone' may be breakthrough for diabetics - Local News - News - General - The Canberra Times: "Australian scientists have discovered a chemical compound which acts as a ''saviour'' for dying insulin cells in Type2 diabetics, offering new hope in combating the disease."

(Via .)

'Chemical chaperone' may be breakthrough for diabetics - Local News - News - General - The Canberra Times

Set-top box to cut energy consumption

Set-top box to cut energy consumption | Australian IT: "AUSTRALIAN researchers are developing a consumer-friendly set-top box to reduce energy consumption by data centres."

(Via .)

Set-top box to cut energy consumption | Australian IT

Scientists warn important Antarctica ice bridge may collapse

iTWire - Scientists warn important Antarctica ice bridge may collapse: "An ice bridge connecting Wilkins Ice Shelf and Charcot Island in Antarctica may collapse very soon. Its demise would likely doom the 9,000-square-mile (16,000-square-kilometer) ice shelf"

(Via .)

iTWire - Scientists warn important Antarctica ice bridge may collapse

Grow a heart valve: An Australian scientist is ready

iTWire - Grow a heart valve: An Australian scientist is ready: "Australian scientist Yosry Morsi is ready to use tissue engineering to grow valves and tissues. Morsi says it is likely that the process he is now developing to grow artificial heart valves could likely be tested on animals in one year and used in humans within five years. "

(Via .)

iTWire - Grow a heart valve: An Australian scientist is ready

Devil disease prompts early breeding

Devil disease prompts early breeding - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "A research team has found many tasmanian devils have responded to the facial tumour disease by breeding earlier."

(Via .)

Devil disease prompts early breeding - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Melbourne scientists make Malaria breakthrough

Melbourne scientists make Malaria breakthrough - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "Melbourne-based scientists are part of what is believed to be a significant breakthrough in the fight against Malaria. The research involving the scientists at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, and associates at Oxford and Liverpool universities, has uncovered the process that helps the disease hijack red blood cells."

(Via .)

Melbourne scientists make Malaria breakthrough - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Apple sells one million iPhones 3Gs

Apple sells one million iPhones 3Gs - iPhone Insider - Digital Life - smh.com.au

Apple said it had sold one million iPhones in the three days following the release of the latest model on Friday.

$20m iPhone injection could boost Aussie adoption of 3G

$20m iPhone injection could boost Aussie adoption of 3G - Mobile & Wireless - CRN Australia: "Market researcher IbisWorld has predicted that Friday’s launch of the iPhone across Australia delivered $20 million into the economy in just a matter of hours."

(Via .)

$20m iPhone injection could boost Aussie adoption of 3G - Mobile & Wireless - CRN Australia

Ericsson Australia to take lead role in future mobile network deployments

iTWire - Ericsson Australia to take lead role in future mobile network deployments: "In preparation for the introduction of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) of mobile technology into carrier networks Ericsson is to open, in Melbourne, its first centre dedicated to bridging the gap between R&D and deployment of the new technologies in carrier networks worldwide."

(Via .)

iTWire - Ericsson Australia to take lead role in future mobile network deployments

Telstra broadband pricing out in front of overseas peers.

What we already know.....

iTWire - Telstra broadband pricing out in front of overseas peers.: "Optus has released a report commissioned from Spectrum Value Partners claiming it shows that Telstra has the most expensive, or second most expensive, consumer DSL broadband pricing plans of incumbent telecommunications providers in eighteen OECD countries."

(Via .)

iTWire - Telstra broadband pricing out in front of overseas peers.

The iPhone 3G's most annoying feature

The iPhone 3G's most annoying feature > News > PC Authority: "The iPhone and iPhone 3G's biggest shortcoming is still not fixed. Find out what it is and why it could affect your phone bill. The problem is the iPhone's tendency to switch from the iPhone's built in wifi connection to the potentially expensive mobile phone network whenever the phone goes to sleep mode."

(Via .)

The iPhone 3G's most annoying feature > News > PC Authority

World's oldest blogger makes final post

World's oldest blogger makes final post - web - Technology - smh.com.au: "The Australian woman renowned as the world's oldest internet blogger has made her final post, aged 108. Olive Riley, of Woy Woy on NSW's central coast, died in a nursing home just after 6am yesterday."

(Via .)

World's oldest blogger makes final post - web - Technology - smh.com.au

APC 2008-07-13 A Really Silly Week

We cover the the downunder crazyness of the past week over the iPhone and update on recent other developments of an all tech nature this week.

All stories are on the blog at antipodeanpodcast-blog.com

 

Tags: Antipodean+Podcast,+iPhone,+Australia