Business, Innovation & Tech Blog

Episode 36 sees the NZ Tech Podcast speak with NZ’s world beating Free Range Robotics team and remember Apple founder Steve Jobs who sadly passed away last week.

Other highlights covered include the Apple iPhone 4s, the new Facebook app for iPad, Sony’s Netflix box and a review of the HD Homerun.

As usual you will find our latest updates via Twitter @NZTechPodcast, the NZTechPodcast.com website and our facebook page.

Get the Podcast here:

• Listen to Episode 36 directly
• Subscribe and listen via iTunes
• Subscribe and listen via Zune
• RSS Feed

In this special episode of the NZ Tech Podcast two of NZ’s most experienced social media strategists. Piero Liguori (ex 2degrees) and Tom Bates (Contagion, ex Air NZ) joined Paul Spain to discuss a range of topics. High on the agenda was the new Facebook including new features such as Facebook Timeline and associated privacy concerns. And we pondered what opportunity Google+ has since opening up the beta gates so anyone can join without an invite.

General news topics this week included discussion of the Samsung Galaxy S Wi-Fi 5.0 (Android), Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) and we discuss November iPhone 5 availability in New Zealand.

And The Onion’s ‘Facebook CIA Project’ was a point of entertainment – if you haven’t seen it before this is well worth a quick watch.

 

You can stay tuned for latest NZ Tech Podcast updates via Twitter @NZTechPodcast, the NZTechPodcast.com website and the facebook page.

Get the Podcast here:

• Listen to Episode 34 directly
• Subscribe and listen via iTunes
• Subscribe and listen via Zune
• RSS Feed

Microsoft have started offering end users the full release version of the Windows Phone 7.5 ‘Mango’ update for existing Windows Phone 7 handsets. This the first major upgrade since the release of Windows Phone 7 in late 2010 – offering over 500 new features. It’s a move which is expected to help Microsoft establish a stronger position in the smartphone market over the coming year.

The update appears to be shipping to a mix of handsets from different manufacturers and carriers according to user feedback online. There is also a technique to speed up the update process for those who are not seeing the update listed on their phone or via the Zune client.

Around 10pm NZ time on Tuesday, 27 September Microsoft launched a new website for Windows Phone 7 – with regional specific variations available locally including in NZ.

At a similar time they also updated the ‘Where’s my phone update’ page which highlighted that the Windows Phone 7.5 update is approved by every Windows Phone 7 carrier globally with the exception of Sprint (US) and Telefonica (Spain) who are listed as still testing the update.Within hours the website was updated to indicate that the ‘Mango’ update was rolling out to users.

As we announced on Monday the Mango update will load directly onto most devices – even developer updated handsets with interim developer builds. This is in contrast to Microsoft’s original advice when installing developer builds and makes life much easier for this community and others who had managed to gain early access to the various pre-release versions of the Mango operating system software update.

To keep up-to-date with the latest breaking news on Windows Phone 7.5 and other tech news be sure to follow @WindowsPhoneNZ, @PaulSpain and @NZTechPodcast on twitter.

In recent days Windows 8 has been revealed to the world – so we discuss details of this dramatic change for Microsoft on the NZ Tech Podcast.

Other topics this week – Apple’s iCloud and OS X 10.7.2 beta, Red Hat’s Fedora 15 and Hewlett-Packard NZ changes data centre plans.

You can stay tuned for latest updates via Twitter @NZTechPodcast, the NZTechPodcast.com website and our facebook page.

Get the Podcast here:

• Listen to Episode 33 directly
• Subscribe and listen via iTunes
• Subscribe and listen via Zune
• RSS Feed

This morning, Microsoft gave their first detailed demonstration of Windows 8 to an audience of developers at the BUILD conference in Anaheim, California (and via live video feed globally). I’ll tell you some of the highlights and how to download it.

And was it good? No, Windows 8 looks incredible. When compared with the difference between Windows Vista and Windows 7 this is a much bigger change. Actually Windows 8 is a quantum leap forward, and such a dramatic change in so many ways it leaves me wondering how Apple will respond.

So, what is new? Well first up Windows can now boot in as little as 2 or 3 seconds on some hardware. Oh, and the core operating system actually used about 1/3 less memory than Windows 7. So it’s fast and light.

Windows 8 uses a Metro style user interface. It’s a fresh approach to computing and one which I think users will grow to appreciate quite quickly (though I’m certain will put some users off).

This operating system is equally at home on a tablet as on a full blown desktop PC. And in many cases I think users will opt for a device that does both – operates as a tablet when needed but docks to deliver a full PC experience in the office.

With Windows 8 Microsoft have made it easy for developers of all types to put together great applications in a small amount of time. And rich applications that draw on the cloud, local content, and the Metro style user experience. I expect to see a lot of applications designed specifically for Windows 8 and ready by the time in launches.

Curious what features are in Windows 8? Here’s a sampling:

• Support for sensors (gyroscope, compass, GPS, etc)
• USB 3
• Near Field Communications (NFC)
• Smart handling of mobile data roaming (Incl 3G/4G)
• Synchronisation and backup of key settings such as email accounts, favourites, photos between systems (via the cloud)
• Runs 100% of Windows 7 applications
• Built in spell checking functionality
• Runs across existing Intel/AMD 32-bit and 64-bit systems and new ARM based systems
• Security baked in including free Antivirus and Antimalware
• A system level mechanism so applications can share data and images with other apps
• ‘Reset & Refresh’ option to return a PC to an initial state without losing data and settings
• Improved search across the web and Windows applications
• Simple Metro style application development using multiple development methods including: HTML/CSS, JavaScript, C#, VB, C, C++ (and easy porting of apps to Windows Phone 7.5)
• Friendlier Windows Update and notifications
• Cloud storage built in to leverage SkyDrive
• Includes Metro based Email and Calendar client
• Lock screen shows key information such a new emails or missed IM conversations(similar to Windows Phone 7)
• A user interface that is works well via touch, mouse or keyboard
• Improve multi-monitor support
• Windows Store for acquiring and distributing applications

So, what’s the cycle for bringing Windows 8 to release? It looks like this – with my predicated dates alongside:

• Windows 8 Preview (today)
• Windows 8 beta (early January 2012)
• Release Candidate (February/March 2012)
• Release to Manufacturing (April 2012)
• General Availability (June 2012)

The preview release of Windows 8 is available now from this link.

The keynote presentation including Windows 8 demos and hardware is available to watch here.

I will update with further details as they come to hand. I will also be discussing Windows 8 in detail on the next episode of the NZ Tech Podcast – you can also follow me via Twitter: @paulspain

This week on the NZ Tech Podcast topics included Windows Phone 7 Mango, iPhone 5, Patent Wars, Black Hat and Chrome OS, Google TV, 1 million new robots for Foxconn, Gnome 3, Zotac ZBox, Open Source news, Microsoft Tech Ed.

Also announced was the Windows Phone Mango Treasure Hunt Competition which is a chance for listeners to win one of two Windows Phone 7 handsets (HTC Trophy). Stay tuned for latest NZ Tech Podcast updates via Twitter @NZTechPodcast or the NZTechPodcast.com website.

You can also Listen to Episode 27 directly, Subscribe and listen via iTunes or Subscribe and listen via Zune.

Hewlett Packard today showed off their WebOS based TouchPad tablets to a small press audience over lunch in Auckland today (following recent press events across the Asia Pacific region). Today was all about the TouchPad tablet but it was noticeable that a number of the HP team were carrying WebOS based smartphone handsets too.

It’s been some 17-months since HP’s acquisition of Palm and it’s WebOS operating system were announced. Initial Wi-Fi based TouchPad tablets launched in the U.S. on 1 July. The announcement today was that the TouchPad is making its way to the Asia Pacific market starting in August. Initial availability in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore will begin 12 August 2011. Prices are NZ$799 (16GB) and NZ$949 (32GB) in New Zealand. This compares with US pricing of US$499 and US$599 – though US prices exclude sales tax.

Roland Ng (HP Asia-Pacific and Japan director of WebOS) and the team from HP did a solid job of highlighting the differentiators of WebOS as a platform – specifically integrated Inbox/Calendar/Contacts with on/off features (called HP Synergy), Touchstone wireless charging, the Beats Audio branded speaker/audio playback hardware/software combination and Just Type which will be a time saver for some. Full multitasking and Flash capabilities were highlighted too.

In discussing WebOS and the TouchPad, Roland Ng highlighted HP’s experience in both enterprise and consumer markets. He is confident that WebOS and the TouchPad are a great fit for everyone – and commented that most users cover both in their daily life.

Coming up soon in the U.S. market will be a 4G based TouchPad device (for the AT&T network) – and no doubt 3G offerings will come in the future both in the U.S. and internationally. We also anticipate that WebOS based smartphones will start becoming available in other countries in the future – however HP have made no such announcements yet.

I personally enjoyed the experience of using the TouchPad when I tested one in the U.S. recently, and after spending more time with it today I have to say that it’s slick – and something that if I owned one it might just replace my iPad. Time will tell once I’ve spent a little more time using the device.

If you’d like to hear more on the subject of WebOS and the HP TouchPad it has been discussed on a number of recent NZ Tech Podcast episodes and an interview with a member of the Palm Global Business Unit at HP will feature in an upcoming episode.

Dai Henwood (TV personality and comedian) was this week’s studio guest – joining Paul Spain and Bradley Borrows in the studio. And as always we were also linked to the Geekzone users via a live chatroom and audio stream.

Show highlights included discussion of the iOS 5 beta (which Dai installed on his iPhone and iPad), the ‘new’ Commodore 64, Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc and the Kinect SDK.

We were also able to talk with Gabe Gravning (AMD) in Seattle about AMD’s Fusion APU chips and David Brebner (Unlimited Realities) about ground-breaking software being produced in NZ and used by some of the world’s biggest technology vendors.

Be sure to keep up-to-date with our latest news via Twitter @NZTechPodcast

Links:

• NZTechPodcast.com Website
• Direct MP3 Download – Episode 16
• Subscribe via iTunes
• Subscribe via Zune (with region set to US)

This week is a huge one in the technology world. The NZ Tech Podcast therefore is packed full of news, announcements and opinions. We have the latest from Apple’s WWDC event – including the iOS 5 and OS X Lion releases. Also massive in the news is the next version of Windows (currently referred to as Windows 8), the E3 Conference and Sony’s new PlayStation Vita. We also discuss Linux and OpenOffice news and interview Dr Murray Milner (NZ IPv6 Taskforce) about World IPv6 day.

Be sure to keep up-to-date with our latest NZ Tech Podcast updates new via Twitter @NZTechPodcast

Links:

• Direct MP3 Download – Episode 14
• Subscribe via iTunes
• Subscribe via Zune (with region set to US)
• RSS Feed

Looking for a laugh? In the technology industry there is one person whose antics often generate such a response – even when he’s not trying to.

At an Australian business event Friday afternoon, Steve Wozniak (Apple co-founder alongside Steve Jobs) suggested that humans would "become the pets, the dogs of the house." Wozniak was speaking to over 2000 business professionals at the Australian Chambers Business Congress on Australia’s Gold Coast.

‘The Woz’ (as Steve Wozniak is often affectionately known) has long been known as an eccentric character and his latest claims certainly back that up. In what must have sounded like a speech from Sarah Conner – an apparently fictional character in the Terminator movies and The Sarah Conner Chronicles TV series – Wozniak went on to claim "We’re already creating the superior beings, I think we lost the battle to the machines long ago".

Fortunately The Woz did slightly temper his crazy comments about a SkyNet like problem by stating "My comment about the machines winning the war is partly a joke, but we’ve accidentally already put so much in place that we can’t get rid of from our lives." And then strangely, he ranted again by stating "Once we have machines doing our high-level thinking, there’s so little need for ourselves and you can’t ever undo it – you can never turn them off."

The comments came to light in an article by Tony Bennett published by the Sydney Morning Herald shortly after the speech. We certainly look forward to hearing what The Woz will rant about next and many of us will secretly be wondering whether, he is, in fact correct. Are we at the brink of a new age where machines will rule the world – and we’ll simply sit back with nothing to do?

You can keep up with more of my rants and opinions by following @paulspain on Twitter.

At the D9 Conference in NYC today Microsoft’s Steven Sinofsky demonstrated the next generation of Windows (currently code-named "Windows 8") for the first time in public. And it looks like a product businesses will be interested.

It appears that Windows 8 take a fresh approach to Windows – incorporating the best of Tablets, Phones and full blown PCs today – and merging those elements into a new experience. The concept is that Windows 8 systems can be anything from a small touch only device through to devices with large screen and a keyboard and mouse.

The demo highlighted some of the new ways Microsoft are reinventing the user interface – with a very strong focus on touch-centric devices – such as tablets (aka slates). It’s a an approach that appears a few leaps ahead of what other vendors are delivering – and certainly technology that will put it in direct competition to the iPad – but also relevant to millions of users who need more business oriented capabilities than the iPad currently offers.

Highlights of the new interface showed include:

– Fast launching of apps from a tile-based Start screen, which replaces the Windows Start menu with a customizable, scalable full-screen view of apps
– Live tiles with notifications, showing always up-to-date information from your apps (think Windows Phone 7)
– Fluid, natural switching between running apps
– Convenient ability to snap and resize an app to the side of the screen, so you can really multitask using the capabilities of Windows
– Web-connected and Web-powered apps built using HTML5 and JavaScript that have access to the full power of the PC
– Fully touch-optimised browsing, with all the power of hardware-accelerated Internet Explorer 10

Microsoft also showed the seamless movement between traditional Windows applications and the new Windows 8 apps. It has been communicated that the full capabilities of Windows 7 will continue to be available to users, including the Windows Explorer and Desktop – and compatibility with all Windows 7 compatible PCs, software and peripherals.

If you like that sound of Windows 8 – check out the video.

 
To keep up to date on Windows 8 be sure to follow @PaulSpain on Twitter.

News has just come in that the Commerce Commission (New Zealand) have formally announced changes to mobile termination rates. This alters the wholesale rates for landline to mobile calling, and mobile to mobile calling, and also SMS message (Text message) rates.

Current wholesale mobile calling rates are approx 15c/minute on average – that will change to less than 4c/minute by April 2012 for all carriers (and reducing further in 2013 and 2014). This cut of more than 2/3 has been expected for some time and some providers such as 2degrees advise they have already taken the reduction into account with their existing rates.

SMS text message prices will be cut at a wholesale level from 9.5c to 0.06c – effectively immediately. This drop to nearly free is likely to lead to further reductions in retail rates, particularly for ‘text bundles’ (pre-purchase of large quantities of text messages).

The determination is expected to have a dramatic impact on the NZ mobile industry in two key areas:

• Profitability: Reduces the long term profit margins of the currently dominate players in New Zealand’s mobile market – Vodafone NZ and Telecom NZ (who own the XT Network)
• Competition: The reduced wholesale rates will create a more level playing field and makes it easier for new and recent entrants into the mobile market to gain significant market share (such as 2degrees Mobile)

The 358 page Mobile Termination Access Services (MTAS) report released by the Commerce Commission is fairly heavy reading – I expect to update this news piece with any more information I find once I’ve digested it. In the meantime you can download it here. The topic of Mobile Termination Rates was discussed on Episode 9 of the NZ Tech Podcast – and will be discussed in more detail in the upcoming episode next week.

Apple have launched a new generation of iMac desktop computers today. Each of these new generation iMac systems feature a quad-core Intel Sandy Bridge Core i5 or Core i7 CPU and the associated chip set.

Alongside the faster CPU is the addition of faster graphics courtesy of the AMD Radeon HD (6750M, 6770M or 6970M), 720p HD webcam, Thunderbolt (aka Light Peak) 10GB/s connectivity and an SDXC slot (also supports SD and SDHC cards). Apple advise the CPUs deliver up to 1.7x faster performance than in the previous generation of iMacs – and that video is up to 3x faster.

The new iMac Product has launched online globally today. Pricing for 21.5" iMac begins at US$1199, AU$1399, NZ$1999, UKP999.

The included Thunderbolt connectivity from Intel was also a component of the new Mac Book Pro systems launched by Apple earlier in the year. Thunderbolt delivers 10GB/s to connected devices – such as other computers, monitors, external storage or video cameras.

Research in Motion (RIM) have launched the BlackBerry PlayBook in the United States and Canada today starting at US$499 / CA$499 for the 16gb model. Availability in other markets such as New Zealand, Australia and United Kingdom have yet to be confirmed.

Initially available in 16gb (US$499), 32gb (US$599) or 64gb (US$699) models with WiFi connectivity, more models are expected in the coming months. Naturally many potential buyers may wait for the 3G edition to be released before making a purchase.

PlayBook Specifications include:

• 7” LCD screen (1024 x 600 screen resolution)
• Front camera – 3 megapixel still, 1080 HD video
• Rear camera – 5 megapixel still, 1080 HD video
• Java, Adobe Mobile Air, Adobe Flash support
• Video calling
• 1 GHz dual-core processor
• GPS, Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer), 6-Axis Motion Sensor (Gyroscope), Digital Compass (Magnetometer)
• Stereo speakers and stereo microphones
• Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
• Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR support
• Micro USB and Micro HDMI ports (1080p output supported)
• Weight: 425 grams

More details as they come to hand. We expect to discuss the PlayBook on an upcoming episode of the NZ Tech Podcast.

Following limited access since late 2010, Microsoft have opened up the Office 365 beta on to a widespread global audience. To many Office 365 is a new product – but for a few million already running Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS), Office Live Small Business, and Live@edu – it is a successor to those products.

Office 365 is a cloud offering delivering a bundle of the latest versions of Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Lync, and Microsoft Office via the Internet. And as I reported last year, Microsoft have dramatically reduced pricing on their cloud offerings compared with the point they started at. It is understood that Office 365 pricing will be even more compelling that current BPOS pricing in most cases.

Monthly subscription prices will start at US$6 per user with local pricing varying by region (approx $9 is anticipated starting point in NZ). Expect higher pricing (up to $US25) for enterprise versions – some of which include the full version of Microsoft Office for local installation on a PC or Laptop. It is also likely there will be a small discount available for charitable/not-for-profit organisations.

In initial testing I have been extremely impressed with Office 365 – a dramatic difference to other online suites such as Zoho Office Suite and Google Apps. I’ll feed back more as I put it through it paces a little more.

Follow @Office365NZ on Twitter for New Zealand specific news about Office 365.

This afternoon I was there as the iPad 2 was launched in New Zealand at YooBee in Newmarket, Auckland. With no official Apple Store in NZ YooBee has established itself as the brand of choice for consumers to buy Apple gadgets. The new iPad was certainly in hot demand with hundreds lining up to get their hands on this, the newest Apple product to hit New Zealand.

We’ll be talking in more detail about the iPad 2 on the next episode of the NZ Tech Podcast. There is also a mystery gadget that was shown to be me at Yoobee which we’ll be covering too.

Hundreds queued up into the evening the buy some of the 1st iPad 2 units available outside of the US

Most people didn’t even have an interest in trying out one of the display units – instead they just queued up immediately to buy one.

There appeared to be boxes and boxes of stock – though possibly not enough to satisfy demand

Last night we recorded and put online the third episode of the ‘NZ Tech Podcast’. Today I was pleasantly surprised to see we’ve landed the top spot on iTunes. How long that will last I don’t know – but it’s nice to have some extra attention courtesy of Apple and iTunes.

This episode is hosted by Paul Spain, Bradley Borrows and Skip Parker and as usual features our mix of local + international gadget and technology discussion.

Topics covered in this episode include the Snapper launch in Auckland, RSA SecurID hacking, super fast new Intel SSDs, Netflix/Zune access from NZ, Telstra/Vodafone 4G network upgrades and a 2degrees announcement. We ran out of time to talk about IE9 and Firefox 4 but have them on the agenda for the next episode.

The NZ Tech Podcast is available via both iTunes and the Zune marketplace or you can head across to NZTechPodcast.com for direct links and downloads.

Any feedback and comments are appreciated as the show format will continue to develop in future episodes.

This morning in San Francisco Apple’s Steve Jobs introduced the new iPad 2. Featuring front and rear cameras (with 720p video), a dual-core CPU, faster graphics, iOS 4.3, gyroscopes, thinner (now 8.8mm was 13.4mm) and optional 1080p video output. Prices remain the same as the previous model.

Since the iPad 2 has added cameras FaceTime, Photo Booth and iMovie are being launched for the iPad too. In addition Garage Band is also being launched for the iPad – it naturally features touch screen instruments – but users can also plug in in a guitar.

The iPad 2 ships starting 11 March in the US with and available in 26 more countries on 25 March:

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Iceland
• Italy
• Ireland
• Hungary
• Japan
• Luxembourg
• Mexico
• Netherland
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• UK

It will be available in both black and white colour variations.

Official details now online at Apple’s iPad site.

Follow me on Twitter for further updates: @paulspain