Apple has released its iTunes Movies service in New Zealand last week, and this has shown us how badly the ISPs are performing.



First we have the problem with "data caps". Most people I know are on 10GB or 20GB plans, which means that they either pay a premium for any excess traffic during the billing period, or have their connection throttled down to dial-up speeds. yes, dial-up speeds!

Take for example this comment from someone with Vodafone:


Going to take me about 3 hrs. Its 2 Gb which will be over my d/l cap for day !! ( Ihug) so Ive stopped for today and continue tomorrow to complete


Two gigabytes a day? Two days to download the movie?

I am using TelstraClear cable-modem service and downloaded a 1 GB movie in 20 minutes. But not even TelstraClear is free of problems as we can see in the same discussion:


... [I] bought groundhog day just to test the waters and the download speed was soooo slow, 3 hours nearly! 


Three hours on a 10 Mbps cable-modem connection?

I hope the launch of Apple iTunes will show ISPs three things:

1. Not every heavy downloaded is a pirate downloading copyright material being illegaly distributed;

2. There's demand for a service with a bigger monthly data allowance, and

3. Their concept of "fast" is off.

As previously pointed out you can follow Tech Ed Live on Twitter, but if you want others to participate you can follow the tenz8 bot and tag your tweets with #tenz8 to share your thoughts.

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This IDF 2008 keynote brought information about new processo models and mobile platforms to be available soon.

On the Gizmodo web site there are now some more photos and full specs available about the upcoming Dell Mini Note. Officially, Dell calls this system the 'Dell Inspiron 910'. It comes with a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor, 1024x600 screen, built-in web... (more in the full post)

Microsoft treats us today to some new and improved (TM) licensing: Apparently, it is now allowed to move some server installations around a data center. Mind you, it was also technically possible before (because that's what you can do with collection... (more in the full post)

Day 1 is the official IDF start with keynotes and technical sessions.

Customers "Get Virtual Now" with increased flexibility and broader support when virtualizing Microsoft server applications.

Even before the official exhibition opens at the�Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco we can see the big them of mobility going around. Below are just a sample of the devices I could see when entering the main event centre hall.

All those devices are based on Intel Atom:













Below you see a video with Ultra Mobility Group Uday Keshavdas showing three Intel Atom-powered devices that will be on hand this week at IDF San Francisco, including the special Oylmpic edition Lenovo ideapad.

I will be updating this post with each of the MIDs specifications.

This week I am attending the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco. The activities started yesterday with a "Day 0" series of keynotes for media and bloggers. This was followed by an exclusive Asia Pacific dinner where our group had the opportunity to meet some Intel execs and talk about their respective areas. In our table (four Australian journalists and myself) we had the pleasure of having Steve Smith (Director intel Digital Enterprise) and John Skinner (Director, Eco Technology and one of the Intel guys at the Climate Savers initiative) in our table.

A valuable talk, mostly about computer power usage at home and enterprise. The main thing we took away is how small changes in computer manufacturing (a more efficient PSU for example) or just using appropriate Power Settings on your PC can make a big difference in your power bill - and the environment.

According to Skinner there is a reason for all those free power configuration applications going around - mostly because users are affraid of going into Control Panel and deal with cryptic configurations to get the best configuration for their needs. Those applications provide easy management and encourage people to act on that.

IDF Day 1 is in progress now. The official vision is "[IDF] brings together top Intel technical experts, Intel Fellows, industry thought leaders and leading technology companies. A strong slate of Intel keynotes is one source for insights and inspiration."

The first keynote was delivered by Craig Barrett, Intel chairman. “Technology is a tool to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges related to health care, education, economic development and the environment,” said Barrett, who also chairs a United Nations initiative on technology in the developing world. “No nations or individuals are untouched by these issues. Get involved. Be part of the solution.”
Barrett announced that Intel will award four $100,000 prizes to the most innovative ideas for applying technology to meet unmet needs related to education, health care, economic development and the environment. Ideas will be evaluated primarily for sustainability and innovativeness of the solution. More details on the INSPIRE•EMPOWER Challenge are available at http://www.intelchallenge.com/.

I am really interested on Day 2, which will be all about Mobile Internet devices (pictured below). Day 3 is about "crossing the chasm between Humans and Machines" and we will see Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak on stage.



There's also an exhibition with more than 180 companies from around the world where atendees will have hands-on demonstrations of their newest innovations and future technologies - no access for us until the end of Day 1, and other attendees will get to see this on Day 2.

For developers IDF is offering more than 170 hours of technical training. All technical sessions are led by Intel and industry experts. New this year is an Industry Insights Panel themed "Using Information Technology to Meet 21st Century Challenges and Opportunities." Two Technology Insights, both presented by Intel Fellows, will cover "Next Generation Intel Core Microarchitecture Family of Processors: Screaming Performance, Efficient Power" and "Splitting the Atom: A Peek into the Intel Atom Processor."

I was told today the Google Street View car is going around Wellington. here are some pictures, taken on the move, showing the camera on top of the car, and a couple of side shots showing the Google logo:







Thanks to Evan for sending in the pictures!

Symantec expands consumer portfolio to better enable and protect consumers' digital life.

You have to admit, nerds can be an optimistic bunch. Take, for example a recent case I have come across: A nice but otherwise unassuming IT support guy, burried away deep in the bowels of some anonymous IT department, rarely seeing the light of day a... (more in the full post)

Today is the Intel Developer Forum Day 0 - the day before the conference actually starts. Intel is hosting a pre-conference event for media and I am attending these morning sessions.

If you are registered for Microsoft Tech Ed Australia this year, come along you are automatically invited to come along to the MVP Theatre to watch Microsoft MVPs delivering sessions ranging from 20 minutes to the full 75 minutes on a variety of topi... (more in the full post)

Microsoft New Zealand has confirmed Amit Mital, General Manager Live Mesh and Developer Platform, as its keynote speaker for the Microsoft Tech Ed New Zealand 2008.

From the page:

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Software-plus-Services is Microsoft's st... (more in the full post)

We have two Dell V305 All-in-one printer to give to our New Zealand readers.

FonSpot turns a mobile phone into a Wi-Fi HotSpot, enabling any laptop, iPod Touch, internet tablet or other Wi-Fi device to connect to the Internet using any compatible mobile phone as a secure high speed Internet gateway.

Wellington-based Xero is going international, according to a release in the NZSX and a blog post. Xero is a listed company in the NZX and this is from the official announcement:


Xero wishes to advise that by early 2009 it will release a global version of its award-winning online accounting software.

Xero is choosing to disclose this part of its strategy now in order to openly respond to growing international sales enquiries.

Earlier this week Xero was named as one of the world's Top Ten Best Application User Interfaces of 2008 by Nielsen Norman Group, the US-based analysts and experts in software design.

'King of usability' and award judge Jakob Nielsen commented about Xero: "Making accounting fun? That's an award-winning design."

The award has led to a surge in interest from small businesses internationally asking when Xero will be available in countries outside its initial target markets of New Zealand, the UK and Australia.




Xero is a web-based accounting software-as-a-service platform. Sounds boring, but they managed to create an easy to use, good looking software that works for the company owner and for the accountant.

To celebrate the launch of our new mobile software store users will be able to purchase software for their mobile devices and enjoy a 20% discount for a limited time.

This is not really a Microsoft Tech Ed New Zealand event, but it's an interesting event for local developers - and around the same time.

I am talking about the Internet Explorer 8 Roadshow, announced by Nick in our forums:

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