January iiNews
editor's note
A lot can happen in 365 days. Diving into 2009, I'm looking forward to 12 months of new tricks, products and nerdy gadgets to blow our socks off! Whatever tickles your fancy, thanks for welcoming in another year with iiNet. Let's take a look at what's filling up your first instalment of iiNews for the New Year.
We kick off with an ISP filtering update, then announce our inaugural Get Animated winners and walk you through our third episode of Geek Speak. We talk about our Perth Festival 09 involvement, share our presentation materials from our 2008 Open Day and set a few Voice over IP porkies straight. As usual, we throw a bevy of cool prizes your way through our monthly competitions and give healthy New Year's resolutions a gentle nudge with our Site Scans for the month.
Till next month!
Swee Au-Yong
iiNews Editor (iinewsfeedback@iinet.net.au)
news
ISP filtering update
The Australian Government's internet filtering trials have been delayed by the Minister and we are unsure when they may start. At this stage, we're also unsure if iiNet will even be selected to participate but we'll be keeping our hand up to take part. One thing you can be certain of though, is that as results for the trials become available we'll be bringing them into the spotlight and keeping you in the loop.
While iiNet supports the Government's objective to stop child pornography, our belief is that these trials will only highlight filtering as ineffective in addressing the issue. We're also more than a little concerned with the Government's failure to clearly outline the level and types of censorship that will apply to subjects other than child pornography, in addition to the impact this filtering could have on internet performance.
In the meantime, learn more about where iiNet stands on mandatory internet filtering. To find out what the Government have to say, pay a visit to the Department of Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy.
Investec Super 14 Rugby - into the Freezone
Here's an early Valentines gift for rugby lovers - from February 13, the 2009 Investec Super 14s season will kick off and make its way into the Freezone.
iiNet broadband customers will be able to access a stack of games including 46 on-demand matches featuring Aussie teams, all available approximately 8 hrs after kick-off thanks to quota-free viewing.
So start the countdown and keep an eye on our Freezone Sports section - Investec Super 14s action coming soon!
iiNet gets arty with Perth Festival 09
We're excited to be back on board as a Premier Sponsor of the Perth International Arts Festival in 2009. To celebrate, we'll be bringing culture buffs exclusive online access to a range of Beck's Music Box and Perth Writer's Festival events.
With 4 on-demand gigs streaming via our iiNet Freezone, broadband customers from all over will be able to view the following events quota-free:
- Dig (Beck's Music Box)
- Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (Beck's Music Box)
- The Triffids (Beck's Music Box)
- James Campbell (Perth Writers Festival)
Check out this iiNet exclusive material as it lands in the Freezone throughout February and March. With two of these gigs already sold out, this could be your only chance to catch these artists in action.
If you've got plans to be in Perth during Festival 09, we've scored some sweet tickets which we'd love to give away. First up there's a double pass to see Irish cabaret sensation Camille O'Sullivan on 16 February 2009. If body moving beats and afro-rhythm are more your thing, we've got one double pass to see House of Holy Afro on 26 February 2009.
To be in the running to win either, email competitions with 'January Perth Festival Competition' in the subject line. Let us know your username, full name, address, the name of the tickets you'd like to win (either Camille O'Sullivan or House of Holy Afro), along with the answer to this question: What is the name of our latest Freezone addition, set to kick off on February 13 2009? by 5pm (WST) Friday 6 February, 2009.
iiNet named finalist in the 18th Annual WAITTA Awards
We've made the cut again! The Western Australian Information Technology & Telecommunications Awards (WAITTA) has announced iiNet as a finalist in its Service Delivery & Training category for our Follow the Sun methodology. Meanwhile, our good friends from Westnet have also made the grade, being named finalists in the Infrastructure category.
Each year, WAITTA salutes the best innovators and talent in the West Australian IT and Telecommunications industry. Winners of the 18th Annual WAITTA Awards will be crowned during the middle of March, so watch this space for more info.
Sydney Festival promo
Over five exciting nights (14-18 January), iiNet brought music, animation and movies to Darling Harbour as part of the city's Sydney Festival line-up. Our debut iiNet Films Afloat went without a hitch, drawing a 6,000 strong crowd of cult classic lovers each night.
If you're a local Sydney-sider or just happen to be in the area, the Festival doesn't wrap up until the end of the month - there's still plenty to see and do for a satisfying culture fix.
Lastly, congratulations to Kevin Ng and Felicia Conyer, our winners from last month's major Sydney Festival competition. We hope you had a blast on Cockatoo Island at All Tomorrow's Parties.
iiNet Get Animated - the votes are in!
A big round of applause to the 80 plus budding animators who took part in our inaugural iiNet Get Animated competition. With such tough talent to appraise, our panel of industry acclaimed judges was hard pushed to make a decision from the top 18 short-listed shorts. A big hearty congrats to:
Judges Choice Award
- Winner: Luke Randall for his film "Reach"
- 2nd Place: James Neale for his film "Lighthouse"
- 3rd Place: Daniel Kouts for his film "Rustbuckets"
Qantm Scholarship
Costanza Savini for her film "Curiosity Killed That Cat" - Costanza has won a 1 year scholarship to Qantm valued at $17,000!
Thanks also to everyone who cast a vote in the Peoples' Choice category. Nathan Saunders, Daniel Walder and Peter Rhodes are our three lucky voters who'll be walking away with a shiny new Playstation®3 console each, bundled with the new LittleBigPlanet™ game.
Peoples' Choice Award
- 1st: Steven Lattuca (Mr Detective Sir)
- 2nd: Fabio Brasiliense (Bigu)
- 3rd: Joyce Ho (Leif Erikson)
iiNet Gen2 Belkin modems - Pay TV & EFTPOS ready
Pay TV fans who've always wanted iiNet broadband without phone line rental - give a little cheer!
Through the second half of 2008, improvements to the iiNet Gen2 Belkin modems have included hardware revisions to support running Pay TV services (such as Box Office ordering and voting) which previously weren't available through Naked DSL. As an added bonus, business customers using the same iiNet Gen2 Belkin modems can now operate EFTPOS facilities over Naked DSL.
For customers who purchased a Gen2 Belkin before August 13 last year, you can now upgrade your modem with one of the following firmware updates:
Looking to do a little extra research? Learn more about our Gen2 Belkin modems - there's even a flashy demo to show you all the cool features.
If you're after a bit of help to set up your Naked DSL connection with Pay TV or EFTPOS, our Support Team will be only too happy to lend a hand. Get in touch by calling 13 22 58 or try shooting an email through to support@iinet.net.au.
Whirlpool annual Australian Broadband Survey
Each year, Whirlpool's annual Australian Broadband Survey cranks up to offer consumers (like you) a chance to get vocal about all things broadband. Whether you've got an opinion about the general state of broadband in Australia or want to share your experiences with iiNet, this survey is designed as an opportunity for you to be heard.
With the Whirlpool survey locking down on 31 January 2009, you'll need to get clicking soon!
business news
Voice over IP - demystified
More and more businesses are making the switch from PSTN over to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), attracted by the much lower call costs of making calls over the internet. For the benefit of those still clouded by Voice over IP related misconceptions, we've recruited Adam Bennett from our Business Team to take you through five common Voice over IP fallacies. Let's get stuck in.
Myth 1: You can't call a VoIP phone from a landline or mobile
The Truth: Anyone, using any phone, can call an iiNet VoIP number.
Myth 2: I can only call other VoIP phones with my VoIP service
The Truth: With iiNet VoIP, you can call any number, be it VoIP, landline or mobile.
Myth 3: Call quality isn't very good with VoIP
The Truth: iiNet VoIP has CD quality sound, just as good as your traditional landline.
Myth 4: VoIP is hard to setup
The Truth: It's actually pretty easy. If you already have a Voice over IP enabled modem, in most cases you only need to enter your VoIP username and password into the modem, before plugging any standard phone into the back. If you already have a modem which isn't VoIP capable, you can purchase an ATA (VoIP adaptor) to plug into your modem which then connects to your phone.
Myth 5: You have to dial a prefix before making calls with VoIP
The Truth: With iiNet Voice over IP you get a standard phone number (just like a landline phone) where there's no need to enter a prefix to dial out.
At $9.95 a month Voice over IP is well worth a trial. Plus, if you decide to stick with your old phone instead, there's no cancellation fee. On the flipside, you might like Voice over IP and want to say goodbye to your landline completely with a Naked DSL Business plan. So give it a go (if you haven't already) and see how much you can save! Dig up more information by checking out our Business VoIP page or find out more on how VoIP works.
support & services
Geek Speak
Don't know your VoIPs from your DSLs? Feel embarrassed at dinner parties when the conversation turns to Fibre To The Node? Like to know what all those techie terms mean? Well look no further...
Geek Speak is here to help turn technical internet jargon into plain and simple English. We understand not everyone is a net nerd, so each month iiNews will publish a Geek Speak topic to give you a hand. If you have any feedback or would like to suggest a new topic just email us at geekspeak@iinet.net.au.
Naked DSL is super-fast broadband that lets you say goodbye to paying for a phone line. You'll save money by not paying monthly fixed phone line rental and you can still use your normal phone! Naked DSL includes a broadband phone service called Naked iiTalk, at no extra charge, which includes all your local and national calls. The only difference is, instead of using your traditional landline to make phone calls, your phone will use your internet connection instead.
And no, you don't need a special phone to use iiTalk - just plug your phone into your modem or router, instead of the wall. It's that easy.
If you're hungry for more info, here's a few handy locations:
- Check out our step by step guide on setting up iiTalk
- Find out how much you could save by getting Naked
- See iiNet's Naked plans for Home and Business
Open Day 2008 materials online!
It's all up! For everyone who wrote in saying they couldn't make it along to our recent Open Day, you can now check out all the Open Day seminar and workshop materials online. Enjoy and thanks for waiting!
Broadband for Beginners
Since we first rolled out our popular Broadband for Beginners workshops, we've been working hard to come up with a solution to make these educational sessions more accessible to internet newbies, all across Australia.
Our answer? Convincing our friendly "tech-xperts" to record a series of video tutorials. In our online Broadband for Beginners series, you'll find a suite of virtual lessons covering a range of internet topics, including online security, shopping, entertainment and more. To watch these workshop sessions online, you'll need a QuickTime media player.
competitions
Sweet music with Human Nature, Roberta Flack & WASO
To celebrate the launch of their 2009 Season, our good friends from the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) are offering up two double passes to enjoy a very special live performance.
Taking place under the stars in the lush Botanic Gardens of Perth's Kings Park, WASO will be performing alongside vocal sensations Human Nature during February and March. If you happen to be in Perth on Sunday 1 March and fancy an unforgettable night of sweet music and symphony, email competitions with 'January WASO Competition' in the subject line. Don't forget to include your username, full name and address, along with the answer to this question: True or False - Using any phone, anyone can call an iiNet VoIP number? by 5pm (WST) Friday 6 February, 2009.
For everyone outside of sunny Perth, there's no need to feel left out. Thanks to our special relationship with WASO, we'll be streaming live and on demand concerts throughout 2009 as part of iiNet's Freezone!
January Musichead giveaway
The New Year means new freebies from our friends at www.musichead.com.au. This month we've scored 10 copies of Coastal Chill 09, NOW - The Hits of Summer 2009 and Empire of The Sun's Walking On A Dream to add to your Summer soundtrack.
To be in the running to win one of these prize packs, email competitions with 'January Summer Musichead Comp' in the subject line. Don't forget to include your username, full name and address, with the answer to this question: iiNet has signed on as a Premier Sponsor for which Arts Festival in 2009? Entries need to make it in before 5pm (WST) Friday 6 February, 2009. Good Luck!
Various Artists
Coastal Chill 09
Over the last seven years Coastal Chill has grown to become one of the most celebrated summer anthologies. The latest addition combines a diverse range of performers over 21 tracks including Angus & Julia Stone, Josh Pyke, Conor Oberst, The Panics, Lisa Mitchell and ARIA award winner Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu.
Various Artists
NOW - The Hits of Summer 2009
If NOW - The Hits of Winter helped you through the cooler months, then meet its tanned, toned and terrific counterpart! Featuring Gabriella Cilmi, Katy Perry, The Veronicas, Faker, Jonas Brothers and Sneaky Sound System NOW is a snapshot of some of the biggest songs of the summer.
Empire of the Sun
Walking on a Dream
As the debut album from Pnau's Nick Littlemore and Sleepy Jackson frontman Luke Steele, Walking on a Dream is already a winner with fans of both artists. Acoustic and electric guitar lines, synths, soft pad sounds and falsetto choruses help provide a laid back atmospheric summer listen.
games reviews
In 2009, we'll be teaming up again with the good folks from Games Warehouse to bring you your monthly games review. As usual, there'll be a juicy $100 voucher to spend on gaming goodness. If winning and splurging with this voucher sounds like something you can handle, email competitions with 'January Games Warehouse Competition' in the subject line. Don't forget to include your username, full name and address, along with the answer to this question: Which iiNet modem now supports both Pay TV and EFTPOS over Naked DSL? by 5pm (WST) Friday 6 February, 2009.
Gamer's 2-minute review
Traditionally, January heralds desperate times in the world of game critiquery. Christmas tends to suck the life out of the industry for a month or so, leaving innocent reviewers to forage for table scraps just to get by. Sadly I am one of these desperate foragers, and Lord of the Rings: Conquest is as bland and average a table scrap as I've found this month.
If you've played Star Wars Battlefront, you'll find no surprises here: LotR:C is in its simplest form a series of staged battles, where you assume the role of various expendable combatants from the franchise in an effort to take and hold simple objectives. These combatants range from archers, mages and knights to heroes like Aragorn, Legolas and tiny Gimli. It sounds like a right lark and it really should be, but there's a gaping maw here separating the game from the cool. In short, it's an average, repetitive game with disappointing abuse of the movie license - while fights take place in famous story locations, the similarities end abruptly thereafter.
There's nothing out and out wrong with the game, it just feels utterly lacking in effort. It's a bare-bones release that belongs about five years ago; there's no innovation, depth or intrigue to speak of between the single player campaign and the online deathmatch variations. It's bereft of any real balance, polish or a sense of tactility. It does what it needs to and nothing more.
Stepping into it, the controls are a little skittish: each class has its own interpretation of the ABXY setup making character changes a bit of an effort, and overall the thumbstick movement feels sluggish and wobbly. That said, the general gist of basic combat is straightforward and simple to execute - you'll pick up the concept fast enough, but there's little more beyond the initial outlay of moves and combos that lends itself to involving game play.
The single player campaign winds through key battles from the trilogy, pitching 'take and hold' objectives one after the other to secure victory over a given stage. These solo runs flatten out quickly, and don't quite prop the title up alone. Online though is where the game shakes its finest plumage, which is sadly characteristic of the overall package - that is to say the online game is passable, but doesn't generally set my eyebrows ablaze with excitement.
Online matches range from territory-based tourneys to 'stop that tiny bloke with the ring' affairs, and while the levels themselves are well structured they don't add enough spice to LotR:C's vanilla ethic. The characters don't distinguish themselves from one another, nor do their abilities stick out as a valuable team utility (a la Team Fortress 2). As such, expect the usual buzz from online play, but don't anticipate any coherent layer of strategy beyond spam and legging it.
LotR:C feels rushed, rough and lacking in charm. Be safe, rent it.
site scan
Healthy living goes beyond food fads and "finding 30" - but it can be done! New Year's resolution or not, check out this month's smattering of sites for the easy fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle - eating, sleeping and managing stress.
Healthy Eating: Tips for a Healthy Diet
This big picture guide to healthy eating outlines the basic rules for a good diet plan. When you're done, clicking through the rest of the site will serve up more practical information on maintaining balance and wellness throughout your life.
Healthy Sleep Tips
From the National Sleep Foundation (USA) comes ten simple adjustments for your routine and environment to improve the quality of your sleep. Learn about common sleep-related problems, test how "sleep smart" you are and find out what the experts say on just how much sleep you really need.
All About Stress - 4Health from Channel 4
Not all stress is bad. But too much of it over a long period of time can be damaging to the body and mind. This site presents the ins and outs on the matter, featuring a step-by-step management program to help you deal with stress on a daily basis.
