May iiNews
editor's note
Amongst the hurly-burly of work, trying to squeeze in a daily walk with the dog, Friday night drinks and the odd dinner with the folks; trying to sort out my last minute travel plans has been exhausting. Getting some serious downtime to get organised has started to look like a luxury only Powerball winners can afford; which explains why, now more than ever, I love the web.
In the space of a short week, I've researched, planned and booked a trip. I've sorted out visas, learned all about N95 P2 compliant respirators (in the fight against Swine Flu), used the great Googleplex to book seats for an NBC show and reserved a table for two, half a world away. It's been too easy – effortless even.
Back on local soil, there's been lots going on. Our Freezone's welcomed another local show into its fold, we've painted the streets of Melbourne in iiNet colours, and enjoyed another night of sweet symphony with WASO. On the tech-side of things, our resident nerds talk up new features you'll see in Toolbox. We also clear up a little confusion between what Wi-Fi is and what 3G is, before hitting you with tips to search smarter online. Then, as usual, there's our regular bag of music and gaming giveaways. Don't forget to check out this month's sweep of sites to scan - there's tips covering online job hunting and more.
If you'd like to share any of your thoughts about iiNews – questions and suggestions – send through an email to iinewsfeedback@iinet.net.au.
Catch you in a few weeks!
Swee Au-Yong
iiNews Editor
iiNet news
iiNet paints Melbourne red and orange
We started with Perth and Sydney, then took on Brisbane and now it's Melbourne's turn. If you're kicking around the Victorian capital this month, in particular Flinders Street Station, you'll see a familiar face popping up around the place.
As part of our latest campaign, you'll find iiNet's lovable Irishman splashed across giant billboards, wrapped around inner city trams and cruising on the sides of 40 buses. We're excited to be speaking to the people of Melbourne and letting them know what iiNet is all about.
Since launching our Melbournian campaign in late April, we've received loads of positive feedback. It's great to be making new friends, so thanks to everyone for the warm Garden State welcome. If you're curious to see what a city looks like painted iiNet, check out some of our happy snaps.
Perth Racing in the Freezone – giddy up!
If you're a fan of photo finishes and on-the-bridle action, you'll be pleased to welcome Perth Racing (formerly The WA Turf Club) to iiNet's family of Freezone content.
Filmed locally in Australia, Perth Racing brings you the latest in news, events and industry info. So, whether you're a seasoned punter or someone who likes to catch the occasional gallop - this Aussie-made production will keep you on the edge of your seat, without chewing up additional quota.
All iiNet Broadband and Naked DSL accounts come complete with access to the Freezone; meaning you can enjoy as much Freezone activity as you like, without having to worry about your monthly downloads. Find out more about the Freezone.
A night with WASO, Paul Daniels and Beethoven
This month's West Australian Symphony Orchestra's season opener requires a standing ovation. If you missed the live streams in the middle of May, it's not too late to tune into Freezone for an encore performance.
Head to the Performances On Demand section, where you'll find streaming footage of Paul Daniels' first season as WASO Principal Conductor. Next, you'll need to get comfy because you're in for an exceptional program of orchestral masterpieces – there's works from Beethoven, Strauss, Rachmaninov and even a James Ledger world premiere. To top it all, guest soloist Kyoko Takezawa makes an appearance, performing Beethoven's lyrical Violin Concerto.
WASO's wholehearted adoption of our streaming Freezone initiative has us folks at iiHQ chuffed. We're especially tickled by Paul Daniel's personal enthusiasm – on one occasion, in between bows at the end of a piece, Paul was so engrossed in a 'behind the scenes' examination of the streaming equipment, he had to be reminded he was needed back on stage for his next number.
For more live doses of symphonic poetry from the Freezone, pencil in Mahler's First for 19 September and Rhapsody in Blue for 5 December.
iiNet iTunes Store — thanks for helping us celebrate
Thanks to everyone who celebrated the launch of our iiNet iTunes Store last month! We've gone through all the entries for our iTunes Broadband Song competition and awarded 100 iTunes codes to each of our 50 most creative entries.
Here's a look at 3 of our favourites:
Harder Better Faster Stronger Broadband – Daft Punk
Can't get enough of your love broadband baby – Barry White
Baby Got Back Broadband – Sir 'Clixxalot' Mix-a-Lot
Don't forget, you can make some sound savings by purchasing through the iiNet iTunes Store. Anything you buy from the iiNet iTunes Store comes quota-free – meaning no matter how much you enjoy, it won't make a dent to your monthly download quota (Podcasts exempt).
You can still head directly to the Apple iTunes store, via the Freezone, to make unmetered purchases – otherwise our own iiNet iTunes Store is a convenient mouse click away.
business news
iiNet Business product range expands
Through our partnership with Westnet, we're happy to announce that we've grown our Business product range. We've added a bunch of Westnet Business products and info to our iiNet site, giving you a greater smorgasbord of options to choose from.
On top of getting online with Naked Business and Business Broadband, we can now offer SHDSL (Single-Pair High-speed Digital Subscriber Line) and Fibre to the suite of options. On the voice front, we're introducing ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network).
If you're not familiar with these alternatives, here's a quick run-through of each:
Fibre
A Fibre connection gives you super-fast speeds from 2Mbps to 100Mbps. In addition to quick access, businesses signing up to a Westnet Fibre plan will make the most of a full duplex broadband service (simultaneous transfers up and down).
SHDSL
SHDSL is a nifty solution for businesses running a range of data applications – multiple voice lines, remote LAN access and server hosting, to rattle off a few. It uses a symmetrical connection; meaning uploads and downloads happen at the same speed.
ISDN
ISDN lets businesses combine phone, fax and data services for fast digital access.
If you're curious and would like to learn more, click through on the links above. Otherwise flick an email through to businessteam@iinet.net.au – we'll be happy to help.
support & services
What's new in Toolbox?
It's been about a month since we re-launched Toolbox. Let's jog you through some of the more exciting changes and features, which you'll now find in your DIY online account manager.
New landing page with volume usage
When you log into the revamped Toolbox you'll be greeted by a shiny new dashboard, loaded with all your favourite account tools like 'volume usage' – right there on the front page.
Smarter navigation
If you're signed up with a handful of iiNet products and services, you'll find navigation with Toolbox easier and more efficient. We've added clever dropdown menus, giving you the option to select a relevant username or service to use for a tool.
Side bar and account alerts
On the left hand side of each page, you'll find a new side bar which lists user information, as well as options to change your personal account info. If you've gone over or are nearing your download limit, have an invoice overdue, or your credit card is set to expire, an alert will appear to call you to action!
No pop-ups
You asked for it! To make things less confusing, we've done away with pop-ups so everything (bar signup and upgrades) now loads in the one window.
For anyone needing a little time to get the hang of things, you'll find both the old and new Toolbox running alongside each other for a short while. If you run into any issues while tinkering in the new Toolbox you can call us on 13 22 58 or, read through our iiHelp Toolbox article for a quick-fix.
Configure your Voice Mail from Toolbox
For VOIP customers, free Voice Mail comes part and parcel with your service along with a bevy of other freebies. By popular demand, we've rolled out a couple of practical improvements, meaning you can tailor your Voice Mail even more.
For those who flat-out don't want or need Voice Mail, you can now turn off (deactivate) this service yourself from Toolbox.
You'll also find that we've extended the default Ring Length by 5-10 seconds across the board, giving you a little more time to pick up. If that's not enough, you can tweak this setting (Ring Lengths of between 25, 35 or 45 seconds) from Toolbox.
Find these settings along with normal VOIP configuration in Toolbox – easy!
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
Wi-Fi, wireless, 3G – what's the difference?
With technology bounding ahead (offering up more and more ways to connect), it's easy to get mixed up between the different types of access on the market.
Let's get back to basics and start from square one.
Internet access is available through fixed (with wires) or wireless connections- kind of like how our traditional land lines and mobile phones work.
Moving on. Fixed access brings Internet directly into homes or businesses through the usual wires and cables. Some examples are your run-of-the-mill ADSL or Naked connections.
Not so long ago, computers needed to be plugged directly into ADSL modems or Ethernet cables (connecting to a Local Area Network - LAN) for connectivity. With the recent flood of laptops and rise of teeny tiny PCs, it's become standard for homes to use wireless routers, sharing fixed connections over the air within a building. We refer to this kind of connection as wireless or WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network).
When this type of connection is taking place in public spaces, you'll see or hear the term 'Wi-Fi' or 'Wi-Fi hotspot' being thrown around. Wi-Fi is just another name for Wireless LAN and usually supports a range of Wi-Fi enabled peripherals – laptops, gaming consoles and smartphones, to name a few.
While WLAN is a wireless connection of sorts, it's best to think of it as an extension of fixed line access. Wireless LAN connectivity depends on access to a local fixed connection. If for some reason you can't connect to a WLAN with your Wi-Fi enabled device, or you're out of range, you won't be able to get online.
Unlike Wi-Fi or WLAN, access to the internet using 3G roaming wireless isn't pinned down to a specific location. Mobile Internet, 3G or roaming broadband isn't tethered to a fixed ADSL connection but delivered for roaming use (like mobile phones) over a far reaching telephone network.
While speeds available over 3G aren't traditionally as high as fixed ADSL, 3G is a great option for travelling workers or anyone needing access to the internet on-the-go. Think of 3G as your truly wireless access solution.
Now that we've got a decent handle on the subject, here's a wrap-up of what you should take away:
Wi-Fi, WLAN or Wireless LAN are an extension of your usual fixed line connectivity.
3G, Mobile Internet or Roaming Broadband, gives you truly wireless access no matter where you are, as long as you can pick up a 3G signal.
TechTip – Smarter searching with Google and Hugo Jenkins
Ask anyone on the street what they use google.com for and most would probably say, "I use it for searching the web". However, someone with a beard, coke bottle glasses and an anorak might answer, "...for finding out how many light seconds away my bridge club is". Beardy McAnorak isn't having you on; you can use Google's innocent little search bar to do more than just search the web.
Let's take a look at the calculator functions of Google. Open up a browser window and head to www.google.com.au. Let's say that Beardy's house is 27 kilometres from his bridge club. Type '27km in light seconds' into the search box before hitting the 'search' button. You'll quickly learn that 27km equates to 9.00623057 x 10-5 light seconds.
This might seem like a meaningless piece of information, and, well... it is. However, there are actual real world uses for the Google calculator. If, like me, you're not great with maths, you can use the Google calculator to find out all sorts of things. For instance, if Mr McAnorak wanted to find out how long it'd take to walk to his bridge club, he could type '27km/4km/h' into the search box, and hey presto – he'd come up with a somewhat epic walking time of 6.75 hours. Check out Google's own guide for more info on how all of this works.
You can use this same format (something in some other thing) to do all sorts of things: to convert currency ('100 AUD in USD'); to check the forecast ('weather in Perth'); to make sure you don't wake up your mother when you call her ('time in Stockholm, Sweden'); and a myriad of other useful things. Check out the whole list of features here.
That's not all though. Some people will already know about prefacing their searches with 'site:www.whatever.com' to search exclusively on one site. There are other gems, like 'define:' which will list popular definitions of a word, for example 'define: eggcorn'. I'll leave you with some other ones to try out: filetype: (great for finding some light reading), id: (to find similar websites and heaps of info on links to and from the specified site), and the searchable local business maps, which are great for finding pretty much any kind of business you can think of.
If you're still bored, try Google's free online library. Keep an eye on the time when you do though. On an unrelated note, if there are any Google employees reading, I want my weekend back.
competitions
Music giveaway
It's the end of autumn and we've got another batch of Musichead prizes to giveaway. Up for grabs this month, you'll find 10 prize packs featuring Relentless7, Royksopp and the Doves.
Relentless7
White Lies for Dark Times
Fronted by Ben Harper, the Relentless7 sound brings listeners a blues infused record paying homage to Hendrix and even ZZ Top. During the late 90s, the project kicked off when Texan guitarist Jason Mozersky took a gamble, playing Harper a demo while driving the singer to a gig.
Royksopp
Junior
Norwegian electro duo Royksopp's third album serves up a slick blend of their previous two works Melody A.M. and The Understanding – well that's the word on the street anyway. If you're a retro gaming fan, you'll get a kick out of Happy up here single which features elements from classic arcade title, Space Invaders, in the clip.
Doves
Kingdom of Rust
To record their latest release, the Doves holed up in a converted farmhouse for the best part of two years. The result is Kingdom of Rust, an eleven track album drawing inspiration from cult film soundtracks and electro pioneers like Kraftwerk. Critics have said this is the Doves most daring album yet while the band's chief songwriter Jez Williams describes the album as plain schizophrenic.
To put yourself in the running to win one of these prize packs, email competitions with 'May Musichead Comp' in the subject line. Don't forget to include your username, full name and address, with the answer to this question: What does WLAN stand for? Entries need to make it in before 5pm (WST) Friday 5 June, 2009. Good Luck!
games reviews
Our fellow gaming aficionados from Games Warehouse have teamed up with us again to bring you our May games review. There's also the promise of another $100 voucher for one lucky reader to walk away with.
If you see yourself winning and spending this voucher, email competitions with 'May Games Warehouse Competition' in the subject line. Don't forget to include your username, full name and address, with the answer to this fill-in-the-blank: Using Toolbox I can now turn _____ my Voice Mail? To be in the running, entries need to make it in before 5pm (WST) Friday 5 June, 2009.
Gamer's 2-minute review
I have... a bit of a soft spot for MMA. To my mind, it's the logical adult progression from the way I used to obsess over the Ninja Turtles, or run around the house whooping like a Hong Kong action star. UFC is my 'big kid' enabler, with its shameless sensational violence and off-screen politics. Above all though, MMA is disturbingly real when it comes to combative violence. It's a brutal science, and UFC: Undisputed for 360 captures it all too well.
Let's get something straight though. While this is essentially a one-on-one fighter, it isn't immediately accessible or even remotely arcadey. It's not something you could throw down for a bunch of mates out of the blue for a series of quick laughs and comedy antics. UFC: Undisputed is far closer to a combat simulator than it is any sort of arcade tournament engine.
If you're anything like me (you sound awesome by the way. We should hang out), having an involved MMA simulator is a Really Good Thing. If I want quickfire beat-up action, I play Street Fighter. if I want to add a bit of thinking to my violence, UFC: Undisputed is the standout choice. The level of control is formidable, with a tutorial system so involved it echoes the first 3 hours of EVE Online.
Once you're in and running, you'll take control of one of the 80-odd UFC protagonists from the current pantheon as seen on pay-per-view, with the likes of Machida, Jackson, Griffin, Ortiz and St Pierre captured in great detail (I'm a Bisping fan myself, and took great pleasure in knocking Dan Henderson out in the first). Alternatively, you can culture your own fighter from scratch – choosing from three striking disciplines in kickboxing, muay thai and boxing; then three grappling disciplines in wrestling, judo and BJJ.
In career mode, you'll plan your fights with the UFC matchmaker, then work week by week leading up to the fight with a balancing act of physical conditioning, sparring to improve skills or resting to get your energy levels up. Come fight night, all your work needs to pay off in the ring – you wouldn't, for example, skill up a BJJ fighter then expect to trade blows on the night. What you do in the gym is where you take yourself in the ring.
The fights themselves are involved. Kicks and punches vary depending on your striking distance, your momentum, your target area and your characters' proficiency (pro tip: Rampage doesn't do head kicks). Then there's the contest for control inside the clinch, again determined by your motives and skills. Take the game to the ground and the world opens up once more, with eight increasingly optimal mount positions to push for and a host of submission or ground'n'pound opportunities at each turn. Juggling these vastly different areas of the fight to the strengths of your hero is the key to success.
Ultimately, while UFC: Undisputed has a few niggly areas to improve on (please do something about the constant, endless saving!) it's a brilliant first outing for the franchise and a must-get for anyone who is a fan of the sport.
site scan
Job hunting online with Sandy Lim
This month, we cover job hunting online, with a look at pay scales in the current job market; advice on preparing a quality resume; and a neat community forum for small business owners and freelancers.
The Great Australian Pay Check
The Great Australian Pay Check susses out pay scales, perks, work-life balance and job satisfaction across the Aussie job market – letting you find out where you fit in without having to ask. Great for planning your next career move.
Career One Resume Advice
Get good recommendations for the Australian style of resume writing, common Gen Y and migrant job search issues, and writing for specific recruitment audiences. When you're done, there's also cover letter & interview advice and a redundancy survival guide.
Flying Solo
If being your own boss is more your style, check out the Flying Solo community for articles on growing and promoting your business, how to work and & network smarter, and keeping your work-life balance in check. They've also got a discussion forum for specific advice and general banter.
Still confused? All you internet first-timers can cut your teeth on our Broadband for Beginners workshops, where we also cover employment & social networking.
