And NO its not a car. But yes rumours are true: Google Drive does exist, the Internet giant confirmed.
Oonagh Reidy
News Corp Hack IPTV Rival To Death?
They’re at it again. Rupert Murdoch’s already disgraced media giant is plunged into a fresh hacking scandal, accused of killing rival TV Co.
This time News Corp. stands accused of destroying a rival to its Sky TV empire in the UK by hacking into its computer systems – with the help of a German hacker and pirate website NDS, a secretly News co-owned company.
The allegations aired on BBC Panorama current affairs programme on Monday, called “Murdoch’s TV pirates,” claim hackers hired by News Corp allegedly broke computer codes of ONDigital’s smart cards – a Pay TV rival owned by ITV, reports The Guardian.
ONDigital was said to have gone bust following the hacks which destroyed its system and forced it out of the lucrative Pay TV market in the UK. It has since been renamed ITV Digital.
The hackers then sent the cracked codes to another pirate website – The House of Ill Compute – who published them online, allowing viewers to use the ONDigital services illegally and without having to cough up for subscriptions – bleeding its revenue stream dry.
Lee Gibling, founder of The House of Ill Compute also known as Thoic, alleges he was paid by former police officer and NDS head of security to publish the stolen details on its site.
“We wanted people to be able to update these cards themselves, we didn’t want them buying a single card and then finding they couldn’t get channels. We wanted them to stay and keep with On Digital, flogging it until it broke,” Gibling told Panorama.
NDS denies the allegations saying they are “simply not true…NDS is a global leader in the fight against pay-TV piracy, having repeatedly and successfully assisted law enforcement in that important effort.”
NDS makes smartcards for Sky.
The 30 minute BBC investigative show also “examines the role of former senior police officers in recruiting people to break the law – to bring down Murdoch’s commercial rival.”
These allegations, if proved correct, will mean fresh worries for News Corp after the phone hacking scandals involving two of its UK newspapers (News of the World and The Sun), resulted in the closing of the former last July with a string of other casualties including top News execs including James Murdoch, who resigned as executive chairman of News International and Rebecca Brookes as News Intl CEO.
Brookes as former editor of both tabloid titles was recently rearrested for her role in the phone hacking scandal which involved various celebs including Jude Law, Sienna Miller and Charlotte Church.
The allegations could mean even more headaches for News Corp UK operation with watchdog Ofcom already questioning whether British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) is “fit and proper” to own 39.1% of Sky TV – the country’s largest subscription TV player.
“Clearly allegations of TV hacking are far more serious than phone hacking,” said Labour MP Tom Watson who was already involved in Operation Weeting, the UK gov’s investigation into phone hacking allegations and is well known for his disdain of the Murdoch empire.
Watson also said it was “inconceivable that they (Ofcom) would not want to look at these new allegations.”
“It also seems inconceivable to me that if these allegations are true that Rupert Murdoch and James Murdoch will pass that test,” he warned.
Super Regulator To Alter Classifications?
A new report out today says a News Press Council and Super regulator should be set up in Australia.
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The report, the Independent Inquiry into Media and Regulation by Hon R Finkelstein QC and and Matthew Ricketson from Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC), recommends a News Media Council be established “to set journalistic standards for the news media.”
The Media Council as envisaged by the report, would govern news across all platforms – print, online, radio and television and ensure high standards in the media:
“One function of a News Media Council should be to chart trends in the industry, and particularly to see whether there will be a serious decline in the production and delivery of quality journalism,” the report states.
Another of the ALRC recommendations (there’s over 50 in all) is a new super regulator to oversee the classification of all content in Australia -everything from print, TV, films, to video games, and web content – meaning identical age classifications across all platforms.
This means taking powers off the Classification Board, Australian Communications and Media Authority as well as Attorney-General’s Department and Dept of Communications.
However, the Classification Board would still be retained as an independent body.
“A single regulator, that incorporates classification and media content regulation within a wider portfolio of responsibilities, may be more responsive to the challenges of media convergence,” the ALRC report states.
The News Council would also seize control for online news currently held by Australian Communication Media Council and handle complaints made by the public when standards are breached and would be government funded.
“New technology, particularly the internet, has revolutionised access to the news,” the report states.
However, no major new standards for media would be created, it appears, rather “those [new] standards will likely be substantially the same as those that presently apply and which all profess to embrace.”
A Media Council won’t be another way of censoring the press, the report states, and should be comprised of “community, industry and professionals.” However, whether any changes will occur if the report’s recommendations are enforced, remains to be seen.
“The establishment of a council is not about increasing the power of government or about imposing some form of censorship. It is about making the news media more accountable to those covered in the news, and to the public generally,” the ALRC report states.
“A free press is a powerful institution which can, and does, affect the political process, sometimes in quite dramatic ways.”
And the current system of media self-regulation appears to be inadequate the report notes, with “only one or two” newspaper appointing an ombudsman or reader rep, the report continues, and criticised the present system where newspapers largely fund and control regulation.
“The mechanism currently in place these mechanisms are not sufficient to achieve the degree of accountability desirable.”
The Minister for Communications Senator Stephen Conroy welcomed the ALRC report stating:
“I’d like to thank Mr Finkelstein QC and Professor Ricketson and their team for their efforts. I would also like to thank all the individuals and organisations that contributed to the Inquiry.”
The report has been forwarded to the Convergence Review Committee for its consideration, which will take a broad look at a range of regulatory issues across the communications sectors and is set to present its final report to Government by 31 March.
Finkelstein QC, the principal author of the report, is refusing media interviews at present.
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he supported some of the recommendations of the ALRC report, but the “recommendation to set up a new government funded super regulator, a News Media Council, with statutory powers to take over the role of the Press Council, the media regulation role of ACMA and have jurisdiction over the online world is not one which would appeal to the Coalition, believing as we do in a free press,” he said in a statement today.
Myer Up 0.5%, Calls In Big Spenders
Slight rise for high street retailer as it calls in the big spenders
Myer reported third quarter sales of $652.5million, up 0.5% on last year.
On a comparable basis, sales for the thirteen weeks to 27 April rose 0.4%, marking the “fourth consecutive quarter of positive comparable store sales growth,” Myer said in a statement.
However, Bernie Brookes CEO remains cautious, alluding to “external factors influencing consumer confidence.”
Key categories were Menswear, Cosmetics, Womenswear, and Childrenswear during the quarter, with no mention of homeware or electronics. Exclusive Brands and concessions continued to grow.
The best performing states were Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, although boom state Western Australia was not included in the list.
Hey Big Spender
However, CEO Bernie Brookes remains cautious about the outlook for retail, but talked up its omni-channel efforts and the ‘five-point strategic plan’ which includes a new MYER one loyalty scheme for big spenders.
“Notwithstanding the external factors influencing consumer confidence and discretionary spend, we remain focused on executing our well-established five-point strategic plan, and continue to make progress on all five pillars.
“These are improving customer service, enhancing our merchandise offer, optimising our store network, strengthening our loyalty program and building a leading omni- channel offer”.
This month, Myer’s 2,000 biggest MYER one spenders were invited to join the new ‘platinum tier’ of its loyalty program.
Myer says building its omni-channel offer is a major “priority” alluding to its new order management system that will deliver productivity benefits to the business and consumer.
Myer is also refurbishing three of its 20 stores in Queensland, Adelaide and Miranda, New South Wales.
Myer said its newest store opened in Shell Harbour, New South Wales earlier this month, with a “very positive response” from customers.
Haier Play Hard Ball As F&P Directors Reject Takeover
Take it or leave it: Chinese giant plays it tough as Fisher and Paykel Directors reject takeover bid.
The Haier Group’s cash takeover offer of NZ$1.20 per share for appliance giant Fisher and Paykel has been rejected by four F&P Independent Directors, today.
Fisher and Paykel Applainces four Independent Directors have “unanimously recommended shareholders do not accept” Haier’s takeover offer of $1.20 ps, in a statement released today.
The Directors said the offer “does not adequately reflect their view of the value of FPA based on their confidence in the strategic direction of the company”
However, the China based white goods giant who already has a 20% stake in F&P says the cash offer represents “excellent value” for shareholders.
The offer for full control of F&P’s Australia and NZ operation was made through Haier’s New Zealand subsidiary last month.
But Haier is now playing hard ball, warning F&P’s Independent Adviser’s valuation range of $1.28-$1.57 per share price range, announced today, is “overly optimistic” and fails take into account the ‘risks’ contained in the company’s five year strategic plan.
Haier is warning F&P shareholders will need to decide between “the certainty of Haier’s offer or taking a significant risk on the achievability of the Independent Adviser’s valuation range.”
“The offer price is a significant 60% premium to Fisher & Paykel Appliances’ share price as at the close of trading on Friday 7 September, before the market was advised of the potential takeover ,” the company warned in a statement today.
Haier already has several of F&P’s large shareholders on board including Allan Gray Australia, which holds 17.46% stake, has entered into an irrevocable agreement to accept the offer.
Liang Haishan, Haier president and NZ Chairman said this agreement represents a strong endorsement of his company’s takeover bid of NZ$1.20 per share, which is a 91% (share) premium to the weighted average trading price over the three month period up to the takeover bid was announced.
Liang also warned that if Haier’s offer does not succeed, a large decline in the share price from current levels is likely, noting Fisher & Paykel shares has traded as low as NZ$0.33 in the past 12 months. F&P’s shares rose signifcantly in New Zeland after the bid was announced and are currently trading at NZ$1.22.
F&P shares have almost doubled in Australia since the takeover announcement was made last month, currently selling at A$0.97 on the ASX.
“This is appropriate and we also considered this information when determining our offer,” said Liang.
“There is a high degree of risk regarding the implementation of the five year strategic plan and achievement of the goals set out in it.
“In determining the offer price we have applied our significant, first-hand knowledge of Fisher & Paykel Appliances and the highly competitive global white goods sector, together with a consideration of the economic environments Fisher & Paykel Appliances operates in.”
Haier and Fisher & Paykel Appliances have had a cooperative relationship for a number of years, extending beyond 2009 when Haier supported Fisher & Paykel Appliances’ recapitalisation, he added.
Vodafone Kills Free Facebook, Twitter Party
“Infinite” no more: Vodafone Kills “Infinite” Facebook,Tweeting as it prepares for a shake up of its mobile plans.
“From 13 February 2013, infinite surfing on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, FourSquare, YouTube and MySpace will be ditched and “won’t be part of any recharge or prepaid Mobile Internet Data Add-on,” Voda announced on its website this week.
If you currently have Infinite social networking on Voda recharge, obviously you still have access to social networks, but will be charged for the pleasure.
Charges will be taken from your recharge data allowance. So if you only have a 500MB allowance and are an avid tweeter, you may be in trouble. Additional Internet data usage beyond your allowance is $2 per MB, so it is far from cheap.
The telco has also shaken up how it charges for Internet data on prepay and now charges in 1MB increments.
“From 13th February, we will charge data usage in 1MB increments with a minimum session of 1MB on all recharge plans. The dollar amount we charge per MB of data is remaining the same.”
After that, you can purchase an ‘add-on’ from your ‘Flexible Credit.’ Vodafone Mobile Internet Add-ons cost $5 (150MB) and $8 (350MB).
However, the add-ons last 30 days only.
A Vodafone spokesperson said the changes “are largely reflective of the way our customers are using data today” and a part of its effort to reduce costs as users guzzle Internet data like never before.
The charges to mobile data pricing “allow us to invest in a network that will enable the increased access to voice and data our customers are asking for while remaining competitive.”
Infinite social networking deals were a major pull for Generation Facebook, but this change may not win them any kudos among Gen Yers.
We’ve also heard Vodafone are planning an overhaul their postpaid plans plans in the near future, anyway, but BYO plans are apparently safe, for now.
Vodafone 3G Meltdown in “Extreme” Heat
Voda service melted overnight after “extreme” heat caused equipment damage
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The troubled Vodafone network was down for over three hours last night from 7.45pm, but was back at 11.15pm, a Vodafone spokesperson told SmartHouse today.
A failure in air-conditioning equipment at a Vodafone centre in Melbourne caused by the soaring heat, which hit 40 degrees there yesterday, was the root cause of the network failure, believed to have disrupted around 15% of Vodafone 3G and 2G voice services nationally.
However, a higher number of Vodafone users in Victoria were affected, a company spokesperson confirmed.
“We experienced a disruption to services at approximately 7.45pm last night caused by a failed air-conditioner and over-heating of infrastructure in extreme weather conditions.”
“We apologise for the disruption and services were restored at approximately 11.15pm,” the spokesperson said.
The incident was a “one-off” Vodafone believes.
“We’ve begun restoring normal services for everyone and repairs of the affected equipment are underway. Please switch your phone off and back on again to restore your connection to the network,” Vodafone wrote on its Facebook page nine hours ago.
Vodafone spokesperson said it “will review our processes to reduce the impact in the unlikely event this should happen again.”
The red telco has been dogged by severe network outages in the past, leading to customers branding the network “Vodafail” and fleeing the telco en masse. However, it has since invested over $1bn in network upgrades.
This Sydney-based Vodafone user also experienced some delays in receiving text messages with three arriving this morning that were sent overnight.
Others disgruntled customers also made their feelings known on Voda’s Facebook page: “Vodafone this is a JOKE! My Internet wasn’t working from Wednesday night until Thursday 11pm! I couldn’t make calls for two hours and I wasn’t even able to send a text! Get your act together!”
Welcome Back, Walkman: Sony Cult Runs Gingerbread 2.3
Live with Walkman is the smartphone gone music mad. The Sony Ericisson has a 3.2″ screen, powerful 1Ghz processor, dual cameras (front facing camera is Skype enabled, while a 5MP AF camera can capture 720p HD video).
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Bluetooth, DNLA, Micro USB support and even geo tagging all come as standard as well as the usual slew of Android tools.
It also packs a punch on the audio front with Sony’s xLOUD output, and delivers a unique ‘social music’ experience with a dedicated ‘Walkman’ button giving that instant music hit, and even more tracks and videos via Sony Qriocity.
So, the beloved Walkman can be yours once more, but with a phone and media centre to boot.
But it also is friendly with social networks, and allows users to share and discover content via “deep” Facebook integration as well as Twitter, through a native application called ‘Timescape’.
Running on the latest Gingerbread 2.3 platform, it also provides access to over 250,000 applications from Google Android Market.
The Android Walkman also contains a bundle of audio extras including ‘media discovery’ application, TrackID, FM radio, Mp3 music tones, stereo earphones and speakers (natch).
The slick smartphone with mineral glass front is just 56.5 x 106 x 14.2 mm and is lightweight at just 115g.
“Consumers want smartphones to deliver a rich and social entertainment experience. Rather than a one dimensional music experience, they want instant and seamless access to new content, combined with the ability to share and connect with their friends,” Nikolaus Scheurer, Sony Ericsson Head of Product Marketing, said.
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Live with Walkman will be available globally in “selected markets” from Q4 2011, so here’s hoping this mean, mobile music machine is heading Down Under.
Sony Ericsson New 1Ghz Lightning-Fast Xperias To Rival HTC Desire
Sony Ericsson have just put it up to HTC and Samsung with two new high speed smartphones, Xperia ‘ray’ and ‘active.’
The latest high end additions to the Xperia family, both running Gingerbread 2.3 OS have powerful 1Ghz processors, pitting them against the recently launched HTC Desire and Samsung’s Galaxy II, although the latter boasts 1.2Ghz version.
Specs wise, the 3.3″ Xperia ‘ray’ in particular is looking to give high end rivals a run for its money with pretty impressive features including “reality display” with Sony Ericsson’s mobile Bravia engine, 8.1 MP camera with Exmor R for mobile and HD video functionality. and slick aluminium frame (9.4mm thin).
And Sony aren’t beating around the bush about who “premium” ray is aimed at: “We expect Xperia ray to appeal to consumers who are looking for a combination of beautiful design and a rich feature set,” says Daniel Sandblom, Global Product Marketing Manager.
The Xperia active is positioning itself as a lifestyle phone with 5Mp camera, water and dust proofing, anda flurry of sports apps preinstalled including iMapMyFitness app – users can easily monitor their daily performance.
But wait for it there’s more: a built-in GPS, barometer and compass in combination with the on-screen heart rate and pulse monitor (enabled by ANT+ wireless networking technology). (Phew, I’m tired already).
The maker also announced new ‘Smart Extras’ for Xperia’s at CommunicAsia 2011 in Singapore today.
“As the Android platform gains market share in Asia Pacific, the Xperia portfolio is well positioned to deliver consumers a unique and differentiated experience,”said Steve Walker, Chief Marketing Officer, Sony Ericsson.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates that we continue to deliver a portfolio to make the Sony Ericsson experience available to a broad range of consumers. ”
No word if Xperia’s will make it to Aussie shores just yet but Sony have said it will be available on select “global markets” from Q3. Pricing was not detailed either.
Where’s Steve? Apple In Secret Talks To Replace CEO
Reports are emerging that Apple board members are pondering the replacement of their legendary CEO Steve Jobs.However, Jobs is said to be unaware of the replacement talks, reported to be talking placed among a select number of Apple board members, although not all.
The story, which first appeared in the Wall Street Journal, is said to have been rubbished by Jobs, who reportedly said the story was “hogwash.”
Jobs, who is on his third medical leave of absence, has in the past fought pancreatic cancer and also undergone a liver transplant.