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editor's note

The future has never been more "now" than ever before.

In the past when people thought of the future, they were thinking "far" into the future. Their imagination drawn to a galaxy far far away with spaceships, flying cars and glorious adventures to the final frontier.

Now when people talk about the future, it's rarely more than 50 years away. Films and books are now caught up in issues of survival. Issues like water levels, weather patterns, terrorism and pollution. The growing scarcity of natural resources weigh on the planet's collective mind.

So are we facing some sort of global short-sightedness? It's more likely that we're being encouraged to look at the future in terms of its direct link to the present - so that we can't imagine too far ahead without the constant reminder of the precariousness and implications of our current situation.

Who knows. A monthly newsletter editor can only ponder at such things. However, as a broadband user and earth-worrier it's great to see more links being made between the phenomenon of the world wide web and the "world out there". For instance Eckermann-Telecommunications Journal of Australia currently has an $8000 prize for big ideas on how to use broadband as a way to improve environmental sustainability. Entries close September 14, so if you're interested, check out the details on their website.

Continuing on the theme of the future, this month's feature article looks at what's on the horizon for VOIP. Up until recently VOIP has come to be known as a a great way to save money on phone calls, but VOIP has some big things up it's sleeve.

Also this month, we take toolbox for a road test in Tech Tips , highlight a recent article about USB pocket drives and virus risks in Security Watch , get a partially unbiased review of the Transformers movie in Entertainment and round things off with our top picks for social networking in Site Scan.

Oh and this month is my two year iiNews anniversary, so thanks for reading this far...

Mark Welker
iiNews Editor

 

inbox

"The article on printers; you missed out on specific options like the ability to print directly on to CD/DVD, printing on the front and back of the paper and the speed for black and white prints (useful for offices).

Also, when talking about ink, many people do not realise that by using generic ink, they are voiding their warranty. Some people continue to refill one tank continuously, when parts in the tanks are designed only for the life of the ink, so lengthening the life of the tank can effect the printer."

- Harry B, WA

"Firstly, great article about photo printers. If you're anything like me and have 10 large bags of old photos lying around from the 80s and 90s prior to affordable digital cameras. I would like to see an article on photo scanners that handles bulk top tray loading of photo's to be scanned e.g. 24 photos scanned in a row via a loading document feeder device. Failing that a review of the negative scanners that are now in a lot of so called multi function scanner / printers."

- Phillip J, WA

Thanks Phillip. We probably won't cover photo printers again in iiNews for a while, so I've done some investigation for you instead. First off, bulk photo scanners don't come cheap. From what I've found, HP retails their 5590 model for around $999 which has a 50 page feeder tray. They go up from there.

As for negative scanning (this seems to be the preferred method for old photos), there are two main options: a flatbed scanner with a negative tray or a dedicated film scanner.

The latter option gets expensive, with most models from Nikon and Plustek starting around the $500 mark and going up rapidly. Even when using these dedicated film scanners I've heard that it's rarely a quick process, meaning that you'll never really be able to get rid of the after scan cropping process - though software is available to help with that.

However, flatbed scanners are getting better every year at scanning negatives - with some very reasonably priced Canon and Epson models getting great reviews. There's a great article on about.com which covers off most of the things you should look for when considering a film scanner. A quick scan of amazon.com also bought up some books that might help.

"A couple of months ago you talked about Web 2 and how it was the new thing online. Everyday there seems to be a new social networking site, blog program or other such 'Web 2' online app, and yet so many of my friends stare at me blankly when I talk about my last.fm site for example. Perhaps it's time to do another article on what Web 2 actually is, and where you can find it."

- Jason K, VIC

Thanks Jason. We will be revisiting Web 2 again in the coming months, so stay tuned.

Send your newsletter views, news and suggestions to iinewsfeedback@iinet.net.au

news

improved invoices on the way
Over the last six months we've been working hard to address many of the popular suggestions customers' have for improving how we all interact. One of the most topical is the presentation of our invoices. Up until recently everyone receiving our email invoices got the plain text treatment, which are fine for some, but not the clearest in the world to those unfamiliar with them.

Over the last few months we've been testing our new pdf invoice system and look set to start rolling it out to customers in August.

What's so good about pdfs? Well for one, customers currently paying a small fee for a paper invoice can switch to the email invoice and simply print out the invoice to pay at a Post Office (if you're not already on direct debit that is).

The pdf invoices are much easier to understand and feature "at a glance" details on the first page so you don't have to dig around too much. We're still tweaking the final design, but the pdf invoices will pretty much look identical to our current paper invoices. If you haven't yet seen these, pop over to our invoice explanation page to get the general idea.

You'll need Adobe Reader to view the pdf invoice. If you don't have the program installed on your machine already (most computers do), you can prepare in advance and download it for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/reader

We'll also include the link to Adobe Reader in every invoice, so don't stress if you don't get time to download it straight away. I'll give another update next month as to when the invoices are likely to be switched over and give you a look at the final design.

 

support & services

tech tip - toolbox
Toolbox allows quick and easy DIY online account management. While many of our older customers are already familiar with the basics of toolbox, this month I thought we'd do a quick recap of some of the more usfeul features and give everyone a chance to get better acquainted by trying out our new online tutorial.

• Vacation Message - if you are going to be unable to access your emails due to holidays or being out of the office, you can setup a vacation message so that anyone writing to you knows you won't respond until you get back.
• Login History - this shows how often you have connected to your broadband service, and at what times and dates.
• Volume Usage - this tool allows you to see how much you've downloaded, whether it's peak/off peak downloads and when your quota gets reset if you've been shaped.
• Create Mailboxes - use this option to create extra mailboxes (email addresses) for your housemates or family. Our current broadband plans all come with 10 free mailboxes.
• Add VoIP/Phone and Change ADSL Plan - both of these options allow you to add our popular VoIP service or change your broadband plan to a different one.
• Relocate ADSL Plan - this option is for when you move house and you want to move your broadband service to your new address.
• Speed Connection Manager - this option will only appear if you are on the broadband2+. You can manage the speed of your connection to suit your individual phone line condition.
• Call Tracker - the call tracker allows you to see every phone or VoIP call you've ever made. You can also change the view to only show calls made on a particular invoice.

If you haven't checked in to toolbox lately, or you're new to iiNet, we now have a flash new online tutorial which takes you through many of the options above and more. Check it out at http://www.iinet.net.au/support/toolbox_tutorial/

frequently asked questions - phone upgrades

How do I upgrade from an old iiNet phone plan to a current iiNet phone plan?
You can upgrade to a current phone plan at any time through toolbox.

Can existing customers with iiphone residential services change their phone service to Phone 1 without changing their broadband plan?
Yes. In November 2005 (due to an increase in fixed phone wholesale costs) we increased the line rental for iiphone residential customers from $29.95 to $33.36. Therefore we are allowing iiphone residential customers to keep their existing broadband plan and take Phone 1 which offers the lower line rental.

If I upgrade my broadband plan, does it affect my phone bundle?
If you currently have a broadband plan bundled with phone and wish to change your broadband plan, you will need to ensure your current phone service is Phone 1. If you have one of our old phone products, you will need to upgrade to Phone 1 at the same time you upgrade your broadband plan. With Phone 1, you will be able to access our high speeds, enjoy great block rates and receive bonus downloads.

For more phone related FAQs, visit our phone support section.

 

security watch

top 5 viruses reported to Sophos in June

1. Sober
2. Netsky
3. Mytob
4. Stratio
5. MyDoom

List provided by Sophos. Remember, all iiNet plans come with industry leading Sophos email anti-virus and Ironport spam protection that is automatically kept up-to-date with the latest virus threats. However, to fully protect your system, we recommend that you use our email anti-virus in conjunction with a personal anti-virus product such as those listed on this page.

new virus risk in USB memory sticks
Ever since floppy disk drives went out of fashion a decade ago, the Internet has been the virus transmission method of choice.

CDs take time to burn, and usually require a software program to do so in the first place, where as floppy disks were drag and drop, quick to copy to and fro and although limited in size, floppy disks were once the main source of virus risk for your computer.

Now that file sizes are getting larger, and storage devices are getting smaller, a lot of people are turning to USB memory sticks or flash drives to share their files from computer to computer. You can now stick 4GB of storage in your pocket and whip it out at work, home or while travelling.

For businesses in particular, the memory stick is a mixed blessing. Sharing large documents is easier than ever (especially when email size restrictions apply) but this convenience comes with a substantial risk as the continual transfer of files across computers is difficult to track and manage.

People seem to have forgotten that viruses can get transferred in such an old fashioned drag and drop way, with most of the population far too concerned with the online threat. Which probably explains why memory sticks get labelled "virus sticks" around the iiNet IT department.

A recent report from Sophos highlighted the growing incidence of virus attacks spread by USB memory sticks. The report included a new virus making the rounds in June that hunted for removable drives such as floppy disks and memory sticks to spread an AIDs awareness email from computer to computer. This follows a similar report a month earlier warning of a worm targeting USB memory sticks.

These reports are a timely reminder to keep your personal anti-virus system up-to-date as transmission methods for viruses continue to evolve to bypass traditional protection methods. Any storage device which is attached to a computer should be checked by your personal virus protection software before use.

feature story: the future of VOIP

What VOIP started doing a couple of years ago with the idea of "cheap calls over the Internet" only reveals a fraction of its potential. In 2007, with the VOIP wave steadily building - iiNet customers use more than 8 million VOIP call minutes a month - the true potential of VOIP is starting to peek through. The future of VOIP looks bright, and it's ramping up to be so much more than a few cents off your phone bill every month.

To understand what's in store I sat down with our Voice Engineering Manager, Chris Rigby and took notes.

the VOIP challenge
100 year habits are hard to break. Pretty much everyone who has attempted to introduce some revolutionary VOIP feature or method of use has met with the 100-years-of-phone obstacle.

This is not because the people aren't getting the technology right, or that it wasn't useful or reliable enough...it's because people have been calling friends and family for almost 100 years in exactly the same way - pick up a phone, dial a number and talk with whoever is on the other side.

What we and plenty of other VOIP providers are faced with is the challenge of providing a service that works like a phone but incorporates additional features that improve the experience - but only if the user wants to turn them on.

Ask someone to put down their phone and sit at the computer to talk to their friend and you'll get a small percentage of people taking part. Invent a VOIP phone however, that looks and works exactly the same as your landline phone does, but also allows you to send voicemail messages automatically to email, and people suddenly start tuning in.

mobile VOIP
Sure, VOIP started off as a way to make cheap calls from home, but already this restriction is being lifted, as is the use of VOIP with a standard phone handset.

Most people I know, probably because I'm younger, rarely pick up their home phone. There are lots of us who are more likely to associate a phone call with a mobile than a home phone.

Some new mobile phones, such as the new series of E and N Nokias (which you can pick up for around $500-$1000 out of contract), now have VOIP roaming built in: plug your VOIP account details into your mobile phone and you can start using your mobile to make VOIP calls when you are in range of your wireless modem or at a wireless hotspot.

For instance, when I get home, my mobile will roam onto my wireless modem and I can then set it to either make calls by default using VOIP (with VOIP call rates) or set it to prompt me on which network to use - VOIP or my regular mobile network.

Check the related links section below for some how-to's on connecting to VOIP via your mobile.

VOIP handsets
One of the best things about the growing popularity of VOIP is the number of manufacturers getting behind the technology. For those who still prefer the old home phone setup there are already a bunch of very affordable VOIP handsets on the market.

A dedicated VOIP handset allows you to choose whether you make calls on VOIP or via your landline. They come in a range of styles, though most look identical to an existing wireless handset. VOIP handsets also allow you better access to the advanced VOIP options like 3 way calling, call forwarding when busy and voicemail.

Cordless VOIP handsets will even do a hunt for any existing cordless handsets in your house and connect them all - so switching to a VOIP handset shouldn't require you to start all over again. With so many manufacturers now on board, entry level VOIP handsets aren't any more expensive than your regular cordless handset yet offer the convenience of both VOIP and regular landline options.

VOIP video calling
Video calling doesn't quite work how most people imagined it would. Looking at your mobile phone while you're walking down the street isn't the most convenient thing in the world. For now, video calling seems far more suited to the home or office than for people on the move. The next wave of VOIP handset technology looks specifically at these users.

The way we "call" using VOIP is really just a simulation created to give people the impression of a normal phone call. Even the default alert for a software VOIP program like Skype is a conventional phone ring, placed in the program because people are used to reacting to a ring tone in the same way - push to answer.

What makes VOIP so cool is that it can look and feel like a normal phone, but it's actually made for doing everything that broadband was created for - including transmitting video.

Pretty soon you'll be able to pick up a video enabled VOIP handset for around $500 and video chat over your VOIP connection at home. Initial handsets hitting the market will let you connect up your TV so you can sit on the couch and talk. And if you're not happy with the in-built camera, you can jack in an external webcam and position it where you want.

For small businesses, this means video conferencing suddenly becomes very affordable and more people are able to start using the technology. The same of course applies for VOIP compatible mobiles, soon you'll be able to video call on VOIP using the in-built camera on your mobile.

Video VOIP calls allow you to extend the way you use your phone, such as leaving video messages rather than audio voicemail and the option to give your customers or friends something to watch while they wait on hold instead of grating elevator music. You also won't be restricted to using a handset as VOIP has the ability to take the form of a program installed on your home media centre.

further over the VOIP horizon
iiNet is all about connecting people better, and VOIP is an exciting prospect for us. All of the above advancements are being worked on at present and when we are satisfied they are ready and suitable, as iiNet customers you'll be the first to hear about them.

It's not very far off that your mobile, email and phone devices will all be linked up, so that if someone rings you at home and you're not there, VOIP will find you on the mobile; if you're mobile is out of battery, VOIP will send you an email. Entirely controllable of course, by you.

related Links:
Nokia E and N Series VOIP Roaming walkthrough
Nokia Website
D-Link VOIP handsets
Linksys VOIP handsets
iiNet VOIP rates & information

Got your own VOIP prediction, or something VOIP-related you're looking forward to? Send in your suggestions to iinewsfeedback@iinet.net.au

next month: Online guide to life betterment

 

 

iipeople

staff profile

Name: Michael Crone
Title: Project Coordinator

What does your current role involve?
My current role is as a Project Coordinator working in the Business Improvement team. The team is primarily responsible for looking for opportunities across the business where we can improve the customer experience. This includes coordinating with Customer Service and our technical departments to roll out new initiatives where possible.

An example of this is a recent project that automated certain types of applications coming into iiNet, decreasing the manual handling required by iiNet staff and turn around time for customers. We also look after the Facilities requirements of the business across the three locations - Perth, Sydney and Auckland.

What did you do before you came to iiNet?
Prior to iiNet I was working part time at a smaller ISP based in Nedlands, WA whilst completing a Commerce degree at Curtin.

What is the best thing about working at iiNet?
Being surrounded by like-minded people who embrace the culture that iiNet is well known for.

Your favourite website?
http://www.foxsports.com.au - for keeping across scores for most sports.

customer of the month

Name: George Filev
Location: Thornbury, VIC
Account type: broadband2+ with phone
Customer Since: 2005

Describe your typical day of living online?
My typical day online is checking emails from friends and work telling me where I am off to next, doing internet banking, having a video conference with my partner and seeing how the dogs are going and uploading a blog to my web site showing where I have been and what I am up to.

The best thing about broadband for you?
I am an acrobat with a company called Strange Fruit and we travel all over the world to perform our unique style of street theatre atop of 4m high sway poles. Most of our work is overseas and so the best thing for me is the speed and ability to conduct video conferencing. Makes it really easy to stay in touch when I'm away for long periods of time.

The video conferencing program I use is iChat AV and a Macbook with built in camera so it is easy to hook onto the hotel's broadband Wifi system and contact home.

Your favourite site?
http://www.apple.com.au - I am a bit of a fanatic when it comes to Apple products. The current developments with software and hardware are very exciting.

Interested in being our next customer of the month? Send your details to iinewsfeedback@iinet.net.au.

 

competitions

fracture movie tickets
When Ted Crawford (Anthony Hopkins) discovers that his beautiful younger wife, Jennifer (Embeth Davidtz), is having an affair, he begins planning her perfect murder. Surprisingly, Crawford readily admits to shooting his wife and is immediately arrested and arraigned after confessing - a seemingly open and shut case for up and coming assistant district attorney Willy Beachum (Ryan Gosling).

But low and behold, nothing is as simple as it seems. Will the lure of power and a love affair with a sexy, ambitious attorney (Rosamund Pike) at his new firm overpower Willy's fierce drive to win, or worse, quash his code of ethics? In a tense duel of intellect and strategy, Crawford and Willy both learn that a "fracture" can be found in every ostensibly perfect façade.

To celebrate the release of Fracture on August 2, Hopscotch films have 50 double passes reserved for iiNews readers.

To be in the running for this prize, please email competitions with "Fracture Competition" in the subject line, and provide your username, full name and address by 5pm WST, July 22, 2007, along with the answer to this question: Name one of the features available in the iiNet customer toolbox. (hint: you'll find the answer in the "support and services" section).

Fracture is rated M. Check out the official movie website at www.fracturemovie.com

entertainment

2 minute games review - The Darkness (Xbox 360)
with Niaal Holder

"You want to do something FUN?" my mother used to say when I was 8.
"I sure do!" I squealed, bouncing and clapping in delight.
"Do the dishes and go to bed!"

Life is filled with this sort of scarring, horrific false advertising. People willingly sell us on things that aren't. Self-respecting Aussies don't drink Fosters, Libra Fleur doesn't make you a proficient hang-glider, and The Darkness for Xbox 360 just isn't scary or fresh at all.

Reading up on The Darkness' pre-release details, it seems I've missed a good year or two of solid developer hype. Apparently this title was meant to be quite the showstopper, which was quite believable coming from the same lads who pushed Escape From Butcher Bay into our sweaty palms all those moons ago. Sadly, I avoided all the marketing spin for this release and subsequently, there's nothing to cloud my eyes from what is essentially a bland console FPS/adventure romp.

The Darkness is based on a graphic novel series of the same name, putting you in the pinstripes of 21-year-old mob hitman Jackie Estecado. In short, you've managed to properly upset your local mafia ne'er-do-well, leading to gunfights and New York expletives on high rotation. To make things interesting, your man Jackie just happens to be freshly possessed by the Darkness, able to sprout extra heads from his shoulders and do violent party tricks with shadows.

So how to make a game of it? Aside from your bog-standard dual-wielding gunplay, your FPS antics include summoned demon buddies, shadow-based weaponry, nasty little Giger-esque recon snakes and, well, black holes. Trust me, they're as deal-closingly overpowered as they sound.

The only catch is that to be a big shadow nasty you've got to stay in the dark, which means laboriously shooting out an inordinate number of streetlights, headlights, spotlights, ceiling lights...all the ruddy time. With the lights on, you'll probably lose the heavier firefights. With the lights out, you'll probably win them. End of story.

Striking this oft-sought balance of FPS and story-driven adventure requires at least one element in the equation to perform out of its skin - the combat engine should feel robust and responsive, or the storyline should be engaging. For me the Darkness was close on both fronts but still lacking in substance. The game was often confusing to control in both mind and body, with neither the plot nor the gameplay coming to the rescue.

A head shot in combat, for example, is naturally a satisfying one-hit kill, more so if you can land it from a single shot over distance. Thumbs up. However, shoot the body or the leg, trigger a dull "I'm wounded" character animation, and your next bullets don't seem to do any damage until aforementioned dance of pain is over. Thumbs down. Likewise, the combat never seems to evolve with your character, whose progression through higher levels of darkness sees him become far superior to the game's opposition. To cap it off, the enemy AI is pants.

Likewise, the story seems to be quite unique but isn't delivered in a manner that grabs you by the really interestings. I can't relate how flatly emotionless your protagonist is at the moment the very essence of evil, death and darkness possesses him out of the blue on a plain mafia day.

He reacts as if he's simply caught the sniffles, as opposed to the shaken, abject horror one would expect upon inheriting demonic black tentacles through one's own neck and shoulders. The storyline from here on doesn't carry much credit as a result, you feel no need to relate to characters that can't relate to themselves.

The game could have been so much more if the edges were polished - truth be told, it's a lovely looking, lovely sounding game overall. It's just not all that much fun.

movie review - Transformers - Rated M

Any real fan of the 80s cartoon Transformers will have already jettisoned off to the big budget adaptation of their childhood. But for those like me who grew up on a modest diet of ABC TV sans Transformers, you're probably waiting for the cheap Tuesday deal or at least a partially unbiased opinion before you brave the lure of the cinema candy bar.

Well I'm happy to report that even if you missed the Transformers phase of your childhood altogether, the big screen remake is still very much worth seeing thanks to some fantastic special effects and homage to old school adventure.

Even though my Transformers knowledge is limited, it's clear that Transfomers the Movie is a fitting tribute to the cheesy action adventure fun of the original cartoon.

The ancient war between Autobots and their evil nemesis Decepticons is drawn to earth with the arrival of the Allspark - an ancient cube that brings machines to life. Leader of the Decepticons, super villain Megatron, arrived Earth-side some time during the late 1800s looking for the Allspark, but crash landed in the arctic surf and was frozen in time. Ever since, both Autobots and Decepticons have been searching the cosmos for the Allspark and its all consuming power.

Flash forward a century or two and the Decepticons have finally tracked the Allspark to Earth thanks to a final transmission from the chilled out Megatron. They capitalise on the wealth of information available on the CIA online network (and incidentally ebay), hack in and quickly discover Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) - an awkward teenager who just happens to be the great great grandson of an adventurer who originally discovered Megatron's icy grave.

Yeah despite the US Army bankrolling the fight for Earth (and probably this movie), the fate of all our lives once again depends on the moralistic actions of a teenager. Sure the storyline is nothing special, but it's more than adequate for its real purpose; a vehicle for the Transformers to get their groove on.

Despite my limited childhood exposure to the franchise, Autobot Optimus Prime still proves to be the courageous lion I remember him to be, and watching him go to town on a Decepticon a couple of stories high still makes me go all gooey on the inside. The battles between robots with all their little spinny bits whirring around is lovingly re-created in flawless CG. In fact, I would bet that for each minute that a Transformer spends on screen, the GDP of a small African country got spent in the special effects department.

My only gripe with the effects is that often it all flies by too fast. It's fascinating seeing these things ratchet and click as they deal out robot death, but sometimes you just want to hit the slow mo button (or at least the real time button) to get a better look at what's going on. I had the same problem with Spiderman 3, and maybe it's just my eyes getting old, but I feel like special effects teams are taking way too much advantage of the choc top sugar high.

The human acting is right up there with Independence Day (i.e. crap) although everything is covered with so much squeezy cheese that it all adds to the fun (which Independence Day lacked) and nostalgia. However, a movie about rock 'em sock 'em robots really doesn't need to clock in at 144 minutes.

The storyline here is carrying a good half hour of excess plot and characters - all of which could have been saved for the director's cut. Let's face it, the humans aren't what we are here to see and some, like John Turtorro's comical secret agent spoof, don't serve much purpose except to add in another sub plot and take the film over the 2 hour mark and into the "if it's long enough people will call it an epic" category.

Watching this movie made me think that I may have missed out on something special growing up - which means it's not a movie that only fans will like. It's fun, visually stupendous and even retains the hammed up moral backbone which is a trademark of any good kid's cartoon series.

Easy to please, quick to forget. Perfect Friday night fodder.

 

site scan - social networking

www.facebook.com
Facebook allows you to share yourself around a virtual network of Facebook-loving friends and family. Share happy snaps via an online photo gallery, likes, dislikes, relationship status or organise upcoming social events via your network calendar.

www.last.fm
Last.fm gathers your iTunes or Windows media player playlist, uploads them to your personal profile site and recommends similar music from other listeners. Your profile site keeps you up to date with what bands are touring and lets you form groups with users of similar musical interests.

www.linkedin.com
linked in takes your frequently outdated hardcopy resume and gives it a fresh new life online. Invite present and past work colleagues to leave recommendations for your skills and use the built-in networking engine to source out new contacts.