April iiNews
editor's note
My past few weeks have been quite the learning experience.
I ran out and picked up a shiny new home computer, with lots of shiny parts. I built this computer with the help of my iiNet colleague and good mate Dane, who still swears he misplaced a loose screw somewhere inside the box (it doesn't rattle when I shake the whole thing forcibly, must be his imagination).
The new machine was lovely... it just got a little warm. Some of the parts inside were actually hot enough to boil water. So for the first few weeks, before my new thermo-reactor and I became properly acquainted, I only used it in small bursts to avoid any fires or explosions.
As a result, I lost my graft with the internet. No online gaming, no streaming radio. Email in bursts, news and YouTube trawls hampered. Worst of all, my late night following of Manchester United games was all but brought to its knees.
While this trauma has since passed, I have a newfound appreciation for how much of my casual week actually pivots on both my home computer and my broadband. I wouldn't call this relationship a 'need' so much as a 'want'... but it's a layer of luxury I'm now quite keen to preserve.
This week we're pleased to introduce iiNet's latest contribution to that luxury layer, through the launch of our new Media Lounge section. Radio streams, sports and TV - lots of stuff to see and hear, with the promise of plenty more to come. Watch that space!
Also this month, the Business team release Annex M for business customers, and we look at how home cabling can affect your broadband connectivity. If you fancy a bit of a jolt, there's also 50 movie passes up for grabs to Spanish Horror flick, The Orphanage.
Welcome all, to iiNews April. If you'd like to share your views or suggestions for future issues, feel free to drop me a line at iinewsfeedback@iinet.net.au.
Niaal Holder
iiNews Editor
news
iiNet Media Lounge
This month sees the launch of our freshly renovated Media Lounge. To kick things off, we've added some new content to the lineup - check out Wakeup! WA and Macquarie in the TV section, or hit up Drift Racing in Sports for your daily dose of burnt rubber!
The Media Lounge boasts an expanding range of on-demand content:
- iTunes - iiNet members get VIP access to the iTunes Store (Australia) with unmetered downloads
- TV - live and on-demand programs from Wakeup! WA and Macquarie Digital TV
- Sport - Exclusive on-demand access to the 2007/2008 Barclays Premier League season and 2007 Drift Racing
- Radio - a comprehensive range of radio stations all accessible quota free for iiNet customers
All Media Lounge content falls under the iiNet Freezone umbrella, so don't worry about denting your quota - as an iiNet member, it's all free!
So kick back, relax and stay tuned - there's plenty more to come.
iiNet Sponsorships
iiNet are proud of the community organisation for whom we provide financial support. During March we sponsored two events, one of which was 'Sculpture by the Sea' that showcased numerous artists from around the world.
In line with the success of our Naked products, we decided a small sponsorship for sculptor Joerg-Werner Schmidt's naked, wooden aliens made some sort of sense!
Another sponsorship, close to many staff and customers, was the fiftieth 'Relay for Life', an annual event organised by the Cancer Council and run at Perry Lakes athletic stadium in Perth. This event celebrates the lives of survivors as well as the memory of those who lost their struggle.
Thousands of survivors and supporters took turns, collectively walking for 24 hours to raise funds for Cancer Research. The stadium was the home for hundreds of tents and colourfully dressed walkers, a great event iiNet were very happy to support.
Broadband for Baby Boomers
Held at our Adelaide Terrace office in Perth and delivered by iiNet staff, these workshops introduce participants to just some of what the internet has to offer. The workshop is split into two modules:
Module 1 - If you're brand new to the internet this workshop is for you. Topics include general information about the internet, finding information, online shopping, local entertainment, online radio, and video sites such as YouTube.
Module 2 - A continuation of Module 1 this workshop is for people wanting to find out more about what the internet can offer. Topics include online banking, travel and booking holidays, communities and networking, online music stores such as iTunes®, and internet security.
Our April sessions drew a great crowd! If you're interested in attending, the next workshops are scheduled for:
- Wednesday 7 May (Module 1)
6:30pm - 8:00pm - Wednesday 14 May (Module 2)
6.30pm - 8.00pm
If you would like to register, email sponsorships@iinet.net.au with your name, contact phone number, email address and workshop preference (Module 1 only, Module 2 only, or both Module 1 and Module 2).
business news
Get faster business broadband with Annex M
In simple terms, Annex M is a new high speed mode of ADSL2+ which allows the upstream data rate to be increased beyond the current limit, allowing speeds up to double the current upstream rate.
The launch of Annex M is another exciting addition to the range of products and services we're offering to the business market.
Annex M is a great new option for Business customers who often require a faster upstream speed to stream content, send large files, send large outbound emails, use Multiline VoIP, host their website and video conference amongst others things.
For a one off cost of $49.00, you can add Annex M to any current on-net Business 1 - 7 plan via toolbox or find out more information on our Annex M information page.
Who holds the keys to your business?
As a business owner it's important to understand and manage the business risk associated with your wireless network, to review your configuration against accepted industry standards and secure your business against unauthorised access.
iiNet and Blue Zoo are pleased to offer all iiNet Business customers an onsite Wireless Security Audit, Vulnerability Assessment and Solutions Report for just $750 plus GST (that's a cost-saving of 75%). This offer is limited to the first 100 respondents.
The Wireless Security Report is designed to offer:
- Assurance regarding the security configuration of your wireless network
- Identification of potential risks and vulnerabilities in the wireless network
- Opportunities for network performance improvements
- Preservation of bandwidth
- Information leak prevention for business IP
- Greater alignment with wireless security best practices
To take advantage of this special offer, contact Blue Zoo today for a vulnerability assessment by calling 1300 85 99 25 or email info@bluezoo.net.au.
To learn more about how Blue Zoo can help secure your business visit our business partners page.
support & services
tech tip - check your cabling
with Michael Inglis
If you're on ADSL2+ or Naked DSL and you've noticed your Internet is disconnecting fairly frequently or its speed is a lot lower than expected, the problem is likely to be with your phone cabling.
Most phone cables cost a few cents to make and if something goes wrong, it's best to start by checking something that's easily and cheaply replaced. In this case, that's the cable connecting the modem or router to the socket in the wall.
As a general rule of thumb, the shorter the better. If you're running a cable more than three or four metres long, you're not doing yourself any favours. And while they might keep the cables out of sight, running a line under carpet or through a doorway will make matters worse.
But very few people have phone sockets right next to their computer, which makes things hard for home users. Luckily there are a few ways to approach this issue.
1. Go wireless
Sit a wireless router on a shelf next to your phone point and that's the only cable you'll need. Wireless routers are more expensive than generic ADSL modems but they'll save you a lot of hassle.
2. Rethink your cabling
While the cable from the modem to your wall is fairly poor quality, the one connecting your modem to the computer is much, much better. So if your phone socket is in the kitchen and your computer is in the study, leave the modem close to the socket and run a long network cable between the modem and the computer.
3. Invest in better cabling
If it's 100% necessary to have your modem more than a few metres from the phone point, you can upgrade to shielded phone cable. This kind of cable is designed for security systems and ensures your signal stays intact all the way to the modem. Shielded phone cable is available from most hardware and electronics retailers.
security watch
top 5 viruses reported to Sophos in March
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.
iipeople
staff profile
Name: Jessica Kaitse
Title: Associate Web Designer
What does your current role involve?
As an associate web designer for our Web Team, I help others in the team with ongoing web projects for the iiNet site and take on a few myself.
What did you do before you came to iiNet?
After graduating from Edith Cowan University in 2007, I took on a Web Developer/Technical Support role at a small ISP. After this I landed a job as a Web Designer at a small print and design business.
What is the best thing about working at iiNet?
Working as a designer in a technical environment really keeps things interesting, I get to learn a whole bunch of things I wouldn't learn in a straight web design role elsewhere.
Your favourite website?
www.popurls.com as it aggregates popular social bookmarking feeds, technology blog feeds and other relevant feeds from all over the web on a single page. It's good to read about what's going on in the world and over the internet without having to visit 10 or more sites.
competitions
The Orphanage centres on a Laura (Belén Rueda) who buys her beloved childhood orphanage with dreams of restoring and reopening the long abandoned facility as a place for disabled children. Once there, Laura discovers that the new environment awakens her son's imagination, but the ongoing fantasy games he plays with an invisible friend quickly turn into something more disturbing. Upon seeing her family increasingly threatened by the strange occurrences in the house, Laura looks to a group of parapsychologists for help in unravelling the mystery that has taken over the place.
Not for the faint-hearted, you'll feel the presence of producer Guillermo Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) every dark, uneasy step of the way. What makes The Orphanage special is the measured blend between story depth and sheer chills - this is no shallow horror film.
To celebrate the Australian release of The Orphanage, Roadshow Films have given us 50 double passes to give away.
To be in the running for a double pass, email competitions with "The Orphanage" in the subject line, and provide your username, full name and address by 5pm WST, Friday May 16, 2008, along with the answer to this question: Can you name one of the radio stations featured in the iiNet Media Lounge?
entertainment
two minute games review - Tiberium Wars: Kane's Wrath
Shame on me. Barely a month ago I decried Tiberium Wars as a bludgeoning, brutish decline for the RTS franchise, in favour of a tidy bit of gaming sass from the Dawn of War family. Now I'm tentatively eating my words like a stroppy child with lukewarm alphabetti spaghetti. You see, the EA family have spat forth quite the expansion in Tiberium Wars: Kane's Wrath, and I'm forced to re-evaluate my less-than-amicable divorce from the series.
Expansions seem to be where the cool is at these days - if you can't afford a sequel, graft some extras to the same tested methods and watch the fans soak it up. Think of Burning Crusade, DOTA, Generals or Baywatch Nights. Kane's Wrath continues this fine tradition - no longer does the plotline have to be as plausible, nor do the drawcard FMV actors need to make a re-appearance (Tricia Helfer obviously had a spine-glow commitment elsewhere).
Kane's Wrath does its little bit well though, and it is through this effort that the old, ham-fisted scheme of vanilla Tiberium Wars is suddenly made interesting again. Life has returned to these pale cheeks ladies and gents, for Kane's Wrath has re-introduced a sorely lacking element: fun.
New units for each faction add a little bit of spark, like the nimble and diverse Scrin Mechapede, or the attack-heavy GDI Shatterer. The real fun begins in earnest though with the introduction of faction 'elite' units, one per side, that really turn the tide. The GDI get the MARV tank, a triple-barrelled super-Mammoth harvester tank. The Scrin win back with their gangly Hexapod walker, a giant spider with messy, explosive disc-launchers. The Nod join the party with the Redeemer - a giant walker mech with beam cannons and a 'rage generator' that forces opposing units to attack themselves.
Aside from new units, the campaign mode is a cheap, challenging laugh and worth playing through once. The storyline (now with extra corn!) actually ties in very nicely with the original Tiberium Wars campaign. The less said about the ending however, the better - it's like playing Halo 2 again.
Similar to the widely successful Dawn of War expansions, Kane's Wrath now boasts a world conquest mode, pushing the player into a semi-strategic, randomly-generated earth conflict between the three factions.
Within this mode, the player not only has to win the ground battles the series has made famous, but also the tactical layer above those skirmishes - effectively gaining and controlling world territory. You can opt for the computer to fight your pitched battles for you (not advised) or actually step in and engage every step of the way, to lend a human edge to the war effort. As your bases grow and multiply around the globe, you can deploy global abilities like nukes, bombing runs and orbital bombardments, to pre-warm a battle before it starts.
All said and done, the key message is this: if, like me, you were suckered into buying Tiberium Wars those months ago... Kane's Wrath is probably the title you were chasing.
site scan
OzEating
An honest selection of restaurant reviews, plus food and wine events listed by state. Online restaurant guides are notoriously light on information - this site however, is a pleasant exception to the rule.
Open Source Food
Simple, inspiring user-submitted recipes (and lovely food photography), listed for and by fans of eating worldwide.
BBC Food - recipe finder
This one has saved me from culinary drama on a couple of occasions - search a wide selection of recipes based on the ingredients you have at hand. It's like surprise chef, without the chef.
