Apple is currently in discussions with music companies to allow customers to have unlimited access to the entire iTunes music library in exchange for paying a premium for its iPod and iPhone devices (presumably for the life of the device).

The plan sounds similar to Universal’s Total Music Plan in which the cost of music is embedded into the music player itself. Based on the wording of this article, it seems Apple’s version of the plan adds the cost on top of the iPod or iPhone.

The negotiations are currently being held up due to disagreements in pricing. Apple is reportedly only offering $20 per device, while Nokia is playing almost $80/handset for a similar plan. Other possibilities appear to include a subscription based service for iPhone users ($7-8/month, for example) with the capability to keep up to 40-50 tracks/year even after the subscription lapses.

Historically, the Financial Times has been a reliable source of information with early details of Apple’s plans to introduce iTunes Movie rentals well ahead of its release,

Internode has announced that it has started supporting the new IPv6, which allows a vast number of new and longer IP addresses after the current shortage on the current system, IPv4. It will operate the new network around Australia and with international PoP (Points of Presence) in Japan and the US.

Customers of Internode can access IPv6 by either Native Ethernet access or Tunnel Broker access; with more information on their dedicated website. However, not all sites are supported on IPv6; and Internode will run both on their services; also known as ‘dual stack’ mode.

Its Managing Director, Simon Hackett, said it was was part of future-proofing its entire network, saying, "The Internet is approaching an address crunch point in the next few years."

"The current IPv4 address space is simply running out of IP numbers, possibly as soon as 2011. Internode has chosen to invest in deploying IPv6 technology throughout its network now to give its customers the maximum amount of time to transition their own networks to the new address scheme."

It is the first and only one to introduce the new address system, joining several ISPs in France and the Netherlands. You can find more information on Wikipedia or on Internode’s website.

Hello Halo Fans…

In 2009 the new movie “Halo” will show on the big screens. Below is the Synopsis of the Movie (Containing Spoilers YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!)

Google is in the process of buying the Russian contextual ad company ZAO Begun for $140 million from the UK-registered Rambler Media, according to TechCrunch.

While the ad company is a Russian company, many firms have based themselves in the UK; with Rambler owning 50.1 percent of the company. Basically, Rambler will buy the other 49.9 percent from Bannatyne Limited and then sell the firm to Google.

As well, Rambler will also use Google Adsense’s services for Content and Search.

Hector Ruiz has stepped down from his position as Chief Executive Officer of AMD, the rival of Intel, in favour of President and COO Dirk Meyer after being elected by the board of directors.

While he was instrumental in elevating AMD to become a rival to Intel’s stranglehold on the chip manufacturing market, he also admitted that he was the reason why the company was in financial distress after racking up billions of dollars in losses after an ill-timed acquisition of ATI.

Ruiz, however, will remain on the Board of Directors, serving as executive chairman. Previously, he had been chairman of the board.

Digital Radio will be rolled out across the nation starting next year, after long-running tests were held around the country that allowed listeners to rewind and pause live coverage and introduce new elements like images and song information.

The ABC and SBS will open their signals at the same time, with a phase out date for the old FM radio stations is yet to be established as there are no plans to end the current system. However, video content will not be allowed to prevent competition against the major television networks.

Stations who have signed up to the new radio stations include the Nova, Vega, Today and Mix Networks; ABC’s Classic FM and DiG; SBS Radio; and from Sydney: 2GB, 2CH, 2KY, 2SM, WSFM and 2UE.

In order to listen, you will need to buy a digitally equipped wireless receiver in order to listen.

The Ministry of Defence in the UK has told parliament that it had lost or had stolen 87 USB drives holding "protectively marked", also known as classified, information since 2003. But, almost all had been marked as "Restricted" data - which is basically used for almost any documents that it writes up and is the lowest form of classification.

However, one further USB drive, lost in 2006, held "Confidential" data - the second level up. According to The Register, it is not really much different than Restricted, but are to be handled more securely; and to shred hard copies under this classification and not put them in the bin - but this can be discussed with families and friends.

Five more sticks, however, were marked "Secret"; however, it never lost any Top Secret information - which is the highest level of classification (and proper, according to The Register).

Nintendo has said that it has won the crown of the top selling video game console, thanks to a survey done by the NPD Group. The crown was previously fought by Sony and Microsoft, makers of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 respectably.

Read More over GamesArena >

Optus has revealed today that they will be launching brand new unlimited mobile pricing plans, that will include unlimited calls (including video calls) and SMS/MMS, plus large data usage allowances.

Dubbed the ‘yes’ Timeless plans, they will also be available for iPhone purchasers too - but without the MMS, Push to Talk or video calling since the iPhone has not supported it (which I think its crap for not supporting it - I’m still thinking of getting one though).

Blackberry users are also entitled to take up the plans, they just need to pay for an additional fee for the service on top of it, with Unlimited email costing $39.95 per month for a 24 month contract, or $49.95 for month-to-month users. There is a cheaper "Executive" plan which will cost $25.95 per month, or $29.95 for those not on a contract.

The following plans are below:

‘yes’ Timeless $99 plan with $14.95 Mobile Internet Pack

• Spend a monthly cost of $113.95.
• Unlimited National, local and GSM mobile calls on any network.
• Unlimited MMS and SMS.
• 200MB of data, with 35c extra per MB.
• Voicemail Deposit free, while retrieval is 30c per 30 sec

‘yes’ Timeless $119 plan

• Spend a minimum cost of $119.
• Unlimited National, local and GSM mobile calls on any network
• Unlimited MMS and SMS
• Choose either a Starter (10MB for $4.95) or Classic (30MB for $9.95) Internet Pack
• 35c/MB excess charge for 12/24 month contracts; or 50c for month-to-month.
• Voicemail Deposit free, while retrieval is 30c per 30 sec

‘yes’ Timeless $129 cap

• Available on 28 July, 2008
• Minimum cost of $129, with a cap value of $550.
• Unlimited National, local, GSM mobile calls on any network
• Unlimited MMS and SMS
• 2GB of data, 35c extra per MB.
• Unlimited deposits and retrieval of Voicemail, both free.

More information can be found at Optus’ site.

Apple has quietly released a 1.1.5 firmware upgrade for the iPod Touch. The 1.1.5 firmware remains a free upgrade path for firmware 1.1.4 users who chose not to upgrade to 2.0 ($9.95US).

From what we can tell upon first blush, there are no major (or even minor) changes that are easily detectable, which indicates that perhaps Apple has merely tweaked some of the underlying architecture. After all, there were a number of security updates included in iPhone/iPod touch firmware 2.0, so those may also be integrated into iPod touch 1.1.5 as well.

The 2.0 upgrade was released over the weekend and brings support for MobileMe, Exchange, 3rd Party Applications (App Store) and more. Based on early reports, firmware 1.1.5 appears to add no new features but may improve the speed and stability of existing applications. The update is available through iTunes.

Meanwhile, it appears that Apple is currently testing version 2.0.1 of the iPhone and iPod Touch firmware.