New Zealand

Australia, UK to get iPad on May 28, New Zealand to get it in July

By Terence Huynh on May 7th, 2010 1 Comment

Now we have a date. Apple has confirmed that Australians will be getting the iPad on May 28 – along with Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Span, Switzerland and the UK; and will be able to pre-order the device starting Monday, May 10. The iPad will be sold for $629 for the 16GB model, $759 for the 32GB and $879 for the 64GB. For the models with Wi-Fi + 3G: the 16GB model will cost $799, $928 for the 32GB and $1049 for the 64GB.

Also released on that day will be iBooks for those countries.

Those living in New Zealand, Ireland, Luxembourg and Austria will have to wait until July to see the iPad being released, with no word on pricing and availability. Full PR after the jump.

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Finally… the Jetpack arrives – for a cost of $86,000

By Terence Huynh on March 10th, 2010 No Comments

So remember when people started saying that we would be seeing jetpacks sometime in this century – before everyone realised that it would be the same mundane world as before? Well, turns out, they do actually exist, but not in the way The Jetsons envisioned them to be.

Called the Martin Jetpack, you are basically putting two jet engines (albeit smaller than the jet engines) on your back. For aeroplane lovers: it features a 2.0L V4 2 stroke engine and has two 1.7ft wide rotors made from a composite of carbon and Kevlar. It is reported to fly up to 8000 feet and has a flight time of just 30 minutes while it only measures at 5 ft high, 5.5 ft wide and 5 ft long. There is a drawback – you must be between 140-240 lbs.

It isn’t available commercially yet, but after nine prototypes, it will cost around $86,000 (according to Gizmag) – and even that, you have to follow a training course on using the jetpack. However, there is a payment option just like a car – paying a 10 percent deposit and you have to pay off the payments for twelve months before the final payment is due on delivery.

Oh, did we also mention the company is from New Zealand? No? Well, now you know what they have been doing other than playing with sheep.

Yellow Chocolate Craze in NZ

By Luke Chandler on February 22nd, 2010 No Comments

The Yellow Pages in NZ, Gave a man [Called Josh] a mission… To create the worlds first “Yellow” Tasting Chocolate bar, using only Yellow Pages, Mobile and online. The Chocolate Bar Sold out in aweek… And since then Trademe.co.nz has been BUZZING with auctions… My self listed a a “Yellow” Chocolate Bar… And i never thought it would get to as much as it has… with 30 mins it is at $17… Heres a link if you want to check it out

EDIT: The Chocolate bar was sold for $21! More then i expected!

NZ: Internet Filtering Trial to Start Next Month

By Luke Chandler on February 17th, 2010 No Comments

zdnet.com.au Has reported The Department of Internal Affairs has began work on implementing a Filter trial, The Department of Internal Affair said in a statement ”in response to community expectations that the government and the internet service providers (ISPs) should do more to provide a safe internet environment,”

The Department of Internal Affairs continued saying “We [The Department of Internal Affairs] have watched the Australian proposal with interest and have observed the debate that surrounds it.”

More information soon.

Rumor: iPad Pricing in NZ

By Luke Chandler on February 4th, 2010 No Comments

According to an Apple Authorised Reseller who will be getting the iPad [In New Zealand], have said the iPad WiFi Will Cost:

16GB: $799

32GB: $999

64GB: $1300

[Prices in NZD]

Please Note: This is NOT an official price but one of a Apple Reseller. So we cannot Guarantee the prices. Please take it as a guide only

The 3G Version is Expected to cost a Extra $150 on the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB Models with a later release date. And no word yet on the Carrier for the iPad [In New Zealand].

NZ student sells virginity online for $45k

By Terence Huynh on February 3rd, 2010 No Comments

Remember when Opposition Leader Tony Abbott suggested that women should treat their virginity as a precious gift? Well, in New Zealand, you would most likely see that precious gift online on eBay – by the holder of the gift. The AFP is reporting that a 19-year-old teenager sold her virginity on an undisclosed online auction site and the winning bidder offered her $45,000 to buy it.

She, however, has caused a stir in New Zealand as it sounds like prostitution. Turns out, it has one of the most liberal laws on prostitution since women are legally entitled to seek money for sex.

The money has been used to pay her university tuition.

Rumor Mill: iPhone Coming to Telecom’s XT

By Luke Chandler on January 25th, 2010 1 Comment

EXCLUSIVE/RUMOUR MILL: According to a Telecom NZ sales representative, the iPhone is coming to Telecom. It is unclear if it is the 3G iPhone or a next-generation iPhone. While the XT Network has been out since the launch of the 3GS, it is unclear why it has taken almost a year to come.

However it may have something to do with Telecom NZ offering a “iPhone Plan” consisting of a $600 account credit while not being an offical carrier. The source was not willing to say anything else other than the iPhone is coming to Telecom NZ.

Porn “morally acceptable” than piracy in NZ

By Terence Huynh on January 14th, 2010 No Comments

NEWS IN BRIEF: A New Zealand poll conducted by UMR Research found that watching porn online while married is “morally acceptable” than downloading copyrighted material. Asking 1000 New Zealanders, 21 percent of the respondents believed that it was acceptable for a married person to watch porn without telling their spouse (and it has been made easier to hide it because of new private browsing modes on all of the browsers).

Meanwhile, 18 percent felt that it was acceptable to download copyrighted music was acceptable, while 13 percent believed downloading copyrighted video was morally acceptable. However, a strong 31 percent felt that watching TV programs “on Youtube or similar” was acceptable.

Watching porn while single, however, is more morally acceptable – if that’s even possible – with 41 percent saying it is. However, more of the males opted to select that opinion than females. Flirting online and internet dating also had high percentages saying it was acceptable, with 82 percent and 69 percent of the poll results respectively.

Looking to do some motoring around the house?

By Luke Chandler on January 9th, 2010 1 Comment

Looking to do some motoring around the house over the summer?
Well now you can with the 4+4 Motorized Wheelbarrow!

Muck Truck 4 wheel drive wheel barrow drivin by 5.5 hp honda motor.
It has 4 forward gears and one reverse.
It can carry up to 230 kgs.
It is only 700mm wide by 900mm high.
It is about four years old but has not been used for the last two years due to change of job, it is in good condition.

(Via: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Building-renovation/Tools/Other/auction-263425461.htm)

Vodafone Australia confirms Nexus One is coming

By Terence Huynh on January 8th, 2010 No Comments

Vodafone Hutchison Australia has told ZDNet that it will sell the Google Nexus One phone “sometime [in] 2010″. This comes hot off the heels of Google’s announcement two days ago that Vodafone will be responsible in selling the phone in Europe.

VHA has also confirmed that the Vodafone deal covers all geographies where Vodafone is covered. This means that those in New Zealand will also get it under Vodafone, though they haven’t release the actual date yet either.

“Details relating to Vodafone’s Australian launch of Google Nexus One will be announced in due course,” a VHA statement to ZDNet writer Liam Tung said.

The UK launch is set to be within a few weeks, followed by other countries in Europe where Vodafone currently has business in. It is already on sale for T-Mobile customers in the US, and outright by Google in the US, UK, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Google Chrome Beta for Mac Now Out!

By Luke Chandler on December 9th, 2009 No Comments

Google Chrome is now available in beta for Mac OS X.

Chrome for Mac was perviously in Alpha.

Min System Requirements 10.5 Intel Only (Sorry PPC Owners)

Here are a few fun facts from the Google Chrome for Mac team:

  • 73,804 lines of Mac-specific code written
  • 29 developer builds
  • 1,177 Mac-specific bugs fixed
  • 12 external committers and bug editors to the Google Chrome for Mac code base, 48 external code contributors
  • 64 Mac Minis doing continuous builds and tests
  • 8,760 cups of soft drinks and coffee consumed
  • 4,380 frosted mini-wheats eaten

Download here

Get Festive on your Mac!

By Luke Chandler on December 7th, 2009 No Comments

The time is upon us, Where we grab a axe, and cut down a tree to call your Christmas tree.
But for some people, for what ever reason can’t have a Christmas tree, real or fake.
So the TECHGEEK.com.au Get Festive Guide! For Mac (Sorry Windows Users, Ill Make a guide later on this)

Lets start with the Tree! No Christmas is complete with out a tree!

The Christmas Tree: Download here

Xmas Tree!

The Lights!: Download Here

Lights!

Google DNS, Whats Next?

By Luke Chandler on December 4th, 2009 No Comments

Today Google has introduced Google DNS.
Similar to that of OpenDNS, Google DNS is designed to speed up web browsing.
How ever, It is for Public use and not for ISPs to use as they do not have a service-level agreement (SLA) in place. The project is characterized as “experimental”.

View Google Code DNS Page

More Information to Follow.

Review : Apple Magic Mouse

By Luke Chandler on November 27th, 2009 No Comments

mighty-mous

Apple brings out a brand new mouse for TECHGEEK.com.au to play with, and our New Zealand correspondent Luke Chandler files a review its successor to the Apple’s Mighty Mouse, the Magic Mouse. With multi-touch support and a smaller design, does it live up to the hype or does it fall flat? Read the review and find out.
Read More »

Google: “Lets make patent a few things”

By Luke Chandler on November 23rd, 2009 1 Comment

When you thought all the good idea for patents are gone, “The USPTO issued US Patent No. D603,866 to six Google inventors for their ‘graphical user interface for display screen of a communications terminal.’ Among the six inventors is the guy who introduced Google Patents. Ironically, Google Patents can’t seem to find the new Google patent for Google Patents.”

What does this mean? The fact Google has a patent to Display patents using a Graphical User Interface (GUI

Coming soon to TECHGEEK.com.au

  • Apple Magic Mouse Review
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